The spirit vessel gradually descended.
Instead of flying toward the central peaks—
it veered toward one of the outer mountains.
As the clouds slowly parted—
everyone finally saw it.
At the very center of the mountain summit—
stood an enormous stone sword.
No—
it was more accurate to say...
A colossal sword that had been driven deep into the mountain itself.
Its blade disappeared into the earth.
Only the hilt and a portion of the weathered blade remained exposed.
The sword towered hundreds of meters into the sky.
Countless cracks covered its surface.
Yet—
an indescribable sword intent still lingered around it.
As though...
Even after countless years—
the weapon still refused to surrender.
Around its base stretched a vast expanse of emerald-green grass.
The summit was astonishingly peaceful.
Gentle spiritual qi drifted through the air.
Several ancient stone platforms surrounded the giant sword.
The recommendation disciples stared blankly.
"...How enormous..."
Chi Bai muttered unconsciously.
Ling Yue slowly raised her head.
"...Is... that really a sword?"
Gu Su narrowed his eyes.
"...Someone once wielded that?"
Song Qin swallowed.
"...How terrifying..."
Even Ling Jianfei's breathing slowed.
He couldn't sense any cultivation fluctuations.
Yet merely standing before the ancient weapon—
he felt an invisible pressure weighing upon his heart.
At the front—
Yun Rui stepped lightly onto the grass.
She turned toward them.
"...Everyone."
"...Disembark."
One after another—
the recommendation disciples stepped off the spirit vessel.
Ling Wei.
Ling Yue.
Chi Bai.
Chi Xue.
Gu Su.
Song Qin.
Duan Shen.
Fu Yao.
Ling Jianfei.
Ling Yufei.
Feng Lu.
Soon—
everyone stood upon the grassy summit.
Behind them—
the spirit vessel quietly dissolved into a stream of light before returning to Yun Rui's sleeve.
Silence settled over the mountain.
Yun Rui looked at everyone.
"...Your Recommendation Assessment..."
"...Begins now."
Several people instinctively tensed.
Yet—
before anyone could ask a question—
Yun Rui lightly waved her sleeve.
**Hum—**
The surrounding space trembled.
The mountain...
Vanished.
The enormous stone sword disappeared.
The grass disappeared.
Even the sky dissolved.
A dense sea of clouds surged in from every direction.
**Whoosh—**
The world blurred.
Every disciple instinctively shut their eyes.
Only for an instant.
When they opened them again—
everything had changed.
Endless clouds stretched in every direction.
Above.
Below.
Ahead.
Behind.
Nothing else existed.
No mountain.
No sky.
No spirit vessel.
Only an endless white world.
Ling Yue blinked.
"...Huh?"
She quickly turned around.
"...Brother?"
No answer.
Her expression changed.
"...Brother?"
Only silence answered her.
Several hundred meters away—
Ling Wei frowned.
"...Yue?"
He looked around.
No one.
Not a single familiar face remained.
"...Chi Bai?"
"...Gu Su?"
Nothing.
The sea of clouds remained perfectly still.
Far away—
Chi Bai scratched his head frantically.
"...Where did everybody go?"
His voice disappeared into the endless white expanse.
No reply came.
Every recommendation disciple found themselves in the same situation.
Each stood completely alone.
Separated from everyone else.
No matter how far they looked—
only endless clouds could be seen.
Not even their own footprints remained beneath them.
It was as though each person had become the only living being left in existence.
Confusion spread among the isolated examinees.
"...An illusion?"
"...A formation?"
"...Where is everyone?"
Questions echoed one after another.
None received an answer.
Yun Rui quietly watched everything.
Beside her—
several elderly figures had appeared without anyone noticing.
Each observed a different scene unfolding within the formation.
One elder stroked his beard.
"...They're reacting about as expected."
Another smiled faintly.
"...The first assessment has already begun."
"...Let us see..."
"...Who remains calm..."
"...And who loses themselves before taking even a single step."
Far below—
perched atop Ling Yue's head—
the invisible white-scaled lizard remained perfectly still.
Unlike the others—
his golden eyes calmly swept across the endless sea of clouds.
*An illusion formation...*
*No...*
*A layered mental formation.*
*Interesting.*
The endless sea of clouds remained perfectly still.
Not a single ripple disturbed the white expanse.
Ling Yue stood quietly.
She resisted the urge to call out again.
Instead—
she slowly took a deep breath.
"...Senior?"
No reply came.
At least—
none that she could hear.
---
Hidden from everyone—
the tiny white-scaled lizard remained perched atop her head.
His golden eyes gradually brightened.
His pupils narrowed slightly.
His gaze pierced through layer after layer of the illusion.
The endless clouds...
Began to fade.
Not completely.
Only enough for him to observe what lay beneath.
Countless formation lines intertwined throughout the illusion.
Some guided perception.
Others distorted the senses.
Still others directly influenced the mind.
Each layer complemented the next with remarkable precision.
Lizarius silently examined them.
His gaze shifted.
Past the formation itself.
Toward the mountain beneath.
Specifically—
toward the colossal stone sword.
Although hidden from ordinary perception—
he could clearly see countless invisible streams flowing outward from the ancient weapon.
They weren't spiritual qi.
Nor were they soul fluctuations.
They possessed an entirely different nature.
Sharp.
Pure.
The formation continuously drew upon that power.
Using it as its very foundation.
Lizarius remained silent.
*So...*
*The illusion is being sustained by the energy lingering within that sword.*
His golden eyes lingered on the colossal blade.
The invisible force surrounding it never diminished.
Even after countless years...
It continued radiating naturally.
*Is this...*
*What they call Sword Intent?*
For several moments—
he simply observed.
Analyzing.
Comparing.
Every fluctuation.
Every circulation.
Every interaction between the sword and the formation.
Nothing escaped his notice.
*No.*
*Not merely Sword Intent.*
*The lingering will of its former owner remains as well.*
*The formation draws upon both.*
His thoughts continued.
*Then...*
*What exactly is this examination meant to assess?*
His gaze swept across the countless isolated examinees.
Though they still stood upon the same mountain—
within the formation—
each occupied a different world.
Each experienced a different illusion.
*Since this is an assessment...*
*There must be a purpose behind it.*
*They're not merely trapping the disciples within illusions.*
*The formation is observing something.*
His eyes slowly narrowed.
*Their reactions.*
*Their choices.*
*Their state of mind.*
*Whether they panic...*
*Remain calm...*
*Advance...*
*Retreat...*
*Or become lost within the illusion.*
Another realization followed.
*The sword itself...*
*Is likely acting as the true examiner.*
*The elders merely observe the results.*
His gaze returned to Ling Yue.
The endless sea of clouds remained perfectly still.
Not a single sound disturbed the white expanse.
Ling Yue stood where she was.
She neither panicked nor wandered aimlessly.
Instead—
she quietly observed her surroundings.
Searching.
Thinking.
Trying to understand.
Then—
a calm voice echoed within her mind.
"...It is merely an illusion."
Ling Yue's eyes widened slightly.
"...Senior?"
She instinctively reached toward the top of her head.
Of course—
her hand found nothing.
The tiny white-scaled lizard remained perfectly concealed.
His voice continued without emotion.
"...The examination is not the illusion itself."
"...It is escaping it."
Ling Yue blinked.
"...Escaping?"
"...How?"
Lizarius answered calmly.
"...An illusion exists to deceive."
"...If you accept everything you perceive..."
"...Then you have already failed."
Ling Yue slowly lowered her hand.
Her expression became thoughtful.
"...So..."
"...This endless sea of clouds..."
"...Is fake."
"...Correct."
She slowly looked around once more.
"...Then..."
"...Where am I really?"
Lizarius remained silent for several breaths.
Allowing her thoughts to settle.
Only then did he reply.
"...You are still standing upon the mountain."
"...Nothing has changed."
"...Only your senses."
Ling Yue frowned.
She slowly crouched.
Her fingers brushed against the clouds beneath her feet.
Soft.
Weightless.
Yet...
She could still feel something solid supporting her.
Her eyes brightened.
"...The ground..."
"...It's still there."
"...Good."
Lizarius continued.
"...Your eyes deceive you."
"...Your ears deceive you."
"...Even your senses are being guided."
"...Then what remains?"
Ling Yue became quiet.
She repeated the question inwardly.
*What remains...?*
Several moments passed.
Then—
her expression changed.
"...My mind."
"...Correct."
Lizarius' voice remained calm.
"...Do not search with your eyes."
"...Search with your awareness."
"...The exit exists."
"...Every formation possesses an opening."
"...You can find it."
Ling Yue slowly closed her eyes.
She no longer paid attention to the endless clouds.
Nor to the silence surrounding her.
Her breathing gradually steadied.
One breath.
Then another.
She simply stood there.
Calmly.
Patiently.
Listening.
Feeling.