The silence gradually eased.
Chi Bai suddenly let out a long sigh.
"...Mine was nothing like yours."
Everyone turned toward him.
He scratched his head helplessly.
"...I don't even know how long it lasted."
"...Years."
"...Maybe decades."
He shook his head.
"...All I did..."
"...Was swing a sword."
He demonstrated with an imaginary swing.
"...Again."
"...Again."
"...Again."
"...And again."
His face twitched.
"...There was nothing else."
"No enemies."
"No people."
"No scenery."
"...Just a sword in my hand."
"...Every day."
"...For what felt like years."
Song Qin blinked.
"...That's it?"
Chi Bai nodded vigorously.
"...You think that sounds easy?"
"...After a while..."
"...I couldn't even think anymore."
"...It felt like my head was completely empty."
"...I almost forgot why I was swinging the sword in the first place."
He shuddered.
"...If I hadn't suddenly remembered..."
"...That I'd never willingly spend my entire life doing nothing but swinging a sword..."
"...I think I would've stayed there forever."
Several people nodded.
Their own experiences had been equally unsettling.
Ling Yue quietly listened.
The more she heard—
the stranger her own experience seemed.
*...Everyone else's was so much worse.*
*A nightmare...*
*A past that couldn't be changed...*
*Endless repetition...*
She slowly reached up and touched the top of her head.
*Only mine...*
*Was just a sea of clouds.*
She became thoughtful.
*...Why?*
A possibility suddenly crossed her mind.
She asked inwardly,
"...Senior."
"...Was that your doing?"
No answer came.
The invisible white-scaled lizard remained perfectly silent.
Ling Yue waited for several breaths.
Still nothing.
The corners of her lips slowly curved upward.
"...I see."
She nodded to herself.
"...So it was."
Lizarius remained silent.
She didn't press the matter.
Instead—
she smiled faintly.
*Well...*
*Either way...*
*I passed.*
*Maybe...*
*I was just lucky.*
At that moment—
Yun Rui's calm voice drew everyone's attention once more.
"...The examination was not intended to determine who possessed the strongest cultivation."
Everyone immediately fell silent.
She slowly walked toward the colossal stone sword.
"...Nor was it designed merely to trap you within an illusion."
She rested one hand upon the ancient stone blade.
"...The path of cultivation..."
"...Begins with the heart."
"...Especially..."
"...For those who pursue the sword."
Her gaze swept across the newly accepted disciples.
"...A sword cultivator's greatest enemy..."
"...Is not another cultivator."
"...Nor a powerful spirit beast."
She paused briefly.
"...It is oneself."
Several disciples unconsciously fell into thought.
Yun Rui continued.
"...Some of you faced attachment."
"...Some faced obsession."
"...Some faced fear."
"...Some faced loneliness."
"...Some faced endless repetition."
"...Each illusion was different."
"...Because each of your hearts is different."
She looked toward the colossal sword.
"...This sword still carries the lingering will of its former master."
"...Through that will..."
"...The formation reflects the heart of every examinee."
"...It reveals what most easily causes your sword heart to waver."
Ling Wei slowly lowered his head.
Remembering the illusion of his parents.
Chi Bai scratched his head.
"...So..."
"...It wasn't trying to make us suffer?"
Yun Rui smiled faintly.
"...Suffering was never the objective."
"...Understanding yourself was."
She folded her hands behind her back.
"...A sword that cannot cut through illusion..."
"...Cannot cut through reality."
"...One who cannot distinguish truth from falsehood..."
"...Will eventually lose themselves upon the path of cultivation."
Her eyes swept across every disciple.
"...Remember today's experience."
"...One day..."
"...Your illusion..."
"...May no longer come from a formation."
"...But from your own heart."
Silence settled over the mountain once more.
This time—
no one spoke.
Each disciple quietly reflected upon the illusion they had experienced.
Perched atop Ling Yue's head—
the invisible white-scaled lizard calmly observed the ancient stone sword once more.
*The sword examines the heart...*
The mountain summit remained quiet.
No one spoke after Yun Rui's explanation.
She allowed the silence to linger for several breaths before continuing.
"...However."
That single word immediately drew everyone's attention back to her.
She calmly swept her gaze across the newly accepted disciples.
"...Although all of you have successfully passed the Recommendation Assessment..."
"...The examination..."
"...Is not yet over."
A faint murmur spread through the group.
Chi Bai blinked.
"...There's more?"
Yun Rui nodded.
"...From this moment onward..."
"...You are all officially Outer Disciples of the Cloud Sword Sect."
"...Your identities have already been recognized by the sect."
Several people unconsciously relaxed.
At least—
they no longer had to worry about failing entirely.
Yun Rui continued.
"...The next assessment..."
"...Is no longer mandatory."
"...Even if you fail..."
"...Your status as Outer Disciples will not change."
"...You will simply begin cultivating within the outer sect like everyone else."
Hearing this—
many quietly exhaled.
The pressure lessened considerably.
Then—
Yun Rui's next words caused everyone's hearts to tighten once more.
"...But..."
"...Those who pass..."
She paused.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"...Will receive rewards beyond your imagination."
Silence.
Every disciple stared at her.
"...Among those rewards..."
"...Exists an opportunity."
She slowly raised one finger.
"...To become an Inner Disciple immediately."
The words struck the crowd like thunder.
"...Inner Disciple?"
Chi Bai's eyes widened.
Song Qin inhaled sharply.
Even Gu Su's usually calm expression changed.
Ling Yue blinked several times.
"...Immediately?"
Yun Rui nodded.
"...Yes."
"...The sect values talent."
"...If your performance exceeds expectations..."
"...There is no rule stating that you must remain an Outer Disciple."
"...Outstanding seedlings..."
"...Are naturally cultivated with outstanding resources."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
The relaxed expressions from moments before disappeared.
In their place—
determination.
Expectation.
Ambition.
Not far away—
Ling Jianfei slowly clenched his fists behind his back.
His eyes shone brightly.
*An Inner Disciple...*
*This...*
*This is the opportunity I've been waiting for.*
He had believed he would need years of effort before earning such a position.
Yet now—
the opportunity stood directly before him.
*I cannot let it slip away.*
*No matter what the next assessment is...*
*I must pass it.*
His resolve silently hardened.
But—
he wasn't the only one.
Feng Lu's gaze had likewise become sharp.
Gu Su quietly adjusted his sleeves.
Song Qin lowered his eyes in thought.
Chi Xue's expression became noticeably more serious.
Even Chi Bai, who usually joked about everything, unconsciously straightened his posture.
Each of them had arrived at the same conclusion.
*This opportunity...*
*Cannot be missed.*
Ling Wei quietly looked toward the towering stone sword.
His breathing remained calm.
Yet his eyes reflected quiet determination.
Beside him—
Ling Yue smiled softly.
"...Inner Disciple..."
"...That sounds pretty amazing."
Perched invisibly atop her head—
the tiny white-scaled lizard remained expressionless.
His golden eyes calmly swept across the disciples.
The mountain summit remained wrapped in silence.
Every disciple was immersed in their own thoughts.
Some imagined becoming Inner Disciples.
Others quietly prepared themselves for whatever trial awaited next.
Hidden atop Ling Yue's head—
the tiny white-scaled lizard calmly observed the surroundings one final time.
Then—
his voice quietly echoed within her mind.
"...I'm leaving."
Ling Yue's eyes widened slightly.
"...Senior?"
She instinctively lowered her voice.
"...Right now?"
"...Wait a little."
There was no reply.
At that very moment—
the faint weight resting upon her head disappeared.
Ling Yue's expression froze.
She slowly reached upward.
Her fingers brushed against nothing but her own hair.
"...Senior?"
No answer came.
She instinctively looked around.
Of course—
there was nothing to see.
Several steps away—
Ling Wei noticed her reaction and walked over.
"...Yue."
"...What's wrong?"
She looked toward him.
"...Senior..."
"...He just left."
Ling Wei fell silent for a moment.
"...Just now?"
She nodded.
"...He only said..."
"'I'm leaving.'"
"...Then..."
"...He disappeared."
Ling Wei lowered his gaze briefly.
"...I see..."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"...I guess..."
"...He fulfilled your request."
Ling Yue blinked.
"...My request?"
"...Back then."
"...You said you wanted him to stay until we officially became disciples."
"...We've already entered the Cloud Sword Sect."
"...So..."
"...He left."
Ling Yue looked toward the distant mountains.
"...I guess..."
She smiled faintly.
"...But..."
"...The examination isn't even over yet."
Her voice gradually softened.
Without realizing it—
a memory resurfaced.
---
Within the dream realm—
hours earlier.
The endless training ground stretched beneath an empty sky.
Ling Yue sat cross-legged atop a rock.
The tiny white-scaled lizard hovered before her.
She had asked curiously,
"...Senior."
"...If we really become disciples of the Cloud Sword Sect..."
"...Will you stay with us?"
Lizarius answered without hesitation.
"...No."
She blinked.
"...Why?"
His golden eyes remained calm.
"...My injuries have already fully recovered."
"...There is no reason to remain."
"...I am only accompanying you to the Cloud Sword Sect..."
"...Because there is something I wish to uncover."
Ling Yue tilted her head.
"...So..."
"...After that..."
"...You'll leave?"
"...Yes."
She fell silent.
After a while—
she puffed out her cheeks.
"...Then..."
"...When we become disciples..."
"...At least stay a little longer."
"...You don't have to leave immediately."
"...We could at least say goodbye properly."
She smiled awkwardly.
"...After all..."
"...We've spent so much time together."
"...You've taught us so many things."
"...I guess..."
"...We're kind of your followers."
She thought for another moment.
Then corrected herself.
"...Or maybe..."
"...Half disciples."
"...Since you taught us."
She looked up hopefully.
"...So..."
"...You shouldn't just leave without saying anything."
The tiny white-scaled lizard merely looked at her.
He gave no answer.
The dream continued.
---
The memory slowly faded.
Ling Yue lowered her eyes.
"...He didn't answer me back then either..."
She muttered quietly.
Ling Wei heard her.
He smiled faintly.
"...That sounds like Senior."
Ling Yue let out a helpless sigh.
"...Yeah."
She folded her arms.
"...He really left."
"...Just like that."
She glanced toward the endless mountain range surrounding the Cloud Sword Sect.
Although she had expected it...
Now that it had actually happened—
the place atop her head felt strangely empty.
For the first time in a long while...
There was no tiny white-scaled lizard quietly watching everything from above.