"A day in heaven is a year on earth. I've spent nearly half a year above Kunlun, which means over a century has passed in the mortal realm... If I don't descend soon, I fear I'll find the very dynasties have changed.""You speak truly, Venerable One. However, even if dynasties rise and fall, Zhouku Academy remains unchanged."She let out a hearty laugh. "I hardly qualify as 'Venerable.' The Patriarch summoned me to the heavens to guide me across, not because my cultivation had advanced enough to skip grades.""Indeed." The man half a step behind her bowed his head in respect. His patched cloak fluttered in the wind, drawing her appreciative gaze.
"The Court Examination is the last of the Four Great Trials. Those who pass are known as Practitioners, and Zhouku Academy bestows upon each a cloak—named the 'Base Garment.' A Practitioner dons this Base Garment and travels through all kingdoms. Each time they subdue a demon or bring aid to the world, causing the garment to tear, the common folk sew a patch over the damage. When the Base Garment, through repeated mending, becomes a 'Tattered Robe' of patches, it signifies the disciple has perfected their merit and delivered salvation to a region. Only then do they qualify to become the Academy's highest rank of instructor—a Court Supervisor." She smiled. "Youshui, I remember you as just a half-grown boy when I left. In the blink of an eye, you're now wearing the 'Tattered Robe' and have become a Court Supervisor. Truly, your talent is exceptional... That old turtle must be overjoyed to have you as his final disciple!"Hearing this, Youshui offered a wry smile. In this world, she was likely the only person who would dare call the old Principal of Zhouku Academy "old turtle."She touched the Tattered Robe with a trace of envy. "Speaking of which, I graduated just before the great war broke out... I never had the chance to subdue demons or aid the world before I was called to Kunlun. Alas, my cultivation was completely delayed. The Base Garment I received is still brand new, without a single wrinkle.""For one of your profound abilities, transforming the Base Garment into a Tattered Robe would be a trivial matter.""Quite right," she said, a note of pride in her voice. "After I see the old turtle, I'll venture out. When I return, I might just secure a position as Court Supervisor for myself."Hearing her mention leaving again, a flicker of disappointment passed through Youshui's eyes, but she patted his shoulder."You have your duties to attend to, do you not? Go on.""Mm, it's nothing major... just supervising the Land Trial.""Oh, the Land Trial? Shouldn't that be the Land Supervisor's responsibility?"Youshui realized she wouldn't know—having been gone for over a century—that the Land Trial was no longer used for recruiting new disciples. He instinctively changed the subject. "There are still two hours until the exam begins; there's no hurry. I've heard the candidate seeking to take the test is a beast-child from Chaoyun Country.""Oh?" She lifted her head and cast a glance toward the forest. "Now that is interesting!"
The scene in the mirror closed in, tightly following the flickering white light. Bensheng, enveloped within it, appeared clearly in the image.He ran straight forward, his eyes shut tight, making no attempt to discern the path ahead as he charged recklessly through the woods.Yet, miraculously, not a single tree or boulder obstructed him. His form merged completely with each obstacle, only to emerge unscathed on the other side, thus passing straight through the entire dense forest as he headed west.A stunned silence fell over those watching the mirror. The common folk stared wide-eyed, jaws slack, utterly bewildered by what they were witnessing.The three Court Supervisors maintained calm exteriors, but their hearts were similarly roiling with shock and disbelief.What was happening?"It is 'Passing Through Walls and Barriers.'"A refined voice came from behind. The crowd turned and made way for a scholarly-looking young man approaching, his Tattered Robe fluttering gracefully—another Court Supervisor.Beimen smiled. "Court Supervisor Youshui, arriving only now... Did you lose your way again?"Youshui flushed slightly. "No, I was... receiving a guest." The receiving had actually been two hours prior; his denial lacked conviction. He chose not to elaborate and continued, "'Passing Through Walls and Barriers' is a secret art of Kunlun. Those who execute it can walk through the world as if facing no obstacles. Its comprehension is profoundly difficult, its lineage scarce, and it has been considered lost for a millennium. I never imagined I would see it reappear in the world today.""For a mere six-year-old beast-child to wield such power... Could he be another prodigy from Chaoyun Country? Like the one from over a hundred years ago..."The prodigy from Chaoyun Country, over a hundred years ago...The man who brought calamity to the world!The four Court Supervisors lowered their gazes, masking the complicated emotions in their eyes.Beimen spoke again. "Merely demonstrating 'Passing Through Walls and Barriers' is no great matter. Do not forget the natural chasm that lies ahead. Whether Bensheng can pass the Land Trial remains to be seen..."Flying high above, Ananda's heart raced, unable to calm itself for
a long while. After emerging from the illusory realm, it had caught up to Bensheng. Watching him run blindly, it had resisted the urge to ask, "Aren't you afraid of hitting a tree?"Seeing him charge ahead, sheathed in white light and entirely unhindered by the dense woods, even Ananda felt an itch of curiosity. It decided to stop dodging branches itself, closed its eyes, and attempted to fly straight through...THUD!Eyes seeing stars, head spinning, the result was utter failure....This old bird must have been infected by Bensheng's foolishness to do something so stupid.Had it not seen it with its own eyes, it would never believe that the weak, pitiful little white deer from Chaoyun Country—who knew only how to cry and wail—was the same figure now glowing with white light like some transcendent master.Ananda watched, mesmerized, until the landscape suddenly opened up and sunlight flooded its vision. It then realized with a start that it had forgotten to warn Bensheng."Bensheng, look out! There's a cliff ahead!!!"Without breaking stride, Bensheng charged straight into the majestic chasm.Legend held that the spiritual energy of Zhouku Forest was so potent in ancient times that it attracted all manner of demonic beings to linger there. The Academy's first Principal, passing through, had cleansed the forest of these entities with a single swing of a giant axe, also cleaving this immense canyon into the earth.As mortals could not approach the forest, and most cultivators who reached this place possessed the ability to leap the chasm, no one, from antiquity to the present, had ever thought to build a bridge.Yet Bensheng was walking across a "bridge" of nothingness.Ananda was utterly stunned. Only when Bensheng had reached the center of the canyon did it finally succumb to its burning curiosity. "Bensheng... beneath your feet..."Bensheng opened his eyes."...Is there a path?"He looked down and saw the bottomless abyss yawning beneath him....The wind whistling through the canyon was boisterous, drying the boy and the bird suspended in mid-air quite thoroughly."Waaaaaaaaah! I'm done for!"The world spun—Bensheng tumbled headfirst into the chasm. At
the very last moment, a stroke of luck blessed him, and he managed to articulate a clear phrase in human tongue: "Save me!""Bensheng!" Ananda, every feather on its body standing on end from terror, swooped down after him.But could a crow possibly catch a falling person?!Before it could even ponder the question, it was neatly caught by a slender, fair hand.Then, a blue silken sleeve brushed against Bensheng's shoulder. A soft, clear chant enveloped them—a short spell, its tones even and simple, yet somehow profoundly soothing.Somehow, they now stood upon a soft, billowing cloud. The sleeve imparted a steadying force, helping Bensheng find his footing. His face was still streaked with tears and snot, and he dared not breathe too heavily. His hands flailed wildly until they found and clutched the arm of their rescuer. Only then did he dare, trembling, to open his eyes.The setting sun bathed the drifting clouds in a magnificent tapestry of light. And centered within this brilliant sky, standing against the light and impossibly close, was a graceful figure.Her long eyebrows arched elegantly towards her temples, her eyes clear and luminous. She wore a long blue-green dress, with a jade flute tucked at her waist.Bensheng felt a sensation he couldn't quite describe.Gautama, Beimen... they were undoubtedly refined and exceptional cultivators. But neither possessed the same transcendent, ethereal quality as the person before him.Moreover, she had just saved him like a celestial maiden descending from heaven.The euphoria of having narrowly escaped death burst forth. He threw his arms around her, wailing, "Celestial Sister, you saved me!" promptly smearing tears and snot all over her blue-green dress.The "Celestial Sister" blinked, momentarily taken aback, but instead of being alarmed, she burst into laughter—so hard that she started hiccupping."Hahahaha—hic! I just had my fill of mortal food—hic! You little rascal, let go, stand properly, and speak clearly!"Ananda shot Bensheng a look of utter disdain. "Coward!" it chirped, then turned and landed obediently on the "Celestial Sister's" shoulder. "And what might your name be, fair sister?"Bensheng shuddered at the crow's sudden, cloying sweetness.The "Celestial Sister" raised an eyebrow, amused. "You callhima
coward? He is anything but. Just now, he performed the Kunlun secret art 'Passing Through Walls and Barriers' to traverse the forest, then used another technique, 'Path Beneath the Feet,' to tread upon the empty air. It was truly a spectacular sight. Little one, tell your sister, where did you learn such skills?"Bensheng, still clinging tightly to her sleeve, dared a glance back at the chasm and the forest. His face immediately clouded with confusion. "Passing Through Walls"? "Path Beneath the Feet"? Was she saying he had run in a straight line through that impossibly thick forest? That he hadwalkedon nothing but air this high up?How was that possible?!Their eyes met for only an instant before she gave him a soft, understanding smile. "So you yourself are unaware. Good. Very good! It seems this new class of disciples at Zhouku Academy won't be boring in the slightest." She reached out affectionately and booped him on the nose, making him blush with a mixture of embarrassment and shyness."Nothing good about it," Ananda retorted, its tone shifting back to impatience. "The Land Trial must be completed within one hour and three quarters. He's wasted too much time already. If he doesn't move now, he'll fail. And if he fails the Land Trial, he can forget about becoming a Zhouku disciple."Hearing this, Bensheng immediately grew frantic."Don't be afraid. I'll teach you. The secret arts of Kunlun aren't so difficult." The "Celestial Sister" declared spiritedly, taking Bensheng's hand and leading him to the edge of the cloud. She pointed towards the thousand-foot chasm and the cliff face to the west. "Do you remember the feeling from before?"He closed his eyes, concentrating..."Bensheng, do you trust Mother?""Of course! I believe everything Mother says!""Then listen to me. Close your eyes and run. Run as fast as you can. Youwillmake it out of here!"His eyes snapped open, meeting her gaze. She seemed to understand perfectly. "Remember this: 'All dharmas are born from the mind, manifested by the mind. All causes and effects, all worlds and minute particles, take form based on the mind.' The moment your step wavers, the path will vanish.""Mm."Bensheng peeked down at the canyon floor again, his legs instantly turning to jelly. He squeezed his eyes shut, put his hands
together in a gesture of focus, and without a moment's hesitation, stepped off the cloud."Celestial Sister, I believe you."Her eyes widened slightly. Within their clear, perceptive depths, she saw a solid, stone-arched bridge materialize, supporting Bensheng's every step. The bridge shimmered with golden motes of light, as sacred, bright, and pristine as the golden statues of Buddhas enshrined in great temple halls.Ananda didn't immediately follow Bensheng. Instead, it turned and fixed her with a probing stare."Just who are you?"She offered a faint, enigmatic smile."My name is Zhong Lixi. In the future, I may very well be your Court Supervisor."