The people within the illusion were real in their own world, but mere phantasms within the Phantom Cloud Mirror.
Everything experienced within the mirror was an illusion, yet the knowledge gained was real.
This was the power of the immortal artifact known as the Phantom Cloud Mirror.
Everything in the surroundings could lead to different outcomes based on the different choices made by the cultivators.
A cultivator's consciousness entered the mirror, trading a short amount of time in the outside world for countless life experiences within the illusion.
As long as one did not lose themselves within the illusion, the Phantom Cloud Mirror was the most helpful immortal artifact for a cultivator to temper their state of mind.
For this Inner Disciple Promotion Competition, the three illusions they experienced were specifically woven for them by the sect using the mirror.
The initial circumstances and appearances of the three illusions were identical for everyone.
It was like 693 identical sets of illusions into which 693 different consciousnesses were cast.
Though they all started from the same point, their subsequent paths were determined by their own choices.
The first illusion was a choice regarding wealth.
The second illusion was a choice regarding power.
These first two illusions were basic tests of their character.
The true difficulty and the focus of the assessment lay in the third illusion: Desperate Situation.
From the moment they entered the immortal sect, they were talented prodigies with outstanding spirit roots, receiving the orthodox cultivation of Xiaoyao.
Natural talent was their advantage, but it could also become a hidden danger in the future.
Things had been too smooth; from the start of their cultivation journey, everything had been too easy.
Thus, the third illusion was created.
It served as both an experience and a test.
They had to experience the aptitude of low-grade five-element spirit roots and the situation of being rejected by all sects.
It tested how they would choose in such a desperate situation.
If they chose to cultivate, it further tested how they would achieve qi induction and step onto the path of cultivation under such dire circumstances.
If a cultivator failed to pass even the first two illusions, it meant their heart was not set on cultivation, or their resolve was not firm enough.
To each their own; as long as they harbored no malice toward Xiaoyao, the sect would not force them.
However, in such cases, they were temporarily unfit for promotion to the inner sect and needed to remain in the outer sect for further tempering.
Only upon reaching Foundation Establishment would they be automatically promoted to inner disciples.
Cultivators who chose to give up on cultivation in the third illusion were handled in the same manner.
Disciples who chose to cultivate in all three instances were considered to have successfully been promoted to inner disciples.
After that, it became a matter of ranking.
Even with all the hesitation, the three choices didn't take up too much time.
The bulk of the time was spent in the third illusion.
Whoever could be the first to successfully achieve qi induction and exit the third illusion would be the top disciple of the Class 11,680 inner disciples.
With the causes and consequences clear in her heart, the surrounding mist receded.
When Gu Ningyun regained her senses, she found herself on the Governing Peak plaza, right in front of the Phantom Cloud Mirror and before Perfected Person Ye Tingran.
“First place of the 11,680th Inner Disciple Promotion Competition of Xiaoyao: Gu Ningyun.”
Ye Tingran’s voice echoed across the entire Governing Peak plaza, followed by gasps of surprise from the surrounding cultivators.
Only then did Gu Ningyun realize that an unknown number of onlookers had gathered around the Phantom Cloud Mirror, including veteran disciples from both the inner and outer sects.
“When an anomaly appears in the Phantom Cloud Mirror, it means a cultivator has passed the test and exited. I headed straight for the transmission hall as soon as I saw it. Luckily, I made it in time!”
“The first place of the Inner Disciple Promotion Competition is indeed Gu Ningyun, just as I guessed! I’ve been following her since the New Disciple Competition—she’s a ruthless one who can cultivate music, sword arts, spells, and talismans all at once. A small test like that third illusion must have been a piece of cake for her.”
“Ningyun, you really took first place! Congratulations!”
Martial Aunt Yang and Martial Uncle Lu had also arrived; those were their voices.
Hearing them, she looked around and waved her arms in response to the two guides who had looked after her since she first entered the sect.
“Ningyun, we music cultivators are the strongest. You must remember to come to Music—cough, cough, cough, cough...”
This was Martial Aunt Kong’s voice. Seeing her clutching her throat as if she were having trouble breathing and couldn't speak, Gu Ningyun felt a bit worried.
What was wrong with Martial Aunt Kong? Was she so excited to congratulate her that she started choking?
Before she could ask, Perfected Person Ye’s voice sounded beside her.
“Ningyun, the next step after being promoted to an inner disciple is to select a master. The seniors of the various peaks are in the Sect Leader Hall. You should go now.”
“Perfected Person, does the Inner Disciple Promotion Competition only consist of the Phantom Cloud Mirror assessment? Is there no combat?”
“Didn't you all already fight during the New Disciple Competition? The inner peaks already have a certain understanding of your combat abilities. It’s only been a few years; what is there to compare?”
As Ye Tingran spoke, her gaze seemed to drift toward Kong Lingyan.
With a hint of a smile in her voice, she continued, “There are only 693 of you. Even if every single person exited the illusion and successfully promoted, there wouldn't be many to go around when split among the seventy-two inner peaks and four main peaks. Among these peaks, the seniors who have reached the Nascent Soul stage and wish to take on disciples have been watching you since the New Disciple Competition. The assessment of the Phantom Cloud Mirror was merely to make up for what the New Disciple Competition lacked. As the final gate, it was only meant to test your state of mind.”
After thanking Perfected Person Ye, Gu Ningyun turned and headed for the Sect Leader Hall.
As soon as she entered, she saw a young man sitting in the seat of honor a hundred meters ahead, with a purple Sect Leader identity jade token at his waist.
On either side of the Sect Leader sat several rows of high-level cultivators, arranged from the inner to the outer seats.
Each of these high-level cultivators held a handheld sub-mirror, which displayed the progress of different disciples within the illusion.
The moment Gu Ningyun stepped through the door, the gazes of all these cultivators converged on her.
Her footsteps faltered almost imperceptibly, but she did not let her eyes wander.
She raised her hands and performed a proper, respectful junior's salute.
“Disciple Gu Ningyun greets the Sect Leader, the Peak Masters, the elders, and all my seniors.”
Catching the expressions of several cultivators sitting nearby out of the corner of her eye, Gu Ningyun became even more confused.
How was she reading shock, admiration, and... heartache in their expressions?
From the moment Gu Ningyun entered the third illusion, the Sect Leader and the Peak Masters of Spirit-Attuning Peak, Music Peak, Book Peak, Sword Peak, and Talisman Peak had fallen into silence.
Noticing their strange behavior, more powerful cultivators had adjusted the displays on their sub-mirrors to match and taken a look.
After that, many of them held their mirrors and let out long sighs.
Eventually, the entire Sect Leader Hall fell into a heavy silence, broken only by occasional sighs.
Even though the Phantom Cloud Mirror had used clouds to obscure her body when Gu Ningyun undressed to treat her wounds out of respect for her privacy...
Just by watching the attacks that had landed on her mortal body and seeing the reactions of those around her...
And relying on their centuries of cultivation experience...
They could infer just how severe those injuries were.
In the illusion, she had been a mere mortal, a six-year-old child.
Even outside the illusion, she was only eleven.
When did the genius disciple whom Xiaoyao protected in the palm of its hand ever need to fall into such a tragic situation just to cultivate?
Even if their reason told them such a test was necessary...
Emotionally, they wondered for the first time if this test was a bit too cruel for these young disciples.
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