Chapter 19
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Chapter 19: Terror and the Dao Heart
“645… 644… 639…”
One by one, the figures of his classmates materialized before Qian Shen. He could not make out their features, but he could clearly see the scores displayed above their heads.
“680, 690, 660…”
Each score was impossibly high and dazzlingly bright, leaving Qian Shen feeling utterly ashamed in that moment.
Standing before his classmates, he felt like a pathetic, insignificant lackey.
“Standing among them, I’m like a bag of wet garbage.”
“With a mere 600-point scrub like me does not deserve to be here, let alone speak to them or even approach them…”
In his eyes, the scores above his classmates’ heads continued to climb as their figures grew ever taller, becoming like giants reaching into the clouds. Eventually, he could only see their legs, their faces disappearing from view.
***
Meanwhile, on the other side of the art exhibition, Li Xingyu’s drone from Radiant Mountain High School traced an arc through the air before slowly gliding toward the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait.
But the next moment, with a crackling explosion, the drone seemed to malfunction. It wobbled erratically before crashing to the ground.
“Soul Cultivators from Radiant Mountain High School, with their contracts already in place, should not be here causing trouble,” Li Xuelian murmured softly. She then turned her gaze from the drone and continued observing the other students.
“It is a shame,” she mused. “Almost all the students trying their luck this time are First-Years. Second or third-year students would have a much better chance of mastering the martial arts in the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait.”
“But it is understandable,” she added. “The top students in Second and Third Year are either too old or are already bound by contracts. They would not be looking for a Master now.”
Just then, the radiantly golden-clad Director of the Immortal Cloud Group’s Songyang City branch approached Li Xuelian with a smile. “This Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait, drawn by True Person Starfire’s brush, is truly marvelous. I wonder what exactly it tests?”
Li Xuelian did not directly answer the question. Instead, she replied calmly, “The first trial of the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait is the Dao Heart.”
“Those who cannot withstand it are often forced to retreat and may even be left with a flaw in their Dao Heart.”
***
Zhao Tianxing felt the contemptuous, mocking gazes of countless people around him. He could not help but stumble back again and again, moving away from the effective range of the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait.
When he came back to his senses and observed his surroundings, he realized that the “entire audience watching” and the “contemptuous gazes” had been nothing more than effects of the portrait.
Realizing he had completely failed the portrait’s trial, his face flushed crimson. He retreated quickly, desperate that no one would notice the security guard who had so thoroughly humiliated himself.
***
Back at the art exhibition, Li Xuelian continued, “If you can pass this first trial, it will naturally temper your Dao Heart.
“Most of us Cultivators rely on Mental Cultivation Techniques to improve our Dao Heart Level.”
“But different Mental Cultivation Techniques require different mindsets to resonate with them.”
“For example, the Ancient Divine Invocation Mind Art demands absolute devotion and unwavering faith in the deities. The more devout the practitioner is, the more effective the technique becomes.”
“Similarly, Purple Cloud High School’s Heavenly Diligence Inner Canon requires Cultivators to cultivate austerity to the extreme, integrating arduous practice into their very instincts to achieve maximum efficacy.”
“Then there is the Basic Heart Refining Method for high school beginners, which emphasizes tranquility and concentration. It requires the mindset of quiet endurance and persistent effort, like water dripping drop by drop and eroding the stone.”
“There are countless Mental Cultivation Techniques to enhance the Dao Heart, each with varying levels of effectiveness. But the key lies in whether the practitioner’s mindset aligns with the technique.”
“However, the human mind is inscrutable. Whether someone’s thoughts truly resonate with a technique is difficult to ascertain. Not only outsiders but sometimes even the practitioners themselves may not fully understand.”
“Fortunately, the stronger one’s Dao Heart is, the stronger their willpower becomes. Using the strength of one’s willpower to measure their Dao Heart Level and test the effectiveness of Mental Cultivation Technique improvements became the simplest method.”
“However, the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait does not merely test willpower to determine Dao Heart strength.
The Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait targets the deepest fears within the heart. It directly strikes at the soul’s vulnerabilities without giving practitioners a chance to resist with their Mental Cultivation Technique. It tests their most primal reactions.”
“When confronted with these spiritual weaknesses, one can only pass the test by promptly adjusting their thoughts to mend the flaws within.”
The Songyang City Director of the Immortal Cloud Group’s eyes lit up as he said, “I understand. Senior Starfire seeks a disciple with a flexible mind? Someone who can practice the Divine Invocation Mind Art and switch between different deities, or practice the Heavenly Diligence Inner Canon and excel at both diligent cultivation and at simply ‘lying flat’ even while striving?”
[Note: “Lying flat” (躺平, tǎng píng) is a significant cultural concept originating in contemporary China. It describes a conscious rejection of societal pressures for relentless striving, overwork, and hyper-competition (often referred to as “involution” or 内卷 nèijuǎn)]
Li Xuelian nodded. “There are countless Mental Cultivation Techniques. It is ideal when one’s thoughts align perfectly with a technique. But only those who can constantly adapt their thinking to changing environments and shifting techniques are true geniuses, unbound by any single method.
“Especially now, as society develops at an ever-accelerating pace, the Ten Great Sects exert influence over every aspect of life. Kunxu as a whole is undergoing rapid transformation. If our thoughts fail to adapt in time, we will fall behind.”
“For example, in today’s world, passing exams and achieving high scores are essential for embarking on the path of Cultivation. These have long been integrated into the lives of every Cultivator.”
“Consequently, modern Cultivators naturally develop an obsession with exams and scores.”
“Possessing excellent scores and a strong attachment to them can steel a top student’s willpower, making it easier to advance their Dao Heart Level.”
“But conversely, this also represents a spiritual weakness. There will always be someone better, and temporary success does not guarantee lasting superiority. The more confident top students are when they are at the top, the more insecure they become when they fall behind.”
“To overcome this spiritual weakness, cultivators must be flexible and promptly adapt their way of thinking. This is the key to passing the test.”
“For instance, there was a student who repeatedly received low scores on exams in the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait trial. Ultimately, they conquered their fear of low scores and forged a kind of ‘lying flat’ Ideology.”
***
As Lian Tianji listened to the Teacher announce the exam results, he suddenly burst into loud laughter. “Hahaha! Since I’ve already become the last-place slacker, I’ll just start from scratch!”
“From today on, I am the most useless, the worst-performing slacker.”
“But as a slacker, I also have a chance to surpass all of you and claim the top spot!”
“I will become the top student in the grade!”
As he conquered his inner fear, he felt as if he had returned to the art exhibition. The Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait before him grew increasingly clear.
***
Li Xuelian continued, “The Kunxu has 36 layers above ground and 18 layers below. Each layer represents a different world, and whether human or Immortal, all are stratified into hierarchies. This hierarchy is ingrained in every Immortal Cultivator’s bones, influencing their deepest thoughts.”
“Like a bit ago, the student in the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait endured endless layers of oppression, ultimately developing a ‘delusional mindset’.”
***
Qian Shen watched as giants with scores far surpassing his own rose from the ground, growing taller and taller until their faces became indistinct.
Only the scores above the giants’ heads continued to climb, emitting a dazzling light.
He tried to keep pace, but it was futile.
As the giants grew increasingly exaggerated in height and their scores soared, his mood shifted from tension to fear, then from fear to despair, and finally to a numb resignation.
He collapsed to the ground, no longer looking at the giants’ figures.
“Fine,” he muttered.
“I just won’t chase them.”
“As long as I can cultivate, that’s all that matters. Even if I can’t surpass anyone, as long as I can cultivate, that’s enough.”
As if waking from a dream, Qian Shen opened his eyes while lying on the ground, gazing at the art exhibition and the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait before him. A look of understanding dawned in his eyes.
***
At the art exhibition, the Immortal Cloud Group’s Songyang City branch Director listened to Li Xuelian’s analysis and agreed, “Changes in thought are inseparable from the influence of societal development.”
He speculated, “In today’s society, everyone relies on borrowing. I imagine this will also be reflected in the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait trials, will it not?”
“Precisely,” Li Xuelian nodded and said, “There was once a student who, during the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait trial, confronted the terrifying reality of repaying debts on the Path to Immortality. In the end, they adopted a ‘deadbeat’ mentality.”
***
As she watched the debt-collecting thunderclouds gathering in the sky, Bai Zhenzhen crouched down in terror.
“Wait! I’ll pay you back!”
“Fine, I’ll pay you back!”
“Just don’t strike me!”
She frantically opened her phone to check her accounts, trying to see how much she owed and how much she could repay.
“800,000 yuan?!”
Opening the first lending platform, Bai Zhenzhen’s heart sank.
Then, the 1.2 million yuan debt on the second platform sent cold sweat pouring down her back.
2 million… 5 million… 8 million…
As the total debt she calculated in her mind kept growing, her hand holding the phone gradually went limp and fell to her side.
A staggering eight million yuan in debt. For a high school student, such a massive sum could either lead to a complete collapse or something else entirely.
Bai Zhenzhen suddenly collapsed onto the ground, staring at the thunderbolts in the sky as she shouted, “If you’ve got the guts, then strike me dead!”
“If you kill me, the 8 million yuan will vanish into thin air!”
Seeing the lingering thunderbolts, Bai Zhenzhen continued, “You can either strike me dead, and the 8 million will vanish into thin air.”
“Or you can find me some work. I’ll earn money and pay you back.”
As the heavenly thunder gradually dissipated, the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait reappeared before Bai Zhenzhen.
Watching the figures within the portrait demonstrates the martial arts, Bai Zhenzhen felt a glimmer of understanding dawn on her.
***
At the art exhibition, Li Xuelian sighed, “Whether it is ‘delusional mindset ‘, ‘lying flat’, or being a ‘deadbeat’, these are all just mental states used to resist immense pressure. While these trials can temper their will and Dao Heart, their futures ultimately depend on how they navigate the reality.”
“After all, this is just the first stage of the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait – merely a threshold.”
She recalled how her father had once tested her Dao Heart when she was in high school.
Back then, her greatest fear had been her father. During the trial, he had ruthlessly suppressed her. Under that crushing pressure, she had finally fought back and embraced the ‘filial exploitation’ mindset. After awakening, she had ruthlessly drained the old man of his “gold coins”, and her cultivation soared at an astonishing rate.
But not long after, the pressures from all aspects of real society, coupled with her father’s actions, rekindled her respect and reverence for him.
[Note: “Draining the old man of his ‘gold coins'” (爆老东西金币) is modern Chinese internet slang derived from video games. “爆金币” (bào jīnbì) means to make an enemy drop loot or money upon defeat. Here, it metaphorically means she took a large amount of money or resources from her father after “defeating” him in the trial of wills.]
The Immortal Cloud Group’s Songyang City branch Director nodded slightly, acknowledging that Li Xuelian was right. The effects of a Dao Heart trial were only temporary.
After all, human thoughts were constantly changing. How could the fleeting influence of a Dao Heart trial withstand the enduring impact of the entire real world pressing in day after day?
Li Xuelian continued, “After passing the first trial and overcoming the terror in one’s heart, the true stage of comprehension begins.”
“And even after passing the comprehending stage, whether one can ultimately achieve mastery is another matter entirely.”
The Director nodded, understanding that overcoming ones spiritual weakness, comprehending the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait, and mastering the Martial Dao were the three stages to learning from it.
“So, how many of the people here do you think will succeed?”
Li Xuelian surveyed the assembled students and shook her head. “I doubt even one will make it.”
***
As Zhang Yu watched the figure on the Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait gradually become clearer and begin to practice a fist technique, a sudden chill surged through his heart.
Please adhere to the Ritual’s Covenant. Strive to fulfill your wish. Do not intentionally slack off or delay. 10.
Zhang Yu was taken aback. “But isn’t my current effort to comprehend the Martial Arts Portrait already part of my diligent study and my path toward getting into a good university?”
However, the chilling presence offered no response and merely continued its countdown.
Please adhere to the Ritual’s Covenant. Strive to fulfill your wish. Do not intentionally slack off or delay. 9.
Please adhere to the Ritual’s Covenant. Strive to fulfill your wish. Do not intentionally slack off or delay. 8.
With no other choice, Zhang Yu sat down and attempted to cultivate spiritual energy with the Breathing Technique, hoping to halt the countdown.
As he began to practice the Breathing Technique, the chilling sensation gradually dissipated, and the countdown stopped.
“This idiot ritual…”
While Zhang Yu was practicing the Breathing Technique and cursing the Ritual Power, another surge of intense coldness coursed through his body.
Please adhere to the Ritual’s Covenant. Strive to fulfill your wish. Do not intentionally slack off or delay. 10.
Hearing this new countdown, Zhang Yu was stunned.
“Wait… I’m working hard to cultivate!”
“Why is there another countdown?”
“What’s wrong with this stupid thing?”
Zhang Yu stopped practicing the Breathing Technique to test the situation. He found that the surging coldness and the countdown did not disappear. Instead, another wave of coldness and a new countdown appeared.
Listening to the two countdowns echoing in his mind, alternating and counting down, Zhang Yu finally understood what was happening.
“There are two countdowns?”
“Is one of them fake?”
