Chapter 295

Chapter 295: Floating Light and Shadow with Me

Just as Wen Shaobao was ready for a confrontation, a voice rang out: "Li Yingjun, Wen Shaobao, Li Changtian, Ma Rongsheng, Qian Pingzhang, Luo Xiuna, Cheng Yuhuan, you seven have passed the initial screening, and will now proceed to the assessment phase. The elders of the sect will use extraordinary techniques to build the Floating Life Bridge. You need to walk across the bridge, taking more steps to earn higher scores, with a maximum score of one thousand."

Before the voice faded, clouds and mist surged ahead. As they cleared, an ancient and weathered long bridge appeared, seeming distant and majestic…

The long bridge was picturesque, contrasting sharply with the surrounding scenery. Li Hui observed for a moment before stepping onto it confidently.

Whether it was Heart Transformation or a changing heart, all changes ultimately stay true to their origin. After facing life and death several times, he had already solidified his heart of Dao and felt free and unrestrained, unaffected by external factors. Whether in the world or out of it was a matter of thought; he wanted to experience the Haotu Sect’s techniques.

On the Floating Life Bridge, it felt like walking through reflective surfaces.

Images flickered in the mirrors—some were luxurious and indulgent, others filled with songs and dances, while some revealed rebellion and drastic changes. Compared to Li Hui’s life journey, these obstacles truly seemed trivial. He responded openly and gracefully to each change, having already walked four hundred and fifty steps in no time.

With a ‘ding,’ the surrounding scenery transformed, revealing several houses. Memories flooded his mind like a burst dam, long-buried thoughts came rushing back—longing and reluctance.

"Father, Mother!" Li Hui approached two figures and knelt down, smiling as he said, "Before crossing the bridge, I prepared myself to see you today, and it actually came true."

His voice choked, and he continued, "Though you both live in my memories, I have feared to think of you until now. I realize I had been stubborn! Father, Mother, you surely hope for my well-being, and I am doing well now…"

The illusory scene revealed by the Floating Life Bridge became solidified by the golden light. Li Hui spoke at length, and finally stood up with a touch of sadness, saying, "Alright, I’ve chatted long enough! Father, thankfully I resemble Mother; no way do I look as handsome as you! In terms of looks, Mother was the most beautiful for miles around. When the plague came, you should have taken us and run; then maybe we could have had a good life…"

In the air outside the bridge, a woman in a flowing robe was astonished. "This kid can actually anchor the illusion. How did he manage that? It feels somewhat like Buddhist methods. The sect wouldn’t recruit a little bald donkey, would they?"

"His life path is difficult, struggling against fate," a square-faced monk appeared and replied lightly. "Such cultivators have a characteristic: they strive to grasp every potential force, even gaining insights into Demon Cultivator techniques isn’t surprising."

"Senior Brother, scaring people can kill them. You should personally check his luck. Don’t try to fool me with that ‘heavenly secrets should not be leaked’ nonsense. Tell me how he is!" The woman glared, her heart full of curiosity.

"He lacks luck; he is already like a dead man. Struggling against fate, he has snatched his life back. All the luck is in his hands now, based on techniques, I cannot deduce much. I can only ascertain his intentions are unpure, but…"

"Oh, but what? Senior Brother, if you keep this up, I’ll fight with you for three days and nights!" The woman tightened her sleeves with rage, the glimmer of her nails visible.

The square-faced monk looked distressed and revealed grumpily, "But if he enters the Haotu Sect, the sect may thrive. This kid’s biggest trait is that he cannot hold onto wealth; if you lend him a fortune, I guarantee he won’t even blink and will accept it, even complaining it’s too little."

After he spoke, the square-faced monk vanished into thin air.

"Senior Brother, where are you going?" The woman shouted, "No, you’re digging a pit for me to fall into. You must have calculated something and don’t want me to know."

At this moment, Li Hui bid farewell to his parents, wiped his eyes, and walked forward, never letting the illusion take effect at any time.

"Hmph, I thought he had some skills, but his will is so weak." Wen Shaobao looked back; he had walked eight hundred steps while maintaining clarity, unaffected by the Floating Life Bridge’s influence.

Retracting his gaze, Wen Shaobao watched ahead, noticing that the young man named Li Changtian was actually moving faster than he was, nearing nine hundred steps.

Li Hui was now free of burdens, his robes fluttering as he flew past five hundred steps. The leading Li Changtian had only taken a few steps; Li Hui had already completed six hundred steps and immediately rushed past seven hundred and eight hundred steps.

In the illusion, people experienced different lives: some became great rogues controlling others’ lives and deaths; others were scholars achieving fame; some found beauty to marry.

Each scene presented a variety of life experiences: there was war and chaos, romance under the moonlight, and family gatherings through generations, making it seem a question to ponder at every encounter: has your heart changed?

As he reached nine hundred steps, the illusion became more real, and within it, he began to lose himself. Both Wen Shaobao and Li Changtian slowed down, while Li Hui remained swift.

He was a monk, full of compassion, having great enlightenment!

He was a warrior, charging onto the battlefield, valuing righteousness first!

He was a scholar, tirelessly studying, quoting classic texts!

He was a Daoist, respecting all beings, smiling and bowing!

There were tears, there was laughter, there was fatigue, and there was ease. Humor and anger were part of his practice; he did not resist the illusion but instead roamed through it with a versatile character.

"How vast is the intention to unfold, winding and flowing back into emptiness. Having form does not burden anything, and without trace, goes with the wind. Don’t blame me for shadowing your path; floating light and shadow accompany me," Li Hui brushed off the dust from his robe, exuding an ethereal aura. He, like clouds, drifted over the long bridge with the gentle breeze.

The female cultivator from the Haotu Sect brightened her eyes, praising, "What an exquisite ‘Floating Light and Shadow with Me’! Clouds and winds are entwined, chasing each other; it’s both cloud and wind—how could they be restrained by illusions?"

Li Hui continued forward. When his figure disappeared, Li Changtian, drenched in sweat, finished his thousand steps. Wen Shaobao hung on to nine hundred and fifty steps, experiencing a mental shock, fell from the bridge, landing in a dirty heap.

Wen Shaobao sighed, "After putting in all that effort, it was all for nothing. At least I’m much better off than that Li guy; he must have fallen off halfway, leaving in disgrace."

The first test was about the heart; the second test was about strategy.

What strategy exactly? As Li Hui reached the dark cave entrance, he examined the densely engraved terms on the adjacent wall. The golden lines on his forehead flashed continuously, gradually leading him to understand.

"Ah, I see. Seven people form a group, gathering seven groups to enter the cave. There are five hundred sixty-eight clauses here, many of which contain contradictions that require summarizing to find loopholes. You can either trick others into losing points or cleverly find ways to score for yourself—it will need collaboration."

"This could become troublesome. The Horse Keeper clearly looks down on me; Li Changtian is a maverick, and the other four I know nothing about. This is quite the conundrum."

Just then, a young man in a dragon robe approached from the mountain path. He ripped off the dragon robe with a "rip" and let the glowing fabric fall.

"Hmph, I finally waited for the Haotu Sect to recruit disciples! What’s a prince or a grandson? They’re living worse than commoners. Let me show them how to manipulate the world!"

"Hey, someone got here before me." The young man leaped to the cave entrance, right as he crossed paths with Li Hui.