10: Three questions to pry into the heart, the first signs in the harem.

The white light emanating from the bronze giant gate was not dazzling; instead, it carried a gentle penetrative power, as if it could shine into the depths of one's Soul. The grand voice still echoed on the platform, and the six words "Those who answer live, those who defy die" carried an undeniable power of rules, causing the hearts of the four present to sink.

Ghost Hand Li Wuchang's eyes flickered with a faint light. He was the first to step forward, his voice hoarse: "Playing tricks! Whatever the question, just ask!" Death Qi surged around him, clearly intending to break through with force.

Gongsun Yu, on the other hand, blinked her large eyes, curiously examining the giant gate, her thunder light silver ring humming slightly in her hand, appearing both nervous and excited.

Su Wanqing subconsciously looked at Lin Xuan, her clear, cold eyes filled with inquiry. Lin Xuan shook his head slightly at her, signaling to wait and see.

Just then, the white light suddenly split into four strands, like intelligent tentacles, instantly enveloping the four people on the platform!

Lin Xuan only felt a blur before his eyes, and the surrounding scenery changed dramatically! Li Wuchang, Gongsun Yu, Su Wanqing, and even the bronze giant gate had disappeared. He seemed to be in a state of absolute nothingness, with Chaos above, below, and all around, only a massive, mirror-smooth light wall floating before him.

"The first question, question your own heart." The grand, cold voice resounded directly in his Sea of Consciousness. "What is your Dao?"

Ripples spread across the light wall, and images began to appear—his previous life, unremarkable and ending in an accidental death; then his Transmigration, becoming a Trash in the Qinglan Sect, enduring scorn; then his binding of the System, his first investment in Su Wanqing, and obtaining the frost silence immortal sword; subsequently, fighting alongside Su Wanqing, confiding under the moonlight, ambiguously interacting with Qu Feiyan, and ascending the Immortal Ladder... His important experiences since Transmigration flashed by like a revolving lantern.

Finally, the scene froze on him holding the frost silence immortal sword, standing at the peak of the sky, with tens of thousands of immortals and demons subservient at his feet, and behind him were the figures of Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and several other peerlessly beautiful and powerful women.

"For eternal life? For power? For authority? For beauties?" The voice questioned again, with a power that directly pointed to his true heart. "What do you seek?"

Lin Xuan looked at the seemingly glorious future scene on the light wall, but his heart was perfectly clear. He took a deep breath and declared loudly: "My Dao lies in control! I want eternal life, I want power, I want freedom and ease, and I want the beauties I adore! But all of this must be controlled by my own hands, not by fate or bestowed by others! The System is my tool, the Immortal Sword is my weapon, the beauties are my Karma, all are steps for me to reach the peak and control my own destiny!"

His voice was strong and firm, without the slightest hesitation. Opportunism? No, this was his true heart. Having Transmigrated and bound the System, wasn't everything he did to escape the mediocrity of his previous life and the shackles of this life, to firmly grasp everything in his own hands?

"Good." The cold voice seemed unfazed. The images on the light wall shattered, and the wisp of white light retracted.

Almost at the same time, Lin Xuan's consciousness returned, finding himself still standing in place. Su Wanqing next to him also happened to open her eyes, looking at him with a hint of relief and the same determination, clearly having passed the first question as well.

On the other side, however, the situation was not good.

"No—! My Dao is slaughter! Slaughter all who block me! Devour all that strengthens my Soul! The Ghost Dao is also a Grand Dao!" Li Wuchang let out a shrill roar. Death Qi surged wildly around him, his face contorted in a grimace, seemingly resisting something. The wisp of white light enveloping him flickered violently, then rapidly contracted!

"Bang!"

With a muffled sound, Li Wuchang's body was crushed by an invisible immense force, instantly exploding into a mist of blood. Not even his Divine Soul escaped, completely annihilated! The dense Death Qi was also purified by the white light, dissipating into nothingness.

Those who answer live, those who defy die! The rules were merciless!

Gongsun Yu's small face was pale, and she patted her chest, still shaken: "You scared me to death. That old ghost had too much malevolence and a twisted Dao Heart, so his death was not unjust." She looked at Lin Xuan and Su Wanqing, revealing a sweet smile, "Fellow Daoists, it seems we are allies for now?"

Lin Xuan made no comment, merely turning his gaze to the remaining wisp of white light—the one belonging to Su Wanqing.

Su Wanqing felt his gaze and nodded slightly, signaling that she was fine. Her first question concerned her Bloodline and Dao path, and when it came to her "like-minded" bond with Lin Xuan, her answer was firm and without regret.

"The second question, question Karma." The grand voice sounded again, this time directed at the remaining three. "Your Karma, your bonds, do they aid your Dao, or hinder your Dao?"

The white light enveloped the three again, but this time it did not pull them into an illusion. Instead, it directly manifested before them the scenes of their deepest Karmic bonds.

Before Lin Xuan, the light wall displayed Su Wanqing's clear and ethereal figure, next to her was Qu Feiyan's seductive and charming smile, and even in the distance, Gu Qingqing's lazy and hazy shadow could vaguely be seen... Invisible Karmic threads connected them to Lin Xuan.

"Entangled with beauties, complex Karma, what benefit is there to the Dao?" The voice questioned.

Lin Xuan looked at those figures, especially Su Wanqing's trusting eyes, and a slight curve appeared at the corner of his mouth: "To pass through a field of flowers without a single leaf clinging is due to being heartless. Since my heart has been moved, I do not fear Karma! They are witnesses to my Dao path, and also a part of my Dao path! Hindrance? No, their existence is an aid to my Dao!" His words carried immense confidence. The System's existence gave him the assurance to transform all these various karmic connections into his own resources!

"Arrogant, yet... clear-minded and self-accepting of Karma. Permitted." The white light swept past, and the second question was passed.

Before Su Wanqing, Lin Xuan's figure appeared, along with the intricate Karmic lines of her Sect and Family. Her answer was clear and concise: "Where my heart lies, there is my Dao path. Bonds are not hindrances, but lamps that spur me forward." She chose to follow her true heart, explicitly placing Lin Xuan at the core.

Before Gongsun Yu, scenes of her Family elders, various Heaven And Earth Treasures, and Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals appeared. She tilted her head, thought for a moment, and then giggled: "Karma, of course, is a good thing! It's foolish not to use a backer, and stupid not to take treasures! As long as my true heart doesn't change, these are all steps to help me cultivate faster and more steadily!" Her answer carried the cunning and insight of a noble Family's child, yet it also pointed directly to her true heart.

All three successfully passed the second question.

"The third question, question the Grand Dao." The voice sounded one last time, with the implication of a final judgment. "In the struggle for the Grand Dao, there is only a sliver of life. If your closest kin, dearest love, and most trusted friend contend with you for the Dao, what will you do?"

This time, there was no illusion, no images, only a direct interrogation of the Soul.

Almost the instant the question fell, the subtle balance between Lin Xuan, Su Wanqing, and Gongsun Yu was instantly shattered! An invisible instigation and competitive intent, accompanied by the temptation of a sliver of "life," forcibly poured into the perceptions of the three! As if telling them to eliminate the other two to monopolize the Misty Immortal Palace Opportunity!

Gongsun Yu's smile instantly vanished, lightning flickered in her eyes, and her hand instinctively pressed against her Storage Pouch, vigilantly looking at Lin Xuan and Su Wanqing.

Su Wanqing's lunar essence instinctively gathered around her, an icy aura permeated, and when her clear, cold eyes looked at Lin Xuan, a trace of extremely complex struggle flashed within them. The struggle for the Grand Dao was incredibly cruel... However, Lin Xuan suddenly smiled at this moment. Not only did he not show hostility, but he even took a step forward, standing in front of Su Wanqing, calmly looking at Gongsun Yu, and the unseen interrogation.

"My Grand Dao can accommodate my closest kin, my dearest love, and even those with shared aspirations!" His voice was clear and resonant, carrying an undeniable domineering aura. "If I cannot even protect those around me, if I must sacrifice them, then this Grand Dao is not worth cultivating! Contention? My Dao does not need to contend through sacrifice! I have my own means to ascend to the other shore with my beauties!"

These words were extremely arrogant, yet they perfectly aligned with his previous true heart of "controlling everything"! The System was his greatest assurance, and investment returns were his unique means of "contention"! Harem? That was not merely desire, but also a part of his Grand Dao!

That unseen intent seemed to be intimidated by this "heretical" declaration. After circling for a moment, it slowly retreated.

The white light enveloping the three dissipated simultaneously.

The bronze giant gate emitted a heavy "creaking" sound, and the gap slowly widened, eventually opening completely! Behind the door, ten thousand rays of immortal light shone, and an extremely rich immortal spiritual Qi rushed forth. Pavilions, towers, exotic flowers, and rare herbs were vaguely visible, as if a true Immortal Realm had opened!

The third question, passed!

Gongsun Yu let out a long breath, patted her chest, and looked at Lin Xuan with surprise and a hint of imperceptible interest: "Fellow Daoist Lin, what you just said... it was truly overbearing! But I like it! Happy to cooperate?" She giggled and moved a few steps closer.

Su Wanqing also breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Lin Xuan's back with softened eyes. His unhesitating action of shielding her just now, and his declaration of "ascending to the other shore with beauties," dispelled the last trace of gloom in her heart caused by the "struggle for the Grand Dao."

Lin Xuan turned back, giving Su Wanqing a reassuring smile, and then nodded to Gongsun Yu: "Inside the Misty Immortal Palace, dangers lurk everywhere. Temporary cooperation is naturally fine."

He took Su Wanqing's hand and was the first to step into the open Misty Immortal Palace gate. Seeing this, Gongsun Yu immediately followed, chattering: "Fellow Daoist Lin, Sister Su, what were you asked just now? That Ghost Hand died so miserably..."

Watching the three figures disappear inside the Misty Immortal Palace gate, the clouds at the edge of the platform subtly rippled, and a red silhouette quietly emerged—it was Qu Feiyan. She looked at the open giant gate, a trace of complexity flashing in her charming eyes.

"Ascend to the other shore with beauties? Junior Martial Brother, your appetite is quite large..." Her red lips curved slightly, revealing a meaningful smile. "However, this elder sister doesn't like to be left out..."

With a flash of her figure, she also transformed into a red shadow, silently gliding into the Misty Immortal Palace gate.

The Misty Immortal Palace exploration officially began. And Lin Xuan's declaration of "ascending to the other shore with beauties" also seemed to foreshadow that his path to a harem would officially unfold within this Misty Immortal Palace.