320: Chapter 320, Level 3

At the hour of the dragon, the sky had fully brightened. The thin mist in the mountains had not yet dispersed, and sunlight filtered through the haze, casting a soft golden hue over the entire Qingyun Sect. Fifty-three examinees who had passed the first two rounds gathered in the open space in front of the guest quarters, most with expressions of mixed nervousness and anticipation. Ling Ye stood in the crowd, his expression calm, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings as he silently noted the terrain and orientation.

The Guide Disciple from yesterday appeared on time. Without any unnecessary small talk, he simply said, "Follow me," and turned to walk up the mountain. The group followed quietly behind him, passing through a bamboo forest and skirting a small training ground, finally stopping in front of a stone hall.

The stone hall was built against the mountain, constructed entirely of greenish-grey stone with minimal decoration, save for two archaic characters carved above the main entrance—'Heart Hall'. The doors were tightly shut, with two Green-robed Disciples standing guard on either side, their expressions solemn.

The Guide Disciple stopped and turned to face the crowd: "The third trial is a test of will. You will enter the Heart Hall one by one and remain inside for the duration of one incense stick. The hall is equipped with a Formation that will stir the distracting thoughts, fears, and obsessions within your hearts. Those who persist until the incense burns out will pass. Those who withdraw midway, lose consciousness, or are carried out by the guards inside will be eliminated."

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping across the crowd: "There is no technique to this trial. How long you can last depends entirely on whether your heart is firm."

Some in the crowd took deep breaths, some clenched their fists, and others muttered under their breath as if to psych themselves up. Ling Ye stood in the crowd, listening quietly without any extra reaction. A test of will—he had experienced countless mental impacts in the Star Gate World. The erosion of the abyssal eye pollution, the backlash of Order energy, and countless moments on the verge of collapse. He did not know how the Formation of this world would test him, but he had confidence in his own willpower.

The examinees began to enter one by one. Everyone went in with a grave expression, but their states upon coming out varied—some were pale and covered in cold sweat, being helped out by guards; some had unsteady footsteps and vacant eyes but managed to walk out on their own; there were also a few who came out looking normal, just slightly fatigued, clearly having successfully endured the trial.

The line moved forward slowly. Ling Ye stood in the queue, quietly observing the expressions and states of everyone who emerged, attempting to deduce how the Formation inside operated. However, he quickly discovered that everyone's reactions were different—some seemed to have experienced immense fear, some seemed to have experienced profound sorrow, and others came out full of anger, as if they had been in a heated argument inside. It seemed this Formation was not a fixed illusion but varied from person to person, attacking the weakest part of each individual's heart.

Finally, it was Ling Ye's turn. He stepped forward, and the two Green-robed Disciples pushed open the heavy stone doors. A wave of stale air carrying a faint scent of sandalwood surged out from the hall. He crossed the threshold, and the stone doors behind him slowly closed with a dull thud.

The interior was more spacious than he had imagined. The light was dim, with only a few oil lamps on the walls providing a faint source of illumination. In the very center of the floor, a circular Formation pattern was carved, its lines intricate, with light faintly flowing within them. Other than that, it was completely empty.

Ling Ye stood still in the center of the Formation, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled. He closed his eyes, relaxed his body, and waited for the trial to arrive.

At first, nothing happened.

Then, he heard a sound.

It did not come from outside but resonated directly within his mind. The voice was blurred, as if separated by a thick curtain of water; the content was unclear, but he could feel a strong emotional fluctuation—sadness, anger, fear, despair. Various negative emotions surged like a tide, wave after wave, attempting to breach his mental defenses.

Ling Ye did not resist. He had experienced far more direct and violent mental attacks than this. This level of emotional intrusion was like scratching an itch through a boot for him. He simply stood there quietly, letting those waves of emotion wash over him, neither resisting nor responding, nor being drawn in.

Those emotional waves seemed to sense his "non-cooperation" and began to intensify. The blurred sounds became clear, transforming into countless voices; some were screaming, some were weeping, and some were cursing. He heard his mother's voice—not a true memory, but a projection of the concept of "mother" extracted by the Formation from the depths of his heart—calling his name, the voice filled with pain and despair.

Ling Ye's heart twitched slightly, but he still did not open his eyes. He knew it was fake. His mother was dead. She had used her final strength to send him out of the Gate of Destruction; her sacrifice was real and tangible, not something the Formation could simulate. This illusion attempted to use his longing and guilt for his mother to break him, but it had underestimated his lucidity.

He continued to stand, his breathing steady, his expression calm.

Those voices gradually faded. The emotional waves also began to recede. Replacing them was a profound, boundless silence.

In that silence, he heard a sound—not an illusion, not a projection created by the Formation, but an extremely faint, almost imperceptible resonance coming from the depths of his Soul. It was the response of the 'Ancient Ring'.

It did not release power, nor did it give him any hints or guidance. It merely "vibrated" gently, as if confirming his existence, and then fell silent once more. But this single vibration was enough.

Ling Ye opened his eyes.

The oil lamps in the hall were still burning, and the light of the Formation pattern had dimmed. The incense stick had just finished burning.

The stone doors slowly opened, and the light from outside flooded in. The Guide Disciple stood at the doorway, and upon seeing him walk out with a normal expression, a flicker of imperceptible surprise flashed in his eyes, but he said nothing, merely making a note in the roster.

Ling Ye walked out of the Heart Hall, the sunlight shining on him, feeling warm. He squinted and looked toward the distant mountain peaks.

The third trial, passed.