321: A steadfast heart is as firm as a rock, and a noble character is as bright as the moon.

A blurry figure shrouded in dense Death Qi raised a skeletal palm,

condensing a blood-colored sword light in its center that seemed capable of ending all life!

The target was aimed directly at Leng Yuekui's heart!

"Revered Master—!!!" Yao Delong let out a heart-wrenching roar!

Unprecedented fear and despair instantly swallowed him whole!

That was his most important and respected kin on this immortal path! She was the guide of his Dao journey!

The blood-colored sword light, carrying an aura that could extinguish all things, slashed down ruthlessly!

Its speed was beyond imagination!

There was no thinking! No weighing of options! He even forgot his own life and death!

At the very instant the sword light was about to touch Leng Yuekui's chest—

"No—!!!"

Yao Delong's figure vanished from where he stood!

He erupted his life Origin and performed the most resolute and blood-essence-burning

ultimate escape technique within the Instantaneous Body Sword Art—"Instantaneous Infinity"!

Time seemed to freeze for a split second!

In the next instant, Yao Delong's figure appeared before Leng Yuekui like a teleportation, without a single look back!

He used his not-so-broad back to firmly block the space between his Revered Master and that destructive blood-colored sword light!

Simultaneously, the Heart Sword Without Trace in his Sea of Consciousness erupted with unprecedented light!

A strand of Nirvana Sword Intent, refined to the extreme and mixed with his resolute will to protect his kin,

transformed into an invisible Heart Sword shield, thin as a cicada's wing yet incredibly tough, covering his back!

"Revered Master... run..." This was the final thought that flashed through his mind.

Puchi—!

The blood-colored sword light slashed violently against the Heart Sword shield!

The shield's light flickered wildly, and after supporting for only a ten-thousandth of an instant, it shattered with a bang!

The remaining, terrifyingly powerful Nirvana Sword Intent instantly pierced through Yao Delong's body!

Pain! Indescribable pain! It felt as if his Soul was being torn apart! His life force was fading rapidly!

Yao Delong's body was like a kite with a broken string, blood spraying wildly,

as he fell forward heavily, his consciousness instantly plunging into boundless darkness.

Before completely losing consciousness, he seemed to see that the blood-colored sword light had been weakened by more than half by his obstruction,

and his Revered Master's figure was struggling violently within the chains... Buzz—!

Just as Yao Delong's consciousness was about to sink completely, thinking he was surely dead,

the entire scene of the Frozen Desolation shattered like a mirror!

All the pain, cold, and sense of death vanished without a trace in an instant.

Yao Delong snapped his eyes open!

The piercing white light caused his pupils to contract sharply, and his heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand,

pounding frantically, almost jumping out of his chest!

Cold sweat instantly soaked through his inner shirt, and the freezing sensation made him shudder violently,

as if he had just been forcibly dragged back to the mortal world from the abyss of drowning.

The pain and cold of blocking the sword for his Revered Master and having his Divine Soul pierced by the blood-colored sword light were so real they were etched into his heart!

He subconsciously clutched his chest; it was perfectly intact,

but the phantom pain remaining deep in his Divine Soul was like a maggot in his bones, making his Soul tremble slightly.

The sense of despair from the brink of death was like a cold tide that had not yet fully receded.

"Huff... huff..." He panted heavily, trying to calm his churning Qi and blood and his palpitating mind.

At that moment, a plain white figure landed silently before him; it was Grand Elder Long Yu.

On her peerlessly beautiful face, there was no longer any coldness or scrutiny,

and those eyes, which had been tempered by endless years, were now gazing with an extremely complex look of deep shock and admiration

at the young man whose face was slightly pale, yet whose eyes had quickly regained their clarity.

As the caster, she had seen everything in the illusion clearly!

The resourcefulness in the face of danger, the loyalty of sacrificing himself for a friend, the resoluteness in upholding the Righteous Path,

and the filial courage of dying for his Revered Master... every scene

was like a heavy hammer, striking the long-silent lake of her heart.

Long Yu took a deep breath, and her clear voice, carrying an unprecedented solemnity,

resounded across the silent Dao Inquiry Platform:

"Tempering the heart in the Mortal World, the four tribulations have passed! Complete in loyalty and righteousness, unparalleled in filial piety and courage!

A Dao Heart as firm as a rock, a character as bright as the moon! Yao Delong, you... have passed!"

"He passed!"

"Grand Elder Long Yu judged it herself!"

"Complete in loyalty and righteousness, unparalleled in filial piety and courage! This evaluation... is too high!"

After a brief silence, a roar of discussion erupted.

Many Disciples still had confused looks on their faces, not understanding why in just half a quarter-hour,

this highly respected Grand Elder would give Yao Delong such a high evaluation,

even using praise like 'bright as the moon'!

"Do you all have doubts in your hearts?"

Grand Elder Long Yu's gaze swept over the crowd below, and she raised her jade hand. A treasure mirror shimmering with light appeared out of thin air.

"This is the 'Mirror of Retrospective Shadows', which can reflect the images of the heart.

Today, I shall let you all see what true Dao Heart and character are!"

She tapped her fingertip, and the treasure mirror emitted a brilliant light,

instantly projecting crystal-clear images into the Void Realm!

They were the four scenes Yao Delong had experienced in the illusion!

Scene One: Betrayal by fellow Disciples, harming the innocent, and attempting to divide the spoils!

In the image, facing his sinister fellow Disciples and his Junior Brother lying in a pool of blood,

Yao Delong's gaze was cold and his killing intent was boiling, yet he forcibly restrained himself and shouted sternly:

"Killing fellow Disciples, harming the innocent, and embezzling treasures... you all deserve to die!!"

In the end, he handed them over to the Sect for punishment.

Loyalty: upholding the Sect's laws! Benevolence: not killing indiscriminately! Propriety: following proper procedures!

Scene Two: Qiong Shuang in danger, coerced by a Nascent Soul Great Perfection demonic cultivator!

In the image, Yao Delong's eyes were nearly splitting, yet he calmed down in an instant, his mind full of clever schemes!

He used the 'Nirvana Soul Domain' to interfere with the demonic cultivator's perception, creating chaos and risking his life to create an escape opportunity for Qiong Shuang,

even using himself as a shield to endure a wrathful strike from the Nascent Soul Great Perfection! Righteousness: risking his life to save a partner!

Wisdom: using ingenuity in a crisis! Courage: fearless of life and death!

Scene Three: Temptation from a Demonic Path giant; Demon God Essence Blood, Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Technique, and the Myriad Demon Token within easy reach!

In the image, Yao Delong's mind was shaken violently, especially by the temptation to 'make up for his affinity defects', which almost made him sink!

But the Pure Yang Sun in his Dantian erupted, and his Heart Sword hummed. His gaze instantly became as firm as a rock:

"Make up for defects? Rule all domains? ...I, Yao Delong, seek the glorious Righteous Path and act with a clear conscience!

Even with defects, I shall use the methods of the Righteous Path to hack through thorns and make courageous progress!

How can I fall into the Demonic Path... Demonic Techniques and evil arts, the vanity of power,

even if they can reach the heavens, they are like dung to me! Our paths are different; we cannot plan together!"

Faith: holding fast to the original heart of the Righteous Path!

Scene Four: Revered Master Leng Yuekui in danger, the blood-colored Nirvana Sword light slashing down!

In the image, Yao Delong let out a heart-wrenching roar,

without any hesitation, without any weighing of options!

Burning his blood essence and performing "Instantaneous Infinity" with speed beyond his limits,

he used his body to block the space before his Revered Master without a second thought!

The Heart Sword shield shattered, the blood-colored sword light pierced his body, and his life force faded rapidly... Filial Piety: dying for his Revered Master! Loyalty: protecting the Sect's pillar! Courage: disregarding life and death!

The four scenes, like four Soul-shaking scrolls, slowly flowed in the void.

The entire Dao Inquiry Platform was silent!

All the Disciples, regardless of their cultivation level, held their breath at this moment, their eyes wide,

staring fixedly at the figure in the images making choice after choice.

Every single choice was like a heavy hammer, smashing violently against their Dao Hearts!