280: They are both followers and challengers, like carp crossing a river, one after another.

Everyone felt a blur before their eyes, and they were already in a vast Small World.

This space was not the Void Realm, but was composed of ancient rocks and flowing mist. In front, three distinctly different Trial Grounds were arranged in sequence, emanating a powerful Dao rhythm.

Elder Liang's voice echoed in the Void Realm, clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"The Myriad Dao Academy's entrance examination is divided into three parts."

"The first part: heart demon road."

He pointed to the left.

There was a straight path paved with black stones. Along both sides of the path, countless illusory black figures whispered and roared. It looked ordinary, but in reality, countless Formations were buried beneath the path.

"Stepping onto this path, the trial-taker will sink into an incredibly real illusion. If successful, he will emerge from the other side; if not, he will return the way he came, losing the qualification to enter the Academy."

"This trial is for gaining the Dao in the future and firmly holding onto one's original Heart-Nature."

"The second part: True Self Mirror."

Elder Liang pointed to the center.

A man-height ancient bronze mirror stood on the plain. Its surface was ancient and flowed with the luster of time. In front of the mirror stood three stone tablets engraved with runes.

"This trial questions the practitioner's original Heart-Nature and the pursuit of his Dao. Stand before the ancient mirror and answer the three questions it poses."

"Do not lie, face your original Heart-Nature, let another self uncover the scars, and temper your Dao."

"The third part: Ascending Heaven Ladder."

He pointed to the right.

A gigantic staircase cast from white jade soared into the clouds, its end out of sight, as if connecting to the true heavens.

"There are one hundred steps in total. With each step ascended, the pressure doubles, purely testing your endurance and the resilience of your Dao Heart. Only by reaching the hundredth step will you be qualified to leave your name on the Myriad Dao Heavenly Tablet."

"It's starting already?"

As soon as Elder Liang finished speaking, Chu Wujiu looked around, but did not find that familiar figure. He couldn't help but frown, "Where is Qin Wangchuan?"

Zhao Lingyun had already scanned the surroundings and likewise found no one. He responded indifferently, "I don't know, he might have gone in early."

"Gone in early?" Chu Wujiu was stunned, then burst into laughter, "That's good, saves him from being an eyesore here."

He took a big step, pointing directly at the heart demon road paved with black stones, "I'll go first!"

After speaking, Chu Wujiu stepped onto the heart demon road.

In an instant, the aura around him suddenly stagnated, as if pulled into another dimension by an invisible force.

Others only saw his figure sway slightly, then he became still like a statue, his eyes tightly closed, clearly having fallen into the depths of the illusion.

However, this heart demon road could not trap him for too long.

After only a breath's pause, Chu Wujiu suddenly opened his eyes, a golden light flashing in them before disappearing, and all illusions and whispers instantly collapsed.

He took a step, as if walking on an ordinary flagstone path, his face calm, his eyes clear, and walked straight to the end of the heart demon road.

The several Elders of the Academy nearby saw this and nodded repeatedly, their eyes filled with approval.

"This child is good. His Heart-Nature is tenacious, and his Dao Heart is stable."

Passersby also sighed endlessly, "He broke free from the Heart Demon in one breath? As expected of an Imperial Clan Prodigy!"

Xiang Haoran, however, crossed his arms and scoffed disdainfully, "It's just a Heart Demon. Anyone who has crossed the Heavenly Gate can easily pass. What's there to show off about?"

Chu Wujiu ignored the idle chatter behind him and walked straight to the second trial—an ancient bronze mirror.

He placed his palm on it, and ripples appeared on the mirror's surface.

"Come on, I am ready to face the questions," Chu Wujiu said in a deep voice, his tone calm but containing unshakeable conviction.

Then, a mouth appeared in the mirror, its voice ancient and majestic, striking directly at the Soul.

The mirror asked:

"Chu Wujiu, you regard him as your goal, but in your heart, do you truly believe you can catch up to him?"

This question was unexpected by Chu Wujiu, a shadow he had deliberately avoided, now exposed nakedly by this mirror.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately fell silent.

The rule was not to lie, but more importantly—he didn't want to deceive himself.

After a moment, Chu Wujiu raised his head, a determined fire burning in his eyes, and responded in a deep voice, "I can't catch up, but... I must try."

The mirror surface trembled slightly, and one of the three lit rune stones beside it extinguished, seemingly satisfied with this honest answer.

The mirror posed the second question:

"If you exhaust your life's strength, burn all your talent and Opportunity, and the end still falls short of his—can your Dao still be cultivated?"

This question was even more cruel, directly targeting the Foundation of his Dao.

Chu Wujiu's Battle Intent remained undiminished, his voice firm: "Then I will keep chasing. That is my Dao."

The mirror then posed the third question:

"Do you cultivate to surpass a certain person, or to become... the true 'Chu Wujiu'?"

This question made Chu Wujiu difficult to answer.

He raised his head, looking at the image in the mirror that reflected his Soul, and fell into long contemplation.

Surpassing Qin Wangchuan was his initial motivation.

But undeniably, the end of the Dao should not be someone else's back.

After a long period of thought, Chu Wujiu gave his answer: "Both. If there hadn't been Qin Wangchuan back then, there wouldn't be the me of today."

"While I look up to him, beneath my feet, I will also forge my own Dao. The two are not in conflict."

As his voice fell, the bronze mirror glowed brightly, then slowly faded.

Chu Wujiu easily passed the second trial.

The third trial: Ascending Heaven Ladder.

If the first two trials were to test the Heart Demon and original Heart-Nature, this third trial was purely to test endurance, to see how much hardship one could endure on the path of cultivation.

The Heaven Ladder was cast from white jade, with a total of one hundred steps, soaring into the clouds.

Historically, only a dozen or so people had passed, each name representing supreme will.

Chu Wujiu turned to look at the ancient stone tablet beside him.

On the stone tablet, lines of names were engraved.

Qin Wudao, Qin Kuangge, Yan Yun, Qin Qingzheng, Chu Qingyan, Qin Hongchen, Xiao Jin, Ji Wuchen, Yun Wuyi, Zhou Su, Li Zhuo, Ji Tianming, Ye Zhiqiu, Su Jiuyi, Gu Changsheng, Ji Yeling, Chu Qingtian.

A total of seventeen names.

These names seemed to be blessed by the power of the Great Dao. Merely gazing upon them, one could feel an invisible pressure that had suppressed all ages.

They were all trendsetters of the previous great era, Dragon and Phoenix among men, who once stood at the pinnacle of their time.

Undoubtedly, the Qin Family had the most names on the tablet, while the Chu Family... "only had two."

After speaking, Chu Wujiu took a deep breath, his eyes instantly becoming sharp and resolute.

He did not hesitate, declaring in a deep voice:

"I shall be the third!"

Before his words even finished, he resolutely stepped forward, onto the first step that symbolized challenge.

At this moment, he was no longer a follower in Qin Wangchuan's shadow, but a challenger bearing the glory of the Chu Family!