Chapter 19: Horror and the Dao Heart

Chapter 19: Horror and the Dao Heart

"645... 644... 639..."

One by one, the figures of his classmates appeared before Qian Shen. He couldn't see their faces clearly, but he could clearly see the scores displayed above their heads.

"680, 690, 660..."

Each score was so high and so dazzling, making Qian Shen feel utterly ashamed and insignificant in that moment.

He felt that standing before his classmates made him seem so weak and insignificant, like a mere lackey.

"I'm just a bag of wet garbage standing among these people."

"Someone with a mere 600 points doesn't deserve to be here, let alone speak to them or even get close to them..."

In his eyes, the scores above each classmate's head kept rising, and their figures grew taller, like towering giants. Gradually, he could only see their legs, unable to make out their faces.

...

Meanwhile, on the other side of the exhibition, a drone from Mount Mang High School's Li Xingyu traced a path in the air and slowly flew toward the Celestial Martial Arts Chart.

But in the next moment, with a crackling sound, the drone malfunctioned and crashed to the ground.

"Mount Mang High School's soul cultivator, with all those contracts, shouldn't come and stir up trouble."

Li Xuelian muttered softly, then turned her gaze away from the drone and continued to observe the other students.

"Unfortunately, most of the students trying out this exhibition are freshmen. To practice the martial arts on the Celestial Martial Arts Chart, sophomores and seniors have a better chance."

"But it's understandable... The top students in the upper grades either don't meet the age requirements or are already bound by contracts, so they can't find a new master."

At that moment, the glowing director of the Immortal Melody Group in Songyang City approached Li Xuelian and said with a smile, "The Celestial Martial Arts Chart, personally drawn by the Starfire Sage, is truly wondrous. I wonder what it tests?"

Li Xuelian didn't answer directly but said calmly, "The first test of the Celestial Martial Arts Chart is the Dao Heart."

"Those who can't withstand it are often forcibly pushed back, and their Dao Heart is left with a flaw."

...

Zhao Tianxing felt the countless mocking and contemptuous gazes around him and couldn't help but step back, moving away from the range of the Celestial Martial Arts Chart.

When he regained his senses and looked around, he realized that the 'crowd watching' and 'contemptuous gazes' were all effects of the Celestial Martial Arts Chart.

Realizing he hadn't passed the test, his face turned red, and he quickly retreated, fearing that someone would notice his humiliation as a security guard.

...

At the exhibition, Li Xuelian continued, "If one can pass the first test, it will have the effect of tempering the Dao Heart."

"Most of us cultivators improve our Dao Heart Rank through cultivation techniques."

"Different techniques require different mindsets to align with them."

"For example, ancient divine worship techniques require complete devotion and absolute faith in the deities. The more devout one is, the better the technique works."

"Or the Heavenly Diligence Heart Method from Purple Cloud High School, which requires the cultivator to practice to the extreme, integrating it into their instincts to achieve the best results."

"Or the Basic Mind Tempering for high school students, which requires a calm and focused mind, needing the patience and perseverance of water wearing away stone."

"There are countless techniques to improve the Dao Heart, some high, some low, but the key is whether the cultivator's mindset aligns with the technique."

"However, it's hard to measure someone's thoughts. Even the person themselves may not be clear about whether their mindset truly aligns with the technique."

"Fortunately, the stronger the Dao Heart, the stronger the willpower. Measuring the strength of one's willpower is the simplest way to determine the Dao Heart Rank and test the effectiveness of the technique."

"But the Celestial Martial Arts Chart doesn't just test the strength of willpower to confirm the strength of the Dao Heart."

"The Celestial Martial Arts Chart targets the inner fears and directly strikes at the weaknesses of the heart, not giving them the chance to resist with techniques. It tests their most genuine reactions."

"When facing the weaknesses of the heart, only by adjusting one's mindset in time can one overcome the weaknesses and pass the test."

The director of the Immortal Melody Group in Songyang City's eyes lit up, and he said, "I understand. Senior Starfire is looking for a disciple with a flexible mindset? Someone who can switch between divine worship techniques and the Heavenly Diligence Heart Method, excelling both in hard work and in taking it easy."

Li Xuelian nodded, "There are countless techniques, and it's good if one's mindset aligns with them. But only those who can continuously adjust their mindset, adapt to changes in the environment and techniques, are true geniuses, not bound by any technique."

"Especially in today's rapidly developing world, the Ten Great Sects influence every aspect of society, and the entire Kunxu Realms are undergoing intense changes. It's essential to adapt one's mindset to keep up."

"For example, in today's world, to walk the path of cultivation, exams and scores are necessary. They have become an integral part of every cultivator's life."

"Thus, the mindset of modern cultivators naturally includes a strong focus on exams and scores."

"Having excellent scores and a strong focus on them can make a top student's willpower firm, making it easier to improve the Dao Heart Rank."

"But the reverse is also a weakness. There are always better people, and temporary success doesn't guarantee permanent success. The more confident a top student is when they're ahead, the more insecure they become when they fall behind."

"To overcome this weakness, cultivators need to make flexible adjustments in their mindset. This is the key to passing the test."

"Previously, a student faced repeated low scores in the Celestial Martial Arts Chart and eventually overcame the fear of low scores, tempering a mindset of delusion."

...

Lian Tianji, listening to the scores announced by the teacher on the podium, suddenly burst out laughing, "Hahaha, since I've become the worst student, I'll start from scratch."

"From today, I am the absolute waste, the worst student with the lowest grades."

"But as the worst student, I still have the chance to surpass you all and claim the top spot."

"I will become the top student in the grade!"

As he overcame his inner fears, he felt as if he was back at the exhibition, and the Celestial Martial Arts Chart became clearer before his eyes.

...

Li Xuelian continued, "The Kunxu Realms have 36 floors above ground and 18 below, each a different world. Whether human or immortal, everyone is divided into different classes, and this classification is deeply ingrained in every cultivator's bones, affecting their deepest thoughts."

"Previously, a student faced countless layers of pressure in the Celestial Martial Arts Chart and eventually transformed into a mindset of taking it easy."

...

Qian Shen watched the towering figures with scores far exceeding his own rise higher and higher, gradually becoming indistinct.

Only the scores above their heads continued to grow, radiating a brilliant light.

He tried to keep up but found it futile.

As the towering figures grew taller and their scores increased, his mood shifted from tension to fear, then from fear to despair, and finally to numbness.

He lay on the ground, no longer looking at those towering figures.

"Fine."

"I won't chase them anymore."

"I just want to cultivate, even if I can't surpass anyone... As long as I can cultivate, that's enough."

Like waking from a nightmare, Qian Shen, lying on the ground, opened his eyes and looked at the exhibition and the martial arts chart, a hint of understanding in his eyes.

...

In the exhibition, the director of the Immortal Melody Group in Songyang City listened to Li Xuelian's analysis and agreed, "The changes in mindset are inseparable from the development of the times."

He speculated, "In today's society, everyone is tied to spiritual loans. This will surely be reflected in the trials of the Celestial Martial Arts Chart, right?"

"Exactly", Li Xuelian nodded. "Once, a student faced the terror of repaying spiritual debts in the Celestial Martial Arts Chart and ended up with a mindset of being a deadbeat."

...

Seeing the gathering thunder in the sky, Bai Zhenzhen crouched down in fear.

"Wait! I'll pay!"

"I'll pay, okay!"

"Don't strike me!"

She quickly opened her phone to check her account, wanting to see how much she owed and how much she could pay.

"800,000?!"

Opening the first spiritual loan platform, Bai Zhenzhen's heart sank.

Then the 1.2 million debt from the second platform made her break out in a cold sweat.

2 million... 5 million... 8 million...

As the total debt in her mind grew, her hand holding the phone gradually weakened and fell.

A debt of 8 million was an enormous sum for a high school student, leading to either complete collapse or...

Bai Zhenzhen suddenly lay on the ground, looking at the sky and shouting, "If you have the guts, strike me dead."

"Striking me dead means 8 million will be gone."

Seeing the thunder not falling, Bai Zhenzhen continued, "Either strike me dead, and 8 million will be gone."

"Or help me find some work, and I'll pay you back."

As the thunder gradually dissipated, the Celestial Martial Arts Chart reappeared before Bai Zhenzhen.

Watching the martial arts being demonstrated, Bai Zhenzhen felt a sudden insight.

...

At the exhibition, Li Xuelian sighed, "Whether it's delusion, taking it easy, or being a deadbeat, these are just states of mind to counteract pressure. While they can temper one's willpower and Dao Heart, the future still depends on how they navigate reality."

"After all, this is just the first test of the Celestial Martial Arts Chart, a threshold."

She recalled her high school days when her father had tested her Dao Heart.

At that time, her greatest fear was her father. In the test, she was heavily pressured by him, and under the immense pressure, she rebelled and developed a mindset of filial piety, earning a large amount of gold and rapidly advancing in cultivation.

But soon, the pressures from society and her father's actions made her revere and respect him again.

The director of the Immortal Melody Group in Songyang City nodded, understanding that the effects of the Dao Heart test were only temporary.

After all, human thoughts are constantly changing, and the impact of a Dao Heart test can hardly withstand the long-term influence of the entire society.

Li Xuelian continued, "After overcoming the first test and overcoming inner fears, the real enlightenment comes next."

"And after passing the enlightenment test, whether one can truly master the technique is another matter."

The director nodded, understanding that overcoming fears, enlightened by the martial arts chart, and mastering the technique were the three stages of the Celestial Martial Arts Chart.

"Then, how many of the students here do you think can master it?"

Li Xuelian looked at the students present and shook her head, "I doubt there will be even one."

...

When Zhang Yu saw the figures on the Celestial Martial Arts Chart become clearer and watched them performing a set of boxing techniques, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart.

"Please adhere to the Contractual Ritual, work hard to achieve your goal, and do not deliberately procrastinate, 10."

Zhang Yu was taken aback, "But... I'm trying to understand the martial arts chart, isn't that the same as working hard to get into a good university?"

But the chill didn't respond, and the countdown continued.

"Please adhere to the Contractual Ritual, work hard to achieve your goal, and do not deliberately procrastinate, 9."

"Please adhere to the Contractual Ritual, work hard to achieve your goal, and do not deliberately procrastinate, 8."

Zhang Yu had no choice but to sit down and try meditative breathing to see if it would stop the countdown.

As he began to meditate, the chill gradually dissipated, and the countdown stopped.

"What an idiot..."

While meditating and cursing the Contractual Ritual, another wave of chill surged within him.

"Please adhere to the Contractual Ritual, work hard to achieve your goal, and do not deliberately procrastinate, 10."

Hearing the new countdown, Zhang Yu was shocked.

"But... I'm working hard to cultivate."

"Why is it counting down again?"

"What's wrong with this idiotic Contractual Ritual?"

Zhang Yu stopped meditating to test, but the chill and countdown didn't disappear. Instead, a new wave of chill and countdown began.

Hearing the two countdowns in his head, Zhang Yu finally understood what was happening.

"Two countdowns?"

"One of them is fake?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end