Projection of the Heavens: I prove my immortality through slaughter.

The fragments of the strength-measuring monument lay scattered on the ground, like the shattered common sense of the crowd. The deathly silence in the training ground lasted for several breaths before being replaced by a more turbulent chorus of whispers and gasps. All the gazes directed at Lin Xuan were as if looking at an ancient beast draped in human skin, filled with incredulous shock, indescribable awe, and a primal fear and alienation.

One punch, a mere casual punch, without even using a trace of spiritual power, shattered the strength-testing monument, which was capable of withstanding a full-force attack from a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, into dust! This completely exceeded their understanding of the word "power"! Just who is this young man named Lin Xuan?!

The disciple in charge of recording hurriedly picked up the fallen jade slip, his eyes filled with undisguised fear as he looked at Lin Xuan. His voice was dry and shrill: "Pass! Lin Xuan, your score... is... outstanding!" Apart from this assessment, which was rarely recorded in the sect's records, he couldn't think of any other words to describe this inhuman performance.

On the high platform, the Foundation Establishment cultivator's gaze was like lightning, fixed intently on Lin Xuan, as if trying to see right through him. His fingers twitched slightly within his sleeve, suppressing the urge to immediately probe the boy's aptitude. He took a deep breath and announced in a deep voice, his tone more solemn than before: "The strength test is over! Those who failed, leave immediately! Those who passed, follow me to the third test!"

The sound, like a thunderclap, jolted the still-shocked crowd awake. The procession resumed its movement, but this time, an invisible vacuum seemed to have formed around Lin Xuan. Everyone involuntarily held their breath and quickened their pace as they passed him; no one dared to walk alongside him, and no one dared to cast the slightest provocative or scrutinizing glance. The burly youth named Man Shi even subconsciously shrank back, completely concealing his previous arrogance.

Lin Xuan seemed oblivious to all of this, or rather, he simply didn't care. What did the awe and alienation of ants matter to him? He silently followed at the back of the group, his mind still replaying the control of the force of that punch he had just delivered. 'Using only thirty percent of his physical strength, combined with a trace of the restrained vibrations of a star, the effect is acceptable. It seems the *Starry Qi Induction Chapter* is far more effective than I imagined in tempering the physical body of this realm.'

The Foundation Establishment cultivators led nearly three hundred qualified participants, each with their own distinct mindset, through the magnificent training grounds to a valley shrouded in a misty white fog at the back of the mountain. The mist swirled at the valley entrance, obscuring the winding path within, its depths obscured. A weathered, ancient stone tablet stood nearby, inscribed with three powerful characters: "Path to Refining the Heart." The calligraphy seemed to possess a profound, penetrating power, inspiring awe in all who beheld it.

"The third trial, the Illusionary Refinement of the Mind!" The Foundation Establishment cultivator stopped and turned to face the crowd, his expression more solemn than ever before. "Within this valley lies the 'Thousand Illusions Grand Array' of my Qingyun Sect! This array is profound, capable of stirring the seven emotions and six desires, fears and obsessions, and even inner demons deep within your hearts, evolving into endless illusions, indistinguishable from reality! Those with weak minds and unstable Dao hearts will inevitably succumb to it. At best, they will fail the test and be denied the path to immortality; at worst, their minds and spirits will be damaged, their Dao foundations will collapse, and their cultivation will be completely destroyed!"

His gaze, sharp as a torch, slowly swept over the young faces—some pale with tension, others struggling to remain calm, and still others silently encouraging themselves. His voice suddenly rose: "To enter this formation, you must guard your true nature, understand your heart and see your true self, shattering illusions! Remember, illusions arise from the mind; what you see is not reality! Those who can, within an hour, rely solely on their own will to escape the valley are qualified! Now, enter the valley!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the already tense teenagers either took a deep breath and resolutely stepped in, or whispered a calming mantra, or exchanged encouraging glances with acquaintances, and then took their steps, their figures quickly swallowed up by the swirling white mist and disappeared.

Lin Xuan walked at the back. The moment he stepped into the mist, the surrounding space instantly twisted and changed violently like ripples on water! The valley entrance behind him, his companions in front of him, and even the ground beneath his feet vanished without a trace. In their place was a boundless, hazy, and bizarre chaotic void, where time and space lost their meaning.

The illusion has begun.

The First Illusion: The Illusion of Wealth. The first sound was the clear, melodious clinking of countless spirit stones and jewels. Suddenly, a blinding golden light shone before his eyes, almost blinding him. Looking closely, he found himself atop a majestic golden mountain, his feet resting on top-grade spirit stones. A handful at a glance revealed rare millennium-old medicinal herbs and ten-thousand-year-old jade marrow. Various legendary treasures and elixirs were piled high, radiating an alluring spiritual light. A voice, filled with endless temptation and seemingly capable of stirring the most primal greed within, murmured deep within his soul: "Stay...child, all of this is yours...With this boundless wealth, you can easily obtain everything: divine martial arts manuals, stunning beauties, supreme power...all within your grasp. Why endure the arduous cultivation and the long, painful quest?"

Lin Xuan's eyes remained indifferent, not even a ripple stirred within them. Having experienced the cleansing of his soul by the power of faith in the Tianyuan Realm, and having felt the vast and boundless aura of the world's origin, this seemingly astonishing illusion of wealth before him was nothing more than a pile of lifeless rubble, filled with emptiness and hollowness. "External temptations only confuse the mind. My path is not shaken by these illusory things." His resolve was as firm as iron, his Dao heart as clear as a mirror, instantly reflecting all illusions. The mountains of gold and seas of treasure, the endless riches, collapsed without even a struggle, vanishing into nothingness.

The second illusion: the fear of death. The scene abruptly shifted; the pungent smell of disinfectant filled his nostrils, and the cold tactile sensation of medical equipment was palpable. He found himself once again lying in the pale, oppressive hospital room of his previous life. The gnawing weakness and despair brought on by the illness overwhelmed him like a tidal wave. The drawn-out beeps of the life monitor, symbolizing the passing of life, tolled like a death knell in his ears. A cold, weary, and resigned voice whispered in his mind, with a hypnotic power: "Give up... Lin Xuan... What's the point of struggling? Two lifetimes, and you still can't escape the cruel tricks of fate... Return to eternal silence, where there is no pain, no struggle, only peaceful release..."

A faint, mocking smile curved Lin Xuan's lips. Having personally experienced the true cycle of life and death, and the near-death experience in the dilapidated temple, what could this simulated, superficial fear of death do to him? His Dao heart had already been tempered to an unbreakable state through countless brushes with death! "To succumb to death is not my desire! My Dao heart lives towards death, pursuing transcendence and eternity!" An overwhelming, indomitable will erupted from the depths of his soul, like a sharp sword cleaving through the darkness. The cold hospital room and the jarring ceremonies shattered instantly, like a broken mirror, vanishing into nothingness.

The Third Illusion: The Lust for Power. The scene before him shifted again, a thick, nauseating stench of blood assaulting his senses. He seemed to stand atop an endless mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood, his feet treading upon the twisted bodies of Zhao Gan, the Black Fiend Cultivator, and countless indistinct, distorted enemies. In his hand, he held a demonic sword dripping with viscous blood. Power! An unprecedented sense of power surged through his body, as if he could decide the life and death of all beings in an instant. Countless figures knelt on the ground, bowing and worshipping him, offering their most devout faith. Surrounded by stunning beauties, he was at their beck and call. The extreme pleasure brought by power, beauty, and slaughter was amplified to its extreme, frantically assaulting his rational defenses, tempting him to eternally fall into this abyss of desire for all-powerful control.

"Power is the ladder to transcendence, not a shackle to enslave the mind. To be obsessed with power is no different from being a beast." Lin Xuan's eyes were clear as a still pool, undisturbed. He clearly recognized that this was not true strength, but weakness controlled by desire. The demonic sword in his hand, which seemed to grant supreme power, was like rotten wood in his eyes, instantly turning to ashes. The mountains of corpses and seas of blood before him, the kneeling figures, vanished as quickly as the tide receded.

The illusion seemed to be angered by his repeated and easy dismantling, and began to become more bizarre and cunning, directly targeting the softest and most cherished part of his heart.

The fourth illusion: the bonds of kinship. He saw the tragic scene of the destruction of the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion replay before his eyes: flames soaring into the sky, loyal guards falling one by one in pools of blood, and the old steward, Uncle Feng, being hacked to pieces by men in black while protecting the entrance to the secret chamber, dying a gruesome death! Immediately afterwards, the scene shifted to the Tianyuan Realm, where the small shrine that held the gratitude of the people of the West Market was brutally destroyed by a group of masked men, the memorial tablets trampled and the incense extinguished... Those he cared about, those he cherished, were destroyed before his eyes in the most direct and cruel way, attempting to evoke his overwhelming anger, endless sorrow, and unyielding obsession to the greatest extent possible.

Lin Xuan's heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, a sharp, piercing pain shooting through him. The kind face of Feng Bo, the grateful eyes of the people before the shrine—these were all real moments of warmth. However, his powerful reason and the Dao heart honed through two lifetimes instantly brought him to his senses! "Illusion! All illusion! True protection stems from inner strength, not from being bound or constrained by external things! Anger and sorrow will only cause pain to loved ones and pleasure to those who orchestrate!" He abruptly closed his eyes, forcefully severing the surging emotions. When he opened them again, his eyes were like a frozen lake, undisturbed. All the tragic scenes, like paintings thrown into a raging fire, rapidly twisted, burned, and finally dissipated into wisps of smoke.

The Final Illusion: The Ultimate Temptation to Attain Dao! As if gathering the power of all the previous illusions, a grand and magnificent scene unfolded. He sat atop the nine heavens, surrounded by endless star rivers, the sun and moon revolving around him, and the laws of the Great Dao transforming into visible chains of divine order, submitting at his feet. Below, countless immortals paid homage, numerous powerful cultivators and sacred spirits bowing and prostrating themselves before him, their eyes filled with boundless awe and piety. He felt as if he had become the sole ruler of this universe, omnipotent and eternally indestructible! A grand thought, seemingly originating from the very source of the Heavenly Dao, resounded in his heart: "Kneel down, accept this power… You are the Lord of this starry sky, the Supreme One of all Daos… This is the ultimate goal of cultivation, your Dao Fruit…"

This is a direct interrogation of the deepest part of one's heart! It is the most severe and fatal test of the seeker's faith! Countless geniuses have fallen under the temptation of this "ultimate" path, believing themselves to have attained enlightenment, but in reality, they are forever trapped in an illusion, their path to enlightenment severed!

However, as Lin Xuan gazed at his "supreme" self and felt the "eternity" that seemed within his grasp, there was no intoxication or fanaticism in his eyes, only a calm and wise understanding that saw through the illusion.

"The Dao has no end." He murmured to himself, his voice not loud, yet like a resounding bell, echoing throughout the entire illusory space, carrying the power to cut through all illusions and forge ahead with unwavering resolve. "If I were to think I had reached the end now, content with this false 'perfection,' then I would be like a frog at the bottom of a well, forever losing the possibility of exploring the vast world beyond and pursuing the true Dao! This is not my Dao! My journey is the sea of ​​stars, the Dao that even 'eternity' itself cannot define... the end of the Dao!"

"Boom—!"

The entire illusory space, following his resolute declaration of his Dao heart, emitted an unbearable, lamenting sound, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing! Countless cracks instantly filled this "glorious" universe, which finally shattered completely, turning into billions of streams of light and dissipating into nothingness.

The surrounding white mist receded like the tide, revealing a tranquil valley scene once more. Sunlight filtered through the sparse trees, casting dappled patterns of light, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees. Less than ten feet ahead of him was another exit of the valley.

He was the first and only person to stand near the exit.

From the moment he entered the valley until he broke through all the illusions and walked out safely, the entire process didn't even take the time it takes for an incense stick to burn!

Outside the valley, besides the Foundation Establishment cultivator, another elderly man had appeared, dressed in a blue cloud-patterned Daoist robe. His face was gaunt, his eyes gentle and refined, as if imbued with boundless wisdom. The old man stood there casually, his aura perfectly blending with the surrounding rocks and vegetation; without deliberate perception, his presence was almost imperceptible. However, Lin Xuan's powerful divine sense, nurtured by the world's origin, could vaguely sense that within his seemingly peaceful body lay a terrifying, unfathomable power, like a vast ocean!

This is definitely a powerhouse far beyond the Foundation Establishment stage! He is very likely an elder at the Golden Core stage!

When the Foundation Establishment cultivator saw Lin Xuan walk out so quickly, his face once again showed undisguised shock. He quickly bowed to the old man beside him and said in an extremely respectful tone, "Elder Mo, this is Lin Xuan, who just shattered the Strength Testing Stele with a single punch."

Elder Mo's gaze fell upon Lin Xuan, his gentle expression carrying a hint of probing insight that seemed to penetrate even the soul. He nodded slightly, a glint of unreserved admiration in his eyes: "The strength of your foundation is unparalleled in the world. Even more remarkable is your unwavering Dao heart, as firm as a rock, clear and transparent, unperturbed by external things, undeluded by illusions. I haven't seen anyone so leisurely strolling through the Thousand Illusions Array in many years. Truly rare, exceptionally rare!"

Lin Xuan felt the gentle yet supremely majestic gaze, and his heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm and composed as he bowed respectfully: "Junior Lin Xuan greets Elder Mo."

Elder Mo stroked his beard and smiled, his voice carrying a warmth that was like a gentle breeze: "No need for formalities. To break my Thousand Illusions Grand Array so swiftly shows your unwavering will and exceptional comprehension, far surpassing that of ordinary people. It seems that my Qingyun Sect has unexpectedly picked up an unpolished gem this time."

Just then, people began to stagger and struggle out of the valley. Their faces were deathly pale, their clothes soaked with sweat, their eyes unfocused, and lingering fear, terror, and confusion remained deep within their pupils. Clearly, they had endured unimaginable torment and struggle within the illusion. When they saw an elder standing calmly outside the valley, as if he had merely taken a stroll, with a clearly esteemed elder beside him—an elder even Foundation Establishment cultivators treated with utmost respect—their faces revealed an extremely complex, incredulous, and even somewhat desperate expression.

The gap! This is no longer a gap in talent, but a gap in mindset and willpower that they seem to be able to never cross!

Lin Xuan paid no attention to the gazes that gathered around him, a mixture of emotions. He simply stood calmly in place, like a pine tree on a cliff, waiting for the final end of the assessment.

Elder Mo's appearance, and his undisguised evaluation of him as a "treasure," undoubtedly meant that his intentional or unintentional display of strength and character had successfully attracted the attention of the true higher-ups of the Qingyun Sect.

This was the first step he hoped to take by using the sect as a springboard.