After everyone was reborn, I was strictly disciplined.

"What?!"

Lin Feng's smile froze instantly, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock. He abruptly stood up from his seat, his voice full of confusion and astonishment.

"What did you say? Open the Hall of Inquiry? How is that possible?!"

He took a deep breath, stroked his beard, and frowned deeply.

The Hall of Inquiry was built by the first Valley Master of Hidden Edge Valley to temper the disciples' character and eliminate evil people. The hall is a world of illusions, far superior to the mind-testing techniques of ordinary sects.

The illusion within the hall is formed according to the inner thoughts of those who enter. It is so real that even the cultivators themselves cannot distinguish between reality and illusion.

It will uncover the cultivator's deepest fears, greediest desires, and tenderest concerns, using the methods the cultivator fears most and the scenes they are most familiar with, to gradually force out all the true nature of the test subject, leaving no room for concealment.

In fact, this kind of testing method is very common and all major sects have it. However, ordinary sects test the mind, which at most damages the mind and spirit, but the Heart-Questioning Hall is different.

If you are injured in the illusion of the Hall of Inquiry, the exact same wound will appear on your body in reality, and the pain will be exactly the same.

If one loses their life in the illusion, they will also die instantly in reality, their soul scattered, with no chance of being saved.

When the Hall of Inquiry was first built, the Hidden Edge Valley still used this method to accept disciples. As a result, many cultivators who came to become disciples were not firm in their minds and stumbled in the illusion, eventually perishing in the hall.

Over time, cultivators on the Cangxuan Continent would turn pale at the mere mention of the Wenxin Hall, and even those who admired the profound foundation of Cangfeng Valley dared not easily come to become its disciples.

With the disciples in the valley dwindling in number, they had no choice but to seal off the Hall of Inquiry.

"But now..." Lin Feng's tone was full of confusion and anger.

"Those who come to become disciples are all children under ten years old. Their minds are still unsettled and they are still ignorant. How could they possibly pass the test of the Hall of Inquiry? Isn't this just sending them to their deaths?!"

"I am unaware."

The disciple quickly lowered his head, his tone respectful yet somewhat hurried, "This was first suggested by the senior brother. When I delivered the message just now, the Valley Master and the elders had already discussed it and unanimously agreed to open the Hall of Inquiry and include it in this disciple recruitment assessment."

"Jinxing's suggestion?"

Su Jinxing is the son of the master of Cangfeng Valley and the next successor of Cangfeng Valley.

Lin Feng frowned, his expression instantly darkening, and the atmosphere around him seemed to drop.

He missed the discussion earlier because he went to pick up Liu Qingwan and her son, but he is, after all, an elder of Cangfeng Valley and the head of the Lin family in the Northern Territory.

Such an important decision should have been made by someone informing him and asking for his opinion, even if he wasn't present, instead of bypassing him and making decisions on his own!

He twirled his beard between his fingers, his face grim.

"Grandpa Lin!"

Just then, a crisp voice broke the silence in the hall. Xie Xingran tilted her head back, her small body struggling slightly, her round eyes full of confusion, "What is the Hall of Inquiry? Can Ranran still go to Hidden Edge Valley to become an apprentice?"

He glanced at Lin Feng's grim face. Could it be that he couldn't get in through connections?

He had no desire to climb 999 steps, nor did he want to participate in those arduous and exhausting trials.

He's a genius that only comes along once in a million years, why should he suffer like those ordinary children?

If Hidden Edge Valley insists that he participate in the trial, he might as well go back to the Fire Marrow Pill Holy Land, where he can have food and drink every day and his mother can accompany him. How carefree that would be!

Thinking this, a hint of grievance appeared on his little face, his lips were slightly pursed, and his eyes were full of dissatisfaction.

Upon hearing this, Lin Feng's gloomy expression vanished instantly, replaced by a gentle smile. He softly patted Xie Xingran's fluffy little head, his tone softening:

"Of course! Ranran is so amazing, why can't she become my apprentice?"

After saying that, he turned around and looked at Liu Qingwan. His expression regained some composure, and his tone was apologetic and solemn: "Qingwan, I'm really sorry, something urgent has happened in the valley, and I have to go there immediately."

"You and Ranran can rest at the Lin residence for now. I have already arranged your rooms, and everything you need has been prepared. There will be maids to accompany you."

"Okay, thank you for your trouble, Senior Lin."

Liu Qingwan nodded slightly, without asking any further questions.

She pulled Xie Xingran into her arms, took the hand warmer from the maid, bowed slightly to Lin Feng, and then turned and left the main hall with the maid.

The maid led the mother and son through the corridor and into an elegant courtyard. Several red plum trees were in full bloom, exuding a refined and elegant atmosphere.

The room was exquisitely decorated, with thick wool carpets, a fireplace burning with charcoal, and a large canopy bed by the window, covered with a snow-white brocade quilt. Fresh fruits and snacks were placed on a low table next to it.

As soon as he entered the room, Xie Xingran couldn't wait to jump down from Liu Qingwan's arms. He took off his heavy brocade cloak, threw it on the back of a chair, and then pounced onto the bed.

She rolled lazily on the soft bed, her cheeks rubbing against the brocade quilt, her eyes squinting comfortably, humming a tuneless little tune.

After rolling around twice, he sat up, rubbed his chubby cheeks, and looked at Liu Qingwan, who was tidying up her cloak, asking curiously, "Mother, what exactly is that Wenxin Palace? It sounds strange, is it fun?"

Liu Qingwan paused in adjusting her cloak, her expression changed slightly, and a hint of seriousness flashed in her eyes, which she then suppressed.

She sat down by the bed, gently took Xie Xingran's chubby little hand, and told Xie Xingran in a gentle and patient tone about the origin of the Hall of Inquiry, the dangers of the illusion, and the story of those cultivators who perished in the hall.

Xie Xingran's eyes widened as he listened, his mouth slightly agape. When Liu Qingwan finished speaking, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise:

"That's...that's terrifying! People can get hurt, people can die...so why did they even open the Hall of Inquiry?"

Liu Qingwan gently shook her head, her eyes filled with confusion and worry, and reached out to ruffle her son's hair.

"Even your mother doesn't know. This time, Hidden Edge Valley only accepted children your age. You are still young and your minds are not yet firm. How can you withstand the test of the Hall of Inquiry?"

"Then, is Ranran also going to enter that terrifying Hall of Inquiry?"

Xie Xingran pouted, her little face showing deep reluctance. "Ranran doesn't want to go in. If they insist on making Ranran go in, then Ranran won't become their disciple. How about we go back to the Fire Marrow Pill Holy Land?"

"Of course I won't go in."

Liu Qingwan immediately hugged her son and gently patted his back, her tone firm, "The Hall of Inquiry is so dangerous, Mother will never let Ranran take the risk. Mother will take you back and will never let you get hurt in the slightest."

To be honest, Liu Qingwan was filled with doubt and dissatisfaction at this moment.

She really didn't understand the purpose of Cangfeng Valley. These children were all exceptionally talented. Even if they didn't go to Cangfeng Valley, they could receive excellent training in other sects. Why make things difficult for them with such a dangerous test?

If these children were to lose their lives because of an entrance exam, wouldn't that be a terrible waste?

As the mother and son were talking, there was a sudden knocking sound at the door.

Liu Qingwan gently placed Xie Xingran on the bed, got up, folded the cloak in her hands, put it in the wardrobe, straightened her clothes, and then slowly walked to the door, raising her hand to open the door.

Standing outside the door was a man dressed in a blue brocade robe. He was tall and handsome, but his expression seemed very uneasy.

Liu Qingwan looked at the person in front of her, her brows furrowing slightly. She narrowed her eyes, scrutinized him carefully for a moment, and then tentatively asked, her tone full of doubt: "You are... Lu Chengyuan?"