Wen Qingye serenely gazed at the Heart-Inquiry Mirror before him, his expression as tranquil as still water.
A brilliant light suddenly burst forth from the Heart-Inquiry Mirror, enveloping Wen Qingye. In the next moment, he felt as if he were basking in warm sunlight.
All eyes were fixed on the Heart-Inquiry Mirror, everyone watching without so much as a blink, eager to see Wen Qingye’s mental state revealed.
But the result left them all stunned.
"What on earth is going on? Why isn’t the Heart-Inquiry Mirror showing anything?"
"How strange. It’s just a vast emptiness, nothing at all. Could Wen Qingye’s mental state be abysmally poor? But then why is his cultivation so high?"
Fang Huatong’s brow furrowed. She turned to the Great Elder of the Jade Maiden Sect beside her and asked, "What is happening? Why isn’t the Heart-Inquiry Mirror displaying anything? Great Elder, do you know the reason for this?"
The Jade Maiden Sect’s Great Elder replied, equally perplexed, "I’m not sure. This typically only happens with children. Could it be that Wen Qingye possesses the legendary pure heart of a child?"
A pure heart of a child? The crowd looked at Wen Qingye and shook their heads. He didn’t seem like the type to possess such a thing at all.
One of the Jade Maiden Sect Elders frowned and said, "I heard that a previous Sect Leader once used this Heart-Inquiry Mirror on an imbecile, and it produced the same reaction..."
The Jade Maiden Sect’s Great Elder shook her head. "Regardless of other theories, the fact remains that the Heart-Inquiry Mirror has not produced a single glimmer of light. That much is true."
Everyone nodded. Before the contest, the rules had been clearly stated: victory would be determined by the light produced by the Heart-Inquiry Mirror.
"What in the world is going on?" Jiechen asked, muttering to himself as he stared at the unresponsive Heart-Inquiry Mirror.
Ling Tianyu snorted coldly. "Hmph, no matter what, I’m guaranteed to win. I refuse to believe Wen Qingye’s mental state can possibly trigger the Heart-Inquiry Mirror’s seven beams of auroral light."
About the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn passed, but the Heart-Inquiry Mirror still showed no sign of stirring. Looks of disappointment began to appear on many faces.
Just then, Wen Qingye slowly opened his eyes, laughing to himself. ’Trying to peer into my mental state with a mere Mid-Level Spirit Grade Magical Artifact? What a fool’s errand.’
Wen Qingye shook his head and slowly started to walk down.
"Wen Qingye, you’ve lost!"
Ling Tianyu threw his head back and burst into laughter.
Wen Qingye raised an eyebrow, glanced at the laughing Ling Tianyu, and said, "Oh? And why do you say that?"
Ling Tianyu sneered, "And where is your brilliant light?"
"Brilliant light?"
The corner of Wen Qingye’s mouth curled up slightly into a smile.
KRAKOOM!
Suddenly, the crowd felt an immense radiance bloom before them. The intense, blinding light was so overpowering that they could barely keep their eyes open.
Enduring the blinding glare, the crowd squinted, their eyes fixed on the Heart-Inquiry Mirror from which this ultimate radiance had erupted.
"This is..."
"Heavens! Nine beams of light! That’s nine beams! It’s the absolute limit of the Heart-Inquiry Mirror!"
"Nine beams... Didn’t our Ancestral Master say you couldn’t summon nine beams of light unless you were at the Three Tribulations Realm?"
"Incredible... simply incredible! Wen Qingye’s mental state is terrifyingly profound! Is this what he’s capable of?"
Every single person present wore an expression of utter shock, staring dumbfounded at the Heart-Inquiry Mirror.
Wen Qingye stood tall, backed by an immense, nine-colored radiance so dazzling it was blinding. He himself was like a colossal statue, serenely and calmly gazing upon the crowd with a faint smile playing on his lips.
After an unknown amount of time, the light finally began to fade.
Fang Huatong shot to her feet, her eyes fixed on Wen Qingye, not blinking once.
All eyes were on Wen Qingye. As members of the Jade Maiden Sect, their understanding of the Heart-Inquiry Mirror was far deeper than the average person’s.
What did nine beams of light represent? It was a feat rumored to be achievable only by masters of the Three Tribulations.
The Three Tribulations is the realm that follows the Life and Death Realm, comprising the Transcendence Tribulation, the Void Tribulation, and the Feather Transformation Tribulation. According to legend, anyone who passes the Feather Transformation Tribulation can ascend to immortality in broad daylight.
Thus, masters of the Three Tribulations generally no longer appeared before the world. They would go into seclusion, cultivating with a single-minded focus, hoping to perceive the Heavenly Mechanism, achieve ascension, and escape this mortal realm.
As far as these disciples of the Jade Maiden Sect knew, there wasn’t a single master of the Three Tribulations Realm in the entire Eastern Profound Domain, let alone had they ever seen one.
Wen Qingye smiled at Ling Tianyu without saying a word.
Ling Tianyu’s expression changed drastically. A flash of killing intent flickered in his eyes before vanishing as he instantly regained his composure.
He took a deep breath and looked at Wen Qingye, speaking slowly. "Brother Wen’s attainment is truly on another level. It seems the gap between us is far greater than I knew. I have lost this round."
As expected of Taiyi Pavilion’s peerless genius, a man of remarkable mental fortitude, Ling Tianyu managed to adjust his state of mind in a mere moment.
"You flatter me. A pity, though, that Brother Ling’s little scheme came to nothing."
Wen Qingye gave an indifferent nod and calmly walked over to Youu Junlian’s side, a chill settling in his heart. ’That Ling Tianyu actually dared to harbor killing intent toward me. For that alone, he deserves to die.’
Ling Tianyu’s heart seethed with hatred upon hearing Wen Qingye’s words, but not a trace of it showed on his face.
At this, Jiechen also slowly rose to his feet, pressing his palms together. "Today has truly been an eye-opening experience. Regardless of anything else, with a mental state like his and that astonishingly divine Swordsmanship, Master Wen’s future accomplishments will surely be extraordinary."
Wen Qingye replied, "Master Jiechen, you are too kind."
Everyone present was filled with amazement and a myriad of emotions over the nine beams of light Wen Qingye had summoned.
Fang Huatong then stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over Youu Junlian, Meng Fei, Yanm Fang, and Zhao Dan’Er. "This first round was a test of the heart, and while it’s a pity we couldn’t measure your own mental states, a winner has nonetheless been decided. For the first trial, Youu Junlian is the victor. Yanm Fang and Meng Fei are tied for second, and last place goes to Zhao Dan’Er."
Hearing Fang Huatong’s announcement, the crowd’s reactions were mixed—some were joyous, others worried.
Youu Junlian looked at Wen Qingye with a delighted surprise, giving him a thumbs-up. "Junior Brother Wen, you’re truly incredible! I never imagined we would take first place in the very first trial. This is completely unexpected!"
"Let’s just see how the next round goes," Wen Qingye said with a faint, nonchalant smile.
Nearby, Yanm Fang and Meng Fei could only shake their heads in resignation. Seven beams of light from the Heart-Inquiry Mirror... It wasn’t that Jiechen and Ling Tianyu weren’t powerful; it was that Wen Qingye was simply a monster.
"You know, about this Wen Qingye," the Xiaoxiang Wanderer chuckled softly, "I’m thinking that if his meridians had never been severed, he probably would have been dead long ago."
Zhao Dan’Er asked, confused, "Brother Chi, why would you say that?"
The Xiaoxiang Wanderer gazed at Wen Qingye, who sat in the distance with a faint smile, and remarked, "With talent like his, do you really think Taiyi Pavilion would have felt at ease letting him develop?"
After hearing Duan Chi’s explanation, Zhao Dan’Er nodded, a look of dawning comprehension on her face.
Fang Huatong looked out at the crowd and continued, "Very well. It is time for the second trial. I hope that for this contest, our sect’s own disciples will participate personally. The first trial was an Inquiry of the Heart. The second trial will be an Inquiry of Affection."
An Inquiry of Affection?
Upon hearing Fang Huatong’s words, the people present exchanged confused and bewildered glances.