"Heart?"
Li Chang'an froze for a moment. What kind of nonsense was this? How was he supposed to protect Mu Xi during a mind test? Should he… just smash this girl instead?
"Yes, the heart! A spiritual trial—the final stage. It's known as the hardest of them all. If you pass, you'll be qualified to receive the reward and see what my master left behind."
Xiao Yuer introduced cheerfully, completely unaware that someone had just been contemplating beating her up.
"Alright, senior. We accept. Please start the trial."
Li Chang'an cut straight to the point.
It wasn't like he hadn't faced something similar before. Hadn't the Rakshasa Tower trial been just like this? And didn't he break through it with a single "Mantra"?
As for Mu Xi… Li Chang'an was certain there was no one in this world with a purer, simpler heart than hers. This kind of trial should be no problem.
"No need to rush. Why don't we chat first? As long as you talk with me for an hour, I'll lower the difficulty of the trial."
Xiao Yuer giggled, confident no one could refuse such a bargain.
"No need."
"Not necessary!"
Ahem. The first line was from Li Chang'an. The second from Mu Xi.
Li Chang'an was pressed for time. Mu Xi, on the other hand, simply didn't want him chatting with another woman. After all, this guy already had two women at his side.
"Uh… fine then. Please, sit. The trial begins."
Xiao Yuer was stunned. She had never met such strange people before—turning down a chance to make things easier! Well, since they wanted the hardest trial, so be it.
With a wave of her hand, two yellow meditation mats appeared on the floor. They looked completely ordinary.
"Please, take your seats."
Li Chang'an shot Mu Xi an encouraging look. The two of them sat cross-legged, ready for the trial.
Although they were told to close their eyes, Li Chang'an still activated a thread of his spiritual sense, secretly observing Xiao Yuer. After all, he couldn't see through her cultivation, and caution never hurt.
But Xiao Yuer noticed and glared at him coldly before muttering a strange incantation. Her palm glowed with white light, which first enveloped Mu Xi, then wrapped around Li Chang'an.
Just as Li Chang'an braced himself for the trial, a terrified cry rang out:
"You—you—you…!"
"Your heart is too impure! My energy won't enter at all!"
The so-called heart trial worked by finding the purest, most innocent corner in a person's heart and magnifying it to serve as the foundation of the test.
Whether saint or villain, every human carried at least one pure place deep within. The trial had never failed in history. But now… it failed on Li Chang'an.
Xiao Yuer couldn't put it into words, but she was certain: there wasn't even a shred of purity in Li Chang'an's heart! If she knew modern slang, she would've called him a hopeless pervert on the spot.
Li Chang'an blinked. "What does my impure heart have to do with your trial?"
"Of course it matters! I don't believe it—there must be some purity in you somewhere! Let me try again!"
For the first time in countless years, Xiao Yuer had encountered this situation. She couldn't accept it. This time, she would use her master's power—divine power!
"Alright, senior."
Li Chang'an obediently closed his eyes again, releasing a faint thread of divine sense to quietly observe.
Xiao Yuer chanted a longer incantation this time, her body exuding a faint divine aura that made her seem lofty and transcendent. A brilliant white radiance enveloped Li Chang'an tightly.
And then—
Pfft!
In Li Chang'an's perception, Xiao Yuer suddenly coughed up blood and was blasted far away. The white light shattered instantly.
"You—who are you!? Why can't even my master's divine aura penetrate your heart!?"
Xiao Yuer lay sprawled on the ground, spitting blood in disbelief.
She had tried to guide her master's aura into his heart, but an incomparably terrifying power had repelled it, wounding her in the process.
This wasn't scientific!
Her master was once one of the most powerful gods—renowned even among the divine. The aura left behind was immensely strong. Yet it failed to enter the heart of a mere human? How was that possible?
Could it be that this man's heart was so utterly impure that it had become untouchable—even enough to repel divine power?
Just how corrupted was his inner world!?
If Li Chang'an knew, he'd just shrug and say: "Nothing special. I only have a few terabytes of rare movie collections."
"Senior, I really have no idea what's going on. Maybe… try one more time?"
Li Chang'an feigned innocence, his expression and tone impeccable.
"No! No way!"
Xiao Yuer frantically waved her hands. If she tried again, she might actually die.
"You can't take the trial. You failed the third stage. But since your case is… special, if your companion passes, you can still come with me to meet my master."
She glanced at Mu Xi, who had already fallen into the trial smoothly, and nodded.
For some reason, she felt Mu Xi had a good chance of success.
"Alright, thank you, senior."
Li Chang'an cupped his hands and turned to watch Mu Xi.
Her expression shifted—sometimes anxious, sometimes nervous, sometimes… blushing?
What kind of trial was this girl going through in her heart?
"Since your companion is busy, why don't you chat with me now?" Xiao Yuer pressed, clearly starved for conversation.
"Fine. I'll keep you company—for five copper soul coins' worth of chatter."
Li Chang'an joked.
"Five copper coins? How long is that? Can I… buy more time?" Xiao Yuer asked seriously, puzzled at how little that sounded.
Li Chang'an coughed to cover his laughter. "Not important. Senior, can you tell me about this place? The God's Tomb—whose tomb is it?"
"Well, I suppose I can tell you. It's not like you're even in the trial anymore. Come, sit."
After a brief pause, Xiao Yuer agreed. She had been holding it in for far too long. This desolate place, with no normal company for endless years, had turned the once-aloof girl into a chatterbox.
With a wave of her hand, two stone stools appeared. She and Li Chang'an sat down, ready for a long talk.
"Before I tell you, let me ask—do you know of the Dragon God?" she asked, her eyes filled with reverence.
"The Dragon God? Of course. The God of All Beasts."
Li Chang'an nodded. He knew from novels in his previous life, as well as records here, who the Dragon God was.
He'd even pretended to be a heir of the Dragon God once, to trick Gu Yuena and the others.
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T/N:
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