Meanwhile, Xiao Chen let out a long breath. Cold sweat soaked his back, but his gaze was now much sharper and clearer than before.Xiao Chen's success in breaking through the mental illusion earlier also proved that his mentality had become much stronger.“Good, Young Master. You successfully passed the first psychological trap.” Ye Yuan’s voice sounded faintly within Xiao Chen’s consciousness, remaining as calm as ever. “However, don’t let your guard down—”“This labyrinth is designed to test all five senses. The next trial will no longer attack your mind, but your body.”Xiao Chen frowned slightly.Sure enough, before he could take another step, the ground beneath his feet suddenly began to shake violently.Krrrr-boom!The stone floor beneath him suddenly collapsed. Xiao Chen lost his footing and immediately plummeted into the pitch-black hole hidden beneath it.At the bottom of the pit, dozens of sharp, poisoned blades pointed upward, glinting coldly beneath the faint light.Everyt

The ancient sword aura filling the grand hall trembled violently. Under the gaze of the white-robed swordsman projection, Xiao Chen still stood upright with his eyes tightly closed.Cold sweat had soaked through his entire robe, while his breathing sounded heavy yet steady. Although the pressure of the Ancient Sword Soul continued to bear down on his consciousness, there was not the slightest sign that the young man would surrender.Yes, Xiao Chen was indeed attempting to push back.Within the sea of his consciousness, the storm of spiritual pressure that had previously raged violently was gradually beginning to subside. Xiao Chen had finally found a point of balance amid that pressure.Xiao Chen no longer regarded the shadows of his past as burdens to be avoided or sources of despair. Instead, all those hardships had become part of the journey that had tempered his resolve and made it even stronger.Every humiliation, failure, and pain he had ever experienced. All of it had shaped th

Xiao Chen's footsteps came to a halt in front of a magnificent two-story building surrounded by clusters of green bamboo.A breeze passed through the gaps between the bamboo stalks, producing a soft rustling sound that made the atmosphere here feel far more peaceful than the main area of the academy.Even the concentration of spiritual Qi around the pavilion felt much denser, making every breath feel refreshing.An old wooden sign hung directly above the entrance. The golden carved characters on its surface were clearly visible despite having been weathered by time—Northern Pavilion.“Please enter, Disciple Xiao Chen. Elder Gong is already waiting inside,” the gray-robed guard said before taking several steps backward, clearly having no intention of entering with him.Xiao Chen gave a brief nod. He took a deep breath to calm his thoughts before reaching out and pushing open the wooden door in front of him.Creaaak ...The sound of the old hinges echoed softly.As soon as he entered th

The corners of Gong Bodong’s lips slowly lifted. A small laugh filled with admiration escaped his lips.“This boy ...” Gong Bodong muttered, shaking his head slightly. “Out there, the genius disciples of the great clans would probably kneel and beg if they received an offer like this. Yet, you are busy asking what I expect from you.”Gong Bodong then rose from his seat.He slowly walked toward the open window at the side of the room. A breeze carrying the fragrance of bamboo drifted into the pavilion, causing his robes to flutter slightly.Gong Bodong’s gaze was fixed upon the distant sky. “That is a very good question, Xiao Chen.”His tone gradually changed. There was no longer any trace of joking in it. What remained was the seriousness of a cultivator who had witnessed too much throughout his life.“To be honest, if you think I accepted you because I want to use you for the political interests of my faction within the academy, or turn you into a tool to compete for a certain positi

The morning sun had just risen from behind the mountains, spilling golden light that slowly enveloped the entire Sky Sword Academy complex.Dew still hung from the tips of the leaves, while the sound of footsteps from the disciples began to echo from every direction.His first day as an official disciple had begun, and the outer disciples’ courtyard was already bustling with activity.However, the atmosphere in the Northern Pavilion was completely different. The place was still shrouded in tranquility, as though it were separated from the hustle and bustle of the academy.Inside a private training room, Xiao Chen sat cross-legged on the stone floor while reading a book. Stacks of books were arranged on both his right and left sides.Since early morning, Xiao Chen had already gone to the Northern Pavilion. He could not cultivate in the same way as the other disciples, so he chose to learn as much as possible first.What Xiao Chen was currently reading was the academy’s basic manual and