Chapter 030

Chapter 30: Heart Mirror of Insight

“Silence!”

Wei Yun Qing’s beautiful face twisted instantly, her elegant fairy-like mask falling away to reveal a hideous expression beneath.

Beside her, Sheng Yu Hong frowned and said, “Inger, don’t bother listening to her nonsense. I’ll activate the formation now!”

Without another word, he swiftly began forming hand seals, activating the formation beneath Wei Yun Xi’s feet. At the same time, Wei Yun Qing stopped pretending, raising her hand to trigger the formation below herself as well.

Wei Yun Xi watched this scene—both familiar and unfamiliar—with a cold smile curving her lips. With calm determination, she softly uttered a single word: “Reveal.”

As soon as her voice faded, the three-petal floral ornament on her forehead shimmered into view. The floral forehead immortal ornament instantly shattered the illusion around her, breaking apart the images constructed by the Heart Mirror of Insight.

Immediately after, Wei Yun Xi felt a tremendous force pushing against her. Quickly, she whispered “Conceal” again, but the force still threw her out violently, as though she’d been kicked hard from behind.

“Ouch!” Wei Yun Xi cried out as she fell face-first onto the ground. She struggled awkwardly for a moment before managing to get back on her feet.

When she stood, a pair of white boots appeared before her eyes. She lifted her chin to find a familiar face—the senior who had greeted her and Little Fatty at the sect gates the day before.

Looking at the little disciple who had just been expelled from the Heart Mirror of Insight, Song Ke chuckled gently and said, “Congratulations. You’re the first to pass the second round of testing. You can rest over there first.”

“Yes, Senior.” Wei Yun Xi respectfully clasped her hands, bowing politely, before rubbing her sore backside and heading over to sit in meditation.

Watching the small figure retreat, Song Ke became thoughtful. Although he didn’t know exactly what she experienced inside, he knew she was the quickest disciple he’d ever seen pass through the Heart Mirror of Insight. Her heart and character must be exceptional; now he was only curious about her aptitude.

As its name implied, the Heart Mirror of Insight peered into the deepest corners of one’s mind and constructed illusions to test a disciple’s resolve, seeing if they could resist temptation. Wei Yun Xi, as a transmigrator, had a stronger soul than others her age, so she was naturally less susceptible to immediate illusions—but this also raised the difficulty of her trial. Luckily, she remained vigilant, quickly saw through the illusion, and with the floral forehead immortal ornament’s assistance, she broke free easily—though not without a harsh landing.

Wei Yun Xi sensed the Heart Mirror of Insight might be somewhat annoyed with her, but she didn’t feel guilty at all. The floral forehead immortal ornament had long become part of her, and as her immortal artifact, it naturally protected its owner. With a carefree heart, she sat cross-legged in a corner, munching happily on dried meat Little Fatty had given her, calmly waiting for the next round.

Unknown to her, several sect elders secretly observing the scene nodded approvingly. “This little girl’s temperament and heart are both excellent. Very promising indeed.”

“She seems quite good, but what about her aptitude?”

“This girl is a disciple of Emerald Jade City’s Wei family. She was also the first to arrive in the initial test, even breaking through to Qi Refining first-layer at our sect gates. Her performance is indeed remarkable.”

“Her performance is good, true, but her aptitude is ordinary. She’s only a triple-spiritual-root. If not for our additional quotas this year, such a child might not even qualify for admission.”

“Triple-spiritual-root… That is rather poor indeed.”

Upon learning her talent was merely average, the sect elders quickly lost interest in recruiting her.

Wei Yun Xi didn’t have to wait long before more disciples began emerging from the Heart Mirror of Insight. The children who hadn’t begun cultivating generally passed easily, though their expressions varied widely upon exiting—some sobbing, some smiling brightly, others looking terrified.

She waited patiently until Wei Zong Hao finally stepped out. Immediately, she called cheerfully, “Brother Zong Hao, over here!”

Hearing his name, Wei Zong Hao looked up and ran to her side. “Junior Sister Yun Xi, you passed so quickly?”

“I’ve been waiting a while already! Why were you so slow?” Wei Yun Xi teased.

Wei Zong Hao sighed dramatically, “Don’t mention it. My mother kept nagging endlessly. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore, so I left home early—then suddenly, I passed.”

Sitting beside Yun Xi, he asked curiously, “And you? How did you pass?”

Wei Yun Xi’s eyes sparkled playfully, and she lowered her voice to whisper, “Wei Yun Qing tried stealing something of mine, but I caught her red-handed. We fought, I got my things back, and then I passed.”

Of course, she couldn’t tell the whole truth. Still, this explanation wasn’t exactly false—just artistically improved.

“You’re amazing, Yun Xi!” Little Fatty praised immediately.

“Just so-so. She can’t rely on her good talent to bully others forever!” Wei Yun Xi puffed her cheeks, then continued, “I wonder when Eldest Sister and the others will pass.”

“Soon, I suppose. Even the two of us at Qi Refining first-layer passed, so surely those at Qi Refining third-layer can’t fail,” Wei Zong Hao replied confidently, chewing his dried meat.

Wei Yun Xi didn’t argue, though inwardly she believed this test had little to do with cultivation levels.

Almost as soon as they finished speaking, Wei Zong Yu walked out of the Heart Mirror of Insight. After scanning around, he approached them, nodded silently, then sat down cross-legged to meditate. Yun Xi and Zong Hao tactfully didn’t disturb him, continuing their quiet chatter.

Soon afterward, Wei Yun Ying, Wei Yun Ting, Wei Zong Han, and Wei Zong Jin passed the test in succession. Though slightly weary, their conditions seemed decent.

Wei Yun Ting noticed immediately that Wei Yun Qing, who had entered first, was still inside. She gave a small disdainful snort and didn’t comment further, sitting down to meditate instead. She’d already reached the threshold of Qi Refining fourth-layer and intended to use the sect’s abundant spiritual qi to break through quickly. Yun Xi had advanced to first-layer in merely three months after Qi induction—she certainly couldn’t fall too far behind.

Everyone tactfully avoided mentioning Wei Yun Qing, causing Wei Yun Xi to hide her amusement carefully. Seeing the female protagonist suffer was truly satisfying. Without Wei Yun Xi serving as a convenient shield this time, Wei Yun Qing had suffered countless setbacks and isolations. In the original novel, it had been Wei Yun Xi who bore these humiliations.

Now, Wei Yun Qing had to carry her own burdens, failing even the Heart Mirror of Insight—proof of how deeply the recent setbacks affected her.

An hour later, disciples emerging became fewer and fewer. Song Ke prepared to deactivate the mirror when Wei Yun Qing finally stumbled out, disheveled and battered. Her hair was messy, clothes wrinkled, and her face streaked with blood. Hatred filled her eyes, terrifying many of the younger disciples nearby.

Wei Yun Qing’s hateful glare finally settled on Wei Yun Xi, as though wishing her dead.

Feigning innocence, Wei Yun Xi whispered quietly, “What’s wrong with Wei Yun Qing? Did she go mad?”

Wei Zong Hao shook his head uncertainly, “I don’t know, but her gaze is scary. We didn’t even provoke her!”

Wei Yun Ting and Wei Yun Han also frowned, clearly noticing Wei Yun Qing’s abnormal state.

Song Ke, realizing the final disciple had emerged with a malicious aura, gently waved his hand. Wei Yun Qing collapsed unconscious immediately.

Only then did Wei Yun Ting rise, respectfully asking, “Senior, what has happened to my younger sister?”