Luo Qingchuan stepped into the gym just as the aptitude assessment was about to begin.

Everyone turned to look at him, walking through the dazzling sunlight.

“Sorry to keep everyone waiting. I’m a bit late.”

Lu Wu was a little stunned. He noticed the sweat on the boy’s forehead and couldn’t help but smile.

“You’re Luo tongxue, right? No need to rush. As long as you seek the Dao, our doors will always be open to you.”

Tap tap tap.

Under the surprised, impressed, and happy gazes of the students, Su Yingxue ran toward Luo Qingchuan and threw her arms around him.

She snuggled into his chest without a trace of shyness.

Her heart was beating fast. Her delicate cheek pressed against him as she murmured with a hint of grievance, “You made me wait so anxiously.”

Luo Qingchuan gently brushed her long black hair with his fingers. “As long as you’re waiting, I’ll always run to you.”

Su Yingxue grinned playfully. “I don’t need you to go that far. I just want you not to make me worry.”

“Ahem.”
Lu Wu’s eyes carried a gentle warmth. He smiled and said, “Everyone, please stand in your positions. Let’s begin.”

Luo Qingchuan nodded.

Su Yingxue reluctantly pulled away from his embrace. But just before parting, she leaned in and whispered, “Didn’t you say Zuo Tian wouldn’t be allowed into the Seeking Dao class? You changed your mind?”

Not that Su Yingxue really cared—after all, Zuo Tian was at Qi Refining Level 9. He definitely qualified.

But Luo Qingchuan foolishly told the truth: “That was a lie. My family just has some spare cash. We don’t have the power to control the Seeking Dao class…”

Su Yingxue’s cheeks turned red. She gave Luo Qingchuan a light pinch on the arm and said with warmth in her eyes, “You’re something else. One little lie and you tricked me into your hands.”

Luo Qingchuan just smiled without saying a word.

“I don’t regret it,” Su Yingxue said before walking away.

Soon, under Lu Wu and the two other teachers’ direction, the assessment officially began.

Since it was called a “test,” there had to be actual testing.

The crystal orb, called the Spirit-Seeker, was used for measuring aptitude.
But the true trial was the bronze mirror—called the Truth-Breaker.

Luo Qingchuan had already tested his spiritual roots at home: Fire element, Grade C, Tier 2.

Spiritual roots were ranked as Grade A, B, or C, each with three tiers.
If Luo’s result dropped even slightly, he’d be placed into a general class.

The first to be tested was a delicate-looking boy. Fire root, Grade B, Tier 1. He looked thrilled.

Everyone reacted differently to their results—some excited, others dejected.

It felt like waiting for college entrance exam results. Everyone was nervous.

The only ones staying calm were Luo Qingchuan, Su Yingxue, and Zuo Tian.

Su Yingxue and Zuo Tian both had fated destiny lines and inherited legacies. They had nothing to worry about.

As for Luo Qingchuan…

Well, he already knew he was Grade C, Tier 2. What’s the point in worrying?

So, when Su Yingxue’s result came out as Wind root, Grade A, Tier 1, everyone’s eyes were filled with envy as they looked at the graceful and stunning girl.

Even the two other teachers besides Lu Wu looked visibly shaken.

When it was Luo Qingchuan’s turn, he drew quite a bit of attention.

This rich gongzi looked calm and unreadable earlier—was it because he was that confident?

The students all held their breath.

When Luo Qingchuan touched the crystal orb, after a few seconds of silence, it lazily emitted a few dim flickers of starlight.

Su Yingxue blinked, pressing her lips together. Her gaze toward him softened with concern.

Lu Wu’s eyelid twitched. Something didn’t feel right. He smiled at Luo. “It might be malfunctioning. Try again.”

“Okay.” Luo Qingchuan’s expression dimmed slightly. He touched it again.

The weak starlight flickered again—dim and powerless, like it was saying, he’s hopeless.

Lu Wu probed Luo Qingchuan with his divine sense.

“You’re at Qi Refining Level 2?”

“Yes.”

Luo Qingchuan had concealed his true cultivation, deliberately adjusting his breathing to simulate the 《Breath Swallowing Technique》 at Level 2.

His real technique, 《Disaster and Calamity Immortal Scripture》, was so advanced it felt like it didn’t even belong to this era.

Lu Wu didn’t detect anything strange. He looked at Luo and sighed, “You took a pill, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” Luo Qingchuan ‘admitted’ without hesitation.

Lu Wu’s tone was calm. “You’re rushing things. Remember, even with average talent, a cultivator can succeed through diligence and—”

“Ten thousand years is too long,” Luo Qingchuan interrupted with a smile. “I’ll seize every moment I have.”

Lu Wu stopped mid-sentence. He studied Luo’s smile, then smiled silently in return. He chalked it up to youthful passion and didn’t argue further.

But those same words landed in Zuo Tian’s ears and made his eyes snap wide open. His sharp gaze locked onto Luo Qingchuan.

Ten thousand years is too long… seize the moment?

Well said. Truly well said.

But you’ll never be the one to race against me in this moment.

You have the heart—but not the fate. That’s overestimating yourself.

So… was it my one-night breakthrough to Level 9 that pressured you into swallowing a pill to catch up?

I almost feel sorry for you, Luo Qingchuan.

The same words, heard by different people, held very different meanings.

Su Yingxue’s soft shoulders trembled. Her expression grew sorrowful… she understood now.

It was her overwhelming talent that had placed so much pressure on Luo Qingchuan.

From now on, she had to keep a closer eye on him. She couldn’t let him use pills to force his way forward.

If he took his time, everything would be fine—she believed that.

Next.

After a few more students, it was Zuo Tian’s turn.

He hadn’t hidden his Qi Refining Level 9 aura, so Lu Wu looked at him with admiration.

“Come,” Lu Wu smiled. “Let’s see what true genius looks like.”

Zuo Tian smiled amiably. “I don’t need talent to bind or define my path. I’ll walk it myself. It shouldn't have a predetermined end.”

Lu Wu blinked, then suddenly smiled broadly.

Good, he thought. These students were all interesting.

“Very well.”

Lu Wu clapped his hands with joy and said warmly, “Then let’s test your core intent. This trial isn’t easy.”

Zuo Tian nodded. “This is the one I want.”

His once flawless Dao heart had been damaged. Now was the time to mend it.

So Lu Wu guided Zuo Tian to the bronze mirror, where he stood alone and closed his eyes.

“Open them,” Lu Wu instructed.

Zuo Tian opened his eyes wide—light from sun and moon, heaven and earth, change and renewal all seemed to reflect within them.

The Truth-Breaker Mirror was actually a Mirror of Illusions.
It pierced directly into the heart, exposing one’s deepest fears.
Only one’s own will could break through it.

And so—

Zuo Tian saw it.

He saw the boundless sky and endless earth—so vast it couldn’t fit inside his once-confident eyes.

Then—

A dazzling white line suddenly tore across the desolate land!

Sword light!

Su Yingxue’s sword light!

That white streak surged from the horizon. The sky darkened, the earth shattered, towering waves surged in from all directions—the world tilted.

It wasn’t a white line.

It was a gate.

A gate of annihilation.

Zuo Tian’s eyes trembled violently as red lightning flared from within them.
His face turned pale—so pale it was almost translucent, with even the veins beneath his skin visible.

Overwhelming fear blanked his mind.
He felt as small and powerless as an ant.

Back when he hadn't cultivated, when he’d faced the Qi Refining Level 9 Su Yingxue, he truly was just an ant.

That fear had rooted itself deep in his heart, following him like a shadow.

And so, everyone saw—

Zuo Tian swayed in front of the mirror, then suddenly collapsed to the ground.

He forced a calm expression, breathing like a fish out of water, eyes trembling wildly like a candle in the wind.

Lu Wu opened his mouth but said nothing as he stared at the ancient characters glowing on the bronze mirror.

「Unfit for greatness」

…

…

(Second chapter of the day. The bonus chapter will be posted tonight—this one really wore me out.)