Chapter Twenty-Five: What Is the Way

"The first one, Ling Xiao!" The guiding elder stood at the entrance and called out.

A man wearing a pale blue and white Daoist robe answered the call, stepping forward with a solemn expression. He stood at the foot of the mountain path, took a deep breath, and once again set foot on the Road to Heaven!

As Ling Xiao entered the Road to Heaven, the veteran outer sect disciples began to discuss among themselves.

"Do you think Senior Brother Ling has a chance to pass this path and enter the inner sect this time?"

"I think he does. After all, Senior Brother Ling has reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment."

"But this path has nothing to do with cultivation level!"

Seeing everyone turn to look at him, the speaker’s face grew serious and continued, "Senior Brother Ling once said that the Road to Heaven isn’t really related to cultivation!"

"When did Senior Brother Ling say that?" The surrounding disciples eyed him warily. They had all asked about what the Road to Heaven tested. It appeared to be just an ordinary mountain path, yet every time it forced people to withdraw!

Ling Xiao always gave them the same answer: "You'll know when you go."

"Look, Senior Brother Ling has stopped again halfway up the mountain!"

Just as the disciple was wondering how to talk his way out of the matter, a voice spoke up, shifting everyone’s attention. He glanced around, relieved that no one was looking at him anymore. To extract the information he wanted in such a way—he found it hard to say…

Ling Xiao stood like a stone statue on the mountainside. A stick of incense’s time passed, and he remained motionless. The observing disciples showed no signs of boredom; instead, their focus sharpened as time passed.

Ling Xiao had fallen here last time, on this mountainside. Could he break through this limit and continue onward this time?

Suddenly, Ling Xiao moved. Even the slightest shift was caught clearly by the watching disciples.

He stepped forward, and a roar of cheers erupted like a tidal wave.

Ling Xiao was well-liked within the Cangyun Sect. He often took on lecture hall tasks, helping disciples solve cultivation problems—tasks not everyone could handle. Without a solid foundation, how could he help outer sect disciples with their doubts?

Over time, many knew why Ling Xiao remained in the outer sect despite being at Foundation Establishment. With the Road to Heaven open again, many sincerely hoped he could pass this time. After all, such good people were rare.

After his step, Ling Xiao’s other foot seemed glued firmly to the mountain path, unmoving for a long while.

The guiding elder watched Ling Xiao’s back, worry furrowing his brow. If Ling Xiao refused to withdraw, he could lose himself on this path!

This was all caused by obsession!

"Senior Brother Ling, hang in there!"

Someone started the cheer, and scattered shouts gradually united into a chorus of encouragement.

Perhaps the cheers worked, for Ling Xiao soon moved his other leg. Seeing this, the shouts grew louder, and Ling Xiao did not disappoint; step by slow step, he pressed forward, never stopping.

A gleam appeared in the guiding elder’s eyes. If this continued, Ling Xiao might truly pass the Road to Heaven!

A bell sounded as Ling Xiao stepped off the mountain path, lasting only two breaths before fading.

The disciples seemed to forget the bell, all cheering for Ling Xiao. Ling Xiao stood at the exit, dazed; he had succeeded, but it felt like a dream.

"Hehe, little one, congratulations on entering the inner sect. Wait aside now, don’t hold up the others!" A gentle voice called him back to himself. Ling Xiao bowed deeply to the line of elders and went to wait aside. As for why so many elders were present, he didn’t care; perhaps it was always this way.

The guiding elder turned and called, "Next, Guang Chengzi!"

As soon as the words fell, a figure appeared, quickly entering the Road to Heaven.

Guang Chengzi, second in the outer sect, possessed the ninth level of Qi Refining. It was said he was only a step away from Foundation Establishment. But could he pass the Road to Heaven?

Inside, he moved with swift, flowing steps, eliciting exclamations from the crowd.

He paused at the mountainside only for half a stick of incense, much faster than Ling Xiao!

When he stepped off the Road to Heaven, the bell sounded again, this time lasting five full breaths.

Hearing the bell, the guiding elder thought, "Now the elders will surely want to fight for him."

Sure enough, when Guang Chengzi emerged, several elders signaled to recruit him, asking if he would become their disciple.

Guang Chengzi, however, gently shook his head, politely declining, saying he needed more time to consider. Then he went to stand beside Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao saw the difference in their treatment and his gaze dimmed slightly, but soon regained his confidence.

"Next, Zhen Yang!"

"It’s Zhen Yang’s turn now!"

A mildly mocking voice rang out: "Zhen Yang always says he’s from a noble family, and the Road to Heaven is nothing to him. Let’s see today if that’s true."

Zhen Yang carried a proud air that rubbed others the wrong way.

His journey was arduous; he barely passed the mountainside, but was eliminated near the exit.

He withdrew voluntarily, and upon emerging, he acted strangely, mumbling, "Who am I? Who am I really…?"

The outer sect disciples were shocked—was failing the Road to Heaven really so devastating?

The guiding elder shook his head and called, "Next, Xu Zhiyu!"

…

"Another failure…"

"Yeah, I didn’t expect Senior Brother Xu to fall short too!"

"Don’t say that. At least Senior Brother Xu made it to the mountainside."

…

"Next, Jiang Xun!"

This time, Jiang Xun was even more embarrassed—he didn’t even reach the mountainside before withdrawing.

Shen Qingyun watched all of this calmly. The Road to Heaven, if passed, meant entering the inner sect, a leap to freedom from resource worries and the chance to focus on cultivation.

But was the Road to Heaven so easily passed?

It was also known as the Path of Heart-Questioning. What is heart-questioning? It is to question one’s own heart. If one does not even know their own heart, how can they question it?

Among the top ten of the outer sect, aside from Ling Xiao and Guang Chengzi, ninth-ranked Su Ye succeeded, with the bell ringing for three breaths. After that, Zhou Weiqing failed!

Zhou Weiqing had a poor reputation in the outer sect; his failure was met by many with amusement and mockery.

"Next, Shen Qingyun!"

The guiding elder called the final name.

The watching disciples immediately fell silent, focusing on Shen Qingyun. They all wanted to see how long he could last, convinced that his failure was inevitable.

Shen Qingyun paused at the entrance, then stepped onto the path.

The moment he set foot on it, the scene before him changed. Statues had appeared on the previously straight mountain path. At the entrance stood one statue…

The statue spoke in a cold voice, addressing Shen Qingyun: "What is the Dao?"