"In this opening ceremony of Mount Shu, we shall recruit a total of one thousand disciples, both inner and outer sect."
"Those with passable talent who are not chosen will be allowed to remain in the Mount Shu to practice martial cultivation, awaiting the next opening of the mountain to recruit disciples."
"From those who remain, three thousand will be selected to serve as menial disciples."
"After the ceremony, inner sect disciples will be overseen by each peak's head or elder; if a peak lacks a head, the chief disciple of that peak will act in proxy."
"Outer sect disciples and menials will be overseen by the Outer Sect Elders' Council."
"This recruitment evaluates overall talent, temperament, willpower, and comprehension."
"The assessments will be carried out by the Heart-Testing Array."
"Passing the first level earns a place as an outer sect disciple. Passing three levels earns a place as an inner sect disciple."
"The Sect Master has said: Mount Shu disciples value quality over quantity. If fewer than a thousand succeed, we will not fill the number by lowering standards."
"You have the time it takes an incense stick to burn to prepare. When it is done, you will enter the Heart-Testing Array to be tested."
After Zhongli's long speech, he returned to his seat and closed his eyes in meditation. Ningguang and the others took their places to cultivate.
Gradually, murmurs rose outside the array, hushed for fear of disturbing the great figures.
Clorinde nudged Furina.
"Lady Furina?"
Snapping out of her thoughts, Furina blinked.
"What is it?"
Clorinde bit her lip. Furina's gaze had suddenly grown so deep it was frightening—like a mask had been removed. She quickly explained:
"We only have an incense stick's time to prepare. Once it's burned out, the assessment begins…"
"Prepare?" Furina gave her a strange look.
"Do you even know what the Heart-Testing Array is? How are we supposed to prepare for that?"
Before Clorinde could answer, Baiwen looked over and finally spoke:
"The so-called Heart-Testing Array is a great formation Mount Shu uses to discern a disciple's true nature."
Furina turned in surprise.
"You know?"
She quickly remembered: of course—Baiwen was Ningguang's secretary.
Others pricked up their ears. Gradually, a cluster of notables drew closer: Tartaglia, Hu Tao, Xingqiu, Chongyun, Xiangling, Tighnari, Alhaitham, Collei… soon a little circle of elites had formed around them.
Baiwen didn't mind, and continued:
"Lady Ningguang has said: in the Heart-Testing Array, one step is one lifetime. Each layer you pass through, you must live through an entire life."
"WHAT?!" Hu Tao yelped, quickly lowering her voice.
"You mean every layer is a whole lifetime? Then we'd have to live three lives just to qualify for the inner sect?!"
Everyone's faces darkened. They'd thought it was a simple test of heart—but this was far beyond imagination.
Baiwen nodded gravely.
"When you enter, you forget all about cultivation. You simply continue along the path of life. Once, twice… each lifetime harsher than the last."
"You might be born as a beggar in the cultivation world, suffering hunger and hardship. You might be born a prodigy of some sect, facing peril after peril. You might even live as an ordinary mortal, passing a dull and uneventful life."
"Each is a lash upon the Dao-heart. Waver, and you'll be lost forever in illusion—disqualified from the trial."
Furina frowned, uneasy.
"So we could become ordinary mortals, squabbling over petty nonsense, and die in obscurity?"
"Not just that." Baiwen's eyes held reverence as he gazed at the array.
"Every person has desires—longevity, power, wealth, authority. The array makes you see the life you crave most."
"Crave strength, and you may become peerless. Crave wealth, and you may be richer than nations. Crave rule, and you may be emperor of all."
He glanced at Hu Tao.
"For example—your dream is to expand the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor across all of Teyvat, isn't it?"
Hu Tao's eyes lit up.
"That's my dream!"
"Then within the array, you may do exactly that—feel the joy of achievement, the thrill of success. But if you cannot pull yourself away, you'll fail. If you indulge in illusions, or commit vile acts in pursuit of desire, you'll be rejected forever. Even if no one else sees—your Dao-heart knows."
The group fell silent, faces heavy. The trial was far harsher than imagined.
Furina nearly pulled her hair out.
"Isn't there some trick? Some technique?"
Baiwen laughed bitterly.
"If there were, would we still be standing here worrying? No matter what I tell you, once you're inside, you'll forget it all. There is no shortcut—only your will can carry you through."
Beidou snorted.
"Fair enough. But nine layers? That's absurd."
Baiwen pointed toward a great stone stele. At the very top was a name: Baizhu.
"The doctor of Bubu Pharmacy once crossed all nine layers, driven by his unmatched thirst for the Dao. Even the Sect Master praised him. Remember—Emperor Zhongli himself, and Lord Venti, only crossed seven."
Furina's jaw dropped.
"Someone actually passed nine? What kind of monster is that?!"
Baiwen shook his head.
"Best not to dwell on it. Just keep your heart steady."
Even Tartaglia grew uneasy. He'd always imagined endless battles—but could he endure them, life after life? Could he resist crossing lines for victory's sake? No one could guarantee they'd stay righteous across a lifetime, let alone three.
The weight of the test sank into all their hearts.
Furina muttered something about the Sect Master—Baiwen quickly hushed her.
"Careful. In Mount Shu, even a blade of grass lies under the Sect Master's gaze. Do not speak of him lightly."
Furina pursed her lips, but her eyes still shone with desperate hope. If she couldn't pass, maybe—just maybe—the Sect Master himself could save Fontaine.
For now, she changed tack.
"What about the disciples already in Mount Shu? Who's the strongest?"
Everyone leaned in, curious.
Baiwen thought carefully.
"Hard to say. Lady Ganyu has reached the peak of Refining Essence into Qi, her Great Sun Archery devastating beyond compare. She also has the Spirit Transformation-stage spirit beast Qīngluán as her partner—by combined strength, she may be the strongest."
"But if you only look at individuals, the Demon-Slaying Yaksha, Senior Disciple Xiao of Dragonhead Peak, is also at that peak. Between the two, whoever first steps into Spirit Transformation will claim the title."
Furina glanced at Ganyu and Xiao, unease stirring again. Their strength rivaled even Neuvillette.
Perhaps befriending Ganyu could be Fontaine's way out…
Hu Tao, eyes sparkling, piped up eagerly:
"And then? And then?"
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