I Thought I Got the Hidden Version

At the same time, the voice of the Heavenly Dao echoed once more in Su Ji’s ears.

["A clear conscience paves the way to the Great Dao."]

["As the first to pass the trial, you are granted ‘Clarity of the Dao Heart.’"]

As the words faded, a gentle light descended from the heavens and merged into Su Ji’s brow.

Su Ji glanced at his "Heavenly Mandate."

It hadn’t increased.

This was more like a "state enhancement."

He felt his mind grow crystal clear, as if all meaningless distractions had been swept away.

His thoughts flowed faster.

Just then, Su Jiu also completed the trial.

The moment she stepped out of the "Path of Heart’s Trial," her gaze met Su Ji’s.

Her clear eyes were filled with shock.

How had Su Ji finished so quickly?

If she remembered correctly, she had entered the trial first.

She had just endured the torment of severing ties with the clansmen who raised her in the illusion.

The heart-wrenching pain still lingered.

But Su Ji… he looked…

Completely at ease?

What had he experienced?

Or was he simply a cold, unfeeling monster with no attachments at all?

Su Ji ignored her astonishment and instead observed the other cultivators still struggling on the path.

Some knelt on the ground, weeping and kowtowing to empty air.

Others snarled, fists flying as if battling invisible foes.

One female cultivator rolled on the ground, robes disheveled, moaning in a way that would make anyone blush.

Tsk.

It seemed the Path of Heart’s Trial didn’t just reflect worldly ties—it also laid bare one’s deepest desires.

Still, the performances were all the same.

Su Ji quickly grew bored.

He turned his attention back to Su Jiu.

"Well? Seeing me finish so fast, are you impressed now?"

Su Jiu looked away without answering.

Su Ji felt a flicker of disappointment.

Not that he actually cared to tease her.

It was just that [Gaze of the Heavenly Mandate] was still on cooldown after being used on the fat steward.

He wondered if he could trigger a [Romance Option] to glean hints about future events.

Meanwhile, Su Jiu couldn’t comprehend it.

Even the most resolute cultivators couldn’t remain so composed under such soul-piercing trials.

Was Su Ji’s heart truly made of stone? Or… had his illusion been different from everyone else’s?

……

Time passed.

Fewer cultivators writhed on the path, and more emerged at the end.

One by one, they appeared beside Su Ji and Su Jiu.

Most were pale and dazed, still reeling from their painful choices in the illusion.

Their gazes toward Su Ji held a trace of awe.

To them, the earlier one passed, the more "ruthless" they must be.

Finally, as the last cultivator staggered out, the ethereal voice spoke again.

["The trial of the heart is complete."]

["Only those with a clear conscience may proceed."]

The moment the words fell, the Path of Heart’s Trial split down the middle without warning.

An invisible divide separated the crowd.

Su Ji, Su Jiu, and the thirty-odd cultivators who passed stood firm.

On the other side, the old Daoist who had been laughing maniacally earlier—along with fifteen others—watched as the ground beneath them turned illusory.

"Hahaha! This old Daoist has severed worldly ties and purged all inner demons! The Great Dao awaits!"

Still lost in his euphoria, the old man didn’t notice the change beneath his feet.

Then, the illusory ground vanished entirely.

His laughter cut off abruptly—no time even for a scream.

He and the fifteen others plunged into the bottomless Abyss of Delusion below.

Not even an echo remained.

"……"

Silence gripped the survivors.

Fear was etched on every face.

Only Su Ji found it somewhat amusing.

With skills like these, why even cultivate immortality?

The Heavenly Dao’s trial might as well have spelled out "This is a test" in bold letters.

The setup was obvious—first the talk of "severing ties" and "worldly burdens," practically announcing the illusion trial.

And yet, they still fell for it?

Even if they had loved ones they couldn’t bear to part with, shouldn’t they at least use their brains?

Wasn’t their own survival important?

Knowing the "loved ones" before them were illusions, how could they hesitate?

A little vigilance—channeling the mindset of "How dare you impersonate those I care about? Die!"—would’ve made it easy.

Just raise the blade and slaughter without mercy.

This trial wasn’t even difficult.

If he were the designer, he wouldn’t have made it so straightforward.

At the very least, he’d add layers.

First, craft an illusion that seemed brutally challenging, letting the victim believe they’d fought hard to "pass."

Then, when they let their guard down, basking in their reward and thinking themselves the chosen one—

Strike.

Reveal a mocking grin.

And whisper:

"When did you… start believing you’d already passed?"

The thought sent a jolt through Su Ji.

His smirk froze.

Wait…

A terrifying possibility clawed its way into his mind.

Could it be…

This "success" itself was part of the illusion?

A trap for those who thought they’d outsmarted it?

Once the seed took root, it grew wildly.

He discreetly scanned his surroundings.

The pale, shaken cultivators who’d "passed."

The split path that had swallowed the failures.

Even Su Jiu, standing cold and pristine beside him.

Everything seemed too logical, too seamless.

Which made it all the more suspicious.

Su Ji’s heart sank.

He had to test it.

Turning to Su Jiu, he forced back his usual careless grin, as if his earlier tension had never existed.

"Hey, junior sister."

His tone was casual.

"Those foxes from your Qingqiu homeland—are they all experts in seduction?"

Su Jiu, lost in thought, frowned at the interruption. Her icy demeanor sharpened.

"I’ve told you before. I’m of the Pure Fox lineage."

A normal response. No issues.

But Su Ji pressed on.

"Ah, right, my mistake."

He feigned realization, then shifted to a suggestive tone.

"It’s just—you share the surname Su, and that time you measured my spiritual roots, your technique was so…"

"I thought I’d lucked into the Su Daji special."

Su Jiu’s expression turned glacial. A vein pulsed at her temple.

Yet she held back, only correcting through gritted teeth.

"She was of the You Su lineage."

Su Ji’s smile vanished completely.

The You Su lineage…

So Su Daji actually existed here?

His mind reeled. Suppressing the storm of thoughts, he pretended surprise.

"So, Su Daji actually exists in this world?"

Su Jiu finally began to sense something amiss.

Her clear eyes, tinged with curiosity, fixed on Su Ji's face.

She found his surprise... utterly baffling.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she countered, "If she doesn’t exist..."

"Then how did you even know that name?"