The Lustful Young Master starting with Holy Maiden.
Chapter 73: Seventh pass.

Chapter 73: Seventh pass.

He who walks forward must walk within.

As the shimmering boundary of the sixth trial faded behind them, the scenery shifted with a silent grace, like the turning of a celestial scroll.

They now stood upon the lip of a pale and desolate valley, its floor swallowed in thick, grey-white mist.

The air hung heavy with silence... not a breath of wind nor the cry of a beast, they could even hear their own heartbeat and the slight cracking of muscles.

The earth underfoot felt soft, unnaturally so, and the trees that bordered the ravine stood lifeless, their branches looked dead and naked with no leaves, and their bark the color of old bone.

Stretching before them was a narrow stone bridge, old and cracked, yet still intact, arching over a bottomless gorge veiled in fog.

If you fall, you may die, anything can happen, The vastness of the universe is unfathomable to a mortal mind.

In the center of that bridge stood a tall mirror framed in black iron, carved with ancient runes that pulsed faintly like the rhythm of a heart too old to stop.

At the foot of the mirror, golden script shimmered into view, each word etched with immortal authority:

"To pass, thou must face thyself.

No sword, no spell, only soul."

A few disciples exchanged uneasy glances, while Lu Tian muttered those words under his breath, but no one answered.

Zhao Fan’s gaze lingered on the mirror for barely a heartbeat before he stepped forward, his step light without fear with his robes silent as a shadow.

Without any pause or command or even explanation, he was the first to walk the bridge.

As he stepped into the center, the mist thickened behind him, separating him from the others.

His figure vanished into the void like ink bleeding into silk.

One by one, the others followed.

Each would face the same trial, but no two trials were the same.

* *

Zhao Fan stood before his reflection.

It stared back without malice or distortion, identical in every detail, even the faint flicker of light in the eyes.

The mirror’s surface rippled like water, and the reflection stepped forward, speaking in a voice that was his own, but laced with chilling calm.

"You lead not because you’re righteous... but because no one else dares do what you will. You kill because it’s efficient. You silence doubt not through reason, but through presence. In their eyes, you’re a monster with a halo."

"The World paints you as the villain but you are even worse... Spreading self created diseases and selling fire for a heavy sum, killing, looting, hunting the newborn for their heaven-granted gift."

The figure smiled but Zhao Fan did not.

"Do you care for them? Or are they simply pieces on a long board, each to be used, sacrificed, and replaced?"

Zhao Fan didn’t flinch. His eyes remained still, completely unreadable.

He raised his hand and clenched it into a fist. The mirror exploded with a single pulse of intent.

He had heard the words yet, they changed nothing. This is an open world unbound by morals and unseen by Gods, he is free to act as he wants. Everything is but a stepping stone meant to be walked on.

He walked on, untouched by revelation, he has no regret and shall never bear it, even if he has to kill everyone including Immortal Master and Holy Maiden.

* *

Lu Qingyan’s trial was not so clean. Before her stood a version of herself in her Saintess robes... pristine robe, expression gentle, her eyes the color of faded dreams. The reflection’s voice was soft but laced with venom.

"You followed him without question. You watched your own sect sister die without protest. You justified it as a necessity, but was it? Or did you simply lack the strength to say no?"

Her breath caught. Her reflection stepped closer.

"You have always followed others. Your Father. The sect. Now him. What have you ever done of your own will?"

The question lanced her deeper than any sword. She tried to raise her voice, but the mirror was already judging.

"So what if I follow... Everybody isn’t born to lead, If everyone leads who will follow?"

"Oh... Is that it, do you forever want to be a shadow? Nothing more?" The figure asked.

"Why should I? What’s wrong with being shadow... Cultivation is all peace of mind and acceptance of the outcome of nature," Lu Qingyan shouted.

* *

Lu Tian’s trial was cruel.

His reflection laughed, not in malice, but in sheer amusement.

"You believe you’re different. That you can grow. That you’ll earn your place. But deep down, you know you’re just another stepping stone. One more forgotten corpse on someone else’s path... You are no superior, you are inferior..."

The scene changed...

Lu Tian saw the images of Zhao Fan and Jia Mei engaging in dual cultivation, her shy face and his Yang Rod slowly entering her Yin Garden.

"No! No! No! You ignorant bastard..." Lu Tian went ahead to push Zhao Fan however, Zhao Fan simply smirked and pushed him away.

Pfft!

Lu Tian collided with the walls and coughed up some blood.

"Y-You... You... You ruined me, my merdinas are broken and Dao heart is shattered," Lu Tian muttered in grief.

"hmph, so what... Get away from here, didn’t disturb us, you are worthless," Jia Mei said while she got on her knees.

Seeing this, Lu Tian for even angrier.

The figure behind Lu Tian laughed. "Hahaha, is that it... You can’t do anything to him, you are weak, trash, and like she said, useless."

"No... This is fake... This is all fake..." Lu Tian roared.

"Oh! I dare not lie... It is indeed a lie but you know very well that this will happen soon. Other than that, you are free to have your opinion." The figure simply turned away.

"No..." Lu Tian clenched his fist.

The next instance... He was in an eight-trial.

The seventh trial was self-reflection and those who down in regret shall die however, Lu Tian’s heart demon was so strong, the hatred overwhelmed anger.

Unable to distinguish right from wrong, Lu Tian believes he is correct and believes Jia Mei shall belong to him, yet, he also thinks she is a lowly woman.

Tch, Tch, instead of kowtowing and thanking Young Master for opening his eyes, he has bred a heart demon, what a disgrateful brat.

"Ah... Four people died in the last trial..."