For a brief moment, it was like time completely stalled. None of the examinees moved a single inch.
After hearing Elder Mo's chilling consequences for this test, countless doubts started to resurface.
It was either risk destroying what little Martial Talent they have for a great new chance at life. Or utterly ruin themselves by falling into a deep coma.
These choices are the most challenging these youths have ever faced in their lives.
While city life is complicated and arduous, nothing ever became too threatening for them. Compared to cultivators within the Misty Wilderness, these youths didn't have to face constant death threats from vicious beasts or rivaling tribe powers.
This moment would be their proper defining step on whether or not they have what it take to step on the long road of Martial cultivation.
Over at their own corner, Cain and Kali silently observed the nervous examinees.
Because they have complete confidence in their own abilities, the sibling duo was a bit curious to see if their other competitors had some courage to speak off.
But seeing this situation, Cain simply shook his head while Kali's lips curled into slight disdain.
'Hmph. At least face danger with some sort of dignity. Ah well….can't expect much after all.' Kali promptly turned her eyes off them, shifting her focus to the illusion platform.
Though she disdains numerous lower realm things, this item created by an all-powerful World Spirit Force Master is undoubtedly worth her interest. Especially because she is World Spirit Force Master herself.
Perhaps she could see some sort of insight within Spirit Energy? Kali wasn't sure, but it was damn tempting to think about.
The same level of interest was shared with Cain.
Of course, he felt nearly zero nervousness about facing some mere heart demons. His mind was already distorted long ago.
But right as Cain and Kali were about to take a step forward, three other figures suddenly sprang right up onto the illusion platform.
"Hoh?" Cain and Kali curiously raised a brow.
Two of three were elegant, handsome young men adorning the same style of clothing. While the other was a classical, beautiful young girl whose mere presence exudes nobility.
These three were Zhao Tan, Zhao Li, and Zhun Yi.
The three young geniuses from a High-Class level family who was supposed to be dominating these entrance exams. But with their previous momentum shattered, their minds were genuinely shaken.
When Elder Mo ominously spoke about the potential consequences, even they couldn't suppress a bundle of nerves rising within their bodies.
Nobody wants to damage their future cultivation or fall into a dangerous coma.
And with their limited experiences, Zhao Tan, Zhao Li, and Zhun Yi's Martial Hearts nearly falter before they even started the test.
However, right as they were about to lose focus, two distinct anger-inducing images suddenly popped into their minds.
The shadow of Cain and Kali's mighty prestige haunted their minds like shrill ghosts. When recalling just how outclassed they were, it immediately made the trio snapped out of their trance.
They can't falter; they needed to pass! And not just pass, be the first one to pass!
Right as Zhao Tan, Zhao Li, and Zhun Yi landed on the platform, their gazes briefly locked on Cain and Kali.
Traces of disdain flashed within each of their eyes before they snappily returned back their focus. Then without any delay, the trio got into their cultivation state, starting the test.
Watching all of this go down, Cain and Kali kept a simple thin smirk. So they still want to test us, huh?
Before anyone else went up, Cain and Kali fearlessly sprang onto the platform. The sibling duo took their own corner of the platform and promptly entered into their own cultivation state.
As the remaining examinees saw the sibling duo and the other trio's bold moves, they too snapped out of their trance.
Each of them took a collective gulp before jumping onto the platform as well.
Soon enough, all of the examinees began entering into their cultivation state.
"The test of Heart Demons….those two are sure to easily passed, right? Their temperament doesn't seem fake at all."
"Not even those High-Class level talents can capture their certain kind of boundless confidence. Just how long would they even need?"
"I bet they wouldn't even need the full two hours set!"
While the second exam was beginning, the Crimson Sea Academy students began whispering among themselves. All eyes were mainly set on Cain and Kali.
This time, they'll get to see a glimpse of their true abilities.
Could these dark horses once again make a miracle? No students can safely say they genuinely know Cain and Kali's Martial talent is that authentic.
But a faint premonition in their hearts was telling them otherwise.
….
Within a few moments, a sensation that Cain could only be described as magical washed over his entire being.
It felt eerily similar to the time he was transported to the boundless blue space that had Old Nox Soul.
However, compared to that time, this pulling sensation didn't have that terrifying tearing force.
Cain felt as if he was getting washed down a warm stream of spring water, relaxing his body and mind into a truly serene state.
'Hmm….considering what he told us, I expected something more fierce.' Cain lightly mused to himself.
Even as he didn't feel much nerves before, there was still the hiddenly deep tension submerged within his consciousness.
As confident as he is now, Cain still has the experience to know that life is a complete toss-up no matter what situation he's in. And this cooling sensation helped to ease those hiddenly deep tensions.
Still, this didn't mean Cain didn't entirely relax his guard. He kept his focus as he submerged himself within the Illusion platform.
Cain wasn't entirely sure how much time had passed.
It felt like seconds, minutes, and hours all at the same time.
But finally, after an unknown amount of time, Cain felt something snapped within his mind. In that instance, he promptly flung his eyes wide open.
Upon doing so, his pupils heavily contracted.
"Nng….? The hell? Is that really….you?"
All around Cain was a boundless black space that resembled the pits of an eternal abyss.
However, Cain couldn't focus on the scenery at all. Not when right in front of him was a figure he dreamed up for countless years. A figure that he still recalls and daydreams to this day.
Cain felt his chest tighten; acute shivers crawled up every inch of his being, and his mind was thrown into frantic chaos.
Every fiber of Cain's body wanted to move.
Yet, he couldn't take a single step.
The figure who was causing such a tremendous impact on Cain's mental state was just a simple-looking woman.
She looked to be around in her early twenties, dressed in plain black clothing, and genuinely had no remarkable features.
Compared to the cultivators he sees around in his current homeworld, this girl could be seen as even below average.
However, this young woman emitted a strange, unfathomable aura that was authentically hypnotic.
She exuded a natural sense of ease, as if just being around here can gradually calm your nerves. Her small soft smile radiated nothing but pure joy. If anyone were to receive such a smile, they wouldn't be able to suppress a smile from blooming on their own face.
This seemingly ordinary-looking yet calming woman stared lovingly into Cain's eyes. Her eyes fluttered ever so slightly as she never once took her gaze off from him.
It was as if she was completely enamored with him.
"You….Lisa…." Cain's voice came out nearly horse, sounding as if he had been parched for years.
Indeed, the ordinary woman merely twenty feet away from his is his dear sister from his previous homeworld.
The only person in his previous world who he called his true family and best friend.
And after the unfortunate timing of her death, Cain never believed he would see her again.
Even as he's in a new universe filled to the brim with power that can overturn the Heavens, split apart the seas, and shattered the Earth, Cain never once thought about desperately finding a way to revive his sister.
In all honesty, Cain just didn't want to feel the hell-wracking pain of disappointment if it turns he couldn't revive the dead. Moreover, he also wanted to let go of all shackles of his previous life.
He wanted absolute freedom in his new life and not to be bogged down by previous painful memories.
And now, after finally achieving what he wanted, he was face to face with his deceased sister.
Cain wasn't sure how long he simply stood frozen and silent. As time mysteriously passed on, he felt as if countless hours had passed.
During this time, he simply into Lisa's face.
His eyes flashed with a myriad of emotions as countless memories, all of varying emotional impact that heavily struck his mind. For a moment, Cain felt like he was going to fall into an unbreakable trance.
But right then, he heard a voice that didn't belong to Lisa.
'Ah, brother! You're ok! It's soo good that you're alright!"
Cain immediately snapped out of his trance as this voice cut right through his memories!
This voice was none other than his current sister Kali!
With just her voice, so many realizations flashed within Cain's mind. 'Yes….I get it. Even though I try to deny it, I could never fully squashed the possibility of reviving you. However, I can't hold on to this in any shape or form. With my new life in only my hands, I intend to bask in it for whatever amount of time I can live for. And I know that Kali would be right by my side.'
As Cain drew upon these changes within his mind, he naturally turned calmer, regaining all of his previous prestige.
Then, for the first time since coming here, he opened his mouth to say, "And of course, I know this is what you truly wanted from me. Right, Lisa?"
At these words, it was like the deceased spirit of Lisa actually heard him. Her smile blossomed like a rainbow, showcasing a complete set of shiny pearly teeth.
Then, without any struggle, Lisa's spiritual form slowly vanished from Cain's sight.
'This….I suppose this is a Heart Demon? But wasn't this too easy? I for sure felt entranced, but….well, at least it was enlightening.'
Cain could only shrug to himself. It certainly wasn't a challenging or dangerous experience.
But Cain sense that his perception developed quite a bit from this meeting.
Before Cain could think any further about this illusion, he soon felt the entire scenery smoothly changed once again.