Ning Xiaochun fell silent for a moment, then asked, "What do I have to do to understand it? You want me to find balance, but I don't even know where the standard for balance lies. How am I supposed to judge it?" There was no retreat in his tone, as though he were discussing a difficult problem with the two God Kings.
The two voices fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"We will construct an illusory realm for you."
"Within the illusory realm, you will face countless choices. Every choice will stand on the boundary between good and evil, leading you in different directions. You will need to weigh them with your own heart."
"Only by taking the correct position every single time and finding that line of balance will you have a chance of gaining the recognition of both divine artifacts."
"And if I fail?" Ning Xiaochun asked.
This time, the divine hall remained silent for a long time. That heart continued to thump, once after another, like war drums—or like some kind of countdown. The pan of the scale swayed faintly, as if issuing a silent warning.
At last, the two voices spoke again. One male and one female, overlapping, carrying the same cold and solemn majesty:
"If you fail, your consciousness will sink forever into the illusory realm. You will become a part of this divine hall and never awaken again."
When the words fell, the hall returned to silence. Ning Xiaochun stood where he was, feeling that invisible pressure settle over his shoulders as though it had substance.
He looked at the pure white heart, then at the silent scale. Countless images flashed through his mind.
Shui Bing'er, absorbing the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow in the secret chamber behind the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect,