The clear light of the Great Heart-Questioning Formation gradually faded, and the three array eyes fell silent one after another.
No one knew how many days had passed from the beginning of this grand disciple recruitment ceremony to its end.
The seekers in the valley were either wild with joy, leaving in dejection, or honored even in defeat, having discovered shortcomings in their own paths within the formation.
Kong Xuan and Jinpeng stood side by side under Taiqing, while the twelve direct disciples under Yuqing formed orderly ranks behind Yuanshi Tianzun.
The five direct disciples, six attendant immortals, and dozens of outer disciples under Shangqing lined up behind Sect Master Tongtian. The Three Pure Ones’ Daoist Grounds had begun to take shape.
Zhao Gongming and the three Xiao sisters had also successfully passed the Shangqing Array Eye's trial.
Zhao Gongming had taken form from a clear breeze, and his origins were pure and spiritual. The inner demon he faced in the Shangqing Array Eye was his fear of nearly being swallowed by an evil flood dragon on the East Sea shore all those years ago.
Drawing on his own understanding of the Sword Dao, he unleashed a strand of Qingfeng Sword Intent within the formation.
That sword intent prevailed not through its sharpness, but by seeping into every weakness of the inner demon like a breeze that penetrated every opening, ultimately breaking it down completely.
Sect Master Tongtian watched that strand of Qingfeng Sword Intent, sword intent flickering in his eyes, and showed considerable approval.
The sword lights of Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao shone upon one another like three clouds. Their Cloud-Glow Sword Intent overlapped in layer upon layer, overcoming hardness with softness.
All four passed the trial and were accepted by Sect Master Tongtian as outer disciples.
Zhao Gongming