Questioning the Heart

"Don't move!" His voice was sharp and hoarse, completely different from his usual gentle tone. "Let me go, or I'll kill her! Taking one is better than nothing!"

Everyone was stunned.

Elder Xiu looked at him, his gaze calm and undisturbed.

"You traitors of the Nest Cult," he spoke slowly, his tone carrying a heavy sigh, "Are afraid of the Heart Questioning. Who knows what sordid secrets you're hiding."

The moment the words left his mouth, the entire stone platform trembled violently.

A colossal tower, composed of dark gold runes, rose from the ground like an inverted bowl, enveloping everyone within it.

The tower walls were covered with densely packed sealing patterns, and a faint blue light flowed slowly through them. The air became stagnant, and everyone's Soul Space felt as if it were being suppressed by something.

The examiner who had captured the person was bound by the golden threads that enveloped him. Strands of light emerged from the void, binding his limbs, torso, and neck, fixing him in mid-air, unable to move.

He struggled desperately, only to find that the golden threads not only bound his body but also locked his Soul Space, preventing him from mobilizing his spiritual power at all.

"When..."

"Why do you think I brought you to this place?" Elder Xiu looked at him, his tone calm. "Because this is the Heart-Questioning Tower."

A flicker of despair crossed the face of the cultist.

His hands were trembling as the short blade pressed a bloody gash into the female proctor's neck.

But Elder Xiu simply raised his hand and waved it lightly, and an invisible force shook his arm away, causing the short blade to shatter and dissipate.

The female proctor immediately got away, covering her neck and retreating to the side.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, capturing the lair cultists was the easiest way to avoid the torment of Heart Questioning.

However, just as they were thinking this, they discovered that their bodies were still enveloped in the light of the Heart-Questioning Tower and they were not excluded.

Everyone was surprised.

Elder Xiu looked at them, his gaze calm.

"Just to be on the safe side, everyone must Heart Questioning. Who knows if there's even one Nest cultist among you?"

Everyone frowned. They all thought Elder Xiu was being too conservative; how could this situation still occur...?

Just as I was thinking this...

The female proctor, who had just been captured by the cultists, suddenly sprang into action.

Her figure moved like lightning, and a dark red light condensed in her right hand, which she slashed directly at the already subdued Nest Cultist.

The speed was extremely fast, almost as if it were the absolute best it could muster, as if it wanted to kill its opponent.

In the instant she made her move, everyone noticed... that while attacking the cultists, she simultaneously struck her own skull with her other hand.

Perish together.

No one had time to react.

But Elder Xiu remained very calm, simply waving his hand lightly, as if he had been prepared all along.

"I didn't expect it," he said softly, "That there really is one. It seems these Nest Cultists have infiltrated the Association far too deeply over the years."

"However, this behavior just proves that you know quite a lot."

With a wave of his hand, the two men were completely subdued.

The female teacher who had suddenly jumped up was locked in mid-air by the dark golden light, unable to move.

The captured lair cultist was also pinned to the ground, struggling to even breathe.

Two golden threads extended from the tower wall, wrapping around, tightening, and securing the two people respectively.

No one had the same idea anymore.

This time, they can't escape the Heart Questioning.

"Don't worry." Elder Xiu looked at them, his tone softening. "After the Heart Questioning, the association will provide each of you with compensation. Moreover, during the past year or two that Su Mu has grown up, you would have been under the association's supervision anyway, so this is a good time for you to recuperate."

Everyone paused for a moment.

I never expected Elder Xiu to value Su Mu so much.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. Considering the opponent's exaggerated talent and combat ability, they could only lament that they were unlucky to be here as proctors.

But thinking about it, I feel lucky to have witnessed such a genius.

Furthermore, Elder Xiu also mentioned that there would be compensation from the association.

This compensation is definitely not simple; they've been stuck at their current level for a long time, and this might be an opportunity.

Thinking of this, the examiners present felt a little better.

Seeing that the matter here had been resolved, Elder Xiu waved his hand.

Two dungeon raiders dressed in dark gray uniforms emerged from the void and stood respectfully before Elder Xiu.

"Extract every single piece of information from these two individuals," Elder Xiu's voice returned to its icy tone. "The people behind them, their methods of information transmission, the timing of their infiltration—not a single detail can be overlooked. After Heart Questioning the others, investigate them one by one to rule out any members of the Nest Cult. Leave no one unpunished."

"Yes." The two dungeon raiders nodded simultaneously.

After giving all the orders, Elder Xiu turned around and looked into the distance.

That's the sky above the assessment realm. It's where Su Mu stepped through the Dragon Gate.

Then he took a step and disappeared from the spot.