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A murmur spread through the crowd. Many of the participants exchanged nervous glances. Confronting physical danger was one thing, but facing their own inner demons? That was a trial that scared even the most battle-hardened cultivators.

Aric, however, remained calm. He had faced countless obstacles in his life, both as a cultivator and a villain. He was no stranger to darkness—he thrived in it. The idea of facing his inner demons did not intimidate him. If anything, it intrigued him. What could this mirror possibly show me that I don\'t already know?

he thought to himself, a small smirk playing at his lips.

The elders began calling the participants forward one by one, allowing each person to stand before the mirror and face their demons. Aric watched as the first few cultivators stepped up, their expressions growing tense as they stared into the reflective surface. Some of them visibly trembled as their darkest fears and insecurities were laid bare before them.

One young woman collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably, unable to face what she saw. Another participant screamed in terror, as if seeing something horrifying in the depths of the mirror. Each cultivator\'s reaction was different, but the outcome was often the same—those who could not overcome their inner demons were disqualified and sent away.

Aric studied their reactions carefully, noting how each person\'s mind was fractured by their own weaknesses. This will be easier than I thought, he mused.

Eventually, it was Aric\'s turn. The elder called his name, and he stepped forward confidently, walking up to the massive mirror. The crowd watched him in silence, eager to see how the prodigy who had stunned them in the previous rounds would handle this final test.

As Aric stood before the mirror, he gazed into its gleaming surface. For a moment, all he saw was his reflection—his confident stance, his sharp eyes, his composed expression. But then, the mirror\'s surface began to ripple like water, and slowly, the image shifted.

Suddenly, the mirror showed a scene from Aric\'s past, one that he hadn\'t expected to see.

In the illusion brought forth by the Inner Demons Mirror, Aric found himself back on Earth, in the dreary, dimly lit room of his old life. Gone were the luxurious chambers, the spiritual energy, the promise of power.

Here, he was just Ethan—a man who once lived an average life filled with endless frustrations and unfulfilled dreams. His reflection stared back at him from a dusty old mirror, his face pale and lined with the weariness of a life that felt devoid of purpose.

Ethan reminded himself, feeling a strange sense of detachment—saw himself muttering at the mirror, the same words he\'d once whispered night after night.

"Why… why am I stuck here?" his former self murmured, the bitterness in his voice unmistakable. "Why can\'t I have what others do? The money, the power, the respect… the women who look at them like they\'re kings. But here I am, going nowhere…"

Ethan\'s fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white as he glared at the reflection, as if it were somehow the mirror\'s fault that he\'d been unable to achieve his ambitions. His eyes darted around the room—the peeling wallpaper, the rickety table cluttered with unpaid bills, the cheap clothes hanging limply in a wardrobe that hadn\'t seen better days.

His voice rose in frustration. "I\'m a coward. I\'m just afraid to take risks, aren\'t I?" he said bitterly. "I hate this… but I can\'t change. I\'ll just be a nobody forever."

Aric, watching this play out, felt an odd mixture of pity and disdain for his past self. Is that really what I used to be? So obsessed with my limitations, so fearful of my own shadow? He found himself laughing, a cold and humorless sound that seemed to echo through the illusion.

"That was me," he murmured, shaking his head, "pathetic, weak, bound by chains of my own making."

The illusion shifted then, showing a series of memories—moments from his life on Earth where he\'d let opportunities slip through his fingers, where he\'d hesitated, doubted, let fear guide his every decision. Times when he could have taken risks but chose to stay safe. He saw his own regrets like flickering scenes from a movie, each one a reminder of the man he\'d been.

Soon, the scenes stopped showing. It was pitch darkness. Then Aric saw Ethan alone in the darkness. Aric came towards Ethan.

He spoke to his past self, almost tauntingly. "Look at what you could have been, Ethan," he said, the words dripping with contempt. "All it took was embracing the darkness, shedding the fear, taking what was yours without hesitation."

Ethan\'s reflection wavered, a look of despair on his face as he saw the ruthless, powerful version of himself that he had become in this new life. "But… what if it costs everything?" his past self murmured. "What if it costs my soul?"

Aric\'s laughter echoed again, sharper this time, dismissive. "What good is a soul if it keeps you weak? I\'d rather have power, control, the ability to bend this world—and the next—to my will."

With that, the illusion began to fade, the vision of Ethan dissolving into smoke, leaving Aric alone, standing stronger than ever. He was reminded of why he had transformed, why he had seized his second life with both hands and let go of the man he once was.

With that, the illusion began to fade, the vision of Ethan dissolving into smoke, leaving Aric alone, standing stronger than ever. He was reminded of why he had transformed, why he had seized his second life with both hands and let go of the man he once was.

As Aric blinked back to reality, he noticed the startled expressions on the faces of the elders. They exchanged glances, clearly impressed. The test had barely begun, and already, Aric had set a new record by returning from the illusion realm so quickly. Many participants were still trapped, struggling against their inner demons, but he was here—calm, composed, and clearly unaffected.

One elder, a man with silver-streaked hair and robes lined with intricate patterns, stepped forward, eyeing Aric curiously. "Impressive," he muttered, loud enough for Aric to hear. "Many cultivators take hours, even days, to overcome what you just faced."

Aric gave a slight nod, masking his smirk with a polite expression. Inside, he was savoring his triumph.

Another elder, an older woman with a serious demeanor, watched him closely. "What did you see, child? What horrors did the mirror show you?" she asked, curiosity and authority mixed in her tone.

Aric glanced at her, considering his words carefully. "I saw a version of myself that I left behind long ago," he replied smoothly. "A weakling, afraid to take risks. But that person is gone. I am not held back by my past fears or failures. I\'ve moved beyond them."

The elders murmured among themselves, impressed by his confidence. Aric\'s statement wasn\'t just a declaration; it was a testament to his unyielding ambition and drive. Even if they sensed an unsettling coldness in his words, they were captivated by his conviction.

As the remaining participants steadied themselves, expressions of relief mixed with trepidation on their faces, Elder Leishou\'s voice echoed over the grounds, commanding their full attention. His silver-streaked hair gleamed under the sun, lending him an air of dignity and wisdom.

"Congratulations to those who have passed the Test of the Mind," he announced, his voice resonating with pride and authority. "You have proven yourselves worthy in heart, mind, and will. Only the strongest in all aspects may enter the sect."

The overall number of people who had passed this trial was only 15 people. Out of these fifteen, seven were pawns of Aric.

Aric scanned the remaining participants, his gaze settling on the familiar face of Yu Ling, one of the few who had successfully overcome the test. She held herself with quiet confidence, her face a mask of calm composure. Aric smirked to himself, impressed by her resilience.

"What a surprise. I was expecting nothing less from her," he mused, his thoughts tinged with satisfaction. Yu Luxi\'s success was fortuitous; she was a potential asset, someone with her own talents who might prove useful down the line.

The elder continued, his tone shifting to one of caution and formality. "Before you enter the sect, we must remind you that there is one final ceremony that remains. This last ritual will assess your cultivation talent. Based on the results, you will be assigned a status within the sect—as an outer, inner, or core disciple."

Murmurs spread through the crowd. The cultivation world, with its unyielding hierarchy, placed immense value on innate talent. This ceremony wasn\'t just another test—it was the gateway that would determine their future roles and opportunities within the sect.

Aric\'s mind was already racing with plans. Although his cultivation level and recent advancements placed him far ahead, he knew that talent, in the eyes of the sect, would set him apart even further. The core disciple position would be ideal, he thought, already picturing the elevated access and resources that came with it.

And if the ceremony assesses potential, I\'ll make sure mine shines brighter than anyone else\'s.