"But on the flip side, this is also a kind of weakness of the mind. There are always people better than you, skies higher than you. Temporarily leading doesn't mean leading forever. Many top students are confident when they rank at the top, but become just as insecure when they fall behind."
"To overcome this mental weakness, cultivators need to adapt their thinking flexibly and promptly, which is the key to passing."
"Like before, there was a student who kept scoring low in the trials of the Celestial Martial Diagram, and eventually overcame his fear of low scores, forging a kind of reckless mindset."
...
Lian Tianji listened to the teacher announcing grades from the podium and suddenly laughed loudly: "Hahaha, since I've already become the last place, the worst student, then let's start over."
"From today, I am the most useless, the student with the poorest grades."
"But even as the worst student, I have the chance to surpass you all one by one, and climb to the top."
"I will definitely become number one in the grade!"
With his fear defeated, he felt as if he had returned to the art exhibition. The Celestial Martial Diagram before him became clearer.
...
Li Xuelian continued: "Kunxu has 36 levels above ground and 18 levels below. Each level embodies a different world. Whether one is human or immortal, all are divided into ranks, and this classification seeps into every cultivator's bones, affecting everyone's deepest thoughts."
"Previously, there was a student who went through numerous layers of oppression in the Celestial Martial Diagram, ultimately transforming into a 'lying flat' mindset."
...
Qian Shen watched those giants, whose scores far exceeded his, rise from the ground, growing taller until their features were indistinct.
Only the scores atop their heads kept increasing, emitting a dazzling brilliance.
He tried to catch up with them, but to no avail.
As the giants rose more exaggeratedly and their scores increased, his emotions shifted from tense to fearful, then from fear to despair, and finally settled into a numbness.
He lay on the ground, never again looking at those giant figures.
"Alright then."
"I won't chase anymore."
"As long as I can cultivate, it doesn't matter if I can't surpass anyone... as long as I can cultivate, it's enough."
Like awakening from a great dream, Qian Shen, lying on the ground, opened his eyes and looked at the art exhibition and the Celestial Martial Diagram, a hint of realization in his eyes.
...
At the exhibit, the Immortal Rhythm Group's Songyang City director listened to Li Xuelian's analysis and agreed: "The change of thoughts cannot be separated from the influence of the times."
He speculated: "Like in today's society, everyone relies heavily on loans, which presumably manifests in the trials of the Celestial Martial Diagram, right?"
"Indeed." Li Xuelian nodded and said: "There was once a student who faced the terror of repaying debts on the Immortal Road in the trials of the Celestial Martial Diagram, ultimately adopting a rogue mindset."
...
Watching the thunderstorm brewing in the sky, Bai Zhenzhen crouched down in terror.
"Wait! I'll repay the debt!"
"I'll repay it all, okay!"
"Don't strike me!"
She hurriedly opened her phone to check her account, wanting to see how much she owed and how much she could repay.
"800,000?!"
Opening the first loan platform, Bai Zhenzhen felt her heart sink.
Then a debt of 1.2 million on the second platform made her break out in a cold sweat.
2 million... 5 million... 8 million...
As the total debt in her mind continued to increase, her hand holding the phone gradually lost strength.
A total debt of 8 million, such a staggering amount for a high school student, would either cause a complete breakdown or...
Bai Zhenzhen suddenly lay down on the ground, looking up at the lightning in the sky and shouted: "If you dare, then strike me dead!"
"Strike me dead, and this 8 million will vanish like smoke!"
Seeing the delayed lightning, Bai Zhenzhen continued: "Either strike me dead, and the 8 million vanishes, or help me find some work, and I'll repay you when I earn money."
As the thunder gradually dispersed, the Celestial Martial Diagram reappeared before Bai Zhenzhen.
Watching the martial arts being practiced by the people within, Bai Zhenzhen seemed to have an epiphany.
...
At the exhibit, Li Xuelian sighed: "Whether it's recklessness, lying flat, or rogue thinking, it's merely a state of using thoughts to resist pressure when under heavy burden, though it can refine their will and Dao Heart, what happens in the future ultimately depends on how they act in reality."
"After all, this is just the first stage of the Celestial Martial Diagram trials, merely a threshold."
She recalled how her father had once tested her Dao Heart during her high school days.
Back then, she feared her father the most, being heavily oppressed during the trial, and under that pressure, she rebelled with filial piety thoughts, waking up fiercely to shatter the old man's Gold Coin, advancing at rapid speed in cultivation.
However, not long after, the various pressures from real society and her father's every move made her regain respect and admiration for him.
The Immortal Rhythm Group's Songyang City director slightly nodded, knowing what Li Xuelian said was true, that the effects of the Dao Heart trials were only temporary.
After all, people's thoughts are constantly changing, and the impact of a simple Dao Heart trial can't withstand the long-lasting influence of the entire society in the real world.
Li Xuelian continued: "After overcoming initial fear, the real comprehension comes next."
"And after truly comprehending, whether one can achieve mastery is another matter entirely."
The director nodded, understanding that overcoming fear, comprehending the Martial Diagram, and mastering Martial Arts were the three stages of comprehending the Celestial Martial Diagram.
"Looking at those present, how many of them do you think can achieve mastery?"
Li Xuelian looked at the many students present and shook her head: "I'm afraid it's hard to expect even one."
...
As Zhang Yu saw the figure in the Celestial Martial Diagram gradually becoming clearer and watched it start practicing a set of punches, a chill suddenly rose in his heart.
"Please adhere to the ritual agreements, strive to fulfill your wishes, do not deliberately procrastinate, 10."
Zhang Yu was slightly stunned: "But... I'm striving to comprehend the Martial Diagram, isn't that diligently studying and working towards getting into a good university?"
But the chill couldn't converse with him, it simply continued counting down.
"Please adhere to the ritual agreements, strive to fulfill your wishes, do not deliberately procrastinate, 9."
"Please adhere to the ritual agreements, strive to fulfill your wishes, do not deliberately procrastinate, 8."
Helpless, Zhang Yu sat down and tried to channel the spirit machine to see if he could stop the countdown.
As he began channeling, the chill gradually dissipated, and the countdown stopped.
"This idiot..."
As Zhang Yu channeled while cursing the ritual power, another surge of chill rose within him.
"Please adhere to the ritual agreements, strive to fulfill your wishes, do not deliberately procrastinate, 10."
Hearing the new countdown, Zhang Yu was stunned.
"But... I'm working hard at cultivating."
"Why is it counting down again?"
"What's wrong with this stupid ritual?"
Stopping his channeling to test, Zhang Yu found that the raging chill and countdown didn't disappear; instead, a new wave of chill and countdown began.
Hearing the double countdowns ringing continuously in his head, alternately counting down, Zhang Yu finally understood what was happening.
"There are two countdowns?"
"Is one of them fake?"