After the emotional devastation of Floor 3
and the biological crimes against humanity that were Floor 4…
The disciples believed they had seen the worst.
They were wrong.
Miyu floated before the Trial Tower, hugging her pillow.
"...Today. Floor 5."
The tower rumbled ominously.
A glowing sign shimmered into existence:
[FLOOR 5 — SOCIAL CLEANLINESS: FIX YOUR AWKWARDNESS]
Every disciple instantly wished for death.
Tien screamed.
Jin Haru passed out.
Lin Ruyin tried to run but Auntie Bao caught her with one hand.
Aurelius trembled so hard his sterilization armor clattered.
Solene smiled serenely.
"You will all become socially presentable."
The sect sobbed.
---
⭐ 1. The Floor Opens — Welcome to Conversational Doom
The door creaked open with a sound like a cough at a quiet dinner.
Inside was a brightly lit hall with tables, chairs, tea sets, and smiling illusionary people.
Too many smiling illusionary people.
Lin Ruyin whispered, horrified:
"This… this looks like a banquet…"
Jin Haru whispered back:
"This feels like a punishment for not talking…"
Glowing text floated in the air:
[PASS THE TRIAL BY HOLDING A NORMAL CONVERSATION
WITHOUT:
— PANICKING
— LYING
— INSULTING ANYONE
— SPILLING TEA
— BEING WEIRD]
Tien screamed loudly:
"BUT I **AM** WEIRD! HOW DO I STOP?!"
The tower pulsed ominously.
---
⭐ 2. The First Participant — Lin Ruyin vs Small Talk
Lin Ruyin, too exhausted to argue, was thrown inside.
The illusions bowed politely.
"Hello, fellow cultivator," one said.
"How was your day?"
Lin Ruyin froze.
Her palms sweated.
Her mind blanked.
Her soul left her body.
She blurted:
"Y-Y-Y-Y-YOU LOOK LIKE A CHAIR."
The illusions paused.
The tower dinged.
[STRIKE 1 — RANDOM INSULT]
She tried again.
A second illusion approached warmly.
"Would you like tea?"
Lin Ruyin panicked.
"I DON'T DRINK LIQUIDS WHEN PEOPLE WATCH ME!"
[STRIKE 2 — OVER-SHARING]
She trembled.
Her third attempt approached.
"How do you feel about the weather?"
Lin Ruyin screamed:
"THE CLOUDS ARE JUDGING ME—!!"
Outside, disciples fell to their knees.
Auntie Bao wiped her face.
"Child… what happened to your social filters?"
Solene nodded gravely.
"This is more damaged than I thought."
Miyu blinked.
"...She needs rewiring."
---
⭐ 3. The Tower Applies Therapy By Force
Inside the chamber, the floor cracked open.
A glowing seat rose from below.
A glowing banner unfurled:
[THERAPY MODE ACTIVATED]
Lin Ruyin shrieked.
The chair gently forced her to sit.
A soft voice asked:
"Why are you afraid of clouds?"
"I DON'T KNOW THEY FLOAT SUSPICIOUSLY."
"Do you feel judged by inanimate objects often?"
"YES—WAIT NO—WAIT MAYBE—STOP ASKING QUESTIONS—!!"
After ten minutes of yelling and apologizing to imaginary clouds…
The chamber chimed.
*CLEAN ENOUGH.*
Lin Ruyin stumbled out with a dead soul and revived posture.
---
⭐ 4. The Second Participant — Jin Haru vs A Pretty Illusion
Jin Haru was shoved in next.
The illusions approached.
One of them was a girl.
A pretty girl.
Jin Haru froze.
His face turned red.
His heart exploded.
His knees melted.
She smiled sweetly.
"Hi! I'm—"
Jin Haru screamed:
"I HAVE NEVER HELD HANDS BEFORE—!!"
The tower dinged.
[STRIKE 1 — UNNECESSARY CONFESSION]
The girl giggled.
"That's okay! What are your hobbies?"
Jin Haru yelled:
"N-NOT TOUCHING WOMEN POTENTIALLY."
[STRIKE 2 — EVEN WORSE CONFESSION]
She poured tea.
He took it.
His hand shook.
He spilled the tea on the table.
The illusions gasped.
The tower howled.
[STRIKE 3 — THE TEA SPILL OF SHAME]
Instant failure.
Jin Haru was ejected from the door like a mop flung by fate.
He rolled across the courtyard, screaming:
"I'M SOCIALLY DEFECTIVE—!!"
Aurelius patted his shoulder.
"We all are."
---
⭐ 5. The Third Participant — The Inhuman Monster Named Tien
Tien entered the chamber with false confidence.
The illusions greeted him.
"Hello!"
Tien bowed politely.
"So… do you like noodles?"
It wasn't bad.
It wasn't good.
But it wasn't bad.
The illusions nodded.
"Haha! Yes! Let's talk about—"
Tien interrupted.
"Do you prefer your noodles *alive* or *slightly dead*?"
Dead silence.
Even the illusions wondered if they heard correctly.
Tien continued proudly:
"Personally, I think noodles scream spiritually—"
The tower exploded.
A siren blared.
[STRIKE EVERY STRIKE — WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN]
Tien was ejected so hard he landed in a nearby tree.
Auntie Bao whispered,
"…He needs purification."
Miyu nodded.
"...Multiple cycles."
---
⭐ 6. The Floor's True Challenge — Talking to Miyu
The tower suddenly flashed gold.
Solene gasped.
"Master… it wants YOU to complete the final part."
The disciples trembled.
Miyu floated into the chamber.
The illusions gathered.
"Hello, honored guest."
Miyu blinked.
"…Hello."
The illusions smiled.
"How is your day?"
Miyu tilted her head slightly.
"…Clean."
The illusions clapped politely.
"What are your hobbies?"
"...Cleaning."
"Yes, of course. And your dreams?"
Miyu blinked.
"…More cleaning."
The chamber fell silent.
The illusions whispered.
"…She is perfectly consistent."
The room glowed with pure approval.
*SOCIAL CLEANLINESS: PERFECT SCORE*
Miyu stepped out.
Auntie Bao wiped tears.
"She spoke… to people…"
Aurelius saluted.
"Master is socially invincible."
Tien screamed from the tree.
---
⭐ 7. Ending — The Tower Prepares the Reward Floor
The Trial Tower rumbled.
A huge glowing sign appeared:
[FLOOR 6 — REWARD FLOOR UNLOCKED]
Jin Haru gasped.
Lin Ruyin squeaked.
Tien fell from the tree.
Solene smiled.
"Those who survive until now will receive a divine gift."
Aurelius whispered with reverence.
"A special artifact…"
Miyu floated silently.
Behind her…
A cube of shimmering light materialized and rotated.
Tomorrow…
The Cube of Clean Order would choose its wielder.
Miyu hugged her pillow.
"…Tomorrow."