The air inside the examination hall hung heavy, like mist sunk deep within a mountain's heart. When the announcement from the judges rang out, all the candidates stood motionless for several seconds, as if someone had drawn a thin wire taut above their heads.
"The third key point will be initialized in 10 seconds."
Those ten seconds stretched like an entire era.
Duong Minh closed his eyes slightly and pressed a hand to his temple. After the electrical shock earlier, the currents of consciousness in his mind still stung faintly, as though small flames had licked across his neural pathways. His robots and drones had been reduced to exactly… one. A single reconnaissance drone, battery nearly drained, frame warped from impact when it crashed. But it was not completely destroyed.
Lyra spoke softly, her voice flowing like a quiet stream:
"Your cognitive rhythm is stabilizing… But you cannot withstand another strong electric surge."
"I know," Duong Minh replied inwardly.
Yue Lin glanced toward him. Her face was still pale after her robot had been scorched black in the previous round. Rafael had not fully recovered from the pain caused by the electric current tearing through his synchronized consciousness. Yet he still stood like a steel pillar, eyes burning red with tension and pride.
"The third point will definitely be hell," Yue Lin whispered.
"They want to filter out who can retain consciousness within chaos," Jonas stepped forward, his tone calm but grave.
"They want to see who can endure pressure when there's nothing left to command," Elena added hoarsely.
All of them turned to look at Duong Minh — not by accident.
In the first two points, it had been him who read the situation fastest, identified the structural weakness, employed the most flexible tactics, and maintained almost absolute composure. But this time, he was the one who had almost nothing left in his hands.
The third illusion unfolded. The ground trembled. Lines of light sliced through space, forming new terrain: a narrow mountain gorge, sheer cliffs rising on both sides, and in the center, far ahead, an octagonal spirit-suppression platform built of faint, translucent stone, suspended in a glow of blue light. That was the key objective.
From the distance came the echo of metal striking stone — slow, heavy, like drums from the earth's core.
The judges announced:
"Third key point: attack — destroy — and break through the Dao Cultivator defense line.
Remaining time: 8 minutes.
No limit on destruction level.
Minimum requirement to pass: make contact with the spirit-suppression platform."
The candidates exchanged glances: not occupation, not defense — but penetration.
Yue Lin frowned immediately. "This is disadvantageous for us. Who has the most robots left?"
Rafael growled softly. "Me… seven. But all armor is damaged."
Jonas said, "I have three self-propelled cannons, but signal interference is severe after the lightning strike."
Elena said, "Five humanoid robots left, but only half energy."
Sima spoke quietly. "My drones were completely destroyed…"
All eyes shifted toward Duong Minh's robot — or rather, his one battered drone.
Rafael gave a half-laugh. "At least you don't have to waste time counting your forces."
Yue Lin shot him a blade-sharp look. "Be quiet. If not for him, we'd all be dead at the second point."
Rafael pressed his lips together and said nothing further.
Duong Minh responded to neither of them. He was staring at the gorge ahead, where white mist rose thickly, like a beast breathing.
Lyra said, "Strong spiritual force fluctuations detected. Not mid-level illusion… this is high-tier formation guardianship."
Then they emerged.
Armored formation constructs over three meters tall, six-armed, stepped from the mist like nightmares forged of metal and spirit. Each footfall echoed like a drum. Their armor was not ordinary metal, but ancient stone fragments condensed by spiritual force, glowing faint jade-green.
Their six arms did not move together, but like six independent serpents — one swung a blade, one brought down a hammer, one thrust a spear — all in the same instant.
Unconscious. Fearless. Unfeeling.
"Zen Battle Armor…!" Elena inhaled sharply. "These are illusion simulations of ancient warriors from legend — cultivators who used their bodies to guard the gates of heaven."
Somewhere in the observation room, a judge was surely smirking. This was how they classified the very best candidates.
Rafael ground his teeth. "How many?"
"About… thirty," Jonas answered.
Sima swallowed. "We only have twenty-one robots left in total…"
And behind the Zen Battle Armor, spirit energy coalesced into a single high-tier illusionary martial figure — a dark silhouette more advanced than the rest, aura sharp as a blade about to leave its sheath.
Lyra exclaimed within Duong Minh's mind: "That is a high-level Dao Cultivator simulation. Not spirit energy from present Earth, but a recorded imprint of an ancient powerful cultivator."
All thirty Zen Battle Armor strode forward simultaneously.
Boom!
The impact of their iron boots shook the stone beneath. Rafael was the first to command:
"Self-propelled cannons, fire!"
Jonas's three cannons unleashed armor-piercing rounds. Red trails carved through the air, exploding upon contact with the charging war armor.
Smoke surged. Golden flashes flared.
But…
Before the smoke cleared, thirty dark figures continued advancing through it. Their forms did not waver even slightly.
"No effect…?" Sima froze.
"They have a spiritual barrier," Duong Minh said.
Yue Lin said, "Conventional rounds can't penetrate."
"The melee team must slow them first!" Elena shouted.
Rafael roared, "Then open the way!"
He drove his largest robot forward — a massive battle frame wielding an axe — charging straight into the first Zen Battle Armor. The collision made both tremble violently.
Clang!
The axe edge rebounded, a small crack appearing along its blade.
Rafael's robot was forced back five steps.
Rafael stared in disbelief as his strongest attack unit retreated so easily for the first time in the entire examination.
"I can't believe it," he muttered.
Within the Digital Ocean, he felt the impact like crashing into a concrete wall that had materialized out of nowhere. The recoil was not merely physical — spiritual force rippled through, shaking his consciousness link.
"They're three times stronger than robots of the same tier," Yue Lin analyzed coldly. "And that's only one. There are thirty."
Silence fell over the group. For the first time, they truly felt helpless.
Path of Intellect could not overpower Path of Dao at close range. Duong Minh understood that clearly. He had felt it in the previous round. Machines could be powerful, heavy, armored. But against a Dao Cultivator who had fused spirit force into their body, their speed, reaction, and adaptability far exceeded simulation mechanics.
There was only one way left: tactics — avoid direct confrontation.
An idea flashed through Duong Minh's mind. Lyra understood instantly.
"You're going to create layered consciousness?"
"Yes. Layering will let me control the drone while sensing spirit fluctuations."
"Dangerous. If your consciousness cannot endure it, your link will collapse."
"We don't have another choice."
Duong Minh's plan began.
He spoke quickly:
"Rafael, hold the main formation. Stall with melee units."
"Stall? Against that?!" Rafael snapped.
"At least 40 seconds. I'll open a path to the spirit-suppression platform."
Yue Lin and Elena turned to him simultaneously. "With… one drone?"
Duong Minh nodded. "Remember, our objective isn't attack — it's infiltration."
Lyra projected a tactical overlay before his eyes: the battlefield map appeared as a lattice of shimmering light.
The gorge was narrow — only one path led forward.
Zen Battle Armor blocked the ground.
Above, two towering rock faces, air distorted by spirit turbulence.
His idea was reckless.
Slip through a "spirit gap" — a tiny void between two colliding spiritual barriers.
Only a micro-drone at high speed could do it.
He had exactly one.
Yue Lin understood immediately. "I'll analyze oscillations and locate the opening."
Elena said, "I'll reinforce defensive shielding for the main formation."
Rafael shouted, "Just do it! I won't let those walking statues pass me!"
The Intellect Cultivator formation braced.
Rafael charged, swinging his robot's axe horizontally — not to deal damage, but to draw attention.
Boom!
A Zen Battle Armor hammered his robot's shoulder. The arm snapped with a sharp crack. Rafael screamed from neural feedback pain.
Behind him, Jonas's robots raised shields, firing fragmentation rounds to create space.
Sima scanned movements from afar.
Elena and Amira coordinated lighter units into a triangular defensive line.
Forty seconds.
Meanwhile, Duong Minh began.
He inhaled deeply, focusing entirely on the small drone. His surroundings blurred and reformed through its camera perspective.
Static-filled air. Glittering motes — distorted spirit force.
Lyra said quickly, "Gap oscillates every 0.7 seconds. Miss the rhythm, and it will be crushed."
"Plot trajectory," Duong Minh replied.
The drone surged upward, weaving through shockwaves.
He felt it as his own body: rotors trembling, airflow tilting it right. He tilted his head; it tilted. He clenched; it accelerated.
Everything flowed like water.
Spirit force scraped its frame, sensors vibrating. A shard sliced across its side, leaving a long scratch.
Yue Lin shouted, "Gap in three… two… one — GO!"
The drone darted through the spirit seam, accelerating as if pulled by gravity. Light narrowed into a thin corridor.
Then—
It passed.
Below, battle raged violently. Rafael roared as his robot absorbed another crushing hammer strike.
From afar, the high-tier illusionary Dao Cultivator raised a hand — not commanding the Zen Battle Armor, but striking directly. Black energy coiled around his arm.
Lyra cried, "Danger!"
The illusionary warrior slashed downward.
A black shockwave tore across the ground like an earthquake, opening an eight-meter fissure. Three robots were swallowed whole.
Jonas shouted, "We can't hold much longer!"
Duong Minh clenched his fist. "Just twenty more seconds!"
The drone approached the platform.
He saw it clearly now: the spirit-suppression platform glowed like a stone heart. Its light pulsed like breathing.
Lyra analyzed. "Spherical spirit barrier. Not extremely strong, but your drone cannot break it."
Duong Minh remained silent.
The Dao Cultivator illusion prepared another strike.
On the ground, the Zen Battle Armor accelerated. The team was driven nearly against the cliff.
Rafael snarled, "Damn it! Duong Minh, do it!"
Yue Lin screamed, "Hurry! We're about to be crushed!"
Duong Minh closed his eyes. Inhaled. Exhaled.
Within the Digital Ocean, his consciousness appeared as a thread of light. He began stretching it — not into two, but into three.
It felt as though someone were tearing his brain apart.
"Aaaagh…"
"Triple-layered consciousness? You're insane," Lyra said, startled. "If you fail, everything ends."
The thread split.
One. Two. Three.
Three independent streams of light:
Blue: drone control — balance, velocity, direction.Gold: oscillation analysis — scanning barrier fluctuations.Purple: spirit manipulation — interference and disruption.
Three streams. Perfect synchronization required.
"Stream one… stable."
"Stream two… active."
"Stream three… initiating."
All three flared.
In the control room, Duong Minh's eyes flew open. His pupils are no longer black, but flickering blue, gold, purple in turn.
Three parallel perspectives:
The drone in motion.The barrier is a luminous web.Tiny spirit particles around him, under his command.
Three worlds. Three layers. One body.
"Begin."
The drone cut through the air, weaving through micro-gaps. He did something he had never done before — not just sensing spirit force, but touching it with pure intention.
Spirit motes reacted.
"Come here."
They gathered.
Ahead, the barrier shimmered. He directed spirit particles into its intersections — like jamming a pebble into spinning gears.
The barrier trembled. A tiny opening appeared for 0.2 seconds.
Enough.
The drone pierced through.
The platform trembled. Purple light burst outward like a blooming flower.
Lyra whispered, "Contact."
Below, the Zen Battle Armor froze simultaneously. The high-tier illusion halted, its form dissolving.
Yue Lin shouted, "Duong Minh did it!"
Rafael laughed wildly. "I knew it! That madman would pull it off!"
Jonas slumped down, exhaling.
Elena leaned back, gasping.
Sima clutched her chest.
"Third key point destroyed. Live Combat section concluded," the judges announced.
The illusion shattered like mist over water.
Zen Battle Armor vanished. The Dao Cultivator illusion dissolved into glowing dust. The battlefield returned to cold concrete.
The candidates collapsed into their seats.
Duong Minh removed the neural connector at the back of his neck, hands trembling so violently he could barely hold the cable. Yue Lin caught it.
"You're insane," she said, voice shaking with anger, admiration, relief.
"But without you, we'd have been crushed."
Rafael approached and punched his shoulder lightly.
"You did well. I owe you."
Duong Minh smiled faintly.
Lyra whispered inside him, "You've taken another step on the path of Dual Cultivation."
Duong Minh looked at the fading battlefield.
No robots. No bullets. No spirit force.
Only warmth in his chest, like the heartbeat of two worlds slowly aligning.
The Live Combat trial had ended.
But his path had only just begun.