Chapter 232

"Sister?"

If Jean heard that Barbara was willing to call her sister again, she would likely be overjoyed.

The Heart-Questioning Array is truly miraculous; it is just a pity one cannot know what Barbara experienced within it.

"Congratulations, Barbara."

Lisa gently stroked Barbara's hair.

The latter smiled shyly, her gaze fixed intently on Jean.

Jean, at this moment, had also passed the fourth layer of the Heart-Questioning Array; she was clenching her fists tightly, her face pale, and her body trembling uncontrollably.

Only those who have walked through the Heart-Questioning Array can understand how indescribable that experience of living a lifetime with every step truly is.

Every step is a questioning of their very soul.

Looking back on it now, even Barbara could not help but feel a lingering fear.

Before long, Zhongli sent Kaeya back.

"Kaeya, having passed the fourth layer of the Heart-Questioning Array, is now an inner sect disciple."

As Kaeya emerged, he let out a long breath and pinched himself hard.

He looked around at his surroundings in detail, and after a long while, he let out a melancholy sigh.

"Four layers of heart-questioning, four lifetimes lived..."

"What a terrifying power. Cultivators are truly beings that cannot be understood by common logic."

"It is a pity... my state of mind was ultimately a bit lacking."

Kaeya gave a bitter smile.

In the Heart-Questioning Array just now, he truly could not go any further.

Every step for him had been despair.

Although passing three layers is technically sufficient, no one is willing to stop at just three.

If a cultivator believes in just getting by, then they might as well not cultivate at all.

They would not achieve anything anyway.

It was also within the fourth layer of heart-questioning that Kaeya understood how important a firm will truly is.

It is the power that, when walking down a dark, desperate dead end, allows one to hold their breath and crash through to create a path.

And this is the power that cultivators need most.

While he was pondering this, Zhongli's voice rang out once more.

"Diluc, having passed the fifth layer of the Heart-Questioning Array, is now an inner sect disciple."

In an instant, Diluc appeared beside Kaeya; the moment he opened his eyes, boundless blood-red color permeated the air, and demonic killing intent radiated in all directions.

His entire body was trembling uncontrollably.

"Calm down!"

Venti pressed his hand gently onto Diluc's shoulder, and with the flow of true elemental energy, Diluc finally recovered.

He looked around the area and then cast a melancholy glance at the Heart-Questioning Array.

"I... did I not pass the sixth layer?"

Venti nodded and comforted him:

"You have already done very well. Five layers of heart-questioning, five lifetimes lived, and the fact that you dared to keep walking toward the sixth layer already surpasses many people."

"But I ultimately did not pass it."

Diluc felt somewhat dejected and clenched his fists tightly.

He had long since forgotten what he encountered in the sixth layer of the Heart-Questioning Array.

He only knew that he had nearly fallen into a demonic state.

Ultimately, his mental fortitude was insufficient.

For someone like Diluc, who demands the best of himself, this was a heavy blow.

Especially seeing that Jean was still persisting inside.

Diluc felt even more depressed.

"Mental fortitude can be cultivated over time; as long as you firm your Dao heart and keep your spirit clear, you will eventually undergo a transformation."

Baizhu offered a gentle word of comfort.

Diluc was stunned for a moment, and Venti, standing to the side, teased:

"You had best listen carefully to what your senior brother Baizhu says."

"He is a ruthless man who genuinely, through sheer force of will, broke through the nine layers of the Heart-Questioning Array."

"The Sect Master said that this record will likely not be surpassed by anyone for a very long time."

Diluc straightened his expression slightly, looking at Baizhu with a hint of admiration.

He could not even pass the sixth layer and nearly fell into a demonic state, yet the person before him was a ruthless man who had broken through nine.

Only after truly walking through the Heart-Questioning Array can one understand how absurd Baizhu's feat was.

"Many thanks for your guidance, Mr. Baizhu."

Hearing this, Baizhu smiled and reminded him:

"Having passed the fifth layer of the Heart-Questioning Array, you are already a disciple of Shushan."

"The Sect Master has said that fellow disciples should be humble and friendly, so there is no need to be so distant."

The corners of Diluc's mouth lifted slightly, and he looked up at Heaven-Piercing Peak.

"Yes, Senior Brother Baizhu."

Everyone focused their gaze on Jean, watching her with some nervousness.

At this moment, she had already arduously stepped past the sixth layer of the Heart-Questioning Array.

She was drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

Jean's gaze was already somewhat unfocused.

Zhongli nodded slightly and said softly:

"Jean, you have crossed the sixth layer of heart-questioning; your aptitude is excellent and your mental fortitude is supreme. You may become an inner sect disciple; there is no need to continue forward."

Jean forced herself to gather her spirits, looked up at Zhongli, and after a moment of silence, said softly:

"Sect Leader Zhongli, I wish to continue..."

Zhongli replied:

"If you continue, you will not receive any further rewards. Your will is currently scattered and your spirit is in turmoil; if you continue to walk, it will be very easy to damage your mind."

"Are you certain you wish to continue?"

Jean looked back at Barbara, then at Lisa and the others.

She took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

"I will continue! I have not reached my limit! Even if I have, then I shall break it!"

"I must become stronger, strong enough to resolve all misfortune!"

"If I stop here today, I will carry regrets for the rest of my life!"

"Sect Leader Zhongli, I will continue!"

Zhongli stared at Jean; even though her mind was already on the verge of collapse, she was still supporting herself to stand upright solely on the strength of her final obsession.

After a long while, Zhongli nodded slightly.

"Very well."

Jean took a deep breath and continued forward.

The last shred of prejudice Diluc held against Jean vanished without a trace, replaced by a sense of admiration.

Although Jean's methods were indeed immature and her handling of affairs not yet seasoned.

She already possessed a tenacious will and mental fortitude.

Under her leadership, the Mondstadt Knights might... surely be better.

With this step taken, Jean instantly lived through an indescribable lifetime.

Birth, growth, succession, development...

Jean was different from Baizhu, who sought the Dao and longevity with a single mind.

She possessed only an unparalleled will to protect, regardless of whether this layer of heart-questioning was protecting Mondstadt, Shushan, or some small sect in the cultivation world.

Jean was always willing to shoulder responsibility, growing from immaturity, experiencing blood and fire, and walking the path of protection for her entire life.

This step, Jean walked for a very, very long time.