Gu Qingze walked in this pure white space for a long, long time... Time seemed to be infinitely stretched, but he still found nothing.
He felt that if he continued this endless walking, his spirit would probably become exhausted first and then fall into confusion.
He needs a break...
While thinking, Gu Qingze slowly took out a book that he had read countless times from his storage bag.
The cover looked a little worn from frequent touching, but the faint scent of ink emanating from the pages could still soothe the anxiety in his heart like a clear spring.
This was a transcribed copy of the Heavenly Ice Sword Technique. Although he knew the contents of the sword technique by heart, he still habitually flipped through the physical book every time he needed to comprehend something.
Touching the pages of the book and recording his own insights at any time will not only make it more convenient for him to understand, but also bring him a sense of security.
He gently turned the pages of the book. Although he had already memorized the contents, in this boundless white world, every word seemed to be given new life, leading his thoughts to drift far away.
"The Heavenly Ice Sword Technique not only emphasizes the sharpness of the moves, but also the tempering of one's character."
He whispered to himself, as if he was having a spiritual conversation with himself, or as if he was savoring every word in the book.
He closed his eyes and began to meditate, trying to comprehend the sword with his mind in this empty space.
Let every move and every stroke of the sword technique flow slowly in your heart and merge with this pure white.
Time seems to have lost its inherent flow rate in this space.
Gu Qingze was immersed in the profound understanding of swordsmanship, and he didn't know how long it had been.
When he opened his eyes again, there was still a vast expanse of white in front of him, but his state of mind had quietly changed.
The fear and confusion caused by the unknown were gradually replaced by indifference.
He began to enjoy this solitude and even found an indescribable tranquility in it.
"Perhaps, this fourth trial is not just about escaping, but also a test of one's state of mind."
This thought suddenly flashed through Gu Qingze's mind.
He began to try to explore this space with a different mindset. He was no longer in a hurry to find an exit, but felt every inch of the "air" here with a more peaceful mindset.
At this moment, he suddenly noticed that whenever his mind reached a certain state of peace, the seemingly unchanging white around him seemed to flicker slightly, as if in response.
This discovery gave him an idea, and he began to adjust his mindset more attentively, trying to resonate with this space.
Gu Qingze kept trying, failing, and trying again.
He learned to find pleasure in this endless white. Whether he was revisiting old books, practicing sword techniques in his mind, or even simply closing his eyes to rest, he felt more fulfilled than ever before.
"If this is truly a test of one's state of mind, then I have found my own answer."
Gu Qingze seemed to be talking to himself, or to something invisible. His eyes gradually became firm and calm.
He began to believe that no matter whether this space really had an exit, he was no longer the trial-taker who had just arrived and was full of confusion and fear.
Just as his mentality changed, Gu Qingze suddenly felt a subtle change.
The white around seemed to have layers. It was no longer a single pure color, but gradually revealed an interweaving of light and shadow.
He stood up and walked towards the place where the light and shadow changed, his heart filled with unprecedented determination and expectation.
As he walked, the scene of interweaving light and shadow gradually became clearer, as if vivid pictures were slowly being sketched out from nothingness.
Wherever he stepped, the white began to fade, replaced by faint colors, like the first rays of dawn, adding a bit of vitality to the endless blank space.
"Is this... an illusion? Or a real transformation?"
Gu Qingze pondered this inwardly, but his steps did not stop. He knew that in this trial ground, every change could be the key to the answer.
As he went deeper, the surrounding scenery became richer and richer, from vague light and shadow to concrete scenery.
He seemed to have traveled through time and space and arrived at a wonderland he had never seen before.
There are gurgling streams, singing birds and fragrant flowers, as well as misty mountains, which are breathtakingly beautiful.
"Could it be that the true purpose of this fourth trial is to teach me to find hope in despair and create color in emptiness?"
Gu Qingze's mind suddenly became clear, as if all the mysteries were solved at this moment.
The initial pure white is like a piece of white drawing paper, and what color it becomes afterwards needs to be outlined and described by yourself and others.
He began to wander through this new world, each step seeming to be extraordinarily easy and comfortable.
He suddenly remembered what Master Wuyou had said about the meaning of "Tao" during the second trial:
[Everyone has his or her own 'Tao', which may be hidden in the trivialities of daily life, or may appear in important life decisions.
The key lies in whether you are willing to search and understand with your heart. When you truly find it, you will find that all the difficulties and troubles will become helpers on your path of practice, rather than obstacles.
He tried to communicate with the creatures here, talk with the wind, resonate with the water, and feel every detail of nature.
This experience is more profound and real than any other practice.
"It turns out that a true trial is not just a test of external strength, but also an exploration of the inner world."
Gu Qingze muttered to himself, with an unprecedented light flashing in his eyes.
At this moment, a gentle voice sounded in his ears: "Congratulations, trial-taker, you have passed the fourth trial."
"The profound understanding you've demonstrated about life and existence shows that you've found what you sought. I believe your path of cultivation will become even broader from now on."
Gu Qingze looked around but saw no one. He knew that the voice came from the will of this space, or from a higher being.
“Follow your heart. Your path is already in your heart.”
The voice echoed again. Then, the surrounding scenery began to blur, light and shadow intertwined, and everything returned to its original pure white.
But this time, he was no longer confused, but moved forward steadily with firm steps.
What was different from before was that after he walked for a while, the pure white in front of him faded away, and he came to a lush green.
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