Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Outside the illusion, Elder Xiaobai shook his head slightly and sighed:

"This assessment is a bit difficult."

Elder Chi agreed. After the first two rounds, many people had chosen to do nothing or just go through the motions when the third cycle began.

Some kind-hearted people, even if they couldn't think of a way to break the deadlock, still shielded the little girl from the beating and scolding.

Some people, in a fit of rage and acting irrationally, vented their frustrations from the previous two failures on that family.

Elder Xiaobai sighed and temporarily stopped the water mirror, which was recklessly venting its destructive power, from calculating the changes.

Elder Chi asked, "Then what is the real way to break this deadlock?"

There was no response for a long time.

He said with some surprise, "You yourself don't know how to break the deadlock, yet you're using it as a test question?!"

Elder Chi initially felt that his first round of screening based on whether the left or right foot stepped through the door was a bit perfunctory. He never expected that you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, seemingly meticulous novice, would act so absurdly.

Elder Xiaobai coughed slightly awkwardly and said:

"It was Senior Sister Fang's idea."

Sect Leader Fang was looking at the water mirror in front of him. Upon hearing this, he nodded and said:

"This situation is difficult to break, so the condition for passing the level has not been stated—do your best."

"To do something even when you know it is impossible is already a rare thing."

"If there is someone who can solve this problem, they can become a disciple of the Star-Picking Tower without having to go through the third test."

Elder Chi frowned deeply as he looked at Song Liangyi's water mirror, feeling a pang of regret.

He actually gave up on the promising young talent he had his eye on...

Hey!

Senior Sister Fang and Junior Brother Xiaobai are really inappropriate... cough!

There was no hope left for Song Liangyi, so Elder Chi went to check on the other promising talents he had his eye on—

Huaying has begun its third cycle.

She looked at the little girl with pity in her eyes. The empty street was filled with only this one family, constantly going through the cycle of reincarnation.

There are so many innocent people!

When the little girl came back in to wash clothes and the broom was about to fall, Hua Yingting smiled, lifted her skirt, and walked to the door.

"Dong dong dong!"

"Is anyone here?"

Her voice was low and sounded lonely and pitiful. The couple inside the gate stopped what they were doing and looked at the gate.

There stood a richly dressed young woman, leaning against the wooden gate, in front of the small courtyard. Although her clothes were exquisite, they were tattered and covered in dust.

Upon seeing the two of them approach, Hua Ying bowed slightly, displaying a very gentle demeanor.

"Auntie, Uncle, I've wandered here and lost my memory. I wonder if you could take me in..."

She coughed twice, as if afraid of being rejected, and continued:

“I…I can do many things. I embroider beautiful handkerchiefs that can be exchanged for money. Although I look weak, I can chop wood and start fires. I only ask that you give me a bite to eat and a place to stay…”

The couple hesitated, looking at her clothes, afraid of getting involved in trouble.

Hua Yingting also went to great lengths to convince the couple that they came from a wealthy family and were not fleeing from a deadly fugitive.

Instead, he lost his memory due to an accident.

Who knows, if we save her, her family might send someone looking for her later, and we'll reward them with gold and silver.

The couple were clearly hesitant, but after talking, they decided to hide the person inside the house first and see how things went.

Seeing that the two of them agreed, a hint of mockery flashed in Hua Yingting's eyes, as if she were laughing at the world or lamenting her own fate.

Now that things have come to this, there are no longer any obstacles to what she needs to do in this reincarnation.

Hua Yingting looked grateful and said:

"I have no way to repay your kindness in taking me in. I wish to recognize you two as my parents and repay you with filial piety."

The couple were somewhat surprised, but after a moment's thought, they felt that perhaps it wouldn't matter.

If this person is in trouble, we can simply deny it and push her away. But if it was just an accident, a wealthy relative might come looking for her later...

If we adopt her as our daughter, won't we be incredibly wealthy and powerful in the future...?

Hua Yingting bowed slightly and smiled, saying, "Father, Mother, from now on I am your daughter."

As soon as the word "father" and "mother" were uttered, the surrounding scene accelerated its unfolding.

Hua Yingting fluttered her eyelashes, gracefully stood up, and lightly patted her deliberately soiled dress.

I look up, awaiting the final outcome.

Last time, she gave away her gold and silver jewelry, but little did she know, this family was probably not destined for wealth.

It was stolen.

However, that little girl is destined to have younger siblings, so perhaps having an older sister would be good too?

If all else fails, she can not only recognize that couple as her parents, but also recognize that little girl as her older sister.

She observed the surrounding scene and the scattered images that came into view as she paused.

The sarcasm in his eyes deepened.

"Ah……"

Perhaps because the identity she fabricated for herself became a reality, she had no cultivation whatsoever, so no one came to seek revenge, nor did anyone come to look for her relatives.

An older person is always easier to manage than a young girl.

The couple gradually grew bolder and sold their clothes and jewelry, treating them as extra laborers in the household.

The good news is that, thanks to her own efforts, the little girl survived.

The bad news is that I'm in a rather difficult situation in this illusion... I can be beaten and scolded at will.

In the end, he was left with a host of injuries.

As expected, it didn't end well.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Outside the illusion, Elder Chi pointed at the water mirror where Hua Ying had stopped, somewhat shocked, and stammered as he spoke:

"Has she...has she broken the deadlock?!"

"Ok?"

Elder Xiaobai suddenly rushed over, turned the water mirror around, and began to quickly review Hua Yingting's method of breaking the deadlock.

"Sigh..." There was a hint of admiration and a hint of disappointment in that sigh.

By using one's own life to break another's fate, if we can find that little girl another brother or sister, we can borrow her destiny to allow the newcomer to survive.

And they can share hardships and bear misfortunes together.

The problem is, this method doesn't work!

He couldn't very well find an innocent person, adopt that couple as his parents, and suffer this undeserved misfortune...

However, Huaying's suspension did indeed break the deadlock.

This method of breaking the deadlock is somewhat similar to Buddhist concepts outside the Mosan continent.

They believe that the suffering in the world can increase or decrease, and that it is predetermined; if they themselves bear more, the suffering of the world can be reduced.

The family's suffering is essentially unsolvable and always ends up falling on someone else.

Hua Yingting took part in the situation herself, sharing the suffering with that little girl.

Elder Xiaobai sighed somewhat.

The water mirror was temporarily put to rest.

"Huh?" Suddenly, he saw another water mirror and frowned slightly.

Then he angrily said, "This boy must not be allowed to live. He is ruthless and unscrupulous in his actions. His method of breaking the deadlock is simply absurd!"

"I must kill him right here!"

The two of them were chatting enthusiastically, while Sect Leader Fang stood in front of a water mirror, seemingly lost in thought.

The person in the picture is Zhu Wuyao.