Chapter 23: Willpower Test
Tang Mu followed the three supervisors towards the pillars with runic patterns at the very end of the floor. He felt a bit nervous since it would be the first time he would take a willpower test.
"Little guy," the burly supervisor said. "You have performed incredibly well during the first two tests. You have the right to know our names. I'm Ming Sheng and that skinny guy with glasses is Quan Hansheng. Xia Yating needs no introductions since she has been your teacher."
"Now, little guy! Let me ask you. Do you know the importance of willpower to a psionic?"
Tang Mu nodded and gave the answer he had once read in a textbook. "Willpower can also be referred to as mental strength. Strong willpower allows psionics to control their power."
"It also plays a critical role in breaking through bottlenecks and overcoming difficulties while treading the demanding path of unlocking chakras. In fact, without robust willpower or mental strength, a human being will find it almost impossible to sense or unlock any chakras."
"Indeed," Ming Sheng, the burly supervisor, said with a kind smile. "Willpower encompasses all you have said. However, you have also missed out on one point. That's mental fitness."
"When we talk about willpower for psionics, we're referring to our ability to function effectively and sustainably in the face of challenges and stress — without sacrificing our own health, sense of self, and mental well-being. As such, psionics with robust willpower will always remain true to themselves no matter how many challenges they face."
"Such psionics won't allow negativity to influence them while treading the path of psionics. They also possess the crucial spiritual prowess to sense and activate the chakras that link them with their esoteric bodies without facing many bottlenecks."
"They are abnormally motivated, resilient, and courageous. They can also effortlessly adapt to different situations, however unnerving, without suffering mental scars. Truthfully, willpower is the most important attribute for a psionic."
"Tang Mu," Xia Yating chimed in. "All that Ming Sheng has said is true. As such, most universities will not take you on a scholarship if you have a very low willpower attribute. So, ensure to do your best during the willpower test. Okay?"
"Okay," Tang Mu replied.
"Let's move on to the test itself," Quan Hansheng, the scholarly-looking supervisor, said. He pointed at the four pillars shimmering with runic patterns and continued, "Those runes you see on the pillars are grade-one illusion runes."
"We have arranged the pillars with the runes to form a 50 square meter mini-illusion formation space. Once you enter the formation space, you'll undergo different illusions. You will either face some of your worst fears or re-live some of the best moments of your life. Your score will depend on how fast you break out from the illusion world. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Tang Mu replied.
Quan Hansheng nodded and tapped on his tablet a few times. Immediately, the runes inscribed on the pillars flickered and emitted a fog that enveloped a 50-by-50 square meter area.
Quan Hansheng observed the fog and made a few more adjustments on his tablet. He then turned to Tang Mu and said, "You can step into the illusion formation for the willpower test. Good luck."
"Thank you," Tang Mu bowed to the supervisors and stepped into the fog.
-----
Ming Shen, the burly guy, observed the place where Tang Mu had entered the formation for a few seconds. Then, he turned to Xia Yating and asked, "Sister Yating! This little guy has been your student. According to you, how many minutes will he take to break out of the illusion world?"
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Xia Yating smiled. "The illusion world formed by the rank-one illusion pillars is too realistic. It's nothing like those virtual worlds of the low-grade virtual reality chambers. Although Tang Mu is a talented lad with great willpower, he will still take about nine minutes to break out of the illusion."
"Nine minutes?" Ming Shen glanced at Xia Yating with surprise.
According to the grading set by the Psionic Society, students who could break out of the illusion formation in less than 5 minutes would all obtain an A+ grade for their willpower test.
The other grades were an A- for less than 10 minutes, a B for less than 12 minutes, a C for less than 14 minutes, a D for less than 16 minutes, an E for less than 18 minutes, and an F for those who took above 18 minutes to break out of the illusion world.
"Sister Yating!" Ming Shen continued. "Nine minutes is an A- grade rating. It's just a step short of the top A+ grade. Do you have that much confidence in the little guy?"
Xia Yating nodded. "Tang Mu has been a very tenacious student. I heard he lost his parents, who were both prominent psionics of the Planetary Defense Regiment, during the Vegroid disaster twelve years ago. I don't know what happened, but he didn't receive any inheritance from them. He has only been relying on the government stipend for his upkeep."
"Of course, he didn't have any resources like genetic activation elixirs for training. But even then, he has managed to train and reach this step. That takes willpower, resilience, and tenacity beyond the realms those 'good for nothings' from many of the rich families can achieve."
"You're also from a rich family," Quan Hansheng, the scholarly-looking supervisor who had been quiet, reminded.
"That's beside the point," Xia Yating retorted. "Moreover, as you all know, my Xia family is different. They will never put up with any useless descendants. Only those with incredible willpower and tenacity have the right to obtain the family resources."
"I'm quite surprised that Tang Mu's parents didn't leave him any inheritance," Ming Shen said, steering the topic back to Tang Mu. "If they were prominent psionics of the Planetary Defense Regiment, where did all their wealth go after they passed away?"
"Beats me!" Xia Yating shrugged. "Let's not discuss matters that don't concern us."
Ming Shen nodded and sighed. He turned towards the formation and remained silent.
-----
In the meantime, Tang Mu had lost all senses after stepping into the foggy space formed by the illusion formation. He didn't know how long had passed, but when he woke up, he realized that he was seated in an ambulance. He was also wearing his paramedic uniform, meaning he was on the job.
"Big Tang!" A familiar voice called out from beside him. "You have been snoring for close to forty minutes. What did you do yesterday night? Did your beautiful girlfriend keep you awake the entire night?"
Tang Mu turned to look at the person who had spoken. He was Chen Rong. He was his partner, a paramedic working for the Hong Kong Union Hospital. He was currently on the steering wheel, guiding the ambulance vehicle forward.
"Chen Rong! What day is it today?" Tang Mu called out, feeling like something was wrong. He seemed to have forgotten many things, including that day's date.
"Man, you're too far gone." Chen Rong laughed. "You have even forgotten the date after dozing off for half an hour! Oh well! As a brother and partner in arms, it's my duty to remind you. Today is Monday, 11th February 2036."
BOOM!
It was as if an explosion went off in his head after he heard the date. Scenes of flying aeromobils and more memories about the intergalactic era quickly flashed in his mind.
Within an instant, he recalled aspects of his second life, including his late parents, annoying former classmates, hostel mates like Hu Ning, and even the supervisors who had sent him into the illusion formation. He remembered everything and finally registered that he was currently undergoing the willpower test in the formation space.
So, the illusion sent me back to this comfortable part of my previous life!
Tang Mu sighed inwardly and looked outside the window. He took in all the buildings, flashy cars, and people on the streets of Hong Kong. After a few seconds, he sighed again and finally turned his gaze back to Chen Rong, one of his closest friends from his previous life.
This was indeed a happy moment in my previous life. I had great brothers and a great girlfriend who was always there for me.
But all this is not real. It all ended when I died in a plane crash. It is just an illusion trying to trap me in a comfortable past that no longer exists.
I'm now Tang Mu, a student undergoing the Psionic Society's assessment at the 4th high school.
Tang Mu sighed again. He had once learned that the best way to break out of an illusion was by focusing one's willpower through meditation. So, he closed his eyes and slowly regulated his breathing to achieve the patterns described within the Star God Celestial Manual.