Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 254: The Ancient Ruins (Part-26)

Cultivation, medicine, and alchemy were her strengths, things she had poured her entire life into. But chess, calligraphy, and painting? Those had always been far from her world.

From a young age, all her time had been devoted to training.

Though the daughters of noble families often learned such arts, she had been groomed early as a successor, leaving her no leisure to study them. Later, when she was labeled a waste, survival itself became a challenge. When one struggled just to eat, elegance became a luxury.

Seeing the hesitation on Zora’s face, Celia raised a brow gently. "You don’t know them?"

Zora gave a small, helpless smile and answered honestly. "To be frank, I don’t."

She did not understand how such arts related to inheritance, but she knew this was Celia’s test. Avoiding the truth would only insult her.

Celia looked momentarily surprised, then quickly composed herself. "If that’s the case," she said lightly, "this trial may be somewhat difficult for you."

She paused, then gestured toward the Psaltery resting beside her. "What do you think of my music?"

"It is exquisite," Zora replied without hesitation. Though she could not play, she could still appreciate beauty when she heard it.

A faint smile curved Celia’s lips. "Then tell me," she asked, her gaze steady and probing, "do you have the confidence to reach my level?"

For a brief moment, Zora fell silent.

On the surface, cultivation and music seemed worlds apart. Yet Celia would never pose such a question without reason. Slowly, an idea formed in Zora’s mind. Perhaps Celia’s strength was closely tied to her music, not as art alone, but as a path.

With that thought, Zora lifted her chin. Her eyes were calm, resolute, and filled with quiet determination.

"Yes, I do," she answered firmly. "It’s true that I have never learned even music before, but I believe that with focus and effort, nothing is truly impossible."

Seeing this unwavering confidence in her, Celia’s eyes brightened with approval. "Good," she said warmly. "Then let us begin."

Soon, two graceful figures sat facing one another in the pavilion.

As fingers touched the strings, the sound of the Psaltery flowed out once more, drifting through the apple forest. Notes intertwined with falling petals, lingering in the air like an unspoken promise, as the true trial quietly began.

While Zora immersed herself in learning, Elowen and Reesa were also drawn into separate illusory realms, each receiving Celia’s test in a different form.

Though the trials they faced were not the same, the essence behind them was identical.

Under Celia’s calm guidance, all three women devoted themselves wholeheartedly to their respective paths, pushing their limits and polishing their minds and skills, each determined not to fall short of the expectations placed upon them.

Meanwhile, in a different world altogether, Prince Kael, Alaric Von Seraph, and Raphael were undergoing Azrael’s assessment.

If Celia’s illusions were elegant and subtle, Azrael’s trials were starkly different.

They were brutal, unforgiving, and filled with pressure that bore down on both body and spirit. Every step forward demanded grit, endurance, and an iron will. Compared to Celia’s flowing apple forests and music-filled pavilions, this was a world carved from hardship and tempering fire.

Had anyone remained in the main hall, they would have seen an unusual sight.

Six figures sat in a straight line before the two statues, motionless as sculptures themselves. Their postures were identical, yet their expressions subtly differed, reflecting the worlds they were experiencing within.

"The master seems to have entered another illusion," Black muttered, glancing at Zora’s still figure.

White nodded calmly. "Yes. Once inside, only the owner can complete it. We can only wait."

Black sighed, clearly dissatisfied. "If only we could go in too. At least it wouldn’t be this boring."

"Calm down," White replied, already closing its eyes. "Worrying won’t help. Cultivating will."

Seeing that, Black scratched its head, then reluctantly followed suit, sinking into cultivation as the silent hall returned to stillness.

Inside the illusory realm, time flowed differently.

At first, the sound produced by Zora’s fingers was clumsy and uneven, lacking rhythm and harmony.

But day after day, the discord gradually faded.

Days became weeks.

Weeks became months.

And months became years.

Meanwhile, over time, the notes grew steadier, then clearer, until they transformed into melodies that resonated through the apple forest like flowing water.

Beyond music, she also gained insight into chess and calligraphy, understanding their principles even if she did not fully master them. Among the three arts, however, it was the Psaltery that captivated her the most.

Because what she learned was not music for pleasure.

It was music for slaughter.

As Celia demonstrated the true essence behind her Psaltery art, Zora felt genuine astonishment. Sound itself could become a weapon, carrying killing intent that pierced directly into the soul. This was no ordinary technique.

Long ago, she had once heard rumors of clans capable of killing with sound alone. Such arts were secret, rare, and almost impossible for outsiders to grasp. Yet here she was, learning it firsthand.

This method did not excel in single combat, but on a battlefield, its value was terrifying.

Within hundreds of meters, enemies affected by the Psaltery’s sound would have their minds shaken, their spirits torn apart, and their defenses would collapse before they even realized what was happening.

It was a trump card of terrifying scope.

And now, it was hers.

A sharp note rang out.

"Ding!"

As Zora’s fingers struck the strings, a violent surge of energy burst forth with the sound. The air trembled, and in the next instant, the apple trees ahead shattered, trunks splintering as petals exploded into the air before dissolving into nothingness.

Moments ago, it had been a dreamlike paradise.

Now, only emptiness remained.

Zora slowly rose to her feet, gazing at the vanished apple forest. A satisfied smile curved her lips.

Three years.

Within this illusory realm, she had spent three full years honing her art. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Not only had she mastered the Psaltery technique, but her cultivation and combat prowess had also advanced significantly. Compared to when she first entered the ruins, she was no longer the same person.

Soft applause sounded behind her.

Celia stood there with a gentle smile, her eyes filled with unmistakable approval and satisfaction as she looked at Zora.

"Very good," she said quietly. "Your comprehension is astonishing, far beyond what I expected."

Her gaze was warm, carrying neither exaggeration nor flattery.

This praise came from the heart.

What had truly impressed her was not merely Zora’s talent, but the unwavering persistence she had shown over these long years. From the moment she first touched the Psaltery strings to the day she mastered killing through sound, Zora had never once chosen the easy path.

Celia had seen countless Spirit warriors in her lifetime. Many were gifted, many were clever, but very few walked to the end. Talent without perseverance was like a sword left to rust.

In contrast, Zora possessed a terrifying steadiness. Once she set her heart on a goal, she endured silently, advancing step by step until she reached it.

As a woman, and a beautiful one at that, this quality was even rarer.

When Celia herself had first learned sound-based slaughter, she had suffered endlessly. There were moments of doubt, frustration, and even thoughts of abandoning it altogether. Only through her master’s guidance had she persevered. Yet Zora had completed this journey in far less time, and never once voiced the intention to give up.

Her will was firm, her heart mature beyond her years.

In that moment, Celia knew she had chosen the right inheritor.

"Thank you for Master’s painstaking guidance," Zora said softly.

She stepped forward and bowed deeply this time with a hand on her chest instead of a fist, her movements respectful and sincere.

Over these three years, Celia had taught her without reservation, correcting her flaws, refining her understanding, and guiding her patiently through every obstacle. It was because of this meticulous instruction that her growth had been so swift and profound.

Only now did Zora fully understand that this trial was never about breaking the illusion.

The illusory realm itself was the inheritance.

"Since you have fully grasped what I have taught, my inheritance is complete," Celia said with a gentle smile. "It is time for you to leave."

The words were light, almost casual, yet the smile on Zora’s face slowly faded. A subtle ache spread through her chest, unexpected and difficult to suppress.

For three years, she had lived alongside Celia. Teacher and student, yet also companions. Somewhere along the way, she had grown accustomed to this quiet life, to the calm guidance, to the warmth of Celia’s presence. Only now did she realize she had subconsciously forgotten one truth.

This moment was always meant to come.

Once the inheritance ended, Celia would disappear.

"Master..." Zora called out, her voice unsteady.

Her clear eyes glistened faintly, tinged with red. Disappointment, reluctance, and gratitude tangled together, making it difficult for her to speak further.

Celia smiled, a little helpless yet deeply gentle. "Silly child. Such a day was inevitable. My true body vanished long ago. This remnant consciousness existed only for the sake of inheritance. To find a successor like you is already a blessing beyond my regrets."

Though her tone was calm and accepting, her eyes shimmered with restrained tears.

"Master, I..." Zora opened her mouth, but the words refused to come.

She understood everything Celia said. She understood the logic, the inevitability. Yet understanding did nothing to soften the pain of parting.

"Go," Celia said softly, waving her hand as she turned away.

A single tear slipped down her cheek, unnoticed by her own deliberate composure.

Zora stared at Celia’s slender back, her heart tightening. In that moment, she was certain of one thing.

Celia was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her life.

"Thank you for Master’s boundless grace."

Zora went down to her knees this time with a hand on her chest, the gesture solemn and heavy with emotion.

Before her eyes, Celia’s figure gradually became translucent, dissolving like mist under sunlight. As the illusion faded, a soft, gentle voice echoed through the apple-scented air.

"Do not be sad. To meet you was fate. I only hope that you walk farther and higher in the future. May what I have taught you become your strength... and protect you on the path ahead."