"And then? Let her live with guilt for the rest of her life?"
"No, she will carry on my legacy. Although she has average talent, her determination is unparalleled. Some people will be inspired by her resolve, and eventually, a new Hua Jing will emerge."
Hua Jing did not deceive the self-doubting girl. Since she confronted the Master of Dreams, Hua Jing truly believed that she would be the one to kill the Master of Dreams with her.
Hua Jing could see the Heart Demon within Zi Yiyi and knew that if things continued this way, it would be too late to change Zi Yiyi's course to a different path.
So this wasn't a humanity test she designed, but a choice she offered Zi Yiyi.
It was a choice between striving to ascend to that peak and then stopping at the foot of the mountain, assuring oneself of a clear conscience, or taking a tortuous shortcut, risking complete destruction for a slight chance of reaching the summit.
