Chapter 1: A Good Day for Travel, Not for Cheating

The second day of the second lunar month. A good day for travel.

A moderate rain was pouring down, splashing onto the ground to stir up the fragrance of soil, onto the lake to ripple in circles, and onto the heads of passersby, drawing low curses.

"Who said today was a good day for travel? It started raining the moment I stepped out," Lu Yang complained, regretting that he hadn't brought a straw raincoat in advance.

This was his first time traveling far from home, and he lacked experience. The rain had come suddenly, soaking him through. His shoes were caked in mud, and every step felt like the ground was showing its malice toward him—he had to pull his feet out of the mud pits.

A clattering sound came from behind, catching Lu Yang's attention.

Lu Yang turned his head to look and discovered a carriage approaching him. There was no driver on the carriage; the old horse seemed to know the way and didn't need anyone to guide it.

"What a miraculous horse," Lu Yang exclaimed in admiration. The old horse had a few scales on its forehead, resembling snake scales; it was clearly some kind of exotic beast.

Although he didn't understand its value, he knew this old horse was precious.

At the very least, he couldn't afford it with his financial means.

"Brother, strolling in the rain—what a refined interest. Why not come inside the carriage for a seat?"

A man's hearty laughter came from inside the carriage. Lu Yang accepted the man's kindness, pulled his feet out of the mud, and hurriedly boarded.

"Pardon the intrusion. I am Lu Yang." Lu Yang sat inside the carriage cautiously, afraid that the rainwater and mud on his body would dirty the carriage.

"Meng Jingzhou." The owner of the carriage was just like his voice—a carefree young man, optimistic and hearty, as if he could strike up a conversation with anyone.

"Brother Lu, are you also here to participate in the selection for the Profound Heaven Sect?"

"Just trying my luck."

Meng Jingzhou laughed heartily: "Brother Lu, what harm is there in being honest? If you really only wanted to try your luck, you wouldn't be walking through the rain to the Profound Heaven Sect."

Lu Yang felt a bit ashamed: "Who doesn't want to enter the Profound Heaven Sect?"

The Profound Heaven Sect was ranked as one of the five great immortal sects of the Central Continent. It possessed countless cultivation experts and was extremely powerful. With the sect recruiting disciples today, there was no telling how many people wanted to come and give it a try.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were two of them.

Lu Yang had transmigrated to the Central Continent. His parents had died early, and he had survived by relying on the small inheritance they left behind and the relief of his neighbors.

In the dozen years he lived in the small town, he had heard storytellers speak of immortals striking the Heavenly Gate with swords, heard of river demons turning over five hundred miles away causing floods, heard of sect disciples slaying demons with flying swords to uphold justice, and had seen sloppy Daoist priests swindling people, rising into the air to escape prison, only to be caught and brought back by officials who also rose into the air.

At that time, he knew that this was not the world he was familiar with, nor any dynasty he knew. This was a world of cultivation where individual power was concentrated in one's own body.

He wanted to seek the Dao and learn the immortal arts of longevity.

The Profound Heaven Sect was the first stop he chose.

There was no other reason for choosing the Profound Heaven Sect; it was simply because there were no other sects around his home, only the Profound Heaven Sect.

With the Profound Heaven Sect here, other sects would not ask for trouble by choosing to establish themselves nearby.

During their conversation, Lu Yang learned that Meng Jingzhou came from a cultivation family and possessed far more knowledge about cultivation than Lu Yang.

"The Profound Heaven Sect's requirement for recruiting disciples is mortals under sixteen. It's not just the Profound Heaven Sect; most sects have this requirement."

"The path of cultivation is long and obstructed. Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Void Refinement, Body Integration, Tribulation Transcendence—each realm is a watershed that traps countless people. One in ten, one in twenty, or even one in a hundred—that's how rare they are."

"There are many factors that determine cultivation achievements, such as luck, wisdom, spiritual roots... By the way, Brother Lu, do you know what your spiritual root is?"

"Although the Profound Heaven Sect doesn't have high requirements for spiritual roots, they don't want those that are too poor."

Lu Yang frowned. He had only learned the term "spiritual root" from the storyteller and didn't know what his own was.

"I don't know. What about you, Brother Meng?"

Meng Jingzhou's expression became very confused, and he shook his head as well: "I once tested my spiritual root in the clan, but the clan elders looked worried and wouldn't tell me the result. They only said my talent was astonishing and that joining the five great immortal sects would be no problem. They said I would know when I joined one later. I secretly asked my parents, and they were even more worried than the elders, also refusing to tell me."

Lu Yang speculated: "It's possible your spiritual root is too shocking, likely to bring disaster to the Meng family. Only a behemoth like the Profound Heaven Sect can protect you."

"That's what I guessed." Meng Jingzhou patted Lu Yang on the shoulder, looking like he had met a soulmate. The more he looked at Lu Yang, the more he felt this person was as talented as himself—a natural seed for cultivation.

Lu Yang listened to the sound of the rain outside growing heavier and felt fortunate that Meng Jingzhou had let him board the carriage.

"Stop." Meng Jingzhou suddenly shouted, and the old horse took a few steps and slowly came to a halt.

The carriage was considered an exotic treasure, and Meng Jingzhou could see the situation outside.

Meng Jingzhou saw a woman walking in the rain outside, just like Lu Yang had been earlier.

"This sister is walking in this direction; she must also be going to the Profound Heaven Sect to participate in the test. Since the rain is so heavy, why not come into the carriage to rest your feet?"

The woman was somewhat surprised by Meng Jingzhou's proposal, thought about it, and agreed.

As soon as the woman boarded, Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang were both stunned.

Meng Jingzhou considered himself experienced, but he had never seen such a beautiful woman. Lu Yang didn't even need to be mentioned; the most beautiful woman he had ever seen was the young widow next door who sold tofu.

Of course, Lu Yang was a gentleman and had no improper thoughts about the young widow.

The woman was like a lotus, enchanting but not gaudy. She wore white clothes, stood gracefully, and had bright eyes and white teeth, giving people a feeling of being in another world.

The woman also wore a string of golden bells on her right wrist.

"Yun Zhi thanks the two of you."

The woman's voice was like a clear spring, making people feel very comfortable listening to it.

Lu Yang noticed something strange and whispered: "Brother Meng, why is she dry? Could she be a demon?"

In storyteller tales, demons often transformed into beautiful women to lure young, strong men like them.

Just earlier, Lu Yang had been soaked like a drowned rat, looking miserable. In contrast, Yun Zhi had no trace of rainwater on her, not looking at all like someone who had walked in the rain.

Meng Jingzhou didn't think much of it: "Perhaps she carries an exotic treasure that can avoid rain. This is quite common in aristocratic families."

Meng Jingzhou wasn't worried that Yun Zhi was a demon or ghost. This was the Profound Heaven Sect's territory; what demon would be tired of living and dare to come to the Profound Heaven Sect to cause trouble?

"Miss Yun Zhi, are you here to participate in the Profound Heaven Sect's test?"

"Indeed."

Meng Jingzhou said diligently: "I happen to have the content of the Profound Heaven Sect's test here. I spent a lot of money to buy it from a Profound Heaven Sect elder. Would Miss Yun Zhi like to hear it?"

Lu Yang looked at Meng Jingzhou in surprise. Why hadn't he told him?

Yun Zhi was even more surprised than Lu Yang: "This is cheating. What if the Profound Heaven Sect finds out..."

Meng Jingzhou waved his hand, looking confident: "My carriage is an exotic treasure. Even those cultivation behemoths and reclusive old monsters cannot use their spiritual sense to probe inside."

"So that's how it is. Please inform me of the test content, Young Master Meng."

Hearing this, Lu Yang also pricked up his ears to listen.

Meng Jingzhou cleared his throat: "The Profound Heaven Sect test is divided into three stages. The first stage is testing spiritual roots. This is a hard test; there is no possibility of taking shortcuts. The room for operation is in the second and third stages."

"The second stage tests character. A carriage is out of control and about to hit five people lying on the side of the road. If hit, they will surely die. There is another person lying not far away. As outsiders, we can control the direction of the out-of-control carriage. Do we choose to ignore it and let the five people be hit, or change direction and hit the other person?"

Lu Yang didn't hesitate: "Hit the other person."

Meng Jingzhou was very surprised. Ever since he learned the content of the second stage, he hadn't thought of a solution. How could Lu Yang make a decision immediately?

Choosing to ignore it meant watching five people be hit to death; it was hard to justify morally and hard to accept emotionally.

Choosing to change direction and hit the other person meant that person was just unlucky and deserved to be hit, and it was also your own handiwork.

Meng Jingzhou voiced his doubts, and Lu Yang explained: "Where would you have so much time to think? By the time you think of a result, those five people would have long been hit. I guess the Profound Heaven Sect isn't testing whether you choose to save five people or one, but whether you can make a decision quickly."

"I heard the storyteller say that in a cultivator's battle, a hair's breadth is the difference between life and death. What is the character tested in the second stage? It's to see if you are indecisive or decisive. Making a decision in the shortest time is what's most important."

Meng Jingzhou suddenly understood.

"The third stage tests honesty. The Profound Heaven Sect has a mirror that can judge whether you are telling the truth or a lie. If you are found to be lying, you are kicked out of the test directly."

Lu Yang pondered: "This stage is simple. If there's no prior warning, it's easy to lie to cover yourself, but since we know in advance, just tell the truth."

Meng Jingzhou nodded; he thought the same.

The two discussed for a while, proposing many possible accidents and countermeasures, and after totaling them up, they felt it was seamless.

Miss Yun Zhi revealed a hint of a smile, as if she thought the two had a good method.

"Many thanks to Young Hero Lu for telling me."

"Hmm, did the rain stop?" Lu Yang discovered that the sound of raindrops falling outside had ceased and couldn't help but curiously peek outside.

The place they had just passed was still experiencing a torrential downpour, while the place they were in was sunny, with birds singing and flowers fragrant, as if a peerless sword energy had split the world into two halves of yin and yang, never to intersect.

Lu Yang looked up and saw countless exotic beasts and immortal treasures rushing toward the towering mountain that reached the sky.

The towering mountain was plated with a layer of pale gold by the sunlight, and magnificent patterns spread out from behind the mountain, covering the sky and blocking the heavy rain.

That was the Profound Heaven Sect's gateway mountain, and above it was the sect-protecting array, which no one could break.

Out of respect for the Profound Heaven Sect, the cultivation geniuses, led by their elders, landed at the foot of the mountain, waiting for the Profound Heaven Sect to open the test.

The old horse was already a quite rare exotic beast, but compared to the divine and handsome exotic beasts resting at the foot of the mountain, it was still a bit lacking.

"Mom, this is much more imposing than our Meng family's mansion." Meng Jingzhou rubbed his hands, feeling a bit nervous. Thinking that he would soon pass the test and become a member of the Profound Heaven Sect, he felt even more excited.

Lu Yang didn't speak. When he was at home, he could see this mountain, but at that time, it was too far away, and he didn't feel much. Standing at the foot of the mountain, he realized what kind of behemoth this was.

He was a bit nervous. He had ways for the second and third stages, but he still didn't know what his spiritual root was. Perhaps he wouldn't even pass the first test.

Dozens of cultivators stood in the air, guarding in front of the mountain, all emitting powerful fluctuations of aura. Lu Yang suspected that if they fully released their aura, there wouldn't be many people left standing on the scene.

These cultivators were silent, giving people psychological pressure for no reason.

Lu Yang heard a family elder introducing to a junior: "Look at the style of the Daoist robe. These are core disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect, all apprenticed under various elders. In the future, these people will be your fellow disciples."

"You don't need to be nervous. They aren't intentionally putting pressure on you. It looks like they are waiting for the person presiding over this test. Once the presiding person arrives, the test should begin."

Lu Yang turned his head, wanting to see Miss Yun Zhi's reaction—was she excited or nervous?

She couldn't still be looking indifferent, could she?

"Miss Yun Zhi, you..."

Just as Lu Yang wanted to say something, he saw Miss Yun Zhi take a light step. Before each step landed, a white lotus would lift her delicate body.

The crowd was in an uproar. The family elders broke out in cold sweat and hurriedly told their juniors to be silent.

The white lotuses paved a road, spanning across the crowd. Miss Yun Zhi arrived among the core disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect. The Profound Heaven Sect disciples bowed to her to show respect. Miss Yun Zhi raised her plain hand slightly, then faced the crowd and pursed her lips in a smile.

"Sorry to have kept everyone waiting. I am the Profound Heaven Sect's Senior Sister, the presiding officer for this test."

"I announce that the test officially begins."

After saying this, Miss Yun Zhi still cast a glance at the stunned Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

She was indeed here to participate in the Profound Heaven Sect's test, but she wasn't an examinee; she was the examiner. ===== CHAPTER 2 =====