Chapter 1: Today is Suitable for Traveling, Not Suitable for Cheating

On the second day of the second lunar month, it was a good day for travel.

Moderate rain poured down noisily. Falling to the ground, it splashed up the smell of the soil. Falling onto the surface of the lake, it rippled in circles. Falling on the heads of passersby, it caused low curses.

"Who said it was good for travel today? As soon as I went out, it rained," Lu Yang complained, regretting that he hadn't brought a raincoat in advance.

It was his first time traveling far, and he was inexperienced. The sudden rain soaked him all over. His shoes were unbearably muddy, and walking felt like sensing the ground's malice towards him—he had to pull his feet out of the mud pit.

Clatter clatter clatter sounds came from behind, attracting Lu Yang's attention.

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

"What a magical horse," Lu Yang praised. There were several scales on the old horse's forehead, like snake scales, clearly indicating it was some kind of exotic beast.

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

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

"Brother, strolling in the rain is truly elegant. Why not come into the carriage and sit down?"

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

"Excuse me for the intrusion, I am Lu Yang," Lu Yang carefully sat into the carriage, afraid the rainwater and mud on his body would dirty it.

"Meng Jingzhou." The owner of the carriage had the same voice, a boisterous youth, optimistic and hearty, as if he could chat with anyone.

"Is Brother Lu also participating in the Wen Dao Zong selection?"

"Just trying my luck."

Meng Jingzhou laughed heartily: "Brother Lu, what's wrong with being honest? If you really just wanted to try your luck, you wouldn't be strolling in the rain to Wen Dao Zong."

Lu Yang felt a little ashamed: "Who wouldn't want to enter Wen Dao Zong?"

Wen Dao Zong, ranked among the five great immortal sects of the Central Continent, had countless powerful cultivators and was extremely prosperous. Today, Wen Dao Zong was recruiting disciples, and who knew how many people wanted to come and try.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were two of them.

Lu Yang had transmigrated to the Central Continent. His parents died early, and he lived on the small inheritance they left and the relief from neighbors.

Living in a small town for more than ten years, he had heard storytellers talk about immortals with swords knocking at the heavenly gate, heard about the turning over of the river demon five hundred li away causing floods, heard about disciples of immortal sects flying on swords to slay demons and exorcise evil, and seen a shabby Taoist swindle, kidnap, and deceive, then ascend into the air to publicly escape prison, only to be caught back by officials who also ascended into the air.

It was then that he realized this was not the world he was familiar with, not any dynasty he knew. This was a world of cultivation where individuals possessed great power.

He wanted to seek immortality and the Dao, and learn the methods of longevity.

Wen Dao Zong was the first place he chose.

There were no other reasons for choosing Wen Dao Zong; it was purely because there were no other sects around his home, only Wen Dao Zong.

In the area of Wen Dao Zong, other sects would not cause trouble and choose to establish themselves nearby.

During their conversation, Lu Yang learned that Meng Jingzhou came from a cultivating family and his knowledge of cultivation far surpassed Lu Yang's.

"The requirements for recruiting disciples at Wen Dao Zong are mortals under sixteen years old. Not just Wen Dao Zong, but most sects have this requirement."

"The path of cultivation is long and arduous. Practicing Qi, Building Foundation, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Transforming God, Refining Void, Combining Body, Crossing Tribulation—each realm is a watershed, and who knows how many people are stuck. Ten enter one, twenty enter one, even only one appears out of a hundred."

"There are many factors that determine cultivation achievements, such as luck, wisdom, spirit root... That's right, Brother Lu, do you know what spirit root you have?"

"Although Wen Dao Zong says the requirements for spirit root are not high, they don't want too poor a spirit root either."

Lu Yang frowned. He only knew the term 'spirit root' from the storyteller and didn't know what spirit root he had.

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

Meng Jingzhou's face became very puzzled and he also shook his head: "I once tested my spirit root in the clan, but the clan elder had a sorrowful face and didn't tell me the result, only saying my talent was shocking to heaven and people, and entering the five great immortal sects was not a problem. I would know after entering one of the five great immortal sects in the future. I secretly asked my parents privately, and they were even more sorrowful than the clan elder and also didn't tell me."

Lu Yang speculated: "Perhaps your spirit root is too world-shattering, and it's easy to bring disaster to the Meng family. Only a giant like Wen Dao Zong can protect you."

"Same as I guessed." Meng Jingzhou patted Lu Yang's shoulder, looking like he had found a kindred spirit. The more he looked at Lu Yang, the more he felt that this person was as talented as himself and was born to cultivate the Dao.

Lu Yang listened to the increasingly heavy rain outside, glad that Meng Jingzhou had let him into the carriage.

"Stop," Meng Jingzhou suddenly shouted. The old horse clip-clopped a few steps and slowly stopped.

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 the carriage, just like Lu Yang earlier.

"This sister is walking in this direction, presumably also going to Wen Dao Zong to participate in the test. With the rain falling this heavily, why not come into the carriage to rest your feet?"

The woman was a little surprised by Meng Jingzhou's suggestion. After thinking for a moment, she agreed.

As soon as the woman got into the carriage, Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang were both stunned.

Meng Jingzhou thought he had seen the world, but he had never seen such a beautiful woman. Lu Yang was even less experienced; the most beautiful woman he had seen was the young widow selling tofu next door.

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

The woman was like a charming but not vulgar lotus flower, dressed in white, standing gracefully with bright eyes and white teeth, giving people a feeling as if she belonged to another world.

On the woman's right wrist, she still wore a string of golden bells.

"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 unusual and softly said: "Brother Meng, why is her body dry? Could she be a monster?"

In the stories, monsters often transformed into beautiful women to tempt young, vigorous lads like them.

Earlier, Lu Yang was soaked like a drowned chicken, miserable and unbearable. In contrast, Yun Zhi had not a drop of rainwater on her body, completely unlike someone who had walked in the rain.

Meng Jingzhou didn't think much: "Perhaps she's carrying some exotic treasure that can ward off rain. This is common in some families."

Meng Jingzhou wasn't worried that Yun Zhi was a monster, ghost, or demon. This was the territory of Wen Dao Zong. What kind of monster would dare to come to Wen Dao Zong and cause trouble if they didn't want to die?

"Is Miss Yun Zhi here to participate in the Wen Dao Zong test?"

"Precisely."

Meng Jingzhou eagerly said: "I just happen to have the contents of the Wen Dao Zong test here. I bought them with a lot of gold from an elder of Wen Dao Zong. Miss Yun Zhi, would you like to hear it?"

Lu Yang looked at Meng Jingzhou in surprise, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Yun Zhi was even more surprised than Lu Yang: "Isn't this cheating? What if Wen Dao Zong finds out..."

Meng Jingzhou waved his hand, looking confident: "This carriage of mine is an exotic treasure. Even those powerful cultivators, hidden old monsters, can't probe here with their divine sense."

"So that's it. Please, Young Master Meng, tell us the test content."

Lu Yang perked up his ears to listen.

Meng Jingzhou cleared his throat: "The Wen Dao Zong test is divided into three stages. The first stage tests the spirit root. This is a hard requirement; there are no shortcuts or loopholes. The second and third stages are where there's room for maneuver."

"The second stage tests character. A runaway carriage is about to crash into five people lying on the road, who will certainly die if crashed. Another person is lying not far away. We, as bystanders, can control the direction of the runaway carriage. Do we choose not to intervene, letting the five people be crashed dead, or change direction and crash the other person dead?"

Lu Yang said without hesitation: "Crash the other person dead."

Meng Jingzhou was very surprised. Since he knew the content of the second stage, he had always been unable to think of a solution. How could Lu Yang make a decision immediately?

Choosing not to intervene and just watching five people be crashed dead might be acceptable in principle, but it felt wrong in his heart.

Choosing to change direction and crash the other person dead meant that person was just unlucky and deserved to be crashed dead, and he would be the one doing it.

Meng Jingzhou voiced his doubts, and Lu Yang explained: "Where do you have so much time to think? By the time you figure out the result, those five people would have long been crashed dead. I guess Wen Dao Zong is not testing whether you choose to save five people or one person, but to see if you can make a quick decision."

"I heard the storyteller say that in a cultivator's fight, a difference of a hair is life and death. What the second stage tests in character is whether you are hesitant or decisive. Making a decision in the shortest possible time is the most important thing."

Meng Jingzhou was suddenly enlightened.

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

Lu Yang thought: "This stage is simple. If there was no prior reminder, it would be easy to lie to cover yourself, but since we know in advance, it's better to tell the truth."

Meng Jingzhou nodded; he thought the same way.

The two of them discussed for a while, proposing quite a few possible accidents and countermeasures. They concluded it was flawless.

Miss Yun Zhi revealed a slight smile, as if she felt that what the two said was a good method.

"Many thanks, Young Hero Lu, for the information."

"Uh, the rain stopped?" Lu Yang noticed that there were no more dripping sounds of rain outside the carriage and couldn't help but peer outside.

The place where they had just been walking was still raining torrentially, while the place where they were located was bathed in bright sunlight, with birds singing and flowers fragrant, as if a peerless sword qi had divided the world into yin and yang, with no intersection.

Lu Yang looked up and saw countless rare beasts and immortal treasures rushing towards that majestic mountain that went straight up into the sky.

The majestic mountain was plated with a layer of light gold by the sunlight. Gorgeous patterns spread out from the mountain, covering the sky and blocking the heavy rain.

That was the portal mountain of Wen Dao Zong, and on it was the sect-protecting great array, which no one could break.

Out of respect for Wen Dao Zong, cultivation geniuses, led by their family elders, landed at the foot of the mountain, waiting for Wen Dao Zong to open the test.

The old horse was already a rare exotic beast, but compared to the divine and handsome exotic beasts stopping at the foot of the mountain, it was still somewhat inferior.

"Oh my, this is much more imposing than our Meng family's house," Meng Jingzhou rubbed his hands, a little nervous, thinking that he would soon pass the test and become a member of Wen Dao Zong. His heart was even more excited.

Lu Yang didn't speak. He could see this mountain from home, but the distance was too far then and he had no feeling. Standing at the foot of the mountain, he realized how colossal it was.

He was a little nervous. He had ways for the second and third stages, but he still didn't know what his spirit root was, and maybe he couldn't even pass the first stage.

Dozens of cultivators floated in the air, guarding the front of the mountain, all emitting powerful aura fluctuations. Lu Yang suspected that if they fully released their aura, no one on the scene could even stand.

These cultivators were silent, not speaking, which inexplicably put psychological pressure on people.

Lu Yang heard a family elder introducing to his descendants: "Look at the style of their robes, these are the core disciples of Wen Dao Zong, all apprenticed under various elders. These people will be your senior brothers later."

"You don't need to be nervous. They are not deliberately putting pressure on you. It seems they are waiting for the person who will host this test. When the host arrives, the test should begin."

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

She couldn't still have an indifferent expression, right?

"Miss Yun Zhi, you..."

Just as Lu Yang was about to say something, he saw Miss Yun Zhi take a light step, and before each step landed, a white lotus would support her delicate body.

The crowd was in an uproar. The foreheads of the family elders showed cold sweat, and they hastily told their descendants to be quiet.

White lotuses paved the road, spanning the crowd. Miss Yun Zhi came to the middle of the core disciples of Wen Dao Zong. The disciples of Wen Dao Zong bowed to her in respect. After Miss Yun Zhi lightly raised her hand, she faced the crowd and smiled.

"Sorry to have kept everyone waiting. I am Senior Sister Yun Zhi of Wen Dao Zong, the host of this test."

"I announce that the test officially begins."

Saying that, Miss Yun Zhi still glanced at the stunned Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou with a knowing smile.

She was indeed participating in the Wen Dao Zong test, only she was not a candidate, but an examiner.