Playing a Game?

The Foundation Establishment stage Law Enforcement Hall disciple presiding over the match did not leave immediately after completing his task. He remained standing on the platform, and when Bai Lan looked over, he smiled and slowly nodded.

There had been a passage in the story: only after Long Aotian defeated opponent after opponent on the dueling platform did he finally earn the favor of the Law Enforcement Hall and receive the opportunity to join it.

The Azure Sect's most secretive organization, its disciples were all people of exceptional strength and outstanding combat prowess, the cream of the crop among cultivators of the same rank.

They hunted down traitors, Evil Cultivators, and remnants of demonic cultivators. Anyone marked by an Azure Sect kill order became a target of the Law Enforcement Hall disciples, who would pursue them to the ends of the earth without rest until one side died.

After Long Aotian joined the Law Enforcement Hall, he obtained quite a few opportunities.

But now...

Wait, had she stolen a plotline that belonged to Long Aotian?

Bai Lan could not help turning back to glance at Long Aotian. He was already being helped away by the lackeys at his side.

"What's wrong, Host? Could you have been injured in that battle just now?" Seeing Bai Lan remain silent for so long, the system could not help worrying.

Bai Lan shook her head. "Relax. I'm absurdly strong."

After reloading again and again, avoiding every injury, and figuring out her enemies' combat patterns, she had become so practiced that she could not possibly be any more practiced.

"It's just that I seem to have accidentally stolen a plotline that belonged to Long Aotian." Bai Lan told the system what had happened.

The system froze. "Huh? That can happen!?"

"Mhm."

"So, Host, are you planning to go see that person at the Law Enforcement Hall?" The system scratched its head. "It feels like the plot has gone wildly off course."

"Of course I am."

Holding a Spirit Stone in her hand, Bai Lan restored her spiritual power as she walked.

She really was interested in the Azure Sect's Law Enforcement Hall.

Who had not, during their edgy teenage phase, fantasized about joining a mysterious organization to vanquish demons and defend the righteous path?

The Azure Sect's Law Enforcement Hall was precisely such an existence—secretive and powerful.

Once one entered the immortal sect, whether one achieved immortality was a matter for later. Following one's heart and living free and joyful was the true path.

She wanted to grow stronger, because only strength allowed her to do whatever she pleased.

Therefore, the Law Enforcement Hall truly was a place well suited to her.

Following the man's directions, Bai Lan found the Azure Sect's Law Enforcement Hall from memory.

The building was solemn and imposing, with not a soul around. A small table and chair had been placed at the entrance, where a gatekeeping disciple was dozing off.

When Bai Lan approached, the disciple rubbed his bleary eyes and looked up.

"Hm? Are you here to turn yourself in, or to report someone? State your name first so I can register it."

Bai Lan said, "Uh, I... was taking a stroll?"

"Huh?" The gatekeeping disciple paused.

The two stared at each other wide-eyed for a long while before the gatekeeping disciple slapped the table. "Could it be that Junior Sister came to tease your Senior Brother here? Why would you come to the Law Enforcement Hall with nothing to do? You're interrupting my sleep."

Slacking off on the job, and doing so with utter confidence.

Just as the atmosphere turned awkward, a familiar voice rang out from within the hall.

"Hehe, this person is a guest I invited. Nephew-disciple, there is no need for formalities. Just come in directly. The Law Enforcement Hall does not have so many rules."

The Law Enforcement Hall? Not so many rules?

That sounded wildly unreliable.

Bai Lan twitched the corner of her mouth, but still nodded and entered the main hall.

The instant she stepped over the threshold, the doors behind her slammed shut with a bang, while the sound of massive stones shifting also arose ahead.

Bai Lan's expression sharpened. Something was wrong.

Better make a save first.

Although Long Aotian's process of joining the Law Enforcement Hall had only been described in one sentence in the plot summary, Bai Lan had not forgotten the word "test" in that sentence.

So this was the Law Enforcement Hall's test?

Sure enough, that man truly intended to have her join the Law Enforcement Hall.

But she was only at the third level of Qi Refinement!

"Nephew-disciple, there is no need to panic... Hm? Hahaha, you are quite calm." That voice had initially intended to comfort Bai Lan, but upon looking carefully, it discovered that her expression remained composed.

"Martial Uncle, the Law Enforcement Hall's greeting gift is certainly interesting. This disciple has always obeyed the rules within the sect and has never committed any offense. Are you planning to arrest me and throw me in prison?" Bai Lan smiled.

The stone formation before her was incredibly sturdy and could block divine sense. With her current cultivation, she feared she could not even leave a mark on those stones.

"Ah, those words are too serious, Nephew-disciple. We are merely playing a little game with you; it does not count as law enforcement." The voice spoke with a smile. "Try to find your way out of this maze. Once you emerge, Martial Uncle has a generous gift for you. You will not be treated unfairly."

"What if I can't get out?"

Without answering Bai Lan, the voice had already vanished, and no further response came from the surroundings.

Bai Lan's heart skipped a beat.

What an irresponsible Martial Uncle! Even when playing a game, he would not explain the rules clearly!

What if she starved to death in here? Who would take responsibility?

After a moment of silence.

Bai Lan pulled out a flatbread from her Storage Bag, rolled it up, then sat cross-legged on the spot and began munching on it.

She had fought Long Aotian all morning and was already starving badly.

"Hey, what are you doing? Did you come to the Law Enforcement Hall just to eat flatbread?"

After quite some time, seeing that Bai Lan was still sitting there chewing her flatbread, the vanished voice reappeared from above.

"So Martial Uncle is still here. My question for Martial Uncle was left unanswered just now, so I thought Martial Uncle had already abandoned me and left." Bai Lan swallowed the flatbread in her mouth and spoke unhurriedly.

Staying silent and pretending to be some lofty master, huh!

"Hmph. Focus on breaking the formation. If you pass through it, it will be your chance to enter the Law Enforcement Hall. If you cannot pass... your life naturally will not be in danger, but from then on, you will have no chance to enter the Law Enforcement Hall again."

"..."

Bai Lan's expression grew several degrees more serious.

This test was a one-shot deal? If she failed once, there would never be another chance?

How was someone at the third level of Qi Refinement supposed to get through? Or perhaps this stone formation did not test a cultivator's strength, but their temperament and comprehension?

Having formed a guess, Bai Lan stood up and secretly began communicating with the system.

"I'm guessing there's definitely an illusion formation inside."

"Huh? What's an illusion formation?"

"It's the kind of illusion that can confuse a person's mind... What were you doing while I was cramming books at the Library Pavilion?" Bai Lan narrowed her eyes at the puzzled system.

The system shrank its neck. "Slacking off."

The system had changed. The system that used to be passionate about completing missions had now started slacking off and being lazy too!

Was this the so-called three-minute enthusiasm?

"No slacking off next time. When I'm reading, you need to record the contents into your brain along with me." Bai Lan's tone was firm. "No lying flat."

"Got it, got it. I won't slack off again next time."

"You're an intelligent mechanical lifeform, so illusion formations should not affect you. If I get trapped in one later and can't escape, you'll be responsible for pulling me out." Bai Lan's tone was grave.

The rest was unimportant. She was somewhat worried that she might say something she should not while trapped in an illusion.

The system nodded earnestly. "Don't worry, Host! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

"Very good. I'll leave this matter to you."

With that said, Bai Lan took a deep breath and headed deeper into the stone formation.

She could not use her divine sense to scout ahead, nor could she shatter the stone walls before her.

Bai Lan could only rely on her intuition to walk toward the exit of the maze.

The stone formation stretched in layer upon layer, ring encircling ring. Bai Lan followed her intuition for the time it took an incense stick to burn, yet the scene before her remained unchanged.

It was like a road from which she could never escape.

No matter which path she took, she would eventually return to where she had started.