Today Was Auspicious for Travel, but Not for Cheating

The second day of the second lunar month was auspicious for travel.

Moderate rain came pouring down, splashing onto the ground and stirring up the fragrance of mud, rippling across the lake, and landing on pedestrians' heads to provoke low curses.

"Who said today was auspicious for travel? It started raining the moment I left." Lu Yang complained, regretting that he had not brought a straw rain cape in advance.

This was his first time traveling far from home, and he had no experience. The rain had come suddenly, drenching him from head to toe. His shoes were caked in mud, and every step made him feel the ground's malice toward him—he had to pull his foot out of the mud pit.

The clopping of hooves came from behind, drawing Lu Yang's attention.

Lu Yang turned his head and saw a carriage approaching him. There was no coachman on it. The old horse seemed to know the road and needed no one to drive it.

"What a marvelous horse." Lu Yang marveled. Several scales covered the old horse's forehead, resembling snake scales. It was clearly some kind of strange demon beast.

Although he did not understand its true value, he knew that this old horse was precious.

At the very least, he could not afford it with his finances.

"This brother is taking a stroll in the rain. What wonderful elegance. Why not come sit in the carriage?"

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

"Sorry for the trouble. My name is Lu Yang." Lu Yang carefully sat down inside the carriage, afraid that the rainwater and mud on him would dirty it.

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

"Is Brother Lu also here to participate in the Ask Dao Sect's selection?"

"I just came to try my luck."

Meng Jingzhou laughed heartily. "Brother Lu, why not be a little more honest? If you really only wanted to try your luck, you wouldn't be walking through the rain to the Ask Dao Sect."

Lu Yang felt a little ashamed. "Who wouldn't want to enter the Ask Dao Sect?"

The Ask Dao Sect ranked among the Five Great Immortal Sects of the Central Continent. It possessed countless mighty cultivators and was immensely powerful. Today, the Ask Dao Sect was recruiting disciples, and who knew 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 young, and he had survived on the small inheritance they left behind, along with aid from his neighbors.

During the more than ten years he lived in the small town, he had heard storytellers speak of immortals knocking on the gates of heaven with swords, of a river demon overturning itself five hundred li away and causing a flood, and of disciples of immortal sects flying on swords to slay demons and uphold justice. He had seen a slovenly Daoist swindle and cheat before rising into the air, escaping from prison in full view of the crowd, only to be seized and brought back by officials who also rose into the air.

That was when he realized that this was not the world he knew, nor any dynasty familiar to him. This was a cultivation world where personal might was gathered into a single person.

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

The Ask Dao Sect was his first destination.

There was no other reason he chose the Ask Dao Sect. It was simply because there were no other sects around his home—only the Ask Dao Sect.

With the Ask Dao Sect here, other sects would not bring shame upon themselves by choosing to establish their sects nearby.

Through their conversation, Lu Yang learned that Meng Jingzhou came from an Aristocratic Clan and knew far more about cultivation than Lu Yang did.

"The Ask Dao Sect requires its disciples to be mortals under sixteen years old. It isn't just the Ask Dao Sect; most sects have the same requirement."

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

"Many factors determine one's achievements in cultivation, such as luck, wisdom, spiritual roots... Oh, right, Brother Lu, do you know what kind of spiritual root you have?"

"Although the Ask Dao Sect doesn't demand much of one's spiritual roots, it still won't accept roots that are too poor."

Lu Yang frowned. He had only learned the term "spiritual root" from the storyteller and had no idea what kind he possessed.

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

Meng Jingzhou's expression became deeply perplexed, and he shook his head as well. "I was tested for spiritual roots in my clan, but the clan elder wore a sorrowful expression and refused to tell me the result. He only said that my talent was astonishing enough to shock the heavens and that entering one of the Five Great Immortal Sects would be no problem. He said I would know once I entered one of them. I secretly asked my parents afterward, but they were even more worried than the clan elder and likewise refused to tell me."

Lu Yang speculated, "It may be that your spiritual root is too astonishing and could easily bring disaster upon the Meng Clan. Only a colossus like the Ask Dao Sect could protect you."

"That was exactly what I guessed." Meng Jingzhou patted Lu Yang on the shoulder, looking as if he had met a kindred spirit. The more he looked at Lu Yang, the more he felt that this man was as brilliantly talented as himself—a natural seed of the Dao.

Hearing the rain grow heavier outside, Lu Yang felt fortunate that Meng Jingzhou had let him into the carriage.

"Stop." Meng Jingzhou suddenly shouted. The old horse clopped a few steps before slowly coming to a halt.

The carriage was considered a strange treasure, allowing Meng Jingzhou to see what was happening outside.

Meng Jingzhou saw a woman walking through the rain outside the carriage, just as Lu Yang had been moments ago.

"This sister is heading in this direction, so I imagine she is also going to the Ask Dao Sect to take its trial. The rain is coming down so heavily. Why not come up and rest your feet?"

The woman was somewhat surprised by Meng Jingzhou's offer. After thinking it over, she agreed.

The moment the woman entered the carriage, Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang both froze.

Meng Jingzhou considered himself well-traveled, but he had never seen such a beautiful woman. Lu Yang was even less worth mentioning; the most beautiful woman he had ever seen was the young widow who sold tofu next door.

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

The woman was like a lotus flower both bewitching and unsullied. Dressed in white, she stood tall and graceful, with bright eyes and pearly teeth, giving others the feeling that she had come from another lifetime.

A string of golden bells adorned the woman's right wrist.

"Yun Zhi thanks you both."

The woman's voice was like a clear spring, soothing to the ear.

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

Storytellers' tales often featured demons transforming into beautiful women to lure young, virile men like them.

Lu Yang had just been drenched like a drowned rat and looked utterly miserable. Yun Zhi, by contrast, did not have a trace of rainwater on her, utterly unlike someone who had walked through the rain.

Meng Jingzhou did not think much of it. "Perhaps she has a strange treasure that can ward off rain. That's fairly common among Aristocratic Clans."

Meng Jingzhou was not worried that Yun Zhi might be some demon, monster, specter, or evil spirit. This was the Ask Dao Sect's territory. What demon would be so desperate as to cause trouble at the Ask Dao Sect?

"Miss Yun Zhi, are you here to take the Ask Dao Sect's test?"

"Indeed."

Meng Jingzhou said eagerly, "I happen to have the contents of the Ask Dao Sect's trial here. I bought them from one of the Ask Dao Sect's elders at great expense. Would Miss Yun Zhi like to hear them?"

Lu Yang stared at Meng Jingzhou in surprise. How come you never told me?

Yun Zhi was even more surprised than Lu Yang. "Isn't that cheating? What if the Ask Dao Sect discovers it..."

Meng Jingzhou waved his hand with an air of confidence. "This carriage of mine is a strange treasure. Even those mighty cultivators and reclusive old monsters who never show themselves cannot probe inside with their divine senses."

"I see. Then please tell me the contents of the trial, Young Master Meng."

Hearing this, Lu Yang pricked up his ears and listened.

Meng Jingzhou cleared his throat. "The Ask Dao Sect's test is divided into three trials. The first tests spiritual roots. It is a rigid test, with no possibility of tricks or shortcuts. The second and third trials are where there is room for maneuver."

"The second trial tests character. A carriage has run out of control and is about to hit five people lying on the roadside. Being struck means certain death. Another person lies some distance away. As outsiders, we can control the direction in which the carriage runs out of control. Do we choose to ignore it and let it kill five people, or change its direction and kill the other person?"

Without hesitation, Lu Yang said, "Kill the other person."

Meng Jingzhou was extremely astonished. Ever since learning the contents of the second trial, he had never thought of a solution. How had Lu Yang immediately reached a decision?

If they chose not to interfere, they would have to watch helplessly as five people were killed. It might make sense in theory, but they could not get past it emotionally.

If they changed direction and killed the other person, then that person would be terribly unlucky, supposedly deserving to be run over—and they would have been the ones to act.

Meng Jingzhou voiced his doubts, and Lu Yang explained, "How much time would you really have to think? By the time you reached a decision, those five people would already have been killed. I suspect the Ask Dao Sect's trial isn't testing whether you choose to save five people or one. It's testing whether you can make a decision quickly."

"I heard a storyteller say that, when cultivators battle with magic, the slightest difference can mean life or death. What the second trial tests is character: whether you are indecisive or decisive. Making a decision in the shortest possible time is what matters most."

Meng Jingzhou suddenly understood.

"The third trial tests honesty. The Ask Dao Sect has a mirror that can determine whether what you say is true or false. If it discovers you have lied, you will be expelled from the trial immediately."

Lu Yang pondered. "This trial is simple. If you weren't warned in advance, it would be easy to lie to cover yourself. But since we know beforehand, all we have to do is tell the truth."

Meng Jingzhou nodded. That was what he thought as well.

The two discussed matters for a while, coming up with many possible accidents and countermeasures. After considering everything, they felt their plan was flawless.

Miss Yun Zhi revealed a faint smile, as if she thought the two had come up with a good plan.

"Thank you for telling me, Young Hero Lu."

"Hm, has the rain stopped?" Lu Yang noticed that the patter of raindrops hitting the ground outside had ceased and could not help peering out in curiosity.

The place they had just passed was still under torrential rain, while the area they occupied was bathed in bright sunlight, filled with birdsong and flowers. It was as though an unrivaled Sword Qi had divided the world into two halves, yin and yang, forever unable to meet.

Lu Yang looked up and saw countless rare beasts and immortal treasures heading toward the lofty mountain that reached straight into the heavens.

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

That was the Ask Dao Sect's gateway mountain. The Sect Protection Array stood atop it, impervious to all.

Out of respect for the Ask Dao Sect, the cultivation prodigies descended at the foot of the mountain under the guidance of their elders, waiting for the Ask Dao Sect to begin its trial.

The old horse was already a fairly rare strange demon beast, but compared with the divine and handsome beasts resting at the foot of the mountain, it still fell short.

"My goodness, this is far more imposing than the Meng Clan's residence." Meng Jingzhou rubbed his hands, somewhat nervous. Thinking that he would soon pass the trial and become a member of the Ask Dao Sect, he felt more excitement than anything else.

Lu Yang said nothing. He had been able to see this mountain from home, but it had been too far away for him to feel anything. Only after standing at its foot did he realize what a colossal existence it was.

He was somewhat nervous. He had solutions for the second and third trials, but even now he had no idea what kind of spiritual root he possessed. Perhaps he would not even pass the first trial.

Dozens of cultivators hovered in the air before the mountain, all radiating powerful fluctuations of aura. Lu Yang suspected that if they fully released their auras, hardly anyone present would remain standing.

The cultivators were silent, yet for no apparent reason they exerted tremendous psychological pressure.

Lu Yang heard a clan elder introducing them to his juniors. "Judging by the style of their Daoist robes, these are core disciples of the Ask Dao Sect. They have all taken the various elders as their masters. In the future, these people will be your senior and junior fellow disciples."

"You don't need to be nervous. They aren't deliberately pressuring you. It looks like they're waiting for the person presiding over this trial. Once the presiding examiner arrives, the trial should begin."

Lu Yang turned his head, wanting to see how Miss Yun Zhi was reacting—whether she was excited or nervous.

Surely she can't still look completely calm, right?

"Miss Yun Zhi, you..."

Lu Yang had just begun to speak when he saw Miss Yun Zhi take a light step. Before each foot descended, a white lotus rose to support her delicate body.

The crowd erupted in an uproar. Clan elders broke out in cold sweat and hurriedly ordered their juniors to keep silent.

A road of white lotuses stretched across the crowd. Miss Yun Zhi arrived among the Ask Dao Sect's core disciples, who bowed to her in unison to show their respect. Miss Yun Zhi gently raised her delicate hand, then faced the crowd and smiled with pursed lips.

"Sorry for the wait, everyone. I am the Ask Dao Sect's eldest senior sister and the presiding examiner for this trial."

"I hereby announce that the trial officially begins."

With that, Miss Yun Zhi still gave the stunned Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou a sidelong glance that was half a smile.

She truly had come to participate in the Ask Dao Sect's trial. It was just that she was not a candidate, but an examiner.