Sect's trail

Lui Ningyue, a sixteen-year-old mortal born into the Lui family who ran a small money-lending business, was a breathtaking young woman with countless suitors.

Despite this, she was indifferent to worldly affairs, her heart set on cultivating the path of immortality in seclusion.

She possessed a fragmented immortal body that appeared only once in an era.

Her fragmented immort body even surpassed the combined power of Fang Qi's pure yang spiritual root and Lu Feng's dual healing sword spiritual root.

Aware of her exceptional spiritual root from a young age, Lui Ningyue kept her abilities hidden, trusting no one until she found a powerful backer, to avoid calmlity should the news of her become public. She chose the White Moon sect for its powerful background.

Senior Meng Bu, a cultivator stuck in the Void realm, dared not act superior in her presence.

His gaze fell upon the dust that was once the spiritual testing stone, his heart ached since such artifacts have an exorbitant price. 

As the person in charge of conducting the test, the price of the testing stone must be paid by him...

His heart ached for the stone, but he dared not complain. Offending a future immortal over a single testing stone was unthinkable.

"Lui Ningyue," a voice called out from behind, startling both her and Senior Meng Bu.

They turned to see Yun Yue, her arrival unnoticed.

"This junior greets Acting Sect master," Lui Ningyue bowed.

"There's no need for you to participate in the upcoming test. It's a blessing for the White Moon Sect to have you."

She continued, "Follow me inside the sect, I will gather our peak masters so you can choose one of them as your master."

Lui Ningyue hesitated, contemplating the offer.

"Don't worry," Yun Yue assured her. "If you don't find them compatible, you can also cultivate in seclusion."

"Disciple agrees," Lui Ningyue readily agreed, fearing Yun Yue might reconsider her offer.

As someone who doesn't like socializing much, it was a heaven-sent gift for Lui Ningyue. 

Senior Meng Bu watched as Yun Yue and Lui Ningyue left the testing ground, his heart still aching with the burden of testing stone price...

He sighed. He has to continue the examination.

"Those who failed must leave the sect. As for those who passed, gather around. I will take you to the second testing area." said Senior Meng Bu, addressing the crowd gathered below the stage.

Lu Feng, initially stunned and angered by his system, was now overflowing with joy.

He was fifteen years old! This meant he could begin cultivating earlier than his peers—a privilege others could only dream of.

Being under fifteen also meant he was still a child, something that attracted the affection of mature women and the protective instincts of his senior sisters.

Lu Feng was more eager than anyone to pass the trials and become a disciple. He yearned to start his new life journey with the voluptuous senior sisters, a dream he cherished deeply.

Senior Meng Bu, leading the way, guided them towards the next testing area, shrouded in fog.

As the mist cleared, a vast, empty expanse was revealed. The area was as barren as a desert, devoid of any life.

However, there were some spiritual stones laid in distinct patterns.

Meng Bu said, "This is the sect's spiritual formation. Once you enter inside, you will be alone and you will lose control of both your mind and body. Your mind will be affected by an illusion where lies the second trial of our sect."

His chest swelled with a sense of accomplishment. He, after all, was the architect of this illusion formation, capable of trapping those who entered and forcing them to confront the memories he had carefully crafted.

"This test will judge the very core of your character. The choices you make within this illusion will be a true reflection of who you are. It is a test of the utmost cruelty." He said in a menacing tone

He paused, allowing his words to sink in before adding, "Those who feel unprepared, leave now!"

Lu Feng: "....."

Fang Qi: "..."

Ignoring the nervousness of those around him due to second test, Lu Feng strode toward Fang Qi.

Sensing Lu Feng's approach, Fang Qi attempted to slip away, but Lu Feng swiftly grabbed his arm. Fang Qi struggled, but Lu Feng's grip was firm.

Lu Feng asked him with a smile that wasn't a smile, "So where's the second test we discussed with the sect masters?"

Fang Qi, trembling with fear, dared not answer. He had dragged Lu Feng into this mess and nearly gotten them both banished from the White Moon sect.

"Lu Feng, believe me!" Fang Qi pleaded. "They must have changed the test at the last minute!"

Lu Feng, though skeptical, didn't believe Fang Qi was lying about buying the exam questions.

"Forget it," Lu Feng sighed, "we'll see when we get inside."

Disregarding the ominous warnings of Senior Meng Bu, Fang Qi, Lu Feng, and others stepped into the spirit stone formation. 

The illusion array activated, a blinding flash momentarily disorienting them. When Lu Feng regained his senses, he found himself in the middle of a wooden suspension bridge spanning over a bottemless chasm.

He was clad in heavy warrior armor, a massive sword capable of cleaving a man in two gripped in his hand. However, his body was ravaged by wounds, it seemed today was his last day.

The sky blazed with an unnatural crimson hue, punctuated by chilling screams and wails echoing through the air.

Three or four monstrous beasts, their eyes glowing with malevolent red light and their skin scarred and vicious, stalked across the bridge, their advance halted by Lu Feng's imposing warrior presence.

On the other side of the bridge, a woman of exquisite beauty, her face marred by signs of injury, stood with two or three attendants who seemed to be her maids.

She cradled a young child in her arms, attempting to soothe him with gentle words.

She remained unshaken even as the beasts drew closer. The maids, however, wept uncontrollably, their fate sealed once the beasts crossed the bridge.

Lu Feng in the illusion was too weak to confront the monstrous beasts. He faced a choice: fight and risk certain death, or flee while he still had the chance.

Outside the illusory formation, Senior Meng Bu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, surrounded by disciples responsible for overseeing the examination.

"Senior Brother Meng Bu," a female disciple asked, "has anyone ever cleared your illusion test?"

"Hmph," Meng Bu snorted, "this test can only be cleared if you defeat those beasts and ensure the lady and her maids survive!"

"But this test cannot be cleared," he added plainly.

The female disciple, new to the examination, looked perplexed. "Then it's made to fail everyone?" she asked.

Meng Bu chuckled. "No, within the illusion, if you stand your ground and fight those beasts, you are considered to have passed. If you run away, you fail."

"Has anyone ever defeated those beasts and saved the lady?" the disciple pressed.

"No," Meng Bu said definitively, "even those cultivators in the tribulations s realm might not pass my illusion test!"

The moment he said that, they saw Lu Feng, a boy mere 15 years old, walk out of the illusion formation. He looked around and found nobody, making him believe he was the first one to clear!

A female disciple turned to Meng Bu, questioning, "That boy who came out, did he fail the test?"

Meng Bu's face was as dark as coal, with clenched teeth he replied, "He cleared my illusion test."

Unwilling to accept defeat, Meng Bu retrieved a spiritual item resembling large glass beads.

"Let's see how that boy managed to clear my test!" he said with gritted teeth.

The glass bead displayed Lu Feng's actions within the illusion.

They watched as Lu Feng, weakened and fighting exhaustion, faced those beasts. As they drew closer, they seemed to be tempted by the 'fresh meat' on the other side of the bridge.

Behind Lu Feng, on the other end of the wooden bridge, a beautiful woman lay injured, her eyes empty and lifeless.

Despite her state, Lu Feng smiled at her and then strode towards the beasts. Enraged by his actions, they charged.

Lu Feng gripped his sword tightly, summoning his last ounce of strength. With a powerful strike, he severed the rope holding the wooden suspension bridge, causing it to collapse.

Lu Feng and the beasts plunged into the bottomless chasm, his sword still in hand. The woman, her child, and the maids, however, survived the ordeal within the illusion.

Senior Meng Bu: "....."

The discple watching from behind: "....."

The actions in this illusion reflected once true character!

A newfound interest sparked in the eyes of the female disciple as she gazed at Lu Feng, longing for his friendship. 

Her desire was not unique, many of the other female disciples harbored similar sentiments.

Senior Meng Bu, his shoulders slumped in defeat. He approached Lu Feng.

The sight of Lu Feng's patched brown rag robe only amplified his distress. "This child has suffered too much," Meng Bu mused.

"You cast aside your life as if it were nothing. Tell me, boy, how did you do it?" Meng Bu asked. He could never do what Lu Feng did in the illusion test.

Lu Feng met his gaze, his mind flooded with vivid memories of his past life of carrying his teammates in intense 5v5 moba. They were memories that even reincarnation couldn't erase.

Lu Feng, a legendary support player in his former life, had witnessed countless sacrifices. Throwing himself into danger to enable his teammate's escape from enemy ganks was nothing new.

He looked at senior Meng Bu and the disciples behind him, wanting to explain, and share his understanding. But he shook his head and walked away.

"Forget it," he thought. "They'll never understand playing support on challenger rank with randoms."