Chapter 1 Good Day for Trips, not for Cheats

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Of course, Lu Yang was a righteous gentleman and harbored no improper thoughts toward the young widow.

The woman was like a bewitching yet unadorned lotus flower, clad in white, standing tall and graceful, with bright eyes and white teeth, giving off an otherworldly aura.

On her right wrist, she also wore a string of golden bells.

"Yun Zhi is grateful to you both," she said.

Her voice was clear and refreshing, pleasant to the ears.

Lu Yang noticed something odd and whispered, "Brother Meng, why is she dry? Could she be a monster?"

Stories often told of monsters transforming into beautiful women to seduce strapping young men like them.

Lu Yang himself was drenched like a drowned rat, a sorry sight, while Yun Zhi, on the other hand, did not have a drop of rain on her, nothing like someone who had walked through the rain.

Meng Jingzhou didn't think much of it, "Perhaps she carries a rare treasure that repels rain; such things are not uncommon among influential families."

Meng Jingzhou wasn't worried that Yun Zhi might be any sort of demon; after all, this was Seek Dao Sect's territory. What kind of monster would risk their life causing trouble in Seek Dao Sect's domain?

"Is Miss Yun Zhi here to participate in the Seek Dao Sect's tests?"

"Indeed."

Meng Jingzhou, eager to help, said, "I happen to have the content of the Seek Dao Sect's test, which I bought at a high price from an Elder of the Seek Dao Sect. Would you like to hear it, Miss Yun Zhi?"

Lu Yang looked at Meng Jingzhou in surprise, Why haven't you told me this before?

Yun Zhi was even more astonished, "But that would be cheating. What if Seek Dao Sect finds out..."

Meng Jingzhou waved his hand confidently, "This carriage is a rare treasure; even the Cultivators of Great Power who live in seclusion can't use their Spiritual Sense to detect anything here."

"I see, then please, Young Master Meng, inform me about the test's content."

Lu Yang perked his ears to listen as well.

Meng Jingzhou cleared his throat, "The Seek Dao Sect's test is divided into three parts. The first part tests the Spirit Root, which is a strict test without shortcuts or tricks. Opportunities to manipulate outcomes lie in the second and third parts."

"The second part tests one's character. Imagine a runaway carriage about to hit five people lying by the roadside—certain death upon impact. There's also another person lying not far away. As an outsider, we can control the direction of the runaway carriage. Do we choose to ignore it and let it hit the five people, or do we change the direction to hit the other person?"

Without a second thought, Lu Yang said, "Hit the other person."

Meng Jingzhou was stunned. Ever since he learned the content of the second part, he had not thought of a solution. How could Lu Yang make a decision so quickly?

To choose to ignore it would mean watching five people get killed, which might be justifiable but certainly not something one could live with.

To choose to change direction and kill another person seemed unfair; that one would just be unlucky to die, especially since it would be by your own hand.

Meng Jingzhou shared his doubts, and Lu Yang explained, "Where do you get the time to consider? By the time you've thought it through, those five people would be dead. I guess what Seek Dao Sect is testing is not whether you choose to save five people or one but whether you can make a quick decision."

"I've heard a storyteller say, 'In battles between Cultivators, a miss by an inch means life or death.' What the second part tests in terms of character is whether you waver indecisively or make resolute decisions. The most important thing is to make the quickest decision possible."

Meng Jingzhou suddenly saw the light.

"The third part tests honesty. Seek Dao Sect possesses a mirror that can determine whether you speak the truth or lies. If caught lying, you'll be kicked out of the test immediately."

Lu Yang pondered, "This part's a bit easier. If you're not forewarned, it's easy to lie to cover up, but now that we know in advance, just speaking the truth will suffice."

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Meng Jingzhou nodded, agreeing with the sentiment.

The two of them discussed for a while, raised many possible contingencies and countermeasures, and after deliberating, felt their plan was flawless.

Miss Yun Zhi revealed a hint of a smile, seemingly impressed by the soundness of their plans.

"Thank you, Young Hero Lu, for sharing."

"Hmm, has the rain stopped?" Lu Yang noticed that the pitter-patter of raindrops outside the carriage had ceased and, out of curiosity, peered outside.

The area they had just passed through was still experiencing a torrential downpour, whereas their current location was bathed in sunshine, with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, as if an unrivaled Sword Qi had divided the world into two halves of yin and yang, never to intersect.

Lu Yang looked up, only to see countless rare beasts and magic artifacts rushing towards the towering mountain that pierced the heavens.

The majestic mountain was coated in a layer of pale gold by the sunlight, with magnificent patterns spreading out from behind it, covering the sky and blocking the rain.

That was the Seek Dao Sect's gatekeeper mountain, and above it was the Sect Protection Array, impenetrable to all.

Out of respect for the Seek Dao Sect, cultivation prodigies, led by their elders, landed at the foot of the mountain, waiting for the Sect to initiate the trials.

Old Ma was already a rare mutated demon beast, but when compared to those exceptional beasts resting at the mountain's base, he fell short.

"Damn, this is way more imposing than our Meng Family's estate," Meng Jingzhou rubbed his hands together, a bit nervous, yet the thought of soon passing the trials and becoming a member of the Seek Dao Sect mostly filled him with excitement.

Lu Yang remained silent. He had been able to see this mountain from home, but at that great distance, it hadn't made much of an impression. Now, standing at its base, he truly grasped the enormity of the structure before him.

He was somewhat anxious; while they had plans for the second and third challenges, he still didn't know what his Spirit Root was. It was possible he might not even pass the first trial.

Dozens of cultivators stood suspended in the air, guarding in front of the mountain, each emitting powerful fluctuations of aura. Lu Yang suspected that if they fully released their auras, few in attendance would be able to remain standing.

These cultivators remained silent, exerting an inexplicable psychological pressure on the onlookers.

Lu Yang heard a family elder introducing to a younger generation, "Look at the style of their Dao robes; these are the core disciples of the Seek Dao Sect, all apprenticed under great elders. These will be your senior brothers and sisters."

"Don't be nervous; they're not trying to pressure you intentionally. It seems they're waiting for the person who will preside over this trial. Once the presider arrives, the trials will begin."

Lu Yang turned his head, curious to see Miss Yun Zhi's reaction, whether it was excitement or tension.

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

"Miss Yun Zhi, you..."

Just as Lu Yang was about to say something, he saw Miss Yun Zhi gracefully stepping forward, a white lotus rising to support her delicate frame before each step touched the ground.

The crowd was astounded. Sweat beaded on the foreheads of family elders, who hastily instructed their juniors to fall silent.

A path of white lotuses spread across the crowd, and Miss Yun Zhi walked amidst the core disciples of the Seek Dao Sect. The disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect bowed in respect, while Miss Yun Zhi lifted her delicate hand and then, facing the crowd, smiled faintly.

"Thank you for waiting. I am the Eldest Senior Sister of the Seek Dao Sect and the presider of this trial."

"I declare, the trials officially begin."

Having said that, Miss Yun Zhi, still with a smile that was not quite a smile, cast a glance at the stunned Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

Indeed, she had come for the Seek Dao Sect's trials—only, she was not a participant, but an examiner.