Lunar February 2nd, suitable for traveling.

 

The rain was pouring down, splashing the fragrant soil on the ground, creating ripples on the lake, and causing low curses from passersby when it fell on their heads.

 

"Whoever said it was suitable for traveling today, it's raining as soon as I step out." Lu Yang complained, regretting not bringing his raincoat.

 

It was his first time traveling far from home, and he had no experience. The sudden rain drenched him, and his shoes were covered in mud. Walking felt like the ground was against him – he had to pull his feet out of the mud.

 

A clattering sound came from behind, catching Lu Yang's attention.

 

He turned his head and saw a carriage approaching him. There was no coachman on the carriage, and the old horse seemed to know the way and didn't need anyone to drive it.

 

"What a mystical horse." Lu Yang exclaimed. The old horse had a few scales on its forehead, like snake scales, indicating that it was some kind of exotic monster.

 

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

 

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

 

"Brother, you're strolling in the rain. Why don't you take a seat in my carriage?" A man's hearty laughter came from inside the carriage.

 

Lu Yang accepted the man's kindness and pulled his feet out of the mud, quickly boarding the carriage.

 

"Thank you. I'm Lu Yang." Lu Yang cautiously sat in the carriage, afraid of getting it dirty with rainwater and mud.

 

"I'm Meng Jingzhou." The owner of the carriage had the same voice as his laughter. He was a carefree young man, optimistic and cheerful, who could talk to anyone.

 

"Brother Lu, are you also here to participate in the selection of Seek Tao Sect?"

 

"Just testing my luck."

 

Meng Jingzhou laughed heartily. "Brother Lu, there's no need to be dishonest. If you're really just testing your luck, you wouldn't have strolled in the rain to Seek Tao Sect."

 

Lu Yang felt a little ashamed. "Who doesn't want to enter Seek Tao Sect?"

 

Seek Tao Sect was one of the five major immortal gates in Central Continent, with countless powerful immortals. Today, Seek Tao Sect was recruiting disciples, and no one knew how many people wanted to try their luck.

 

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were two of them.

 

Lu Yang had crossed over to Central Continent. His parents died early, and he survived on the inheritance they left behind and the help of his neighbors.

 

During his more than ten years of living in the small town, he had heard the teacher talk about immortal swords knocking on the Heavenly Gate, heard about river monsters turning over five hundred miles away, and heard about immortal disciples flying swords to slay demons, guarding against evil and promoting righteousness. He had also seen a scruffy Taoist cheat, rise into the air, and escape from prison in public, only to be caught again by the officials who also flew into the air.

 

At that time, he knew that this was not the world he was familiar with, nor was it any dynasty he knew. This was a world of immortal cultivation where people gathered great power to become immortals.

 

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

 

Seek Tao Sect was his first choice.

 

There was no other reason for choosing Seek Tao Sect, it was simply because there were no other sects around his home, only Seek Tao Sect.

 

If Seek Tao Sect was here, other sects wouldn't dare to set up nearby.In the conversation, Lu Yang learned that Meng Jingzhou came from a family of cultivators and had a much better grasp of cultivation knowledge than Lu Yang.

 

"The requirement for Seek Tao Sect to recruit disciples is that they must be under sixteen years old, and not only Seek Tao Sect, but also most sects have such requirements."

 

"The path of cultivation is long and difficult, with Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Elixir, Elemental Infant, Divine Transformation, Void Refinement, Body Fusion, and Tribulation Crossing. Each realm is a watershed, and I don't know how many people have been stuck. One in ten, one in twenty, or even one in a hundred will succeed."

 

"There are many factors that determine the success of cultivation, such as luck, wisdom, and spiritual roots… By the way, Brother Lu, do you know what your spiritual root is?"

 

"Although Seek Tao Sect does not require high spiritual roots, they do not want those with too poor spiritual roots."

 

Lu Yang frowned. He only learned about the term spiritual root from storytellers and did not know what his own spiritual root was.

 

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

 

Meng Jingzhou's face became very puzzled, and he shook his head: "I have been tested for spiritual roots in my clan, but the elders looked worried and did not tell me the result. They only said that my talent was amazing and that it would not be a problem to join the five major immortal sects. I will know when I join them in the future. I secretly asked my parents, and they were even more worried and didn't tell me either."

 

Lu Yang speculated, "It may be that your spiritual root is too amazing and can easily bring disaster to the Meng family. Only a behemoth like Seek Tao Sect can protect you."

 

"Just like what I guessed." Meng Jingzhou patted Lu Yang's shoulder, looking like he had met a kindred spirit. The more he looked at Lu Yang, the more he felt that this person was also talented and a natural cultivator.

 

Lu Yang listened to the increasingly heavy rain outside and was grateful that Meng Jingzhou had let him get on the carriage.

 

"Stop." Meng Jingzhou suddenly shouted, and the old horse stopped after a few steps.

 

The carriage was a treasure, and Meng Jingzhou could see what was happening outside.

 

Meng Jingzhou saw a woman walking in the rain in the same direction as Lu Yang just now.

 

"This sister is walking in this direction, presumably also going to participate in the Seek Tao Sect's test. Since it's raining so heavily, why not rest on the carriage?"

 

The woman was a little surprised by Meng Jingzhou's proposal, but after thinking about it, she agreed.

 

When the woman got on the carriage, Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang were stunned.

 

Meng Jingzhou considered himself well-traveled, but had never seen such a beautiful woman before. As for Lu Yang, he didn't even need to mention it. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen was the widow next door who sold tofu.

 

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

 

The woman was like a beautiful lotus, dressed in white, standing tall and straight, with bright eyes and white teeth, giving people a feeling of being in another world.

 

The woman's right wrist was also adorned with a string of golden bells.

 

"Thank you both,my name is Yun Zhi." the woman said in a voice like a clear spring, which was very pleasant to listen to.

 

Lu Yang noticed something strange and whispered, "Brother Meng, why is she dry? Could she be a monster?"In storytelling, monsters often transform into beautiful women to seduce young men like them.

 

Lu Yang was soaked like a drowned rat, while Yun Zhi had no rain on her body, as if she hadn't walked in the rain at all.

 

Meng Jingzhou didn't think much of it. "Maybe she has a rare treasure that can avoid the rain. It's common in aristocratic families."

 

Meng Jingzhou wasn't worried that Yun Zhi was a demon or monster. This was the territory of Seek Tao Sect. Which monster would dare to cause trouble here?

 

"Miss Yun Zhi, are you here to participate in the Seek Tao Sect test?"

 

"Yes."

 

Meng Jingzhou said eagerly, "I happen to have the contents of the Seek Tao Sect test. I bought it from the elders of Seek Tao Sect at a high price. Would Miss Yun Zhi like to hear it?"

 

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

 

Yun Zhi was even more surprised. "This is cheating. What if Seek Tao Sect finds out…"

 

Meng Jingzhou waved his hand confidently. "This carriage is a rare treasure. Even those powerful cultivators and reclusive old monsters can't detect us with their divine senses."

 

"I see. Please tell us the contents of the test, Childe Meng."

 

Lu Yang also perked up his ears to listen.

 

Meng Jingzhou cleared his throat. "The Seek Tao Sect test consists of three levels. The first level tests your spiritual root. It's a mandatory test with no shortcuts. The second and third levels have some room for maneuver."

 

"The second level tests your character. A carriage is out of control and will hit five people lying on the road. They will die if hit. There is also one person lying not far away. As outsiders, we can control the direction of the carriage. Do we choose to ignore it and kill the five people, or change direction and kill the other person?"

 

Lu Yang didn't hesitate. "Kill the other person."

 

Meng Jingzhou was very surprised. Since he learned about the contents of the second level, he had not thought of a solution. How could Lu Yang make a decision so quickly?

 

Choosing to ignore it means watching five people die in front of your eyes. It's morally unacceptable.

 

Choosing to change direction and kill one person means that this person is unlucky and deserves to die, and you are the one who caused it.

 

Lu Yang explained, "There's no time to think. If you take too long, the five people will be dead. I guess the Seek Tao Sect test is not about whether you choose to save five people or one person, but whether you can make a quick decision."

 

"I heard from the storyteller that the difference between life and death in a cultivator's battle is often just a hair's breadth. The character test in the second level is about whether you are indecisive or decisive. Making a decision in the shortest time possible is the most important thing."

 

Meng Jingzhou suddenly realized.

 

"The third level tests honesty. Seek Tao Sect has a mirror that can judge whether you are telling the truth or lying. If you're caught lying, you'll be kicked out of the test."Lu Yang pondered, "This level is actually quite simple. If there was no prior warning, it would be easy to lie to cover oneself up. But since we know in advance, it's better to tell the truth."

 

Meng Jingzhou nodded, thinking the same thing.

 

The two of them discussed for a while, proposing many possible scenarios and countermeasures. After considering everything, they felt it was seamless.

 

Yun Zhi smiled slightly, as if she thought the two of them had come up with a good plan.

 

"Thank you, Young Master Lu," she said.

 

"Hmm, has the rain stopped?" Lu Yang noticed that there was no longer the sound of raindrops hitting the ground outside the car and couldn't help but look outside curiously.

 

The place they had just passed was still pouring with heavy rain, but where they were, the sun was shining, and it was like a peerless sword qi had split the world into two halves that would never intersect.

 

Lu Yang looked up and saw countless exotic beasts and immortal treasures rushing towards the towering mountains that led straight to the sky.

 

The majestic mountains were coated with a layer of light gold by the sunlight, and the gorgeous patterns spread out from behind the mountains, covering the sky and blocking the heavy rain.

 

That was the entrance to the Seek Tao Sect, guarded by a protective array that no one could break.

 

Out of respect for the Seek Tao Sect, the talented cultivators landed at the foot of the mountain with their own elders, waiting for the sect's test to begin.

 

The old horse was already a rare and unusual demonic beast, but compared to the godly and handsome beasts that rested at the foot of the mountain, it was still inferior.

 

"Wow, this is much more imposing than our Meng family's mansion." Meng Jingzhou rubbed his hands together, feeling nervous. He thought that he would soon be able to pass the test and become a member of the Seek Tao Sect, and he was more excited than anything.

 

Lu Yang didn't say anything. He could see this mountain from his home, but it was too far away to feel anything. Standing at the foot of the mountain, he realized what a huge thing it was.

 

He was a little nervous. He had a way to pass the second and third levels, but he still didn't know what his spiritual root was. He might not even be able to pass the first test.

 

Dozens of cultivators stood in the air, guarding the mountain, emitting a strong aura. Lu Yang suspected that if they released their aura completely, there would be only a few people who could stand there.

 

These cultivators remained silent, giving people an inexplicable psychological pressure.

 

Lu Yang heard a family elder introducing their juniors, "Look at their Taoist robes. These are the core disciples of the Seek Tao Sect, all disciples of the elders. They will be your senior brothers and sisters in the future."

 

"Don't be nervous. They're not intentionally putting pressure on you. It looks like they're waiting for the person in charge of this test. Once the person in charge arrives, the test should begin."

 

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

 

She couldn't still be indifferent, right?

 

"Miss Yun Zhi, you…" Lu Yang was about to say something when he saw Yun Zhi taking light steps. Before each step landed, a white lotus would lift her delicate body.

 

Everyone was amazed, and the family elders' foreheads broke out in cold sweat, quickly telling their juniors to keep quiet.Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou stood there, stunned, as Yun Zhi walked gracefully on the path made of white lotus flowers. The core disciples of Seek Tao Sect all bowed respectfully to her. Yun Zhi lifted her hand and smiled lightly as she faced everyone.

 

"Sorry to keep you all waiting. I am the senior sister of Seek Tao Sect and the host of this test."

 

"I now announce that the test has officially begun."

 

Yun Zhi glanced at Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, who were still in a daze, with a smile that seemed to hide something. She was indeed here to participate in the test of Seek Tao Sect, but not as a candidate, but as an examiner.