On the second day of the second lunar month, it was a good day for traveling. Rain poured down heavily, creating a fragrant smell as it hit the ground, sending ripples across the lake, and causing passersby to grumble as it dripped onto their heads.
"Who said today was good for traveling? It started raining the moment I stepped outside," Lu Yang complained, regretting not bringing a raincoat.
This was his first time traveling far, and he had no experience. The rain came suddenly, soaking him completely. His shoes were muddy, and he felt as if the ground was mocking him as he struggled to pull his feet out of the puddles.
The sound of hooves clattering behind him caught Lu Yang's attention. He turned to see a horse-drawn carriage approaching, with no driver in sight. The old horse seemed to know the way, moving without anyone to guide it.
"What a strange horse," Lu Yang marveled. The horse had scales on its forehead, resembling snake scales, clearly a rare beast.
Though he didn't understand its true value, he knew this old horse was precious. At least, he couldn't afford it with his current finances.
"Aren't you a brave one, walking in the rain? Why not come inside the carriage?" A cheerful voice came from within the carriage. Lu Yang accepted the invitation, quickly pulling his feet out of the mud and climbing aboard.
"Sorry for bothering you, I'm Lu Yang," he said cautiously as he settled into the carriage, trying not to dirty it with his wet clothes.
"I'm Meng Jingzhou," the owner of the carriage replied, his voice as lively as his demeanor. He seemed friendly and easy to talk to. "Are you also here for the selection at the Wendaozong?"
"Just trying my luck," Lu Yang replied.
Meng Jingzhou laughed heartily, "Come on, Lu Yang, there's no harm in being honest. If you were really just trying your luck, you wouldn't be out walking in the rain on your way to the Wendaozong."
Lu Yang felt a bit embarrassed. "Who wouldn't want to join the Wendaozong?"
The Wendaozong was one of the five great sects on the Central Continent, home to countless powerful cultivators. Today, they were recruiting disciples, and many people were eager to try their chances.
Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were just two among many.
Having crossed over to the Central Continent, Lu Yang lost his parents early on. He survived on a small inheritance they left behind and the kindness of neighbors.
For over a decade living in a small town, he had heard stories of immortal swords striking the heavens, of river demons causing floods, and of disciples slaying monsters and protecting the innocent. He had seen messy Taoists tricking people and even escaping from prison, only to be caught again.
He realized that this world was unlike any he had known before; it was a world of powerful cultivators.
He wanted to seek immortality and learn the ways of the immortal.
The Wendaozong was his first choice.
He chose the Wendaozong simply because there were no other sects nearby. It was the only one around.
During their conversation, Lu Yang learned that Meng Jingzhou came from a family of cultivators and had much more knowledge about cultivation than he did.
"The Wendaozong only accepts mortals under sixteen years of age. This is a common requirement among most sects," Meng Jingzhou explained.
"The path of cultivation is long and difficult, with many stages: Qi training, foundation building, golden core, nascent soul, spirit transformation, void refinement, body merging, and tribulation crossing. Each stage is a significant hurdle that blocks many people. Only one in ten, twenty, or even a hundred makes it through."
"There are many factors that determine success in cultivation, like luck, intelligence, and spiritual roots... By the way, do you know what your spiritual root is, Lu Yang?"
"Though the Wendaozong doesn't have strict requirements for spiritual roots, they still won't accept those with very poor ones."
Lu Yang frowned. He had only heard about spiritual roots from the storyteller and didn't know what his was.
"I don't know. What about you, Meng?"
Meng Jingzhou's expression turned puzzled as he shook his head. "I had my spiritual root tested in my family, but the elder looked worried and didn't tell me the results. He just said my talent was extraordinary and that I would have no problem joining one of the five great sects. I secretly asked my parents, but they seemed even more worried and wouldn't tell me either."
Lu Yang speculated, "It might be that your spiritual root is so exceptional that it could bring disaster to the Meng family. Only a big sect like the Wendaozong could protect you."
"Just as I guessed," Meng Jingzhou said, patting Lu Yang on the shoulder, looking like he had found a kindred spirit. The more he looked at Lu Yang, the more he felt they were both talented, born to be cultivators.
As Lu Yang listened to the rain getting heavier outside, he felt grateful that Meng Jingzhou had invited him into the carriage.
"Stop!" Meng Jingzhou suddenly shouted. The old horse trotted a few steps before coming to a halt.
The carriage was a special treasure, allowing Meng Jingzhou to see outside. He noticed a woman walking in the rain, just like Lu Yang had been.
"This sister is walking in this direction; she must also be heading to the Wendaozong for the test. Since it's raining so heavily, why not come inside and rest a bit?" he called out.
The woman looked surprised at his suggestion but thought for a moment before agreeing.
As soon as she entered the carriage, both Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang were stunned.
Meng Jingzhou considered himself well-traveled, but he had never seen a woman as beautiful as this one. Lu Yang had only seen the widow next door, who sold tofu, and he certainly had no improper thoughts about her.
The woman was like a delicate lotus flower, dressed in white, standing tall and graceful, with bright eyes and a lovely smile that felt otherworldly.
She wore a bracelet of golden bells on her right wrist.
"Thank you, both of you," she said, her voice like a clear spring, soothing to hear.
Lu Yang noticed something odd and whispered, "Meng, why is she dry? Could she be a monster?"
In stories, monsters often disguised themselves as beautiful women to lure young men.
Just moments ago, Lu Yang had been drenched, but the woman, Yun Zhi, looked completely dry, as if she hadn’t walked through the rain at all.
Meng Jingzhou shrugged, "Maybe she has a treasure that keeps her dry. That's not uncommon among families like hers."
He wasn't worried about Yun Zhi being a monster; this was the Wendaozong's territory. What kind of monster would dare to cause trouble here?
"Are you here for the Wendaozong test, Miss Yun Zhi?" Meng Jingzhou asked.
"That's right," she replied.
Meng Jingzhou eagerly said, "I happen to have the details of the Wendaozong test. I bought them for a hefty price from one of the elders. Would you like to hear them?"
Lu Yang looked at Meng Jingzhou in surprise. Why hadn't he mentioned this to him?
Yun Zhi was even more surprised. "Isn't that cheating? What if the Wendaozong finds out…"
Meng Jingzhou waved his hand confidently. "This carriage is a special treasure. Even powerful cultivators and hidden old monsters can't use their divine sense to check what's going on here."
"That makes sense. Please share the test details, Young Master Meng," Yun Zhi said.
Lu Yang listened intently.
Meng Jingzhou cleared his throat. "The Wendaozong test has three parts. The first part tests your spiritual root. This is a strict test with no shortcuts or tricks allowed. The second and third parts do have some room for strategy."
"The second part tests character. A runaway carriage is headed toward five people lying by the roadside. If it hits them, they will surely die. There's another person lying not far away. As bystanders, we can control the direction of the runaway carriage. Do we ignore it and let it hit the five people, or do we steer it to hit the other person?"
Without hesitation, Lu Yang said, "Hit the other person."
Meng Jingzhou was astonished. He had been pondering the second part since he learned about it and had yet to come up with a solution. How could Lu Yang decide so quickly?
Choosing to ignore the situation meant watching five people die, which was hard to bear. Changing direction to hit the other person meant that person was just unlucky and deserved it because they were the ones who had to be hit.
Meng Jingzhou voiced his confusion, and Lu Yang explained, "There's no time to think. By the time you come to a conclusion, those five people would already be dead. I think the Wendaozong isn't testing whether you save five people or one, but rather if you can make a quick decision."
"I heard the storyteller say that in a battle between cultivators, a tiny mistake can mean life or death. The second part is about character—whether you're indecisive or decisive. Making a decision quickly is what matters most."
Meng Jingzhou understood at last.
"The third part tests honesty. The Wendaozong has a mirror that can tell if you're speaking the truth or lying. If you're caught lying, you're immediately disqualified from the test."
Lu Yang thought for a moment. "This part is simple. If you don't know in advance, it's easy to lie to cover yourself. But since we know ahead of time, we can just tell the truth."
Meng Jingzhou nodded in agreement.
The two discussed various potential surprises and countermeasures, feeling they had covered all bases.
Yun Zhi smiled slightly, seeming to think their plans were good.
"Thank you for the advice, Young Hero Lu."
"Um, has the rain stopped?" Lu Yang noticed the sound of raindrops hitting the ground had ceased, and he curiously looked outside.
The place they had just passed was still pouring rain, but where they were, the sun shone brightly, and the air was filled with the scent of flowers, as if a powerful sword aura had split the world into light and dark, never to meet.
Looking up, Lu Yang saw countless rare beasts and magical treasures heading toward a towering mountain that seemed to touch the sky.
The majestic mountain was bathed in a soft golden light, with beautiful patterns spreading out from behind it, blocking the heavy rain.
That was the gateway mountain of the Wendaozong, protected by a grand formation that no one could break.
Out of respect for the Wendaozong, talented cultivators descended at the foot of the mountain with their elders, waiting for the sect to begin the test.
The old horse was already a rare beast, but compared to the magnificent creatures resting at the mountain's foot, it was still lacking.
"Wow, this is way more impressive than our Meng family's estate," Meng Jingzhou rubbed his hands together, feeling nervous yet excited about soon becoming a member of the Wendaozong.
Lu Yang said nothing. When he saw the mountain from home, it had felt distant and unremarkable, but standing at its base now, he realized how massive it truly was.
He felt a bit anxious. He had plans for the second and third parts, but he still didn't know what his spiritual root was. He might not even pass the first test.
Dozens of cultivators hovered in the air before the mountain, each exuding a powerful aura. Lu Yang suspected that if they fully released their energy, there wouldn't be many left standing.
These cultivators were silent, creating an unspoken pressure.
Lu Yang heard an elder explaining to a younger one, "Look at their robes; these are core disciples of the Wendaozong. They are all disciples of various elders, and they will be your senior brothers and sisters."
"You don't need to be nervous. They aren't intentionally trying to pressure you. It seems they are waiting for the person in charge of the test to arrive. Once the host arrives, the test will begin."
Lu Yang turned to see how Yun Zhi was reacting. Was she excited or anxious? Surely she couldn't still be so calm?
"Yun Zhi, you…" Lu Yang began to speak but stopped when he saw her lightly stepping forward. With each step, a white lotus seemed to lift her delicate body.
Everyone gasped, and the elders broke into a cold sweat, quickly silencing the younger ones.
The white lotus formed a path across the crowd, and Yun Zhi walked among the core disciples of the Wendaozong. They all bowed to her in respect, and she raised her hand slightly, facing everyone with a gentle smile.
"Thank you for your patience. I am the senior sister of the Wendaozong and the host of this test."
"I declare that the test officially begins."
With that, Yun Zhi shot a sly glance at the stunned Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.
She was indeed here for the Wendaozong test, but she was not a candidate; she was the examiner.
(End of Chapter)