Chapter 001 - The Recruitment Day
In the town square of Elaria, the crowd stirred with anticipation.
It was the long-awaited recruitment day of the Immortal Alliance, an event held only once every few years. Children and teenagers, ranging from seven to eighteen, had gathered from nearby villages and distant towns, each hoping to be chosen for the path of cultivation.
Rinne, a small girl of seven years old, stood apart from the crowd.
Her expression remained blank, and her dark eyes stared into the distance. She kept herself tucked away in a quiet corner of the square, far from the bustle, with a cracked bowl placed in front of her.
Her clothes were dirty and patched together from old rags. Her short, unkempt hair made her look like a scruffy beggar boy. Compared to the neatly dressed children and hopeful teenagers, she was an odd and pitiful sight.
People passing by shot her brief looks of contempt.
"Disgraceful. How could such a dirty child be allowed here?"
A middle-aged man sneered as he walked past.
His words drew a few disapproving looks from those nearby, but no one commented. He tugged his robe, as if shielding himself from an unseen stench.
"It's just another beggar trying to earn sympathy,"
A woman beside him muttered, her voice sharp with disdain.
She gave Rinne one last glance before pulling her child away. Both hurried toward the center of the square, unwilling to associate with the ragged beggar in the corner.
"Poor thing."
Despite the scornful whispers, a few people pitied her.
A young man in plain clothes hesitated before dropping a small copper coin into her bowl. The coin clinked as it hit the bowl, but he didn't linger. His steps quickened, as though fearing the beggar might ask for more.
Rinne's gaze flickered to the bowl. She counted the coins silently, barely enough for a simple meal. Her expression didn't change, as if the donations meant nothing. She had chosen this disguise to avoid drawing attention, ensuring that no one approached her beyond an occasional coin toss.
Around her, the square buzzed with chatter. Children exchanged hopeful whispers while others craned their necks, waiting for the event to begin.
A boy nearby nudged his friend, his voice full of excitement.
"I hope I get chosen as an inner disciple! Can you imagine? Training under a real Immortal Master!"
His friend grinned wide, his eyes sparkling with the same ambition.
"That would be amazing! I heard the inner disciples get the best resources—and secret techniques too!"
They laughed quietly, filled with dreams of the future.
Rinne listened to their excitement, though her mind remained detached. She glanced at the children around her, their faces brimming with hope. Their dreams were full of light, unburdened by the realities she had lived through.
For her, this ceremony was just one more step along a journey she had walked for years—alone and without hope for miracles.
Her thoughts drifted back to her past. This was her third life. She was not just a reincarnator but also a regressor. Her second life had ended in failure, and this was her chance to start again.
♠♠♠
The memories of her first life were hazy, the details lost to time and the shock of death.
She didn't remember how she had died, only that one moment she was living, and the next she was waking up as a newborn in a completely different world. There had been no divine figure to grant her powers, no miraculous aid to ease her way—just the cold truth of a second life she had to navigate from scratch.
The first decade of her new life had been nothing short of hell.
Born into a tribal-like society, Rinne found herself in a world devoid of the conveniences she had once taken for granted. There were no flush toilets, no gas stoves, no modern amenities to speak of. Survival was a daily struggle, and luxury was a foreign concept.
At the age of ten, poverty drove her family to sell her into slavery. She was sent to a nameless brothel in a neighboring city, where she spent the next few years learning the harsh lessons of life. She was taught to read, to dance, to play music—skills that were both a blessing and a curse in her new circumstances.
Rinne couldn't help but feel a pang of regret whenever she thought back to those days.
'If only father and mother had given me a few more years, I wouldn't have minded sharing some of my knowledge from my past life. I could have made them rich…'
But such thoughts were pointless now. It had been a tribal society, where the patriarch held absolute authority. In their eyes, she was nothing more than a dull-witted child. It had taken her years to learn their language, years during which she was seen as slow, as a burden.
How could they trust such a girl to do anything of value?
In the end, she had resigned herself to her fate, allowing life to carry her wherever it would.
It was during her years at the brothel that she first encountered cultivation—a world where strength determined everything, where even mortals could ascend beyond their limits. After discovering the existence of the cultivation world, Rinne couldn't help but yearn for it. She became obsessed with it, hoping to escape the chains of her current life.
In her previous life, she had read countless fantasy novels about reincarnation in other worlds.
She often thought of those novel protagonists—how powerful, how overpowered they were, always rising above every challenge with ease. It was inspiring, but when she compared it to her own life, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of shame.
What was the point of reincarnating if she didn't aim for the highest?
At that time, Rinne was eighteen, soon to be nineteen. The desire to escape her miserable existence drove her to flee to another city, where she could attend the recruitment ceremony for the first and last time in that life. It was her only chance to enter the cultivation world, and she had to pass.
But reality was cruel.
She learned that she didn't possess a spiritual root—the foundation necessary for cultivation. Without it, the dream of becoming an immortal was nothing more than a fantasy.
Yet she refused to give up.
There must be a way, just like in the fantasy novels she had read. If she couldn't cultivate through orthodox means, perhaps unorthodox methods could work. Determined, she embarked on a journey, traveling from town to town, stealthily gathering information while avoiding dangerous places and people.
Along the way, she heard whispers of various unorthodox practices, some of them so evil they made her skin crawl—absorbing the souls of others, often innocent babies, to boost cultivation, transplanting another's spiritual root, and many more dark and twisted methods.
But those weren't what she was seeking. Even if she wanted to explore such paths, she lacked the means to access them. The rumors were just that—rumors, distant and unattainable.
At twenty-four, she found a different path.
A mysterious cultivator was offering something unheard of: pseudo spiritual roots, granted to ordinary mortals, for free, allowing them to practice cultivation. It sounded too good to be true—suspicious, even.
Why would anyone offer such a valuable thing for free?
Despite the obvious risks, Rinne decided to take the plunge. She attended the ceremony where the cultivator distributed a strange water from a porcelain bottle. The air was thick with tension as she lifted the bottle to her lips. Her mind raced with doubt and fear, but she forced herself to drink.
The cultivator hadn't lied.
Soon after she drank the water, a sharp pain coursed through her body. But alongside the pain came a strange, exhilarating sensation—she could sense something different in the air, something she had never felt before.
It was spiritual energy. For the first time, she was connected to it.
♠♠♠
The sharp clang of a bell jolted her back to the present.
Rinne's reminiscence was abruptly interrupted by a loud noise from the crowd. The restless murmurs and shuffling feet signaled that something was happening.
She looked up to see the people of the Alliance finally arriving, their presence commanding immediate attention. The atmosphere in the square shifted, excitement and anxiety rippling through the gathered crowd.
This was it, the moment everyone had been waiting for.
Chapter 002 - A Path Rewritten
A flying boat descended from the sky and hovered above the bustling city square. Its shadow cast an imposing silhouette over the gathered crowd, who watched in awe as the vessel came to a halt.
The boat was sleek and formidable, its hull etched with intricate symbols that shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
Several figures clad in the distinctive robes of the Immortal Alliance leaped gracefully from the boat, their movements fluid and controlled as they landed on the ground below. Each of them exuded an aura of power and authority, instantly commanding the attention of everyone present.
One of the figures, an elder with a stern countenance and silver-streaked hair, stepped forward to address the crowd. His voice, though not loud, was amplified by spiritual power, carrying across the entire square with ease.
"Today marks the beginning of the Immortal Alliance's recruitment ceremony," he announced, his tone solemn. "Only those with a pure heart and a strong spirit shall advance. Let the testing begin."
A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd as the elder finished speaking. The first stage of the recruitment was about to commence: the detection of spiritual roots.
A large, ornate measuring tool was brought forward, its surface engraved with runes that glowed softly. This device would determine who among the participants had the potential to cultivate and ascend to the ranks of the Immortal Alliance. Rinne's gaze drifted to the spiritual root measuring tool, her expression complex.
Memories of her past life surfaced—how she had stood before a similar device, filled with hope, only to be crushed by the realization that she lacked a spiritual root. That failure had set her on a dark path, one she was determined not to repeat.
But this time, things were different. The outcome of this test didn't matter as much to her now. She had a plan, knowledge that she hadn't possessed before. Still, the sight of the tool brought back memories of her previous life's disappointment, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of unease.
The participants were quickly organized into lines according to their age groups. Rinne, after a brief moment of hesitation, stood up, collecting the cracked bowl and the few coins that had been tossed into it. She slipped them into a small bag at her side and made her way to the line designated for children aged 7 to 12.
Avoiding the group of wealthier children clad in fine garments, she approached the section where the poorer children stood. Their clothes were as shabby as hers, though she noted that even they looked down upon her, a beggar who dared to join their ranks.
As Rinne took her place in the line, she heard whispers and saw looks of disgust from the other children. Some of them sneered, their faces twisted with dissatisfaction. A few even stepped forward, trying to chase her away.
One boy muttered, glaring at Rinne.
"Why is this beggar here? This is not a place for you."
"You'll bring us bad luck! Go away, beggar!"
A girl added, scrunching up her nose.
Rinne could only sigh inwardly at their pettiness. How ironic that these children, who were as poor and downtrodden as she appeared to be, could harbor such disdain for someone they saw as beneath them.
"Enough,"
She scolded softly but firmly, her voice low yet carrying a surprising weight.
"The ceremony is about to start, and the immortals are watching. Cause any trouble, and you'll be the ones kicked out, not me."
Her words had the desired effect. The children exchanged nervous glances, quickly silencing their complaints. None of them wanted to risk the wrath of the Immortal Alliance, and the thought of being expelled from the ceremony was enough to quell their dissatisfaction.
With a resigned sigh, Rinne settled into her place in the line, her thoughts focused on the trial ahead. The spiritual root detection was only the first of many challenges she would face. But this time, she was ready.
The immortal who had spoken earlier raised his hand, and a glowing orb materialized, floating from his palm to the front of the line. The orb was the spiritual root measuring tool, an instrument that would determine each child's potential to cultivate. It radiated a soft, ethereal light, pulsing gently as if alive.
The first child in line, a boy of about ten years, stepped forward nervously and placed his hands on the orb. The crowd watched in tense anticipation.
"Rylin Zareth, age 10 years old, double spiritual root: Earth 60%, Wood 35%,"
The immortal announced, his voice echoing across the square.
"Passed."
The boy's face lit up with joy as he stepped back into the crowd, where murmurs of approval rippled through the onlookers. His parents, standing nearby, breathed a sigh of relief.
Next, a girl no older than eight approached the orb, her small hands trembling slightly as she touched its surface.
"Eila Venar, age 8 years old, double spiritual root: Water 70%, Wood 45%, Passed."
Eila's eyes sparkled with excitement as she hurried back to her place, her parents beaming with pride.
One by one, the children stepped forward to have their spiritual roots measured. Most of the wealthy children exhibited double or triple spiritual roots, a testament to their privileged upbringing and access to superior resources. Their clans had clearly invested heavily in ensuring that only the most talented among them would be presented at this ceremony. Those who lacked strong spiritual roots were either excluded from the event or, in the harshest of cases, removed from their clans altogether—some even reduced to slavery.
"Toran Samur, age 11 years old, triple spiritual root: Earth 70%, Wood 65%, Fire 50%, Passed."
The crowd buzzed with approval as the boy rejoined his group, his face flushed with pride. The wealthy children were performing well, just as expected.
Then, a boy who looked no different from the others in his fancy clothes approached the orb. He placed his hands on it, and the orb's light intensified, drawing gasps from the crowd.
"Roran Lareth, age 9 years old, single spiritual root: Fire 90% purity," the immortal announced.
Instantly, the square erupted into excited chatter. A single spiritual root, especially one with such high purity, was a rare and coveted trait. Every sect representative present began clamoring to recruit the boy, their voices overlapping as they made their offers.
"This child must join our sect!"
"We'll provide the best resources for his cultivation!"
"Young Roran, consider our sect! We can guarantee your future success!"
Rinne, standing quietly in the children's line, glanced toward Roran Lareth. His name was familiar to her—he was one of the righteous cultivators she had encountered in her previous life.
'I remember you. Back then, you were strong, but your strength was nothing against cunning...'
Though powerful, he had been careless, ultimately falling to her poison. The memory stirred a mix of emotions in her as she recalled her dark past.
♠♠♠
After Rinne had gained the ability to practice cultivation in her second life, things had gone smoothly at first. She dedicated herself to training, practicing day and night to make up for her late start.
She also took up alchemy and talisman crafting, skills that allowed her to support herself in the world of cultivators. However, her progress was slow due to her delayed entry into cultivation.
It wasn't until she reached the 5th level of Spirit Gathering stage that she noticed something alarming. A tiny bit of her vitality was being mysteriously drained. As she investigated, she discovered that others who had drunk the same strange water as she had were experiencing the same problem.
The cause was soon revealed: they had all ingested a Gu seed, a parasitic insect that acted as a pseudo-spiritual root, enabling them to cultivate.
The Gu seed allowed them to practice, but at a cost. Part of their vitality was consumed by the Gu, and the rest was siphoned off to the cultivator who had distributed the seeds.
Rinne, pragmatic as ever, considered it a fair deal—after all, the cultivator had given her the opportunity to practice. It was akin to a patent in her previous life, where one paid for the privilege of using someone else's invention.
However, not everyone shared her view. Many considered the use of Gu to be an evil practice, and eventually, the cultivator responsible was besieged by righteous forces. When the Gu parent was killed, all those who had consumed the child Gu suffered severe backlash.
Fortunately, Rinne had anticipated this outcome.
She had purchased a soul suppression technique from the market, and when the cultivator was under siege, she quickly used it to suppress and kill the Gu inside her. But the Gu did not go down easily; it counterattacked viciously, lashing out with all the force it could muster.
Rinne was left severely injured, teetering on the brink of death as she battled the parasite within her. Her vitality drained rapidly, and it took every ounce of her willpower to finally eliminate the Gu.
Though she survived, the encounter left her weakened and unable to cultivate further with that method. Many others, including several of her acquaintances, were not so lucky—they died in the ensuing chaos.
That day marked the beginning of Rinne's path as an evil cultivator.
Her impression of the so-called righteous cultivators had soured, and she came to see them with a mixture of hatred and disdain.
♠♠♠
Among those who had participated in the siege was the boy with the single fire root—Roran Lareth.
However, as she watched the young Roran now, she realized something profound. The anger and hatred that had driven her for so long, fueling her path as an evil cultivator, had long since dissipated.
'...Now, I don't feel the same hatred I once did.'
Rinne sighed inwardly.
She had lived through two lifetimes, and the intense emotions that once controlled her had faded. The desire for revenge, the bitterness toward the righteous cultivators, all of it seemed distant now, like a shadow from another time.
Rinne found that she did not hate Roran or any of the others who had been part of the siege. They had simply been doing what they believed was right, just as she had done what she felt was necessary to survive.
In fact, when she reflected on her past actions, she knew she was far from innocent. The things she had done as an evil cultivator were dark and terrible, and in many ways, she had been just as much a villain as those who had hunted her.
The hatred that once burned so fiercely within her had been replaced by a deep sense of understanding and acceptance. She no longer saw herself as a victim, nor did she view those who opposed her as mere enemies. They were all players in the same complex game, each trying to navigate the harsh realities of the cultivation world.
But now, all Rinne wanted was to stay inconspicuous and hidden. She had no desire to draw attention to herself, nor did she care about the ongoing conflicts between righteous and evil cultivators.
Her knowledge, accumulated over two lifetimes, was more than enough to support herself comfortably without resorting to robbery or other nefarious means. The world could continue its endless cycle of battles and bloodshed—Rinne would simply watch from the shadows, uninterested in playing any further role in it.
Her lips curled into a faint smile.
'Let the world continue without me. I'll find my place in the shadows, where I can live in peace.'
Rinne straightened her posture, resolving to blend in as best as she could among the other children. She had no desire to stand out, no interest in the rewards that cultivation might bring. Her path was different now—a path of quiet, inconspicuous survival.
♠♠♠
The ceremony continued, and after the wealthy children had their turn, it was time for the poorer kids to be tested. Unlike the wealthy children, the poorer ones didn't have surnames.
To distinguish between children with the same first name, the announcers used their father's name. For those who didn't know their father's name, the tool integrated a simple divination method to identify it. For some, this was the first time they learned who their father was, though the revelation brought little comfort.
However, as expected, the results for these children were mostly poor.
"Jarin, child of Rurik, 9 years old, four spiritual roots, low purity, passed."
"No spiritual root, failed."
"No spiritual root, failed."
"Lona, child of Garel, 8 years old, five spiritual roots, low purity, passed."
"No spiritual root, failed."
The announcer's tone was flat as he delivered the results.
For those with four or five spiritual roots and low purity, he didn't bother mentioning the specific percentages. Everyone knew that even if they passed, their position within a sect would never compare to those with double, triple, or single spiritual roots.
Most of them would likely be eliminated during the second or third test, relegated to the role of handymen in whatever sect they could find.
For those with no spiritual roots, the announcer didn't even say their names. They simply stepped back into the crowd, heads bowed, knowing they had no place in the cultivation world.
Finally, it was Rinne's turn.
Rinne stepped forward, her expression calm as she stretched out her hand toward the orb. The announcer noticed her hand was bandaged but didn't think much of it. As she touched the orb, she immediately simulated the spiritual energies of fire, water, wood, and earth within herself, just as she had planned.
"Rinne, child of Faron, 7 years old, four spiritual roots, low purity, passed,"
Rinne's lips curled into a small smile.
'It worked.'
After she regressed to her third life, Rinne had carefully designed a plan to attend the recruitment ceremony and pass the spiritual root test. As soon as she turned seven, she left her home, smuggling herself onto a merchant caravan passing through the village where she was born.
She nearly starved for a week until the caravan reached Elaria, the closest town where the recruitment would take place.
Unfortunately, when she arrived in Elaria, she couldn't find any work.
Being so young and dirty, no one was willing to hire her, fearing she would bring trouble. Still, some kind-hearted people gave her food, though they shooed her away afterward. Rinne survived by begging and killing rats for a few months until the recruitment day arrived.
'Surviving is what I'm good at...'
Rinne thought, recalling those difficult months.
As for passing the spiritual root test, she had relied on a blood talisman. It was a shortened version of the evil blood sacrifice talisman, which could be activated even by mortals, but required the user's vitality as fuel.
She had painstakingly drawn a complex symbol on a parched rat skin using rat blood. When the talisman was complete, she hid it inside the bandage on her hand, ready to be activated with a thought.
The talisman didn't perform any miraculous feat—it simply extracted a small amount of vital energy from a living creature and converted it into spiritual energy of four attributes. The target was herself.
Why not five attributes? Simple. The skin didn't have enough room.
The amount of vitality the talisman absorbed was small, which was why the tool detected it as low-purity roots. But it was enough to pass, and Rinne wasn't about to waste any more of her vitality.
With the first test behind her, Rinne quietly joined the group of children with four and five spiritual roots. She kept her head down, avoiding eye contact with the others.
'I've passed... Now, just stay inconspicuous, hidden. I have no need for glory or power. My knowledge is more than enough to support myself comfortably without resorting to theft or violence. As for the endless conflict between the righteous and the evil...'
She glanced at the other children around her, noting their nervous or excited expressions.
'Let them have their battles. I don't care anymore.'
And so, Rinne stood among the other children, waiting for the ceremony to conclude. She had passed the first test—now it was time to see what would come next.
Chapter 003 - The Second Trial Begin
The recruitment ceremony continued, and soon enough, the children's group was finished. On the other side of the town square, the teenagers also wrapped up their test. There were a few familiar names among the successful candidates, but Rinne only glanced at them, losing interest almost immediately.
The announcer stepped forward, his voice resonating through the square once more, amplified by spiritual energy. His tone was calm, yet it carried an air of authority that demanded attention.
"Those who have passed the first trial, you now have a short time to bid farewell to your families. The path you walk from here will be long and arduous, and it may be years before you see them again. Use this time wisely."
The participants began to disperse, finding their families in the crowd. Some hugged their parents tightly, tears in their eyes, while others exchanged solemn words and promises. A few were eager, excited about the future that awaited them, but even they couldn't escape the bittersweet moment of parting.
Rinne, however, stood alone, she had no one to bid farewell to, as she had technically run away from home.
Around her, the square buzzed with activity. Parents, siblings, and even friends crowded around the successful candidates, offering words of encouragement and teary farewells.
One mother whispered to her son, wiping away tears as she embraced him tightly.
"Be good, and make us proud."
A father sternly advised his daughter, though his voice trembled with emotion.
"Remember, always follow the teachings and respect your seniors."
A young boy vowed to his little sister, who clung to him, reluctant to let go.
"I'll write to you every month, I promise."
Rinne observed the scene, feeling a pang of something she couldn't quite name.
'I wonder if they're sad now that I'm gone, or maybe they're mad.'
But she quickly dismissed the thought. With several siblings at home, and considering she wasn't particularly valued, her absence might not even matter.
Perhaps they're happy, even relieved, with one less mouth to feed. The idea of them being happier without her presence was bittersweet. Rinne couldn't help but recall that in three years, famine would strike, and her family had survived by selling her into slavery.
'Maybe I should just send them some money when the time comes. The same amount they got for selling me... then, my obligation would be paid off.'
But something gnawed at her conscience.
'No, it's not as simple as that. I should ensure they're well taken care of.'
Rinne let out a soft sigh.
Her thoughts had grown increasingly analytical, molded by years spent in this world. In her previous life, she hadn't been like this.
Nonetheless, her family had granted her a second chance at life, regardless of their feelings. It's only right to ensure their well-being—not to the extent of wealthy, but sufficient enough so that they don't have to sell their children into slavery.
However, that concern would have to be postponed for now.
♠♠♠
After about two hours, the announcer returned to the center of the square. His voice once again cut through the noise of the gathering crowd.
"The time has come."
His declaration continued.
"For those who have passed to embark on the next stage of your journey. Gather here, and prepare to board the flying boat."
The participants who had been saying their goodbyes quickly made their way back, forming neat lines as they approached the flying boat that hovered above the square. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation and a hint of nervousness as they prepared to leave their old lives behind.
Some were chatting animatedly about the future, while others stood quietly, lost in thought. Rinne noticed a few children holding onto trinkets or talismans their parents had given them for luck.
One boy said with a mix of awe and apprehension.
"It's finally happening! We're going to be cultivators."
"Yeah, but what if the next trial is too hard? What if we don't make it?"
A girl replied, her voice wavering slightly.
"We've made it this far... We just have to keep going."
Another child chimed in, trying to sound confident.
Rinne, standing quietly among them, couldn't help but feel a strange detachment from the excitement. She had been through this process before, albeit in a different way, and knew that the path ahead was far from easy.
When it was time, they were directed to board the flying boat. As the group moved toward the towering vessel, awe and wonder filled the air. For many, this was their first time seeing such a marvel.
A boy exclaimed, eyes wide as he stared up at the massive boat.
"Wow, it's so big!"
Another asked, excitement bubbling in his voice.
"Do you think we'll get to fly it someday?"
"I hope so..."
A girl responded, her gaze fixed on the boat with a mix of hope and determination.
But not everyone was caught up in the wonder. It was during this time that another conflict arose.
"Why is this smelly beggar still here?" a voice sneered.
"I didn't think this beggar could pass."
"You stink! Go away!" another chimed in.
Rinne was taken aback, she couldn't help but wonder.
'Do I really smell that bad?'
It had been a while since she last bathed, true enough. People often become insensitive to their own odors, and given her past as an evil cultivator who delved deeply into poisons, the smell was nothing to her. But to others, it was clearly unbearable.
Realizing the issue, Rinne quickly walked over to a nearby cultivator, who looked to be a senior disciple of some sect in the Alliance. Although he appeared to be in his early twenties, Rinne knew better than to judge a cultivator by their appearance. His actual age could be far beyond what he looked like.
She noticed the disciple frown slightly as she approached, his expression one of mild disgust as he took in her dirty appearance. But despite his clear discomfort, he still answered her when she spoke.
Rinne asked politely.
"Excuse me, is there a bathroom on the boat?"
The senior disciple's frown deepened, but he maintained his composure. He explained, his tone neutral but with an undercurrent of irritation.
"This boat is just a transport vehicle, There are no such facilities."
Disappointed but not deterred, Rinne quickly thought of another solution.
"In that case, could you use the Dust Removal technique on me?"
The disciple hesitated for a moment, still looking slightly repelled by the idea of interacting with her further. However, he finally nodded, raising his hand. With a simple wave, he cast the Dust Removal technique. In moments, the grime and stench that clung to Rinne disappeared, leaving her clean and fresh. She could feel the difference immediately and offered the disciple a small, grateful smile.
"Thank you," she said softly.
He nodded in return, though his expression remained distant.
"No need to worry. Focus on the trials ahead. You'll be fine."
His words were meant to be reassuring, but Rinne only nodded absently.
'If I had prepared a blood talisman for the Dust Removal technique, I wouldn't have to ask... But even if I did, it's better not to waste vitality unless absolutely necessary.'
The group finally boarded the flying boat, and soon it lifted off, soaring high above the town.
The journey was peaceful, with most of the participants either marveling at the view or quietly preparing themselves for the next trial. Rinne, too, found herself gazing out at the clouds.
She sat quietly among the other participants as the flying boat continued its journey. During the trip, the senior disciples distributed small pills to each of them.
"This is a Fasting Pill, it will keep you from feeling hungry for the next few days."
One of the disciples explained as he handed Rinne her portion.
Rinne examined the pill, its surface smooth and white, with a faint herbal scent. In her previous life, she had used similar pills when she was on the run or in the middle of intense cultivation sessions. It was a basic but useful item in the cultivation world, especially for those who needed to conserve their energy.
Swallowing the pill, she could feel a slight warmth spreading through her body, a sensation that made her hunger vanish almost instantly.
'This will help.'
Without having to worry about food, she could focus on what was to come.
The tranquility of the journey, however, was only temporary. Soon, they would arrive at the site of the second trial, and the true challenges would begin.
♠♠♠
It took several hours for the flying boat to arrive at the second trial stage, but the day was still bright. Rinne noted that time here was different from the modern world she once knew. If a day on Earth consisted of 24 hours, then here, it seemed to be about three times longer by the same hourly standards.
Though others used incense sticks to measure time, which lasted about two hours, Rinne couldn't help but apply her own measurement of hours out of habit. Water clocks and shadow clocks existed as well, but the incense stick was the most popular by far. She knew this world was far larger than Earth, something she had come to realize during her hundreds of years wandering as an evil cultivator in her second life.
As the boat descended, the participants disembarked and found themselves before a mountain that towered high into the sky, with stone steps leading to its summit. Rinne recognized this place from the memories she had extracted using the Soul Searching technique on Roran in her previous life.
The second trial was a test of endurance—climbing the mountain stairs.
When Rinne was an evil cultivator, she had made it a policy to Soul Search as many enemies as possible. This technique quickly became her favorite. Initially, it was just to gather information, but she soon realized that she could peek into her victims' lives from the moment of their self-awareness until the moment she used the technique. Through this method, she not only learned their cultivation methods and techniques but also their darkest secrets.
The sheer amount of information would overwhelm most people, but Rinne had invented another technique to store those memories as if they were files, allowing her to view them anytime like watching a movie. It was one of her many innovations during her years of cultivation—though this, she mused, was a story for another time.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the announcer's voice.
"The second trial is upon you!"
The announcer declared, his voice booming across the crowd.
"Your task is to climb these stairs. The higher you climb, the greater the pressure you will endure. Now, begin your ascent!"
Rinne took a deep breath.
According to Roran's memories, he had climbed to the top and been accepted by Elder Soryn from the Azure Sky Sect without needing to participate in the third trial. This trial was essentially a test of how far one could climb, with the pressure increasing the higher they went.
For Rinne, still possessing a mortal body with no true spiritual root, this trial would be impossible to complete. The pressure would be unbearable, and attempting to push herself too far could risk exposing her true nature, especially if they attempted to heal her.
There was no need to insist.
Better to symbolically walk a few steps, then stop and accept her fate as a handyman.