"Junior's Dao name is Shaochong. I come from the Xuan Zhen Temple, a legacy left by Master Tianfeng. According to the Master's words, if I complete my cultivation by thirty, I shall go to Yunhuan Mountain. Fortunately, I met Master Lingyun and came to know the vastness of heaven and earth. Thus, following the Master's instructions, I brought the magical artifact and token left by my Master to seek the Great Dao!"
After Bai Yichen finished speaking, he bowed deeply, raising the Bewitching Gourd above his head, demonstrating his utmost sincerity.
"Just as Master Lingyun said, his conduct is proper, and his resolve is steadfast!" A gentle voice of approval floated from the mist.
"Hmph, how can one tell if this is just an illusion!" A rough male voice scoffed.
"With Master Lingyun to test him, and in front of all of us, how could a small Qi Gathering practitioner possibly deceive us?" The gentle voice clearly disagreed.
"Who knows if he is a spy from an outside sect? Moreover, Lingfeng has been missing for so long; he might have long been in danger. Can the legacy he left still be credible?" A voice chimed in.
"The soul lamp of Brother Lingfeng has not gone out; what do you mean by that?"
"Ahem!"
Upon hearing the old man in the center cough, everyone fell silent.
"Shaochong of Xuan Zhen Temple? I've heard Brother Lingfeng speak of his experiences in the mortal world. There indeed exists such a sect and name, which could be a coincidence. Furthermore, Master Lingyun has also verified your token and cultivation method, and has praised you in the jade talisman, recommending you for admission. So far, there are already two true disciples recommending you. However, the rules of Taiyuan Sect cannot be neglected. Although soul realm disciples have the right to recommend entry, all candidates, regardless of their origin, must undergo testing. You, too, must go through this process. Are you willing to give it a try?"
As soon as he finished speaking, numerous gazes fell upon Bai Yichen, seemingly ready to see how he would respond.
It must be said that the scrutiny of these high-level practitioners carried weight, but fortunately, Bai Yichen's mindset was strong, and he remained unperturbed.
Without hesitation, he spoke, "I came here only to seek the Dao and the truth. Naturally, I will give it a try! I just don't know how you will test me, senior?"
"Good. It's not difficult; you just need to go to the Illusory Moon Treasure Mirror. I will adjust the levels according to your cultivation."
Having come this far, there was nothing more to consider. Bai Yichen readily agreed.
Suddenly, a round, ancient treasure mirror appeared in the air. The mirror surface was neither gold nor jade, resembling a pool of autumn water that had solidified. The edges were inlaid with a ring of tiny gemstones that emitted a dazzling sparkle, and within its clarity was a faint, hazy glow.
The cloud patterns on the mirror's surface moved like tadpoles, flickering with dim light as a beam of light shot directly at Bai Yichen.
Immediately, only the man who had brought Bai Yichen remained in the hall, while an image appeared on the mirror's surface—Bai Yichen's own likeness.
"Lingming, do you think he can pass the Questioning Heart Illusion?" The gentle female voice quietly transmitted to the figure on the left.
After a few breaths, a voice that seemed to awaken from a deep dream finally replied, "Just observe the changes... But that kid Lingyun has quite good taste..."
There was no further response, and it seemed he had fallen asleep again.
Time passed, and Bai Yichen opened his eyes to see a massive stone platform before him, laden with a variety of delicacies and fine wines that ordinary cultivators would find hard to appreciate.
There was nothing he could not imagine on this stone platform; more enticing was the fact that these fragrant delicacies and wines exuded traces of spiritual energy. If those loose cultivators saw this, they might resort to fighting over it.
However, Bai Yichen merely glanced at it and continued on, walking toward the dark passage ahead.
To him, these were just ordinary worldly treasures infused with a bit of spiritual energy, which still fell short of his standards of "insight."
A flash of white light revealed a pool of clear spring water and clusters of fresh flowers scattered around. He saw a graceful figure draped in thin gauze, radiant like a lotus emerging from rippling waves, alluring and faintly visible behind the mist, with shoulders as delicate as sculpted jade and a waist as slender as a strip of silk. A fragrant breeze wafted towards him, intoxicating his senses.
Bai Yichen's expression remained clear and composed; he appreciated the beauty without losing his focus.
Desire for food and lust are inherent in human nature; so this was a test of his true nature.
Yet, it was still lacking; he hadn't even used the Sitting and Forgetting Heart Refinement method, relying instead on years of inner cleansing to hold steady.
He passed through another barrier.
The room lit up without fire, revealing countless spirit stones piled like hills, with an aura thick as clouds that dazzled the eyes.
Bai Yichen stood before it, taking a deep breath, and felt the spiritual energy entering his body, no less potent than the spirit peach from that day.
However, he couldn't help but smile bitterly, as this was more of a poison than a boon for him at his current stage; he hadn't yet cultivated the Qi Gathering method.
After breaking through, the "Huangting Yinfu Zhenjing" had no further path, and Master Lingyun wouldn't pass on his teachings privately.
Thus, Bai Yichen hastily made his way toward the next passage, as he felt that this was merely an illusory trial, but he dared not gamble. After all, with his current cultivation, everything felt real yet surreal.
Having experienced "wealth, lust, and desire," the final trial should involve "Qi," right?
He had no idea what form "Qi" would present itself in.
Just as Bai Yichen pondered, the scene before him darkened, leading him to a narrow void path. At the end of the path stood an open door, seemingly the endpoint.
Seeing this, Bai Yichen hesitated no more; he became vigilant and stepped onto the narrow path.
At first, everything was ordinary, just like walking on a regular road, but Bai Yichen grew increasingly cautious, secretly operating the Heart Refinement method to keep his mind clear.
Suddenly, he felt a pressure bind him, and as he got closer to the exit, the pressure transformed into a wall of energy, forcing him to circulate his energy to protect himself and quicken his pace.
However, he quickly felt his internal true energy dissipating faster and faster, with the loss far exceeding any recovery. Before he could regain his strength, he was left with nothing.
The pressure wall remained unaffected, growing denser instead, weighing down on Bai Yichen until he nearly stumbled.
Even without falling, he had to bend down, crawling forward in a somewhat awkward manner.
Fortunately, with a clear mindset, Bai Yichen maintained his composure and did not lose his focus.
He looked at the door, which still seemed distant, and couldn't help but think of a way to break through.
Could it be that this trial tests the disciple's perseverance? However, after walking a distance, the door remained close yet unreachable.
The pressure wall became heavier, almost suffocating him, and his expression turned slightly fierce.
Yet, his heart for seeking the Dao remained unshaken. As the Heart Refinement method continued to circulate, he suddenly perceived something.
After several attempts, the original pressure wall suddenly dissipated, revealing the door before him.
Bai Yichen smiled lightly and stepped through the door.
Oh, so quick?
Amidst the surprised gazes of the other cultivators, a white figure reappeared in the hall.