Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 97: Chapter 11: The Three Trial Stages

The moment he stepped out of the Dharma Hall, he saw from a distance a Sect steward sitting cross-legged in the center of the plaza.

Li Ji’an’s face broke into a smile, and a trace of joy flickered in his heart; he must have guessed right.

However, just as his back foot was about to step out of the hall door, he suddenly had a flash of insight and his body stopped.

In the blink of an eye, he immediately turned around and re-entered the hall: ”Everyone, get up quickly, it’s time for the trial.”

With this shout, the other eighty-five people began to wake up one after another.

The two men and one woman that Li Ji’an paid special attention to woke up with a trace of annoyance, blaming themselves for oversleeping. Upon realizing the situation, they immediately called upon those beside them.

Seeing this, Li Ji’an slowly exhaled, almost outsmarting himself.

The Sect, due to the lack of blood relationships, seeks to increase cohesion through community interests, sect rules, and a unified value system, at least ostensibly discouraging selfish people from entering the Sect.

”That was close!”

”Huff~ puff~” Just as he was breathing a sigh of relief, a snore caught Li Ji’an’s attention.

Most people had been awakened, but some were still sound asleep, especially Xiao Changfeng, who had been the most exhausted the previous day. His snores were thunderous.

”Brother Xiao, wake up, it’s time for the trial.” Li Ji’an went over and gave him a push.

”Huff~ puff~” Xiao Changfeng was obviously exhausted and turned over to continue sleeping.

Li Ji’an chuckled and shook his head, then gave him a gentle kick.

”Hiss~” Xiao Changfeng cried out in pain and suddenly rolled over.

Once he understood the situation, he hurriedly went over to grab Li Ji’an: ”Brother Li, I will remember this kindness, Xiao will never forget it.”

Then he followed the others out to the plaza.

However, to Li Ji’an’s surprise, the three people who seemed to wake the others up had actually left a few of them still sleeping and hadn’t truly awakened them, so they hadn’t come out yet.

”Not bad, Class A, six people, those who haven’t arrived, leave the mountain immediately.” With a wave of the Sect cultivator’s hand, the eight people still snoring inside were startled awake and then left with tear-streaked faces.

At this point, only seventy-six people remained to continue participating in the trial.

Watching the dejected backs of the eight leaving, Xiao Changfeng looked at Li Ji’an with even more gratitude.

”Congratulations to you all for passing the initial trial. I am Zhao Qi, the eighth chief of the Dharma Transmission Hall. You may call me Senior Brother Zhao. The formal trial begins now, and whether you can enter our Biyun Sect depends on your fate.”

”Greetings, Senior Brother Zhao.” Everyone bowed in unison.

”The first stage of the formal trial: Spirit Root. Although you have all been tested outside, a re-examination is necessary.” Zhao Qi spoke with a seriousness unlike the previous day’s casualness.

Shortly after, the seventy-six people were led next to a Jade Pendant. Larger than the Spirit Testing Stones Li Ji’an had seen in the Market or the Yan Family, the Jade Pendant was ten meters long. According to Zhao Qi, it could not only measure the Spirit Charm of fully grown Spirit Roots but also test Spirit Roots that have transformed the Dantian with magical power, with greater accuracy than ordinary Spirit Testing Stones.

After speaking, whether to intimidate the group or simply to set an example, Zhao Qi casually placed his hand on the Jade Pendant.

”Hmm? More than thirty strands... hiss, Earth Spirit Root!”

The moment his hand touched the Jade Pendant, the Five Elements Spirit Charms appeared almost simultaneously. Among them, the Water Spirit Root’s charm rose strand by strand, surpassing thirty strands, gradually merging into a vast emerald wave blended with the earth.

”This is the Earth Spirit Root.” Li Ji’an had only seen similar descriptions in ancient texts; today, he witnessed it firsthand.

A few seemingly confident youths among the crowd quietly lowered their heads, putting away their pride.

The test results were soon out: twenty-nine had Upper Grade Spirit Roots, while the rest had Middle Grade.

Even those with Middle Grade Spirit Roots had over fifteen strands of Spirit Charm.

After all, those barely reaching Middle Grade wouldn’t have had the confidence to participate in the trial.

Li Ji’an confirmed his Spirit Root with nineteen strands of Fire Spirit Root, not only not the worst but quite average.

This batch of people was essentially the elite youth from the vast regions of Cangyun State.

Even with over three hundred eliminated in the initial trial and those staying within their family, compared to the tens of thousands born annually in Cangyun State, a Mid-Upper Spirit Root ratio was extremely low; most didn’t compare.

Zhao Qi recorded everyone’s results on a Memory Stone before taking them back to the plaza.

”The second stage of the trial: Heart Nature! For us cultivators, if we lack the perseverance to seek the great path, the courage to face challenges, and the concentration to focus solely on the path, we will achieve little. Everyone, please ascend the Heart Inquiry Platform.” At Zhao Qi’s words, round stone platforms the size of meditation mats rose slowly in the center of the plaza.

”Another Illusion Realm...” Even with his Divine Soul strength, Li Ji’an only remained conscious for three breaths before falling into the Illusion Realm.

...

...

...

”Is there a way to have both, not to disappoint the Daoist Venerable nor the beloved? Unable to forget, unwilling to let go...”

”Kill! Kill! Kill! As long as those beasts are slain, who cares if I can’t ascend to immortality?”

”Liu, I promise you, I won’t leave. I’ll never leave you again. If I’m not happy, what’s the point in living forever?”

...

Li Ji’an didn’t know how long had passed before he regained consciousness. Flashes of fragmented images passed through his mind, and he heard the noise of others around him.

”Father, Mother? Master, Senior Brother... the dragon throne... and Ning Sujin!” Li Ji’an ignored the others, trying to piece together the fragments from his memory.

”The illusion wasn’t fabricated from nothing; it must have drawn out some subconscious from the Sea of Consciousness...” After a moment, he had some insight into the so-called Heart Inquiry Platform.

”But... why was Yan Qingwan there? And that way...” One of the fragmented images made Li Ji’an somewhat uncomfortable.

Shaking his head to clear the thoughts, Li Ji’an realized that after entering the Illusion Realm, his subconscious had been lured into encountering specific obstacles to his path.

These involved fame, fortune, love, hatred, crises, and temptations.

Those subconscious thoughts weren’t entirely his true self, seemingly influenced by external factors.

”Perhaps consciously hypnotizing oneself beforehand might be effective.”

”I wonder how I did in this stage?” Li Ji’an looked around and saw a few others who had obviously awakened looked a bit dazed.

Most were still trapped in the Illusion Realm, with some sobbing, some joyful, and others raging frantically...

”Hahaha, I did it, Daoist Venerable, I succeeded!” Suddenly, Xiao Changfeng, who had intentionally sat next to Li Ji’an, laughed loudly, looking triumphant.

”...” When he opened his eyes, he was bewildered for a moment, looking at his raised hands as if he couldn’t remember the Illusion Realm.

”Brother, just now, I?” he asked Li Ji’an with some concern.

Li Ji’an feigned confusion and shook his head.

Another incense stick later, many were still not awake from the Illusion Realm.

In one swift motion, Zhao Qi opened his eyes, wrapped those awake, including Li Ji’an, in magical power, and led them off the Heart Inquiry Platform.

”Heart Nature Trial, Class A, three people, Class B, thirty-four people.”

He then turned to those still on the platform: ”Those unqualified may report to the Outer Sect or leave the mountain.”

”The third stage of the trial: Comprehension! In ancient cultivation, the natural Daoist technique and comprehension of heaven and earth were crucial. Though today’s world has changed, cultivation is challenging. Yet, whether it’s comprehending the Cultivation Technique or mastering the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, comprehending the Spiritual Mechanism is essential. With each advancement in realm, you will understand the importance of comprehension. Please enter the pavilion for enlightenment!”