My best friend asked me if I was still doing system tasks.

Luo Hanying took Ruan Chayan's hand and walked to the deck. There were many cultivators standing or sitting there, chatting in twos and threes, or gazing into the distance alone.

"Fellow Daoist Sheng, are you here admiring the scenery too?" Luo Hanying patted Sheng Meixu's shoulder with a smile.

Sheng Meixu nodded and pointed to the distant, faintly visible mountain peaks, saying, "That's where our sect is located. In another half hour, we'll arrive in Yicheng."

Ruan Chayan asked with concern, "How is Fellow Daoist Sheng recovering now?"

Sheng Meixu smiled wryly and said, "It's nothing special."

"I am a cultivator specializing in alchemy; I know my own body well. Those of us rescued from the secret realm will likely find cultivation difficult in the future."

Luo Hanying hissed, "Is it that serious? I don't feel like I have any discomfort at all."

Sheng Meixu shook her head: "The damage to the soul is not yet clear, but the meridians and dantian of those low-level cultivators who are in serious condition have cracks."

As your cultivation progresses further, you will feel your meridians and dantian thinning.

"Is there a solution?" Ruan Chayan asked. "We can't just know where we're lacking and do nothing about it."

Sheng Meixu looked worried: "Body tempering can increase the strength of the body, but the elixirs for body tempering are not easy to obtain."

Ruan Chayan and Luo Hanying looked at each other, for no other reason than that they both remembered that they had both undergone the cleansing of the marrow and tempering of the body by heavenly lightning.

The two said goodbye to the worried Sheng Meixu and leaned against the railing to discuss the current problems.

Luo Hanying was worried and asked about the recovery status of 1127.

1127 conducted a physical examination for the two women and indicated that although they were still somewhat weak, the lingering ailments left over from their tribulation were slowly healing.

"We were only spared from trouble because of Xiange's protection, but the situation of those cultivators seems far from optimistic."

Ruan Chayan pondered for a moment before speaking, "According to them, what's trapping us is an array consisting of seven pitch-black cauldrons."

We couldn't detect any trace of an array inside the cauldron at all. We don't know if it was because there was no spiritual energy inside, or because our cultivation level was insufficient.

"I reckon they all are. Our cultivation levels are low, and we can't circulate spiritual energy, so we definitely won't be able to detect formations made of spiritual energy."

Luo Hanying scratched her head. "I'm more curious to know if Daoist Yuchen figured out what the problem is after coming here."

At least the formations are right in front of him. If he knows what's going on, we can ask him and see if that helps us speed up the side quest progress.

Ruan Chayan nodded: "Who says otherwise? But I still remember that Demon Lord Huaiwei said he didn't recognize this furnace and had no choice but to destroy it by force."

Perhaps this is why Daoist Yu Chen resorted to such a desperate measure?

"What you're saying isn't impossible." Luo Hanying took a deep breath. "If only there were someone who specialized in studying formations and alchemy cauldrons, they might know what this is."

Ruan Chayan echoed a few times, then said: "Our side mission is to find out and resolve the cause of the spiritual energy dissipation in the Canghai Realm."

Since it has been determined that Zhou Shuxiang and others' actions were part of the first phase of the mission, it proves that they are related to the dissipation of spiritual energy in the Canghai Realm.

If only we knew which sect they belonged to, we could go and confront them and keep asking.

However, it's likely they used fake identity information when they went out.

Luo Hanying guessed: "Hey, you mean that furnace is drawing our spiritual energy because our spiritual energy has dissipated and we have no spiritual energy left?"

Are Zhou Shuxiang and the others from the Canghai Realm?

Ruan Chayan said uncertainly, "Really? If it's really for extracting spiritual energy, isn't the whole world full of spiritual energy?"

Why is it necessary to extract from the cultivator's body?

I think it's still the evil cultivation methods.

Unable to reach a conclusion, the two abandoned the topic.

Ruan Chayan and Luo Hanying learned the details of the entrance examination for the Shiren Sect through 1127.

The entrance examination for the Shiren Sect is divided into two stages: the first stage is to climb the Daoist Ranks, and the second stage is to test one's spiritual roots.

The purpose of the Inquiry Ranks is to test a cultivator's character; only those with sound character can enter the sect.

However, no matter how excellent a cultivator's temperament is, or what level of understanding they can attain in the Dao of cultivation, if their talent is average, they will not be able to go far on the path of cultivation.

Even if one is willing to give it a try, the journey will inevitably be fraught with difficulties. Therefore, the spiritual root test is a screening method for cultivators' aptitude.

Although the Shiren Sect requires testing of spiritual root aptitude, it does not ignore cultivators with inferior aptitude.

The Shiren Sect is willing to accept any cultivator who has passed the mental test at the Dao Asking stage; however, most of these cultivators will remain in the outer sect for cultivation.

Whether a cultivator can be accepted as a disciple by an elder and enter the inner sect depends on their individual fortune, since luck is also a form of strength.

Ruan Chayan and Luo Hanying weren't worried about the aptitude test, since Xiange had already given them special treatment. The real challenge was the Dao Inquiry stage, as they were afraid of encountering problems there.

The Daoist Ascent winds its way from the mountain gate of the Shiren Sect to the foot of the mountain. Each step bears the Daoist intent left by predecessors, with a small formation every five steps and a large formation every ten steps.

Only disciples wearing the Shiren Sect's identity jade token can travel freely and experience the wisdom of their predecessors on the Dao Inquiry Steps.

During the entrance examination, the sect leader will activate the illusion array on the Inquiry Steps. Only cultivators who can escape the illusion on their own will pass the test and enter the next stage.

At the Dao Asking Stage, the Shi Ren Sect will give cultivators participating in the recruitment assessment two chances. If a cultivator fails to escape the first illusion, they will be given time to adjust before entering the second illusion.

Passing through one of the illusions means passing the test and being able to step into the gates of the Shiren Sect.

"Illusions are really troublesome; why are they everywhere?"

Luo Hanying was very worried. "If it weren't for Xiange's reminder, I wouldn't have realized that I was in the illusion. What if I couldn't get through the illusion of the Shiren Sect?"

The illusions of the Shiren Sect are definitely no worse than those in the Stone Crystal Cave.

Ruan Chayan raised her arm and patted Luo Hanying's head: "It's okay, I didn't realize anything was wrong back then either?"

Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Even if we can't pass the entrance exam for the Shiren Sect, we can always try other sects. It's not like we have to join Shiren...

【"Ding—"】 A notification sound that rang in their minds interrupted Ruan Chayan's words.

The two exchanged bewildered glances: No way?! Why would a notification sound come at a time like this?! Do we really have to join the Blade Sect?!

The mechanical voice broadcast confirmed their guess: "Now, the third stage of the main quest is being assigned: assist Fu Yuanzheng and Xu Fengyu of the Discipline Hall of the Shiren Sect in finding the spy within the Shiren Sect and participate in interrogation to find out the spy's identity."

Mission duration: Two years.

Task Reward: 1000 points.

Penalty for mission failure: 10% deduction from main mission progress.

Please continue your efforts, both hosts.

Ruan Chayan: ["...I never knew I was such a jinx."]

Luo Hanying: ["...It's okay, it's not your fault, it's just a task assigned by the system."]

1127: [“By Chaos above, please do not blame me, my two hosts. I know nothing. This was all a task assigned to me by Lord String Song.”]