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

Luo Hanying said enviously, "Speaking of which, when I looked at their disciples' robes, I suddenly remembered the robes I saw for Daoist Yu Chen that day."

He looks so handsome, like a god.

I couldn't make out what the pattern on the small cloud-shaped shoulder cape was, and the knee-covering and sash were even gradient-colored. Was it only someone of his status who could wear something so elegant?

Ruan Chayan actually thought about it seriously: "It shouldn't be that bad, right? Aren't clothes invented for people to wear?"

However, it's possible that the sect doesn't allow it.

Luo Hanying thought so too. People who establish a school of thought always have some rules. She excitedly said again, "Hey, did you see that? He even has manicures. He looks so elegant."

How do people here get their nails done? I want to try it too.

Ruan Chayan's eyelids twitched, and she said helplessly, "To be honest, I didn't dare to look at him closely. At that time, my mind was only focused on what I was saying, and I didn't pay attention to Yu Chen."

I have a bit of a problem with guys having long nails, Xiaoxue, you're too accepting.

Luo Hanying defended herself: "It's not about how well he can accept things; his hands really are beautiful."

She simply had never seen a man with manicured nails in real life back in her modern days, let alone one that looked so beautiful.

Luo Hanying stopped savoring the memory: [“Oh, never mind, it makes me sound like a pervert staring at someone’s hands.”]

Ruan Chayan realized what was happening: [“You were looking so closely, you weren’t using your divine sense, were you? Don’t be so reckless in the future.”]

Luo Hanying quickly agreed, but in her heart she was thinking that beauties should be carefully appreciated, and she would dare to do it again in the future, hehe.

The group quickly arrived at the teleportation array, and Yun Yanshu and Ji Nan led the three of them to the foot of the mountain.

Yun Yanshu looked at the three female cultivators, each with their own ulterior motives, and said, "You don't need to be nervous. This is a process that every disciple who joins the Shiren Sect will go through."

Some may worry that their illusions might be witnessed by others. Rest assured, aside from the Mind-Observing Mirror of the Fuming Sect, no other such artifact exists in the cultivation world at present.

"After you ascend the Inquiry Steps, you will not immediately enter the illusion. On the jade steps, you may encounter the phantoms left behind by your predecessors when they were meditating here. This is a normal phenomenon, and may even be an opportunity for you."

There are no illusions that cannot be broken in the Path of Inquiry. Whether you pass the test of your soul or not, the illusion will eventually end.

When the illusion ends, you will definitely see the gate of the Shiren Sect within ten steps. There will be other senior brothers waiting there to take you to test your spiritual root aptitude.

If you fail to pass the first illusion, don't worry, you will have a second chance.

If you can't distinguish between illusion and reality, or if you don't want to continue, then smash the jade tokens I gave you. I will then come and take you out, but at that time you will have no chance to join the Shiren Sect.

When you fail in two consecutive illusions, the jade tablet will send you away from the Inquiry Steps, and you will appear here, at the starting point.

Please leave on your own at that time.

Please remember, it's not that you're not good enough, nor is there anything wrong with the path you cultivate; it's simply that your affinity with the Shiren Sect hasn't arrived yet. Don't fall into self-doubt.

Yun Yanshu explained the precautions to them, and then had them climb the steps.

Ruan Chayan and Luo Hanying exchanged a glance, encouraged each other in their minds, and then walked up the Inquiry Steps one after the other.

Le Shu glanced at the people around her, looking somewhat hesitant, but still stepped onto the stairs, her figure disappearing into the mist.

Yun Yanshu watched the three disappear, picked up the communication jade slip, and respectfully said, "Reporting to Sect Leader Li, all three have stepped onto the Inquiry Steps."

"Alright, Sect Leader Hua and I will keep a close eye on their condition. You can go and wait at the mountain gate."

"Yes."

*

Yun Yanshu stared at Le Shu, who had emerged from the mist, and asked in astonishment, "You've already come out of the illusion so quickly?!"

She only just teleported to the mountain gate a short while ago. Is Le Shu's mental fortitude really that strong?

Le Shu looked around and, noticing that she didn't see Ruan Chayan or Luo Hanying, said apologetically, "They haven't come out yet? I didn't expect I could be here so quickly."

"What kind of illusion are you? You look so relaxed," Wen Chenrui said, feigning surprise.

Le Shu's eyebrows twitched slightly, her face filled with lingering fear: "The illusion was filled with the things I feared most, and I even saw my good friend who has already passed away..."

She shed a few feigned tears, which made everyone hesitant to ask for further details.

Yun Yanshu picked up the communication jade slip and reported to Li Shuhe that Le Shu had already stepped out of the Dao Inquiry Steps.

Li Shuhe seemed to hesitate for a moment, but still said, "Okay, then let Song Kangnian take her to test her spiritual root."

"You've all familiarized yourselves with the assessment process today. Please make sure nothing goes wrong during the actual assessment. The rest is up to you."

Yun Yanshu and Song Kangnian, who was waiting on the side, naturally agreed.

Le Shu followed Song Kangnian to the Spirit Testing Pillar in the square.

After cutting off the communication, Li Shuhe said, "This Le Shu is indeed problematic. She only triggered two illusions at the Dao Inquiry stage, which should be those two cultivators."

How could she have reached the end of the Inquiry Steps without undergoing the test of the illusion?

"This is truly strange. I've never encountered anyone who can ignore a Dao Inquiry stage illusion. Even Yu Chen gets trapped in this illusion once it's opened. Who is this Le Shu? What kind of secret treasure does she possess..."

Hua Shiqing put down his hand from the jade disc on the link and stroked his beard as he said, "Wait a moment, let's wait for Yun Yanshu and the other kids to report."

Let's see what Yue Shu's purpose is.

Two hours later, Yue Shu had settled in, and Song Kangnian and Xiang Haiming came to report on Yue Shu's actions.

Xiang Haiming is a disciple of the Grand Elder of Xinglin Peak and one of the disciples in charge of the recruitment assessment for Hongyan Hall.

According to them, Le Shu has a water and wood spiritual root. There are nine grades of aptitude, and she is at the seventh grade. Her spiritual root and meridians are both exceptionally good, which makes her eligible to join the inner sect.

She was very interested in Daoist Yu Chen. Seeing that she had excellent aptitude, she asked Daoist Yu Chen what his requirements were for accepting disciples.

Song Kangnian stated that Daoist Yuchen was devoted to cultivation and only had one disciple, Ji Daoyun, because Ji Daoyun, like Daoist Yuchen, possessed the Ice Spirit Root, and Ji Daoyun was not personally taught by Daoist Yuchen.

With disappointment on her face, Yue Shu inquired in detail about what each peak in the Shi Ren Sect taught, and then decided to go to Xing Lin Peak, saying that she wanted to become a pill cultivator.

Li Shuhe added, "Xiang Haiming, you are her senior brother and know her secret, so you must keep a close eye on Le Shu and guard against what she might do."

Xiang Haiming readily agreed, assuring everyone that he would keep an eye on Le Shu's movements and figure out what her purpose was.