Transmigrating into a dragon clan experimental subject, is that even possible?

Chu Zihang approached the chessboard, his sharp gaze sweeping over each square: "There are traps on the chessboard. Any wrong move will turn a piece into an enemy, attacking us directly."

Caesar raised the corners of his mouth, revealing his usual confident smile: "This sounds more interesting than a simple test of logic. Let's use our brains and see how these rules work."

Tian lowered his head to study the runes on the chessboard. His rune gun rapidly scanned the data, projecting a three-dimensional chessboard model into the air. The rune gun displayed a series of complex calculation results, and he said in a deep voice, "The rules of the chessboard are based on causal chains. The movement of each piece will affect the state of other pieces. Our goal is to get all the pieces into the rune-glowing squares, but the order must be exactly correct."

"Easier said than done." Lu Mingfei looked up at the sky with a wry smile. "Then how do we know which step is the right one?"

Tian paused for a moment, then pointed to a corner of the chessboard: "Let's start here. This piece represents the 'starting point,' and its symbol corresponds to the next move. We need to move it here—" He pointed to a square in the center of the board, "This move will activate the initial state of the other pieces."

Caesar stepped forward, glanced down at the starting piece, and casually pushed it forward one space. The chessboard emitted a low hum, the surrounding pieces trembled slightly, and a piece in the center of the board began to glow.

“Success.” Tian quickly analyzed, “Next, we need to move this glowing piece to another designated location. Each move must conform to the causal chain of the previous move, otherwise the board will judge it as a failure.”

Chu Zihang observed the chessboard and calmly said, "This is not just a matter of logic; it also requires an assessment of the situation. We must calculate the chain reaction of each move."

They advanced step by step, each move requiring Tian's analysis, Caesar's judgment, Chu Zihang's execution, and observational clues provided by Lu Mingfei. The chessboard grew increasingly complex, the runes shifting and changing unpredictably, as if testing their patience and cooperation.

As the last piece was placed in its designated position, the chessboard suddenly emitted a dazzling light, and the entire hall was enveloped in the glow of runes. The deep voice sounded again: "Your reason and wisdom have passed the test. Remember, knowledge is a powerful tool, but only cooperation and determination can make it truly effective."

The light in the hall gradually faded, the chessboard and bookshelves vanished, and the four stood once more on the path of the trial grounds. Tian put away his rune gun and said in a low voice, "Every trial is a test of our minds. The trials to come will only be more difficult."

Caesar chuckled and turned to look at Lu Mingfei: "Mingfei, your observation just now was quite good, rather unexpected."

"What's so surprising?" Lu Mingfei rolled his eyes. "I just followed you guys around. Don't expect me to do anything high-IQ."

Chu Zihang gripped the Dragon Cutter tightly, his gaze resolute: "Let's keep going. There are many more trials waiting for us."

They strode forward, the path beneath their feet stretching into an unknown abyss, and the aura of the next trial was already faintly present in the air.

The four walked slowly along the road ahead. The air gradually became heavy, and each step felt like stepping on an invisible river of time. The surrounding scenery also began to change. At first, it was a hazy white mist, which then gradually transformed into an ancient and bustling market. Shops lined both sides of the street, and crowds of people moved about, with laughter and shouts rising and falling.

"This is... an illusion from the trial?" Lu Mingfei stood in the middle of the street, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "No, this looks too real."

“Time,” Tian said softly, his gaze fixed on the distance. “The trial’s purpose is to make us experience the passage of time. This environment is likely designed to immerse us in it and make us forget our goals.”

"The passage of time?" Caesar stood aside, glanced at the bustling street, and smiled. "Looks like they're going to play a long game with us this time."

"Stay vigilant," Chu Zihang said coldly, gripping the Dragon Cutter tightly and looking around. "Every detail here could be a trap."

Just as the four were about to take a step forward, a sudden burst of bright light enveloped them. When the light dissipated, they found themselves scattered in different scenes, their connection with each other completely severed.

Lu Mingfei's illusion gradually cleared, and he found himself standing at the end of a familiar alley. The street was bathed in the warm afternoon sunlight, and dappled shadows of trees swayed on the ground. A gentle breeze blew by, and he smelled the air mixed with the aroma of bread and faint floral scents, which made him feel incredibly at ease.

"This... seems to be the street in my hometown?" Lu Mingfei muttered to himself, looking around. He saw that everything was so real—a small stall in the corner, bicycles parked on the roadside, and an old man selling candied hawthorns.

A sense of unease crept into his heart. "Something's not right, this isn't reality."

Just as he hesitated, a familiar figure emerged from the alleyway. Chen Wenwen, dressed in an elegant white dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, carried a small basket and gave him a warm smile.

"Mingfei!" Her voice was soft and familiar, with a hint of playfulness. "What are you daydreaming about? Didn't we agree to go get some snacks together?"

Lu Mingfei stood frozen in place, his eyes wide, as if all his thoughts had been frozen in that moment. He murmured subconsciously, "Chen... Chen Wenwen?"

"Hmm, who else could it be?" Chen Wenwen pouted, pretending to tap his head. "Let's go, the shop will close if we're any later!"

She grabbed his hand lightly, yet so firmly that it made Lu Mingfei's heart skip a beat. His mind went blank as he let her lead him toward a small shop on the street corner.

"How is this possible..." Lu Mingfei looked down at her hand holding his, his voice trembling slightly. What he saw before him was a scene he had imagined countless times, but had never actually come true.

Chen Wenwen turned to look at him, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "You're acting a little strange today. Are you still worried about your exam results? Don't worry, what does it matter if you get first place or not? You're already amazing."

“But…” Lu Mingfei opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say. He wanted to tell her that it wasn’t true, but the smile on her face made him reluctant to break the silence.

They entered the small shop, where the owner, a kind old lady, greeted them with a smile and invited them to sit down, bringing over two steaming desserts. Chen Wenwen took a notebook from the basket and handed it to Lu Mingfei: "These are my review materials, which I just finished writing today. Although you always say you don't understand them, I still hope you can use them."

Lu Mingfei stared at the familiar notebook, his heart churning with countless emotions. "Is this real?" He clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with struggle. He knew he was undergoing a trial, yet he couldn't resist this warmth.

"Mingfei?" Chen Wenwen asked softly, tilting her head to look at him. "What are you still thinking about?"

Lu Mingfei's throat tightened, and he said in a low voice, "You... are you really willing to live this kind of life with me? Just like this, staying here like an ordinary person?"

Chen Wenwen smiled slightly and reached out to hold his hand: "Of course I'm willing. Isn't this what you've always wanted?"

Her gaze was clear and gentle, her voice like a breeze across a lake, almost causing Lu Mingfei to lose all judgment. He lowered his head, looking at her fingers, the warm touch making his heart tremble slightly.

"But...is this really okay? How long can this bliss last?" His heart was filled with conflict. He knew this was all just a trial, yet he didn't want to shatter this false happiness.

Just then, a calm voice echoed in his mind: "The trials of romance exploit your deepest desires, but remember, this is not reality. Every step you take into this state will take you further away from reality."

Lu Mingfei's hand trembled violently, and he looked up to meet Chen Wenwen's eyes. His voice was hoarse: "You...you really aren't her, right?"

Chen Wenwen's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal: "Mingfei, what are you talking about? I'm Chen Wenwen, the Chen Wenwen you know best."

"You're lying." Lu Mingfei gritted his teeth, trying to remain calm. "She's never treated me like this before, and she couldn't possibly have suddenly become so...perfect. It's all fake, right?"