[Group 11111, selected challenge content: Layer 1720 of the Zhenchuan Trial.]
[Young lady, tonight, will you come with me?]
Stepping into the teleportation formation of the Resting Layer, ripples of water appeared.
Lin Shuang and the others were startled.
“What is this layer for, young lady? Isn’t it for defense?” Meng Zi exclaimed in surprise.
Especially Huangpu Yuan, who, before the teleportation formation fully activated, extended his slender fingers toward Zhao Kran but paused mid-air.
“Ah, Senior Huangpu, are you still going to exchange the inscription of ‘avoiding furnace explosion for alchemists’ for a Tier-3 defensive treasure tripod?”
Huangpu Yuan: “…Yes.”
Zhao Kran hurriedly shuffled his feet, switching to a dragonfly-skimming-water steps.
He quickly grabbed the alchemist’s blessing inscription being exchanged and simultaneously flung a Tier-3 treasure tripod into the formation.
“Extra three thousand spirit stones!”
“Deal. Once we leave this place, no returns or exchanges allowed.”
Zhao Kran’s reminder was distorted by the teleportation formation, fading away as they traveled.
“Junior apprentice, hehe.”
Huangpu Yuan whispered beside Lin Shuang’s ear.
“If the tripod proves useless, you’ll be responsible for my alchemy furnace.”
“…”
As if he even knew how to refine pills.
Lin Shuang lowered her gaze to her embroidered shoes, counting how many stitches there were.
“Huh? What did Senior Huangpu say? How could he ever be the kind of person who tries to take shortcuts in a three-person battle by relying on external defensive objects like a tripod?”
“…”
“So, Senior, how long can your tripod protect all three of us?”
“…”
The teleportation formation slowly swayed.
Lin Shuang finally saw the tripod manual Huangpu Yuan displayed before her.
[Can defend against attacks below Core Formation Stage 5, three times.]
The number of uses was quite low.
Expensive yet impractical!
Meng Zi stole a glance and felt heartache. “Let’s agree in advance—if we lose, no matter whose scroll gets taken, we all share the loss, right?”
The three fell silent.
What a complete lack of trust in each other.
The teleportation formation finally stopped.
Before they even stepped out of the formation circle, they heard a chorus of croaking frogs from the fields outside, echoing continuously.
Lin Shuang raised her eyes and saw a peaceful plain, with curling smoke rising from five thatched cottages.
Delicious aromas wafted toward them.
Layer 1720 of Zhenchuan was actually a quiet little village.
There was no trace of wind from any direction, nor a single person in sight.
“Could they have entered this layer before us and are hiding in these thatched cottages?”
Meng Zi tightened his grip on his large sword, alert.
They had only stepped into the formation at the very last moment before teleportation began.
“Senior Huangpu, I told you, since they’re all Tier-3, you should’ve just bought the cheapest defensive treasure vial. Why did you have to choose a tripod with a bird painted on it?”
Huangpu Yuan’s phoenix eyes sparkled. “That’s a chicken.”
“…”
“A three-winged chicken, with glossy feathers and delicious meat.”
As Huangpu Yuan was about to take out the tripod for Meng Zi to admire, Lin Shuang stopped him with a hand.
“Wait, don’t take it out yet. Let me recalculate this arithmetic sequence.”
“?”
Lin Shuang took out paper and brush, looking puzzled at the village.
What exactly was this question testing?
Xiao Ai immediately spat out an Excel table made of spiritual energy.
“I don’t think I made a mistake. Don’t you guys find it familiar that these Zhenchuan trials resemble something we know?”
Lin Shuang quickly scribbled on her draft paper.
—The nine common trials of the Outer Sect’s spiritual spring competition:
—Defense 1, Spiritual Endurance 2, Speed 3, Alchemy/Artifacts 4 (support), Sword Cultivator 5 (attack), Sound Cultivator 6 (mainly spirit sense), Insight 7, 1v1 combat 8, Team battle 9.
“The nine trials of the Outer Sect’s spiritual spring?”
Meng Zi was stunned. “You mean all the layers of Zhenchuan are based on these nine trials?”
Huangpu Yuan’s phoenix eyes gleamed with interest. “The content of each layer in Zhenchuan rotates every year, and no disciple knows in advance which trial corresponds to which layer.”
“So this rotation follows a pattern rather than being random?”
Lin Shuang nodded. “That’s my guess.”
Huangpu Yuan and Meng Zi both looked down at Xiao Ai’s ‘Excel’ table, which was very clear.
“Layer 307 corresponds to the turtle—mainly defense—layer number leaves a remainder of 1 when divided by 9.”
“Layer 411, ‘if you’re a cultivator, you’ll get 100’—endurance—layer number leaves a remainder of 2 when divided by 9.”
“Layer 841, ‘I’m dead’—healing teammates—alchemy—layer number leaves a remainder of 4 when divided by 9.”
“Layer 976, ‘poke me and see’—sword (attack)—layer number leaves a remainder of 5 when divided by 9.”
“Layer 1222, ‘Ten Thousand Scroll House’—insight—layer number leaves a remainder of 7 when divided by 9.”
Huangpu Yuan’s phoenix eyes sparkled. “This arithmetic sequence you mentioned? We’re currently on layer 1720, which leaves a remainder of 1 when divided by 9, so it corresponds to defense.”
Lin Shuang nodded, rechecking all the recorded calculations.
Xiao Ai hadn’t made any mistakes.
She felt reassured. “Yes.”
[What does this mean?]
[They seem very confident this ‘young lady, tonight, will you come with me’ layer is a defense trial?]
[How did they figure that out? Does anyone know?]
[Well, I only heard Senior Huangpu say, ‘This is the arithmetic sequence you mentioned. Layer 1720 leaves a remainder of 1 when divided by 9, so it corresponds to defense.’]
[…So what’s this arithmetic sequence?]
[Damn, this damned Zhenchuan must have triggered the ear-blocking restriction again!]
[! I feel this sentence is very important, involving the secret of the Zhenchuan layers! It would be very helpful for senior disciples like us to pass through!]
[So they triggered the restriction again.
I’ve entered Zhenchuan five times over fifty years, and I’ve never heard so many bleeps, buzzes, beeps, and crackles in any junior’s trial projection before.
What’s so special about these three? From the scroll house to this layer, Zhenchuan seems to be very anxious that we might figure something out.]
[Is the room admin here? @Senior Room Admin, could you please tell us?]
In the lush countryside where Lin Shuang and the others stood, the projection screen was filled with disciples sending spiritual messages.
—345 viewers, 3121 words sent.
—Currently accumulated 2207 spirit stones, to be awarded to the winning side.
In the Resting Cave, Zhao Kran, who was constantly moving his hands and feet while cultivating, looked at the projection with shock.
“Senior apprentice, do you know what ‘beep’ means?”
The pink-robed senior’s eyebrow twitched. “No!”
Zhao Kran immediately pouted.
Fine, fine, he didn’t know. But why did the senior seem so flustered?
Senior apprentice is amazing!
But the next moment, the projection changed.
Lin Shuang and the three were about to explore this spring countryside and the thatched cottages.
Suddenly, from the innermost cottage, which was twice as large as the others, came a creaking sound as the gate opened.
A white-haired old man rushed out anxiously, dressed in gray robes and straw sandals, holding three large red silk bundles.
He was sobbing and running toward the stunned Lin Shuang and the others.
“Immortal sirs and ladies, save me!”
“Save my dear daughter!”
“The Wang family from the neighboring village wants to abduct her! They won’t let her live!”
Lin Shuang’s eyebrow twitched. She never expected this.
Meng Zi, holding his large sword, was suddenly tackled by the old man, his face turning green. “You… keep some distance!”
He was already at Core Formation Stage 4, yet he couldn’t even dodge the old man’s charge.
Huangpu Yuan’s expression was complex. “So layers above 1500 involve puppet trials.”
“Puppet trials?” Lin Shuang had never heard of this before.
Zhenchuan opens to inner sect disciples once every ten years, and even Xu Rui, the outer sect steward, didn’t know much about Zhenchuan.
Her information was limited.
“Yes, this isn’t a secret to disciples who pass higher layers.”
Huangpu Yuan held his purple copper ram’s head silver-threaded furnace today. “The reason Zhenchuan becomes more difficult the higher you go is that the higher layers’ trials are no longer as simple as determining pass/fail based solely on how deeply a disciple has mastered techniques or their cultivation level, as in the usual transmission hall.”
“The trials in the upper layers of Zhenchuan are complex. For example, they use puppets made by artificers. These puppets are set with specific behaviors and responses according to the trial’s theme for each layer.”
“You must fulfill the puppet’s request or wish to pass the layer.”
[Exactly, don’t think you’re so great just because you’ve reached a hundred layers.]
[I was stuck at layer 5000 for ten years.]
[Sigh, too many tears, enough said.]
Projection texts flickered.
But Lin Shuang felt fresh and curious, looking at the old man in front of her with concern and curiosity. He looked exactly like a real person—could he really be just a puppet?
This trial seemed like an immersive RPG game.
She couldn’t help but speak up to trigger the next plot. “Grandpa, you just said the neighbor village wants to take your daughter. What happened?”
The old man nodded tearfully.
“Three Immortal Sages, the Wang family’s hooligan son from the neighboring village wants to force my daughter into marriage, but this bully spends all day playing with birds and chickens, has a festering wound the size of a bowl on his head, stinking to high heaven, even stray dogs avoid him. How could I agree!”
“In the end, the Wangs tried to kidnap her instead. I have nowhere else to turn, so I beg the Immortal Sages to help.”
[So it’s really a defense trial!]
[Protecting the puppet is still relatively simple.]
[Three people guarding one, you can fight, flee, or hide.]
But just as the disciples’ projection texts floated by, a thunderous roar flashed across the sky!
“Old Li, don’t make things up!”
“You accepted our Wang family’s betrothal gift, yet you broke off the engagement three days before the wedding. Where does that leave the Wang family’s honor!”
“Hand over the bride within three days so my son can have a happy wedding! Otherwise, the Wang family will storm your Li family village, burn down your ancestral shrine, and take the bride by force!”
Old Li had been crying, but now he was both shocked and furious.
“Heaven help us! Where’s the justice! It was clearly your Wang family who tricked me into the engagement…”
“Three Immortal Sages, I have nowhere else to turn. I offer my lifelong devotion, begging you Immortal Sages to help my Li family village and my dear daughter Fangfang escape this calamity!”
He held three red silk bundles in his hands, which clinked with the sound of spirit stones.
He knelt and kowtowed to Lin Shuang and the others in tears.
Just then, a ripple appeared, and the mighty voice of Zhenchuan rang out.
[Trial of Layer 1720: Young lady, tonight, will you come with me.]
[The Li family village’s plea:
1. Protect Li Fang from being taken by the Wang family;
2. Protect the Li family ancestral shrine from destruction by the Wang family.]
Lin Shuang deeply admired the creativity of the elders behind Zhenchuan.
Such a tragic story of a tyrant abducting a girl, yet they gave it such a literary name for the trial layer.
Back in Lüjiang, this would be a textbook case of misleading book titles.
Fortunately, her arithmetic sequence was correct.
This layer indeed tested defense!
But Meng Zi’s face wasn’t looking too good. “This layer has two separate tasks. Senior Huangpu’s bird tripod can only be used three times.”
Huangpu Yuan’s expression was complex. “It’s a chicken.”
[This layer is harder than I thought. Defending a girl, we can fight while fleeing, maybe evade. But defending the ancestral shrine—we can’t run, we have to stand and fight!]
[That’s why disciples at the early Core Formation stage rarely reach above layer 2000, most stuck around layer 1000.]
[The difficulty is high, but the rewards are rich. I suspect those three red bundles from the old man are heavy with spirit stones.]
[I’m also curious, I hope these three can pass so I can learn about the reward.]
[I know, I’ve seen disciples pass this layer before. Each red envelope contains 500 spirit stones.]
[Naive!]
[Childish!]
[Young junior, are you new to layer 2000 this year? Why make such a ridiculous statement?]
[??]
[In any puppet trial, after completing the goal, the disciples receive different rewards based on how much gratitude and reverence they earn from the puppet.]
[???]
[Look at those three red bundles from Old Li. Why aren’t they just trays with spirit stones laid out?
Because when the mission is completed, the red envelopes might contain three spirit stones, or thirty thousand. The amount varies but doesn’t exceed the maximum reward for this layer. Understand?]
[So it’s like that!]
The projection texts scrolled like a horse race.
Unfortunately, Lin Shuang couldn’t see them.
They had reached layer 1700, and according to Zhenchuan’s rules, they could only view projections below layer 700.
A thousand layers’ gap was the viewing restriction Zhenchuan set to prevent disciples from copying strategies, stealing answers, or cheating.
Meng Zi had entered the Inner Sect thirteen years ago, reaching only layer 1110 back then.
Huangpu Yuan had entered the Clearwater Sect with a frail body, and regarding the rules for layers above 1000 in Zhenchuan, he only knew them through hearsay, mostly just smiling silently throughout.
Thus, Lin Shuang still lacked analytical data about this trial layer.
But Lin Shuang had gone through the modern college entrance exam gauntlet, navigating through countless exams.
Midterms, finals, mock exams, spring exams, joint exams…
After battling through endless practice problems, Lin Shuang had developed her own efficient problem-solving method.
“Solution.”
She folded her hands behind her back and addressed the old man.
Meng Zi: “?”
Huangpu Yuan raised an eyebrow.
Old Li looked at her, tearful eyes filled with confusion.
Lin Shuang coughed lightly. It seemed the elders who set the Zhenchuan trials weren’t modern people.
She wasn’t embarrassed at all as she cleared her throat. “Grandpa, I’d like to know, between protecting the ancestral shrine and saving your granddaughter Fangfang, which task gives more points?”
“?”
“? ? ?”
Old Li was momentarily stunned, his hand holding the three red bundles pausing.
Lin Shuang narrowed her eyes, battle-hardened from countless exams.
Efficiency Study Method—Exam Tactics: When solving problems, first clarify the point distribution of each question, then allocate your time accordingly!
If time runs out, prioritize the higher-scoring questions.
Normally, of course, saving a life would be more important.
But now, in this cultivation world, this old man and his granddaughter were just puppets controlled by the examiners—they weren’t real people.
When Lin Shuang first arrived at Zhenchuan, she also wanted to verify the true intentions of the elders who set the trials—
Cultivators must transcend their mortal shells to ascend. As for emotional attachments to loved ones, would these be no more than fleeting clouds in the hearts of these powerful experts who have crossed calamities and lived for centuries?
She had to find out, for only then could her answers come closer to the standard.
“What I mean is, in case we are overpowered, which one is more important? We will focus our protection on that one.”
[What’s the point of this question? If I go to this level, I will take Fangfang to the ancestral hall and protect them together.]
This thought quickly flashed across the old face of Elder Li.
But upon hearing it, Elder Li’s wrinkled face showed hesitation.
Surprisingly the observers, he actually seemed to be seriously contemplating the question, like a real, living person.
“Ah, my Li family village has been here for three hundred years now.”
“The ancestral hall holds the spirit tablets of our ancestors… if my family line is severed because of me, how could I face our ancestors after I close my eyes?”
Lin Shuang slightly frowned.
Elder Li clutched his large red bundle tightly, turned around fiercely three times on the spot, then showed a determined expression.
He looked at Lin Shuang and said, “Immortal, of course the ancestral hall is the most important!”
Huangfu Yuan, who had been watching silently, let out a faint mocking smile at this point.
“Therefore, I beg you, protect my little daughter first!”
Elder Li knelt down with a loud thud.
Huangfu Yuan was taken aback.
[This twist—]
[This sudden change of tone…]
[This trial-setting elder is so unpredictable!]
Good thing.
Lin Shuang let out a long sigh of relief.
Therefore, she had made no mistake years ago when she investigated several major sects in the Donghua Region and finally chose Qingshui Sect.
“Supreme goodness is like water”—she loved the school culture here.
This also confirmed her previous guess in the trial “Ah, I’m dead”—the core theme of saving companions.
Love.
—Qingshui Sect values people above all!
Thus, she could spend the next hundred years studying and working in Qingshui Sect.
No need to waste time transferring schools or changing jobs—how happy!
Delighted in secret, Lin Shuang immediately helped the old man up who was shedding tears, saying, “Grandpa, I understand. Don’t worry, we will do our best to help you.”
As soon as she finished speaking, ripples formed in the air.
[Lin Shuang triggered Elder Li’s contemplation.]
[Rule changes:]
[1. If protecting the ancestral hall and Xiaofang succeeds: Trial passed, considered victory over Team 235.]
[2. If ancestral hall is destroyed: Trial failed, fall one hundred levels, considered draw against Team 235.]
[3. If Li Fang is taken away: Trial failed, fall two hundred levels, considered draw against Team 235.]
[4. If both Li Fang and ancestral hall protection fail: Trial failed, disciple falls three hundred levels; considered loss against Team 235, losing one personal cultivation technique.]
Meng Zi stared in shock, “The rules changed? As long as we protect one, we can draw with Dao Dong’s group?”
[…!]
[I see! Is this what she meant by ‘scoring points’? This is possible too?]
[This junior sister is so smart! If we didn’t ask, trying to protect both Li Fang and the ancestral hall, but failing due to insufficient ability, the trial would be over immediately!]
[Can I also take advantage like this at level five thousand?]
The words floated, soon stirring a thick ripple of water.
[Because disciple Lin Shuang spoke in this projection, it also helps in passing higher levels.]
[Projection viewing fee: increased to 500 spirit stones per half incense stick.]
[Speaking fee in projection: increased to 1 spirit stone per 5 characters.]
[! Shocking!]
[…]
[Begin the Silent Meditation Technique!]
In the projection, Huangfu Yuan remained silent, his phoenix eyes fixed on the old man’s shoulder, as if lost in thought.
Even as Lin Shuang and Meng Zi explained the rules, his eyelids didn’t budge.
He had always thought human cultivators were absurd, sacrificing their closest loved ones for fame and legacy, for eternity.
Unlike their beast clan, where ancestral halls and inheritances meant nothing compared to the importance of one’s own life and blood relatives.
Yet what happened in this level seemed different.
Huangfu Yuan looked at Lin Shuang with complex emotions, “You… how did you think of asking him?”
Lin Shuang turned her head. Understanding the examiner’s mindset wasn’t normal?
The examiner’s mindset?
The elders behind Zhenchuan, the peak power of Qingshui Sect.
Huangfu Yuan fell into thought.
After a while, he smiled faintly, “Junior sister, I want to go with you to explore higher levels of Zhenchuan.”
Meng Zi, already holding a large sword, was inspecting the environment of the wheat field in front of the thatched cottage.
Upon hearing this, he rolled his eyes, “Senior Brother Huangfu, let’s get through this level first. I noticed you bought a bird and a chicken cauldron, and now you’re getting cocky.”
“…”
Huangfu Yuan closed his eyes.
One day, he would definitely teach this junior brother a lesson.
“Our situation is still unfavorable. With this terrain, if the Wang family comes, we can only fight directly!”
Meng Zi pointed with his sword blade at the open wheat fields around them.
“The previous rule display indicated that if we fail to protect the person and ancestral hall, we lose to Dao Dong’s trio, meaning they must be mixed in with the Wang family who wants to take the girl.”
The old man in the village wiped the wrinkles around his eyes, “Dao Dong? I’ve never heard that name before. Could they be the immortal helpers the old Wang family hired overnight?”
The three of them nodded in unison.
“This level was chosen by us for the duel, hence some changes. Ordinary disciples entering would represent the Li family in defending the village like us, but this time Dao Dong’s trio will represent the Wang family village to take the girl.”
Huangfu Yuan, holding a silver-threaded hand warmer,
“In that case, it’s fair for both sides of the challenge.”
[Fair? Not fair at all!]
[Exactly, even with the rule change, only one item needs protection. But you three average Qi Condensation, while Dao Dong’s three are at the Foundation Building stage. This is like an egg hitting a stone.]
[This will be tough.]
[This outer sect junior sister is so smart, unfortunately paired with the weak Meng Zi at Qi Condensation! If she were with me at Foundation Building ninth stage, I could take her to level five thousand!]
[???]
[??]
[To be honest, I also have some admiration for this outer sect junior sister. In previous Zhenchuan challenges, my team of three could only fight head-on, but with her, maybe I could find some clever ways to pass.]
[Right. I wonder if the junior sister transfers teams if she fails this level?]
The texts were filled with admiration for the senior sister.
Zhao Keran, looking up at the projection from her resting cave dwelling, was full of admiration.
Even with insufficient cultivation, she had gained attention and respect from some senior brothers.
Senior Sister, is this what you meant by focusing on yourself and eventually reaping rewards?
Zhao Keran waved her arms and legs even more energetically.
She couldn’t fall too far behind Senior Sister!
She wanted to keep following Senior Sister forward… not fall behind so far she couldn’t even see Senior Sister’s figure!
Zhao Keran took a deep breath, doing a Thomas turn while wiping the treasure rack, and looked toward the pink-robed junior auntie selling cave dwellings not far away.
“Junior Auntie, I’ve finished wiping the teacups, jade tablets, treasure racks, and stone tablets already.”
“What else do you need me to help with?”
Pink-robed junior auntie: “…”
Li Daowei!
Is this the disciple you’ve taught for ten years in the outer sect?
Does she even have eyes?!
*
In the projection array, all the texts expressed concern for Lin Shuang.
But soon, her single sentence made everyone gasp.
She looked at the old man before her, then at the five thatched huts, and after thinking, spoke.
“Grandpa, does your village have any experts who can help us resist the Wang family village’s attack?”
Huang. Self-reliant. Yun, Meng. Independent. Zi, both startled at the same time.
“What? Lin Shuang, say that louder.”
Meng Zi cried out, wishing he could cover her mouth.
The puppet sets the question, and she still expects the puppet to help?
Asking the examiner for experts right away!
How bold!
Even the senior brothers and sisters watching the projection admired her.
But the next moment, the previously weak and helpless, crying desperately old Li, suddenly changed expression.
“Immortal, what are you saying!”
Of course… she would be scolded. In Zhenchuan trials, disciples must rely on themselves!
Meng Zi covered his forehead, unable to watch.
“Our Li family village has been here for three hundred years! Thriving without end!”
“Of course, there are people!”
Elder Li shouted angrily.
Meng Zi: “?!”
Huangfu Yuan: “…”
[???]
[…?]
“All the young men in our Li family village, about three hundred strong, are with the Immortal!”
As Elder Li spoke,
Three hundred muscular youths, carrying sickles and hoes, poured densely from the five small thatched huts.
“Who dares to touch Fangfang, our village beauty?”
“Dare touch the ancestral hall, step over my body first!”
Meng Zi took a step back, Huangfu Yuan’s mouth twitched.
These youths all had cultivation auras, ranging from high-level Qi Condensation to Foundation Building beginners!
The floating texts in the projection all disappeared!
Silence.
Absurd.
Can these thatched huts accommodate three hundred people?!
Could disciples actually get help from the Li family village in this level’s question?
Three hundred Qi Condensation and Foundation Building cultivators?!
Everyone’s mind was left with only the word “absurd.”
“Three Immortals,” the village elder Li, leading the three hundred strong youths, all patted their chests in unison, “We are at your command!”
[By the ancestor—]
[Back then it was just the three of us, resisting the Wang family’s attack—we! Grass! Ancestor… my entire life suffering in Zhenchuan!]
[How did she think of this!]
In the projection, Lin Shuang didn’t look surprised, as if this was exactly what she expected.
“I knew it, no information in the question stem is useless. No worries, why did the examiner draw five thatched huts?”
“…”
[What did she say? I knew it, there’s no thunderclap without reason in the wuhu. Beep, why did it beep…]
[…]
[Don’t ask, she has touched upon the secret of passing again.]
[… This secret is like a cabbage, getting wuhu-ed all the time…]
[Lin Shuang triggered hidden treasure: Three hundred villagers from Li Family Village (high-level Qi Condensation to beginner Foundation Building)]
[Triggered hidden task of this level: Protect the three hundred villagers, control casualties within ten percent.]
[Extra reward: Li Family villagers realize they are valued by immortals, increasing their admiration for Lin Shuang and her companions!
Note: The admiration from Li Family Village in the nine thousand trials of Zhenchuan may trigger some special events.
This admiration can only be obtained in the stone level where Li Family Village is located.
Once missed, it’s gone. But who knows whether this is a good thing or a bad thing?]
“!!”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage