Before Zhao Xing could react, he unknowingly entered an illusion.
"Master..."
The beauty in the bathtub pressed against him, making him forget everything. His eyes were filled with this delicate, charming, and utterly captivating peerless beauty, leaving only a wild, primal desire to dominate him.
Only after his strength was exhausted did he lie on the bed, assisted by the beauty, and fall into a deep sleep.
When Zhao Xing woke up again, the yellow paper on his forehead had dried and drifted to the side.
The Guide on his abdomen was soaked with sweat.
"Ugh, what a comfortable dream..."
Zhao Xing sat up, holding his head, and remained still for a long time before realizing what had happened.
"What? It failed?"
"!!"
However, the aftertaste of the dream lingered, and there were several records on the panel reminding him:
【You entered the Secret Realm 'Great Dream Academy'】
【You entered the 'Heart-Questioning Platform' trial.】
【Heart-Questioning failed. You gained nothing from this challenge.】
Zhao Xing closed the panel and muttered:
"It must be that this body is too young, at an age full of energy, or perhaps the old version of the Heart-Questioning Platform is too powerful... that's why I returned empty-handed from a treasure mountain."
"No matter, I'll fight again next time, and I'll definitely conquer it in one go!"
After comforting himself, Zhao Xing saw that the sky was already slightly bright, so he immediately put on his clothes and went out to begin his day's labor and Cultivate.
Second night.
Great Dream Academy.
"Ugh, what a comfortable dream... Hmm? It failed again?"
Third night.
Great Dream Academy.
"Such powerful might, it makes one involuntarily sink. I'll definitely pass next time!"
This cycle repeated for half a month, and Zhao Xing remained stuck at the Heart-Questioning challenge.
Even Chen Ziyu and Qian Dong found it strange:
"Brother, why do you always look so dispirited lately?"
"Could it be that he's been secretly going out to play without us?"
"Ziyu, how can you think that of brother? Brother must be Cultivating day and night, which is why he seems a bit tired."
"...You two, stop talking."
Zhao Xing felt a little melancholic. The old version of the 'Heart-Questioning Platform' was too powerful, coupled with his youthful body's strong desires, making it difficult for him to pass for a time.
After a painful reflection, Zhao Xing re-examined his inner self.
The Great Dream Academy was a supreme treasure used by the Great Li Dynasty to test elites. Without putting in some effort, it would indeed be difficult to pass the old version of the Heart-Questioning Platform.
He began to fully devote himself to Cultivate, eliminating all distracting thoughts daily. Besides eating and sleeping, he was either Cultivating Spells or gathering Qi.
He used extreme self-discipline to strengthen his beliefs, sometimes even disciplining himself during meals.
He would deliberately place a bowl of delicious food in front of him when he was very hungry, but he would stubbornly resist eating until the prescribed time had passed.
He wasn't trying to eliminate desire, but rather to train his body to achieve one goal: delayed gratification of desire.
Finally, on a certain night.
Great Dream Academy, Heart-Questioning Platform.
"Master..."
The woman by the bathtub turned around,
Her posture was incredibly charming as she snuggled into Zhao Xing's embrace.
But Zhao Xing made no movement.
"Master~ Is the herbal bath your slave prepared comfortable?" The beauty whispered softly in his ear, like a murmur.
Zhao Xing remained clear-headed this time, recalling his previous failures, and praised sincerely: "It is indeed comfortable."
"Then why is Master so indifferent? Is there something your slave hasn't done well enough?" The beauty looked up, her eyes watery and pitiful.
"I still have desires." Zhao Xing shrugged, then pushed the woman away: "It's just that my aspirations are high."
"If I'm going to play, I'll play the best, and this carnal desire isn't the best."
The illusion shattered amidst the beauty's somewhat stunned expression.
Next, Zhao Xing ascended 10 steps in one breath.
Various beauties appeared before him, doing their utmost to seduce him.
But Zhao Xing quickly broke free from all of them. After going through the self-discipline struggle, he finally regained the feeling of a 'pro player' passing the Heart-Questioning challenge in his previous life, no longer affected by this current body.
A false illusion, a brief taste is enough; how could one truly become addicted?
"Student Zhao Xing, the Heart-Questioning of the Lust Gate is successful."
"Having passed the first Heart-Questioning Gate at the Early Stage of Qi Gathering, with a firm Dao Heart, you are rewarded with a 'Dao Embryo Medicinal Pill'."
A voice sounded in his ear, and Zhao Xing saw an ancient box floating out of the mist.
"Dao Embryo Medicinal Pill? The first gate actually rewarded such a treasure?"
Zhao Xing's calm and composed expression immediately broke the moment he heard the reward.
This caused him to actively wake up without even attempting the eleventh step.
Suddenly sitting up in a start, Zhao Xing immediately looked down.
He saw that his left hand was holding the ancient box, exactly as it was in the dream.
"The Dao Embryo Medicinal Pill, this was the most top-tier cleansing Medicinal Pill that could be obtained before the revival version! No other!" Zhao Xing was ecstatic.
He had never consumed this item in his previous life. Crafting it himself was too expensive. Buying it from others was also unaffordable, too expensive!
By the time he could afford it or obtain it, he no longer needed it.
"Is this real?"
Zhao Xing still couldn't quite believe it, thinking he was still dreaming. So he quickly rubbed his eyes, only confirming it after checking the panel records.
【You entered the Secret Realm 'Great Dream Academy'】
【You entered the 'Heart-Questioning Platform' trial.】
【Heart-Questioning successful. You obtained a 'Dao Embryo Medicinal Pill' from this challenge.】
【Dao Embryo Medicinal Pill: A treasure of the Great Li Royal Family from ancient Dynasties, it can help one shed their mortal body and exchange their bones, reshaping their Dao Foundation.】
"The Heart-Questioning Platform actually rewarded such an exaggerated treasure?"
Zhao Xing quickly deduced a reason: "Is it because my Realm is too low, yet I was able to pass the ten steps of Heart-Questioning, causing the reward Rank to increase significantly?"
The assessment and rewards of the Great Dream Academy were not entirely fixed but were determined based on individual performance.
It was extremely rare for Zhao Xing to pass the ten steps of Heart-Questioning at the Qi Gathering Realm (Li Dynasty Cultivation system). This had nothing to do with the time spent; passing in 100 years at Qi Gathering Second Rank was still impressive, which is why the Heart-Questioning Platform gave such a high reward.
"I'll eat it!"
Zhao Xing impatiently opened the box and swallowed the light red Medicinal Pill inside.
An extremely violent heat instantly washed over his entire body, causing Zhao Xing to tremble involuntarily.
But the next second, this feeling abruptly disappeared.
The anomaly came quickly and went quickly.
The wonder of the 'Dao Embryo Medicinal Pill' lay in this; apart from the initial anomaly, it would not cause any discomfort to the user, nor would it directly raise their Realm, but rather gradually and subtly change their Foundation.
However, the changes the Dao Embryo Medicinal Pill brought to Zhao Xing were still significant!
This could be seen from the panel.
【Name: Zhao Xing】
【Realm: Unranked】
【Luck: Yan Er】
【Spell: Basic Cultivation (Max Rank)】
【Vigorous Growth: Early Stage (201 / 9999)】
【Flowing Clouds: Early Stage (352 / 9999)】
【Qi Gathering: Second Rank (142 / 1000)】
【Shedding Mortal Body and Exchanging Bones, Reshaping Dao Foundation: Special Status (In Progress), this status cannot be detected by anyone below First Rank.】
"A special status has been added. As expected, it lives up to its reputation as the strongest cleansing treasure."
"Qi Gathering went from 71 points at First Rank to 142 points at Second Rank, directly doubling. There's no helping it, even if it only shows a little efficacy initially, it's enough to provide a significant boost at this stage. Fortunately, this kind of boost isn't too noticeable in the low-Rank period."
"Wait, why has my Luck Rank also become Yan Er? I've never heard of consuming a Dao Embryo Medicinal Pill being able to increase Luck Rank."