The only woman among the five from Wen Dao Sect slowly stepped forward. Her blue robes fluttered, and her appearance was gentle and beautiful. She held a jade flute in her hand, like a Fairy, and smiled faintly at everyone, saying, “Dao has three treasures: Heart, Body, and Spirit!”
“The first test is your Dao Heart. Only by possessing a Dao Heart can you embark on the path of cultivation. Later, I will play a melody. You don’t need to do anything; just listen carefully. If you can persist for more than fifteen breaths during my flute playing, you pass.”
“If you cannot persist, do not force yourself. Immediately sit down cross-legged, and you will automatically be free from the range of my flute’s sound. Of course, if you are capable, try to persist as long as possible. The longer you persist, the firmer your Dao Heart is.”
Compared to Xiao Yishu, Junior Sister Xiang Xuan’s attitude was clearly much better. At least she explained the first test in more detail, making it clear to everyone.
However, most people, including Jiang Yun, still felt confused. What did listening to a flute have to do with the firmness of one’s Dao Heart?
Furthermore, what was so hard about just listening to a flute?
These doubts were answered the moment a melodious flute sound began.
“Pfft!”
The instant the flute sound started, one person suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, staggered backward, and fell onto the ground!
And that person was none other than Jiang Yun!
This sudden turn of events left everyone dumbfounded, and even Xiang Xuan was slightly startled, causing the recently started flute sound to pause for a moment.
Although Jiang Yun and the others were unaware of the connection between the flute sound and the firmness of the Dao Heart, Xiang Xuan was very clear about it. Within her flute sound, everyone below the Blessed Land Realm would see various illusions.
Some would see beautiful women tempting them, some would see wealth luring them, some would see fierce beasts attacking them, and so on. No matter what you saw, as long as your Dao Heart was firm enough, you would not be moved by these illusions and would thus persist within the flute sound.
The firmer the Dao Heart, the longer one could naturally resist the illusions, and vice versa.
However, Jiang Yun’s situation was truly too bizarre, because his reaction could no longer be described as whether his Dao Heart was firm or not; it was as if—he had no Dao Heart!
But, Dao gives birth to all things, and all things have a Dao Heart!
To be honest, since the founding of Wen Dao Sect, and even since this method of testing the Dao Heart was created, such a situation had never occurred before.
“I told you, he’s a savage, cultivating a savage Dao, different from the Grand Dao we pursue, and therefore he doesn’t have our Dao Heart!”
Just then, Huo Yuan’s voice, carrying a hint of mockery, sounded again. This time, even Tang Yi did not speak up to defend Jiang Yun, as Jiang Yun’s situation was truly too strange.
However, everyone now had no time to ponder this issue further, because the briefly paused flute sound had resumed, and everyone began to do their best to resist the illusions appearing before them.
For a time, across the vast square, only the melodious sound of the flute remained.
Within the five peaks of Wen Dao Sect, after a moment of silence, several voices that outsiders could not hear began to sound one after another.
“Everyone, have you ever encountered such a situation?”
“No! I’ve cultivated for over five hundred years, and not only have I never encountered it, I’ve never even heard of it!”
“Could this child be of the Yao Race?”
“Impossible! Even if the Yao Race could deceive us, they couldn’t deceive the four Dao Beasts and the mountain protection array. Besides, the Yao Race also has a Dao Heart!”
“Perhaps, it’s just an accident!”
No one could provide a reasonable explanation for Jiang Yun’s situation, let alone Jiang Yun himself, who knew nothing about cultivation.
He only knew that the moment the melodious flute sound began, a giant mountain appeared before his eyes and crashed heavily into him.
Even with his strong Physical Body, he could not withstand such a fierce impact, which was why he spat blood and fell backward.
Although Jiang Yun was utterly confused, he at least understood that he had failed the first test. He still had two more chances, and if he failed all of them, he would lose the qualification to enter Wen Dao Sect.
Fortunately, his injuries were not severe. Jiang Yun did not stand up but continued to sit on the ground, waiting for the end of the first test.
Although he could no longer hear the flute sound, he could clearly see many people around him sitting down cross-legged one after another.
Some, like him, vomited blood, while others had pale faces and trembling bodies, clearly having sustained injuries of varying degrees.
By the time Xiang Xuan moved the jade flute away from her lips, only one person remained standing at the entire mountain gate: the black-clad person Jiang Yun had noticed earlier, who seemed isolated from the world.
The flute sound seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever. From beginning to end, he hadn’t even changed his posture, remaining tall and straight like an old pine tree!
After taking a deep look at Jiang Yun, Xiang Xuan announced the results of the test.
In the first test, two hundred and sixty-seven people successfully passed, and all the people Jiang Yun had noticed were among them.
In other words, these people had already obtained the qualification to enter Wen Dao Sect. Even if they were only Utility Disciples, it was enough to make others incredibly envious.
Of course, besides the attention on the successful Disciples, many gazes were also fixed on Jiang Yun.
There was no helping it; his performance was simply more eye-catching than anyone else’s.
“Second test!”
Without giving anyone time to rest, Xiao Yishu’s voice sounded again, drawing everyone’s attention to him.
As soon as he finished speaking, the five of them, including him, simultaneously extended their hands. A beam of light flew out from each person’s palm and landed on the ground, revealing five mirrors.
Each mirror was as tall as a person and ancient in style. However, the mirror surfaces were shrouded in mist, making it impossible to reflect any images.
“The second test is to determine whether you have the potential to condense a Dao Spirit. These are Wen Dao Mirrors. You will divide into five groups, line up, and stand in front of the mirrors in order. As long as the mist on the mirror surface changes, you pass!”
Listening to Xiao Yishu’s explanation, most people, including Jiang Yun, remained utterly confused.
Looking in a mirror counted as a test?
If the mist on the mirror surface changed, you passed?
As everyone exchanged bewildered glances, Huo Yuan spoke contemptuously, “Tsk, a bunch of bumpkins, wanting to join Wen Dao Sect without knowing anything! Let me tell you, only by possessing a Dao Heart can you embark on the path of cultivation. And to go further on the path of cultivation, you need to see if you possess the Spirit of Seeking Dao!”
“The Wen Dao Mirror contains Dao Intent and can perceive whether you might condense a Spirit of Seeking Dao in the future! Sigh, it seems I, this young master, will have to give you a demonstration!”
Although Huo Yuan’s tone was unpleasant, he at least helped everyone understand the content of this test.
Then, Huo Yuan elegantly strode towards one of the Wen Dao Mirrors. Everyone, even Jiang Yun, widened their eyes, trying to clearly see if there were any profound mysteries in this test.