A genuine smile appeared on her face for a brief moment, transforming her cold beauty into something warmer, more human.
Then it vanished as quickly as it came, and she gestured to the disciple controlling the array plate.
"Begin," she said.
I stepped into the array, feeling the formation activate around me. The world changed instantly.
The first illusion appeared. I found myself in a grand hall, dressed in luxurious robes, surrounded by wealth beyond imagination.
Gold, jade, spirit stones piled high like mountains. And all around me, beautiful women pressed close with their bodies soft and warm against mine.
Flawless jade-like skin, intoxicating fragrances, silk robes that left little to imagination.
Their hands roamed freely, touching my chest, my arms, their fingers trailing dangerously lower.
Their voices were honey-sweet, whispering promises of pleasure into my ears. "Young master," they breathed, their lips brushing against my neck, "let us serve you... we'll give you everything you desire..."
Some pressed their ample chests against me, their breathing hot and heavy. Others kissed my hands, my fingers, their tongues teasing.
One particularly bold beauty straddled my lap, grinding slowly, her breath coming in soft moans as she whispered all the sinful things she wanted to do.
Their robes slipped from their shoulders, revealing smooth skin and curves that would drive any man to madness.
I just looked at those curves and peaches nearly lost my composure due to my pathetic past virgin life, but knew immediately that it was an illusion.
Concentrate. I said to myself
But it was so real the scents of their perfume, the sounds of their soft gasps and moans, the warmth of their bare skin against mine, the weight of soft flesh pressing from all sides.
The temptation was overwhelming, designed to break any man's resolve.
Yet none of it moved me. I stood still, completely unmoved by their advances, their touches, their promises.
My heart remained calm like still water. I saw through the emptiness of such desires, recognizing them for the hollow pleasures they were illusions meant to trap the weak-willed.
The scene shifted. Now I was dressed in Sun Moon Spirit Sect robes, surrounded by other disciples.
We were in a deserted mountain forest area, far from any supervision.
One of the weaker disciples had just found a rare spirit herb a treasure that could advance one's cultivation significantly. His face was bright with joy and excitement.
Killing intent rose inside me, dark and insidious. The thought came unbidden: Kill him. Take it. No one would know. He's weak. You're stronger. Why should he have what you need?
But the killing intent couldn't affect my actions. I recognized it for what it was a test, a corruption.
Instead, I stepped forward and congratulated him sincerely, offering advice on how best to use the herb for his cultivation path.
The scene shifted again. This time was harder. We were confronting a Yao beast, a powerful demon creature with blood-red eyes and savage fangs.
Five disciples had entered this area along with me. Three were already dead, their bodies torn apart, blood staining the ground.
Of the two remaining besides me, one had already fled, abandoning us without hesitation.
The last disciple stood his ground, but I could see he was about to die.
But, he refused to leave the body behind. He wouldn't retreat. Which meant he would die here.
Because two of the dead were his dao companion and his sworn brother,
Not mine. There is no need for me to risk my life.
I had a chance to flee. The Yao beast was focused on him. I could escape, live to fight another day. It would be the smart choice, the survival choice.
But I didn't flee.
Instead, I charged forward, my qi surging. Together, we fought the beast, covering each other's weaknesses, and after a desperate battle, we killed it.
We collected our fallen brothers' bodies and left together.
The scene in front of me vanished like smoke. I opened my eyes.
Everyone in the hall was staring at me, their faces frozen in absolute shock. I looked around confused, then asked the chief,
"What happened? Chief?"
But he was still in shock, his mouth hanging open slightly. Then the envoy made a small coughing sound, breaking the silence.
"It was... truly amazing," she said, and her voice carried genuine awe. "And also a misfortune."
She looked at me, and her cold eyes had warmed considerably, showing something almost like sympathy.
"Now I understand your words. If I had been born with a five-element root and such heaven-defying comprehension, such perfect mental fortitude... I would also want to kill myself from disappointment."
She shook her head slowly. "But I really admire your mental fortitude. Your Dao heart is clearer than many Foundation Establishment cultivators I know."
She reached into her spatial ring and produced another token.
This one was different from the first it was made of higher-quality jade, and had the character for "Elder" inscribed on one side, with "Mu" on the other.
"Here, take this," she said, her voice gentle as she sent it floating to me.
"If you ever want something, or need help, come to the sect to meet me. Show them this token. It bears my personal seal. I am Elder Mu Qingxue of the Moon Faction in Sun-Moon spirit sect."
I caught the token carefully, feeling the weight of it not physical weight, but the weight of what it represented.
I bowed deeply, genuine gratitude flooding through me.
"Thank you, Senior Elder Mu, for your grace and kindness. This junior is deeply moved."
"It is nothing," she said, waving her hand dismissively, but I saw a small smile on her lips.
"It is what you have earned through your own merit."
I glanced at the other children. Their expressions were a mixture of shock, jealousy, envy, and disbelief.
Huo Chen looked stunned. Yun Ruoxi's eyes were wide. Feng Yanran's face showed barely concealed jealousy. Liu Hu just stared with his mouth open in shock.
Honestly, I enjoyed seeing them like that. It was petty, perhaps, but satisfying nonetheless.
After the test ended, Elder Mu turned to the four children who had passed. "You all have passed,"
she said, her voice returning to its cold, professional tone. "From this moment onward, you are outer sect disciples of the Sun Moon Spirit Sect."
Crescent shaped sun-moon tokens were distributed to each of them by the jade-robed disciples.
The children received them with trembling hands, their faces flushed with excitement and pride.
"I will depart this evening," Elder Mu continued. "If you are ready and wish to leave immediately, you may come with me. We will travel directly to the sect."
"Otherwise, arrive at the sect within one month. Bring your sect tokens for identification. If you fail to arrive within one month, your status will be revoked without exception."
"Now go. Prepare whatever you need. Say your farewells."
We all bowed deeply, pressing our fists to our palms in the proper salute. "Thank you, Elder Mu!"
Then we left the office hall, stepping out into the bright afternoon sunlight.
As I emerged, squinting slightly at the light, my thoughts were heavy with everything that had just transpired.
An Elder's personal token. A spiritual farmer position with sect backing. And most importantly, I've drawn her attention in a positive way.
But attention is a double-edged sword. I need to be even more careful now.
The other children scattered quickly, running toward their homes to prepare or share the news.
I walked slowly, the two tokens heavy in my inner robe pocket, feeling the weight of the future pressing down on me.
But Seeing the envoy and the other cultivators roaming around the village, only one thought remained in my mind.
More significant changes would come to this village and my life in the future and I needed to be ready for whatever came next.
-----------
I walked along the familiar dirt path leading back to our home.
The late afternoon sun stretching my shadow across the ground. My steps were unhurried. That alone felt strange.
In the past, whenever I returned from matters tied to sects or spirit roots, my heart would always feel heavy.
There was usually a dull ache lodged in my chest, a quiet frustration I had long grown used to carrying.
With the arrival of the system, that burden had eased somewhat.
Yet because of my mental age and physical condition, I had always felt an urgent need to hurry, to become strong as quickly as possible with the system's help.
But this time, there was none of that. No anger. No resentment. Not even disappointment.
Instead, my mind was unusually clear, my breathing steady, as if a knot that had been tightening around my heart for years had finally loosened.
The reason was simple. The blue-robed envoy Elder Mu had already solved the hardest problem for me.
I had never been afraid of working hard. Nor was I afraid of being poor.
What truly weighed on me was the thought of being weak completely shut out of the cultivation world, watching opportunities pass by with no way to grasp them.
But with the system and the sect-affiliated spiritual farmer token changed everything.
I slipped my hand into my sleeve, fingers brushing against the cool jade hidden there. That faint, solid sensation grounded me.
With that token, I could legally grow high-tier crops for the sect.
With those crops, I could earn contribution points. And with contribution points, I could obtain resources that ordinary cultivators would never even dream of.
More importantly... those crop harvest could be turned into rewards through the system.
A quiet warmth spread through my chest. For the first time since arriving in this cultivation world, I wasn't merely surviving. I was moving forward.
I didn't realize my pace had quickened until the outline of our courtyard appeared ahead the worn wooden gate, the familiar roof tiles, the faint smell of earth and smoke drifting in the air. Home.
I let out a slow breath. Yes. This is my true first step into this world.
...to be continued.