Chapter 3

Since it is a designated target assessment, choosing the right route is very important.

Zheng Tuo turned around and took out a magnifying glass from his backpack.

This was a special magnifying glass he had asked a cultivator to specially refine for him.

Its function is the same as a regular magnifying glass, but it can automatically adjust the magnification.

The highest level can reach 100 times the magnification of a microscope.

Holding the magnifying glass, Zheng Tuo carefully searched the ground, frame by frame.

Before long, he finally found his target.

It was a series of fresh footprints.

It looked like many people had headed in the same direction, so the footprints were very chaotic and disorderly.

Following the path others had taken was clearly the safest and least dangerous method.

Letting others be his guide, it was simply too comfortable.

Zheng Tuo had already planned this out.

His goal was very simple: to complete the assessment unscathed and join Luoxian Sect.

As for other matters, they were not within his consideration.

Following the footprints, he walked for a whole day.

As he had guessed, following the footprints, he did not encounter any danger.

The journey was smooth, almost as easy as a tour in the primeval forest.

Although that was the case,

Zheng Tuo did not relax even a bit.

He always kept two Wind Chasing Spirit Talismans attached to his thigh, ready to run at any moment.

His mind was highly focused, always alert to the surrounding mountains and forests.

He was afraid that a fierce beast might suddenly appear and kill him.

After all, it was during the assessment period, and being cautious was always right.

Checking the time, the sun was setting in the east, and it was getting dark.

Zheng Tuo had to stop.

Traveling at night was dangerous, especially in a primeval forest, where the danger level was at least ten plus.

Before it got dark, he found a hidden and safe place to set up a shelter.

With ease, he made the shelter.

Then, Zheng Tuo took off his backpack.

The backpack was not an ordinary one but a rudimentary spatial storage device.

Since he was not a cultivator, he could only use this rudimentary storage device.

He could not store a large number of items in a small bag like cultivators.

From the backpack, he took out 100 explosive spirit talismans and carefully buried them nearby.

A first-grade explosive spirit talisman had enough power to injure a first-grade Qi Cultivation cultivator.

It was the only offensive spirit talisman that ordinary people could use.

After setting up 100 explosive spirit talismans around the shelter,

Zheng Tuo still felt uneasy.

He continued to take out 100 alarm spirit talismans from his backpack.

He turned the area within 100 meters into a warning zone.

If any creature entered this area, he would receive a "beep, beep, beep" alarm.

After setting up the alarm spirit talismans, Zheng Tuo felt much more at ease.

On the other side,

In the primeval forest, two days away from him,

"Everyone rest here. Traveling at night is too dangerous. We will continue tomorrow morning." Wang Ze commanded everyone.

"Are we just going to rest like this?"

"Right! How are we supposed to sleep!"

"Indeed, there's only grass around, not a single dry spot. Sleeping here will make us catch a cold."

"Not only grass, but also all kinds of snakes, insects, and rodents. Sleeping here might make us sick."

Everyone expressed their dissatisfaction with the current situation.

They did not bring any tents or even much food.

The current situation was that they were hungry and tired, and still had to participate in the assessment, which was almost unbearable.

"Everyone, bear with it. After all, it's an assessment, and enduring hardship is normal."

Damn!

If it weren't for the need to win people's hearts and lay the foundation for the future, I wouldn't bother with you.

A bunch of good-for-nothings, complaining about resting in the open. What kind of cultivation is this?

Wang Ze cursed in his heart.

"Ao ao ao..."

The howl of wolves echoed through the forest, and everyone instantly woke up.

"There's no way to sleep now. One night down, and we might not see the sunlight of tomorrow."

"Truly miserable!"

"Just bear with it."

Everyone tried to stay awake, huddled together for warmth, and found it hard to fall asleep.

In contrast,

After entering the shelter,

Zheng Tuo took out prepared cured meat, Chinese cabbage, green onions, soy sauce, steamed buns, and clean water from his backpack.

The food was quite ordinary, but he had to make do with it.

After all, it was during the assessment period, and he couldn't ask for too much.

He would eat something better after the assessment.

After eating and drinking,

Zheng Tuo took out clean bedding and laid it out.

He used a preheating spirit talisman to warm the bed and then comfortably lay down.

Ah...

He had to admit, after walking all day, he was indeed a bit tired.

However, to be cautious,

He placed a smoke spirit talisman on the left side of his pillow.

On the right side, he placed a sharp dagger.

After setting everything up, Zheng Tuo slept soundly.

The night passed without incident.

The next day,

"Ah..."

Zheng Tuo yawned and got up early.

Perhaps because he was used to sleeping in the shelter, his mental state was good.

He first checked the traps he had set up around the area.

After confirming that the traps had not been disturbed, he collected them for future use.

Following the plan from the previous day, he continued to follow the footprints left by the people ahead.

On the other side,

Wang Ze and his group, who had not slept all night, forced themselves to get up.

They were listless, like eggplants hit by frost, drooping their heads, and in poor condition.

"Everyone, try harder. Once we reach Sunset Mountain, we will have completed the assessment and will become disciples of Luoxian Sect, at least cultivators."

Wang Ze continued to motivate the group.

The group had no choice but to accept the encouragement, as it was better than nothing.

With dark circles under their eyes and tired bodies, they continued to explore the path ahead.

At the same time,

Two days behind them,

Zheng Tuo walked lightly, admiring wildflowers and enjoying the mountain scenery.

Feeling the beauty and harmony of nature, his mood was indescribably pleasant.

It had to be said,

The air quality in the Eastern Domain was much better than in his previous life.

His lungs, which had almost exploded from smoking, had healed under the nourishment of such high-quality air.

Thank you, heaven, thank you, parents.

Thus,

Zheng Tuo traveled during the day and set up traps at night before resting.

The journey was smooth, and he did not encounter any danger.

Until the fifth day of the assessment,

Zheng Tuo's expression was serious as he looked at the chaotic footprints ahead, puzzled.

The road ahead split into six different paths.

What to do?

Which of the six paths was the safest?

After much consideration, the most cautious method was the only option.

That was to walk each path.

Although it would take some time, compared to completing the assessment smoothly, wasting a bit of time was worth it.

Zheng Tuo did not choose the paths randomly.

Instead, he spent nearly an hour using the magnifying glass to analyze which path had the most footprints.

Relatively speaking, the more people who had walked a path, the safer it should be.

Hmm!

After determining the path, Zheng Tuo saw that it would be dark in less than eight hours.

To be safe, he decided to set out the next day.

Whatever he did, he must not rush and must take it step by step.

Cultivation is not easy.

A moment of carelessness could lead to an unexpected death.

With this in mind, Zheng Tuo enjoyed a delicious dinner.

Then, in a good mood, he climbed a large ancient tree, lay on a branch, sipped tea, and admired the beautiful sunset.

The end of life is like the sunlight before us, ultimately fading into darkness.

So the result is not important; what matters is the experience of every second, every drop, and every bit.

Those painful and happy days are proof that we are alive.

I know that one day I will forget that I once stood here, watching the last dance of the sunset.

But I believe that some things have left an indelible mark on my soul.

Zheng Tuo wrote these words in his diary.

He carefully put away the diary and carried it close to his body.

Returning to the shelter, he lay in the comfortable bed and slept soundly.

"Damn, how much further is Sunset Mountain?"

Wang Ze looked disheveled, the once handsome young man now resembling a seasoned beggar.

Behind him was a group of even more dispirited people.

They had not encountered any danger.

Just the journey itself had exhausted them.

The next day,

Zheng Tuo got up early.

He stretched, washed his face, used the toilet, and had breakfast.

After preparing thoroughly, he set out.