Lei Yun was enjoying the trip riding on a dragon, savoring his rare moment of relaxation.

It had been a day since they had left the Beiyan continent, and to his surprise — as well as Mu Luyin’s — they realized that the new elders were taking them toward the desert continents, leaving them rather confused.

Not understanding the reason, there was a simple way to find out.

“Ancestral Bao, may this junior ask where we are going?” he asked directly, looking curiously at Bao Wuji, who kept his eyes closed, basking in the sun.

Without opening his eyes, Bao Wuji chuckled softly.

“To the sect, of course!” he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

In truth, his words only left them even more confused.

“This direction… isn’t it where the Beixu Continent (Desolate North) is?” Lei Yun asked, his mouth twitching as he felt a faint bad premonition.

“Oh? If you already know, then why are you asking?” Bao Wuji laughed, making the couple exchange helpless looks.

Not long after that dialogue, they indeed spotted land.

They asked no more questions. Whatever it was, they would find out once they arrived, since they were powerless to change their destination.

Still, the ominous feeling only grew stronger. And when they entered deeper into the continent and saw a small cultivation mountain — which, judging by its size, should only be a low-grade Third Level spiritual vein — the premonition was confirmed.

For there, above the entrance gate at the mountain’s base, was a distinct wooden plaque with beautiful, harmonious characters that read: [ 無極道宗 ].

[ Wúji Dào Zōng (Infinite Dao Sect) ]

Seeing that made the couple’s mouths twitch. But before they could reflect further or sense the surrounding environment, Elder Snake, moving at his high speed, had already arrived at the sect’s entrance in the blink of an eye, letting out a ferocious roar.

Although everything happened far too quickly, from atop the dragon they were still surprised to see thousands of people rise in unison, ready to face even that terrifying beast before their eyes. That deeply impressed the couple.

Never had they seen such unity in any sect, power, or family in their entire lives. It truly shook them — even the former Mahayana Lei Yun was no exception.

After appearing before the sect, not even a second passed before Elder Snake suddenly shrank, catching everyone on top of him by surprise… well, technically only the couple. But that was no issue, since everyone there could fly on their own, being at Golden Core or above… except for the poor former Mahayana, who was now only at Foundation Establishment.

Fortunately, with his reflexes, even if he fell a bit, he could still handle the situation easily. But, unfortunately for him, Bao Wuji was faster and immediately grabbed him by the collar, lifting him into the air as if he were a child.

Lei Yun’s mouth twitched violently under the gaze of thousands, as he was carried off like a helpless chick. Even his Mahayana calm cracked under the weight of such humiliation.

Wasting no time, he pulled out a sword, placed it under his feet, and flew on his own to escape that embarrassing position as quickly as possible.

Seeing Mu Luyin at his side, looking at him with concern, only left him feeling even more helpless.

Meanwhile, down below were Aotian and Rihai, holding hands as they watched the scene. She wasn’t surprised because he had already calmed her, telling her it was the elders arriving with a dragon, even before they appeared.

So they could watch the scene calmly and with amusement.

“See that couple? The guy got embarrassed and the girl beside him showed concern. If it were us in their place, you’d be laughing at me.” Aotian nudged her with his elbow, pointing upward.

Rihai looked at the couple in the sky, imagined Aotian in that same position, being picked up like a little boy, and immediately covered her mouth.

“Pfff! It’s true!” she admitted without hesitation, laughing, her beautiful blue eyes full of delight.

Aotian widened his eyes and immediately pinched her fair, lovely cheek, shaking it.

“You weren’t supposed to admit it!” he complained, gritting his teeth and making a playful face.

Rihai laughed and stuck her tongue out to the side, making Aotian’s fingers, which were pinching her cheek, feel slightly cool and damp.

“How dare you, insolent girl! This young master shall punish you by hugging you in public!” he scolded in a mock-indignant tone and hugged her, while she tried to escape, laughing happily.

Some nearby disciples couldn’t help twitching their mouths as they saw the couple playing and laughing, ignoring the fact that the sect leader and the elders had just arrived to greet the newcomers, along with the revelation that the golden-clad old man was the sect’s ancestor.

Overall, everyone had quite a similar thought upon seeing the scene:

‘You two, get a room! Stop making us jealous in public!’

And without wasting time, they hurried away, before they started getting ideas about finding a loving husband or wife themselves.

Back in the sky scene, after the greetings, they began to disperse.

“Tian Zhu, I brought this talented young man and woman. Give them the heart test, and if all is well, include them as disciples. The girl will temporarily need an elemental stone quota, since she cannot cultivate with the current elemental energy of the mountain,” Bao Wuji explained.

Tian Zhu cast a deep glance at the couple beside him, who looked at him with curiosity but without disrespect. Feeling his gaze, they clasped their fists and bowed, respectfully greeting the leader of the sect they were joining.

He casually nodded to them and turned his gaze back to the ancestor.

“Good. Lie Zheng, test them. If they pass, take them to settle in properly. If they fail, let them decide what to do,” he spoke indifferently before turning to leave along with Bao Wuji.

There was no need to speak of the consequences of failing, since Aotian already had them in mind, and it didn’t need to be said aloud. But, knowing those two, there shouldn’t be any problem for them to pass.

“Yes, sect leader!” Lie Zheng, with his fierce scar across his eye, nodded respectfully and approached the two. “Come with me,” he said, departing right after.

The other elders in the sky also dispersed.

Lie Zheng descended to the ground and stopped in front of them, arms crossed, calm.

The couple following him, who also landed, watched that man with a fierce aura cautiously, wondering what kind of test it would be. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NovєlFіre.net

“The test is simple. I will ask a few questions, and you answer,” he spoke directly, without beating around the bush.

Though surprised by the apparent simplicity, they nodded and paid attention.

“First question: have you ever harmed innocents?” he asked, catching the two off guard with the randomness of the question.

Lei Yun remained silent for a few seconds.

‘The question seems simple… but what is the real purpose? Maybe it’s not as straightforward as it looks. Better to be honest,’ he reflected.

After thinking a little, he nodded in confirmation, taking Mu Luyin by surprise.

“Probably. I might’ve even killed some… I’m not sure. But if I did, it wasn’t intentional,” he said calmly, offering no further detail.

The fact was that, in his past life, in the higher realms, when he fought, entire regions could be devastated in the aftermath due to the power involved.

Although he tried to avoid populated areas and even small towns, it was impossible to control everything during combat, and it was likely that he had buried some people without realizing it. Perhaps even entire cities — though that was unlikely, since his divine sense would have alerted him about such a concentration of life in one place.

And that was only considering human lives. If animals were included in the concept of innocents, then thousands, millions, perhaps billions had fallen in the aftermath of his battles.

Though he revealed little, Aotian, through Lie Zheng, grasped much.

‘Everything he said is true. But he is neither indifferent to life nor cruel. On the contrary, he leans toward kindness. There is even a hope in his heart that those things never happened, for the sake of a clean conscience. Considering he was once a long-lived Mahayana, where most would already see everything as beneath them, and yet he still holds such beliefs, that alone speaks volumes about his character.’

Lie Zheng’s gaze then turned to Mu Luyin, without giving any verdict to Lei Yun.

“I… not that I know of.” She hesitated, but soon shook her head, unable to recall anything.

Mu Luyin had not fought much, except in official matches, inheritance grounds, or specific places. Besides, she had not reached a realm as high as Lei Yun’s in his past life, so she had not been involved in large-scale destructive battles.

‘She too speaks the truth. There is no indifference to life in her heart. On the contrary, I sense justice and self-control. Not bad.’

“Good. Last question: do you harbor ulterior motives, malice, disloyalty, or contempt toward the Infinite Dao Sect?” he asked in a calm tone, his voice rough and heavy.

This time, the two firmly shook their heads. They had no desire to harm the sect in any way.

Lie Zheng nodded again.

“Welcome to the Infinite Dao Sect. Come with me, I’ll take you to Outer Elder Zhao. He will hand you your belongings and give you further instructions,” he said calmly, then turned to leave.

The two were surprised by the simplicity of the test, stunned, but soon regained themselves and followed the elder.

Mu Luyin, still a little intimidated by that man’s seriousness, hesitated for a moment, but her curiosity won out.

“Elder Lie, could senior reveal what the correct answers were?” she asked in confusion. After all, in the first question, her Brother Yun said yes, while she said no, yet both had passed.

Lie Zheng did not turn back, but answered calmly as he flew upward, with the two following behind.

“There is no correct answer in this test. The mouth can say one thing, but the heart reveals another. What I evaluate is a person’s intent and character, and that no one can hide from my eyes. If one is loyal, with their heart in the right place, they pass. If one is disloyal, a traitor, or cruel to those undeserving of it, I usually behead them, depending on the crimes committed.”

He spoke calmly, but his words shocked the two, especially Mu Luyin, who only then realized she could have died in that test.

“Do not be surprised. My Dao is the Dao of Justice, and I despise evil. Eliminating it prevents further suffering. There is no need to fear my test… only evil should fear paying its debt.”

Lie Zheng declared, turning toward them. His eyes narrowed and hardened, and a faint, fierce smile appeared on his lips.

The couple’s lips tightened at those words, but they found sense in them and let the matter drop.

Even so, something in the elder’s words troubled Lei Yun deeply.

“Elder Lie… you said your Dao is the Dao of Justice, but Dao is said to be a power touched only by Mahayana cultivators, or even immortals. Elder, have you perhaps reached that realm?” he asked, swallowing dryly, looking at the elder with some apprehension.

‘Could this man… already be a Mahayana? And one who has touched the laws and the Dao?! How is that possible?! That wouldn’t make any sense! Wait… maybe it does! How could a mortal sect dare call itself Infinite Dao, this power truly wielded only by immortals?! That would explain why their techniques are so powerful. Perhaps they came from the Immortal Realm!! Banished immortals?! Is that why their cultivation is sealed?!’

Despite his outward calm, his heart pounded uncontrollably as his thoughts grew wilder.

He himself had only barely touched the Dao before his downfall, and couldn’t even state clearly which Dao he was following, yet here was someone speaking so calmly and decisively about his Dao — it was terrifying.

But while his mind spun wildly, he suddenly froze as he received a strange look from Lie Zheng, as if standing before someone with serious mental issues.

“What are you talking about, boy? How can the Dao only be touched by Mahayanas? Are you stupid?!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep