Chapter 3: Following Someone Else's Path: Safe and Affordable

Since this is a designated target assessment, choosing the right route is crucial.

Zheng Tuo reached behind his back and took out an object that looked like a magnifying glass from his backpack.

This was a special magnifying glass he had specifically commissioned a cultivator to craft for him.

Its function was the same as a normal magnifying glass, but it could automatically adjust its magnification intensity.

At its highest level, it could reach one hundred times the power of a microscope.

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

Before long, he finally discovered his target.

It was a row of fresh footprints.

It looked like many people had set off in the same direction, so the footprints were very messy and disorganized.

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

Walking in others' footsteps and letting them act as his guide dogs—it couldn't be more comfortable.

Zheng Tuo actually had a plan long ago.

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

As for anything else, it was not within his scope of consideration.

He followed the footprints and traveled for a whole day.

Just as he had guessed, by following the footprints, he did not encounter any danger.

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

Even so, Zheng Tuo did not relax in the slightest.

He kept two "Wind-Chasing Spirit Talismans" stuck to his thighs at all times, ready to run at a moment's notice.

His mind was highly focused, constantly vigilant of the surrounding mountains and forests.

He was terrified that a ferocious beast might suddenly pounce out and finish him off.

After all, this was the assessment period; being cautious was never a mistake.

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

Zheng Tuo had to stop.

Traveling at night was dangerous enough, and in this kind of primeval forest, the danger coefficient was at least ten plus signs higher.

Before it got dark, he had to find a hidden safe house first.

Familiar with the process, he quickly set up his safe house.

Afterward, Zheng Tuo took off his backpack.

The backpack was not an ordinary one; it was a crude spatial storage device.

Because he was not a cultivator, he could only use this kind of primitive storage equipment.

He could not be like a cultivator, who could store a large amount of items in a tiny pouch.

He took one hundred "Explosion Spirit Talismans" from his backpack and carefully buried them nearby.

A first-tier Explosion Spirit Talisman had enough power to injure a first-tier Qi Refining stage cultivator.

It was the only type of offensive spirit talisman that an ordinary person could use.

After placing the one hundred Explosion Spirit Talismans around the safe house, Zheng Tuo still didn't feel at ease.

He continued to take one hundred "Alarm Spirit Talismans" from his backpack.

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

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

Only after the alarm talismans were set up did Zheng Tuo feel much more at ease.

On the other side.

In a primeval forest two days' journey away from him.

"Everyone, rest here. Traveling at night is too dangerous. We'll continue at daybreak tomorrow," Wang Ze commanded.

"We're just resting like this?"

"Yeah! How are we supposed to sleep?"

"Exactly! The ground is all grass, there isn't a single dry spot. If we sleep here all night, we'll catch a cold."

"It's not just grass; there are all kinds of snakes, insects, rats, and ants. I'm afraid we'll get sick sleeping here for a night."

Everyone chimed in, expressing their dissatisfaction with the current situation.

They hadn't brought any tents or similar items, and they had even brought very little food.

The reality was that they were hungry, sleepy, and still had to participate in the assessment—it was practically killing them.

"Everyone, please overcome it. After all, it's an assessment; it's normal to suffer a little."

Damn it!

If it weren't for winning people over and laying a foundation for the future, I wouldn't bother with you lot.

A bunch of losers, complaining the moment they have to sleep in the open. What kind of immortality are they going to cultivate?

Wang Ze cursed inwardly.

"Awoooo..."

The sound of wolf howls echoed through the mountains and forests, and instantly, everyone was wide awake.

"How the hell are we supposed to sleep now? If we fall asleep, I'm afraid we won't see tomorrow's sunlight."

"This is truly miserable!"

"Just endure it."

The group forced themselves to stay alert, huddling together for warmth, unable to sleep.

In contrast, Zheng Tuo.

After entering his safe house, he took out the prepared cured meat, baby bok choy, green onions, soybean paste, large steamed buns, and clean water from his backpack.

The food was very average, but he had to wrong his stomach for a bit.

After all, it was the assessment phase; he couldn't ask for too much.

He would eat something good to make up for it after passing the assessment.

After eating and drinking his fill, Zheng Tuo took out clean bedding and laid it out.

He used a "Preheating Spirit Talisman" to warm up his bed, then lay down comfortably.

Ah...

He had to admit, after walking for a day, he was indeed quite tired.

However, for the sake of caution, he placed a "Smoke Spirit Talisman" on the left side of his pillow and a sharp dagger on the right.

Once everything was set, Zheng Tuo fell into a peaceful sleep.

The night passed without incident.

The next day.

"Ah..."

Zheng Tuo yawned and got up early.

Perhaps he was used to sleeping in his safe house; his mental state was quite good.

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

After confirming that the traps hadn't been triggered, he packed them all up to use next time.

Following yesterday's plan, he continued his journey along the footprints left by the people ahead.

On the other side.

Wang Ze and his group, who hadn't slept all night, forced themselves to get up.

Each of them was listless, like eggplants hit by frost, heads drooping, looking completely miserable.

"Everyone, keep it up. Once we reach Sunset Mountain, we'll have completed the assessment. From then on, we'll be disciples of the Luoxian Sect—at the very least, we'll be immortals."

Wang Ze continued to feed the group "chicken soup for the soul."

The group had no other choice; having chicken soup was better than nothing.

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

Meanwhile, two days' journey behind them.

Zheng Tuo walked with a light step, admiring the wildflowers and the mountain scenery.

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

He had to admit, the air quality in the Eastern Region was far, far better than in his previous life.

Inhaling it into his lungs, it actually tasted sweet.

Thank you, Heaven; thank you, Mom and Dad.

And so, Zheng Tuo traveled during the day and rested at night after setting his traps.

The journey was smooth and unobstructed; he didn't encounter any danger.

Until the fifth day of the assessment.

Zheng Tuo looked at the messy footprints ahead with a serious expression, feeling troubled.

The path ahead had diverged; roughly speaking, there were six fork roads.

What to do?

Six roads—which one was actually safe?

After thinking it over, there was only one most cautious method.

That was to walk every single road.

Although it was a bit time-consuming, compared to successfully completing the assessment, wasting a little time was worth it.

Zheng Tuo didn't choose randomly among the six roads.

Instead, he spent nearly an hour using his magnifying glass to analyze which road had the most foot traffic.

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

Hmm!

After confirming the route, Zheng Tuo saw that there were less than eight hours until dark.

For safety's sake, he would set off tomorrow.

Whatever you do, you must never be in a hurry; you have to take it step by step and stay steady.

Cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao—how could it be that easy?

If you aren't careful, you might end up dead for no reason at any moment.

Holding this thought, Zheng Tuo enjoyed a delicious dinner.

Afterward, in a good mood, he climbed an ancient tree, lay on a branch, sipped some light tea, and admired the beauty of the setting sun.

The end of life is just like the sunlight before us; it will eventually fade into darkness.

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

Those painful and happy days are all proof that I have lived.

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

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

Zheng Tuo wrote this passage in his diary.

He carefully put the diary away and kept it on his person.

He returned to the safe house, lay down in his comfortable bedding, and fell into a sound sleep.

"How much further is that damn Sunset Mountain?"

Wang Ze looked disheveled; the once-handsome young man had turned into a veteran beggar.

Behind him was a group of guys who looked even more withered.

They hadn't encountered any danger.

Just the act of traveling alone had exhausted this group of people.

The next day.

Zheng Tuo got up early.

He stretched his limbs, washed his face, went to the bathroom, and had breakfast along the way.

Fully prepared, he set off.

(End of chapter)