Above him loomed a giant rectangular gate, completely doorless. Its entire surface shimmered like a golden screen. Suddenly, a ripple spread across it.
Before Su Chen could react, a powerful suction force pulled him in. The next moment, space twisted around him—and then hurled him out like a broken puppet.
His feet touched solid ground without a stumble.
Su Chen looked down in surprise. Beneath him was soft grass, stretching out in all directions. A peaceful grassland.
He looked around.
A vast grassland stretched beneath a pale sky, quiet and dreamlike. In the distance stood another massive gate, far more grounded but no less imposing. This one was shut tight, its surface etched with ancient runes that faintly shimmered.
Surrounding it were sixteen elevated stone platforms, each like a throne awaiting a challenger.
Fifteen of them were already occupied.
Seven by women. Eight by men.
…No. Wait. Su Chen narrowed his eyes.
One of the "men" had incredibly delicate features and a graceful posture—so much so that he hesitated for a moment. Feminine at a glance… but still looked like a man. Kind of.
'Alright… maybe seven men and eight women… or seven women and one extremely pretty guy. Or… someone who doesn't exactly fit either box.'
He scratched his head, a little thrown off.
'Didn't think people like that existed even in a cultivation world…'
He sighed and muttered, "Why do I feel like I've walked straight into something I'll regret…"
Out of the sixteen people present, only four had noticed Su Chen's sudden arrival.
The rest, perhaps unaware because of his outsider aura. Some were quietly seated in meditation—though not all dared to enter deep cultivation, likely due to the unknown dangers of this place. A few others were calmly flipping through ancient books or simply resting with closed eyes, conserving energy.
But the four who had turned to look at him were clearly different.
Their gazes were sharp—focused—and all carried undisguised shock.
The first was a woman. She appeared around Su Chen's age, her beauty flawless, her figure elegant and alluring. Behind her swayed nine ethereal tails, each flowing like silk in the wind—an unmistakable mark of the Nine-Tailed Fox Race.
The second woman was equally stunning. Even though Su Chen had just seen Long Qianxue—who could be considered nearly unmatched—he couldn't bring himself to say either of these two were any lesser. If Long Qianxue was a fully-bloomed lotus, then these two were like sacred lotus buds on the verge of unfolding—pure, radiant, and full of hidden power.
The other two were men. One of them had a refined, almost ordinary appearance, but Su Chen felt an odd sense of familiarity when he looked at him—as if they had crossed paths before, perhaps in another life. The second man, however, stood out immediately—his eyes gleamed with dual pupils, an extremely rare and heaven-defying trait that sent a faint chill down Su Chen's spine.
All four wore the same expression: stunned.
Because in their eyes, Su Chen didn't just appear—he descended like a force of nature.
There was an unnatural stillness around him, as if heaven and earth had momentarily acknowledged his presence. Wisps of spiritual qi were silently converging toward him, being drawn into his body without effort—so naturally that it looked as though he were one with the world itself.
Under their stunned gazes, Su Chen calmly floated toward the lone, empty platform.
It just so happened to be positioned directly between the four who had noticed him—two men on one side, two women on the other. He landed lightly, crossed his legs, and sat down as if this was the most natural thing in the world.
For a while, none of them spoke.
It wasn't awkward silence… more like no one knew where to begin. Even Su Chen, despite his usually sharp tongue, found himself hesitating.
There were things he wanted to ask.
Like why the man beside him gave off an odd sense of familiarity, as if they'd once shared a memory that no longer existed.
Or…
He glanced sideways at the Nine-Tailed Fox woman, her shimmering tails swaying gently in the air like silk ribbons—graceful, mesmerizing, almost hypnotic.
A wild thought crossed his mind.
"Would it be rude to ask if I could touch one of those tails…?"
He immediately coughed, lightly clearing his throat.
"Ahem. Just out of curiosity," he told himself.
"Purely academic. Obviously."
His expression remained calm on the surface, but inwardly, he silently scolded himself.
Then, finally, a soft voice broke the silence.
"Greetings, fellow Cultivatior."
Su Chen turned.
The speaker was the woman draped in flowing white robes, her face partially hidden behind a translucent veil. Even so, her presence was serene—like a moonlit lake untouched by wind.
"This one is Han Yue," she continued. "I hope I'm not being forward… but may I ask your name?"
Her tone was polite, but carried the faint aura of nobility and confidence. She bowed her head ever so slightly.
Su Chen glanced at her quietly.
Even with his usually calm nature—and a physique that naturally suppressed worldly desires—he couldn't help but feel slightly dazed. He had seen many beauties in his life, but none quite like her. Her presence was pure, cold, and elegant… yet for some reason, it stirred something dangerous within him.
For a brief moment, a wild thought flashed through his mind.
'What would she look like without the veil…? No, worse—why did I just imagine leaning in to kiss her?'
Ahem, ahem… Amitabha Buddha… what the hell is wrong with me?'
'My mind's completely in the gutter. I really need to sit under a freezing waterfall and reflect on my life choices… maybe slap myself a few times too.'
He coughed lightly and shook his head.
Putting on a polite smile, he clasped his hands and responded with sincerity, "Fairy Han Yue, this humble one is Su Chen. Just a poor monk walking the path."
His tone was respectful, but a faint glint flickered in his eyes.
Just as Su Chen introduced himself, the remaining three cultivators stepped forward one after another—each with a distinct presence.
The first to speak was a woman whose beauty seemed almost otherworldly. Draped in flowing silk, she moved with the grace of a drifting cloud, her steps so light it was as if she never touched the ground. A faint, sweet fragrance followed her, lingering in the air like a spell. Her lips curved into a smile—gentle, yet dangerous, the kind that could make even seasoned cultivators forget their vows.
"Yin Ji," she said softly, her voice a delicate whisper laced with mischief and subtle seduction.
"Young Master Su Chen, would you be interested in… discussing the Dao with me once this trial ends?"
She tilted her head slightly, her nine ethereal tails swaying behind her like silk ribbons caught in a breeze.
"If you're free, perhaps you could visit our clan as a guest. I promise… we'll take very good care of you."
Her tone was playful, her expression lighthearted—but behind those enchanting eyes, Su Chen sensed something ancient. Something dangerous.
Then, the mood shifted as a bright, cheerful voice broke in.
"Hey there, fellow Daoist brother! I'm Ye Tian—nice to meet you!"
The smiling youth stepped forward, his energy light and infectious. He scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin.
"This might sound a bit strange, but… you feel kind of familiar. I'm an orphan, so who knows? Maybe we're long-lost brothers or something, haha!"
He laughed freely, completely at ease.
"Anyway, where are you from?"
Finally, the last of the three stepped forward. A tall man with a calm, commanding aura. His eyes were sharp, like they could slice through illusions, yet his presence was steady—not aggressive, but observant.
"Zhao Wushen," he said simply.
He studied Su Chen closely for a moment before speaking again.
"Your physique… I can't see through it. That alone tells me it's not ordinary. Would you mind telling me what it is?"
Unlike the others, there was no attempt at flattery or friendliness.
[Dear readers,
Some of you have been asking whether this novel will be locked in the future. The answer is—no, it won't.
Since I'm still a new author, the contract I was offered came with very strict terms. After thinking it over, I decided to reject it.
Honestly, I don't think this novel is good enough to be behind a paywall yet. It still lacks in many areas, and I want to improve more before considering that step.
So yes, this novel will remain completely free for now.
Thank you all so much for reading and supporting me!
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment—I'll try my best to reply.
—Author]**