NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Reward in Hand
Before Zhao Xing could react, he unknowingly fell into the illusion.
"Master..."
The beauty in the bathtub clung to him, making him forget everything. His eyes were filled only with this delicate, alluring woman, entirely at his mercy, driven solely by primal desire.
It wasn't until he had exhausted all his strength that he lay down on the bed, supported by the beauty, and drifted into a deep sleep.
When Zhao Xing woke up again, the yellow talisman on his forehead had dried and fallen to the side, while the Guiding Talisman on his abdomen was soaked with sweat.
"Ah, what a pleasant dream..."
Holding his head, Zhao Xing sat up and stayed still for a while, gradually recalling what had happened.
"What? I failed?"
"!!"
The lingering effects of the dream were still there, and his status panel had a few notifications:
[You have entered the secret realm 'Grand Dream Academy']
[You have entered the trial of the 'Heart-Testing Platform'.]
[Trial failed. No rewards obtained this time.]
Zhao Xing closed the panel and muttered to himself:
"It must be because this body is too young, full of energy, or maybe the old version of the Heart-Testing Platform is too powerful... That's why I returned empty-handed after entering this treasure trove."
"No matter, I'll try again next time. I can definitely conquer it!"
After comforting himself, Zhao Xing noticed the sky was already beginning to brighten, so he quickly dressed and went out to start his day's work and cultivation.
The second night.
Grand Dream Academy.
"Ah, what a pleasant dream... Huh? Failed again?"
The third night.
Grand Dream Academy.
"Such strong power, it makes one uncontrollably indulge. Next time, I'll definitely pass!"
This cycle repeated for half a month, and Zhao Xing remained stuck at the Heart-Testing Platform.
Even Chen Ziyu and Qian Dong were puzzled:
"Brother, why have you been looking so drained lately?"
"Could it be that he's been sneaking out for fun without telling us?"
"Ziyu, how could you think that of Brother? He's surely been training day and night, which is why he seems so tired."
"...Stop talking."
Zhao Xing felt a bit melancholic. The old version of the Heart-Testing Platform was too powerful, and coupled with the strong desires of his youthful body, it became difficult for him to pass.
Determined to overcome this, Zhao Xing began to reexamine his own heart.
The Grand Dream Academy was a treasure designed by the Dali Dynasty to test elites. Without effort and focus, it would indeed be hard to pass the old version of the Heart-Testing Platform.
He threw himself wholeheartedly into cultivation, removing all distractions each day. Apart from eating and sleeping, his life was consumed by spell practice and Gathering Essence.
Through extreme discipline, Zhao Xing strengthened his willpower. Sometimes, he even exercised discipline when eating.
He would deliberately place a bowl of delicious food in front of him when he was extremely hungry, but force himself not to touch it until the designated time.
He wasn't trying to suppress desire completely; rather, he aimed to train his body to delay gratification.
Finally, one night...
Grand Dream Academy, Heart-Testing Platform.
"Master..."
The woman by the bathtub turned around, her posture seductive, and she nestled into Zhao Xing's embrace.
But this time, Zhao Xing remained still.
"Master~ Does the herbal bath I prepared for you feel good?" The beauty whispered softly in his ear, her voice like a gentle murmur.
Zhao Xing, now fully aware, recalled his previous failures and sincerely praised, "It is indeed quite comfortable."
"Then why is Master unmoved? Is there something I didn't do well?" The beauty looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, appearing pitiful.
"I still have desires," Zhao Xing shrugged, then gently pushed the woman away. "But my ambitions are greater."
"If I am to indulge, I'll indulge in the best. This test of lust doesn't qualify."
The illusion shattered in the beauty's astonished expression.
Zhao Xing then ascended ten more steps in one breath.
All sorts of beauties appeared before him, using every means to tempt him.
But Zhao Xing easily broke free from each illusion. After enduring his rigorous self-discipline, he finally regained the mindset he had when he was a top player tackling the Heart-Testing Platform in his past life. He was no longer influenced by the desires of this life.
These false illusions were enjoyable for a moment, but how could one truly become addicted to them?
"Student Zhao Xing has successfully passed the trial of lust on the Heart-Testing Platform."
"With a firm Dao heart, having reached the first stage of the trial with only Gathering Essence (First Level), you are awarded a Dao Embryo Pill."
A voice echoed in Zhao Xing's ear, and a floating ancient box emerged from the mist.
"Dao Embryo Pill? This treasure as a reward for just the first stage?"
Zhao Xing's calm expression broke the moment he heard the reward.
He didn't even attempt the eleventh step, choosing instead to wake up immediately.
He sat up abruptly and looked down.
In his left hand was the ancient box, identical to the one in his dream.
"Dao Embryo Pill, this is one of the top refining pills available before the Revival Version. It's the best of its kind, bar none!" Zhao Xing was ecstatic.
He had never taken one in his previous life. Making one himself was too expensive. Even buying one was out of the question—it was far too costly!
By the time he could afford it, he no longer needed it.
"Is this real?"
Zhao Xing could hardly believe it and thought he was still dreaming. He quickly rubbed his eyes, but only after checking the status panel did he confirm it.
[You have entered the secret realm 'Grand Dream Academy']
[You have entered the trial of the 'Heart-Testing Platform'.]
[Trial successful. You have received the reward 'Dao Embryo Pill'.]
[Dao Embryo Pill: A treasure of the Dali Dynasty's royal family. It helps refine the body and rebuild one's Dao foundation.]
"Such a generous reward from the Heart-Testing Platform?"
Zhao Xing quickly deduced the reason: "It's probably because my cultivation level is too low, yet I managed to pass the first ten steps of the trial, resulting in a significant reward upgrade."
The Grand Dream Academy's trials didn't offer fixed rewards. Instead, they were based on the individual's performance.
Zhao Xing's achievement—passing ten steps of the Heart-Testing Platform while in the Gathering Essence realm (from the Dali cultivation system)—was extraordinary. Time didn't matter; someone could take 100 years at Gathering Essence Second Level to pass and still be considered remarkable, so the Heart-Testing Platform provided a generous reward.
"I'm going to take it!"
Zhao Xing eagerly opened the box and swallowed the pale red pill inside.
An intense surge of heat washed over his body, causing him to tremble involuntarily.
But in the next second, the sensation vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
The strange feeling came and went rapidly.
The magic of the Dao Embryo Pill lay in this: aside from the initial brief discomfort, it caused no adverse effects and didn't directly boost one's cultivation. Instead, it gradually and subtly enhanced one's foundation.
However, the changes the Dao Embryo Pill brought to Zhao Xing were quite significant!
It was immediately reflected on his status panel.
[Name: Zhao Xing]
[Cultivation Realm: Not Ranked]
[Luck: Derivation Two]
[Spells: Basic Cultivation (Max Level)]
[Vigorous Growth: Beginner (201/9999)]
[Cloud Movement: Beginner (352/9999)]
[Gathering Essence: Second Level (142/1000)]
[Body Refined, Dao Foundation Rebuilt: Special Status (Ongoing), this status cannot be detected by anyone below First Rank.]
"A special status added, truly worthy of being the strongest refining treasure."
"My Gathering Essence level jumped from First Level with 71 points to Second Level with 142 points, directly doubling. Even this initial display of its effect caused a significant improvement, but fortunately, such gains won't seem too conspicuous at lower levels."
"Wait, why did my luck level increase to Derivation Two? I've never heard of the Dao Embryo Pill increasing luck."