"What in the world is going on?"
"Is it an earthquake or the end of the world?"
Professor Li and Min Ziqing were both terrified, shouting.
Only Ying Chen and Aunt Tang remained unfazed.
Aunt Tang understood what was happening, which was why she was so calm.
However, she didn't understand why Ying Chen also showed no sign of panic.
Was Ying Chen not afraid at all of the widening cracks on the ground?
Was Ying Chen not afraid at all of the massive volcanic fires about to erupt from the ground?
"Child's play, daring to use this against me."
Ying Chen sneered and suddenly stomped his foot on the ground.
Rumble!
The ground shook as if a dragon had turned over.
The cracks that had been extending towards them, about to swallow them whole, instantly vanished.
The roaring, ferocious lava flames also dimmed and extinguished completely.
It was as if they had never existed.
Instead, muffled groans began to echo from all around.
Then, figures appeared, staggering and disoriented.
These figures wore uniforms of the same sect, with a flower embroidered on their chests. They were now lying on the ground, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.
"Alas!"
Aunt Tang sighed deeply.
"As expected, such a low-level formation couldn't possibly trap you."
"Just rest yourselves! Stop trying to show off in front of a grand master of Sorcery Stage Six!"
Aunt Tang said, looking at the fallen figures.
Those people were disciples of the Shen Nong Sect.
Having noticed that Ying Chen and his companions were strangers, they had activated the guardian formation.
This formation could rapidly gather the surrounding Earth Fiend energy, causing illusions.
The ground fissures and volcanic lava from earlier were all illusions, not real.
After Ying Chen shattered the formation with a single stomp, they immediately disappeared.
"What? A grand master of Sorcery Stage Six?" gasps of shock arose from among the Shen Nong Sect disciples.
Even their Sect Master was only at Stage Seven!
Stage Six was enough to serve as an elder in the Shen Nong Sect, second only to the Sect Master, above hundreds of others!
Aunt Tang herself was at Sorcery Stage Five. Since Ying Chen could defeat her with a wave of his hand, she surmised he was at Stage Six.
Little did she know, Ying Chen's cultivation realm was far beyond her imagination.
The message she had deliberately conveyed would not only fail to serve as a warning but would instead spell disaster for the Shen Nong Sect!
"It's Elder Tang! Has Elder Tang returned from her alms collection?"
Someone among the disciples recognized Aunt Tang and shouted.
Hearing the words "alms collection," Ying Chen and the others looked at Aunt Tang with peculiar expressions.
So, Aunt Tang's way of collecting alms was by being Ma Zhenbang's mistress!
This method of alms collection was indeed novel and modern...
At least more resourceful than the other Elder Tang in Journey to the West.
"Stop shouting! Can't you hear what Elder Tang just said? She's clearly warning us!"
"If that expert of Sorcery Stage Six were a friend, Elder Tang wouldn't have allowed us to activate the formation; she would have already advised us to welcome our guests. But since she didn't, it means this person is an enemy, not a friend! At least, not someone harmless!"
"You guys stay here and play along with Elder Tang. I'll go report to the Sect Master!"
A sharper-minded individual, having grasped Aunt Tang's intention, said in a low voice.
Then, he quietly disappeared into the distance.
This scene, of course, did not escape Ying Chen's notice.
However, Ying Chen couldn't be bothered to intervene.
One force overcomes ten skills. Why was King Qin able to conquer the six states back then?
Was it truly due to extraordinary strategies and schemes?
Was it not because of his sixty thousand brave and battle-hardened Qin soldiers!
In the face of absolute power, even if the Shen Nong Sect knew in advance, it would be useless.
It would not change their fate.
Not to mention that Aunt Tang, the "mole," had also passed on false information, misleading the others in the Shen Nong Sect.
"Gentlemen, please come this way."
Aunt Tang seemed confident, her tone and posture straightening considerably, and she took the lead.
With Aunt Tang guiding them, Ying Chen and the other two successfully passed through the sect's entrance path and arrived before a valley hidden beneath the mountain's shade.
At the entrance of the valley stood a stone tablet, over ten meters tall, inscribed with several large characters.
"Warriors dismount, Cultivators alight."
Below this was a line of smaller characters: "Only sincerity can save you; spiritual medicine cannot cure the wicked."
"This is our Shen Nong Sect's Stele of Dismounting. It was bestowed by an emperor four hundred years ago. From this point onwards, regardless of your identity or status, you must dismount and alight upon arriving at Shen Nong Valley, as a sign of respect."
Aunt Tang proudly introduced.
"Of course, people no longer ride horses or travel in sedan chairs, but the rule must not be abandoned. Therefore, our Sect Master established a new rule: the 'Heart-Testing Tower'."
Aunt Tang pointed forward, and a building resembling a Buddhist pagoda came into view.
However, at the base of this pagoda, there was a hole less than a meter wide and long.
Its purpose was unclear.
Just as Aunt Tang was about to explain, a heated argument erupted from afar.
It was a young couple, dressed in exceptionally opulent attire.
The husband's face was grim, but his voice was filled with unwavering determination: "Don't try to dissuade me, my mind is made up! Isn't it just a demonstration of our sincerity in seeking medicine? For our child, what can't be done!"
The wife's eyes were teary: "Husband, no! If this gets out, you'll never be able to hold your head up in the Yang family again. You'll also be attacked by your siblings, who will seize this opportunity to oust you from your position as heir apparent!"
"They just want money, right? We can give them money, can't we? Why must we do this?"
But as soon as the wife finished speaking, a cold snort was heard: "Money? Do you think our Shen Nong Sect lacks money? To put it bluntly, if you offered all your wealth, our Shen Nong Sect might not even deign to look at it!"
It was Aunt Tang, who had walked over towards the couple.
"Do you see those words? 'Only sincerity can save you!' You are accustomed to being high and mighty, paving your way with money, yet you are unwilling to give up even a shred of dignity. This clearly shows a lack of sincerity!"
"Moreover, even if you pass the 'Heart-Testing Tower' and enter the Shen Nong Sect, you may not necessarily get what you wish for. Therefore, I advise you to leave as soon as possible! Our Shen Nong Sect has no shortage of people seeking medicine like you!"
The young couple's faces turned crimson at Aunt Tang's scolding.
The wife tried to speak, but her husband pulled her back.
"Don't say anything more. This immortal aunt is right. Countless people seek medicine from our Shen Nong Sect every day. Why should they favor us?"
"If we are unwilling to show even a little sincerity, then we can only return home and watch our child slowly die!"
"Isn't it just the Heart-Testing Tower? I'll go through it!"
With that, the husband took off his outer robe, lay down, and resolutely crawled towards the hole beneath the pagoda.
The hole was narrow and deep. As the husband crawled through it with difficulty, he resembled a dog that had been locked out by its owner and could only crawl through a wall to get home!