A single thought simultaneously arose in the minds of all the cultivators present:
We've struck gold.
Just this first floor alone contained no fewer than tens of thousands of techniques!
Taking even a few out would be worth more than a decade of toil.
Greed surged in their hearts.
Though the cultivators were already salivating over the techniques on the shelves, none dared act recklessly under the lingering intimidation of Qin Tang's earlier display.
Qin Tang, meanwhile, seemed oblivious to their agitation.
Gazing at the rows of bookshelves with a hint of nostalgia, he spoke slowly:
"The Dao of the heart lies in focus, in courage, and in perseverance."
"This first trial will test your ability to focus."
"Here, you will find 36,541 cultivation techniques. For the next period of time, you will remain here and transcribe them. You have three months."
"After three months, I will evaluate you based on the quantity and quality of your transcriptions."
The cultivators' faces lit up with barely restrained euphoria.
All these techniques… and we're just allowed to copy them?
Even if they only memorized a few, this venture would already be worth it—regardless of what came after.
Ignoring their reactions, Qin Tang flicked his wrist.
Over a hundred desks and chairs materialized in the pavilion, each equipped with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
"Begin, then. Do not disappoint me."
He produced a wine gourd from somewhere, took a swig, then leaned against the wall and closed his eyes—as if asleep.
With his permission given, the cultivators could no longer restrain themselves.
They rushed to the shelves, snatching up manuals to inspect.
Moments later, the pavilion erupted in chaos.
"This—how is this possible?!"
"'Golden Flame Blazing Art'—a fire-attribute technique that can be cultivated all the way to the Nascent Soul stage?!"
"This one, this one, and this one—all Nascent Soul-level techniques?!"
"Hahaha! We've hit the jackpot! This is real fortune!"
...
Watching the near-delirious crowd, Li Fan inwardly sneered.
He randomly selected a manual, sat at a desk, and began transcribing—
Not bothering to study the contents, simply copying character by character with patience.
Because he knew:
These techniques were illusions!
In his past life, after countless explorations, cultivators had long concluded that nothing recorded during this trial would remain after leaving the Cloudwater Celestial Palace.
All records would vanish—
As if they had never existed.
These tantalizing ten thousand volumes were mere mirages, tools to tempt the mind.
A few present might have vaguely suspected the truth…
But with Nascent Soul-level techniques before them—
How many could resist reading deeply?
Some even became so engrossed in the profound mysteries of the techniques that they delayed transcription entirely.
Even when reminded by others, they still paused frequently to reread passages.
Very few, like Li Fan, wrote ceaselessly without a backward glance.
The ink and paper were inexhaustible. Soon, Li Fan finished his first transcription.
He returned it to the shelf and selected another.
His detachment drew notice.
A few, after thoughtful pauses, abandoned their attempts at memorization—
Focusing solely on transcription instead.
As for those still lost in the techniques?
No one bothered to warn them.
...
Days passed.
Endless transcription was tedious and exhausting.
With the earlier lesson fresh in mind, no one dared use cultivation techniques to cheat.
Soon, some couldn't endure.
They paused to rest—
Some resuming quickly after brief breaks, others only after prolonged recovery.
Li Fan, however, never stopped.
A handful of others matched his tirelessness—
Likely due to cultivation methods that enhanced stamina and focus.
Li Fan?
He was simply enduring through sheer will.
He knew Qin Tang's evaluation wouldn't just consider transcription quantity and accuracy—
But also duration of uninterrupted focus.
As Qin Tang had said:
This trial tested focus.
Any pause, for any reason, meant that focus had broken.
Li Fan immersed himself wholly, suppressing all fatigue.
Time became meaningless.
...
"Ahh, now that was a good nap!"
Qin Tang's voice suddenly rang out.
Stretching, he made the writing materials before Li Fan vanish.
"Time's up. Let's see how you've done."
"Tsk tsk tsk. Each year's batch is worse than the last."
Eyes half-lidded as if assessing something, Qin Tang shook his head—
Then paused.
"Oh? Wait…"
"Interesting."
Noticing something, he glanced at Li Fan, a faint smile appearing—
But said nothing more, soon looking away.
"The first trial is complete. Rest tomorrow. The second trial begins the day after."
He clapped.
Li Fan's vision blurred—
In an instant, he was back in the tall building where they'd slept.
Qin Tang didn't follow.
The cultivators finally relaxed, chattering excitedly:
"This was a true opportunity! I memorized fifteen techniques while copying—mostly Golden Core-level, with a few Nascent Soul ones!"
"I retained quite a few myself."
"What's the use of memorizing so many? You'd need to survive first."
"Don't say that. Given my limits, I'd likely never advance beyond Foundation Establishment. Now, I've glimpsed Nascent Soul secrets—even if I die tomorrow, I'll have no regrets!"
"Well said, fellow Daoist!"
"Fine words won't save fools. Hmph!"
...
Amid the arguments, some eyed the belongings of the deceased.
But after searching, they left disappointed.
Nearby, someone sneered:
"Don't bother. I checked that night—after Qin Tang kills you, everything vanishes. No storage rings, no artifacts. Nothing remains."
Li Fan shook his head and turned to rest—
Then froze.
Amid the corpses, one caught his eye.