Soon after, Lu Fan arrived at the gate of Shenji Mountain, only to find that Shenji Mountain was not only protected by a barrier but also guarded by several disciples.
"I have something to ask and wish to enter Shenji Mountain to find answers!"
Lu Fan cupped his fists slightly, looking at the disciples, not daring to say more.
"Many people come to Shenji Mountain seeking answers."
The leading disciple spoke, "Not everyone can enter Shenji Mountain. If you wish to enter, you must be fated with Shenji Mountain."
"How does one become fated?" Lu Fan asked seriously. He was eager to go to Tongtian Academy and naturally wanted to get the answer as soon as possible.
"You can enter Shenji Mountain only by passing Shenji Mountain's assessment," the leading disciple stated directly. "However, it is not yet time for the assessment; we must wait until noon."
Lu Fan was somewhat helpless and could only wait outside the mountain gate. He had no choice but to seek their help and could not complain too much.
"I have brought you to Shenji Mountain, can I go back now?" Hu Yu asked quickly.
"You think too highly of yourself!"
Lu Fan said coldly, "If you don't want Golden Light Cave Heaven to be buried with you, you'd best be careful."
"Aren't you making things difficult for me!" Hu Yu said aggrievedly. "If you can't get into Shenji Mountain, you can't blame me, can you?"
"You said you knew the location of Tongtian Academy, and that's why I dealt with you and wasted so much time. If I still can't find out the specific location of Tongtian Academy, how can I let you leave?" Lu Fan said coldly. "Even treating you as a subordinate would not be excessive."
"This..." Hu Yu stood stunned, looking even more wronged.
Although she was not stunningly beautiful, she was still a beauty. Lu Fan actually wanted to make her his subordinate, which was unbearable for her.
As they were talking, a phoenix cry suddenly sounded. The sky above was dark and vast, appearing to blot out the sun. A giant phoenix carrying a sedan chair flew in the sky, arriving at the gate of Shenji Mountain in an instant, with many guards accompanying it.
This aura suggested that she was no ordinary person.
"I request an audience with Elder Zishan!"
From the phoenix sedan chair, the woman's voice was brief but full of authority, as if everyone under heaven were her subjects.
"Your Highness Princess, Elder Zishan has been waiting for a long time. Please come in!"
The leading disciple quickly cupped his fists, not daring to delay in the slightest. He was as obsequious as a lackey, acting very politely, which was a stark contrast to his previous demeanor.
"So it's the princess of the Taiyan Dynasty. No wonder she has such grandeur," Hu Yu pouted. "If I were a princess, I would have even greater presence than her."
"Too bad you are not!"
Ye Fan rolled his eyes and looked at the woman before him, slightly surprised. If a dynasty's princess had such a display, how magnificent would the dynasty's emperor be?
Indeed, the style of the great dynasties was not comparable to that of the small dynasties.
"What are you guys discussing?"
A guard looked over. "The little princess is here, why aren't you paying respects?"
"No need!"
A voice came from the sedan chair. "Do not trouble them. I am on a private tour this time. Do not alert too many people. If my father knows I am coming to Shenji Mountain again, he might blame me."
The guard nodded slightly and dared not say more. He carried the phoenix sedan chair and stepped into the depths of Shenji Mountain, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.
"Why can he go in and we can't?"
Hu Yu said indignantly, "Didn't you say we have to pass an assessment to get in?"
"Are you blind or pretending to be blind?" The leading disciple rolled his eyes. "Can't you tell? The one just now was Princess Ye Hong. Her arrival at Shenji Mountain is an honor for Shenji Mountain, so why should we stop her?"
"According to what you're saying, Shenji Mountain is not treating everyone equally. Why mention fate then!" Hu Yu said coldly. "Isn't that disgusting?"
"Little girl, don't cause trouble here. If you talk nonsense here, you'll never get into Shenji Mountain." The leading disciple was blunt.
Hu Yu was furious and was about to retort when Ye Fan grabbed her. "I advise you not to cause trouble here. Otherwise, if I can't get into Shenji Mountain and don't know the address of Tongtian Academy, you'll be in trouble."
Hu Yu was slightly stunned but dared not speak. If she delayed Lu Fan's important matter, Golden Light Cave Heaven would be in trouble.
After waiting for a long time outside the mountain gate, they saw many figures arriving outside Shenji Mountain, seemingly waiting for the noon assessment.
"If I'm not mistaken, these people should all be here to have their fortunes told at Shenji Mountain," Hu Yu said. "It's a pity that only a few can enter Shenji Mountain."
"Since Shenji Mountain can divine the celestial phenomena, why are they so stingy?" Lu Fan shook his head, puzzled.
"You might not know, but although they have heavenly abilities and can even divine the future, they have a drawback, which is revealing heavenly secrets."
Hu Yu explained, "This has a great backlash effect on them, so they dare not act recklessly. Therefore, only those who pass the assessment can enter Shenji Mountain."
"If that's the case, why is Shenji Mountain like this?"
Lu Fan asked, "Why not simply refuse everyone and avoid these troubles?"
"How do you think Shenji Mountain got its reputation?" Hu Yu rolled her eyes. "Shenji Mountain's reputation is immense precisely because of their divination skills. Moreover, the barrier Shenji Mountain set up is intentional. Only those who pass the assessment will be useful to Shenji Mountain in the future, and Shenji Mountain will then help them with calculations."
"So, everything Shenji Mountain does is just for future favors!"
Lu Fan was somewhat confused but understood.
"That's right, Shenji Mountain doesn't do business at a loss!" Hu Yu nodded seriously. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have come to Shenji Mountain, because I know very well that with my qualifications, they wouldn't take me seriously, and I wouldn't be able to get in."
Lu Fan nodded slightly, understanding now. However, it made sense. Since Shenji Mountain was a sect, it must have a purpose; otherwise, why would they help others?
As they were talking, the leading disciple looked at everyone present. "If you want to enter Shenji Mountain, you must undergo an assessment. There is a sword formation ahead. If you can pass that sword formation, you can enter Shenji Mountain. If you dare not, then return the way you came!"
Many people trembled, clearly feeling the terror of the sword formation. If they rashly entered it, they might lose their lives.
"We are here for divination, not to die!" a man said indignantly. "We can give you as many spirit stones as you want, as long as you let us enter this mountain gate."
"Ridiculous, my Shenji Mountain is not short of spirit stones," the leading disciple replied unceremoniously.