Not long after, Lu Fan arrived at the mountain gate of the Shenji Mountain. He discovered that not only was the Shenji Mountain protected by a barrier, but it was also guarded by several disciples.
"I have something to inquire about and wish to enter Shenji Mountain to find answers!"
Lu Fan cupped his fists slightly and looked 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 destined with Shenji Mountain."
"How does one become destined?" Lu Fan asked seriously. He was in a hurry to get to Tongtian Academy and naturally wanted to get his answers quickly.
"You can enter Shenji Mountain only after passing the assessment of Shenji Mountain," the leading disciple stated directly. "However, it is not yet time for the assessment. We must wait until noon."
Lu Fan felt a bit helpless and could only wait outside the mountain gate. He had no choice but to ask for their help and could not complain too much.
"I have already brought you to Shenji Mountain. Can we go back now?" Hu Yu asked quickly.
"What a nice thought!"
Lu Fan said coldly, "If you don't want your Jin Guang Dong Tian to be buried with you, you'd better be careful."
"Aren't you making things difficult for me!" Hu Yu said pitifully. "If you can't enter Shenji Mountain, you can't blame me, can you?"
"You said you knew the location of Tongtian Academy, which is 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 taking you as a retainer would not be too much."
"This..." Hu Yu stood there stunned, looking even more wronged.
Although he was not of exceptional beauty, he was still a beauty. Lu Fan actually wanted him as a retainer, and how could he tolerate that?
Just as they were talking, a phoenix cry suddenly sounded. The sky turned dark, appearing to block out the sun. A giant phoenix carrying a sedan chair flew in the sky, arriving at the Shenji Mountain gate in a flash, with many guards by its side.
This aura suggested that it was no ordinary person.
"I request an audience with Elder Zi Shan!"
From the phoenix sedan chair, the woman's voice was brief but carried immense authority, as if everyone in the world were her subjects.
"Your Highness Princess, Elder Zi Shan 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 acted like a lackey, polite and courteous, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor.
"So it's a princess from the Taiyan Dynasty. No wonder it's such a grand display," Hu Yu pouted. "If I were a princess, I'd definitely be more imposing than her."
"Unfortunately, you are not!"
Ye Fan rolled his eyes, then looked at the woman before him, feeling a bit surprised. If a princess of a dynasty could command such a grand display, then the emperor of a dynasty would surely be boundless.
Indeed, the ways of a great dynasty were not comparable to those of a small dynasty.
"What are you guys discussing?"
A guard looked over. "The little princess is here. Why aren't you paying your respects?"
"No need!"
The voice came from the sedan chair. "Don't make things difficult for them. I am on a private tour this time. Don't alert too many people. If my father emperor finds out I've come to Shenji Mountain again, he might blame me."
The guard nodded slightly and dared not say anything more. He carried the phoenix sedan chair and walked towards the depths of Shenji Mountain, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent.
"Why can he go in and we can't?"
Hu Yu said indignantly. "Didn't you say we had to pass an assessment to enter?"
"Are you genuinely blind or pretending to be?" the leading disciple retorted. "Can't you see? The person just now was Princess Ye Hong. Her being able to come to Shenji Mountain is giving face to Shenji Mountain. Why would they stop her?"
"According to what you're saying, Shenji Mountain is not treating everyone equally. Why bother saying it's about destiny!" Hu Yu said coldly. "Isn't that disgusting?"
"Little girl, don't cause trouble here. If you speak nonsense here, you'll never be able to enter Shenji Mountain." The leading disciple was blunt.
Hu Yu was furious and was about to argue when Ye Fan grabbed him. "I advise you not to cause trouble here. Otherwise, if I can't enter Shenji Mountain and don't find out the address of Tongtian Academy, you'll be in trouble."
Hu Yu was stunned for a moment but dared not speak. If he delayed Lu Fan's important business, Jin Guang Dong Tian would be in trouble.
After waiting outside the mountain gate for a long time, they noticed 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 by Shenji Mountain."
Hu Yu said, "It's a pity that only a very few can enter Shenji Mountain."
"Since Shenji Mountain can divine celestial phenomena, why are they so stingy?" Lu Fan shook his head, feeling even more perplexed.
"You might not know, but although they have profound abilities, even able to 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. Thus, only those who pass the assessment can enter Shenji Mountain."
"If that's the case, why is Shenji Mountain like this?"
Lu Fan was confused. "Why not just refuse everyone and avoid these troubles?"
"Do you think that's how Shenji Mountain got its reputation?" Hu Yu rolled his eyes. "Shenji Mountain's reputation is immense, precisely because of their divination skills. Moreover, the barrier Shenji Mountain set up is also deliberate. Only those who pass the assessment will be useful to Shenji Mountain in the future, and Shenji Mountain will help them with calculations."
"So, everything Shenji Mountain does is merely for future favors!"
Lu Fan was somewhat confused but found it plausible.
"That's right. Shenji Mountain doesn't do business at a loss!" Hu Yu nodded solemnly. "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 be interested, 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 certain purpose; otherwise, why would they help others?
Just as they were talking, the leading disciple looked at the crowd present. "If you wish to enter Shenji Mountain, you must undergo an assessment. In front of you is a sword formation. If you can break through that sword formation, you will be able to enter Shenji Mountain. If you dare not, then turn back the way you came!"
Many people trembled, clearly feeling the terror of the sword formation. If they rashly entered it, their lives would likely be in danger.
"We are here for divination, not to risk our lives!" 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 lacking in spirit stones," the leading disciple said unceremoniously.