"Guo Xin Ta," as it's called, is a test to see if your heart is willing to be a dog for the Shennong Sect!
Seeing this, Ying Chen's eyes flickered slightly.
Professor Li, standing behind him, sighed deeply. "I'd only heard before that some underground organizations liked to pull stunts like this, but I never expected a major sect of the Xuanmen to be fond of it too."
"This is essentially a form of psychological manipulation, or PUA. It was originally invented by underground organizations to completely bind newcomers to the organization. It's like a pledge of allegiance; if you don't do it, you can't get in. If you do it, you've essentially surrendered your dignity and humanity, becoming a dog of the organization."
"If you can crawl through a dog hole the first time, you can eat shit the second, and bite people the third, until psychologically and behaviorally, you've become a true dog."
"The person who invented this method for the Shennong Sect likely intended not only to test those seeking medicine but also to manipulate them, to turn them into the Shennong Sect's power in the secular world?"
"Ah? It's that complicated?" Min Ziqing, clearly more brawn than brain, looked bewildered after Professor Li's lengthy explanation.
He hadn't expected so much depth to a simple act of crawling through a dog hole.
In the distance, the husband's figure had already disappeared into the depths of the dog hole.
Seeing this, the wife hesitated for a moment, then suddenly gritted her teeth and also crawled into the dog hole.
The wife, who had initially been resolute, had her psychological defenses torn open by her husband's submission.
It was easy to imagine that if this continued, both of them would, as Professor Li said, become "dogs" kept by the Shennong Sect in the secular world.
As the wife also disappeared into the dog hole, Aunt Tang arrogantly walked back to Ying Chen and his companions.
"You three..."
But before Aunt Tang could finish her sentence, Ying Chen suddenly moved, grabbing her by the neck.
His eyes were filled with murderous intent.
"We're at the Shennong Sect now anyway, so your usefulness is gone. If you dare tell us to crawl through that dog hole, I won't hesitate to send you to your death right now!"
Aunt Tang's face turned red, filled with terror.
She could feel from Ying Chen's gaze that he genuinely intended to kill her!
Her life hung by a thread!
"No, no, no... you are honored guests of our Shennong Sect... how could you possibly be asked to crawl through a dog hole?"
"I was going to say... please follow me, we will enter through the main gate..."
*Thud!*
Aunt Tang was thrown to the ground by Ying Chen like a dead fish.
"Hmph!" Ying Chen snorted coldly. "Lead the way!"
Still shaken, Aunt Tang quickly got up from the ground and led the three towards the main entrance.
The main entrance was not far to the left of the dog hole, but it was concealed by a minor illusion, making those seeking medicine instinctively believe the dog hole was the only way.
"Please," Aunt Tang's attitude became respectful again.
It seemed she finally remembered that she was no match for Ying Chen, and that even back at the Shennong Sect, Ying Chen could kill her if he pleased.
Passing through the main gate, they soon arrived at the inner sect of the Shennong Sect.
This was where all the core disciples, elders, and the sect leader of the Shennong Sect resided.
To the surprise of Ying Chen and his companions, they encountered the same couple who had just crawled through the dog hole.
The couple also froze when they saw Ying Chen's group.
They seemed to be wondering why, if they were all seeking medicine, Ying Chen's group didn't have to crawl through the dog hole.
However, they soon stopped paying attention, as there were many others around them with the same objective.
These people were all dressed in expensive clothing, and the bags they carried and the watches they wore could easily be worth half a common person's annual income.
Yet, this group of distinguished individuals now wore fawning smiles, showering a Shennong Sect disciple with favors.
"Young brother, this is black green jade from Ta County, known as 'black mutton-fat,' very valuable. We only beg you to make an exception and introduce us to the Sect Leader..."
"Young brother, this is 'Flowering Jade' of 'Jiangshan Guose,' I have no other requests, only to see the Sect Leader and ask him to treat my mother."
"Young brother, help me first! My father is gravely ill! If we don't get the Sect Leader to act soon, he'll be... he'll be beyond saving!"
Each person offered gifts, all in hopes of being introduced to the Sect Leader and having him treat their illnesses.
However, the Shennong Sect disciple accepted the gifts but remained unyielding. "Our Sect Leader is extremely busy, do you think he can act just like that? Besides, look at your status. Do you think you are worthy of our Sect Leader's attention?"
"Alright, everyone wait! I will arrange for a core disciple to treat you according to your sincerity."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately became displeased.
It was like going to a high-end barbershop after spending a lot of money, only to be told they would be served by an apprentice!
Wasn't this a scam?
"No, we must see the Sect Leader! We've sacrificed our dignity and pride, paid gifts and money, only for this result? And my child only has two days left! We don't have time for you to make slow arrangements!"
"We must see the Sect Leader today!"
It was the couple who spoke, their faces filled with indignation and urgency.
It seemed their child was indeed seriously ill, otherwise, they wouldn't dare to challenge this disciple who held the power to rank them.
The disciple, seemingly accustomed to such people, didn't get angry. He merely glanced at the couple and said, "In a hurry? If you're in a hurry, then perform the long prostration and strike the Mingxue Bell!"
"According to the rules: if you can make the Mingxue Bell ring throughout the entire Shennong Sect, the Sect Leader must act for you once."
Hearing this, the couple froze.
Then, as if seeing a glimmer of hope, they prepared to strike the Mingxue Bell.
However, before they could take a step, someone beside them pulled them back. "Brother, are you crazy? Do you know what the Mingxue Bell is? First, you have to kneel and prostrate every step for a full ten kilometers to reach the Mingxue Bell. Second, the Mingxue Bell is extremely difficult to ring. Someone once cracked their skull trying to ring it and failed, leaving behind only a corpse!"
"You'd better not seek death. You can have another child if this one is lost, but if you both are lost, you'll have nothing!"
"This..." The couple hesitated after hearing this.
But after exchanging glances, they both saw the image of their beloved daughter lying on her sickbed, on the verge of death. Their hearts ached uncontrollably.
"Prostrate!" they said in unison, their decision made.
Then, with two dull thuds, they knelt down. Disregarding their own lives, they began their journey of long prostrations and striking the Mingxue Bell!
The sound of their heads repeatedly hitting the bluestone slabs reached everyone's ears, and the bloodstains became visible, causing many to turn away, unable to bear watching.
Just as everyone thought the couple would surely die within the Shennong Sect, a cold voice rang out: "Get up! You are not allowed to kneel!"