Extreme Dao City
News of the opening of the Mountain Gate of the Extreme Dao Academy spread quickly.
The test would be conducted tomorrow by immortal envoys, turning what was once a peaceful city into a noisy one.
"Finally, I've arrived."
At the city entrance, Wu Fan—of average appearance and a thin build, dressed in low-quality cloth clothes that had been washed many times, with a leather pouch tied around his waist—stood in line with a faint, satisfied smile.
He had managed to accomplish half of his first goal since regaining the memories of his past life. Half, because he had found a way to cultivate immortality. To complete this goal, he needed to pass tomorrow's exam.
Thinking of this, Wu Fan's smile faded. The path had only just opened. He had no right to feel satisfied yet.
Keeping a serious expression, Wu Fan waited for his turn. When it came, he paid a toll of ten silver coins to the guards, who allowed him to pass.
Upon entering the city, he saw many people chatting along the sidewalks while carriages came and went along streets paved with rectangular stone slabs.
Ignoring them, Wu Fan thought about finding an inn to spend the night. The moment he had this thought, a translucent screen appeared before him, floating in the air.
[Mortal Luck Triggered: Head to the Drunken Old Man Inn, located in the depths of the city, and obtain a quarter of privileged information about tomorrow's test during a conversation with an important guest at eight o'clock tonight.]
[Life Risk: None]
Reading this information, Wu Fan's eyes lit up with excitement.
He wasn't startled by the screen. It had been with him ever since he awakened.
In his previous life, this kind of ability had a name—a half-cheat. Useful, but never enough to rely on.
For example, right now.
All Wu Fan would gain was a small amount of information. A quarter of it wasn't enough to guarantee his success, but it would still give him more confidence by providing a foundation.
"One step closer to completing my goal."
Brushing the dust off his clothes, Wu Fan began walking toward the deeper parts of the city. Along the way, he asked several people where the Drunken Old Man Inn was located. This question earned him strange looks, mixed with pity.
Wu Fan raised his eyebrows, feeling uneasy.
Why are they reacting like that?
He didn't understand until a middle-aged man decided to explain.
"Kid, you're new here, right? The inn you're looking for is one of the worst in the city. The old owner doesn't care about the place, leaving the rooms messy, covered in cobwebs and dust—practically abandoned. On top of that, he's grumpy and refuses to hire workers. Aside from his granddaughter, who helps a little, there's no one else. Only very poor people choose to stay there."
This explanation filled Wu Fan's mind with questions.
Why would an important guest go to such a place?
Doubts lingered in his mind. If it weren't for the zero risk, he would have backed out by now. But he wouldn't—he just needed to make some new preparations.
After asking where the nearest market was, Wu Fan thanked the man for the directions and headed there, buying some handmade bread and bottles of water.
Putting the items into his leather pouch, he left the market and looked up at the sky, which was now darkening. In the west, the sun was setting, signaling the arrival of night.
Noticing the time, Wu Fan—who already knew the inn's location—headed straight there.
Half an hour later, he arrived in front of a two-story gray building. The place was silent, giving off the feeling that something could go wrong at any moment.
Swallowing, Wu Fan stepped inside and saw there was no reception. The place was just an empty space, where, ahead of him, an old man with a flushed face lay on a bamboo chair, one hand resting on the wood and the other holding a gourd to his lips.
Sensing someone's arrival, the old man lowered his head and looked at Wu Fan. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to rent a room for one night," Wu Fan replied with a neutral expression, revealing nothing more.
"Rent? Don't you know the conditions of this inn?" Even though his face was flushed from drinking, the old man was still rational.
He raised his eyebrows suspiciously.
"I just arrived today. I don't have much money left after the journey. I have no choice but to stay here. So, will you rent it or not? If you refuse, I'll leave."
Wu Fan turned around, ready to go.
"Ten silver coins."
Noticing that Wu Fan genuinely only wanted a room, the old man let go of his doubts.
"One silver coin."
Wu Fan immediately refused the price.
It was far too high for a room that might even have venomous creatures.
"What do you think this is, a charity?" the old man grumbled.
"If you want to charge that much, take better care of your inn. From what I've heard, the rooms are in terrible condition," Wu Fan shot back, not backing down.
"You brat, don't talk about what you don't know. My granddaughter cleaned all the rooms this morning," the old man snapped angrily. "That's the price. I won't argue with you anymore."
Enraged, the old man fell silent.
"The room was cleaned? Is that why the panel detected zero risk?"
That made sense. He had already considered that possibility. Even so, he followed the script he had prepared so as not to raise suspicion. It would be strange to accept so easily.
"Alright, I'll take it, old man. But if there are bugs, I'll want my money back."
He took out ten silver coins and walked over, placing them into the old man's hands.
Wu Fan's heart ached at the loss.
Spending that much for a single night, without food or breakfast, was painful. He had definitely lost money.
'I'll get my compensation at eight tonight.'
Wu Fan consoled himself, eager to see what would happen later—and who the important guest was that would visit that godforsaken place.