古代修道者甚多，而得道者极少。这是因为修道艰难，师父对弟子要求非常严格。若是没有非凡的决心和意志，则很难修成。

赵升向往修道，不畏路途遥远，西行至蜀，欲拜张道陵为师。师父为试徒心，设了重重关卡。

这天，他历尽艰辛，终于走到张道陵的门前，对门人具述来意，求门人向里通报。出乎他意外的是门人非但不报，竟对他破口大骂。赵升求道心坚，不恼不怒，抱着不见师面绝不罢休的决心，就在门前露宿。他露宿四十余日，门人辱骂了四十余日，终于见到张道陵，并允他留下来。张道陵让他住到田野里，日夜驱赶糟蹋庄稼的飞禽走兽，他二话不说就去了。

夜晚的荒野冷风嗖嗖，禽兽怪叫，令人不寒而栗，他尽职尽责，使粮食不受一粒损失。一天日暮，他刚驱跑一群飞禽，突然从路上走来一个美丽异常的年轻女子，述说因走远路不及到村，要在这里向他借宿。赵升想修道人应该帮助有困难的人，就让该女子住进自己的小草房，而他却独坐田头直到晨晓。第二日女子又口称脚痛仍不走，竟一连住了数日。夜晚女子百般调戏，赵升意坚似石，终不失正。

张道陵让赵升上山砍柴，刚上路就遇到三十余罐金子，他像没看见一样，头也不回地走过去了。走到山口，有三只老虎张著血盆大口猛地向他扑来，仿佛一口要把他吞下去。在这危急关头，他不心慌，不害怕，心中想到：“我乃张天师的弟子，有师父保护决不会发生危险！”果然老虎撕他的衣服，舔他的脸，却没有咬他，过了一会儿见他毫无惧色，老虎低着头走了。

张道陵让赵升到集市上去买布，布买好了，钱也付了，卖主却诬他说没给钱，对着人群大吵大嚷。赵升也不与他争辩，毫不吝啬地脱下自己的衣服偿还布钱，这时卖主又不好意思地承认了错误。又有一次，赵升正在看守庄稼，从远处走来一个乞丐，衣裳破旧，满脸尘垢，浑身脓疮，臭味呛鼻，向他讨要饭食。赵升怆然动容，解自己的衣服让他穿，拿自己的饭让他吃，送自己的粮食让他带，使老人满心感激，而地里的粮食一粒也没动。

1. Triumphing over Six Tests in a Row

In ancient China, there were a lot of cultivators, but few of them were able to attain the status of a divine being. This is because cultivation is very challenging and masters expect their disciples to adhere to very strict and difficult standards. Without an exceptionally strong resolve and will, a cultivator will not be able to complete his cultivation.

Once upon a time in ancient China, there was a man named Zhao Sheng. Longing for the Tao, Zhao Sheng traveled a long distance to Sichuan Province in western China to cultivate in Taoism under Zhang Daoling's tutelage. In order to confirm Zhao Sheng's will, Zhang Daoling arranged a series of tests.

One day Zhao Sheng arrived at Zhang Daoling's door. He explained the purpose of his visit to the doorman and begged him to tell Zhang Daoling. To his astonishment, the doorman did not go tell Zhang Daoling about him. Instead, he showered Zhao Sheng with curses. Determined to cultivate in Taoism, Zhao Sheng did not lose his temper at all. He decided that he would not leave until he became Zhang's disciple. He slept outside the door that night and for the next 40 nights as well. The doorman cursed at him for 40 days. Finally, Zhang Daoling agreed to meet Zhao and allowed him to stay. However, Master Zhang ordered him to live on the paddies to work as a scarecrow and drive birds and beasts from the crops. Zhao obeyed without hesitation.

It was windy and cold in the field at night. Wild animals made terrifying noises that sent chills up and down one's spine. Yet Zhao was very devoted. He made sure not a grain was lost to animals. One day at sunset when he had just driven away a flock of birds, Zhao saw an unusually beautiful young maiden approaching him. The lady told him that she was walking to a village far away and asked for lodging overnight. Zhao Sheng thought that, as a cultivator, he should help people in need. He invited the lady to sleep in his thatched shack, but he sat in the field alone until dawn. The next day the lady complained of foot pain and stayed for a few more days. At night the lady tried to seduce him, but Zhao Sheng's heart was set on cultivation and he was not tempted at all.

Next, Master Zhang ordered Zhao Sheng to go to the mountain and get firewood. As soon as Zhao took off, he saw over 30 pots of gold on the road. He seemed completely oblivious to the gold. In fact, he passed the pots by and did not even turn his head to examine the gold. When he got up on the mountain, three roaring tigers charged at him at the same time, as though they were about to devour him. At the pivotal moment, Zhao did not panic. He thought, "I am Master Zhang's disciple. Master is watching over me! Nothing will harm me!" Indeed, the tigers tore his clothes and licked at his face, but they did not bite him at all. Seeing that he was fearless, the tigers lowered their heads and abandoned him.

Next, Master Zhang ordered Zhao Sheng to go to the market and buy some fabric. After Zhao selected the fabric and paid for it, the vendor accused him of not paying for the goods. Shouting at Zhao, the vendor made a scene and attracted a lot of onlookers. Zhao did not argue with him or defend himself. Instead, he took off his robe as a payment for the fabric. Suddenly the vendor admitted that he had made a mistake.

One day when Zhao Sheng was watching over the crops, there came a beggar from afar. The beggar was in rags and covered with dirt and filth. There were abscesses and pus all over his body. His stench was so foul that it was suffocating. The beggar approached Zhao and begged for food. Zhao was very sympathetic toward the beggar. He removed his own clothes and offered them to the beggar. He offered the beggar his own lunch and the food from his pantry. The old beggar was touched by Zhao's kindness, but he did not touch Zhao's stores of food.