Chapter 127: True Geniuses Were Not So Easily Born
When the first person crossed the seven-hundredth step, it also ant that the entire test had entered the purgatory phase.
The onlookers in the plaza could no longer clearly see what was happening high above with the naked eye, but fortunately, the sect had set up a massive screen capable of projecting illusory images, allowing them to continue watching.
At this mont, everyone held their breath.
The leading figure was still persisting, yet he no longer possessed his earlier composure.
Every few steps he climbed upward, he had to pause to catch his breath.
The spiritual pressure around him had nearly condensed into substance, making each of his steps appear extraordinarily heavy.
And the power of "Heart Erosion" fully erupted at this ti.
What the formation generated was no longer rely whispers at one’s ear, but vivid scenes that materialized one after another, madly eroding the climbers’ will.
Quite a few people clearly still had physical strength remaining, yet because their minds lost their hold, they dejectedly chose to give up.
Within this purgatory-like trial, the resilience and fragility of human nature were displayed to the fullest.
A richly dressed young master from a wealthy family had long since torn his fingers bloody from gripping too tightly, yet he still stubbornly climbed upward; another girl who appeared delicate had turned pale as paper, her lips bitten through by herself, yet she showed no intention of giving up.
But there was also a muscular young man who suddenly sat down, covering his face with both hands—clearly he had chosen to forfeit.
Most lantable of all were the three Heavenly Spiritual Roots who had been placed under high expectations.
Two of them gave up shortly after stepping past the six-hundredth step, their results even inferior to what Long Tao had achieved in the past.
The remaining one struggled his way to the high six-hundred-nineties, yet just a few steps from the seven-hundredth mark, he collapsed onto the ground, staring upward with a dispirited expression.
“Though the spiritual roots are excellent, the Dao Heart ultimately fell a few points short,” a Peak Master gently shook his head.
“It seems that this year no one will be directly taken in as a Personal Disciple.”
Several elders nearby nodded one after another, unable to conceal the disappointnt on their faces.
After all, three years ago Nan Yuchen had shattered the nine-hundredth step with the bearing of a Heavenly Spiritual Root—an astonishing feat that remained fresh in everyone’s mory and naturally made people hope that such a genius would appear again this year.
“When all is said and done, seedlings like Fang Wuqi and Nan Yuchen are one-in-a-hundred-year rarities,” another elder sighed.
“In recent years the sect had been fortunate enough to produce two in succession. It misled even us into thinking that top-tier geniuses erged easily.”
“That is indeed so. In truth, reaching six hundred steps is already quite good—at least it surpasses the majority. Though it cannot be called a resolute Dao Heart, their willpower is considered passable. If their temperant and comprehension are not lacking, these three Heavenly Spiritual Roots can still be nurtured as key talents. The little fellow who nearly reached seven hundred steps might perhaps be exceptionally granted Inner Sect Disciple status.”
This was the rule of the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect.
In most small sects, a Heavenly Spiritual Root was practically a preordained Personal Disciple.
But here, if other aspects were insufficiently outstanding, one could only begin as an Outer Sect Disciple.
Of course, they would certainly not be made nial Disciples.
Toward Heavenly Spiritual Roots, the sect still maintained the most basic respect.
“That one in black is not bad either.”
Following the indication of a certain elder, everyone’s gaze focused on Ye Jingchen, dressed in tight-fitting black attire.
He had already crossed the seven-hundredth step, and his condition appeared relatively stable.
“His physical aptitude is indeed excellent, but sohow… sothing feels off,” an elder with white beard and hair frowned.
“People with such heavy Jianghu aura always make one uneasy. Though one should not judge by appearance, his deanor and bearing carry an indescribable hint of calculation. The sect nearly lost Fang Wuqi recently because of a traitor—better to be cautious.”
Those who could beco elders or Peak Masters were all Golden Core True Persons who had cultivated for hundreds of years.
Naturally, they could sense certain subtleties.
The few True Persons exchanged glances and silently fell quiet, understanding one another without speaking further.
At every Disciple Recruitnt Ceremony, it was inevitable that spies planted by various forces would appear—this was no secret within the sect.
As the old saying went, when one had been deceived enough tis, one would naturally learn what a swindler looked like.
Put another way, when one had been undermined by spies often enough, one could more or less detect their peculiarities.
In short, although this year’s test had set a record for participation in recent years, astonishing talents were few and far between.
Not until dusk was approaching did soone reach the eight-hundred-fifty-second step, becoming the champion of this year’s Heavenly Ladder.
Although no one crossed the nine-hundredth step, everyone at the sidelines still offered that young man the most enthusiastic cheers and applause.
As for the Man in Black, Ye Jingchen, he halted at the eight-hundred-and-eighth step.
It was clear he had given everything.
Because he had surpassed Zhu Huaisu’s result from back then, this princess felt quite displeased.
anwhile, Long Tao’s younger sister, Long Xi, had ultimately ground her way to the three-hundred-sixtieth step.
It was passable—at least she was not at the very bottom.
As for her friend, the gorgeously dressed young lady, her performance was unexpectedly good, reaching over six hundred and eighty steps.
After everyone was guided down from the Heavenly Ladder, the presiding elder announced that today’s test had concluded.
The final comprehension test would be held tomorrow, granting these utterly exhausted youths a night to recuperate.
This final trial, though not as spectacular as the Heavenly Ladder, possessed another appealing elent—gambling.
The sect would not only distribute foundational cultivation thods for them to comprehend but also require them to sit in ditation before objects imbued with Dao resonance and sense them with calm focus.
Throughout the years, there had been no shortage of disciples who perford diocrely in the first three tests yet suddenly awakened at this stage, displaying astonishing comprehension or even revealing special talents, thereby being exceptionally admitted into the sect—sotis even directly becoming Personal Disciples, soaring to the heavens in a single leap.
An example not entirely typical was the little Xiao Ying beside Long Tao.
If she had participated normally in the tests, her results in the first three would likely not have been very good.
But in the final comprehension stage, as long as she could perceive the Power of Ti from the sword-fragnt of True Person Zhiying, she would certainly still be accepted as a Personal Disciple.
……
As the entire day’s testing concluded, Long Tao and Xiao Ying bid farewell to Nan Yuchen and the other, returning to their own Cloud Vessel.
They found a spot along the outer periter of the plaza and descended slowly.
Soon, they located their family.
“Father! Mother! Uncle Liu! Long Xi!”
Seeing their son whom they had not seen for a long ti, Long Father and Long Mother showed excitent on their faces and ca forward, showering him with concern and inquiries.
Though Long Xi had just co down from the Heavenly Ladder and looked utterly exhausted, she still coquettishly complained and sought comfort from her elder brother.
After the commotion settled, she introduced her newly made friend, Jiang Wuyun, to the family.
“Don’t be surprised when you hear this—Wuyun is a Commandery Princess!”
“A Commandery Princess? But… I have never heard of any imperial clan with the surna Jiang. Miss Wuyun, did you co from sowhere very far away?”
After all, this was her daughter’s new friend.
If she were an ordinary person, she would not mind.
But soone who dared to call herself a Commandery Princess—such a status was no small matter.
The imperial dynasties of this world were mostly existences capable of standing on equal footing with surrounding sects.
Jiang Wuyun did not quite know how to explain, yet her composed and elegant bearing, along with the luxurious garnts she wore, prevented the Long family from doubting her completely.
“Wuyun said she ca from so… um… Lower Realm. She also said this place of ours is called the Cloud Sea Realm. Anyway, I don’t really understand, but it should be sowhere very far away.”
Upon hearing this explanation, Long Tao imdiately understood.
This Jiang Wuyun had most likely “ascended” from a small world controlled by the sect.
The Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect governed certain small worlds.
It was said that a few of them contained human civilizations.
However, as a re Qi-Refining Minor Cultivator, he had no way of accessing information at that level within the sect.
But judging from how the sect did not seem to value this “ascended” girl too highly—even allowing her to freely interact with others—that small world was probably an ordinary place lacking spiritual energy and possessing few Heavenly Treasures.
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