Billions of Cultivators, Illusionary Sky Ladder

At the foot of Azure Cloud Sect Mountain.

A quarter-hour before the news spread, Lin Zhan hurried home.

Then he announced news that thrilled every young member of the Lin Family.

The Main Sect would be Opening the Mountain to Accept Disciples in three days!

Wonderful!

At last, they had a chance to join the Main Sect like Brother Lin Bai!

They could hardly wait. Every day, they kept watch beneath the Main Sect's mountain gate.

They looked toward the Main Sect with longing in their eyes, imagining that one day, they would enter it through their own hard work.

Now that the opportunity lay before them, whether they could seize it depended entirely on themselves.

Setting everything else aside, the Lin Family had gained the moon before others from their nearby terrace. It was not that Lin Bai, as a Direct Disciple in the sect, could pull strings for them.

Rather, the Lin Family had rendered merit and received immortal cultivation arts bestowed by the Sect Master.

Though they had not cultivated for long, they absolutely could not be underestimated!

One had to know that those were immortal cultivation arts! During this period of cultivation, everyone's strength had greatly improved.

Furthermore, Family Head Lin Zhan had attended Azure Cloud Sect's meeting, so they had learned the news at the very first opportunity and could prepare in advance.

Three days finally passed amid the anxious anticipation of everyone in Spirit Province.

At this moment, even "a sea of people" was not enough to describe the scene beneath Azure Cloud Sect's mountain gate.

A rough estimate put their number at no less than hundreds of millions. They had nearly filled the entire Azure Cloud Mountain Range, and people were still arriving in an endless stream.

However, there was no need to worry about missing it. This Azure Cloud Mountain Opening had been set for ten days, so there was plenty of time.

Though the scene was noisy, everything remained orderly.

Five guards radiated the aura of peak True Person Realm cultivators, stunning the entire crowd. No one dared to cause trouble.

"The auras of these five seniors are too powerful! Are they Azure Cloud Sect's elders?"

"Yeah, I didn't expect the upper sect to place such importance on this disciple recruitment. Before it has even begun, they already sent out five elders."

"Of course. For such a powerful sect as the upper sect, if they make the slightest move, people like us can only look up in awe."

"But let me tell you, the strongest person in the upper sect is the mysterious Sect Master. Rumor has it he is an incomparably powerful Great Emperor!"

"I normally don't spread such secret news around. I'm telling you today, but you absolutely must not spread it recklessly!"

One man's startling words left the many people around him who had been unaware utterly dumbfounded!

The Sect Master was a Great Emperor!

Was that real? A Great Emperor! An existence standing at the peak of the continent, whose might shook the ages!

If this news was true, then... then...!

Feng Qingyang: When did I become a Great Emperor? That kid definitely isn't a shill I hired!

When the time came, Azure Cloud Sect's mountain gate swung open.

Shi Hao, along with Elder Ye Bai, Mu Feng, and Mu Tian, emerged from within.

Azure Cloud Sect had first dispatched five guards to maintain order.

Then it sent Direct Disciple Shi Hao and three Outer Sect Elders to personally preside over the event.

The atmosphere among the crowd beneath the mountain surged to its peak as well!

"Look, look!"

"They're seniors from Azure Cloud Sect!"

"The Azure Cloud Mountain Opening disciple recruitment examination is about to begin!"

Everyone beneath the mountain gate strained to look upward.

They saw four figures clad in Sect Attire standing atop the mountain peak.

From this angle, they stood level with the clouds, making the four of them seem like immortals walking out from among the clouds.

"Personal Disciple Shi, please speak first."

At the mountain's peak, an elder politely said to Shi Hao before him.

No rules, no order. As Azure Cloud Sect became increasingly formal, everyone had to follow the rules.

They were merely Outer Sect Elders, while Shi Hao was the Sect Master's Direct Disciple. The hierarchy could not be disrupted.

Azure Cloud Sect's sect rules were also being personally drafted by the elders of the Law Enforcement Hall.

Once they were submitted to the Sect Master for review and approved, they would be issued. They would surely be completed before the disciple recruitment ended.

"You are too courteous, Elder."

After saying that, Shi Hao stepped to the very front and spoke in a clear voice.

"First, I welcome all of you who have traveled thousands of miles, racing day and night, to participate in Azure Cloud Sect's Disciple Recruitment Assembly."

"I wish for all of you to pass the examination as you desire and enter Azure Cloud Sect."

"I am Shi Hao, the Sect Master's Direct Disciple. I look forward to meeting you all within the sect."

"Alright, I am finished. Next, the sect elders will explain the specific process of the first trial in detail."

After offering a few formal remarks, Shi Hao turned and stepped back.

"Waaah, disciples of the upper sect are too handsome! They understand our hearts so well!"

"Yeah! To get to Azure Cloud Sect, I fucking traveled nonstop for three straight days!"

"With those words from the upper sect's Direct Disciple, my racing day and night was not in vain, waaah!"

Some people were moved to tears on the spot. Those who had made it here had truly traveled thousands of miles, racing day and night! Who could speak of the bitterness they had endured?

The upper sect's Direct Disciple had even personally wished for them to pass the examination. How could they not be moved?

As Shi Hao finished speaking, the three elders immediately stepped forward.

Ye Bai stood between the other two elders and looked down as he declared, "We are Outer Sect Elders of Azure Cloud Sect."

"Now, we will explain the process of the first trial: the Illusionary Sky Ladder!"

After Ye Bai spoke, he circulated his spiritual energy and waved his hand.

Brilliant azure light flashed.

A Heavenly Stairway a hundred li long stretched from the sect all the way down to the mountain gate. Scenes shifted endlessly upon the stairway that reached straight into the clouds, its mysteries boundless.

This shocking sight left everyone staring in stunned silence.

"This is the Illusionary Sky Ladder. It is very simple: anyone who ascends this ladder from beneath the mountain gate will pass the first trial."

"This Heavenly Stairway changes endlessly, presenting a thousand visions to a thousand people. Every ten steps, another illusion will appear. Only those with exceptional temperament and great perseverance can walk it to the end."

"Furthermore, this Heavenly Stairway will create corresponding illusions and pressure according to each person's realm. Therefore, the first trial is absolutely fair."

"Those who pass this Heavenly Stairway will become Servant Disciples of Azure Cloud Sect even if they fail the second trial."

By the time the elder reached this point, everyone beneath the mountain gate was already wildly excited, each of them eager to give it a try.

The first trial was a purely fair and impartial examination! It did not look at cultivation realm, only temperament and perseverance.

And even if they failed the second trial, they could still become Servant Disciples—the dream of most of them.

Conscientious!

So damn conscientious!

In the eyes of some of them, this Heavenly Stairway was simple. Even the upper sect elder had said it was very simple, so it definitely could not be difficult!

Since talent was not considered, they prided themselves on having quite high temperament and perseverance!

Becoming a Servant Disciple was absolutely in the bag!

"Alright. This elder hereby announces that the first trial, the Illusionary Sky Ladder, officially begins!"