Three days later.
Dao Tian Sect.
Ascension Mountain.
Of course, this Ascension Mountain was not truly a place where one could ascend to immortality.
Rather, it was a place specially used by Dao Tian Sect to recruit disciples.
At this moment, tens of thousands of young men and women had gathered at the foot of Ascension Mountain.
Among them were quite a few descendants of Aristocratic Clans and imperial dynasties from across Azure Continent.
Yet at this moment, the faces of those Aristocratic Clan young masters and imperial princes were all filled with respect.
There was no other reason. Dao Tian Sect was the foremost sect in Azure Continent, with countless imperial dynasties, sects, and Aristocratic Clans submitting to it. If anyone acted like a spoiled young master here, Dao Tian Sect certainly would not indulge them.
At this time, an old man dressed in gray walked out. His voice was not loud, yet it rang across the entire scene like spring thunder. "I am the elder in charge of your trial. Listen carefully to what I am about to say.
"For Dao Tian Sect's disciple selection, the first test is the Spiritual Root awakening test. Spiritual Root grades are divided into trash, mortal, low-grade, mid-grade, superior, high-grade, supreme, and saint-grade. Those whose awakened Spiritual Root reaches mid-grade may enter the next round of testing!
"Have you understood?"
"We understand!"
The tens of thousands of young men and women answered in unison, their expressions excited.
"Then let us begin." The gray-robed elder swept out his wide sleeve and announced that the disciple selection had officially begun.
Following the gray-robed elder's announcement that the trial had officially begun,
the tens of thousands of young men and women on the field formed dozens of long lines in succession and began waiting for their Spiritual Roots to be awakened and tested.
Half an hour later.
Of the ten thousand people present, only 5,210 young men and women had passed the Spiritual Root awakening test, possessing mid-grade or higher Spiritual Roots.
The Spiritual Root test alone had eliminated nearly half the people.
The young men and women who had passed the Spiritual Root awakening test wore excited expressions.
Those who had failed hung their heads, dejectedly leaving the scene.
"Phew, that was close. Fortunately, the test showed that I awakened a mid-grade Wood Spiritual Root. Otherwise, if I had to pack up and go home just like this, Dad would have been terribly disappointed!"
Among the people who had passed the test was a young girl with a pair of limpid, lively eyes and curved eyelashes. Her features were delicate and pretty, and she wore a plain yet clean cyan dress. She patted her chest and muttered under her breath.
"Miss Sū Nán, I awakened a high-grade Fire Spiritual Root in the test. As long as I pass all the trials, I can definitely become an Inner Disciple. Perhaps an elder might even take a liking to me in the future, allowing me to become a True Disciple. Why don't you become Cultivation Partners with me? I will certainly help you cultivate in the future."
Suddenly, a handsome young man dressed in splendid robes smiled at the delicate young girl.
After the young girl, Sū Nán, froze for a moment, she smiled and said, "Young Master Chen, congratulations, congratulations. You awakened a high-grade Fire Spiritual Root, so your future prospects are limitless. But forget about becoming Cultivation Partners. I'm still young."
A seemingly helpless smile appeared on Young Master Chen's face. "Miss Sū Nán, your Su Family and our Chen Family both live in Pingyu City. I believe you will change your mind in the future."
"Mm-hmm." Sū Nán nodded.
Young Master Chen turned around, and his face immediately darkened.
This stinking girl doesn't know what's good for her.
There had never been a woman he, Chen Shaohua, had set his sights on and failed to obtain.
So what if your Su Family was in Pingyu City and was acclaimed alongside my Chen Family as the two great Aristocratic Clans of Pingyu City, evenly matched?
Now that I had awakened a high-grade Fire Spiritual Root, becoming an Inner Disciple was the bare minimum. There was even a great chance that an elder would take a liking to me and directly make me a True Disciple.
By then, with just a simple word from me, would your Su Family dare not offer you up?
At the same time,
the gray-robed elder appeared once more and said to the young men and women who had passed the Spiritual Root awakening test, "Congratulations on successfully passing the Spiritual Root awakening test. Next, you will set out from here and rely on your own strength to climb to the Ascension Platform atop Ascension Mountain. Anyone who reaches it may become a disciple of Dao Tian Sect. You have one day.
"Along the way, you will encounter all kinds of illusions, as well as snakes, insects, and fierce beasts.
"All of this is to test your state of mind and check whether any spies planted by the demonic path have infiltrated our sect.
"If you encounter danger along the way and wish to give up the trial, shout 'I give up,' and you will automatically be transported back here. Once the trial ends, those who failed will also be automatically transported here."
By the end, the gray-robed elder's voice had gradually turned cold.
The people present instantly shuddered.
"Enough. Begin." The gray-robed elder swept out his wide sleeve.
The young men and women then embarked on the path leading up Ascension Mountain.
Early the next morning.
At the peak of Ascension Mountain.
The Ascension Platform.
The so-called Ascension Platform was actually a vast square large enough to accommodate ten thousand people.
Directly before the Ascension Platform stood more than a hundred imposing seats. Each seat held a figure whose aura was restrained, yet who remained as powerful as a mountain or a God or Devil.
They were the various mountain lords of Dao Tian Sect, or people whose status equaled that of a mountain lord. They were also the pillars supporting Dao Tian Sect. Any one of their names was enough to shake Azure Continent.
Of course, there was one exception.
That was our protagonist, Li Zhōujūn.
At this moment, Li Zhōujūn sat among a group of mighty figures, truly resembling a husky that had somehow wandered into a pack of wolves.
"Mountain Lord Li, did you start climbing the mountain the day before yesterday again?"
A red-robed man sitting beside Li Zhōujūn asked with a beaming smile.
This man was named Liǔ Yán, the mountain lord of Fire Maple Mountain.
Ten years ago, in a fit of rage, he had burned an entire great river dry. He had truly burned mountains and boiled seas.
"Actually, it was yesterday." Li Zhōujūn answered with a hearty smile.
Li Zhōujūn was deeply depressed.
Even though he could now go Fifty-Fifty with anyone, he was still a mortal in essence.
Therefore, to climb to the peak of Ascension Mountain, he had genuinely begun climbing yesterday morning.
Although Ascension Mountain contained various illusions, snakes, insects, and fierce beasts,
Li Zhōujūn had no idea how many times he had climbed to its peak over the past forty years. Naturally, he had become thoroughly familiar with a safe route.
Liǔ Yán nodded and sighed with emotion. "Practice makes perfect, indeed."
"That's right." Li Zhōujūn smiled.
Yet inwardly, he curled his lip. This fellow is obviously mocking me.
Should I find an opportunity to test the Fifty-Fifty ability with him?
I just don't know whether the system is actually reliable.
If it isn't, I'll be utterly doomed—reduced to ashes, without even a scrap left.
[Ding: Host, could you please trust the system? If you dare question the system again, the system will punish you by making you pull out your own little brother in public and play the guitar!]
"What the hell? That's too much! You even know about guitars?"
Hearing the system say this, Li Zhōujūn could not help shouting inwardly.
[Ding: Of course. The system is omniscient and omnipotent.]
"Omniscient and omnipotent? Then what is the 1,891st digit of pi?" Li Zhōujūn asked, refusing to believe it.
[Ding: It is the 1,891st digit of pi.]
Li Zhōujūn was speechless. "What kind of answer is that? You answered nothing at all. I might as well say, 'Not seeing you for a day feels like not seeing you for one day.'"
[Ding: Host, stop blabbering. Is there anything wrong with the system's answer?]
"Actually, there isn't..."
The corner of Li Zhōujūn's mouth twitched. So this is a shameless system!
While Li Zhōujūn and the system traded verbal jabs,
at the entrance to the Ascension Platform,
a young girl dressed in white walked in, her eyes resembling an autumn river yet carrying a faint chill, her skin as smooth as condensed fat, and her steps as graceful as blooming lotuses.
Before you continue