Xiantian Golden Pillar

Outside the assessment area, a commotion erupted among the crowd when Qin Shaofeng passed the eighth stage.

He was the third person to pass the eighth stage in this assessment area.

What's more, Qin Shaofeng was only a martial artist at the Houtian Eighth Layer!

He was probably the person with the lowest cultivation among all those who had passed the eighth stage in any assessment area so far today.

But that wasn't all. When the ninth ring on the assessment area's gate lit up, the crowd completely lost it.

A martial artist at the Houtian Eighth Layer managed to clear the ninth stage?

This was astonishing!

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, few would have believed it.

After the ninth stage, Qin Shaofeng still hadn't emerged. While the crowd discussed, they began to speculate whether Qin Shaofeng could clear the final stage.

"He still hasn't come out. Is he trying to clear the tenth stage?"

"Haha, my friend, you jest. Passing the ninth stage is already a one-in-ten-thousand genius. The tenth stage? The difficulty is too great!"

"Exactly. Although this person is only at the Houtian Eighth Layer, I estimate the Assessment Puppet he'll face in the tenth stage will already possess Xiantian Realm cultivation. Houtian Eighth Layer against Xiantian First Layer, lasting three breaths would be considered pretty good!"

"Mhm, I think so too. However, I reckon this person can last ten breaths..."

Dong!

As the crowd was discussing, the assessment area's gate suddenly trembled violently, like a massive bell being struck, emitting a resounding clang.

Boom!

After the loud noise, the tenth ring at the very top of the assessment area's gate buzzed and lit up!

Golden light flashed, blindingly brilliant!

And the moment the tenth ring lit up, the nine rings below it also intensified their glow.

Immediately after, all ten rings erupted in a dazzling golden light, like a golden pillar, shooting straight into the sky!

At this moment, the entire Lianyang Academy was shaken.

"What is that?"

At the location of the instructors and powerhouses, a golden pillar appeared, and everyone was stunned. One elder's eyes widened, and he exclaimed with a tremble, "It's a Xiantian Golden Pillar!"

The Xiantian Golden Pillar was the most mysterious testing phenomenon in the Lianyang Academy's assessments. It was personally set up by the founder of Lianyang Academy and the founding monarch of the Lianyang Kingdom, Great Emperor Lianyang.

As such, activating this Xiantian Golden Pillar was naturally not simple.

Although the Xiantian Golden Pillar was named after Xiantian, it actually had nothing to do with the Xiantian Realm. This was because for a Xiantian Golden Pillar to be activated, the martial artist must be below the Xiantian Realm. Once their cultivation reached the Xiantian Realm, even if they cleared the tenth stage, the Xiantian Golden Pillar could not be activated.

Furthermore, this was just the basic selection criterion for activating the Xiantian Golden Pillar. There were other conditions as well, such as defeating the Assessment Puppet within the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn (10 minutes).

If it exceeded one stick of incense, even if the Assessment Puppet was defeated in the end, the Xiantian Golden Pillar could not be activated.

Of course, the Xiantian Golden Pillar that appeared would vary in appearance depending on the time taken to defeat the Assessment Puppet and the tester's own cultivation, most notably in its size and height.

The lower the cultivation and the less time taken, the larger the Xiantian Golden Pillar would appear.

The Xiantian Golden Pillar before them was three meters thick and over a hundred meters tall, visible to the entire Lianyang Academy.

"Such a massive Xiantian Golden Pillar, this..."

The aged instructor was so excited he could barely speak.

This instructor was no ordinary person. It wasn't the first time he had encountered a Xiantian Golden Pillar, but this one before him, in the entire history of Lianyang Academy, could probably not be matched by more than three others!

Even according to records, the current dean of Lianyang Academy, the Xiantian Golden Pillar he activated back then didn't seem to be this huge!

If this old instructor knew that Qin Shaofeng's cultivation was only at the Houtian Eighth Layer and that he defeated the Assessment Puppet in a single move, he might have understood a little better.

In a way, Qin Shaofeng had taken advantage of a loophole.

First, he detected the Assessment Puppet's weakness, and then he possessed the sharp Little Li Flying Dagger, a God-grade skill. These combined factors led to the current situation.

If it were a real fight, without relying on Little Li Flying Dagger, Qin Shaofeng would probably only be able to rely on his profound Inner Qi to engage in a war of attrition with the Xiantian First Layer Assessment Puppet.

But even then, the outcome would likely be fifty-fifty.

Qin Shaofeng was unaware of all this. At this moment, he was somewhat bewildered.

After defeating the Assessment Puppet with Little Li Flying Dagger, the ancient voice informed him that he had passed the tenth stage. But then, it spoke again.

This time, the ancient voice directly resonated within Qin Shaofeng's mind.

"Xiantian Golden Pillar activated, cultivation Houtian Eighth Layer, meets inheritance conditions, may enter the Hall of Inheritance to accept the trial!"

This voice suddenly echoing in the depths of his mind startled Qin Shaofeng.

Xiantian Golden Pillar?

Hall of Inheritance?

Qin Shaofeng was confused, but hearing the last sentence left him dumbfounded.

"Accept the trial? Has this assessment not ended yet?"

Qin Shaofeng gasped inwardly, his expression turning grim.

That last strike, the Little Li Flying Dagger, had completely depleted his Inner Qi. He only had a few Qi Replenishing Pills left. If the assessment wasn't over yet, he'd have to give up.

"Damn it, I just wanted to get first place and a chance at a lottery. Does Lianyang Academy really need to mess with me like this?"

Muttering curses in his mind, Qin Shaofeng decided to just announce his withdrawal from the challenge.

There was no other way. His Inner Qi was completely gone; continuing to fight would just be asking for a beating.

Even if his Inner Qi were full, Qin Shaofeng wouldn't have continued. He knew himself well enough to know that defeating that Xiantian First Layer Assessment Puppet had been largely a matter of luck.

If he pressed on, he'd definitely be the unlucky one!

But just as Qin Shaofeng was about to speak, the door to the assessment area automatically opened.

Huh? What's this?

A thought sparked in his mind, and Qin Shaofeng pondered for a moment.

The assessment area door opened, so that should mean he passed, right?

Besides, he hadn't heard of any further assessments after passing the tenth stage!

Thinking this, Qin Shaofeng no longer hesitated and strode out.

However, upon exiting the door, Qin Shaofeng was startled by the scene before him.

Where did this golden pillar of light come from?!

Suddenly seeing the hundred-meter-tall golden pillar, Qin Shaofeng's mind was filled with question marks.

Before he could get a better look, his vision went black, and he was pulled into a massive embrace.

"Hahaha, Brother Feng, you're truly awesome! You really passed the tenth stage!"

At this moment, the examiner who had been recording the scores walked over, a gentle smile on his face as he addressed Qin Shaofeng. "You're Qin Shaofeng, right? As someone who activated the Xiantian Golden Pillar, please tell me about your situation. I need to understand some things!"

This examiner was also a tutor at Lianyang Academy. Being assigned as an examiner meant he had some understanding of the Xiantian Golden Pillar.

He also knew that anyone who could activate the Xiantian Golden Pillar was a special existence to Lianyang Academy. As the examiner recording Qin Shaofeng's score, he naturally needed to understand Qin Shaofeng's basic situation.

From the examiner, Qin Shaofeng gained a basic understanding of the so-called Xiantian Golden Pillar.

Only then did Qin Shaofeng realize the magnitude of the commotion he had caused.

After Qin Shaofeng emerged, the group of tutors in the distance didn't immediately rush over to recruit him as a disciple.

Those who could activate the Xiantian Golden Pillar were special existences within Lianyang Academy, and they didn't have the qualifications to take such individuals as disciples.

But precisely because of this, the tutors let out a chorus of regretful sighs.

"Sigh, another promising talent that we can't take as a disciple!"

"What a shame!"

Meanwhile, over at Lin Zhihao's location, he and the others were also filled with shock.

Could a freshman this year actually activate the Xiantian Golden Pillar?

Lin Zhihao and the other two exchanged glances, their expressions growing solemn.

As members of the three major factions, they naturally knew what this signified.

But precisely because of this, the appearance of the Xiantian Golden Pillar meant that someone in a certain place might lose their spot.

The interests of certain people and certain powers were about to be affected!

However!

If they could recruit this person into their own faction, it would completely secure their faction's interests in that place.

If successful, their contributions would be immense!

In an instant, Lin Zhihao and Wu Lang's minds began to race. After a moment, they exchanged glances and both departed simultaneously.

With such a major event occurring, their first priority was naturally to notify the important figures of their respective factions.

As for the woman from Nine Phoenix Garden, her expression was also quite grave at this moment.

Even though the person wasn't a woman, they had activated the Xiantian Golden Pillar. If handled improperly, this could also affect the interests of their Nine Phoenix Garden.

Especially since the junior sister of their Garden Master needed a spot in that place.

The spots in that place were already scarce. Now, with two more qualified individuals, it was becoming problematic and had a significant impact.

After all, that place couldn't be entered based on identity alone.

"No, I must notify the Garden Masters about this quickly. If we don't prepare in advance, it will be disadvantageous for our Nine Phoenix Garden!"

She muttered softly and prepared to turn and leave.

But the next moment, her eyes widened instantly!

Thud!

Another tremor shook the area. In the direction of Lianyang Academy's south gate, a golden light flashed, and another golden pillar of light appeared!

"How could this be? Someone else actually activated a Xiantian Golden Pillar?"

The woman exclaimed, her face full of disbelief.

On the same day, in less than fifteen minutes, someone else had activated a Xiantian Golden Pillar.

What in the world was going on!

After a while, the woman finally came back to her senses. Her expression changed, and she immediately flashed away.

One more!

This time, it was three spots. This was a huge deal!