Illusionary Heavenly Ladder: One Step, One Illusion!

At this moment, although the area before Ye Emperor Hall's mountain gate was noisy, everything remained orderly.

Five Outer Sect Elders at the Dou Ancestor Peak exuded the aura of Dou Ancestor power, stunning the entire crowd. No one dared to cause trouble.

"The auras of these five seniors are far too powerful!"

"Are they the elders of Ye Emperor Hall?"

"Yes. I never expected the upper sect to place such importance on this disciple recruitment. Before it has even begun, they've already sent five elders."

"Not so, not so!"

"Brother, as far as I know, these five seniors before us are merely Outer Sect Elders of the upper sect."

One man's startling words left the many uninformed people around him utterly dumbfounded!

These five seniors, powerful as they were, were merely Outer Sect Elders of the upper sect?

Was this some kind of joke?!

These seniors were unquestionably Dou Ancestor experts, yet they were only Outer Sect Elders of the upper sect!

It truly broadened their horizons!

No wonder the upper sect had dominated the entire Jia Ma Empire in such a short time.

Ye Emperor Hall had first dispatched five Outer Sect Elders to maintain order, then sent Direct Disciple Shi Hao and an Outer Sect Elder to personally preside over the event.

When the time arrived, the gates of Ye Emperor Hall opened wide. Shi Hao and Elder Ye Bai emerged from within.

The atmosphere among the people at the foot of the mountain instantly reached its peak!

"Look, look! They're out, they're out!"

"People from Ye Emperor Hall have come out!"

"The Disciple Recruitment Assembly is about to begin!"

Everyone below the mountain gate strained to look upward. They saw seven figures in Sect Uniform standing atop the mountain.

"Elder Ye Bai, please preside over the assembly."

Shi Hao politely said to Elder Ye Bai standing before him.

No matter where one was, rules were essential. As Ye Emperor Hall became increasingly formalized, 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.

Ye Emperor Hall's Sect Rules were also being personally drafted by Ye Changge.

"Hao'er, you are the hall master's direct disciple. You are being overly courteous."

After saying this, Ye Bai took the lead in stepping to the front and declared in a clear voice.

"First, I welcome you all for traveling thousands of miles, rushing day and night, to participate in Ye Emperor Hall's Disciple Recruitment Assembly."

"Let me first wish that all of you may successfully pass the assessments and enter Ye Emperor Hall."

"The one beside me is the sect master's eldest Direct Disciple, Shi Hao. Next, Shi Hao will explain the specific procedures of the first assessment in detail."

After a few formal words, Ye Bai turned and stepped back.

"Sob, sob, the upper sect truly understands our hearts!"

"Exactly! To get to Ye Emperor Hall, I fucking traveled nonstop for three straight days!"

"With those words from Upper Sect Lord, my days and nights of travel weren't in vain! Sob, sob!"

Some people were moved to tears on the spot. Those who had managed to arrive here knew only too well the hardships they had endured!

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

Once Ye Bai finished speaking, Shi Hao immediately stepped forward and announced loudly.

"Now, I will explain the procedures for the first assessment: the Illusionary Heavenly Ladder!"

After Shi Hao spoke, Elder Ye Bai circulated the Dou Qi within his body and waved his hand.

After a flash of dazzling azure light, a Heavenly Stairway stretching a hundred li extended from the sect all the way down to the mountain gate. Scenes shifted endlessly upon the stairway that reached into the clouds, filled with boundless mysteries.

Even this astonishing sight left the crowd utterly stunned.

"This is the Illusionary Heavenly Ladder. It is very simple: anyone who ascends this stairway from below the mountain gate will pass the first assessment."

"This stairway changes endlessly, with one illusion for each person. It can reflect the truest side hidden in one's heart. Thus, every ten steps will bring forth another illusion. Only those with unwavering resolve can reach the end."

"Furthermore, this stairway will create corresponding illusions and pressure based on each person's realm, so the first assessment is absolutely fair."

"Those who pass this Heavenly Stairway will become Utility Disciples of Ye Emperor Hall even if they fail the second assessment."

By the time Shi Hao reached this point, the people below the mountain gate had become incredibly excited, all eager to give it a try.

The first assessment was purely fair and impartial!

It did not look at cultivation, only one's character and perseverance.

Moreover, even if they failed the second assessment, they could still become Utility Disciples, something most of them had dreamed of.

How generous!

So damn generous!

In the eyes of some people, this Heavenly Stairway seemed simple!

Becoming a Utility Disciple would definitely be a piece of cake!

"Alright, this elder hereby announces that the first assessment, the Illusionary Heavenly Ladder, officially begins!"

Following Elder Ye Bai's command,

the people present stepped onto the Heavenly Stairway in batch after batch.

The stairway was large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people undergoing the trial at once. Those who failed would be teleported down, allowing those behind them to take their places, so the process moved quickly.

The first batch rushed onto the Heavenly Stairway as though joining Ye Emperor Hall was already within arm's reach.

However, imagination was beautiful, while reality was cruel.

"Help!"

"Fire! Why is there so much fire?!"

The moment one man stepped onto the Heavenly Stairway, he discovered that it had transformed into a mountain of blades and a sea of flames. Terrified, he hurriedly cried out and retreated.

"No!"

"Don't... don't kill me!"

"I actually... I'm... a spy sent by the Chu Yun Empire! I surrender!"

This person's illusion was even more interesting. In the illusion, Ye Emperor Hall had been breached. Timid as he was, he immediately begged for mercy, trembling as he blurted out such a line.

"I was wrong!"

"Father, I shouldn't have exposed how you flirted with the widow at the village entrance everywhere! Father, please... please spare me!"

His illusion was of him spreading his father's amorous exploits everywhere after being unable to keep his mouth shut, ruining his father's reputation and being mercilessly whipped for it. His weak resolve caused him to fail.

"I won't do it again!"

"I didn't mean to betray the sect! Sect Master, please spare me! Spare me!"

As for this one, he truly deserved to die!

In his illusion, he betrayed the sect for a little profit, immediately failing the trial.

The first assessment tested only one's character and the perseverance to persist until the end. Its purpose was to weed out people with weak resolve, those who betrayed their own, committed countless evils, or were lazy and gluttonous.

Therefore, those who passed the first assessment were all people of steadfast character and great perseverance.

If one could pass the first assessment, then even if they failed the second, it only meant they had been born with poor talent. They could still improve through later effort and be accepted as Utility Disciples. With the sect's nurturing and their own hard work, they could soar to great heights.

As time passed, the test continued in full swing.

All tens of thousands of people from the first batch were eliminated. Even the person who went the farthest had taken only four steps before being teleported down.

Once they reached the ground, they panted heavily and took a long while to calm down.

"Sob, sob!"

"I'm trash! I was teleported down after taking only one step."

"We know! So what? Do you want an award for being trash?"

"Do you think being trash is so easy?"

"I didn't even manage to take a single fucking step!"

"Fuck, I'm worse than trash!"