The Second Trial

Chapter 31: The Second Trial

But in the True Martial Sacred Sect, outer sect disciples were also divided into ordinary and elite ranks.

Those who climbed the eight steps under tenfold gravity were considered ordinary outer sect disciples.

And if they could finish all eight steps, they could become elite disciples.

Elite disciples naturally received far greater resources. On the path of cultivation, wealth, companions, methods, and a place to cultivate were all indispensable.

Therefore, every year, many newcomers wanted to challenge this and become elite disciples directly, leaving behind a tale to be celebrated.

Xu Zimo stepped onto the stairs under tenfold gravity. That crushing force grew stronger and stronger. He stretched his body a little and let out a long breath.

On the first step stood the pair of twin sisters.

Xu Zimo lowered his head and looked them over, his gaze lingering briefly over their ample chests.

"What are you looking at? Never seen beautiful women before?" the younger sister, Xue Mengmeng, bared her little canine teeth and glared at Xu Zimo.

"I live on Yan Nan Peak." Xu Zimo patted both their shoulders three times, then laughed heartily as he headed for the second step.

"What did he mean?" Xue Mengmeng looked at her sister in confusion.

Xue Qianxue gritted her pearly teeth and said angrily, "He told us where he lives, then patted our shoulders three times. He meant for us to go find him on Yan Nan Peak at the third watch of the night."

"Shameless!" Xue Mengmeng stared at Xu Zimo's retreating back, her little fists clenched and her face flushed red.

Xu Zimo stepped onto the third stair and smiled at the burly young man before him, Gao Xiong.

"My name's Gao Xiong. Nice to meet you," Gao Xiong said, scratching the back of his head with a simple, honest smile. "My ma said that when I was little, I could smash head-on into brown bears in the forest without losing an ounce of strength, so she named me Gao Xiong."

"A little prince of close combat, huh?" Xu Zimo smiled. "Kid, I think highly of you. Want to follow me?"

"What benefits are there?" Gao Xiong asked curiously.

"When I bear the Heavenly Mandate and ascend as Great Emperor, I'll appoint you as the second battle general beneath me. How about it?" Xu Zimo said with a smile.

As for the position of first battle general, Lin Ruhu had already claimed it.

"But I want to become a Great Emperor too," Gao Xiong said with a grin, exposing a mouthful of gleaming white teeth.

"If you contend with me for the Heavenly Mandate, then when the time comes, I'll have no choice but to kill you," Xu Zimo said.

"Maybe I'll kill you instead," Gao Xiong replied with a laugh, entirely unconcerned.

"Haha, interesting. Truly interesting." Xu Zimo laughed heartily several times, then looked at Gao Xiong with an inscrutable expression. "With the bloodline of the Ancient Power Bear, you do indeed possess the qualifications to contend for the Heavenly Mandate. Unfortunately, you were born into the same era as me."

Gao Xiong's expression changed as he stared keenly at Xu Zimo.

The Ancient Power Bear bloodline had always been his secret. How could the other man know?

Leaving Gao Xiong behind in deep thought, Xu Zimo continued upward until he reached the fifth step.

He looked at the young girl before him, and Baili Xiao looked back at him. Their eyes met.

"I truly regretted those idiotic things I did back then," Xu Zimo said calmly.

The young girl looked at him, her eyes full of confusion.

A gentle breeze stirred ripples across the lake. The branches of the willow trees on both sides drifted Following the Wind, while several birds flew in from afar, beating their wings and chirping softly.

"The game has begun, but this time, I am the one in control." Xu Zimo suddenly smiled. Ignoring the young girl, he stepped forward into empty air, high-spirited and utterly carefree.

Yan Buhui stood with his sword in hand, his body straight and tall. He resembled a sharp sword drawn from its sheath.

Sword Qi surged around him. His white robes fluttered in the wind, while his long hair was loosely tied in a topknot. His slanted bangs covered half an eyebrow and swayed faintly in the breeze.

"Do you want revenge?" Xu Zimo stepped onto the stair, standing beside the young man as they both looked ahead.

"If you help me destroy the Huang Family, then this life of mine will be yours," Yan Buhui said as he turned toward Xu Zimo. It seemed as though sharp swords flashed in his eyes as he stared intensely at him.

"Shouldn't it feel most satisfying to destroy one's enemies with one's own hands?" Xu Zimo smiled. Ignoring the young man's astonished gaze, he stepped onto the final stair.

His aura soared like a rainbow, spiritual energy rushing around him like a great river. His purple robe billowed behind him as he turned to look down at the countless youths still climbing beneath the crushing gravity.

Xu Zimo could not help thinking of the True Martial Great Emperor. Back when that man bore the Heavenly Mandate and stood at the summit of the heavens, shouting before all beneath heaven, "The Heavenly Mandate belongs to me alone," what magnificent spirit he must have possessed.

"Nephew Zimo truly is extraordinarily gifted," the Inner Sect Elder said at the side in a strange, mocking tone. "No wonder the Vice Sect Master has always cultivated him so carefully."

What the Inner Sect Elder meant was that Xu Zimo had surpassed the other newcomers only because his father was the Vice Sect Master and he had been built up with the finest resources.

"Leave yourself a way out when you act. Don't leave yourself without even a chance to beg for mercy later," Xu Zimo said calmly, glancing at the Inner Sect Elder.

The Inner Sect Elder's expression changed. He gave Xu Zimo a deep look, then said nothing more.

After Xu Zimo ascended all one hundred and eighty-eight steps, Lin Ruhu also struggled for a long while before making his way up.

Sword Qi coiled around Yan Buhui's body, seeming to shoot straight into the clouds. A sword cry rang out, and he finally made it up as well.

Baili Xiao did not display anything overly dazzling, yet she still climbed step by step, step by step, until she reached the top.

When everyone believed it was impossible, she endured the agony of feeling as though every bone in her body would be crushed by gravity. Gritting her teeth, she ultimately made it up.

After that, no more disciples managed to finish all one hundred and eighty-eight steps. Still, many more disciples later reached the eight steps.

The True Martial Sacred Sect's trial consisted of three stages. Once all three stages were complete, each person's scores from every stage would be added together.

The top one hundred disciples in the rankings could join the True Martial Sacred Sect as outer sect disciples.

As for the second trial, it tested aptitude. For martial cultivators, aptitude was absolutely crucial.

Even Empress Hongtian, that girl of ordinary aptitude back then, had gradually sought out things to improve her aptitude on the road to becoming an emperor.

The True Martial Sacred Sect divided aptitude into nine grades. First grade was the strongest, while ninth grade was the weakest.

Those whose aptitude reached fourth grade or above were generally considered qualified.

Xu Zimo did not participate in this stage. After fusing with the Prison Suppressing Divine Body, the greatest physique since ancient times, he was quite confident in his own aptitude.

In this stage, Gao Xiong and Yan Buhui both possessed first-grade aptitude, while Baili Xiao possessed second-grade aptitude, and the twin sisters possessed third-grade aptitude.

There was a special Enlightenment Stone for testing aptitude. The Enlightenment Stone was a strange stone of heaven and earth, and after being modified, it was used specifically to test aptitude.