Everyone thought this was just the legion commander's show of force, but they never expected it to have this other purpose.
The crowd was buzzing with discussion.
"What? The legion commander was testing him just now?"
"Cough cough, I noticed it a long time ago, didn't you feel it? Just looking at that oppressive aura, I could barely breathe!"
"Me too. Even though we're so far apart, I still feel uneasy. He's in the middle of the field, facing the legion commander, and he doesn't even flinch?"
One cultivator who was Eternal Dao Master had imagined a lot of things.
Although none of them directly faced that oppressive force, they weren't stupid; it was impossible for them to feel nothing at all.
"Young Master Han's willpower is truly terrifying, probably far surpassing that of this generation of cultivators."
Some people lamented that although most people may not pay attention to the spiritual realm, among some powerful forces, the requirements for this aspect are not low.
Wang Ping suddenly stood up from his seat, his face flushed, and clapped his hands forcefully:
"Great job, Brother Han!"
"That's it?"
Li Tiantong nodded slightly, the worry in his eyes lessening somewhat, but he still felt it was somewhat like a dream.
"If it were that simple, why make such a big fuss?"
Upon hearing this, many people in the stands nodded in agreement.
They felt that the Tiger and Panther Legion wasn't so kind.
On the other side, next to the legion commander, Zhou Lie's expression was not so good.
He crossed his arms, staring blankly at Han Xuanji in the arena, his jaw slightly clenched.
He had long known that Han Xuanji had a strong will; his deeds at the Shallow Dream Pavilion had spread throughout the city, so it was impossible for him not to know.
But seeing the other party remain unfazed under the legion commander's intimidating presence still made him feel a little displeased.
"But that's all there is to it."
Zhou Lie sneered inwardly:
"Strong willpower does not equate to strong combat ability. Real combat is not about standing still."
Several of his comrades beside him began to whisper among themselves.
"This kid is actually pretty good."
"Just some skills? Do you think you can stand up to the legion commander? I remember the legion commander tested it before, and no one made it through."
"... Shut up."
Han Xuanji ignored the surrounding discussions.
He looked at He Guanshan, but a feeling crept into his heart that things weren't so simple.
If simply "withstanding the pressure" was enough to enter the Creation Platform, then Hun Qianxue wouldn't have bothered with so much talk.
Sure enough, He Guanshan's next words confirmed his guess.
Han Xuanji.
He Guanshan's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly:
"While I acknowledge your abilities, the spots on the Creation Platform are highly coveted, and my approval alone isn't enough to convince everyone."
Upon hearing this, everyone seemed to ponder it, feeling that it made some sense.
But to Han Xuanji, Hun Qianxue, and the others, it sounded somewhat comical.
Are you kidding me?
Han Xuanji was speechless; these words were only good for fooling the uninformed people from out of town.
He Guanshan was notoriously domineering in the Tiger and Panther Legion. Despite his seemingly easy-going appearance, he was the undisputed ruler of the legion, and no one dared to oppose his decisions.
However, Han Xuanji had already prepared herself mentally, knowing that things wouldn't be that simple. She thought to herself, but on the surface, she still appeared to be listening attentively.
He Guanshan ignored the surrounding chatter and held up three fingers:
"You've already passed the first test. Withstanding my oppressive aura proves you have enough willpower."
"For the second challenge, you will face Zhou Lie, the youngest centurion in the Tiger and Panther Legion, in a direct battle. Regardless of victory or defeat, your performance will satisfy me."
"As for the third level, let's talk about it after we get past the second."
He Guanshan kept everyone in suspense, and after speaking, he looked Han Xuanji up and down, as if trying to see through everything about the young man before him.
This young man is indeed quite good.
He silently evaluated it in his heart.
To remain unmoved under his oppressive aura, that alone surpasses over 90% of the cultivators in the Tiger and Panther Legion.
What's even more remarkable is that he really liked Han Xuanji's eyes.
The heart is as calm as water.
Among the younger generation he has met, very few have been able to achieve this.
"It's a pity they're from the Soul Household."
He Guanshan sighed inwardly.
He has been the legion commander of Thousand Souls City for many years.
To outsiders, He Guanshan comes from the Aristocratic Clan of Sage, commands the Tiger and Panther Legion, and wields immense power in Thousand Souls City; even the Soul Household has to give him some respect.
But only he knew that this position, to put it nicely, was "guarding a region," but to put it bluntly, it was "exile to the frontier."
Although Thousand Souls City is considered prosperous in Nine Mysteries Prefecture, it is merely a remote place in the entire Eternal Continent.
The He Household's foundation is in Nine Mysteries City, where the resources and opportunities far surpass those of Thousand Souls City.
He was thrown here, ostensibly to be entrusted with an important task, but in reality, he was a loser in the Lineage power struggle.
"If I have the chance, I still want to go back."
This thought had lingered in his mind for many years and never faded away.
To get back, we need manpower.
They were not ordinary cultivators, but truly talented and promising geniuses who could be of use to him.
He had been operating in Thousand Souls City for many years and had trained many people, among whom Zhou Lie was the most outstanding.
But that kid, although talented, is too impetuous and needs to be tempered.
"If this child can truly pass the three trials and enter the Creation Platform..."
He Guanshan secretly made his plans.
"That means he has both the fortuitous opportunity and the ability. Even if I can't use such a person, it's still good to make a good connection with him."
As for Zhou Lie's little scheme, he had seen it all along.
Spreading rumors, suppressing rivals, vying for the title of "Number One Prodigy"... In his eyes, these petty tricks were nothing more than children playing house.
He didn't stop it; in fact, he deliberately let it go, for a simple reason.
Trees that can withstand wind and rain cannot be grown in a greenhouse, and true strength cannot be cultivated in comfort.
Zhou Lie needs an opponent, Han Xuanji needs to be tempered.
Let them clash; it will benefit both sides.
"I just don't know how far Han Xuanji go."
He Guanshan withdrew his gaze, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.
The stands were completely silent.
All eyes were on Han Xuanji, filled with anticipation, worry, and schadenfreude.
Hun Jiuge leaned close to Li Tiantong's ear and whispered:
"Brother Li, can Brother Han win a fight against Zhou Lie?"
Li Tiantong shook his head, his gaze solemn, and after a long pause, he finally spoke:
"I have no idea..."
Hun Jiuge rolled his eyes. Didn't he know better than to pretend to be so profound?
"But I believe in the Xuanji..."
Although Li Tiantong didn't know much about Han Xuanji, he still trusted his fellow villager.
Han Xuanji stood there, looking into He Guanshan's deep eyes, and suddenly smiled.
"The second challenge is the battle against Zhou Lie."
He repeated it, his tone calm:
"Okay, I accept."
This hurdle was within his expectations; he just didn't know what attitude the legion commander would have towards him.
Hopefully, the other party isn't deliberately making things difficult for him; the third challenge is an impossible task.
Han Xuanji had already prepared for the worst. If the other party forced him to do something against his will, then he wouldn't go to the Creation Platform. There was always somewhere else he could sign in.
It's just a matter of distance and time.
Hun Qianxue silently cheered for Han Xuanji, finding the second challenge rather easy.
He and Han Xuanji had already discussed it; if He Guanshan deliberately made things difficult, then so be it.
Looking at it now, it was just a battle with Zhou Lie.
Then there's not much to worry about.
You're actually a pretty nice person.