Starting as a Grandmaster, all of my cultivation techniques are at max level.

"Thump!"

A bell rang out in his mind.

Xia Jin's spirit suddenly lifted, looking up at the top of her head, a hint of joy appearing on her face.

When it really matters, we'll have to rely on you, Donghuang Zhong!

At that moment, the broken Eastern Emperor Bell suddenly descended upon Xia Jin's soul.

Xia Jin's soul suddenly felt a darkness before her eyes, and her entire body was enveloped by the Eastern Emperor Bell.

Almost at the same time, an even more powerful, dark golden tsunami of soul power crashed down.

However, with Xia Jin's divine soul power continuously pouring in, the Eastern Emperor Bell held on without any surprise.

However, at this moment, it was like an ark, bobbing up and down and swaying left and right in a raging tsunami. The dark golden soul power surged through both sides of the bell, frantically impacting and tearing at it, but it could not break through the thin golden light barrier.

Take a breath.

Two breaths.

Ten breaths.

Fifteen breaths.

Just as Xia Jin felt her soul power being rapidly depleted, and about to be completely exhausted in a few more breaths,

The surging tsunami of soul power finally began to recede slowly.

Xia Jin slumped inside the Eastern Emperor Bell, panting heavily.

Although the soul has no real physical body, the feeling of exhaustion is very real.

"Huff... huff... huff..."

After a long while, he finally caught his breath and slowly stood up.

The Eastern Emperor Bell emitted a soft chime, slowly rising and hovering above the sea of ​​consciousness once more.

Xia Jin's spirit looked up at the bell once more.

"Thank you very much," Xia Jin's spirit said softly, bowing slightly to Donghuang Zhong.

The Eastern Emperor Bell vibrated slightly, emitting a deep hum, as if in response.

Xia Jin smiled slightly and withdrew her gaze.

Meanwhile, on the steps.

Xia Jin's feet landed steadily on the last step.

The fat man in white who had been squatting in front of Xia Jin had already stood up and was staring intently at Xia Jin.

He saw it.

He clearly saw the entire process of Xia Jin stepping onto the last step.

Although he didn't know what exactly happened in Xia Jin's mind, he could see a hint of shock flash in Xia Jin's eyes the moment she stepped onto the last step.

But what this step represents, the fat man in white knows better than anyone else.

He'd lived here for so many years and seen countless people stumble upon these steps by accident. But the vast majority of them failed at the last few steps.

Most people can't take the second to last step, or even the third to last step; no one can reach the last step.

At least, since he joined this faction, he has never seen anyone successfully climb that final step.

But now, he has seen it.

"You're very good!"

This was the first time the chubby man in white had seriously praised Xia Jin. When he said this, the naive and honest look on his face vanished, replaced by a rare solemnity.

Xia Jin had already come to her senses and heard what the other person said, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

He certainly deserves that praise.

"However, although you have already climbed this step completely, whether you can join our sect depends not only on climbing this step, but also on gaining the approval of our master."

"You must come with me to see Master first!!"

"Hmm!?" Xia Jin raised an eyebrow slightly.

He originally thought that climbing these steps meant he had passed all the tests and could directly become a disciple of Yunshang Academy.

But on second thought, it's not surprising. Since this sect has so few members, its criteria for accepting disciples can't possibly be that simple.

"Let's go," the fat man in white said, turning around and walking forward.

Xia Jin didn't hesitate and followed after him.

After walking a few steps, a Taoist temple appeared ahead.

That Taoist temple was quite large, with more than a dozen buildings visible.

But this rusticity... is really a bit too rustic.

To Xia Jin's surprise, the Taoist temple seemed rather... dilapidated, with the vermilion lacquer on the main gate almost completely faded.

Yes, it's old and worn out.

This was Xia Jin's first impression of the Taoist temple.

Xia Jin followed Shen Jinghan into the Taoist temple.

As they walked down the street, the fat man in white suddenly spoke.

"Oh, by the way, let me introduce myself." He turned to Xia Jin with a simple, honest smile. "I am Shen Jinghan, and I am also the youngest disciple in this sect. May I ask how you should address me, brother?"

Xia Jin nodded: "Xia Jin."

"Brother Xia," Shen Jinghan said softly as they walked, "I've already given you a general overview of our faction's situation. However, I think there are some specific details I should clarify beforehand, lest you want to back out later, and then it will be too late!"

"Hmm? Brother Shen, what do you mean by that?" Xia Jin frowned, a vague sense of unease creeping into her heart.