I've announced that I'm destined to have many children, and my father has bestowed upon me

"That's enough, you two!"

Liu Ruoshuang's cool voice came from behind, interrupting the couple's eye contact.

"They're fighting for their lives, and you're openly showing off your love?"

She walked over slowly, her words carrying a hint of reproach, but a smile lingered between her brows.

Zhao Chen'an turned around and smiled, then reached out and pulled her to his side.

"This isn't just showing affection; it's tactical deterrence."

Li Qingluan also put away her spear and nodded in agreement.

"That's right, let's show those petty scoundrels that we're not to be trifled with."

The three reunited, forming a solid trio.

Seeing this scene, especially after witnessing Zhao Chen'an's effortless throwing of Chen Jianxin from the Green Bamboo Sect like trash, the surrounding cultivators subconsciously kept their distance from them.

Just kidding, Chen Jianxin is also a master of the Dao Palace Realm, yet he couldn't even last a single move against this guy.

Who would dare to come up and provoke this trouble?

For a moment, a small vacuum zone was formed around Zhao Chen'an and his two companions.

The chaos continues, and the number of cultivators on the Golden Ranking is decreasing at a visible rate.

Screams, the clash of weapons, and the explosions of spiritual energy filled the air.

People were constantly being blasted out of the golden list, falling like shooting stars, only to be caught by the people of the Spring and Autumn Trading Company.

Zhao Chen'an and his two companions were happy to have some peace and quiet, so they simply stood still and leisurely observed the battles of the others.

"Husband, look at that guy over there using double hammers, he seems to know his stuff."

Li Qingluan pointed with great interest to a battle group.

Zhao Chen'an looked in that direction and saw a burly man.

Wielding a pair of giant purple-gold hammers, each swing carried the force of thunder and was absolutely domineering.

"Indeed excellent, with a solid foundation and abundant spiritual power, he is a true individual cultivator."

Zhao Chen'an commented.

Liu Ruoshuang noticed the other side.

"That woman who used the formation is no ordinary person either; she fought three opponents with ease."

Time slowly passed as the list of successful candidates was displayed.

The moment the last spot was decided, and the 101st person was eliminated.

The entire list of winners was suddenly shaken!

All the cultivators still fighting were separated by a gentle force.

Immediately afterwards, a grand and majestic voice resounded throughout the heavens and earth.

[Preliminary rounds have ended; 100 people have advanced!]

As soon as the words were spoken, the golden list beneath everyone's feet suddenly began to tremble violently.

A brilliant golden light shone, so bright that it was blinding.

Zhao Chen'an immediately shielded Li Qingluan and Liu Ruoshuang behind him, his spiritual energy surging as he vigilantly guarded against any possible changes.

The next instant, their feet lost their footing.

The enormous golden list, right before everyone's eyes, transformed into countless golden specks of light and vanished without a trace!

"What happened?"

"Where's the list of successful candidates?"

"Has the competition ended?"

The one hundred cultivators who advanced floated in the air, each with a look of surprise and doubt on their faces.

Just then, those dissipated golden specks of light did not go far away, but instead regrouped, stretched, and shaped in the air!

In the blink of an eye, a magnificent heavenly staircase, cast entirely in gold and stretching as far as the eye could see, appeared above the imperial city!

The Heavenly Ladder has 365 sections, each one incredibly wide, shimmering with mysterious runes, and radiating a chilling aura of power.

[Second round of assessment: Climb the Heavenly Ladder!]

The Heavenly Ladder has 365 steps. The number of steps you climb will determine your final ranking, and your ranking will affect your chances in the next round!

There will be no eliminations in this round!

Simple rules and words coalesced beside the ladder, clearly imprinted in everyone's mind.

No elimination system?

Looking only at rankings?

Everyone was taken aback at first, but then many of them showed a relaxed expression.

Since we're not going to be eliminated, there's nothing to be afraid of.

However, Zhao Chen'an keenly sensed that things were not that simple.

The Spring and Autumn Merchant Guild's schemes are so meticulously planned, how could they possibly set up a stress-free assessment?

"My husband, this heavenly ladder..."

Liu Ruoshuang's voice carried a hint of solemnity.

"Can you feel it?"

Zhao Chen'an nodded.

"Intimidation."

Li Qingluan held a long spear, her fighting spirit soaring.

"Forget about any intimidation tactics, the three of us together, are you afraid of us?"

Zhao Chen'an smiled slightly and took the hands of the two women.

"Let's go give it a try."

The three walked side by side toward the starting point of the Heavenly Ladder.

At the same time, the other contestants who had advanced also realized what was happening and rushed towards the ladder.

Rankings affect the next round, and everyone wants to gain an advantage!

"I'll go first!"

An impatient swordsman shouted and moved with lightning speed, becoming the first to step onto the first step.

He had just regained his footing when his body stiffened.

But he quickly adapted and burst into laughter.

"It's nothing special!"

As he spoke, he stepped into the second quarter.

Once the first person took the plunge, others followed suit, and one hundred prodigies successively ascended the golden ladder.

Zhao Chen'an and his two companions walked unhurriedly in the middle of the crowd.

The moment his foot touched the first step.

A vast and powerful pressure suddenly descended!

This oppressive force is not simply a matter of physical strength, but a complete crushing force that extends from the physical body to the soul.

It was as if a true Dragon Transformation Realm expert was scrutinizing him with his domineering aura.

Dragon Transformation Realm, First Level!

Zhao Chen'an instantly judged the intensity of the oppressive force.

For someone who has already reached the fourth level of the realm, this pressure is still within his tolerance range.

His Guiyuan Dao Body trembled slightly, and his powerful spiritual energy flowed on its own, easily neutralizing most of the oppressive force.

Li Qingluan and Liu Ruoshuang beside her only paused slightly before quickly adjusting.

They had all cultivated the Great Dao Heavenly Evolution Scripture, and their foundations were far more profound than those of other cultivators of the same level.

"That's interesting."

Zhao Chen'an looked up at the endless, layered steps, a playful smile appearing on his lips.

By this time, quite a few people had already rushed to the front.

The fastest swordsman had already rushed up the ninth step in one go!

"Hahaha! This Heavenly Ladder is nothing special! First place, me..."

He hadn't finished speaking when he stepped onto the tenth step.

"puff!"

The swordsman spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling as if he had been smashed by an invisible mountain.

His body trembled violently, his legs buckled, and he almost collapsed to his knees!

The oppressive aura suddenly intensified!

He jumped directly from the first level of the Dragon Transformation Realm to the second level!

This sudden change took everyone by surprise.

Some cultivators who were also rushing forward quickly were caught off guard and were forced to stagger backward.

Some people were even shaken so badly that they tumbled down the steps. Although they were not injured, they were still in a sorry state.

"So that's how it is. The pressure increases by one level for every ten steps!"

Someone immediately noticed the pattern.

Now, no one dared to be reckless anymore. Everyone became cautious, taking one step at a time, feeling the increasing pressure.

Zhao Chen'an and the other two exchanged glances, understanding each other perfectly.

They started climbing, slowly and steadily, step by step.

Ten sections... twenty sections... thirty sections...

The oppressive power of the second, third, and fourth levels of the Dragon Transformation Realm followed one after another.

Li Qingluan's breathing became somewhat rapid, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

But her posture remained upright, and she used the spear in her hand as a crutch to support her body.

Liu Ruoshuang closed her eyes, a faint aura of reincarnation flowing around her, as if she was using a special method to relieve the pressure.

Chapter 40...

Fifty days!

As the three of them stepped onto the fiftieth step at the same time, a terrifying pressure comparable to that of a fifth-level Dragon Transformation Realm expert pressed in from all directions!

Zhao Chen'an groaned, feeling as if his bones were groaning under the unbearable weight.

His spiritual energy circulated wildly, and the profound meaning of the Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Finger flowed through his mind.

A desolate and lifeless atmosphere spread out, actually pushing away the oppressive aura around them.

Good guy!

What level of treasure is this Golden List?

It can actually simulate such a realistic aura of a powerful figure!

Following this pattern, once you reach the hundredth step, wouldn't that be... the pressure of the Sendai Realm?!

The thought of this made Zhao Chen'an's heart pound wildly.

He raised his head and looked up at the top of the heavenly ladder, which was shrouded in clouds and mist and seemed to connect to the nine heavens.