How can simply creating a sect make you invincible?

At this moment, the scions from various top families were also staring intently at the figure on the Illusionary Spirit Ladder.

Those who rushed forward first were merely pawns in their eyes. Witnessing this scene, even these chosen ones began to feel apprehensive, unsure if they could pass the test.

A prodigy stepped forward and said, "As expected, the Imperial Sect's assessment is by no means easy. The first 66 levels should be various illusionary trials, while the last 33 levels may be gravity trials. Without unwavering perseverance, it's impossible to reach the top. These two tests alone will probably eliminate at least 95% of the participants."

"Brother Sima is absolutely right. These two tests are extremely difficult. To pass the illusion, one must have a pure heart seeking the Dao; while the gravity test examines whether a person possesses strong perseverance. If one's heart wavers even slightly, one will be ruthlessly eliminated."

"Sima Nan, Xiao Zhan, you two don't need to exaggerate. Which one of you here isn't a top performer in your family? How difficult could a mere illusionary realm possibly be?"

"Nalan Xiu, you can't be too absolute. If you get eliminated later, it'll be a joke," Sima Nan replied.

"Sima Nan, you should worry about yourself first. It's too early to say who will be eliminated." Nalan Xiu smiled contemptuously.

"Then let's climb the ladder together and see for ourselves who will be eliminated," Xiao Zhan suggested.

"good……"

They were all prodigies, rare talents among their respective races, possessing extraordinary treasures and unique skills. At this moment, their gazes were fixed intently on the colossal staircase that led straight to the mountain gate—the Illusionary Spirit Staircase.

"Xiao Zhan of the Xiao family from Zhongzhou has come to ascend the ladder!"

"I, Nalan Xiu of the Nalan family from Central Continent, have also come to ascend the ladder!"

"And my Sima family of Zhongzhou!"

The various prodigies took turns stepping forward and ascending the Illusionary Spirit Ladder.

From the crowd, an inconspicuous figure slowly walked forward. It was a young girl, dressed in coarse blue cloth, with delicate features and an ordinary aura, seemingly possessing no extraordinary qualities. Her gaze was calm as she looked at the towering Illusionary Spirit Staircase, without the slightest fear in her eyes.

"Huangfu family, you just wait! The hatred of our clan's extermination is irreconcilable!" she whispered to herself.

This woman was none other than Ye Zi from the Ye family, a quasi-emperor clan that had been destroyed by the Huangfu imperial clan. To participate in the Imperial Clan's assessment, she had deliberately changed into plain clothes to avoid being recognized. Then, she stepped onto the first rung of the Illusionary Spirit Staircase.

There were no earth-shattering phenomena, no resounding booms of treasures; her steps were composed, each one as steady as a mountain. Suddenly, an illusion descended upon her on the steps: a horrific scene of her family's massacre. Clan members fell one by one, her father and mother perished in battle, blood staining the heavens and earth, wails echoing across the land. Anyone else would have been shattered, their spirit broken, and collapsed to the bottom of the steps.

But Ye Zi's expression remained unchanged, her eyes still firm, as she climbed upwards step by step, completely unaffected by the illusion.

At the foot of the mountain, even the geniuses on the Illusionary Spirit Ladder stopped in their tracks, staring in shock at the figure in green.

"Who is she? How can she climb the stairs so easily?"

"We can't discern the depth of her cultivation, yet she can disregard the trials of the Illusionary Spirit Ladder. This woman is no ordinary person!"

"Could she be a descendant of a reclusive clan? Or... a powerful being reincarnated from ancient times?"

Nalan Xiu, Sima Nan, and Xiao Zhan, the three prodigies, also stopped in their tracks, staring at Ye Zi with solemn expressions, their eyes revealing a hint of apprehension for the first time.

They tried their best but barely made it to the thirtieth step, while the girl in green had already silently climbed to the fortieth step!

At the summit of the clouds, Empress Lingxu of the Myriad Laws Sect sat atop a cloud platform, her gaze piercing through the array and landing on the Illusionary Spirit Ladder, watching Ye Zi.

"This girl... is not bad. She possesses a brilliant mind and is qualified to be my disciple and join my Lingxu Peak!"

"Haha, Ling Xu, you've really struck gold! This girl is indeed a promising talent."

"Gu Chen, my Lingxu Peak doesn't even have a single disciple yet. How can you be so lucky? You've already found a promising talent before we've even started recruiting disciples."

"Hahaha, it was all just a fluke."

After saying this, the Lonely Star Sword Emperor glanced smugly at Su Qingruo beside him. Su Qingruo had recently been frequently visiting Sword Inquiry Peak to seek guidance from the Sword Emperor on cultivation matters, and had already been regarded as his disciple. Whenever Sword Inquiry Peak opened its doors to accept disciples, Su Qingruo would undoubtedly become its senior disciple.

On the sixty-sixth floor of the Illusionary Spirit Staircase, Ye Zi raised her eyes, looked at the remaining thirty-three steps, gritted her teeth, and stepped onto the sixty-seventh step.

On the ninety-eighth step of the Illusionary Spirit Staircase, a young man shouted, "The Myriad Laws Sect, I've arrived!"

The boy took a single step and successfully reached the top of the Illusionary Staircase!

There was a deathly silence in front of the mountain gate, which was then filled with a deafening roar!

"Look! Someone has finally reached the top! It's that boy with the sword case!"

Today, a seemingly ordinary young man in blue robes was the first to reach the top!

Seeing this, the people on the Phantom Staircase roared in anger, "If he can reach the top, so can I!"

The confidence of the young men and women instantly soared.

On the cloud platform of the Myriad Laws Sect, Empress Lingxu laughed and said, "Guchen, you've found another promising talent."

"Hahaha... This kid is indeed quite good. Although he doesn't have any extraordinary physique, I can sense his pure sword heart."

In the illusion of the sixtieth level, the demon race is launching a massive attack on the Myriad Laws Sect. Half of the sect's elders have died in battle, and the sect leader is also seriously injured. Nalan Xiu, the sect leader's personal disciple, is secretly retreating to the back of the group.

Suddenly, a black shadowy figure swiftly attacked. Nalan Xiu sensed the danger and instantly grabbed Ning Tian beside him, shielding him in front of him.

Ning Tian stared at his pierced body in disbelief at Nalan Xiu, coughing up blood as he asked, "Junior brother, why did you use me to take the fall?"

"Senior brother, don't you understand the principle of sacrificing a fellow Daoist to save yourself? Senior brother, rest in peace. I will live well for you." Nalan Xiu laughed wildly.

"Nalan Xiu, how dare you kill Senior Brother! I'll fight you to the death!" Mu Qingcheng roared.

"What kind of bullshit senior brother is this! The Myriad Laws Sect is about to be destroyed! I hereby formally declare that from this day forward, I, Nalan Xiu, am no longer a disciple of the Myriad Laws Sect. I officially withdraw from the Myriad Laws Sect! Hahaha..."

Hearing what Nalan Xiu said on the Illusionary Spirit Ladder, the members of the Nalan family at the foot of the mountain knew that he must be trapped in an illusion and unable to extricate himself. They all covered their faces, feeling ashamed.

"Shameless scoundrel!" With that, Wang Lin waved his hand, and Nalan Xiu was sent flying out of the Illusionary Spirit Ladder. Nalan Xiu lay on the ground, still looking bewildered, but when he saw the strange looks on everyone's faces, he instantly realized—he had been trapped in the illusion of the Illusionary Spirit Ladder and had failed.

"Impossible! I can't fail! Elder, I request to climb the ladder again. This time I'm sure I can succeed!"

"Each person has only one chance to climb the ladder. Those who fail, please leave," Wang Lin said.

"Elder, that last time doesn't count! I was just careless and fell into the illusion. I am the pride of the Nalan family; there's no way I couldn't even pass the first level!"

"If you dare to cause trouble again, you'll die..."

Just as Nalan Xiu was about to say something more, his mouth was covered tightly.

"Young master, you mustn't speak recklessly. Since we haven't passed the test, let's leave."

"Yes, young master, this is the Imperial Clan. If you continue to cause trouble like this, not only will you be in danger, but you will also implicate your entire family."

Realizing he had almost caused a major disaster, Nalan Xiu glanced at Wang Lin on the Illusionary Spirit Ladder with resentment and bitterness, then gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

Sima Nan and Xiao Zhan, who were conducting a gravity test, also witnessed this scene. They exchanged a glance, smiled slightly, and then continued climbing the ladder.

(Dear readers, I apologize for the two-day hiatus due to personal matters. I hope you will continue to encourage and support me in the future.)