After clearing the level, the fairies were reborn!

Fairy Qing Shuang sighed helplessly as she watched Xu Ze's retreating figure.

She followed, but a sense of powerlessness welled up inside her.

Is there no way I can help Xu Ze today?

That inner demon she was struggling with...

A hint of confusion flashed in Fairy Qing Shuang's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

Regardless, let's get through this hurdle first.

"...The top 30% can advance, but we only have eleven people, which means there are only three spots?"

The others didn't think that much about it.

The woman in green had recovered from her initial shock and began to think about practical matters.

In ancient times, the Xuanling Sect selected tens of millions of people each year.

Therefore, a large number of participants are eliminated in each round.

Now there are only eleven of them, but the rules haven't changed?

This is completely unreasonable.

"Let's give it a try. It seems there's no penalty this round. Even if we fail, we should be able to get out."

Among the nine members of the prodigy team, some thought optimistically.

Compared to the cruelty of the first trial of collecting the [Earth Spirit Grass] and the "punishment" that had to be borne after failure, this second trial is much more humane.

Anyway, he didn't die, nor did he become one of those mentally unstable "handyman disciples," so he was relatively lucky.

Even if you fail at this level, you will be teleported out and take the ten Earth Spirit Grasses you just collected home. It's not even worth a hundred trips, so it's quite good.

"I hope so."

The woman in green also stepped forward.

The group gradually arrived at the foot of the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, in front of the stone steps, stands a stone tablet.

The stone tablet is about ten feet tall, entirely black, with a smooth, mirror-like surface, and is engraved with two lines of ancient seal script:

"Once you cross this mountain, they will hear your story."

"Regardless of how the story ends."

A young man tried to read the above text aloud.

Everyone looked on with longing as they gazed at the finish line on the opposite side of the mountain, as if it were a trial of great depth and significance.

Only Xu Ze couldn't help but laugh.

This ancient sect from tens of thousands of years ago... its founder is definitely related to the real world!

With such classic copywriting, how could he, as a veteran player, not know it?

"What a feat of crossing mountains!"

He was the first to step onto the stone steps.

An indescribable, terrifying pressure descended like a mountain.

Xu Ze swayed slightly, but quickly regained his balance, a knowing glint in his eyes.

Just as I expected!

Isn't this just like the "climbing the ladder to heaven" scene in online novels?

It tests your talent, aptitude, or understanding of the Dao, and the pressure increases as you ascend the steps. The higher you go, the better your aptitude and the greater your potential.

Xu Ze took a deep breath and activated the internal cultivation technique. Pale golden spiritual power surged through his meridians, and sword energy hummed in his dantian, gradually dissolving the oppressive aura.

With his supreme yang body, burning heaven sword intent, sword spirit root, and many other heaven-defying talents, he started jogging on the steps.

Strolling leisurely, feeling relaxed and content.

"No way, it's that easy?"

As Xu Ze's figure receded into the distance, the others gradually came to their senses.

They also realized that this was no time to be shocked!

This second trial is ranked according to the order in which it is completed, so you must hurry.

"This time, we have no choice but to go for it!"

"Alright, I'll charge!"

A young Golden Core stage prodigy's eyes flashed with a defiant light, and he immediately followed Xu Ze's example, rushing up the stone steps as well.

next second.

Holy crap!

He hadn't even taken two steps, just stepped onto the third step, when the terrifying pressure forced him to his knees, blood gushing from his mouth and nose.

The immense pressure squeezed his internal organs, turning his face as pale as paper.

"This...this is impossible..."

He struggled to lift his head, looking up at the figure who had already run up dozens of steps, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Fairy Qing Shuang also tried to take a few steps upwards.

Her eyes widened immediately, her clear pupils filled with shock:

"How did this guy even start running?!"

Others soon shared the same thought.

After stepping onto the steps and personally experiencing the terrifying pressure, when they looked at Xu Ze's increasingly smaller figure, the feeling that welled up in their hearts was no longer one of shock.

It was not a defeat, but a profound sense of loss.

They had considered that the gap between themselves and Xu Zedi might be very large.

But I never expected it to be this big!

They even call themselves the pride of Beiju Luzhou, and they even hold some kind of Pride Tournament...

Now even the host of the conference was defeated in one move, and I can't even see the other party's heels!

Is this reasonable?

An indescribable sense of powerlessness began to take root in the hearts of these young people.

Some people even began to doubt whether they deserved the title of "prodigy".

"No way, even if I have to crawl, I'm going to climb up!"

The prodigy who had been knocked down slumped on the steps, panting heavily.

He gritted his teeth, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and a stubborn glint flashed in his eyes.

I refuse to believe this nonsense!

He was given high hopes from a young age, with abundant resources and guidance from renowned teachers... How could he possibly fall apart in a place like this?

Since I can't stand up, I'll crawl forward on my knees.

And just as he braced himself with his hands on the ground, knelt on the steps, and moved a few steps...

Suddenly, he made a surprising discovery.

As long as I kneel down, the pressure I feel is greatly reduced!

"Hey? You all try kneeling down and walking!"

He generously shared this "discovery" with others, his voice even carrying a hint of excitement, as if he had found some amazing secret.

The woman in green from the Jin family had already reached his level and tried to kneel down as well.

She braced herself with her hands on the ground, her knees touching the cold steps, a position that made her feel incredibly humiliated.

As a member of the Jin family, albeit from a collateral branch, she still possessed her own pride. From childhood to adulthood, when had she ever made such a humble gesture?

But the next moment, she froze.

Sure enough, the pressure decreased dramatically!

Although the oppressive aura was still there, and it was still very heavy, it was at least 30% lighter than when I was standing!

This discovery left her with mixed feelings; on the one hand, she was relieved to have found a way forward.

On the other hand, she felt humiliated by having to move forward in such a humble way.

But in the end, reason prevailed over emotion.

On the path of cultivation, face and dignity are sometimes really not important.

The important thing is to live, to move forward, and to become stronger.

The woman in green gritted her teeth, no longer hesitating, and began to crawl forward on her knees.

Seeing this, others followed suit.

For a moment, a rather comical scene unfolded behind Xu Ze—

The peerless geniuses of the "Gathering of Prodigies" in Beiju Luzhou all knelt on the stone steps, supporting themselves with their hands on the ground, and moved forward little by little with their knees.

Their movements were clumsy and laborious, their foreheads pressed against the cold steps, sweat soaking their robes and leaving wet streaks behind them.

The scene didn't resemble climbing the Ascension Peak; it was more like a devout "pilgrimage."

The object of this "pilgrimage"...

It is another figure that continues to move forward.

Xu Ze never slowed down and continued moving forward.

On the steps, Fairy Qing Shuang frowned slightly.

Although she tried her best to avoid bending over, she gradually bowed down in the face of the increasingly powerful pressure.

Her legs were trembling, her back was bent, and her breathing became rapid.