Infiltrating the righteous path? Just another place to be a sycophant.

Just as Xiao Yun was about to step onto the last step, Guo Fengyi grabbed his shoulder and refused to let him go up.

"Hehehe, Xiao Yun, you want to be the first one in front of me? Did you even ask for my permission?"

Guo Fengyi was determined to step into the fray and become number one, but Xiao Yun was not to be outdone. She directly imitated Guo Fengyi, grabbed her shoulders, and pulled her back.

"Xiao Yun, I'll fight you to the death!"

"Guo Fengyi! I'll fight you to the death!"

The two were like sworn enemies meeting, their eyes blazing with hatred. They started fighting right before the last step, leaving all the disciples and elders at the finish line stunned.

What's going on? How can they even argue about this?

The fight between the two was incredibly intense; in no time, they had knocked down another ten or so steps, showing no mercy whatsoever.

Just as the two were locked in a fierce battle, a seemingly dim-witted guy overtook them and reached the last step.

"I'm number one! I'm number one! Hahahaha!"

"Congratulations on winning first place, Wang Dacong!"

Upon hearing that the first place had been announced, the two stopped fighting, glanced at each other, and then scrambled forward to climb again.

Chapter 210 This is the second challenge

As more and more people climbed the stairs, the burning incense gradually came to an end.

"Alright, the incense has burned out, time's up!"

Finally, the incense burned out, and the elder responsible for watching over whether the incense had burned out shouted.

At the end of the Yuantian Ladder, a light curtain appeared, blocking those who had not yet climbed the mountain from reaching the bottom.

Some people who were just a few steps away, or even a single step away, were filled with regret upon witnessing this scene.

If only we could have been one step faster!

Xiao Yun and Guo Fengyi sat on the ground next to a stone block, their faces bruised and swollen. However, they still looked at each other defiantly, their eyes seeming as if they wanted to tear each other to pieces right now.

Xiao Yun was furious. He was about to go up, but Guo Fengyi forcibly pulled him down. Then there was another struggle, and he went from first place to tenth place, almost missing out on the next chance.

Thus, the entangled bond of friendship between the two was further strengthened.

"Before climbing the ladder, there were more than a hundred people. Now, after climbing the Yuantian Ladder, there are only a few dozen people, not even fifty. This shows how effective the Yuantian Ladder is at filtering people."

"It's always like this. I almost got dragged down back then too. Luckily, I ate sweet potatoes the night before climbing the stairs, and at the crucial moment, I farted, which made the person behind me fall down."

"Hehehe, so you were the one who farted back then! I knew it smelled awful! After all these years, I've finally found the real culprit!"

The elders looked at the disciples still standing at the top of the steps and began to discuss among themselves.

Everyone collapsed to the ground. The aftereffects of the Yuantian Ladder were still very strong. Although everyone used their unique abilities to reach the top of the mountain, the side effects of the excessive load quickly appeared on them.

With each step they took, their legs felt as if they were about to collapse, as if their bones were about to crumble and they would be unable to support their walking.

"Everyone, take a break. The second test is coming up soon! Get ready."

The elder in charge of the second checkpoint came out, waved his hand at the disciples who were lying on the ground, and then a group of people came out carrying bamboo baskets covered with cloth and emitting a fresh fragrance.

"Please have something to eat. These are flower cakes made by our Spirit Food Hall. They will help you restore your spiritual power and physical strength, and heal your injuries."

A disciple carrying a basket of flower cakes approached the group, took out a few flower cakes wrapped in oil paper, and handed them to them.

The group tore off the outer oil paper, looked at the fragrant flower cakes, and began to enjoy them with great relish.

As they put the flower cakes in their mouths, the spiritual energy that had been depleted in their bodies gradually began to replenish, and the damaged parts of their bodies began to heal gradually.

The warmth, the boundless spiritual energy, and the life-giving medicinal power were simply incomparable to their elixirs.

Is this the strength of the Yuan Tian Holy Sect? If these flower cakes were sold elsewhere, wouldn't people fight tooth and nail to get them?

Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help but look forward to their days after entering the Yuan Tian Sacred Sect even more.

After all, this is a major sect! This little flower cake is not just a flower cake, it also represents the foundation of a major sect!

"My iron discus is so popular within the sect, why do they insist on making flower cakes? Is it because those brats from outside came?"

Inside the Spirit Food Hall, a man with a bare upper body, his strong, bronze skin covered in muscular flesh, wielding a large hammer, spoke angrily.

At that moment, he was vigorously pounding a freshly baked flatbread. With each strike of the hammer, the flatbread burst forth with brilliant, fiery red sparks and made a crisp, resounding clang.

"Hey, Senior Brother Zhong, you should just bear with it. That iron disc you made is so tough that even the ancient divine beast White Tiger couldn't bite it. One bite and it's a death sentence. Give it to them, or you'll break their teeth!"

The disciple standing nearby looked at the flatbread, which was as hard as an iron hammer, and couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

If he hadn't been inside the Yuan Tian Sacred Sect, he would never have known that such hard iron discs could still be found, and that they could sell so well.

It seems that many people from the Yuan Tian Sheng Zong sect have excellent teeth!

Of course, there are also bad ones, like him, who never buys them to eat, but instead keeps them on his chest as a shield.

After all, compared to those expensive magical artifacts, the food made by Senior Brother Zhong and the other senior brothers and sisters was the cheapest and most practical.

"So fragile, unable to even eat a flatbread, what's the point of joining our Yuan Tian Holy Sect? Besides, who said my flatbread was hard? Look at me, I'm eating it so easily!"

Zhong, as strong as a yak, picked up the iron disc that had been smashed down with his hammer, sparking countless brilliant sparks, and put it in his mouth, crunching and chewing.

This rock-hard pancake tasted just like any other pancake to Brother Zhong; he ate it without any problem at all.

"Senior Brother Zhong, everyone's constitution is different, so you can't compare them!"

The disciple wiped the sweat from his brow, packed up the flower cakes that had just come out of the oven, and quickly left.

"Have you all rested enough? Now we're about to begin our second challenge. Don't worry, this challenge won't test your physical fitness, but rather something much more important!"

"After all, you all must have extraordinary abilities to have made it this far. Whether it's your physical strength or your skills, you've all passed the test. After all, cultivating immortality is all about adaptability!"

"This test will test everyone's character. Within this magic circle, you will experience what you want most and the future you desire most."

"However, there will be tests along the way. It depends on whether you can get through them. The magic array will consume your spiritual power. If you get caught up in it and can't get out, you will be exhausted and faint. That will be the end result of being eliminated."

As soon as the elder in charge of the second test finished speaking, a huge magic circle appeared on the ground, enveloping everyone. Soon they felt a force invading their spiritual world.

This is true, and this is a real game; that's everyone's first reaction.

"While spiritual roots are important, character is also very important. I wonder who you think has the best chance?"

"If you ask me, the best one is still Ran Ran. Although he seems to have a fiery temper, he has good resilience and will surely become a good fire cultivator!"

The elder of Lieyun Peak is named Zhen Zhizhang. He is a guy with red hair and a rather forthright personality. He is considered to be a simple-minded guy in the sect, but his headstrong personality makes many elders reluctant to have any close interactions with him.

However, it was quite unexpected that this guy ended up marrying a rich woman, who was also one of the current inner elders of the Taiqing Holy Sect.

"If you ask me, that Zhu Dali is definitely a promising talent. Although his name is a bit vulgar and his appearance is a bit fierce, his eyes are quite clear. I can see a pure and innocent heart in them. I think our Tianru Peak really needs his arrival!"

The speaker was Li Zicong, a Confucian elder dressed in white robes. Lu An had dealt with him a few times before. He was always preaching and constantly referring to himself as a knowledgeable person. But today he seemed a bit normal and didn't say anything about preaching.

Lu An also saw Zhu Dali.

He certainly looked very fierce, and not just a little fierce as he put it, but extremely fierce.

He looks like a wanted criminal.

Regarding those eyes... they belong to the same type as Zhuge Zhi's eyes.

It's like each of its two eyes is looking at its own thing; indeed, beneath its fierce exterior lies a pair of clear and innocent eyes.

This guy is so stupid, how can someone be so mentally challenged?

"Elder Lu, who do you fancy?"

"I think that couple is the best."

"Why? The two look like enemies fighting, so why would they make up?"

"The saying goes, 'Spare the rod and spoil the child.' Although beating and scolding are a bit harsh, I can still see true love in their eyes!"

After hearing what Lu An said, the elders looked at Xiao Yun and Guo Fengyi again, their eyes filled with suspicion.

Have they all gone blind?

Chapter 211 This is an Illusion of Desire

As the formation activated, everyone gradually entered that dreamlike illusion, and the surrounding scenery was shrouded in mist, which then rapidly changed.

Everyone instinctively tried to struggle; this was their first reaction upon entering the illusion. However, the power of the formation was clearly incomparable to the illusions they had encountered outside, and their struggles quickly became ineffective.

They gradually succumbed to the formation and soon fell silent, fast asleep on the spot.

So a large group of people appeared standing still, sleeping, with their eyes closed, like a group of wooden figures.

What kind of illusions will they encounter?

Lu An was extremely curious. Although he had seen such things before in the Heavenly Demon Sect, which used illusions to test people's willpower and spiritual sense, and could also filter out righteous spies who wanted to infiltrate their Heavenly Demon Sect.

This was the first time he had ever seen the illusionary realm of the Yuan Tian Sheng Zong.

"When they encounter the illusion they crave most, they may become addicted to it until their consciousness is exhausted and their spirit is depleted."

"Wouldn't that be amazing? To be blissfully happy the whole time?"

"Feeling good? Wonderful? Elder Lu, you should know that at the end of the illusion, they will encounter a major change, and everything will be shattered into an illusion."

Yu Wanqing was stunned for a moment; she hadn't expected Lu An to say something like that.

"I understand. Big ups and downs can easily shatter people's beliefs!"

Lu An clapped his hands, pretending to suddenly realize something.

"Yes, everyone is the same. When the things they desire most are obtained and then taken away, they naturally become the most powerful weapon to shatter their beliefs and hopes!"

Within the illusionary magic array, some people's expressions had changed from relaxed at the beginning to beaming with joy. Although their eyes were closed, their slightly upturned mouths still conveyed their happiness and joy.

This is a truly beautiful dream!

"Hmm, I want to see what kind of daydreams they're having right now."

“It’s not impossible, Elder Lu. Take out your elder token; it has this function.”

Yu Wanqing took out the token in her hand, activated her spiritual power into the token, and then the token, like a smartphone, showed all sorts of small dots and words.

Yu Wanqing and Lu An fiddled with it for a while, and then the images of the disciples appeared in the token.

"That's fine. Elder Lu, just choose whichever one you want to see."

"Can this still happen?"

Lu An was stunned. How come this token has a live streaming function?

"This is a magic array made by Elder Fu's master. It will help you find your favorite disciple. Breaking the illusion is important, but how you perform within the illusion is also very important."

"After all, each disciple will have their own different performance, and the dream can better show the true self, rather than the hypocrisy in front of the public. This is a good way to distinguish them."

Listening to Yu Wanqing's explanation, Lu An began to examine the elder's token in his hand, wanting to see if there were any talented people inside.

He looked up at the other elders and found that they had already started looking. Through more than ten years of cheating on exams and his ability to copy answers with the corner of his eye, he saw the people he had seen in the tokens of the elders next to him.

Sure enough, the first thing they looked at was the disciple they had their eye on. Several elders even looked at the same disciple, seemingly determined to get him.

However, as they stroked their beards and smiled, they seemed to telepathically raise their heads, look at each other, and then their eyes instantly changed from friendly to fierce.

The way they looked at each other was as if they were enemies.

Lu An casually selected a disciple, and as soon as he entered, he saw a group of beautiful fairies singing and dancing in the token.

Meanwhile, the disciple sat on a dragon throne in a magnificent golden hall, dressed in a splendid dragon robe, surrounded by women on either side, laughing heartily.

However, dressed in a dragon robe, he looked older than he actually was, and even his beard had grown quite long.

Lu An was a little confused. What kind of illusion was this? Did he want to be a debauched emperor who indulged in pleasures with his harem all day long?

"Hahaha, my beloved concubine! My beloved concubine! Bring the wine! Bring the wine!"

After finishing the wine in his cup, the disciple called out to the elegantly dressed and beautiful woman next to him to bring more wine. The woman smiled and picked up the wine pot, pouring wine into his cup.

May my father enjoy eternal bliss and may his empire be forever secure!

A prince raised his wine cup and spoke with utmost respect.

"Good, good, good! Good, good, good! Hahahaha!"

The disciple who became the emperor tugged on the dog leash next to him, and an old man crawled out, his mouth still covered in rice grains.

The old man and the disciple looked about seven or eight parts similar, but the old man was much fiercer and more imposing. However, in his current state, his imposing presence was merely superficial.