2026-02-03 20:38:45At that moment, a figure landed on the Martial Arts Square.
He then stood at the forefront of the more than a hundred disciples under evaluation.
The person who had arrived was none other than the outer sect's elder, Fang Yunshan.
After a glance at the more than a hundred disciples who were participating in the assessment, Fang Yunshan's brows slightly furrowed.
Among these disciples, Mu Qiu was missing?
Despite being somewhat puzzled, Fang Yunshan just waved his hand and announced, "For this inner sect assessment, there are still two parts: a test and the Phantom Tower."
"The first place will be rewarded with a tier-three top-class martial arts and secret technique, plus ten thousand contributions and a superior cave abode."
"The second and third places will be rewarded with a tier-three middle-class martial arts and secret technique..."
Upon these words being spoken, all the disciples were in an uproar.
The top place was actually for superior cultivation methods and secret techniques!
Good heavens, this is truly a rhythm that aims for the sky!
What's more, there were also superior cave abodes, which were highly enticing.
This is because disciples' cave abodes within the sect contained cultivation arrays.
The higher the level, the greater the benefits for cultivation.
"Now, the inner sect examination officially starts!"
As soon as the words fell, Fang Yunshan summoned a disciple, who directly walked towards a stele.
This stele, about thirty feet high, was for testing.
What it tested was each person's overall talent.
Including bone roots, Qi energy, strength, willpower... The higher the talent, the brighter the stele would shine.
Generally, it ranged from low to high: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, purple, silver, and gold.
Only talents in green or above could pass the inner sect examination.
Of course, even if one doesn't pass the examination but shows outstanding performance in the second part of the Phantom Tower, they still have the chance to join the inner sect.
The disciple whose name was called by Elder Fang breathed a sigh of relief, then stretched out his hand and pressed it on the testing stone.
Soon, an orange light glowed from the stone.
"Orange talent, failed," Elder Fang Yunshan emotionlessly announced, causing the disciple to sigh and walk back. Then it was the second disciple's turn...
"Green talent, passed."
"Yellow talent, failed."
"Cyan talent, passed."
At last, it was Luo Bin's turn.
Luo Bin chuckled, taking his steps forward.
Upon standing before the testing stone, he confidently placed his hand onto it.
Suddenly, a dazzling blue light flashed from the testing stone.
"Hmm? Is that blue? The big senior brother is amazing."
This caused many disciples watching from outside the square to exclaim in awe.
The blue talent was indeed rare, even within the inner gate.
"Blue talent, approved." Fang Yunshan took a deep look at Luo Bin; he did not expect him to have blue talent.
Next, the other disciples were tested in succession.
Out of more than a hundred, only about ten had the green or above talents.
"Next is the second test—the Phantom Tower assessment." Fang Yunshan stroked his beard and nodded silently.
He was quite satisfied with the results.
He looked at the many disciples who had qualified to stay, raised his hand and said, "Now, head to the Phantom Tower."
The Phantom Tower was not far from the Martial Arts Square.
At a glance, you could vaguely see a tall tower standing.
The Phantom Tower has thirty-six floors, each floor engraved with illusionary formations, capable of creating mythical beasts or monsters.
The battle tests not only one's strength but also one's potential.
Finally, before long, Fang Yunshan leads all disciples to the Phantom Tower.
Just like before, each of them was called by name to enter the Phantom Tower one by one.
Fang Yunshan stood in front of the Phantom Tower, made hand seals, and activated the Phantom Tower.
He casually picked a disciple, allowing him to step into the examination first.
"Boom..."
The door to the Phantom Tower gradually closed.
Not too long after, the first level began to flicker with light.
This signified that the disciple had successfully passed the first level. Right after, the second level, the third level... sequentially lit up.
Thirty-six levels, each becoming more challenging than the one before.
In this part, only disciples who could pass through twelve levels would count as passing.
If they lacked talent and couldn't break through the twelfth level of the Phantom Tower, that would mean complete failure in the examination.
At this moment, when the disciple just passed the eleventh level, the light stopped flickering.
In the end, the door to the Phantom Tower opened with a crash.
That disciple who first entered rolled out from the inside in a disheveled state.
"Eleven levels, examination failed!"
Upon hearing Fang Yunshan announce the result, the disciple smashed his fist on the ground, his face showing deep frustration.
He was a disciple of yellow talent, and he only made it to the eleventh level of the Phantom Tower. He was just a step away from being an inner disciple.
After a long preparation, ending in failure, how can one be willing?
But there is no other way.
Rules, after all, are rules.
Sometimes, just one step can make a world of difference.
This is the path of cultivation!
Next, the remaining disciples entered the Phantom Tower in succession.
But those who could breach the twelfth layer were no more than ten.
Finally, Luo Bin also stepped into the Phantom Tower.
Shortly after, the first layer lit up.
Then, the second layer. The third layer...
The fourth layer...
Until the twenty-second layer.
Luo Bin, maintaining composure, stepped out, his face full of proud defiance.
"No wonder he's the senior brother; he could reach the twenty-second layer even before entering the inner sect!"
"This time, Senior Brother is undoubtedly first."
Fang Yunshan glanced at Luo Bin, about to announce the results of the examination.
However, before he could say a word...
At that moment...
"I'm here, I'm here, I finally made it!"
Mu Qiu rushed all the way from a distance, getting closer step by step.
His face showed no remorse for being late; instead, he was smiling broadly and waving at all the disciples.
Then, he turned around. "Disciple Mu Qiu pays respects to Elder Fang..."
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Chapter 213
The Lord of the Spectral Soldiers came right up to him. For some reason, Mu Qiu actually caught a flicker of approval in those eyes. He curled his lip — had to be an illusion. Instinctively, he clutched the waistband of his pants.Perhaps noticing the small gesture, the Lord of the Spectral Soldiers again wore that same skin-deep, mocking half-smile. Mu Qiu couldn't stop a shiver. This would probably haunt him for life.For no clear reason — maybe the spectral soldiers' passage always chilled the air — the old man who normally slept like the dead suddenly woke. He sat up, glanced at the burly Lord of the Spectral Soldiers, and chuckled lazily, "Knew you old bastard wouldn't sink so easy. Looks like your mind's crawling back. Good news — I won't have to spend my days running from you anymore!"At that, the Lord of the Spectral Soldiers' eyes actually showed a trace of guilt. Apparently it could still feel plenty. Mu Qiu, however, didn't consider that a good sign. Without thinking, he t
Chapter 212
The texts claimed the past ten millennia had been remarkably calm. The only events worth noting were the wars between men and demons, the sea-beast rampage off the Southern Sea, and the occasional unsealing of forbidden zones."In the Three Thousand Realms, who can say — but here in the Kunling Realm, it's been quiet," Mu Qiu said, his face unreadable.The slovenly old man's expression twisted, disbelief plain. He actually smoothed his tangled beard — something he almost never did — while a pensive look crept across his face."Kunling shouldn't be calm at all," he muttered. "This was the closest land to that fortress, the most vital pass. How could it stay so peaceful?"Mu Qiu couldn't quite catch the old man's mumbling. Yet his ears still snagged one lethal keyword — Xiongcheng. Back then, the Talisman Lord had warned him: "If fate ever takes you into the Primordial God-City, tread as though every step could be your last." Could the Xiongcheng the old man just mentioned be that very
Chapter 211
The old man snorted coldly, a hint of mockery threading his words. His sharp gaze saw right through Mu Qiu, though the young man's expression remained unruffled — even as he spoke with righteous conviction. But that was indeed the case. Since he had come all this way, he couldn't possibly leave empty-handed. When geese fly by, pluck their feathers; when beasts pass, take their hides. In short, returning with nothing was absolutely out of the question. That just wasn't his style.And so, Mu Qiu made no attempt to hide his intentions. Besides, by doing this, he could actually ensure that the legacy of the fallen Demon Emperor would live on in the mortal world. The mere thought of it made Mu Qiu feel rather noble. His spine straightened instantly, rigid as a sword."Exactly! To revive the lost wisdom of the sages is to pave the way for eternal peace!" His words rang out with resounding conviction. He was even moved by his own declaration. After enduring countless hardships — all for the
Chapter 210
Yet these were the resting places of the demon race's past emperors. Suddenly, Mu Qiu remembered — earlier, the old man had mentioned that these demon emperors, once revered for their great deeds, had all met with ill omens in their twilight years. A chill crept down Mu Qiu's spine. He shook his head sharply, as if to dislodge the thought. His curiosity was getting the better of him — and that never ended well.However, the moment he pondered deeper, a bone-chilling dread crept through his entire body. He dared not think further. Trembling fear. Burning curiosity. Two conflicting emotions tangled within him, tearing him apart."Hey, kid." The disheveled old man — who had been focused on scattering dirt ahead — suddenly halted and turned around. His voice was soft but deliberate. "Take a look at this soil. Doesn't it strike you as unusual?"Snapping back to reality, Mu Qiu froze for a moment. The old man had actually spoken to him first. This was unexpected — Mu Qiu had grown accustome
Chapter 209
The vicissitudes of time. Mu Qiu felt as though an eternity had passed.As he stepped out of the wooden cabin, just like any other day, his clumsy figure suddenly froze.Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?Endless questions flashed through his mind. A glimmer of clarity pierced through his long-dulled vacant eyes. His gaze sharpened, growing clear once more."How did I end up here?"Mu Qiu lowered his head, murmuring to himself. A pensive expression settled over his face. And in that very moment, Mu Qiu — who had been numb and indifferent for so long — finally awoke. His three ethereal souls and seven earthly spirits seemed to snap back into place at once. A turbid breath escaped his lips. A sharp glint flashed from his eyes.Before him, reality blurred into illusion, as if he were drifting through clouds. He saw things that had once been invisible to him. Like those spine-chilling graves — before, they had merely appeared as ordinary mounds of earth. But now, squinting, he noticed
Chapter 208
By the time the slovenly old man's movements roused him again, it was already daylight the next day. Mu Qiu followed the old man down over a dozen different paths, witnessing no fewer than a thousand graves of demon emperors. Yet all these tombs shared one common trait — even the newest headstones had been erected tens of thousands of years ago. In the last fifty millennia, not a single new grave had appeared.After trudging along various paths for over ten more days with the disheveled old man, this time the elder finally didn't lead him down a new route. Not that he was really leading Mu Qiu — because Mu Qiu was starting to suspect that the scruffy old man genuinely hadn't noticed his presence. Following the elder onto a familiar path, Mu Qiu recognized every single tombstone along the way. Was he doomed to repeat the same tedious routine?Sure enough, the old man resumed his monotonous tasks — scattering soil where it was due, ranting when the mood struck. A flicker of frustration
