Chaos Holy Land, located to the east of Wei Yang City. After leaving Wei Yang City, Li Xuan arrived at the registration area for disciples of Chaos Holy Land within a day.
Looking at the figures spread across the mountainside, Li Xuan couldn't help but marvel at the scale of a top-tier force recruiting disciples.
However, despite the crowds, the registration process was quite swift. Moreover, the rumor Li Xuan had heard about no restrictions wasn't entirely accurate. Applicants had to be under fifty years old and possess a minimum cultivation level of the Dao Proving Realm.
Li Xuan understood this; otherwise, the workload would be immense if anyone could register.
Buzz!
With a humming sound, a visible ripple of water instantly spread out.
"Ah!"
The next moment, screams erupted from various directions.
"It is common knowledge that our Chaos Holy Land is recruiting disciples. Yet, you dare to pry. Do you truly think Chaos Holy Land has no one? As humans, you willingly become lackeys for others. If discovered again, you will be executed on the spot!"
A voice boomed from the depths, its majesty like thunder, shaking the very soul. Instantly, many people's expressions changed, and they quickly departed.
Li Xuan's expression turned serious. He hadn't expected that even at a place like Chaos Holy Land, there would be spies from other races during disciple recruitment. However, compared to that, the strength of Chaos Holy Land astonished him even more.
Considering that there were hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of applicants and onlookers present, the ability to detect those spies amidst such a crowd, solely through such delicate spiritual sense, spoke volumes.
Whoosh.
With a flash of light from the depths, a figure appeared before everyone's eyes.
"I am the Guiding Elder, responsible for this disciple recruitment. All applicants must undergo three rounds of assessment."
The Guiding Elder paused before continuing, "In the first round of assessment, all applicants will have their spiritual power sealed and enter the Beast Cave. Those who can endure for one hour will pass. Note that the mystical beasts within the Beast Cave are not subject to the spiritual power sealing restriction."
Everyone's expression changed upon hearing this. Without their spiritual power, how could they possibly endure for an hour in the Beast Cave? For spirit masters, the absence of spiritual power was no different from being an ordinary mortal.
However, some spirit masters who specialized in body refinement couldn't help but show a flicker of excitement, clearly confident in the strength of their physical bodies.
"This is quite interesting, sealing spiritual power," Li Xuan felt no pressure at all, even considering the assessment a mere trifle.
"May I ask, Guiding Elder, if one cannot endure, can they withdraw mid-way?" someone dared to ask.
Everyone's gaze turned to the Guiding Elder, clearly eager for an answer.
The Guiding Elder shook his head slightly, "If you cannot endure, you will die. So, you still have time to consider. Once it begins, there is no turning back."
Silence fell upon the crowd. This was no laughing matter. After all, everyone was here solely to join Chaos Holy Land, and such a path to discipleship could lead to death during the assessment. Immediately, many chose to withdraw or leave altogether.
Watching many applicants depart, a hint of disappointment flashed in the Guiding Elder's eyes before he turned and vanished.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
Li Xuan opened his eyes and then shifted his gaze to the sky. The Guiding Elder's figure had already appeared.
"All applicants, gather," the Guiding Elder said, glancing at the remaining crowd.
Li Xuan silently followed behind a man. He had briefly estimated the situation and found that fewer than twenty thousand applicants remained. He had to admit, when faced with the threat of death, many chose to retreat.
Of course, Li Xuan understood. After all, for those with strength above the Dao Path Realm, dying in the first assessment would be too tragic.
"Follow me," the Guiding Elder said, looking at the crowd before turning and heading up the mountain.
Soon, under the Guiding Elder's lead, everyone arrived at a large flat area halfway up the mountain. Li Xuan looked up, vaguely seeing palaces scattered across the peaks.
The Guiding Elder turned to the crowd and, with a wave of his hand, a cloud ladder appeared.
"This cloud ladder is called the Thirty-Three Heavens. Those who successfully ascend it will pass the second round of assessment," the Guiding Elder announced.
Everyone was stunned. The first round of assessment hadn't even begun, yet they were already starting the second?
"Guiding Elder, shouldn't we have the first assessment first?" someone inquired.
The Guiding Elder smiled faintly, "The fact that you are all here with me today means you have passed the first round of assessment. After all, facing a deadly threat is not something everyone can do fearlessly."
Li Xuan looked at the Guiding Elder with some surprise. The recruitment style of such a major power was truly unique.
Clearly, the first round of assessment had already begun three days prior. Those who remained to continue were naturally deemed to have passed. Applicants who feared death in the Beast Cave had chosen to withdraw and were thus eliminated.
This first round tested not only courage but also the ability to face and make choices. Although many spirit masters with strong physiques might have luckily passed, at least they had the courage to try.
Furthermore, even if they passed the first round with a stroke of luck, two more assessments awaited. Li Xuan's gaze shifted, and he looked directly at the cloud ladder behind the Guiding Elder.
The cloud ladder was not high, and Li Xuan could clearly see the height of each step. However, Li Xuan knew that the second round of assessment would definitely not be simple. And the cloud ladder had exactly thirty-three steps.
"Alright, begin. Those who succeed stay, those who fail, leave." The Guiding Elder finished speaking and moved to the thirty-third step.
The crowd pondered for a moment before everyone moved and rushed towards the cloud ladder.
Bang bang bang!
As soon as many applicants stepped onto the cloud ladder, they were immediately flung back. This unexpected turn of events caused those behind them to slow down. However, the Guiding Elder remained silent, so everyone had no choice but to continue.
With the previous scene, the crowd became much more cautious. Although many applicants were still sent flying, a good number successfully ascended to the second step.
"Those who were thrown back seemed to have flown to higher positions. It appears we must ascend one step at a time," Li Xuan observed before moving and standing before the first step.
The next moment, Li Xuan stepped onto it.
Boom!
A repelling force surged. Li Xuan, prepared, directly channeled his physical strength downwards. The next step, he was already on the second.
Feeling the immense repelling force, Li Xuan felt a pang of pity for those who had been eliminated. They had no preparation for such a powerful rebound, and without it, how could they maintain their footing?
As time passed, Li Xuan ascended steadily, reaching the twentieth step. The figures on the cloud ladder were becoming fewer and fewer.
The Guiding Elder looked at the crowd below and nodded slightly, muttering to himself, "This time, perhaps over a hundred people will be able to join my Chaos Holy Land."