Hum!
As the words "Congratulations on passing" fell, Li Xuan's vision flashed.
The next moment, Li Xuan found himself back on the cloud ladder derived from Tianfeng.
At this moment, the number of people on the cloud ladder had decreased by nearly half compared to before. Li Xuan looked back, and many registered participants who had been eliminated were now standing in the plaza, looking at the remaining individuals on the cloud ladder with envy.
"I didn't expect this first test to eliminate so many people. The number of people in this plaza must have reached two hundred thousand," Li Xuan sighed with emotion.
Opportunity always knocks only once.
If he had dared not to advance, or even retreated, upon sensing his spiritual power waning, he would likely be like the eliminated ones in the plaza. Li Xuan did not deny the potential or even the talent of those eliminated.
However, the lack of fear was a significant obstacle hindering their progress.
Time passed gradually, and within less than ten minutes, Li Xuan saw figures falling from the void and landing on the plaza. Naturally, each of them wore a look of dejection.
As for those participants who appeared on the cloud ladder, they naturally had expressions of ecstasy in their eyes, just like Li Xuan had earlier. This contrast served to confirm the cruelty of the spiritual master world.
Dong!
After half an hour had passed, a bell chime sounded again. Li Xuan glanced around; the number of people in the plaza had reached over three hundred thousand. With a sigh, his gaze shifted to the Golden Light Shuo Supreme, who had risen from the high platform.
"The first test examined whether you possess the resolve to burn your bridges. When faced with the depletion of spiritual power, did you dare to continue forward, did you dare to maintain inner calm even without spiritual power? This was my first test."
"It is a great pity that one-third of the participants chose to stagnate or even retreat during the first test. Congratulations to the remaining participants."
After Supreme Golden Light Shuo finished speaking, he waved his hand, and the cloud ladder detached from Tianfeng, slowly moving above the plaza.
"For the second round of selection, you can only pass by defeating your chosen opponent. As for this opponent, it is not for you to choose each other. I will activate the Flowing Light Mural Illusion, which contains three guardians. You may choose one of them to battle." Supreme Golden Light Shuo finished speaking and waved his hand, and a stream of light descended from the heavens like a waterfall.
"The Flowing Light Mural Illusion! Wasn't that one of the assessment contents from the previous disciple recruitment grand ceremony? I heard that the weakest of the three guardians inside is already at the peak of the Immeasurable Realm!"
"If one chooses this guardian, it's fine. But if one is unlucky and draws the Quantitative Realm or even the Qualitative Realm, wouldn't they have no choice but to surrender?"
"This is still just a preliminary assessment. Wouldn't the real assessment be even harder? Is this second round testing our luck?"
"..."
As soon as Supreme Golden Light Shuo finished speaking, a clamor erupted from the crowd on the cloud ladder. Listening to their discussions, Li Xuan also frowned slightly. Going by their words, did these three guardians' strengths correspond to the Immeasurable Realm, Quantitative Realm, and Qualitative Realm respectively?
Wouldn't such an assessment cause another large portion of people to be eliminated?
As if extremely pleased with the discussions, Supreme Golden Light Shuo smiled and said, "It seems you all know the rules of the Flowing Light Mural Illusion, so I won't elaborate further. However, to reduce the difficulty, I will allow you to choose twice."
"But ultimately, the battle will be against the guardian you finally choose. You have thirty breaths of time to prepare."
"Allowed to choose twice? Phew, that's good. If I draw someone from the Quantitative Realm or Qualitative Realm the first time, at least I'll have a chance to draw the Immeasurable Realm guardian."
"This way, the difficulty is reduced considerably. Otherwise, I don't think many people would be able to pass smoothly."
"I just hope I can draw the guardian in the Immeasurable Realm on the first try."
"..."
Upon hearing this, the crowd collectively breathed a sigh of relief. While murmuring in low voices, their gazes all fell upon the Flowing Light Mural Illusion.
"Time's up, all of you enter the mural!" Thirty breaths of time passed in an instant. As Supreme Golden Light Shuo's voice sounded, the cloud ladder, carrying the participants, shot towards the Flowing Light Mural Illusion.
"Remember what you said." Just as Li Xuan was about to enter the Flowing Light Mural Illusion, a clear voice slowly entered his mind.
Li Xuan was stunned by the voice, but was quickly captivated by the scene before him. Three stone statues were arranged in a triangular formation around him.
And beneath Li Xuan's feet was a stone needle turntable. Li Xuan glanced at it and immediately understood.
So, the opponent chosen in this round was determined by spinning the stone needle to a fixed stone statue?
"All participants, spin the stone needle beneath your feet to confirm your challenge guardian. Each person has two chances to choose. Only by winning or losing can the challenge end. Please note, those with insufficient strength may die. Therefore, you may also choose to surrender."
"Now, the challenge begins!"
As Supreme Golden Light Shuo's voice fell, Li Xuan's expression changed. If what Supreme Golden Light Shuo said was true, then if he chose the guardian in the Qualitative Realm, wouldn't he have no choice but to surrender?
"So be it, I want to see how my luck is!" Li Xuan declared, then unhesitatingly spun the stone needle beneath his feet.
As the stone needle spun rapidly, Li Xuan's eyes were fixed on it. At the same time, Li Xuan silently chanted "Immeasurable Realm" in his heart. Only by selecting the guardian in the Immeasurable Realm would Li Xuan have a chance to win.
"Damn it!"
As the stone needle's speed slowed, Li Xuan's heart felt as if it were hanging by a thread. When the stone needle finally stopped, Li Xuan couldn't help but curse loudly. His expression was incredibly unsightly, as the direction the stone needle pointed to was the most difficult, the peak Qualitative Realm guardian!
"Fortunately, fortunately, at least there's still one more chance to choose. The chances of drawing the Chaos Realm and the Qualitative Realm are fifty-fifty. I shouldn't be this unlucky, right?" Li Xuan exhaled a breath of relief and bent down to spin the stone needle again.
"Remember what you said."
At that moment, the voice Li Xuan had heard upon entering the Flowing Light Mural Illusion suddenly echoed in his mind.
"This voice is from Bai Zun, could it be that Bai Zun is giving me a hint?" Thinking this, Li Xuan's hand, which was about to spin the stone needle, stopped.
"If you were to face the Myriad Ancient Supreme with your current strength, what would you do?"
"If I truly encountered such a situation, even if I died, I, Li Xuan, would not feel the slightest bit of fear!"
Recalling his conversation with Bai Suxin, Bai Zun, on Tianfeng, Li Xuan's eyes showed a hint of enlightenment. This guardian in the Qualitative Realm was akin to that Myriad Ancient Supreme. If he didn't even have the courage to make a move, how could he have the courage to face the Myriad Ancient Supreme?
Furthermore, Bai Suxin, Bai Zun, would absolutely not transmit such a sentence to him for no reason.
"Damn it, if I die, I die!" Having made up his mind, Li Xuan stood up and looked at the peak Qualitative Realm guardian.
"It's you! If you have the guts, really kill me!" Li Xuan shouted, pointing at the peak Qualitative Realm guardian. At the same time, the spiritual energy within Li Xuan's dantian instantly circulated. After all, he was about to face a peak Qualitative Realm existence, and Li Xuan dared not be the slightest bit careless.
"Are you the one who wishes to challenge me?"
As Li Xuan's voice fell, the stone statue of the peak Qualitative Realm guardian immediately flashed with spiritual light. Under Li Xuan's gaze, the dust surrounding the statue rippled away. An incredibly powerful and terrifying aura instantly swept towards Li Xuan.
"Damn, this is strong!" Within this powerful aura, Li Xuan felt that even breathing was difficult. His defenses were completely useless and were destroyed in an instant.
"Considering you gave up your second chance to choose, I can let you make the first move." The statue slowly spoke.
As the statue finished speaking, Li Xuan felt his body lighten. The terrifying aura and oppressive pressure around him had all receded. Looking at the statue staring at him, Li Xuan felt a flicker of hesitation.
An existence at the peak of the Qualitative Realm, even with his full-strength strike, would likely not be able to inflict any damage. Moreover, the backlash from the terrifying aura alone would be enough to seriously injure him.
But if he didn't make a move, and once this peak Qualitative Realm statue attacked, he would find it difficult to win. In fact, he might not even be able to withstand a single move.
"What should I do..." Looking at the statue, Li Xuan's brows furrowed, and he murmured softly.
"If you dare not attack, then actively surrender and withdraw." As if sensing Li Xuan's struggle, the statue spoke again.
Upon hearing the statue's words, Li Xuan slowly raised his head and looked at the statue: "I, Li Xuan, have never retreated without a fight in my life. Even if I die, what's wrong with a battle!"
As Li Xuan's voice fell, his aura instantly soared to its peak.
"Fight!"
Li Xuan roared, and his figure moved like lightning towards the statue.
Although Li Xuan attacked, the statue remained motionless, quietly watching Li Xuan. It didn't even put up a defense. In its calm expression, it seemed as if it didn't take Li Xuan seriously at all.
"Damn it!" Li Xuan naturally saw the statue's expression. While he was wary, a nameless anger also ignited within him. To be ignored to this extent, no one could possibly tolerate it.
"Even if I can't defeat you, I'll make you shed a layer of skin!" Li Xuan's heart hardened, and he merged all his strength and spiritual energy into his left arm, then unleashed a punch directly at the statue's head.
Boom!
"Congratulations, you have passed."