As time passed, Li Xuan felt his body succumb to numbness.
Even if Li Xuan intended to dodge the wooden stakes beneath his feet, they would suddenly emerge at his landing points. The sharp wooden spikes instantly pierced his soles.
The winding trail of blood made the difficulty of his progress undeniable. The stones falling from mid-air brought Li Xuan immense pain.
Over time, Li Xuan grew accustomed to it.
Since there was nowhere to hide, he chose to face and endure.
Moreover, compared to the initial body tempering with sword qi, Li Xuan didn't feel as much pain.
The ten individuals who had reached the summit now emerged from the spiritual light threads. Under the assault of wooden spikes and falling stones, all ten sustained injuries of varying degrees.
A thin man's blood had already soaked through his robes. His pale face showed no trace of color. After holding on for a few minutes, the man looked up at the mountaintop and slowly collapsed.
"Junior Brother Yuan Bai, this disciple seems to be from your Lianyi Peak," Hong Cheng'en said, looking at Wen Yuan Bai.
Wen Yuan Bai nodded slightly, waved his hand as if in helplessness, and a surge of spiritual light enveloped the thin man, immediately moving him down the mountain.
Then Wen Yuan Bai said, "I didn't expect my Lianyi Peak to be the first to be eliminated in this disciple celebration. However, while this disciple's divine soul is not weak, his physical attainments are average. It's reasonable that he couldn't endure."
"Physical attainment is inherently a weakness of your divine soul lineage, Junior Brother Yuan Bai. You don't need to trouble yourself over it," Xuan Yi Xian said, trying to comfort Wen Yuan Bai as he saw his helpless expression.
"Senior Brother speaks the truth. However, in the future, my Lianyi Peak disciples will need to put more effort into their physical training," Wen Yuan Bai nodded in agreement.
On the peak, Li Xuan and the remaining eight continued forward. But the eight crimson bloodstains were glaringly obvious under the illumination of the spiritual light. Fortunately, after more than ten minutes of arduous walking, Li Xuan and the other nine finally emerged from the dual attack range of wooden spikes and falling stones.
As of this moment, Li Xuan and the other nine had reached the mountainside.
However, the distance between the nine had widened again. Even Li Xuan, who was in third place, was nearly a hundred meters away from the man in the lead.
The nine individuals now had ashen faces. Drops of sweat streamed down like rain, and heavy panting indicated that their stamina had reached its limit.
Although they were close to the summit, their speed had significantly decreased. The dizziness and weakness from excessive blood loss made their walking figures stumble precariously.
"Nine little ones still managed to persevere. However, there can only be one winner. So, this final trial by Junior Brother Fei Hong is the most crucial stage. I wonder which of these youngsters will be able to endure," Xuan Yi Xian said, looking up and then smiling at Leng Fei Hong.
Leng Fei Hong wore a helpless expression but eventually shook his head and, with a wave of his hand, sent a spiritual sword flying towards the peak. The sword rapidly enlarged and then cleaved directly at the mountain.
Boom!
With a single strike, a sword formation appeared around Li Xuan and the other nine. Sharp sword qi filled the heavens and earth, acting like a formidable barrier, sealing off the path up the mountain.
To reach the summit, they had no choice but to break through the sword formation. But with Li Xuan and the other nine's spiritual power completely sealed, walking through it would undoubtedly lead to their disintegration.
"What's motivating the nine to continue forward now is the desire for the Heaven-Breaking Pill they will receive upon reaching the summit. If this motivation is shattered, I doubt many will be able to proceed further," Wen Yuan Bai said with a smile upon seeing this.
"This sword formation appears extremely perilous, but in reality, it poses no threat. However, the world believes what their eyes see and doesn't always experience it firsthand. Now, it all depends on whose willpower is strongest," Leng Fei Hong agreed with a smile.
After speaking, the two individuals turned their gaze to Li Xuan and the other eight.
Indeed!
The moment the sword formation appeared, all nine, including Li Xuan, wore expressions of confusion. The previous obstacles, though dangerous, were understandable. Even an ordinary person could overcome them with sheer perseverance.
But the sword formation that appeared now, with its menacing aura, was not something a mortal could pass through. Consequently, everyone except Li Xuan hesitated.
"Little Brush, if I were to absorb this sword, would it cause dissatisfaction among the peak lords and Zhang Jiao?" Li Xuan thought to himself.
"Little Master, I cannot ascertain their dissatisfaction, but I know you will be considered a monster. Furthermore, are you truly willing to expose your trump cards in front of so many people?" the Heavenly Dao Brush said calmly.
Li Xuan was speechless. He glanced at the sword formation, and a slight smile curved his lips.
If it were anything else, Li Xuan might struggle, but this sword formation was prey that had come to his doorstep.
"There is half an hour remaining to reach the summit. If any of you are unable to continue, you may choose to withdraw." As the eight pondered, the voice of the elder who had stood on the high platform once again reached Li Xuan and the other nine.
The nine, hearing this, had varying expressions.
Some showed timidity, others fear, and some hesitation.
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.
But in the next instant, Li Xuan walked directly towards the sword formation. The man in front of Li Xuan hesitated for a moment, then also followed. After a few steps, the man overtook Li Xuan again.
As if sensing the movements of Li Xuan and the man, the crowd in the plaza became tense, their eyes fixed on the two. Even Xie Yushan's face showed a hint of worry.
Meanwhile, the other seven on the peak watched as Li Xuan and the man continued towards the summit, yet none followed. Clearly, all seven were waiting for the outcome.
As they grew closer to the edge of the sword formation, the man walking ahead of Li Xuan's expression became increasingly uneasy.
His already pale face, beaded with large drops of sweat, caused the man to finally stop.
Hearing Li Xuan's footsteps approaching, the man, as if dejected, moved aside, making way. Li Xuan showed no expression and calmly continued forward.
When Li Xuan reached the edge of the sword formation, everyone's eyes widened. Some female disciples couldn't bear to watch and turned away, as if anticipating the moment Li Xuan's sturdy body would be torn apart.
Li Xuan paused for a brief moment at the edge of the sword formation, then smiled slightly and unhesitatingly stepped forward.
Buzz!
Instantly, the world changed color. The sword formation trembled violently, and in the eyes of the onlookers, countless sword rays shot madly towards Li Xuan's body.
It seemed as if blood would spatter in the next moment.
But at this very instant, Li Xuan's figure had already vanished into the sword formation. The rampant sword qi even caused space to collapse. The scene was terrifying. However, with Li Xuan gone, the eight people on the peak naturally did not witness the expected outcome.
Watching Li Xuan be the first to step into the sword formation, the six individuals on the high platform smiled and nodded in unison.
Xuan Yi Xian then said, "It seems the winner of this year's disciple celebration has been decided."