Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou crouched on the ground, using daggers to dig a hole, burying the bottom of the ladder in the pit. Then they stepped on the ground to firm it up.
Lu Yang kicked the ladder, it remainedn unmoved and instead caused his right foot to numb.
"Good, it's sturdy. I'll go first, and if I succeed, you follow."
"No problem." Meng Jingzhou nodded.
Lu Yang rubbed his hands together, took two steps in one stride, climbing the ladder smoothly. Reaching the corner of the ladder, parallel to the fiftieth step, he muttered a curse.
Lu Yang forced himself to look straight ahead, not looking down, and moved forward like a caterpillar.
The crowd on the steps looked up to see Lu Yang progressively approaching the fiftieth step, their eyes wide open in astonishment.
What they saw was a giant ladder planted in the ground, bending at a ninety-degree angle at its end, the goal was the fiftieth step.
The crowd did see Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou making the ladder, but they didn't think much about it.
They were struggling to reach the fortieth step, concerned about what the two were planning; if it turned out to be nonsense, they didn't have the strength to come back to the fortieth step. Then they would totally fail this trial.
Man Gu, among them, progressed the fastest and had reached the forty-ninth step. But the fiftieth step was as insurmountable as a chasm, he felt like he was carrying a heavy mountain on his back, ready to crush him.
Then he watched with wide eyes as Lu Yang climbed past him, and reached the fiftieth step.
Lu Yang made it through without a hitch, successfully passing the trial.
Meng Jingzhou followed closely and also succeeded.
The first and second place have emerged.
...
At the same time, outside Wenxin Mountain, the disciples of Seek Dao Sect were causing havoc.
"Don't stop me, I must teach these two a lesson today, I promise, I won't beat them to death!" Dai Bufan was so angry that his muscles bulged like a bear that had its honey stolen.
The junior brothers and sisters rushed up to persuade:
"Elder Brother Dai, you mustn't fight!"
"Elder Brother Dai, you need to calm down."
"If anything happens to the ones participating in the trial, it will ruin the reputation of our Seek Dao Sect!"
"Bullying the weak will ruin your reputation, Elder Brother Dai!"
"Elder Brother Dai, don't forget, the third trial is a test of seeking the Dao's heart, you absolutely mustn't impulsively get angry!"
Hearing the last sentence, Dai Bufan calmed down.
Yes, the third trial is a test of seeking the Dao's heart. Such a hot temper was not conducive to future cultivation.
"... Wait, the third trial is for them, not me!"
The disciples of the Seek Dao Sect were in chaos again.
Seeing this, the River Spirit felt somewhat relieved and returned to the river, no longer seeking trouble with the two.
...
Perhaps Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou's successful cooperation and example inspired others. The participating disciples shouted and finally rushed to the fiftieth step.
Man Gu was the first one, followed by people Lu Yang didn't recognize. They were all behind Lu Yang. Lu Yang didn't know what their physical attributes were, and finally, the Dual Spirit Roots who Lu Yang had seen before.
Those who were left tried persistently but could not take a step forward. They wanted to descend the mountain and climb to the fiftieth step using the ladder made by Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. Unfortunately, they had to endure a huge pressure to go down the mountain. Their bodies were no longer able to go up or down a single step.
"The third trial is over. Those who remain on the mountain are disqualified." Yun Zhi announced coldly, instructing Dai Bufan to bring the people down.
Wenxin Mountain's compulsion to keep people in place exceeded the abilities of ordinary people to remove, even Dai Bufan was incapable. To go to the mountain to fetch people, they must bear the pressure of Wenxin Mountain and climb step by step.
Dai Bufan glared at Lu Yang ferociously before scaling Wenxin Mountain.
He looked relaxed, climbing to the fiftieth step successively.
Those who had just passed the third trial watched as Dai Bufan eased his way up and then considered their own struggles to reach the fiftieth step, feeling a great disparity.
"There's nothing difficult to understand. You're only fourteen or fifteen years old. Even though your families have supported you to start practicing cultivation early, you're shadows on the water, flowers in the mirror, without real experience. You cannot understand what is the Dao, what is immortality."
"Cultivation requires mindfulness. When your cultivation is complete, climbing Wenxin Mountain will be no problem."
In the end, Yun Zhi added as if remembering something, "Congratulations on becoming disciples of the Seek Dao Sect."
Yun Zhi waved her hand, her bracelet jingled, and a mist rose and formed a cloud supporting everyone.
Lu Yang stood on the cloud, watching as the distance to the ground increased. He forced down his saliva, his heart in his throat.
Damn it. Cultivation is really exciting.
Yun Zhi stood on the cloud, speaking to the junior brothers and sisters below cleaning up, "You've worked hard today. After cleaning up, you can go back to your own matters."
The junior brothers and sisters all said in unison, "yes", then they counted one, two, three, dismantling and transporting the ladder made by Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.
What is the meaning of placing a ladder on Wenxin Mountain?
Lu Yang on the cloud did not dare open his eyes. However, he heard others all sounding excitedly, praising the scenery. Unable to resist his curiosity, he also opened his eyes and was subsequently stunned by the sight before him, dumbstruck.
A mountain sat in the center of a range, it stood tall and straight, reaching the clouds. The cliffs on its four sides were steep and vertical, resembling an immortal sword. Eight mountains enveloped mysterious atmospheres protecting the center mountain, and layers of mountain ranges enclosed the core nine mountains.
The layers of mountains looked like a blooming lotus, breathtaking!
The mystical fog surrounding the nine mountains added a sense of mystery.
Yun Zhi calmly spoke, "The core of the Seek Dao Sect has nine peaks. The centermost peak is where the sect leader is located, called Sky Gate Mountain, and the other eight peaks belong to the Eight Elders. Each of them has their own specialties, resulting in these eight mountains each having different purposes."
"Besides these mountains, some are trial sites of the sect, some are extensions of the Elder's mountains, some are cultivation grounds for Seek Dao Sect disciples, and some are dangerous areas, where insufficient cultivation could mean death.… This cannot be fully explained in a few words, you can explore gradually later."
"Cultivation seeks fate. During the next month, you can move freely within Seek Dao Sect, visit mountains, go to the Scripture Pavilion, consult Elder Brothers and Elders."
"After a month, you have to choose an Elder to be your master, of course, the prerequisite is that the Elder agrees to take you as a disciple."
Man Gu asked without hesitation, "Can we only choose the Elders? Can we choose the Sect Leader?"
"Yes, but the Sect Leader usually doesn't like teaching disciples, your chances of success are slim."
Hearing Yun Zhi's words, many still wanted to be disciples of the Sect Leader.
The Seek Dao Sect is one of the Five Great Immortal Sects in the Central Continent. Its Sect Leader is superior and undoubtedly powerful, with few opponents in the Cultivation World. Being a disciple of such a high-level person brings countless benefits, both obvious and hidden.
"Later, someone will take you to your respective abodes."
"Lu Yang, Meng Jingzhou, you two stay behind."