Chapter 157: Senior Brother Dai, You Need to Calm Down

Land Yang and Meng Jingzhou squatted on the ground, using daggers to dig a pit. They buried the bottom of the ladder into the pit and then stomped on the ground repeatedly, tamping it solid.

Land Yang kicked the ladder with one foot, but the ladder didn't budge at all. Instead, his right foot felt numb from the impact.

"Not bad, it's very stable. I'll try it first. If I succeed, you can go up."

"No problem." Meng Jingzhou nodded.

Land Yang rubbed his hands, then with quick steps, agilely climbed up the ladder. When he reached the bend of the ladder, which was at the same height as the fiftieth step, he secretly thought, "This is bad."

Land Yang forced himself to look straight ahead and not down, inching forward like a caterpillar.

The crowd on the steps looked up at Land Yang approaching the fiftieth step step by step, their eyes wide and mouths agape.

What they saw was a huge ladder standing on the ground with a ninety-degree bend, its end precisely at the endpoint—the fiftieth step.

The crowd hadn't failed to see Land Yang and Meng Jingzhou making the ladder below, but they hadn't thought much of it.

They had already come to the fortieth step with great difficulty. Going down to see what the two were doing was risky. If it turned out they were just being nervous, they might not have the strength to return to the fortieth step, and then this trial would be a complete failure.

Man Gu was the fastest among the crowd, already at the forty-ninth step. But this fiftieth step felt like a natural barrier, difficult to overcome. He felt as though he was bearing a mountain, about to be crushed.

Then he watched with wide eyes as Land Yang climbed past him from the side and reached the fiftieth step.

Land Yang had a thrilling but successful passage.

Meng Jingzhou followed closely behind and also succeeded.

The first and second places were born.

...

At the same time, outside Qian Xin Shan, the disciples of Wen Dao Zong were in chaos.

"Don't block me! Today I must teach these two guys a lesson. I promise I won't beat them to death!" Dai Bu Fan's muscles bulged in anger, like a bear whose honey had been stolen.

His junior brothers and sisters hurried forward to persuade him:

"Senior Brother Dai, you can't hit them!"

"Senior Brother Dai, you must calm down."

"If something happens to the trial participants, it will ruin the reputation of our Wen Dao Zong!"

"Bullying the small is not good for our reputation, Senior Brother Dai!"

"Senior Brother Dai, don't forget, the third trial is the test of seeking the Dao heart. You absolutely cannot get angry!"

Dai Bu Fan calmed down when he heard the last sentence.

Yes, the third trial was to test them, not him!

"...That's not right, the third trial is testing them, not me!"

The disciples of Wen Dao Zong were again in chaos.

He Shen saw the situation, weighed things in his heart, and retreated back into the river, no longer bothering the two.

...

Perhaps the example of Land Yang and Meng Jingzhou's sincere cooperation and success encouraged everyone. The trial participants howled one by one, finally rushing up to the fiftieth step.

Man Gu was the first, followed by people Land Yang didn't recognize. They were all ranked behind Land Yang. Land Yang didn't know what was special about their root bones. Finally, there were a few with double spirit roots, all of whom Land Yang had seen before.

The remaining people kept trying, but were always unable to take another step. They still wanted to go down the mountain and use the ladder Land Yang and the other person had made to climb to the fiftieth step, but unfortunately, going down the mountain also required bearing immense pressure. Their bodies were already unable to go up or down another step.

"The third trial ends. Those who remain on the mountain are disqualified," Yun Zhi announced coldly, telling Dai Bu Fan to bring the people down.

The force on Qian Xin Shan was something that ordinary people couldn't overcome, not even Dai Bu Fan. To go up the mountain to fetch people, one had to withstand the pressure of Qian Xin Shan and climb the mountain step by step.

Dai Bu Fan glared viciously at Land Yang, then climbed Qian Xin Shan.

His expression was normal, and he climbed to the fiftieth step one by one.

The disciples who had just passed the third trial saw how easy it was for Dai Bu Fan and thought about how they had fought to the death just to climb to the fiftieth step, feeling that the gap was too large.

"There's nothing difficult to understand. You are all only fourteen or fifteen years old. Even if you have family support and started cultivating early, it's like the moon in the water or a flower in the mirror—no real feeling. You can't truly understand what the Dao is or what immortality is."

"Immortal cultivation also cultivates the heart. When your cultivation has achieved something, climbing Qian Xin Shan will no longer be a difficult matter."

After explaining, Yun Zhi seemed to recall something and symbolically added, "Congratulations on becoming disciples of Wen Dao Zong."

Yun Zhi waved her plain hand, and the bell on her wrist jingled. Then a water mist rose, forming clouds that supported the crowd.

Land Yang stepped onto the cloud, looking down at the ground getting further and further away. He swallowed hard, his heart in his throat.

Oh my god, immortal cultivation is really exciting.

Yun Zhi stood on the cloud and said to the junior brothers and sisters doing the cleanup below, "You've worked hard today. After tidying up, you may return to your respective tasks."

The junior brothers and sisters all said, "Yes," in unison, then started chanting "one two three, one two three" as they dismantled and carried the ladder Land Yang and the other person had made.

What did a ladder on Qian Xin Shan matter?

On the clouds, Land Yang basically didn't dare to open his eyes, but he heard the others all excitedly talking about the beautiful scenery. He couldn't suppress his curiosity and opened his eyes. He was immediately deeply shocked by the scene before him and stared in amazement.

A mountain stood in the center of a range of mountains, its walls reaching a thousand feet, piercing straight into the clouds. Its four sides were steep and vertical, like a hundred-refined immortal sword, magnificent. Eight mountains emitting wonderful auras arched around the central mountain. On the outermost layer, mountains undulated layer upon layer, surrounding these nine core mountains.

The mountains overlapped layer upon layer, like a blooming lotus flower, making people yearn!

Misty fog covered the nine mountains, adding another layer of mystery.

Yun Zhi said faintly, "The core of Wen Dao Zong has nine mountain peaks. The innermost peak is where the Sect Master is located, named Tian Men Peak. The other eight peaks are under the eight elders in eight positions. Each of the eight elders in these positions has a specialty, and correspondingly, the roles of these eight peaks also differ."

"Besides these mountains, some are places for sect trials, some are extensions of the elders' mountains, some are places for the cultivation of Wen Dao Zong disciples, and there are still some dangerous places where if cultivation is not enough, then one will die and their Dao will disappear... This cannot be explained clearly in a few words. You can gradually explore later."

"Immortal cultivation emphasizes fate. Within the next month, you may move freely within Wen Dao Zong, stroll among the mountains, go to the storehouse and scripture pavilion, and ask senior brothers and elders for guidance."

"After one month, you must choose an elder as your master, of course, on the premise that the elder agrees to accept you as their disciple."

Man Gu asked whatever came to mind, "Can we only choose elders? Can we choose the Sect Master?"

"You can, but the Sect Master has never liked teaching disciples. Your probability of success is very small."

Even though Yun Zhi said this, there were still many people who wanted to cultivate under the Sect Master.

Wen Dao Zong was a noble sect, one of the five great immortal gates in the central continent. Its Sect Master's status was extraordinary, and his strength was beyond doubt, with few opponents in the immortal world. To be able to worship under such a high-ranking person, the visible and hidden benefits were countless!

"Shortly, someone will lead you to your respective cave dwellings."

"Land Yang, Meng Jingzhou, you two stay."