rest area.
The monks who were eliminated realized something was wrong belatedly. After seeking confirmation from the disciples of Taichu Guan, everyone's faces were filled with colorful expressions.
Those who took the initiative to ask to quit at the fifth pass had particularly wonderful expressions.
"How could this happen... If I had known it, I wouldn't have retreated."
"Oh, I regret it so much."
"I also……"
There are also people who feel more angry than remorseful.
"What does this mean? Taichu Guan is clearly making fun of us!"
"That's right, what's the point of this kind of pass? It's just playing tricks on us."
"This is simply child's play. Taichu Guan's move is too derogatory and difficult to convince the public."
"We are not convinced!"
"Yes, I'm not convinced!"
The protests grew louder and louder, and many unrelated monks also followed suit, trying to make things worse and force Taichu Guan to change the rules.
One of the elders of Taichu Temple snorted coldly and flew over the group of people, and the majestic pressure dropped.
"For fun? To play? To play?"
The elder's gaze was like a knife, sweeping across the field, and sneered: "It's ridiculous, you think too highly of yourself!"
The monks below were furious, but they dared not speak out.
"If you voluntarily quit, what does this have to do with this sect? Before the time limit is up, you will accept your fate and give up without fighting. Even if this is the case for an assessment, the path of cultivation is full of hardships and setbacks. Most of them require you to start over. How will you deal with it then? Humph, you still dare to say that this important pass is meaningless?"
Every word the elder said was like a heavy hammer, hitting those people's hearts, making them lower their heads, and making them shameless to say another word.
On the heavenly steps, since it was certain that there would be no more passes, most people relaxed and were not in a hurry to rush to the square.
"Let's walk faster," Tang Zhile said in a low voice, and everyone in the Zhenwu Academy looked at him, "Although you can pass the test as long as you arrive at the square within seven days, maybe the earlier people arrive, the better impression they will have on Taichu Temple. It’s better to do it sooner rather than later, let’s do it as quickly as possible.”
Everyone responded.
Tang Zhile asked Jing Yingrong again: "Fellow Taoist Jing, are you with us?"
Jing Yingrong nodded: "Yes."
So Jing Yingrong followed the Zhenwuyuan group and accelerated their pace.
This time the people on the heavenly level were still far apart, but the gap was far less than the first time. And those walking in front were still almost the same people - except for Jing Yingrong who was working with the Zhenwuyuan.
Although he said that it was boring to compare, Wu Yaochen still walked with Yin Xueze.
Wu Yaochen: "I've always been curious about what kind of skills you practice."
Yin Xueze: "..."
Wu Yaochen: "It looks like a fire technique, but it has the power of coldness."
Yin Xueze: "..."
Wu Yaochen: "With such a strange and powerful technique, would you still switch to the Taichu Guan technique? Oh, I might as well tell you that I will not switch to practice."
Yin Xueze: "..."
Wu Yaochen looked at the indifferent face that suppressed the irritation, but smiled: "Why are you so cold? When you become a disciple of Taichu Temple, you and I will be considered as fellow disciples. Why not wipe off the past grudges and cultivate a sense of cultivation in advance——"
Whoosh!
The sound of breaking through the air cut off Wu Yaochen's words.
The tip of the Black Prison Spear was pressed against Wu Yaochen's neck, and blood could be seen if he advanced even half a minute.
However, Wu Yaochen still had a smile on his face, without any panic or fear, and looked at Yin Xueze with a smile.
The veins on Yin Xueze's forehead popped out, and he was full of murderous aura. He spoke with rage: "Shut up! Mouth!"
Wu Yaochen's smile deepened, he raised his hand and made a closing motion to his lips, tightened his lips, and winked at Yin Xueze in a funny way.
Yin Xueze closed his eyes and took a deep breath, turned his wrist and put away the Mo Prison Gun, quickened his pace and moved away from Wu Yaochen.
Zhao Jinxu hurriedly followed, and when he passed by Wu Yaochen, he turned his head and glanced at Wu Yaochen.
When Wu Yaochen caught Zhao Jinxu's gaze, he was stunned for a moment, then narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Zhao Jinxu's back thoughtfully.
The seven days were up, and sure enough, everyone left on the Heavenly Stage arrived at the square smoothly.
This time Jing Yingrong and the people from the Zhenwu Academy acted together, unlike the first time, so they didn't attract too much attention.
"Congratulations to everyone for completing this assessment and gaining the qualifications to enter the next round of assessment."
The elder of Taichu Temple said.
People looked happy. Many people did not forget to look at their surroundings while relaxing, but they saw that the square was wide and far away, as if it were boundless. The ground was paved with some kind of smooth and blue stone, which was hard and cold, with a mist of white mist emitting, making it feel like being in a fairyland.
Amid the mist, one could vaguely see another staircase to the sky in the distance, extending into the high sky.
The elder continued: "Everyone will have a day of rest. One day later, on this square, the second assessment will begin. I hope you are ready."
Tang Zhile murmured in a low voice: "In the square? That seems to be 'cutting one's own obstacles'."
Jing Yingrong: "What is 'cutting one's own obstacles'?"
Tang Zhile: "To put it simply, you fight yourself. If you win, you will pass."
Jing Yingrong: "...Huh?"
Tang Zhile didn't notice the strange look in Jing Yingrong, and muttered to himself: "Cutting one's own obstacles is one of the most difficult among all the assessment items in Taichu Temple, and climbing to the heaven level has become so difficult... It seems that Taichu Guan has deliberately raised the threshold for accepting disciples this time. Alas, I hope I will be lucky tomorrow."
After the people from Taichu Temple left, the monks adjusted their breaths in the square.
Jing Yingrong walked slowly on the square, and unknowingly reached the foot of the heavenly steps leading to a higher place.
She raised her head, looking through the white clouds and the sky to the scenery at the top of Taiyue Mountain.
Ji Sha Jian: "Go up and have a look?"
Jing Yingrong: "No need now."
Ji Jie Bi: “I don’t know what has become of the place we stayed in before.”
Jing Yingrong: "You will see it."
She leisurely raised her left hand and stretched out her slender index finger. A butterfly made of talismans flew from nowhere and landed on the green fingertips.
The runes on the butterfly wings flickered, and Huo Xiumao's voice came out:
"Senior Jing, there are many people in the square, and there are powerful experts in this sect paying attention, so I can't come to see you in person. I just want to tell you that tomorrow's assessment project will be your own obstacle. Then please go to the southeast of the square. The third stone platform from the right, the juniors will try their best to cooperate with the seniors..."
At this point, Huo Xiumao's voice suddenly weakened. He seemed to cough slightly, and then continued with a forbearing smile: "...cheating."
After the words were finished, the talisman butterfly burned, leaving no trace.
Ji Jie Bi joked: "This junior is committed to making you his junior sister."
Jing Yingrong: "He did it to repay his kindness."
Ji Sha Jian: "By the way, didn't he say that practicing Taoism was for revenge? Ask him next time if he has any revenge."
Jing Yingrong: "Okay."
