Three days later.

Dao Heaven Sect.

Ascension Immortal Mountain.

Of course, this Ascension Immortal Mountain is not truly a place of ascension.

It is a place specifically used by the Dao Heaven Sect for recruiting disciples.

At this moment, beneath Ascension Immortal Mountain, no less than ten thousand young boys and girls were gathered.

Among them were the offspring of noble clans and dynasties from Qingzhou.

But at this moment, the faces of these noble young masters and princes were filled with respect.

The reason is simple: Dao Heaven Sect is the largest sect in Qingzhou, with countless dynasties, sects, and noble clans submitting to it. Acting spoiled here would not be tolerated.

At this time, an elderly man in gray robes stepped forward, his voice not loud yet echoing like spring thunder throughout the area: "I am the elder responsible for your trial. Listen carefully to what I am about to say.

The first step in joining Dao Heaven Sect is the Spiritual Root Awakening Test. The grades of spiritual roots are divided into waste, mortal, inferior, mid, good, superior, supreme, and sacred. Those who achieve a mid-grade or higher in the Spiritual Root Awakening Test can proceed to the next round of testing in our Dao Heaven Sect!

Do you understand?"

"We understand!"

The ten thousand young boys and girls responded in unison, their expressions excited.

"Then let's begin." The gray-robed elder waved his large sleeve, announcing the official start of the disciple recruitment.

With the announcement of the trial's official start by the gray-robed elder, the ten thousand young boys and girls formed dozens of long lines, waiting for the spiritual root awakening test.

***

Half an hour later.

Out of the ten thousand on the field, only five thousand two hundred and ten young boys and girls passed the Spiritual Root Awakening Test, possessing mid-grade or higher spiritual roots.

Just the spiritual root test alone eliminated nearly half of the participants.

Those who passed the Spiritual Root Awakening Test were visibly excited.

Those who did not pass left dejectedly, their heads hanging low.

"That was close, thankfully I awakened a mid-grade wood spiritual root, otherwise going home like this would definitely disappoint my father to death!"

Among the crowd who passed the test, a girl with bright, watery eyes, long eyelashes, and a delicate appearance, dressed in simple yet clean blue clothes, patted her chest and muttered softly.

"Miss Su Nan, I awakened a superior fire spiritual root. As long as I pass all the trials, I can definitely become an Inner Sect Disciple. Maybe in the future, an elder will take notice of me, and I'll become a True Disciple. How about forming a Dao couple with me? I promise to help you in your cultivation."

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Suddenly, a handsome young man in luxurious clothing smiled at the delicate-looking girl.

Su Nan was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, "Congratulations, Young Master Chen, on awakening a superior fire spiritual root. Your future is limitless. However, forming a Dao couple is out of the question for now, as I am still young."

Young Master Chen showed a seemingly helpless smile and said, "Miss Su Nan, your Su Clan and our Chen Clan are both in Pingyu City. I believe you will change your mind in the future."

"Mm-hmm." Su Nan nodded.

Young Master Chen turned around, his face immediately darkening.

This stubborn girl doesn't know what's good for her.

The women Chen Shaohua sets his eyes on have never been out of his reach.

Even if your Su Clan and my Chen Clan are both the top two families in Pingyu City, what of it?

Now that I've awakened a superior fire spiritual root, entering the Inner Sect is the bare minimum. There's a high chance an elder will notice me and make me a True Disciple.

At that time, with just a simple word, would your Su Clan dare not offer you up?

***

Meanwhile.

The gray-robed elder appeared again, addressing the young boys and girls who passed the Spiritual Root Awakening Test: "Congratulations on successfully passing the Spiritual Root Awakening Test. Next, you must set off from here and, relying on your own strength, ascend to the Ascension Platform at the top of Ascension Immortal Mountain. Those who reach it within a day will become disciples of our Dao Heaven Sect.

Along the way, you will encounter various illusions and fierce beasts.

These are to test your temperament and to check if any Demonic Path practitioners have infiltrated our sect.

If you encounter danger and wish to abandon the trial, shout 'give up,' and you will be automatically transported back here. After the trial, those who did not pass will also be automatically transported back here."

As he spoke, the gray-robed elder's voice gradually turned cold.

Everyone present shivered involuntarily.

"Alright, begin." The gray-robed elder waved his large sleeve.

The young boys and girls embarked on their journey to the top of Ascension Immortal Mountain.

***

The next morning.

At the top of Ascension Immortal Mountain.

Ascension Platform.

The so-called Ascension Platform is actually a vast plaza, large enough to accommodate ten thousand people.

In front of the Ascension Platform, there were over a hundred grand seats, each occupied by a figure whose aura was restrained yet still as powerful as a mountain god or demon.

They were the Mountain Lords of Dao Heaven Sect or those with equivalent status, the pillars of Dao Heaven Sect. Each of their names was enough to shake Qingzhou.

Of course, there was one exception.

That was our protagonist, Li Zhoujun.

At this moment, Li Zhoujun sat among the bigwigs, truly resembling a husky mixed into a pack of wolves.

"Mountain Lord Li, did you start climbing from the day before yesterday again?"

A red-robed man sitting next to Li Zhoujun asked with a smile.

This man was named Liu Yan, the Mountain Lord of Fire Maple Mountain.

Ten years ago, in a fit of rage, he burned a great river dry, truly capable of burning mountains and boiling seas.

"Actually, it was yesterday." Li Zhoujun replied with a smile.

Li Zhoujun was quite frustrated.

Even though he could hold his own against anyone now, he was still essentially a mortal.

So, to climb to the top of Ascension Immortal Mountain, he really did start climbing from yesterday morning.

Although there were various illusions and fierce beasts on Ascension Immortal Mountain, Li Zhoujun, having climbed to the top countless times over forty years, naturally mastered a safe route.

Liu Yan nodded, deeply moved, "Truly, practice makes perfect."

"Indeed." Li Zhoujun smiled.

But inwardly, he was pouting. This guy was clearly mocking him.

Maybe he should find an opportunity to test his equal strength ability with Liu Yan?

He just didn't know if the system was reliable.

If it wasn't, he'd be in serious trouble, left with nothing but dust.

[Ding: Host, can you please trust the system? If you dare to doubt the system again, the system will punish the host by making you play guitar with your little wee-wee in public!]

"Damn, that's too much. You even know about guitars!"

Hearing the system's words, Li Zhoujun couldn't help but exclaim in his heart.

[Ding: Of course, the system is omniscient and omnipotent.]

"Omniscient and omnipotent? What's the 1891st digit of pi?" Li Zhoujun asked skeptically.

[Ding: It's the 1891st digit of pi.]

Li Zhoujun was speechless, "What kind of answer is that? It's like you answered nothing. I might as well say 'a day without seeing you feels like a day.'"

[Ding: Host, please don't babble. Is there anything wrong with the system's answer?]

"There's really nothing wrong..."

Li Zhoujun's mouth twitched. This was clearly a rogue system!

While Li Zhoujun was bantering with the system.

At the entrance of the Ascension Platform.

A girl in white, with eyes like autumn rivers yet carrying a faint chill, skin as smooth as jade, walked in with steps as graceful as a lotus.

---

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan