Soul Emperor Martial God

At the mountain peak, the elder led the way ahead.

A group of Heavenly Talents followed behind, their expressions unusually heavy.

Initially, a million Heavenly Talents gathered, but now, only about a hundred thousand remain.

This is merely the first of the six challenges, what about the ones to follow?

How many will truly be able to enter the Heavenly Hidden Academy in the end? How high must the elimination rate be?

The Academic Palace, known as the First Academy in the Central Region for gathering martial knowledge, just how difficult is it to enter?

Most of the Heavenly Talents have transitioned from their initial confidence to apprehension and anxiety.

Soon, the elder came to a stop.

The Heavenly Talents also stopped, looking ahead.

Unknowingly, by following the elder's path, they had reached the edge of the cliff.

"The second challenge is known as the Mountain Pass Difficulty." The elder said loudly.

"Mountain Pass Difficulty?" The Heavenly Talents began to raise questions.

Swoosh… Swoosh… Swoosh…

At that moment, nine figures appeared out of thin air.

They were the other nine elders previously at the foot of the mountain wall.

The elder raised his hand and slowly pointed forward, "See the mountain peaks ahead?"

The Heavenly Talents gazed into the distance, thousands of meters away, where towering peaks pierced the sky, magnificent and utterly awe-inspiring.

On top of the high peaks, grand buildings loomed in and out of the white clouds.

"There lies the Heavenly Hidden Academy." The elder spoke slowly.

"If you manage to reach it, it will be the place for your martial cultivation in the coming decades, or even hundreds of years."

The Heavenly Talents all revealed expressions of admiration and yearning.

Clang… Clang… Clang…

At that moment, sounds of clashing metals echoed.

The crowd followed the sound to see thick chains at the cliff edge.

The chains connected to the ends of the mountain peaks thousands of meters away.

In the high air, intense Gang winds blew from time to time, making the chains sway and clang.

"These are the Sky-locking Chains." The elder said loudly, "They connect to the Heavenly Hidden Mountain and are the only path to get there."

The Heavenly Hidden Mountain is where the Heavenly Hidden Academy is situated on the summit.

"That's easy." Many Heavenly Talents smiled, "It's merely a thousand meters, we'll fly there in no time."

"Fly there?" The elder snickered, "If flying were possible, why would it be the only path?"

"Hmm?" The Heavenly Talents' expressions changed, "Do you mean there's another No-fly Formation?"

The expressions of the Heavenly Talents first shifted, then they eased slightly.

This difficulty was still within their tolerance.

After all, one of the six challenges was already this difficult.

The second of the six should naturally be harder.

The Heavenly Hidden Mountain peaks are much higher than where the crowd stood now at this mountain peak.

This means these thick chains are connected to the other side in a slanted manner.

The peak stretched by the crowd was lower, while the other side was higher.

Even in the No-fly zone, it's merely climbing the iron chains.

"Heh heh." The elder looked at the expressions of the Heavenly Talents and chuckled with amusement.

"I think you've misunderstood."

"There isn't a No-fly Formation, it's just that you can't fly."

"Hmm?" The crowd expressed confusion.

The elder smiled and said, "Without Primordial Power, what would you use to fly?"

"Without Primordial Power?" The Heavenly Talents furrowed their brows.

Xiao Yi's expression slightly changed, "Forbidden Element Formation?"

Xiao Yi's voice was low, just mumbling to himself.

However, with the elder's capabilities, he clearly heard it.

The elder glanced at Xiao Yi and nodded in satisfaction, "Correct, the Sky-locking Chains have a Forbidden Element Formation."

"From the moment you step on the chains, Primordial Power, Martial Soul Power, and other energies will be sealed."

"What?" The face of the Heavenly Talents turned drastically.

"How is that possible? How are we supposed to get across?"

Some Heavenly Talents, standing closer to the cliff edge, looked ahead.

There, besides the thick chains, was a sea of clouds.

Beneath the Cloud Sea, the bottom was out of sight.

"Gulp." Some Heavenly Talents couldn't help but swallow and subconsciously stepped back.

"How can we possibly get across?"

"With our cultivation sealed, walking on the chains, if we fall, wouldn't that mean being smashed into pieces?"

The elder shrugged, "This is your own choice."

"Alright, the assessment, begins now."

"Those who wish to participate may start; those who don't, may turn and leave as our Academy doesn't compel anyone."

"This…" The Heavenly Talents hesitated.

Entering the Heavenly Hidden Academy is the dream of countless Heavenly Talents in the Central Region.

They had reached the peak with great difficulty, how could they easily give up?

But if they didn't give up and truly encountered an accident, the consequence would be unbearable.

"I'll give it a try." Suddenly, a determined voice rang out.

A Heavenly Talent with a complex expression slowly stepped out.

The Heavenly Talent steadied his mind and started to step onto the chains.

The chains were indeed thick, but only wide enough for both feet.

Sure enough, the instant that Heavenly Talent stepped onto the chains, all his aura vanished, clearly his cultivation was sealed.

"Begin." The elder lightly commanded.

The Heavenly Talent nodded and slowly began to move.

However, it was evident his feet were trembling, shakily taking each step.

Minutes passed, and he had only traveled dozens of meters, with a long distance still ahead.

Though it was a perilous trek.

His originally shaky steps gradually became stable.

"Phew." The Heavenly Talent suddenly exhaled in relief.

After all, having passed the six exams and the first challenge, his mind and skills greatly surpassed ordinary people.

The Heavenly Talent proceeded slowly.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would safely reach the end at a slow pace.

On the peak, the Heavenly Talents also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"It seems, the second challenge isn't as difficult as imagined."

Some Heavenly Talents, eager to try, stepped out and then onto other chains.

There were 12 thick iron chains at the cliff edge.

The distance between each was about tens of meters.

So other Heavenly Talents could start the assessment too without affecting each other.

Another 11 Heavenly Talents stepped onto the chains.

The situation was similar to before: starting shakily, gradually becoming stable.

Just as these 12 were going tens of meters.

Suddenly, intense Gang winds swept through the high sky.

Clang… Clang… Clang…

A fierce sound of metal clashing erupted.

12 thick chains shook violently.

The first Heavenly Talent who set out immediately lost balance and fell.

"Ah…"

Below the Cloud Sea, a tremor of terror echoed between the two towering peaks.

That Heavenly Talent had fallen, disappearing from sight.

"This…" The expression of the Heavenly Talents instantly changed.

"Hold tight!" On the chains, the remaining 11 Heavenly Talents turned pale, tightly gripping onto the chains, daring not to move.

...

Chapter one ends.