Unrivaled Martial Emperor

By the third step, hundreds had already frozen in place. The Featherlight Immortal Sect's test was truly harsh.

Swish, swish.

Next, the crowd saw those fully trapped in illusion being ejected from the Heavenly Staircase of Will, returned to where they had started.

Falling into the illusion meant that they had failed and were not fated with the immortal sect.

Someone returned to their senses. Realizing that they had returned to their sect, they immediately exclaimed in shock, "Huh? Why am I back? Wasn't I in a fierce battle against demon beasts?"

"Senior Brother, the illusion consumed you. You failed the challenge and were sent back," whispered someone to remind him.

"How is that possible? I failed already? My will can't be that weak! Which step did I reach?"

"The... third step."

"Third step?! This... I only reached the third step, this... this... pfft!"

Many people who realized they had failed after only stepping onto the third step also failed to accept this cruel truth. Anger surged in their hearts, making them spew blood.

Still, no one sympathized with them.

Reality was that cruel. Even if they couldn't believe it, they had no choice but to accept it.

Their removal didn't halt the trial. More people kept climbing.

There were even some people with extremely strong will who ascended quickly, pulling away from the crowd.

Fourth step.

Fifth step.

Sixth step.

One by one, people stopped in their tracks, their heads shrouded in dark fog, eyes pitch-black, lost in illusion, unable to escape.

They all failed and were sent back in succession.

Countless people murmured.

"This..."

"As expected of an immortal sect's test. This failure rate is terrifying. With so many participants, even one in a hundred, or a thousand, passing would be impressive."

"I know, right? Who could have thought that the Sun Moon Divine Sect's Beishan Hong would only reach the fifth step? This result doesn't match his fame or status."

"Hoho, who knows? Although many people are born with extraordinary talent and are really powerful, they have weak willpower. Evidently, Beishan Hong is one of them."

"......"

......

The Sun Moon Divine Sect:

Without the black fog, Beishan Hong regained his clarity and realized he had returned to the Sun Moon Divine Sect. He was immediately taken aback.

"I, Beishan Hong, actually... failed?"

A look of disbelief appeared on his face.

He was Beishan Hong, a peerless prodigy born with the Solar Sacred Body. He was bound to reach the Legendary realm, perhaps even become a Void Immortal Supreme. Yet, he had failed so quickly?

"How could this happen?"

His expression gradually turned hideous, struggling to accept the reality.

"Damn it, it's Chen Fan. It's Chen Fan, that bastard! It's him, I saw him on the staircase. I want to kill him, kill him, I..."

His eyes instantly turned bloodshot, showing signs of going into qi deviation.

Swish!

Beishan Ling appeared beside Beishan Hong. With a single palm strike, a surge of energy entered Beishan Hong's body, snapping him back to clarity, like a bucket of cold water thrown over him.

Seeing his father, Beishan Hong lowered his head.

"Father..."

Beishan Ling's expression was slightly gloomy. He said, "Earlier, you almost went into qi deviation."

Beishan Hong nodded and said, "Father, I—"

"Enough. You failed, so what? Stand back up. Even if the immortal sect isn't your fate this time, as long as you become a true immortal, you can still ascend to the Heavenly Realm."

"I have learned my lesson, Father."

Beishan Hong bowed his head even further.

Becoming a true immortal on the Tianwu Continent?

Even with his pride, he didn't believe he could achieve that.

Beishan Ling looked at his son; a flash of disappointment flickered in his eyes.

......

The test to climb the heavenly staircase continued.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, countless gazes turned to the staircase, their expression shifting.

On the twentieth step was a petite youth carrying a pair of sledgehammers. This person was Ji Santong, a pride of heaven of the Ji Clan.

Ji Santong was a rising star of the Tianwu Continent in this sexagenary cycle. [1]

His fame largely stemmed from earning the Featherlight Immortal Envoy's recognition and receiving an Immortal Draft Token.

However, he had stopped on the twentieth step. He stood there as the black fog gradually gathered at his head.

"Surely not?"

"Ji Santong is the Ji Clan's prodigy who even outshone Ji Kong. He kept a low profile until news of the Immortal Draft Assembly broke, then rose rapidly and secured a Draft Token. And now... he's stopped at the twentieth step?"

Those familiar with him were stunned.

Receiving the Featherlight Immortal Envoy's recognition and an Immortal Draft Token proved that he was talented. He seemed destined to obtain sufficient immortal affinity and open the door of immortality.

However, he had stopped at the first test, which was also on the twentieth step. This result truly didn't make sense.

"How could this be?"

"Keep going up..."

"Santong actually stopped..."

Many Ji Clan elders watching turned pale.

Some furrowed their brows, their faces tight with worry; a few even growled under their breath, fists clenched as if ready to charge forward and climb in his place.

However, reality was that cruel.

Talent, cultivation—none of it mattered if you failed.

Even the Immortal Envoy could be wrong.

Ji Santong stood there, trembling slightly, seemingly struggling.

However, the black fog gradually gathered at his head. His eyes also gradually turned pitch-black. Ultimately, not a hint of white could be seen.

He stood there, still like a statue.

Similar scenes kept playing out.

One after another, renowned prides of heaven met defeat, each fall drawing sighs of regret from the crowd.

On the Heavenly Staircase of Will, black fog rose under the feet of the geniuses, seeping into them.

With every step they climbed, the intensity of the illusion they faced became a tad stronger.

On every step, some people stopped.

However, there were even more people resisting the illusion tenaciously and kept moving forward.

This was a road to immortality.

A leap over the dragon's gate.

But neither the path nor the leap came easily.

Step after step, people fell in succession.

Suddenly, a sound echoed in the minds of all who had stepped onto the staircase.

Creak.

It was the sound of the door of immortality beginning to close.

Yes, the door of immortality was closing gradually.

"The door of immortality is closing."

"Too difficult. The test of this Heavenly Staircase of Will is truly too difficult."

"The furthest anyone has reached is the fortieth step."

"Hurry, move faster!"

Countless people of the Tianwu Continent looked at the numerous figures on the Heavenly Staircase of Will, clenching their fists tightly, silently cheering on their friends and family. Some even felt the urge to go up and give them a push to make them go a little faster.

1. A sixty-year cycle. ☜