Unrivaled Martial Emperor

With Huang Wuji's arrival, Chen Fan finally had a familiar face beside him in the palace hall.

By now, the number of people had reached nearly two hundred. The atmosphere was buzzing, yet the test was still ongoing. New entrants continued to arrive by the minute.

There were so many of them, but they were split into clearly defined groups, each eyeing those from other continents.

Huang Wuji sat next to Chen Fan, sweeping his gaze across the hall.

So far, ten people from the Tianwu Continent had passed. Compared to other continents, they ranked in the middle. Some had over thirty successful participants, all with remarkable strength.

He also felt the cold stares from certain groups, especially those from the Tianxuan and Ziyang Continents, who had suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Tianwu Continent.

Huang Wuji looked at those people and said to Chen Fan with a smile, "Little Junior Brother, quite a few people are blatantly displaying their killing intent toward us."

"It's expected. They suffered a big loss on our continent. Aside from their respective Void Immortals escaping, the rest were buried on the ancient battlefield. It's a deep grudge. Of course, they want revenge."

As the two conversed, people kept pouring in.

Three hundred.

Four hundred.

Five hundred.

Soon, the number of people in the palace hall reached five hundred, yet the vast palace hall still felt empty. They didn't fill even a tenth of the space.

Meanwhile, the number of successful cultivators from the Tianwu Continent reached about fifty people, some from major sects and others rogue cultivators.

Di Chen and Duanmu Lingxing also passed the test.

Four of the eight disciples of Peerless Peak had passed the test so far, leaving only Yan Weiyi, Jian Qi, Zhuge Mingyue, and Zhu Yue.

......

Tianwu Continent:

More than ten thousand people were still on the Heavenly Staircase of Will.

These people were still making the ascent.

The door of immortality was already a quarter shut.

People stood watching the staircase, discussing those still climbing.

"The door of immortality is already a quarter closed. Forty-seven from our continent have passed so far."

"No rush. There's still time. I'm sure we'll have at least three to four hundred pass the test."

"Among the forty-seven, most were from major sects, but the True Martial Academy had the most. Peerless Peak alone sent four through."

"That's right. Chen Fan, Huang Wuji, Di Chen, and Duanmu Lingxing have all passed the test. Now, only Yan Weiyi and the other three are left. And they are all between the seventieth and the eightieth step. At this pace, they should make it."

"Incredible. Peerless Peak may get all eight disciples through. That alone beats the total from some superpowers and cults."

"Look, three more people have passed the test and entered the door of immortality."

Time was ticking away, and the crowd was still doing their best to climb.

Each time a well-known cultivator passed the test and crossed the threshold, it sparked waves of cheers. But when they faltered and stopped climbing, the crowd sighed in disappointment.

Similar scenes were also playing out on the other continents.

One by one, cultivators were tempered by the staircase. Their minds sharpened, their wills strengthened, illusions shattered, and they kept moving forward.

By the time the door of immortality closed halfway, Yan Weiyi and the others had already passed the test.

Cheers constantly rang out from the True Martial Academy. The celebrations weren't just for Yan Weiyi and the other Peerless Peak disciples passing the first test, but they were also for everyone who cleared it.

This was just the first test, so they couldn't get enough affinity to open the door of immortality just yet. However, the more they had at the start, the more advantageous it would be for them.

More continued to pass.

But even more were trapped in illusions, unable to break free, failing as a result.

Time was running out for the examinees.

Rumble!

Soon, the door of immortality shut completely.

At once, the black fog on the Heavenly Staircase of Will vanished.

Those still climbing snapped out of their illusions. Seeing that the door had closed, their faces paled in a flash. Some, just one step away, cried out in agony, clutching their chests and stamping their feet. A few even coughed up blood in frustration.

"Time's up."

"A shame for those who were just one step away... just one."

"That's the harsh truth. I only hope they don't lose heart. If they do, their cultivation path is over."

"Did you guys count how many people passed the first test?"

"Four hundred and thirty-eight of them!"

"Hiss, hiss. Seriously? Over a hundred thousand took the test, but only four hundred and thirty-eight people passed the test."

Seeing the door of immortality close completely, the Tianwu Continent erupted in an uproar.

The first test had ended.

Those who failed to pass the test were destined to have no fate with immortals. Many broke down in tears, pounding their chests and stomping in regret over their weak willpower.

Others stood hollow-eyed, as if their spirits had been stripped away, unable to accept the truth.

Before the Immortal Draft Assembly began, many of them were full of confidence.

But the outcome was far more brutal than they expected.

As the first test ended, a surge of immortal light erupted from the door of immortality, transforming into a monument a million feet tall. It was radiant and awe-inspiring.

This was the Immortal Draft Monument.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss..."

The onlookers sucked in breaths of cold air, feeling shaken.

Even the Invincible Legendary realm powerhouses and the Void Immortal Supremes were appalled.

Someone exclaimed, "Immortal Draft Monument, this is the Immortal Draft Monument!"

Immediately afterward, countless people saw golden names appearing on the million-feet-tall Immortal Draft Monument.

Those names were the names of people from the various continents who passed the first test, ranked from top to bottom based on how fast they completed it.

At the very top, glowing in brilliant gold, was Chen Fan's name.

"Look! Look, the names on the Immortal Draft Monument."

"My god, Chen Fan is actually the first among all the continents to pass the test!"

"Chen Fan is not only the first person from the Tianwu Continent, but also the first compared to the various continents. He truly is the pride of our Tianwu Continent!"

Seeing his name shine at the summit, the people of Tianwu Continent erupted into chaos and celebration.