262: Three thousand steps, can you climb up?

Xie Weilou looked at the mountain and smiled, "Three thousand steps. With my physique, can I make it up?"

Lin Qinghuang said calmly, "I don't think you can. Don't die of exhaustion halfway up. It's your fault for always going to brothels; your body must be hollowed out."

This was a tease.

At this moment, Xie Weilou, dressed in a white robe, holding his scholar's folding fan, and looking utterly weak, gave the impression that he would collapse after a few steps.

Xie Weilou toyed with his folding fan, the words Spring Autumn Cicada appearing. He smiled faintly, "Read ten thousand books, climb ten thousand mountains. I read Spring Autumn Cicada, embrace the mountains and rivers; I should be able to reach the summit."

"Then I'll wait for you at the top of the mountain."

A faint smile appeared on Lin Qinghuang's face.

The white-haired old man looked at Lin Qinghuang and chuckled, "Lin, you don't have to climb the mountain. The Dean instructed that you can directly choose one of the Seven Gentlemen of The Holy Courtyard as your teacher."

Special people naturally receive special treatment.

With Lin Qinghuang's cultivation, the assessment set by The Holy Courtyard this time would not be difficult for her.

Lin Qinghuang shook her head upon hearing this, "I want to challenge the Heavenly Barrier."

Upon hearing this, the white-haired old man's eyes showed surprise, and he nodded, "Then go challenge it. Regardless of success or failure, you will be one of The Holy Courtyard's Disciples and can still choose a teacher."

The Heavenly Barrier.

It was a checkpoint set by The Holy Courtyard. If someone with heaven-defying talent could pass through the Heavenly Barrier, they could directly become one of The Holy Courtyard's Disciples.

Each Holy Courtyard assessment would have some people who arrived late, thus missing the assessment. They could only challenge the Heavenly Barrier, which was their only chance.

Xie Weilou looked at the white-haired old man and smiled, "Then can I directly become one of The Holy Courtyard's Disciples?"

The white-haired old man shrugged, "No! You have to pass through each checkpoint."

Xie Weilou sighed, "If I pass, won't everyone else be overshadowed?"

The white-haired old man laughed, "If you can pass The Holy Courtyard's assessment this time, not only the Seven Gentlemen of The Holy Courtyard, but even the Dean, Lord Song, and the Sword Immortal can become your teachers."

Xie Weilou was also someone the Dean paid special attention to. The opportunity was laid out; it just depended on how far this boy could go.

Zhou Xuantian had given instructions: as long as Xie Weilou successfully passed the assessment, he could choose any of The Holy Courtyard's powerhouses!

"Alright then! I'll give it a try."

Xie Weilou smiled and put away his folding fan.

"......"

Lin Qinghuang's figure flickered, instantly appearing at the foot of the mountain. She glanced at the people climbing.

Xie Weilou followed, arriving beside Lin Qinghuang.

At this moment, over two thousand people were continuously climbing the mountain. The first hundred steps seemed to have no great difficulty, and their speed was not slow.

However, after the hundredth step, the difficulty began to increase. An invisible pressure descended, and everyone's pace began to slow down.

Lin Qinghuang took one step, directly leaping over a hundred steps, surpassing everyone. She took a second step, directly leaping three hundred steps, moving rapidly upward.

"This..."

The people climbing the mountain watched Lin Qinghuang leap ahead, their eyes filled with shock, and their hearts immediately felt heavy.

Everyone sees themselves as the protagonist, but in reality, most people are merely supporting characters for others.

At this moment, they felt as if they had become Lin Qinghuang's supporting characters.

However, on the other hand, in their own lives, they were indeed the protagonists!

Thinking this, everyone gritted their teeth and continued upward. If they couldn't keep up with the pace of those monstrous talents, they could at least look at the people climbing alongside them or those they had left behind, perhaps finding some comfort.

"So fast... Gone in a flash, like a big green mouse."

Xie Weilou sighed, then began to climb the mountain.

At the same time.

On top of a pavilion.

Zhou Xuantian was playing chess with the Xia Emperor.

Today, Xie Weilou was taking the assessment. Yan Junlin and others did not immediately show up because the Xia Emperor was at The Holy Courtyard, and they had reservations, naturally not daring to act recklessly.

Zhou Xuantian placed a white piece and smiled, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, for breaking through and entering the Divine Court Realm."

"Just luck."

The Xia Emperor smiled and placed a black piece.

Zhou Xuantian picked up another white piece, "Since Your Majesty places such high hopes on him, why not let him directly enter The Holy Courtyard? If he fails the assessment, he'll have to wait until next time."

The Xia Emperor looked at the chessboard and pondered, "The path of young people is full of thorns and obstacles. Only by overcoming them themselves can they go further. He was recognized by the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow, so he must be extraordinary. I believe in him. I wonder if the Dean would like to make a bet with me?"

"Oh? What does Your Majesty wish to bet?"

Zhou Xuantian became interested.

The Xia Emperor picked up a chess piece and gently toyed with it, "Bet on this boy's future path, to see how far he can go."

"No bet."

Zhou Xuantian put down the chess piece. He looked out the window and smiled faintly, "Ten bets, nine losses! I once made a bet with the Imperial Advisor about who would be the Emperor of Great Xia, but we both lost. Naturally, we can't bet again now."

The Xia Emperor smiled upon hearing this, "Indeed! You both lost because Fourth Mr. was a variable that overturned your chessboard."

He could sit on this throne naturally because of his strength, but there was another crucial factor: Fourth Mr., Spring Autumn Cicada.

With his own power, he helped him overcome obstacles and ascend to the throne. This favor, he owed greatly.

Zhou Xuantian stroked his beard, "Does Your Majesty not worry that if Xie Weilou grows up, he will overturn the chessboard of Great Xia?"

"There are demons to the north and Western Chu to the west. This world is inherently not peaceful. In a world where the strong prey on the weak, if such a talent appears under my governance, I would be very pleased. If he truly has the ability, let alone overturning Great Xia, what if Great Xia is given to him?"

The Xia Emperor said with a calm expression.

Zhou Xuantian paused for a second, then stood up and bowed to the Xia Emperor, "Your Majesty's vision makes this old man feel ashamed!"

The Xia Emperor stood up and walked to the window, hands behind his back, looking at the sky, "I have also reached the pinnacle of power. One day, I will shed this burden and pursue the ultimate Great Dao. The future of Great Xia is not with me, but with these young people. Dragon and tiger struggles are inevitable. Then let's compete to find a presentable and responsible young person. The Dean only needs to support it."

Even the Divine Court has a day of decline. The infinite Great Dao, yet without end. If he doesn't walk it, his life is destined to be filled with regret.

Those princes and princesses were all under his observation, but to choose a suitable successor, it required discarding the dross.

Can the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow achieve its intended effect? Let's wait and see!

"......"

Zhou Xuantian nodded gently, but his eyes showed a complex expression.

He had been trapped in the Divine Court for many years, unable to find a path forward. Perhaps he was truly old, having lost that ambition.

In contrast, the Xia Emperor, having just entered the Divine Court Realm, was in his prime, full of endless passion, which made people envious.