264: Wan Yao Ancient Town, offering the Dragon Bird

In less than half an hour, Xie Weilou and the others successfully reached the mountain peak, looking down to see some people still struggling on the steps.

Most of the people, however, had already been shaken off the steps by the immense pressure and sent out of The Holy Courtyard.

"Interesting!"

Hall Master Hualong, who was on the mountain peak, looked at Xie Weilou, stroking his beard lightly, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.

It was not simple for someone at the peak of the Xuanhuang Realm to ascend so quickly, but then he remembered that Xie Weilou had obtained Phoenix Blood, and he felt that everything was normal.

Phoenix Blood was a divine item; when Xie Weilou refined it, it not only transformed his Waste bone into spiritual bones but also certainly enhanced his physical body with the power of Phoenix Blood, making it seem normal for him to withstand the pressure of the Top Mountain.

Hall Master Hualong looked at everyone: "Now you all should rest and recuperate here. Once the others have arrived, I will send you to the second assessment."

This group of people were all good prospects, and he hoped they could all pass the subsequent assessments.

"......"

Upon hearing this, everyone did not hesitate, immediately finding a place to sit down and seriously recuperate.

Climbing the mountain earlier had consumed their energy, and they did not know what the subsequent assessment content would be, so they had to be fully prepared.

Xie Weilou sat beside Lin Qinghuang, stretched, and slowly closed his eyes.

— — — — — —

Time passed minute by minute, and people continuously ascended the mountain peak. The first assessment eliminated most people, but there were also some with extraordinary perseverance who could reach the mountaintop.

After an hour and a half, the stipulated time arrived, and the first assessment ended. Over two hundred people gathered on the entire mountain peak. Out of more than two thousand who attempted the climb, only one-tenth made it to the top.

Next was the second assessment. How many more people would be eliminated?

Everyone's mood was solemn. The Holy Courtyard's assessment was indeed very difficult.

"The first assessment is over. Now, this old man will send you to the location of the second assessment. As for the content of the assessment, I will tell you once we arrive at the assessment site."

Hall Master Hualong waved his hand, and a flying boat appeared on the mountain peak. He leaped onto the flying boat and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, come up."

"......"

Everyone quickly boarded the flying boat.

Buzz!

Hall Master Hualong formed a hand seal, and the flying boat transformed into a streak of light, rushing into the distance. The scenery on both sides continuously changed, and the color of the sky gradually darkened from daylight.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the sky completely turned dark, and the surroundings were pitch black, making people feel incredibly suppressed, as if they had arrived in another peculiar space.

The flying boat quickly descended, and a mysterious Ancient Town appeared before everyone's eyes.

Buzz!

The flying boat instantly arrived twenty meters above the Ancient Town.

Hall Master Hualong looked at everyone and said in a deep voice, "This place is Ten Thousand Demons Town, and it contains many demonic creatures. The second assessment is survival. You need to survive for one hour within this Ten Thousand Demons Town. If you can last for one hour, it means you have passed the second assessment and become The Holy Courtyard's Disciples."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up: "Only two assessments?"

Hall Master Hualong nodded slightly: "That's right, only two assessments! The first assessment only tests your cultivation, physical body, and temperament, but this second assessment directly tests your combat power, making it much more difficult. If a quarter of you present here can survive until the end, that would be considered good."

The difficulty of this assessment was not small. There had been an assessment before where all the participating personnel were annihilated.

"......"

After listening, everyone's expressions instantly became solemn.

Hall Master Hualong looked at Lin Qinghuang and said with a smile, "The Heavenly Barrier is also in Ten Thousand Demons Town. You can go directly."

He waved his hand, and a compass flew towards Lin Qinghuang.

"Thank you, Elder."

Lin Qinghuang took the compass and bowed.

"Alright! No more nonsense, all of you go for the assessment."

Hall Master Hualong waved his hand, and a powerful force moved everyone to different locations within Ten Thousand Demons Town.

Inside Ten Thousand Demons Town, on a street, Xie Weilou and Lin Qinghuang stood together.

They looked around but did not see anyone else.

This Ten Thousand Demons Town was very large, and everyone else had been sent to different locations.

Buzz!

In the sky, the darkness dispersed, and a strange blood moon appeared. Terrifying demonic energy began to permeate the Ancient Town.

Lin Qinghuang looked at Xie Weilou: "I have read many of The Holy Courtyard's ancient texts. The town we are in contains thousands of demonic creatures, but it is only the outer area. The real Ten Thousand Demons Town is not here, but beyond a gate. There lies The Holy Courtyard's most difficult Heavenly Barrier. I am going there next."

"Do you need something?"

Xie Weilou stared at Lin Qinghuang. This woman would certainly not be so bored as to want to challenge some barrier; she must want something.

"Clever!"

Lin Qinghuang smiled. Challenging the Heavenly Barrier was only one part of it; seizing a treasure through it was the key.

As for Xie Weilou, this outer assessment would not trouble him, so she did not need to worry about him.

Xie Weilou chuckled: "You go!"

He couldn't challenge the Heavenly Barrier like Lin Qinghuang, and he wasn't interested anyway. He just needed to simply pass an hour here.

"Okay!"

Lin Qinghuang injected a stream of power into the compass, and the compass flashed with a golden light, surging towards a specific location.

She did not hesitate and flew directly towards the golden light's location.

"......"

Xie Weilou yawned and casually walked to another location.

This town was very eerie, with extremely dense demonic energy. There was no sign of life, and many demonic creatures were lurking around, ready to tear people to shreds at any moment.

After walking for a while, a human-faced snake demon appeared in front.

This demon exuded the aura of the Territory Expansion Realm. It held a blood-colored spear and attacked a Shackles Realm cultivator.

"Ah..."

With a shrill scream, the Shackles Realm cultivator was utterly defenseless, his head instantly pierced by the spear, blood splattering out.

But there was no immediate demise as imagined; the cultivator's body transformed into a ray of light and vanished from the spot.

His assessment had failed!

The Holy Courtyard's assessment naturally wouldn't send people to their deaths. True death wouldn't occur here, which was somewhat peculiar.

After slaying the cultivator, the human-faced snake demon looked at Xie Weilou, its eyes flashing with bloodthirsty light, and its spear was incredibly fierce.

Xie Weilou glanced at the human-faced snake demon, casually summoned Great Xia Dragon Sparrow, and said indifferently, "Scram!"

"......"

The human-faced snake demon's pupils constricted, and it immediately fled into the distance.

Xie Weilou saw an open-air stall with some tables and chairs. He walked over, sat down casually, and then threw Great Xia Dragon Sparrow onto the table.

Great Xia Dragon Sparrow exuded a terrifying murderous aura, warding off the surrounding demonic energy. Some lurking demonic creatures, sensing the aura of Great Xia Dragon Sparrow, quickly fled.

Xie Weilou crossed his legs, took out a pot of fine wine, and leisurely began to savor it...