13: Entry examination

Over the past three days, Lu Xingchen and Lin Wanqing explored Great Desolate City, enjoying a rare period of leisure.

Three days later, Lu Xingchen and Lin Wanqing followed Lingxiao Sect's Elder to Sunset Forest.

Sunset Forest covers an extremely vast area, roughly half the size of Dayan Kingdom, forming a natural boundary between three countries.

Many powerful Yao Beasts live within it, and the deeper one goes, the stronger the Yao Beasts become.

Due to the abundance of Heaven And Earth Treasure in Sunset Forest, and the great value of Yao Beast cores and bodies, Sunset Forest has become a Holy Land for adventurers.

Countless Loose Cultivators flock to Sunset Forest, one after another, solely to seek Opportunities to grow stronger.

Of course, many enter, but few emerge.

Along the way, the Elder introduced the Lingxiao Sect to everyone.

Lingxiao Sect is located on the outskirts of Sunset Forest and is divided into seven Peaks: Spirit Sword Peak, Tongtian Peak, Wind Returning Peak, Chaoyang Peak, Luoxia Peak, Great Bamboo Peak, and Little Bamboo Peak.

The Peak Masters of each Peak are all Great Martial Master Realm Experts.

Legend has it that the Sect Master's strength has already reached the Peak of the Great Martial Master Realm, just one step away from the Martial Spirit Realm.

Once the Sect Master becomes a Martial Spirit Realm Expert, Lingxiao Sect will be promoted from a Third-Grade Sect to a Fourth-Grade Sect.

Upon learning this, Lu Xingchen was greatly astonished.

All Seven Peak Masters are Great Martial Master Realm Experts!

Including the Sect Master, Lingxiao Sect has a total of eight Great Martial Masters.

This power is truly terrifying!

No wonder Lingxiao Sect could become a Third-Grade Sect.

An hour later, everyone arrived in front of Sunset Forest.

Lingxiao Sect's Elder handed each person a map and said in a deep voice, "This is a map of the outer perimeter of Sunset Forest. The Sect entry assessment requires you to reach the Sect entrance within one day. If you succeed, you can enter our Lingxiao Sect."

"You are all from Dayan Kingdom. From the other four directions, people from four other lower-tier countries will simultaneously participate in the assessment. The first ten people among all participants to reach the Sect entrance can choose their own Peak and receive rewards from Lingxiao Sect."

"Do you understand?"

"Understood!" everyone replied in unison.

"Now, the assessment begins!"

As soon as the Elder finished speaking, everyone immediately shot forward like arrows released from a bowstring.

Lu Xingchen and Lin Wanqing were no exception.

Lin Wanqing was a little puzzled.

"Big Strong One, according to the map, the Sect entrance is only a three-hour journey from us. Isn't one day too generous? Many people will probably complete the assessment. Can this achieve the purpose of screening?"

Lu Xingchen chuckled, "Three hours is only for us Martial Masters. There are still many Martial Artists in the crowd. Their stamina and speed are far inferior to ours; they will only need more time."

"More importantly, this is Sunset Forest, full of Yao Beasts. It's not easy to even reach the Sect entrance alive, let alone with a time limit."

Lin Wanqing suddenly understood.

"Oh, so that's how it is. Then let's hurry up!"

"Of course, I still want to make it into the top ten and get the reward!"

The two walked together, taking a direct route, heading straight for the Peak where the Sect entrance was located.

Along the way, whenever they encountered a Yao Beast, Lu Xingchen's response was to kill it.

Killing Yao Beasts also grants experience points, and Lu Xingchen naturally wouldn't let that Opportunity slip.

In just six hours, Lu Xingchen fought his way from the entrance of Sunset Forest to the foot of the Peak where the Sect entrance was located.

By this time, Lu Xingchen was covered in blood.

His Realm had also risen from Two-Star Martial Master to Three-Star Martial Master.

Lin Wanqing remained clean and tidy.

Because Lu Xingchen was afraid she would snatch his kills, he didn't let her attack at all.

The two arrived at the foot of the Peak where the Sect entrance was located.

They began to climb.

As his feet touched the mountain, Lu Xingchen immediately felt something was amiss.

The gravity at the foot of the mountain was twice that of the outside.

Although this pressure couldn't stop Lu Xingchen from advancing, it still increased his consumption.

Lin Wanqing said in a deep voice, "It seems the assessment has just begun."

Lu Xingchen chuckled, "This little pressure is still not enough to screen Disciples. If I'm not mistaken, the higher we go, the greater the gravity will become."

"Then let's go! After all, we are aiming for the top ten."

The two exchanged a smile and walked towards the Peak together.

As Lu Xingchen expected, the higher they went, the greater the gravity became.

By the time the two reached halfway up the mountain, the gravity had already reached five times the normal amount.

Even Lin Wanqing, a Martial Master Expert, felt immense pressure.

Just then, Lu Xingchen saw a stone door and stopped.

Lin Wanqing was a little puzzled.

"Big Strong One, are you tired?"

She could still continue, and Lu Xingchen, with his strong cultivation, shouldn't be unable to hold on.

Lu Xingchen pointed to the stone door and said in a deep voice, "I want to go in and see."

Lin Wanqing was a bit bewildered.

"Huh? The competition is so fierce, and you still have time to wander around? That stone door looks so dilapidated; what good could be inside? Let's hurry up and reach the Peak."

Lu Xingchen shook his head emphatically and said in a deep voice, "I want to go see! Miss Wanqing, you go on ahead; you don't need to wait for me. Even if I waste this time, I can still make it into the top ten."

Lin Wanqing sighed softly, "I trust your judgment. In that case, we'll meet at the Peak!"

Why did Lu Xingchen make this decision?

Because he discovered in the system map that there was a large space inside this stone door, and there was a treasure chest icon on the map.

What did this mean?

There must be treasure inside!

And Lu Xingchen had a feeling that the value of this treasure would definitely be greater than the rewards for the top ten.

So, what was there to say? Go in and see!

Lu Xingchen tried to push the stone door, and it opened easily, without any obstruction.

He continued to walk inside the stone door. Inside was a gloomy path, dark and without light.

Lu Xingchen lit a tinder and continued to walk deeper by its faint glow.

At the same time, the Seven Peak Masters of Lingxiao Sect gathered at the Sect entrance, waiting for the new Disciples who passed the assessment.

They were there, of course, to recruit people, mainly to snatch the excellent Disciples ranked in the top ten.

Yi Hong, the Peak Master of Spirit Sword Peak, smiled and said, "Everyone, how many new Disciples do you think will pass the assessment this time?"

Hu Yuan, the Peak Master of Tongtian Peak, said in a deep voice, "The total number of people from the five countries this time should be over a thousand, right? It would be good if a hundred passed. After all, our Lingxiao Sect only accepts elites, not ordinary people."

Tan Xiaotao, the Peak Master of Wind Returning Peak, said unhurriedly, "It doesn't matter; I don't care how many people pass. I only want the Geniuses in the top ten."

...While the seven were chatting animatedly, a young girl in white had already stepped onto the Peak first.

It was Lin Wanqing, who had separated from Lu Xingchen.

In the outer perimeter of Sunset Forest, Lu Xingchen's methods were too sharp, greatly accelerating their progress.

Coupled with Lin Wanqing's already good foundation, she actually became the first person to reach the Peak.

However, before entering Lingxiao Sect, Lin Wanqing still had one final hurdle to overcome.