After joining the other participants near the silver pond, Yuan watched as the participants walked on the silver water one by one.
The person currently taking this test was a young man who just took his 13th step towards the silver tree. However, this young man's face was soaked in sweat, looking as though he had just run a marathon or had been splashed in the face with a bucket of water.
"Ahhhh!"
The young man suddenly began shouting while lifting his leg slowly, looking as though he was really struggling to take another step.
Splash!
The young man fell a few seconds later, falling directly on top of the silver water without submerging into the water like one would have expected.
"13 steps… failed." The Sect Elder standing next to the silver pond said after the young man fell down.
The Sect Elder then waved his sleeves, using his spiritual energy to pull the participant back to where the other participants were gathered before speaking out loud, "Next!"
A moment later, a young lady stepped forward and bowed to the Sect Elder before turning to stare at the silver pond and the tree.
After taking a deep breath, she took her first step into the silver liquid and towards the silver tree.
Tap… Tap… Tap…
The silver water rippled with every step the young lady took.
A few moments later, the young lady took her 19th step.
On her twentieth step, although she struggled a little bit, she still managed to take the 20th step, passing the exam. However, the young lady did not stop despite already passing the exam and continued to push herself for a few more steps.
In the end, the young lady managed to achieve 23 steps for the exam.
"You have passed. You may enter the gate now and proceed to your final test." The Sect Elder said to the young lady, who bowed to him before leaving the test area.
'So there is only one more test after this one, huh. I wonder what kind of test it is…' Yuan pondered to himself as he continued to watch the participants challenge the test one by one.
About half an hour later, a young lady with long black hair and a pair of sharp eyes stepped forward to challenge the silver water. However, unlike the previous participants, this young lady attracted the attention of every individual there with her beauty and the domineering aura around her.
"It's finally Fairy Min's turn! I wonder how many steps the genius of the Min Family is going to take!"
"Hahaha, of course, she's going to take 50 steps easily!"
"Good luck, Fairy Min!"
The participants there spoke and cheered for her as though they were very familiar with this beautiful lady's identity, and even the Sect Elder foreseeing the test gave her an approving nod.
A few moments later, once the atmosphere calmed down and the participants were quiet, the young lady known as Fairy Min took her first step into the silver pond.
One step, two steps, three steps.
Fairy Min easily traveled over ten steps without any effort and with her every movement filled with confidence and arrogance.
Eleven steps, twelve steps, thirteen steps.
Fairy Min took her twentieth step as effortlessly as she did the previous ten without breaking a single sweat on her body.
"As expected of Fairy Min! She might even reach 75 steps at this rate!"
The other participants were incredibly excited for Fairy Min, feeling as though they were in her shoes.
A few more moments later, Fairy Min took her thirtieth step, surpassing every participant that had taken this test thus far.
A few more moments later, she took her fortieth step.
However, after taking her fortieth step, Fairy Min did not immediately take her next step and instead stood still for a minute to catch her breath.
Almost a minute later, Fairy Min finally challenged the silver pond with her 41st step.
Splash!
A powerful ripple appeared in the pond as Fairy Min took her 41st step.
After her 41st step, Fairy Min stopped for another minute before taking the next step, and she would continue this until she took her 47th step.
"Haaa… haaa… haaa…" Fairy Min panted heavily with sweat dripping down her face as she took her 48th step.
Splash!
Another ripple appeared in the silver pond after she took her 48th step.
After resting for a minute, Fairy Min attempted her 49th step.
"Ha!"
Fairy Min suddenly shouted out loud as she took her 49th step, and without taking another break, she went straight for the 50th step.
Boom!
The entire silver pond trembled after Fairy Min took her 50th step.
Fairy Min wanted to take another step, but alas, she knew that her body would not be able to endure another step, so she turned around and returned to the Sect Elder.
"Congratulations, Min Li from the Min Family— you are the first person in the last 7 years to have walked 50 steps for this test." The Sect Elder congratulated her upon her return.
"Thank you, Senior…" Min Li nodded her head, yet she appeared to be disappointed by her results.
"You may proceed onto the final test." The Sect Elder then said to her.
Min Li nodded, and she walked to the gate. However, she stopped walking after she reached the front of the gate and turned around to stare in the direction of the other participants with a profound gaze, or more specifically, she was staring at the figure wearing a black jade mask, who was emitting a profound and mysterious aura.
After staring at Yuan for a moment, she turned around and stepped into the gate, disappearing from the test area.
Once Min Li left the scene, the other participants returned to being silent, and the test continued as usual.
Many minutes later, it was finally Yuan's turn, and he stepped forward.
"Why is he wearing a mask? What an odd fellow." The participants mumbled to themselves after seeing Yuan's appearance.
However, when the Sect Elder saw Yuan, his eyes widened in shock like the other Sect Elders.
'Fifth level Spirit Warrior!' he cried inwardly.