Qin Xuan pondered for a moment, then stepped into the Formation with all the Disciples who had passed.
The surrounding light shifted, and after only a moment, they appeared outside a continuous mountain range.
“This is…”
Qin Xuan looked at the mountains with some surprise.
From here, the entire mountain range stretched endlessly, like a giant black Dragon coiled on the earth.
And below the mountain range, a winding great river flowed past.
Qin Xuan's gaze swept around, and suddenly, his eyes fixed on the center of the mountain range, unable to move an inch!
“This is the Xuanlong Mountain Range where our Azure Green Sect is located. According to legend, a Profound Dragon once wreaked havoc here, committing all sorts of evil deeds.”
“Our Azure Green Sect’s First Ancestor, seeing the Profound Dragon causing trouble, took action and slew the Profound Dragon.”
“The Profound Dragon Dao thus got its name. Later, after the Ancestral Master traveled the world, he saw that the Profound Dragon had transformed into a mountain range and established our Azure Green Sect here.”
An Inner Sect Disciple beside him introduced with considerable pride.
“Oh, right, the Ancestral Master back then used a red Sharp Weapon to kill the Profound Dragon.”
“Of course, that’s just a legend!”
Towards the end, the Inner Sect Disciple felt he had boasted too much and quickly stopped.
The other Disciples who had passed the first three rounds of assessment also laughed, clearly disbelieving it.
But Qin Xuan at this moment stared intently at the center of the mountain range as if in a daze, his fists trembling slightly from the force.
In his eyes, at the very center of the mountain range, a crimson light pillar shot straight into the sky.
The crimson light pillar was thousands of feet high, and within the light pillar, a Azure Dragon was wrapped around something.
Faintly, it seemed to be a red long sword.
“Boom!”
Looking at the light pillar, Qin Xuan felt a surge of hot blood throughout his body, making him feel dizzy!
For a moment, he was almost lost in thought, and couldn't help but take a few steps towards it.
No!
At the critical moment, the Refining God Cauldron suddenly stirred.
It was as if ice and snow were poured over his head, making him instantly clear-headed!
That was close!
Qin Xuan felt a wave of lingering fear.
It was currently the assessment, and if he were to chase after the light pillar, everyone else would suspect Qin Xuan.
Thinking of this, even though he yearned for the object within the light pillar, he forcibly restrained himself.
No matter how good the item was, now was not the time to scheme for it.
Despite his heart pounding like a drum, Qin Xuan still gritted his teeth and endured.
It wasn't until the red light pillar gradually dissipated that the Refining God Cauldron slowly stopped, and Qin Xuan allowed himself to completely calm down.
It seems that legends are not necessarily false.
He glanced around. At this moment, the other Disciples participating in the assessment were looking eagerly at the Elder and Inner Sect Disciples in front.
Clearly, apart from him, no one else had seen that colossal light pillar that obscured the sky.
Striving to calm his emotions, Qin Xuan pretended as if he had seen nothing and followed the other Disciples forward.
But at this moment, his heart was already churning incessantly.
Putting everything else aside, just this light pillar that pierced through heaven and earth was enough to prove how high the Rank of this weapon was.
What's more, even the Refining God Cauldron had started to vibrate.
Although according to Xuanji Empress, the Refining God Cauldron couldn't fully unleash its full power, for it to vibrate, the Rank of this weapon must be at least at the Sacred Artifact level!
Perhaps even above Sacred Artifacts!
Thinking of this, Qin Xuan immediately had a different idea.
Although the light pillar quickly disappeared afterwards, he understood that since only he, with the Refining God Cauldron, could see it, he had a great opportunity!
Thinking of this, Qin Xuan immediately clenched his fists.
He absolutely had to join this Azure Green Sect.
With that thought, Qin Xuan looked forward.
Not far away, a group of Inner Sect Disciples and a middle-aged Elder in white robes stood waiting for them.
“Greetings, Elder Yu Kun!”
The Elders who brought Qin Xuan rushed forward to salute this Elder.
It was clear that this Elder must hold a significant position within the Sect.
“Good, thank you for your hard work, Elders. This final Aptitude selection will be handled by me!”
Yu Kun said, then looked at the many Disciples.
“All of you have passed the first three rounds of assessment, which means you have met the Sect’s requirements in these three aspects.”
“The next round is the final stage of our Azure Green Sect’s selection, the Talent Test!”
It's finally here!
Qin Xuan took a deep breath.
No Sect recruiting Disciples could possibly do so without testing talent.
If the first three rounds tested the present, then this final round tested the future.
The Azure Green Sect would certainly consider talent when selecting Disciples.
If one's talent wasn't sufficient, the Azure Green Sect wouldn't accept them.
“Come over, all of you!”
Saying this, Elder Yu Kun extended his hand, motioning for the group of Disciples to follow.
Soon, hundreds of people followed Yu Kun to the outside of the mountain gate.
Yu Kun waved his hand, and then a small white jade staircase flew out from inside. Moments later, the white jade staircase rapidly enlarged before everyone.
“Our Azure Green Sect has a wondrous item called the Spirit Ascension Staircase, it has nine levels and was left behind by the Ancestral Master back then,”
“All Disciples entering the Sect must ascend the steps, and the number of steps ascended will determine whether they can enter the Sect and become a member of the Azure Green Sect.”
After the white jade staircase landed, everyone cast their gaze forward, looking at the white jade staircase.
The white jade steps appeared to have undergone the baptism of many years, with numerous scars on them.
It was evident that they had indeed been passed down from the First Ancestor.
“Ascending three steps is the threshold to enter the Azure Green Sect. Only by standing on the third step or higher can you prove that your Aptitude meets our Azure Green Sect's selection requirements.”
“To enter the Inner Sect, you must ascend to the sixth step or higher. Below the sixth step, you can only enter the Outer Sect. Of course, even our Azure Green Sect's Outer Sect Disciple are stronger than the Inner Sect or even Personal Disciple of those minor Sects.”
“If you can ascend to the ninth step, then you will be qualified to become a Personal Disciple. Of course, this is just a qualification; to become a Personal Disciple, further screening is required. I hope some of you can ascend to the ninth step.”
Yu Kun said, looking at the many Disciples below.
Looking at these Disciples who were eager to try, Yu Kun still shook his head slightly in his heart.
Because they had decided to seal the mountain gate next, there were naturally some exceptionally outstanding Disciples among those who rushed here this time.
However, this excellence was only relative.
Compared to the astonishingly talented individuals of past generations, these people seemed far inferior.
It seems no one will ascend to this ninth step.
In the past hundred years, fewer and fewer Disciples recruited by the Azure Green Sect have been able to ascend to the ninth step. If he remembered correctly, the last one was Zhao Jingyan, and since him, no one has been able to ascend to the ninth step.
The Sect is truly declining.
The former Azure Green Sect was the absolute king of the entire Great Gan and could even Rank among the top in the Eastern Region.
But now, in this Profound Dragon Dao, it is merely one of the five great Sects; it can truly be said that each generation is worse than the last.
Driving the distracting thoughts from his mind, Yu Kun pointed to the steps beside him.
“Now, come forward in order to ascend these steps.”