Four months had passed since Jiang Yun's disappearance, and on this day, the bells within the Wen Dao Sect rang once again, summoning all the Disciples. Sect Master Dao Tianyou personally appeared and announced news that thrilled everyone.
Two months later, the Five Peaks Challenge will begin!
The Five Peaks Challenge was a shortcut for all Utility and Outer Sect Disciples to become Inner Sect Disciples. However, as Magic Treasures that formed the foundation of each Peak, even a Peak Master expending them once required a large amount of Spiritual Qi, so they could only be activated once a year.
Calculating the time, less than a year had passed since the last Five Peaks Challenge, but now it was opening early, which naturally delighted many Disciples.
It was known that although the Five Peaks Challenge was extremely difficult, for the Disciples, it was also an extremely rare opportunity for tempering. Because the five Magic Treasures each contained the Dao that their respective Peaks excelled in, even if one failed, they could still gain some insights into Cultivation during the process.
Many Disciples, after returning from failure, were able to improve their Realm in a short period. Some Tongmai Realm Nine Levels of Vein Opening! Disciples with high Comprehension Ability were even able to turn misfortune into fortune, leaping into the Blessed Land Realm!
Naturally, every Disciple wanted to participate in the Five Peaks Challenge. Unfortunately, no matter how powerful the Magic Treasures were, there was an upper limit to the number of people they could accommodate. For this reason, the Sect established a rule that only Disciples above the Tongmai Realm Sixth Level could participate.
This allowed Utility Disciples to also have hope of participating, while also ensuring that the number of participants in each Five Peaks Challenge remained roughly fixed at around a thousand people, averaging just over two hundred people per Peak.
Although a thousand people sounded like a lot, compared to the tens of thousands of Disciples in the entire Wen Dao Sect, it was clearly a case of too many monks and too little porridge, far from enough. Therefore, to obtain the opportunity to participate in the Five Peaks Challenge, Disciples naturally had to Cultivate diligently and reach the Tongmai Realm Sixth Level as soon as possible.
This was also a form of motivation for the Disciples.
Therefore, upon hearing this news, almost all the Wen Dao Sect Disciples put aside other trivial matters and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to Cultivation. Especially those Tongmai Realm Fourth and Fifth Level Disciples spared no effort, hoping to break through to the Sixth Level within these two months, thereby gaining qualification for the Five Peaks Challenge.
Time flew by, and two months passed quickly.
As the first ray of morning sunlight shone into the Wen Dao Sect, the resounding bells chimed, and a large number of Disciples began to rush towards the main Peak, Sword Dao Peak.
The Five Peaks Challenge did not involve all five mountains opening simultaneously. Instead, one Peak opened each day, lasting for five days. Because the Wen Dao Sect primarily promoted the Dao of the Sword, the first Peak to open each time was inevitably the main Peak, Sword Dao Peak.
When the bells stopped, an extremely large number of Disciples had already gathered at the foot of Sword Dao Peak. It could be said that apart from Disciples who had tasks to attend to, everyone else had basically put down what they were doing and rushed over to witness this grand event.
The numerous Disciples were distinctly divided into two parts. Those standing in front, though fewer in number, around two hundred people, had shining eyes and exuded strong Qi. They were naturally the Disciples participating in the challenge. The large crowd behind them was there to watch the excitement.
Not all the challenge Disciples were Outer Sect or Utility Disciples of Sword Dao Peak; many came from the other Four Peaks. The reason they came here was naturally because they all Cultivated the Dao of the Sword.
Even dozens of Inner Sect Disciples from the Five Peaks extended their Divine Sense, wanting to see if any astonishing individuals would emerge from this Five Peaks Challenge.
Although Inner Sect Disciples appeared to have superior status, in reality, some Outer Sect Disciples already possessed the strength to enter the Blessed Land Realm. They were simply deliberately suppressing their Cultivation, waiting for the Five Peaks Challenge to begin.
Their goal was to make a name for themselves within the Sect during the Five Peaks Challenge!
Additionally, anyone who successfully passed all Five Peaks would not only potentially be directly accepted as a Disciple by the various Peak Masters but also receive a large number of rewards.
Unfortunately, while these people's ideas were good, those who could truly succeed in passing all Five Peaks and becoming Inner Sect Disciples were few and far between.
Currently, there were only five people in the Wen Dao Sect who became Inner Sect Disciples through the Five Peaks Challenge, and they were now the Disciples of the Five Peaks' Peak Masters, including Fang Yuxuan.
After all, when he was accepted as a Disciple by Wei Zhengyang, he was not yet in the Blessed Land Realm and was qualified to participate in the Five Peaks Challenge. It was precisely his astonishing performance during the Sword Dao Peak challenge that truly established his position as the number one Inner Sect Disciple.
However, even if one did not pass, as long as they performed exceptionally well during the process, they would still receive extra attention from the Peak Masters and Elders, which would add a few points of assistance to their future growth.
At this moment, there was still some time before the Sword Dao Peak opened, and the numerous Spectator Disciples could not suppress their excitement, Can't help it discussing and guessing who had the best chance of successfully passing the challenge this time.
"I don't know if others can succeed, but Wu Shang of Five Elements Peak will definitely succeed!"
"Senior Sister Lu Yourong, who possesses a Dual Dao Body, should also be able to. Her Cultivation speed is astonishing; she has already entered the Tongmai Realm Eighth Level, and it is said that she has also Cultivated a special Cultivation Technique."
...
"Everyone, be quiet! All you're talking about are newly admitted Disciples! Let me tell you, the ones truly most likely to succeed are two veteran Outer Sect Disciples."
Just as everyone was discussing animatedly, a lazy voice suddenly, with a hint of disdain, overpowered all other voices, drawing everyone's attention.
The speaker was a short, stout man in Utility Disciple robes. If Jiang Yun were here, he would recognize that this person was none other than Bao Yuanqiang, whom he had almost crippled back then.
Bao Yuanqiang's reputation was clearly not small, and he was immediately recognized. Someone said, "Bao Datong, what inside information have you dug up now?"
Bao Yuanqiang pouted and said, "Tsk, this is a shocking, major inside scoop. How could I let you know so easily?"
"Alright, we know you're well-informed, known as the number one source of information in our Sect. Please, stop keeping us in suspense and quickly tell us, which two Outer Sect Disciples are they?"
"Exactly, exactly! We'll treat you to drinks later!"
Amidst a chorus of flattery and urging, Bao Yuanqiang finally smacked his lips and said, "Seeing how eager you are for knowledge, I'll tell you. These two Outer Sect Disciples reached the Nine Levels of Vein Opening! four years ago and could have entered the Blessed Land Realm two years ago, but they have consistently suppressed their Cultivation until now. Now, they are only a hair's breadth away from the Blessed Land Realm!"
"In fact, they originally weren't going to appear in this challenge, but it's said that because they simply couldn't suppress their Cultivation any longer, they had no choice but to come out."
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. Everyone dreamed of quickly entering the Blessed Land Realm, yet there were people who could advance to the Blessed Land Realm but deliberately chose not to?
Some also fell into contemplation, pondering in their minds whether there were any Outer Sect Disciples who fit the description.
"This is to build a foundation!" Bao Yuanqiang smiled proudly and said, "Although only the Blessed Land Realm can be called a Cultivator, the Tongmai Realm is the foundation! The firmer the foundation, the easier it will be to improve in the future!"
Everyone naturally became even more curious: "Who exactly are these two people? To possess such astonishing perseverance and patience?"
Bao Yuanqiang chuckled, "I won't tell you yet. Actually, besides these two, aren't you looking forward to someone else?"
"Looking forward to who?"
Bao Yuanqiang did not speak, but his gaze turned towards - Hidden Peak!