Chapter 184: Chapter 128: Heaven-Ascending Ladder, Mechanical Being Array, the Terrifying Heart Inquiry Platform
Luo Wentian, having spoken, smiled at the other standing Gang Essence Realm experts and said:
"Everyone, please follow me up the mountain."
This Heaven-Ascending Ladder is used for assessing children who have not yet embarked on the Martial Path. Ning Qi employed a special type of mineral coupled with a simple Qimen Array to magnify the pressure as one walks on it. The higher one ascends, the more difficult it becomes.
This test is of willpower.
A total of nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, those who can reach the summit are surely individuals of extraordinary perseverance.
This time’s recruitment will lay the foundation for the future decades of the True Martial Sect. Absent special circumstances, there won’t be another large-scale disciple recruitment for a long time, so Ning Qi regards it with high importance.
Now, as his Martial Path realm deepens, he gradually understands that to walk further on this path, perhaps root bone isn’t the most critical factor.
Outstanding root bone might let you advance smoothly in the initial stages, but martial willpower allows lateness to surpass prevalence, even breaking one’s own limits.
Thus, he established the Heaven-Ascending Ladder as part of the assessment.
Luo Wentian, taking many Gang Essence Realm experts, departed up the mountain; with their cultivation, a few leaps took them out of sight.
As they open the sect this time.
Recruiting children is paramount, yet these Gang Essence Realm experts cannot be underestimated.
After all, the True Martial Sect is currently in an awkward stage. At the top, True Man Tianjian and Taoist Longshan awe the world, and the middle and lower levels in Body Tempering Realm and Inner Essence Realm can likewise look down upon the Martial Realm, but there is a significant lack in the Gang Essence Realm.
To this day.
Only seven former True Disciples have stepped into the White Mist Realm. Although they possess uncommon aptitudes and their combat strength surpasses ordinary White Mist Realm, as the True Martial Sect grows stronger, they still find themselves stretched thin.
Hence, there arose the idea to recruit additional Gang Essence Realm experts.
This is a transitional phase.
Once many Gang Essence Realm experts emerge within the True Martial Sect, this awkward period can be overcome.
For their assessments, it naturally differs from that of the children, prioritizing evaluations of combat strength and mindset.
Watching Luo Wentian and the others leave.
Remaining behind, Xiong Shi continued, adding:
"All those participating in the assessment, please note the following during the Heaven-Ascending Ladder:"
"Firstly, do not rely on external forces, use your own willpower to reach the summit!"
"Secondly, do not attack other participants on the Heaven-Ascending Ladder. Anyone caught will immediately be disqualified from the assessment!"
"Thirdly, if you can’t hold on, call for help; a True Martial disciple will escort you down the mountain."
He glanced around at the crowd, his gaze carrying a faint sense of menace, and the earlier scene made everyone gradually develop a sense of awe towards this Punishment Elder, naturally nodding repeatedly at this moment.
"Now, I announce that the assessment formally begins!"
As his words fell.
The prepared children started climbing orderly forward, not rushing to compete, as the True Martial disciples had already explained the rules, it only matters how much time it takes each individual to reach the top, not who gets there first.
Otherwise, with nearly ten thousand people surging together, even if the Heaven-Ascending Ladder is large enough, it wouldn’t be possible for everyone to be on the starting line at once.
Amidst the crowd.
A skinny little girl encouraged the thick-browed boy:
"Big Brother, you can do it!"
The thick-browed boy was also cheering himself on, looking at the surrounding richly dressed boys, all strong and robust, yet he had nothing but a determination to fight with all means at his disposal.
The children began stepping onto the Heaven-Ascending Ladder and immediately noticed something unusual.
Just after stepping on, they felt a faint pressure. Initially, it was still easy, but after every few dozen steps, the pressure escalated a level, causing them to tremble.
For a child not yet ten, climbing nine hundred and ninety-nine steps isn’t easy, much less with increasing pressure.
Many children looked towards the front, seeing the seemingly endless stairs, and a sense of despair arose in their hearts.
As their spirit waned.
People began to give up one after another.
The True Martial disciples traversed the Heaven-Ascending Ladder, escorting children down one by one.
This scene, observed by other participants, invisibly magnified the pressure.
Most here for the assessment were already among the top of ordinary people, but now, as the assessment was too challenging, just having passed one-third, half were eliminated.
The previously crowded Heaven-Ascending Ladder suddenly became notably sparse.
And this.
Was just the beginning.
Constantly, people fell behind, some voluntarily withdrew.
Some children even collapsed crying.
The seemingly simple Heaven-Ascending Ladder was in truth full of great challenges.
Xiong Shi and Ye Qinghe watched these scenes unfolding, reflecting:
"Jiu’s Heaven-Ascending Ladder is indeed not simple. Now thinking about it, the Martial Path is like this Heaven-Ascending Ladder, endless in sight, and wanting to walk it unwaveringly requires courage far beyond ordinary. Those who pass this ladder’s test are bound for great achievements in the future."
"And failing to pass, no matter how good the root bone, is all in vain."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Unknowingly, they forgot that Ning Qi was just over ten years old.
Time passed.
The first stage of the assessment continued.
Many were already near the summit.
Among them, several outstanding saplings attracted their attention.
"That leading boy’s steps are steady, his eyes firm, his bones robust, hailing from Gaoyang Lu family, named Lu Mang."
"The girl behind him isn’t bad either, adept at using force skillfully, quite agile; if I recall correctly, she hails from a branch of the Ouyang family in Qing State City, named Ouyang Yuxuan."