Although the two cultivators were surprised that they broke through the illusion faster than some of the Golden Core stage participants, the recruitment competition wasn’t solely about mental fortitude.
The higher they climbed, the heavier their legs felt, as if it was filled with lead.
With each step, the lead grew denser.
Amalia eventually had to increase the circulation of her spiritual energy.
Kenny Lin soon caught up with her.
This time, they climbed side by side, step by step.
When they reached the final ten steps, they finally saw the exit.
Kenny Lin’s condition wasn’t much better than Amalia’s, but fortunately, they both reached the mountaintop.
Kenny Lin straightened up and glanced around the mountaintop plaza.
The vast plaza had only a few scattered individuals.
Each of these people was exceptionally strong, their cultivation levels generally higher than theirs.
As they arrived, many scrutinizing eyes turned towards them.
Some Golden Core stage cultivators, upon realizing that Amalia and Kenny Lin were only at the Foundation Building stage, dismissively looked away.
To them, only other Golden Core cultivators were worthy opponents.
Others, however, immediately regarded them as equals.
Anyone who could reach the top of the ladder was not ordinary.
Amalia rested for a moment and finally catching her breath.
The spiritual energy on the plaza was even more abundant than at the foot of the mountain, automatically nourishing her depleted meridians.
"Are you alright?" Amalia asked Kenny Lin.
The last ten steps had taken as much time as the several hundred steps before them.
She had initially thought Kenny Lin would have an easier time, but seeing he was in a similar state to hers, she speculated that the last ten steps might have been tailored to each person’s cultivation level.
It wasn’t just the oppressive force from all directions; there were also illusion attacks.
In less than ten meters, they had fought their way through a bloody path in the illusion, battling against human enemies.
She couldn’t fathom what the Green Lotus Sect’s intentions were.
Kenny Lin shook his head, "It’s only the second stage."
After them, more people started arriving.
They saw Kiran Xiao stepping onto the final ten steps.
Kiran Xiao wielded a sword, slashing through the air.
Earlier, they had probably looked just as foolish, swinging at nothing in the illusion.
Kiran Xiao finally reached the mountaintop plaza just before the hour was up.
One person was just a few seconds away from reaching the top when Renshu Chang, the young cultivator, stepped out and announced that time was up.
All those who hadn’t made it in time were eliminated.
That person roared in frustration, but moments later, their figure was teleported away.
"Congratulations to everyone. The number of people who reached the mountaintop is more than I expected. Over fifty of you made it, which indicates that all of you possess considerable strength. Now, rest for half an hour, and then we will begin the third test," Renshu Chang announced with a smile.
"Only half an hour? That’s not enough time to fully recover our spiritual energy," someone objected.
"Half an hour is to see how much you can recover. Besides, the next test may not be related to spiritual energy at all. Anything is possible, so you should think of it that way," Renshu Chang replied with a smile before walking away.
Despite his words, no one believed that the next test would have nothing to do with spiritual energy.
Those who had objections quickly quieted down and began meditating to restore their energy.
The first to reach the mountaintop had a slight advantage, but even they had taken more than half an hour, only a minute or two faster than the rest.
The extra time didn’t allow for much recovery, so no one brought it up.
But even if they did, it wouldn’t matter—everything was a matter of strength.
Everyone started meditating to recover their spiritual energy.
Amalia and Kenny Lin also found an inconspicuous corner to sit down and meditate.
Kiran Xiao, not wanting to fall behind, quickly closed his eyes to meditate as well.
In no time, the plaza fell silent.
"Why are you here?" Renshu Chang’s uncle, Wigilia Han, suddenly turned his head and asked.
"Of course, We’re’ here to see how this year’s candidates are doing. Since the grand-uncle is planning to take a disciple, we must come and take a look," replied the cultivator in the Green robe named Alisha Fan, arriving gracefully.
"And you?" Wigilia Han looked at another cultivator in white robe who had come along.
The white-robed cultivator smiled, "I, like Alisha Fan, am curious to see who will be fortunate enough to be chosen by the grand-uncle."
Alisha Fan added, "If someone becomes the grand-uncle’s disciple, they will outrank us by a generation."
Wigilia Han shook his head helplessly, "You just want to see who might become your uncle, don’t you?"
"Don’t you want to know?" Alisha Fan retorted nonchalantly.
He didn’t believe that others weren’t curious.
The youngest among them was over a hundred years old, and the thought of suddenly having to call someone who is much younger than them ’uncle’ was very awkward.
But if the grand-uncle wanted to take a disciple, that was how it would be.
Even if they didn’t show it, many of them were likely hiding somewhere, watching the scenes.
Wigilia Han coughed lightly, giving him a "you don’t have to say" look.
Of course, he wanted to know too.
"Uncle, will the grand-uncle really choose one of the people below?" Renshu Chang asked, puzzled.
This recruitment competition was initially intended to bring fresh blood into the Green Lotus Sect to fill recent vacancies.
The news about the grand-uncle taking a disciple spread later.
When they found out, they were shocked and filled with questions.
The Green Lotus Sect had no shortage of geniuses, even some who were exceptionally talented.
They couldn’t understand why the grand-uncle would choose to select a disciple from this recruitment competition instead of from the already abundant talent within the sect.