Chen Fan’s words left the people below stunned. They quickly came back to their senses and fell into deep thought.
Suddenly, Mu Chen shouted, stood up with trembling legs, and continued climbing. The crowd shouted or thumped their chests to motivate themselves and push forth.
They had ascended another two hundred steps when a female disciple, one of the five added to fill spots, spat out blood and collapsed on the stairs.
Her cultivation was the lowest—late-stage of the seventh level—and her weak physique couldn't withstand the fatigue. Exhausted, she had forced herself up the five hundred steps but couldn't endure any longer.
In wars, the losing side often fled desperately, running to the point of vomiting blood, similar to this female disciple.
However, no one offered help, and she didn't seek it.
It was a test; those who couldn't pass weren't qualified for the inner sect.
Chen Fan went on, leaving his competition trailing behind.
He was already at the eight hundredth step when these people were climbing the five hundredth step. He was a whole three hundred steps ahead of the other disciples.
“That guy, is he still human? No matter how strong his physique is, he should be feeling exhausted by now, right?” Some disciples gritted their teeth, looking at Chen Fan’s back.
They were so tired they could vomit blood after climbing five hundred steps. The heroic air they felt in the beginning was also gone. All they could think of now was to stop and rest properly to regulate their condition before continuing their climb.
However, it seemed like Chen Fan saw the climb as a game. He maintained a steady pace, climbing up continuously.
Chen Fan felt the gazes directed at him from behind, but he ignored them and climbed without looking back.
The thousand-step stairway served as a test of willpower and resilience.
By the eight-hundredth step, even Chen Fan's breathing had quickened, and his limbs ached.
A voice in his head urged him to stop, to take a break. Yet, he pressed on, eyes fixed on the nearing mountaintop, determination evident.
If he couldn't endure this bit of suffering, how could he aspire to become an unrivaled expert, standing at the peak of the Tianwu Continent?
At the last step, Chen Fan finally let out a long breath and slowly turned around. He looked below, a heroic feeling rising in his heart. He said brightly, “Reach the highest peak and take a glance; all the surrounding mountains look so small.”
As his voice fell, he walked into the hall ahead.
"Chen Fan made it to the top!"
“Reach the highest peak and take a glance; all the surrounding mountains look so small! So heroic!”
"Let's continue. It's only a thousand steps. Is this enough to stop us?"
"I won't fall behind Chen Fan! Go!"
Everyone, spurred on by Chen Fan, pressed forward. Even Chen Changfeng's eyes radiated energy as he climbed like a madman.
Chen Fan walked into the hall; immediately, some elders appeared.
An elder with a long beard said, “Not bad. You climbed the thousand steps in only one hour. What’s your name, little fellow?”
Chen Fan answered, “This disciple is Chen Fan. Greetings to the three elders.”
“So, you’re Chen Fan!”
The elders' expressions changed noticeably. Their gazes scrutinized Chen Fan thoroughly.
“Hoho, you’re quite the arrogant one. A mere outer disciple challenged Duan Jingtian, not knowing your limits,” scoffed the black-robed elder with an aquiline nose, wearing a mocking expression.
All three elders knew about the three-year promise, and it seemed the elder with an aquiline nose was picking on Chen Fan.
“He’s indeed overestimating himself a little!” remarked another elder in a gray robe, smiling coldly.
The long-bearded elder furrowed his brow slightly and said, “Alright, let’s get down to business, you two. Verify his identity and record it in the register. Every inner sect disciple is precious to the sect.”
“Hoho, fine. Let’s start checking his identity.” The black-robed elder and the gray-robed elder laughed coldly, a cryptic light flashing in their eyes.
The long-bearded elder said, “Chen Fan, according to the sect rules, we have to work together to check your dantian’s sea of qi and your cultivation. Is that alright?”
Chen Fan’s heart shivered. Such scrutiny was unexpected, and he worried that they would discover the Heaven Seizing Furnace.
With a thought, Chen Fan transformed the Heaven Seizing Furnace into an inconspicuous particle, then nodded and said, “No problem.”
“Alright, Elder Yingwu, Elder Xiongwu, let’s begin,” said the long-bearded elder, Elder Yangwu.
Immediately, the three each exerted their forces toward Chen Fan.
Chen Fan didn’t resist it. Instead, he dispersed his primeval force and allowed those forces to enter his meridians, as this inspection was crucial for becoming an inner sect disciple.
The long-bearded Elder Yangwu’s method was very gentle. His primeval force flowed smoothly along Chen Fan’s meridians for inspection. In contrast, the other elders used their forces forcefully and crudely.
Chen Fan furrowed his brow, a cold light flashing in his eyes. Yingwu and Xiongwu couldn’t have been more obvious in showing they Discover more novels on NovelHub - your gateway to endless stories.
The two used their authority to inspect him like cattle, and Chen Fan had to endure it if he wanted to enter the inner sect. He vowed to settle the score with them in the future.
Soon, Elder Yangwu was done inspecting. He said, “Mmm, no problem. You may enter the inner sect. Moreover, you've already advanced to the Yuanfu realm and can be promoted to an elite disciple..."
Before Elder Yangwu could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Elder Xiongwu, “Hold it, Elder Yangwu!”
“What do you have to say, Elder Xiongwu?” Elder Yangwu asked, his brows furrowed.
Elder Xiongwu said, “As everyone knows, Chen Fan was martial trash until half a year ago. Suddenly, he was enlightened and broke through to the Yuanfu realm in just a few months. This is highly unusual.
“I suspect that a demon is possessing him. We can't allow someone with unclear origins like him to enter the inner sect!”
“That’s right, I agree with Elder Xiongwu. A demon must be living inside this little bastard. How else could he advance so fast? I think we should use a stronger method. Use the Soul Searching Technique to search his soul and verify whether he is possessed,” Elder Yingwu said with a cold smile.
Icy killing intent surged in Chen Fan’s eyes.
The Soul Searching Technique was a very vicious method. Those who had their soul searched would have their soul damaged at best and turn into an idiot at worst.
Xiongwu and Yingwu actually wanted to use such a vicious method on him. They wanted him dead!