A voice sounded nearby, and Peng Dahai was slightly taken aback. He looked around but found no one.

"No way, is the Xiaoyao Sect haunted?" Peng Dahai said in surprise.

He didn't dare use his Divine Sense in the territory of Celestial Venerable Xiao Yao, but he didn't expect it to be haunted here.

"Haunt your head, look under your feet."

At this moment, the voice came from below. Peng Dahai looked down and was dumbfounded.

He saw a large black dog with a vertical-eye-like pattern adorning its forehead lying at the door, looking at him with disdainful eyes!

"You, a dog, can talk?" Peng Dahai exclaimed in shock.

The Xiaoyao Sect is indeed the Emperor's sect, even having a talking dog; truly a sight to behold.

And the dog's level of cultivation, it's at the Ascension stage!

A dog at the Ascension stage guarding the door, this is quite something.

Truly worthy of the Emperor, amazing!

"How can you, a Saint King, be so ignorant?" the Black Dog rolled its eyes and said.

"You, a mere Ascension stage Spirit Beast, dare to insult me?" Peng Dahai exclaimed in surprise.

"Hehe, you're just a Saint King after all. I was also one in the past, but my cultivation level fell. I'll regain it sooner or later."

The Black Dog showed a human-like disdain in its eyes, gave a cold snort, stood up, wagged its tail, and walked toward the Sect Leader's hall.

Pleave leave a bewildered Peng Dahai standing in the wind in utter confusion.

...

On the Celestial Ladder.

Countless people climbed the ladder, but many were sitting on the steps, panting heavily, with no strength left to go further.

Most of these people were in the Body Refining or Foundation Establishment stages, and the area they reached happened to be where the Golden Core pressure was, consuming a lot of energy.

However, even if they couldn't reach the top, they still had a chance in the second round of tests. Those who didn't reach the top could participate in the second round.

Soon, the second and third people to reach the top appeared, they were Daoist Qingfeng and Zhu Gu.

Both of them were far beyond others in cultivation level, reaching the top easily.

As time passed, most people were blocked in the higher regions, where Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivators were, unable to withstand the pressure of the Mahayana stage.

There were still a few people at the top, including two especially striking figures about to reach the top.

Gu Ying and Yan Yu were those striking figures, due to their high attractiveness, especially Gu Ying, with long legs, a full chest, and a young, beautiful face.

Many people took notice of the two of them.

"Those two beauties are amazing, about to reach the top."

"Their cultivation level is at the Tribulation Stage, reaching the top is inevitable."

"Ah, we will probably fail."

"It's tough, I really want to join the Xiaoyao Sect, but I don't have such great abilities."

"The pressure is so strong, my legs are already sore."

The Mahayana pressure blocked most people, who could only look up to those at the top with longing and admiration.

Luo Tao was among them, gritting his teeth, sweating profusely, bending over like a hunchbacked old man, with trembling and aching bones.

He was just at the Nascent Soul Stage, powerless against the Mahayana pressure.

"No way, I can't lose. To become stronger, I must reach the top!" Luo Tao's face was flushed, holding onto his thighs, dragging himself step by step past many people.

From afar, Chen Lan watched this with a slight smile, seeing that Luo Tao genuinely wanted to join the Xiaoyao Sect.

You've got this, you'll definitely make it.

In a single thought, an unknown spiritual power flew toward Luo Tao, forming a barrier around his body, completely blocking all the pressure.

In an instant, Luo Tao felt all the pressure on him vanish without a trace. He could even straighten his back and stand up straight.

Those around him looked on in shock.

"Wow, dude, how are you standing upright?"

"Damn, is this a last burst of energy?"

"Don't force it, buddy, if you can't make it, just head back down."

"You can straighten up under such strong pressure?"

None of them could straighten, being suffocated by the pressure, while Luo Tao could stand up straight, what was happening?

"Hahaha, the summit, here I come!" Luo Tao, realizing he was unaffected by the pressure, felt light and ran toward the summit.

He overtook countless people at great speed, surpassing Yan Yu and the others within seconds, reaching the summit faster than them!

The crowd was shocked, not knowing what had happened.

Yan Yu and the others were more stunned, standing on the spot, gaping at Luo Tao.

This man at such a low level, how could he be so fast?

Not to mention those below, even Peng Dahai and his two companions looked at Luo Tao in astonishment.

How did this Nascent Soul cultivator make it up?

Did he just sprint up there?

"Hahaha, I am the chosen one, thank you, Great Emperor, thank you Xiaoyao Sect, I have become an outer disciple!" Luo Tao was overjoyed, kneeling toward the Sect Leader's hall and bowing in thanks.

He kept thanking the Celestial Venerable Xiao Yao, clearly very happy.

After a full minute of bowing, he stopped.

The crowd didn't understand, thinking Luo Tao's physique was special, hence he ignored the pressure and ran up.

But seeing Luo Tao ascend inspired many, and they took steps again, biting their teeth and rushing up.

...

An hour passed.

Gu Ying, Yan Yu, and others had reached the summit.

Most were stuck in the middle or a bit further up.

At this moment, another change occurred.

Li Long and Chen Mingyuan, at the very bottom, seemed driven by some mysterious force, actually ignoring the influence of the Array, slowly floating.

[Due to your contributions, the Sect Leader said you both can directly become outer disciples]

Master Qingxuan's voice rang out, lifting them up to the doorway to join Peng Dahai and the others.

"Thank you, Great Emperor!" Li Long and Chen Mingyuan both clasped their hands in thanks toward the Sect Leader's hall.

Unexpectedly, they reached the summit so easily.

One of them had low cultivation, and the other had none, yet they could become outer disciples, thanks to the Great Emperor.

[For the rest, though you did not pass the first test, do not be discouraged, there is still a chance]

[The second round tests your willpower, to see if you can resist temptation]

[If all tests fail, there are the Alchemy Master's test, Artifact Refiner's test, Talisman Master's, and Array Daoist's tests]

[Passing any of these tests will also make you an outer disciple and enjoy sect benefits]

[However, due to the large number of participants, I will conduct the tests in batches. Top climbers are exempt from the tests and will be led to the disciple's room to rest]

[Now please, those below Foundation Establishment, come with me]

As soon as the words fell, Master Qingxuan waved, creating a series of Teleportation Arrays under the feet of those below Foundation Establishment.

With a buzz, Master Qingxuan took them to another testing ground.

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