As the sword rushed toward Li Qingyun’s neck, a protective formation suddenly flared to life. A sharp clang echoed across the arena as the blade was abruptly halted in midair.
Li Qingyun staggered back several steps before sitting down heavily. Cold sweat trickled down his neck as the realization of how close he had co to death settled in.
A mont later, the arena spirit announced in a cold, chanical voice: "Yan Feng vs Li Qingyun. Yan Feng wins."
Han Leu turned toward Lin Xiaotian, shock clearly visible in his eyes. "Is... is that a Heaven-tier circulation art, Sect Master?"
Lin Xiaotian gave a vague smile. "Maybe, Elder Han."
Yet inwardly he was just as surprised. He had not expected Han Leu to recognize the technique’s true rank so easily.
Shifting his gaze across the arena, Lin Xiaotian noticed that many disciples had already finished their rounds.
His eyes soon landed on Shen Yue Yao and Ciao Xiaoshan.
Their match had already concluded, and as expected, Xiaoshan stood as the victor.
However, the scene before him was sowhat comical.
Xiaoshan was awkwardly trying to console Shen Yue Yao, who looked a little crestfallen. During their fight, her sword had shattered, leaving her both embarrassed and frustrated.
Lin Xiaotian sighed quietly. Being surrounded by geniuses... is both a blessing and a curse.
In the next instant, his figure vanished and reappeared beside them through teleportation.
The two disciples imdiately bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Master."
Lin Xiaotian nodded before looking at Yue Yao.
"Yue Yao," he said calmly, "first of all, rember this: as a disciple of my sect, you never need to worry about resources." "You may take whatever you need."
"Even divine weapons if you are capable of wielding them."
As he spoke, Lin Xiaotian casually tore open a spatial rift beyond it appeared the Weapons Hall.
Inside lay countless weapons beyond the disciples’ wildest imagination ancient swords, divine spears, spirit blades radiating terrifying auras.
The pressure alone made them instinctively avert their eyes they did not even dare look too closely.
With a flick of his hand, Lin Xiaotian closed the spatial tear.
He looked back at Yue Yao. "Today’s defeat should not discourage you."
"It should ignite your fire even further."
Then he pointed toward Ciao Xiaoshan. "Make it your goal to surpass him."
Yue Yao imdiately bowed. "Yes, Master. I will never lose my fighting will."
As she lifted her head and glanced toward Xiaoshan, a different glint appeared in her eyes.
Not resentnt but the fire of determination.
As Lin Xiaotian teleported back to the arena, a sudden thought surfaced in his mind while his gaze slowly swept across the disciples gathered there.
He first looked toward the disciples who had lost their matches and spoke calmly.
"All those who have lost your matches should move to the spectator stands and quietly observe the remainder of the competition from there."
The defeated disciples did not dare question the order and quickly moved away from the arena floor.
After that his gaze shifted toward the disciples who had won their matches, and he slowly gestured toward the center.
"The fifteen of you who won your matches should step forward to the central arena."
Many disciples watching the scene imdiately assud the next round would simply be another series of battles between the victors, and the atmosphere beca slightly tense as everyone waited for the new matchups to be announced.
However instead of announcing duels, Lin Xiaotian slowly descended from the sky onto the arena floor while Miao-Miao and Han Leu followed behind him.
Looking at the fifteen disciples standing before him, Lin Xiaotian spoke in a calm and steady tone.
"The next round will be slightly different from what you are expecting."
"I will project a portion of my aura upon all of you."
"The last eight people out of the fifteen who remain standing will advance to the next round."
The mont those words were spoken the entire arena fell into shock.
Even Han Leu showed a trace of concern as he stepped closer to Lin Xiaotian and spoke in a low voice.
"Sect Master, this thod could be dangerous because so disciples might try to force themselves beyond their limits."
Lin Xiaotian laughed lightly after hearing those words and replied without hesitation. "That is precisely what I want, Elder Han."
"I want them to go beyond their limits."
After that Lin Xiaotian turned toward the disciples and spoke again. "Stand properly in formation and prepare yourselves."
The fifteen disciples quickly adjusted their positions and stood in formation as the atmosphere around the arena suddenly grew heavy.
A terrifying aura erupted from Lin Xiaotian’s body at that mont, and for a brief instant it felt as though the heavens themselves were about to collapse under the weight of his power.
However, as the aura approached the disciples Lin Xiaotian deliberately suppressed it to only a very small portion of its true strength.
Even so the pressure that descended upon them still felt like an invisible mountain pressing down upon their bodies.
Ti slowly passed as the disciples endured the pressure after one incense stick of ti had passed, not a single disciple had collapsed.
Seeing this Lin Xiaotian’s gaze changed slightly without warning the pressure suddenly increased to four tis its previous intensity.
Three disciples collapsed almost imdiately after the increase, their bodies giving out as they fell to their knees before attendants quickly removed them from the arena.
Another incense stick of ti slowly passed under the increased pressure, and during that period three more disciples finally collapsed one after another.
Lin Xiaotian observed the remaining disciples calmly. Let us make this a little more interesting.
With that thought he increased the pressure again.
However, this ti he secretly multiplied the pressure eight tis specifically on Ciao Xiaoshan, Tian He, and Yan Feng.
Even under that disproportionate pressure those three disciples stood as though nothing had changed.
Soon another disciple collapsed under the increasing aura, leaving only eight people standing.
Although the number required to advance had already been reached, Lin Xiaotian did not end the trial and instead continued increasing the pressure.
Gradually the aura reached a terrifying level where even early Core Formation experts would struggle to remain standing.
Four more disciples collapsed one after another.
Now only four disciples remained standing.
Yan Feng.
Ciao Xiaoshan.
Tian He.
And another boy.
The pressure on the three geniuses had already reached the level comparable to mid Core Formation cultivators, yet they still stood there calmly as though the aura barely affected them.
However, both Han Leu and Lin Xiaotian had already shifted their attention toward soone else.
The boy standing beside them trembled violently while sweat poured from his body like rain, dripping down and forming a small pool around his feet.
Despite the terrifying pressure crushing him, he still forced himself to remain upright.
Lin Xiaotian suddenly rembered who the boy was. Miao Han.
This boy possesses the lowest talent among all the disciples here.
Without the environnt of this sect he would likely never have broken through the Body Refinent realm.
Lin Xiaotian felt genuine surprise as he observed the boy’s persistence.
Without hesitation he increased the pressure on Miao Han to the sa level as the other three. The boy imdiately began trembling even more violently.
His body looked as though it would collapse at any mont, yet he still refused to kneel.
Lin Xiaotian increased the pressure again.
Now the aura reached a level where even peak Core Formation cultivators would struggle to remain standing.
For the first ti a faint frown appeared on Ciao Xiaoshan’s face, although Yan Feng and Tian He still appeared completely unaffected.
Lin Xiaotian understood the truth behind that calmness.
Unless my pressure reaches the level of Divine Transformation, it will barely affect those two monsters because of their unique constitutions.
However, his attention remained focused on Miao Han.
The boy’s head slowly drooped forward while his entire body trembled violently.
Just when it seed he would finally collapse, the boy suddenly forced his spine upright again with sheer determination.
Blood began flowing from his mouth then from his nose and then even from his ears.
Lin Xiaotian imdiately realized the situation had reached a critical point.
If I increase the pressure even slightly further, the boy will die.
Without hesitation Lin Xiaotian withdrew his aura entirely. The mont the pressure vanished Miao Han collapsed onto the ground unconscious.
Han Leu imdiately moved forward to intervene, but Lin Xiaotian casually tossed him a pill. "Give this to the boy."
Han Leu caught the pill and froze for a mont. "Sect Master... this is a Grade-5 top-tier healing pill."
Lin Xiaotian simply replied calmly. "Go and give it to him."
Han Leu quickly administered the pill to Miao Han and began helping him circulate the dicinal energy, while silently feeling astonished at the sect master’s generosity.
anwhile Lin Xiaotian turned toward the remaining disciples and spoke loudly so everyone could hear.
"On the path to immortality many people believe that talent, resources, power, and luck are the most important factors."
He paused briefly before continuing. "They are mistaken."
"The most important thing is will."
Lin Xiaotian pointed toward the unconscious Miao Han lying on the ground. "Among all of you, only this boy truly pushed himself beyond his limits."
"The rest of you stopped far earlier than your true breaking points."
His gaze slowly swept across the arena. "If you wish to chase monsters like Yan Feng, Tian He, and Ciao Xiaoshan, you cannot afford to remain comfortable."
"If you truly do not wish to be left behind by your fellow Daoists, then you must stand firm until your limits finally break."
Hearing those words the reactions among the disciples were completely different.
So lowered their heads in sha others felt a fierce determination ignite within their hearts.
A few silently believed that pursuing stability might be the safer path.
However, Lin Xiaotian had already achieved the purpose behind this entire test.
He finally spoke once more. "The next round will begin tomorrow."
After finishing those words Lin Xiaotian disappeared instantly, teleporting directly back to his chambers.
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