The once-in-a-decade selection competition for the younger generation had begun. Ascend the Heavenly Path, step by step. Only the top ten would succeed and obtain the qualification.
The test seemed unexpectedly simple.
Yet, all the prodigies participating in the selection wore solemn expressions.
Simple?
Ridiculous. This was the selection test that had been used for a hundred thousand years throughout history. While it always appeared simple on the surface, how could the Heavenly Path be so easy to climb? Otherwise, why would it have been chosen by the Gu Lan Holy Church as the test for the younger generation selection competition for a hundred thousand years?
It seemed simple, but the Heavenly Path was difficult, more difficult than ascending to the azure heavens.
A Holy Elder stood in the void, smiling as he spoke, "Please prepare yourselves, prodigies—"
"Ascend the Heavenly Path!"
As the Holy Elder's words fell, the over ten thousand young prodigies on the Ascension Platform all charged towards the broad steps of the Heavenly Path, ready to sprint upwards.
Boom—
From the lofty, unreachable Heavenly God Mountain, boundless radiance immediately showered down, overwhelming the entire Heavenly Path, accompanied by a surging impact force, heavy as ten thousand jun.
Indeed, to successfully ascend the Heavenly Path, one must withstand the pressure from the Heavenly God Mountain to climb towards the heavens.
This was the challenge.
Faintly visible, about a thousand zhang high on the Heavenly Path, three figures sat cross-legged, their entire bodies continuously releasing vast, surging waves of Saint might.
These were three Holy Elders of the Holy Church. They released their Saint might, applying pressure on the young powerhouses.
And even after surpassing a thousand zhang, it wasn't over, because above them were other powerful Holy Elders, even more in number, also waiting to release their Saint might and apply pressure.
Moreover, there were only ten spots, the greatest temptation for the younger generation. The young powerhouses would employ all means to compete for these ten spots.
Therefore, there was no such thing as simple. There was only cruelty.
The over ten thousand young prodigies from the human territories officially set foot on the Heavenly Path. The moment they stepped on it, they could feel an unprecedented, surging pressure continuously impacting from above. Almost ninety percent of the young prodigies instantly lost their balance, nearly tumbling down.
Many paled. Although they knew the Heavenly Path was difficult to ascend, for it to be this hard right from the start was perhaps excessively difficult.
In the Holy City, many cultivators rose into the air, closely watching this selection competition. Some factions were even already scheming.
Because anyone who could obtain one of the final ten spots would undoubtedly be an extraordinary prodigy, valued by the Holy Church. It was necessary to establish good relations.
Boom—
The over ten thousand young prodigies ascended the Heavenly Path, continuously climbing. They were all prodigies from various domains; how could they be weak? The weakest were at least Demigod powerhouses, fearless as they courageously climbed the Heavenly Path.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
The young powerhouses soared upwards. Among them was the young Talents transformed by Ye Chen's "Stealing Heaven and Changing Earth." However, he couldn't help but smile at this so-called Heavenly Path, recalling the celestial staircase within the King's Ancient Hall. Suddenly, his expression turned peculiar, mixed with a trace of excitement.
Because he was now increasingly certain that the legacy of the September Great Power was within the Gu Lan Holy Church. The pressure from this celestial staircase was practically identical.
Only, he had experienced it back then, and he was merely in the King Realm. Now, with his Supreme One body, he feared nothing. A faint golden light subtly flowed over his body's surface. All the Saint might pressure impacting down was easily neutralized, unable to affect him in the slightest.
His speed wasn't fast, but his steps were always steady, ascending step by step, neither too fast nor too slow.
Because moving too fast made one an easy target. The leading group at the very top was directly attacked by the young powerhouses below, with divine abilities slashing past their faces.
All of this was tacitly permitted by the Gu Lan Holy Church. Moreover, the Heavenly God Mountain was always enveloped by boundless heavenly might, solid and indestructible, capable of withstanding the attacks of the young powerhouses.
A thousand zhang distance, ten thousand steps.
The higher one climbed, the greater the pressure naturally became. By the time they reached the three hundredth step, some had already begun to fail under the pressure, eliminated from the Heavenly Path.
Naturally, the young powerhouses were almost at each other's throats from the start. Divine abilities blasted, clashing against each other, fierce battles erupting, extremely intense.
After a thousand steps, over seven hundred young generation powerhouses had been eliminated.
If not for the Holy Elders constantly watching, people would have been killed long ago.
The selection was proceeding tensely. Ye Chen remained steady as always. He also didn't seek the limelight or actively attack others, not wanting to become the target of everyone's arrows. But if others attacked him, he would immediately raise his hand to suppress them, eliminating them.
During this period, he had already slapped away eight people, all with a single palm strike, making the other young powerhouses around him wary, knowing he was not to be trifled with.
Additionally, Ye Chen faintly sensed several familiar auras, all well-hidden. If Ye Chen hadn't met them before, and some he had even fought, he wouldn't have recognized them.
These people were ferocious, clearing large areas in an instant. Any other young powerhouses daring to approach were directly swept away, thrown off the Heavenly Path one by one, simply ferocious to an extreme. They also attracted the attention and gaze of others, and naturally, many were wary.
After the two thousandth step, another thirteen hundred people were eliminated, almost double the number eliminated by the thousandth step.
Not only were the young powerhouses taking action, the competition fierce, but also a considerable portion of young prodigies found it difficult to withstand the Saint might of the three Holy Elders, unable to continue climbing, and chose to give up.
Subsequently, the competition among the young powerhouses grew increasingly fierce. Later on, almost every step saw someone eliminated.
Finally, after ten thousand steps, the three Holy Elders were passed. Only a little over three hundred people could reach here, all at least super Demigod young powerhouses of the Seventh Heaven or above, including genuine Divine Transformation Realm young prodigies. Naturally, Ye Chen and several other prodigies from the Myriad Domains were also hidden among them.
But all of this was not the end, only a new beginning.
Boom—
A pressure far more terrifying than before surged down from the Heavenly Path, significantly stronger than before.
It could be seen that above, a full six Holy Elders sat cross-legged, double the number, and the pressure was also more than double.
Moreover, the previous three Holy Elders targeted over ten thousand young powerhouses, but now there were only three hundred. The Saint might pressure seemed even more immense, even causing the void to tremble.
It could be seen that the other young prodigies all paled, but Ye Chen remained unchanged, steadily ascending the steps, climbing the Heavenly Path.
Neither hurried nor slow.
At this moment, the entire Holy City, and even the world, closely watched every move of these three hundred young prodigies.
Boom—
Someone attacked, striking towards Ye Chen beside them.