The people from the Nine States did not walk out immediately. Although they were extremely taken back after hearing Xia Qingyuan’s words, all the people present were extraordinary figures with a strong frame of mind. They were all thinking about it.
“I would like to ask the Supervising Inspector, if lighting up the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda only gives us the right to take the test, where will the test be held?” a handsome teen asked. The person was the Nine State College’s prodigy Lin Shubai, Saint Li’s disciple.
“It will not be in the Nine States,” Xia Qingyuan replied.
“If we pass, will we still be able to return to the Nine States? What happens if we fail?” Lin Shubai asked again. The questions he was asking were questions that many people had wanted to ask.
“If you pass the test, you can cultivate in the Upper Worlds and you can return to the Nine States. As for failure, you are asking how dangerous it will be?” Xia Qingyuan stared at Lin Shubai with a deep expression and replied nonchalantly, “I will not force you.”
Everyone had a glint in their eyes. The nonchalant attitude contained an extremely proud attitude. What Xia Qingyuan meant was it was up to them whether to participate.
“How long will the test be?” another person asked.
“I don’t know. It could be one year, it could be five.” Xia Qingyuan’s voice was still calm as she replied. Many people were taken aback and looked at their elders.
“All of you decide for yourselves,” Saint Li said from the Saint’s seat. His words meant that he allowed the disciples of the Nine State College to go try. He naturally understood more about the cultivation world than his disciples. Entering the Upper Worlds to cultivate was a right given to those who had entered the Saint Plane. Now, Xia Qingyuan was giving the younger generation such an opportunity. The real prodigies should not miss it.
This was a huge opportunity. If they were able to enter the Upper Worlds to cultivate, their chances of entering the Saint Plane would increase greatly. After they entered the Saint Plane, they would have more choices.
“Master, I wish to try,” Lin Shubai said to Saint Li, then stood up and walked towards the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda.
“Stand underneath it,” the person in golden armor said to him. Lin Shubai knew that the other person was a Nine State Guard.
He walked underneath the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda and released his aura. In an instant, wisps of light landed on his body as though the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda could feel his aura. At that moment, Lin Shubai felt his entire body jerking violently, and a horrific force attempted to pull out his soul from his body. His Spiritual Will moved uncontrollably towards the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda.
“Ahhhh…” A voice filled with agony sounded, and many people felt chills go down their spine. Lin Shubai was extremely strong, but he was in such a terrible state under the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda.
Soon, everyone saw the pagoda above Lin Shubai let out rays of light, turning into an illusion of Lin Shubai. His face contorted wildly as though he was suffering unbearable pain. He released his Life Spirit involuntarily, as though he was not the one who had released it and it had been dragged out from his body.
The Lapis Lazuli Pagoda spun in the air and many people stared attentively at the scene. Many people from the Nine State College were extremely worried, but nobody interrupted it. Even Saint Li stared intently at the scene without attempting to stop it.
Finally, a tragic cry was heard as the light in the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda lit up. Three Zhang lit up in the nine Zhang-high pagoda, then Lin Shubai’s illusion shattered and the light went out. A terrifying light ray shot through Lin Shubai’s body and shook him away from the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda.
This… Many people thought, surprised. What a terrifying Lapis Lazuli Pagoda.
“Name,” the person in golden armor at the side asked.
“Nine State College, Lin Shubai,” Lin Shubai replied after catching his breath.
At that moment, everyone saw the Nine State Guard at the side wave his hand. Instantly, an empty piece of parchment appeared and he used Spiritual Qi to inscribe Lin Shubai’s name on it. He opened his mouth and said, “Lapis Lazuli Pagoda, three Zhang. You have obtained the right to take the test.” Lin Shubai nodded and returned to his position, his mind still thinking about what had happened.
The Lapis Lazuli Pagoda was nine Zhang tall, but he had only lit up three Zhang. If he had prepared beforehand, he would probably do better. What had happened just now was too sudden and he did not have time to think.
Next, another hallowed disciple from the Nine State College stepped forward. This time, only two Zhang on the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda lit up. The hallowed disciple was dejected as he knew how much of the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda lighting up had its purpose.
People from the Nine State College walked out in succession to try. However, when Tong He stepped out, everyone became more serious. Tong He and Lin Shubai were the two people who were acknowledged to have the highest potential in the Nine State College. They wondered how far Tong He could go.
When Tong He stepped underneath the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda, his Life Spirit moved up into the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda. At the same time, an illusion of him appeared, as though his Spiritual Will had been extracted from his body. However, with the experience of those before him, Tong He appeared calm. Although he was suffering extreme pain, he did not waver in the slightest.
The light lit up higher and higher, rushing past three Zhang, then four, five, and when it reached six Zhang, it seemed as though it could not go any further. However, Tong He did not give up and continued pushing. Finally, the light on the seventh Zhang lit up and he reached his limit. The light went out and the glow dimmed. Tong He’s body convulsed and he stepped out.
Lin Shubai’s expression became pale. The people from the Nine State College had compared him with Tong He many times. They were the iconic figures of the Nine State College, but today, he had been crushed by Tong He in the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda’s test. Of course, this was also because of him being first to take the test, but others would not think about it that way.
“Congratulations, little brother.” Seeing Tong He walk back, Lin Shubai smiled and nodded at him, calming his emotions.
“If brother had been more prepared, you would definitely have fared better.” Tong He nodded at Lin Shubai, then took a seat.
The people from the holy lands then stepped forward. Xia Qingyuan had not replied to them how dangerous the test would be and had only replied that she would not force them. However, the geniuses from the holy lands continued to step forward, wanting to grab hold of the rare opportunity. Of those who had walked out, only about half of them could light up the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda. This caused many people from the holy lands to be shocked.
The people that had come this time were carefully selected by the holy lands. All those who dared to take the test were people with extraordinary potential. Even so, only half of them could light up the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda. Moreover, lighting up the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda would merely give them the right to participate in the test. Nobody knew what they would experience later on, but it would probably be extremely difficult.
Ye Futian quietly watched the holy lands’ prodigies taking the test. Tong He had lit up seven Zhang on the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda and nobody had surpassed him after that. Even the strongest person had only obtained the same result as him. That was probably the limit of the Nine States’ holy lands prodigies.
What surprised Ye Futian was that Liu Zong had also managed to light up seven Zhang on the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda. Evidently, the genius of the Xihua Sacred Mountain really was outstanding. Even though Ye Futian did not like Liu Zong’s hypocrisy, he had to acknowledge his talent.
Apart from that, the Hall of Holy Light, Battle Sage Palace, and other holy lands also had geniuses who caused the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda to light up seven Zhang. They were all the most outstanding figures in their own holy lands. The Lapis Lazuli Pagoda seemed to be able to reflect one’s potential on a certain level.
At that moment, Hua Jieyu looked at Ye Futian and transmitted her voice to him, asking, “Are you going?”
Ye Futian shook his head. There were too many details that Xia Qingyuan had refused to divulge. Where they were going for the test? How long they were going for? As long as he did not know this, he would not go.
What if it took longer than five years?
He was now the Holy Zhi Palace Lord, so he could not just leave. Although he did not care about the daily activities of the Palace, leaving was another matter altogether. Moreover, apart from that reason, that Saint instrument seemed to be able to reveal one’s Life Spirit. He did not want others to see all his Life Spirits.
As for going to the Upper Worlds to cultivate, he did not really mind. No matter where he cultivated, it was the same. The Saint Plane could not constrict him; he would naturally go when he wanted to. There were too many unknowns if he followed Xia Qingyuan. When given the choice, he preferred to have control over everything instead of leaving the choice to others.
Of course, he was considering for the others as well. Second Sister, Third Brother, Ye Wuchen, Huang Jiuge, Xu Que, Yuan Zhan, and many others. Would they want to take the test?
The Sacred War between the two holy lands had yet to end, but in the future, they could not use battle matrices, so even if war were to break out in the future, they would be able to make a significant impact.
Soon, Ye Futian came to a decision. He would let them make the choice.
At that moment, Ye Futian saw a familiar figure walking out to the bottom of the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda. Not just him, but many people from the Holy Zhi Palace also saw the handsome teen.
He was once the Barren State’s chosen one—Bai Luli.
Ye Futian involuntarily looked towards him. However, Bai Luli only lit up one Zhang on the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda before leaving. It seemed that he did not put in his best effort.
Back then, Ye Futian had battled with Bai Luli as a Noble Plane cultivator against a Sage Plane cultivator. In reality, he had pushed his will of the emperor to its limit in that battle, and he had already comprehended many rule powers, including the spatial rule power back then. In actuality, the teen that had been held in high regard by the Barren State had outstanding potential. He did not expect that Bai Luli would go to the Jixia Holy Palace to cultivate after that battle.
Perhaps his frame of mind changed after that battle, Ye Futian thought to himself. Back then, Bai Luli had been engaged to his Second Sister on Crouching Dragon Mountain, and he had been resentful of Bai Luli. However, times were different now. His Third Brother was with his Second Sister, and his frame of mind had changed. Compared to his younger brother Bai Ze, Bai Luli did not do anything wrong apart from wanting to marry his Second Sister.
Back then, the Palace’s Will was dedicated to helping him enter the Saint Plane. As such, Ye Futian could not bring himself to hate or admire Bai Luli. He only felt a slight surge in emotion when seeing him again.
“Little Brother, will you go?” a voice transmitted in Ye Futian’s ear.
Ye Futian looked down. It was Gu Dongliu, transmitting a message to him.
“Third Brother, I still need to keep watch over the Palace. I will not go, but if you wish to go, don’t worry about the Palace.” Ye Futian transmitted a message back to him as a reply. After his Third Brother’s battle with Bai Luli, his Life Spirit had transformed. As his cultivation level was not too high, the people from the Nine States did not notice that apart from Ye Futian and Yu Sheng, as well as those who had participated in the Nine State Forum, his Third Brother’s potential and frame of mind were also elite. Thinking from that perspective, Ye Futian knew that his Third Brother should go for it.
“Okay, I’ll go and take a look this time,” Gu Dongliu replied. He hoped that he would be able to help his Little Brother after he came back. Although he was now a Magi, it was still hard for him to make an impact in the Sacred War.
“Okay.” Ye Futian smiled and nodded. He was not worried about his Third Brother. In reality, it had always been his Third Brother taking care of him.
“Yu Sheng will not go. Third Brother, go and ask around to see if anyone wishes to go with you.” Ye Futian transmitted a message to him again.
People from all the holy lands in the Nine States and Xia Qingyuan were here. Yu Sheng’s Life Spirit naturally could not be revealed. As such, he and Yu Sheng would not participate in Xia Qingyuan’s test. As for the others, he would leave it up to them to decide. Although this test might be dangerous, it was inevitable on their path of cultivation.
As many experts stepped out one after another, Gu Dongliu also stepped forward and walked towards the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda. Many people’s gaze landed on Gu Dongliu. They were not familiar with this person, but as the first person to step out from the Barren State, they all wanted to see if he could light up the Lapis Lazuli Pagoda.
Of course, they looked forward to seeing Ye Futian and Yu Sheng’s performance.
At that moment, they did not know that Ye Futian and Yu Sheng had no plans to step out at all!