Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 458: Chapter 204: Selection

The next morning, a melodious and resounding bell toll suddenly echoed throughout Guest Welcoming Peak, piercing through the clouds.

DONG—— DONG—— DONG——

The tolling continued, ringing nine times in total, symbolizing the official start of the selection.

Figures immediately began to stir at the various Sect residences. Led by their respective Elders, they all converged on the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s renowned Treasure Tower Peak.

The group from the Wutai Sect, led by Sang Yanping and Chu Jinyun, moved forward with the crowd.

They saw a peculiar peak rising abruptly from the ground. It was precipitous and steep, and atop its summit, a colossal tower pierced the heavens!

The tower’s body was made of some unknown material, neither metal nor stone. It looked ancient and massive, its surface inscribed with countless abstruse and complex runes that were currently circulating with a slow light.

The tower stood seventy-two stories high, with flying eaves and interlocking brackets.

This was one of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s Treasures—the Celestial Treasure Tower!

Clouds and mist coiled around the tower, with rosy light glinting through, adding to its air of mystery and majesty.

In front of the tower was an incredibly spacious White Jade Square, which was already a sea of people.

Disciples from the Three Paths and Fifty-One Mansions and over a hundred Sects stood in designated areas according to the directions, forming a dense, dark mass.

Every single person here was an elite disciple meticulously nurtured by their Sect. In any of the Mansions, they would be considered geniuses. Now gathered in one place, their auras intertwined, creating a breathtaking pressure.

From the high ground surrounding the square, one could vaguely make out several figures with extraordinary auras. They were either leaning on railings and gazing into the distance or conversing in low voices.

These were the disciples from Celestial Treasure City’s great Noble Families, and even from other branches within the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, who had come to see the prodigies among the Hundred Sects.

The members of the Wutai Sect had just taken their places in their designated area when they spotted acquaintances from the Fiery Sun Sect, Bitaomen Sect, Haisa Sect, and others from the Four Mansions of the Poison Swamp in a neighboring section.

Fu Shoushan, Shi Ziyu, and others gave Sang Yanping and Chu Jinyun a slight nod of acknowledgment.

"My god... so many people..."

Li Wang stared at the scene before him, clicking his tongue in amazement. His voice was a little hoarse. "This... Just how many experts are there?"

The palms of Nie Shanshan, Yan Yaoyang, Shi Ziyi, Fang Rui, and the others were also slightly sweaty, their faces tense.

Normally, they were the prodigies within their own Mansion, but looking around now, there were quite a few with Astral Force auras, and those at Embracing Pill Power Perfection were everywhere. An immense pressure washed over them.

Chu Jinyun noticed her disciples’ tension and comforted them in a gentle voice, "Don’t be too nervous. Relax. There are a hundred spots, so the chances aren’t small. Just do your best, and don’t let the pressure affect your performance."

Hearing Chu Jinyun’s comforting words, everyone took a deep breath and tried to calm their minds, but the gravity in their eyes didn’t lessen much.

Just then, "DONG—!"

A bell toll far deeper and more resonant than before, one that seemed to strike directly at the heart, rang out, instantly silencing all the whispers in the square.

Everyone’s gaze turned in unison toward the high platform at the front of the square.

The same Elder Deng Ziheng who had appeared the day before was seen slowly walking onto the high platform. He scanned the entire crowd with a placid gaze, his voice reaching every person’s ears with perfect clarity:

"Gifted talents, the Xu Wang Mountain Hundred Sects selection officially begins today."

"As you all must know, this selection will take place inside the Celestial Treasure Tower. The tower has seventy-two levels, each with its own mysteries. Once inside, it is up to your own abilities. The higher you climb and the less time you take, the better your score."

He raised a hand and pointed to a massive stone stele standing beside the Celestial Treasure Tower.

The stele’s surface was as smooth as a mirror. There was no writing on it yet, but a faint light shimmered within.

"This is the Celestial Treasure Stele. It will display in real-time the names of the top one hundred disciples, their respective Sects, and the highest layer they reach. After two days, those whose names are on the list will be the winners of this selection, and they will earn the qualification to enter Xu Wang Mountain to cultivate."

"Additionally, before entering the tower, you must undergo a bone age and Cultivation assessment. Disciples over the age of forty or whose Cultivation is not up to standard will be unable to enter. Impersonation is also forbidden. Violators will be severely punished."

"Now, according to the order drawn yesterday, the first group of Sect disciples will prepare to enter the tower!"

Elder Deng Ziheng was concise. After stating the rules, he took a step back, and a Steward Disciple came forward to preside.

Soon, under the gazes of countless onlookers, the first group of Sect disciples strode toward the faintly glowing entrance at the base of the Celestial Treasure Tower.

Ten figures disappeared into the luminous gateway simultaneously. A flash of light crossed the stele outside the tower, and ten names instantly appeared. Behind each name was a clear number ’1’, indicating they were on the first layer.

However, the numbers behind three of the names went out almost the instant they appeared. Those three disciples were teleported out in a daze, having clearly failed to even pass the first layer.

"So fast? That was less than three breaths!"

"It seems the first layer isn’t so simple after all..."

A wave of low gasps immediately rippled through the crowd below.

The numbers behind the remaining seven names began to change, but most stopped at ’2’ or ’3’ before changing no further. Their figures were then sent out of the tower. Only one person managed to struggle to the fourth layer; the number ’4’ flickered a few times before finally dimming.

At this point, the crowd had a more direct understanding of the Celestial Treasure Tower’s difficulty, and the atmosphere grew even more solemn.

Batch after batch of disciples entered the tower. The names on the stele outside flickered like a spinning lantern, constantly appearing, changing, and fading.

Chen Qing observed calmly, discovering that the third layer was indeed a clear dividing line. About half of the disciples failed to pass it.

Shen Xiuyong gathered some information from the Sects that had already entered and whispered to the members of the Wutai Sect and Xuanjia Sect:

"I’ve asked around. The first three layers mainly test practical combat ability. I heard that on each layer, you have to face Puppets of the same Realm. One on the first layer, five on the second, and on the third... ten! And they say these Puppets coordinate with each other perfectly, making them extremely difficult to deal with."