Chapter 2705 Soaring All the Way to the Top

People had a deep impression of Zhou Zhizhi. His performances in the first and second rounds weren’t exceptional, but they weren’t terrible either. The reason why many people remembered him was because he had achieved so many ‘firsts.’

He was the first to pass the first round. He was the first to participate and pass the second round. Now, he would be the first to attempt the third round.

It would be hard

not

to remember him. Even Lin Xun had a deep impression of him. However, Zhou Zhizhi simply didn't want to be in the spotlight for this kind of reason. He would rather be remembered for his achievements than for always being the first to appear...

The test had begun. Zhou Zhizhi calmed himself, took a deep breath, and soared into the air, charging up along the Absolute Sunder Sword Palace.

A distance of three thousand feet was a distance any supreme Emperor Ancestor could reach with a single teleport. To his surprise, when he actually began to fly, he realized that this test was far from as simple as he had originally imagined.

The aura emanating from the Absolute Sunder Sword Palace was like layers upon layers of barriers pressing down upon the void. Let alone teleporting, even flying was incredibly hard against such an oppressive force.

Every step forward was met with a terrifying onslaught of pressure. Soon, he was covered in cold sweat as he expended his entire cultivation base to the utmost. He barely managed to slowly head upward.

To the eyes of the crowd, Zhou Zhizhi was acting as if he was carrying a mountain on his back while trudging through mud. He sometimes stumbled and sometimes panted from fatigue. Sweat had long soaked through his clothes.

Everyone’s eyes widened. Zhou Zhizhi was a supreme Emperor Ancestor who had passed two rounds of the selection process, yet now, simply reaching that three thousand foot mark was a struggle. He was straining, using every ounce of strength.

While the rules of this third round might sound easy, it was certainly not something anyone could pass! By the time he reached three thousand feet, Zhou Zhizhi had nearly fallen from the sky several times, leaving many people on edge for him.

Fortunately, he had finally arrived safely. Incredibly, this seemingly miserable figure appeared unsatisfied with meeting the mark and continued on. Each step looked arduous, but he continued to climb higher.

Gradually, many people were moved and filled with admiration for him. Perhaps only someone with such great perseverance and courage could achieve such success in the great dao.

Finally, at nearly three thousand five hundred feet, Zhou Zhizhi stopped. While wiping the sweat from his forehead, he condensed an azure cloud of the great dao with his willpower, and elegantly inscribed his name upon it.

Then, he flopped over and plummeted from the sky head first. Once he got closer to the ground, he flipped over steadily and came to a stop, breathing heavily. "I'm so tired!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

Qi Qingshi came out next. Compared to Zhou Zhizhi, her movements seemed much more easy, but as her figure rose higher, her speed gradually slowed. Finally, she stopped at an altitude of six thousand feet!

This situation immediately caused a sensation in the audience, as her achievement was truly dazzling. However, a hint of resentment and helplessness lingered in Qi Qingshi's eyes.

At this height, the floating azure clouds of the great dao had become sparse, but many still remained. Many more azure clouds floated at even higher heights. All this meant was that in the past, many people, like her, had reached this height, and many more had surpassed it!

Unfortunately, no matter how unwilling she was, she could do nothing about it; this was her limit. After Qi Qingshi passed the test, one supreme Emperor Ancestor after another took the test, with each one reaching the three thousand foot mark without incident.

Some, like Xiang Xiaoyuan, stopped at exactly three thousand feet. Some, like Dugu Youran, stopped at higher altitudes, like three thousand nine hundred feet.

This also showed that Xiang Xiaoyuan, who had come from the Great Thousand Worlds, ultimately lacked the foundational skills of Dugu Youran, a daughter of heaven who had lived in the Seventh Heaven Domain since childhood.

Lin Xun was the seventh to appear. When he began, everyone in the audience perked up, their eyes fixed on him. His astonishing performance in the first and second rounds left no doubt that he would pass this test. What the audience was actually interested about was how high he would ultimately reach!

"Do you see those azure clouds of the great dao that are nine thousand feet away? It's said that they are the test results of the three closed door disciples who had been accepted by the patriarch of the Origin Sect." An old antique whispered, "If Lin Xun can reach this height, then he will be highly valued by the Origin Sect Ancestral Court!"

Nine thousand feet away were three azure clouds of the great dao that were floating in different areas. Those were the results of the three personal disciples of the founder of the Origin Sect, and they had been sent to the Ninth Heaven Domain to cultivate long ago!

Over countless years, there were many newcomers who had attempted to challenge the nine thousand foot height, but without exception, they had all ended in failure.

"Heh, I know a thing or two about the masters of those clouds. They are now powerful beings among the Eternal Divine Clans, immeasurably noble." Qi Tingzi chuckled. "But I doubt that Lin Xun can achieve such a feat in this third round."

Jun Huan also smiled and said slowly, "Whether you believe it or not, it won't change the fact that my junior brother has entered the Origin Sect Ancestral Court. Also, you'd better keep your mouth shut during the assessment and don't come afoul of the rules. Otherwise, I'm afraid the fellow daoists at the Origin Sect Ancestral Court won't approve of your actions."

"You..." Qi Tingzi's eyes shone with anger. However, just as she was about to say something, she saw Lin Xun starting the test.

Everyone's attention was drawn to him. He stepped into the air, his robes fluttering. His demeanor was like a banished immortal who was walking through the air.

He wasn't fast, yet it was as if he was strolling leisurely in a garden. Within a flash, he reached a thousand feet. To everyone's astonishment, Lin Xun remained calm and composed, his speed remaining unchanged.

Soon, he reached the three thousand foot mark! At this moment, a commotion erupted in the audience, with countless people staring at each other in bewilderment. No one had expected him to reach this height so easily, as if he had encountered no obstacles along the way.

This was undoubtedly terrifying!

"Truly a pervert..." Zhou Zhizhi smacked his lips in amazement.

A surge of resentment welled up in Qi Qingshi's heart. This mere comparison had revealed a vast gap between herself and Lin Xun.

However, many others remained calm, such as Fang Daoping, Xiao Wenyuan, and Li Zhen. Given the prowess he had displayed in the first and second rounds, it was no surprise that he had reached this point.

As time passed, he quickly reached four thousand feet, five thousand feet, six thousand feet... He was soaring all the way! This situation left countless people dumbfounded. Even at this moment, his movements showed no signs of stagnation, and he remained as calm as ever. His leisurely demeanor showed how effortless it was for him!

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

When he reached eight thousand feet, the crowd fell silent. Everyone stared with their eyes wide open, their mouths dry, and their jaws clenched. Six thousand feet was the best result of the six supreme Emperors Ancestors who had previously participated in the test. Now, Lin Xun had already surpassed that record.

At eight thousand feet, the azure clouds of the great dao were extremely sparse, with fewer than ten clouds in total! Furthermore, it was clear that this was not his final result. After reaching this height, his upward speed slowed slightly. With each step, dao light surged from him, rumbling, and he was clearly under pressure. Despite that, he was not in a state of disarray.

He continued to advance, his figure inching closer to the nine thousand foot mark under the amazed gazes of the crowd. At this moment, even Fang Daoping, Xiao Wenyuan, and the others revealed a look of surprise. Would Lin Xun ultimately be able to leave his name beyond the nine thousand foot mark?

Donghuang Qing, who presided over this assessment, had a gloomy expression. As for Qi Tingzi, Zhongli Chong, and the others in the distance, they were filled with resentment and discontentment.

The more dazzling Lin Xun performed, the more uncomfortable they felt. Who would enjoy watching an enemy they desperately wanted to kill rise to prominence before them?

A scream of excitement resounded, piercing the ears and shocking the hearts of the audience, "Nine thousand feet! He's broken through!"

With countless people watching raptly, Lin Xun had ascended to the nine thousand foot mark!

This was an achievement that would shock the ages, one that would be recorded in the annals of the Origin Sect Ancestral Court and remembered by generations to come. Because, from ancient times until now, only three azure clouds had ever floated above nine thousand feet. From today on, a fourth azure cloud was going to appear in that high sky!

"This is like a slap in the face of those who were blind before." Jun Huan smiled, her eyes narrowing into a pair of crescent moons.

Her comment was indeed like an invisible slap to the face, striking Qi Tingzi. Her face turned pale and tensed out of fury. However, few paid attention to this. All eyes were now focused on Lin Xun because he hadn't stopped yet!

Even though his steps had become difficult and slow, even though his figure occasionally swayed, even though he looked far less calm and unrestrained than before, his pace still hadn't stopped!

People held their breath, their hearts hanging in the air, filled with anticipation. When Lin Xun went past one of the three azure clouds, the crowd erupted in exclamations of astonishment that resembled the roaring sound of a cauldron exploding.

As he gradually surpassed the second of the three azure clouds, many people could not help but clench their fists tightly, their heads becoming dizzy. Even Fang Daoping, Xiao Wenyuan, and the others felt inexplicably nervous at this moment. For only they truly understood the astonishing and unprecedented magnitude of Lin Xun's achievement!

If word of this were to reach the Origin Sect Ancestral Court, even the elders would be on edge!

As Lin Xun gradually and with immense difficulty went past the highest azure cloud, an eerie silence descended upon the crowd. Everyone was speechless, utterly flabbergasted.