System: After the fortune telling, my cultivation level skyrocketed.

Without much hesitation, Chen Xuan stretched out his hands, firmly grasped the handles of the cauldron, and with a gentle effort, without even using his divine power, easily lifted the three-thousand-pound bronze cauldron above his head and held it for more than ten breaths.

While everyone else was queuing up to lift those bronze tripods weighing six or nine thousand catties, Chen Xuan was the first to meet the requirements of this challenge.

The woman in green smiled at Chen Xuan and nodded in praise, "Little fellow, your Dao heart is firm. You have passed the test and you can go to the Mingxin Platform now."

Chen Xuan bowed respectfully to the woman in green and said, "Thank you, senior."

"Hmph, and this guy is called a friend or brother by Prince Qingtian Xiaolou? He only dares to choose a three-thousand-jin bronze cauldron?"

"It's utterly ridiculous. Nine thousand catties is nothing but a piece of cake for us. If we want to join the Xuanqing Palace, we must enter with an invincible attitude. Only then will we gain the appreciation of the higher-ups."

"It seems even the heir of the Marquis's mansion misjudged him. He's all show and no substance, nothing special."

……

Chen Xuan simply smiled indifferently at their disdain, sarcasm, and murmurs, and instead flew towards the end of the valley.

From the air, the valley is lush and green on both sides, and you can even see some birds flying among them.

At the end of the valley, there was a small plaza connected to a staircase with nine steps. With Chen Xuan's exceptional eyesight, he could immediately see that each step of the bluestone steps had a depression, and a layer of liquid was slowly flowing within the depression. Moreover, the water level on each step gradually increased in depth as one ascended the stairs.

Chen Xuan landed first and immediately saw an old man with white hair guarding the steps. The old man sat leisurely on the ground, holding a yellow wine gourd and enjoying a cup of immortal wine. Seeing Chen Xuan approach, the old man waved his hand and said with a smile, "Oh, little fellow, you are the first junior to arrive at the Mingxin Platform."

Chen Xuan cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Greetings, Senior."

"Don't try to get close to me, old man. I won't reveal a single secret about the Mingxin Platform. See these nine steps? You must climb them one by one, steadily and surely, until you reach the end before you can enter the valley where the fourth level is located. Only then will you be considered qualified."

"Thanks for letting me know."

Chen Xuan knew that although the first bird to stick its head out may get the first bite, it is also easy to get shot.

Therefore, he did not rush to be the first to climb the steps, but chose to wait for others to try first, and then he would analyze the situation himself. In this way, he could be well-informed and prepared for any eventuality.

After all, this was a public apprenticeship ceremony held only once every three years, and if he failed by mistake, it would be a huge problem. Chen Xuan didn't want to waste another three years.

Having made up his mind, Chen Xuan sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to rest.

Soon, the younger generation who had chosen to lift the 6,000-jin or 9,000-jin bronze cauldrons arrived one after another. None of them were fools; upon arrival, they all sat cross-legged, adjusted their breathing, and strived to be in peak condition to attempt the third challenge.

As more and more people gathered in the third plaza, one person finally couldn't contain himself and headed towards the ninth step. This person had bulging muscles, like a coiled dragon, and his thick eyebrows were particularly striking, clearly indicating that he was a cultivator specializing in divine and demonic body refinement.

"Hmph, a bunch of pretty faces but no substance. The second challenge was just lifting a 9,000-pound cauldron, and look how tired you are!"

The thick-browed cultivator sneered at the crowd with a disdainful expression. When he reached the edge of the square, he immediately spotted Chen Xuan, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation.

"You, a friend and brother of the Marquis of Qingtian? You only dare to lift a three-thousand-jin tripod. With your skills, even if you join the Xuanqing Palace, you'll only be an outer disciple at best. I think you might as well go back and find a small sect."

The thick-browed cultivator suddenly turned his attention to Chen Xuan, and many others followed suit, including the cold-blooded man who had previously passed the first trial with the sixth level of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram. Chen Xuan vaguely remembered him; during the second trial, this man had chosen a six-thousand-jin bronze cauldron.

Chen Xuan slowly opened his eyes, coldly glanced at the thick-browed cultivator, and said indifferently, "What business is it of yours what size bronze cauldron I choose?"

"You... brat, let's see how many levels you can get through, hmph!"

Seeing Chen Xuan suddenly become tough, the thick-browed cultivator couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension. He instantly thought of the young master Qing Tian Xiao Lou; with the power of the young master of Qing Tian County, dealing with a tribal member like him would be a piece of cake.

Therefore, upon hearing Chen Xuan's direct retort, the man with thick eyebrows merely huffed and left behind a harsh remark before heading towards the ninth floor of the water-filled staircase under the watchful eyes of the crowd.