After conquering the Empress, I proved my Dao with the Heaven and Earth Spirit Furnace!

"Great...Great Mystic Master!"

Upon seeing Qin Chuan approaching, Xiao Wen's pupils constricted, and he murmured in disbelief.

Because he used underhanded methods, he didn't dare to make a big fuss, so the surrounding outer sect elders didn't hear his voice.

Xiao Wen never imagined that Qin Chuan would break through from the Xuan Master to the Great Xuan Master realm in just one month!

If one were not a Grand Master, it would be impossible to withstand his previous oppressive aura.

At this moment, looking at Qin Chuan climbing the hundred-step stone staircase, Han Yutang's face was so gloomy that it seemed as if water was about to drip from it.

He had previously boasted that Gao Kui would climb the hundred-step stone staircase before Qin Chuan.

It will also open up ten layers of stone steps.

Who would have thought that although the distance of ten stone steps had indeed been increased, it was Qin Chuan who had increased the distance between Gao Kui!

After taking a deep breath, Han Yutang said coldly, "This is just the first round of assessment. So what if you win by luck? What matters is who comes out on top in the final freshman competition. In terms of combat strength, Gao Kui absolutely crushes this person!"

"Yeah!"

The other outer sect elders nodded and echoed their agreement.

"The first round of pressure test was nothing. This kid must have cheated and found the weakest point in the pressure!"

"That's right! And I've heard that some people with thick skin and tough flesh can have unexpected and miraculous effects when resisting the pressure of high-level cultivators!"

"The final competition of the freshmen competition is a contest of combat strength. As a genius with a six-star bloodline, Gao Kui's combat strength far surpasses that of other cultivators at the same level. With his current cultivation of the ninth level of the Profound Master, even if the opponent is a first level of the Great Profound Master, he may not be a match for him!"

"..."

Several outer sect elders were discussing among themselves.

Everyone was praising Gao Kui, because they were all betting on him to win; it was a matter of life and death for them.

Hearing the elders' words, Zhao Zongping, Chi Yu, and Lao Du couldn't help but chuckle.

Such self-deceptive words are nothing more than deceiving oneself.

Immediately, Zhao Zongping walked over to Qin Chuan, patted him on the shoulder and said, "You're not bad, kid. You'd better perform well in the upcoming arena battles and individual matches. I'm counting on you!"

"rely on me?"

Qin Chuan frowned, somewhat puzzled.

Before he could even ask, Chi Yu chimed in, "You absolutely must win first place in this freshman competition and give those old guys who look down on you a real surprise. I believe you can do it!"

Elder Du, an outer sect elder, didn't speak, but he did make a gesture of encouragement.

Looking at the three strange people in front of him, Qin Chuan, though unsure of what was going on, still clasped his hands and said, "This disciple will do his utmost."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zongping and the other two nodded in satisfaction.

Just then, Gao Kui finally climbed the hundred-step stone staircase, panting heavily.

After a while, a beautiful figure climbed up as well; it was Jiang Zhixuan.

Upon seeing Jiang Zhixuan, Qin Chuan was taken aback, but then realized that she was also a freshman and would naturally come to participate in this freshman competition.

There must have been a lot of people around before, which is why I didn't notice the other person for a moment.

Jiang Zhixuan, who had climbed the hundred-step stone staircase, also spotted Qin Chuan and quickly came over.

Jiang Zhixuan pouted and said, "Senior Brother Qin, why did you walk so fast just now? I was just about to call you when you were already far away upstairs."

"Yeah…"

Qin Chuan scratched his head and laughed, "There must have been too many people, so I didn't notice for a moment."

Jiang Zhixuan blinked her beautiful eyes and said, "Then didn't you spot me in the crowd?"

Her voice carried a hint of melancholy, giving her the appearance of a pitiful young woman.

Seeing this, Qin Chuan was at his wit's end and quickly gave an awkward smile, "Perhaps the wind is strong on this mountain and it blinded me for a moment, which is why I didn't see you."

Upon hearing Qin Chuan's words, Jiang Zhixuan frowned slightly, clearly somewhat dissatisfied.

Just as she was about to continue speaking, she saw Sect Master Ji Li take a step forward not far away.

Jiang Zhixuan knew that the results were about to be announced, so she sighed and let Qin Chuan off the hook for the time being.

Apart from Qin Chuan and his two companions, no other new disciples climbed the hundred-step stone staircase.

Just now, the nine outer sect elders also withdrew their oppressive aura.

Before long, the other new disciples on the stone steps came up one after another.

After scanning all the new disciples present, Ji Li stepped forward and announced loudly, "The first round of pressure assessment is over. A total of eighty-six new disciples have passed the assessment."

Among them, three people climbed the 100th stone step, five people climbed the 90th stone step, twelve people climbed the 80th stone step, twenty-seven people climbed the 70th stone step, and thirty-nine people climbed the 60th stone step.

Although eighty-six new disciples passed the first round, everyone's eyes were on the three at the very front.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the winner of this freshman competition should be chosen from among them.

"Damn it! How could Qin Chuan have climbed the hundredth step of the stone steps?!"

At this moment, Xu Liang, who was hiding among the new disciples, frowned and stared intently at Qin Chuan, one of the three.

Ever since he was brutally beaten by the other party on the cloud ship, Xu Liang has kept the other party in his heart, thinking that one day he will take revenge.

Under Gu Wenxuan's tutelage, his skill level improved by leaps and bounds.

He was originally full of confidence and ready to find an opportunity to take revenge, but when he saw the other party climb up the hundred stone steps, he couldn't help but start to have doubts.

"Could it be that Qin Chuan has already become a Grandmaster?"

The moment the thought crossed Xu Liang's mind, he was startled and quickly shook his head, realizing he must be overthinking things.

Looking at Qin Chuan, who was standing very close to Jiang Zhixuan, Xu Liang's eyes burned with jealousy.

His face was icy cold, and he gritted his teeth in his heart, thinking, "How could a piece of trash with a first-grade bloodline possibly reach the level of a Grand Master!"

Back then on the cloud ship, it was just that I was careless for a moment and fell into their trap.

The only reason he could get past those hundred stone steps was because he was thick-skinned and tough, and could withstand the strain!

Thinking of this, the resentment in Xu Liang's eyes intensified. "Let you keep jumping around. As long as you run into me later, I'll make you wish you were dead!"

On the hundred-step stone staircase, Ji Li's gaze lingered on Qin Chuan for a moment before he slowly spoke: "The second round of the arena battle, as the name suggests, involves the top ten disciples from the first round being placed on ten different arenas."

The remaining new disciples were all shuffled and randomly assigned to one of the arenas for a free-for-all!

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Only one new disciple can remain in each arena at the end, and that person will then participate in the individual battles!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Li took a step back, and the surrounding outer sect elders also stepped aside, instantly revealing the arena behind them.

Behind the hundred-step stone staircase, there were ten medium-sized stone platforms.

These stone platforms are all made of blue granite, and even cultivators who have reached the Xuanwang realm cannot leave much of a mark on them.

Ji Li was the first to walk towards the stone platform.

Immediately, the outer sect elders and the eighty-six new disciples who had passed the assessment followed behind.