’What the hell is a Cultivator at the fifth level Spirit Warrior realm doing here?! Even Min Li from the Min Family was only at the peak of the Spirit Apprentice realm!’ The Sect Elder was greatly baffled by Yuan’s unusual and overwhelming presence in the exam.
And since most of the other participants there were between the third level and seventh level Spirit Apprentice realm, they weren’t even able to see Yuan’s real cultivation base.
"Just to confirm, I just have to walk to that silver tree, correct?" Yuan asked the Sect Elder, snapping him out of his daze.
"T-That’s correct! As long as you can take 20 steps, you will pass this exam."
Yuan nodded his head, and he proceeded to take his first step into the silver pond.
’What kind of results will he have? Although he’s already at the fifth level Spirit Warrior realm, this test doesn’t care for one’s achievements, only their raw talents!’ The Sect Elder watched Yuan with interest and curiosity, even a little bit of excitement, wondering what kind of results he would show them.
Meanwhile, Yuan just took his first step into the silver pond.
’This feels like I am walking on a mattress filled with water or something like that...’ Yuan thought to himself as his feet touched the silver liquid that supported his weight.
After taking his first step, Yuan took his second step, then a third, and then a fourth— until he took his 20th step.
"Who is that man? He managed to take 20 steps effortlessly like Fairy Min!"
"He’s blocking his face so we can’t tell!"
The participants were surprised to see a nobody casually taking 20 steps as though he was taking a stroll in the park.
Meanwhile, Yuan continued walking towards the silver tree with a calm expression on his face behind the mask.
21... 22... 23...
28... 29... 30...
After taking his thirtieth step, Yuan did not stop and continued approaching the silver tree.
"Heavens! He’s already taking his 35th step! And he did it without taking a single break!"
"Could this man be another genius at Fairy Min’s level?!"
"Haha, I doubt it. Fairy Min is a real Cultivation genius! Although 15 steps may appear very little, the gap is actually immense— like heaven and earth!"
"I am willing to bet that he’ll stop before 40 steps!"
"I bet that he’ll reach 45 steps at most!"
While the participants began betting with each other for the results, Yuan continued walking towards the silver tree.
A few moments later, Yuan reached 45 steps without feeling any resistance or breaking a sweat.
After taking a few more steps, Yuan achieved 50 steps, rivaling Fairy Min’s results.
"Good lord! First, we have Fairy Min who became the first person to achieve 50 steps in the last 7 years, now we have this mysterious man who also achieved 50 steps on the same day! To have two people achieving 50 steps so close to each other— this is unprecedented!"
However, as the participants there trembled in excitement, Yuan continued to move forward.
"He’s still going!"
51...52...53...54...55...
Boom!
The silver pond trembled the moment Yuan took his 60th step.
’I still don’t feel any different... Is there something wrong?’ Yuan raised his eyebrows when nothing happened after taking 60 steps whilst the other participants began struggling much sooner.
However, since he didn’t feel anything, Yuan continued to walk.
A few moments later, he took his 75th step, shocking the participants and the Sect Elder.
"75 steps! He managed to take 75 steps! This man is a real prodigy!"
The participants stared at Yuan with gawking expressions.
"One thousand years... It’s been over 1,000 years since someone has taken 75 steps in the Pond of Evaluation..." The Sect Elder mumbled in a dazed voice.
However, Yuan was not done yet, as he still felt no resistance or challenge from the silver ponder, almost like the silver pond was purposefully going easy on him, and after taking the 75th step, he continued moving towards the silver tree towards the end.
"He’s going for the silver tree! He might actually do it!"
"75 steps is already impressive enough! Does he really think he can take 100 steps and reach the silver tree that has only been achieved by one person in history— the founder of the Dragon Essence Temple?!"
"He only has 25 steps left to reach the silver tree, but every single step will feel as though he’s trying to leap over an entire sea, and it will only grow increasingly more difficult as he gets closer to the tree!"
"I am willing to bet that he won’t make it past 90 steps!"
"I bet 100 gold he’ll stop at 80 steps!"
"50 gold he’ll make it past 90 steps!"
"I will bet 10 gold he’ll actually make it to the silver tree!"
While the participants began another gambling session on whether the results, Yuan continued to approach the silver tree with slow but calm steps, still feeling no pressure whatsoever.
’This is probably the easiest test in this exam...’ Yuan thought to himself as he took his 90th step.
"90 steps! He only has 10 more to go before he becomes the second person in history to reach the silver tree!"
Everybody there watched with a nervous feeling in their guts, feeling as though they were in Yuan’s shoes.
91 steps... 92 steps... 93 steps...
Every single step Yuan took after the 90th step would cause the entire place to tremble, and on his 95th step, the silver tree at the end of the pond began glowing brightly.
"W-What is happening?!" The Sect Elder took a few steps back from shock, his gaze filled with disbelief.
However, Yuan ignored the glowing tree and continued to walk.
96...97...98 steps!
On Yuan’s 98th step, the silver tree began cracking with a subtle golden light coming from within the cracks.
After Yuan took his 99th step, the cracks grew even larger, and the entire tree was filled with these cracks.
"The final step..." Yuan mumbled as he took his 100th step, leaving the silver water and stepping onto the land that hosted the silver tree.
Boom!
The moment Yuan finished all 100 steps, the silver tree suddenly exploded, transforming into a golden tree, baffling everyone in the test room!