A faint ripple passed through the crowd at those words, though it was quickly suppressed.
Most of the participants had come here with confidence in their own abilities, and while the requirement was strict, it was not entirely unexpected.
After all, this was the Heavenly Dao Sect—only the worthy could enter.
Without further delay, the test began.
One by one, participants stepped forward toward the towering black pillar, each carrying their own expectations and ambitions.
Some walked with unwavering confidence, their expressions calm and assured, while others revealed subtle traces of nervousness despite their efforts to hide it.
The first to step forward was a young man whose aura was particularly strong, clearly having reached the third stage of the Spirit Condensing Realm.
As he placed his hand firmly against the surface of the pillar, spiritual energy surged faintly around him, as if he was already anticipating an impressive result.
For a brief moment, nothing happened.
Then—
Three faint stars slowly lit up on the pillar's surface. They flickered gently, not dim, yet far from dazzling.
The young man's confident expression froze instantly.
"Three stars. Fail."
The elder's voice cut through the silence without the slightest fluctuation, cold and absolute, as if announcing something insignificant.
The young man's face turned pale in an instant, disbelief flashing through his eyes. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.
In the end, he could only lower his head and step back, his earlier confidence completely shattered.
A Spirit Condensing cultivator… rejected.
This scene sent a subtle wave of tension through the crowd.
Many who had previously been calm now revealed faint signs of unease, their gazes turning more serious as they looked at the Heavenly Pillar. It became clear to everyone that this examination was far stricter than they had imagined.
However, the test did not pause for anyone.
The next participant stepped forward.
Then another, and another.
As time passed, the results began to form a pattern.
Four stars!
Five stars!
Six stars!
Those who reached four stars were barely able to pass, their expressions filled with relief as they stepped aside, while those who achieved five or six stars carried themselves with renewed confidence.
Occasionally, someone would reach seven stars, causing a slight stir among the crowd as whispers spread quietly.
"Seven stars… impressive."
"That one might become a core disciple."
Such murmurs rose and fell, adding to the tense atmosphere.
Yet even so, the number of those who truly stood out remained extremely small.
Roughly one out of every eight participants managed to pass, and among them, only a handful could be considered exceptional.
Time flowed steadily, and the number of remaining participants gradually decreased.
Finally—
"Next. Xiao Feng."
The name echoed across the platform.
For the first time, it drew genuine attention.
Many heads turned simultaneously, their gazes locking onto the solitary figure who had been standing at the edge of the crowd from the very beginning. Expressions of curiosity appeared, followed quickly by faint amusement and disbelief.
"A Qi Refining seventh realm cultivator?"
"He actually dared to come here?"
Some did not even bother to hide their reactions.
Even the elder's eyes lingered on Xiao Feng for a brief moment longer than before, a slight frown forming on his brow, though it disappeared almost instantly.
While the sect did not explicitly forbid lower-realm cultivators from participating, it was extremely rare for someone at such a level to even dare to try.
Xiao Feng, however, showed no visible reaction.
Under countless gazes, he stepped forward calmly.
His pace was steady, neither hurried nor slow, as if the surrounding pressure had no effect on him whatsoever.
His expression remained indifferent, his eyes clear and unwavering, giving off an unexpected sense of composure that did not match his apparent weakness.
Yet beneath that calm exterior, his thoughts were far from still.
Without the Innate Pill Bone, the result of this test would have been obvious.
Even so, this was his first true test in this new world, and the unknown always carried a certain degree of uncertainty.
Would the recently gained Innate Pill Bone be recognized as talent?
Or would the result remain unchanged?
For the first time since arriving here, a faint trace of anticipation surfaced within him.
He stepped up to the towering black pillar.
The ancient surface reflected faint traces of light, as if observing him in return.
Without hesitation, Xiao Feng raised his hand and placed it firmly against the Heavenly Pillar.
Xiao Feng's palm pressed against the surface of the Heavenly Pillar. The moment his skin made contact, a faint chill spread through his hand.
The pillar remained still for a brief instant, yet within his body, something had already begun to react.
Deep inside his right hand, the Innate Pill Bone trembled.
It was not a violent movement, but a subtle vibration. Like a dormant existence awakening after countless years, resonating with the ancient structure before him.
A faint warmth followed, spreading from his hand into his arm, then throughout his entire body, as if some hidden connection had been established.
Then, the pillar lit up.
A single star appeared, glowing softly.
Before anyone could react, the second star followed, then the third, rising one after another without the slightest pause, as if there was no barrier capable of stopping them.
The light intensified rapidly, each star brighter than the last. In the span of a few breaths, it had already surpassed the level that determined success or failure.
Four stars! Five stars! Six stars!
The murmurs that had begun to form among the crowd abruptly died in their throats, replaced by widening eyes and stunned expressions.
Seven stars! Eight stars!
At this point, even the elder could no longer remain indifferent. His gaze sharpening as he fixed his attention on the pillar.
And then the ninth star lit up.
In the next instant, a beam of golden light erupted from the top of the Heavenly Pillar, shooting straight into the sky. Like a divine signal, it illuminating the entire mountain peak and scattering the surrounding clouds.
The radiance was so intense that it forced many to shield their eyes, while others simply stood frozen, their minds unable to process what they were witnessing.
Silence fell.
Absolute silence.
Before an uproar exploded in the crowd.
"Nine… nine stars?!"
"That's impossible!"
"What kind of talent is that?!"
The entire crowd descended into chaos, disbelief and shock spreading like wildfire.
Even those who had previously achieved seven stars now looked insignificant in comparison, their expressions turning pale as they stared at the pillar in a daze.
The elder overseeing the test stood completely still, his usual indifference shattered as a rare look of shock appeared on his face.
His eyes were locked onto Xiao Feng, filled with disbelief and a trace of awe.
Nine stars.
He had never seen such a result in his entire life.
But he knew what it meant.
"A heavenly physique…" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible, yet filled with certainty.
"Only a heavenly physique can awaken all nine stars and create such phenomenon…"
Such a talent was not just rare.
It was monstrous.
It was the kind of existence that could shake the entire sect.
But before anyone could recover, a burst of laughter suddenly echoed from the sky.
"Hahaha! What a great talent! Truly heaven has blessed our Heavenly Dao Sect!"
The voice was loud, carefree, and filled with excitement, instantly drawing everyone's attention upward.
High above the platform, a figure stood in midair.
He did not use any visible support, nor did he show any signs of effort. He simply stood there, as if the sky itself were his ground.
The crowd gasped.
"He is flying…?!"
"Only a Saint can do that!"
Shock turned into awe, and awe into reverence.
The elder in the sky wore long robes that fluttered in the wind, his aura vast and powerful. Yet his expression was filled with undisguised delight as he looked down at Xiao Feng.
"This kid," he declared loudly, his voice echoing across the mountain, "will join my First Peak!"
The moment those words fell, the entire crowd erupted once more.
The First Peak.
The strongest among the nine main peaks of the Heavenly Dao Sect.
To be directly claimed like this, it was an honor beyond imagination.
Envy instantly filled countless gazes as they looked toward Xiao Feng, their earlier disdain completely replaced by jealousy and shock.
However—
Before anyone could accept this outcome, another voice exploded through the sky, filled with anger.
"Old fool! You dare make a move without informing us?! What kind of shameless behavior is this?!"
A second figure appeared, then a third and fourth.
In just a few breaths, multiple figures descended from the sky, each one radiating a terrifying aura that caused the air itself to tremble.
Soon, nine elders stood in midair, their presence overwhelming, like divine beings overlooking the mortal world.
The crowd was completely numb.
Nine elders.
All of them floating in the sky, radiating terrifying might.
"These are… the masters of the nine main peaks…"
Someone whispered, their voice trembling.
The nine elders, however, paid no attention to the crowd. Their focus was entirely on Xiao Feng—and each other.
"First Peak? On what basis?" one of them snorted coldly. "You just arrived first, and now you want to take him? Dream on!"