Chapter Thirty-Three: The Ladder of Talent

The endless sea of forest eventually comes to an end. At the edge of the dense woods, a majestic and imposing stone city hangs high in the sky, like a black cloud blotting out the heavens, so daunting that a single glance leaves one gasping for breath.

The stone city has no gates in its four walls. Apart from two flights of stone steps extending from the sky to the ground, there is no other accessible path. The two flights of stairs are carved with dragons and phoenixes; the one on the left is bustling with people, vibrant and lively, while the one on the right is deserted and deathly quiet.

It is worth noting that the Martial Emperor City hovers in mid-air. Experts of a certain rank can briefly borrow the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to suspend themselves, yet in front of the stone city, no one dares to fly directly into it. Whether out of fear, respect, or something else, remains unknown.

Suddenly, a sonic boom caused by the rapid tearing of air currents was so ear-piercing that the people walking on the left staircase stopped in their tracks. Some well-informed individual shouted, "The seeds for the sect entrance examination!" This piqued the interest of the onlookers, who began to discuss the event fervently. In this world where strength is paramount, who wouldn't want to establish some connection with future powerhouses? At the very least, one might hope to become a familiar face.

To put it nicely, this is called "preparing for a rainy day," but there is no shortage of petty opportunists hoping to ride the coattails of the rising stars. After all, it is easiest to befriend these people when their power is still budding; otherwise, once they become truly formidable, you would be begging for their attention, and who would care then? Adding flowers to a brocade is never as valued as providing charcoal in snowy weather.

First to appear were six giant swords. Only two people stood upon them: a man and a woman. The man wore a white robe and stood with his hands behind his back, possessing the demeanor of an immortal. The woman’s face was deathly pale, filled with a mixture of terror and helplessness. Her delicate beauty was enough to stir pity as she clutched the man’s shoulder, looking as if she might fall at any moment.

"Six swords instead of seven? I suppose we should call him the Six-Sword Young Master from now on."

"To think this woman arrived with the Six-Sword Young Master—she must be a prodigy with innate sword intent. A female sword prodigy is a rare sight indeed. I fear the top spot among the newcomers will surely be hers."

"That is not necessarily true. Have you not noticed that Madam Kuang’s Hundred-Flower Ship has yet to arrive? Who knows if some freaks might emerge this time?"

The crowd on the steps discussed these matters heatedly. The Six-Sword Young Master landed a hundred meters from the stone city and turned to speak to Zhang Shufang with a gentle expression. She raised a hand to her chest, playing the part of a timid, dainty woman. That woman, once known as an "iceberg" on the Black List, had learned to act coy, and possessing the supreme potential of a Dao-born, she had even picked up a few tricks of Su Daji—this was truly a dangerous combination.

Not long after the arrival of the six swords, a giant ship made of various vibrant flowers sailed over. As if by prior agreement, it also stopped about a hundred meters from the stone city. As soon as the ship touched the ground, it disintegrated, and a group of people appeared amidst the falling petals, presumably those who had been riding the flower ship.

Madam Kuang was clearly the most influential person in this group. Like an elder, she took Su Daji’s hand and led the others toward the vacant stone steps, the intention to build momentum for Su Daji quite obvious. The Six-Sword Young Master nodded to Madam Kuang, and the two walked side by side. Beside them were delicate beauties, painting a picturesque scene, though the motley group of people trailing behind them somewhat spoiled the view.

"Madam Kuang's niece?"

"Doesn't look like it. Look at that natural, seductive charm; she must be someone extraordinary."

"How beautiful. But in my eyes, Madam Kuang will always be the most beautiful. Madam Kuang, I love you! I want to bear your children..."

The woman’s original name was long forgotten, but with her stunning beauty and a heart like a Bodhisattva, her reputation in Martial Emperor City was unmatched, and she had crowds of admirers. Madam Kuang giggled, her graceful figure swaying as if a gentle push would topple her. She covered her mouth and exchanged greetings with the crowd until the Six-Sword Young Master beside her frowned slightly, at which point she stopped.

Arriving at the deserted stone steps, the seductive Madam Kuang straightened her clothes, her expression instantly turning stern. She narrowed her eyes and stared at the steps for a long moment, then said faintly, "Apologies, I lost my composure."

The Six-Sword Young Master seemed to recall something as well and shook his head indifferently. He, too, had been lost in thought for a moment. This "Talent Ladder" could only be walked once in a lifetime, and the results virtually determined one's future achievements. While it was too early to pass final judgment, it was generally accurate. Moreover, everyone’s experience on the steps was different, encountering the inner demons of their own hearts, growing from small to large. Thus far, it seemed no one had ever truly reached the top.

The Six-Sword Young Master exhaled, burying the memories from many years ago, and turned to the hundred-plus people behind him. He said coldly, "Having passed the entrance examination, you are now part of our Martial Emperor City, but there is still a hierarchy in status. I believe Madam Kuang has already explained the rules on the way here, so I will waste no more breath. Begin the Talent Ladder."

With that, the examiners from the various sects dispersed to both sides to clear the way for the newcomers. The newcomers, knowing this test measured their own potential and that no underhanded tricks would work, wished each other luck with great cordiality, hoping to leave a good impression. Even if their own results were poor, it might gain them friends. After all, the concept of "talent" was too ethereal; no one was truly confident.

As the newcomers ascended, the number of onlookers swelled to over ten thousand, showing that the weight of this Talent Ladder in the hearts of the city's inhabitants could not be measured by any scale.

Half an hour passed, and as more newcomers who had not ridden the flower ship made their way up, a cry of surprise rang out from the crowd. Someone shouted, trembling, "Look... look at that!"

Everyone was already watching the summit, and without this person's cry, they had already noticed: a dragon shadow condensed from crimson light was surging with such unparalleled momentum that it had left everyone else far behind.

"Such powerful explosive potential!"

"And it doesn't look like he's showing off; he's exhausting his potential right from the start."

"This year's 'Newcomer King' is going to be interesting."

Unlike the onlookers who were just enjoying the spectacle, the Six-Sword Young Master and the others had grave expressions. The Six-Sword Young Master narrowed his eyes, his fingers unconsciously tracing sword patterns in the air: "Very strong."

"I misjudged him," Madam Kuang said, equally solemn.

"I fear the Martial Emperor has a successor," a burly man said, clearly impressed by the person who had formed the dragon shadow, though he sighed at a sudden thought.

On the Talent Ladder, Bing Long, who was in the lead, had long since had his upper garment shredded. Bare-chested and holding his breath, he sprinted upward. He had always been a talented individual, the focus of attention wherever he went. Yet, since arriving in this Nine Provinces world, that aura surrounding him had seemed to dim. He had never doubted himself, so he felt hatred—hatred for these people who were blind to his brilliance—and he was determined to prove himself at any cost.

At the same time, Fan Caobao and Chen Hongxu arrived within a hundred meters of Martial Emperor City, both covered in blood and looking disheveled. Their appearance, leaning on each other, naturally attracted many gazes, but upon seeing their wretched state, people turned their heads away in unison, continuing to focus on the Talent Ladder.

Fan Caobao leaned on a wooden staff, blood from his palm dripping onto the ground, tracing a line of red. He didn't seem to mind, turning his head to pant, "Brother Chen, are you really okay?"

"I'm fine!" Chen Hongxu stuck out his tongue and muttered to himself, "Those must have been death squads sent by other cities to intercept the newcomers. By killing them, the people of Martial Emperor City should be thanking us. But let's not go around bragging about such small matters. Be low-key, stay low-key."

"Is this what they call doing good deeds without leaving a name? Are we the living 'Lei Feng' of the Nine Provinces?" Fan Caobao gasped, exhausted like a dying dog.

"We are!" Chen Hongxu replied with immense conviction.

The two walked to the side of the stone steps, ignored the contemptuous looks of the crowd, and collapsed to the ground, falling into a deep sleep. This became the first such spectacle since the founding of Martial Emperor City.

In the dense forest, over thirty-six thousand trees had been snapped. On the clearing formed by the fallen trees, hundreds of people lay in rows—or to be precise, they were dead...