Elder Rajendra's words fell like a hammer upon the plaza, striking both hope and fear into thousands of aspiring hearts. One hour. One hundred steps. Simple parameters, yet everyone knew it was a brutal filter that would eliminate the majority.
As the Elder said, Begin, chaos erupted. The candidates at the forefront, those from the most powerful clans and brimming with confidence, surged onto the first step. Sameer Sharma was one of them. He broke ahead of the crowd, his silver armor making him a shining beacon, and he practically sprinted across the first ten steps.
With every step, a subtle, invisible pressure settled into the air. On the first few steps, it was like the heaviness of a hot summer day, barely noticeable. By the tenth step, it was like a heavy woolen blanket. By the twentieth, it was as if a small child was sitting on their shoulders.
Aryan didn't move. As the frantic crowd surged around him, a familiar blue panel flickered to life before his eyes, visible only to him.
Mission: Azure Dragon Academy Entrance Exam
Objective: Successfully pass the rigorous entrance exam of the Azure Dragon Academy and secure a position as an Inner Academy disciple.
Time Limit: 5 days
Reward: Foundation Ascension Pill + Azure Cloud Feather
Penalty for Failure: Cultivation will be sealed for 3 years.
Aryan's breath caught for a moment. The stakes were far higher than he had imagined. This wasn't just a chance to advance; it was an ultimatum. Having one's cultivation sealed for three years was worse than a death sentence for a cultivator, especially for someone like him who was on a rapid rise.
But then, the cold, rational part of his mind took over. As severe as the penalty was, the reward must be equally great. The System didn't give trivial rewards, and it didn't give trivial punishments. And the objective was specific: not just to pass, but to become an Inner Academy disciple. This meant he didn't just have to survive; he had to excel. He had to dominate.
This knowledge sharpened his resolve into a keen, diamond-like edge. He stood at the edge of the plaza, his eyes narrowed, his mind a calm, whirring machine. He watched the sprinters. He watched the strugglers. He watched those who were already trembling on the fifth step, their faces slick with sweat. He wasn't just looking; he was analyzing.
Data Acquisition: Spirit Pressure Staircase.
Variable: Pressure Increase Per Step.
Initial Hypothesis: The pressure is not linear. It is generated by an array, calibrated to target those with unstable foundations.
He observed how the pressure affected people disproportionately. Those whose auras were flashy and unstable faltered more quickly, even if their cultivation level was higher. Those with calm and stable auras moved slowly but steadily.
This wasn't a test of strength. It was a test of quality.
A quiet smile, cold and sharp, touched his lips. The Academy wasn't recruiting fools. They wanted trees with deep roots, not those that grew the tallest. And his roots, nurtured by the Heart of an Earth Vein and tempered by the Supreme Immortal Scripture, were anchored in the very foundation of the world.
After nearly five minutes of observation, when the first wave had already spread out across the stairs, Aryan took his first step.