Duan Rong, upon reaching the red line, almost without pausing, stepped across it.
But after crossing the red line, his divine soul began to tingle under the pressure.
Duan Rong keenly noticed that after crossing the red line, the soothing effect of the musical notes seemed to diminish significantly, to the point where they scarcely had any effect.
Standing there, he glanced sideways, noticing that near the altar, those who had crossed the red line, from the other four valleys, amounted to merely three or four people each, with his valley being the most desolate—only himself!
It seems it will not be easy to bypass the second trial!
Let alone step onto the altar and directly advance to become an Outer Disciple!
At this moment, atop the isolated peak southeast of the Deep Valley, many people stood up from their seats.
These elders from the Elder Hall were not here for entertainment; they were here to see how many people could cross the red line.
Of course, they also wanted to see if anyone could step onto the altar, though they held little hope for that.
Ge Rusong stood there, looking at the Deep Valley below, slowly shook his head, and said, "This is truly a case of each year being worse than the last! This year, only a total of eleven people made it across the red line. If I’m not mistaken, this seems to be the second lowest in the past century."
Lv Zhongtang said, "Elder Ge is not mistaken. This year is indeed the second lowest, with the worst being nine people twenty-one years ago."
Ge Rusong turned back with a smile and said, "Brother Lv truly has a remarkable memory!"
Lv Zhongtang chuckled freely but did not speak.
However, the faces of the elders on the peak were not cheerful, as the lack of successors and talent is not good news for the sect!
And for the past twenty to thirty years, things have not been going well. Isn’t the responsibility theirs, as the Elder Hall?
Could it also be due to the rampant Filthy Blood Sect? But that can’t be the only reason, right?
Duan Rong looked at the solitary figure sitting cross-legged in the center of the altar, trudging forward with difficulty.
Every step he took, he could feel the sting in his divine soul intensify slightly.
However, the sting felt like a needle lightly pricking the scalp.
Just a slight pain, and then it passed.
After all, Duan Rong achieved the eleventh layer of the Fetal Concealment Scripture, with his Spiritual Power reaching level twelve. His divine soul strength was quite formidable.
The red line was only about half a zhang away from the altar’s edge.
Within this half zhang, figures from the other four valleys who had crossed the red line gradually halted, with two even fainting on the ground.
Yet Duan Rong continued to slowly move forward.
His pace was slow, almost like a tortoise, but showed no signs of slowing down.
At this moment, the elders on the solitary peak focused their attention on Duan Rong.
For within the red line, outside the altar, he was the only figure still slowly inching forward...
That figure, though slow, was steadfast.
"Brother Lv, do you see it?" Zhu He suddenly turned to Lv Zhongtang and asked, "This kid’s speed doesn’t seem to be waning."
Lv Zhongtang replied, "Indeed. Beyond the red line, the divine soul pressure increases with every half-inch. His pace remains unchanged here, indicating that the increased pressure of the divine soul hasn’t truly troubled him."
Duan Rong walked step by step toward the altar, not knowing that over ten eyes from the peak above were fixed on him.
But as he drew closer to the altar, Duan Rong’s steps faintly trembled, with the sting in his divine soul intensifying.
"Look, he’s about to step onto the stairs!"
The elders on the solitary peak collectively held their breath.
If someone could step onto the stairs, this generation’s performance wouldn’t be considered lacking, but rather quite exceptional.
One who steps onto the stairs emerges only once every twenty or thirty years.
And one who ascends the Tier Nine stairs to reach the altar appears only every few centuries.
The last person to step onto the altar was Chu Qiushan, the current Sect Leader of the Taiyi Sect.
One hundred and eighty years ago, he stepped onto the altar, and in the following one hundred and eighty years, no one has followed in his footsteps.
This altar has been lonely for far too long.