The arriving monk was Kong Xuan!

He appeared expressionless, walking through the air!

Skulls were strung together by long cords, curled into one loop after another, hanging around his neck.

There were simply too many skulls; even after coiling in loops, they exceeded Kong Xuan's height.

Thus, he hovered in the sky, preventing the skulls from touching the ground.

Yet even with Kong Xuan suspended in the sky, walking through the air, the linked skulls nearly scraped the ground.

He looked no different from a devil emerging from Hell.

"The skulls could probably pile up into a mountain, is this monk truly a monk?"

"He doesn't look like a monk at all, more like a devil!"

"Who is this monk? He looks so familiar!"

"Seems like he's from Dongzhou, always following Yang Yan around!"

"It's really him. What kind of mission test did he go through, having killed so many people!"

The Central Continent cultivators were inexplicably terrified, and those with ulterior motives among the Central Continent cultivators did not dare to speak much, refraining from mocking.

The monk was enveloped in the stench of blood, along with those curls around his neck.

The sheer number of skulls made people unable to count instantly, it was terrifying!

They were scared!

Li Wan Hua might at most argue with them, but this monk might just kill them directly if provoked!

Kong Xuan's eyes were blood-red as he stepped closer.

His approach made the onlooking Central Continent cultivators quickly make way, clearing a path for him!

"The mission test is complete!" Kong Xuan said.

He tossed the scroll recording the mission test toward the Sole Heavenly Sect Master, simultaneously lifting his palm.

All the skulls encircling his neck flew up, landing in front of the Sole Heavenly Sect Master,

forming a small pile when accumulated.

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master opened the scroll.

Kong Xuan's mission test was to slay three thousand devils!

Looking at the skulls, he squinted his eyes slightly.

"Some of these skulls don't seem to belong entirely to devils.

Many should have been alive and conscious before death, not having fallen into the Devil Path!" he said.

He could sense that some of the skulls bore either the stench of blood or grievances, lacking the aura of devils.

This indicated that these skulls were human before death, not yet transformed into devils!

Yet they were slain!

"In this humble monk's eyes, any monk suppressing devils within their heart is a devil!

They deserve death!" Kong Xuan said calmly.

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master's eye twitched slightly.

A monk with devils suppressed in their heart deserves death?

The bloodlust was immense!

And aren't you a monk as well, shouldn't you save them?

Moreover, don't you also have devils in your heart?

Do you deserve death too?

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master's thoughts flickered, but he said nothing for the moment.

"What? Do they not count toward the mission test where I slayed the devils?" Kong Xuan asked coldly.

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master shook his head,

"They count, it's just that the kills..."

Too many kills!

Who would have thought that a monk would be so ruthless in killing other monks?

This was completely contrary to his expectations!

"Since they count, then continue."

"Very well."

Kong Xuan then drew his Jade Token, his number was 820, while his opponent was number 1300.

It's just that no one had drawn this opponent's Jade Token yet!

Kong Xuan headed toward the city of Central Continent, vanishing from sight.

Once he left, the Central Continent cultivators present breathed a sigh of relief.

*They had felt as if a terrifying presence within that monk was ready to strike at any moment.

If they made any wrong moves, that presence would emerge and slaughter them.*

Following Kong Xuan's return after completing the mission test, the area remained quiet for a while.

Time moved to the thirteenth day, and the returning geniuses increasingly returned.

With only two days left until the mission test's end,

those who could complete it needed to hurry back, while those who couldn't also returned, thinking they could devise a plan back here!

The fourteenth day to the morning of the fifteenth day, returning geniuses became fewer and fewer.

Geniuses who could complete the mission test had already returned.

Those unable to complete it realized they had only one day left, and returning wouldn't allow them to complete the mission test.

So they simply forfeited and didn't return.

"It's the fifteenth day, and Yang Yan hasn't returned? Too embarrassed to come back after failing to complete the mission test?"

"Isn't he supposed to be Dongzhou's top genius? Those ranked after him completed their mission tests easily, but he hasn't?"

"He's undeserving of the Holy Emperor name!"

Among the onlooking Central Continent cultivators, sarcasm targeted the Dongzhou geniuses participating in the Heaven Ascending Qualification Battle because of the mission test difficulties shown by Kong Xuan, Li Wan Hua, and Li Haoran.

They no longer mocked them!

All sarcasm turned toward Yang Yan.

His reputation was too big!

Fame is like facing a gale, and fattened pigs inevitably get slaughtered!

He was destined to be criticized by petty people!

In the afternoon of the fifteenth day, a figure in red clothes, carrying a longsword, arrived breaking through the air.

He stood before the great hall of the Sole Heavenly Sect, his expression cold.

"It's, the Little Sword God, Ao Tian?"

"Did he complete his mission test?"

"Hey, look at him, his clothes aren't red, they're completely soaked in blood!"

"How many did he kill for the blood to soak through his clothes?"

The Central Continent cultivators were astonished.

"Did you top the Demon Slaying List?" asked the Sole Heavenly Sect Master.

Ao Tian nodded slightly.

"Indeed!"

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master closed his eyes, murmuring something, and after a while, opened them again.

"Well then, mission completed, you may now draw a Jade Token!" he said.

"Alright."

Without saying much, Ao Tian drew a Jade Token and then left.

Several onlooking Central Continent cultivators watched his departing back, showing admiration.

"First on the Demon Slaying List!"

"No wonder his whole body is drenched in blood, turns out he was off slaying Evil Demon Sect cultivators!"

"He's a real Righteous Path!"

By evening of the fifteenth day, Yun He from Baihe Sect, Yanyu Xun, the Fairy Sect Saintess, and others returned pale-faced.

Struggling, they completed the mission test, returning to the Central Continent at the last minute.

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master's gaze deepened.

"They all completed the mission and didn't die.

What a pity!" he thought.

Yanyu Xun, Yun He, and others drew their Jade Tokens and returned to the inn to rest, taking advantage of the remaining time.

As night fell, it was ten o'clock!

"The Dongzhou geniuses are almost all back, only Yang Yan is missing!"

"As the top genius of Dongzhou, could he really have failed to complete the Ascension mission test?"

"Is the Ascension mission test really that difficult?"

"Ao Tian managed to kill his way to the top of the Demon Slaying List, even with such challenges.

Yang Yan, being so strong, couldn't complete his own Ascension mission test?"

"What Holy Emperor? It's all just hot air, a mere fabrication."

At that moment, their ears shook, interrupting their discussions.

"Who said the Holy Emperor hadn't returned? He was the first to come back!" a voice thundered in their ears.

"Sole Heavenly Sect Master, the Holy Emperor returned first.

Yet here he is, with no opponent appearing, aren't you being a bit too much?"

The onlooking Central Continent cultivators turned around, seeing Yang Yan leading the Central Continent geniuses.

The one speaking was Li Wan Hua!

"Yang Yan was the first to return?"

"I knew my guess was correct!"

"But alas, his luck was too bad. Being the first back, the Heaven Ascending Qualification Battle is nearly over, and he hasn't ascended yet!"

"Almost all the Central Continent geniuses have ascended; he'll probably be one of the last!"

Previously mocked by the Central Continent cultivators, they remained silent and dodged, fearing Yang Yan might see them and cause trouble!

The Sole Heavenly Sect Master smiled.

"No one drew the Jade Token to fight Yang Yan, just his luck!

But rest assured, you are all geniuses who completed the mission tests.

Even if your opponent's Jade Token didn't appear, we shall not treat you differently.

As long as you completed the mission tests, you have the qualification to enter the second trial.

In this regard, we are fair and just, not taking away anyone's right!" he said.

Without any pause, he continued,

"And for the upcoming second trial, let me choose opponents for each of you.

The victor will gain the Heaven Ascending qualification, stepping onto the stairs to heaven."

Upon finishing, he revealed a meaningful smile.

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