Chapter 18

After dropping the boy off at the clan door, Itachi quickly left. He had a feeling that if he continued in this town, he would be involved in trouble that he would not want to be involved in.

So with those thoughts, he withdrew from the city and continued his journey to Heavenly Sword Villa.

Because he was not in a hurry it took him three months to get to Heavenly Sword Villa, and when he got there he realized that the test to join the sect was beginning and this surprised him, he didn't imagine that the moment he stepped foot in the sect there would be a test to join it.

"With the item I received from my mother and which is in my storage ring I naturally won't need to take the test to enter the sect. But I believe this might be a good opportunity to find out how I compare to other cultivators of the same age." He thought.

Walking to the entrance, he saw that there were thousands of people gathering and they all had anxious expressions on their faces. And that was perfectly normal, after all, if they passed the test in the sect then these people could light up to the heavens in a single night.

It's a pity that most of these people aren't even qualified to pass the first sect test.

Itachi followed the crowd from behind as he observed the surroundings of the sect and also the people who were thinking of taking the sect selection test.

"It seems that there is a certain age limit for participating in the sect test." He thought as he saw a man who appeared to be in his fifties accompanying a little three-year-old boy.

This man was telling the little boy how the sect selection test would work, which was very helpful for Itachi who could know in advance.

"See my grandson, the sect only allows people under the age of eighteen to take the test. Those under five years old are not required to have cultivation levels, but those above need to be at least at the Profound Elementary Realm." The man said.

Itachi felt that this seemed to be the case, as many of the people present at the scene were precisely children under the age of five. And those older ones usually intended to join the sect as inner disciples.

Soon the crowd was interrupted by a cough and when they looked in the direction of the noise they saw an old man in his fifties wearing Heavenly Sword Villa clothes.

"You are all very welcome. Today we will be holding the test to select new disciples in the sect, so I ask that you all keep your voices low and follow me. The companions I ask you to stay here and wait for the results."

With the old man's speech all the people began to bid farewell to those accompanying him as they went on to take the sect selection test.

Itachi followed these people as he thought about the profound energy that swept through his body a few seconds ago. He knew that this was probably that old man checking to see if there were any enemies or imposters trying to join the sect.

"I can't sense his cultivation, so it's likely he's in the Profound Sky Realm." He thought.

The group of youths were soon brought to a wide green field and it would be here that all these youths would take the sect test.

Looking around, Itachi realized that there was a grandstand a bit away from their location, and this place was most likely where the sect elders would be evaluating each person.

His gaze stopped on a giant ladder that seemed to have no end, this ladder emanated a powerful energy, as if it could sweep away anyone present here.

The other young people also paid attention to this ladder, many were surprised to see something so large while others showed calm looks and some even mocking glances. The latter have most likely already been informed about how this first test works.

"Very well, the first test will work in a simple way, all you need to do is climb the stairs step by step." The old man said with a calm look as he flew in the sky impressing all the people present.

"Incredible! When will I be able to fly?"

"Profound Sky Realm! In my city the strongest person is only a cultivator of the Profound Spirit Realm."

"He's a god?"

The cries of exclamation from many young people came, but it was possible to see that among the young people there were some who did not seem surprised by this, which meant that in their families it was likely to have a Profound Sky Realm cultivator.

Itachi was not surprised by the old man, back in Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace there were many cultivators from the Profound Sky Realm. So it was normal to expect that there would be many in the most powerful sect in the empire.

Soon the old man flew towards the bleachers that stood in the distance and as he sat down on one of the bleachers' chairs he said, "Let the test begin."

Even though he said let the test begin, no one dared to take any steps. No one was foolish to be the first, besides, that ladder seemed to contain a powerful profound energy that would press you to death if you were unable to resist.

"Hmph! Once a commoner always a commoner." A thirteen year old youth said with a sneering smile as he began to climb the stairs.

This young man climbed ten steps before stopping with huge drops of sweat dripping from his forehead. Everyone could see that the pressure he was enduring was probably unimaginable.

"So that's how it works..." Itachi thought.

He felt that this ladder despite the pressure was a very powerful treasure that could help in cultivation, after all the pressure the profound energy of the ladder could be absorbed which would help accelerate his cultivation. And it seemed that with each higher step the density of the profound energy increased.

"Incredible! Maybe it's because of this treasure that this sect can be the strongest in the empire." He thought.

Soon other people also started to climb the steps of the staircase, and despite having thousands of people climbing the stairs, the place didn't seem crowded in fact it was even a bit empty which was good since you could have space to sit and cultivate calmly under the pressure.

Itachi also decided to start climbing the steps of the stairs, his steps were slow but extremely steady. Every time he climbed a new step he stopped to absorb some of the pressure before continuing.

Within minutes he had reached step number twenty. Looking back slightly he saw that there were about two thousand people stuck on the first twenty steps, and above the twenty steps there were about a thousand people.

"That old man didn't say how many steps it takes to pass the test, which is a very good strategy for catching talent who plan to hide." Itachi thought as he steadily climbed back up the steps.

The pressure he was having to endure was enormous for a person with no cultivation, and it impressed those people on the steps below him.

"Amazing, that little boy even without any cultivation is quietly climbing the steps, while for us it is extremely difficult." A seventeen year old youth commented with an envious expression.

Other people also noticed this, one must know that after the twenty steps, Itachi was the only one without cultivation.

//

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