A journey through immortal realms begins with a phantom tale.

In Luo Cheng's view, a cultivator's temperament and will are far more important than talent. With his current abilities, even an ordinary person without any talent can be transformed into a monstrous genius through the power of origin—this is the power of a god, and the mystery of the power of origin.

The first test assesses mental strength and physical constitution. Mental strength is often linked to willpower, while physical constitution is related to innate talent and aptitude.

With Luo Cheng's supernatural abilities, he can use the power of origin to change one's physique and talent. Therefore, as long as one has a strong will and a good character, Luo Cheng will accept one as a disciple depending on the circumstances.

Therefore, Luo Cheng's observations always focused on willpower.

The Shenmu Sect selects disciples based on both physical and mental strength: those with good physique but weak mental strength will find it difficult to reach the peak of cultivation; those with poor physique will not be able to enter the sect, and even if they have a strong will, they will not be able to cultivate.

Below were more than a dozen testing formations, each containing thousands of examinees. Looking at this scene, Luo Cheng suddenly thought of the college entrance examination on Blue Star and said softly, "Chenchen, the scene is a bit like the college entrance examination on Blue Star."

The National College Entrance Examination (NCEE), like other assessments, is a pivotal moment that can change one's destiny. The NCEE can lead to different paths in life, but being chosen by the celestial sect is a meteoric rise, with the possibility of ascending to immortality—an opportunity far beyond what the NCEE can offer.

Lin Chen wholeheartedly agreed: "There's really no comparison; this is a matter of destiny." She then pressed on, "Did you see anyone you clicked with?"

"It depends on fate."

"Hmph." Lin Chen curled her lips, not entirely satisfied, but didn't press the matter further. However, her gaze remained fixed on the examinees below. Having lived on Fengyuan Star for hundreds of years, she had witnessed many immortal sects recruiting disciples and was quite familiar with the selection criteria of major cultivation sects. At this moment, she actually saw a few promising talents.

"Chenchen, when accepting disciples, one should focus on their character and willpower," Luo Cheng said.

"Without talent, you can't even get started," Lin Chen joked with a smile. "Oh, I forgot, someone is a god who can defy fate."

"It's good that you understand."

"Then I'll follow your example and not look at qualifications, but only at character."

The Leaf Village Sect Master, standing nearby, was secretly alarmed. A sage accepting disciples without considering their aptitude?

Even a major sect like the Shenmu Sect cannot change one's aptitude. If one could change one's aptitude, one would have a wider range of choices and be able to recruit more outstanding disciples.

He didn't know that for Luo Cheng, who controlled the origin, aptitude was never an issue.

The major cultivation sects all understand that one's mental state is the most crucial factor during tribulation. If one's mental state is not up to par and one engages in excessive killing, not only will the lightning tribulation be more terrifying, but the inner demon tribulation will also be even more difficult to overcome.

Throughout his journey, Luo Cheng rarely showed any murderous intent. When facing the siege of Bona Ancient Immortal, Xin Bojiao clearly had the ability to kill him, but he always held back. He never had any thoughts of killing Li Mengtian either. The only time he had murderous intent was towards Huo Chi, because the other party destroyed the Holy City Immortal Array and killed a large number of cultivators, which made him pay with his life.

On the path of spiritual practice, the mind is key. No matter how high one's spiritual attainment, one must guard one's original mind.

Luo Cheng chatted idly on the high platform while the assessment continued below.

Many people have reached their limit, but they are still gritting their teeth and persevering, muttering "I must cultivate immortality" - just like Luo Cheng before he embarked on the path of cultivation, they all want to grasp that glimmer of hope and change their fate, and no one is willing to give up.

Only when someone could no longer hold on and collapsed were they sent out of the great formation by the elders on the platform using magic.

"No!" The angry roars of resentment rose and fell, but in the end, there was nothing they could do.

After the first round of assessments, only a little over 10,000 remained out of 100,000 applicants.

The Grand Elder flew into the air, his voice amplified by magic throughout the plaza: "Those who have passed the first round of testing, quickly proceed to the Heavenly Path! Climbing the entire Heavenly Path will qualify you for the second round of testing!"

"The assessment begins!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd surged toward the Path to Heaven.

This path is a unique spectacle of the Illusion Tree Star—it runs straight from the tree trunk to the treetop. Back then, the ancestors of the Divine Tree Sect selected a sturdy branch to carve out the steps and set up a celestial array to test it.

The size of the Illusion Tree Star far exceeds that of the Blue Star. This single branch stretches for tens of kilometers from the trunk to the tip, with more than ten thousand steps.

As soon as everyone stepped onto the Heavenly Ladder, an immense pressure pressed down from all directions, like climbing a hill with a heavy load, yet no one retreated. Some jogged up, while others climbed slowly, and the gap between them gradually widened.

As time passed, many people collapsed on the steps and were taken back to the square by the elders for treatment.

"Hmm?" Luo Cheng suddenly narrowed his eyes.

Lin Chen immediately asked, "Brother Cheng, did you see someone you like?"

"Look at that person." Luo Cheng made a hand seal and used the Water Mirror Technique to reflect the figure of a young man.

The boy, about fifteen years old, was climbing upwards, using both his hands and feet. The immense pressure made each step extremely difficult, and his clothes were soaked with sweat, but he never stopped.

Luo Cheng noticed him because he was the weakest in terms of physique in this round—he should have been eliminated in the first round of assessment, but he was able to stay because of his strong mental strength.

Lin Chen first looked at the water mirror, then at the ladder to heaven. He saw a thin boy crawling up, panting heavily. He looked like he had reached his physical limit, but his eyes were unusually determined.

The Konoha Sect Master also saw it and explained, "This child's physique is too poor. He only barely passed the first test because of his strong mental strength."

"He has a strong will," Luo Cheng nodded.

"Indeed strong." The Konoha Sect Leader agreed, adding, "If he doesn't give up, he might lose his life."

According to the rules, as long as they don't fall, they won't be removed from the Sky Road; this gives people a glimmer of hope.

Once, a disciple, covered in blood and enduring immense pressure, climbed the entire course and was accepted as a personal disciple by the sect leader of the Divine Wood Sect. After cultivating for two thousand years, he successfully ascended to the Immortal Realm.

However, many more people collapsed on the ladder to heaven, some becoming disabled or dying on the spot due to severe injuries.

The boy is physically weak; if he tries to push through, the chances of survival are slim.

The young man knew he had no way out. If he didn't join the immortal sect, he would face endless ridicule, cold looks from his family, and the fiancée who had already broken off their engagement.

"No!" he roared in his heart, using both hands and feet to climb upwards with all his might.

"Brother Cheng!" Lin Chen called softly, her voice filled with reluctance—she hoped that Luo Cheng would accept the child.

"Wait a little longer."

"If you won't accept it, I will!" Lin Chen said firmly.

Luo Cheng smiled: "Judging from his appearance, this child has a good character, a strong will, and knows how to be grateful."

"Then I'm even more determined to accept it!"

"No rush, let's see if he can hold on."

Lin Chen nodded in agreement. She believed in Luo Cheng's abilities; as long as the boy had a breath left, he could be saved and his fate could be changed.

At this moment, a boy stopped on the steps, looked at Xiao Feng who was climbing up, and sneered, "Xiao Feng, accept your fate! With your physique, you can't climb up!"

Xiao Feng pursed his lips, a hint of hatred flashing in his eyes, but he didn't speak, only buried his head and continued climbing.

Lin Chen, watching from the stage, found it amusing: "This little guy has a story to tell."

Upon hearing the name "Xiao Feng," Luo Cheng seemed thoughtful: "His surname is Xiao? Judging from his bloodline, he has some of the aura of Earth."

He had traveled the universe for many years and had seen many cultivators from Blue Star—there were some from Lin Star, some from Fengyuan Star, the Chongxuan Sect often went to Blue Star to seek their inheritance, and there were even traces of Blue Star people on Tanbang Star. He just didn't expect that there would be some from Huanshu Star as well.

He recalled a funny story from a web novel on Blue Star and joked, "The surname Xiao is known for producing strong people. Maybe he even has a fiancée who broke off their engagement."

"Huh?" Lin Chen looked blank. When she was cultivating immortality, online novels hadn't become popular yet, so she didn't understand this reference.

Luo Cheng explained with a smile, "There are some surnames in the universe that have produced Heavenly Venerable-level powerhouses, and the Xiao family is one of them."

"A Celestial Venerable?" Lin Chen asked in surprise. "You mean, he has the bloodline of a Celestial Venerable?"

A little, but not much.

"Hehe, then I'll definitely take him as my apprentice!" Lin Chen smiled, his eyes crinkling.

Lin Chen was unaware that Luo Cheng was just speaking casually, because he knew many secrets and also knew that there were currently only two Celestial Venerables in the Misty Universe.

Although the Konoha Sect Master next to him didn't know what "Celestial Venerable" meant, he felt that the two words "Celestial Venerable" were very domineering, so he glanced at Xiao Feng a few more times.

Looking at the thin yet stubborn figure, Luo Cheng said softly, "Let's see if he can climb to the top on his own."

"Yes! I want to see too." Lin Chen nodded, his eyes full of anticipation.