Not far away, a group of people strode forward.

Every person in this group possessed an extraordinary aura; many were quite powerful. Especially the one leading them, whose presence was subtly not inferior to Xiao Fengxiong and the others. This individual was clad in pure, refined crimson, and upon closer inspection, he was dressed in brocade robes and jade garments, appearing like a noble young master.

The leading young master in brocade and jade robes cast a faint glance over the eight people, finally settling his gaze on Lu Yuan: "Among these eight, your cultivation seems the weakest, yet my Five Senses tell me you should be the strongest among them."

Lu Yuan shuddered.

This man's Five Great Faculties were incredibly sharp. He could actually—actually discern that Lu Yuan was the strongest of the eight purely through his Five Senses.

Who was this person?

The young master in brocade and jade robes spoke casually, "You are strong. You must be Lu Yuan, who recently gained enlightenment by observing the two characters 'Five Gates' at the sect entrance." In fact, the matter of Lu Yuan gaining enlightenment from observing the two characters at the sect entrance had already spread among those with keen intelligence in the Crimson Gate. This young master in brocade and jade robes was clearly aware of it.

"Gaining enlightenment by observing the two characters 'Five Gates,' quite good, quite good. Although you ultimately did not fully grasp it, failing to enter the ranks of the peerless geniuses of the Central Heavenly Dynasty, failing to become the sixth person since the previous Five Masters to achieve the pinnacle of the Five Gates, it is still quite remarkable. Your Five Dao talent is already considered genius, truly exceptional among this generation of newcomers.……"

This young master in brocade and jade robes praised Lu Yuan from the beginning, then abruptly shifted his tone: "However, although your Crimson Dao talent is strong, it is limited. You cannot surpass me, because I am the Five Literary Master, a destined Five Dao genius. While my Yin Dao talent may not surpass that of my elder brother, the Fifth Son, I am destined to be the most dazzling star of the Five Daos, a brilliant star second only to my brother, the Fifth Son." He looked faintly at Lu Yuan, confident of his victory over him. This was not underestimating Lu Yuan; in his view, it was an inevitability, for he was the Fifth Star.

This man was the younger brother of the Fifth Son!

When he first heard the name Central Heavenly Dynasty in Jin State, he had heard of the Fifth Son.

But now, for the first time, he truly had a sliver of contact with the Fifth Son.

This man was the younger brother of the Crimson Son.

The Fifth Son.

The Seven Sons of Destiny, hailed as seven individuals possessing immense destiny, the protagonists of this era, and the Fifth Son was universally recognized as the most gifted in the Five Daos of this age, his talent so profound that even the Lord of the Ancient Civilization held him in high regard.

"Indeed, among this generation of newcomers, the Five Star Crimson Literary Master is the strongest."

"That is so."

"Which of our major provinces, of the forty-two newcomers, does not know of the might of the Crimson Star?"

"The eight people from the Outer Regions, although we heard one caused a stir upon first arriving at the Five Gates, it was ultimately just a superficial stir. They did not truly comprehend the Five Intentions of Life, and cannot compare to our Crimson Star."

"The Crimson Star is the number... the idol among the newcomers, who may even surpass the Fifth Son in the future." The surrounding newcomers also fawned over this Crimson Star, the Literary Master.

Listening to their discussions, Lu Yuan finally understood. This time, the Five Gates had recruited eight newcomers from the Outer Regions, and forty-two newcomers from the major provinces surrounding the Central Heavenly Dynasty, totaling fifty newcomers. Among these, the Crimson Star Literary Master was ranked first.

The younger brother of the Crimson Son!

The Fifth Star, the Literary Master, looked at Lu Yuan: "Lu Yuan, are you also going to try the Soaring Five Floors? If you reach the sixth floor, you can directly become a true disciple. Back then, although my brother was groomed as a peerless genius and didn't have to follow the usual procedure, he still tested the Soaring Five Floors once when he first joined the Five Gates. He directly reached the tenth level on his first attempt and was hailed as a super genius. You are the top expert among the Outer Region newcomers, and I am the top expert among the forty-two newcomers from the Central Heavenly Dynasty. Let us test ourselves, see who can ascend to more levels, and whether one of us can reach the sixth floor to become a true disciple." The Literary Master challenged Lu Yuan pointedly.

Lu Yuan nodded: "Since we are testing, let's try." The opponent was strong—the direct younger brother of the Fifth Son, and the top expert among the forty-two from the Central Heavenly Dynasty. The experts from the Central Heavenly Dynasty were surely far more numerous than those from outside. This Literary Master was no simple figure; in fact, Lu Yuan himself sensed that the Literary Master's strength was likely on par with Xiao Fengxiong and the others.

Xuanyuan Twelve spoke, "Since that is the case, let all fifty newcomers of this cohort test themselves together."

With Xuanyuan Twelve opening his mouth, and given that everyone already intended to test their abilities—wanting to see whether the domain outsiders or the Central Heavenly Dynasty's own cohort was stronger—everyone immediately agreed. Whether intentional or not, they placed Lu Yuan and the Sword Star, the Literary Master, in the last two positions, perhaps treating them as the grand finale.

The first to test was a newcomer from the Central Heavenly Dynasty. This newcomer returned almost immediately after entering, saying dejectedly, "It is too difficult; I couldn't even pass the first level." This newcomer, although not particularly strong, possessed cultivation at the sixth layer of the Great Dao Realm, yet he couldn't pass the first level.

The Soaring Five Floors! How incredibly difficult!

The newcomer was somewhat disheartened. If he couldn't pass the first level, how could passing the sixth level and becoming a true disciple possibly be achieved? It turned out to be immensely difficult.

Immediately, another newcomer from the Central Heavenly Dynasty went in, but like the first, they failed to pass the first level.

The Soaring Five Floors seemed to loom even taller before everyone's eyes.

At first, hearing that breaking through the sixth level granted true disciple status, people thought it would be relatively easy—merely six levels. Now, everyone realized they had been too simplistic in their thinking.

Finally, it was the turn of Di Yun, one of the eight from the Outer Regions. He possessed the power of the peak sixth layer of the Great Dao Realm and was proficient in swordplay. While he wasn't among the absolute top figures from the Hundred Nations Assessment, he was certainly an outstanding individual. It was rumored he also practiced a divine foot technique, the Divine Foot Scripture, giving him lightning-fast speed.

Di Yun entered the first level of the Soaring Five Floors, but after only a short while, he emerged, shaking his head with a wry smile, "I didn't expect I wouldn't even pass the first level." If the strength of the Central Heavenly Dynasty newcomers was still somewhat uncertain, Di Yun had fought his way through the Hundred Nations Assessment and was undeniably strong. Yet, he couldn't pass the first level. The difficulty of the Soaring Five Floors was truly terrifying.

A moment later, Shi Feixian went in. Upon seeing Shi Feixian, the Literary Master’s eyes lit up. What an outstanding woman. She was ethereal, like an immortal, with bright eyes and pearly teeth, enveloped in a powerful crimson aura. Her appearance seemed to transform the entire world into a fairyland. The Literary Master had seen beautiful women before, but never one so exquisitely beautiful and refined, with a temperament like a celestial being descended to the mortal realm. Furthermore, she possessed such astonishing Five Qi. She was a female cultivator who was beautiful, powerful, and possessed infinite potential. The Literary Master roared inwardly, I must have this woman! He immediately went over to get closer.

Shi Feixian completely ignored the Literary Master; to her, he was nothing more than a buzzing fly. She was a wondrous woman whose heart was set on the Great Dao. She stepped lightly into the Soaring Sword Tower. This time, she lasted significantly longer than the others. After a long while, she emerged and stated calmly, "I broke through the first two levels, but regrettably failed at the third."

A very good result. Others hadn't even passed the first level, yet she had broken through two, only failing at the third.

Next, Huo Yibu also began his ascent. Huo Yibu possessed the power of the peak seventh layer of the Great Dao Realm; the only reason he wasn't ranked higher was because he encountered Xiao Fengxiong. This time, he also took some time to charge through the levels. When he finally came out, he stated calmly, "I broke through the first two levels, but sadly failed at the third."

The situation was largely clear by now: the majority couldn't even pass the first level.

Occasionally, slightly stronger individuals could pass the first level, only to fail at the second.

Those like Shi Feixian and Huo Yibu, who could break the second level and fail at the third, were extremely rare. Among all fifty people, only three possessed such capability.

This left the final two contenders.

Lu Yuan and the Fifth Star, the Literary Master.

Lu Yuan stepped forward and finally entered the Soaring Five Floors. The moment he stepped inside, he found himself in the first level. His opponent, one of the Five Attendants, watched him coldly. This sword attendant spoke with chilling ice in his voice, "I am the Tong Jin Five Attendants. Defeat me, and you may enter the second level."

These Yellow Turban Five Attendants were not true living beings; they were manifestations conjured by the incomparably powerful force of an Arch-Mighty. These entities possessed little true intellect, knowing only combat. Even if shattered once, as long as their Yellow Turban Life Talisman wasn't destroyed, they could reform after a period. They were much like the legendary Yellow Turban Warriors. Naturally, the Yellow Turban Life Talisman was not located here; defeating the Yellow Turban Five Attendants once counted as passing the first level.

This Yellow Turban Yin Guest raised his hand and unleashed a set of profoundly mysterious Five Moves. What kind of Crimson Skill was this? It seemed his five moves vanished momentarily, and even he disappeared—both man and moves gone simultaneously. What kind of Crimson Art was this! Lu Yuan had witnessed numerous national Crimson Arts during the Hundred Nations Assessment, but never one like this.

Ahead!

The Five Realms of the Emperor gave Lu Yuan an instinctive warning. Lu Yuan raised his hand, unleashing the Five Spirits with an extremely perilous move to meet the challenge directly. This move was fast, treacherous, strange, ruthless, and precise.

His own Five Arts, tempered by the Hundred Nations Assessment, had ascended to a new level. He could not afford the slightest complacency.