"What exactly is it?" someone asked curiously.
"Could it be that Elder Su Rou is going to offer herself?" some shameless ones even started to let their imaginations run wild.
Although Su Rou was an elder, she was only twenty years old. Compared to the old fossils in the sect, she was much more approachable. Because of this, many people spoke without restraint.
In response to everyone's guesses, Su Rou just gave a charming smile, and extended five slender fingers, saying: "Five Spirit Herbs."
"What? Five Spirit Herbs?"
"Did I hear that correctly? It's actually Spirit Herbs, and five of them?" As soon as the words were spoken, the hall fell into chaos. Everyone was stunned.
How precious were Spirit Herbs? Even the Chu Family could only subsidize each person with one per year.
For ordinary people, Spirit Herbs were priceless treasures, something they had never even seen before.
Now the Azure Dragon Sect was actually offering five of them. This temptation for the Outer Disciples was indeed not small.
However, for most people, they could only dream, because they knew that the Spirit Herbs were not meant for them.
But those who aimed for first place were all eager, growing more excited.
Seeing that the disciples' morale was so high, Su Rou nodded in satisfaction, and then waved her jade‑like hand.
Behind her came a rumbling sound as the towering doors, several zhang high, slowly began to open.
"What are you waiting for? Don't you want to pass the assessment?" Looking at the stunned disciples, Su Rou smiled charmingly.
"Charge!"
Instantly, cheers erupted everywhere. Over ten thousand Outer Disciples rushed toward the doors like wild horses that had broken their reins.
Chu Feng followed the crowd, moving forward until he entered a deep and profound cave.
The cave was vast but very dim, visibility extremely low. Everyone knew that latent danger could strike at any time.
"Charge! For the Fourth‑tier Martial Art, for the five Spirit Herbs, charge!"
But there were always some people who risked their lives for wealth. Knowing full well the danger, they still led the way without looking back, and such people were not few.
"Shua shua shua"
But just after advancing a hundred meters, the sound of cutting wind came from ahead. Countless silver needles shot out from the rock walls, like a rainstorm toward the crowd.
"Ahhh!"
"Waaah!"
Instantly, screams were heard everywhere. The Outer Disciples at the front were caught off guard, and more than half had already fallen.
Even so, the others still pressed forward without any hesitation, desperately rushing deeper into the cave.
Because they knew that although the silver needles were formidable, they were not fatal. After all, they were mechanisms. For those at the Spirit Martial Third Level, as long as they were careful, they could completely avoid them.
As they went deeper, the number of silver needles became more and more dense, often catching people off guard.
Under these circumstances, the crowd quickly spread out. Those at the very front were no longer the ones who were merely taking advantage of the confusion, but experts like Yang Tianyu and Duan Yuxuan.
It must be said that Yang Tianyu and Duan Yuxuan were indeed extraordinary.
While others had to walk cautiously through the rain of needles, they moved as if on flat ground. It was not like they were breaking through a mechanism array, but rather like they were racing against each other.
Chu Feng followed behind them, staying amidst the crowd of Spirit Martial Third Level. He did this for two reasons.
First, he didn't want to be the one sticking out.
Second, his situation was very special, and he didn't want to reveal his strength too soon.
So he was waiting for an opportunity—a time when no one could see him, but he could surpass everyone.
"Duan Yuxuan, someone your age can't even outrun a child like me? Aren't you ashamed?"
"Humph, little brat, in martial cultivation, it doesn't matter your age, only your strength. If you want to talk big, first defeat me."
After traveling for some time, only two figures remained at the front of the group: Duan Yuxuan and Yang Tianyu.
Both were at the Spirit Martial Fourth Level, one with exceptional talent, the other experienced. They were evenly matched, and the tension between them grew increasingly intense.
Because they knew that their greatest rival was each other. As long as they could defeat the other, the reward for first place would be theirs.
"Whoosh." Suddenly, the sound of wind came from ahead.
Both gazed forward and were greatly shocked. They couldn't help slowing their pace, because up ahead, thick fog had appeared.