Do you think it could be the Third Ancestor's Dao Companion

The Tianyuan Sacred Ceremony lasted for three days, and the disciples participating in the daily proceedings were different each day.

Therefore, most of them had not witnessed the grand spectacle of Gu Changyuan reaching the summit yesterday. They had only heard the astonishing news that someone had reached the top of the Sacred Mountain from the disciples on duty yesterday whom they were familiar with.

Although they did not know exactly who it was, all the disciples of the Sacred Land understood what reaching the summit meant.

It represented another massive leap in the destiny and strength of the Sacred Land!

As members of the Sacred Land, they shared in this glory, their hearts naturally filled with excitement and pride.

Seeing the Third Ancestor arrive in person at this moment, they felt that today was even more extraordinary, and the smiles on their faces grew a bit brighter.

In the ranks, a female disciple with lively eyes couldn't help but steal another glance at the high platform as she turned to head to her designated area.

Seeing the figure of the Third Ancestor, Bai Ling'er, standing together with that unfamiliar man, a bold thought suddenly popped into her head, and her soul of gossip began to burn.

She quietly approached a seemingly more composed companion next to her and muttered in an almost inaudible whisper:

Hey, look at the one next to the Third Ancestor... so handsome! This is the first time I've seen a strange man able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Third Ancestor, and so close too... Do you think he might be the Third Ancestor's Dao Companion?

Just as she finished speaking, she received a light knock on her head from her companion.

Shh! Keep your voice down! Do you have a death wish? Daring to gossip about the Third Ancestor behind her back, be careful not to be heard.

Her companion glared at her and issued a stern warning in a hushed voice.

The female disciple covered her knocked forehead and curled her lips, feeling a bit wronged, but the curiosity in her eyes did not diminish in the slightest as she couldn't help but whisper in defense:

I just think... standing together, they look like a perfect match of talent and beauty, and their auras complement each other so well. They really look compatible... Don't you think so?

You're still talking!

Her companion raised a hand, pretending to strike again.

I was wrong, I was wrong! My mistake! I won't say another word!

Frightened, the female disciple quickly covered her head and quickened her pace, jogging forward to get away from her dangerous companion.

How could their conversation, which they thought was extremely quiet, escape the ears of a Tribulation Transcendence Realm cultivator?

Bai Ling'er heard it loud and clear. When she heard the words Dao Companion and compatible, she only felt a surge of heat rush up her cheeks, and even the tips of her ears grew slightly hot.

She subconsciously stole a quick glance at Gu Changyuan beside her out of the corner of her eye, only to see him looking calmly at the gathering crowd in the plaza. He appeared completely at ease, as if he hadn't heard the whispers below at all.

Bai Ling'er's heart settled slightly, but that inexplicable sense of shyness lingered.

Her gaze inadvertently swept over the identity token hanging at the waist of that gossiping female disciple, memorizing the name and the peak she belonged to on it, and she silently nodded in her heart.

Gu Changyuan had actually heard it too. With his cultivation level, not a rustle of the wind or a stir of the grass in the entire plaza could escape his perception.

However, hearing that disciple describe him as so handsome, what else was there to say? Naturally, he wouldn't hold it against her.

Soon, the assessments for the second day of the Tianyuan Sacred Ceremony officially commenced.

Gu Changyuan and Bai Ling'er took their seats at the main positions of the elders' viewing area, looking down from above and overlooking the entire plaza.

They saw thousands of cultivators of varying ages and cultivation levels, guided by the disciples of the Sacred Land, undergoing different tests in sequence.

Over two hours later, most of the tests were proceeding smoothly.

Suddenly, a moderate commotion arose from the Immortal Ascension Platform testing area at the edge of the plaza, drawing the sidelong glances of quite a few people.

Standing in front of the Immortal Ascension Platform was a man.

The clothes on his body were covered in patches and caked with dust. His hair was a messy tangle, and his face bore a few shallow scars, making him look utterly down and out.

His cultivation was merely at the third level of the Qi Refining Realm. Among this batch of cultivators who had come to participate in the assessment, he was practically at the absolute bottom.

Some brightly dressed cultivators around him, who clearly came from extraordinary backgrounds, couldn't help but look at the man with a bit of scrutiny, curiosity, and even faint disdain.

Although the Immortal Ascension Platform ignored cultivation requirements, physical fitness and spiritual energy reserves always provided a slight advantage.

Given this person's appearance, he looked in every way like a rogue cultivator who severely lacked even the most basic cultivation resources. He might even have walked step by step on his own two feet from some remote and barren land all the way to the Central Continent and the Heaven and Human Sacred Land.

The assessments of the Heaven and Human Sacred Land had always prioritized talent, being the most fair and just, and never looked at one's background or origins.

But in the real world, how could there not be hidden special channels?

For instance, the inner sect disciples of the Sacred Land, and even the core disciples, often enjoyed privileges.

They could use the Sacred Land's flying ships to return directly to their respective clans and bring eligible younger generation members over to participate in the Sacred Ceremony, saving them from countless hardships and risks of travel.

Meanwhile, those cultivators with no background, no recommendations, and low origins could only be like the man before them.

Relying entirely on themselves, crossing thousands of mountains and rivers, and experiencing arduous obstacles and dangers just to arrive at the Sacred Land and obtain a chance for a fair test.

The elders of the Sacred Land would also travel abroad all year round, occasionally discovering good seedlings covered in dust.

But the Jiuxiao Realm was so vast, and the cultivators were so numerous. Ultimately, there were still quite a few exceptionally talented cultivators who were buried in the dust.

They did not have a system like Gu Changyuan's, which could directly lock onto targets with outstanding talent.

Gu Changyuan's gaze fell upon the Qi Refining Realm man. His eyes were calm and placid, showing neither contempt nor any particular expectation; he merely observed quietly.

Through the system's detection, he could tell that the other party was named Yun Fan, with a sixth-grade talent. If his temperament was acceptable, he was qualified to enter the Sacred Land. It was just unknown how he would perform on the Immortal Ascension Platform.

The Sacred Land deacon disciple responsible for the Immortal Ascension Platform assessment saw Yun Fan's destitute appearance, but his face showed not a hint of disgust or contempt. He maintained his professional rigor and calmness.

He skillfully registered his information, concisely explained the rules and points of attention, and then signaled that he could begin his ascent.

Yun Fan bowed deeply to the deacon disciple before raising his head to look at the Immortal Ascension Platform, which seemed to tower into the clouds with a total of one hundred steps.

He took a deep breath. That breath carried the dusty scent of a long and arduous journey, as well as the determination of putting everything on the line. Then, he took his first step.

His movements were very slow. Every step felt as if he were carrying the weight of a mountain on his back. He walked with a slight stagger, his body swaying slightly, making people unable to help but worry that he would tumble down the stairs in the next moment.

But he gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed straight ahead. One step, then another, he moved upward slowly yet with extraordinary firmness.