Lin Feng and his companion slowly walked up to the four women, knelt down with a thud, and buried their heads in the ground, not daring to look directly at them.

"We two have wandered and wasted many years of our youth. Now we kneel and beg to enter the fairy's gate. We are eager to learn from you and earnestly request that you accept us as your disciples. We are willing to devote all our efforts to learning your secret skills and live up to your teachings."

The two men knelt on the ground, not daring to move, awaiting the four women's response, as if they were waiting for judgment.

Wu Xingyun chuckled, and her silvery voice had a unique charm.

"You two little brats are quite interesting. Tell me your origins, or I'll annihilate you both, body and soul!"

Upon hearing that there was hope, the two became excited. Ouyang He spoke first: "In response to your question, fairies, I was originally a prince of the Lieyang Dynasty, but due to the invasion of the Ruohai Dynasty, it was destroyed. My father and all the members of the royal family perished with the dynasty. Before his death, he sent me to the Longxing Dynasty. I grew up in the Longxing Dynasty and struggled for more than ten years. Although I have a considerable reputation now, it is far from enough to avenge my parents. I only hope that you fairies will take pity on me and accept me into your fold!"

Lin Feng continued, "Replying to the fairy, I am originally a member of the Lin family in Yangzhou of the Longxing Dynasty. I have had a fairly good talent for cultivation since childhood, but not long ago I was framed and my dantian was destroyed. Later I learned that the mastermind behind it was my elder brother Lin Zhi. Because my cultivation level is higher than his, he harbors a grudge. Now he is a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. I have a three-year agreement with him to fight to the death in three years. I know that I am overestimating myself, but I will not give up any hope for this goal. I hope the fairy will favor me and guide me into the sect to learn divine skills and wonderful techniques!"

Li Qiushui chuckled and said, "One is about national and personal hatred, and the other is about brothers turning against each other. It's quite interesting that the two of you have come together. It's a good match."

Dongfang Bai scoffed, "Hmph, this world is a dog-eat-dog world. Everyone has their grievances. So, if we want to take on disciples, wouldn't everyone be able to find a reason to do so?"

Lin Feng replied, "Your Highness is wise. We only wanted to tell you our origins and did not intend to gain your sympathy. Although we have suffered a great injustice, we know our own limitations and would not dare to enter the sect based on this."

Wu Xingyun waved his hand impatiently and said, "Then tell us why we want to take you as our disciples?"

Ouyang He dared not play any tricks in front of the women, and simply said the truth: "This junior just learned that the fairies want to take on disciples to participate in the sect's grand competition, so I presumptuously came to kneel and beg."

"You're certainly telling the truth, but what use are you if we take in a bunch of good-for-nothings? Do you really think you can win the competition ten years from now?"

Lin Feng said with considerable pride, "This junior dares not boast, but since childhood I have been the best among my peers. In the Longxing Dynasty, I was once rated as the number one genius of the dynasty. Once you enter the inner circle, I believe that in ten years I will be no less than any of my peers."

Dongfang Bai scoffed, "With your acquired cultivation level? Do you know how vast the world is, how many outstanding individuals there are, and what kind of existence my Golden and Silver Sect is? As far as I know, two people around your age are at least at the Grandmaster level. How can you claim to be on par with your peers!"

"Grandmaster?!"

The two gasped in unison. Grandmasters were extremely rare in dynasties and powerful figures in empires, dominating their respective regions. Yet, the Golden and Silver Sect's third-generation disciples had already reached the cultivation level of Grandmasters, which they found hard to believe!

"What? You don't believe me? As far as I know, those two have only been cultivating for less than two years. Do you still have confidence?"

The two were even more shocked. Reaching the Grandmaster level in less than two years was completely beyond their comprehension!

Although they were shocked, their resolve to become disciples of the sect only strengthened.

“Fairies, we are both determined people, we just lack an opportunity. We have a goal in mind and are determined to learn the arts. Although we know that we are not very talented, we believe that hard work can make up for our shortcomings. We believe that perseverance can overcome any obstacle. We earnestly ask you fairies to give us a chance!”

The two spoke frankly. Although they traveled together, enjoying life's pleasures and venturing into the world with carefree spirits, they both knew that the other carried a heavy burden in their hearts. Speaking out was just a forced smile!

Seeing their utter candor, Wu Xingyun wanted to test their character, so he asked, "Do you see that mountain peak?"

The two looked in the direction Wu Xingyun was pointing and indeed saw a towering mountain. They looked at Wu Xingyun in confusion, not understanding what she meant.

Wu Xingyun moved his fingers rapidly, unleashing more than a dozen sword energies that instantly slicing the mountain's surface smooth.

"You two will climb up the mountain from the bottom, without using your internal energy, relying solely on your physical strength. If you reach the top, I will accept you as my disciples. If you use your internal energy during the climb, don't talk about having lofty ambitions; it will only be shameful."

Then, with a wave of his hand, a burst of energy carried the two of them to the foot of the mountain.

The two looked up and didn't think much of it from a distance, but when they stood at the foot of the mountain, they realized that the peaks were so tall they seemed to reach into the clouds.

Ouyang He walked to the edge of the mountain and touched the cliff with his hand.

"The senior crafted this mountain peak to be perfectly smooth; the only way to climb it is with the aid of tools!"

Their eyes shifted from hesitant to determined, knowing that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that they had to seize!

Lin Feng drew his sword, plunged it into the ground, and snapped it off suddenly.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

When Ouyang He looked again, the sword had broken into four pieces. He was shocked and exclaimed, "Lin Feng, what are you doing? This is a sixth-grade sword that you obtained from the inheritance!"

Lin Feng remained silent, walked into the woods, picked up a few pieces of broken wood, and broke the broken sword into four sections resembling a dagger.

Ouyang He understood his meaning, tore his brocade robes into pieces, and wrapped them around the broken piece of wood that Lin Feng had made for his dagger.

Without another word, the two began their mountain climbing journey, each carrying a dagger made from two sixth-grade swords.

An hour later, the two had climbed at least 300 meters and were drenched in sweat, but the strong winds on the cliff made their sweat evaporate.

A day later, they were already halfway up the mountain, climbing on their last breath.

Two days later, their arms were red and swollen, and their eyes were lifeless; they were clearly persevering only with their remaining willpower.

The four women stood on the mountaintop, marveling at the incredible perseverance of the two young men.

"They've passed the test, haven't they?"

Wu Xingyun chuckled and said, "No, there's still one last step."

She lightly touched the ground with her toes, and a surge of energy flowed down her body.

Lin Feng can only climb one step every fifteen minutes. It will take him several days to reach the top of the mountain. However, he can no longer feel his arms. He is just telling himself not to let go!

Just as he was struggling to insert his sword into the cliff face once again, the cliff suddenly split open, leaving his broken sword with nowhere to hold onto, and his body fell abruptly.

"No!!"

He shouted desperately and waved his broken sword frantically, but to no avail.