As confusion welled in Qin Xuan’s mind, someone had already begun to ascend the White Jade Steps.

A blinding white light flared, and a young Cultivator, who looked to be in his twenties, appeared on the White Jade Steps.

The Cultivator had pale skin and a gaunt figure. He was riding a yellow-spotted Demon Leopard, his body brimming with True Essence.

His Cultivation was actually at the Foundation Establishment Twelfth Level.

"It’s Du Leibao of the Profound Cliff Du Family!"

A Cultivator in the crowd immediately recognized him.

Each step of the White Jade Steps was over a hundred feet high and more than a thousand feet wide. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

It was large enough to hold nearly a thousand people.

Spirit Flowers and Strange Herbs bloomed across its surface. Every single Spiritual Plant was at least Tier Two Middle Grade, and they all had miraculous effects for opening a Purple Mansion!

"The Spirit Flowers and Strange Herbs on the first step are all mine!"

Du Leibao roared with laughter.

The moment he set foot on the White Jade Steps and was about to bend down to pick the Spiritual Plants, a massive, crushing gravity suddenly descended upon him.

His body lurched, as if a thousand-pound boulder had been dropped on his back.

The gravity had increased several times over!

The spotted Demon Leopard beside him also vanished into thin air.

"How can this be? My Divine Sense connection with my leopard is still there. Where did it go?"

Du Leibao was drenched in sweat. The terrifying pressure nearly bent his spine in two, and large beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.

His expression was one of astonishment, completely bewildered.

His True Essence was being rapidly consumed under the Gravity Domain Field. He thrust a hand into his Storage Pouch, about to take out a Rejuvenating Pill to swallow.

But his Storage Pouch was completely empty.

All of his Magical Treasures and Pills were gone, and his Cultivation had been suppressed to the Foundation Establishment Tenth Level.

It wasn’t just Du Leibao.

The others present were shocked to discover that everyone’s Cultivation had been reduced to the Foundation Establishment Tenth Level. Magical Artifacts, Pills, Talismans... all external items had vanished.

All that remained was their comprehension of Magical Techniques.

"Shortcuts are useless; the true path is found only within oneself."

A Red Armored Female General appeared, holding a Fiery Spear. She had a heroic and valiant air, her body wreathed in rising flames.

"Welcome, everyone, to the Star Ruins [Star Inquiry Stage] trial."

"I am Jiang Chizhen, the sixth-generation Guardian Envoy of the Star Ruins. I will now announce the rules of the Star Ruins assessment."

The Red Armored Female General’s robes fluttered in an unseen wind. She radiated an intimidating aura without any show of anger. Draped in a large red cloak, she sat high at the top of the White Jade Steps, shrouded in starlight.

A massive, lifelike Red Tassel Dharma Aspect stood behind her, its aura vast and majestic.

"Upon entering the Star Inquiry Stage of the Star Ruins, you are forbidden from using any external aid. All Cultivation will be suppressed to the Foundation Establishment Tenth Level. You may only rely on your own Magical Techniques. You might engage in one-on-one combat, attempt the Heart Inquiry Formation, or encounter a Star Sea Demon Tide, a Curse of Witchcraft..."

Jiang Chizhen’s brows were like swords as she announced in a clear voice.

"The time limit is three years. The higher the tier you ascend to, the richer the rewards."

"The Star Inquiry Stage has no end. You can obtain a Star Technique every twenty tiers, guide a Life Star every hundred tiers, and acquire a Positional Divine Technique every thousand tiers!"

BOOM!

Jiang Chizhen held her spear and stomped down heavily.

A terrifying burst of crimson flame erupted, transforming into a giant celestial leaderboard. Inscribed upon it were the five gleaming words: [Star Ruins Celestial Pride List].

"Everyone, good luck!"

Golden light flowed across the list, and the names of legendary figures who once dominated Daqian appeared one by one on the Celestial Pride List.

Many of the names were dim and blurry, no longer clearly visible.

This indicated that the person had already fallen.

But among the names that were still shining brightly, Qin Xuan saw a very familiar one.

Chen Xuanba, 1988th Tier, Tenth on the Star Ruins List!

After Chen Xuanba, several of the Holy Sect’s current Demon Monarchs were also on the list.

For example, the Green Snake Xuan Sha Demon Monarch, 1426th Tier, ranked four hundred and eighty-second.

The Bone Charm Demon Lord, 1003rd Tier, ranked eight hundred and ninety-seventh.

And the Vice Sect Leader, Dugu Hong—also known as the Thunder Abyss Condensing Gang Demon Lord—was just behind Chen Xuanba at the 1981st Tier, ranked sixteenth!

’No wonder Chen Xuanba had three Positional Divine Techniques in the Purple Mansion Realm. It seems he obtained one of them here in the Star Ruins.’

But there was someone who drew even more attention than Chen Xuanba.

It was the second name on the Star Ruins Celestial Pride List: Xiao Weizhen, 1999th Tier.

This prodigy named Xiao Weizhen.

Was the only other living prodigy of the current generation in the top ten, aside from Chen Xuanba!

’Strange. Why aren’t the Holy Sect’s Pure Yang Soul Capturing Demon Monarch and that old fox Ji Boyan on the list?’

Could it be they didn’t go through the Star Ruins to guide their Life Stars?

Just as Qin Xuan was mulling this over, the partial White Tiger Divine Talisman inheritance he carried suddenly grew scorching hot the moment Jiang Chizhen appeared.

To his delight, Qin Xuan discovered that the Spiritual Sense Jade Tube containing the White Tiger Divine Talisman inheritance had not disappeared.

In addition, the twelve silver-white White Tiger Divine Talismans were also still there.

Didn’t this mean he could cheat!

’Since the White Tiger Divine Talismans haven’t disappeared, it must mean the Guardian Envoy tacitly permits their use.’

’Also, my situation seems a bit... special...’

Qin Xuan felt it was all very strange and couldn’t help but laugh to himself.

In terms of Cultivation, Qin Xuan hadn’t been suppressed at all; he was still at the Foundation Establishment Tenth Level.

But he possessed three Positional Divine Techniques.

The amount of Demonic Essence he had was three times that of a Cultivator in the same Realm!

He hadn’t been weakened in the slightest.

At first, Qin Xuan had thought this Red Armored Female General was a fallen Nascent Soul Daoist Monarch who had served under a Venerable Divinity Transformation from old Daqian, and that she was biased in favor of Demon Cultivators.

However, at that moment, in the Daqian camp,

someone recognized Jiang Chizhen’s identity.

"I knew that name sounded familiar! This Red Armored Female General is the Vermilion Bird Divine General who pacified the Southern Border and subjugated Baiyue eight thousand years ago!"

The name Jiang Chizhen wasn’t very famous in Daqian, but the title of Vermilion Bird Divine General was known to every household.

She expanded Daqian’s territory and was ranked as one of the four great Divine Generals of Soaring Cloud Pavilion!

The person who spoke trembled with excitement and exclaimed:

"The Vermilion Bird Divine General’s merits were unparalleled! She was personally ennobled by Emperor Taizong as a Pillar of Daqian, granted the right to wear her sword and shoes in the imperial court, to approach the throne without rushing, and to pay respects without announcing her name. Her revered title was [Crimson Phoenix Flame-Sovereign Daoist Monarch]..."