"Is this young lad truly intending to strike the giant drum...!"

Yến Vô Biên’s every move naturally did not escape the notice of those who had been observing him. The palace-clad woman couldn’t help but exclaim in shock.

The palace-clad woman knew clearly that becoming a Peak Disciple was not difficult; one only needed to pass the first stage of the Nine Heavens Thunder Staircase trial.

Passing was one thing, but ascending all nine stages was an extremely arduous task. Those who could reach the platform after clearing all nine stages were invariably Heavenly Prodigies.

Yet, even for such Heavenly Prodigies, striking that giant drum on the platform was no simple feat.

In the palace-clad woman’s memory, since the establishment of the Nine Stages Thunder Staircase, this giant drum had only been struck once, several tens of thousands of years ago. The one who struck it could only be described as a monster among monsters; this individual had almost broken all the Sword God Sect’s records for Spirit Master cultivation realm breakthroughs.

Regardless of the cultivation realm, this person could always break through in the shortest amount of time. Regrettably, such a monstrous talent unexpectedly vanished during a mission, and despite the Sword God Sect's extensive search, no trace was ever found.

Could it be that Peak, which had been in decline for tens of thousands of years, was truly about to rise again?

Her gaze fixed on Yến Vô Biên’s figure, the palace-clad woman’s eyes flickered ceaselessly.

Just then, Yến Vô Bi��n’s figure suddenly shot forth, and under everyone’s gaze, he punched the giant drum.

However, the giant drum remained silent. Everyone only saw Yến Vô Biên’s figure, in the next instant, seemingly repelled by a powerful rebound force, shoot back.

"Hahaha, does this young lad truly believe that by ascending the Thunder Staircase, he can certainly strike the giant drum? He truly overestimates himself."

Witnessing this scene, one of the younger Teng Peak disciples, while secretly sighing in relief, chuckled softly.

"Silence!"

However, to everyone’s surprise, upon hearing the disciple behind her speak thus, the palace-clad woman turned her head and sharply rebuked the young man.

"If you can also ascend all nine stages of the Thunder Staircase, then it won't be too late to laugh."

Her phoenix eyes widened, and after glaring at the youth, the palace-clad woman's eyes revealed a look of disappointment, a mix of anger and regret, before she once again turned her gaze back to the Nine Heavens Thunder Staircase.

Simultaneously, Yến Vô Biên, who had been repelled, now had his spiritual energy surging throughout his body. With arcs of electricity coiling around him, he stomped his foot on the ground, and his figure, like a flash of lightning, reappeared before the giant drum. His fist, glowing with spiritual energy, once again fiercely struck the drum's surface.

With this punch, Yến Vô Biên held nothing back. His pure and potent spiritual energy, combined with his nascent Thunder God Physique, erupted completely. The moment he unleashed the strike, Yến Vô Biên immediately felt a sensation of emptiness within his body, and a wave of weakness washed over him.

The instant his punch landed on the giant drum, Yến Vô Biên only felt an immense force emanating from the drum's surface, which surprisingly blocked his full-strength attack without showing any signs of dissipating.

"Shatter!"

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and a terrifying Sword Intent, seemingly capable of severing all things in the mortal world, suddenly erupted from Yến Vô Biên’s body.

From his striking fist, an extremely sharp, tiny beam of light unexpectedly shot out. As this ray flashed, a faint 'swish' sound was heard, as if something had been directly sliced open. Immediately afterwards, Yến Vô Biên felt the force that had been blocking his fist dissipate.

A smile involuntarily appeared on his face in this situation. The beam of light just now was a manifestation of his Sword Devouring Secret Art. This secret art did not disappoint him; it was truly terrifying, dispelling that immense force on the giant drum with a single strike.

However, what pained Yến Vô Biên somewhat was that merely using a small amount of the Sword Devouring Secret Art had consumed half of the Sword Intent orb of light condensed in his Dantian.

This made him instantly regret his impatience, regretting that he had been provoked by the disdain of two Teng Peak disciples. In an attempt to save face and strike the giant drum, he had consumed this hard-won Sword Intent.

But now that things had come to this, even his regret was useless. At this moment, his unhindered fist struck the drum's surface.

"Dong!"

Just as everyone realized the terrifying Sword Intent on Yến Vô Biên's body had flashed and vanished, a resonant drum sound, echoing through heaven and earth, immediately reverberated amongst the surrounding peaks, accompanying the disappearance of his Sword Intent.

"Dong! Dong! Dong! ... !"

One, two, three... The drum sounds, carrying far and wide, only gradually subsided after reverberating nine consecutive times.

While everyone present stared with wide eyes and agape mouths at Yến Vô Biên, whose figure had already landed on the platform, a streak of crimson light flew over from the main peak ahead. Subsequently, a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties descended. After his gaze swept over the faces of everyone present, he immediately opened his mouth to ask:

"Đằng Tuy��t, why have you suddenly come to Peak? And what was that drum sound just now?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the middle-aged man's gaze fell upon the palace-clad woman.

"Martial Uncle Mẫn, the situation is thus...!"

Before the palace-clad woman, known as Đằng Tuyết, could speak, a young disciple behind her first bowed to the middle-aged man, then immediately recounted the events that had just transpired.

"What!"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man's face was also filled with surprise. His gaze shifted and landed on Yến Vô Biên.

Before the middle-aged man could react, figures flickered, and another five or six individuals arrived consecutively, descending to the ground. These newcomers had white beards and hair, each exuding a powerful aura, and their faces bore expressions of doubt.

After understanding the situation, all these individuals, without exception, revealed expressions of awe. After carefully scrutinizing Yến Vô Biên for a moment, their gazes collectively turned towards Giới Lưu Triệt, their faces showing an awkwardness that made it difficult to speak.

Not only Giới Lưu Triệt, but even the Tiền family siblings and others nearby, guessed these people's intentions: they were simply astonished by Yến Vô Biên's talent and wished to recruit him as their direct disciple. However, poaching a disciple like this made them somewhat embarrassed.

However, since Yến Vô Biên was, after all, participating in the Peak's assessment, both ethically and logically, Giới Lưu Triệt’s opinion had to be respected.

At this moment, one of the black-robed old men, without any hesitation, spoke directly:

"Lưu Triệt, you also know the current situation of Peak. A heaven-defying prodigy like him staying here would only hinder his cultivation. It would truly be a disservice to such a student. Why not let him join our Day Peak?"

No sooner had the black-robed old man's words fallen than, before Giới Lưu Triệt could speak, the middle-aged man who had arrived first glared and said to the black-robed old man:

"Martial Brother Ôn, there must be a proper order of arrival, correct? I was the first one here, so this disciple, by all rights, should join our Star Peak. Furthermore, your Day Peak already has Viên Húc; there's no need for you to come and compete with us for disciples again."

This distinct rendition of the ancient tale is proudly presented by truyen.free.