All around was silent. The envoy from the Temple of the Gods gently shook his head at the gong-striking warrior.

Immediately afterward, a burst of mad laughter erupted from the crowd.

The gong-striking warrior broke down instantly, covered his face, and ran away.

"Hahahaha, what a waste! He put in so much effort, but couldn't even ring the gong!"

Duan Haoze joined in, his face full of mockery.

Duan San's face was ashen. He said coldly, "It's better to be laughed at than to laugh at others. Shut your mouth!"

Duan Haoze curled his lip, feeling that his third uncle was targeting him again.

Gongsun Yi then reminded, "This Zhentian Gong (Heaven-Shaking Gong) tests a martial artist's potential, not their strength. So, the more force you use, the less effective it will be. When it's your turn to strike, just calm your mind and tap it lightly."

At this time, the second martial artist walked up to the Zhentian Gong, took the mallet, and struck it hard, but the Zhentian Gong didn't move at all, and still didn't make any sound.

Another burst of laughter erupted from the crowd, but this time it was a little less than before. It seemed that some people had realized that it was not easy to ring the Zhentian Gong.

Maybe when it was their turn, they wouldn't be able to ring it either.

The envoy shook his head, signaling the next one.

The third, the fourth, the fifth… Time passed by, and dozens of people had struck the gong one after another.

But the Zhentian Gong had not been rung even once.

At this time, the martial artists who failed to ring the Zhentian Gong were no longer ridiculed. Everyone had become accustomed to it, and even felt that the Temple of the Gods was just playing with them, that this broken gong might be broken and couldn't be rung at all.

They had forgotten that before the test started, the special envoy from the Temple of the Gods had rung it three times in a row.

The speed of the test became faster and faster. Everyone became like walking dead, going up like zombies, striking it once, the Zhentian Gong did not move, next…

Until, after who knows how many hundreds of people, there was a muffled sound of "dong," and the Zhentian Gong made a dull sound.

The martial artist who rang the Zhentian Gong cheered and waved his arms as if he had won the lottery, and a burst of warm cheers erupted from the crowd.

But at this time, the special envoy on the side said expressionlessly, "Huang grade, Ding class potential value. Does not meet the selection criteria. Next!"

The cheers stopped abruptly, and the martial artist who rang the Zhentian Gong looked even more like an eggplant that had been hit by frost.

Ringing it is not enough? Then what is enough? Are the standards for entering the Temple of the Gods too high?

But when they thought that only the top fifty experts on the Heaven Ranking were qualified to enter directly, everyone was relieved. After all, among the tens of thousands of martial artists present, few could make it onto the Heaven Ranking in their entire lives, let alone the top fifty.

What's more, only a few hundred people have been tested so far, which is only one percent of the total number of people tested.

The test continued, and soon after, the Zhentian Gong rang again.

"Di grade, Jia class potential value. Congratulations, you meet the selection criteria for this time. Please wait in front of the Temple of the Gods."

Half an hour passed, and finally the first martial artist who met the selection criteria appeared. This was a young man, who looked no more than twenty years old, and his strength had just reached the Qi Realm beginner stage.

It seemed that the Temple of the Gods had not lied. This Zhentian Gong really only tested potential value.

Time passed by, and nearly three hours later, it was finally Chen Xiao and the others' turn, and they were also the last few remaining.

The previous tens of thousands of martial artists had all completed the test, and in the end, only five people met the selection criteria of the Temple of the Gods.

Among these five people, the one with the highest potential value was a bright-looking woman with a Tian grade, Ding class potential value. She was also the only martial artist among the five whose potential value reached the Tian grade.

Among Chen Xiao's group, Xiao Li took the lead, took the mallet, and tapped it lightly.

Clang—

The Zhentian Gong made a crisp yet heavy sound, and the lingering sound lingered for a long time, unable to dissipate.

A burst of exclamations erupted from the crowd. Just from this sound, it was at least a Tian grade potential value, right?

Although the selection was almost over, and these people had all been eliminated, it did not prevent them from staying to watch the show.

Sure enough, the envoy from the Temple of the Gods showed an appreciative look in his eyes and said to Xiao Li with a smile, "Tian grade, Bing class potential value. Congratulations, you meet the selection criteria. Please wait in front of the temple for a while."

Another burst of exclamations erupted from the crowd. Tian grade, Bing class. It seemed that he was the martial artist with the highest potential value in this selection!

However, in stark contrast to the excitement of the crowd, Xiao Li's face, although wearing a mask, did not show his expression, but his eyes revealed a trace of disappointment.

Tian grade, Bing class, was one level lower than his father and Uncle Duan. Naturally, he couldn't be happy.

Duan San saw his disappointment at a glance, patted him on the shoulder, and encouraged him: "Xiao Li, don't be discouraged. This test doesn't mean anything. Look at your Uncle Lu, Tian grade, Jia class potential value, but he still can't beat your father? He can't even beat me!"

Lu Datou was innocently shot and had already become a negative example.

Xiao Li smiled slightly: "Uncle Duan, I'm fine."

As he spoke, Xiao Li's eyes fell on Chen Xiao. He wanted to see what grade Chen Xiao's potential value could reach.

After Xiao Li was Lin Zicong. He stepped forward and struck it once. With a clang, the Zhentian Gong was rung.

"Xuan grade, Jia class. I'm sorry, you failed to meet the selection criteria."

The special envoy shook his head at Lin Zicong. Lin Zicong didn't care. He was already satisfied that he could ring the Zhentian Gong.

What's more, his potential value was still Xuan grade, Jia class. If the martial artists who met the selection criteria this time could eventually make it onto the Heaven Ranking, then he was only one step away from the Heaven Ranking!

After Lin Zicong, Qi Qingfei stepped forward. She took the mallet tremblingly and struck it hard.

The Zhentian Gong didn't move at all and didn't make any sound.

Everyone was already used to this and didn't react much, but Qi Qingfei pursed her lips and cried.

"Master, I've embarrassed you…"

Qi Qingfei said while sobbing.

Chen Xiao smiled slightly and comforted her: "It's okay. This Zhentian Gong is just a prop and doesn't prove anything at all. Master can guarantee you that one day, your achievements will surpass everyone here."

Chen Xiao's words were understated, because he knew he could do it, and easily, including Lin Zicong. His potential value couldn't be defined by a Xuan grade, Jia class.

The resources that Chen Xiao possessed were simply incomparable to these martial artists.

The special envoy from the Temple of the Gods glanced at Chen Xiao. Although he didn't say anything, the disgust in his eyes already said it all.

After all, this selection test was held by the Temple of the Gods, and Chen Xiao's words were tantamount to ruining the show.

"Hehe, he can really brag. He's not afraid of the wind blowing his tongue!"

Duan Haoze sneered and stepped forward, picked up the mallet and struck it casually.

Clang—

The sound of the gong rang, and in an instant, everyone's faces changed…