# Chapter 1025: Eighty-One Palaces
Xuanyuan Potian glared angrily at Hou Qinglin. This man was opposing him at every turn, making him extremely displeased. One day, he would replace Hou Qinglin's position and become the Martial Emperor's most favored disciple. Hou Qinglin would become his stepping stone.
Seeing the coldness in Xuanyuan Potian's eyes, Hou Qinglin said indifferently, "There's no need for you to be unconvinced. In this round of assessment for the Martial Emperor's Disciples, I am the one in charge. Since many of you consider yourselves proud and view others as ants, I will naturally give you the chance to prove your pride. When the time comes, who is the ant will be clear for all to see."
"He decides!" The crowd's expressions froze. Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor were recruiting their first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples, yet they hadn't decided the assessment themselves but had entrusted it to a few personal disciples. This showed their trust in them. Of course, what kind of existence were the Martial Emperors? They naturally couldn't handle everything personally.
"I look forward to it," Xuanyuan Potian said coldly.
Hou Qinglin turned his gaze away, no longer looking at him. Instead, he closed his eyes slightly, waiting for the Heavenly Ladder to end. Once the time came, he would begin his assessment.
Afterward, a few more people climbed the Heavenly Ladder and arrived at the Heavenly Terrace. However, no one was able to cross the Fourth Heaven; that had already become everyone's limit.
"Senior Brother," the ascetic monk called out from a distance at this moment. Hou Qinglin immediately understood and said, "Since it's over, close the Heavenly Ladder. Also, receive those who have come to offer congratulations."
"I understand." The ascetic monk nodded slightly, glanced at the crowd who had climbed the Heavenly Ladder, and said, "Although there are still many of you, you are destined to be eliminated again. This time, the Master is recruiting the first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples, only accepting eighty-one."
"Good luck to you all!" the ascetic monk said with a smile to the crowd, then turned around.
Hou Qinglin looked at everyone and spoke, "All of you who have arrived here have the chance to become Martial Emperor's Disciples."
As Hou Qinglin's words fell, the crowd's expressions froze. All of them had a chance? Wasn't it that those who only climbed the First Heaven had no qualification to become Martial Emperor's Disciples?
"This time, the two Masters are recruiting the first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples. For those in the Heavenly Martial Realm, only eighty-one will be accepted. However, this is only the first batch. Anyone who stepped onto the Nine Heavens and obtained a Light Key may cultivate here on the Heavenly Terrace. I will give you a hundred days, and then my Masters will recruit another batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples. You will be given priority consideration. Therefore, none of you need to be discouraged," Hou Qinglin explained.
The crowd's eyes froze, and many revealed expressions of joy. So that was it. The Nine Heavens indeed had deeper meaning. Those who could step onto the Nine Heavens were people of extraordinary talent. Although they had lost the qualification to become the first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples, they still had the opportunity to become disciples. Though there was some faint disappointment, there was also joy amidst the sorrow.
For many, being able to stay on this Heavenly Terrace was itself an honor.
"Furthermore, those who stepped onto the Second Heaven and above—most of you will also be eliminated and lose the qualification to become the first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples. Likewise, you may stay on the Heavenly Terrace to cultivate and, together with them, become the next batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples," Hou Qinglin said again.
However, this time, those people did not show any joy. After all, they were different from those who had stepped onto the First Heaven. Those who stepped onto the First Heaven had already lost the chance to become the first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples, so they were quite happy to settle for the next best. But they still had the opportunity to compete for the seats of the first batch, so they naturally didn't want to be eliminated and end up on equal footing with those who had only climbed the First Heaven.
Moreover, those who could step onto the Second Heaven were already people of no small talent. Some were from large families. How could they be willing to become failures and mere ordinary Martial Emperor's Disciples?
"All who have stepped onto the Second Heaven and above, follow me," Hou Qinglin said slowly, then turned and walked toward the depths of the Heavenly Terrace.
The crowd immediately rose and followed Hou Qinglin. At this moment, they were all guessing what kind of assessment Hou Qinglin's so-called round of assessment would be.
Hou Qinglin's pace was not fast. In fact, given his cultivation level, his steps were already extremely slow. However, as they walked on this Heavenly Terrace that resembled an immortal palace, no one had any complaints. Walking into the depths of the Heavenly Terrace, they gazed at the vast palace buildings and the ethereal mist, feeling an indescribable comfort throughout their bodies.
"Magnificent and grand. I wonder who these palaces are meant to house," the crowd said in low voices as they looked at the vast palaces on both sides.
"These palaces are meant to house those who came before, as well as those among you who are eliminated," Hou Qinglin heard the voices in the crowd and responded, "As long as you become a Martial Emperor's Disciple and cultivate on the Heavenly Terrace, these palaces will be yours forever—one palace per person."
One palace per person!
The crowd's expressions stiffened. Even the most ordinary Martial Emperor's Disciple would have a palace on the Heavenly Terrace. How dazzling was that!
Lin Feng was especially surprised. No wonder so many people wanted to become Martial Emperor's Disciples. This status itself was an honor.
"A hundred days from now, the eighteen-thousand-foot Heavenly Ladder will connect to the outside world. The Heavenly Terrace will be connected to the Heavenly Realm City and will never be closed again. The people of Heavenly Realm City will all be able to see the glory of the disciples. This place will become their pilgrimage site," Hou Qinglin said slowly, feeling quite proud. The two Masters' efforts were truly grand.
Heavenly Realm City was already the largest city in the Northern Wasteland. But once the Heavenly Terrace connected to the outside world, Heavenly Realm City would become the absolute core region of the Northern Wasteland, and the Heavenly Terrace would become a pilgrimage site, worshipped by countless people. Although he had no interest in fame or vanity, he still felt proud for his Masters.
The group continued forward. In the distance, mist and clouds drifted, and within the clouds, layers of Heavenly Ladders seemed to appear faintly.
Above the Heavenly Ladders, there were palaces that seemed both real and illusory, appearing in the crowd's eyes. Floating among the clouds, they looked like immortal palaces.
"Do you see that?" At this moment, Hou Qinglin pointed to the illusory palaces in the distance, which seemed to drift in the void, arranged in an orderly manner from top to bottom, from far to near, as if each one was more noble than the last.
"Senior, who will live there?" someone asked.
"There are a total of eighty-one palaces there," Hou Qinglin replied. Immediately, a sharp glint flashed in the crowd's eyes. The first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples in the Heavenly Martial Realm would recruit eighty-one people, and there were eighty-one illusory palaces.
"Moreover, the eighty-one palaces are each different. They will be assigned based on the ranking of the eighty-one Martial Emperor's Disciples. Those with higher rankings will naturally receive the most noble palaces," Hou Qinglin's words filled the crowd with a surge of passion. In the world of martial arts, competition existed everywhere. Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor were recruiting the first batch of eighty-one Martial Emperor's Disciples in the Heavenly Martial Realm, and they would all be ranked.
As for Xuanyuan Potian, he had declared that he would seize the seat of the number one Heavenly Martial Martial Emperor's Disciple.
Many people even looked at Xuanyuan Potian. At this moment, his eyes were filled with sharpness. The supreme seat of the number one Heavenly Martial Martial Emperor's Disciple belonged to him, only to him. He would obtain the most noble palace.
"When you climbed the Nine Heavens, each of the Nine Heavens had nine types of Void Light Keys. If you become one of the final eighty-one, those different-colored Void Light Keys will affect your ranking and determine which palace you obtain," Hou Qinglin said.
The crowd's hearts trembled. So those keys had such use. Then Lin Feng, who had climbed the Ninth Heaven—if he became one of the eighty-one, would he directly rank first and obtain the most noble palace?
Xuanyuan Potian's gaze suddenly turned to Lin Feng, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
Not only him, but many people now looked at Lin Feng with ill intent, especially those who had climbed the Fourth Heaven. They had to prevent Lin Feng from becoming a Martial Emperor's Disciple. That way, he wouldn't be among the eighty-one, and they could get better palaces.
Lin Feng, on the other hand, was speechless. Hou Qinglin's vague words had pushed him into the spotlight.
He smiled bitterly, not knowing what Hou Qinglin's intention was. Earlier, Hou Qinglin had helped him several times and should have been on his side. He had even spoken up for him when Xuanyuan Potian humiliated him.
"These eighty-one palaces were personally arranged by my Masters. Take care of yourselves," Hou Qinglin said with a smile, adding another remark that made the crowd even more expectant.
PS: Flowers, flowers. There's still a little over a day left, and we might be overtaken at any moment. Not much time left. I'll continue to fight hard. These past few days have been exhausting!