However, when this person stepped onto the first stone step, his body wobbled, and he fell to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably, with foam coming out of his mouth.

"No way! Are the stone steps really that formidable?"

Witnessing this scene frightened those who were originally eager to step forward, causing them to stop in their tracks.

"Make way."

A towering tribesman standing two meters high, carrying a stone axe on his back, caused others to step aside upon seeing him. The robust man ascended the steps, and by the third step, he was sweating profusely.

The burly man exclaimed, "This oppressive sensation, what's going on?"

A powerful sense of oppression pressed down on every inch of his body, comparable to the weight of a thousand-pound boulder.

"He's from the nearby Black Bear Tribe, the strongest of his generation, and he only managed to step onto the fifth step! Is it really that hard?"

Seeing the two-meter-tall man halted on the fifth step, panting heavily, caused the spectators to change their expressions.

This is just a test; the real Emperor's Three Trials haven't even begun, and already so many people have been eliminated.

Nevertheless, countless people still came to challenge.

After a while, Gu Yan ascended to the twentieth step, but he stopped there, sitting down as though waiting for something.

On the twenty-fifth step, Xia Yuqing frowned and asked, "Gu Yan, what are you planning?"

Gu Yan, who was so "beautiful" it made women envious, smiled and said, "Going through the trial alone is too boring. I'll wait and see; they should come."

Xia Yuqing knew who Gu Yan was referring to.

Xia Yuqing gritted her teeth, realizing that Gu Yan didn't consider her a competitor. She sneered internally, ignoring him, and continued on her way.

"Why is that person stopping? What is he waiting for?"

Out of the ninety-nine stone steps, someone had reached the fifteenth step. Gu Yan noticed that person and said, "Interesting, seems like someone from this era."

Chu Hao also saw the person on the fifteenth step, an elderly man in his sixties dressed in contemporary clothing, but Chu Hao couldn't have mistaken his appearance, it was Zhang Guanyi.

Zhang Guanyi had also come, joining the Emperor's Three Trials.

Besides Zhang Guanyi, a few others also stepped onto over ten steps, and Chu Hao recognized some of these people to some extent.

Zhongnan Mountain, Qingcheng Mountain, Kunlun Mountain, Mao Mountain.

Lan Yingxue and her master were also here, aiming to attempt the stone steps.

"Such terrifying pressure," someone frowned, struggling to persevere; this was an extremely challenging test of will.

Lan Yingxue reached the fifteenth step, gazing at the smiling Gu Yan ahead, frowning unwittingly; she hadn't met him but sensed his confidence, as if he dismissed the difficulty of the steps.

Gu Yan didn't spare a glance at Lan Yingxue. He murmured, "There are other strong ones from this era; three different eras, people from three different times challenging this Emperor's Gate together, how intriguing."

Finally, Gu Yan squinted, his impossibly handsome face excited, declaring, "Qi Tian, you finally made it."

Qi Tian arrived, standing eight feet tall, with a slightly raised nose and an aura of righteousness.

Qi Tian's presence was commanding. Upon arrival, his gaze immediately landed on Gu Yan, coldly saying, "Hmm, were you waiting for me?"

Gu Yan stood, his beautiful face turned exhilarated, laughing heartily, "Qi Tian, you finally came."

Qi Tian, with his hands behind his back, asked, "You were waiting for me?"

Gu Yan, no longer the delicate beauty, exuded a masculine vigor, truly one of the strongest of their time, "Without you, the trial would be too dull; Qi Tian, you certainly didn't disappoint me." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Qi Tian sneered, with hands clasped behind, ascended the steps effortlessly, as if the supposed oppressiveness of the steps had no effect on him.

Even Lan Yingxue, Zhang Guanyi, and others were utterly astonished seeing this.

Lan Yingxue murmured, "Is this person a powerhouse of this world?"

Zhang Guanyi exclaimed, "This is the strength of our predecessors! But I'm not lacking either; I've waited so long for this moment."

Gu Yan and Qi Tian stood on the steps, battling each other with formidable auras, causing those standing not far to bear great strain, feeling as if a mere slap from them could end them.

Suddenly, a silhouette dashed onto the steps. This person's speed was astonishing; in just three breaths, he completed eighty percent of the ninety-nine steps.

The locals gasped, "My gosh! Flame Family Clan's Little Tyrant, Yan Zhongtian."

"Yan Zhongtian, the Flame Emperor's own grandson also came."

Yan Zhongtian appeared in a yellow long robe, with handsome features, approximately eighteen years old, carrying a long halberd, not even glancing at Gu Yan and Qi Tian.

Qi Tian and Gu Yan's pupils contracted, suddenly getting interested.

Qi Tian felt his blood boil, muttering, "Finally, a strong one from this era has shown up."

Gu Yan frowned, "No wonder he's a predecessor, possessing an overwhelming aura that makes my heart tremble. Is he the Yan Zhongtian who stood against the Foreign Ghosts?"

People from two different eras; Yan Zhongtian belonged to the first wave fighting against the Foreign Ghosts, inspiring admiration from Qi Tian, Gu Yan, and others.

Moreover, in later battles against the Foreign Ghosts, neither Qi Tian nor Gu Yan had encountered them, highlighting the gap in experience.

Gu Yan chuckled, "Qi Tian, isn't this fascinating? Powerhouses across three different times are about to face off here."

Qi Tian coldly replied, "Three eras, huh?"

He looked toward Lan Yingxue, Zhang Guanyi, and others, laughing derisively, not taking them seriously, "Later generations are too weak."

Lan Yingxue and others were infuriated. Do they look down on them like that?

Lan Yingxue retorted, "Our generation isn't necessarily weaker than yours."

Saying this, Lan Yingxue formed seals with her hands, using the secret technique of Kunlun Mountain. Her whole body surged with Yang Energy as she swiftly ascended the steps.

Lan Yingxue reached the fortieth step, turning back with a look of pride, "Don't underestimate us, people of the later generation."

Gu Yan laughed heartily, "Interesting, very interesting—a clash among warriors from three different eras. I'm quite looking forward to it."

As he said this, the incredibly handsome Gu Yan ascended the steps with agile strides, surpassing Lan Yingxue effortlessly, unconstrained.

"This!"

Lan Yingxue was shocked internally. She had just boosted her abilities with a secret technique, yet Gu Yan didn't care, plainly indicating the disparity in strength.

Qi Tian sneered, "Such is the strength of later generations; stop embarrassing yourselves here."

"You!"

Lan Yingxue was furious, this person was too arrogant, blatantly ignoring them.

Zhang Guanyi and others also felt immense pressure; the predecessors were indeed powerful.

Someone unwillingly rushed up several steps but ended up spitting blood, rolling down, prompting exclamations from the crowd.

Qi Tian shook his head, "Too weak. Once I get out, I'll teach you juniors properly."

Suddenly, someone gasped, drawing cold breaths, "Gasp! Who's that? Ascending the steps thirty levels in one breath, not even pausing to catch breath once."