Who is Jiang Hao?

Jiang Hao and Zhao Heita both walked toward the inner hall.

It wasn't just the Gray-robed Elder who noticed; many in the great hall had their eyes on them.

They were well-versed in the Huangtian Sect's affairs, so their attention was even sharper.

But when Zhao Heita and Jiang Hao reached the entrance of the inner hall, two Inner Hall Stewards blocked their path.

"Unauthorized personnel are not allowed into the inner hall!"

The two stewards said bluntly.

Outer Gate disciples had no right to enter the inner hall, let alone mere "registrants."

Want to step inside?

No way.

Zhao Heita didn't seem surprised.

He calmly pulled a token from his chest and tossed it to the stewards.

"I have an Inner Gate Recommendation Slot—does that still not grant me entry?"

Taking the token, the two stewards examined it closely, their expressions shifting slightly.

It was real!

An actual Inner Gate Recommendation Slot?

"The token is genuine, but a martial artist using an Inner Gate Recommendation Slot must have Transforming Force cultivation and be under thirty to directly ascend to the Inner Gate."

"Is this child a Transforming Force martial artist?"

The stewards' gazes fell on Jiang Hao.

They could tell he was the one aiming for the Inner Gate.

Zhao Heita shook his head. "Jiang Hao is not a Transforming Force martial artist. He's only a Ming Jin Martial Artist."

"As I recall, a Ming Jin Martial Artist with an Inner Gate Recommendation Slot can challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower to directly enter the Inner Gate, right?"

"Correct."

"Then I apply to challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower for direct Inner Gate entry!"

Zhao Heita's voice was resolute, carrying through the hall.

"Boom."

The entire hall erupted.

Though some had guessed as much.

Hearing Zhao Heita admit it outright—that he intended to challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower—shocked many.

"The Desolate Heaven Tower? After all these years, someone dares to challenge it again."

"Challenging the Desolate Heaven Tower requires an Inner Gate Recommendation Slot. Such a precious slot, wasted on that tower—it's too extravagant."

"True. Many in the Huangtian Sect have applied to challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower, but how many have actually cleared it?"

"Still, if someone does clear it and ascends to the Inner Gate, their future is boundless."

"Who are these two? Someone with an Inner Gate Recommendation Slot shouldn't be unknown. At the very least, they should have some background..."

Many eyes fixed on Jiang Hao and Zhao Heita.

Quite a few were also watching Big Tiger.

Big Tiger's current size could only be described as a "Heterogeneous Species"—far beyond the scope of an ordinary beast.

The two stewards exchanged glances, their arrogance fading. Their tone softened as they said quietly, "Please follow us, both of you. We'll register your details first."

"By the rules, applying to challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower requires the Sect Master's approval and the activation of the tower's permissions, so you'll need to wait a bit."

This was standard procedure, and Zhao Heita understood. In the Huangtian Sect, challenging the Desolate Heaven Tower was a monumental event that could shake the entire sect.

It would take time.

"How long will the wait be?"

Zhao Heita still asked.

"We'll notify you both within three days."

"And you can stay in the lodgings arranged by our inner hall."

Zhao Heita nodded.

"Let's go register first."

So the two stepped into the inner hall.

Inside, both Zhao Heita and Jiang Hao had to register their information.

Jiang Hao, in particular, drew many stares.

After all, he was the martial artist about to challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower—many wanted to know more about him.

As the information was registered, many people felt even more shocked in their hearts.

They learned that Jiang Hao came from Cang City.

It was merely an ordinary small city.

He was only nine years and seven months old, not even ten yet.

He had been practicing martial arts for just over three years.

His current cultivation was Ming Jin.

In other words, Jiang Hao was about to challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower with Ming Jin cultivation.

To succeed, he had to break through the ninth floor of the Desolate Heaven Tower!

"Registration is complete. You two may rest for now. Once there is news, we will notify you immediately."

"Very well."

Zhao Heita nodded.

Thus, the two settled down to rest.

They stayed in a courtyard arranged by the Inner Hall Steward.

"Finally back at the Huangtian Sect... but this time is different from all the previous ones..."

Zhao Heita let out a long sigh.

"Master, have you been to the Huangtian Sect before?" Jiang Hao asked.

"Of course I have. When I was young, my elders brought me here, but..."

Zhao Heita seemed reluctant to say more, hesitating.

After a long pause, he sighed again. "Jiang Hao, I won't hide it from you. The reason I insisted on you entering the Huangtian Sect's Inner Gate is also out of selfishness."

"Selfishness?"

Jiang Hao's heart stirred slightly.

"I was born into the Zhao Family. Our ancestors were high-ranking members of the Huangtian Sect, and once produced an Entering Dao expert."

"Later, due to some special reasons, my Zhao Family was forced to leave the Huangtian Sect. But everyone in our Zhao lineage has always wanted to return."

"The Inner Gate Recommendation Slot is the only chance for the Zhao Family to turn things around. That's why, all these years, I've been searching for geniuses, hoping to train them up so they can enter the Huangtian Sect's Inner Gate and have a sliver of hope to become an Entering Dao expert."

"Jiang Hao, if one day you can become an Entering Dao expert, I only ask one thing of you: let my Zhao Family lineage return to the Huangtian Sect!"

Zhao Heita finally revealed his purpose.

In truth, Jiang Hao had always known that his master's devoted training likely had some ulterior motive.

This was normal.

One couldn't expect everyone to be a saint.

Everyone sought something.

At the very least, his master had never harmed him before.

And now, with his master making his request, Jiang Hao actually felt relieved.

"Master, is it merely to let the Zhao Family lineage return to the Huangtian Sect?"

"Yes. Don't underestimate this request. If you don't Enter Dao, it's absolutely impossible. Only by Entering Dao would you have the qualifications to make such a condition."

Jiang Hao understood.

Something must have happened between the Zhao Family and the Huangtian Sect.

But none of that mattered.

Entering Dao?

Ever since Jiang Hao obtained the Martial Arts Divine Hall, he had never doubted that he could Enter Dao.

In fact, his future achievements might far surpass Entering Dao.

"Disciple promises Master: if one day I Enter Dao, I will do my utmost to help the Zhao Family lineage return to the Huangtian Sect!"

Jiang Hao made his vow.

"Good. I naturally trust you."

A smile appeared on Zhao Heita's face.

The heavy stone in his heart had finally settled completely.

"Master, what should we do now?" Jiang Hao asked.

"Now? Naturally, we wait!"

"Aside from anything related to the Desolate Heaven Tower, you are to pay it no mind."

Jiang Hao nodded.

He could imagine that for some time to come, the entire Huangtian Sect would be in an uproar over news of him.

By now, news of Jiang Hao had already been reported to the Huangtian Sect's upper echelons, reaching the hands of Sect Master Yuan Wentian.

"Zhao Heita?"

"So he's a descendant of the Zhao Family line, using an Inner Gate Recommendation Slot to try and rejoin the Huangtian Sect? But this matter... I'm afraid it won't be easy..."

Yuan Wentian naturally knew about the Zhao Family line.

Still, that was all a long time ago.

Gratitudes and grudges, rights and wrongs—none of it had anything to do with him, and he didn't want to get involved.

"What does this Jiang Hao have to say?"

Yuan Wentian frowned as he looked at the records on the report.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, this is what we gathered from our first inquiries."

"Jiang Hao is the son of a merchant from Cang City. He was known as a Child Prodigy from a young age, and some well-known poems spread about him. At six years old, Jiang Hao became Zhao Heita's disciple. At first, it was merely a transactional arrangement—Zhao Heita accepted him only out of face for the Jiang Estate. Unexpectedly, Jiang Hao nurtured his blood and qi in a single day, perfected it within a year, and then went on to train his jin."

"Oh, and Xia Hong from the Outer Gate once gave Jiang Hao a token, recommending him to join the Huangtian Sect's Outer Gate. But instead of entering the Outer Gate, Jiang Hao came to the Huangtian Sect with Zhao Heita and applied to challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower, aiming to skip straight to the Inner Gate."

After hearing this, Yuan Wentian fell into thought.

Nurturing blood and qi in a single day, perfecting it within a year—that was indeed genius.

Even among the Huangtian Sect's Inner Gate, he would rank among the best.

But to break through the Desolate Heaven Tower was clearly no easy feat.

Jiang Hao might have some hidden secrets that made Zhao Heita so confident in daring to challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower.

Still, wasn't the Huangtian Sect a sect that took in geniuses?

The more geniuses, the better.

"Since Zhao Heita has an Inner Gate Recommendation Slot, we'll follow the rules."

"Notify everyone—three days from now, This Seat will open the Desolate Heaven Tower and permit Jiang Hao to enter."

Yuan Wentian made his decision.

"Yes, Sect Master."

The Huangtian Sect quickly announced the news.

The Sect Master had agreed to let Jiang Hao challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower.

For a time, the entire Huangtian Sect grew even more lively.

Many Outer Gate disciples, elders, and stewards all had only one question in their minds.

Who was Jiang Hao?

"Du Futian, aren't you from Cang City? So do you know Jiang Hao?"

"In three days, Jiang Hao will challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower. If he succeeds, he'll skip straight to the Inner Gate."

Some Outer Gate disciples asked Du Futian.

Du Futian was momentarily stunned.

Originally, Du Futian had been the top genius in Cang City, once even the number one prodigy.

He had always felt his talent shouldn't be buried, and he looked forward to entering the Huangtian Sect.

Later, he finally got his chance—he received an Outer Gate recommendation slot for the Huangtian Sect and entered the Outer Gate.

But then...

Du Futian's life had been very hard.

Downright terrible, in fact.

There were too many genius disciples in the Huangtian Sect's Outer Gate.

His meager talent was utterly insignificant there.

He quickly faded into obscurity.

Now, suddenly hearing news of Jiang Hao, Du Futian's first reaction was disbelief.

What the Desolate Heaven Tower was—Du Futian had learned about it in the Outer Gate.

A Ming Jin Martial Artist challenging the Desolate Heaven Tower?

It was no different from a fairy tale.

Yet this was actually happening.

"Jiang Hao..."

A faint bitterness welled up in Du Futian's heart.

It was Jiang Hao who had originally taken the title of Cang City's number one genius from Du Futian's head.

At the time, he had still been somewhat resentful.

But now?

There was no comparison.

Still, Du Futian decided that three days later, he would go see for himself whether Jiang Hao could actually make it through the Desolate Heaven Tower.

Not only Du Futian decided to go see—Xia Hong also resolved to personally witness it three days later.

"Jiang Hao... coming to the Huangtian Sect so soon?"

"I wonder if the Wheel Force I gave him has been mastered?"

Upon hearing the news about Jiang Hao, Xia Hong was startled and uncertain.

She had a deep impression of Jiang Hao.

After all, she had "invested" quite a lot in Jiang Hao, so naturally she had to keep an eye on him.

However, Xia Hong did not go to see Jiang Hao.

There was no need.

Going to see him at this time would only disturb him.

Everything could wait until after Jiang Hao made it through the Desolate Heaven Tower.