As they walked, the silhouette of a black stone tower gradually appeared before them.
The tower had no windows. Countless chains wound around it, etched with mysterious runes and images of all kinds of hideous demons and evil spirits.
Could that place be... the Monster Locking Tower?
Su Ling'er slowed her pace a little.
Was this where the Demonic Sect imprisoned its demon beasts?
Lin Qingfeng, however, sounded quite relaxed. "Junior Sister, this is our sect's Monster Locking Tower, where disciples hone themselves.
"Each level you ascend inside the tower contains demon beasts twice as strong as those on the one below."
"Unfortunately, the demon beasts can only survive inside the tower. They dissipate as soon as they leave.
"Otherwise, those people from the Beast Taming Studio and the Spirit Beast Garden would probably spend every day scheming to smuggle demon beasts out of the tower to use as laborers."
At the word "laborers," she thought again of Elder Qian, who had been refined into a puppet.
Even after death, he couldn't find peace. He had to serve the Demonic Sect forever.
Demon beasts and spirit beasts were made to work as laborers in life, then optimized after death;
Elder Qian had it even worse after death. The Demonic Sect still drove him like a laborer.
If the demon beasts in the tower could leave, their fate would probably be more tragic than death.
No, it seemed there was something even worse.
These demon beasts were trapped in an endless cycle.
Their souls were imprisoned in the tower, solely to give the disciples something to cultivate against and kill...
It was normal for demon beasts to be killed in the cultivation world, and there was nothing particularly wrong with that.
But to be imprisoned in the tower, killed over and over again, and never set free...
Their only purpose was to become nourishment for others.
Su Ling'er felt an indescribable ache in her heart and could only sigh.
But Senior Disciple Brother hadn't brought me here to fight these demon beasts, had he?
What level of strength should I show?
I got that Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual, but I haven't had time to cultivate it yet.
Should I only show the level of an ordinary martial artist?
Could he be trying to use this tower to probe my true strength?!
As countless thoughts raced through Su Ling'er's mind, the two of them drew closer and closer to the distant tower.
Many disciples had gathered in front of it.
It wasn't as grim as she'd imagined. If anything, it was a little noisy.
"I'm stuck on the forty-eighth floor. I just can't get past it!"
"Don't even get me started. I've been farming that Demon Ape on the sixteenth floor, but the drop rate is way too low! I've been so unlucky today. I've run it several times and haven't even seen a single monkey hair!"
"Tell me about it. I've been stuck on the twenty-fifth floor for ages, trying to put together a full set of Fire Rhinoceros Armor!"
Su Ling'er listened to their conversation in confusion.
Were they talking about collecting materials from demon beasts?
But Senior Disciple Brother had said the demon beasts dissipated when they left the tower. How could they safely take the materials dropped by the beasts outside?
Just then, several of the disciples noticed them.
"Oh, Senior Disciple Brother's here!"
"Junior Sister's here too! Are you here to try your luck in the tower?"
Under their unabashed stares, Su Ling'er felt uncomfortable and only lowered her head to murmur, "Mm."
"Here we are! After this, all that's left to visit is the Dao Seeking Ladder and the Sword Mound."
"Oh, the Dao Seeking Ladder!"
"That place mostly tests your willpower and Dao heart or whatever. Your cultivation level and talent don't matter.
"Even if Junior Sister's talent is a little... well, who knows? Maybe she'll gain something from the Dao Seeking Ladder.
"Too bad that once you've climbed to a certain step, there aren't any more rewards for climbing farther."
Junior Sister looked at them.
What did you mean, my talent was a little "well"? Spit it out!
All right, my talent is a little "well."
This is depressing. I want to cry.
And what are willpower and Dao heart attributes?
Does it test your will and Dao heart?
What was the Dao Seeking Ladder of this Evil Sect like?
And what were the rewards?
After greeting them, Lin Qingfeng led Su Ling'er into the Monster Locking Tower.
The first-floor hall was somewhat spacious. An old stone table stood in the center.
Seated behind it was the person who had made such a deep impression on Su Ling'er—Qian Buyu.
He still had the same expressionless face and vacant eyes.
Lin Qingfeng went over to speak with Elder Qian. Behind him, Su Ling'er looked at Elder Qian, her gaze unconsciously tinged with pity.
Sigh. How was Elder Qian any different from the demon beasts in the tower?
Even after death, he was subjected to the Demonic Sect's endless servitude, using whatever remained of him for the sect. Who knew when he'd finally find true peace...
Elder Qian waved a hand, and Lin Qingfeng said to Su Ling'er,
"Junior Sister, you'll need to register here before you can enter the tower for your trial."
The jade wall beside them was smooth as a mirror. At Elder Qian's gesture, two names appeared on it.
Then Elder Qian expressionlessly took out two palm-sized black tokens.
Lin Qingfeng took them and tossed one to Su Ling'er.
"Here, Junior Sister."
"This is a trial token. It records your results inside the tower."
"You'll also receive your rewards based on it when you leave."
Su Ling'er's heart stirred. She thought of the Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual she'd obtained in the cultivation cave and felt a little eager.
The rewards here shouldn't... be too bad, right?
The two of them crossed the hall and came to a deep, shadowy doorway.
The doorway was somewhat like the one at the mountain gate. Beyond it was complete darkness, as if it led to an endless abyss. Even with their eyes wide open, they couldn't make out what lay within.
"Is it like the mountain gate? Will there be another world beyond once we go in?"
As they stepped through, darkness instantly swallowed them, and the scenery before their eyes shifted.
The next moment, the hall vanished. They found themselves in a dim, rocky wasteland, with only the wind howling as it swept through the cracks in the rocks.
This was the [Monster Locking Tower · First Floor].
Su Ling'er's heart trembled. Though she'd seen such a wondrous sight at the mountain gate, it still shook her, inexperienced as she was.
Just as I thought!
It's exactly like the mountain gate. One doorway, two different worlds.
She looked at the Worry Flower clutched tightly in her hand, then at the wooden sword Senior Disciple Brother had given her, and turned to ask,
"Senior Disciple Brother, I... what am I supposed to do?"
Was I supposed to charge in holding the flower and wooden sword and stab something with them?
Would that even kill it?
Senior Disciple Brother, give me a proper weapon!
Lin Qingfeng glanced at the flower in her hand, then understood.
"Are you worried the Worry Flower will get hurt, Junior Sister? You really do treasure it."
"It's all right. I'll hold the flower for you. Just take the wooden sword and go fight."
"If anything happens, I'll step in."
Su Ling'er instinctively wanted to clutch the Worry Flower tighter, but Senior Disciple Brother had already taken it from her.
Her hand froze in midair for a moment, then fell limply to her side.
Wait, can you really take care of it?!
If you aren't careful and break its stem, will my arm fall off too?
Senior Disciple Brother, please be careful!
She looked at the wooden sword in her hand and felt even more speechless.
He'd given her just this wooden sword?
Could this thing really fight demon beasts?
Even our Qing Xu Temple's outer disciples didn't use swords made of ordinary wood to fight the lowest-grade demon beasts!
This thing would probably snap if I tried to chop a rock!
"Go on, Junior Sister. Let me see your resolve," Lin Qingfeng's voice called out.
Wait, was my "resolve" supposed to mean going to my death with this wooden stick?!
Su Ling'er had only just grumbled inwardly when Lin Qingfeng, as if afraid she didn't have enough courage, gave her a gentle push from behind.
Su Ling'er stumbled forward a few steps, officially entering the trial area.
She was just about to turn around when she heard a sharp whoosh!
A shadow darted out of nowhere, lunging straight for her face!
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