Is He Asking Me to Die with This Wooden Stick?

Chapter 23: Is he... asking me to go to my death with this wooden stick?

As they walked, the silhouette of the black stone tower gradually appeared before their eyes.

The tower had no windows, and countless chains were wrapped around it, inscribed with mysterious runes and various ferocious images of evil spirits and demonic gods.

That place is... the Monster Locking Tower?

Su Ling'er's steps slowed slightly.

Is this where the Demonic Sect imprisons Yao Beasts?

Lin Qingfeng's tone was quite relaxed: "Junior Sister, this is the Monster Locking Tower where our sect's disciples hone themselves. Once inside, the strength of the Yao Beasts doubles with each ascending level."

"It's a shame that the Yao Beasts in the tower can only survive within it; they dissipate upon exiting. Otherwise, those people from our Beast Taming Sect and Spirit Beast Garden would probably be thinking of ways to trick Yao Beasts out of the Monster Locking Tower to be laborers every day."

Hearing the word "laborers," she thought of Elder Qian, who had been refined into a puppet. He truly found no peace even in death, destined to serve the Demonic Sect for all eternity.

Yao Beasts, spirit beasts – laborers in life, optimized after death.

As for Elder Qian, he found no peace even in death, still being driven as a laborer by this Demonic Sect.

If not for the fact that the Yao Beasts in the Monster Locking Tower could not leave, their fate would likely be more tragic than death.

No, it seemed even more tragic.

These Yao Beasts were trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnation. Their souls were imprisoned within the tower, merely for disciples to cultivate and slay...

It was normal in the cultivation world for Yao Beasts to be slain, so it was understandable. However, to be perpetually imprisoned in the tower, constantly reincarnating, constantly killed by others, never to be freed...

Their very existence was meant to be sustenance for others.

This gave Su Ling'er an indescribable feeling in her heart, and she could only let out a sigh.

But Senior Disciple Brother brought me here...

Does he want me to fight these Yao Beasts?

What kind of strength should I display?

Although I obtained that Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual, I haven't had time to cultivate it yet.

Should I only reveal the skill level of... a mortal martial artist?

He wouldn't possibly want to use this Monster Locking Tower to probe my background, would he?!

Amidst Su Ling'er's myriad thoughts, the two drew closer to the distant tower. Many disciples had also gathered before the tower. It wasn't the somber atmosphere she had imagined, but rather somewhat noisy.

"I'm stuck on the forty-eighth floor today and can't get past it!"

"Don't even mention it. I'm farming that Demon Ape on the sixteenth floor, and its drop rate is too low! I'm so unlucky today, I've run it several times and haven't even seen a monkey hair!"

"Exactly! I've been stuck on the twenty-fifth floor for ages trying to collect a full set of Fire Rhinoceros Armor!"

Hearing their conversation, Su Ling'er was utterly confused.

Were they discussing obtaining materials from Yao Beasts? But Senior Disciple Brother said Yao Beasts dissipate upon exiting the tower. How can materials dropped from Yao Beasts be safely brought out of the tower?

Just then, a few of the disciples who were chatting noticed them.

"Yo, Senior Disciple Brother is here!"

"Junior Sister is here too! Is Junior Sister also here to try her luck at the tower?"

Under their unreserved gazes, Su Ling'er felt a bit uncomfortable and simply lowered her head and hummed in affirmation.

"Here we go, after this, we'll only have the Dao Seeking Ladder and the Sword Mound left."

"Oh, oh! The Dao Seeking Ladder!"

"That basically tests willpower and Dao heart attributes and the like, and isn't limited by cultivation or aptitude. Although Junior Sister's aptitude is a bit... well, maybe she might gain something at the Dao Seeking Ladder. It's a shame that once you reach a certain level, there are no more rewards for climbing further."

Junior Sister is looking at them.

What do you mean my aptitude is a bit... well, say it clearly!

Okay, my aptitude is indeed a bit... well.

This feels awful, I want to cry.

What about the Will attribute, and what is the Dao heart attribute?

Is this a test of willpower and Dao heart?

The Dao Seeking Ladder. What will this Evil Sect's Dao Seeking Ladder be like?

And what will the rewards be?

After Lin Qingfeng greeted them, he led Su Ling'er into the Monster Locking Tower.

The first-floor hall inside the tower seemed rather spacious, with an ancient stone table in the center.

Seated at the far end of the table was the figure who had left a deep impression on Su Ling'er—Qian Buyu.

He still had that expressionless face and vacant eyes.

Lin Qingfeng stepped forward to converse with Elder Qian, while Su Ling'er, standing behind him, looked at Elder Qian with an involuntary hint of pity in her gaze.

Sigh, what's the difference between this Elder Qian and the Yao Beasts in the tower?

After death, they will still suffer the endless enslavement of the Demonic Sect, exerting their last bit of warmth for this sect. When will they finally find true peace...

Elder Qian waved his hand, and Lin Qingfeng said to Su Ling'er:

"Junior Sister, to undergo the trial in the tower, you must first register here."

Beside them, a jade tablet, smooth as a mirror, displayed two names as Elder Qian made his move.

Then, Elder Qian expressionlessly took out two palm-sized black tokens.

Lin Qingfeng took the tokens and tossed one to Su Ling'er.

"Junior Sister, take this."

"This is a trial token. It can record your achievements in the tower."

"When you exit the tower, rewards will be distributed based on this."

Su Ling'er's heart stirred. She thought of the Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual she had obtained earlier at the cultivation cave, and a small spark of anticipation arose.

The rewards here... shouldn't be too bad, right?

The two passed through the hall and arrived at a deep, dark doorway.

This door was somewhat similar to the one at the mountain gate. Inside, it was pitch black, as if leading to an endless abyss. Even with wide-open eyes, one couldn't see clearly what lay beyond.

Could it be like the mountain gate, with a different world inside?

As the two stepped through, darkness instantly swallowed them. The scenery before their eyes shifted.

The next moment, the hall vanished, and they found themselves on a dimly lit, rocky ground, with only the sound of wind whistling through the crevices.

This was [Monster Locking Tower · First Floor].

Junior Sister's heart trembled slightly. Although she had witnessed such a marvel at the mountain gate, it still shocked her, who was still inexperienced.

Just as she thought!

It was exactly the same as the situation at the mountain gate; one door led to 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... how am I supposed to fight?"

Are they going to tell me to just stab with the flower in one hand and the wooden sword in the other?

Will that even kill anything?

Senior Disciple Brother, give me a proper weapon!

Lin Qingfeng glanced at the flower in her hand and immediately understood.

"Junior Sister is worried about the Worry Flower getting hurt? You really care about it."

"It's alright. I'll hold the flower for you. Just go ahead and fight with the wooden sword."

"If anything happens, I will intervene."

Su Ling'er instinctively wanted to hold onto the Worry Flower, but Senior Disciple Brother had already taken it.

Her hand froze in mid-air, and she finally let it drop powerlessly.

No, can you really take care of it?!

If you accidentally break its branches, will my arms fall off too?

Senior Disciple Brother, you must be careful!

She looked at the wooden sword in her hand and felt even more speechless.

They're giving me just a wooden sword?

Can this thing really fight Yao Beasts?

Even our Qing Xu Temple's outer disciples don't use swords made of ordinary wood like this when dealing with the lowest-level Yao Beasts!

This thing would probably break if it hit a rock!

"Go ahead, Junior Sister. Let me see your resolve," Lin Qingfeng's voice came.

No, my resolve is to have me take this wooden stick and charge to my death, right?!

Just as Su Ling'er was thinking this in her heart, 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 back when she heard a "whoosh!"

A shadow darted out from who knows where, heading straight for her face!