The Tightening Noose

The night was destined to be sleepless.

After Su Wen spread the news that the Mysterious Heaven Key was in Xuanyuan's hands,

a drunk in a tavern suddenly cleared his eyes, tossed a bag of loose silver onto the table, and staggered out of sight at the end of the alley!

The songstress performing in a brothel abruptly changed the melody beneath her fingertips, sending a message no one else could understand!

Even the old beggar begging on the street corner quietly turned over the bottom of his broken bowl, where a message had been written.

Before dawn, the news had seeped into every corner of the city at an unbelievable speed.

"Have you heard? The Mysterious Heaven Key has appeared!"

"That's not all! Someone stole it! Right here in Qingyang City!"

"Stole it? Who would dare? Aren't they afraid the Shadow Hall will hunt them to the ends of the earth?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! They say it was a mysterious young man. He announced that starting tomorrow, he'll hold three days of challenges at Listen to the Wind Tower in the city center! Anyone who thinks they're capable can go and take it!"

"What? A challenge arena? Has he lost his mind? He's treating the heroes of the world like monkeys!"

"And that's not even the craziest part! He said that if the key is still in his hands after three days, he'll... he'll melt the Mysterious Heaven Key in front of everyone in the city!"

"Melt... melt it?!"

The news was like a drop of boiling oil falling into a pot of water. All of Qingyang City erupted.

Countless reclusive old monsters who had spent years in seclusion were roused, and hidden factions began to stir.

Overnight, every inn in Qingyang City was packed. The city