Trial

After Marquis Yin Ying left, the World Master administrators on the platform gave a few more instructions, all concerning precautions at the Gan Wu Dojo, accepting missions, exchanging for secret techniques, and so on.

Once they were done, everyone dispersed.

Afterward, Bai Yue invited the others to a street-side restaurant for drinks. These Universe Level experts had spent years adventuring and scraping by in the universe, so they surely knew plenty of unofficial information. They were a decent source of intelligence.

On the second floor of a street-side restaurant on the Gan Wu Continent of the Virtual Universe, several people sat around a table, chatting idly about cultivation and the trivial matters of adventure.

"Brothers, to thank Brother Ji Ning for his hospitality, let us all wish him great success in battle and eternal immortality!" Led by Kamon, everyone raised their cups to Ji Ning.

"I've only just entered the universe and have limited experience. I can't compare to you elder brothers, who have traveled the universe for years. Please don't flatter me so much. Take joining the Gan Wu Dojo, for example—I'm still completely in the dark. If any of you know any shortcuts, don't keep them from your little brother." As the wine began to flow freely, Ji Ning spoke half-jokingly.

Compared to him, these Universe Level experts were all old hands. Some, like Kamon, had joined the Gan Wu Dojo at the Planet Level, while most had joined at the Star Level. Those like him, who only joined at Universe Level Nine, were quite rare.

"Haha, if you have any questions in the future, just ask your big brother here. I guarantee I'll tell you everything!" The speaker was a bald man similar to Thunder God, with a somewhat ferocious appearance.

His name was Ethan. Though he looked fierce and spoke bluntly, Bai Yue had learned during their earlier conversation that he was an orthodox Mental Master controller.

After another round of toasting and drinking, they finally began discussing the Gan Wu Dojo itself.

"If we're talking about the most famous things in the Gan Wu Dojo, it would be the 'One Tower, Two Paths.'" Kamon said mysteriously.

"Haha, what are you acting so mysterious for? It's not some important secret. If you won't say it, I will!" Kalchi sneered at the mysterious expression on Kamon's face.

"You think you know so much? Can't you see that Brother Ji Ning and everyone else are curious? Why don't you explain it, then?" Kamon, eager to show off, immediately became agitated.

After the two traded barbs for a while, Kamon was ultimately the first to lose patience and explain.

"The tower refers to the Gan Wu Tower. Lord of the Country left it behind, and it has thirty-three levels in total. At first, it was prepared for the geniuses of the Gan Wu Secret Realm. But at some point, anyone who joined the Gan Wu Dojo and became a Gan Wu practitioner could challenge this tower."

"Upon entering, you can choose opponents from different professions. Your opponents possess the same Gene Energy and Mental Power as you, but their comprehension of laws rises sharply with every level. I heard that anyone who can clear the nineteenth level possesses law comprehension comparable to an immortal!"

Though its name was different, Ji Ning could sense the flavor of the Tongtian Bridge from it. It was likely copied over by that Venerable Qian Wu.

"The two paths refer to the Path of Force and the Path of Illusory Heart. They correspond to physical force level and mental resistance respectively. Like the Gan Wu Tower, they are divided into different ranks. The higher the rank you clear, the more points or Gan Wu Coins you receive as rewards, and naturally the more favor you gain from important figures."

"Besides that, there are all kinds of selections. For Universe Level experts like us, the Gan Wu Secret Realm and the dojo hold an early selection before each Universe Strongest Battle. They select outstanding geniuses for training, hoping to achieve good rankings in the Universe Strongest Battle." He sighed softly before continuing, "Unfortunately, the next Strongest Battle is still a long way off. The Star Level Genius Battle, on the other hand, is only a few years away."

Like the Genius Battle, the Cosmic Peak Power Battle was held once every five thousand years, hosted in rotation by the Giant Axe Fighting Arena and the Virtual Universe Company.

Bai Yue had never expected to make a name for himself in the Universe Strongest Battle. He could not afford to wait that long.

After joining the Gan Wu Dojo, Bai Yue and the others were authorized to enter certain special Virtual Planes of the Gan Wu Dojo, including places such as the Gan Wu Tower mentioned above.

After the gathering ended, the Ji Ning Clone returned to his residence and applied through the Virtual Universe Network to enter the Gan Wu Tower.

The universe was dim, with only the stars scattered across it, flickering with faint light. On an enormous meteorite floating in the starry void, the Gan Wu Tower stood in solemn majesty!

The tower was broad and slender, its circumference stretching for an unknown number of kilometers. Yet its entrance alone was nearly a thousand zhang high, engraved with Mysterious Patterns that formed images of all kinds of exotic beasts.

Space shifted, and the Ji Ning Clone appeared beneath the Gan Wu Tower. Even with Universe Level vision, he seemed unable to see where its peak lay. It appeared to pierce straight into the sky full of starlight.

A vast plaza surrounded the tower. People of every shape and form came and went, and the place buzzed with noise. Most were geniuses from the Gan Wu Secret Realm.

Eight entrances had been opened at the base of the Gan Wu Tower, each corresponding to a different level. After all, it would be impossible to have World Lord Level, Domain Lord Level, and Star Level experts all waiting in the same line. Every entrance had guards stationed before it.

Following the information Kamon and the others had shared, he arrived at the entrance for Universe Level experts and lined up in order, preparing to enter the Gan Wu Tower.

Although there were many people in the plaza, most were Star Level experts who had come to make friends or exchange insights. Compared to the long line at the Star Level entrance, there were only around twenty people waiting at the Universe Level entrance. The Domain Lord Level and World Lord Level entrances were even more sparsely populated.

To prevent some people from wasting resources, those who showed no obvious improvement yet repeatedly challenged the Gan Wu Tower within a short period would receive system warnings. Those who ignored the warnings would be barred from entering.

Second by second, the line slowly moved forward. Before long, the Ji Ning Clone arrived beneath the entrance.

There was a stone platform roughly two meters high on each side of the entrance. The platform on the right was empty, while a burly man in black armor stood on the left. His imposing aura was sharp and fierce as his eyes fixed on the group preparing for their trials, leaving them all silent with fear, not daring to speak.

The space at the entrance rippled faintly, and a figure emerged. His face was somewhat dejected, but he did not linger. He gave the burly man a slight bow, then his body vanished instantly as he logged off.

"Next. You may enter." The burly man looked at the Universe Level expert at the front of the line.

"Yes, Lord Tian He." The Universe Level expert bowed in response.

He stepped forward and placed his hand on the entrance. His figure flashed, disappearing from before the gate as he was teleported into the Gan Wu Tower to undergo his trial.

This wait was a little longer, lasting more than ten minutes before the man was teleported back out.

His face was filled with barely contained excitement. Clearly, he had made tremendous gains from this attempt at the Gan Wu Tower.

Though excited, he did not forget to bow to the burly man.

"Not bad." The burly man named Tian He rarely offered praise.

"A seventh-level domain. You're not far from the eighth level now. You've improved quite a bit over the years. Go attend more lectures when you get back!" Clearly, the two knew each other.

Within the Gan Wu Secret Realm, many World Masters and even immortals gave lectures from time to time. To these Universe Level experts, such opportunities were immensely precious. As long as you performed outstandingly, with resources tilted in your favor, it would be difficult not to improve.

After that brief interlude, the Universe Level experts entered the Gan Wu Tower one after another. The joys and sorrows of life played out here in succession. Those who could continue improving were few; most arrived full of excitement, only to be eliminated from the tower a few minutes later.

In the blink of an eye, it was Ji Ning's turn!

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