Storming the Hundred Monster Tower

A seven-story-tall cyan pavilion stood there, with the three large characters "Golden Magpie Pavilion" written on its plaque.

On the seventh floor, a tall and thin old man in golden robes sat in a chair; his complexion was ruddy, and he sported a goatee.

Chen Handian and a young girl in a yellow dress, who was in the prime of her youth, were reporting to the old man in golden robes with respectful expressions.

"Handian, Hanyue, you must join the Spirit Control Sect, otherwise our Chen Clan will likely be wiped out by the Xu Clan."

The old man in golden robes exhorted them, his voice heavy.

The Chen Clan had been on a downward trajectory for years, with only two Foundation Establishment cultivators left in the clan. Among the younger generation, only Chen Handian and Chen Hanyue were outstanding, leaving a gap in their succession.

The Xu Clan was a close neighbor of the Chen Clan and an affiliated cultivation family of the Tyrant Blade Villa. The two families were rivals, and private conflicts were frequent.

If the Chen Clan's disciples could join the Spirit Control Sect, the Xu Clan would be somewhat wary; otherwise, they would likely be destroyed by the Xu Clan. The ancestors of the Chen Clan had originated from the Spirit Control Sect, and every time the Immortal Ascension Assembly was held, the Chen Clan would send people to participate, but very few clansmen managed to join the Spirit Control Sect, and those who did failed to reach Foundation Establishment and held no status.

"Yes, Seventh Great-Uncle."

Chen Handian and Chen Hanyue agreed.

A day passed by quickly.

Early the next morning, as soon as the sky brightened.

Shen Long walked out of the Gathering Immortals Inn; he was now using his true appearance.

If he participated in the Spirit Control Sect's examination with a fake face, and after passing the examination, a Spirit Control Sect disciple asked him why he had changed his appearance, it would be difficult for Shen Long to answer.

Even if he couldn't pass the examination, he still had the Spirit Control Token.

If he could save the Spirit Control Token, that would be for the best, as he had great use for it.

Shen Long arrived at the Martial Arts Arena, where the examination had already begun, and some cultivators were dueling on the high bluestone platforms.

The Mystic Yang Sect disciples were controlling puppet beasts to deal with the Qi Refining cultivators taking the exam, while the Tyrant Blade Villa, Seven Rosy Clouds Sect, and Purple Firmament Gate had the Qi Refining cultivators taking the exam duel each other in pairs.

The Spirit Control Sect's examination method was the most unique: Qi Refining cultivators had to break through the Hundred Monster Tower. This tower was a replica of the Spirit Control Sect's sect-protecting treasure, the Thousand Monster Tower, and it could conjure up hundreds of types of monster beasts to attack the challenger.

As long as one broke through the ninth floor, they would pass the examination.

Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Five Great Powers were in charge of the examination, and the Core Formation cultivators did not show their faces; such trivial matters did not require their presence.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, what a coincidence!"

A familiar female voice rang out.

Shen Long looked toward the source of the voice and saw Ye Yuqing and Ye Yutang walking toward him.

They hadn't expected Shen Long to show his true face, but since they had run into each other, they greeted him.

"What a coincidence! Fairy Ye!"

Shen Long said with a smile.

After chatting for a few moments, Ye Yuqing and Ye Yutang went to attempt the challenge.

Shen Long's gaze remained fixed on a giant tower flickering with cyan light. The tower was carved with patterns of various monster beasts and possessed astonishing spiritual energy; it was clearly a magic treasure.

He was in no hurry to attempt the challenge, choosing instead to watch others do so.

A cyan light lit up on the fifth floor of the Hundred Monster Tower, and Wang Long flew out from the eighth floor. His face was pale, there were burn marks on his skin, and he descended rapidly toward the ground.

A white cloud surged into the sky, catching the falling Wang Long and landing him slowly.

He had stopped at the eighth floor and failed to complete the challenge.

Wang Shuo sighed; now he could only hope that Wang Hu would succeed.

Wang Long, looking dejected, walked over to Wang Shuo's side.

Shen Long walked over and said politely, "Fellow Daoist Wang, could you tell me about the situation inside the Hundred Monster Tower?"

"Who are you?"

Wang Shuo was slightly stunned.

"Li Xiao. I changed my appearance earlier to avoid enemies. I truly apologize; my real name is Shen Long."

Shen Long explained, mentioning some details he had discussed privately with Wang Shuo to verify his identity.

Wang Shuo nodded and said to Wang Long, "Tell Fellow Daoist Shen about the situation in the Hundred Monster Tower!"

Wang Long had already been eliminated, and perhaps Shen Long could be selected, so it was good to build a favorable connection.

Wang Long sent a voice transmission to Shen Long, describing his experience in the challenge. The higher the floor, the more powerful the conjured monster beasts became.

The seventh floor conjured one First Rank Late Stage monster beast, the eighth floor conjured two First Rank Late Stage monster beasts, and the ninth floor conjured three First Rank Late Stage monster beasts. It was quite difficult for a Qi Refining cultivator to break through the ninth floor.

Challengers could use external items such as magic tools, talismans, formations, spirit beasts, and spirit insects. Wang Long had stopped at the eighth floor.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, I have asked other challengers. Every challenger encounters different monster beasts to prevent cheating, but the cultivation level of the monster beasts is fixed."

Wang Long said via voice transmission.

He had encountered a First Rank Late Stage Crimson Fire Crow on the seventh floor, while other challengers encountered a First Rank Late Stage Ice Armor Python on the seventh floor.

Shen Long thanked him and nodded.

"Someone has successfully broken through the ninth floor."

Someone shouted, and the crowd turned to look toward the Hundred Monster Tower.

The tenth floor lit up, clearly indicating that someone had cleared the ninth floor.

Not long after, the ninth floor lit up.

Wang Shuo kept his gaze fixed on the ninth floor; calculating the time, this person should be Wang Hu.

Wang Long and Wang Hu had participated in the Mystic Yang Sect assessment and both failed, so they were now here to participate in the Spirit Control Sect assessment.

After a while, a cyan light shone from the ninth floor of the Hundred Monster Tower, and Wang Hu flew out from within, his face pale and his left shoulder bleeding profusely.

Wang Shuo sighed; Wang Hu had also failed and could only go to participate in the assessments of the other three factions, hoping to pass one of them.

A white cloud cluster carried Wang Hu as he slowly descended, his face filled with frustration.

Wang Shuo greeted Shen Long and left with Wang Long and Wang Hu.

Shen Long observed for over an hour and asked several challengers about their experiences before finally walking toward the Hundred Monster Tower.

He took out a cyan wooden token, handed it to the Spirit Control Sect disciple guarding the entrance of the Hundred Monster Tower, and walked inside.

The main hall was spacious and bright, with many beast patterns carved into the stone walls.

Shen Long swept his gaze across the room and was slightly stunned; this place looked somewhat similar to the Spirit Control Tower.

A loud wolf howl rang out, and a cyan wolf pattern lit up with a blinding cyan light as a Howling Wind Wolf emerged from the stone wall, only at the First Rank Early Stage.

As soon as the Howling Wind Wolf appeared, it immediately opened its mouth and spat out a cyan wind blade, heading straight for Shen Long.

With a thought from Shen Long, a Mystic Water Shield appeared close to his body, and the cyan wind blade struck the Mystic Water Shield in succession, but the shield did not budge.

He flicked his sleeve, and a vat-sized Crimson Fireball flew out, smashing toward the Howling Wind Wolf.

The Howling Wind Wolf tried to dodge, but a thick Cyan Vine emerged from the ground and entangled its hind legs; the Crimson Fireball slammed into its body, and rolling flames engulfed the Howling Wind Wolf.

Before the flames had even dissipated, a second Crimson Fireball smashed over.

Shen Long released a Crimson Fireball with his left hand and a White Ice Spike with his right.

Not long after, the Howling Wind Wolf was killed by Shen Long.

A mass of cyan light emerged beneath him, engulfing his figure.

The cyan light dissipated, and Shen Long appeared in a spacious and bright hall, where some beast patterns were carved into the stone walls.

A monster rat pattern lit up with a yellow light, and a Yellow Giant Rat emerged from the stone wall, only at the First Rank Early Stage.

As soon as it appeared, a thick Cyan Vine emerged from the ground and entangled its body.

The Yellow Giant Rat struggled violently, but the Cyan Vine remained unscathed; before it could break free, a vat-sized Crimson Fireball smashed over.

With a loud rumbling sound, rolling flames engulfed the Yellow Giant Rat.

Shen Long released Crimson Fireball after Crimson Fireball, attacking the Yellow Giant Rat.