"Long time no see, Master Yan."
Suddenly, a deep voice rang out from the Wuling City Talisman Master Association. A tall, gray-robed elder stepped out from the crowd.
"That's the president of the Wuling City Symbol Master Association. Like my teacher, he's a Four-Seal Rune Master."
Seeing the puzzled look on Lin Yiqing's face, Zhou Qian quietly explained.
With just a distant glance, Lin Yiqing could sense waves of Mental Energy radiating from the other man. His cultivation was in no way inferior to Master Yan's.
"Though Wuling City isn't far from us, they've had their eyes on our Symbol Master Tower for a long time. What a pack of wolves!"
Zhou Qian muttered angrily to Lin Yiqing. Clearly, he considered Lin Yiqing one of the Yan City Symbol Master Association's people.
After all, in the eyes of the others, if Lin Yiqing could represent the Yan City Talisman Masters in the Tower Duel, he was most likely one of them. Even if he wasn't, he must have unusually close ties to the Symbol Master Association.
"Since everyone's here, let's get started!"
In response to the Wuling City president's pleasantries, Master Yan remained cold. After glancing around, he spoke at once.
"Hm?"
Lin Yiqing shifted his gaze from the Wuling City president and noticed two youths standing beside him, one dressed in black and the other in white. The pressure of their Mental Energy made Lin Yiqing raise an eyebrow.
Their Mental Energy was so powerful that both had clearly reached the level of Two-Seal Symbol Masters.
"No wonder Master Yan invited me to the Tower Duel. So that's why."
Lin Yiqing's thoughts stirred. Wuling City had two Two-Seal Symbol Masters, while only Zhou Qian among the Yan City group had reached that level. They would be at a disadvantage fighting two against one, so Master Yan had spared no medicinal herbs to bring him here.
As if sensing Lin Yiqing's gaze, the black-clad youth turned toward him and flashed a mocking smile. He raised his right hand to his neck and made a slashing motion.
"Bastard! He's actually provoking us right to our faces!"
Zhou Qian's face darkened as he cursed under his breath, panting heavily.
Nearly everyone present was a Talisman Master. Though the black-clad youth's gesture was small, everyone could see it clearly through the feedback of their Mental Energy.
"We'll see who gets their throat cut."
A cold light glinted in Lin Yiqing's eyes. He strode over to stand behind Master Yan. The duel between the few of them would take place inside the tower shortly.
"Everyone, the Tower Duel has no detailed rules. Whoever climbs the highest and holds out the longest will be the victor. And a word of advice: don't overestimate yourselves and recklessly force your way ahead!"
After addressing the crowd, Master Yan led three middle-aged Talisman Masters to the tower. He formed an enigmatic hand seal, and his Mental Energy surged, condensing into a glowing sigil that shot into the entrance.
"Rumble!"
With a deafening noise, the Symbol Master Tower's doors swung open, and a weighty pressure of Mental Energy poured out.
"Everyone, enter the tower!"
Before Master Yan could finish, the Wuling City team charged forward. The black-clad youth was at the head of the group.
"Heh. We'll see who's biting off more than they can chew."
The black-clad youth from Wuling City taunted them before darting forward and gliding into the tower.
Seeing this, Lin Yiqing and the others refused to back down. They flashed forward like falcons, each showing off their own skills. The Tower Duel had begun!
"Buzz."
After passing through a silvery-white Mental Energy Barrier, Lin Yiqing immediately felt a faint pressure of Mental Energy settle over him. But it had no effect on him.
Realizing he could handle it, Lin Yiqing sprinted toward the stairs. He went straight up to the fifth floor, barely affected by the pressure of Mental Energy.
At the sight, a strange expression crossed Lin Yiqing's face. Why did this Symbol Master Tower feel so weak?
But then he reconsidered and felt a little more at ease. His body had been tempered by Greater Yin Qi and Sun Qi, making it far stronger than what his current cultivation should allow. It was no wonder he could manage this.
He shook his head and flashed into the sixth floor. The instant he entered, his eyebrows lifted. Zhou Qian and the Black and White Duo were locked in a standoff.
"Little brother Yiqing, come help me!"
Seeing him arrive, Zhou Qian's face lit up, and he immediately shouted.
The Mental Energy pressure on the sixth floor was already immense. All three had sweat beading on their foreheads, and they looked rather bedraggled.
To stop Zhou Qian from advancing, the black-clad youth controlled a crimson dagger and attacked him. Blades of swordlight flickered, making the fight look perilous.
"So it's you! I didn't expect a green kid like you to make it up here!"
Unlike Zhou Qian, the black-clad youth looked at Lin Yiqing with open jealousy.
He had always thought highly of himself. At seventeen or eighteen, he had already become a Two-Seal Symbol Master, with talent unrivaled among his peers. He had never even taken his senior brother, standing nearby, seriously.
Yet at the Yan City Tower Duel, he had run into a youth who looked even more talented than himself. How could that not make jealousy burn in his heart?
"Kid, if you destroy your Mud Pill Palace, I might spare your life. Otherwise, this sixth floor will be your grave today."
The black-clad youth's face twisted with venom as he sneered at Lin Yiqing.
"Heh. It really takes all kinds to make a world."
Lin Yiqing's gaze turned utterly cold. Not only had the other youth provoked him earlier, now he was telling him to destroy his Mud Pill Palace and turn himself into an idiot. The guy was a complete fool.
"What did you say? If you refuse, then die!"
The black-clad youth shouted viciously. A sharp surge of Mental Energy slammed toward Lin Yiqing, while the crimson dagger that had been entangling Zhou Qian immediately changed direction and shot toward him like a streak of red light.
"You're asking for death!"
Lin Yiqing said no more. With a sweep of his sleeve, he shattered the Mental Energy attack. A dark gleam flickered in his eyes as Mental Energy surged within his Mud Pill Palace, instantly transforming into dozens of Spirit-Transforming Needles that shot toward the youth.
"Pfft!"
The moment the black-clad youth suffered a devastating blow to his mind, a silver streak shot from Lin Yiqing's sleeve and slashed down at him.
"Gurrr."
The black-clad youth's head hit the ground and rolled. Lin Yiqing turned to the white-clad youth, his expression tinged with amusement. The other youth had witnessed the whole thing, yet hadn't lifted a finger to help.
"Why didn't you help him?" Zhou Qian asked, unable to hide his confusion.
"Why would I? We may be senior and junior brothers, but it's better for everyone if that brainless idiot is dead. I should be thanking you two!"
The white-clad youth looked up at Lin Yiqing and Zhou Qian with a smile. When he finished speaking, he even clasped his hands and bowed to them.
"I see. You're after the Wuling City Symbol Master Association president's position."
After a moment's thought, Zhou Qian regarded him solemnly. He had looked into the two youths' backgrounds before the Tower Duel, and the moment the other man said this, he understood.
The black-clad youth might have been arrogant and overbearing, but he had powerful backing. The white-clad youth could only secure the Symbol Master Association president's position by using this chance to get rid of him. And having someone else take the blame would be ideal.
"I'll come up with an explanation for the two of you. I hope you'll keep this secret for me as well. How about we work together for mutual benefit?"
The white-clad youth didn't answer. He simply looked at them with a broad smile, appearing entirely confident.
Lin Yiqing couldn't be bothered with this petty scheming. He turned and headed straight for the entrance to the seventh floor. It was nothing but another pack of wild dogs fighting over scraps.
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