Ye Yurou paused, then continued explaining.
"The Trial Tower's purpose was to solve this problem."
"Every time the Trial Tower closes, the sect forms a special demon-hunting team, led by an elder in charge of the disciples. They enter the mountains to capture low-level demonic beasts."
"Once captured, the beasts are all locked inside the Trial Tower and managed by floor."
"That way, disciples don't have to risk venturing deep into dangerous mountains to fight demonic beasts. They can battle them inside the tower instead."
"They can build real combat experience, hone their techniques, learn the rhythm of offense and defense, and reduce casualties as much as possible."
"For young disciples like us, who lack experience fighting demonic beasts, it's the best place to train."
Su Yun immediately understood the purpose of the Trial Tower.
Put simply, it was a safe training ground built by the sect.
It was specially designed to give disciples real combat experience while avoiding the deadly risks of hunting demonic beasts in the wild.
Simple, yet practical.
"What level are the demonic beasts inside the Trial Tower?" Su Yun asked.
"Nothing too difficult."
Ye Yurou waved a hand. "The Trial Tower has ten floors in total."
"Floors one through nine hold nothing but first-level demonic beasts. The higher the floor, though, the stronger and more numerous the beasts, and the wilder they are."
"The tenth floor is the grand finale. It holds a single second-level demonic beast, and it's the most difficult floor in the entire Trial Tower."
Su Yun's eyes lit up with interest.
Since crossing over, he had never hunted a demonic beast.
Until now, he had stayed within Qingyun territory.
As one of the five great sects of Spirit Province, the Azure Cloud Sect had long since cleared the demonic beasts from the hundreds of miles around it, generation after generation.
There were hardly any ordinary ferocious beasts left, let alone first-level demonic beasts.
Seeing Su Yun's interest, Ye Yurou added with a smile, "And there are rewards for challenging the tower."
"For every floor you clear, the sect awards you a corresponding number of sect contribution points. The higher the floor, the greater the reward."
"Every time the Trial Tower opens, plenty of disciples rush through as many floors as they can to earn contribution points and exchange them for resources."
"Today happens to be the day the Trial Tower reopens. More than half the young disciples in the sect are heading to the back mountain."
"I figured you'd crush your peers like you did in the tournament, so you'd be able to clear the whole thing."
Su Yun gave a slight nod, a hint of battle intent rising in his eyes.
"In that case, I'll have to give it a try."
Seeing his eager expression, Ye Yurou's smile grew wider.
"That's more like it! Cultivation isn't just about sparring with your fellow disciples. Hunting demonic beasts is the best way to temper your mind and hone your killing moves."
"Junior Brother, the Trial Tower may look like a place for disciples to gain combat experience and earn contribution points."
"But ever since the Azure Cloud Sect was founded, countless geniuses have emerged. Yet among them, throughout all of history, fewer than three people have ever cleared all ten floors in a single run while still at the Qi Refining stage."
A flicker of surprise crossed Su Yun's eyes.
Fewer than three?
"Don't assume the first ten floors sound easy."
"The Trial Tower's rules are rigid. You can't leave partway through."
"You have to fight your way from the first floor to the tenth in one go."
"After nine consecutive floors of fighting, facing dozens of first-level demonic beasts, your spiritual energy, stamina, and state of mind will all be steadily worn down."
"Big Brother and I tried it too, back in the day."
"We were both at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, and we entered the tower in top form."
"But we both got stuck on the tenth floor."
As she spoke, Ye Yurou's face took on a helpless look.
"That second-level demonic beast on the tenth floor is absurdly powerful."
"A second-level demonic beast is the equivalent of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. It has a powerful body, a savage nature, and hide as tough as old leather."
"By then, the first nine floors have already drained almost all your spiritual energy."
"Going head-to-head with a second-level demonic beast when you're running on fumes is hopeless."
"So for thousands of years, countless geniuses have been stopped on the ninth floor. No one has been able to clear the tenth with ease."
Then she changed tack, turning her confident gaze to Su Yun.
"But just because others can't do it doesn't mean you can't."
"I know your true strength has long since surpassed the ordinary limits of Qi Refining."
"I have high hopes for you. Maybe today, you'll become the fourth person in a thousand years to clear the Trial Tower."
A short while later.
The two arrived deep in the back mountain and passed through the ward.
The Trial Tower stood right before them.
The entire tower was a dark gray, built from special blackstone. Its overall appearance wasn't ostentatious; it took up little space and had a simple, square design. Ten stories stretched straight into the clouds.
From afar, the tower looked utterly ordinary, without a single flashy phenomenon.
But once you came close, you could faintly sense spatial fluctuations within it.
Ye Yurou explained.
"It looks small on the outside, but inside it's an entirely different world."
"The Trial Tower itself is a magical treasure, reinforced with an extremely profound spatial-folding formation."
"Each floor contains its own separate space."
"There are all kinds of terrain: hills, dense forests, caves, and canyons. It's designed to imitate the habitats of demonic beasts in the wild."
"From the outside, it looks like a ten-story building, but each floor inside covers at least ten miles."
Su Yun understood.
Spatial folding was a standard technique for great sects.
It was perfect for building training grounds.
By now, the area around the Trial Tower was already packed with people.
Outer Sect disciples crowded the plaza outside the tower in groups of three or five, their chatter filling the air.
Some disciples were lined up, waiting to enter the tower. Others had no intention of challenging it and had stayed just to watch.
"I've spent two years cultivating in seclusion, and I've finally broken through to the eighth level. This time, I'm aiming for at least the fifth!"
"That's nothing. I'm aiming straight for the sixth floor this time, so I can get more contribution points and trade them for pills."
As everyone chatted, someone caught sight of the path up the mountain out of the corner of his eye and immediately shouted in surprise:
"Look! Isn't that Senior Brother Su Yun?!"
The words instantly drew everyone's attention.
Hundreds and thousands of gazes swung around in unison and landed on Su Yun.
The noisy plaza fell silent for a brief moment, then erupted once more.
"It really is Senior Brother Su! He's here for the Trial Tower too?"
"Could Senior Brother Su be planning to challenge it?"
"My heavens, this is going to be good!"
"Senior Brother Su will definitely clear the whole tower!"
Some were thrilled, while others weren't so sure.
"I think that's a stretch."
"Don't praise him blindly. Senior Brother Su may be unbeatable in a one-on-one fight, but the Trial Tower is different."
"You have to fight continuously and clear all ten floors in one go. The first nine floors alone can drain anyone dry."
"The second-level demonic beast on the tenth floor has genuine Foundation Establishment-level strength. No matter how strong a Qi Refining cultivator is, there's a limit."
Supporters immediately fired back.
"Don't glorify outsiders and put down your own!"
"During the tournament, Senior Brother Su swept every Qi Refining disciple in the sect. Crushing someone at the peak of the ninth level was child's play for him."
"His foundation is beyond what any ordinary Qi Refining cultivator can match. And with his Heavenly Spirit Root, his spiritual energy is far more abundant than other people's."
"Just because others can't do it doesn't mean Senior Brother Su can't!"
"Exactly! If anyone in our sect can clear the tower at the Qi Refining stage, it can only be Senior Brother Su Yun!"
"Only three people have cleared it in a thousand years. If Senior Brother Su does it, he'll be the first in a thousand years!"
"I'm staying right here. I'm not going anywhere today—I'm going to witness history!"
The news spread at lightning speed.
Within minutes, word that Su Yun was planning to challenge the Trial Tower had traveled from the back mountain to the Outer Sect and Inner Sect.
Outer Sect disciples who had already left flocked back to the back mountain.
Even many Inner Sect disciples who had been cultivating in seclusion came out and hurried to the Trial Tower.
They all wanted to see whether Su Yun could accomplish the feat countless geniuses had failed to achieve for thousands of years.
In the middle of the plaza.
Ye Yurou turned to look at the disciples pouring in from every direction, then glanced at Su Yun, whose expression remained calm. She couldn't help laughing.
"Junior Brother, looks like almost everyone knows you're here to challenge the Trial Tower."
"Now all the disciples in the sect are counting on you."
"Good luck! Go clear all ten floors!"
"I'll be right outside the tower, cheering you on the whole time!"
Su Yun lifted his eyes to the ten-story Trial Tower before him. A faint glint flashed in his gaze.
Since everyone wanted to see it—
He would break the thousand-year record.