Trial Tower

Ye Yurou paused here, then continued her explanation.

"The purpose of the Trial Tower is to solve this problem."

"Every time the Trial Tower closes, the sect organizes a specialized monster-hunting team, led by an executive elder, to venture into the mountains and capture low-level monsters."

"Once captured, they are brought back and locked inside the Trial Tower, managed level by level."

"In this way, our disciples don't have to risk venturing deep into dangerous mountains to fight monsters."

"It allows them to accumulate combat experience, hone their techniques, familiarize themselves with the rhythm of offense and defense, and minimize disciple casualties to the greatest extent."

"For young disciples like us who lack experience in fighting monsters, it is the best place for training."

Su Yun instantly understood the significance of the Trial Tower.

To put it simply, it was a safe training ground built by the sect.

It was specifically designed for disciples to grind combat experience while avoiding the lethal risks of hunting monsters in the wild.

It was simple and highly practical.

"What level of monsters are inside the Trial Tower?" Su Yun asked.

"Nothing too difficult."

Ye Yurou waved her hand. "The Trial Tower has ten levels in total."

"Levels one through nine house only first-level monsters, though the higher the level, the stronger, more numerous, and more ferocious the monsters become."

"The tenth level is the finale, housing a single second-level monster, making it the most difficult part of the entire tower."

Su Yun's eyes lit up, his interest piqued.

Since transmigrating and beginning his cultivation, he had never hunted a monster.

His range of activity had previously been limited to the territory of the Azure Cloud Sect.

As one of the five major sects in Spirit Province, the Azure Cloud Sect had long since cleared out all monsters within a radius of several hundred miles through generations of disciples.

Never mind first-level monsters; even ordinary beasts were few and far between.

Seeing Su Yun's interest, Ye Yurou added with a smile, "And there are rewards for clearing the tower."

"For every level successfully cleared, the sect issues corresponding sect contribution points. The higher the level, the more generous the reward."

"Many disciples go crazy grinding levels every time the Trial Tower opens to earn contribution points for resources."

"Today just happens to be the day the Trial Tower reopens, so most of the young disciples in the sect are heading toward the back mountain."

"I figured that since you crushed your peers throughout the grand competition, you would definitely be able to clear it."

Su Yun nodded slightly, a fighting spirit rising in his eyes.

"Since that's the case, I'll have to give it a try."

Watching his look of anticipation, the smile on Ye Yurou's lips deepened.

"That's the spirit! Cultivation isn't just about sparring with fellow disciples; hunting monsters is the best way to temper one's character and killing moves."

"Junior Brother, the Trial Tower might look like just a place for disciples to grind combat experience and earn points."

"But ever since the founding of the Azure Cloud Sect, countless geniuses have emerged."

"Yet, those who could truly clear all ten levels of the Trial Tower in one go while at the Qi Refining stage—counting from ancient times to the present—number fewer than three."

A flash of surprise crossed Su Yun's eyes.

Fewer than three?

"Don't think the first nine levels sound easy."

"The rules for the Trial Tower are very rigid; you cannot withdraw halfway."

"You must fight from the first level to the tenth in one breath."

"Fighting through the first nine levels means facing dozens of first-level monsters consecutively, which continuously drains your spiritual energy, stamina, and mental state."

"The Senior Brother and I both tried it back in the day."

"We were both at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining and in our prime condition when we entered."

"In the end, we both got stuck at the tenth level."

Speaking of this, a look of helplessness appeared on Ye Yurou's face.

"That second-level monster on the tenth floor is ridiculously strong."

"A second-level monster is equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator. They have formidable bodies, are full of ferocity, and have thick hides."

"By the time you reach the tenth floor, your spiritual energy is already mostly depleted."

"Trying to take on a second-level monster in such a weakened state is simply impossible."

"That's why for thousands of years, countless geniuses have stopped at the ninth level; no one has been able to easily walk through the tenth."

Then, she changed the subject, looking at Su Yun with determination.

"However, just because others couldn't do it doesn't mean you can't."

"I know that your true strength has long since transcended the scope of ordinary Qi Refining."

"I have high hopes for you. Perhaps today, you will become the fourth person in the Azure Cloud Sect's millennium-long history to clear the Trial Tower."

A short while later.

The two arrived deep in the back mountain and passed through the restrictions.

The Trial Tower appeared before their eyes.

The tower was entirely gray-black, forged from special mysterious rock. Its overall appearance was not ostentatious; it occupied a small footprint and had a simple, square design. It stood ten stories tall, piercing straight into the clouds.

Looking at it from afar, the tower seemed unremarkable, devoid of any flashy phenomena.

However, as soon as one approached, they could faintly sense the spatial fluctuations within the tower's structure.

Ye Yurou explained aloud.

"It looks small on the outside, but the inside is an entirely different world."

"This Trial Tower is a magical treasure in itself, reinforced with highly profound spatial folding arrays."

"Each level inside the tower is a separately opened independent space."

"There are various terrains such as mountains, dense forests, caves, and canyons, specifically designed to simulate the habitats of wild demonic beasts."

"While it looks like a small ten-story building from the outside, each level inside covers an area of at least ten miles in radius."

Su Yun understood inwardly.

Spatial folding was a standard method for major sects.

It was perfectly suited for creating trial grounds.

At this moment, the area surrounding the Trial Tower was already packed with people.

Outer sect disciples gathered in the plaza outside the tower, standing in groups of three or five, noisy and bustling.

Some disciples were waiting in line to enter the tower, while others had no intention of attempting the trial at all and had stayed behind specifically to watch the spectacle.

"After two years of bitter closed-door cultivation, I've finally broken through to the eighth level. This time, I'm aiming for at least the fifth level!"

"That's nothing. My goal this time is the sixth level, so I can earn more contribution points to exchange for medicinal pills."

Just as everyone was chatting, someone in the crowd caught a glimpse of the mountain path out of the corner of their eye and immediately shouted out:

"Look! Isn't that Senior Brother Su Yun?!"

The single sentence instantly drew the attention of everyone present.

Hundreds of gazes shifted in unison, landing on Su Yun.

The originally noisy plaza fell silent for a brief moment before erupting once more.

"It really is Senior Brother Su! Is he here for the Trial Tower too?"

"Could it be that Senior Brother Su intends to challenge the Trial Tower?"

"My god, we're in for a good show!"

"Senior Brother Su will definitely be able to clear it!"

Some were excited, while others were skeptical.

"I think it's unlikely."

"Don't blindly hype him up. Senior Brother Su is invincible in one-on-one combat, sure, but the Trial Tower's challenge mode is different."

"It requires continuous combat, clearing ten levels in one go. The first nine levels alone could drain anyone dry."

"The tenth level features Tier 2 demonic beasts, which possess genuine Foundation Establishment-level combat power. No matter how strong one is at the Qi Refining stage, there is an upper limit."

Supporters immediately retorted.

"Don't dampen our own spirits and boost the morale of others!"

"During the grand competition, Senior Brother Su swept through all the Qi Refining disciples of the entire sect, crushing those at the ninth-level perfection as if it were child's play."

"His foundation is simply incomparable to that of ordinary Qi Refining cultivators. Coupled with the blessing of his Heavenly Spirit Root, the density of his spiritual power far exceeds that of normal people."

"Just because others can't do it doesn't mean Senior Brother Su can't."

"That's right! If anyone in our sect can clear the trial while at the Qi Refining stage, it can only be Senior Brother Su!"

"Only three people have cleared it in the last thousand years. If Senior Brother Su clears it, he will be the first person in a millennium!"

"I'm camping right here. I'm not going anywhere today; I'm waiting to witness history!"

The news spread at an incredible speed.

Within just a few minutes.

The news that Su Yun was preparing to challenge the Trial Tower spread from the back mountain to the outer and inner sects.

A large number of outer sect disciples who had originally dispersed began frantically gathering toward the back mountain.

Even many inner sect disciples who had been in seclusion emerged one after another, rushing toward the Trial Tower in the back mountain.

They all wanted to see if Su Yun could accomplish a feat that countless geniuses had failed to achieve for thousands of years.

In the center of the plaza.

Ye Yurou turned to the side, watching the disciples pouring in from all directions, then looked at the calm-faced Su Yun and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Junior Brother, it looks like almost everyone knows you're coming to challenge the Trial Tower."

"Right now, you carry the expectations of every disciple in the entire sect."

"Good luck! Strive to clear all ten levels!"

"Senior Sister will be right outside the tower, cheering you on the whole way!"

Su Yun raised his eyes, gazing at the ten-story Trial Tower before him, a faint glimmer flashing in his depths.

Since everyone wanted to watch.

Then he would shatter this millennium-old record.