Entering the Trial Tower Again

Pagoda Peak, Trial Plaza.

Every year, during the final month, many disciples came to challenge the Trial Tower, especially outer disciples. They all hoped to test the results of their year of cultivation. If they could rank among the top ten of the Qi Refining Stage, they could enter the inner sect directly.

Of course, those who could enter the inner sect through their Trial Tower ranking were few and far between. Even if one failed to break into the top ten, a high ranking could still earn the attention of the sect elders.

"Senior Brother Qin, look at the Qi Refining Stage rankings. Senior Brother Chen Yuan has already dropped to twenty-first place. He challenged the Trial Tower only a few days ago, and after finishing it then, he was ranked eighteenth." Lin Qingxuan pointed at the formation display showing the Qi Refining Stage rankings.

At that moment, an outer disciple from East Dawn Peak nearby heard Lin Qingxuan's words and explained, "Junior Sister, you may not know this, but recently, many cultivators who have been in the sect for years—at the ninth level of the Qi Refining Stage, and even at Qi Refining completion—have come to challenge the Trial Tower. Their rankings are all very high, so Senior Brother Chen's ranking has fallen."

"However, after Senior Brother Chen entered the top twenty a few days ago, a sect elder said that Senior Brother Chen would definitely enter the annual top ten within two years," the disciple added.

"By the way, Junior Sister, we are both disciples of East Dawn Peak, so let us get acquainted. I am Ji Zifeng, and my cave dwelling is in District Six. May I ask how Junior Sister is addressed?" the disciple said with a grin.

Qin Huaian glanced at Ji Zifeng. His smile was sleazy, making him look exactly like a young master steeped in wine, women, and song, though his appearance was rather decent.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for clearing that up. We are going to challenge the Trial Tower now." Seeing Ji Zifeng's frivolous manner, Lin Qingxuan replied solemnly.

"Senior Brother Qin, Senior Sister Duanmu, let's go in." Lin Qingxuan tugged at Qin Huaian's sleeve, then linked arms with Duanmu Zhiqin and headed toward the entrance of the Trial Tower.

"Senior Sister Duanmu? Could this fairy be Duanmu Zhiqin, ranked second on our East Dawn Peak?" Ji Zifeng hurriedly asked.

Lin Qingxuan ignored Ji Zifeng and pulled Qin Huaian and the others toward the entrance of the Trial Tower.

Qin Huaian turned his head and gave Ji Zifeng a meaningful smile.

"Duanmu Zhiqin is actually so beautiful, like an ice-cold mountain beauty." Ji Zifeng stared blankly at their retreating backs as he muttered to himself.

"Ji Zifeng! What are you looking at?" At that moment, a pretty female cultivator spoke coldly from behind Ji Zifeng.

"Ah?! Oh, nothing... Hehe, Sister Wan, why are you here?" Ji Zifeng turned around with a placating smile.

After Qin Huaian and the others arrived at the entrance of the Trial Tower, they had their Identity Tokens checked, took their jade plaques, and entered the Trial Tower.

Although this was already his second time entering the Trial Tower, Qin Huaian still marveled at the boundless Gobi and the majestic arena. The Cultivation World truly held endless wonders.

Qin Huaian hesitated no longer. He picked up the flying sword at his feet and stepped onto the first flight of stairs.

Just like last time, the moment he stepped onto the stairs, streak after streak of sword light shot toward him. With a casual wave of his sword, he shattered the sword lights, and Qin Huaian soon arrived at the first-floor arena.

After Qin Huaian stepped onto the arena, the Puppet quickly appeared. I have to start from the first stage again? Could it be that every time I come in, I have to start all over? Qin Huaian thought to himself.

Now that his Basic Swordsmanship had reached the completion level, he could clearly sense that this Puppet was at the fourth level of the Qi Refining Stage, while its swordsmanship was equivalent to the minor success level of Basic Swordsmanship.

Such attack power posed no threat at all to the current Qin Huaian. After testing it for a few moves, Qin Huaian slashed open the Puppet's throat with one sword. The Puppet turned into specks of light and vanished.

"First floor cleared. Please proceed to the second-floor arena." Sure enough, there was no reward. It seemed that rewards were only given upon clearing an arena floor for the first time.

Qin Huaian quickly crossed the second flight of stairs and stepped onto the second-floor arena. The Puppet on this floor was at the fifth level of the Qi Refining Stage, and its swordsmanship was likewise equivalent to the minor success level of Basic Swordsmanship.

After clearing the second-floor arena, Qin Huaian headed for the third flight of stairs. Last time, Qin Huaian had been defeated on the third-floor arena.

The Puppet on the third-floor arena was at the sixth level of the Qi Refining Stage, while its swordsmanship was still equivalent to the minor success level of Basic Swordsmanship. The last time he challenged the Trial Tower, Qin Huaian had been at the seventh level of the Qi Refining Stage, but his swordsmanship had only reached the proficient level of Basic Swordsmanship. He had been defeated across a level by the Puppet's minor success level swordsmanship.

This time, however, Qin Huaian grinned at the Puppet. When it attacked, Qin Huaian directly beheaded it with a single slash, then strolled calmly through the specks of light it turned into.

Just as Qin Huaian was about to step onto the fourth flight of stairs, a voice rang out from the air:

"Third-floor arena cleared. Please receive your reward."

Ahem... I got too carried away showing off and forgot there was a reward, Qin Huaian thought, smiling awkwardly.

Then, an insight into swordsmanship poured into Qin Huaian's mind. It was part of the insight into completion-level Basic Swordsmanship.

Combined with the rewards from the first and second floors, this floor's reward formed a complete insight into completion-level Basic Swordsmanship.

The Trial Tower was incredible. Complete completion-level swordsmanship insight had already begun appearing within the first three floors. What would there be on the ninth-floor arena?

Qin Huaian stepped onto the fourth flight of stairs. The Puppet on the fourth-floor arena was at the seventh level of the Qi Refining Stage, and its swordsmanship was equivalent to completion-level Basic Swordsmanship. It posed no threat to Qin Huaian either, and he quickly shattered the Puppet.

The reward from the fourth floor was part of an insight into perfected Basic Swordsmanship. After receiving it, Qin Huaian stepped onto the fifth flight of stairs.

The Puppet on the fifth-floor arena was at the eighth level of the Qi Refining Stage, and its swordsmanship was completion-level Basic Swordsmanship. Its cultivation was already equal to Qin Huaian's, but perfected Basic Swordsmanship far surpassed completion-level swordsmanship.

Perfected swordsmanship was a qualitative leap compared to completion-level swordsmanship. Before long, Qin Huaian cleared the fifth-floor arena.

After receiving another part of the insight into perfected swordsmanship, Qin Huaian stepped onto the sixth flight of stairs. Judging by the pattern of the previous arena floors, the sixth-floor arena should be at the ninth level of the Qi Refining Stage.

Sure enough, the Puppet on the sixth-floor arena was at the ninth level of the Qi Refining Stage, and its spiritual power was more abundant than Qin Huaian's. However, Qin Huaian could already extend his divine sense outward. With the aid of his perfected Basic Swordsmanship, he quickly gained the upper hand. After several hundred exchanges, Qin Huaian seized a flaw in the Puppet's attack and pierced its heart with one sword.

The Puppet turned into specks of light and scattered between heaven and earth.

"Sixth floor cleared. Please receive your reward."

The reward was part of an insight into perfected Basic Swordsmanship. Combined with the rewards from the fourth and fifth floors, it formed a complete insight into perfected Basic Swordsmanship.

Qin Huaian sat cross-legged on the ground, receiving the reward while recovering his spiritual power. Perfected swordsmanship had actually allowed Qin Huaian, at the eighth level of the Qi Refining Stage, to kill a ninth-level Qi Refining Stage Puppet across a level. Of course, a Puppet was not a real person. If it had been a true ninth-level cultivator, he did not know whether he could have defeated them.

The Puppets on the fourth, fifth, and sixth-floor arenas all possessed completion-level Basic Swordsmanship. Following that pattern, the next floor might contain a Puppet with perfected Basic Swordsmanship. If the Puppet's cultivation was still at the ninth level of the Qi Refining Stage, then he would most likely be unable to defeat it.