This Is Impossible!

Over the past dozen days since entering the sect, they had gained some understanding of the Martial Tower's difficulty. To clear the first floor alone, one needed to be among the strongest martial artists at the first rank of the Martial Path to stand a chance.

Though they all believed Liang Bo was very strong, no matter how strong he was, he had only just joined the Martial Sect. His internal energy cultivation was merely at the fourth rank, and he might not even have mastered the high-grade martial techniques he had just exchanged for. With such strength, could he clear the first floor? The three of them clearly did not think highly of his chances.

If he failed the challenge, would that not be an even greater blow? At this thought, a trace of worry appeared in Xiao Qing and the others' eyes. Yet seeing Liang Bo in such high spirits, they found it difficult to dissuade him.

"Let's go. Time waits for no one; we'll head to the Martial Tower right away." Liang Bo led the way, and before long, they rode a flying bird to the location of the Martial Tower.

On an enormous plaza east of True Martial City stood a towering structure several hundred meters high, rising from the center of the square like a divine sword piercing the heavens.

The entire plaza was wide and empty, yet countless martial artists came and went through the area.

Perhaps because the sect tournament would be held next year, an especially large number of people had come to challenge the Martial Tower lately.

"Whoa!"

"He cleared the second stage of the second floor!"

"Su Yang actually cleared the second stage of the second floor. He's going to defy the heavens! Maybe he can even clear the third stage today?"

When Liang Bo and the others arrived at the tower, heated discussions were already surging outside the Martial Tower like rising waves. Every spectator was brimming with excitement.

"Hey, brother, who's challenging the tower in there? Why are so many people watching?" Zhao Wu grabbed a martial artist from the crowd and asked.

"Su Yang! Who else besides him could draw this much attention?"

"Who is Su Yang?"

"You don't even know who Su Yang is?" the man asked in surprise, a look of disdain appearing on his face.

"Well, I just entered the sect, so I don't know him." Zhao Wu scratched the back of his head.

"I see. You do look like a newcomer. Su Yang is a direct disciple who entered the sect only the year before last. In just a year and a half, he has already reached the second stage of the second floor. Such talent is truly enviable!"

Liang Bo asked curiously, "Is clearing the second stage of the second floor that difficult?"

The man rolled his eyes at that. "For old disciples who have been in the sect for years and have already reached the Human Origin Realm, perhaps it isn't difficult. But for a disciple like Su Yang, who has only been in the sect for a little over a year, how could it merely be difficult? It's extraordinarily, extraordinarily difficult!"

"That's right!" A nearby martial artist who had overheard their conversation interjected. "Put it this way: our Martial Sect has stood for nearly ten thousand years, yet fewer than a hundred people have ever cleared the second floor within a year of entering the sect. In other words, on average, only one person manages it every hundred years. Tell me, is that difficult or not? And Su Yang has only been in the sect for a year and a half, yet he has already cleared the second stage of the second floor. Though he is slightly inferior to those geniuses recorded in history, in the present day, he is still one of the finest talents."

"Is that so?" Liang Bo stroked his chin.

"Whoa!"

At that moment, a burst of startled cries rose from behind them. Soon after, someone shouted from behind Liang Bo and the others, "Make way! Make way! Move aside!"

"Hm?"

There was no need for Liang Bo to ask what had happened. The crowd's cries had already explained why everyone was voluntarily making way.

"Look, Lu Jinghui is here too!"

"Lu Jinghui entered the sect in the same year as Su Yang, and both are direct disciples. The two of them love competing with each other; no matter what it is, they always have to measure themselves against one another. Now that Su Yang has successfully cleared the second stage, it seems Lu Jinghui can no longer sit still. This will be quite a spectacle. I wonder whether he can clear the second stage just like Su Yang."

At least several hundred people were gathered outside the Martial Tower. At this moment, the martial artists all voluntarily opened up a path, and a white-clad youth carrying a longsword on his back slowly approached, surrounded by several male and female attendants.

Xiao Qing tugged at Liang Bo's sleeve and whispered, "Young Master, the Martial Tower is too difficult to challenge. How about we go back? With your talent, Young Master, if you cultivate for another year or two and come back then, it will definitely be much easier."

Liang Bo laughed. "What kind of sense does it make to come here and leave without challenging it? Besides, do you really think so little of your Young Master?"

"No, Young Master, I only..." Xiao Qing hesitated, unsure how to explain herself.

Liang Bo smiled. "Only what? You're worried that if I fail the challenge, I'll suffer an even greater blow, aren't you? Don't worry. Your Young Master isn't that fragile. Besides, the Martial Tower may not necessarily be so difficult."

He waved to the three of them and said with a smile, "All right, enough nonsense. It's time for me to enter the tower." Without waiting for Xiao Qing and the others to respond, he strode forward toward the Martial Tower.

Left with no choice, Xiao Qing and the other two hurried after him.

At that moment, everyone was making way for Lu Jinghui, yet Liang Bo and his group were striding forward instead. Naturally, this drew the crowd's attention.

Many people began discussing among themselves. "Look, who is that? Is he going to challenge the Martial Tower too?"

"I don't recognize him, but look at the pendant hanging from his waist. Huh? It's actually a purple jade token that only direct disciples may wear. Could he also be a direct disciple?"

According to the Martial Sect's rules, disciples of different statuses wore different jade tokens. Direct disciples generally wore purple jade tokens, while inner disciples could only wear white jade tokens. These could not be worn at will; if the sect discovered it, punishment would be unavoidable.

Therefore, when everyone saw the purple jade token at Liang Bo's waist, a token symbolizing the status of a direct disciple, the crowd immediately erupted in uproar.

"This man is a direct disciple, but I've never seen him before. Could he be a direct disciple who only entered the sect this year?"

"Yes, that's very possible. I heard that among this year's newly admitted direct disciples, there is someone named Liang Bo. Some days ago, he even solved the test question in the seventh side hall of the Treasure Pavilion and obtained the treasure within. This Liang Bo is said to use a saber. Look at this man—he uses a saber as well. So he is very likely Liang Bo!"

Liang Bo paid no attention to the discussions around him and stepped directly into the tower.

Among the group heading in that direction, one of Lu Jinghui's attendants was a young girl in a snow-white dress. Upon hearing the surrounding discussion, she could not help sneering. "Senior Brother Lu, I never expected someone to come challenge the Martial Tower immediately after entering the sect. Even if he wants to show off, there's no need to rush here so early, is there?"

Lu Jinghui glanced at Liang Bo, who had entered the Martial Tower ahead of him, and said indifferently, "Liang Bo? I've heard of him. They say his saber technique is not bad. But coming to challenge the Martial Tower now is nothing but a waste of time."

The girl in the white dress laughed sweetly. "How many people in this world possess comprehension as exceptional as Senior Brother Lu's? Let alone anyone stronger than you. Senior Brother Lu only cleared the first floor after more than half a year in the sect. Yet this Liang Bo came to challenge it so soon after joining. He will probably find even the first stage of the first floor difficult to pass."

Lu Jinghui waved his hand. "Enough. Whether he wishes to waste his time is his own business. I'm entering the tower now. Wait for me outside."

"Of course! Then we'll wait to see Senior Brother Lu display his great might." The group watched Lu Jinghui walk toward the Martial Tower.

Yet just then, a thunderous uproar suddenly erupted from the crowd. "Heavens, this is impossible!"

Lu Jinghui frowned and looked toward the stone monument before the Martial Tower.

At a glance, he too froze. Displayed upon the stone monument was a message: "Liang Bo, direct disciple, has cleared the first stage of the first floor of the Martial Tower."