Wager

The Unfixed Pagoda stood in the northern district of the imperial capital.

Though this place was blanketed in snow all year round, its spiritual energy was exceptionally dense. It was the martial holy land on Sky Net Star most suited for Human Empire cultivation.

Normally, even cultivators who had no need to challenge the tower would choose to settle around the Unfixed Pagoda year-round.

Of course...

These cultivators could not be just any Tom, Dick, or Harry. If anyone could stay here without leaving, the area within a hundred miles of the Unfixed Pagoda would have long since been packed to the brim.

According to the imperial capital's regulations...

To cultivate here, one had to meet the most basic threshold: martial talent of at least A-rank, or cultivation no lower than the early Divine Aperture Realm.

That was to say.

Those qualified to cultivate here long-term were all among the Human Empire's foremost powerhouses.

At this moment.

A dense crowd had already gathered in the spacious Bluestone Square before the Unfixed Pagoda.

Besides this year's top-ranked contestants, there were many Human Empire elites who had failed to climb the tower in previous years, as well as martial artists who cultivated here year-round and had come specifically to watch the excitement today.

According to the Unfixed Pagoda's challenge rules, any young man or woman under the age of twenty could repeatedly enter the tower to challenge it, with no limit on the number of attempts.

Precisely because of this.

Many who refused to accept defeat would choose to remain here as long as they had not yet reached the age limit.

Then, when the tower opened again, they would enter and challenge it once more.

At this time, Lu Yun's arrival immediately drew everyone else's attention.

Although hardly anyone present knew him, Gu Yuanwei, the Eastern King standing beside him, was renowned throughout the world.

Anyone with half a brain could guess that someone worthy of being personally escorted by the Eastern King to take the assessment had to possess an astonishing background.

"This young man is definitely no ordinary person!"

"I've never seen him before. Judging by his age, he should be fairly young—most likely a contestant in this year's Martial Arts Assessment."

"Then his martial talent must be extraordinarily high. At such an age, even if his practical assessment results were exceptional, it would be impossible for Gu Yuanwei, the Eastern King, to personally accompany him."

"Perhaps he has some background. Maybe some elder in his family has ties with the Eastern King."

"That's possible too!"

Lu Yun paid little attention to the discussions around him.

What truly interested him was entering the Unfixed Pagoda as soon as possible and rapidly increasing his strength.

Ever since crossing into this unfamiliar world, his temples had constantly throbbed. His sharp intuition told him that this place was far less peaceful than it appeared on the surface.

No matter what accidents might happen in the future, only absolute strength would allow him to disregard everything.

That was also the fundamental reason why he seized every opportunity to improve himself.

Just as he was rubbing his hands together, impatient to enter the Unfixed Pagoda, a familiar voice suddenly came from beside his ear.

"Brother Yun? Is that really you?!"

"Uh?"

Lu Yun looked up.

Not far away, a graceful and slender figure was already walking toward him with measured steps. It was Chu Lingxue, who had taken the Martial Exam with him today.

"Just now, I saw everyone heading this way. I was thinking some important figure must have arrived again, but I never expected it to be you."

Chu Lingxue had not been assigned to the same examination hall as Lu Yun today. Since her talent test had been rated A+, and her practical assessment had ended early, she had followed the others here first aboard a supersonic spacecraft.

When she first arrived, she had not seen Lu Yun, and she had felt somewhat disappointed.

But then she thought again.

Lu Yun's injuries had not yet healed, and the requirements for taking the third assessment were extremely harsh. In all of vast Tong City, only three people had the chance to come here.

With such low odds, it was perfectly normal not to see Lu Yun.

Yet what she had never expected was that Lu Yun had not only successfully passed the first two assessments, but had even been personally accompanied by the Eastern King.

"Ling Xue, is this an acquaintance of yours?"

At that moment, several young men walked over as well.

The leader was handsome and well-proportioned, carrying himself like a refined young gentleman.

There was a hint of hostility in his tone. "Tsk, tsk... Who would have thought that a tiny place like Tong City could produce such a figure? To actually have our Eastern King personally escort him!"

When Chu Lingxue had first arrived, the young man had already noticed this beauty whose loveliness could topple a nation. He had finally found an opportunity to strike up a few conversations with her.

Yet halfway through, Lu Yun had suddenly appeared as a rival in love.

"Oh? I wondered who it was. Isn't this my nephew from the Dugu Family?"

Before Lu Yun could respond, Gu Yuanwei had already spoken with a genial smile.

Speaking of it, this young man's background was equally terrifying.

His name was Dugu Mingjun. His father, the Western King Dugu Yao, was one of the Human Empire's Four Great Kings, as famous as Gu Yuanwei.

Moreover, as early as several centuries ago, the Dugu Family had already been a renowned aristocratic clan in the imperial capital.

Even after the arrival of the Spirit Revival Era, the Dugu Family could produce a Star-Gathering Realm super powerhouse every few decades.

With such foundations alone, ordinary local aristocratic families could never be mentioned in the same breath.

As for Gu Yuanwei, the Eastern King...

Though his own strength was formidable, he had been born a commoner and had no Lineage foundations. Furthermore, after rising to fame, he had overshadowed the Western King Dugu Yao at every turn, leaving the two families deeply at odds.

However, with Martial God Baili Yuchen above them holding the field, neither family found it convenient to openly tear off all pretenses. They usually competed only in the shadows.

"This little brother truly has impressive standing, to be personally escorted by Uncle Gu. It seems that in this Unfixed Pagoda assessment, he will surely seize first place. The rest of us are destined to be nothing but supporting characters."

Dugu Mingjun's words carried hidden barbs. He clearly disliked Lu Yun, but no matter how furious he was, he did not dare act too presumptuously before the Eastern King.

Gu Yuanwei glanced sideways at Dugu Mingjun. He knew that Dugu Mingjun was still unaware of the tremendous uproar Lu Yun had caused today and merely thought Lu Yun was a somewhat talented young martial artist.

He had long found the Dugu Family unpleasant to the eye, but due to his status, it was not appropriate for him to bully a junior.

At this moment, he wished to see Dugu Mingjun make a fool of himself, so he said lightly:

"Haha! Before the assessment is over, anything can happen."

"How about this..."

"Before entering the tower, why don't we make a small wager and see who will climb the highest?"

"Of course... since little brother Lu Yun was brought here by me, I naturally bet on his victory."

"Well? Does my nephew from the Dugu Family dare to play with this old man?"

Dugu Mingjun had not expected Gu Yuanwei to make such a proposal, and for a moment, he did not know whether he should accept the wager.

In truth, he had already vaguely sensed that Lu Yun before him was likely not as simple as he appeared.

However...

He was still young at heart. After a brief silence, he answered:

"May I ask what Uncle Gu wishes to wager?"