Challenge Begins

Seeing that Dugu Mingjun had indeed taken the bait, Gu Yuanwei was in high spirits. He turned and gave a meaningful look to a guard not far away.

In the blink of an eye.

A bottle of crystal-clear Water-Rhyme Spirit Pills, carrying a faint fragrance, was presented.

"As an elder, I naturally cannot take advantage of you juniors. How about I use this bottle of Water-Rhyme Spirit Pills as my wager?"

The instant Dugu Mingjun saw the Water-Rhyme Spirit Pills, his pupils shrank sharply and greed surfaced on his face. He had never imagined that Gu Yuanwei would be so generous as to place the Water-Rhyme Spirit Pills directly before him.

These Water-Rhyme Spirit Pills were miraculous medicine for healing injuries. Once consumed, they would immediately restore one to peak condition and could also effectively increase one's cultivation.

However, not just anyone could consume Water-Rhyme Spirit Pills. Only those of noble status, or those who had achieved something in cultivation, could possibly possess such an item.

Of course...

As the foremost of humanity's four great kings, Gu Yuanwei, the Eastern King, naturally had the qualifications to possess them.

But to everyone else, Water-Rhyme Spirit Pills were something one could encounter only by chance, never seek by choice.

Gu Yuanwei's eyes were exceedingly sharp. Seeing Dugu Mingjun's expression change wildly, he sneered inwardly, though his face remained impassive as he said,

"I wonder what wager Nephew Dugu is willing to offer?"

Dugu Mingjun came back to his senses at those words and hurriedly bowed. "This junior does not possess Uncle Gu's lavish means, but I happen to have ten Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones. I am willing to use them as the wager for this round."

Gu Yuanwei was rather surprised to hear Dugu Mingjun mention Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones.

After all.

Ever since the Spirit Revival Era descended, Sky Net Star's environment had undergone drastic changes, and a small number of Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones had emerged as well.

These Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones were of little use to ordinary humans, but to martial artists who cultivated, they were undoubtedly superb spiritual medicine.

Even obtaining a single one could help a martial artist absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth faster, with an effect equivalent to several months of arduous cultivation.

Therefore, all cultivators longed for the chance to gather as many Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones as possible.

Yet because their numbers were simply too scarce, Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones had basically been monopolized by great lineages. The vast majority of martial artists without backing had no channel through which to acquire them at all.

As the two men brought out their respective wagers, the others who had been eager to try were instantly doused with a bucket of cold water. They were simply too embarrassed to offer up their meager stakes.

Just as the atmosphere grew somewhat awkward, the Unfixed Pagoda ahead trembled slightly, then began to emit a faint golden glow. The glow grew brighter and stronger until it became dazzling gold. Then, those golden rays actually began to gather into form.

A phantom gradually appeared and slowly solidified. It was a beautiful woman dressed in robes, though her face appeared somewhat indistinct.

"I am the Pagoda Spirit in charge of this assessment. Later, each of your final results will automatically appear upon the stone stele."

"However..."

"If anyone can reach the eighth floor, then their result will appear on the stone stele in advance."

"Of course, aside from that one person in history, I do not believe anyone else can accomplish it."

In an instant.

A huge stone stele directly before the Unfixed Pagoda abruptly became transparent.

And the bodies of every contestant participating in this assessment suddenly vanished from where they stood.

When they opened their eyes again, they had already appeared on the first floor of the Unfixed Pagoda.

This also meant that the challenge had finally begun in earnest.

The Pagoda Spirit looked toward the stone stele ahead, the corners of her lips lifting into a satisfied smile. Then she said, "The Unfixed Pagoda has nine floors, which means this assessment consists of nine rounds."

"The rules are simple. Each of you will face a virtual person whose strength is comparable to your own, and defeat them completely."

"And so on. After succeeding in a challenge, you may proceed to the next one."

As soon as the red-clad Pagoda Spirit's words fell.

Lu Yun noticed that, at some unknown point, he had fallen into a strange gray and hazy space.

He looked around in confusion. It seemed that, aside from himself, there were no other contestants here.

Whether Chu Lingxue or Dugu Mingjun, both seemed to have completely vanished.

"It seems..."

"The Pagoda Spirit will create an opponent for each person based on their specific strength."

"If my guess is correct, then I likely will not see Ling Xue again until the assessment is over."

After a brief analysis, Lu Yun had roughly grasped his current situation.

Since he was here, he might as well make the best of it.

Since he had already come, he might as well see what sort of opponent he would face this time!

Lu Yun adjusted his mindset and focused all his attention on sensing the energy fluctuations around him.

Just then.

A tall figure appeared out of thin air before Lu Yun.

The man wore black armor, a golden helmet, and held a long saber in his hand. The waves of pressure radiating from him made Lu Yun feel a suffocating sense of oppression.

"Sea-Opening Perfection Realm!"

Lu Yun almost immediately sensed the enemy's true strength.

He had not expected the Pagoda Spirit to be so precise, actually creating an opponent with strength exactly equal to his own.

"Hehe..."

The black-clad man sneered, then said, "Kid, do you know? I have not encountered a human like you in a long time. I would like to see just how strong you really are."

As he spoke...

The man shot forward like lightning. In the blink of an eye, he arrived before Lu Yun, then fiercely raised his right leg and kicked hard at Lu Yun's chest.

"What speed!"

Lu Yun silently praised him.

This man's strength truly was comparable to his own. The attack speed just now had been completely on par with his.

But Lu Yun felt no fear.

He lightly tapped the ground with his foot, and his whole body immediately leaped into the air. With a flip of his palm, the Ancient Moon Elephant-Trunk Saber was already in his grasp.

"Whoosh!"

The long saber carved a perfect arc through the air and slashed directly toward the man.

"Hmph, a mere trick!"

The man gave a cold shout, raised his long saber with his right hand, and likewise met Lu Yun's attack head-on.

"Clang!"

Metal struck metal, sparks flew in all directions, and a crisp, ringing collision echoed out.

The two powerful forces resisted each other, actually forming a visible energy ripple that continuously spread outward.

"Now this is interesting!"

At some unknown point, a streak of blood had appeared at the corner of Lu Yun's mouth.

This opponent truly was extraordinary. His combat strength was completely evenly matched with Lu Yun's.

What made Lu Yun curious was how the Pagoda Spirit had managed to create such a monster.

However, he had no time to think further.

Because the other party clearly did not intend to give him much time and had already launched another attack.

Lu Yun's body swiftly retreated backward.

And...

The muscles in his arms suddenly swelled, and the power transmitted through them rose step by step at an unbelievable speed.

"Thirty-threefold amplification!"