The Ruthless Empress!

A moment later.

The Desolate Tower said, "Do you think becoming the master of the Desolate Tower is a good thing?"

"I'll tell you the truth. This tower has twelve floors, and each one imprisons forbidden powerhouses from the myriad worlds across the heavens. To escape the Desolate Tower, they must kill its master!"

"And the Heavenly Abyss, the first floor of the Desolate Tower, imprisons forbidden beings such as Xuanyuan Haotian, the Heaven-Covering Sword Lord, the Empress Qingqiu, the Ten Tribulations Blade Emperor, the Heavenly Demon, and the War God!"

Hearing this, Xu Qingyang's expression changed drastically. If those forbidden beings in the Heavenly Abyss wanted to kill him, wouldn't he be utterly powerless to resist?

At once, the corner of Xu Qingyang's mouth twitched. Why had the Desolate Tower absorbed his Sword Martial Soul and made him its master? Now he was doomed.

"Little fellow, you won't be doomed. I'll help you fend off those forbidden beings in the Heavenly Abyss, but you'll also need to find the Desolate Tower's lost treasures!"

"Only by recovering the Desolate Tower's treasures can the seals suppressing those forbidden beings be stabilized, and only then can your strength increase!"

The Desolate Tower spoke slowly.

Upon hearing this, an excited smile immediately appeared on Xu Qingyang's face.

As long as he helped recover the Desolate Tower's treasures, both of them would benefit.

"Little Tower, what sort of treasures do you need?"

Xu Qingyang asked.

The Desolate Tower said, "There's no hurry to discuss that. Let me help you restore your martial soul first!"

At that moment, as the Desolate Tower's voice rang out, wild joy spread across Xu Qingyang's face.

Heavens!

Did I hear that right?

The Desolate Tower is going to help me restore my martial soul?

This is wonderful...

The Desolate Tower continued, "Little fellow, before I help you restore your martial soul, I'll pass on four source patterns to you: the Blood-Coagulating Pattern, the Martial Soul Pattern, the Qi-Gathering Pattern, and the Sky-Swallowing Pattern!"

The instant its voice faded, Xu Qingyang sensed four source patterns appear between his brows, and excitement immediately lit up his face.

The next moment.

A mysterious force surged into Xu Qingyang's body, and his Sword Martial Soul began to show signs of revival.

Hum! Hum! Hum!

As Xu Qingyang sensed his martial soul revive, the blood qi within his body suddenly began to rise slowly.

"Little fellow, you can now use the source patterns I taught you to restore your Sword Martial Soul!"

At that moment, the Desolate Tower's voice rang out.

"Blood-Coagulating Pattern!"

Hearing this, Xu Qingyang took a deep breath, then formed a hand seal. A luminous blood-coagulating pattern manifested, releasing countless blood-coagulating threads.

In an instant, the Blood Qi Ring took shape, faintly radiating sharp sword qi.

"Martial Soul Pattern!"

Xu Qingyang formed another seal. The Blood Qi Ring around him immediately transformed into a martial soul sword, releasing an intense sword aura.

However, this sword aura was even more terrifying than the one he had unleashed when awakening his Sword Martial Soul on the training grounds.

"My Sword Martial Soul is back!"

At that moment, Xu Qingyang shouted in utter excitement.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Rumble!

Amid the thunderous rumbling, Xu Qingyang felt two more distinct types of blood qi rise within his body, rapidly condensing into Blood Qi Rings.

Of these two Blood Qi Rings, one contained fierce flames, like a Vermilion Bird breathing fire, while the other contained surging waves, with the faint silhouette of a True Dragon looming within, majestic and imposing.

"Could I actually awaken a Vermilion Bird Martial Soul and a True Dragon Martial Soul too?"

As something occurred to him, Xu Qingyang spoke with considerable excitement.

In that instant, with a thought from Xu Qingyang, the Martial Soul Pattern and the Qi-Gathering Pattern both manifested, circling the two Blood Qi Rings.

A moment later.

The Vermilion Bird Martial Soul and the True Dragon Martial Soul successfully took shape!

"Heavens!"

"Good grief!"

"I really awakened three martial souls! This is incredible!"

Xu Qingyang felt more excited than he ever had before.

Suddenly, the Desolate Tower said, "Little fellow, now that you've not only restored your Sword Martial Soul but also awakened two more martial souls, it's time to discuss the treasures I need you to find!"

"Go ahead!"

Xu Qingyang said.

The Desolate Tower said, "In three days, an unusual change will occur in the Boundless Mountains outside Heavenly Martial City. Go there and find a wisp of Azure Lotus Demonflame!"

"All right!"

Hearing this, Xu Qingyang nodded.

Yet just then, a cool voice suddenly rang out, as though drifting from the distant starry sky.

"Little Tower, you have some nerve, daring to make a member of my Xu Family search for treasures to heal your injuries!"

That cool voice carried a certain power of law, and only the Desolate Tower could hear it.

"What is this?"

Hearing this, the Desolate Tower felt a flicker of fear arise within.

Hum!

With the ringing of a sword, a tall, stunningly beautiful woman in a white dress instantly appeared in the space within the Desolate Tower. Her bearing was like that of an immortal maiden, exuding aloofness.

"It's actually her?"

The Desolate Tower's voice seemed to tremble. "The Ruthless Empress?"

Then the Desolate Tower thought to itself, I never imagined that Xu Qingyang, who possesses a Sacred Body, would be family to the Ruthless Empress, who stands alone above all ages. Xu Qingyang's background is truly terrifying!

At that thought, the Desolate Tower trembled violently, as though struck by some force!

Ha!

It had not been struck. Xu Qingyang's background had frightened it into this state.

It seems that if I want to secure a place at Xu Qingyang's side, I'll have to upgrade like mad!

That was what the Desolate Tower thought to itself.

"Little fellow, your background is far too invincible. The Desolate Tower is beginning its upgrade!"

"The Desolate Tower has successfully upgraded. Activating Infinite Comprehension Mode for you!"

At that moment, the Desolate Tower's voice rang out.

When Xu Qingyang heard this, he was immediately thrilled. The Desolate Tower had actually upgraded automatically and activated a comprehension mode for him. This was fantastic.

The Desolate Tower was speechless!

If your background hadn't scared me, would I have needed to upgrade?

Meanwhile, Xu Qingyang saw the woman in white who had suddenly appeared, and she said, "Little fellow, you've done quite well, awakening three martial souls and obtaining this Desolate Tower!"

"Although you failed to awaken your martial soul throughout these past dozen or so years, those failures tempered a powerful will that cultivators often lack!"

After hearing this, Xu Qingyang's expression changed drastically, and he stared at her warily. This mysterious woman in white saw through me at a glance. She even knows every detail of my past!

With such terrifying abilities, if she attacked me, I probably wouldn't have any power to resist.

The woman in white glanced at Xu Qingyang's expression and could not help smiling. In a gentle voice, she asked, "When your parents left, did they pass on a cultivation method to you?"

Xu Qingyang froze for a moment. Why would this woman in white ask that? Could she know my parents?

"No!"

Xu Qingyang shook his head as he spoke.

At once, a trace of an odd expression crossed the woman's face. Then she asked, "Would you be willing to cultivate under my guidance?"

Hearing this, Xu Qingyang let out a breath of relief and laughed. "Of course I would!"

This woman in white was so powerful. If he cultivated under her guidance, wouldn't his strength advance a thousand miles in a single day?

The woman in white smiled. "Very good!"

Then the woman in white opened her palm, and twelve books immediately appeared, shimmering with brilliant golden light.

"What are these?"

Xu Qingyang stared at the books in the woman's hand, a gleam bursting from his eyes as he exclaimed.