Xu Qingtong had never heard of such a novel thing. His interest piqued, he urged Nangong Zhen to continue.
"Don't underestimate the first ten floors," Nangong Zhen said. "Defeating yourself is no easy matter. After all, no one understands you better than you do."
"Once you defeat yourself, you can reach the eleventh floor and face Senior Zhong or Senior Lü at the Qi Refining Stage. Only by defeating the two seniors' clone phantoms can you proceed upward. Floors eleven through forty are the Qi Refining Stage, floors forty-one through seventy are the Foundation Establishment Realm, and above that is the Golden Core Stage!"
"How far did you get, Big Brother?" Xu Qingtong asked.
"I'm ashamed to say I only reached the seventy-eighth floor!" Nangong Zhen said, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Du Siwen was startled to hear this. Didn't that mean Big Brother Nangong could defeat even Golden Core Stage opponents?
Xu Qingtong, however, was not particularly surprised. He had already anticipated Nangong Zhen's strength. In fact, he had thought Nangong Zhen might have reached beyond the eightieth floor!
"To think the Academy has such a marvelous tower! I must go see it when I get the chance!" Xu Qingtong said.
"If you want to go, my worthy brother, you can go anytime, provided you have enough merit!" Nangong Zhen said. "One attempt at Tianhua Tower costs a thousand merit!"
Xu Qingtong could not help clicking his tongue at that. A whole month of hard work earned him only enough merit for one attempt at Tianhua Tower!
"What about the other rankings? How are the places determined?" Xu Qingtong asked.
"The other rankings are simple. The contenders gather together and craft the same items. Whoever produces the highest grade ranks higher. If the grades are the same, it comes down to