Nine-Layer Cycle

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The moment Nan Feng stepped into the city gate tower, the tower trembled violently in his palm.

A nine-story bronze pagoda floated in front of his chest, with Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl at its top radiating azure -Golden Immortal light, Three Lights Divine Water swirling inside the pearl.

He sensed that after the ninth floor was fully opened, the structure of the entire tower was changing. All Nine-Layer Tower doors were connected, all nine levels of power were released, and nine forces intertwined, merged, and circulated within the tower to form a loop.

Then he heard that sound.

The sound was neither that of the Old Huai nor that of the tower spirit. It was a divine thought rising from the depths of the tower's heart, traveling through countless eras.

Deep, aged, carrying a weight and serenity that Nan Feng had never heard before.

"You pieced it back together."

Nan Feng shuddered. The tower trembled violently in his palm, and the Nine-Layer Tower gate resonated simultaneously. Golden immortal light and azure tower light intertwined, bathing the entire city in a layer of light.

He sensed something awakening deep within the tower's core. That thing was older than the Old Huai, more primordial than the Tower Spirit Fragment, and was the most fundamental existence within the Nine Nether Heaven Suppression Pagoda.

The Old Huai rose from the sacred tree. His lips trembled, and in the end, he uttered only two words: "Master..."

This was the first time Nan Feng had heard him call him that. Deep within the tower, a golden ball of light was rising.

The ball of light was only the size of a fist, but the aura it emitted was more ancient than anything Nan Feng had ever seen.

The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's Million-Year Soul Ring, Bibi Dong's Rakshasa God Status, and Tang San's Sea God and Asura God Godhood.

Before this golden light, they all seemed like rivers meeting the sea.

"Pagoda God..." Nan Feng's voice was very soft.

A golden ball of light emerged from the heart of the tower, condensing into a blurry human figure above the tower. It was a man wearing an ancient robe, his face indistinct, but his features carried an aura that was remarkably similar to the one imprinted deep within Nan Feng's soul.

He looked down at Nan Feng, a slight smile playing on his lips.

You've climbed higher than me.

Nan Feng was stunned. It was the pioneer's recognition of the follower.

The Pagoda God cultivated the path of Divine Dao, and after becoming a god, he guarded the Abyss before ultimately perishing. The pagoda, divine pronouncements, and Primordial World Imprint he left behind are all waiting for someone who will not follow the path of Divine Dao or the path of Soul Master, but will instead walk a path that no one has ever walked before.

"I cultivate to be a god." The Pagoda God's divine thoughts echoed above the pagoda, each word carrying an ancient resonance. "You cultivate to be an immortal."

A golden ball of light suddenly burst forth, illuminating the entire Nine-Layer Tower.

The first layer, Mountain Suppression, is a thick, earthy yellow light. The second layer, Zhuzhu, is a dark gold vortex.

The third layer is the power of Creation, a verdant and transformative force. The fourth layer is the power of Return to Origin, a silvery and restorative force.

The fifth layer of Space-Time: transparent ripples. The sixth layer: Return to the Void, black flames of annihilation.

The seventh layer of Samsara: a silver-blue soul halo. The eighth layer of Purification: pure white celestial light.

The ninth layer of World Creation exploded, revealing a golden Primordial Origin.

Nine layers of light converged above the tower, forming a pillar of light that Tongtian.

Nan Feng sensed that the shattered cracks on the tower's surface were rapidly healing within the pillar of light. The fragments of the fifth floor, the cracks of the sixth floor, and the deep marks of the seventh floor were all gone.

The bronze corrosion on the tower body has completely peeled off, revealing the lapis lazuli Immortal Mark underneath. Each pattern flows with golden Primordial World Power.

The Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl at the top of the tower spun rapidly within the pillar of light. The Three Lights Divine Water condensed into a drop of liquid, which dripped onto the surface of the tower and was absorbed by the Azure Gold Immortal Mark.

"The Primordial World Great Dao..." The Pagoda God's divine will faded, and the golden light began to merge into the pagoda's body, "Never-ending."

The moment the ball of light merged into the heart of the tower, Nan Feng sensed that something deep within his soul had been ignited.

The Primordial World Imprint expanded within his soul, growing from the size of a fist to cover the entire soul space. Golden light surged from his seven orifices, and azure-gold Immortal Mark emerged on his skin, identical to the patterns on the tower.

One hundred and eight chapters of Heavenly Constellation and Earthly Fiend Divine Abilities simultaneously lit up in his soul. He had already mastered the first three chapters: Mountain Suppression Art, Shrinking the Ground to an Inch, and Star-Piercing Form. The fourth chapter, Domain Divine Ability, the fifth chapter Mountain and River Seal, and the sixth chapter, Heavenly Net and Earthly Snare, circulated in his soul one after another.

His Soul Power has exceeded one hundred, and his Immortal Dao cultivation has broken through the Foundation Establishment. His physique has evolved into the Primordial World Immortal Dao Physique.

But what truly sent chills down his spine was something else entirely.

After the power of World Creation on the ninth floor was fully released, the entire tower was no longer a nine-story independent structure. All Nine-Layer Tower doors were pushed open, and the nine forces formed a circular loop.

The suppressive power of the first layer of Mountain Suppression flows into the second layer and is absorbed, transforming into tower energy.

The third layer of Creation transforms the tower's energy into the power of creation, and the fourth layer of Return to Origin uses it to repair the tower's body.

The fifth layer of Space-Time accelerates the tower's movement, while the sixth layer, the Return to the Void, pulverizes excess impurities.

The seventh layer of Samsara transforms impurities into soul energy, and the eighth layer Purification and refines it.

The ninth layer of World Creation reinjected the purified energy into the first layer.

Nine-Layer Cycle, endlessly regenerating.

"This is..." Nan Feng's voice trembled.

The Old Huai stepped down from the sacred tree, its face bearing an expression that Nan Feng had never seen before—the fulfillment that the tower keeper had finally awaited after countless years.

"The Nine-Layer Cycle is complete," the Old Huai said. "From today onward, your tower will no longer require external repair. The nine layers' abilities will transform, repair, and strengthen each other. As long as you have a breath left, the tower will not crumble."

The Nan Feng swept the tower into its palm. Nine-Layer Cycle circulated inside the tower, with the doors of each layer open.

The surface of the tower is covered with azure-gold Immortal Mark, flowing with golden Primordial World Power. At the top of the tower, the Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl emits a stable azure -Golden Immortal light, Three Lights Divine Water condenses into a drop of liquid.

"The Three Lights Divine Water..." Nan Feng stared at the drop of liquid.

Old Huai nodded. "The Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl has been successfully condensed, and the three divine waters— Sun Essence, Moonlight, and Star Marrow— have been fused. Sun Essence can reshape the physical body, Moonlight Essence can condense the soul, and Star Marrow can awaken intelligence. You can revive a person's body and soul with just one drop."

Nan Feng remained silent for a moment. He sensed the Golden Core in his dantian spinning, indicating that the second realm of Immortal Dao had been stabilized.

With Soul Power exceeding one hundred, the path to immortality has only just begun. Foundation Establishment Perfection, the Golden Core is formed, and beyond that lie Nascent Soul Spirit Transformation, Void Refinement, Body Integration, Mahayana, Tribulation Transcendence, and True Immortal.

"Old Huai," said Nan Feng.

"Um."

What does the Pagoda God mean by "never ending"?

Old Huai remained silent for a long time, then looked up at the remaining golden light above the tower before speaking.

"Your ancestor cultivated to the God King realm, thinking he had reached the end. It was only when he guarded the Abyss that he discovered there was a path beyond God King. He didn't complete it, so before his fall, he left a divine decree, waiting for someone who would not follow the Divine Dao but the path of Immortal Dao."

Is there another path beyond the Immortal Dao?

"The Immortal Dao has nine realms. Above True Immortal are Golden Immortal, Great Luo, and Dao Ancestor," Old Huai said softly. "Your ancestor's divine decree stated that the Primordial Origin is the oldest power in all realms, and its upper limit is unknown."

The Nan Feng levitated the tower to chest height.

"The nine tests are over," Nan Feng said.

Old Huai nodded. "Nine trials completed, Foundation Establishment for immortality. Your current Immortal Dao cultivation is at the Foundation Establishment Perfection, and your Golden Core is formed. The next step is Nascent Soul. With the aid of the Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl and the Three Lights Divine Water, plus the Space-Time Power of the tower, one year outside is ten years inside the tower. Within a thousand years, you can cultivate to become True Immortal."

Nan Feng looked down at the tower in her palm; nine layers of azure-gold Immortal Mark wove a halo around it. The red ribbon on her left wrist fluttered in the immortal light.

That was choreographed by Xiao Wu, and she's worn it ever since she was at the Nuoding Academy.

"A thousand years." The Nan Feng's voice was soft.

"Becoming an immortal in a thousand years is already the fastest speed in all realms," the Old Huai said. "Your ancestor cultivated for eight thousand years before becoming a god; you're eight times faster than him."

Nan Feng looked up at the window of the city tower. The morning light bathed the city walls of Jialing Pass, and the bloodstains and cracks left by last night's battle were healing under the nourishment of the divine light.

Victory horns echoed from the distant Heaven Dou Army formation.

He sensed Ye Lingling's presence approaching from below the city wall, while Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison flowed in the distance. Xiao Wu opened her eyes in the Shrek camp, and Zhu Zhuqing's shadow flickered between reality and illusion.

"Old Huai," said Nan Feng.

"Um."

"When the Nine Rings as One, all nine Soul Ring will evolve to the million-year level. At that time, the patterns on the nine layers of the tower will resonate simultaneously, and the Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl will condense at the top of the tower."

"You have already condensed."

Nan Feng nodded and retrieved the tower into his palm. The azure-gold Immortal Mark on the tower shimmered with golden immortal light.

"This journey..." Nan Feng's voice was soft, each word carrying a golden, ethereal light, "Was worth it."

The nine stories of the tower shone brightly, their celestial light illuminating all realms. Primordial World Immortal Power surged through his meridians.

The Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl spun at the top of the tower, Three Lights Divine Water condensed into a drop of liquid, which dripped onto the roots of the Ancient Tree of Life, causing the tree to grow an inch taller instantly.

His physique has evolved into the Primordial World Immortal Dao Physique, no longer bound by the rules of the Douluo Plane. His Golden Core is circulating in his dantian, reaching the second realm of Immortal Dao.

The path to immortality is boundless.

Nan Feng stepped out of the city tower, the morning light shining on his face. The red ribbon on his left wrist fluttered in the morning breeze, and the tower spun in his palm.

Below the city gate, Ye Lingling looked up at him, the petals of the Nine Heart Begonia blooming on her fingertips. In the distance, Xiao Wu's figure was running towards Jialing Pass, Dugu Yan waved to him from the city wall, and Zhu Zhuqing nodded in the shadows.

He smiled.

"Let's go." Nan Feng walked down from the city wall.