47: Chapter 47 Five Days, Six Levels

Lu Jinghan looked up ahead; after the old man's figure dissipated, a light gate appeared at the end of the plain.

The light gate was about three zhang high, and inside the gate was a patch of soft white light, making it impossible to see what lay behind it.

He stepped toward the light gate with a steady pace, without the slightest hesitation.

The moment he passed through the light gate, a cool, gentle aura rushed toward him, as if he had passed through a thin curtain of water.

The scene before his eyes changed abruptly; he had arrived in a simple, ancient stone room.

The stone room was not large, roughly three zhang square, and its four walls were built of blue-grey stone blocks.

In the very center of the stone room, a fist-sized ball of light floated, emitting a soft white glow.

Lu Jinghan walked up to the ball of light. A Profound Rank treasure.

For an ordinary Cultivator, a Profound Rank treasure was already a rare and precious item.

But to him, it was truly beneath his notice.

However, there was no harm in taking it.

He raised his hand to touch the ball of light. It suddenly brightened, then slowly descended and landed in his palm.

The light dissipated, revealing what was inside.

A dark red Medicinal Pill, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

There were fine patterns flowing across the surface of the Medicinal Pill, indicating its exceptional quality.

Lu Jinghan recognized this Medicinal Pill—a Barrier-Breaking Pill, Profound Rank Intermediate.

He tucked the Medicinal Pill into his Storage Pouch and cast his gaze toward the other side of the stone room.

There, a stone staircase spiraled upward, leading to the second level.

Lu Jinghan was in no rush to go up.

He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing for a moment.

Although he hadn't used his full strength in the previous battle, he had still consumed quite a bit of spiritual energy.

Before entering the second level, he needed to adjust himself to his optimal state.

About an incense stick's time later, he opened his eyes, rose to his full height, and walked toward the stone staircase.

The sound of his footsteps echoed in the empty stone room, each one steady and powerful.

The stone staircase was very long, spiraling through nine turns before finally reaching the end.

At the end was a light gate similar to the previous one.

Lu Jinghan took a deep breath and stepped through.

The white light dissipated, and Lu Jinghan's figure vanished into the light gate.

——

Meanwhile, outside the Nine Heavens Tower, the light screen floating above the stone stele suddenly brightened.

A new line of text appeared at the very top of the list.

Lu Jinghan, Early Nascent Soul Stage, First Level, time taken: half a day.

The purple light gate still stood tall before the tower, and new Cultivators kept emerging from the bamboo forest, drawn by this massive black tower that had suddenly appeared.

"Nine Heavens Tower?"

A young man carrying a long sword on his back looked up at the tower body that soared into the clouds, reading the name on the stone stele.

Behind him followed several companions, their robes embroidered with the cloud patterns of the Piaomiao Sect.

"Let's go in and take a look."

The long-sword-wielding youth waved his hand and led the others into the tower gate.

More Cultivators arrived one after another. Upon seeing the rules on the stone stele and the list on the light screen, they were all excited and eager to try.

Among the first batch of over thirty people who entered, some had already retreated.

They were three Loose Cultivators at the Early Golden Core stage, looking disheveled and pale, as if they had just returned from the gates of hell.

"It's too terrifying."

One of the Loose Cultivators slumped onto the ground, gasping for air.

"The gatekeeper of that level was too fast. I couldn't even touch the hem of his robe before I was beaten out."

"If I hadn't conceded the trial in time, I would have lost my life in there."

The other two Loose Cultivators also wore expressions of lingering fear and nodded repeatedly.

The surrounding Cultivators who were still watching heard this; some showed fear, while others were dismissive.

"Daring to enter at the Early Golden Core stage? Isn't that just courting death?"

"Look at the names on the light screen; the worst among them are at the Golden Core - Late Stage. You really can't challenge the Nine Heavens Tower without some capability."

Amidst the discussions, a few more people walked out of the tower gate.

They had all failed at some level.

Fortunately, most people managed to save their lives, with only a few unlucky ones remaining in the tower forever.

The news quickly spread through the Purple Bamboo Forest.

More and more Cultivators arrived from all directions, gathering in front of the Nine Heavens Tower.

New figures emerged from the purple light gate almost every moment, stepping into the tower.

Days passed one by one.

The list on the light screen outside the tower grew longer and longer, densely packed with hundreds of names.

The levels listed after those names mostly stopped at the first or second level, and occasionally a few reached the third, which was already as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Beyond the fourth level, there were only a few people.

As for the fifth level, there were only two names on the light screen—Lu Jinghan and Zhou Tianchen.

The fifth day.

A white light flashed at the Nine Heavens Tower gate, and a figure staggered out.

It was Qin Muchuan. His face was pale, his robes were stained with dust, and his steps were unsteady, clearly having consumed a great deal.

He walked to the stone stele, looked up at the light screen, and his gaze quickly scanned the list.

When he saw the "6" after Lu Jinghan's name, he froze for a moment, then gave a wry smile and shook his head.

Senior Brother is indeed Senior Brother.

He looked further down and found Zhou Tianchen's name—the fifth level.

Third Senior Brother has also reached the fifth level.

Qin Muchuan took a deep breath and moved his gaze further down, trying to find Su Fuguang's name.

Just then, the tower gate brightened again. Su Fuguang walked out; his complexion was slightly better than Qin Muchuan's, but he also appeared exhausted.

The two looked at each other and saw the helplessness in each other's eyes.

"What level?" Qin Muchuan asked.

"The second level."

Su Fuguang walked to his side, looked up at the light screen, and his gaze rested on the names of Lu Jinghan and Zhou Tianchen for a moment of silence.

"Senior Brother is already at the sixth level?"

"Yes."

"And Third Senior Brother is at the fifth level."

"Yes."

The two were silent, looking at those two lines on the light screen, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Qin Muchuan suddenly spoke: "Do you think Senior Brother can ascend to the ninth level?"

Su Fuguang shook his head, his tone calm: "I don't know, but even if someone can ascend to the ninth level, that person will definitely be him."

Qin Muchuan did not speak, simply looking at Lu Jinghan's name on the light screen, his eyes filled with admiration.

Just as they were talking, a few more people walked out of the tower.

A disciple of the Nanli Dynasty, his expression as gloomy as water, had clearly failed the tower challenge.

He looked up and saw Lu Jinghan's name on the light screen; his pupils constricted slightly, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

"The sixth level?"

The disciple of the Nanli Dynasty's voice was somewhat sharp, attracting the gazes of many people around.

"That Lu Jinghan from the Zhouwu Dynasty? He actually reached the sixth level?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd immediately erupted in an uproar.

"Lu Jinghan? That Lu Jinghan from the Great Family Ranking Battle?"

"Who else could it be? The Zhouwu Dynasty is riding high this time, and even the Old Ancestor treats his Revered Master with respect. I'm not surprised he could reach the sixth level."

"You can't say that. Strength is strength, but tower challenging is different. Those ancient Prodigies on the light screen, which one of them wasn't incredibly talented? Didn't they also stop at the eighth level?"

"That's true, but for this Lu Jinghan to reach the sixth level is already quite remarkable."

Discussions rose and fell; some were amazed, some unconvinced, and others simply wanted to watch the spectacle.

More and more people gathered outside the tower.

And everyone's gaze fell, coincidentally, on those two lines at the top of the light screen.

Lu Jinghan, Sixth Level.

Zhou Tianchen, Fifth Level.

"Isn't that Zhou Tianchen the heir of Prince Zhao? He's been obsessed with the Dao of alchemy for many years; I didn't expect his strength to be this formidable."

"Being able to reach the fifth level is truly no simple feat. Look, he's also at the Early Nascent Soul Stage. I heard before that he was stuck at the Golden Core stage; it seems he has had a Breakthrough."

"The Zhouwu Dynasty is truly full of talent this time."

Amidst the discussions, the tower gate suddenly brightened.

A figure walked out from within the gate, with a steady pace and a calm expression.

It was Zhou Tianchen.

His robes were neat, his aura stable; clearly, his exit had not been a messy one.

Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang hurried to greet him: "Third Senior Brother!"

Zhou Tianchen nodded at the two, his gaze falling on the light screen, finding his own name—the fifth level.

He frowned slightly, then looked up again, seeing Lu Jinghan's name—the sixth level.

"Senior Brother has already reached the sixth level?" he asked.

Qin Muchuan nodded: "He reached it on the fifth day."

Zhou Tianchen nodded, withdrew his gaze, and looked at Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang: "What about you two? What level?"

"The second level." The two said in unison, their tones tinged with a bit of shame.

Zhou Tianchen was not surprised and nodded: "Being able to reach the second level at the Golden Core - Middle Stage is already quite good."

"The trials of this Nine Heavens Tower represent a qualitative leap at every level. Being able to reach the second level shows that your foundation is very solid."

Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang looked at each other, feeling a bit better.

The three stood by the stone stele, their gazes fixed on the top of the light screen.

Waiting for Lu Jinghan's name to advance further across that chasm.