202: Chapter 201 Trial Tower

He had never expected to discover a qiankun token on the fourth floor of the Qingyun Tower.

Junior Brother Wang pondered for a moment before saying, "Five thousand Spirit Stones!"

As soon as Junior Brother Wang spoke, the crowd shook their heads one after another, expressions of disapproval on their faces. The Cultivators who had gathered around turned and dispersed, returning to their seats; no one paid any more attention to that token.

After all, they didn't recognize the token in Junior Brother Wang's hand at all.

If this token had only cost a few hundred Spirit Stones, they might have bought it.

But five thousand Spirit Stones was simply too expensive.

A token of unknown use was simply not worth spending five thousand Spirit Stones on. Even if the material was special, at most it was an unremarkable plaything, far less practical than Spirit Stones, Cultivation Techniques, or Magical Artifacts.

Watching everyone turn and leave, the excitement on Junior Brother Wang's face instantly faded, replaced by a hint of panic and anxiety.

He had thought this token could fetch a good price, but he hadn't expected the crowd to be so uninterested. At a price of five thousand Spirit Stones, not a single person even asked about it.

He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, wait! The price is negotiable! If five thousand isn't okay, then four thousand! I'll sell it for four thousand Spirit Stones!"

But even though he lowered the price to four thousand Spirit Stones, the Cultivators in the private room remained unmoved. Some didn't even look up, still busy organizing their own treasures or talking in low voices, as if they hadn't heard his shouting at all.

Just as Junior Brother Wang was preparing to put the token away, Hu Nan walked up to him.

Just as he was filled with disappointment, preparing to put the token away and leave dejectedly, Hu Nan slowly walked up to him.

Junior Brother Wang hurriedly asked, "Senior Brother Hu, do you want to take a look at this token?"

Hu Nan nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the qiankun token in Junior Brother Wang's hand. His expression was calm and without the slightest ripple, as if he were looking at an ordinary object.

Seeing Hu Nan nod, Junior Brother Wang was overjoyed. He hurriedly took a step forward and handed the token to Hu Nan, saying, "Senior Brother Hu, please look! I found this token in a Secret Realm. The material is special, but I just don't know its use."

"If you like it, just give me three thousand Spirit Stones and you can take it!" Fearing that Hu Nan would also refuse, he proactively lowered the price to three thousand Spirit Stones before Hu Nan could even speak.

Hu Nan did not hesitate at all. With a wave of his hand, a Storage Pouch appeared in his palm, which he casually handed to Junior Brother Wang.

"There are three thousand Spirit Stones inside. Count them."

Junior Brother Wang hurriedly took the Storage Pouch and opened it impatiently to check.

Inside the pouch, three thousand Spirit Stones were neatly arranged, their moist luster emitting pure Qi.

After confirming the Spirit Stones were correct, Junior Brother Wang's face was full of joy.

He hadn't expected that this token would actually sell for three thousand Spirit Stones.

"Senior Brother Hu, here is the token!" Junior Brother Wang handed the token to Hu Nan.

Hu Nan took the token and turned back to his seat.

Many Cultivators looked at Hu Nan curiously, completely unable to understand why Hu Nan would spend three thousand Spirit Stones to buy a token that didn't seem to have much use.

Half an hour later, the transactions between the Cultivators ended.

Everyone rose one after another and left the place.

...

Flowing Fire Sect.

The Flowing Fire Sect was situated among rolling mountains. The Sect was built against the mountain, its Aura magnificent. Above the mountain gate, the three gilded characters for "Flowing Fire Sect" shone brightly.

As one of the great powers in the cultivation world, there were many Golden Core experts within the Flowing Fire Sect.

Although there was still a year before the Trial Tower opened, many Cultivators had already arrived early, either to scout for details about the Trial Tower or to prepare for next year's trial.

On this day, Hu Nan's figure also appeared outside the Flowing Fire Sect.

Originally, Qin Changsheng wanted Wang Cheng to come here to confirm things, but Wang Cheng had been sent by Manager Ma Yingjie the previous day to a nearby Spirit Stone Mine to act as an overseer.

Controlling Hu Nan, Qin Changsheng walked into a tavern.

"A pot of good wine and two small side dishes." Hu Nan sat at a window seat.

Qin Changsheng also silently summoned the Heavenly Dao Trait - Intelligence. With a thought, he launched a search for the "heavenly dao fragment."

In the next instant, a clear piece of information quietly surfaced on Qin Changsheng's Sea of Consciousness attribute panel.

[heavenly dao fragment: A fragment from a shattered ancient Divine Artifact, can be used to strengthen a Golden Trait]

[Location: Flowing Fire Sect Trial Tower]

Looking at the information on the panel, Qin Changsheng's eyes were full of joy.

He hadn't expected that there would actually be a heavenly dao fragment inside this Trial Tower.

If he could obtain this heavenly dao fragment, he would be able to strengthen another Golden Trait into a Heavenly Dao Trait.

His strength would also receive a significant boost.

"This heavenly dao fragment should be on the ninth floor!" Qin Changsheng already had a suspicion.

At the same time, Qin Changsheng decided to inquire about the rules of the Trial Tower.

This way, Qin Changsheng would have a strategy to deal with it.

Then he could calmly seize this heavenly dao fragment.

After finishing the search for the heavenly dao fragment, Qin Changsheng began to search for spirit condensing dew.

After all, Qin Changsheng was only missing this one material to refine his Lifebound Treasure.

The entire search process took only a moment, and a clear piece of information quietly surfaced on Qin Changsheng's Sea of Consciousness attribute panel.

[spirit condensing dew: Nourishes the prototype of a Magic Treasure and stabilizes its spirituality. It is the core primary material for refining auxiliary-type Lifebound Treasures, allowing the Magic Treasure to perfectly harmonize with the Cultivator's Divine Soul and enhancing the Magic Treasure's power.]

[Holder: Chen Erniu]

[Location: Within the Flowing Fire Sect]

Looking at the data on the attribute panel, Qin Changsheng was also somewhat surprised.

He hadn't expected that Chen Erniu would also come to the Flowing Fire Sect.

"Could Chen Erniu also be here for the Trial Tower?" Qin Changsheng quickly thought of the Trial Tower.

After all, the Flowing Fire Sect's Trial Tower was set to open next year.

At this moment, the waiter brought over a pot of exquisitely packaged spiritual wine and two small side dishes.

"Guest, looking at your expression, could it be that you want to inquire about the rules of the Flowing Fire Sect's Trial Tower?" the shop waiter asked.

"Oh, how much do you know?" Hu Nan looked up at the waiter.

The waiter nodded hurriedly but didn't say another word. He just cast a subtle glance at Hu Nan's Storage Pouch, clearly waiting for Hu Nan to show some appreciation.

Hu Nan naturally understood the waiter's intent. With a wave of his hand, two Spirit Stones appeared in the waiter's hand.

The waiter hurriedly pocketed the Spirit Stones, a smile appearing on his face. "Rest assured, guest. I've been here for over twenty years; I know the rules of the Trial Tower better than anyone."

"This Flowing Fire Sect Trial Tower only opens once every ten years, and each opening only lasts for one month. The next opening is in March of next year. Counting the time, there's less than a year left."

The waiter spoke at a steady pace, afraid of missing key information. "If you want to challenge the Trial Tower, the rules are actually very simple. You just need to pay a registration fee of twenty Spirit Stones at the Flowing Fire Sect's mountain gate to gain the qualification to enter. There are no other extra restrictions. Whether you are a Loose Cultivator or a Sect Disciple, as long as your cultivation is at the Foundation Establishment Stage, you can participate."

Hu Nan nodded slightly, listening calmly, while Qin Changsheng silently noted down this information back in his small courtyard.

The waiter continued in a lowered voice, "As for the tests inside the Trial Tower, there are patterns to follow."

"The Trial Tower has a total of nine floors, each guarded by a Puppet. As long as you defeat the Puppet, you can enter the next floor."

The waiter glanced at Hu Nan and asked, "Guest, what is your cultivation level?"

"first level of Foundation Establishment!" Hu Nan concealed some of his cultivation!

"On the first floor, there is a Puppet with strength equivalent to yours. If your cultivation is at the first level of Foundation Establishment, then it will be a first-level Foundation Establishment Puppet!"

"The second floor is a second-level Foundation Establishment Puppet, with a slight increase in difficulty;"

"The third floor is a third-level Foundation Establishment Puppet!"

"The fourth floor is fourth-level; the fifth floor is fifth-level!"

"The sixth floor is a sixth-level Puppet!"

"The seventh floor is a seventh-level Foundation Establishment Puppet!"

"The eighth floor is an eighth-level Foundation Establishment Puppet!"

"The ninth floor is the hardest; it's a Golden Core Puppet. Defeating it is extremely difficult."

The waiter said it all in one breath and then added, "Guest, that's all I know. It's said that after defeating the Puppet on each floor, you can get rewards like Spirit Stones or Spiritual Plants. The higher you go, the more generous the rewards. However, very few Cultivators can reach the eighth floor; most are eliminated on the fifth or sixth floors."

Hu Nan didn't ask any more questions, simply waving his hand to signal the waiter to withdraw.

Far away in the courtyard, Qin Changsheng began to calculate his chances of passing the nine floors of the Trial Tower.

His current strength was at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment.

Then the first floor would be a seventh-level Foundation Establishment Puppet.

The second floor would be eighth-level, and the third floor would be a ninth-level Foundation Establishment Puppet.

The fourth floor would be tenth-level, and the fifth floor would be First Layer of Golden Core.

The sixth floor, Second Layer of Golden Core; the seventh floor, third level of the golden core.

The eighth floor, Fourth Layer of Golden Core; the ninth floor, seventh-level Golden Core.

Qin Changsheng could defeat the Puppets on the first four floors very easily.

After all, Qin Changsheng possessed two External Incarnations.

With his and his External Incarnations' strength, they could definitely pass the first four floors with ease.

However, starting from the fifth floor, the cultivation of the Puppets in the Trial Tower all entered the Golden Core stage.

Although Qin Changsheng had some strength, it would still be somewhat difficult to defeat Golden Core Cultivators.

Especially the seventh-level Golden Core Puppet on the ninth floor.

"I must forge my Lifebound Treasure!" Qin Changsheng's gaze fell upon the Dragon Abyss Sword in his hand.

Qin Changsheng knew very well that although he had many Golden Traits,

the only way he would have a chance to pass the Trial Tower was by forging his Lifebound Treasure.

With a light wave of his hand, the spirit suppressing pearl appeared in Qin Changsheng's hand.

He just didn't know if this spirit suppressing pearl would have any effect on those Puppets in the Trial Tower.

While Qin Changsheng was pondering, a familiar figure arrived in front of Hu Nan.

When he saw clearly who it was, a hint of surprise appeared in Qin Changsheng's eyes.

Because the newcomer was Chen Erniu.

He hadn't expected that right after using the Heavenly Dao Trait to find that Chen Erniu was in the Flowing Fire Sect, Chen Erniu would appear here in the blink of an eye.

Chen Erniu walked straight to the seat opposite Hu Nan and sat down without any ceremony.

"Brother Hu, what a coincidence?"

"Drinking alone is so boring. Won't you treat me to a few cups?" Chen Erniu looked at Hu Nan with a smile.