Ji Tianqing’s voice rang out, and the crowd gradually quieted down. Everyone turned to look at the few Heavenly Demon Sect members standing in front of the Profound Heaven Tower.
An eunuch approached Ji Tianqing’s side and whispered, “Reporting to Your Majesty, there is indeed no Heavenly Demon Sect on the list. The Heavenly Demon Sect isn’t adjacent to our Dayan Dynasty—it’s quite far away, and they lack the qualifications. A few days ago, their sect master forced Taiyi Holy Land to obtain the qualifications from them.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Tianqing fixed his gaze on the Heavenly Demon Sect Elder and demanded sternly, “Heavenly Demon Sect, you’ve broken the rules! Do you even realize that!?”
The Heavenly Demon Sect Elder laughed in anger. “Rules? What rules? This Profound Heaven Tower was right here before your Dayan Dynasty was even founded! There were no such rules back then! Why should only the forces bordering your Dayan Dynasty be allowed in now!?”
His words sparked murmurs among the onlookers, many of whom seemed dissatisfied.
The Dayan Dynasty had been established relatively early. Before its founding, anyone from any force could enter the Profound Heaven Tower. It had opened far more frequently too.
Of course, the opportunities inside hadn’t been as plentiful back then.
But at least forces beyond the Dayan Dynasty’s borders had been able to enter. The rules the dynasty had since imposed had stirred resentment in plenty of people.
Ji Tianqing listened to the growing clamor below, his brows knitting tightly. The pressure of his Marquis Realm cultivation swept outward as he bellowed, “All of you, shut your mouths for Zhen!!”
The crowd fell instantly silent.
“Are you all just going to keep yammering like that? The rules weren’t set by our Dayan Dynasty! They were set by the Heavenly Dao Academy in the Central Province Realm! If you’ve got the guts, go demand justice from the Heavenly Dao Academy!”
Ji Tianqing swept his gaze over the people below. No one spoke.
Ji Tianqing’s own strength was merely at the Marquis Realm, and the Dayan Dynasty didn’t even have a single Sealing King Realm powerhouse.
But with the Heavenly Dao Academy backing them, even the Heavenly Demon Sect didn’t dare provoke them.
Ji Tianqing then turned to the Heavenly Demon Sect Elder. “As for you lot forcibly seizing qualifications and entering the Profound Heaven Tower, Zhen will report the matter to the Daoist Nun afterward. She will decide your fate.”
The Heavenly Demon Sect Elder’s pupils contracted slightly, a flicker of wariness crossing his eyes.
The Daoist Nun.
He had never laid eyes on her, but he had heard the tales.
Her strength was unfathomable—no one knew her cultivation realm—but she had single-handedly wiped out a super sect boasting five Sealing King Realm experts and three Void God Realm powerhouses!
Terrifying!
The Heavenly Demon Sect Elder knew full well that if the Daoist Nun decided to come after them, his entire sect wouldn’t last a flick of her finger.
In the end, he had no choice but to back down. “This was our Heavenly Demon Sect’s mistake. I apologize here and now to Taiyi Holy Land and everyone from the Dayan Dynasty. We’ll take our leave.”
He shot Mo Wenlin a deep, lingering glance and sneered, “But Elder Mo, things between Taiyi Holy Land and the Heavenly Demon Sect aren’t finished. Once our sect master emerges from seclusion, I expect you’ll hand over Luo Yin and Liu Qingchan!”
With a grand wave of his hand, he scooped up the Heavenly Demon Sect disciples from the ground and stormed off.
Mo Wenlin watched his retreating back and sighed, his expression dazed.
The others paid little mind to the exchange. They had no idea who this Luo Yin or Liu Qingchan even were.
What they cared about far more was the situation inside the Profound Heaven Tower.
“Third layer! Someone’s already reached the third layer! And it’s only been this long?”
Someone suddenly pointed at the Profound Heaven Tower and shouted.
By now, three layers of the tower were glowing, which meant someone had made it to the third.
The crowd was stunned.
In the brief time they’d spent talking—barely half a stick of incense—someone had already reached the third layer?
“It’s Young Master! It has to be Young Master!”
Ling’er cheered and bounced with excitement. She might not understand the details, but in her heart, Luo Yin was the greatest.
Ling Qingxue shot her an amused, exasperated look. Deep down, though, she suspected the same.
Ji Tianqing narrowed his eyes, as if trying to peer through the Profound Heaven Tower and see who had reached the third layer. Unfortunately, he couldn’t.
Inside the Profound Heaven Tower.
Third layer.
Luo Yin had been the first to arrive.
But mere breaths after he entered, Su Chen, Liu Qingchan, and several other prodigies from various sects followed one after another.
Even the Third Prince he’d run into the day before trailed close behind.
None of them knew the others’ locations, though.
The Profound Heaven Tower was divided into three major sections: the lower three layers, the middle three, and the upper three.
Passing each section worked differently.
Take the lower three layers, for instance.
Each had a formation. Break it within the time limit, and you advanced.
One formation per person, placing each in their own isolated space where they couldn’t see the others.
The first two layers’ formations weren’t tough, though. Luo Yin hadn’t even bothered hunting for the eyes—he’d simply swung his sword and shattered them.
Since those layers were easy, so were the rewards: a Profound Grade Technique from the first and a Spirit Grade Technique from the second.
A Spirit Grade Technique was decent for some, but Luo Yin didn’t spare them a glance. He tossed both straight into his Storage Ring.
He had no interest in such trifles. His goal was the Profound Heaven Tower’s ninth layer!
Now, standing amid the third layer’s formation, Luo Yin realized its grade was significantly higher than the previous two.
And it was a trapping formation at that!
He could brute-force it with attacks, but that would drain his stamina and spiritual power. Better to find the eye.
Luo Yin began scrutinizing the formation’s structure.
A Five Elements Formation.
These were common enough—most formation tiers featured them to some degree.
True to the name, they used metal, wood, water, fire, and earth as bases. The eyes depended on the formation’s purpose.
Take the Five Elements Heaven-Scorching Formation: its eyes were fire-attribute bases.
Luo Yin mulled it over.
A defensive formation like this was likely tied to earth.
Sure enough, he quickly spotted a boulder. Shattering it caused the entire formation to crumble.
The eye hadn’t been hidden, which made it straightforward—probably to keep the third layer accessible.
The formation shattered, and an Immortal Grade Technique, wrapped in a globe of light, drifted slowly toward Luo Yin.
He glanced at it before stowing it in his Storage Ring.
A sword technique—one he could actually use.
Then he stepped into the passage to the fourth layer.
“Oh? You? Didn’t expect you’d get here so fast. You’ve got some real skill.”
No sooner had Luo Yin arrived on the fourth layer than a voice addressed him.
He turned toward it and saw the Third Prince.
As expected, he was no simpleton.
The fourth layer didn’t involve formations.
Everyone shared the same space here.
And right now, the Third Prince was alone—which meant he’d been first.
Luo Yin narrowed his eyes and sneered. “Rumor has it the Third Prince’s a lazy good-for-nothing. Looks like that’s just talk.”
The Third Prince neither confirmed nor denied it, shrugging instead. “Rumor also has it Taiyi Holy Land’s top young talent is Huang Shijie. This prince begs to differ.”
Luo Yin looked away and cut to the chase. “So how do we pass this layer? Beat you?”
The Third Prince chuckled and shook his head. “Hardly. No fighting allowed inside the Profound Heaven Tower. This one’s simple—see that line? Just walk past it.”
He pointed ahead to a white line.
Luo Yin blinked. “That simple?”
The Third Prince laughed. “Simple, you say? Then go ahead and try.”
Luo Yin shot him a glance and stepped forward. His pupils dilated.
Boom!
A weight like a thousand jun crashed down on him, making every breath a struggle. Puzzled, he looked to the Third Prince.
The Third Prince explained, “This layer carries a Marquis Realm expert’s pressure. Endure it to the finish line, and you’re through to the next. Can’t hack it? Sit, meditate, and comprehend. Rewards scale with your insight.”
Got it.
A smile flickered in Luo Yin’s eyes. Just Marquis Realm pressure? He’d be slower, but that was all.
He circulated the Indestructible Golden Body Art. A faint golden glow bathed his body, and the strain eased.
The Third Prince eyed him in surprise, clearly caught off guard by the technique.
A demonic red glint flashed in his eyes. The corner of his mouth curved in a eerie smile as he thought to himself:
Looks like we’ve got one more candidate for the ninth layer!
