“What are you doing? It’s the middle of the night—why aren’t you back in your own room sleeping? Why’d you come running to mine?”
Luo Yin pressed a hand to his forehead and asked, a helpless chuckle escaping him.
Ling’er scrambled out from under the covers in a hurry, whispering,
“Young Master, have you grown tired of Ling’er already?”
Luo Yin’s mouth twitched. “What kind of twisted logic is that?”
“Young Master said this morning that the previous maidservant wasn’t warming your bed or cooking for you, so you didn’t want her anymore. Now Ling’er wants to warm Young Master’s bed, but you scolded me. Doesn’t that mean Young Master isn’t satisfied with Ling’er either? That you don’t want Ling’er anymore?”
Her voice was faint as a mosquito’s hum. A misty veil clouded her beautiful eyes, and she bit her lip, not daring to look up.
Her hands fidgeted restlessly, betraying her nerves.
Luo Yin could only chuckle in helpless amusement at her words.
“What are you talking about? I spent good money to buy you—do you think I’d just toss you aside? You think my money grows on trees?”
Ling’er blinked in surprise, lifting her head. Her big, sparkling eyes blinked again as she tilted her head and asked,
“Then why isn’t Young Master happy with Ling’er warming your bed?”
“I’m not unhappy about it. I was just… surprised, that’s all. And what I said this morning? That was just talk. Don’t take it to heart. Whether you warm the bed or not doesn’t matter to me—I won’t force you. Just stick by my side and do your best.”
Luo Yin waved a hand dismissively as he explained.
Hearing this, Ling’er shook her head vigorously and said,
“Ling’er is happy to warm Young Master’s bed. It’s not something you’re forcing on me. Young Master, it’s getting late. Let Ling’er attend to you for the night?”
As her words trailed off, a flush crept across her cheeks.
She watched Luo Yin with a mix of tension and anticipation.
Ever since Luo Yin had bought her, he hadn’t asked her to pour tea or serve water, let alone warm his bed. He’d even given her spirit stones and pills.
It all felt a little too good to be true.
Nothing like the scenarios she’d fantasized about in that dark little room.
It left her uneasy.
She worried that Luo Yin might find her useless and discard her at any moment.
That’s why she wanted to do something for him—anything. Like…
Luo Yin smiled.
“Alright, warming the bed is enough. No need for anything more. Head back to your room.”
Luo Yin decided not to take things further just yet. For one, she was still a bit young. For another, her memories hadn’t returned.
If he went ahead and claimed her now, what if she regained her memories and strength later and held a grudge?
If it was going to happen, it had to be because she truly wanted it—not out of fear that he’d abandon her, forcing her to compromise.
But Ling’er didn’t know any of this. Seeing his refusal, she looked puzzled.
“Young Master… do you not like Ling’er?” she asked timidly.
She considered herself quite attractive, and she’d offered herself up willingly. For Luo Yin to turn her down…
Unable to help himself, Luo Yin reached out and patted her head.
“What are you thinking? What kind of person do you take me for? You think I bought you just for a quick tumble? You think that’s all I care about?”
“Then… then why won’t you let Ling’er serve you tonight?”
“You? You’re still too young!”
…
Ling’er returned to her room, her heart a swirl of sweetness and disappointment.
She sat on the edge of the bed, gazing down at herself.
Too small?
Tomorrow, she’d ask Big Sis Qingchan if there was a spell to make things bigger!
…
The next day.
Luo Yin woke from a sound sleep.
He’d slept deeply last night.
And the bedding smelled nice too!
Today was the day to enter the Profound Heaven Tower.
Early in the morning, the seventeen disciples of Taiyi Holy Land—including Luo Yin—followed Mo Wenlin’s lead to the tower.
Ling Qingxue and Ling’er came along too, though they wouldn’t be going inside. They’d wait outside.
The Profound Heaven Tower stood in the eastern district of Dayan Dynasty’s capital city, not within the imperial palace itself.
By the time the Taiyi Holy Land group arrived, the area was packed with cultivators from various powers.
Some hailed from sects and factions around the Dayan Dynasty and held the qualifications to enter the tower.
Others were just there to watch the show.
Every time the Profound Heaven Tower opened, it drew massive crowds.
Even if you couldn’t go in yourself, seeing the treasures and fortunes the participants hauled out was a feast for the eyes.
So before the tower had even officially opened, the onlookers were buzzing with chatter.
“Who do you think will go the highest this year?”
“Seventh floor, maybe? Over all these years, the record’s only eighth—and even that’s just a handful of people.”
“Seventh’s still impressive. Remember those folks who hit seventh last year? Every one of them snagged a Heaven-Human Grade Technique! And one lucky bastard got Chaos Azure Qi on top of that—jumped a whole major realm!”
“Too bad no one’s ever reached the ninth. Wonder what it’s like up there. What kind of opportunities are waiting?”
“…”
Ninth floor…
Luo Yin frowned slightly as he listened to the crowd.
The ninth floor was the hot topic—no one had ever made it there.
And according to his Divination Turtle Shell, the best way to resolve the Heavenly Demon Sect threat was to reach the Profound Heaven Tower’s ninth floor.
He’d thought it wouldn’t be too tough.
Now it looked like there might be some real pressure.
He glanced subtly at Su Chen.
Normally, in stories like this, the protagonist would shatter an unbreakable record.
But after simulating Su Chen’s life, Luo Yin knew he wouldn’t. The guy only reached the eighth floor.
Still, that was no small feat.
And the opportunities he gained were substantial.
“These are your Tower Entry Tokens. Once you’re inside the Profound Heaven Tower, stay sharp. The early floors aren’t too dangerous, but the higher you go, the deadlier it gets! Do your best, but if your strength is on the lower side, clear the first three floors and get out. Just crush the token to exit voluntarily.”
Everyone nodded.
“Taiyi Holy Land! Luo Yin! You’re all dead meat soon, and you don’t even have a shred of urgency?”
A hostile voice cut in from nearby.
Turning, the group spotted several Heavenly Demon Sect members standing there, arms crossed, smirks on their faces.
Yan Tianhong wasn’t with them—probably still recovering from his injuries.
Outraged by their arrogance, the Taiyi Holy Land disciples glared daggers. Mo Wenlin stepped forward.
“The Profound Heaven Tower is about to open. We don’t want trouble with you all. Please, behave yourselves.”
The Heavenly Demon Sect’s lead Elder snorted.
“Behave ourselves? Hmph! Fine! This old man has no patience to waste words on you anyway. In a few days, I’ll come calling myself—to take your dog life.”
With that, he led his group away.
Mo Wenlin shook his head and beckoned his disciples, guiding them to the base of the tower.
Ji Tianqing, emperor of the Dayan Dynasty, sat atop the high platform in his dragon robe, exuding majestic authority as he overlooked the crowd below.
Once everyone was in place, he waved a hand grandly.
“Profound Heaven Tower—open!”
Word manifests as law.
In the instant his voice rang out, the tower erupted in brilliant radiance. A humming buzz filled the air as the entire structure shimmered with countless rays of splendor.
Moments later, beams of light shot from within, enveloping the cultivators holding tokens at the tower’s entrance.
Luo Yin felt the token in his hand grow hot and glow, vibrating faintly.
Then, darkness swallowed his vision!
Every cultivator gripping a token vanished, teleported inside.
The Profound Heaven Tower dimmed once more—save for the first floor, which still blazed with light.
Someone was inside on the first floor.
But not even five breaths later, the tower let out a “pfft,” and three figures tumbled out, crashing heavily to the ground.
The crowd stared in stunned silence.
What the hell?
Someone couldn’t handle it right at the start?
No—this looked more like the tower had rejected them and spat them out.
Even Ji Tianqing looked taken aback. This had never happened before!
Who were those three?
Mo Wenlin eyed them, blinked, then realization dawned. He burst into gleeful laughter.
“Hahahaha! Heavenly Demon Sect! Even the Profound Heaven Tower despises you! Hahaha!”
Sure enough, the trio were Heavenly Demon Sect disciples!
One moment they’d been teleported in, eyes going dark; the next, before they could even make out their surroundings, darkness hit again. Their bodies flew backward.
And out they went…
The Heavenly Demon Sect’s lead Elder turned livid, apoplectic with rage. He bellowed,
“What happened?! What the hell is going on?! Are you screwing over my Heavenly Demon Sect?! Why are only our disciples getting kicked out? Why?!”
His outburst sent murmurs rippling through the onlookers.
Ji Tianqing frowned and snorted coldly. His voice boomed with imperial authority.
“Heavenly Demon Sect? Zhen recalls that among the sects qualified to enter the Profound Heaven Tower… yours isn’t one of them.”
