In the Central Province Realm.
Atop a barren, uninhabited hill stood a dilapidated Daoist temple.
The temple was small, consisting of just two rooms: one that enshrined memorial tablets and another for resting.
A pool of water lay in the temple courtyard, its waters somewhat mystical as faint golden light continually wafted from within.
Though the courtyard appeared utterly deserted, it brimmed with vibrant life force.
This was none other than the Heavenly Dao Academy!
Unlike other sects and powers, the Heavenly Dao Academy boasted no sprawling complex of buildings, no thousands of prodigious disciples, and no mighty sect elders.
It was nothing more than an ordinary—indeed, somewhat rundown—Daoist temple.
And within that temple, there was forever only one person: the Daoist Nun.
Yet despite this, no power dared to provoke the Heavenly Dao Academy.
The last faction that had done so possessed five Sealing King Realm experts and three Void God Realm powerhouses. In the Central Province Realm, it had counted as a considerable force.
But it hadn’t endured even a single night before the Daoist Nun annihilated it.
No one knew the Daoist Nun’s strength, nor how long she had lived.
However, an ancient ancestor of the Heavenly Maiden Palace had once awakened from slumber to warn her descendants.
Even before she had entered the Heavenly Maiden Palace, the Daoist Nun had already been a legend. The palace’s former Immortal Emperor had cultivated for far fewer years than she had.
Ji Tianqing’s divine soul arrived at the Heavenly Dao Academy, only to discover that the Daoist Nun was in seclusion!
No matter how he shouted in the courtyard, he couldn’t summon her.
His divine soul couldn’t linger for long, so he had no choice but to leave behind a strand of divine soul information. Once the Daoist Nun emerged from seclusion, she would learn of the matter concerning the Profound Heaven Tower.
In the Northern Spirit Realm.
Within the Dayan Dynasty.
After a thorough investigation, Ji Wuba had made no progress whatsoever.
The deaths of those guarding the array were exceedingly strange; there was no telling what method had killed them.
And while the array in Dragon Derivation Pavilion’s secret chamber had indeed self-destructed, it had left not a single clue behind.
“Father Emperor, how did it go with the Daoist Nun?”
Ji Wuba sought out Ji Tianqing. Seeing the poor expression on Ji Tianqing’s face, he asked cautiously.
Ji Tianqing shook his head.
“The Daoist Nun is in seclusion. I left a strand of divine soul information behind; she’ll see it once she emerges. But I don’t know when that will be.”
Ji Wuba sighed as well.
Ji Tianqing looked at him and asked, “Among those who entered the Profound Heaven Tower this time, how many princes were there?”
Ji Wuba answered honestly. “The Third Prince, the Fourth Prince, and the Eighth Prince are all inside. Oh, and a few of our uncles’ sons as well.”
Ji Tianqing’s brow furrowed. “The Third Prince? What is he doing in there? He’s never shown interest in such matters before. And he still hasn’t come out?”
“Ah! You’re right—it does seem that way!”
Ji Wuba had noticed the anomaly too.
“Normally, the Third Prince never pays any mind to cultivation matters. Last time the Profound Heaven Tower opened, he refused to go even when asked. This time, it seems he insisted on entering himself. And his strength isn’t even that great! By rights, he might not be able to break through even the first three layers’ arrays, yet here he is, still inside.”
Ji Tianqing’s expression shifted. “Has the Third Prince acted strangely at all lately?”
Ji Wuba thought for a moment and shook his head. “Nothing out of the ordinary, Father Emperor. Even if it is the Third Prince, there’s nothing we can do right now! The Profound Heaven Tower only lets people out, not in—we can’t enter to investigate. All we can do is wait for the Daoist Nun.”
“Sigh~”
Ji Tianqing let out a heavy sigh, rubbed his temples, and waved his hand. “Enough. Keep investigating this matter—find out as much as you can. If the Daoist Nun takes issue with it when she emerges, Zhen shall bear the blame alone.”
“Father Emperor…”
“That’s enough. No more words—go!”
Ji Tianqing cut him off, closing his eyes slightly as he waved him away.
Ji Wuba nodded helplessly and withdrew.
…
Inside the Profound Heaven Tower.
Luo Yin and the Third Prince were the first to reach the sixth layer, with Su Chen close behind.
Luo Yin inwardly marveled. Not bad for a Child of Destiny—if not for his own interference, this man probably would have been the fastest.
Oh, and this monster too.
He glanced at the Third Prince.
Clearing the fifth layer had yielded not a cultivation art, but a 7th Grade Boundary Breaking Pill!
It could instantly propel one through four minor realms, with no side effects.
Though it could only be used once.
Ever since absorbing the Spirit Vein Essence Soul last time, Luo Yin’s cultivation had reached the Divine Palace Realm 3rd Layer. After cultivating diligently in the interim, he had advanced two more layers.
Now, upon consuming this pill, his cultivation reached the Divine Palace Realm 9th Layer exactly.
Once he found time for secluded cultivation, he could break through to the Divine Ability Realm.
And conveniently, after this business with the Profound Heaven Tower concluded, he would enter seclusion in the holy land—and also condense his True Fate.
The pill dissolved in his stomach, and his cultivation rose smoothly.
Without the slightest hindrance.
Luo Yin then looked ahead.
He saw that Su Chen and the Third Prince had already advanced some distance.
This layer imposed the pressure of the Void God Realm. Luo Yin circulated the Daoyan Demonic Canon and the Indestructible Golden Body Art to their limits, yet even so, every step was grueling.
No wonder so few ever reached the seventh or eighth layer each time the Profound Heaven Tower opened.
This layer alone eliminated droves of cultivators.
Even Su Chen, bearer of the Prison Suppressing Divine Body, wasn’t finding it easy at the moment.
Outside the Profound Heaven Tower.
A fair number of people had already been eliminated by now, but most weren’t disheartened.
On the contrary, they were thrilled.
After all, they had obtained no small opportunities.
The spectating cultivators watched as the sixth layer of the Profound Heaven Tower lit up. They couldn’t help but click their tongues in amazement.
“Tsk tsk tsk, these little ones this time around have some real strength! In just half a day, someone’s reached the sixth layer!”
“The sixth layer isn’t so easy to pass! Plenty of prodigies in the past have been knocked back from here.”
“Making it to the sixth layer is impressive enough. Even if they can’t pass it, sitting and comprehending for a bit will still net them some fortune.”
“I’m not hoping for much—just that someone makes it to the eighth layer this time. The ninth is probably unrealistic.”
“The eighth layer’s tough too! The seventh is the shadow challenge. Whether in strength, cultivation, or techniques, that shadow matches the challenger exactly.”
“No, no—you forgetting? That shadow can only manifest techniques up to and including Heaven-Human Level. Anything above that, it can’t copy, so it’s not exactly the same.”
“Heh! You don’t seriously think these kids have Creation Level techniques, do you? What a joke. Even Heavenly Demon Sect or Fuyao Holy Land probably don’t have any. And even if they did, they wouldn’t just hand them out for cultivation! Let alone these smaller sects.”
“You’re right!”
