Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 370: The One-star Tower Revisited

The Dragon Star, located at the heart of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect's headquarters, resembled a scene from a fantastical painting. It boasted numerous grand mansions, each installed with meticulous and strict privacy measures.

On the Dragon Star, mortals and immortal cultivators coexisted. However, mortals and low-level immortal cultivators only resided within the various mansions.

Each mansion was owned by an individual of extremely high status – an immortal of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect. They were the pillars of the sect.

Deep within one of the grandiose mansions sprawled a long mountain range. Beneath a cascading waterfall nestled a pavilion.

Two figures lounged on ornate chairs, delicately sipping tea.

"Xing Jiu, now that you've completed your assignment of watching over the treasure land, it's time for you to relax and unwind," remarked a man clad in gleaming silver armor, his frame lean, with two azure horns protruding from his brow like those of a dragon.

"Guarding the treasure land was my time to relax," responded Xing Jiu, draped in a pristine white robe, his presence exuding a majestic and otherworldly charisma.

"Qing Yu, I came to pay you a visit so we could reminisce about the good old days," chuckled Xing Jiu. "In the future, our paths may diverge, and meeting up again may prove difficult."

"Oh? And why is that?" the silver-armored man asked, a perplexed expression clouding his features.

"I am embarking on a journey to the Blood Mountain Plane," Xing Jiu stated lightly. "This trip may take a thousand years or even tens of thousands of years. Separated by numerous spacetimes, I might be beyond the range of the Silvermist Immortal Realm, making communication a challenge."

"The Blood Mountain Plane? That’s a place where even hell devils show up, where powerhouses from the Immortal Court and eldritches clash. It’s a bloody and cruel battlefield!" the man in silver armor exclaimed. "Is this a field trial of your own choosing, or?"

"I chose it willingly," Xing Jiu replied with a faint smile, lifting his tea cup to his lips and savoring its flavor.

The silver-armored man stood dumbfounded, before shaking his head. "I salute your courage!"

"The Dragonbone Ancient Realm you ventured into years ago is no less perilous than the Blood Mountain Plane," Xing Jiu commented with a smile. "I recall it vividly. Back then I was just an Amethyst Cradle cultivator, while you already were a Divided Soul Earth Immortal."

Earth Immortal Qing Yu had cultivated for a far longer length of time than him.

"The two cannot be compared. There was a reason I had to visit the Dragonbone Ancient Realm no matter what," stated Earth Immortal Qing Yu, shaking his head.

"But the Blood Mountain Plane is a different beast altogether, steeped in savagery and bloodshed. Your talent is exceptional, Xing Jiu, and you have yet to reach your full potential. The High Immortals did not coerce you either; there is no need for you to subject yourself to such a cruel place."

"Cruel?" Earth Immortal Xing Jiu smiled wryly.

"You are as stubborn as ever!" Earth Immortal Qing Yu shook his head.

When Xing Jiu first joined the sect, his brilliance and character earned him the favor and appreciation of Earth Immortal Qing Yu, who then went on to guide him. In time, both had become mentors and friends to one another.

However, Qing Yu no longer attempted to dissuade him. Those who could ascend to the level of Divided Soul Earth Immortal were individuals of exceptional determination and resolve, not easily swayed.

"Then I wish you success and a safe return," Earth Immortal Qing Yu raised his tea cup in a toast, a smile playing on his lips. "If your determination holds true, perhaps in ten thousand years, our sect will boast one more High Immortal, and you’ll enjoy a lifespan of a million years."

"High Immortal?" Earth Immortal Xing Jiu clinked his cup with Qing Yu's, a slight smile on his face. His aspirations were clear.

Though both were addressed as immortals, the gap between a Divided Soul Earth Immortal and a Tribulation High Immortal was vast, whether in terms of status or strength.

“Hm?” Suddenly, Earth Immortal Qing Yu raised an eyebrow as if struck by some news.

"What is it?" Earth Immortal Xing Jiu asked casually.

"Since I’ve been bored in the sect recently, I decided to take on the task of overseeing the Dragon Star Immortal Realm," Earth Immortal Qing Yu said with a smile. "My main area of responsibility is the Seven Star Luminaries Tower."

Earth Immortal Xing Jiu nodded slightly.

Apart from the major issues that had to go through the abbot and the veteran elder High Immortals, the Earth Immortals handled most matters within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.

"A hereditary disciple named Li Xia recently joined the sect. He has been identified as a rare talent to be invested in," Earth Immortal Qing Yu continued. "He rarely visits the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, but I’ve gotten word that he is preparing to challenge the Seven Star Luminaries Tower."

"This will be his first attempt at the tower since joining the sect eight years ago."

Surprise flickered in Xing Jiu's eyes. "Li Xia? The one who rejected all challenges from other hereditary disciples?"

"Are you familiar with him?" Earth Immortal Qing Yu seemed taken aback.

Earth Immortal Xing Jiu nodded. How could he not be aware?

Their encounter at the Star Origin Soil had left a lasting impression on him. But as the matter concerned the Great Eldritch's inheritance, the abbot decreed that the news was not to be leaked. The three Earth Immortals present that day naturally did not defy his orders.

"This Li Xia is certainly mysterious," noted Earth Immortal Qing Yu, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "He has never revealed his abilities in the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, yet the High Immortals took notice of him soon after he entered the sect."

"I heard he completed level forty of the one-star tower in one go. I wonder how far he will go this time."

"Perhaps he will give us a pleasant surprise," Earth Immortal Xing Jiu chimed in with a chuckle.

"A pleasant surprise? I pray it doesn’t turn out to be a dreadful shock," Earth Immortal Qing Yu replied, shaking his head in concern.

Xing Jiu merely laughed in response.

Observing his companion's demeanor, Earth Immortal Qing Yu's expression grew more somber as he voiced his doubts. "Xing Jiu, from your expression, I’m guessing you have some insider information?"

With an air of feigned mystery, Earth Immortal Xing Jiu replied, "He has only just begun to challenge the seven-star tower. Why don't we go see for ourselves?"

"Very well," Earth Immortal Qing Yu agreed. "We have the time to spare, after all."

The two each sent a strand of consciousness into the Dragon Star Immortal Realm.

At their level, their souls were powerful enough to split into tens of thousands of strands of consciousnesses at any time.

...

Besides the three major cities, numerous unique voidrealm spaces also existed within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, such as the True Dragon Arena and the Seven Towers World.

The Seven Towers World was a boundless space sprinkled with countless twinkling stars. Here, seven majestic towers lined up in a row.

Clothed in black robes, Wu Yuan gazed out at the towers in the distance.

I would never have guessed that a Seven Towers World also exists within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm. Wu Yuan mused to himself. According to the introduction, all data received by the Seven Star Luminaries Tower in the Dragon Star Immortal Realm is seamlessly updated in the Redmoon Immortal Realm.

In other words, any record broken within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm would be reflected in the Seven Towers World of the Redmoon Immortal Realm.

It appears the Seven Towers World isn’t as simple as I thought. Wu Yuan pondered. It is able to bridge different voidrealms.

Furthermore, all factions regardless of size respect it as a form of assessment and encourage their disciples to challenge it.

It was both mysterious and unique.

Eight years prior, I had to strain myself to conquer level 40. In a flash, Wu Yuan flew toward the one-star tower.

Let’s see which level I’ll be able to conquer today!

Wu Yuan went straight into the one-star tower.

...

In the Seven Towers World, one's standing was not determined by their cultivation level, but by their age. The age of those who entered the tower was automatically detected.

The moment Wu Yuan entered the one-star tower, he was instantly brought to level forty-one, bypassing the lower levels he had already conquered.

Record.

Above the endless sea of clouds and mist, Wu Yuan turned to a faintly illusory light screen, scanning the words displayed.

One-star tower record:

Silvermist Immortal Nation's highest record: Level 81

Redmoon Immortal Continent's highest record: Level 76

Immortal Continent's past 100-million-year record: Level 68

Immortal Continent's past million-year record: Level 67

Immortal Continent's past 10,000-year record: Level 61

Dragon Star Immortal Sect's highest record: Level 71

Dragon Star Immortal Sect's current record: Level 52

The record within the Dragon Star Immortal Realm has two additional lines compared to the Redmoon Immortal Realm. Wu Yuan pondered.

However, the current record is far lower than the other records above.

Wu Yuan understood the reason for this. The so-called current record referred to the best performance among disciples under the age of one hundred in the one-star tower.

Those who can conquer level sixty are an extremely rare breed even throughout the Immortal Continent, true peerless prodigies. It may take ages for a single one to emerge. Passing level fifty is already no small feat.

Conquering level forty was enough for Wu Yuan to secure a place as a hereditary disciple in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.

It was worth noting that for smaller sects, their hereditary disciples in the Amethyst Cradle phase might never have the ability to surpass level fifty of the one-star tower even with thousands of years of cultivation.

While I may not be able to break the records above, I can strive to beat the current record of the sect. Fighting spirit surged within Wu Yuan.

After eight years of silence, it was time to show some prowess.

With a step, he flew toward the guardian a hundred li away.