News of Hong Yu's duel with Guo Fei, set for the Sect Promotion Tournant in six months, swept through the entire Outer Sect like a raging storm.
Guo Fei was also a genuine Celestial Pride Son. Although he was in the Outer Sect, in the eyes of many, his status was in no way inferior to that of the Inner Sect Disciples.
In fact, quite a few people secretly admired Guo Fei.
Ever since he was defeated in a challenge and demoted to the Outer Sect several years ago, Guo Fei's desire for strength had reached an almost pathological level. He had even sworn an oath not to enter the Inner Sect unless he could directly rank within its top one hundred.
And judging by his current strength, he was already capable of vying for a position as a True Disciple!
One could only imagine how powerful he was.
"Who do you think will win in the end, Hong Yu or Guo Fei?"
"It's got to be Guo Fei! He's a total badass who can compete for a True Disciple position. I bet that in six months, Senior Brother Guo will already be a Late Stage Earth Soul Realm Powerhouse. How could Hong Yu possibly be his opponent?"
"You can't be so sure. Hong Yu is only at the Half-Step Earth Soul Realm. If he breaks through to the Earth Soul Realm in the next six months, he might still have a fighting chance!"
"My friend, are you still asleep? Why are you daydreaming in broad daylight? Even if Hong Yu breaks through to the Earth Soul Realm, he'd be no match for Senior Brother Guo at the Late-stage Earth Soul Realm. Don't forget, Senior Brother Guo has cultivated the `Thunder Body` and the `Thunderbolt Nine Strikes` Martial Skills, giving him the ability to fight opponents above his level."
"But Hong Yu is also a genius who can fight above his level!"
"So what if he's a genius? Haven't you seen he's only at the Half-Step Earth Soul Realm? How many geniuses get stuck at the Peak of Essence Realm and die full of regret?"
Nearly every Outer Sect Disciple was discussing the matter.
anwhile...
Atop Cyan Cliff Peak, inside a magnificent hall.
Guo Fei's brow furrowed slightly. He looked down at the pale-faced Shi Tao and asked coolly, "Are you saying you were defeated by Hong Yu when you entered the Eight Desolates Mansion, and you missed your chance at the Primordial Core Realm powerhouse's cavern?"
"Yes!"
Shi Tao gritted his teeth and nodded.
His expression was savage, as if recalling the humiliation of being so easily defeated by Hong Yu that day. He slowly raised his head to look at Guo Fei. "Senior Brother Guo, you must avenge ."
"Rest assured, even if you hadn't said anything, I would have made that arrogant brat pay the price. Hmph, to dare break my brother's arms and legs... he's simply courting death."
Guo Fei nodded indifferently, then changed the subject. "However, for that kid to be able to exchange dozens of blows with Hong Renjie, his strength is nothing to scoff at. You should recuperate well for the next few months and strive for another breakthrough. Three months from now, at the Outer Sect ranking competition, you must secure a spot for the promotion tournant in six months."
"Yes!" Shi Tao replied.
After Shi Tao left, Guo Fei slowly stood up. Arcs of brilliant electricity crackled around his body. He muttered to himself, his voice laced with the faint sound of thunder, "My `Thunder Body` is about to reach the Realm of Perfection. Then I can break through to the Late-stage Earth Soul Realm, or even leap straight to the Peak Realm. At that point, forget a re Hong Yu. I'll even be confident enough to challenge the likes of Hong Renjie and Feng Xue Xin!"
"But before I challenge them..."
Guo Fei's Body Technique activated, and he moved toward the rear hall, leaving a trail of blinding electric light in his wake.
The mont his figure vanished, the tables and chairs behind him exploded with a series of loud BANGS. His indifferent, icy voice echoed through the empty hall: "Hong Yu, oh, Hong Yu... Savor these last few months of your life!"
...
"What? Brother Hong, you actually accepted Guo Fei's challenge?"
Liu Liyun, who had recovered so of his injuries with the help of a Rejuvenation Pill, stared with exaggeratedly wide eyes. If he weren't wrapped in bandages and unable to move, he would have surely jumped to his feet.
Gao Zijie also looked guilty. "I'm sorry, Brother Hong. It's all our fault for dragging you into this!"
"You two have so little faith in , huh?" Hong Yu rubbed his nose, looking a little helpless.
'Aren't brothers supposed to support you unconditionally?'
'Why are these two cowards so lacking in confidence when it cos to ?'
"Brother Hong, oh, Brother Hong, that Guo Fei is number one on the Earth List! How could you be so irrational?" Liu Liyun cried out, heartbroken.
Gao Zijie nodded in agreent.
Hong Yu was thoroughly exasperated. "It's already been decided, so don't worry about it anymore. The most important thing now is to recover from your injuries. I can't get any Tier Two Healing Spirit Pills for now, but I'll naturally help you with the refining after I break through to the Earth Soul Realm. For now, just make do with the Rejuvenation Pills!"
"Okay..."
The two, filled with worry, hung their heads.
The three of them chatted for a little while longer before Hong Yu stood up to leave. "You two get so rest. I'm heading out!"
"Alright!"
The two woeful brothers, wrapped up like mummies, looked at each other helplessly.
Only after Hong Yu left did Liu Liyun rember sothing. He asked doubtfully, "Old Gao, what was Brother Hong just saying? Did he say he would refine Tier Two Spiritual Pills for us after he breaks through to the Earth Soul Realm?"
"I... I think that's what he said."
The two stared at each other blankly. After a long mont, they both exclaid in unison...
"Holy crap! His Martial Dao combat power is already so heaven-defying, and he's also a Spiritual Craftsman? He's a Demon Fiend..."
...
After leaving Cyan Cliff Peak, Hong Yu followed the directions on his Sect's Sword Order.
His destination was the Cyan Nether Sword Tower.
Cyan Cliff Peak was so distance from the Cyan Nether Sword Tower. Even at Hong Yu's pace, he estimated it would take more than half an hour.
As it turned out, Hong Yu regretted it...
He discovered that every Sword Sect disciple who saw him would point and whisper, saying things like "he's overestimating himself," "he's just asking for humiliation," or "pride cos before a fall."
"..."
Hong Yu felt particularly helpless. He rubbed his nose and picked up his pace.
What should have been a half-hour journey took him only ten minutes.
Gazing at the massive Cyan Nether Sword Tower ahead, Hong Yu couldn't help but narrow his eyes. 'So this is the Sword Sect's number one Cultivation Holy Land, the Cyan Nether Sword Tower? I heard there's a Sword Tower in the Inner Sect as well. I wonder if it's the sa as this one.'
The Cyan Nether Sword Tower had six layers in total. From the First to the Sixth Layer, the cultivation effect increased by one to six tis, respectively.
However, each layer required a hefty price in points.
Fortunately, after his trip to the Eight Desolates Mansion, Hong Yu had amassed a considerable number of points—enough for him to splurge for a while on the third layer and below.
There was no shortage of Sword Sect disciples coming and going from the Cyan Nether Sword Tower.
Hong Yu's arrival naturally caused quite a stir. After all, he was a new disciple who had successively beaten Chen Xing, crippled the Earth List expert Guo Tao, and even arranged a six-month duel with the number one on the Earth List, Guo Fei. Such feats were enough to beco the stuff of legend, passed around among the disciples.
"Look, that's Hong Yu!"
"He's pretty handso, but does he think the promotion tournant is a beauty contest? A re Half-Step Earth Soul Realm daring to challenge Senior Brother Guo... he's really courting death."
"Well, he's here at the Cyan Nether Sword Tower, isn't he? He's probably thinking of breaking through to the Earth Soul Realm as quickly as possible!"
Looking at the Sword Sect disciples who wouldn't stop pointing and whispering, Hong Yu silently rubbed his nose. 'Not a single one of these people thinks I have a chance of winning!'
He certainly wasn't going to get angry over it. Ignoring the crowd's mockery and scorn, he strode toward the Cyan Nether Sword Tower with wide, confident steps.
There were no sect disciples standing guard inside the Sword Tower.
One only needed to enter the desired layer and use their Sword Order to open a corresponding Cultivation Quiet Chamber.
"This one will do."
Hong Yu casually chose Quiet Chamber number twenty-two. His Sword Order opened the chamber's main door, and he stepped inside.
Many of the Sword Sect disciples active on the Third Layer were stunned by the sight...
"Holy crap, who is this guy? He's got so serious balls to dare enter that room."
"Hahaha, that's Hong Yu. I heard he's a really arrogant guy. That Quiet Chamber is used by *that* person, who's always been domineering and never allows anyone else to use it. There's going to be a good show to watch when Hong Yu cos out next ti!"
"Quick, tell everyone! Get ready for a good show!"
Hong Yu, who had already entered the Cultivation Quiet Chamber, was naturally unaware of what was happening outside.
The mont he entered the Cultivation Quiet Chamber, he imdiately felt that the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the surrounding air had reached an astonishingly dense level—a full three tis that of the outside world!
'No wonder the Cyan Nether Sword Tower is the Sword Sect's Cultivation Holy Land. Cultivating here can really increase one's training speed by a lot.'
Hong Yu nodded, stroking his chin and muttering, "I heard the Sixth Layer provides a full six-fold cultivation bonus. I wonder how this Cyan Nether Sword Tower was even built!"
Taking a light breath, Hong Yu found the stone bed and sat down cross-legged.
He recalled his experiences since joining the Sword Sect and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
'I've offended quite a few people within the Sword Sect now. In the short term, there's Guo Fei and his group. Long term, there are those guys from the Heaven and Earth Alliance. Each of these opponents is more ruthless and powerful than the last!'
Hong Yu rubbed his brow, feeling a little helpless.
He had no intention of provoking anyone, but trouble just seed to keep finding him. What could he do?
'It's been almost two months since I ca to the Sword Sect. There are still nine months left until the one-year mark. I must reach my goal as soon as possible. Fortunately, the Sect Promotion Tournant is in six months, which is the best opportunity to beco a True Disciple. However, none of the people vying for that position are weak...'
He paused, then continued his thoughts, 'Once I participate in the promotion tournant, I'll inevitably co into contact with the Sect's upper echelon. Right now, the top priority is to break through to the Earth Soul Realm and let the Star River Spirit Bone fully rge with my body!'
Hong Yu scratched the back of his head. As his gaze flickered, he once again sorted out the tasks he had to complete next.
First, break through to the Earth Soul Realm as soon as possible, allowing the Star River Spirit Bone to fuse completely and eliminating the risk of it being exposed.
Second, once he broke through, he needed to find a sufficiently powerful backer as quickly as possible, so the Four Kings would no longer dare to act against him so unscrupulously, buying him enough ti to cultivate.
Third, beco a True Disciple and find Master Zhu to treat Yun ngyao!
After organizing his thoughts, Hong Yu sat cross-legged and began to cultivate.
As Hong Yu circulated his Profound Skill, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi throughout the Quiet Chamber began to slowly shift.
At first, faint streams of light flowed as the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathered into hair-thin streams of energy that slowly poured into his body. However, when Hong Yu began to circulate the `Nine Refinents of the Primordial Spirit` and the Seven Great Vortices in his Lower Dantian started spinning in unison, a strange change suddenly occurred within Quiet Chamber number twenty-two on the Third Layer.
And...
This change began to cover an increasingly large area, seemingly on the verge of sweeping through the entire Cyan Nether Sword Tower...
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