On the seventh floor of the testing tower, four more shichens passed...
Phew!!!
"Finally, I can gather enough energy to produce thirty-five Heavenly Core Pillars. It's a pity the Heaven Energy on this floor is starting to run out. Otherwise, the thirty-sixth pillar could have been built!" Zheng-Fu sighed deeply, filled with regret. If the energy on this floor hadn't been nearly exhausted, and if ti weren't running out, his thirty-sixth pillar would have been within reach.
"Kid, just being able to create this many Heavenly Core Pillars in such a short ti is remarkable! You should know that normal cultivators can't achieve this kind of progress so quickly," said an elder from the Heavenly Flora Garden, his voice tinged with envy seeing the increase in energy by leaps and bounds. Even the most talented geniuses from the Primordial Deity Era couldn't match Zheng-Fu's accomplishnts. The elder mused that if the testing ti hadn't been so short, Zheng-Fu might have created fifty Heavenly Core Pillars before leaving for the main world.
"This still isn't enough," Zheng-Fu said firmly. "Even though I'm the strongest in this small world, when I enter the main world, I'll be no more than an ant in their eyes. I need to be much stronger than this—no matter how little ti I have left!" Zheng-Fu was well aware that his current power level was not enough to ensure his survival. He needed to beco even stronger than this...
"You're absolutely right. With this energy level, you'd barely qualify as an ant in the main world. Especially being from a small world, you'll be dismissed as worthless. Cultivators from small worlds are always looked down upon by those in the main world." The elder's voice carried the weight of truth. Even though Zheng-Fu was far stronger than the people in his current world, he would be nothing more than a speck of dust in the main world, where Divine Emperor and Divine King stage cultivators were commonplace.
"There are still nearly two shichen left. I'll make the most of this precious ti!" Zheng-Fu said resolutely. Realizing he'd wasted enough ti talking to the elder, he closed his eyes and resud absorbing the energy of the seventh floor.
Wooooosh!!!
Over the seven days of testing, more than a hundred participants had died. So failed to absorb the tower's dense energy, while others couldn't stabilize their energy during breakthroughs, resulting in devastating explosions in their energy realms. Those who maintained control survived, and even if they didn't pass the test, they left with gains they could build on for the future. They could co again next ti, as long as they could preserve their lives. Others, however, t their end due to infighting—fighting to steal each other's magical treasures.
Two more shichens passed...
Wooooooosh!!!
Suddenly, an unexpected event occurred: everyone inside the tower was teleported out without warning. However, the destinations varied. Only those on the sixth floor remained in the test area; the rest were sent back to their points of origin.
Outside the tower in the test area...
"What… what just happened?"
"Why are we out here? Did the test ti end?"
"Where did everyone else go?"
Questions erupted among the participants who had been teleported out, including the talkative young man from the Cult of Birdy Holy Fiery Heaven, the junior disciple of the Primordial Winter Mountain Peak Sect, and Diao from the Monster Tribe.
Ahem!!!
Huh!!?
Elder Wan-Shi coughed lightly to grab the attention of the group and explained the reason why other participants were nowhere to be seen and why only they were here, "You don't need to wonder why the others disappeared. Those who failed the test have been sent back to where they ca from. As for you, you've passed the test and are allowed to stay!"
"We passed the test? Did you just say we passed?" exclaid a young man from the Cult of Birdy Holy Fiery Heaven, his face breaking into a wide grin.
"That's correct, kids. All sixteen of you have passed the test!" Elder Wan-Shi confird, announcing the number of successful participants to everyone present.
"Sixteen people? Isn't it fifteen? Why sixteen when on the sixth floor, there are only…? Ah! Or could it be…!!?" The young man's confusion turned to realization mid-sentence. At that mont, the other fifteen cultivators who passed also ca to the sa conclusion—the sixteenth person had been on the seventh floor.
Everyone imdiately began scanning their surroundings, searching for the sixteenth individual. Even the normally composed sectmaster of the Primordial Winter Mountain Peak Sect couldn't resist the urge to look. The only one who didn't search was the Demon Emperor. He already knew who the person was, having previously encountered and spoken with him, so why should he waste ti looking for him? anwhile, the brothers Diao and Den eagerly speculated whether the sixteenth person was Zheng-Fu.
"Big Brother Diao, help find him! I want to know if he's Big Brother Zheng-Fu!" Diao called out as he searched frantically throughout the area but still could not find the person who was not on the sixth floor.
"You should address him as Royal Son-in-law! He's no longer just 'Big Brother' that you can call by na. If you don't want trouble, you'd better show proper respect and refer to him as 'Royal Son-in-law.'" Den couldn't help but shake his head because of his younger brother. If he wasn't there to keep an eye on him, and his brother ended up saying the wrong thing to the wrong person, it would undoubtedly cause trouble. If it were soone weaker, it might still be manageable. But if it were soone stronger, his brother might not escape death—or perhaps even be left crippled...
"You can call that, I don't mind. Besides, I'm not cruel enough to kill soone over such a trivial matter!" At that mont, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
Huh!?
When they turned toward the source of the voice, their expressions instantly changed. Both of them broke into wide smiles, for the person they saw was the very one they had been looking for.
"Big Brother Zheng-Fu!"
"Royal Son-in-law!"
The two young n shouted in unison, each addressing him differently. Yet, regardless of how they called him, both nas referred to the sa person—Zheng-Fu.
"I didn't expect the two of you to participate in this test. It's more than I anticipated. However, you've done well to pass the test!" Zheng-Fu greeted them warmly, genuinely impressed by their achievent.
"It's all because of you, Big Brother! Without your help, we wouldn't have made it this far. By now, we'd probably be dead in so ancient ruins!" Diao exclaid. Although pleased with Zheng-Fu's praise, he remained humble and acknowledged who was truly behind their success.
"It's not just my help—it's fate and destiny. And most importantly, it's your own diligence and perseverance. Without that, you wouldn't have co this far!" Zheng-Fu responded. Even he couldn't believe that what had started as a ruse to use the brothers to help find Fu-Er had resulted in such a remarkable outco. They had exceeded his expectations.
As Zheng-Fu conversed with Diao and Den, all eyes turned toward him. When the crowd saw who he was, many thoughts and questions began to arise.
"Is it him? The one who made it to the seventh floor?" the junior sister of the Primordial Winter Mountain Peak Sect asked, clearly shocked. Zheng-Fu appeared much younger than she had imagined.
"I never thought that soone capable of reaching the seventh floor would be this young. And why is he so familiar with those young n from the Monster Tribe?" wondered the talkative young man from the Cult of Birdy Holy Fiery Heaven. His tone and expression, however, were the total opposite of the young woman.
"Huh! His energy level is only at the initial Divine King stage. How could he possibly reach the seventh floor?" another young man remarked disdainfully after sensing Zheng-Fu's energy level.
"You think he's weak? I suggest you both reconsider. While we can sense his energy level only at the initial Divine King stage, I suspect he's hiding his true strength. Don't underestimate him!" warned their senior from the Cult of Birdy Holy Fiery Heaven. He could feel an unusual aura emanating from Zheng-Fu, which served as a clear warning to avoid provoking him.
"We understand, Senior!"
The two young n accepted the advice outwardly, though deep inside, they couldn't help but question whether their senior brother's assessnt was correct.
By now, Zheng-Fu had beco the center of attention. His youth and unfamiliar face intrigued everyone, as if he were a masterpiece on display.
"All right! Now that all of you have passed the test administered by the six of us, you have three days to say goodbye to your family and loved ones. After three days, the dinsional gate to this area will open again. If anyone fails to return on that day, it will be considered a withdrawal!" Elder Wan-Shi announced, informing everyone of the schedule and rules.
Originally, the elder had planned to give them seven days of rest and preparation before their departure. However, an issue had arisen with the bridge between the two worlds, reducing the junction's open period to only four days. As a precaution, Elder Wan-Shi allocated three days for farewells, keeping one extra day in reserve to accommodate any unforeseen circumstances.
"Three days!!?"
Zheng-Fu frowned in displeasure upon hearing the shortened tiline. Three days felt far too short for him to bid farewell to his wife, return to say goodbye to his parents, and et with others in the Holy Ancient Region. How could he possibly accomplish all that in just three days? Four days might have been manageable, but three was simply not enough.
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