Chapter 37 – Competition to Reach The Top
The opening of the Tower of Tempered Will in the Outer Sect was a momentous event, matched with a palpable surge of anticipation and reverence. Since it was normally reserved for the Inner Sect, every Outer Sect Disciple knew that they needed to make the most of this opportunity.
The Tower itself stood prominently at the heart of the Outer Sect, in a central courtyard near the Training Hall. It was a majestic, tiered building that rose nine stories into the sky and was crafted from gleaming jade and sturdy redwood.
Each of its floors featured expansive, open windows that allowed a flood of spiritual energy to pour in, and the entire structure shimmered in the sunlight.
Elder Mu herself had placed it there, the spiritual artifact descending from the sky and landing gently on the paving stones. The Core Formation Elder’s abilities stunned the watching crowd, and a new rush of motivation swept through them.
Tens of thousands of Outer Sect Disciples stood in front of the Tower, their faces a mixture of eager determination and quiet respect. Hundreds of Outer Sect Elders gathered nearby to observe and direct the crowd; their expressions were solemn and proud, but they were secretly as excited as the Disciples.
Next to the Tower was a large, ornate board that stood prominent. It would be here that the names and rankings of the Disciples would be shown.
It had been a staple in the Inner Sect, a tool to motivate and judge the Disciples, with their performance ranked by how long they spent inside, the highest floor they reached, and their overall performance.
The board was both a challenge for the Disciples to overcome and an inspiration to fuel the ambitions of everyone who entered.
Unnoticed by anyone except for Elder Mu and the Inner Sect Elders, the artifact spirit of the Tower could be faintly seen within the Tower. Its consciousness extended into every corner of the Tower, and it would oversee the Disciple's trials and ensure that the challenge proceeded fairly and safely.
It was through this artifact spirit that the Disciples would be ranked.
The Tower would remain in the Outer Sect for several years, giving everyone ample opportunity to test their limits, earn rewards and draw the attention of the Elders.
Mei Lian stood gracefully amid the crowd; her presence was captivating for many of the male Disciples surrounding her. Her black hair was neatly braided, and her delicate and pretty features were becoming more graceful and beautiful with each breakthrough in her cultivation.
Standing next to her was Lin Yue and her beauty was enhanced by her large, expressive eyes that held curiosity and warmth. Her cheeks were gradually losing their roundness due to her intense training, and she had gained a more delicate and refined appearance.
There was a subtle, soothing aroma of herbs and medicine around her that marked her growing skill with Pill Refinement, and her dark hair was held up in two buns tied with blue ribbons that matched the colours of her Disciple robes.
Close to the Tower, Ren Qiu stood with some of the other more prominent Outer Sect Disciples. He stood out with his handsome features, the small smirk on his face, and his confident attitude that matched his status as the Young Master of the Ren Clan.
Ren Qiu held his folding fan in his right hand, and the spiritual artifact would slap gently against his left palm occasionally as he waited for his turn. His posture was relaxed, but there was a trace of impatience and nervousness if someone looked closely enough.
His gaze would occasionally peruse through the crowd as he searched for someone, but his eyes would return to the Tower with a flicker of disappointment as he didn’t find who he was looking for.
Ren Qiu wasn’t the only person searching the crowd, and there was a notable absence in the crowd that sent a murmur of whispers through them.
Where was Jun De?
Whispers rippled through the gathered crowd like a wind through tall grass. Disciples stood in clusters within the courtyard, murmuring about the Tower of Tempered Will and speculating on what waited for them inside.
“I heard each floor tests something different: mind, spirit, even your regrets.” Someone said in hushed awe.
“One of the Elders said that no one in the Inner Sect has reached the Seventh Floor in the last decade.” Another replied.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
“They confirmed that the first two Floors are combat-related.” A third Disciple said as she walked over from one of the other groups, where details of the Tower’s interior were being shared by an Outer Sect Disciple who had a contact within the Inner Sect.
“The Elders wanted the Tower to come to the Outer Sect; they are seeking to hone our combat skills.”
“No problem! I’ve been slaying beasts in the Outer Valley for the past few weeks!” One of the Disciples bragged, and the conversation descended into more boasting about their chances inside.
Among the Outer Sect Disciples, another topic surged as time passed and the Tower neared opening.
“Where is Jun De?” A young woman asked as she craned their neck toward the front of the crowd in an attempt to find the handsome young man. She had no doubt that Jun De would stand out amongst them and would be easy to find.
There hadn’t been many opportunities to see Jun De, and she was hoping to have a chance to see if he was as handsome as she had heard he was.
“He’s probably still holed up cultivating again. He hasn’t taken any of the new tasks since he got back from the Inheritance Site.” Her companion said, shaking his head in response to her question.
“Jun De wants to reach the top of the Tower in a single try. I think he can do it!” Another young woman said, interjecting herself into the conversation.
“Hah! Or maybe he’s scared. He won’t look so special when we all get to see how far he really gets in the Tower.” The young man responded. He was frustrated that Jun De was still getting all the attention.
Jun De’s prolonged absence from the courtyard only fueled the rumours, and as the sun crept up into the sky, reaching its zenith, there was still no sign of him.
When it was midday, there was a loud thrum, and the doors at the Tower’s base opened on their own, sliding apart to reveal a glowing threshold of spiritual mist. The crowd stirred at the sight.
Elder Shen stepped forward, and his voice easily carried over those gathered in the courtyard.
“Each of you will face the Tower alone. Once inside, your consciousness will be transported to an individual trial space. The challenges will reflect your own strength and your own will. There is no danger to your life, but do not treat it lightly.” Elder Shen warned.
A pulse of excitement surged through the crowd, and no further encouragement was needed to spur them to action.
The moment Elder Shen stepped back, Disciples surged forward in waves. Hundreds rushed into the Tower, hungry to test themselves, while many waited to observe what would happen to the first group and how far they would go.
It was a good thing they had waited because only a few moments after the first wave vanished through the threshold, a brilliant flash of multicoloured Qi erupted from the windows of the first floor.
Dozens of Disciples shot out, flung through the opening like falling stars. They crashed to the courtyard in painfilled heaps. They were all battered and bruised, with some unconscious and others groaning loudly in pain.
There was a stunned silence for a breath of time before whispers exploded.
“They were all kicked out!”
“Already?”
“They didn’t even last a minute!”
“It’s shadows.” One of the battered Disciples managed to say, his voice hushed and exhausted.
“You have to fight a dozen shadows, and every one of them matches your cultivation level!”
Gasps followed, and the tone of the crowd shifted. Disciples hesitated at the threshold, glancing at one another while weighing their chances.
After another brief moment, more Disciples were thrown out of the Tower. Until, finally, of the hundreds that had entered, none remained inside.
“The 1st Floor. None of them made it past the 1st Floor!”
The Outer Sect Elders, who had been watching the courtyard with satisfaction, now had sombre expressions. They had thought their Disciples had improved, but the Tower showed just how far they still had to go.
“Perhaps the difficulty should be adjusted.” Elder Hua suggested, but Elder Shen shook his head at the idea.
“No. They may have to fight a dozen shadows of similar cultivation to their own, but their foes lack proper techniques and coordination. With adequate training and resolve, anyone can overcome the 1st Floor. There is nothing within the Tower that cannot be conquered through perseverance.” Elder Shen replied with confidence.
“Even the upper floors?” Elder Hua questioned, her brow furrowed as she watched another Disciple get flung from the Tower’s first floor and land heavily onto the ground.
Elder Shen folded his hands behind his back and paused for a long moment.
“Anyone who can pass the 5th Floor is already considered truly exceptional.” He replied slowly.
“The 7th would make them a dragon amongst mortals.”
A hush fell over the nearby Elders at his words.
“Only one person has reached the 9th Floor in the past three decades. Vice Sect Master Mu did so when she was still a Qi Condensation cultivator of the Inner Sect.”
Elder Hua’s eyes flicked to the Tower, now glowing with an even stronger radiance as more Disciples mustered their resolve to enter.
“Let us see if any amongst them have the qualifications to follow in her footsteps.” She said, although her tone was heavy with doubt.
“I believe there is only one amongst the Outer Sect with the required potential. Jun De’s training should soon be complete.” Elder Shen said.
Deep beneath the Nine-Treasure Pagoda, Jun De lay on the cold stone floor. His body was covered in sweat, and he was so exhausted that he couldn’t move. The spiritual energy continued to assault him in waves, bashing against him and forcing its way through his meridians and into his Dantian.
Empty pill bottles rolled across the stone ground, the porcelain letting out a ringing noise as they gently bumped into the walls.
“Please…make it stop! I’ll do anything! I’ll enter the Tower, just make it stop! I love the Sect; I won’t say a bad word about it ever again! I won’t start a harem! I’ll be celibate; is that what you want?!” Jun De whispered in despair, but the array kept operating until, blessedly, the light flowing through it began to fade.
Jun De watched in amazement as the doors slowly opened.
“I’m free!” Jun De whispered, and joy coursed through him so strongly that he began to cry tears of happiness.
“I’m free! Oh, thank you! I’ll do anything you want!” Jun De murmured, his voice hoarse from shouting.
Unable to walk, Jun De managed to crawl his way out of the chamber before passing out.
