Volume One: The Young Demon Lord, Chapter 33: Successfully Clearing the Tower

Outside the Trial Tower, Zhang Wendian paced back and forth, his brow furrowed with anxiety.

"Sigh, Qi Yu is only at the eighth level of the Profound Entry Realm. The combat puppets from the fourth floor onward are already at the Profound Martial Realm. I wonder if he has even made it past the fourth floor yet."

The Tower Guardian laughed, "I have a real-time monitoring formation here. You can see everything that young man is doing inside the tower."

Zhang Wendian’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Follow me," the Guardian replied.

Led by the Guardian, the two entered a private room. The Guardian’s palm began to glow with a magical formation, and soon, an image manifested within it. Just as Zhang Wendian leaned in to get a closer look, the Guardian abruptly deactivated the formation.

"Ten gold coins for one hour of viewing!"

Zhang Wendian: "..."

After paying the coins, the Guardian reactivated the formation. On the screen, Qi Yu stood before a life-sized combat puppet wielding a long sword, with an intricate pattern carved into its chest.

Zhang Wendian took one look and sighed. "Sigh, this puppet is so small; he must still be on the lower three floors!"

However, the Guardian’s pupils contracted sharply. "No, that’s incorrect. Our Trial Tower puppets underwent a refined modification. The higher the floor, the closer the puppet is to human size."

Zhang Wendian asked, puzzled, "Then what floor is he on?"

"The upper three floors!" the Guardian stated with certainty.

Zhang Wendian was stunned. He turned his gaze back to the screen. Qi Yu was already locked in combat with the puppet. They moved with such velocity that they appeared as mere blurs; the air rippled, and sword energy spilled forth periodically.

The Guardian waved his hand, and a miniature virtual tower materialized above his palm. Every single light on the tower was illuminated. The Guardian’s hands began to tremble. "This is... the ninth floor!"

The Guardian was filled with shock and disbelief.

Zhang Wendian was dumbfounded. "What? This is the ninth floor!"

So, when this kid said he was going to clear the Trial Tower, he wasn't just bragging! But how did Qi Yu manage it, given that he was only at the eighth level of the Profound Entry Realm?

The Guardian immediately produced a jade seal and crushed it. Moments later, a vast and powerful aura descended upon the Trial Tower. Those in the square outside the tower recognized the figure who had arrived and were struck with amazement.

"Isn't that the Lord of Canglan City? Why has he come to the Trial Tower in person?"

"Could it be that another genius has successfully cleared the tower?"

"It couldn't be that young genius from the Tiangang Sword Sect, could it? Rumor has it his background is quite extraordinary..."

The crowd buzzed with speculation. Soon, hundreds had gathered, all eager to see who this young genius was, capable of drawing the City Lord himself.

***

Inside the private room, the City Lord watched Qi Yu battling the puppet on the screen and laughed heartily. "Excellent. This is indeed the ninth floor. The ninth-floor puppet perfectly replicates the challenger's strength, which is why there is a replication formation branded on its chest."

***

On the ninth floor of the Trial Tower, Qi Yu was panting heavily. "This is damn cursed. The difficulty of the puppets on this floor jumped off a cliff. Not only their speed and power, but even their sword techniques and momentum are identical to my own!"

The puppet, knowing no fatigue, swung its long sword sharply. Qi Yu’s pupils trembled—he knew that motion all too well. It was the opening stance of the first move of the God-Slaying Sword Technique’s true essence!

A dazzling golden light burst from the tip of the puppet’s blade. It had even mimicked the sword intent!

Qi Yu immediately executed the same move, pouring his spiritual energy madly into his Cold Cicada Sword. Gold light flickered at the tip of his blade!

*Clang!*

Both swords struck simultaneously. Countless sword beams flooded the ninth floor, the overflowing energy slamming into the tower's reinforced walls and leaving deep gouges. Qi Yu felt as if this single strike had drained most of his internal spiritual energy. Yet, the tireless puppet had already begun the opening stance for the second move of the God-Slaying Sword Technique!

*No, if this continues, I'll be exhausted to death!*

Qi Yu frowned, but a moment later, the corner of his lips curled upward. A layer of milky-white spiritual energy began to emerge on the Cold Cicada Sword, and within the golden light at the tip, strands of blood-red radiance appeared.

Inside the Demon God’s Sword Domain, Yaoyao watched this, surprised. "Is this... sword intent?"

Little Yu sighed, shaking her head. "It’s a pity that this is the inherited sword intent of the Sword Sect’s first Sect Master, not Qi Yu's own."

Just before the puppet unleashed its second strike, Qi Yu’s gaze turned cold.

"Swift Sword of the Glancing Swan!"

This strike was instantaneous. In that heartbeat, Qi Yu vanished from where he stood. In an instant, the entire trial arena held only a single, blinding flash of light!

*Swoosh!*

A sword wave several yards long tore through the arena. Simultaneously, the puppet launched its second strike! The identical sword energy was instantly shredded. The puppet attempted to dodge the incoming strike, but it was already within the range of the attack.

*Boom!*

The puppet collapsed into pieces, leaving only the formation on its chest floating in mid-air. Seeing the formation, Yaoyao instantly understood why the puppet on this floor was so formidable.

"It’s a replication formation. It copies all your abilities onto the puppet."

Qi Yu slashed the formation to pieces, gritting his teeth. "No wonder. I was wondering why this puppet fought exactly the same way I do!"

***

Just then, the teleportation array shimmered, and two figures appeared: the City Lord and the Tower Guardian.

The City Lord studied Qi Yu for a moment, feeling a sense of disbelief. He could see at a glance that Qi Yu was only at the eighth level of the Profound Entry Realm. Considering that the fifth-floor puppets were already at the Profound Martial Realm, he found it impossible to fathom how the boy had made it this far.

The Guardian offered a warm smile. "Young friend, I am Yuan Tian, the Guardian of this Trial Tower."

Qi Yu immediately bowed. "Elder Yuan."

Yuan Tian stepped aside as the City Lord approached. "This is the Lord of Canglan City, Huo Guanyang," the Guardian introduced.

Qi Yu bowed again. "City Lord Huo!"

Huo Guanyang nodded, asking with some confusion, "Young friend, why are you dressed this way?"

Qi Yu adjusted his veil. "I do not wish to reveal my true identity."

Huo Guanyang nodded in understanding. Many geniuses without the protection of a great family could not afford to reveal themselves, lest they attract those who would seek to nip such talent in the bud.

"Young friend," the City Lord said, "having cleared the Trial Tower, you are now qualified to challenge the Imperial Genius Rankings. Would you like to try?"

The Imperial Genius Rankings were established by the Great Yan Dynasty. Any cultivator between the ages of ten and twenty-five could compete for a spot. Those on the list were undoubtedly the top cultivation geniuses of their generation. Moreover, while the dynasty did not interfere with their growth, they provided a generous amount of cultivation resources to those on the list every year.

Qi Yu thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Competing for a ranking is still too far off for me, but I will certainly try in the future if given the chance."

Huo Guanyang nodded with satisfaction. Qi Yu was neither arrogant nor impetuous; he possessed a steady temperament, unlike some geniuses who let success go to their heads.

At this moment, Elder Yuan stepped forward, holding a silver bracelet. Qi Yu recognized it immediately: a Storage Bracelet! It was a space-based treasure used for carrying items, and the intricate patterns on the one Elder Yuan held suggested it possessed a significant amount of space.

"Young friend," Elder Yuan said with a smile, "the rewards for clearing the tower are inside this bracelet!"

Qi Yu took the bracelet and put it on. With a touch of his consciousness, he saw that it contained about ten square meters of space, filled with various supplies.

"Young friend," the City Lord added, "according to the rules, now that you have cleared the tower, if you ever need my assistance or require specific cultivation resources, feel free to ask. As long as it is within my authority, I will do my utmost to help!"

Having a genius who could clear the Trial Tower emerge in his jurisdiction was a major achievement—far more valuable than any resource.

"However," Huo Guanyang continued, "you should know that we will not interfere in your growth. If you encounter danger or are hunted by enemies in the future, we will not step in."

The dynasty did not intervene in the development of geniuses; enemies and danger were considered part of the necessary tempering process for such talents.