“He doesn’t care about worldly rules,” someone said. “Everything he does depends on his mood. If he’s in a good mood, he might save an ordinary person. If he’s not, even the Holy Son of an imperial lineage isn’t safe from his blade.”
“Is he really that strong?” someone nearby asked.
The first man paused in silence for a few seconds.
Finally, he looked up at the horizon and said quietly, “In the Ninelands Region, two sword cultivators are recognized as the strongest of the younger generation. One is Sword God Ling Tian, his sword is brutally overbearing. He never sheathes it until it draws blood. The other is Xiao Mo. Rumor has it that in battle, he only needs to shout ‘Sword, come’, and his blade will pierce through endless space and descend from a distant shore. No one has seen his sword… because everyone who has is already dead. So, is he strong? Even Nanmen Tianhong shows him respect.”
“How does he compare to Xiang Kunlun?” asked a man from Skyluan Region, clearly not convinced.
“I’ve heard of Xiang Kunlun’s fame too. They’ve never fought, so who can say? But I still put my money on Xiao Mo,” the man replied with a smile.
As the crowd discussed, Demon Thirteen approached slowly in the Night Terror carriage.
When it stopped outside Boundless Tower, Xu Zimo stepped down.
Seeing him, many in the crowd looked puzzled.
“Who’s that?”
“No idea. Probably a prodigy from another region.”
“Well, if he’s here at Boundless Tower, he must be someone.”
The buzz quickly faded though, compared to the earlier arrivals, Xu Zimo’s entrance didn’t cause much of a stir.
Xu Zimo walked toward the tower.
At the door, two guards blocked his path.
One smiled politely and said, “Forgive me for not recognizing you, sir. But Boundless Tower has been reserved today by our Holy Son. Only true prodigies may enter.”
Xu Zimo didn’t answer. Demon Thirteen, standing beside him, frowned slightly.
With a slight wave of his hand, Infernal Force swirled in the air, and both guards were lifted into the air, helpless.
“My young master’s name needs your approval?” Demon Thirteen said coldly. “Is there any place in this world he can’t go?”
The two guards flailed in the air, unable to respond.
Just then, a cold voice came from the side.
“What a bunch of nobodies. Do you even know where you are, and you dare cause trouble?”
Xu Zimo turned his head to see a blue-robed young man walking over.
Before Xu Zimo could ask, the crowd began whispering.
“That’s Shen Panshi, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, even if he’s not as famous as the others, his sect, Boulder Sect, is first-class. He’s trained his Immovable Mountain Technique to the seventh layer. Even an Imperial Meridian cultivator would struggle to harm him.”
“Kid, do you know where you are?” Shen Panshi said mockingly. “If you don’t have what it takes, don’t come stirring things up.”
Xu Zimo casually waved a hand, signaling Demon Thirteen to let the guards go.
They dropped to the ground, gasping for air, shaken and pale.
“You dare cause trouble at Boundless Tower?” one guard shouted angrily.
“What are the qualifications to enter your tower?” Xu Zimo asked with a smile.
“Our Holy Son gave clear instructions, either you’re well-known or strong enough,” one guard replied.
“What about him?” Xu Zimo pointed to Shen Panshi, still smiling.
“Of course,” the guard replied. “Young Master Shen is the Holy Son of Boulder Sect. Maybe not a top-tier prodigy, but well known in Supreme Tower.”
Hearing this, Shen Panshi snorted proudly.
Xu Zimo nodded slightly, then suddenly struck with his palm.
The powerful palm descended like a storm. Shen Panshi cried out in shock.
“Coward! You only know how to sneak attack!”
He dodged aside, then stood firm, lowering into a horse stance.
His limbs locked into a powerful posture, and earthy yellow spiritual energy surrounded him.
He clasped his hands together, raising them high above his head.
His stance resembled a mighty mountain, his legs rooted deep into the ground, his aura merging with the earth.
As if his entire body had become part of the land itself.
“Immovable Mountain?” Xu Zimo chuckled.
Then his palm fell again, space around it twisted and cracked under the pressure.
The palm didn’t seem too flashy, but the oppressive force it brought was overwhelming, even before it landed.
As it fell, Shen Panshi’s clothes began to rip under the pressure.
Meridians bulged from his forehead, blood vessels popped across his skin.
His spiritual energy boiled inside like scalding water.
His eyes bulged wide, looking like they were about to explode.
Then, the world flickered.
BOOM!
Shen Panshi’s body exploded.
Blood and flesh flew everywhere.
And the terrifying part? Xu Zimo’s palm hadn’t even fully descended, there were still several meters of space between them.
Turning his head, Xu Zimo wiped his hand and smiled.
“Can I go in now?” he asked the stunned guard.
“Y-Yes… of course,” the guard stammered, frozen.
Xu Zimo shook his head lightly and entered Boundless Tower with Demon Thirteen.
…
Boundless Tower had thirteen floors, and Nanmen Tianhong had reserved the entire building.
From the first to the thirteenth floor, it was all being used to host the gathering of young prodigies.
The lower floors were quieter, most of the real elites had gone up to the thirteenth floor.
That was where the true gathering was happening.
As Xu Zimo stepped inside, the first floor glowed with golden light, filled with jewels and luxury.
He didn’t care for such a lavish atmosphere.
He ascended the stairs, crafted from South Heaven Wood, and engraved with the words ‘Ascending Cloud Steps’.
After winding through the steps, he arrived on the second floor.
It was much more elegant and refined.
At the center lay a clear lake, filled with blooming lotuses and swimming fish.
Around the lake were numerous pavilions, built to encircle the water.
Gentle breezes blew through the open-air structures.
“Let’s sit here for a bit,” Xu Zimo said.
“You’re not going to the thirteenth floor, young master?” Demon Thirteen asked curiously.
“No point right now,” Xu Zimo laughed. “I don’t know any of the so-called prodigies from the Ninelands Region anyway.”