Xiao Xing mentioned some things about the Jiuxian Immortal and Elder Dong as well. It turned out they were martial siblings, with Elder Dong harboring adoration for the Jiuxian Immortal all along. But the Jiuxian Immortal, being carefree in nature and unwilling to be bound by emotions, eventually left the Star Sect to wander the outside world.
Xiao Xing, gentle in character and somewhat beautiful in appearance, quickly hit it off with Yingzi and Lu Xing, and the three girls agreed to stroll around the Sect together.
Lin Mo, on the other hand, sat alone inside a bamboo house, resting and cultivating.
He now had to learn more about the Cultivation Sects on Earth and then find out about the disappearance of the Miao Xue Divine Palace to bring Xia Mengdie out from there.
…
Inside the Council Hall.
Three elders and several True Disciples had all arrived and sat together.
"Brother, how could the Sect Leader choose to pass the leadership to an outsider, and to a young man at that?" Qiu Xingjian asked with a frown.
"I can't understand it either, but although the Sect Leader has an odd character, he is a Cultivation prodigy. If he made this decision, he must have his reasons," Cheng Ying said slowly.
"Could it be that he's the private son of the Sect Leader?" A youth standing behind Qiu Xingjian suddenly spoke up, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt it was wrong and quickly covered his mouth, looking nervous.
"Hmph, that old fellow can't even sort out love affairs; how could he have women outside?" Elder Dong snorted coldly, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied.
"What about Lin Mo's matter? Are we really going to let him become the Sect Leader, even though he's not from our Star Sect? Yet, if we don't agree, it would be defying the intentions of the Sect Leader," Qiu Xingjian said, troubled.
"Master, Uncle-Master, I do have a suggestion," the youth standing behind Qiu Xingjian said.
He was Qiu Xingjian's True Disciple, named Wang Pengcheng.
"Hmm, what do you suggest?" Qiu Xingjian asked, looking at him.
"Master, Uncle-Master, if we really make him the Sect Leader, I think many brothers and sisters would disagree. After all, it's not his turn. If he truly wants to be the Sect Leader, then he must pass a test. That way, we would not be going against the Uncle-Sect Leader's wishes, and it would also satisfy everyone," Wang Pengcheng proposed.
"What kind of test?" Cheng Ying asked, interested.
"If he can reach the top of the 'Starry Sky Tower,' then let him be the Sect Leader," Wang Pengcheng said, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
The three elders were simultaneously taken aback. The so-called Starry Sky Tower was the tall tower to the southeast of the Sect, with a total of nineteen floors. Each floor exerted a certain degree of pressure, and the second floor was ten times stronger than the first, and so on, growing increasingly more arduous the higher one went.
Even Elder Cheng Ying, the strongest among the three elders, could only climb to the Tenth Floor. "It's too much to ask for him to reach the nineteenth floor. If he can get to the Tenth Floor, then we'll give him the position of Sect Leader," Cheng Ying decided.
In no time, word of Lin Mo's and Lu Xing's and Yingzi's arrival had spread throughout the entire Star Palace Sect. The Star Palace Sect wasn't large, with around thirty-four people, plus some Outer Disciples from the mundane world, totaling no more than fifty people.
Moreover, the matter of Lin Mo assuming the position of Sect Leader was significant for Star Palace, and the news spread like wildfire throughout the entire Sect. Every disciple received the news; as long as Lin Mo could successfully challenge the Tenth Floor of the Starry Sky Tower, he would be able to assume the position of Sect Leader of Star Palace.
"Xiao Xing, come here," Wang Pengcheng waved her over.
"Uh, Brother Wang, Brother Xiao," Xiao Xing approached them and respectfully greeted.
Apart from Wang Pengcheng, there was another youth of a similar age standing beside him, with long black hair, wearing a blue robe, and an air of an expert about him.
This young man was Cheng Ying's True Disciple, named Xiao Haiyang, also the most talented and strongest junior disciple within the Star Sect.
"What has Lin Mo been up to these past few days?" Wang Pengcheng asked with a smile.
Xiao Xing blinked, "He hasn't been up to much, just meditating there all day and hasn't been walking around."
"He knew he had to challenge the Starry Sky Tower, yet he doesn't seem nervous or prepared?" Wang Pengcheng asked, frowning.
"He doesn't seem nervous at all. He just asked about the Starry Sky Tower," Xiao Xing spoke up.
"Good, then it's none of your business now. Off you go."
After Xiao Xing left, Wang Pengcheng finally turned to the young man beside him and said, "Brother Xiao, that guy really overestimates himself. He actually wants to become the Sect Leader. Among us in the Star Sect, you have the greatest strength. You've only reached the Seventh Layer. Beyond that, only Elder Cheng Ying can reach the Tenth Floor. If we were to choose a Young Master, you would be the only suitable one."
Xiao Haiyang gave a slight humph, "I think he won't even make it to the second layer before he has to come down. There's nothing worth inquiring about. I think I'll go back to the rear mountain to practice, so I'm not disturbed by them again."
A day later, practically everyone from the Star Sect was gathered around the Starry Sky Tower, including nearly all three elders.
The Starry Sky Tower had a total of nineteen layers, each about four meters in height, adding up to a height of over 70 meters. If not for the Array concealing it from outside the Star Palace, common folk could have spotted this tower from a great distance.
"Lin, this is the Starry Sky Tower. I've already told you last time. Each layer you climb, the pressure around you will increase tenfold. If you can't bear it, remember to exit quickly," Cheng Ying began.
Lin Mo nodded, "I'm aware. Can we begin now?"
A group of disciples watched Lin Mo. Because of Lin Mo's young age and the fact that he was an outsider, now that he was about to assume the role of Sect Leader, all these factors combined suddenly drew a lot of attention from many disciples.
However, for the past three days, Lin Mo had been staying inside the bamboo house, and apart from Xiao Xing, not many people had seen Lin Mo.
"Eh, isn't that the new Brother Lin? He looks about my age. Can he be the Sect Leader?"
"He's quite handsome, but he doesn't seem very strong."
"How many layers do you think he can climb?"
"I think at most two. Even Brother Xiao could only step into the Seventh Layer. Could he be more formidable than Brother Xiao?"
When Brother Xiao was mentioned, the eyes of many female disciples began to sparkle with admiration.
Wang Pengcheng and Xiao Haiyang stood aside with expressionless faces, giving off a cool demeanor.
After all, as True Disciples, their status was higher than that of ordinary disciples, and it wouldn't be fitting for them to join in the conversation with everyone else.
"Master, be careful when you go in," Yingzi advised.
"Rest assured, do you still doubt my abilities?" Lin Mo said as he headed towards the inside of the tower.
Lu Xing and Yingzi stood waiting outside.
Elders Cheng Ying, Qiu Xingjian, and Dong Xiangyun also watched him in silence.
"Elder Cheng, how far do you think he can go?" Qiu Xingjian stroked his beard and asked.
"The person Sect Leader has his eye on must not be an ordinary youngster. I suppose he should be able to reach the Fifth Layer," said Cheng Ying slowly, his eyes narrowed with a flash of sharpness.
"I think it will be more. At least above the Tenth Floor," said Elder Dong, slowly assisted by Xiao Xing.
At these words, the faces of the other two elders showed some shock. The Tenth Floor was the limit even for Cheng Ying, who held the highest strength in the Star Sect. What abilities did Lin Mo possess to reach the Tenth Floor?
But at this moment, Lin Mo had already entered the first level of the Starry Sky Tower. As he walked in, he felt as though he'd passed through an invisible gate, with ripples emanating from the doorway, which then quickly calmed down.
As soon as he entered the tower, an inexplicable pressure suddenly surged from all directions. Yet, for Lin Mo, this invisible pressure felt like a wind blowing through him, presenting no pressure at all.