"Elder Ping, what's Xiao Qin's background?" everyone asked Elder Ping, their curiosity piqued.
"Her? She's from Baiyao Hall, one of the Seven Sects. She's a... an alchemist, I suppose," Elder Ping said, uncertainty coloring his tone. After all, he hadn't personally witnessed Xiao Man's abilities. But to contend with a Nascent Soul elder while only in the Golden Core stage, the sheer audacity was unmatched. Moreover, she was as cunning as a sieve, having completely captivated their young sect leader!
"Alchemists are that formidable?"
"I get it! Young Sect Leader must be fighting at the front, and Xiao Qin is healing him and replenishing his energy from behind. With their combined efforts, they might actually reach the tenth level within twelve hours!"
"I think with this offensive, they'll reach the tenth level in less than twelve hours, breaking the old sect leader's record. From now on, that record will belong to the young sect leader!"
"No, Xiao Qin too!"
"Right, Xiao Qin too!" The crowd cheered. While they weren't surprised that Yue Ran, as the young sect leader, would ascend to the tenth level, it was particularly exhilarating that a mere handyman disciple could reach the tenth level through her own merit. "One day, our names will also appear on this Purgatory Stele!"
The area before the Purgatory Stele was packed.
Elder Ping sat at the forefront, his expression a mixture of surprise and shock as he watched the numbers on the Purgatory Stele change. He knew Yue Ran's weaknesses clearly, but Xiao Man's strengths remained unknown to him!
Yet, based on the continuously changing numbers on the Purgatory Stele, he understood that Xiao Man perfectly complemented Yue Ran's shortcomings. Together, these two were practically invincible!
"No wonder the young sect leader looked down on everyone else, yet treated her with such special regard, their affection so unusual. He must have realized long ago that Xiao Qin could compensate for his shortcomings," Elder Ping sighed. He truly felt his age, his judgment no longer as sharp as before. Still, he couldn't fully trust Xiao Man. In his eyes, Xiao Man held too many mysteries, making her unfathomable and unpredictable!
"Elder Ping, if Xiao Qin, as a handyman disciple, can enter the Purgatory Tower, can we also enter?"
"The minimum requirement to enter the Purgatory Tower is Golden Core stage cultivation," Elder Ping said coolly. "Anything below Golden Core is no different from suicide in the Purgatory Tower." Su Dan Novel Network
"Then why can Xiao Qin enter the Purgatory Tower? Her cultivation seems to be only Foundation Establishment stage!"
"Xiao Qin is different from you," Elder Ping explained slowly. "While her cultivation is only Foundation Establishment, it's a fallen Foundation Establishment. It's not the same as you not having cultivated upwards."
"Elder Ping, what do you mean by 'fallen'?"
"She was originally a cultivator at the Golden Core stage. She was severely injured during a demon attack, and her cultivation plummeted by a major realm. Otherwise, do you think she would be allowed into the trial tower?" Elder Ping explained unhurriedly. "If you don't believe me, try it yourselves. See if a Foundation Establishment cultivator can pass the Purgatory Tower's barrier."
Some in the crowd, unwilling to believe, stepped forward to try. The result was the same for all: they were rejected by the Purgatory Tower. Not only could they not challenge it, they couldn't even enter.
"Comparing ourselves to others really makes one angry!"
"She's reached the eleventh level!" a cry erupted from the crowd again. "The young sect leader has reached the eleventh level."
"Xiao Qin has gone up too!"
"Will they clear it in one go?" a disciple inquired. After all, the record for clearing the Purgatory Tower was set by the founding ancestor of the Tianxuan Sect. No one had managed to clear it since, not even the young sect leader, a prodigy, whose highest record stopped at the seventeenth level!
"If they clear it, they'll be the youngest to do so."
"And the fastest!"
"Stop dreaming. If both of them were Nascent Soul cultivators, clearing it might be possible. With their current cultivation, it's unlikely," Elder Ping said softly.
"Elder Ping, perhaps they can clear it together?"
"The old sect leader, a Nascent Soul stage expert, could only reach the seventeenth level. Do you think the young sect leader, at the late Golden Core stage, combined with Xiao Qin's mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation, can succeed?"
Elder Ping's words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the excitement in everyone's hearts.
"However, reaching the seventeenth level is still incredibly impressive."
"The key is whether they can even reach the seventeenth level!"
"Beyond the tenth level, each floor is a watershed. It's not easy to conquer, and there are no shortcuts. You can only rely on your true abilities."
The crowd remained gathered before the Purgatory Stele, hoping that Yue Ran and Xiao Man's combined efforts would create a miracle. However, after they spent a day on the eleventh level, the crowd grew impatient and dispersed. When they returned the next day, they discovered the pair had ascended another level.
"He really knows how to steal the spotlight!" Yue Xia said with a sigh. "Has Yue Zhong been released?"
"Replying to young master, he has been released, but he was carried out and is currently receiving treatment." The attendant seemed puzzled. "With his current condition, he can't do anything, can he?"
"You wouldn't understand. Once someone is released from the Cliff of Contemplation, anything is possible." Yue Xia's gaze swept over the Purgatory Stele, a cruel smile curling his lips. "Tell me, do you think Yue Ran will die in the Purgatory Tower?"
"Young master, don't even think about it. The Purgatory Tower inflicts a lot of hardship, but it doesn't claim lives."
"Then, if he emerges severely injured, won't people have an opportunity to take advantage of him?" A wild glint flashed in Yue Xia's eyes. He had originally planned to sit back and watch the conflict unfold. Now, Yue Zhong had been beaten into the Cliff of Contemplation, losing all support, while Yue Ran, instead of being defeated, had seen his reputation soar due to his tower challenge.
The attendant dared not reply. Even if something happened to the young sect leader, it wouldn't fall to the third young master. After all, there was still the eldest young master. Unless both the young sect leader and the eldest young master died!
But even if they both perished, the fourth and fifth young masters would not allow the third young master to ascend to the position of young sect leader. They would do everything in their power to destroy him. Instead, if the young sect leader remained in his position, everyone else could remain safe!
"Young master, the position of young sect leader, though glorious, is in reality a target," the attendant reminded Yue Xia. "Whoever sits in that position will be subjected to the schemes of the other young masters. The current young sect leader, with the highest cultivation and the Madam's backing, cannot even guarantee his safety. If someone else were to take over, it would likely be even worse."
"Are you saying I'm not worthy to covet that position?"
"Young master, your subordinate is not saying you are unworthy, but that the position is filled with all sorts of dangers. Even with the support of the Huo family and the Sect Leader behind him, the young sect leader treads on thin ice. Young master, if you were in that position, could you handle the schemes of the other young masters? Could you face the Madam's difficulties? Could you withstand the Huo family's targeting?"