To Obtain the Secret Realm's Legacy, One Must Conquer This Sky-Reaching Tower

Mo Luo hid in a cave with his only two remaining elders, not even daring to breathe too loudly. When they had gone out to search for spirit herbs, they were met by rogue cultivators seeking revenge the moment they showed their faces. After a brief fight, their injuries had only worsened.

Xue Wushang of the Blood Soul Sect had also restrained his usual ruthlessness, terrified of running into a revenge-seeking group.

The spiritual mist of the secret realm remained thick, but it was no longer the domain of the demonic sects.

The footsteps of those seeking vengeance, the crisp clashing of magical artifacts, and the occasional angry shouts intertwined to form an annihilation order against the demonic forces.

Everyone knew clearly that this was their only opportunity to exact revenge on the demonic sects on an equal footing. Once they left the secret realm and the demonic cultivators regained their full cultivation bases, seeking revenge would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

As time passed, the people in the secret realm gradually familiarized themselves with the environment and began to advance toward the core region.

Along the way, the spirit herbs became increasingly precious, and the spiritual energy fluctuations from the spirit mines grew stronger, attracting all factions to quicken their pace.

Relying on their abundant resources and exquisite tracking techniques, the seven great sects carved out relatively safe routes through the spiritual mist.

Although the demonic factions had lost personnel, they relied on the bizarre nature of their demonic cultivation methods to find quite a few fortuitous encounters in hidden corners.

The spiritual mist deep within the secret realm grew even denser, almost condensing into a physical substance. The air was permeated with a palpitating, ancient coercion.

After experiencing slaughter and exploration, the various groups of people ultimately followed the strongest spiritual energy fluctuations and arrived at the very core of the secret realm.

The spiritual mist at the core was so thick that one could wring water from it. Every breath carried the heavy, stagnant sensation of ancient Daoist rhythms.

The bluestone slabs beneath their feet emitted a faint golden glow. Ancient runes carved into the crevices lit up from time to time, stretching and shrinking everyone's shadows.

When Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu stepped into everyone's line of sight, the scene instantly froze.

The surviving disciples of the Heaven Demon Sect instantly lost all color in their already pale faces, and their hands gripping their magical artifacts began to tremble.

Mo Luo's eyes widened, staring fixedly at the two. His demonic energy surged uncontrollably, yet he did not dare to act rashly out of fear.

Their previous disastrous defeat lingered in their minds like a nightmare. The moment they saw these two malefic stars, their legs felt as heavy as lead, and they only wanted to turn and flee.

The gazes of the surrounding factions also fell upon them, their eyes holding different expressions.

The rogue cultivators and minor factions who had been oppressed by the demonic sects had eyes full of admiration and gratitude. They quietly cupped their fists in salute to the two and discussed in low voices.

"It's these two great heroes who taught the Heaven Demon Sect a severe lesson. They finally vented the foul anger in our hearts!" Their words were filled with sheer delight.

Yun Canghai of the Myriad Laws Pavilion had a profound gaze. He carefully scrutinized Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu's every move, secretly guessing their origins and martial art styles.

The moment Lie Tianxiong of the Burning Heaven Pavilion saw the two, his eyes instantly turned so red they looked ready to drip blood. It was these two who had sneak-attacked him and stolen his storage ring.

"Those damned bastards."

He clenched his fists tightly, his nails almost digging into his palms. The scene of his storage ring being snatched flashed in his mind, and hatred surged in his heart.

But catching a glimpse of the Heaven Demon Sect members who were like easily frightened birds, and recalling the sect's previous miserable state, he could only forcefully suppress his chest full of fury, not daring to act recklessly.

He gritted his teeth and stared at the two, the bloodshot veins in his eyes almost turning solid. He only had one thought in his mind: "Once we leave the secret realm and my cultivation is restored, I will definitely make you two pay the price!"

Shi Wanshan stood among the Azure Profound Sect's ranks. Seeing Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu, a trace of imperceptible gratification and approval flashed through his eyes.

Yun Canghai of the Myriad Laws Pavilion stood at the front of his team, gently twirling a jade ruyi in his hand, but his gaze repeatedly sized up Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu.

He could clearly sense that although the spiritual energy surrounding the two was only at the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm, it was astonishingly stable. Even the rhythm of their breathing possessed a structured order, unlike the chaotic auras of ordinary rogue cultivators.

"The foundations of these two are more solid than anyone from the seven great sects..."

Only Xue Wushang of the Blood Soul Sect stood silently in the shadows.

He had never seen the two take action, but he knew Mo Luo's strength. For Mo Luo to be this fearful, these two were absolutely not to be trifled with.

While everyone's gazes were still focused on Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu, a low humming sound suddenly came from deep within the spiritual mist.

The sound did not come from any cultivator or demonic beast. Instead, it carried the heavy sensation of an ancient artifact awakening, vibrating through the air along the spirit veins.

Everyone subconsciously looked toward the sound. In the thickest part of the spiritual mist, a profound black tower was slowly revealing its entirety.

The tower was about a hundred zhang tall and divided into nine floors. Golden rune bells hung from the eaves of each floor, yet they made no sound when the wind blew.

Only the golden runes fully carved onto the tower's body were slowly flowing, inhaling and exhaling the spiritual mist like living creatures. The light from the runes extended to every corner of the secret realm, faintly connecting with the ancient coercion in the air.

"This tower..."

Yun Canghai raised his hand to press between his brows, attempting to sense the tower's origins, but he only touched upon a Daoist rhythm that far exceeded the Purple Mansion Realm. He sharply looked at the runes on the tower, shock flashing in his eyes.

"The cultivation suppression of this secret realm is likely related to this tower!"

These words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing a commotion among the crowd.

Lie Tianxiong stared at the tower. He had long felt that the secret realm's suppression was strange. Now, seeing the connection between the tower and the runes, he immediately understood.

The rogue cultivators discussed even more fervently. Someone pointed at the traces of runes extending from the tower and whispered, "No wonder we are suppressed to the Purple Mansion Realm no matter where we go. The root cause is this tower!"

No one moved first. Their gazes darted back and forth between the high tower and each other.

Some stared at the inheritance opportunities within the tower, some were wary of Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu's strength, and others were calculating how to use the tower to break the suppression.

Only the golden runes on the tower continued to flow calmly, as if they had long seen through the struggles of countless years, quietly waiting for someone who could unlock their secrets.

Right at this moment, a faint golden light curtain suddenly lit up in front of the tower, and an ancient, majestic voice echoed in the void.

"Those who wish to obtain the inheritance of the secret realm must brave this Heaven-Reaching Tower. The tower is divided into nine trials. Each trial is an independent space, and you must slay the opponent within to advance.

The cultivation of those who enter the tower will be automatically unlocked, allowing them to exert their true strength. The first trial will feature an opponent of equal cultivation, and each subsequent trial will be stronger than the last."

Before the voice faded, many cultivators could no longer hold themselves back and rushed toward the light curtain one after another.

But the moment their palms touched the light curtain, they were rebounded by an invisible force. Some were even shaken back several steps, their spiritual energy churning.

"What's going on? Why can't we enter?"

A disciple of the Burning Heaven Pavilion clutched his numb hand, his face full of confusion.

That voice sounded again, carrying a bit of indifference: "The Heaven-Reaching Tower only selects those with outstanding combat power in their respective realms to enter. Those lacking sincerity or strength, do not force your way in."

As the indifferent voice faded, the crowd instantly grew restless. Many cultivators revealed unwilling expressions because they could not pass the light curtain.

Lin Lie, the chief disciple of the Burning Heaven Pavilion, had already been holding back his energy. He immediately stepped forward, gripping his flaming long saber. When his palm touched the light curtain, the golden runes flowed rapidly, seemingly verifying him closely, and did not directly rebound him like the ordinary cultivators.

Liu Chengfeng of the Ten Thousand Dharmas Pavilion, Bing Li of the Cold Moon Valley, the core disciples of the Heavenly Evolution Sect, and others stepped forward one after another. As the core members of major sects, their combat prowess was already top-notch among those of the same realm. When the light curtain verified them, it smoothly parted to let them through, and none were rejected.

Only a few non-core cultivators were sent flying when they made their attempts. Though their faces flushed red, they feared the power of the light curtain and dared not try to force their way in again.

Seeing this scene, many sect masters and elders also stepped forward, attempting to enter the tower.

Fang Hanyu and Xiao Ruobai touched the light curtain as well and passed directly into the tower.