Chapter 3629: Three-Story Tower of Trials
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Duan Ling Tian was unaware of the two people hovering in the sky since the difference between their cultivation bases was too vast. After walking for a while, he saw a quiet and pleasant yard filled with flowers, plants, and trees. He also saw a green-clad old man standing in the yard with his hands on his back and his eyes closed. Both the yard and the old man gave off an otherworldly feeling.
Despite his age, the old man looked energetic, and his posture was as graceful as a swan. He possessed the profound aura of a scholar as well.
When Duan Ling Tian arrived at the periphery of the yard, the old man suddenly opened his eyes.
When the old man’s eyes landed on Duan Ling Tian, Duan Ling Tian felt as though all his thoughts, secrets, and weaknesses were laid bare before the old man. However, he knew this was just his imagination. After all, he was very guarded and cautious. Let alone Kings of Gods and Lords of Gods, even Emperors of Gods and Supreme Gods would not be able to pry into his mind.
Duan Ling Tian did not step into the yard. Instead, he said loudly, “Senior, I’m here to take part in the Ten Stars assessment.”
“It has been over ten years since any outsiders have participated in the Ten Stars assessment.” The old man looked at Duan Ling Tian with his piercing gaze as though he could read Duan Ling Tian’s mind. “Lad, I wish you luck.”
As soon as the old man’s voice fell, he flicked his sleeve.
A small three-story tower flew out, increasing in size rapidly, toward Duan Ling Tian. In just a blink of an eye, it went from a miniature tower to a full-sized tower. It hovered above him as though it was going to smash down on him.
Duan Ling Tian did not dodge; he knew the old man would not attack him. After all, he had no conflict with the old man, and this place was the Hidden Fog Academy’s testing ground. In fact, as soon as he saw the tower, he knew it had to be related to the Hidden Fog Academy’s Ten Stars assessment.
Just as Duan Ling Tian had expected, the old man’s voice rang in his ears.
“This is the Three-Story Tower of Trials that the Hidden Fog Academy prepared for the Ten Stars assessment. If you pass the trials in there, you’ll become a Ten Stars student of the Hidden Fog Academy.”
Needless to say, each assessment was different. For the Ten Stars assessment, the Hidden Fog Academy had even prepared an artifact, which was the tower.
The Tower of Trials was forged by an expert from the Hidden Fog Sect, which established the Hidden Fog Academy. The expert was a weapon craftsman, but since he was able to forge artifacts as well, he was also known as an artifact expert.
Similar to alchemists, there were artifact experts and weapon craftsmen with varying skills. For example, in the Realms of Gods, not all alchemists could refine divine pills. Those capable of refining divine pills were considered experts and were known as divine pills alchemists.
“You may lose your life if you’re not careful in the Tower of Trials. If you want to surrender, just call out, and I’ll bring you out. Don’t wait until the last minute to call out for help. I might not be able to save you in time,” the old man said, “The Tower of Trials will pull you in after this so don’t resist it. The trials start as soon as you’re in there.”
As soon as the old man’s voice fell, Duan Ling Tian felt a strong force from the Tower of Trials, pulling him into it. He knew if he wanted to, he could easily break free of this force.
Swoosh!
After Duan Ling Tian was brought into the tower, the tower hovered in midair as the windows lit up one after another.
The old man looked at the tower and murmured, “I wonder if he can even pass the trial on the second floor.”
After that, the old man closed his eyes again.
…
After entering the Tower of Trials, after passing the trials on the first and second floors, one only needed to get on the third floor to pass the Ten Stars assessment. Naturally, it was easier said than done.
As soon as Duan Ling Tian entered the tower, the first floor lit up with a dim light; it was a sign that someone had entered the first floor. The light would grow brighter and brighter as Duan Ling Tian passed the trials on the first floor. When the light was at its brightest, it meant that Duan Ling Tian had passed all the trials on the first floor. This applied to the second floor as well.
After entering the tower, Duan Ling Tian discovered he was in a vast and foggy place.
“He… didn’t tell me what I should do to pass the Ten Stars assessment… I guess I’ll have to figure it out myself. Clearly, I have to pass through the trials on all three floors to pass the assessment.”
Swoosh!
Duan Ling Tian could clearly sense the fluctuations of energy from a Formation. Shortly after, through the fog, he saw figures appearing one after another. He knew these were Formation spirits with the strength of rudimentary gods.
“There are ten of them…”
In just a blink of an eye, Duan Ling Tian was surrounded by the ten humanoid Formation spirits.
Swoosh!
One of the Formation spirits summoned a flaming sword before casting the profundities from the law of fire that were at the mastery stage.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
With that, the remaining nine Formation spirits attacked as well. Despite comprehending different laws, their profundities had been comprehended to the mastery stage. None of them had mastered Fused Profundities.
“As expected, the first trial on the first floor is easy,” Duan Ling Tian muttered to himself. Naturally, he knew this only applied to himself. It would still pose a slight difficulty to others since they need to use a certain amount of Divine Energy to pass this trial.
“It’s time to destroy them…” Duan Ling Tian glanced at the ten Formation spirits that besieged him. In just a moment, spatial energy surged out, looking like a small storm, destroying the ten Formation spirits and their attacks.
Following that, the second trial began. Similar to before, he still had to fight Formation spirits. The only difference was the Formation spirits were no longer humanoid but were in the forms of beasts and monsters. Needless to say, they were much stronger and their number was much higher. However, to Duan Ling Tian, it was no different from the first trial.
…
Outside the Tower of Trials.
The old man could not help but open his eyes and looked at the tower curiously. He was shocked when he discovered the light on the first floor was brightening rapidly. He was not surprised if the speed was rapid in the beginning, but as time passed, the speed showed no sign of slowing down.
“It seems like the first outsider to participate in the Ten Stars assessment after more than ten years is rather extraordinary…” A hint of anticipation could be seen on the old man’s face at this moment.
Although ten years were nothing to cultivators, to him who was in charge of the Ten Stars assessment, this was quite momentous.
“Let’s see if he can kill all the Formation spirits in the last few trials on the first floor. If he kills them just as easily, he has a high chance of passing all the trials on the second floor…” The old man grew even more curious about the result of this assessment.
Every year, he would wait for outsiders to participate in the Ten Stars assessment, but he only waited in vain. He waited for over ten years, but no one came. He had grown bored. Now that someone finally appeared, especially someone who seemed rather extraordinary, he could not help but pay attention.
“Hm? Not bad.” The old man’s expression brightened along with the light on the first floor. He smiled and nodded as he looked at the light that was increasing in brightness.
However, he grew even more surprised when the light continued to brighten at the same speed.
“He’s facing the last trial on the first floor now!”
The old man was rooting for Duan Ling Tian. He hoped Duan Ling Tian would be able to pass the final trial on the first floor and enter the second floor. He hoped Duan Ling Tian would pass the trials on the second floor as well and go on to the third floor. With that, Duan Ling Tian would pass the assessment and officially become a Ten Stars student of the Hidden Fog Academy.
“I hope that lad will be able to do it! There’s not been a Ten Stars student in the Hidden Fog Academy for 30 years now, not even through internal promotion..” The old man was filled with hope and anticipation at this moment.