Ye Guan arrived before the tower. It was called the Martial Tower and had thirty-one levels in total. Each level represented a ranking, from lowest to highest.
The final level was named the “Enlightenment Hall”. Only the first-ranked individual qualified to enter it. It was said that within this level, one might encounter a projection left behind by the Human Sword Lord.
Just as Ye Guan reached the tower entrance, an elder appeared before him. The elder held a long tobacco pipe and had white hair. He looked somewhat sinister.
The elder stared at Ye Guan. “Which level?”
Ye Guan thought for a moment, then said, “Tenth!”
The elder’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Certain?”
Ye Guan nodded.
The elder observed Ye Guan for a while, then said, “Ten thousand gold crystals!”
Ye Guan blinked. “So expensive?”
Though he had a little money now, he felt it was still best to spend frugally.
The elder said calmly, “Mainly to prevent people from causing trouble for no reason.”
Ye Guan pondered, then took out ten thousand gold crystals and handed them to the elder.
After putting away the gold crystals, the elder said, “Name!”
Name!
Ye Guan thought for a moment, then said, “Yang Guan!”
Little Tower: “…”
The elder glanced at Ye Guan, then said, “Once inside, there are thirty teleportation arrays. Enter the one for the tenth!”
Ye Guan nodded slightly. “Understood!”
With that, he walked into the tower!
The elder watched Ye Guan, his brows furrowing slightly as he seemed lost in thought.
Along the way, Little Tower suddenly said, “Why did you change it to Yang Guan?”
Ye Guan replied, “Did not Brother Qin say to keep as low a profile as possible and buy myself some time to develop?”
Little Tower said, “I understand. What I mean is, why Yang?”
Ye Guan smiled. “Was the original surname of the Human Sword Lord not Yang? So I chose that!”
Little Tower fell silent.
Ye Guan asked, “Tower Master, is there a problem?”
Little Tower said, “No problem! Go challenge!”
Ye Guan nodded. “Good!”
Inside Little Tower, Little Tower murmured softly, “Is this a coincidence? If it is, it is too much of a coincidence.”
The mysterious voice said, “I do not think it is a bad thing. If he were like his father and constantly harboured thoughts of patricide, that would be truly terrifying!”
Little Tower: “…”
…
After entering the teleportation array, Ye Guan arrived directly at the tenth level.
He sat cross-legged on the ground.
Waiting!
These ranked geniuses were called tower guardians. According to the rules, when challenged, a guardian had to appear within one hour, or it would be considered forfeiture.
Soon, a man appeared not far in front of Ye Guan.
The man wore a brocade robe and held a long spear. A faint smile played on his lips. He sized up Ye Guan and smiled. “It has been a long time since anyone challenged me!”
Ye Guan said calmly, “Can we begin?”
The man nodded. “The moment I appear, it can begin!”
Ye Guan suddenly vanished from the spot!
This sword was swift as lightning!
The ten-zhang distance was covered in the blink of an eye!
The man’s pupils constricted sharply. The moment he saw the sword and thought to resist, it was already at his throat!
The man was filled with disbelief!
Ye Guan said calmly, “You have lost!”
With that, he turned and walked towards the next level!
“Wait!”
At that moment, the man suddenly called out.
Ye Guan frowned slightly. He turned to the man. The man hesitated, then smiled. “Brother, care to chat?”
Ye Guan shook his head. “No chat!”
With that, he walked towards the ninth level.
The man quickly said, “One hundred thousand. I will give you one hundred thousand gold crystals for a quarter-hour chat!”
Ye Guan stopped. He turned to look at the man, puzzled. “Why?”
The man smiled awkwardly, then said, “Do not ask so much. Just chat for a bit. One hundred thousand gold crystals. How about it?”
Ye Guan shook his head.
The man smiled bitterly. Helpless, he could only say, “Brother, if you leave now, I will lose tremendous face!”
If people learned that he had not even lasted half a quarter-hour before being defeated, his lifelong reputation would be ruined!
Ye Guan thought for a moment, then said, “Two hundred thousand gold crystals!”
“Deal!”
The man agreed immediately. Then he quickly took out a storage ring and handed it to Ye Guan.
Ye Guan fell silent. Had he asked for too little?
After putting away the storage ring, Ye Guan sat cross-legged on the ground, then said, “Speak. What do you wish to discuss?”
Since you are willing to pay, I am certainly willing to chat with you. I could chat every day if needed.
The man smiled. “How should I address you, brother?”
Ye Guan said, “Yang Guan!”
The man grinned. “Brother Yang, I am Yun Chen!”
Ye Guan nodded slightly. “Brother Yun, pleased to meet you!”
Yun Chen blinked. “You are a sword cultivator?”
Ye Guan nodded. “Yes!”
Yun Chen said gravely, “Your sword is incredibly fast. I have never seen such a fast sword!”
Ye Guan said, “You are also very strong!”
Yun Chen fell silent.
If you do not know how to give compliments, you can refrain!
Ye Guan hesitated, then said, “Brother Yun, there is something I am quite curious about!”
Yun Chen smiled. “Please ask!”
Ye Guan said earnestly, “Does the tenth rank truly receive five hundred thousand gold crystals per month?”
Yun Chen nodded. “Yes! However, there is one condition: you must hold it for a full month!”
Ye Guan nodded slightly. “I understand!”
Yun Chen glanced at Ye Guan. “Brother Yang, are you challenging the rankings for money?”
Ye Guan countered, “Are you not challenging the rankings for money?”
Yun Chen fell silent.
He now understood!
This fellow before him was very poor!
At that moment, Ye Guan suddenly stood up. He said, “Brother Yun Chen, time is up! Will you extend? If not, I shall not chat further!”
Yun Chen’s expression stiffened.
Ye Guan looked at Yun Chen, awaiting a reply.
Yun Chen said gravely, “Brother Yang, no more chatting!”
Though he had some money, he could not squander it like this!
Ye Guan clasped his fists. “Then Brother Yun, until we meet again!”
With that, he turned and walked towards the ninth level!
In place, Yun Chen watched Ye Guan’s retreating back, brows furrowed. Who on earth was this person?
Ye Guan suddenly stopped, then asked, “Brother Yun, as long as the guardian appears, the match begins, correct?”
Yun Chen nodded. “Yes! Challenges here are without rules. Any means may be used. The moment the opponent appears, the match is considered started!”
Ye Guan nodded slightly. “Thank you!”
With that, he ascended the stairs. After passing through a light gate, he arrived at the ninth level!
Ye Guan sat cross-legged on the ground, waiting!
At that moment, the space before him trembled slightly. Then a woman in cyan suddenly appeared. Just as she did, Ye Guan vanished from the spot!
Sword drawn!
This sword was incomparably fast!
The moment the cyan-clad woman appeared, the sword was already at her forehead!
The cyan-clad woman’s expression froze.
Ye Guan stared at her. “Miss, you have lost!”
The cyan-clad woman said angrily, “I had only just appeared when you struck. Do you have any martial virtue?”
Ye Guan thought for a moment, then said, “Brother Yun Chen below told me that I could strike as soon as the opponent appears!”
“Damn it!”
The cyan-clad woman suddenly swore. “That bastard Yun Chen. I should have crippled him back then!”
Ye Guan said earnestly, “I shall take my leave!”
With that, he turned and walked towards the eighth level!
However, he walked very slowly.
He also hoped she would chat with him!
At that moment, the cyan-clad woman suddenly said, “Wait!”
Ye Guan quickly turned, then said, “Miss, speak!”
The cyan-clad woman said calmly, “You are a sword cultivator?”
This woman wants to chat for free!
Ye Guan hesitated, then reminded her, “Miss, I am very busy. I must continue challenging. If you have nothing else, I shall take my leave!”
With that, he clasped his fists, then turned and walked upstairs!
The cyan-clad woman suddenly appeared before him. She stared at Ye Guan, somewhat angrily. “Cannot we chat?”
Ye Guan thought for a moment, then said tactfully, “I chatted with Brother Yun Chen for a while. He gave me two hundred thousand gold crystals!”
The cyan-clad woman was stunned, then her expression grew strange. “You are very poor?”
Ye Guan nodded.
The cyan-clad woman sized up Ye Guan, puzzled. “A genius like you, how can you be poor?”
Ye Guan said, “I do not wish to be poor, but I am. What can I do?”
The corners of the cyan-clad woman’s mouth twitched. She glanced at Ye Guan, then took out a storage ring and handed it to him. “Let us fight again from the beginning. I will give you five hundred thousand gold crystals!”
Five hundred thousand!
Ye Guan’s expression changed. “Are you all so wealthy?”
The cyan-clad woman thought for a moment, then said, “Is it not possible that you are simply too poor?”
Ye Guan’s expression stiffened.
The cyan-clad woman smiled. “Fight or not?”
Ye Guan nodded. “Fight!”
The moment his words fell, the space around him cracked open. In the next instant, dozens of chilling gleams slashed towards him!
Their speed was extremely fast!
However, in Ye Guan’s eyes, this speed was merely ordinary!
The moment the chilling gleams appeared, Ye Guan’s sword was already at the forehead of the cyan-clad woman, who had just tried to retreat!
All the chilling gleams froze in the air at that instant!
The cyan-clad woman stared at Ye Guan for a moment, then smiled bitterly. “Such incredible speed!”
Ye Guan withdrew his sword and looked at the woman in cyan, saying nothing.
The cyan-clad woman opened her palm, and a storage ring slowly floated towards Ye Guan.
Inside were exactly five hundred thousand gold crystals!
Ye Guan put away the storage ring, then said, “Thank you, Miss!”
With that, he turned and walked towards the eighth level!
The cyan-clad woman suddenly said, “How should I address you?”
Ye Guan stopped, then said, “Yang Guan!”
The cyan-clad woman stared at him. “Your real name?”
Ye Guan shook his head.
The cyan-clad woman smiled. “Can you tell me your real name?”
Ye Guan hesitated, then shook his head.
Better to keep a low profile!
The cyan-clad woman asked, “What about for money?”
Ye Guan smiled faintly. “Miss, I do not reveal my real name not to be mysterious, but because I have some unavoidable difficulties. Please forgive me!”
The cyan-clad woman nodded slightly. “I understand! By the way, I am Xue Yiren! Have you heard my name?”
Ye Guan hesitated, then shook his head.
The corners of Xue Yiren’s mouth lifted. “You may go!”
Ye Guan nodded. “Farewell!”
With that, he walked upstairs.
Xue Yiren stared at Ye Guan’s departing figure and murmured softly, “A sword cultivator this young has appeared in the Central Divine Continent…”
As she spoke, she seemed to think of something and said angrily, “Truly, chatting with me, Xue Yiren, and he even charges money. Am I not beautiful enough? What a straight man!”
With that, she turned and left indignantly.
…
Ye Guan arrived at the eighth level.
He sat cross-legged on the ground, waiting for someone!
Little Tower suddenly said, “You do not seem to lack money. Your current wealth is enough for cultivation for a very long time!”
Ye Guan nodded. “Indeed!”
Little Tower was puzzled. “Then why…”
Ye Guan murmured softly, “I asked Brother Qin before. To remould the physical body, at least tens of millions of gold crystals are needed…”
