Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Trial Tower (II)

For Qin Tian, reaching the pinnacle of sword mastery was not his true objective for this trip; he sought to transcend into the realm of a Sword Grandmaster. He had heard that a Sword Grandmaster could manifest a "Sword Dharma Image." However, he had only completed the first step: turning sword energy into a sea. He needed to further condense this sword energy to forge it into such an image.

For other sword cultivators, condensing a Sword Dharma Image was no simple feat, as it required a terrifying level of control over sword energy. Yet for Qin Tian, born with an peerless Sword Physique and an innate affinity for the blade, the process of condensation proved remarkably easy.

Above the sea of sword energy, countless strands of energy swirled into a tornado. Responding to his command, the energy reorganized, eventually forming a ten-thousand-foot-tall Sword Dharma Image. As it manifested, a wave of sword pressure emanated from Qin Tian, sweeping across a hundred-mile radius. Though the pressure was not yet at its peak, he knew that if he fully unleashed the image, the intensity would increase tenfold.

Eager to test its power, Qin Tian summoned the phantom of a giant sword to appear in the sky behind him. He looked toward the demonic beasts ahead and shouted, "Slash!"

The Sword Dharma Image struck, and the beasts were instantly reduced to dust. Qin Tian was overjoyed; he had truly attained the realm of a Sword Grandmaster.

The System chimed: "Ding! Congratulations to disciple Qin Tian for reaching the Sword Grandmaster realm. Awarding the Host 50 million cultivation experience points, 100 Thunder-Clap Swords (top-tier magical artifacts), 1 million Tier-6 top-tier Soul-Mending Pills, 1 million Tier-6 top-tier Soul-Condensing Pills, 1 million Tier-6 Power Stones, 1 million of each Tier-6 Five-Elements Stone, and 1 million Tier-6 Wind Stones. Rewards have been distributed; please check your inventory."

Liao Chen was pleasantly surprised by Qin Tian’s rapid progress. Since Qin Tian did not need soul-related pills, he decided to reward him with a Thunder-Clap Sword once the trial concluded.

With his new mastery, Qin Tian began challenging the Trial Tower’s Divine Ability stage. He cleared each level with ease, effectively one-shotting every beast. As the tower lit up floor after floor, the sect’s disciples buzzed with excitement.

"They say Senior Brother Qin Tian has a peerless Sword Physique. Seeing this, it’s no exaggeration—it’s terrifying! No ordinary cultivator could reach this speed!"

"What level do you think his sword mastery is at now?"

"In my opinion, at least the Great Mastery realm!"

"It must be higher than that. I bet he’s a Grandmaster."

"Impossible! He’s not even ten years old. If he were a Grandmaster, he’d be a legendary prodigy."

"I think he’s just reached the Master realm. He was only at the Small Mastery level before; jumping three whole tiers is impossible."

***

As the disciples debated, a violent surge of spiritual energy erupted from Peach Tree Peak, drawing everyone’s gaze. A massive beam of light shot into the clouds, triggering a celestial phenomenon: a giant six-tailed spirit fox appeared in the void, its immense aura radiating outward.

"A six-tailed spirit fox? That’s where Senior Sister Jiang Qian lives. Did the Sect Master take in a disciple from the Spirit Fox clan?"

"It must be! Most of their kin only have three tails, and reaching four is remarkable. If she truly has six, our Morning Light Sect has gained another peerless prodigy."

"Indeed. I wonder what her talent is—to trigger such a phenomenon without the Sect Master intervening, the high-level elders must have known she was extraordinary."

***

Elsewhere, the System sounded in Liao Chen’s mind: "Ding! Congratulations to disciple Hu Ling’er for breaking through to the first level of the Profound King realm. Awarding the Host 50 million cultivation experience points, 100 Thunder-Clap Swords, 1 million Tier-6 top-tier Foundation-Nurturing Pills, 1 million Tier-6 top-tier Marrow-Cleansing Pills, 1 million top-tier Spirit Beast Aptitude Pills, and 100,000 Divine Beast Pills. Rewards have been distributed."

Seeing that the Marrow-Cleansing Pills hadn't fully unlocked her potential, Liao Chen flashed to her cave. Hu Ling’er bowed, "Master, why have you graced me with your presence?"

Liao Chen handed her a bottle of top-tier Spirit Beast Aptitude Pills. "Ling’er, your potential allows for the awakening of the ancient Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox bloodline. It is currently dormant; I am here to help you."

"Thank you, Master!" She was ecstatic, never expecting such a precious gift. She began refining the pills immediately. Her bloodline surged, growing to seven tails, then eight. She hit a plateau, but she was already overwhelmed with gratitude—no one in her family history had ever reached six tails, let alone eight.

Unbeknownst to her, this elevation affected her entire clan. In the distant Qingqiu, younger foxes below the Profound King realm felt their own bloodlines awaken. The Fox clan’s Great Elder realized the truth: "Clan Leader, this must be linked to Ling’er. Someone has awakened a high-order bloodline, and the clan is resonating with it."

"If you are right, Ling’er has awakened a high-order bloodline at the Morning Light Sect! Our rise is inevitable!"

"Indeed! We must accelerate our relocation to the Morning Light Sect!"

***

The Fox clan moved with haste, abandoning their old home to follow their kin. Meanwhile, seeing Hu Ling’er plateau, Liao Chen gave her a Divine Beast Pill. Upon consuming it, lightning-patterned energy coursed through her, tempering her bloodline. A primordial force threatened to burst from her body, and as she channeled it, a ninth tail sprouted.

In the sky, a Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox manifested, emitting a world-shaking aura.

"What is that? The legendary Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox? It’s terrifying—my own bloodline is suppressed!"

"I’ve felt this pressure before from Elder Zhuque!"

"How? She was only a six-tailed fox a moment ago! What kind of talent is this?"

"She has the potential to become an Emperor! The rise of the Fox clan is truly unstoppable!"