199: past

Various discussions rose and fell, one after another.

Everyone was pessimistic about Shen Xi's future.

His potential was beyond doubt; being able to suppress Zhu Feng Ao naturally spoke for itself.

But being too astonishing was not a good thing.

Especially before he had fully matured, if his brilliance attracted the attention of various major powers, it would be even more troublesome.

As the saying goes, 'make a fortune in silence.' Shen Xi now was enough to attract the attention of Family Heads from Secluded Factions, which was not conducive to his growth.

Moreover, this was because Shen Xi deliberately lingered on the seventh floor for a period to comprehend Illusion Intent; otherwise, his clearance time would have been even shorter, and the gap between him and Zhu Feng Ao would have been even larger.

If it were according to his true performance, Shen Xi would be dissected and studied like a monster.

"When Shen Xi leaves the Chasing Wind Secret Realm, we must take him away immediately to prevent him from being targeted."

Liu Yiyi made a decision on the spot.

He must be brought back to the Liu Family to ensure his safety; otherwise, if other Secluded Factions targeted him and couldn't win him over, they would definitely resort to killing him.

"Agreed, I will also find a way to protect Shen Xi."

Ye Zirou stated her position.

"Within Zhu Feng City, Brother Shen should be fine. The City Lord wouldn't allow others to lay hands on Brother Shen."

Chen Fang was also thinking about how to protect Shen Xi from unforeseen circumstances.

The early demise of a Genius was not uncommon.

And behind many premature deaths of Geniuses, some Secluded Factions were secretly fanning the flames.

Shen Xi was now famous throughout the Chasing Wind Secret Realm. Once the Secret Realm exit opened, it was easy to imagine what kind of situation he would face.

"Did you notice that even Zhu Feng Ao is on the Tower to the Heavens Golden Tablet? Doesn't that mean the Tower of the Heavens appeared even earlier than Zhu Feng Ao's era?"

"I hadn't noticed until you mentioned it. What's going on?"

"Also, has the Tower to the Heavens Golden Tablet not been used for too long and developed a problem? Shen Xi has been in the Tower of the Heavens for at least two hours, so why does the time recorded on the Tower to the Heavens Golden Tablet show only a little over an hour?"

"That's right, the time is off! Does that mean the Tower to the Heavens Golden Tablet really has a problem?"

"That would also mean Shen Xi isn't as much of a Prodigy as we imagined? It's true he passed the Tower of the Heavens, but he can't possibly have more astonishing potential than Zhu Feng Ao!"

"Exactly, Zhu Feng Ao was someone who, with one person and one sword, annihilated a Secluded Faction. Shen Xi can't be stronger than him."

"Then I'm relieved. I knew Shen Xi wasn't that amazing!"

Everyone clutched at this last straw, magnifying the discrepancy in time to prove that Shen Xi wasn't as terrifying as they imagined.

This was human nature!

No one could accept that someone else was more outstanding than themselves; wouldn't that mean they were useless?

Originally, although they thought Shen Xi was impressive, deep down they were unwilling and unconvinced.

Now, seizing on the incorrect time on the Tower to the Heavens Golden Tablet, they immediately magnified this issue to save a little face.

Hearing this, Liu Yiyi and the other two did not argue or explain for Shen Xi.

On the contrary, they felt fortunate.

If everyone thought this way, it would actually be a good thing for Shen Xi.

At the very least, far fewer people would target him, ensuring his safety.

However, why did Zhu Feng Ao also participate in the Tower of the Heavens' trial?

Why didn't the times match up? Was the Tower to the Heavens Golden Tablet really broken?

No one knew the truth.

Except for Shen Xi, who was still inside the Tower!

...Inside the Tower of the Heavens.

"Congratulations, you have successfully passed the trial of the Tower of the Heavens."

The mechanical voice sounded again, but by the end, it had turned into the voice of a mischievous Little Doll.

Immediately after, a delicate Little Doll appeared before Shen Xi.

"Who are you?"

The moment he saw the Little Doll, Shen Xi's pupils constricted.

Although the Little Doll looked only four or five years old, the faint pressure emanating from its body made Shen Xi feel a doubled sense of pressure.

The opponent's strength was definitely at the Martial Dao Five Realms level!

Or perhaps even higher?

This thought couldn't help but surface in Shen Xi's mind.

"How dare you speak to Senior like that!"

The Little Doll put on a pretenious, old-fashioned air.

But the mischievous expression on its face made it impossible to see it as an ancient, powerful Senior who had witnessed the vicissitudes of time.

Facing Shen Xi's questioning gaze, the Little Doll immediately deflated.

"It's all because... I'm only allowed to awaken for three days when the Tower of the Heavens opens; normally, I'm in a state of slumber, so why am I still in the form of a child?"

The Little Doll muttered softly, but the person it was blaming remained unnamed.

Shen Xi was greatly startled by these words.

From the moment the mechanical voice changed to the Little Doll's voice, he had suspected that the Little Doll before him was probably the guardian of the Tower of the Heavens.

And now, the Little Doll's words made him even more imaginative.

The Little Doll looked no older than five, which at most would be a little over eighteen hundred days.

And the other party also said that, apart from the three days when the Tower of the Heavens opened, the Little Doll would awaken; otherwise, it would always be in a state of slumber.

Eighteen hundred divided by three is six hundred times!

This meant that the Tower of the Heavens had opened over six hundred times.

And the Tower of the Heavens only opened once every ten years, didn't this mean that the Tower of the Heavens had existed for much longer than the Chasing Wind Secret Realm?

At least over six thousand years!

Soon, Shen Xi recalled what the Little Doll had told him earlier, that the Tower of the Heavens was not created by Zhu Feng Ao. This made him even more curious about what kind of all-powerful being could create such a miraculously ingenious Opportunity as the Tower of the Heavens.

"Very curious, aren't you? Then I'll roughly tell you how the Tower of the Heavens came to the Chasing Wind Secret Realm!"

Subsequently, the Little Doll told Shen Xi a story.

Over two thousand years ago, Zhu Feng Ao's Family was annihilated, and he was left alone, being hunted by his enemies.

By chance, Zhu Feng Ao encountered the Tower of the Heavens, and even more coincidentally, the Tower of the Heavens happened to be open at that time.

To escape his pursuers, Zhu Feng Ao directly entered the Tower of the Heavens, and in a very short time, he passed through three floors, successfully clearing it and greatly increasing his strength.

However, even with his increased strength, Zhu Feng Ao was still no match for his pursuers. Just as he was falling into despair, the Little Doll appeared.

He told Zhu Feng Ao that a Martial Artist who passed the third floor of the Tower of the Heavens could gain one chance for him to act, and there were even greater Opportunities awaiting the other party.

Hearing this, Zhu Feng Ao didn't hesitate at all and had the Little Doll kill his pursuers for him.

"Wait! The third floor of the Tower of the Heavens?"