198: Chapter 198 The Exquisite Tower

He said solemnly, "Let's just consider this matter closed."

As soon as he finished speaking—

"Smack."

Just as Xiang Tian was bracing himself against the edge of the bed to stand up,

his cheek was suddenly touched by something soft, and a faint, delicate fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose.

"Xiang Tian, I'm going back to the Lotus Society." Lotus's voice rang in his ear.

Her figure flashed, and she vanished from the secret chamber.

Xiang Tian was stunned.

Subconsciously, he raised his hand to touch the cheek that had been kissed; a trace of warmth still lingered on his fingertips.

"What? Can't bear to let her go?" Xiahou Yun's cold voice suddenly arrived, her eyes chilling a few degrees.

Xiang Tian snapped out of it and hurriedly lowered his hand.

"Xiao Yun, you really shouldn't be so jealous."

His tone was earnest, his gaze sincere, "No matter how I treat others, my feelings for you remain unchanged. You can rest assured about that."

As he spoke, he braced himself against the bed frame and slowly stood up, his steps still a bit unsteady.

Yet, he still walked step by step toward Xiahou Yun, wanting to get closer to her.

Xiahou Yun shifted her body to the side, gently avoiding his approach.

Her tone remained cold: "You're better now, aren't you? Then hurry up and go accept the challenge from the Core Disciple; don't dawdle here."

The smile on Xiang Tian's face faded slightly.

He shrugged helplessly: "Fine!"

He turned to look at Master Miaoxian and cupped his hands slightly: "Master, I'll be heading out then."

With that, he turned to leave.

"Wait," Master Miaoxian hurriedly called out to stop him.

She instructed, "You've just joined the Sect and aren't familiar with the layout of the various Peaks. Let Qing'er take you."

Xiang Tian nodded in agreement: "Alright, thank you, Master."

Afterward, Ouyang Qing led Xiang Tian out of the secret chamber.

They toured the various Peaks of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and she introduced him to the scenery and layout of the Sect one by one.

Before long, the two arrived at an open area.

Ouyang Qing raised her hand and pointed to a stone platform in the distance.

She said with a smile: "That is the Core Disciple Martial Arena. I have already reported your challenge match to the Sect, so we can just head straight over."

Xiang Tian looked in the direction she pointed.

The martial arena was not very large, roughly two hundred meters in circumference.

Faint fluctuations of spiritual power still lingered on it.

Xiang Tian's figure flashed, turning into an afterimage as he quickly flew toward the martial arena.

After landing on the stage, he turned slightly.

He politely cupped his hands toward the Core Disciples watching below and slowly turned around.

He announced in a clear voice: "Greetings, Junior Brothers!"

A wave of whispers immediately erupted from below, and gazes fell upon Xiang Tian.

There was curiosity, skepticism, and a hint of disdain.

"Hmm? You are that Xiang Tian who was accepted as a Personal Disciple right after joining the Sect?"

"His Aptitude looks very mediocre; there's nothing special about him."

"His cultivation is only at the seventh level of the Martial Emperor realm. Does someone with such strength deserve to be a Personal Disciple?"

"There must be some inside information! Otherwise, how could he possibly be favored by Master?"

"..."

The gazes of the crowd toward Xiang Tian became increasingly hostile, as they held a skeptical attitude toward his status as a Personal Disciple.

Xiang Tian's expression remained unchanged. Once the discussions below subsided slightly,

he spoke again, his voice carrying across the entire martial arena: "What is the point of all your chatter? Instead of questioning me here, why not come up and fight me? Who is strong and who is weak will be known once we fight."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure leaped up from below and landed on the martial arena.

A white robe fluttered in the wind, and he possessed an outstanding aura.

"Hmph! Then let me test you!" The man's voice was steady, and he looked at Xiang Tian with a sharp gaze.

The crowd below immediately erupted in an uproar, and exclamations were endless.

"Hiss! It's Senior Brother Five! Is he actually going to personally verify this newcomer's strength?"

"My god, Senior Brother Five is the fifth-ranked Core Disciple, with the strength of the Peak of the Martial Emperor realm. He's actually giving a newcomer so much face!"

"Now we're in for a good show. I really want to see how much ability this Xiang Tian actually has and if he can even take one move from Senior Brother Five!"

"..."

Xiang Tian raised his eyes to look at the person opposite him, his gaze narrowing slightly as he assessed the situation.

Peak Martial Emperor realm, with a robust aura; he certainly had some strength.

Senior Brother Five was also sizing up Xiang Tian.

After a moment, he asked, "According to rumors, you tamed a True Dragon. I wonder if that is true or false?"

Xiang Tian nodded calmly, "Hmm! That is correct."

This matter had long since spread throughout the Sect and could not be considered a secret.

Except for some Disciples who had been in seclusion for years, basically everyone had heard of it.

"Very well, I have no other requests," Senior Brother Five said, a glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes.

He suddenly added, "If I can win against you, will you give me a bit of True Dragon blood?"

Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow.

A faint smile curled the corners of his lips: "Hmm! I can bet with you."

A bit of True Dragon blood was nothing precious to him.

After all, he could obtain Xiao Hei's Dragon blood at any time.

He changed the subject, "But what stake can you offer?"

Upon hearing this, Senior Brother Five's expression turned serious, and his tone was full of bravado.

"Hmm, I am willing to use ten million Spirit Stones as a bet!"

"Do you really think I'm stupid?" Xiang Tian scoffed, muttering to himself.

He was indeed not wealthy right now, with only a few cold million Spirit Stones in his pocket.

However, he was also well aware of the value of True Dragon blood.

A single drop of True Dragon blood could fetch a price of one hundred million Spirit Stones in the outside world, with people scrambling to buy it.

Senior Brother Five's face darkened slightly, and he flipped his hand.

A golden pagoda the size of a palm appeared in his hand. The pagoda was entirely gilded and radiated a faint spiritual light.

It was clearly not an ordinary object.

"This is the family heirloom of our Baili Family, the linglong pagoda." His tone was solemn as he held the linglong pagoda in his palm.

"Using it as a bet, is that enough?"

The crowd below immediately stirred, and a man dressed in green robes in the crowd shouted loudly,

"Young Lord, you cannot! That is the proof of your position as the Young Lord of the Baili Family. If you lose it, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"Quiet! I know what I'm doing!" Senior Brother Five frowned and shouted sternly.

"If you dare say another word, I will send you back home and never employ you again!"

After scolding his subordinate, he turned back to look at Xiang Tian with an arrogant expression.

"I am the dignified fifth-ranked Core Disciple; can I not beat a newcomer who just joined the Sect? This is something I can win with my eyes closed. I will certainly not lose the linglong pagoda!"

Xiang Tian's gaze fell upon the linglong pagoda, and a gleam of interest flashed in his eyes.

"Hmm! I like this linglong pagoda very much. However, how do I know what it's useful for? If it's just a decorative piece that looks good but is useless, then you're just trying to scam me out of my True Dragon blood."

"Hmph! When has Baili Shouyue ever been deceitful?" Senior Brother Five snorted coldly.

With that, he raised his hand and tossed the linglong pagoda high into the air. The linglong pagoda instantly expanded in the air, emitting a dazzling golden light.

A powerful suction force came from the pagoda.

The man who had been shouting in the crowd earlier did not have time to react.

He was sucked into the pagoda by an invisible force and vanished instantly.

"This is the wonderful utility of the linglong pagoda." Baili Shouyue raised his hand to recall the linglong pagoda, and the pagoda slowly shrank, returning to the size of a palm.

He said calmly, "It can not only store ordinary objects, but it can also easily take in living people. It can also be used as a storage treasure."

Xiang Tian's eyes lit up, and he felt secretly delighted.

This was truly a good item; it could store things and also hold people.

If he could win it, it would surely make things much more convenient in the future.

A thought subconsciously flashed through his mind: if he could keep a few beauties inside it, wouldn't that be...

As soon as the thought arose, he hurriedly shook his head.

He cast the absurd idea to the back of his mind.

"Since that's the case, let's begin the match!" Xiang Tian stopped dawdling.

Faint fluctuations of spiritual power were already rippling around his body.

Baili Shouyue nodded and waved his hand.

He released his subordinate from the pagoda and then put the linglong pagoda away.

"Since you are the newcomer, I will let you make the first move."

He was quite graceful and still played by the rules.

"Young Lord of the Baili Family, doing this is very unwise." Xiang Tian smiled faintly.

"I think you should be the one to attack first." Dealing with a Peak Martial Emperor Disciple,

he really had no interest in striking first; after all, he had even killed a Half-step Saint Realm expert.

"Less talk, you're the newcomer, you go first."

"Alright! Then this Young Master won't stand on ceremony!" Xiang Tian did not decline; he wanted to end the battle quickly to demonstrate his strength.

Xiang Tian chuckled inwardly; he didn't need to be polite with Baili Shouyue.

Such an impressive linglong pagoda—wouldn't it be a pity not to win it?

Xiang Tian moved, and the spiritual power around his body surged.

He swung a palm with massive force, the wind from the palm fierce.

"Bang!"

The two palms collided.

Baili Shouyue's blood and Qi churned, and his entire body was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing onto the martial arena.

"Wah~" Baili Shouyue spat out a mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

He braced himself against the ground, looking at Xiang Tian in disbelief.

He never expected that even with his full-power strike, he would be beaten so miserably.

The crowd below was stunned, exclamations rising one after another in an uproar.

"Hiss! Damn! He actually managed to beat Senior Brother Five?"

"Not only did he win, but it was an instant kill! This strength is too terrifying, right?"

"As expected! Anyone who can be taken as a Personal Disciple by Peak Master Miaoxian is no simple character; we underestimated him!"

"This Xiang Tian is too strong; to be able to instantly kill a Peak Martial Emperor with only the seventh level of the Martial Emperor realm—he is truly a genius!"

"..."

Discussions and exclamations were endless.

However, Xiang Tian had no interest in listening at all.

His gaze was fixed on Baili Shouyue on the ground, with only one thought in his mind.

As long as he knocked Baili Shouyue off the martial arena, that linglong pagoda would be his!

His figure moved again, and Xiang Tian turned into an afterimage.

He instantly rushed to Baili Shouyue and raised his hand, preparing to strike again.

Baili Shouyue, who had fallen to the ground, changed expression drastically. Without time to think, he hurriedly scrambled up from the ground.

He shouted loudly: "linglong pagoda, grow!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the linglong pagoda in his hand shot out again.

It instantly expanded several times over, turning into a massive golden pagoda that covered him inside.

The pagoda body radiated heavy spiritual light, forming a solid defensive barrier.

"Oh ho, it can also be used as a defensive treasure?" Xiang Tian stopped in his tracks.

Looking at the massive linglong pagoda, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he did not rashly punch it.

He didn't want to break this treasure.

He tentatively raised his hand and punched the body of the linglong pagoda.

"Bang!"

With a dull thud, the linglong pagoda remained motionless, showing no reaction at all.

It even sent back a rebounding force that jolted Xiang Tian back several steps.

"This linglong pagoda is truly a good treasure!" The affection in Xiang Tian's eyes grew even stronger.

His determination to win it became firmer, and he did not continue attacking the linglong pagoda.

He had great uses for this treasure and couldn't destroy it.

He shouted loudly toward Baili Shouyue inside the pagoda: "Baili Shouyue, aren't you very strong? Why are you now only daring to hide in a turtle shell, not daring to come out?"

Immediately, he flicked his fingertips, and several sharp spiritual power blades shot toward the linglong pagoda.

However, they were still blocked outside by the spiritual light of the pagoda, unable to cause even the slightest damage.

"Hmph! Xiang Tian, you really do have some skills."

Baili Shouyue, inside the pagoda, slowly stabilized his breathing, his voice carrying through the pagoda body.

"Someone who can tame a True Dragon is indeed not simple; I underestimated you."

"Glad you know it," Xiang Tian sneered, continuing to provoke him.

"You'd better admit defeat early; that way you can still be decent and won't lose face in front of so many Junior Brothers."

"Look below the stage, there are so many Junior Brothers watching; you can't just keep hiding inside and be a coward, right?"

Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow, the teasing tone in his voice growing thicker.

As the dignified Young Lord of the Baili Family and the fifth-ranked Core Disciple, he valued his face the most and would absolutely not be able to tolerate being mocked like this.

"You want me to come out? Not a chance!" Baili Shouyue snorted coldly inside the linglong pagoda.

"With the linglong pagoda here, you can't hurt me at all; if this drags on, you will be the only one who loses!"

Xiang Tian ignored his bravado and instead turned to look at the Disciples watching below.

He announced in a loud voice: "Everyone, look, is this the Baili Shouyue who you all brag about as being god-like?"

"Facing me, a newcomer who just joined the Sect, he doesn't even dare to fight me head-on, only hiding in his own treasure to linger on."

"Is such a trashy person worth your admiration? Does he deserve to be a Core Disciple?"

His words were like a bombshell, instantly exploding in the crowd.

It caused a huge sensation, and the discussions below erupted again, even more intensely than before.

"Baili Shouyue, get out here! Fight him head-on! Even if you lose, you are still our Senior Brother Five!"

"That's right, Senior Brother Five! Don't be a coward! If you lose, you lose, it's no big deal, just don't lose the face of our Core Disciples!"

"Senior Brother Five, where is your usual arrogance? Where is your usual dignity? Come out and fight him!"

"Senior Brother Five, if you don't come out, we will really despise you!"

"..."

Reprimands and persuasions rose one after another.

Everyone's gaze fell upon the linglong pagoda.

Xiang Tian stood to the side, arms crossed over his chest, quietly watching the crowd below verbally attacking Baili Shouyue.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.