353: Top the Strength God Monument and enter the Trial Tower

“Li Shen Stele First!”

“So terrifying…”

Many Demon Suppression Guard powerhouses couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

There were currently thirty-five people on the Li Shen Stele.

It gathered the strongest group of top Prodigies, all under sixty years old and in the Heaven and Earth Realm, who had participated in the Lord Shao Si assessments over the past three thousand years.

Chu Jiang ranked first.

He was five hundred elephants higher than the second-place Yuan Shouyi.

“As expected of someone favored by both Your Majesty and the Chief Elder. Sikong Zhaixing must have had his Dao Heart shattered by now!”

Shen Liuying said distractedly, looking back at Sikong Zhaixing, and indeed, his face was extremely grim, his emotions in turmoil.

Bai Fengyi and the others were stunned, completely dazed.

“I thought Chu Jiang might leave his name on the Li Shen Stele, but I didn't expect him to go straight to first place,” Ye Chen said.

The second round was already this abnormal, what the…

Just then.

Zhang Long made his move, being the second to undergo the strength test.

His pair of powerful, dragon-like fists slammed heavily onto the Stele.

Boom!

The mirror surface flashed with ripples, producing a string of numbers.

“Nine thousand five hundred elephants!”

“Li Shen Stele thirty-third place!”

“Holy cow, the second Prodigy to leave his name has appeared!”

Someone exclaimed in surprise, saying that the candidates from the local prefectures this time were truly full of hidden talents. Although their strength was far from that abnormal Chu Jiang, it was still impressive enough.

“I'll go too!”

Fu Yunxuan shot out, striking the Li Shen Stele.

“Six thousand two hundred elephants!”

Chu Jiang was not surprised by this. Although the Calamity Poison Body would provide some boost to strength, it was not a strength-type Physique after all.

Once she fully activated her True Phoenix Body, her strength would easily reach ten thousand elephants.

Afterward, several other candidates tried their luck.

The light on the Li Shen Stele flashed several times.

Shen Liuying, seven thousand three hundred elephants.

Ye Chen, seven thousand five hundred elephants.

Bai Fengyi, eight thousand seven hundred elephants.

Sikong Zhaixing, nine thousand nine hundred elephants.

Wang Tiezhu, ten thousand elephants.

“Good heavens, this Wang Tiezhu was really hiding too deep!”

“He surpassed Sikong Zhaixing in the first round, and he surpassed Sikong Zhaixing in the second round too!”

Several Demon Suppression Guards exclaimed. The person who was at the bottom of the Four Great Talents of the Imperial Capital had directly made a comeback, becoming the first place.

If it weren't for Chu Jiang's appearance, Wang Tiezhu would definitely have been the biggest dark horse of the year. It was just a pity that Chu Jiang was too much of a Prodigy, overshadowing his brilliance.

At this moment, Sikong Zhaixing felt incredibly frustrated. He had always prided himself as the leader of the Four Great Talents, yet in the first two rounds, he had been surpassed by more than one person. Damn it… his eyes turned cold. In the third round, he would definitely prove to everyone that he was the first.

What was the point of taking first place in the first two rounds anyway?

The Trial Tower was the key.

“This assessment is full of surprises; the fresh blood of the Demon Suppression Division is extremely vigorous!”

Taishuzi of the Qi Hall stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

The eight candidates each had their own strengths, and their talents were extraordinary.

Especially that abnormal Chu Jiang, he was truly terrifyingly strong, completely not on the same level as the others.

And there was also the pleasant surprise of Wang Tiezhu.

The several high-ranking officials were also extremely satisfied.

After the second round ended, everyone followed the eight candidates to an ancient tower. The ancient tower was surrounded by strange phenomena, covered in runes, and radiated light.

It had a total of twelve floors.

“Is this the Trial Tower?”

Many Demon Suppression Guards were also seeing this ancient tower for the first time, as it was usually not open to the public and was considered a Forbidden Ground.

When Chu Jiang arrived, he felt a faint pressure from the Trial Tower, and even his Star Soul Eye couldn't probe its interior.

Zu Cang said, “The Trial Tower matches opponents based on one's Realm. For every three floors you pass, you will receive a reward from the Trial Tower.”

“The mirror on the tower will broadcast your progress in real-time!”

As soon as he finished speaking.

The Demon Suppression Guards began to discuss.

“Chu Jiang might be in trouble in this final round!”

“The third round is Sikong Zhaixing's home ground. He's the number one among the Four Great Talents for fighting across Realms, and he has also mastered a complete Divine Ability!”

This meant that the Realm advantage would be completely gone.

Everyone would be starting from the same point.

“I'll go first!”

Sikong Zhaixing shouted, taking the lead and flying directly towards the Trial Tower.

He was currently filled with a surge of resentment that he needed to release.

And this time, he wanted to prove that he was far stronger than the likes of Chu Jiang.

Afterward, Wang Tiezhu, Bai Fengyi, and others also entered one after another.

Chu Jiang also followed closely behind.

“This Sikong Zhaixing is currently holding in a lot of frustration and urgently needs to prove himself, otherwise his title as the leader of the Four Great Talents will truly become a joke!”

A Demon Suppression Guard powerhouse said.

“Indeed!”

“Do you think anyone can reach the tenth floor of the Trial Tower this time?”

“The tenth floor, that's unlikely!”

The Trial Tower matches enemies according to one's own Realm. If one is at Qiankun First Level, the enemies on the first three floors will also be at Qiankun First Level, but their number and quality will increase.

Floors four to six are Qiankun Second Level.

Floors six to nine are Qiankun Third Level.

The tenth floor, however, is Qiankun Level 5.

For a Qiankun First Level cultivator to kill a Qiankun Level 5 cultivator is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Of course, the matching mechanism varies for each Realm. If one is at Qiankun Tenth Level, it's impossible to be matched with a Rongtian Stage powerhouse, as no one could win against that.

“I think Chu Jiang can pass the tenth floor!”

Someone said.

“Impossible! If he can pass it, I'll eat dirt!”

A staunch supporter of Sikong Zhaixing retorted.

“Yuan Siming reached the eleventh floor, so even if Chu Jiang is a bit weaker than Lord Siming, the tenth floor shouldn't be a problem!”

Many Demon Suppression Guards were excitedly discussing, their gazes fixed on the rankings on the Trial Tower. Everyone was on the first floor.

Only Sikong Zhaixing, alone, was far ahead, having quickly passed the first three floors and was currently challenging the fourth floor.

“This is the prestige that the leader of the Four Great Talents should have!”

“Sikong Zhaixing didn't perform well in the first two rounds!”

A supporter spoke out in support, stating that as long as Sikong Zhaixing took first place in the Trial Tower, he could still take charge as Lord Shao Si.

On the first floor of the Trial Tower, Chu Jiang looked ahead to see a Qiankun Tenth Level Puppet.

The Trial Tower tested one's ability to fight across Realms. If one did not have the ability to transcend Realms, they likely wouldn't even pass the first round.

As candidates, they were all top Prodigies, and fighting across Realms was commonplace for them. The first three floors would essentially pose no pressure.

Chu Jiang himself was not entirely clear about his current true combat strength, as he had too many trump cards.

The Undying Golden Body, two great Divine Abilities, the Azure Emperor Dharma Form, perfected martial arts, and so on.

He saw.

His Undying Golden Body surged, his Qi and blood soaring, and he effortlessly shattered this Puppet.

The second floor had two Qiankun Tenth Level Puppets.

He still easily defeated them.

The third floor had three, and the difficulty increased again. An ordinary person facing the encirclement of three Puppets of the same Realm would already be exhausted, but for Chu Jiang, it was effortless.

“Congratulations, challenger, for passing the third floor. You may choose one of the following three treasures.”

An ancient voice echoed through the space.

Three light clusters of different colors fell into Chu Jiang's eyes.