197: Chapter 197 The Nine-Story Holy Tower

Inside the Sacred Tower, there was a world of its own.

The moment the three of them—Shen Quan and the others—stepped through the portal, the scene before their eyes changed abruptly.

It was no longer a plain, nor a crowd; it was a vast, boundless wasteland.

The sky was grey, as if shrouded by a layer of heavy leaden clouds, allowing not a single ray of sunlight to penetrate.

The ground was cracked, devoid of any vegetation, and the air was permeated with an ancient, desolate aura.

In the distance, a massive stone stele stood tall, about a hundred zhang high.

It was pitch black, its surface covered in dense runes, radiating a daunting pressure that made one's heart palpitate.

On the stele, four large characters were carved, like a flying Dragon and a dancing Phoenix, with vigorous strokes—

"Nine-Story Sacred Tower."

"So that's how it is." Sun Buer walked to the stele, his gaze sweeping over the inscription, a flash of understanding in his eyes.

"The Sacred Tower is divided into nine levels, and each level is an independent space.

Only by passing the trial of each level can one enter the next.

Only upon reaching the ninth level will there be a chance to obtain the Legacy within the Sacred Tower."

"Trial?" Shen Quan raised an eyebrow. "What kind of trial?"

Sun Buer shook his head. "The inscription doesn't say.

But for an existence capable of creating such ruins, the trial certainly won't be simple."

No sooner had he finished speaking—

"Rumble—"

In the distance, the ground trembled violently.

A massive crack split open the earth, and from within the fissure, a pitch-black giant beast slowly crawled out.

The giant beast was a full ten zhang in size, its body covered in hard scales.

Its four hooves were thick as pillars, its head was massive, and a pair of blood-red eyes stared fixedly at Shen Quan and the others, exuding a tyrannical aura.

First Level of the Dharma Image Realm!

"Holy crap!" Shen Quan's expression shifted, and he instinctively took a half-step back.

"It's the Dharma Image Realm right from the start?!"

Sun Buer also wore a grave expression.

His spiritual power surged within his body as his own First Level of the Dharma Image Realm aura erupted.

"Is this the trial of the first level? Defeating this giant beast?"

Shen Chong's expression remained calm.

His gaze fell upon the giant beast, and a flash of sharp light crossed his eyes.

"Brother Quan, Brother Sun, you two step back."

"Huh?" Shen Quan was taken aback. "You're going on your own?"

Shen Chong did not answer, simply stepping forward.

A green light flashed in his hand, and the azure longsword he had obtained from the Heavenly Sword Sect ruins appeared out of thin air.

The sword body was entirely azure, with frost-flower patterns flowing along the blade.

Its cold aura was restrained yet did not lack sharpness.

The moment Shen Chong gripped the hilt, a crisp Sword Intent surged from the blade, flowing through his arm and into his body, causing his entire aura to shift.

Third Level of the Huahong Realm!

The aura of his Azure Wood Precious Body was released without reservation.

Vibrant spiritual power surged like a tide, condensing into a cyan halo around him.

The giant beast seemed to sense a threat.

Its blood-red eyes fixed on Shen Chong, and it let out a heaven-shaking roar.

"Roar—"

The giant beast pounded its four hooves against the ground and charged at Shen Chong!

With every step, the ground trembled violently, cracking open deep fissures as gravel flew and dust filled the air!

The ten-zhang distance was covered in the blink of an eye!

The giant beast opened its bloodthirsty maw and snapped at Shen Chong!

Its mouth was a full zhang wide, its jagged fangs like sharp swords emitting a cold light.

A single bite would be enough to tear any Cultivator below the Dharma Image Realm into shreds!

However—

Shen Chong's expression remained unchanged.

His footwork was agile, his figure like a willow catkin in the wind, and he lightly sidestepped to avoid the bite.

At the same time, he swept his longsword out horizontally!

The sword light was like a streak of silk, the azure sword radiance carving an arc through the air as it struck precisely on the giant beast's neck!

"Clang—!"

A sound of metal clashing exploded, and sparks flew in all directions!

The giant beast's scales were as hard as iron; Shen Chong's sword strike had only left a shallow white mark on them!

"What a tough shell!" Shen Quan's expression shifted slightly.

The giant beast, feeling the pain, let out an angry roar, and its massive tail swept over like an iron whip!

Wherever it passed, the air was torn apart, emitting a sharp whistling sound!

Shen Chong retreated rapidly, barely managing to dodge the strike.

The giant tail swept across the ground, smashing a deep trench several zhang long, sending rubble flying and dust billowing!

"Shen Chong, I'll help you!" Shen Quan shouted, taking a step forward.

The power of his Acquired Treasure Body erupted with full force, and a crimson-gold light condensed on his fist like a small sun as he smashed it toward the giant beast!

"Bang!"

His fist slammed into the giant beast, emitting a dull, thunderous sound.

The giant beast's massive body was actually forced back two steps by the punch, but it quickly steadied itself, its blood-red eyes becoming even more tyrannical.

"This thing's skin is too thick!" Shen Quan shook his numb arm, his expression grave.

Sun Buer did not idle either.

He pulled a dark red talisman from his robes, bit the tip of his tongue, and sprayed a mouthful of vital blood onto it.

The talisman suddenly erupted with blinding red light, transforming into a scorching flame that shot toward the giant beast!

"Boom!"

The flames exploded against the giant beast, scorching a charred mark, but still failed to pierce its scales.

"The defense of a Peak Dharma Image Realm beast is truly not so easy to break." Sun Buer frowned tightly.

Shen Chong stood opposite the giant beast, his expression still calm.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Within his body, the spiritual power of his Azure Wood Precious Body surged wildly, flowing through his Meridians toward the longsword in his hand.

The frost-flower patterns on the sword grew brighter and clearer, and the Sword Intent it emitted became increasingly sharp.

He recalled the move Liu Xuzi had taught him—

Azure Lotus Sword Art, First Form: Lotus Blooms!

Shen Chong snapped his eyes open, two rays of cyan light flashing in them.

He stepped forward, his figure like lightning, instantly rushing before the giant beast!

He thrust his longsword straight out!

This strike seemed simple, yet it contained the full power of his Azure Wood Precious Body, as well as the sharpness of that Heaven-Grade sword!

At the tip of the sword, a cyan lotus quietly bloomed!

The lotus was only the size of a fist, its petals layered, each one clearly visible.

A faint light flowed over its surface, radiating a rich vitality.

Yet within that vitality lay an extremely sharp killing intent!

"Splurt!"

The cyan lotus sank into the giant beast's neck, like a sharp blade piercing tofu, meeting no resistance!

The giant beast stiffened, its blood-red eyes widening, filled with disbelief.

It looked down at its neck, where a fist-sized blood hole was gushing blood; the blood surged like a spring, staining the ground beneath its feet red.

"Roar..."

The giant beast let out a low whimper, its massive body collapsing with a crash, slamming into the ground and kicking up clouds of dust.

A Peak Dharma Image Realm giant beast, killed in one strike!

Shen Quan's eyes widened, his mouth agape, and he was completely stunned.

"Th-that's it?"

Sun Buer was also dumbfounded, the talisman in his hand dropping to the ground with a pat, too stunned to even pick it up.

One strike!

Just one strike!

A Dharma Image Realm giant beast, just died like that?!

"Wh-what is your cultivation level again?" Sun Buer swallowed, his voice wavering.

Shen Chong sheathed his sword and stood still, his expression calm, though the hand holding the sword was trembling slightly.

That strike had exhausted most of his spiritual power.

"Third Level of the Huahong Realm."

Sun Buer gasped.

Third Level of the Huahong Realm, killing a First Level of the Dharma Image Realm in one strike?

This combat power is too outrageous, right?

"People from the Shen Family... truly terrifying." Sun Buer muttered to himself, his eyes filled with shock.

Just then—

The giant beast's corpse began to slowly dissipate, turning into specks of spiritual light that drifted into the air.

The spiritual light converged, condensing into a pale golden token in front of Shen Chong.

The token was about the size of a palm, with an archaic "Two" character engraved on the front, and a pattern of a strange beast roaring at the sky on the back, looking lifelike.

"The pass token for the second level." Sun Buer picked up the token, a flash of sharp light in his eyes.

"It seems every level has a guardian beast; defeating it allows one to obtain the token to the next level."

Shen Quan grinned, his fighting spirit soaring. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's fight!"