Chapter Sixty-Seven: Impressive, My Eel!

The aquamarine tower was known as the Tower of Ice Spirits. In essence, it could be counted as a spiritual artifact, but it was also a building. Its origins traced back to the founder of the Snowbound Sect, who had wielded it as a heavenly-grade magical instrument. Legend had it that it was damaged during a fierce battle, losing its offensive capabilities. Unwilling to part with it, the founder reforged it, transforming it into a semi-spiritual artifact that could change size at will. Defensive wards were laid within, and so it became a lofty tower for tempering one’s spiritual sense.

The female disciple named A Li patiently explained the details and precautions of the second trial to Chen Xiang. In summary, to pass this stage, he had to persevere until he reached the third floor. A Li also shared several spots within the tower where the suppression of spiritual sense was weaker, along with methods to resist this oppression—valuable information that would make his passage easier. These privileges, it seemed, amounted to these insights, which could help him breeze through the second trial. Such attentiveness was already quite generous.

“Master Chu, that’s all I know. Senior Sister may be too busy to assist further, so please take it upon yourself to learn the rest,” A Li said with a gentle smile.

“Ah, thank you, Miss A Li,” Chen Xiang responded with a graceful bow.

“May you succeed in your trial,” A Li wished him well, then turned to retrace her steps.

After A Li departed, Chen Xiang strode toward the Tower of Ice Spirits. Only upon approaching did he realize that the tower, though merely ten stories tall, soared skyward, majestic and imposing, its entire surface shimmering in aquamarine hues, both impressive and beautiful.

“What an incredible artifact! How could such a thing be crafted? To create this tower, the Snowbound Sect’s founder must have been extraordinary,” Chen Xiang marveled.

“Tch, it’s nothing but a broken tower that brat cobbled together. You really haven’t seen the world, have you?” At that moment, the colorful, slippery eel popped out from behind him, speaking with disdain.

“Oh?” Chen Xiang glanced at it in surprise, then asked, “Eel, do you know the founder of the Snowbound Sect?”

“Heh, how could I not? Over five thousand years ago, that brat nearly froze to death in the Ice Valley. Back then, I’d just been caught by him, and out of boredom, I saved him, taught him a few human cultivation techniques I’d collected, and then he established a sect outside the valley. He paid tribute to me every year, but soon after, I went into hibernation and only just woke up now,” the colorful eel boasted.

Chen Xiang listened, dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected the eel to be involved in such legendary deeds! A sect with a millennia-old lineage had been guided by this creature’s hand. Chen Xiang patted its head approvingly. “Impressive, my eel. Who would have thought? I’ve decided: I’ll hit you one less time when I beat you up in the future.”

“Bah, brat! What are you up to now? Believe me, I’ll call that guy over to beat you up!” The colorful eel dodged his hand and spat angrily.

“Oh, right. Where is that brat anyway? I’ve come out, so why hasn’t he come to pay his respects?” It suddenly realized and asked in puzzlement.

Chen Xiang laughed heartily. “Ha, eel, you haven’t considered how much time has passed. Five thousand years! He’s probably long dead, not even ashes remain.”

The eel realized this as well and shook its head in disappointment. “Humans really are fragile—gone in just five thousand years. Alas, it’s hard to keep friends.”

Smack!

Chen Xiang slapped its head, muttering, “Five thousand years, you say? Do you think everyone’s a freak like you? Long life, short elsewhere. What’s the use of living so long?”

“Roar! Brat, who are you calling useless? Come here, I’ll challenge you to a duel!” The eel was instantly enraged and turned to leave, calling out as it went, “Don’t move! I’ll get someone—just you wait!”

“Tch!” Chen Xiang snorted, ignoring it, and turned toward the Tower of Ice Spirits.

Outside the tower stood many people, most of them cultivators waiting for their turn, along with those who had already finished the trial. Nearby was a registration desk guarded by several Snowbound Sect disciples, recording participants.

Countless wooden identity plaques hovered outside the tower, identical to the one he had received earlier, in green, red, black, and blue.

“Huh? Why is mine snow-white?” Chen Xiang wondered as he glanced at his identity plaque, which clearly denoted privilege—green was lowest, black was highest, with several black plaques visible. Yet there was not a single snow-white plaque besides his.

“Never mind, I’ll just ask.” Chen Xiang put away the plaque and walked to the registration desk.

As he approached, he heard the murmurs and sighs of the cultivators outside the tower.

Each time a sigh sounded, a cultivator would suddenly appear within the teleportation array outside the tower.

“Ah, that fellow just stepped onto the fourth floor and was kicked out. What a pity! If he’d lasted ten breaths, it would have counted as the fourth floor.”

“There are still six people holding out on the third floor. I wonder if they’ll make it to the fourth!”

“I doubt it. Those who reach the fourth floor are almost always at the Nascent Soul stage, and these six are only at the eighth or ninth layer of the Core Formation stage. Without having tempered their spiritual sense, it’s almost impossible.”

“That’s not quite right. Look, isn’t there a Core Formation cultivator at the seventh layer on the fourth floor? He’s lasted nearly three quarters of an hour. No matter how much tempering, it wouldn’t reach that level—his spiritual sense must be incredibly strong!”

“Inside the Tower of Ice Spirits, not only is spiritual sense suppressed, but the temperature is even lower than Ice Valley. Our cold-resisting artifacts are useless. It’s a test of endurance. Anyone who lasts this long, even if they fail the later trials, will surely be accepted by the Snowbound Sect as a disciple. That’s a future outstanding alchemist or formation master!”

“Indeed, well said. Enviable!”

…

Chen Xiang’s expression shifted subtly. From their conversation, he could tell this trial was formidable. He wasn’t sure how strong his spiritual sense was, but this would be a good test. A seasoned veteran fears nothing! With this thought, he approached the desk.

A male disciple at Nascent Soul stage looked up as Chen Xiang came forward. “Please present your identity plaque.”

Chen Xiang placed the snow-white plaque on the desk.

The disciple examined it, startled. “Hm? White?”

All the Snowbound Sect disciples present turned to look.

While outsiders didn’t know what the snow-white plaque meant, the sect disciples certainly did. It signified that the holder had found more than ten stalks of Frost Condensation Grass in the first trial, earning the highest privilege. Such a person was invaluable, for when the sect organized future Frost Condensation Grass harvests, he could be included and help find even more—precious cultivation resources.

The male disciple picked up Chen Xiang’s plaque and smiled. “Fellow cultivator, please follow me. After I explain a few things, you may choose when to begin your trial.”

“All right!” Chen Xiang knew this was part of his privilege and agreed.

“To be continued…”