Chapter 104: The Nine-Story Demon Tower

Lan Yue—how is she here? I had planned to find her after finishing some trivial matters, but it seems unnecessary now. I pushed through the crowd toward the back and called out, “Miss Lan Yue, are you alright?”

Lan Yue looked very different now. When I first met her in Fenglan City, she seemed delicate and fragile. But today, her aura was strong and unmistakable. I was certain she was no ordinary person anymore, especially when I noticed the identification tag on her shoulder: “Lan Yue, Civilian, Level 4.”

Level 4? The same as the Feather Realm? That couldn’t be. How could she have transformed from an ordinary person to a supernatural martial artist in less than a month? Wasn’t it said by Big Hammer that martial artists are born, not made—that one cannot forcibly cultivate such power?

Lan Yue seemed to sense my doubt and smiled faintly. “I’ve been searching for you. After the virus outbreak, I was infected, but fortunately, I survived. I discovered my body had undergone some changes. The World Alliance calls me an Evolver. Chu Jun has assigned me to the World Alliance’s Number One Squad, where I now serve as captain.”

Chu Jun again. I always felt there was something off about him. From my experience, he must be hiding some dark secret. What puzzles me most is how powerful he is. Even the Nine-Tailed Fox, a fox spirit with nearly a millennium of cultivation, couldn’t pass the Ninth Demon Tower’s ninth level—he was defeated at the seventh. Yet Chu Jun managed to conquer all nine levels.

The Nine-Tailed Fox’s attempt to reach the seventh level drew countless shouts from the crowd, and the plaza grew lively with excitement. People seemed to forget their duties, all eyes fixed on today’s physical test. Clearly, the seventh level was an almost insurmountable challenge for them. Next up was Murong Xue; I wondered who was stronger between her and the Nine-Tailed Fox. I was eager to find out.

After a moment of silence, I said to Lan Yue, “I’ve wanted to find you too, but so many things have weighed me down. What about Big Hammer, your brother? Are they alright?”

At my question, Lan Yue’s smile vanished, replaced by a deep sorrow. I sensed something terrible. Tears welled up in her eyes. “They… are already dead.”

She broke down entirely. For so many days, she had silently endured everything. A woman’s strength of endurance knows no bounds. The accident involving Blue Sky and Big Hammer had devastated her. Now, seeing me, her tears finally flowed freely. I was at a loss for words, unsure how to comfort her.

At that moment, the Nine-Tailed Fox emerged from the tower. Lan Yue wiped her tears and joined me as we pushed toward the front of the crowd. It was time for Murong Xue’s test.

Murong Xue only reached the second level before coming out, which puzzled me. Next, it was my turn. Amid the cheers, I entered the Demon Tower. Upon stepping onto the first level, a chill ran through me, causing me to shiver involuntarily. I hastened to channel my qi to resist the cold.

Before me stood a beast as white as snow, radiating icy energy. It resembled a tiger with wings sprouting from its back—an impossible creature I barely knew how to name. It attacked immediately, exhaling a stream of white air that solidified into ice upon contact with the atmosphere. No wonder it was so cold—let’s call it the Ice Horror.

I wielded the flames of fierce fire, a low-level skill I had learned long ago, which now finally found use. Though its damage was limited, it consumed little qi, useful to blunt this monster’s edge. Dodging its icy breath, I unleashed my fire. Suddenly, my foot slipped on a patch of water formed as the ice melted under my flames. In that moment of distraction, the Ice Horror trapped me in ice.

But that was no match for me. I quickly summoned my qi, and a fierce blaze ignited from within. In no time, the ice melted away, and the monster vanished. Could this mean I had passed the first level? The door to the second level opened automatically.

On the second level, a crimson beast appeared, resembling a lion, though much larger and wreathed in flames. Having encountered ice and fire, I guessed the third level would host a Bloodthirsty Beast. With fire to counter ice and ice to counter fire, I was prepared.

The flaming lion did not survive long under my assault. On the third level, as expected, I met the Bloodthirsty Beast, whose attack came from bone spikes on its back. At my current speed, dodging was easy. After several rounds, my Ice Sword pierced its body. Strangely, it did not die but vanished instead. The door to the fourth level opened.

The fourth level housed a creature resembling a giant rat skeleton—three meters tall and seven or eight meters long. I couldn’t fathom how it moved or found its way. Its reaction speed rivaled mine, perhaps even surpassing it. Unwilling to engage in a prolonged fight, I unleashed the Thirty-Seven Styles of the Demonic Art. As the heavens descended, the ground trembled. The skeletal beast shattered and disappeared, and the path to the fifth level was clear.

Here stood a minotaur-like creature wielding a three-foot-long black broadsword. Just as I was about to attack, it spoke.

“Are you from the Celestial Realm?”

Its words stopped me cold. I never imagined a minotaur could speak, let alone say that. I was no celestial being—just a mortal accidentally transported to this world. Perhaps it mistook me for Sun Wukong, that blasted monkey. Judging by its demeanor, it might be the Bull Demon King, Sun Wukong’s sworn brother.

I planted my Ice Sword in the ground and asked, “Why do you say that?”

Raising its black broadsword, the minotaur said, “I sense your aura; you must be from the Celestial Realm. My primordial spirit is trapped in this Demon Suppression Tower. If one day you defeat Chu Jun, you must come to free me. Chu Jun is no ordinary man. He intends to bring about the end of the world. You must stop him.”

What was going on? Wasn’t the World Alliance established by Chu Jun himself? Why would he want to destroy the world? If he was no ordinary man, could he be celestial?

“Explain yourself clearly,” I demanded.

“Chu Jun… he is…” The minotaur clutched his chest in apparent agony. Just as I was about to ask more, a flash of white light enveloped him, and he vanished. The door to the sixth level swung open.