Chapter 533 - 251: The True Inheritor Candidate Competition Begins! The Demon Suppression Tower Contest! Breakthrough to the Sixth Layer Peak of the True Master Realm

"Junior Brother, although you are exceptionally talented, you must remember not to be overambitious."

"Challenging a True Disciple is an extremely perilous affair!"

"That Cao Ge may be ranked ninth, but he’s ruthless and petty."

"Over the years, quite a few have challenged him, but to this day... not a single one has succeeded!"

"What’s more, he uses the excuse that ’blades have no eyes’ in a sparring match to severely injure every challenger who fails!"

A trace of fear flashed in Song Yuan’s eyes:

"The lucky ones are bedridden for a year or two. The unlucky ones... some have even had their foundations crippled, their path of cultivation severed forever!"

"So, unless you are absolutely certain of victory in the future, do not ever attempt to challenge him lightly!"

"Of course..."

Song Yuan’s tone shifted, now tinged with complexity:

"But if you succeed, it’s like a carp leaping the dragon gate. The honor, the benefits, the wealth of a True Disciple... they’re all beyond what you can imagine right now. They are the ones who truly stand at the pinnacle of the entire Great Chu Martial Arts Realm!"

Jiang Che listened and nodded.

"Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother. I understand."

As they spoke, the two passed through a grove of withered trees, and the area ahead suddenly opened up.

There, a colossal black tower emanating a monstrous, baleful aura stood silently in the center of a vast plaza, like a sharp sword piercing the heavens.

The Demon Suppression Tower. They had arrived.

A dense, dark crowd had gathered like a tide, surrounding the massive plaza so tightly that not a drop of water could pass through.

Whenever a top disciple challenged the tower, it would always attract a huge number of onlookers, some hoping to learn, others just there for the spectacle.

After all, it was the most direct measure of an Inner Sect Disciple’s combat strength in the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect.

"Look! He’s about to go in!"

A commotion rippled through the crowd.

Jiang Che followed the crowd’s gaze and saw a young man standing in the open space before the tower. He was dressed in black martial attire, with an ancient longsword strapped to his back.

The young man had sword-like brows and star-like eyes, and his posture was as straight and tall as a pine tree. Even just standing there, he seemed to be wreathed in a sharp Sword Intent that could slice the air, making it difficult for anyone to look at him directly.

"That’s the top genius of Heaven-Slaying Peak, Ji Lingfeng."

Song Yuan explained from the side at the opportune moment, his voice laced with gravity:

"He’s ranked second on the list of True Inheritor Candidates! Second only to the one from Shadow Killing Peak."

’Ji Lingfeng...’ Jiang Che committed the name to memory.

Indeed, the man exuded an extremely dangerous aura, like a drawn sword, its brilliant edge fully exposed.

At that moment, the surrounding chatter rose and fell, reaching Jiang Che’s ears.

"Tsk tsk, Senior Brother Ji’s aura is getting more and more terrifying. I can feel my skin prickling even from this far away."

"Last time, he made it to the thirty-seventh layer but was unfortunately defeated. I wonder if he can go even further this time, now that he’s out of seclusion?"

"It’s hard to say. Beyond the thirty-seventh layer, the Guardian Beast Soul on every level is absurdly strong. I heard they’re all variant species with Ancient Bloodlines. How could it be that easy to pass?"

"Heh, you guys don’t know, do you? I heard Senior Brother Ji had an epiphany a while back. His cultivation has already broken through its shackles, and he’s stepped into the Thirteenth Layer Peak of True Master Realm!"

"What?! The Thirteenth Layer Peak of True Master Realm?!"

Upon hearing this news, a collective gasp swept through the crowd.

"Doesn’t that mean... Half-Step True Mastery?!"

"My heavens, with that level of cultivation, he must be completely confident in passing the thirty-eighth layer, right?"

On the outskirts of the crowd, Jiang Che’s pupils contracted sharply when he heard the words "Thirteenth Layer Peak of True Master Realm."

Although he had now broken through to the Fifth Layer of the True Master Realm and possessed numerous trump cards...

...when faced with an expert like this, who stood at the pinnacle of the Mortal Realm and was just a Half-Step away from entering the Extraordinary Domain...

Jiang Che silently ran a simulation in his mind.

’If I were to face him...’

’Even if I instantly activated the Blood Burning Secret Technique, transformed into my Black Armor Form, and even used Purple Shadow Instant Kill...’

There would only be one outcome—

Death!

’I’d probably be killed in a single strike, without even a chance to react!’

The chasm between Realms grew wider and more impassable the higher one climbed.

The gap between the Fifth Layer and the Thirteenth Layer Peak of the True Master Realm was a full eight Realms. This was no longer a gap that could be bridged by talent and skill alone!

’It seems I still have a long way to go...’ Jiang Che thought, a new sense of caution taking root in his heart.

Just then, Ji Lingfeng, who was at the front, moved.

His figure flickered, transforming into a sharp streak of sword light that instantly vanished into the pitch-black gate of the Demon Suppression Tower.

"It’s starting!"

Everyone raised their heads, their eyes glued to the runic lights on the tower’s body.

When someone entered a layer, the runes for that layer would light up.

And once the Beast Soul inside was defeated, they would go out.

HUMMM!

The runes of the first layer lit up and were instantly extinguished.

The second layer lit up, then went out.

The third layer...

His speed through the first ten layers was astonishing; he cleared a layer in the blink of an eye.

Clearly, the Exotic Beasts inside posed no obstacle to Ji Lingfeng whatsoever.

From the tenth to the twentieth layer, his speed slowed slightly, but he still advanced with unstoppable momentum.

It wasn’t until after the twentieth layer, when he was facing Exotic Beasts around the Tenth Layer of True Master Realm, that the flickering of the lights finally slowed. Now, a change would only occur roughly every ten minutes.

And from the thirtieth layer upward, advancing through each level became incredibly difficult.

Finally, the runes of the thirty-seventh layer lit up.

Thirty minutes later, the light successfully went out.

However, even after a full hour had passed, there was still no sign of the thirty-eighth layer’s light activating.

"What’s going on? Is he stuck?"

"Did he lose his nerve to challenge the thirty-eighth layer?"

The crowd began to stir, and looks of disappointment appeared on many faces.