Chapter 7: Strength in Adversity

What has moved you?

By the time he reached the sixteenth fiery stone, Chen Xi's arms and legs had already been reduced to half their original length. By the time he reached the twentieth fiery stone, there was no flesh left on his face, only the bones of his face remained. His eyeballs moved slightly within their sockets, still resolute.

Zhou Jiu pointed out with a smile: "Master, please do not laugh. The more you laugh, the more I know you are getting angrier. If you smile kindly in a little while, I fear I will not be able to bear it."

After the Nine-Colored Stone arrived at Qingliang Mountain, the location of the Xiaoman Heavenly Sect, it frantically absorbed the spiritual energy of Qingliang Mountain. As a result, several hundred years later, the spiritual essence of Qingliang Mountain had been nearly depleted. It is precisely for this reason that the Xiaoman Heavenly Sect has gradually fallen into decline. The mysterious nature of this speculation is captivating, though it remains uncertain whether it aligns with the truth

The sovereign glanced at him and said seriously: "Do you think that breaking the rules... is that easy?"

My goodness! He actually went in!

When Chen Xi reached the fifth piece of blazing stone, there was no flesh or blood left on his feet. The sound of his bones stepping on the stone was so faint yet so clear. This sound drilled into Chen Xi's ears, lingering and refusing to fade away. As if already numb, Chen Xi bit down on his bleeding lips and stepped onto the sixth piece of blazing stone

Are you worried about that little servant? It is truly unnecessary! He is an ordinary person trying to enter the Tower of Fortune to seek his luck, isn't he just asking for trouble! If he does not come out of the tower within three minutes, I will slap myself twenty times!

Ding Mei said somewhat anxiously: "Once you enter the door, even the dean cannot pull you out, so you need not worry about anything now; all consequences will be addressed after you come out! But remember, you can only cultivate inside for a maximum of one month. When the time is up, the Fortune Altering Tower will automatically send you out. Do not resist with your power, or you will face irreversible consequences!"

After Chen Xi entered the door, he did not notice anything unusual. He paused at the entrance for a few seconds, organizing the information he had about the fortune-changing tower in his mind. This information included what he had remembered from his childhood, as well as what he had continuously inquired about later. Of course, there was also the detailed account that his loyal old servant had made every effort to convey to him before passing away.

Chen Xi furrowed his brows and looked up.

The old man in a white robe with a white beard asked, "What would compel you to disregard the rules of the sect?"

The people gathered outside the Fortune Alter were all taken aback, as they ... . ... witnessed the interior of the Fortune Alter, where they saw the skull. This was a scene they had never encountered before, as a skull was resolutely rolling towards the stone steps of the three-tiered tower.

In an instant, the other straw sandal also turned to ashes

... ...

Disciples who have undergone the transformation at the Tower of Fortune will be secretly sent to the Inner Sect. The Inner Sect, which is rumored to exist, is a place that outer sect disciples yearn for yet know little about. These exceptional disciples, refined by the Tower of Fortune, are then sent to an even more mysterious location if they are among the best.

The Pavilion of Auspicious Clouds from the East

People do not consider why a declining sect like the Xiaomantian Sect still possesses the Tower of Fate after all these years and continues to have the Nine-Colored Stone

The Nine-Colored Stone is a divine object of Kunlun. It is said that even with the cultivation level of the first generation sect master, upon returning, he sustained considerable injuries.

You can choose any door to enter

The torment does not lie within any door, but on the steps

It is said that the Fortune Alter was personally built by the first leader of the Xiaoman Heavenly Sect. The first leader of the Xiaoman Heavenly Sect reigned for two hundred and thirty-three years, starting from scratch to establish the sect, bringing it into the ranks of the world's top sects. Later, he went to Kunlun to obtain the Nine-Colored Stone to construct the Fortune Alter, which was used to train the disciples of the sect

The sound came from outside the door, as Ding Mei noticed Chen Xi's hesitation

The sovereign's move is precisely to slay a great dragon, Zhou Jiuzhi: "Your heart is unsettled, hetushucom.com, which indicates that you are not as confident as you appear."

When Chen Xi's foot landed on the first stone step, a piercing pain immediately spread from beneath his sole. Chen Xi looked down and discovered that his straw sandals had been reduced to ashes. His foot was resting on a stone block engulfed in golden flames, and the fire crackled as it scorched the bottom of his foot

He arrived at the second floor of the tower, but only a skull remained

He walked towards the steps, rushing to the second floor of the tower

That is because, behind the Xiaoman Tianzong, there is a colossal entity

There is no door outside, yet there is a circle of doors inside. Where does this door lead when it opens

The bloodied soles of his feet were scorched by the flames in an instant, and then his left foot landed on the third fiery stone. The clothes on Chen Xi began to catch fire, and the excruciating pain was no longer confined to his feet. The moment his tattered garments were ignited by the flames, every inch of his skin began to endure the torment.

Zhou Jiuzi tossed the remaining black pieces into the jade plate and shook his head: "I have lost"

The first level of the tower is quite spacious, devoid of any objects. It can be seen at a glance, and there is not even a single table placed inside. However, around the first level of the tower, there are sixteen doorways, which appears extremely peculiar. From the outside, the fortune-changing tower has only the one entrance through which Chen Xi entered, while the rest of the structure is made of brick and stone.

From this point onward, the Xiaoman Heavenly Sect has issued a strict prohibition against students entering the Fortune Alteration Tower without permission

Since the establishment of the Fortune Alter to serve the divine spirit, many disciples who consider themselves to be exceptionally gifted have sought to enter the tower in hopes of changing their fortunes. However, the outcome for those who entered has been uniformly disastrous; all ten have been rendered useless. Those who secretly entered the Fortune Alter were carried out, their meridians completely severed, making it impossible for them to cultivate again. Even if they are still alive, they are nothing more than cripples

Chen Xi made a sound of acknowledgment and showed no further hesitation

It is indeed surprising that such a small figure dares to challenge the rules of the sect

Chen Xi did not turn back, merely nodding slightly with his chin.

However, Chen Xi is more aware than others of one thing... that is, the Xiaoman Tianzong is by no means as simple as it appears on the surface

After the successful construction of the Fortune Alter, the reputation of the Xiaoman Tianzong soared to unprecedented heights. No one expected that, following the establishment of the Fortune Alter, Xiaoman Tianzong would gradually decline, ultimately falling to the status of a second-rate sect within a few hundred years. The reasons behind this decline remain unclear; however, some have speculated that although the first sect leader was exceptionally talented, he ultimately lacked the ability to control divine artifacts. The Nine-Colored Stone is a treasure of Kunlun, and only a place with a dragon vein like Kunlun can nurture it. The reasons behind this decline remain unclear; however, some have speculated that although the first sect leader was exceptionally talented, he ultimately lacked the ability to control divine artifacts. The Nine-Colored Stone is a treasure of Kunlun, and only a place with a dragon vein like Kunlun can nurture it.

Before Chen Xi entered the fortune-changing tower, he heard Ding Mei loudly reprimanding those students who mocked him. Although most of those students came from noble backgrounds, they did not dare to challenge the authority of their instructor. In Qingzhou, the Xiaoman Tianzong still remained the foremost sect. The laughter gradually faded away, but the mocking gazes continued to linger harshly on Chen Xi's back

... ...

In fact, there is no one in the fortune-changing tower

Chen Xichang let out a long sigh, carrying his shoulder pole as he walked through the main gate of the Gaiyun Tower. The moment he entered, a chorus of gasps erupted behind him

He only knows that his parents are still trapped in the Nine Nether Underworld, but he does not know where the Nine Nether Underworld is located

The first level of the tower has sixteen cultivation doors, and entering any one of these doors leads to a stone chamber. These sixteen stone chambers are indistinguishable and can delay the passage of time. Cultivating for one day within these sixteen doors is equivalent to cultivating for one month outside. This is also the reason why one's cultivation improves after entering and then exiting the fortune-changing tower. Moreover, the vitality within the sixteen doors is several times denser than that outside, which greatly benefits the enhancement of one's cultivation

The door of the fortune-changing tower is open

This was the last piece of advice that Ding Mei gave to Chen Xi. As his foot stepped onto the first stone step, everything in the outside world vanished, and he seemed to have entered another realm.

The old man in a white robe with a white beard couldn't help but chuckle: "No wonder you came to find me to play chess; it turns out you have ulterior motives.

The stone steps that were originally visible have vanished, transforming into a suspended stone block staircase. Twenty-eight burning stones float in mid-air, each one higher than the last. One must step on these twenty-eight fiery stones to ascend to the second level of the tower. Chen Xi let out a heavy sigh and placed his other foot on the second fiery stone.

Everyone watch, in a moment he will be thrown out half-dead!

However, Chen Xi did not show any signs of retreat. He initially intended to run up quickly, but soon realized that his feet seemed to be stuck to the fiery stones. Each time he attempted to lift them, it was extremely difficult. He bit his lip and lifted his left foot, which was the first to step on the fiery stones. With a soft tearing sound, a layer of charred flesh was pulled off the sole of his foot.

These individuals spoke in hushed tones, yet their excitement was difficult to conceal

Zhou Jiu's expression changed: "How can it be so strong? When Fu Jinglun was on the second level of the tower, he only burned away the skin, and the flesh was still intact"

By the time he reached the twenty-fourth block of blazing stone, Chen Xi's entire body was devoid of flesh and blood, and even his internal organs had been burned to near nothingness

However, no one dares to enter without permission

With a crack, the left ankle was severed by the fierce flames, and the bones of the foot were left on the stones, quickly charred to black.

An elderly man dressed in a moon-white robe suddenly paused his hand, which was holding a chess piece, and slightly turned his head to look towards the front of the mountain. There lies the location of the Six Courtyards of the Outer Sect of the Xiaoman Tianzong, as well as the site of the Fortune Alter. He hesitated to make his move, prompting Zhou Jiuzhi, who sat across from him, to softly urge, "Sect Master, it is your turn."

It is precisely because Chen Xi is aware of these matters that he must enter the Tower of Transformation. He needs to undergo the refinement of the Tower of Transformation in order to have the opportunity to enter the Inner Sect. Only by reaching the Inner Sect can he investigate the reasons behind that tragic incident from years ago and seek the true culprit within that colossal entity

If it were a common person, they would have long since been unable to endure it

The sovereign said, "It is your turn to make a move."

Zhou Jiu smiled awkwardly and said: "Let’s play chess first. After the game concludes at https://www.hetushu.com, perhaps the sect leader will understand what a great treasure I have picked up."

A broken and incomplete skeleton continues to climb upward

Qingliang Mountain

once, twice, thrice

Ding Mei looked at these people and suddenly felt a sense of sadness. The reason those students were so agitated was simply because Chen Xi had done something they wished to do but dared not attempt. They were all eagerly waiting for the next moment when Chen Xi would be carried out of the Fortune Alter, bloodied and battered.

Chen Xi took a deep breath, allowing his thoughts to settle down

Chen Xi began to climb upward

... ...

Next, he must focus all his attention on dealing with the unknown dangers of the tower

The sovereign smiled and said: "You have lost the chess game, but that does not necessarily mean you have lost the external strategy... The verification stone steps, when faced with strength, become stronger. Zhou Jiuzhi, your Qingwu Academy has been suppressed by Su Xiaosu's Huangluan Academy for so many years, it seems that this time you are about to turn the tables. If he can ascend to the fourth level of the tower, I will absolve both of you of your transgressions"

... ...

Outside the door, Ding Mei was astonished and speechless.

He waved his sleeve and said, "Let the people from the six institutes of the outer sect see how much determination and ambition this young man possesses"

Zhou Jiu pointed in astonishment: "Master... there has never been an outer sect disciple who could ascend to the fourth level of the tower, never!"

Instant

It is rumored that the strongest disciple of the Outer Sect's Six Courtyards only ascended to the third level of the tower, and that was under the escort of the sect's elders. There have been instances where individuals, after reaching the third level of the tower, attempted to ascend further, but as soon as one foot stepped onto the next step, they were rendered incapacitated. It remains unknown what sinister things lie within that tower, as it is indeed so bizarre.

Is this little servant out of their mind

Chen Xi was unable to steady himself and fell onto the blazing stones.

The fire scorched the soles of his feet in an instant, and a pungent, burnt smell penetrated his nose

Then, the flesh on his chest, lower abdomen, and including his face began to tighten from the burning, then turned black and fell off

In fact, it is not that the Xiaoman Tianzong has declined due to the gradual depletion of the spiritual energy of Qingliang Mountain. Rather, it is because a large number of the most outstanding disciples have been secretly sent away