The Author's Draft-Chapter 59: Secret Of The Tower II

Long Chen lowered his sword, breathing heavily now. That fight had been genuinely difficult—not because the guardian was stronger, but because its technique was perfection itself.

Outside the Tower, the crowd had grown significantly.

The elder managing the entrance sat at his post, occasionally glancing at a jade slip that tracked the climber’s progress through the floors.

"Floor fourteen," he muttered to himself. "Peak Qi Acquisition Realm, and he’s reached floor fourteen. Unbelievable."

One of the disciples standing nearby overheard. "Who is it, Elder?"

"A new inner disciple named Long Chen."

"Long Chen?" The core disciple frowned. "The one who made the bell ring thirteen times?"

"The same."

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

"He’s already at floor fourteen?"

"But he’s only peak Qi Acquisition!"

"The highest floor for that realm is usually floor eight or nine..."

"Prodigies break records. That’s what makes them prodigies."

The elder’s jade slip flashed.

[Floor 15 entered.]

He looked up sharply. "Fifteen. He just entered the fifteenth floor."

The crowd erupted into shocked whispers.

-----

Inside the Tower, Long Chen stood on the fifteenth floor platform.

The chamber looked different here. Larger, the spiritual energy denser, the formation patterns more complex.

And instead of one guardian, five demon beasts materialized simultaneously.

All of them at Foundation Establishment Realm and aggressive bloodlines.

Three demon panthers, five demon bears and eight massive serpents coiled in the center.

[Floor 15 Challenge: Survive the Beast Horde.]

Long Chen drew his sword and prepared—

*Stop,* Azazel said suddenly.

"What?"

*After you clear this floor, I want you to push through to the sixteenth floor and then quit.*

Long Chen frowned. "Why? I can keep going."

*I know you can, but you shouldn’t. Not yet.* Azazel’s tone was urgent. *Get to floor sixteen, request your Blood Orchid Flower, collect whatever other treasures they give you, and then exit the Tower.*

"You still haven’t explained why."

*Because this Tower is the best cultivation ground for the Blood Tyrant Devouring Art that we could possibly find.*

Long Chen blinked. "What?"

*Think about it. The Art requires blood essence for refinement—specifically, demon beast blood. The purer the bloodline, the better the refinement. And this Tower is filled with real demon beasts, all with genuine bloodlines, all at increasing cultivation levels.*

The five beasts on the platform began to stir, preparing to attack.

*Right now, you need to establish the framework of the Tyrant Demon Physique first. That requires the five spiritual materials you collected—including the Blood Orchid. Once the framework is established, the Art automatically begins absorbing blood during combat. Every demon beast you fight becomes fuel for your body refinement.*

Understanding dawned on Long Chen. "So after I build the framework..."

*You come back to the Tower and fight your way up again. Every floor, every demon beast, every drop of blood will strengthen your physique. The Tower essentially becomes an infinite cultivation resource, while making it easier to hide your cultivation method.*

Long Chen looked at the demon beasts preparing to attack him. "That’s... actually brilliant."

*I know. I’m full of good ideas.* Azazel’s smugness was palpable. *So clear these beasts, push to floor sixteen, request for your flower, and then we go back to build your foundation. After that, this Tower becomes a paradise for your cultivation.*

"Understood."

The demon beasts roared simultaneously and charged.

Long Chen met them head-on.

The fight was chaotic—different opponents attacking from different angles, each one dangerous enough to kill an average Foundation Establishment cultivator. The panthers were fast, the bears were strong, and the serpent was venomous.

But Long Chen had faced worse in the back mountains.

His blade flashed through the air in a whirlwind of steel. Heavenrend cut through the first panther’s defenses, void-Splitting Strike piercing a serpent’s skull. The bears fell to combinations of Sword Aura and precise footwork that kept him out of their crushing blows.

Fifteen minutes later, all beasts dissolved into golden light.

[Floor 15 Complete.]

[Time: 15 minutes 42 seconds.]

[Advancing to Floor 16...]

[Congratulations, Challenger. You have reached Floor 16.]

[You have earned the right to request a treasure from the Tower’s Repository.]

[State your request clearly.]

A new interface appeared, hovering in the air with golden script.

"I request a Blood Orchid Flower," Long Chen said clearly.

[Request acknowledged.]

[Blood Orchid Flower: Rare spiritual herb. Confirmed.]

[Additional standard rewards for Floor 16 clearance will also be provided.]

Golden light materialized on the platform, condensing into physical form.

Three jade boxes appeared.

Long Chen approached and opened them one by one.

The first contained the Blood Orchid Flower—a crimson bloom with petals that seemed to pulse with lifeblood. Even sealed in the jade box, he could feel its potent spiritual energy.

The second box held six pills—Foundation Establishment Breakthrough Pills, each one worth a fortune in the outside world.

The third box contained a technique manual—"Flowing River Sword Art."

[Do you wish to continue to Floor 17, or exit the Tower?]

"I’m exiting," Long Chen said.

[Exit confirmed.]

[You may re-enter at any time. Current progress saved: Floor 16 cleared.]

[Challenger Long Chen, your performance has been recorded. The Tower acknowledges your potential.]

Golden light engulfed Long Chen.

The world dissolved.

-----

Long Chen materialized outside the Tower entrance.

The massive double doors opened, and he stepped through into the courtyard.

The crowd had grown massive—hundreds of disciples now, all waiting to see who had been climbing.

When Long Chen emerged, silence fell.

Everyone stared at him—at the three jade boxes in his hands, at the slight fatigue in his posture, at the aura of someone who’d just completed something extraordinary.

The elder managing the entrance stood up immediately, his eyes wide. "You cleared sixteen floors."

It wasn’t a question.

"Yes, Elder," Long Chen confirmed.

The courtyard erupted into chaos.

"SIXTEEN FLOORS!?"

"At peak Qi Acquisition!?"

"That’s impossible!"

Long Chen ignored the shouting and walked through the crowd.

Disciples parted automatically, staring at him like he was some kind of legend walking among them.

Messy Hair and Stocky Guy from earlier stood near the line, their mouths hanging open.

"I told you he couldn’t ring the bell ten times," Messy Hair whispered.

"You were very wrong," Stocky Guy replied, his voice stunned.

Long Chen kept walking, heading away from the Tower, away from the crowd, toward the inner disciple domain.

He had what he needed, the Blood Orchid Flower, the other materials waiting in his spatial ring. Everything required to build the framework of the Tyrant Demon Physique.

And after that, he’d return to the Tower and begin the real cultivation.

Behind him, the crowd continued to buzz with shock and speculation.

But Long Chen didn’t look back.

He had work to do.