The Trials of Growth

The next day.

Luo Chuan rose, washed, and ate as he usually did.

However, instead of lounging in the sun as he often did, he headed straight for the Tower of Trial. Yao Ziyan did the same, her demeanor calm and composed.

For both of them, the events of the previous night were inconsequential.

Luo Chuan had no interest in the rumors swirling around Nine Stars City. Yao Ziyan, as an Eminence of the monster royal family, was even less concerned with idle human gossip.

Today, Luo Chuan had a clear objective: to conquer the normal mode on the first floor of the Tower of Trial.

Unlike the simple mode, normal mode didn't allow challengers to choose their power level. Instead, every participant was locked at the pinnacle of Mortal Awakening.

In other words, no realm advantage could be relied upon—success would depend purely on one's actual strength and skill.

Taking a deep breath, Luo Chuan steadied himself.

While death within the Tower of Trial wasn't permanent and allowed for resurrection, the fear of pain and the intensity of the battles were very real.

The air around him shimmered, and hazy figures began to coalesce. Within moments, two massive wolves materialized, their forms radiating an ominous, crystalline glow.

They were amethyst demon wolves, creatures infamous in the Nine Stars Mountain Range for their ferocity and strength.

Each wolf exuded spiritual energy that rivaled Luo Chuan's, their presence menacing and overpowering.

Both beasts were at the pinnacle of Mortal Awakening, just like him.

The Mortal Awakening realm focused on drawing the spiritual energy of the world into the body to enhance physical strength. At this level, most cultivators possessed similar raw power.

But strength alone didn't determine victory—combat experience often tipped the scales.

For example, a seasoned assassin without spiritual energy could easily defeat a novice cultivator at Mortal Awakening.

Adding to the challenge, monsters like the amethyst demon wolves had an inherent physical advantage over humans.

The normal mode was already proving daunting—what lay ahead in the four higher difficulty modes was unimaginable.

The battle began without warning.

Having endured countless deaths in the Tower of Trial the day before, Luo Chuan's control over his own power had improved significantly.

But it wasn't enough.

Within moments, one of the wolves lunged, and before he could react, its jaws clamped around his neck. His vision darkened.

He was dead.

Resurrected, he fought again.

And again, he died within a few breaths.

This cycle repeated endlessly: resurrection, battle, death.

For Luo Chuan, time was his greatest asset. As the owner of the shop, he could afford to hone himself relentlessly.

With each resurrection, his movements grew sharper, his reactions faster. Each battle lasted a little longer than the last.

His growth was astonishing—his progress palpable.

The talent Luo Chuan displayed was nothing short of terrifying.

Outside the tower, the city buzzed with excitement.

At Drunken Moon Pavilion, Gu Yunxi returned from her morning meal and noticed the unusual chatter among the streets.

"What are all these people talking about?" she asked curiously.

Jiang Wanshang looked at her in disbelief, her eyes wide with surprise. "You don't know? This news has already spread across the entire city!"

Gu Yunxi frowned. "Stop teasing me and just tell me."

With a mischievous grin, Jiang Wanshang dodged Gu Yunxi's playful swipes before laughing and relenting.

"Alright, alright! I'll tell you everything…"

Finally freed from Gu Yunxi's antics, Jiang Wanshang began to recount the incredible rumors surrounding the mysterious figure in Nine Stars City.