061 : The Calm Before the Collapse.

Lin Tian leaned forward. "Explain."

The woman hesitated, then whispered, "Have you ever heard of the Forgotten One?"

Lin Tian's golden eyes narrowed. "No."

The woman exhaled. "No one has. Because the Tower erased all traces of it. A climber that was never supposed to exist. Something that broke the system so badly that the Tower had to seal them away."

Lin Tian remained silent, absorbing the information.

The woman continued. "And now, the seal is breaking."

Lin Tian's mind worked quickly. The Tower was breaking down, climbers were being sent back, and people were being pulled in.

And at the center of it all—this 'Forgotten One.'

Bai Ye whistled. "So basically, some ancient nightmare is about to wake up, and the Tower is freaking out."

The woman nodded. "Exactly."

Lin Tian's smirk returned, but this time, it was colder.

"Then I guess I'll have to stop it before that happens."

The woman stared at him. "You're insane."

Bai Ye laughed. "You get used to it."

Lin Tian stood, cracking his knuckles. "Tell me everything you know."

Because if something strong enough to break the Tower's rules was waking up…

Then Lin Tian was going to end it before it even had a chance.

The woman who had spoken of the Forgotten One hesitated, her fingers gripping the edge of her glass tightly. Even mentioning the name seemed to make her uneasy.

Lin Tian sat across from her, his golden eyes unreadable. "Tell me everything."

She exhaled, glancing around as if expecting something—**or someone—**to be listening. Then, in a hushed voice, she spoke.

"A long time ago, there was a climber who reached the top of the Tower. Not the 100th floor. Beyond it."

Lin Tian's eyes flickered.

"Beyond the 100th floor?" Bai Ye raised an eyebrow. "I thought that was the end."

The woman shook her head. "That's what the Tower wants you to believe." She leaned forward. "There was one who climbed higher. Someone who should never have existed. And when they did, the Tower—broke."

Lin Tian remained silent, processing her words.

She continued. "The Tower tried to erase them. To remove their existence from history. But they didn't disappear. Instead… they became something else. Something the Tower itself could not control. A glitch, a curse, a being beyond its rules."

Lin Tian exhaled slowly. "And now, that being is waking up?"

The woman nodded. "Yes. And the Tower is panicking."

Bai Ye sighed. "Great. So we're dealing with a literal Tower-killing monster. That's fun."

Lin Tian smirked. "Sounds like a challenge."

The woman stared at him in disbelief. "You're insane if you think you can fight it."

Lin Tian's golden eyes burned. "I don't plan to fight it."

The woman frowned. "Then what—"

Lin Tian stood up. "I plan to end it."

If something strong enough to break the Tower's rules was coming, then he would do what he always did.

Break the rules harder.

As Lin Tian walked through the empty streets later that night, he felt it.

A pull.

The week was almost up. The Tower was calling him back.

Su Yun's voice was quiet. "You're going to have to fight this thing, aren't you?"

Lin Tian exhaled. "Probably."

Su Yun hesitated. "And if it's stronger than the Tower itself?"

Lin Tian smirked. "Then I'll just have to be stronger than it."

Silence.

Then, Su Yun laughed softly. "That's so like you."

Lin Tian looked up at the sky. "You'll be with me, right?"

Su Yun's voice was warm. "Always."

And then—the world shifted.

The city faded.

The Tower took him back.

Lin Tian stepped into the Sixth Floor, the familiar feeling of the Tower's presence settling around him. Unlike the previous floors, this one was a massive fortress, its walls stretching endlessly into the distance.

The System spoke.

[Sixth Floor Trial: The Siege of Eternity.]

[Survive the oncoming horde for one hour.]

Lin Tian smirked. "Back to work."

Su Yun's voice giggled. "Try not to break anything too badly this time."

Lin Tian cracked his knuckles. "No promises."

And as the first wave of enemies rushed toward him, he smiled.

The real battle was just beginning.

The air smelled of iron and smoke.

Lin Tian stood atop the walls of the massive fortress, staring out at the endless wasteland beyond. The sky above was dark, swirling with storm clouds that never faded. And in the distance—they were coming.

An army.

Hundreds, maybe thousands, of monstrous figures—twisted creatures of shadow and steel, armed with jagged weapons and glowing eyes. Some crawled, some flew, some towered over the battlefield like walking giants.

And they were all heading straight for him.

The System spoke.

[Sixth Floor Trial: The Siege of Eternity.]

[Survive the oncoming horde for one hour.]

Lin Tian smirked. "One hour, huh? That's all?"

Su Yun's voice rang out, amused. "You say that like it's going to be easy."

Lin Tian cracked his knuckles, his golden eyes gleaming. "It won't be. But it'll be fun."

And then—the siege began.

The first wave hit like a storm.

The creatures rushed the fortress, their shrieks filling the air as they climbed the walls, leapt onto the battlements, and charged toward Lin Tian.

But Lin Tian was already moving.

He met the first attacker head-on, dodging a massive blade before driving his fist into the creature's chest. The impact shattered its ribs, sending it flying off the wall.

Another came from behind—Lin Tian spun, grabbing its weapon mid-swing and snapping it in half before kicking the monster over the edge.

A third leapt from above, claws outstretched—Lin Tian caught it by the throat, squeezed, and crushed its windpipe before tossing it aside.

It was a relentless onslaught. Hundreds of them. But Lin Tian didn't retreat.

He advanced.

Minutes passed. Then twenty. Then forty.

Lin Tian didn't stop.

His body moved like a blur, weaving between attacks, countering with lethal precision. Every punch, every kick, every movement was flawless. He had fought armies before. He had faced cultivators, beasts, and celestial beings.

And these creatures?

They weren't enough to stop him.

Su Yun's voice hummed. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Lin Tian smirked, grabbing an enemy by the arm and using it as a club to smash another attacker. "A little."

The hour was almost up. Victory was within reach.

But then—everything changed.

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