064 : A Return That Defies Fate.

From the horizon, shadows rose.

Not just one.

Not dozens.

Thousands.

Each figure dripping with black energy, their bodies fractured like broken reflections of reality.

They moved unnaturally, twitching, bending in ways that defied the laws of this world.

And at the center of them all—stood the hooded figure from before.

Lin Tian clenched his fists. "You again."

The figure didn't move, didn't breathe—it simply existed.

Then, it spoke.

"The Forgotten One has awakened."

Lin Tian's smirk widened. "Good. I was getting bored."

The shadows charged.

And the battle began again.

The first wave rushed him.

Lin Tian didn't hesitate. He moved like a storm, cutting through the creatures with brutal efficiency. Every strike shattered them, tearing through their unnatural forms.

But just like before—they didn't stay down.

Lin Tian clicked his tongue. "Still playing that trick?"

The shadows reformed, their bodies knitting back together instantly. It was like fighting something that refused to die.

Su Yun's voice was sharp. "Lin Tian, we need a new strategy! They won't stop!"

Lin Tian exhaled, scanning the battlefield.

And then—he saw it.

The hooded figure stood at the center of it all, unmoving.

Lin Tian's golden eyes gleamed. "Found you."

Without warning—he moved.

Faster than thought. Faster than the Tower could process.

One second, he was in the battlefield.

The next—he was in front of the hooded figure.

His fist collided with its chest.

And this time—it did not phase through.

The figure staggered.

Lin Tian smirked. "So you're not untouchable after all."

The figure's head slowly tilted up.

And then—it smiled.

"You are learning."

Before Lin Tian could react—everything shattered.

The world collapsed around him.

The battlefield, the sky, the creatures—all of it was wiped away in an instant.

Lin Tian found himself standing in complete emptiness.

And then—a new voice spoke.

Not the Forgotten One.

Not the hooded figure.

Not even the System.

Something greater.

"Leave."

Lin Tian narrowed his eyes. "And if I don't?"

The voice echoed with power.

"Then the Tower will no longer protect you."

Lin Tian smirked. "Then let it try to stop me."

Silence.

Then—a final message appeared.

[Final Warning: Lin Tian has been marked for complete erasure.]

Lin Tian exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Looks like I'm making progress."

Su Yun's voice was filled with disbelief. "Lin Tian, do you even understand what you just did?!"

Lin Tian chuckled. "Yeah."

"I just pissed off the Tower itself."

The world returned.

And Lin Tian—stepped forward.

Because nothing, not the Tower, not the Forgotten One, and not even the will of the Tower itself, was going to stop him now.

The battlefield had vanished.

The creatures, the hooded figure, even the shattered sky—all of it was gone.

Lin Tian now stood in a vast white space, the familiar presence of the Tower surrounding him once more. The System, silent for so long, flickered back to life.

[Trial Complete.]

[You may proceed.]

And then—a golden light appeared before him.

[Roulette of Fate: Ready to Spin.]

Lin Tian smirked. "Took you long enough."

Su Yun's voice chimed in, amused. "You better get something good this time. No more useless rocks."

Lin Tian chuckled. "Let's see what fate has in store."

He reached forward—and spun the wheel.

The symbols blurred, flashing between rewards of all kinds.

[Divine Artifact]

[Cursed Relic]

[Unknown Ability]

[Mystery Box]

[???] (Uncategorized Prize?)

The wheel slowed.

And then—it stopped.

A brilliant golden light erupted from the wheel, far brighter than anything Lin Tian had seen before.

The System's voice echoed.

[Congratulations! You have received…]

[A Celestial Relic: The Heart of Devouring.]

Lin Tian's golden eyes sharpened. "Now that sounds interesting."

A small, black crystal materialized in front of him, pulsing faintly with a deep, endless energy.

Lin Tian reached out, taking the relic into his hand. The moment his fingers touched it—a surge of power coursed through his body.

The System provided a description.

[The Heart of Devouring: A relic born from the remnants of forgotten power.]

[Effect: Enhances the Devourer's Domain, allowing you to consume more than just Qi—now, you can devour concepts, rules, and even the power of the Tower itself.]

Lin Tian's smirk widened. "Now we're talking."

Su Yun's voice was breathless. "Lin Tian… this isn't just a weapon. It's a way to break the Tower's control over you."

Lin Tian exhaled slowly, feeling the energy of the relic meld into his soul.

The Tower had tried to erase him.

Now—he had the power to erase the Tower.

He clenched his fist, the black crystal dissolving into his body, becoming part of him.

Then, he stepped forward.

Because this climb was no longer about reaching the top.

It was about breaking everything that stood in his way.

Lin Tian stood at the entrance to the Eighth Floor, the faint glow of the gateway shimmering in front of him. Normally, climbers would proceed cautiously, preparing for whatever new trial awaited them.

But Lin Tian?

He wasn't planning to climb the normal way.

Su Yun's voice echoed in his mind. "Lin Tian, are you really going to—"

Lin Tian smirked. "I told you, didn't I?"

He raised his hand, summoning the power of the Heart of Devouring.

Dark energy coiled around his fingers, pulsing with an unnatural force. The relic had given him something new—the ability to devour concepts.

And right now?

He was going to devour the very idea of these floors existing.

Without hesitation, Lin Tian clenched his fist—

And the Eighth Floor shattered.

The Tower trembled violently.

The sky above cracked. The walls of the Eighth Floor began to collapse, twisting, folding in on themselves.

Lin Tian stepped forward, the energy of the Heart of Devouring expanding outward.

And then—he did it again.

The Ninth Floor—gone.

The Tenth Floor—waiting.

Su Yun's voice was filled with awe. "Lin Tian… you just destroyed two entire floors… in an instant."

Lin Tian smirked. "I'm not done yet."

He took one final step forward—

And the Tenth Floor pulled him in.

The System, overwhelmed by what had just happened, tried to process what had occurred.

[ERROR.]

[ERROR.]

[Floor Progression Unstable.]

And then—the Tower acknowledged it.

[Lin Tian has reached the 10th Floor.]

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