"Chapet 12" Breaking Through (1)

"The Sky Heaven Tower is the ultimate cultivation paradise in this world, and even other sects and powerhouses come here every five years, seeking a chance to enter and cultivate."

Liu Xing was trying his best to make a good impression on Xuan, hoping to gain his trust and persuade him to join his faction.

As Xuan's eyes remained fixed on the Sky Heaven Tower, he thought, "Why do I get the feeling that this is more than just a cultivation paradise?"

Xuan's intuition told him that the Sky Heaven Tower held more secrets than it revealed.

However, he knew this wasn't the time to ponder the Sky Heaven Tower's secrets, as he was more intrigued by why Liu Xing was making such a concerted effort to recruit him to his faction.

"Brother Xing!" He shifted his attention to Liu Xing. "Let's cut to the chase. Why do you want me in your faction? What if I'm not interested in joining?"

His sudden question caught Liu Xing off guard, and his smile shifted to a serious tone. "Well, I didn't think Brother Xuan would decide to get to the serious topic so soon." He placed his hand on Xuan's shoulder.

"See, if new talent emerges in this sect, we have the first right to claim them. And if we can't have them, we'll make sure to eliminate them, so they won't fall into others' hands."

He flashed his smile again. "But I don't think Brother Xuan needs to worry about this, as I believe he's smart enough to make the right choice."

This was a clear threat, and Xuan now realized he was the target of Liu Xing and his faction.

"Is this a warning?" Xuan asked, maintaining a safe distance from Liu Xing.

Uncertain about the sect's rules, Xuan wasn't sure what Liu Xing was capable of, but he was determined to avoid people like Liu Xing, even if it meant making enemies of them.

Liu Xing smiled, "Who knows? But I think Brother Xuan should think carefully before making any decision. Till then Rest well, Brother Xuan. We'll meet again in three days."

Liu Xing then turned to leave, confident that Xuan would choose to join his faction. Otherwise, he had no doubt that Xuan would suffer the consequences.

Xuan watched Liu Xing leave, and the encounter left a bad taste in his mouth. He was certain that Liu Xing had an ulterior motive for his actions, but even with that knowledge, Xuan felt that things weren't as straightforward as they seemed.

"We'll see in three days," Xuan murmured, then chose one of the empty cave abodes and entered it.

As he stepped inside, the barrier around the cave reactivated, ensuring that no one could enter or exit without his permission.

The interior resembled a large room, complete with wooden furniture, a cultivation mat, and ample empty space, leaving it up to the cave's occupant to customize it as they saw fit.

Xuan, who had been stuck at the peak of Qi refinement, decided to utilize the abundant Qi in the air to break through to the Meridian Unlocking stage.

Earlier, he had sensed that Liu Xing was also a Meridian Unlocking stage cultivator, and Xuan was confident that if he could break through within the next three days, it would be much harder for Liu Xing to pressure him.

"He's at most a 4th-level Meridian Stage cultivator," Xuan thought, and then he suddenly saw something he had been waiting for a long time.

The system screen flickered in front of his face.

[System]: Your reward system has been refreshed. You have seven random rewards to use before it refreshes again.

Xuan's eyes lit up at the sight. Initially, when he discovered that the system had limitations, he felt disappointed.

However, he later realized that nothing comes for free, and there must be a good reason for such limitations.

A smile crept onto his face as he began cultivating. Seated on the cultivation mat, Xuan focused all his Qi on breaking through to the next cultivation stage. Fully immersed in his cultivation, he poured all his energy into surpassing his current limits.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the elders was underway, focusing on the 'Curse of Death' and the 'Night Tower'. Their expressions were grim, reflecting the gravity of the discussion.

"How is this possible?" the First Elder asked, his tone grave. "The Night Tower was erased from this world centuries ago. Junior Sister Ning, are you certain it's the 'Curse of Death' and not something else?"

The other elders nodded in agreement, awaiting Ning Binglan's confirmation.

"I'm 100% sure about this," Ning Binglan said, her expression resolute. She wasn't surprised by their sceptical faces; if she hadn't witnessed it firsthand, she would have doubted the situation herself.

"Please, Junior Sister, tell us everything," the Third Elder requested in his polite tone. "If your words are true, our world may be on the brink of another dark era."

Ning Binglan began telling them from the moment, they enter that small town. From killing the bandits to finding Xuan. Xuan's fight with Lei Yan. Then how the man who was with bandits appeared, her fight with the man till Xuan killed the man and the most important part, the finding of curse of death on the man after his death.

The elders' expressions turned grim, especially after learning about the process of the Curse of Death. They had read about it, and Ning Binglan's words matched their knowledge, confirming their suspicions.

"What about that boy?" the Second Elder asked, his eyes narrowing. "What if he's involved in all of this? How could you let him go so easily, Junior Sister?"

The Second Elder's question cut through the air, targeting Ning Binglan, while the other elders were still grappling with the implications of the situation.

The Second Elder's question drew the others' attention to Xuan. Ning Binglan's eyes narrowed, surprised that despite her thorough explanation, the Second Elder would still attempt to shift the blame onto her.

"Senior Brother, are you questioning my judgment?" Ning Binglan asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"I let him go because I believed he was not involved in the matter and was simply a passerby. The townspeople confirmed this, and I had no reason to unjustly accuse an innocent person."

The Second Elder chuckled, but his tone remained serious. "Junior Sister, I'm not questioning your judgment, but sometimes even the most discerning among us can be wrong."

He added, "That boy was the most suspicious of all, and if I were in your place, I would have made sure to investigate him further. I would have proven that he must be one of them. Otherwise, how can you explain his ability to kill a cultivator at the Spirit Realm?"