C6 Skysplit Tower

Upon hearing the remark, Mr. Xu was torn between laughter and tears. After a moment, he shook his head and said, "I'm merely a servant tasked with sweeping. How could I possibly impose on you?"

He stepped forward to take the broom from Chu Yun.

"Don't!"

Chu Yun quickly stepped back, smiling. "I'll be done sweeping in no time. If I stop now, it would just make me uncomfortable. Please, go take a rest. Allow me to handle the sweeping today."

Mr. Xu observed Chu Yun and asked, "Are you sure you want to sweep?"

"Absolutely!"

Chu Yun nodded emphatically.

Mr. Xu gave Chu Yun a look, then, without further protest, turned and settled down to rest beneath the tree.

He recognized Chu Yun, not for his former status, but for his remarkable memory. Over the decades, he had seen countless individuals come and go in the Compendium Pavilion, and he remembered each one.

Yet, of all those people, only Chu Yun had ever offered to help him sweep. Reflecting on the recent whispers about Chu Yun, he sighed and shook his head.

"It looks like he's truly lost his mind."

Eventually, Chu Yun finished sweeping, and a system notification sounded in his mind.

'Congratulations, your mission is complete.'

'Your reward of three Ordinary Grade Baits has been delivered to your System Space. Please check.'

Chu Yun felt a sense of contentment upon hearing this. He returned the broom to its place and gave a nod to Mr. Xu, who was resting under the tree, before turning to leave the Compendium Pavilion, ready to press his luck elsewhere.

Just then, several disciples strolled by, engrossed in animated conversation, their demeanor brimming with excitement as if they had just witnessed something spectacular.

"Did you hear? The Skysplit Tower record has been broken! Lee Yuanfeng, the second son of Grand Elder Li Daoran from Chaoyang Peak, has conquered the seventh level of the Skysplit Tower!"

"What?! The seventh level? How could that be? Even Chu Yun, with his Sixth Grade Martial Spirit, the Earthly Demon Ape, only reached the sixth level. Lee Yuanfeng's Martial Spirit is only Fourth Grade, isn't it? How did he manage to break through to the seventh level of the Skysplit Tower?"

Lee Yuanfeng doesn't just possess a single Martial Spirit—he has twin Martial Spirits! Besides the 'Illusion Water Screen,' he has another Martial Spirit of an extremely high grade! It's rumored to be a Sixth Grade Martial Spirit!"

"Twin Martial Spirits? And one is a Sixth Grade Martial Spirit? His talent is absolutely terrifying!"

The discussions grew into a clamor, with every disciple who heard the news unable to contain their astonishment.

The emergence of a Sixth Grade Martial Spirit was already astounding. But Lee Yuanfeng having the exceedingly rare twin Martial Spirits? His talent was formidable within the Elemental River Sect, surpassing even Chu Yun. Even in the Spiritual Sea, he was considered an exceptional presence.

This time, by leveraging his twin Martial Spirits, Lee Yuanfeng had conquered the seventh level of the Skysplit Tower, which served as a testament to his talent and strength. Chu Yun had never achieved this feat.

"A Sixth Grade Martial Spirit? May I ask, what kind of Sixth Grade Martial Spirit is it?"

At that moment, a voice chimed in.

"It's said to be a giant clad in armor, possessing immense and wild strength. It bears a resemblance to the 'Earthly Demon Ape.'"

The respondent paused mid-sentence, turning to see who had asked the question, and his face took on an odd expression, a mix of surprise and sympathy.

The inquirer was none other than Chu Yun.

The man thought to himself, Chu Yun, once the revered Eldest Brother of the Sect, had fallen from grace. Now stripped of his Martial Spirit and martial prowess, and learning of a talent surpassing his own, he must be struggling internally.

"So, it's a Sixth Grade Martial Spirit similar to the 'Earthly Demon Ape'? I see."

Chu Yun offered him a smile.

Chu Yun wasn't upset. Rather, in that moment, he came to a realization about many things.

"Lee Yuanfeng's Fourth Grade Martial Spirit, known as 'Phantom Water Screen,' specializes in creating illusions. That armor is nothing but a clever ruse, and inside it lies the 'Earthly Demon Ape'!"

Chu Yun let out a cold laugh.

Lee Yuanfeng was the son of Lee Daoran. The reason Lee Daoran had sent Lee Zhi and others to kill him was to keep this secret under wraps.

Mission Triggered:

- Enter the Skysplit Tower's Nine Levels.

- Time Limit: Within one day.

- Reward: One Spiritual Grade Bait, three Ordinary Grade Baits.

Chu Yun was both astonished and elated.

Spiritual Grade Bait!

This was his first mission that offered Spiritual Grade Bait as a reward.

"Do you want me to break through to the ninth level of the Skysplit Tower?" Chu Yun mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

The Skysplit Tower, a trial ground within the Elemental River Sect, consisted of nine levels. The tower would generate an illusion based on the challenger's current level of ability. The higher the floor, the more formidable the illusion. Defeating the illusion at one's current level allowed progression to the next, where the challenge would continue.

Previously, Chu Yun, with his Sixth Grade Martial Spirit, the Earthly Demon Ape, had only managed to surpass the first six levels, halting at the seventh. Now, the mission demanded he conquer the ninth level, a formidable challenge indeed.

Yet, Chu Yun was undeterred.

"Lee Yuanfeng, after stealing my Earthly Demon Ape and turning it into twin Martial Spirits, managed to break through the seventh level. Now that I possess the Blazing Sun Heavenly Dragon, clearing the ninth level should be a walk in the park, right?"

After some contemplation, Chu Yun resolved to complete the mission. However, he couldn't just stroll over there without any precautions. He needed to disguise himself first.

The Lee Family, father and son, were notoriously ruthless, willing to murder fellow sect disciples and steal their Martial Spirits without a second thought. If Chu Yun revealed his Blazing Sun Heavenly Dragon to them, there was no telling what heinous acts they might commit.

"My cultivation base is currently too weak to confront Grand Elder Li Daoran, so for now, I must bide my time. But make no mistake, I will have my revenge!" Chu Yun vowed with determination.

At the base of the Skysplit Tower, a sea of people had gathered. The buzz about Lee Yuanfeng setting a new record in the tower had sent shockwaves through the Elemental River Sect. Until now, only a select few prodigies had managed to reach the sixth level. The seventh level remained an untouched realm of taboo.

Today, Lee Yuanfeng conquered the seventh level of the Skysplit Tower. He shone like a deity, basking in the adoration of countless onlookers.

Yet, some remained skeptical.

Zhao Lingling from Jade Excellence Peak was among the doubters.

Aside from Chu Yun, she was the only prodigy to have breached the sixth level of the Skysplit Tower. But the seventh level proved to be an insurmountable challenge. Despite numerous attempts, she had met with failure.

Lee Yuanfeng watched the beautiful figure retreat from the Skysplit Tower and burst into laughter.

"Junior Sister Lingling, you shouldn't overexert yourself. The seventh floor of the Skysplit Tower isn't easily conquered. I worry you might injure yourself if you persist," he said.

The disciples from Chaoyang Peak who stood by Lee Yuanfeng nodded in agreement, bolstering his image as an unbeatable warrior. The crowd didn't question his words; instead, they regarded Lee Yuanfeng with eyes full of admiration.

Having cleared the seventh level of the Skysplit Tower, Lee Yuanfeng had demonstrated his prowess to everyone in the Elemental River Sect. Barring any unforeseen events, he was poised to become the Sect's new Eldest Brother.

Zhao Lingling cast a glance at Lee Yuanfeng, bit her lip, and remained silent. After taking a Pill, she sat down cross-legged to regulate her breathing, readying herself for another attempt at the seventh level.

Lee Yuanfeng gazed at Zhao Lingling's resolute expression with a sense of triumph, feeling an urge to laugh skyward.

As a talent of Jade Excellence Peak, Zhao Lingling's Martial Spirit was merely Fourth Grade, not particularly high within the Elemental River Sect. Apart from Chu Yun, who possessed a Sixth Grade Martial Spirit, there were several geniuses with Fifth Grade Martial Spirits whose innate abilities surpassed hers.

Yet, only she and Chu Yun had managed to clear the sixth level of the Skysplit Tower.

The reason was singular: her extraordinary effort. Through relentless training and strategic combat acumen, she had maximized the potential of her Martial Spirit, the Three-Eyed Cat, to its fullest extent.

In this world, individuals with high-grade Martial Spirits are exceedingly rare, and thus, they are hailed as geniuses. Yet, even more scarce are those with lower-grade Martial Spirits who can rival the prowess of these geniuses.

Zhao Lingling was one such individual.

Her Martial Spirit might have been merely fourth grade, but her combat abilities surpassed those of her peers with fifth-grade Martial Spirits.

Before Lee Yuanfeng acquired the 'Earthly Demon Ape', he could only look up to her in admiration. The thought of outstripping her had never crossed his mind.

But now, he found himself on a higher plane, gazing down at Zhao Lingling as she struggled to ascend.

This sensation left Lee Yuanfeng utterly elated.

"Come to think of it, I owe a debt of gratitude to that fool Chu Yun. Without him, I wouldn't be where I am today. From this moment forward, glory, status, power, and the affections of beautiful women will all be mine, while the rest of you can do nothing but gaze up at me from the ground!" Lee Yuanfeng reveled in his heart.

Yet, unbeknownst to all, an unremarkable figure entered the Skysplit Tower.

This person was none other than Chu Yun, cleverly incognito.