C9 Shadow Steps

"Who in the world broke through the Skysplit Tower?"

The question rippled through the crowd like a series of waves, sowing confusion among the many challengers who had just been teleported out of the Skysplit Tower.

These trial participants were puzzled as to why they had been teleported out prematurely. It was only after overhearing the surrounding conversations that they were stunned to learn someone had successfully navigated the Skysplit Tower.

When the crowd inquired about the identity of the person who had conquered the Skysplit Tower, the bewildered cultivators could only shake their heads in ignorance; no one came forward.

"We're missing one person."

A disciple with keen eyesight glanced over the group and noted, "There should be seventy-nine trial challengers in this batch, but only seventy-eight are present."

"Did that person vanish? Who could he be?"

A burning question lingered in everyone's mind, except for one graceful figure who stood aside, lost in thought.

"Was it Eldest Brother—Chu Yun—who slipped away amidst the chaos?"

Zhao Lingling cocked her head, her eyes reflecting her puzzlement.

Her Martial Spirit, known as the Three-Eyed Cat, granted her enhanced vision. This gift allowed her to spot flaws in her opponents' moves during combat with ease.

Chu Yun's disguise might have fooled others, but Zhao Lingling recognized him at a glance.

"Wasn't he already defeated? Why is he here, and why disguise himself?"

Zhao Lingling mused, a sudden realization dawning on her.

She turned to gaze at the Skysplit Tower, its nine stories shimmering with golden light. Disbelief shone in her lively eyes.

The events within the Skysplit Tower had spread throughout the entire Sect in an incredibly short span of time.

The Elemental River Sect was now engulfed in profound astonishment; the news had become common knowledge.

Even the Sect Master of the Elemental River Sect, Immortal Shangyuan, and the Peak Masters were all seeking the identity of the disciple who had opened the Skysplit Tower.

They had exhausted nearly every resource at their disposal to uncover the identity of this individual, eager to bring him forward.

To call the person capable of such a feat a once-in-a-generation genius would be no overstatement. Once he steps forward to claim his identity, a deluge of honors, resources, and status will surely be bestowed upon him.

However, this individual had remained conspicuously absent. This left many puzzled, particularly the young disciples eager for fame. They couldn't fathom why someone would pass up such a splendid opportunity for recognition.

"What good are fame and glory? Chu Yun was once the esteemed Eldest Brother of the Sect, but ultimately, he was stripped of his Martial Spirit and reduced to a nobody. In a world where martial prowess is paramount, enhancing one's own strength is what truly matters. Empty titles are insignificant," Chu Yun muttered, shaking his head dismissively.

He made his way back to Xiaoqing Peak and settled down at his favorite fishing spot. He attached the Spiritual Bait he had just received from the system to his fishing rod and cast it into the water with a swift flick of his wrist.

"Congratulations, you have obtained the Spiritual Level Martial Skill - Shadow Seizing Step (Perfection) Martial Skill Insight," announced the system notification in his mind.

This was Chu Yun's first attempt at fishing with Spiritual Bait, and the result was precisely what he had anticipated—a Martial Skill of Spiritual Grade at the stage of Perfection.

Ordinary Grade Bait could only yield Ordinary Grade martial skills, but Spiritual Bait could net those of the Spiritual Grade.

A sphere of light drifted into Chu Yun's body, transforming into a wealth of profound insights, allowing him to master the Great Perfection Stage Spiritual Grade movement skill in an instant. He was overjoyed.

Chu Yun considered martial arts cultivation rewards to be the most valuable, as they could directly enhance his cultivation level and significantly boost his combat prowess. The second most beneficial were insights into martial skills at the stage of Perfection or enhanced martial comprehension, both of which could substantially increase his strength.

Having been ambushed on his first night in this world, Chu Yun had never felt completely safe. Until he was strong enough to stand against Grand Elder Li Daoran, he preferred to remain unassuming.

"Congratulations, you have obtained an Ice Crystal Sword (Ordinary Grade)," the system chimed in again.

"Congratulations, you have received ten Dark Moon Grass spiritual seeds."

"Congratulations, you have gained ten years of Martial Path cultivation."

After depleting the Spiritual Bait, Chu Yun used the remaining three Ordinary Grade Baits for fishing. To his surprise, he was rewarded with a significant boost to his Martial Path cultivation.

As the white orbs of light transformed into specks that entered Chu Yun's body, his cultivation level began to soar. He advanced from the peak of the Third Grade Critical Stage to the Fourth Grade, then to the Fifth and Sixth Grades, and finally halted at the Seventh Grade Critical Stage.

After some time, Chu Yun took a deep breath and reopened his eyes, a flicker of light passing through them. With a smile, he exclaimed, "Seventh Grade Critical Stage!" He had not only regained his former cultivation level but had also surpassed it, achieving a new milestone.

Now, Chu Yun, even without the power of the Earthly Demon Ape, was only two grades lower in cultivation base, yet his combat strength was significantly enhanced. The Chu Yun of the past, at his prime, couldn't stand against his current self. That was the undeniable truth.

"Alright, time to sleep. Tomorrow, I'll continue with my mission!" Content, Chu Yun returned to his quarters and promptly fell into a deep slumber, embracing the notion that he didn't need to train—fishing alone would make him stronger.

The following morning, Chu Yun awoke naturally and leisurely descended from Xiaoqing Peak, resuming his casual wanderings around the Sect. This day was different; he could overhear various individuals discussing his ascent to the top of the Skysplit Tower the day before. Most were a mix of astonishment and bewilderment, curious about the mysterious individual's capabilities that allowed for such an accomplishment, while also speculating about his identity.

Yet, some expressed skepticism. They questioned the existence of this person, as no one had witnessed someone conquering the Skysplit Tower floor by floor. Observers could only see a point of light ascending and eventually illuminating the ninth floor. Could it be that this figure wasn't real? Was there a chance that the Skysplit Tower had malfunctioned, or that perhaps no one had actually broken through?

Many supported these doubts, as the feat seemed too incredible for most. Within the Elemental River Sect, the majority of disciples could only reach the third or fourth level of the Skysplit Tower. A select few prodigies might touch the fifth or sixth level, and those reaching the seventh were exceedingly rare. Now, with someone suddenly appearing at the ninth level, the ordinary disciples were left grappling with the reality of this extraordinary event.

If this were indeed true, then in comparison to that terrifying entity, they would seem utterly inconsequential. They preferred to believe it wasn't the case.

Chu Yun simply smiled at this self-deceptive notion and remained silent.