C123 Wasn't This Just a Temptation?
The creature before him bore no resemblance to the one Chu Yi had observed from the outside; it was entirely composed of fleshy masses. Within these clusters of flesh, there was a hidden layer of skin, which was likely the worm's true hide. This genuine skin was far more horrifying than the deceptive exterior that had been visible.
Chu Yi's punch was immensely powerful, a force of hundreds of tons that could easily cleave mountains and shatter stones. Yet, despite not pushing his strength to the utmost limit, his blow failed to kill the worm or penetrate its armor-like skin. Instead, it only managed to inflict a severe injury.
With an eerie howl, the worm swiftly dislodged Chu Yi from its back and vanished into the ground with alarming speed. Chu Yi watched as the disturbed earth settled back into place, his brow furrowing slightly. The creature's burrowing velocity surpassed even its own movement speed—a truly astonishing ability.
"The universe is teeming with life," Chu Yi mused. Lee Zi had once mentioned that in the vast reaches of space, there existed colossal beings as large as the sun itself. Indeed, it seemed that only an expansive cosmos could nurture such an array of bizarre and wondrous creatures.
The worm before him was certainly one of these extraordinary entities, and it represented a significant threat to humanity. Its venom, proficiency in subterranean assaults, and deceptively tough skin made it a formidable adversary. Without proper preparation or awareness, even the most powerful human warriors could be swiftly overwhelmed within its striking range.
"This trial," Chu Yi thought with a hint of intrigue, "is rather interesting."
He expanded his senses, probing beneath the surface. Sensing an imminent threat, Chu Yi nimbly evaded just as the worm burst forth from the ground, its gaping maw seemingly ready to devour all in its path.
"It's challenging to detect an attack from below the surface," he acknowledged. Without his formidable spiritual essence and the purifying Heart-Cleansing Spell, Chu Yi knew he would have been at a distinct disadvantage against the cunning worm.
Chu Yi faced a dilemma when confronting the worm; it wasn't easy to launch an attack.
But now...
"Now is the moment!"
Chu Yi vanished from his spot.
The worm, convinced its swift strike could easily rip Chu Yi to shreds, put all its energy into the assault.
The speed was horrifying, yet failure would result in what was unfolding now!
The worm had exerted so much force that, upon breaking through the ground, it shot straight up into the air without pause!
Midair...
That was a no-fly zone for all creatures without the gift of flight!
Beings as nimble as humans, lacking the ability to fly, would become easy targets once airborne.
And this worm...
It was accustomed to life beneath the earth's surface!
It was at an even greater disadvantage than humans.
Watching the worm slowly plummet from the sky, a smirk formed on Chu Yi's lips.
The next moment, he unleashed a powerful punch!
Faintly, ethereal music seemed to play, as if immortals were dancing and a host of sacred beasts roared in the background!
This was a vision, a rare occurrence accompanying only the most potent of lethal techniques.
This, too, was part of the immortal arts.
Of course, these immortal arts had evolved. To fit his warrior persona, Chu Yi had spent days practicing and adapting various immortal arts.
Though the modified arts paled in comparison to their original forms, they were now within the warrior's grasp.
Moreover, these weren't the fully-fledged immortal arts!
The full scope of the immortal arts' terror was well-known. Even though this punch technique had been weakened, it was still sufficient for Chu Yi.
As he launched his punch, the air filled with the echoes of immortal music. Chu Yi's fist finally made contact with the worm's body.
Its thin layer of flesh instantly disintegrated, revealing a skin as hard as metal!
But Chu Yi's fist showed no hesitation, striking the iron-hard skin with ferocity.
In an instant, it shattered!
Chu Yi's expression shifted in the next moment.
The force behind the punch had far exceeded his expectations. He hadn't anticipated that a single blow would reduce the worm to a mass of minced flesh!
The minced remains, along with their potent toxins, began to expand rapidly.
Chu Yi was undaunted by the poison, but he couldn't help feeling repulsed by the gruesome sight!
Even before, when Chu Yi had encountered these things, he had always shrouded his skin in a layer of his primordial spirit, simply to avoid the revulsion of them touching him.
But now...
"Damn, not good!"
In a flash, Chu Yi's speed surged beyond its previous peak, becoming even slightly faster than before!
Yet, the might of Chu Yi's punch was truly fearsome, pulverizing the worm into countless fragments, leaving the air filled with its remains.
Accidentally, some of the flesh landed on Chu Yi.
"Disgusting, just too damn disgusting!"
Chu Yi vigorously shook off the pieces, then began to employ the immortal arts to cleanse his body thoroughly.
"I'm starting to wonder if some prodigies and freaks of nature aren't beaten by their rivals, but rather grossed out to death by these worms!"
The fight was effectively over.
The worm's main advantage lay in its element of surprise. If one could anticipate it, then its attacks posed no threat.
Without this advantage, the worm's strength was barely on par with Silver Peak.
Silver Peak was Chu Yi's own level.
At this level, if the so-called geniuses couldn't defeat their adversary, then they hardly deserved the title.
"It seems the Stellar Tower is quite specific in its challenges..."
Chu Yi surmised that the trials of the Stellar Tower were more than mere tests; they were also a form of training!
They conditioned one to anticipate the unexpected, to learn self-preservation in perilous situations, and to remain vigilant.
Of course, having just cleared the first hurdle, Chu Yi was unsure of what lay ahead.
The only option was to proceed and see.
As Chu Yi was straightening his attire, a sphere of light materialized out of the void.
The light orb gently descended, taking on a humanoid form before Chu Yi.
Well, a form and nothing more.
The orb was empty, composed entirely of a luminescent silhouette.
"Congratulations, challenger, you have passed the first level."
"Would you like to claim your reward now?"
Chu Yi paused, taken aback. He had never been informed of any rewards to be claimed in the Stellar Tower.
"Is there any difference between claiming the reward now and claiming it later?"
Chu Yi was curious, not letting the prospect of a reward cloud his judgment. It's always best to get the details clear.
"If you claim it now, I'll give you the resources directly."
"But if you choose to claim it later..."
The humanoid light seemed playful, pausing deliberately as it spoke.
"If you decide to continue with the challenges, then I'll hold onto the reward for you."
"Pass the second stage, and you'll receive the second stage's reward, plus the first stage's reward will double."
"But if you fail..."
The figure of light shrugged: "Then you'll lose the reward..."
Chu Yi's gaze flickered.
Passing the second stage meant the first stage's reward would double, and he would also receive the second stage's reward? That sounded rather tempting.
Of course, Chu Yi was aware that if he failed the second stage challenge, the first stage's reward would vanish.
It was a gamble: double or even more rewards, or play it safe and keep what he had.
While other prodigies might hesitate, Chu Yi harbored no such indecision.
Still, Chu Yi inquired further: "What if I pass the second stage and then take on the third?"
The light didn't hesitate, seemingly approving as it nodded: "If you pass the second stage, the first stage's double reward becomes guaranteed. Even if you fail at the third stage, you'll still receive the doubled reward from the first stage."
"Of course, you'll forfeit the second stage's reward at that point..."
Passing one stage could lead to ascension, and passing the next stage would double the rewards.
If he conquered the third stage, the first stage's reward would become permanent.
The light didn't allow Chu Yi to interject further, explaining directly: "If you pass the third stage, you'll get double the reward of the second stage, the fixed double reward of the first stage, and the third stage's own reward."
"And if you manage to pass the fourth stage..."
The light didn't seem to believe Chu Yi could pass the fourth stage, but it dutifully continued: "Then you'll receive the fixed double reward of the first stage, double the second stage's reward, double the third stage's reward, and the fourth stage's reward as well."
Upon hearing this, Chu Yi had a complete understanding.
Ah, so that's the strategy!
It was clearly a setup!
Chu Yi was aware that the rewards from the Stellar Tower were far from ordinary. For any prodigy or exceptional talent, a double reward would certainly be a substantial amount of resources!
Naturally, there would be more than just resources at stake.
A double reward could easily incite envy in many geniuses and extraordinary individuals. They might be tempted to press on.
After all, if you quit after the first challenge, you only receive the reward for that challenge.
But if you pass the second challenge and then quit, you would not only receive a double reward for the first challenge but also the reward for the second challenge!
This, this, this...
Wasn't this just luring people in?
If it were the heirs or disciples of the top powers, those not in need of resources, they might ponder a bit before deciding.
But for disciples from more modest backgrounds, like Chu Yi...
The offer was simply too generous!
"Let's distribute it later, then!"
"I hope to proceed with the second trial!"
