Chapter 120: Questioning the Heart
“Whoa, finally made it to the thirtieth floor!”
“Seriously? Weren’t we flying through the last twenty floors? Why’s it getting slower? Are they down for the count?”
“Plus, every tenth floor is the hardest! Thirtieth floor is the ultimate limit for prodigy cultivators—can they even break through?”
“I doubt it, but even if they don’t make it past thirty, they’ve got enough bragging rights for a lifetime.”
Out in the world outside, night had fallen long ago.
Six hours had passed, and who would’ve thought Yun Zhonghe and his crew had such endurance?
The old keeper of the tower couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of his mouth as he saw the trio sap every last bit of spiritual energy from each level after the twentieth floor; his reaction was a bit exaggerated, to say the least.
I mean, aren’t you three still in the Foundation Establishment Stage? Can you even handle that much spiritual energy?
But they weren’t exactly worried about a little energy expenditure in the Immortal Alliance, so the old man kept quiet, eagerly anticipating whether the trio would emerge transformed.
“The thirtieth floor—that’s the dividing line between genius and legend. Cross this hurdle, and maybe the world will remember your names. Just hope they can pull it off.”
Xia Wudi, First Generation Alliance Master Mo Li, Mu Jixue, Nangong Chen… to have their names mentioned in the same breath as these legends, you first have to conquer the thirtieth floor.
Genius might sound rare, but at their level, the real uncommon ones were the legends.
No one remembers the countless geniuses; they only remember the ones with names!
Meanwhile, Yun Zhongtian felt his fists tighten, brimming with a proud, unprecedented determination. His son had made it this far; he couldn’t be prouder.
His son was leagues ahead of him.
“Thirty floors must be incredibly tough. What kind of trial awaits them?”
“Not sure. Every trial is different, and the Myriad Path Divine Tower adjusts based on the trial-taker’s circumstances. But make no mistake, the thirtieth floor is definitely a hard nut to crack.”
Master Qin’s expression was serious; he was growing increasingly curious about Yun Zhonghe, the young man who had captured his daughter’s heart.
He originally thought he was just another average talent, but here he was, at the brink of something significant.
“Speaking of which, what’s the toughest trial you two have faced in the Myriad Path Divine Tower?”
Yun Zhongtian turned to Master Qin and Master Youyue.
Master Qin stayed quiet; he’d shared before that being a mage and having to deal with various spells was quite challenging, especially without reliable teammates.
As for Master Youyue…
“The difficulty varies from person to person, but I’ve found the most difficult trials often revolve around the ‘Questioning the Heart’ stage.”
“Questioning the Heart?” Yun Zhongtian echoed instinctively.
Master Qin nodded knowingly: “Ah, the ‘Questioning the Heart’ trial. It really can be a hassle. It tests one’s character; the less stable your mind, the harder it gets! Those with internal conflicts have a tougher time.”
Folks like Master Qin, with minds as steady as a rock, had no worries; he breezed through that trial. And Master Youyue gave off vibes of someone who had already let go of worldly attachments—she probably didn’t face any issues.
Master Youyue said, “Though I’ve only seen him a few times, I believe Young Master Yun’s will is incredibly steadfast, with clear goals and beliefs. He should be fine. As for Lin Zhongyu, she might lack a little, but she possesses a determined spirit and doesn’t give up easily. They should both handle the ‘Questioning the Heart’ trial quite well. My apprentice, on the other hand…”
She paused for a moment, then continued, “Initially, I thought she was quite resilient, but I’ve noticed her mindset has been increasingly unstable, riddled with internal strife. If she actually encounters ‘Questioning the Heart,’ she might be the weakest link.”
Yun Zhongtian and Master Qin fell silent, surprised at Master Youyue’s sharp evaluation of her own disciple.
What a strict teacher! Under her guidance, it must be tight enough to squeeze the breath out of you.
…
Outside, things were a chaotic party, while inside the tower, the tension was palpable.
Lin Zhongyu found herself pinned down, unable to move, while Yun Zhonghe could barely hold on, restricted and out of cards.
Meanwhile, Mu Jixue was already in over her head when she encountered something bizarre.
“What the heck is this…?”
Suddenly, another one of her appeared—how is this not cause for panic? But before she could utter a word, the other Mu Jixue gently pressed a finger to her lips, signaling her to be quiet.
“I am you, your inner self. I know everything about you. Haven’t you always thought that yellow-haired guy was annoying? He keeps getting in the way of you and Xiao Yu, scheming and plotting. Isn’t this what you’ve been thinking? Now’s your chance—kick him out!”
The other “Mu Jixue” urged slyly, her voice eerily identical to the real one, as if she knew every secret and thought.
With a seductive grin, this doppelgänger totally contrasted the usual upright Mu Jixue.
Despite looking exactly the same, it felt like two completely different people.
“Mu Jixue” rested her delicate chin on the real Mu Jixue’s shoulder, whispering in a soft voice, “Forget about Yun Zhonghe! I will grant you power. Let’s rescue Xiao Yu together, and the two of us can continue our journey, growing stronger. That way, we can leave Yun Zhonghe in the dust forever!”
“As long as we and Xiao Yu become faster and stronger, he won’t be able to catch us, and the two of us will always be together.”
“That yellow-haired guy doesn’t deserve to be with us.”
Each word seemed like a devil’s temptation, unsettling Mu Jixue’s mind.
Mu Jixue stood there, dumbfounded.
“Mu Jixue” laughed sweetly: “Why the surprise? Isn’t this exactly what you’ve been thinking? He’s suspicious, he’s a nuisance, and he wants to steal your Xiao Yu! He’s just so annoying, like gum on your shoe—ever since he showed up, your luck has tanked; he’s taken all your spotlight!”
“You want to kick him to the curb, make him disappear as far away as possible, preferably never to return!”
“Come on, isn’t this what you’ve always desired? Forget him, and I’ll give you the power to save Xiao Yu. We’ll win her heart back, and as long as we become her one and only, it’ll be perfect.”
Mu Jixue’s pupils narrowed.
At that moment, Yun Zhonghe finally managed to replenish his spiritual energy, swinging his sword in a last-second attempt with the Infinity Sword Technique, weaving a dense net of swords to create a layer of defense.
With a loud bang, his sword was knocked away, tumbling into the lava below, and the Fire Spirit staggered back from the backlash.
“Damn it, I can’t find a breakthrough. At the very least, I need to make a sacrifice to give them a chance. No matter what, they have to claim that thirtieth-floor reward!”
