---
"Host, you now have two choices," a sinister voice echoed in Chu Xiu's mind.
"First: Directly break through to the Divine Bridge Realm.
Second: Seek out heaven-and-earth rare treasures to achieve the ultimate sublimation and break through to the tenth level of the Wheel Sea Realm."
Chu Xiu raised an eyebrow. Was there even a question? Of course, he would choose the ultimate sublimation.
He wanted to lay an unparalleled foundation, to be invincible among his peers. No, having lived again, he aimed to cross realms to defeat his enemies.
"What rare treasures do I need?"
"Starting the search for the most suitable treasures for the host's current breakthrough," the voice continued.
"Search complete. The following three heaven-and-earth rare treasures are most suitable for the host's ultimate sublimation: Ten-Thousand Herb Spirit Milk, Bodhi Divine Flower, Soul-Infant Demon Fruit."
Chu Xiu's brows furrowed deeply. All three treasures were of the Immortal Grade, rare and elusive.
Not to mention that they couldn't be found on the market, even if someone were selling them, he couldn't afford them.
Steal them? He didn't have the strength for that yet.
Chu Xiu clenched his fists, unwillingness in his heart, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.
He wanted immortality, to be invincible in the world, to walk a path different from ordinary people.
This path was destined to be rough and full of thorns.
He took out a communication talisman, held it between his index and middle fingers, and activated it with Origin Force.
In the next moment, the talisman transformed into a violet afterimage, flying out of the cave dwelling and soaring into the sky.
"I hope Chu Xiaoran can bring me good news!"
Chu Xiu took out the bronze fragment and began to study it.
After half an hour, he still hadn't discovered its peculiarities.
"It seems I'll have to wait until I reach the Divine Bridge Realm, when my Origin Force transforms into True Essence Power and my Sea of Consciousness forms Divine Sense, to explore this thing's origins."
He put away the bronze fragment.
Just then, a communication talisman flew in, floating in front of Chu Xiu.
A clear and pleasant female voice emerged.
"Senior Brother Chu Xiu, years ago, a disciple brought back half a decayed Soul-Infant Demon Fruit from the Desolate Demon Secret Realm!"
With that, the talisman self-ignited, turning to ash and dissipating into the air.
Good news.
Chu Xiu couldn't help but smile, "It seems even the heavens want me to walk this invincible path."
However, he still needed to find Chu Xiaoran to get the specifics, lest he celebrate prematurely.
Thinking of this, he recalled the task Chu Xiaoran had entrusted to him.
"It seems necessary to visit Taisu Peak and challenge the Taisu Tower."
...
With so many breakthrough points available, why didn't Chu Xiu choose to break through with the Heaven-Slaying Sword Intent?
The reason was simple.
He found that his cultivation base was still too low, and even using the early-stage Heaven-Slaying Sword Intent was strenuous.
If he rashly advanced, his physical apertures might be overwhelmed by the domineering killing intent of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Intent, doing more harm than good.
So, he temporarily set it aside.
Three days later, Chu Xiu adjusted to his optimal state and emerged from seclusion.
---
The once solemn and majestic Taisu Peak was particularly lively these days.
The Taisu Tower, the most important trial ground of the Taisu Holy Land, had opened.
It was undoubtedly a grand event.
Discover the complete story on pawread.com
Whether inner disciples or outer disciples, as long as they had reached the Wheel Sea Realm or higher, they had one opportunity to enter the Taisu Tower.
The trial lasted for a month.
The Taisu Tower soared tens of thousands of meters high, piercing the sky, its body a bluish-gray color.
Around it, celestial music echoed, and the imperial might of the emperor's artifact suppressed all directions, forming its own world.
From a high vantage point in the distance, one could see intricate formation patterns, like golden dragons, flying and roaming across the tower's surface.
In the sky, countless flying boats, densely packed like a flock of birds, headed towards Taisu Peak.
On the deck of one black flying boat, an elderly man with white hair slapped the back of a young man's head.
"Ouch, Master, why did you hit me suddenly?"
The young man, in the early stage of the Wheel Sea Realm, clutched the back of his head, grimacing in pain.
The white-haired elder scolded, "Did you forget what I warned you about before we came? You mustn't stare at the tower for too long..."
"Why?"
The young man looked puzzled.
The white-haired elder gazed reverently at the Taisu Tower in the distance and explained, "The tower bears the supreme imperial patterns left by the Great Emperor."
"Weak ones who stare too long may face unpredictable dangers. At worst, their eyes might explode, and in severe cases, even their heads might go 'duang'..."
"Whoa..."
The young man gasped, looking fearful, "Is the Taisu Tower really that terrifying?"
The white-haired elder stroked his beard and smiled, "The emperor's life-bound artifact, its power is beyond what we weaklings can imagine."
"Can you feel the imperial might filling the entire world around us?"
"Like a chaotic universe, vast, majestic, irresistible, making one want to submit."
"You're teachable. As cultivators, we must not only pursue power but also revere it."
"Master, are those seven hundred-meter-high giant monuments next to the Taisu Tower the legendary Taisu Monuments?" the young man pointed into the distance.
"Indeed, they are."
"They represent the Wheel Sea, Divine Bridge, Other Shore, Dao Palace, Divine Ability, Lesser Saint, and seven monuments."
"They test combat strength, talent, comprehension, and willpower. The higher you climb, the more benefits and treasures you receive."
The white-haired elder sighed with envy, "Three hundred years ago, my senior brother, Chen Yunzi, reached the tenth position on the Divine Bridge Monument and was rewarded with a Heaven-Grade Technique, the Myriad Forms Heavenly Sound Art, from the tower. He soared to great heights from then on."
"Now, he is at the peak of the Divine Ability Realm, honored as one of the three stewards of Dao Cloud Peak."
"Wow, a Heaven-Grade Technique."
The young man looked longingly, "If only I could make it into the top ten of the Wheel Sea Monument."
"I wonder if I could get a Heaven-Grade Technique reward."
The white-haired elder scoffed, slapping the back of his disciple's head, "Don't aim too high. If you can make it onto the list, I'll thank the heavens."
Just then, a silver light streaked over their heads.
"What a fast flying boat..." The young man was shocked.
The white-haired elder nodded, full of envy, "An Earth-Grade Flying Boat, naturally fast."
"It looks like a flying shuttle type, the fastest among its class."
He was envious to the point of drooling.
If he had this flying shuttle, whether exploring secret realms or fighting Demonkin at the Abyssal Great Wall, his survival ability would increase at least twofold in critical moments.
"Hey, that person, in a black gold-embroidered cloud robe... is the Chief True Disciple of Cloudmist Peak..."
As the silver flying shuttle slowed down, the elder finally saw the figure standing atop it.
The young man had a face like jade, eyes like stars, and a faint smile on his lips.
His long hair was casually tied behind him, exuding an air of carefree elegance.
The black gold-embroidered cloud robe fluttered, and at his waist hung a longsword with a white bone hilt.
The newcomer was none other than Chu Xiu.
The Taisu Holy Land was vast, and even with an Earth-Grade Flying Boat, it took him two days and nights to travel from Cloudmist Peak.
The flying shuttle slowly descended, landing at the foot of Taisu Peak.
With a wave of his hand, the flying shuttle shrank to the size of a thumb, and he stored it in his storage pouch.
Chu Xiu stood in the middle of the plaza.
Around him, the crowd was like a sea, at least tens of thousands of people gathered at the Taisu Tower plaza.
It was bustling beyond measure.