Chapter 643
Fighting against the strong is also a form of cultivation!
Zhou Hu grinned, his fighting spirit intensifying. "Again!"
He lunged forward again, his fists swung wildly, his moves fierce and domineering, each punch containing the power of a tiger pouncing on its prey, clearly a top-tier power technique.
Jiang Wang responded calmly, his hands moving swiftly to dismantle Zhou Hu's moves.
His movements were slow but incredibly precise. Every block and counterattack was perfectly timed, skillfully neutralizing Zhou Hu's force.
He deliberately slowed down his pace, maneuvering against Zhou Hu without revealing his strength or falling behind. For a time, the two fought fiercely in this space, their fists clashing and the air waves churning, constantly crushing the surrounding black stones into dust.
"happy!"
Zhou Hu grew increasingly excited as he fought, his roars like thunder. He channeled his power and true energy to the limit, and a faint phantom of a fierce tiger appeared around his body. "Shi Jian, your strength is top-tier among the first-level Saints! Unfortunately, it's still not enough!"
He unleashed a powerful punch, and the phantom tiger roared as it pounced on Jiang Wang. This was his trump card, containing the full power of a peak first-level expert.
A glint of light flashed in Jiang Wang's eyes. He stopped suppressing his power and his true energy surged slightly. Although it was still the aura of the peak of the first level of heaven, it was several times more refined than before.
He also threw a punch, without any fancy moves, only pure force, yet it carried an overwhelming power.
"boom!"
The tiger phantom shattered instantly. Zhou Hu felt a terrifying force, as if all the bones in his body were about to break. He was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
He struggled to get up, but found that he had lost all his strength and could only stare at Jiang Wang in disbelief.
"You...how can your strength be so strong?"
Zhou Hu was panting heavily, his eyes full of confusion.
Although both of them were at the peak of the first level of heaven, the other's strength and explosive power far surpassed his.
"You're not qualified to know."
Jiang Wang spoke calmly and stepped towards the stairs ahead.
The staircase is hidden at the end of the space and will only be revealed after the tower guard is defeated.
Zhou Hu watched Jiang Wang's retreating figure and gritted his teeth, saying, "Shi Jian, you wait! I will definitely break through to the second level of the Heavenly Realm and fight you again next time!"
Jiang Wang didn't stop walking; he simply waved his hand in response.
He stepped onto the stairs and walked step by step toward the second floor.
The staircase wasn't long, and after a short while, he entered the second level.
The second level is similar to the first, except that the sky has turned light blue and the ground is still black stone.
Directly in front stood a cultivator dressed in a blue Taoist robe. His face was thin and his aura was much stronger than Zhou Hu's. He was Lin Qingxuan, a peak second-level power saint and the second-level tower guardian.
Lin Qingxuan looked calmly at Jiang Wang, holding a cyan longsword in his hand, the blade shimmering with a faint spiritual light.
"Shi Jian, a peak-level Saint of the First Heaven, passed the first level in the time it takes an incense stick to burn."
He seemed to already know about Jiang Wang's information, and said in a calm tone, "You have commendable courage to challenge the peak of the second level with the cultivation of the peak of the first level of heaven."
"Courage is never something you talk about."
Jiang Wang stopped and looked at the longsword in Lin Qingxuan's hand. "Your weapon is quite good."
Lin Qingxuan gently stroked the sword and said calmly, "This is the Qingfeng Sword, a low-grade innate spiritual treasure, which has accompanied me in my cultivation for millions of years."
Enough talk, let's make a move.
If you can withstand three of my sword strikes, I will consider you to have passed.
"Three swords?"
Jiang Wang smiled slightly, "No need for three swords, one sword is enough."
A hint of displeasure flashed in Lin Qingxuan's eyes, clearly angered by Jiang Wang's arrogance.
"Arrogant and conceited! Since that's the case, I'll show you the strength of a Second Heaven Saint!"
With a swift movement, his Qingfeng sword was instantly drawn, and a streak of azure sword light shot towards Jiang Wang like a meteor. The sword light was sharp, containing the power and true energy of the peak of the second level of heaven, and also mixed with a trace of sharp law power.
Jiang Wang remained calm, dodging the sword light by sidestepping it, and at the same time, he suddenly grabbed at the Qingfeng Sword with his right hand.
His speed was so fast that, to Lin Qingxuan's astonishment, he firmly grasped the blade.
"clang!"
The sound of metal clashing rang out. The Qingfeng Sword was incredibly sharp, yet it couldn't leave the slightest mark on Jiang Wang's palm.
Lin Qingxuan felt a tremendous force coming from the sword, and his hand holding the sword suddenly went numb, almost causing the Qingfeng sword to slip from his grasp.
"How is this possible? Your physical body can actually withstand a Primordial Spiritual Treasure?"
Lin Qingxuan looked on incredulously.
Even a Saint at the peak of the Second Heaven would find it difficult to withstand the cutting power of an Innate Spiritual Treasure, let alone someone who is only at the peak of the First Heaven.
With a slight flick of his wrist, Jiang Wang snatched the Qingfeng Sword and tossed it aside.
"Your strength is too weak; no matter how good the weapon is, it's useless."
Lin Qingxuan's face flushed red, both ashamed and angry.
He lunged forward, unleashing a powerful punch with both fists, channeling his true energy to its limit. Faint blue Dao patterns appeared around his body, clearly indicating that he had used his most powerful technique.
"Shi Jian, I refuse to accept this!"
Jiang Wang shook his head, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes.
He no longer held back, and in a flash, he appeared in front of Lin Qingxuan, punching him in the chest.
Lin Qingxuan felt a terrifying force surge into his body, shattering his internal organs. He was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground and losing consciousness.
After dealing with Lin Qingxuan, Jiang Wang headed towards the stairs to the second floor.
He could feel that as he went up a floor, the pressure from the Great Dao within the space was gradually increasing, but to him, this pressure was nothing.
Step up the stairs and arrive at the third floor.
The sky in the third level was dark red, the black stones on the ground were covered with cracks, and a violent aura permeated the air.
Directly in front stood a burly, red-haired cultivator whose aura was incredibly violent, far surpassing Lin Qingxuan's. He was none other than the Red-Haired Ancestor, a peak-level Strength Saint of the Third Heaven and the guardian of the third level of the tower.
The red-haired patriarch opened his eyes, his pupils like blood-red gems, staring at Jiang Wang, his voice hoarse and violent: "Another little fellow, he does have some skill, managing to break through to the third level."
His red hair moved without wind, and his powerful true energy rose like smoke. "I am the Red-Haired Ancestor, who has been in charge of the third level for a million years. There are at least eighty or a hundred challengers who have died by my hand."
If you admit defeat now, I will spare your life.
"Admit defeat?"
Jiang Wang scoffed, "No one is qualified to make me admit defeat."
"Insanity!"
The red-haired patriarch roared and stomped his body, causing the ground to collapse instantly, sending countless pebbles hurtling towards Jiang Wang.
At the same time, he clenched his fists, and a layer of blood-red armor appeared around his body. His strength and true energy condensed into a blood-red giant bear, which roared and pounced on Jiang Wang.
"Taste my Blood Bear Transformation!"
Jiang Wang's expression hardened. This red-haired ancestor was far stronger than the guardians of the first two levels. A peak-level Third Heaven Saint of Strength was indeed worthy of his reputation. However, this was still not enough.
He moved swiftly, dodging the flying rocks, and at the same time, he made a fist with his right hand and threw a punch. Pure force condensed into a blue fist shadow, which collided with the blood-red giant bear.
"boom!"
A deafening roar resounded, and the crimson giant bear instantly shattered, its violent shockwaves spreading outwards, causing the entire space to tremble violently.
The red-haired patriarch was so shocked that he had to retreat repeatedly, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes.
"Your strength... can actually rival my Blood Bear Transformation? Just what kind of monster are you?"
"The monster that will kill you."
Jiang Wang's tone was icy, and his figure moved like an arrow released from a bow, instantly rushing to the red-haired patriarch and unleashing a barrage of punches.
His speed was extremely fast, and every punch contained overwhelming force. The red-haired patriarch could only parry in a sorry state, and cracks kept appearing on his blood-red armor.
"hateful!"
The red-haired patriarch roared and spat out a mouthful of blood essence. The blood essence landed on the blood-red armor, which instantly expanded, transforming into a huge phantom of a blood-red bear that enveloped him.
"Blood Bear's true form! Shi Jian, today I will tear you to pieces!"
The crimson giant bear roared, its paw slamming towards Jiang Wang. The palm strike was fierce, containing the full power of a peak third-level cultivator, and also carrying the strange power of its essence blood, capable of corroding flesh and true energy.
A glint flashed in Jiang Wang's eyes. He stopped hiding his strength and his aura surged. Although he still hadn't broken through to the second level, he displayed power far exceeding that of the peak of the third level.
He formed a hand seal, and a huge cyan palm print was formed, covered with ancient patterns, faintly containing the power of the Great Dao.
"break!"
The cyan palm print collided with the blood-red bear paw. With a "crack," the blood-red bear's paw shattered instantly, while the cyan palm print, still powerful, struck the blood-red bear's body.
The crimson giant bear let out a shrill scream and shattered instantly. The red-haired patriarch flew backward from the phantom, covered in blood and barely breathing.
"I...I actually lost..."
The red-haired patriarch lay on the ground, his eyes filled with despair.
He had ruled the third level for a million years and had never been defeated by a first-level saint, but today he was defeated by Jiang Wang.
Jiang Wang walked up to the red-haired patriarch and looked down at him: "Tell me, how strong are the guardians on the upper levels of the Secret Realm Tower?"
The red-haired patriarch gave a wry smile and said, "The guardian of the fourth level is a peak Fourth Heaven Realm Strength Saint... The ninth level is guarded by a peak Ninth Heaven Realm Strength Saint, rumored to be an avatar of Saint Tu Yixin..."
He paused, then said, "You were able to defeat me with your first-level cultivation. If you continue to climb higher, you might be able to reach even higher levels."
However, I advise you to quit while you're ahead. The defenders above the fourth floor are far stronger than I imagined.
"Tu Yixin's clone?"
Tu Yixin is the founder of the Auspicious Realm, and must be a top-tier saint. His clone must be quite powerful.
Thank you for letting me know.
After saying that, Jiang Wang walked towards the stairs to the third floor.
At this moment, a gentle ray of light descended from the sky and enveloped him.
He could feel a surge of pure Dao power flowing into his body. At the same time, a majestic voice rang in his mind: "Shi Jian, having passed the third level of the Secret Realm Tower and gained the approval of the Dao, you may enter the Dao Secret Realm ahead of schedule."
Shall we proceed immediately?
Jiang Wang pondered for a moment and said, "Let's postpone our journey. I want to continue my ascent of the tower."
Now that he's here, he naturally wants to see the entire Secret Realm Tower. Besides, the rewards he receives after entering the Secret Realm increase with each additional level he conquers, so he has no reason to give up.
The authoritative voice paused for a moment, then said, "Yes."
After each level is cleared, you can rest for three hours, or you can start the challenge immediately.
Good luck."
After he finished speaking, the light on the main road dissipated, and the light membrane at the end of the stairs opened, revealing the path to the fourth floor.
Jiang Wang did not rest, but went straight up the stairs to the fourth floor.
He could feel that as he ascended to the next floor, the pressure of the Great Dao within the space grew stronger, and the laws of force in the air became more concentrated, all of which had a certain tempering effect on his physical body and true qi.
Upon reaching the fourth level, the sky above the space was a deep purple, the black stones on the ground were as hard as diamond, and a dense aura of power and laws permeated the surroundings.
Directly in front stood a cultivator in a black robe, with a cold and stern face and an unfathomable aura. He was none other than the Black-Robed Envoy, a peak Fourth Heaven Strength Saint and the guardian of the fourth level tower.
The black-robed envoy looked at Jiang Wang with icy eyes and spoke without emotion: "Shi Jian, a first-level Heavenly Saint of Strength, passed through three levels in one hour."
It's quite remarkable to have taken on a challenge beyond one's level.
However, the fourth floor is your final destination.
"Whether it's the end or not, you'll know once you try."
Jiang Wang got into position, circulating his inner energy and power, ready to strike at any moment.
He could sense that the black-robed envoy was more than one level stronger than the red-haired patriarch. The peak strength saint of the fourth heaven was indeed worthy of his reputation.
The black-robed envoy moved swiftly, appearing in front of Jiang Wang in an instant, so fast that Jiang Wang had to concentrate to deal with him.
He struck out with his palm, the wind from which was calm, yet it contained terrifying power, as if it could crush the heavens and the earth.
"Unite your strength!"
Jiang Wang dared not be careless and threw out both fists, colliding with the black-robed envoy's palm.
With a muffled thud, Jiang Wang felt a terrifying force surge into his body, causing his blood and qi to churn, and he involuntarily took three steps back.
The black-robed messenger stood motionless in place.
"You have some skill; you can withstand one of my blows without getting hurt."
A hint of surprise flashed in the black-robed envoy's eyes, but he quickly regained his coldness. "However, this is not enough."
He lunged forward again, his hands shifting, unleashing a barrage of palm strikes imbued with pure power towards Jiang Wang. The palm strikes were as dense as rain, sealing off all of Jiang Wang's escape routes.
Jiang Wang focused his mind and responded, his figure weaving through the palm shadows, his hands constantly blocking and counterattacking.
He pushed his speed and power to the limit, and every collision produced a deafening roar.
The two fought fiercely in this space, the purple sky trembled continuously, the black stones on the ground shattered constantly, and dense laws of power intertwined and collided around them.
"happy!"
Jiang Wang became more and more excited as he fought, and the strength and true energy within his body continued to condense and improve.
For him, fighting against strong opponents is also a form of training.
He could sense that the black-robed envoy's use of power had reached its pinnacle, with each palm strike containing the laws of the Great Dao. If it were an ordinary third-level saint, he would probably have been killed long ago.
The black-robed envoy was even more shocked.
He hadn't expected that a first-level Saint could hold his own against him for so long, and that the opponent's strength was constantly increasing, as if he possessed inexhaustible potential. (End of Chapter)