Chapter 145 : Breakthrough
Chapter 145: Breakthrough
The name of the World’s Number One Tower was far too prominent, and the Azure Cloud Ranking competition held once every five years was an even greater event, drawing countless people to watch the spectacle.
Not only was the street packed with people, but the rooftops of the surrounding buildings were almost fully occupied.
Many young disciples of the Baiyu Sect had also come to watch the excitement. Li Jinchuan had been dragged along by a close senior brother and was now standing at the back, listening to the discussions of his senior brothers and sisters, his gaze scanning through the crowd.
He had joined the sect rather late and ranked the lowest among those present.
A relatively young disciple said expectantly, “I wonder if we’ll get to witness the prowess of the Five Talents of Jiangzhou today.”
An older senior brother mocked, “Then you’ve come for nothing today. You definitely won’t see them.”
“Why?”
“Forget people like the Five Talents of Jiangzhou, even young elite experts like Young Master Jiang, Young Master Li, and Young Master Ji, who are already famous, received their invitation letters to the competition from the World’s Number One Tower long ago.”
The young disciple replied in disappointment, “Ah, so that’s how it is. If I had known, I wouldn’t have come.”
“Those coming today to fight for a spot in the competition are either unknown young experts or people who are confident enough in their strength. Most of them are from the various counties of Jiangzhou…”
Another young disciple asked curiously, “How does the World’s Number One Tower test these people?”
“See that big gate? It’ll open soon. Once inside, if they can pass through the martial arena and enter the main hall, they pass.”
Li Jinchuan was curious as well, wondering what kind of obstacle would appear after the gate.
At that moment, the previous person asked again, “Why didn’t Second Senior Brother come? I remember he’s not even twenty yet, right? He’s also a Fifth Grade Expert. He should definitely pass the test.”
Once this topic was brought up, all the people from the Baiyu Sect fell silent.
Li Jinchuan glanced at this blockhead. Even someone like him, who didn’t understand social cues, could guess that Second Senior Brother didn’t want to participate, so he went into seclusion.
Truly a case of touching on the most awkward subject.
With Second Senior Brother’s strength, qualifying wasn’t hard. But getting on the Azure Cloud Ranking would still be far off. So he simply didn’t come.
Just as he was thinking that, he heard someone shout, “It’s open!”
Li Jinchuan instinctively looked over and saw the gate to the World’s Number One Tower slowly opening.
In an instant, the atmosphere at the scene became agitated.
That gate was massive. Inside was a vast martial arena, completely empty of people.
“Why is there no one?”
He was a bit confused. He had thought that the World’s Number One Tower would station experts in the arena to block the way, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.
“Could it be that there are traps inside?”
At this moment, a middle-aged man who had been guarding the gate spoke, “Same old rule: those wanting to qualify for the competition, go through this gate. As long as you can enter the main hall, you pass. Begin.”
This middle-aged man looked ordinary, yet his voice traveled far and wide, instantly suppressing the murmurs of the thousands present, clearly reaching everyone’s ears.
Many people's expressions changed. With such internal strength, he was at least a Fourth Grade Expert.
And this middle-aged man was just a gatekeeper, yet he possessed such cultivation.
“It’s starting!” “Here they come!” “……”
Soon, someone couldn’t hold back and rushed into the gate, stepping into the martial arena.
Once the first person made the move, the others followed in a frenzy, rushing inside.
Li Jinchuan kept guessing where the traps might be, or when the World’s Number One Tower would send someone to block the way. Yet, neither happened.
What was strange was that those who rushed through the gate began to slow down, as if encountering some invisible resistance, like stepping into a mire—every step was exceedingly difficult.
He was shocked. “This is… what’s going on?”
Then, he heard a voice full of superiority, “You don’t know? This is the intent of a peak-level expert from the World’s Number One Tower. Making a fuss over nothing.”
Intent?
Of course, Li Jinchuan knew that after reaching the Second Grade, one could comprehend an intent—some had Sword Intent, some Saber Intent, Spear Intent, Fist Intent, and so on.
Once one grasped Sword Intent, they could injure others without form, a terrifying concept.
He hadn’t expected that a martial artist’s intent could be used this way—to envelop an entire courtyard and maintain it for such a long time.
The “intent” of a peak-level expert was truly unimaginable.
After a while, those who had entered first reached about a third of the way and were about to collapse, their bodies trembling like sieves, sweating profusely.
Eventually, these people fell, then were ejected by an invisible force, soaring over the heads of the crowd and landing outside the gate.
Their wretched appearance drew waves of laughter.
……
After a bit more time, someone finally managed to cross the martial arena and enter the hall.
“That’s the Third Young Master of the Wu Family from Dai Prefecture. They say his talent is extraordinary, and it’s true.”
“That’s the Li Family from Yujie County…”
“That’s the Lin Family from Tianhai County…”
“……”
Each time someone passed the test and entered the hall, someone who recognized them would call out their identity. They were almost all the most outstanding heirs of various counties’ aristocratic families—well-known in their home counties but virtually unheard of in Jiangzhou City.
After all, this was Jiangzhou City. Aside from the four major sects and the three great aristocratic families, people from other counties were considered country bumpkins.
Suddenly, many noticed a black-clad figure in the martial arena, moving forward casually as if taking a stroll in a garden, surpassing others with an extremely relaxed demeanor and entering the hall.
He instantly attracted widespread attention.
“Who is that? He walked in so easily.”
“Finally, a real expert has appeared.”
“This one’s no ordinary guy.”
“I know him. He’s the eldest son of the Huang Family in Huangshi County. I didn’t expect his strength to be so high. Seems like even among geniuses, there are differences.”
“……”
Li Jinchuan listened to the surrounding discussions, feeling that his horizons had truly been broadened. This trip was worth it.
Only, why hadn’t Brother Chen arrived yet?
……
…………
The rooftop of the restaurant closest to the World’s Number One Tower had not a single person on it.
Soon, someone discovered this prime spot and joyfully tried to leap onto it. While still mid-air, a surge of Qi shot out and knocked him flying.
The person barely managed to land on his feet and quickly slipped back into the crowd, covering his face. He finally understood why there was no one up there.
To strike him down with Qi from a distance, the attacker must be at least a Fourth Grade Expert—someone not to be provoked.
On the second floor of the restaurant, in a private room, sat a gorgeously dressed, strikingly beautiful young lady at the window. She casually tasted sweet melon while lazily watching the assessment across the street, her gaze somewhat bored.
Behind her stood two lovely maids around fourteen or fifteen years old.
Beside them stood a swordsman holding a longsword.
That black-clad young man’s appearance finally sparked a trace of interest in the girl’s eyes. “What’s his name?”
A maid in yellow clothes responded fluently, “He is Huang Zhuochen, from the Huang Family of Huangshi County. Exceptionally gifted, he began training with a Third Grade expert from his family at the age of ten. Reportedly, his saber skills are quite remarkable. He is a strong contender for the Azure Cloud Ranking this time.”
“Mm.”
The girl committed the name to memory and suddenly recalled something. “The man we saw outside Changqing Hall two days ago—has his background been investigated?”
The swordsman with the longsword replied, “Reporting to Mistress, his name is Chen Ming, from Qingfeng City.”
Then he fell silent.
Sure enough, the yellow-clad maid had already started reporting the details. “Chen Ming, twenty-four years old, born of humble origins. Started martial training in his teens, but made no progress for several years. At the age of twenty, after being framed and thrown into prison, his strength skyrocketed. In just four years, he reached the Fifth Grade.”
A flicker of surprise crossed the girl’s face. “You’re saying he went from unranked to Fifth Grade in just four years?”
“It is certain that he had not entered the grades when he was imprisoned.”
“Interesting.”
A flash of intrigue lit up the girl's bright eyes. “No wonder he caught his attention. Have we found out why he went to Changqing Hall?”
The swordsman answered, “No.”
The maid said, “He likely came for the Azure Cloud Ranking. Rumors say he’s obsessed with martial arts and loves sparring. He definitely wouldn’t miss this kind of opportunity.”
The girl smiled. “If he’s a martial arts fanatic, that makes things easier. Send Diao Da to win him over.”
Just as she finished speaking, she saw the figure of the young man they had seen at “Changqing Hall” two days ago step through the gate. She said, “So he came after all. I wonder if he can make it through…”
Before she could finish, she saw Chen Ming walking step by step inside. His pace was unhurried, but he appeared completely at ease.
After a while, he entered the main hall.
The swordsman gave his assessment. “This one’s strength is no less than Huang Zhuochen’s.”
With his discerning eye, it was obvious to him that although Chen Ming had taken twice as long as Huang Zhuochen, he had done so just as effortlessly. This youth was clearly concealing his true strength.
The girl suddenly asked, “How long has it been since he reached the Fifth Grade?”
The yellow-clad maid answered, “He broke through a little over three months ago—about one hundred days.”
One hundred days?
The girl became even more intrigued by him and said, “I’ll go personally.”
……
“Who’s that man in green?”
“No idea. Never heard of him.”
“Could he be from out of town?”
“……”
Chen Ming had entered the main hall and qualified for the competition, naturally drawing much attention. Many people asked around, but no one knew his identity, which only heightened the curiosity.
At that moment, someone shouted at the top of his lungs, “I know him! He’s Chen Ming from Qingfeng City. No sect, no faction, self-taught—a peerless genius!”
The speaker was Feng Siyuan. At a time like this, he was naturally eager to sing his friend’s praises.
This sparked another wave of discussion.
“Qingfeng City? No sect or faction? Really?”
“A peerless genius? That sounds like total exaggeration.”
“How many years has it been since anyone from Qingfeng City joined the Azure Cloud Ranking…”
“……”
Most of those present were skeptical.
Feng Siyuan was so furious that he argued back, “Exaggerating? His strength is plain to see. He entered the main hall with ease…”
“He wasn’t even ranked four years ago, and now he’s Fifth Grade. If that doesn’t make him a peerless genius, then what does?”
This immediately drew more ridicule.
Four years ago unranked, now Fifth Grade? That was getting more and more unbelievable.
People in Jiangzhou City all had deep martial knowledge. Such blatant boasting just seemed laughable in their eyes.
Was that even possible?
Even Ji Baichuan, the undisputed top of the Azure Cloud Ranking five years ago—touted as the once-in-a-century genius of Jiangzhou—had only entered the grades at age ten and reached Fifth Grade at eighteen.
So, was this Chen Ming even more talented than Ji Baichuan?
Was that possible?