Chapter 617 - 254: Climbing the Tower (3)
The overwhelming Qi Blood Power was at its peak, practically erupting from his body. It formed invisible waves of scorching heat around him, making the very air in the Quiet Chamber distort and burn.
He could clearly peer inside his own body and see crimson-gold blood surging endlessly through his veins. Faintly, miniature dragons and elephants seemed to roar within the torrent, emanating a heart-stopping sense of power.
After an unknown amount of time, the roars of the myriad dragons and elephants within him gradually subsided, and the popping of his bones fell silent.
Chen Qing slowly opened his eyes. Two beams of light, so focused they seemed tangible, flashed for an instant before vanishing, like bolts of lightning tearing through the darkness.
He gently clenched his fist, using not a shred of True Astral—only the pure strength of his Flesh Body.
POP!
The air around his fist actually compressed, letting out a faint crack like a miniature sonic boom!
An unprecedented feeling of power flooded his entire body, as if a casual strike could now shatter mountains and sunder stone.
The dark golden luster beneath his skin slowly receded, but that profound and immense Power was now branded into his very Flesh Body.
[Fourth Layer of Dragon Elephant Wisdom Vajra Body (0/15000)]
I did it!
The Fourth Layer of the *Dragon Elephant Wisdom Vajra Body*—a natural breakthrough!
Right now, his Flesh Body alone was powerful enough to rival the peak of the Astral Force Realm.
Chen Qing’s breathing was long and deep. Each exhalation was like a dragon’s breath, stirring up a small whirlwind within the Quiet Chamber.
Feeling the roaring torrent of Qi Blood Power inside him, he thought, ’With my Flesh Body’s strength alone, I’m more than capable of handling someone like Han Xiong, even at his Astral Force Perfection realm.’
The *Dragon Elephant Wisdom Vajra Body* was a secret Body Refining Technique from the Buddhist Sect. Its cultivation was notoriously difficult, but once mastered, its power was nothing short of incredible.
Previously, when Chen Qing had fought Han Xiong, he had needed to use both his True Astral and his Flesh Body to win. Now, if they were to fight again, he could defeat him with ease using only the strength of his Flesh Body.
And if he added his Late-stage Astral Force Cultivation, the Fourth Layer of the *Dragon Elephant Wisdom Vajra Body*, his *True Martial Demon-Vibrating Spear* and *True Martial Seal* at the Great Success Realm, and his Primordial Five Elements True Astral...
His current strength was worlds apart from what it had been just five months ago.
Chen Qing thought to himself, ’Master of the Seven Sufferings only taught me the first four layers of the Cultivation Technique and not the rest. Now that I’ve succeeded in my Cultivation, there’s no need to be anxious for the moment. After all, I got the first four layers for free. Master of the Seven Sufferings just finished clearing out his Evil Qi and is resting now. It won’t be too late to seek him out at a more appropriate time.’
For the next two days, Chen Qing remained indoors, focusing on consolidating his explosively increased Qi Blood. He worked to familiarize himself with the immense power that felt like a dormant dragon and elephant, striving for meticulous control so that not even a sliver of it would leak out.
One day, Zhu Yu hurried into the small courtyard. Upon seeing Chen Qing, he exclaimed, "Brother Chen, your rank on Xu Wang Mountain has dropped to thirteenth! Over the past two days, Brother Shang Lujing and Brother Zhao Kun both challenged the Celestial Treasure Tower and succeeded. Your ranking has been pushed down."
Chen Qing simply nodded upon hearing this, his face showing little surprise.
He hadn’t climbed the Celestial Treasure Tower in a long time, so it was perfectly normal for his rank to be surpassed by others.
Still, he had to climb the Treasure Tower, and for three main reasons.
First, it was a matter of ranking and resources. The monthly resources allocated to the top ten disciples on Xu Wang Mountain were far greater than what those ranked lower received.
Second, the mysterious Purple Light in his mind seemed to have some connection to the Celestial Treasure Tower.
Third, and most importantly, was the Sect rule: to challenge a True Disciple, one had to first reach the thirtieth floor of the Celestial Treasure Tower to earn the right.
Chen Qing made a decision. ’This is the perfect opportunity. I’ll climb the tower. First, it will be a good test of my current strength. Second, I can gauge the situation outside and probe the various factions. Especially the reactions of the Nine Heavens Lineage and Lu Chenming.’
His mind made up, he said slowly to Zhu Yu, "Let’s go to the Celestial Treasure Tower."
"Brother Chen, are you going to climb the Celestial Treasure Tower?" Zhu Yu asked, his heart leaping with excitement.
He had long been looking forward to Chen Qing challenging the tower again. He wanted to see with his own eyes just how much this unfathomable senior brother’s strength had skyrocketed.
After all, the stronger Chen Qing became, the more he, as one of his earliest followers, stood to gain.
"Mm."
Chen Qing nodded. It had been over a year since he last climbed the tower; it was time to measure his progress again.
With that, the two left Xu Wang Mountain and headed toward the towering Celestial Treasure Tower.
Before long, they arrived at the massive plaza in front of the Celestial Treasure Tower.
The tower itself still soared into the clouds, exuding an ancient and majestic aura.
Chen Qing walked straight up to the Steward on duty, completed the simple registration, and then calmly strode into the tower.
Meanwhile, a few disciples scattered around the outside of the Celestial Treasure Tower noticed Chen Qing’s figure. They froze for a moment before it registered, their hearts jolting in shock.
"That... isn’t that the True Successor Candidate, Brother Chen Qing?"
"He’s going to climb the tower? He’s finally climbing the tower again!"
"Quick! Spread the word! Brother Chen is challenging the tower again!"
"This is going to be good! I wonder what floor he’ll reach?"
"I remember last time he made it to the twenty-ninth floor, I think. He hadn’t yet reached the thirtieth floor required for the official title, but he was named a True Successor Candidate anyway because of his youth."
The news spread like ripples from a stone tossed into a calm lake.
Shortly after Chen Qing stepped into the Celestial Treasure Tower and vanished beyond the glowing gate, the news spread to the various mountain peaks as if it had grown wings.
「Xu Wang Mountain. Wu Anren’s Courtyard.」
A flash of sword light, like a bolt of white silk, tore through the air with a sharp whistle.
Wu Anren moved with the agility of a soaring dragon, executing an exquisite Swordsmanship technique to its absolute peak. Fine beads of sweat dotted his temples, and his gaze was intensely focused.