Immortality Cultivation

Fang Hao tucked away the hot-to-the-touch Jade Slip of the "Chaos Derivation Art: Middle Volume," feeling absolutely delighted.

This thing was far more practical than any weapon or Spirit Pill; it was the foundation of his survival!

He adjusted his breathing for a moment, easing off the mental fatigue brought about by the previous "Dao Heart interrogation," and once his state was fully restored, he looked up at the stairs leading to the tenth floor.

"The tenth floor... I wonder what kind of twisted thing is waiting for me." He licked his lips, his eyes showing not fear, but eagerness.

The previous nine floors, while getting harder one after another and nearly costing him his life several times, had yielded real rewards!

His Sword Intent had broken through, his cultivation had Advanced, and he had even obtained the subsequent Cultivation Technique. This trade was worth it!

He lifted his foot and stepped onto the stairs.

His vision blurred, and the scene changed.

This time, it wasn’t a grand hall illusion, but a... completely ordinary stone room.

The stone room was small and empty, with only a meditation cushion in the center.

Sitting opposite the cushion was an old man wearing a gray cloth robe, with white hair and beard, looking kind and benevolent.

The old man had his eyes closed, as if meditating, and there was not a trace of spiritual power fluctuation on him, just like an ordinary elderly farmer from the countryside.

Fang Hao’s heart skipped a beat. Abnormalities often hide demons!

With this style, the tenth floor had to be even more terrifying than the previous ones involving fighting and killing!

He dared not be careless and quietly scanned him with his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes, but no matter how he looked at it, the old man seemed like a Mortal with no cultivation.

"Junior Fang Hao, greets Senior." Fang Hao cupped his hands in a salute, showing full courtesy. In this godforsaken place, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

The white-bearded old man slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was murky, carrying a hint of a smile, and he pointed to the cushion opposite him: "Sit."

The voice was calm, nothing special.

Fang Hao felt even more uneasy. He hesitated, then walked over and sat on the cushion, only using half his seat, with his muscles tensed, ready to spring up... or run away at any moment.

The old man looked at him and smiled: "Getting here is not easy. How did you feel about the first nine floors?"

Fang Hao couldn’t gauge his intentions, so he replied vaguely: "The trials set by Senior are profound and mysterious; this Junior has benefited greatly."

"Hehe, slippery one." The old man shook his head, "Do you feel that each floor was harder and more dangerous than the last?"

Fang Hao gave a dry laugh and didn’t respond.

The old man didn’t mind and continued to speak on his own: "This heaven-reaching pagoda has twelve floors. The bottom nine floors test Strength, Technique, Heart, Wisdom, Luck, Body, Intent, Formation, and Dao. That you were able to pass means you are indeed decent material."

Fang Hao’s heart stirred. So the first nine floors had such meanings?

He thought carefully and realized it really seemed to be the case: the first two floors tested basic strength and technique, the third and fourth tested Dao Heart and adaptability, the fifth relied on some luck (gravity swamp), the sixth was Body Refining against illusions, the seventh honed Sword Intent, the eighth broke Formations, and the ninth questioned the Dao Heart. This pagoda’s design was something else!

"Then what does this tenth floor test?" Fang Hao couldn’t help but ask.

The old man looked at him, and a flash of deep light seemed to pass through his murky eyes: "The tenth floor does not test anything."

"Ah?" Fang Hao was taken aback, "It doesn’t test anything? Then... can I go to the eleventh floor?"

"Not exactly." The old man shook his head, "The tenth floor is to give you a choice."

"A choice?"

"Correct." The old man said slowly, "The heaven-reaching pagoda’s twelfth floor is a hurdle. The nine floors below, while difficult, are ultimately in the realm of "Mortals." From the tenth floor upwards, it is a path for "non-humans." The level of danger far exceeds your imagination. "Ten deaths, zero survival" is no empty threat."

He paused and looked at Fang Hao: "You now have two choices. One, stop here. You can take what you have gained in the pagoda and leave safely. With your current strength, Middle Golden Core Stage, first-level Sword Intent, and possessing strange treasures, you are enough to protect yourself in this Secret Realm, and you might even compete for the final Opportunity. After you leave, if you focus on Cultivation, Nascent Soul is within reach, and living freely for a thousand years is not difficult."

Fang Hao didn’t speak, listening quietly.

The old man continued: "Two, choose to continue. Stepping onto the tenth floor means there is no turning back. You either reach the top, or... die, with your Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. The pagoda spirit will no longer show any mercy. Everything you have gained before will become a bubble."

The stone room fell silent. Only the sound of Fang Hao’s own heartbeat, "thump, thump, thump," was exceptionally clear.

The old man spoke no more, closing his eyes to rest, seemingly waiting for his answer.

Fang Hao sat on the cushion, his heart churning. Stop here? Take his current gains and leave?

Indeed, as the old man said, with Middle Golden Core Stage cultivation, plus Sword Intent and his various means, walking through this Secret Realm might be a bit risky, but self-protection was definitely not a problem.

After the Secret Realm ended, finding a place for closed-door Cultivation to digest his gains, condensing a Nascent Soul was highly probable.

And then what? Be a free and happy Golden Core (Nascent Soul) Loose Cultivator? Or return to the Seventh Princes Mansion to be an Advanced Guest Elder? It seemed... not bad? At least it was safe.

But... was he willing?

He thought about how he had struggled from a small servant all the way to now, how many times he had faced life and death? What was it for? Wasn’t it just to stand higher, see further, and truly control his own destiny? Was he satisfied with this little achievement now?

The last two floors of the heaven-reaching pagoda, although dangerous, one could tell with their toes that the Opportunity must be even greater! Perhaps there was the key to solving the subsequent Cultivation problems of his Seven Spiritual Roots! Or, there might be treasures that could truly allow him to be reborn and soar into the sky!

The greater the risk, the greater the reward! He understood this principle.

Moreover, the unyielding spirit in his bones was also stirring. Why should I not be able to do what others cannot? The Prodigies of the Mu Family? The Geniuses of the Heavenly Sword Sect? Perhaps they were also stuck on a certain floor?

If I, Fang Hao, a "Trash" with Seven Spiritual Roots, could ascend to a floor they couldn’t... that feeling, just thinking about it was exciting!

Retreating meant stability, but perhaps his life would just be like this forever. Moving forward might mean death, but it might also mean seeing unprecedented scenery!

How to choose?

Time passed bit by bit. Fang Hao’s breathing gradually stabilized from rapid, and his gaze turned from struggle to firm determination.

He stood up and bowed deeply to the old man:

"Senior, I choose the second path. I will continue to ascend the pagoda!"

The old man slowly opened his eyes, looking at him with an inscrutable smile on his face: "Have you decided? No regrets?"

"The path of Cultivation is like sailing against the current; if you do not advance, you retreat. This Junior... does not want to retreat." Fang Hao’s tone was calm but carried unquestionable determination.

"Good." The old man nodded, his figure beginning to fade slowly, "Since that is the case, go then. The door to the tenth floor has already been opened for you. Remember your choice; once you step on this path, there is no turning back."

As the words fell, the old man’s phantom completely dissipated.

At the same time, the smooth stone wall opposite in the stone room slid open silently, revealing a rotating, seven-colored light gate behind it that emitted a heart-palpitating aura.

Behind the light gate was a piece of Chaos, and nothing could be seen clearly.

Fang Hao looked at the light gate, took a deep breath, adjusted his state to the best, his eyes sharp as a knife.

He no longer hesitated, took a step forward, and his figure disappeared into the seven-colored light gate.

The light gate slowly closed. The stone room returned to silence.