My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

The grand and towering pavilions stood amidst the picturesque mountains and rivers, the sound of cascading streams resembling melodies from a zither. This place should have inspired tranquility, yet it was now teeming with voices, unsettling the heart.

In the prime days of the Joyful Sect, the Practice Tower was a haven of silence. Cultivators who came here were often accomplished closed-door disciples. During their training, they required complete focus, immersing themselves entirely, without the slightest sound. Even a hint of disturbance indicated distraction, and such training would inevitably fail.

"The Four Heavenly Kings Realm, Trāyastriṃśa Realm, and Śuddhāvāsa Realm—the first three layers of the array have been broken. Only three layers remain before reaching the King Statues!"

"Don’t even think about it. Once inside the Śuddhāvāsa Realm, it becomes the embrace of Joyful Union—who can endure that? Breaking this array is nothing but a fluke."

"In the Tusita Heaven, the embrace forms completeness. That Tiger Staff wielder, Li Mang, a nine-foot man brimming with demonic energy and vitality, entered and emerged as a mere husk of a man. Without profound passion, the array is simply unbreakable."

Outside the Practice Tower, Jianghu guests came and went, discussing fervently. Ever since the Prince of Annan gifted the King Statues to the martial world yesterday, the gathering outside the tower had not dwindled. Countless individuals attempted to penetrate the array only to return unsuccessful. Though not perilous, the reason for failure boiled down to three words: "Couldn’t endure."

Witnessing numerous heroes faltering, barely managing to stand after emerging, gossipmongers spread a saying: "Entering invincible, leaving powerless."

In the six-layered Practice Tower, the higher the ascent, the greater the difficulty. The Four Heavenly Kings Realm was the easiest, resembling the mortal world, performing acts of desire to achieve unity. But upon reaching the sixth layer, the Heaven of Transformative Freedom, even a mere glance between man and woman forged unity. How could one possibly break such an array?

Two days had passed, and more people attempted the array each day. Among Jianghu guests, it was understood that as one ascended, the test shifted from physical endurance to mental fortitude.

"No matter man or woman, there’s always a moment of weariness. The so-called Joyful Zen teaching is that immense joy is followed by immense sorrow, leading to enlightenment in Buddhist Law."

A high monk from the Western Regions conveyed this explanation via secret transmission to Chen Yi as he passed by.