He seemed to hear the sound of teeth grinding bones.

It was unclear whether it was an illusion given by "Tongue Desire," or if he was indeed chewing bones.

[You have absorbed a trace of demon energy and celestial energy, Life Limit +56]

The amount of health gained wasn't much. After all, it was just a little demon with its strength at the fourth or fifth level of Qi Refining.

Moreover, Swallowing Star Chew Moon always had a trait. When the intensity of the absorbed energy was lower than one's own blood energy, the effect would be greatly reduced.

Yet, the feeling that "Tongue Desire" gave him was obviously more than that; there was also some special nuance continuously being digested and consumed.

The digestion time wasn't short.

Fan Wubing focused on operating Swallowing Star Chew Moon, fully mobilizing the proactivity of "Tongue Desire," patiently waiting for the digestion to complete.

After a while,

["Tongue Desire Moves Greatly," you have gained a special insight]

[Demon Refining Tower Insight]

[Incomplete]

[It seems to record something, but there's too little insight to identify]

Special insight?

"Tongue Desire" indeed often digested special insights, but they were usually complete and detailed; this was the first time an incomplete insight appeared.

He carefully sensed it,

and indeed felt a very vague sensation. Faintly, he could see someone's figure flitting back and forth in a gray world.

The Demon Refining Tower indeed hides some secrets!

Fan Wubing suddenly felt immense motivation to devour more special energy, in order to gain more insights into the Demon Refining Tower.

He immediately proceeded to the third floor.

Following the same strategy, he first surrounded the demon beast with his blood energy, drawing a cage within which he conducted the slaughter, capturing the special energy that condensed after the demon beast's death.

Adding health from devouring special energy was no longer within his concern; it wasn't much anyway.

Insight into the Demon Refining Tower was the utmost priority.

He preferred to go slower rather than miss anything, patiently allowing "Tongue Desire" to complete the digestion.

One floor after another, climbing continually upward.

...

Since the trial started for the third-period students, everyone was intently watching the name of Fan Wubing on the Demon Refining Stele ranking board.

The third-period students' strengths generally ranged from the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment to the Middle Stage of Golden Core, having spent over a decade in the sect with very rich combat experience.

The speed of tower climbing was not something the first or second-period students could compare to.

The demon beasts on the lower floors were no match for them, falling by the first strike.

Thus, within a quarter of an hour, they were basically all on the fifth floor or above.

Fan Wubing's name was particularly conspicuous.

Not because his rank was high, but... he was in the last place.

Enlightenment Peak, Fan Wubing, third floor.

The second-to-last was already on the fifth floor.

This...

The disciples observing in the square were quite puzzled... Was Fan Wubing just like this? Nearly a quarter of an hour had passed, and he was only on the third floor—was it intentional, or accidental? Or perhaps he... wasn't actually that strong.

But hadn't the whole sect recently been rumored that Fan Wubing's performance in the Peach Blossom Spring was particularly impressive?

If he performed impressively in such a place, how could climbing a tower look like this?

While ordinary disciples were merely a bit puzzled, those who had placed bets on Fan Wubing breaking through the tenth floor were already sweating profusely.

"What's going on with Fan Wubing?"

"Isn't it said that he's actually quite formidable?"

"Damn, the first place has reached the seventh floor, and he's still on the third floor."

"Is his combat style unsuited for tower climbing?"

Even the elders on the stage were somewhat puzzled.

An elder asked,

"Is this really Fan Wubing? Surely his name wasn't mistaken? Isn't it said he couldn't cultivate immortality but was quite formidable in other ways?"

Lin Xing was calm and composed,

"Don't rush, he's always full of ideas; maybe he's adapting to the environment."

"But the environment differs on every floor of the Demon Refining Tower. How could he have time to adapt floor by floor?"

Mei Jinqiu shared Lin Xing's sentiment,

"Just keep watching."

...

Thoroughly devouring the special energy on the third floor,

[Demon Refining Tower Insight]

[Incomplete]

[Seems to record a type of power, but the information is too incomplete to identify]

The description became a bit more detailed.

What the Demon Refining Tower's insights contained was a kind of power.

What kind of power?

Fan Wubing pondered.

Magical treasure? Cultivation technique? Divine techniques? Innate Dao Charm? Acquired Dao Perception?

All were possible.

In short, Fan Wubing's curiosity was fully piqued, and he secretly resolved to figure out what it was.

Continuing onward,

to the fourth floor.

The demon beasts were a bit stronger, yet still fell in a single move, but the special energy also seemed to grow stronger with the demon beast, becoming harder to capture.

Fan Wubing deliberately slowed the pace of battle, taking some time to reinforce the blood and qi cage.

In any case, it was impossible for the special energy to break through the cage and slip away.

[Demon Refining Tower Insight]

[Incomplete]

[Seems to record a type of power that manifests in various forms]

Various forms?

Still, nothing specific and detailed was revealed.

Then, continue!

Fifth floor,

Sixth floor...

...

Fan Wubing's rank still remained in the last place.

However, those disciples who continuously followed him gradually discovered a pattern.

"Have you guys noticed, Fan Wubing's pace in climbing the tower is very steady."

"It seems so. Although as the floors increase, the time per layer grows longer, the increase in time per layer is very regular."

"Such performance is different from others."

"Indeed. Because different battle styles emphasize different tactics, some excel at close combat, some excel at long-range skirmishing, while others excel at using external tools... Thus, when encountering a countering demon beast, they will advance faster, and slower otherwise."

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