Gu Qiu nodded slightly, the reason he just refused Zhao Yan was that Chu Nan was the Sect Leader's disciple.

The Sect Leader is knowledgeable and his methods are unfathomable, surely there is a solution.

"Chu Nan, the Haotian Tower will soon open, and whether Nianxue can survive depends entirely on you." Gu Qiu's old tears streamed down as he held Chu Nan's shoulders, intending to kneel down and pledge his resolve.

Upon seeing this, Chu Nan quickly helped him up and said, "Elder Gu, you are overwhelming your disciple with this."

"Senior Sister Gu is my friend and has helped me before; saving her life is only natural, so rest assured."

"When I return from the Haotian Tower, I will definitely bring you the Jiu Huo Lotus!"

Gu Qiu nodded deeply. Although Chu Nan's realm was at the bottom among true disciples, for some reason, upon receiving his promise, the weight in Gu Qiu's heart was lifted.

Instinctively believing, Chu Nan would surely fulfill all that he promised.

Chu Nan looked at Gu Nianxue on the bed, feeling his heart tighten; he hadn't expected her to be in such a critical condition in just a month of absence.

He secretly clenched his fist, vowing to obtain the Jiu Huo Lotus and save Gu Nianxue's life.

Gu Nianxue's current condition was so poor that she couldn't go a moment without supervision, and Chu Nan stayed until late at night before leaving.

Chu Nan walked straight to Sword Peak, unable to resist looking up, seeing names inscribed in succession, all of whom were the most powerful disciples in the history of the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect.

Chen Kaiyang, the Sect Leader of the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect, was prominently listed, clearly showing that he was once the number one true disciple of the sect!

Ascending Sword Peak, Chu Nan encountered no resistance and reached the highest point to the Mountain Cloud Palace.

"Greetings to the True Disciple Chu Nan!"

"Greetings to the True Disciple Chu Nan!"

"..."

The disciples guarding around Mountain Cloud Palace saluted in unison upon seeing Chu Nan arrive.

Though they were not the disciples of Chen Kaiyang, they were direct lineages of the Sect Leader and showed heartfelt respect for Chu Nan, the Sect Leader's disciple.

The gates of Mountain Cloud Palace slowly opened, and Chu Nan arrived at the main hall, discovering Chen Kaiyang seated proudly at the main seat.

His presence was overwhelming, unmatched and majestic.

"Master...pay respects to the Master." Chu Nan stepped forward and said respectfully.

Kui Guang took the opportunity to say, "This Chen Kaiyang is of considerable strength, probably unparalleled among martial artists of the same realm in the Celestial Crossing Realm."

Chu Nan was somewhat surprised, as it was the first time Kui Guang actively praised someone, making Chu Nan even more respectful towards Chen Kaiyang.

Chen Kaiyang slowly opened his eyes and said softly, "Chu Nan, I've heard you are entering the Haotian Tower to help Gu Qiu obtain the Jiu Huo Lotus?"

"It's truly overestimating yourself. The Jiu Huo Lotus is only on the sixteenth level, and with your current cultivation, it's clearly a fool's dream."

"I suppose you've been entranced by Gu Nianxue's beauty?"

Chu Nan's eyebrows twitched, not expecting Chen Kaiyang to find out so quickly, proving that nothing could be hidden from him at the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect.

"Master, Senior Sister Gu has assisted me multiple times; I can't bear to see her perish, nor do I wish her to make concessions, so I had no choice but to agree."

"Though the Jiu Huo Lotus is difficult to obtain, your disciple is confident in achieving success and saving Senior Sister Gu to repay the kindness."

Chen Kaiyang nodded slightly. He took Chu Nan as a disciple partly for his talent, but more importantly, for his character.

During this time, he investigated Chu Nan's background thoroughly and naturally learned a lot.

Except for not knowing why Chu Nan was detained by Chu Han for a year, he had a thorough understanding of everything about Chu Nan in the Chu family.

"Well, at least you know gratitude and repayment. Seven days from now, the Haotian Tower will open, and you shall enter with the other true disciples."

Chu Nan solemnly nodded, Gu Nianxue was in a precarious state, so entering as soon as possible was certainly preferable.

Chen Kaiyang continued, "The Haotian Tower is full of dangers, each level filled with life-and-death crises, yet also holds astonishing opportunities, there's a chance to lay the foundation for the Yang Wheel Realm there."

"Though the Jiu Huo Lotus is crucial, without strength, what is there to talk about in obtaining it?"

Chu Nan naturally understood that the Jiu Huo Lotus was important, but so was upgrading his cultivation.

"Your disciple will remember, and certainly not disappoint Master."

Chen Kaiyang then slowly stood up, walking towards the depths of the main hall, saying: "Follow me."

Chu Nan immediately followed. As they proceeded deeper, he felt as if he was descending, leaving the main hall and entering the mountain's belly.

After about three sticks of incense time, Chen Kaiyang brought Chu Nan to a secret chamber and stopped.

Chen Kaiyang took out a palm-sized jade scroll and handed it to Chu Nan, saying, "This is a Heavenly Jade Scroll, refined by an Artifact Refiner through special methods; activate it with spiritual power to reveal the map of the eighteen levels of Haotian Tower."

"Many places with opportunities are marked on it, and you can go search according to your needs."

Chu Nan nodded, activated it with spiritual power, and soon a phantom image of an eighteen-story pagoda appeared before his eyes, allowing him to see the details of each level clearly.

From the first to the seventeenth levels were clear at a glance, and Chu Nan even spotted the location of the Jiu Huo Lotus on the sixteenth level!

But when he saw the eighteenth level, Chu Nan frowned and asked, "Master, why is the eighteenth level unclear?"

Chen Kaiyang pondered for a moment, then said, "Because no one has ever set foot on the eighteenth level of the Haotian Tower, naturally there isn't a map for it."

"To enter the eighteenth level, one must defeat the guardian of the level; that guardian is incredibly strong. Even in my day, I was no match, let alone others."

Saying this, a look of longing appeared in Chen Kaiyang's eyes, "It's said that if you can clear the eighteenth level, you will receive incredible rewards, but to this day no one has succeeded."

"If you succeed, it would bring great honor to me in front of our ancestors, but do not aim too high; reaching the sixteenth level would satisfy me."

Yet, Chu Nan kept staring at the unclear eighteenth level, his heart filled with endless imagination.

Then Chen Kaiyang handed another scroll to Chu Nan.

Chu Nan asked in puzzlement, "Master, what is this?"

Chen Kaiyang replied, "This is the sect's strongest upper-grade Yellow-tier martial skill, the Cyan Mountain Radiant Sun Sword, which only disciples under the Sect Leader are qualified to learn."

"There are thirty-six true disciples in the sect, among whom are genuine prodigies, but over the years I have observed that none are fit to learn this sword, whether due to incompatibility with Sword Dao or poor character, you are the only one who gave me hope."

"I originally planned to teach you only after you achieved the Unity of Heaven and Man with the Cyan Mountain Jinghong Sword. However, your talent is beyond doubt, having mastered it to perfection in such a short time."

"Giving it to you now might benefit you more; train well under me and strive to reach the Minor Success Realm soon."

"If you can master it to the Unity of Heaven and Man in three years, I will pass on to you the sect's only supreme Yellow-tier martial skill."

Chu Nan's pupils shrank at the mention of a supreme Yellow-tier martial skill, never expecting the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect to truly have such a level of martial skill.

For a moment, Chu Nan's interest in the Cyan Mountain Jinghong Sword surged, nodding repeatedly, "Master, rest assured, your disciple will surely not disappoint you!"

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