Chapter 614: Chapter 396: Invitation to Battle

With battle intent surging in his chest, Xu Yang hurried to the Battle Tower without stopping.

As a place to hone one’s combat skills, there were far more people here than at the Spirit Tower. Even if one didn’t enter the tower to temper themselves, they could still watch the results of others. It had been over eight months since their batch of new students entered the Celestial Strategy Academy. Many students who weren’t on the Lingyun List had also broken through to the Celestial Essence Second Layer, so even more people came here to temper their combat skills.

In front of the Celestial Strategy Wind and Cloud List, which stood over ten feet tall, a dense crowd of students had gathered. Xu Yang swept his gaze across the area and spotted quite a few familiar faces.

On the Martial Dao, while resources and talent were undoubtedly important, combat could not be ignored. Only by experiencing a vast amount of battles and tempering oneself in life-and-death situations could one stimulate their potential and discover their shortcomings.

He rarely came here because he was hiding his talent and couldn’t fight with all his strength in the Battle Tower. Most students generally came here to fight once every few days. Among the three core locations of the Celestial Strategy Academy, the Battle Tower was arguably second only to the Martial Tower. To those with ample resources, the Spirit Tower was actually less important than these two places.

"Teacher, I want to enter the Battle Tower to temper myself."

Xu Yang found the teacher responsible for maintaining order at the Battle Tower and handed over his Waist Token. As a genius on the Celestial Strategy Wind and Cloud List, he had three free opportunities to enter the Battle Tower every month.

"There are quite a few people right now. Wait for your name to be called," the teacher replied. After a simple registration, he returned the Waist Token.

Xu Yang’s battle intent grew even stronger, but there was nothing he could do about the wait. The Battle Tower could only accommodate three people fighting at a time, so it had to be done in order.

"My ranking actually dropped!" He retreated to the side and noticed that his ranking had fallen.

He had originally been ranked eighty-fifth, but now he was eighty-eighth, nearly dropping to ninetieth. Once a ranking fell below ninety, the rewards from the Celestial Strategy Wind and Cloud List would decrease accordingly.

"With my current strength, I wonder if I can still break into the Ninth Layer," Xu Yang pondered.

The Cultivation of the Gatekeepers on each layer of the Battle Tower wasn’t fixed. Their Cultivation depended entirely on the challenger’s own Cultivation. If one entered at the Celestial Essence Second Layer, the first layer’s Gatekeeper would be at the Celestial Essence Second Layer.

Now that he had broken through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer, the first layer’s Gatekeeper would be at the Celestial Essence Third Layer, and the opponents on the Ninth Layer would be nine Celestial Essence Third Layer Gatekeepers. He had only just broken through, and his Cultivation wasn’t even completely stable yet. Even as a Spirit Bone Celestial Pride, he wasn’t confident he could reach the Ninth Layer again.

Xu Yang continued to sweep his gaze across the list and found that many people’s rankings had changed. After all, over two months had passed since they first challenged the Battle Tower, and many had improved their Cultivation. Wan He and Qiu He, who hadn’t been on the Celestial Strategy Wind and Cloud List before, were now on it. Fan Yi, who had originally ranked below him, had now surpassed his ranking.

Ge Zhiwen had also made the list. Second-tier geniuses like Yang Ao, Li Yunfei, and Wu Xiuyuan had also seen changes in their rankings. However, the rankings of Spirit Bone Celestial Prides like Qi Ning and Leng Qiuyue hadn’t changed much.

"Brother Xu, are you here to challenge the tower too?"

Xu Yang turned around and saw Zuo Mu and Wenshan striding over. After not seeing them for many days, their auras had grown much stronger, but they were clearly still some distance away from the Celestial Essence Second Layer Perfection.

"I was free, so I came to take a look," Xu Yang said with a smile.

"I guessed you’d come. If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have been able to keep your ranking," Zuo Mu smiled and added. "It’s been two months, so your ranking should advance even further. Are you confident about breaking into the top seventy this time?"

At these words, many people looked over.

"Breaking into the top seventy is incredibly difficult. Just maintaining my current ranking would be good enough," Xu Yang replied, shaking his head.

To reach rank seventy, one would have to make it to the tenth layer, at the very least. Given his recent breakthrough, he had no confidence in achieving that even if he went all out. With his current Cultivation, the opponent on the tenth layer would be at the Celestial Essence Fourth Layer.

"The Ninth Layer!"

"This Li Chuyang is really something."

"He’s improving too fast."

Suddenly, a chorus of exclamations rang out. Only then did Xu Yang realize that Li Chuyang was currently challenging the tower and had already reached the Ninth Layer. Two months ago, Li Chuyang hadn’t even made it onto the Celestial Strategy Wind and Cloud List, stopping at the Seventh Layer. Reaching the Ninth Layer in just two months was a massive improvement.

"I heard Li Lingdu spent a fortune buying a set of Body Refining Spirit Medicine for Li Chuyang. His Body Refining Cultivation has advanced significantly and has already reached the Qi Blood Manifestation Realm," Wenshan said, his face full of envy.

Even now, many of the new students in their batch still hadn’t reached the Qi Blood Manifestation Realm in Body Refining. On the path of Body Refining, apart from freaks like Tu Gang, most people had to rely on the Water Grinding Technique, taking their time to slowly hone their bodies. The only other way to accelerate the process was to find treasures like the Profound Water Spirit Loach.

Xu Yang had good talent, but there were simply too many Spirit Coin spenders around. If he wasn’t careful, others would quickly catch up to him.

A moment later, a faint light flashed at the Battle Tower’s exit. Li Chuyang appeared there, his robes stained with blood as he panted heavily. After the Celestial Strategy Wind and Cloud List blurred for a moment, his name directly appeared in the eighty-fourth position. He had completely surpassed Xu Yang and was close to catching up with Sun Tao.

Xu Yang’s ranking fell from eighty-eight to eighty-nine.

A few people who were close to Li Chuyang stepped forward to support him, offering him Elixirs while showering him with flattery.

"Eighty-four... not bad!" Li Chuyang glanced at the Celestial Strategy Wind and Cloud List, a smug look of satisfaction on his face. On the Ninth Layer, he had simultaneously fought nine Gatekeepers of the same level, killing two before finally being defeated. With a bit more time to consolidate his strength, he had a very high chance of breaking into the tenth layer.

"Congratulations on ranking eighty-fourth on the Celestial Strategy Wind and Cloud List in one fell swoop, Brother Li!" Lu Ren stepped forward with a smile to congratulate him.

He was a genius Weapon Forger. After forging a Middle-tier Spiritual Weapon, his fame had skyrocketed, and people from all factions came to befriend him. Back in the Purple Sun Sect, he and Li Chuyang had no real relationship, but now, he had managed to cozy up to him.

As Li Chuyang responded to the praises, his gaze fell on Xu Yang, and his battle intent erupted without any attempt at concealment. He had always viewed his defeat at Xu Yang’s hands as a humiliation. Now, he finally had the strength to fight him again.

"Xu Yang, do you dare to fight me?" The arrogant Li Chuyang issued a direct challenge.

Although the Celestial Strategy Academy forbade students from starting fights, it didn’t prohibit them from sparring. At these words, many people looked at Xu Yang with great interest. In fact, many people had first heard Xu Yang’s name because of Li Chuyang. As the son of Li Lingdu, Li Chuyang had quite a reputation in Yunzhou City. It was precisely because he had lost to Xu Yang that many people learned of the latter’s existence.

"Not interested!" Xu Yang shook his head.

He had already broken through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer, while Li Chuyang was still at the Celestial Essence Second Layer. If he went all out, he could kill Li Chuyang in just a few moves. He had no interest in putting on a show with him.

"Are you too scared to even accept a normal sparring match?" Li Chuyang coldly snorted, not expecting Xu Yang to refuse. Even if his ranking on the Celestial Strategy Wind and Cloud List was higher than Xu Yang’s, it wouldn’t be as satisfying as defeating him with his own hands.

"I don’t have time to play with you," Xu Yang said calmly.

Li Chuyang was infuriated. Those words made it sound as if he couldn’t withstand a single blow. But since Xu Yang wouldn’t agree to the fight, he didn’t dare to force the issue. The Celestial Strategy Academy wasn’t a place like the Purple Sun Sect. His father Li Lingdu’s influence didn’t work here, and he didn’t dare to break the Academy’s rules.

"Smart. As long as you don’t fight, you’ll never lose." Du Ziming spoke with heavy sarcasm, clearly believing that Xu Yang was afraid.

"Xu Yang, it’s just a spar between fellow disciples. Brother Li won’t be heavy-handed," Lu Ren chimed in.

Xu Yang didn’t even have the interest to speak to him, outright ignoring his existence. This guy was practically a dog. Before his name had spread, he had shamelessly followed behind Xu Yang and Sun Tao. Once his Weapon Forging Talent was revealed and he gained some fame, he immediately turned around to curry favor with more powerful people. His nature hadn’t changed in the slightest.

After waiting for half an hour, it was finally Xu Yang’s turn.

"Brother Zuo, Brother Wen, I’ll be going first." After greeting Zuo Mu and Wenshan, Xu Yang strode toward the Battle Tower.

"Looking down on me... let’s see how high you can rank!" Li Chuyang glared intensely at Xu Yang’s back, feeling uncertain in his heart.

He had improved over the past two months. Could Xu Yang have just been standing still? Xu Yang had been able to reach the Ninth Layer before. Even if he couldn’t reach the tenth layer this time, he should be able to last longer.

"Brother Li, there’s no need to worry. Aren’t you clear about Xu Yang’s background? I’m afraid he’s wasted all his thoughts and efforts this past month comprehending the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture. It’s impossible for him to have made much progress," Lu Ren said with a laugh.

The Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture?

These words immediately sparked a wave of laughter. The Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture was a Supreme Technique that was even harder to cultivate than the Purple Extreme Heaven-Burning Technique and the True Martial Demon-Vanquishing Technique. Among their batch of new students, more than ten people had mastered the Purple Extreme Heaven-Burning Technique or the True Martial Demon-Vanquishing Technique, but no one had yet been known to master the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture.

To the new students, the difficulty of the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture was no less than that of a Spirit Bone Technique. It was something they could only gaze at from afar, completely out of reach. For Xu Yang to overestimate his capabilities and attempt to cultivate such a Cultivation Technique showed a complete lack of self-awareness. How could it not be laughable?

"But what if he has actually mastered the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture?"

A discordant voice suddenly rang out, and the surrounding laughter instantly vanished.

"Impossible. Even geniuses who are second only to Spirit Bone Celestial Prides, like Li Yunfei and Wu Xiuyuan, haven’t been able to master it. What makes him think he can?" Du Ziming sneered.

Meanwhile, Xu Yang had already stepped into the Battle Tower. The moment he steadied himself, a Gatekeeper radiating blinding light charged at him, exuding the oppressive aura of the Celestial Essence Third Layer.

"As expected, the Formless Thousand Illusion Skill can’t hide anything from the Battle Tower!"

The aura he was currently projecting outward was only at the Celestial Essence Second Layer, but it hadn’t deceived the Battle Tower’s perception. The first layer’s Gatekeeper was directly at the Celestial Essence Third Layer, and it was even at the Celestial Essence Third Layer Perfection.

Pressure surged toward him like a tidal wave. With a mere flash of light, a thunderous fist, carrying immense, heavy power, blasted toward him.

Xu Yang, whose battle intent was already on the verge of overflowing, didn’t make any unnecessary movements. In an instant, he released the suppression on his power and threw a straightforward punch to meet the attack. Surging power burst forth like a roaring, angry dragon, coursing through his spine and limbs. His fist radiated a crimson glow tinged with a trace of faint azure—this was the unique power of the Dragon Symbols Heart Scripture.

However, he had only cultivated the Dragon Symbols Heart Scripture for a short time and hadn’t yet reached a profound level of mastery. The true power of the Dragon Symbols Heart Scripture would completely transform into an azure color. When that time came, it would no longer be ordinary Gang Yuan, but the Power of the Dragon Symbols.

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