1st Floor of the Sword Tower.
Jiang Chen wielded a light longsword, locked in a stalemate with the puppet before him.
The sword in his hand moved with incredible speed. It was so incomparably sharp it could sever a hair blown across its edge or shatter gold and jade.
However…
When his blade struck the puppet's body, it only left behind a white scratch mark.
Furthermore, the entire 1st Floor of the Sword Tower was enveloped in an Ancient Array that exerted immense pressure on Jiang Chen's body, causing his True Qi to deplete with extreme speed.
'My True Qi is completely gone. Now I can only rely on my physical strength to fight!'
Jiang Chen's eyes shifted. His True Qi was nearly exhausted. Sword in hand, he dragged his leaden legs around, maneuvering against the puppet.
His movements grew increasingly sluggish.
He was utterly exhausted, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.
This battle lasted for a full double-hour. Finally, when Jiang Chen could no longer move his legs, his footing gave way, and the puppet landed a punch squarely on his chest.
Jiang Chen was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground, completely dazed and disoriented.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
He watched as the puppet, its face cold and expressionless, advanced with clanging steps, about to stomp down on his body.
Jiang Chen hurriedly shouted, "Stop!"
The puppet froze, then turned and returned to its original position with stiff steps.
It stood as still as a statue of a Buddha!
"Motherfucker, this puppet really hits hard…" Jiang Chen winced, grimacing in pain.
He looked up at the crystal nameplate above the puppet's head, which showed that he had lasted for half a double-hour in this battle.
Jiang Chen gave a wry smile. 'Only half a double-hour? I was too impatient in that last fight. The puppet's strength and defense are both superior to mine. I absolutely can't be rash when fighting it… Besides, I'm still too inexperienced in using and combining my Sword Technique and moves, and my control over my True Qi isn't refined enough. Once my True Qi recovers, I'll go again!'
Jiang Chen immediately closed his eyes and began to circulate the `Profound Yellow Undying Technique`.
The `Profound Yellow Undying Technique` was a heaven-defying Cultivation Technique that seized the fortune of heaven and earth, plundering the primordial Profound Yellow source of the Ten Thousand Realms.
As soon as Jiang Chen circulated it, the Spiritual Qi from the entire Sword Tower surged madly toward his body, being absorbed and rapidly restoring his depleted True Qi.
Under normal circumstances, a Martial Artist at the Martial Arts First Stage would need half a day to recover from complete True Qi exhaustion, even with the help of a pill.
But Jiang Chen only took half a double-hour to return to his peak state.
He could even clearly feel that the True Qi in his Dantian was now a fair bit more abundant and powerful than before.
Jiang Chen mused thoughtfully, 'Fighting really is the best shortcut to improving my cultivation. Depleting my True Qi completely, then refilling it… By constantly repeating this cycle, and with my `Profound Yellow Undying Technique`, my True Qi recovery speed is ten times that of an ordinary person. That means my cultivation speed is also ten times theirs. It's just a shame I started so late and have fallen so far behind Jiang Ziyou. I'll need to put in even more effort!'
At this thought.
Jiang Chen raised his sword once more and began his second challenge.
This time, Jiang Chen still only lasted half a double-hour, but he managed to exchange a few more rounds with the puppet than the first time.
In the following days, Jiang Chen fell into a repetitive routine.
Every day, he would engage in an exhilarating, all-out battle with the puppet. Once his body could take no more, he would begin restoring his True Qi on the spot, reflecting on the weaknesses exposed during the fight to achieve self-improvement and transcendence.
On the second day, Jiang Chen was able to fight the puppet for nearly a full double-hour before being defeated.
On the third day, the battle lasted for a double-hour and a half before he was defeated.
On the fourth day, after a bitter two-double-hour fight, he lost by a single move.
On the fifth day, after a bitter two-double-hour fight, he narrowly won!
Time flew by in a flash.
Before he knew it, Jiang Chen had already been in the Sword Tower for seven days.
"Slash!"
A cold shout suddenly echoed within the Sword Tower. The sword in Jiang Chen's hand transformed into a streak of flowing light and thrust out, piercing the puppet's right eye with a PUFF.
The puppet's body shuddered and its movements became sluggish. At the same time, a cold voice announced, "Battle concluded!"
'Seven days of bitter training, and I've finally achieved Great Success with Sword Flash, the First Technique of my `Aurora Sword Technique`!' Looking at the damaged puppet, Jiang Chen revealed a satisfied smile. 'Now it's time to receive the Spiritual Qi!'
HUMMM—
Spiritual Qi surged from the puppet's body like a fountain.
Jiang Chen immediately sat down cross-legged, circulating the `Profound Yellow Undying Technique` and absorbing it frantically. His cultivation also began to rise rapidly.
Middle Stage of the First Stage…
Late Stage of the First Stage…
BOOM!
Jiang Chen's whole body trembled as he absorbed the final wisp of Spiritual Qi. Two sharp glints of light burst from his eyes. 'Second Stage of Martial Arts, I've finally broken through! Hmm, my Martial Soul has also advanced to Yellow Tier Second Grade. Time to head to the second floor…'
Jiang Chen immediately stepped onto the second floor.
「Meanwhile.」
Outside the Sword Tower, Elder Jiang Ming noticed Jiang Chen entering the second floor and couldn't help but be startled. 'He finally passed the first floor? With a cultivation at the Martial Arts First Stage, he actually defeated the Sword Tower Puppet and advanced to the second floor in just seven days? This kid's cultivation is incredible!'
'Although he started out a bit weak, only at the Martial Arts First Stage, his cultivation speed isn't slow at all!' Jiang Ming nodded to himself.
Just then…
Jiang Ming saw Jiang Ziyou approaching the Sword Tower, led by Jiang Tai.
Ever since the Sword Tower had been moved away from the Jiang Family estate and become a public training ground, Jiang Tai and Jiang Ziyou rarely came here.
Seeing the two of them arrive unexpectedly today, Jiang Ming put on a fawning smile and hurried to greet them, "Jiang Ming pays his respects to the Patriarch and the Young Miss!"
"Elder Jiang Ming, you've worked hard," Jiang Tai said with a smile.
Jiang Ziyou nodded slightly, her expression cold and indifferent.
Jiang Ming looked Jiang Ziyou up and down, his expression suddenly changing. He clicked his tongue in admiration, "The Young Miss is truly exceptionally talented! It has been less than ten days since your Martial Soul Awakening, yet you've already advanced to the Fourth Stage of Martial Arts. Such cultivation progress is simply astonishing, worthy of a Celestial Being!"
"Elder Jiang Ming, you flatter me."
Jiang Ziyou said faintly, "Ziyou has come this time to challenge the Sword Tower!"
Jiang Ming was taken aback. "Oh? The Young Miss has come to challenge the Sword Tower as well!"
"Is someone inside?" Jiang Ziyou paused, her fine brows knitting together as she asked.
Jiang Ming nodded, asking with a puzzled expression, "Didn't Jiang Chen tell the Young Miss he was coming to the Sword Tower? That's strange… Aren't Jiang Chen and the Young Miss childhood sweethearts, always inseparable? Why wouldn't he tell you?"
"You said Jiang Chen is inside?" Jiang Tai's voice suddenly grew heavy.
A cold glint flashed through Jiang Ziyou's eyes.
She gazed toward the Sword Tower.
Jiang Ming was completely baffled. In his memory, Jiang Chen was always completely devoted to Jiang Ziyou, and the two were on excellent terms. Why did she now seem so repulsed by the mere mention of Jiang Chen's name?
Although he didn't understand, Jiang Ming quickly replied, "Yes, he arrived seven days ago. When Young Master Jiang Chen first came, his cultivation was only at the Martial Arts First Stage. In these seven days, he has already defeated the Sword Tower Puppet on the first floor and advanced to the Second Stage of Martial Arts."
"Second Stage of Martial Arts? Are you sure?"
Jiang Tai's expression changed as he exclaimed in shock.
This startled Jiang Ming, who stammered nervously, "Y-yes, that's right!"
"Ziyou…"
Jiang Tai's expression turned ugly as he looked toward Jiang Ziyou.
Jiang Ziyou's gaze was dark, her eyes glinting with a cold, sharp light. 'Seven days to advance from the Martial Arts First Stage to the Second Stage, and he even defeated the Sword Tower Puppet? Is that really a cultivation speed possible for someone with a Yellow Tier First Grade Martial Soul? Could it be that Jiang Taixu left other treasures for Jiang Chen? Damn you, Jiang Chen, you're too selfish! For the past six years, I tried everything to please you, but you only gave me some Unranked Superior Cultivation Techniques and Nourishing God Pills. All the while, you were hiding treasures that could let you break through a Martial Arts Realm in a short time. You're far too cunning.'
"Patriarch, Young Miss, why… why do you two seem so unhappy to see Young Master Jiang Chen's cultivation break through?" Jiang Ming asked tentatively.
Jiang Ziyou shot him a glance and said coldly, "Elder Jiang Ming, I'll forgive you since you guard the Sword Tower year-round and are unaware of the family's internal affairs. But I want you to remember this: that Jiang Chen has long had nothing to do with my Jiang Family!"
"This…"
Jiang Ming was stunned and utterly confused, but he was a sharp man and knew very well what he should and shouldn't ask. He immediately said, "Jiang Ming understands!"
'Jiang Chen, you want to cultivate peacefully in the Sword Tower? I won't let you have your way…'
Jiang Ziyou nodded, her eyes revealing a cold glint as she looked at the towering Sword Tower.
"I heard that Jiang Rui's older brother, Jiang Zhi, was enraged when he learned that Jiang Rui was injured by Jiang Chen. He is currently searching everywhere for Jiang Chen's whereabouts to avenge his younger brother. What do you suppose would happen if he knew Jiang Chen was in the Sword Tower?"
As she spoke, she shot a glance at Jiang Ming.
Jiang Ming shuddered, thinking to himself: 'This is a plot to kill someone with a borrowed knife!'
Jiang Zhi was a master at the Peak of the Third Stage of Martial Arts. If he were to act, even if Jiang Chen managed to pass the third floor of the Sword Tower, he would surely die!
But he didn't dare hesitate for a moment, and quickly said, "This subordinate knows what to do!"