Chapter 625 - Suppressed

The two women exchanged words of admiration before stepping up to the second floor of the Spiritual Array Tower.

The spectators outside buzzed with excitement. The trial of one tower would last for a day, and whoever could emerge from the tower first would become the center of attention.

Bai Yuan had the most support as everyone's favorite, followed closely by the Transcending Plume Gate's Zhou Ge, the Demonic Heart Palace's Qu Yang, and the Indigo Cloud Gate's Deng Xia.

Only a few people were optimistic about Liu Wuxie, Murong Yi, or Xu Lingxue. After all, the Divine Sun Palace was ranked last among the ten major sects, and it was natural for their spiritual arrays to be filled with flaws.

Everyone felt that Liu Wuxie, Murong Yi, or Xu Lingxue were only lucky to advance to the next level. The upcoming spiritual arrays would become more difficult, and the three candidates everyone favored were the strongest.

As for Liu Wuxie, he only gave everyone an impression of his cunning and ruthlessness rather than any remarkable talent.

Liu Wuxie executed Ghost Eye once more upon stepping onto the second level. He could easily get past these spiritual arrays without using Ghost Eye, but he wanted to save time and reach the last level as soon as possible.

"They're now entering the spiritual arrays set up by the Dugu Clan," whispered a spectator as the surrounding discussion died down.

Perhaps because of Liu Wuxie's outstanding performance on the first level, many people focused on him this time.

"Luck won't be on his side this time. I’ve heard the Dugu Clan is known for their confinement spiritual arrays, and even Bai Yuan will need time to make his way through," scoffed a second-tier sect elder.

"I know of this spiritual array! I heard that this set of spiritual arrays once trapped a Nascent Transformation Realm expert until their death," an elder exclaimed, his words earning nods of agreement from the surrounding crowd. Many shared his sentiment, given Liu Wuxie's relatively low cultivation. If he had reached the pinnacle of the Nascent Transformation Realm, his chances might have been different.

"I bet that Liu Wuxie won't make it to the second level," a Grand Banner Gate's elder commented with contempt in his tone.

"What wager will you make?" Mu Tianli spoke unexpectedly, which caught everyone by surprise. After all, he was a powerhouse in the True Profound Realm.

"If he makes it past the second level, I'll kneel and apologize for what I said earlier!"

It was no secret that the Grand Banner Gate had a terrible relationship with the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

"Remember what you just said. If he can't reach the third level, no Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's disciples will appear before the Grand Banner Gate's disciples. Likewise, the Grand Banner Gate isn't allowed to appear anywhere near the disciples of my sect. Do you dare to take the bet?" Mu Tianli said. He might have an elegant demeanor, but he was a shrewd person.

That Grand Banner Gate's elder hesitated. He dared not agree to the wager and could only look at the sect master.

"Agreed," said a white-haired elder. This person was the Grand Banner Gate's sect master, with a hooked nose and piercing triangular eyes.

Everyone was surprised that the Grand Banner Gate had openly challenged the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. It wasn't hard to tell that the Azure Crimson Gate was behind the conflict, trying to use the Grand Banner Gate to suppress the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

"The Heavenly Treasure Pavilion is doomed!" No one was optimistic about Liu Wuxie because the Dugu Clan's spiritual arrays were famous. Their achievements in spiritual arrays were even stronger than the Sky Rift Valley and Misty Sect. If Liu Wuxie could make it through the second level, he could also make it through the last two levels.

However, what happened next was a resounding slap to their faces. Liu Wuxie stood still on the pathway for five minutes before he increased his speed, breaking through the spiritual arrays even faster than when he was on the first level.

"How is this possible?!" All the elders and disciples from the ten major sects stood up in disbelief, except for the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, unable to accept this outcome.

Liu Wuxie easily broke through the ten spiritual arrays set up by the Dugu Clan in seven minutes, half the time he spent on the first level.

When Bai Yuan was halfway through the second level, Liu Wuxie had already moved on to the third level. The distance between them had grown alarmingly large.

"Sect master, our doubts about Liu Wuxie were unnecessary," Elder He said as the anxiety on his face faded. He was worried when Liu Wuxie had stood in place on the first level, but his concern appeared unnecessary.

The cultivators who had mocked Liu Wuxie earlier felt a burning embarrassment on their cheeks. After all, no one had used seven minutes to break through all the arrays in the history of the Ten Grand Ceremony, and Liu Wuxie was the first to set a new record.

"Are you going to kneel on your own accord, or do you need me to help you?" Mu Tianli turned to look at the Grand Banner Gate's region, unleashing his terrifying aura in the True Profound Realm that made the elder feel suffocated.

"Sect Master Mu, is there a need to take it so far?" The Azure Crimson Gate's sect master, Feng Gaoqiu, stepped out as he dismissed the intimidating aura from Mu Tianli.

"I'm speaking to the Grand Banner Gate. Who are you to intervene?" There was already an irreconcilable feud between the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion and Azure Crimson Gate, and there was no need for Mu Tianli to be polite with his words.

Feng Gaoqiu, the sect master of the Azure Crimson Gate, frowned as the three elders by his side rose, their faces flushed with anger at the insult. They seemed ready to retaliate at any moment to defend their sect master's honor.

"Mu Tianli, do you think the Azure Crimson Gate fears you?" In terms of cultivation, Feng Gaoqiu was inferior to Mu Tianli. The Azure Crimson Gate naturally couldn't remain seated with the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's recent rise in their alchemy.

"I know you're not afraid, but this is between me and the Grand Banner Gate. Don't get involved," Mu Tianli said. His response baffled everyone because the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion had kept a low profile in the past events.

On his first arrival, Liu Wuxie had killed a disciple from the Heavenly Origin Sect, and Mu Tianli's actions were no different from waging war with the Azure Crimson Gate. It wasn't hard to tell that there would be a war between them if the Azure Crimson Gate continued to intervene.

Everyone reaching their level was bound by their words, as they were recorded by the Heavenly Dao. Should Mu Tianli's actions fail to align with his declarations, his cultivation would be permanently stalled, leaving him unable to advance for the rest of his life.

After Mu Tianli finished speaking, a gigantic palm descended from the sky, giving the Grand Banner Gate's sect master no time to react. The elder who had bet with Mu Tianli was forced to his knees under immense pressure.

The sect masters of the ten major sects were never soft-hearted; such ruthlessness was necessary to rule over millions. A sect was akin to a nation, and its leader needed a domineering presence to maintain order.

Cracking sounds echoed as the knees of the Grand Banner Gate's elder shattered, with blood trickling down his lips.

"Mu Tianli, our Grand Banner Gate won't forget this!" The Grand Banner Gate's sect master stepped forward to dismiss the giant palm, saving his elder.

"Likewise. Remember your words; all disciples of the Grand Banner Gate must disappear wherever the disciples of my sect appear," Mu Tianli said. He had already achieved his goal of intimidating everyone, declaring the rise of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

The Grand Banner Gate disciples could only clench their teeth in silent rage, each glancing at Liu Wuxie, wishing that they could kill him.

"He reached the third level!" The third level belonged to the Sky Rift Valley.

The Sky Rift Valley was always known for being modest when interacting with the other sects, and the spiritual arrays they set up weren't very difficult.

No one spoke this time as they watched quietly. Although they all had respectable status in the outside world, they were embarrassed after Mu Tianli mocked them.

"Just who is this Liu Wuxie?" someone muttered. Most people present have yet to hear of Liu Wuxie as his recent fame was incomparable to Bai Yuan's.

"There are five towers in total. So what if he can make it through the first tower? The decisive round lies ahead. Does anyone really think he can leave the Heavenly Mountain alive?" The Grand Banner Gate made no effort to conceal their malice, already entrenched in conflict with the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

Their logic made sense because there wouldn't be any dangers in the five towers, which mainly tested the contestants' comprehensive strength. The actual Ten Grand Ceremony lay in the final round. Everyone would enter a sealed-off area for twenty days, depending on luck to see who could make it out alive.

In a nutshell, the final battle was a battle royale.

It was no wonder why the Heavenly Origin Sect took a step back as they planned to deal with Liu Wuxie in the last round.

When Bai Yuan emerged from the second level, he looked around and was surprised to find himself alone. A smile soon rose on his lips, unaware that Liu Wuxie had already entered the third level before him.

Like the previous levels, Liu Wuxie stood at the pathway for two minutes before he increased his speed and smoothly made it to the fourth level. His speed could no longer be described with words, and even the powerhouses in the True Profound Realm looked with disbelief.

"Is everything prepared?" Bai Jin asked with a ruthless gleam in his eyes.

"Everything is set. He will surely die on the spiritual arrays set up by us," Wang Ba whispered to Bai Jin. The rule forbade any life-threatening traps on the test of five pagodas.

Bai Jin nodded resolutely; he wouldn’t let anyone overshadow his son. Having invested countless resources to mold Bai Yuan into the strongest prodigy in the Southern Province, Bai Jin believed his son could only live up to his reputation by securing first place in the Ten Grand Ceremony.

The Misty Sect's fourth level was notably more challenging than the earlier ones. Yet, Liu Wuxie breezed through it in just five minutes, leaving the spectators stunned. Meanwhile, Bai Yuan was still navigating the third level, and Liu Wuxie had already reached the fifth.

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"What a monster!" exclaimed a Sky Rift Valley elder as he stroked his beard.

These spiritual arrays, crafted by Nascent Transformation Realm experts, were formidable even for elders of other sects. That Liu Wuxie broke through them with such speed left everyone baffled.

As Liu Wuxie stepped onto the fifth level, belonging to the Azure Crimson Gate, he took a deep breath. The spiritual arrays here were far more intricate and powerful than those on the previous levels.