Chapter 32: The Top Floor of the High Tower
By Gu Zhenren
February 9, 2013
Night Emperor City was engulfed in chaos, a bloodshed.
Beyond the battles between Beast Masters and wild Demonic Beasts, there were also internal conflicts among humans fighting for territory and exits, and chaotic brawls among Demonic Beasts.
Although the Ink Qilin could command Demonic Beasts, it was currently engaged in a fierce battle with the Feiyu Sword Lord and the White Bone Ghost Lord, unable to divide its attention to direct them.
The clash between the three became the largest battle in Night Emperor City. Two Jun level powerhouses, unleashing their full might, along with twelve Tribulation Demons, surrounded the Ink Qilin, engaging it in a war of attrition.
Despite being a Tribulation Demon of a million years, the Ink Qilin’s innate Spirit had endowed it with intelligence comparable to that of a human. However, the wisdom of Jun level powerhouses surpassed ordinary individuals. The two of them, working in tandem, did not engage in direct confrontation but employed various tactics to wear down and entangle the Ink Qilin.
Boom, boom, boom…
The Divine Path Techniques erupted in a spectacle of vibrant colors, dazzling like rain, while thunderous explosions reverberated endlessly, deafening the ears. The entire Night Emperor City trembled.
“Indeed, it’s worth a try!” Chu Yun observed through a crack in the door, nodding after a moment’s contemplation.
Although the Ink Qilin possessed human-like intelligence, it was currently locked in a fierce battle with two Jun level powerhouses, making the High Tower unguarded.
Looking at the passage above from which they had arrived, many Beast Masters were ascending, attempting to flee the Dunhuang Sand Eye against the flow of sand.
They were clearly dreaming. Not to mention the immense pressure of swimming upstream, nor the thousands of Spirit Monsters ambushing them in mid-air, even entering the passages within the cave walls would leave one dizzy in the labyrinthine network of tunnels.
Only on the final day, when the Yellow Sand ceased its flow into Night Emperor City, would visibility improve, allowing one to discern the correct path and ascend successfully, escaping the sand path.
In other words, the most sensible choice was not to rush to escape now, but to wait for the opportune moment, conserving strength while defending.
After all, the Dunhuang Sand Eye had always been open for six days, and this was already the fifth day, with only one day remaining.
However, amidst the defense, a brief foray into the central High Tower was also a rather good idea. After all, the Palace gates were tightly shut, and although Demonic Beasts occasionally crashed against them, they were not launching a full-scale assault, thus the defensive pressure was minimal.
Ultimately, Chu Yun decided to try his luck at the central High Tower with Xiao Xiaoxian. As for the others who found it inconvenient to move, they would remain at the Golden Sand Palace.
Xiao Xiaoxian activated the Dark Ferry Shuttle, helping him and Chu Yun conceal their forms as they quietly advanced towards the High Tower.
The path forward was anything but smooth; it was incredibly arduous.
Various Demonic Beasts went berserk, and Divine Path Techniques, fired from unknown locations, struck the ground around them.
On a crucial path, they encountered a pack of Dark Shadow Scorpions, lurking in the shadows, ambushing any entity that dared to approach.
They had to change course, exploring a new path.
Fortunately, the entire place was in disarray. Many Demonic Beast clans that had previously occupied their territories were now attacking each other, causing many areas that were previously inaccessible to become undefended.
Especially some Palaces, protected by guardian formations, remained intact. As long as one possessed a token, they could enter and obtain immense wealth.
However, at this moment, Chu Yun and Xiao Xiaoxian had no interest in such treasures. Their entire focus was on the central High Tower.
It was highly probable that this was the residence of the former Night Emperor, meaning there could be an Emperor’s hidden treasure!
Two hours later, the two finally arrived at the foot of the High Tower. The sight that greeted them left them dumbfounded.
“Damn it, after the Ink Qilin left, a pack of dragons appeared!” Xiao Xiaoxian cursed in a low voice.
It was a pack of Shadowfall Dragons, dark-attribute Dragon Beasts. Among them were over thirty Spirit Monsters, and not a few Peak Spirit Monsters.
“Sect Master, let’s attack together and annihilate this pack of Shadowfall Dragons!” Xiao Xiaoxian’s eyes gleamed with excitement, his tone impulsive.
“That’s not wise. While we could barely defeat this pack of dragons, the ensuing battle would significantly deplete our strength, preventing us from advancing further. The interior of the High Tower might not be safe,” Chu Yun rejected the suggestion.
“Then what do we do? Do we turn back? The Emperor’s treasure is right in front of us!” Xiao Xiaoxian became anxious.
“We wait,” Chu Yun said, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.
The two waited for a quarter of an hour, but the Shadowfall Dragon pack remained at the foot of the High Tower. Their group was too powerful; their auras intertwined, and as this was the central area of Night Emperor City, the chaos rarely reached here.
“Are we going to keep waiting? Those two are about to lose,” Xiao Xiaoxian fretted like an ant on a hot pan, frequently glancing at the battle in the sky.
The Ink Qilin had a cultivation of ten million years, while the two Jun level Tribulation Demons, though twelve in number, each had only hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation. Therefore, despite its inferior intelligence, the Ink Qilin had a firm upper hand.
“Keep waiting,” Chu Yun glanced at the sky, unfazed.
Xiao Xiaoxian could only cast Chu Yun a resentful look, lowered his head, and sighed continuously.
A moment later, he couldn’t help but speak again, “Sect Master, the Emperor’s treasure is ahead. Perhaps the Night Emperor’s legacy is here. If the two Jun level powerhouses are defeated and the Ink Qilin returns, we’ll lose our chance.”
“Continue waiting,” Chu Yun’s expression was indifferent; he uttered only these words.
Xiao Xiaoxian opened his mouth, about to continue persuading, but Chu Yun glared at him, leaving him speechless. He squatted down and began drawing circles on the ground.
Boom!
Suddenly, divine light flashed, and lightning magma surged, pouring down like a torrential rain. It grazed their bodies and struck the area. This was a lightning Divine Path Technique unleashed by a Tribulation Demon that had accidentally landed here.
The Shadowfall Dragon pack let out a series of roars, raising their heads and looking at the battle in the sky. The intertwined auras of the Tribulation Demons in the battle made them hesitant to seek retribution, and they slunk away.
Startled by the sudden Divine Path Technique strike, Xiao Xiaoxian’s hair stood on end, and he jumped up from his spot. His face lit up with joy, “The dragon pack is gone, Sect Master! They’re gone!”
“Quick, every second counts!” Chu Yun grabbed his arm, activated the Sky Crane, and with a flash, they arrived at the entrance of the High Tower.
The access token!
He took out the access token, and a mystic light flashed across it, opening the gate of the High Tower silently.
The two exchanged glances, both seeing the deep excitement in each other’s eyes. Xiao Xiaoxian, even more impatient, strode in.
The interior of the High Tower was dark and deep, with layer upon layer. They ascended the stairs, encountering no obstacles.
After a moment, Xiao Xiaoxian discerned something and exclaimed, “This High Tower is actually a massive prison!”
This was beyond their expectations. They had anticipated piles of wealth and the Emperor’s treasure, but instead, they saw rows of cells, gray walls, burnt-out torches, various shackles, and torture instruments.
“Such malevolent torture devices, capable of not only whipping the body but also tormenting the soul,” Chu Yun’s heart grew cold as he looked at these instruments, of which there were countless varieties, all extremely wicked.
These shackles and instruments were designed for Great Demon Soldiers and Minor Demon Soldiers. Regardless of their cultivation level, their ingenious designs and vicious Divine Path Techniques were chilling.
Many shackles and instruments crumbled into dust upon touch. A small number of Demon Soldiers were preserved in warehouses under sealing, ready to be used once unsealed.
Chu Yun collected some of the torture instruments. These would be a delightful gift for Yu Ya.
“Sect Master, look! There’s writing here!” Xiao Xiaoxian suddenly exclaimed, pointing to a wall.
“Night Emperor, I’ll curse your ancestors!”
This was a blood inscription, scrawled wildly. Merely looking at it evoked an overwhelming sense of resentment and hatred. It was clearly written by a prisoner within this cell.
Xiao Xiaoxian was dumbfounded, “He dares to curse an Emperor level powerhouse! This prisoner is truly courageous!”
“Night Emperor, I curse you to die a horrible death!”
“You are unworthy of being an Emperor level powerhouse, the heavens are truly blind!”
“Night Emperor, you want my Divine Path Technique? You must be dreaming! I will fight you again in my next life!”
“How can you possibly learn my Divine Path Techniques? Night Emperor, how could you, a dignified Emperor, plot against me? Even as a ghost, I will not forgive you!”
…
As they ascended, Chu Yun saw various blood inscriptions, all final testaments. Their strokes were vigorous, the blood dried black, making them almost illegible. The content was disturbing and unsettling, with individuals who called themselves Lords, Marquises, and Kings cursing and denouncing the Night Emperor.
Chu Yun discovered that the Beast Masters imprisoned here were at least Jun level powerhouses, with many King level powerhouses among them!
“The Night Emperor is the most mysterious of the Three Sovereigns and Four Emperors. In the history of Xingzhou, records of him are scarce. It is said that he was cruel and possessed a heaven-defying demonic nature. Now it seems these rumors are not unfounded…” Xiao Xiaoxian remarked, having reached the 21st floor.
“How dare you insult Lord Night Emperor! You court death!” A Spirit Monster suddenly appeared. It unleashed its Divine Path Technique, stirring up a surging mass of crimson light, and attacked Xiao Xiaoxian and Chu Yun.
Xiao Xiaoxian engaged it in a hasty battle. After a few exchanges, he found himself unable to defeat this non-peak Spirit Monster. The key was the Spirit Monster’s profound and cunning Divine Path Techniques, each move combined in unexpected and vicious ways. What was particularly troublesome was that each of its attacks resonated with the High Tower, greatly amplifying its power.
“Be careful, this is a Spirit Monster cultivated from the Iron Punishment Instruments. This High Tower is a unique super altar that greatly enhances Demonic creatures,” Chu Yun narrowed his eyes, discerning the truth.
With his guidance, Xiao Xiaoxian’s understanding brightened, and he immediately shifted from defense to offense. After three moves with the Star-Plucking Gauntlets, he obliterated the Spirit Monster.
Continuing upwards, these Spirit Monsters appeared one after another, many even possessing Peak Spirit Monster cultivation. They did not acknowledge the access tokens and specialized in surprise attacks, their Divine Path Techniques being sinister. However, working together, Chu Yun and Xiao Xiaoxian fought their way through, finally reaching the top floor.
“A black coffin!” Xiao Xiaoxian gasped in shock. The top floor was an empty space, with only a black coffin lying in the center. Black spectral light emanated from it, and waves of oppressive aura surged forth, making one feel incredibly stifled.
“Could this black coffin contain the Night Emperor’s remains? Sect Master, what kind of treasures do you think the Night Emperor’s burial goods would be?”
