Inside the Tower of Time
There was no day or night within the Tower of Time—only endless cycles of nebulae collapsing and reborn.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Xiao Ye's figure flashed through the void, each movement sending shockwaves of wind.
Three hundred days had passed in the First Tier of the Tower—a single month by the outside world. If anyone knew how swiftly Xiao Ye had risen to the Ninth Tier of Body Refining here, they would gasp in disbelief.
He had adapted to this realm. No hunger plagued him, and aside from brief rests, every moment was devoted to training. His consciousness resided within the tower, his body left behind. He could even faintly hear his parents' voices calling to him. Yet he chose to remain, driven by the chasm between himself and Zhao Qian.
*"Father, Mother—I'll apologize once I break into the Houtian Realm!"*
With Zhao Qian's superior cultivation as a constant reminder, Xiao Ye wasted no time. The Chongyang Sect's entrance exam loomed, and only the Houtian Realm could grant him a chance.
*
The First Tier: A World of Relentless Effort
Xiao Ye's fists struck with the fury of a raging tiger. Three hundred days of unyielding practice had reshaped him. His body crackled with internal energy, each strike refining his muscles and bones.
*Whoosh!*
After countless repetitions, his punch suddenly erupted into a primal roar—a tiger's head forged from pure kinetic energy, tearing through the void with a shockwave that left rippling afterimages.
*"This… this is the Fierce Tiger Fist Stance!"* Xiao Ye froze, stunned.
Uncle Shan had once said only a prodigy could master this technique, a fusion of body and spirit that rivaled low-tier martial skills. Yet no one in Xiao Family Village—not even the village chief—had ever achieved it.
*If I master this… my breakthrough will accelerate!*
Frustration struck when the stance slipped away, but Xiao Ye persisted. After five hundred attempts, it clicked. By the end of half a month, the stance flowed naturally with every punch, amplifying his speed fivefold.
*Two months until the New Year's Festival…*
The thought ignited his resolve. At fifteen, becoming the youngest Houtian cultivator in Qingyang Town's history would silence every scoffer.
*
The World Beyond the Tower: Winter's End
Outside, snow blanketed Qingyang Town. Yet excitement buzzed through the streets—the New Year's Festival was near.
In the town square, a towering arena stood. Here, youths proved their worth through combat. Only strength drew admiration—and eligible brides.
*Knock. Knock.*
Xiao Ye's eyelids fluttered open. His fists clenched, bones snapping with newfound power.
*"Finally… Houtian Realm!"*
Energy surged through him, lifting dust from the floor. His chest bore a faint tower-shaped mark—a remnant of the Tower of Time. Though he couldn't summon it, he knew it lingered within him.
*
Parental Tears and Hidden Truths
His parents burst into the room, tears streaming.
"Ye'er!" Xiao Yang clutched his son, voice trembling.
Xiao Ye's smile faded as his father recounted the past three months: Xiao Teng's rise fueled by the stolen Serpent's Blood, the village chief's cold silence, and the absence of wedding invitations.
"They think we're failures," Xiao Yang choked.
Xiao Ye's rage burned cold. *No invitations? Because I was unconscious?*
"Let them mock," Xiao Ye said quietly. "I'll attend the festival—and make them regret it."
His parents exchanged despairing glances. They knew their son's stubbornness.
*
The Village Square: A Harsh Awakening
Two days later, Xiao Ye strode into the town square.
*"Did you hear? Wu Mei'er, the Ice Maiden of Qingyang Town, sent an invitation to Xiao Teng!"*
*"Of course! A hero deserves his prize. Xiao Teng's the pride of our village now."*
Xiao Ye's fists tightened. The crowd's scorn burned hotter than winter's chill.
*They think me a failure. Let them see.*
As the New Year's Festival approached, Xiao Ye's path was set. The Tower of Time had given him power—but now, he would carve his own legend.