While the couple spoke, Ye Ning gracefully approached Li Feng and said with a smile, “Young Master Li, the Jin family may be powerful in Ziyue Prefecture, but they do not rule everything. If you are willing, my Ye family can help you get through this crisis.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Miss Ye, but I don’t think the Jin family can cause me any trouble. I can handle it myself,” Li Feng cupped his fists and politely declined her offer.
Of course, this wasn’t really an act of kindness. There was no such thing as help without strings attached. The Ye family wouldn’t risk offending the Jin family for no reason. Saving him would probably mean binding him as a servant or subordinate to repay the favor.
“Since Young Master Li is confident, then I was being presumptuous. I hope you survive,” Ye Ning’s expression cooled at his rejection. Without another word, she turned away with her maid and walked toward the Body Refining Tower.
In the distance, the maid’s voice carried, “Miss, that Li Feng is truly ignorant. You offered to save him for a mere price of serving as a protector, with the Ye family providing shelter and cultivation resources. Yet he stubbornly seeks death. I’ve never seen someone so foolish.”
“Forget him. My goal today is to claim first place in the Body Refining Tower. The tower talisman reward is crucial for my future cultivation!” Ye Ning looked up at the tower, her gaze firm.
She had never regarded Li Feng as important. It would’ve been nice to take him as a dog, but if he didn’t know what was good for him, it didn’t matter. Winning the top prize was what truly mattered!
Li Feng heard every word but only became more curious about the “tower talisman.” For it to be valued by someone like Ye Ning, it must be extremely precious.
Unfortunately for her, with him present today, no one else would be taking first place!
“Let’s go inside too,” Li Feng turned to Liu Ruyue with a smile and led her by the hand toward the tower.
As they approached, the people waiting in line scattered like they had seen the plague, muttering, “Bad luck.”
Everyone regarded Li Feng as a dead man. No one dared line up near him, afraid to be tainted by his misfortune — saving him the trouble of waiting in line.
As they stepped inside, Li Feng was immediately transported by a ring of light at the entrance to a strange stone room.
It must have been within the tower. The room was sparsely furnished, with mystical tadpole-like runes covering the walls. In the center stood a miniature version of the Body Refining Tower.
Once everyone had entered, the same aged voice echoed through the tower.
“I am the spirit of the Body Refining Tower. Before each of you stands a small tower containing the tower’s essence. It has twelve levels. By circulating your inner force, the tower will detect your cultivation and light up the corresponding number of levels. The higher the level, the stronger the Martial Vein you can awaken!”
While the tower spirit explained the rules, a large number of people gathered outside the Body Refining Tower.
They were representatives of the various sects and powers from across the Great Qing Empire, here to scout for talent. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“This Luoxing City doesn’t have any noteworthy prodigies. Let’s be frank — we’re all here for Miss Ye. When the time comes, let her choose freely. No interference from others,” said a burly white-haired elder sitting at the head of the gathering.
He wore a large “Martial” character on his chest and was from Heavenly Martial Sect, one of the four great powers of the Great Qing Empire, a 3rd stage Martial King Realm elder named Gao Zishan.
The elegant middle-aged woman beside him nodded with a smile, “Elder Gao is right. Only Ye Ning has a Heaven-Level Martial Vein. We at Celestial Jade Sect have no objections to letting her choose.”
The bald giant from Jiuyang Mountain, Huo Que, snorted, “Of course you agree. Your Celestial Jade Sect only accepts female disciples. Ye Ning is bound to favor your sect.”
The middle-aged woman sneered, “And Ye Ning will never join your Jiuyang Mountain! Look at your sect’s female disciples — dark-skinned, bald, rough-handed, more man than man! No self-respecting woman would ever choose your sect.”
The two sects always quarreled — one only recruited women, the other only men. Their cultivation techniques complemented each other, often resulting in scandals of disciples eloping. They blamed each other and fought whenever they met.
“Calm down, everyone. Let’s be gentlemen and not make a scene. If Miss Ye chooses Celestial Jade Sect, we at Jishang Academy won’t compete,” said Su Zijin, a scholar holding a white fan, trying to ease the tension.
“We don’t need you to yield, sour scholar! Ye Ning will surely choose Celestial Jade Sect!” The woman shot him a glare.
The four great powers were the most coveted by young talents across the Great Qing Empire. To be selected was to soar like a dragon — limitless prospects lay ahead.
While they bickered, the Body Refining Tower suddenly radiated a dazzling golden light.
“Buzz!”
With a rumble, the light shot up to the eighth level.
“A prodigy with a top-grade Earth-Level Martial Vein! Must be one of those young talents from Ziyue Prefecture,” Gao Zishan commented with a smile.
The middle-aged woman nodded, “Most likely. Perhaps the Luo family’s boy or the Lin family’s girl. Luoxing City wouldn’t produce an Earth-Level prodigy. Isn’t that Li Feng just at the 6th stage Martial Master Realm?”
“Let’s just watch. We’ll know soon enough. Ye Ning hasn’t even made her move yet,” said Su Zijin, closing his eyes to rest.
They were only here for a Heaven-Level Martial Vein prodigy. Earth-Level talents, while good, weren’t enough to get them excited.
The Body Refining Tower would only reveal the highest Martial Vein awakened inside. If a Heaven-Level Martial Vein appeared, the tower’s light would climb even higher.
An hour passed. People started exiting the tower, but the light remained on the eighth level.
“Buzz!!”
“A Heaven-Level Martial Vein has appeared!”
“It must be Ye Ning! She has great talent and the tower’s feedback would require more time.”
“Finally, our trip wasn’t wasted. Heaven-Level Martial Veins are the backbone of a sect’s power. Ye Ning’s elder sister is already cultivating in Celestial Jade Sect — she’ll definitely choose us!”
Seeing the golden light reaching the ninth level, several Martial King Realm experts stood up in excitement, and the middle-aged woman smiled confidently, assured of victory.
Under the crowd’s gaze, Ye Ning walked out of the tower, smiling. Her recently advanced cultivation level radiated outward.
“3rd stage Martial Grandmaster! As expected of the daughter of the Ye family master. No wonder she awakened a lower Heaven-Level Martial Vein!” The woman from Celestial Jade Sect’s eyes sparkled with joy.
By “Ye family master,” she didn’t mean the Luoxing City Ye family but the Ye family from the Imperial Capital — a great family just below the four major powers!
However, before they could fight over her, the Body Refining Tower’s golden light suddenly shot up two more levels, reaching the twelfth!
This signified a top-grade Heaven-Level Martial Vein — extremely rare even in the entire Great Qing Empire!
Ye Ning’s smile froze. She had thought the first-place reward was already in her grasp, yet in an instant, someone had surpassed her?
How could a small place like Luoxing City produce someone with a top-grade Heaven-Level Martial Vein that trampled over her?
“Who’s still inside the tower?” Even the usually calm Su Zijin couldn’t help but ask, his face full of shock.
The City Lord frantically flipped through his registry, sweat streaming down his face, and answered, “Reporting, my lord, there are still three people inside the tower!”
“Who are they?” Huo Que grabbed the City Lord by the collar, his bull-like eyes wide with urgency.
A top-grade Heaven-Level Martial Vein was among those three. How could he not be anxious?
The City Lord, face red from being lifted off the ground, stammered, “The three remaining are Young Master Jin Yunting of the Jin family from Ziyue Prefecture, and from Luoxing City — Li Feng and Liu Ruyue!”