Chapter 12: The Tower of Vast Serenity

Stepping out of the kitchen, Ye Xiao saw Feng Buxing slumped over the table, seemingly fast asleep.

He stepped forward and gently shook him, causing the latter to wake up in a daze.

"How did you fall asleep?" Ye Xiao asked, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Upon realizing it was Ye Xiao, Feng Buxing stood up and exclaimed, "Damn! You’re finally out! If you hadn't come, I would have left on my own!"

Feng Buxing pulled Ye Xiao away from the tavern, complaining as they walked, "What on earth were you doing? You were gone for an entire day!"

"Wait!" Ye Xiao stopped abruptly, looking at Feng Buxing in disbelief. "Are you saying I was gone for an entire day?"

Feng Buxing nodded. "Yes, it’s already the next day. Can't you see the sky for yourself?"

Ye Xiao looked up; sure enough, it was early morning.

"Th-that’s impossible!" Ye Xiao muttered in shock. He had only been in the kitchen with the old man for a short while; how could so much time have passed?

Instinctively, he turned back toward the tavern. It was still there, but the doors were now firmly shut.

"What’s wrong with you?" Feng Buxing asked, surprised by the look of disbelief on Ye Xiao's face.

Ye Xiao briefly explained his confusion. After hearing it, Feng Buxing also found it incredible. The kitchen and the main hall were separated only by a thin curtain—could the flow of time really be different inside?

"Oh, forget it, don't think about it. The methods of such a master are beyond your comprehension. Let’s hurry!"

As soon as Feng Buxing finished speaking, three chimes rang out in the distance. His expression shifted, and he pulled Ye Xiao along, sprinting toward the sound.

"Bad news! The second round of testing is about to begin!"

When the two arrived breathlessly at the gates of the Yin-Yang Academy, several hundred people had already gathered.

"Is that all?" Ye Xiao scanned the crowd, finding the number of people fewer than he had expected.

"Brother, do you think everyone is like you, killing beasts of the same level as if they were drinking water?" Feng Buxing rolled his eyes. In truth, if not for Ye Xiao, many in their original group likely wouldn't have passed the first round of trials.

Ye Xiao scratched his head awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

After a while, a man dressed as a scholar slowly emerged from the academy. He glanced at the crowd at the gate and nodded with satisfaction.

"Not bad, there are more than I expected," the man said with a smile. "I am Qi Feng, an elder of the Yin-Yang Academy. I will soon lead you inside to participate in the second round of testing. Before that, there are a few things I must state clearly."

Qi Feng paused. "First, once you enter the academy, you must not wander off on your own, or you will be expelled. Second, no fighting is allowed. If you have any grievances, please resolve them after you leave the academy grounds."

"Do you all understand?" Seeing that no one spoke, Qi Feng nodded in satisfaction. "Let’s go."

With that, he turned and entered the academy gates. The others followed in an orderly fashion. Ye Xiao and Feng Buxing stayed at the back of the crowd, whispering to each other as they observed the grounds.

"Do you know what the second round of testing is?" Ye Xiao asked, knowing this was Feng Buxing’s third time participating; he should have some idea.

To his surprise, Feng Buxing shook his head. "I don't know. It’s different every year. I remember last year it was a duel."

"A duel?" Ye Xiao pondered. There were at least five hundred people here, nearly all at the Profound Practitioner realm. If it were a head-to-head battle, given his current strength, passing the test shouldn't be a problem.

The group followed Qi Feng in a grand procession until they reached a high tower. Everyone looked up to see a nine-story structure that exuded an air of antiquity.

Once everyone had settled, Qi Feng smiled and said, "See this? This is the location for your second round of testing." He gestured toward the tower. "This is the Haoran Tower. It has nine levels; it all depends on how high you can climb."

The crowd buzzed with discussion. Soon, someone asked, "Elder, how many levels must we reach to qualify?"

Qi Feng smiled and held up one hand, spreading his five fingers. "Five levels!"

"This Haoran Tower is enhanced with a spatial formation, so twenty people can enter at a time. So..." Qi Feng pointed to someone. "We’ll start with you. Take out the beast eyes you collected and place them into the wooden box over there, and then you may enter."

The person pointed to was startled, then quickly stepped forward, pulled a cloth bag from his robes, and tossed it into the box at the base of the tower. He stepped inside and vanished instantly.

Soon, the first batch of twenty had entered, and the tower doors slammed shut. At the same time, a square light screen appeared on the first level of the tower, with twenty red dots clearly visible on it.

"It started?"
"I wonder what’s inside."
"We'll know once they come out."

Everyone watched the red dots. Soon, they noticed a few dots had vanished. In their place, a light screen illuminated on the second level, where a few dots appeared.

"Someone already reached the second level?"
"So fast! How long has it been?"
"I saw it—among them was one at the first level of the Foundation Establishment realm and a few at the ninth level of the Profound Practitioner realm. It must be them."

The crowd nodded in agreement.

Ye Xiao frowned at the red dots. He turned to Feng Buxing and asked, "Do you know about this Haoran Tower?"

Feng Buxing nodded, then shook his head. Ye Xiao looked at him, puzzled.

"I’ve only heard bits and pieces. This tower was left behind by the first Headmaster of the Yin-Yang Academy. It is said that once inside, you encounter extremely realistic illusions. As for what they are, I don't know."

"Illusions?" Ye Xiao looked at the light screen, lost in thought.

Time ticked by. Finally, an hour later, someone emerged from the tower. Some people outside were excited and wanted to step forward to ask questions, but Qi Feng spoke first.

"Failed to pass the fifth level. Disqualified! Leave immediately!"

Seeing Qi Feng’s stern expression, those who wanted to ask questions stopped in their tracks. The man who had failed opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn't say a word. He lowered his head and walked away in disappointment.

"No way, a seventh-level Profound Practitioner couldn't pass the fifth level?" someone whispered in shock. The person who had just left was higher in cultivation than most of the people present.

"If that’s the case, am I done for?" said someone who was only at the fifth level.

Another sneered, "Isn't it normal that you're done for? People like you, even if you pass the first round by forming a team, it’s useless in the end."

The crowd fell silent. Several people at the fifth level looked pale, while those with higher cultivation, though concerned, were not anxious. After all, everyone who had made it this far was proud and ambitious.

People entered the tower one by one, and one by one, they left. By the afternoon, only Ye Xiao’s group remained. A few who had passed the test sat nearby, watching the spectacle. There were fewer than twenty of them in total.

Ye Xiao looked at the Haoran Tower with a grim expression. It seemed the second round was truly extraordinary! Five hundred people, and only twenty had passed so far!

"Alright, it's your turn!" Qi Feng said to Ye Xiao and Feng Buxing, who remained at the end. They exchanged glances, took out their beast eyes, and threw them into the box.

Ye Xiao stood at the entrance of the Haoran Tower, took a deep breath, and stepped inside. In an instant, he vanished.