The fifth floor of the Sword Tower was basically a walk in the park for Ace, all he had to do was smash through the door with brute force. But the way he did it so easily made the guardian of the fifth floor speechless as it walked Ace passed through into the sixth floor without much difficulty.
The sixth floor was much more complicated in comparison. He had to piece a puzzle together while the freezing cold attempted to penetrate his skin and freeze his body internally and externally at the same time.
But the problem was that he only saw the puzzle for a few seconds before it was broken up into pieces, not just a few pieces, but hundreds of pieces while his body was already shuddering from the cold.
It was painful and each minute felt like an eternity, but Ace still managed to piece the puzzle together as his body collapsed onto the ground.
At this point of time, his strong will and determination alongside his strength as just a sword master had already brought him to the same floor as the Sword Scholar and Cody. Sova was still in the sixth floor trying to solve the puzzle while Yan Di and the rest were only slightly behind.
As for the eight from the Universal Hawk Headquarters, they had only just arrived at the fifth floor. If it was in past years, their speed would be described as terrifying with a chance to break the record of three months and twenty seven days.
But now, their speed seemed slow in comparison to the others who were definitely setting a record which would never have been expected. Not only that, they weren't even part of the first ladder anymore, they were in the second ladder.
Right now, only about sixty sword masters remained in the sword tower, this number wasn't just unexpected, it was way too many remaining when all of them have at least stepped into the fourth floor of the Sword Tower.
In past years, it would already be a miracle if at least ten sword masters made it to the third floor with a few making it to the fourth floor. The fifth floor would make one a genius which only appears once every year while the sixth floor was believed to be the peak for most. Only the most talented would emerge and step into the seventh floor.
Only those that defied common sense would step into the eight floor and only those demons who shouldn't even exist can step into the ninth floor and gain the opportunity to challenge the sword masters in a pure sword fight.
But now, history was about to be rewritten. Experts in the Divine realm were expecting the cultivation world to flourish with the chance of seeking a cultivation realm above the Great Saint to be found, but only those who stand at the apex understood one thing.
This was the golden era of cultivation. When so many geniuses are born at the same time, this could only spell one thing, disaster was about to befall the cultivation realm.
Not only that, it was a disaster which only the younger generation now can prevent regardless of how far they manage to grow by the time calamity strikes down.
The seventh floor once again, was one which finally stumped Ace.
If Ace had to say it was difficult, that would only apply to others. But if he takes this floor too easily, he was afraid that there was some hidden challenge.
The reason was simple, it was an illusion he had to walk through.
"Enter at your own risk, retreat for your safety." That was the message that sounded in his mind the moment he stepped into the seventh floor.
With his Samsara eyes, this illusion should be easy. But there was a sensation which he was feeling, he just knew that the Samsara eyes wouldn't suffice this time around.
The only way to pass this test, was to accept the fact that Charlotte isn't with him right now, accept the fact that Arith is unconscious right now, accept the fact that his master is gone right now.
Stepping into the illusion realm, Ace was surprised, not because of the illusion he was facing, but because it was a door he saw. The door which leads to the eighth floor.
"Young fella, how can your heart be so pure?" The only female guardian among the nine asked as she descended from above, her body levitating in the air.
"My heart isn't as pure as it seems on the surface, it has already been corrupted by the evil desires each human was born with." Ace replied calmly with his eyelids shutting gently, his breathing relaxed.
"I see your pain, young boy, there isn't much that I can do to help you, but please accept this kind gesture of mine." The guardian added on with a heartwarming smile as she pulled out an angelic feather.
The angelic feather stopped before Ace as it entered his forehead. From now on, the feather would be part of his body.
"That feather will allow me to sense it when your life is in danger. If possible, I will rush there to save your life." The guardian explained before vanishing as though she had never appeared, allowing Ace to pass through into the eighth floor.
"And one more thing, be wary of the eighth floor." The guardian cautioned before vanishing totally.
Ace nodded his head before advancing towards the eighth floor.
"To think that such a young boy like you is able to make it this far. Eight doors, seven of them leads to your demise while only one would lead you to the ninth floor. Make your choice wisely young boy." The guardian explained briefly from its resting place.
Ace observed the eight doors, only to realise that all of them looked the same while reflecting a scarlet glow which was making him uncomfortable.
But Ace didn't hurry to make a decision, activating his mental energy, he peered towards the eight doors again, only to realise that within all of them was a lethal sword that could claim his life.
Calming himself down, Ace knew that what he just saw wasn't an illusion, that was exactly the case with all eight doors.
But once one figured out the trick behind the eighth floor, it was just way too easy to find the key to reaching the ninth floor.
Without any hesitation, Ace used his sword and stabbed it towards the ceiling, revealing a ninth gate which leads him to the ninth floor.
"Young fella, are you sure about doing it without taking a risk for a chance at a reward?" The guardian asked in a tempting voice.
The eight gates which contained lethal swords in them just a moment ago, were now replaced by a treasure box with the contents blocked off by a mysterious barrier.
"Don't you think that you're being too shameless by setting up eight treasure boxes that contained lethal swords within them?" The ninth guardian couldn't help but wrinkle her brows and ask in disapproval.
Yes, he did ask for the eighth guardian to increase the difficulty of his test, but not to such an extent where he tries to fool around with the life of a genius while going against the rules.
"You should have heard of my life story before, if that's the case, you should understand the reason behind me doing so."
"If any mishaps happen to that young boy, let's hope that you are able to bear the consequences for your actions and wrath our masters."
"That isn't for you to worry about, that youth will definitely prove me wrong as the first person to not give into temptation."
"Hahahaha! We shall see about that!"
Ace smirked at this action of the eighth guardian. Giving in to temptations was the foolishest thing a cultivator can do, it was a taboo even if one was desperate for it.
With this, Ace entered the ninth floor of the Sword Tower. Arriving at the venue for the final test. The test which only true monsters among the elites among elites can conquer and clear.
One can either choose to give up now, or put their life on the line for this test alone.
As for Ace, the decision to make was clear.