It took Jie Fu Lian a total of two days in order to arrive at Jin Sect.
He hadn't been invited nor had he announced his visit. Hence, it was only natural that the sect master of the Jin Sect was quite shocked to see the boy.
Jie Fu Lian was the son of Jie Yang Zan, the current sect master of the Yan Sect.
The Yan sect had quite the reputation and was considered as one of the eight prominent sects.
The Jin sect was also considered as one of the eight prominent sect.
In terms of power, Jin Sect was clearly incomparable, but in terms of reputation, The Yan sect was better.
The sect masters of the two sects were quite close and had a deep friendship.
When Jin Gengxin, the sect master of the Jin Sect saw Jie Fu Lian, he immediately recognized him and treated him nicely.
"I'm thankful for your hospitality," Jie Fu Lian was quite polite when he needed to be and Jin Gengxin looked to be quite happy with it, "Today, I have come to trouble sect master Jin a bit. I wonder if it would be okay to ask a favor?"
Jin Gengxin laughed as he heard the boy's words and casually spoke, "Back when we were young, your father used to trouble me all the time. Compared to him, you are much better. You don't need to feel shy. Just say it. What can I do for you?"
"Sect master Jin, Please let me enter the eternal hell tower."
His words were like an ice blade that had frozen the atmosphere as soon as it was revealed.
Jin Gengxin's smile got stuck on his face and he looked at the boy with a speechless expression as he wondered whether he had heard it right or not.
"Lately, I'm having a bit of trouble with my cultivation," Jie Fu Lian sighed as he added, "I would like to take the opportunity to improve on my skills."
Jin Gengxin's eyebrows twitched as he heard this and he hesitantly questioned, "A-are you sure?"
Jie Fu Lian nodded his head and spoke firmly, "I'm sure."
Jin Gengxin couldn't help but wonder if he was supposed to be impressed or not.
If he remembered it right, this boy was only around thirteen years old and yet, he wanted to go inside the eternal hell tower just to gain experience...
He was either somebody who was sure of his skills and had outstanding potential or he was just a madlad.
Jin Gengxin couldn't be sure which one this boy was, but when he thought about it, he found it hard to turn the boy down after having told him not to shy away from asking favors.
With an awkward cough, Jin Gengxin cleared his throat and spoke, "Let me think about it. In the mean time, you can stay here at the Jin Sect and rest up."
Jie Fu Lian already knew that the man would not agree immediately and hence, he wasn't too impatient about it.
That day, Jie Fu Lian also met Jin Gengxin's first son, Jin Long, who was only an year older than Jie Fu Lian but was still lacking behind on terms of spiritual foundation.
Jie Fu Lian was already at the half-step stage of the core formation realm and yet, Jin Long was still at the initial stage of foundation establishment realm.
There was a gap of three whole stages between the two, but they still got along quite well.
Jie Fu Lian's first impression of Jin Long wasn't much.
He just felt that this boy was quite sensible and was alike his father.
A few days passed and since he had nothing better to do, Jie Fu Lian accompanied Jin Long in his sword practicing sessions.
Jin Gengxin was quite fond of his first son and so, he had gifted him quite rare and useful cultivation records.
Jin Long wasn't a stingy person and hence Jie Fu Lian also got to take a look at these records.
However, Jie Fu Lian was completely uninterested since they were all useless to him.
While Jie Fu Lian joined the boy in his sword training sessions, he saw Jin Long switching between sword techniques faster then changing clothes.
To say that he was unimpressed would be an understatement.
Jie Fu Lian couldn't help but feel disappointed at this Jin Long for trying to learn it all while grasping onto nothing.
Jie Fu Lian was quite a perfectionist and hence, without perfecting a single technique, he would never move on to another, however, this Jin Long was the opposite. As soon as he got a grasp on a technique, he would abandon it and move on to the next. This was perhaps the main reason why Jin Long had never perfected a single sword technique even though he had been practicing for so long.
Jin Long was a person with a proud nature and Jie Fu Lian didn't want to offend the boy nor did he want to hurt the boy's pride, so he never criticized the boy's way of learning.
He mentally judged Jin Long to no extent, but on the outside, he kept his polite smile and said nothing.
Finally, one day, Jin Gengxin called for Jie Fu Lian and informed him of his decision.
"Before I give you my decision, I have a few questions that I want to ask. Would you be willing to answer them?"
Jie Fu Lian smiled as he looked back at the man without any hesitation, "What does Sect Master Jin want to know?"
"I heard that you slayed a high-ranking demon just a few weeks ago. If it true?"
"It's true."
Jin Gengxin didn't look to be shocked and only nodded his head slightly as he continued, "Is the reason why you want to enter the eternal hell tower related to that demon?"
"It is," Jie Fu Lian firmly replied without missing a beat.
"Then what is your aim? By going inside the eternal hell tower, do you want to train your body or your mind?"
Jie Fu Lian took a deep breath in as he calmly answered in an unhurried manner, "My body, mind and soul. I want to train them all. Only when one faces tribulations can one truly overcome their limits and show their potential."
Jin Gengxin slightly smiled as he heard this response and looked to be quite impressed with the boy.
"Your courage is to be respected," Jin Gengxin nodded his head as he spoke, "After careful deliberation, I have decided to allow it. You can enter the eternal hell tower."
Jie Fu Lian smiled but didn't say anything, knowing that the man probably had more to say.
"But once you enter, you only have yourself to blame for whatever you face. Your life and death are both in your own hands and in no case would the Jin Sect be held responsible for any mishap."
"You don't need to worry," Jie Fu Lian stood up and cupped his hands in respect as he bowed his head and continued, "Even if I am to lose my life in the eternal hell tower, the Jin sect would not be held accountable."
The next day, Jie Fu Lian was escorted to the central hall of punishment where the eternal hell tower was kept.
Under the orders of Jin Gengxin, he was allowed to go inside, however, before he could enter the eternal hell tower, he was interrupted by a boy who was bawling his eyes out.
"Brother Jie, Why must you go in there?" With a face that was puffed and red, Jin Long cried as he held onto Jie Fu Lian's sleeve and tried to stop him.
Between them, Jie Fu Lian was clearly the younger one but it always felt as if this boy in front of him was a lot younger and immature when compared to him.
"Brother Jie, it's dangerous. You can die in there. Only unforgivable criminals have ever went in there. You have done nothing wrong. You shouldn't go," Jin Long didn't stop crying for even a second as he spoke.
"I must go," Jie Fu Lian sighed as he wondered how he had gotten himself involved with such a sticky person.
"If you are going then I'm coming too!" Jin Long stubbornly stated.
"Then come," Jie Fu Lian replied with a thin smile, stunning the boy.
Of course, Jin Long didn't dare to come and Jie Fu Lian also knew that.
Jin Long puffed his cheeks up and pouted as he looked at Jie Fu Lian with red puffy eyes, he felt as if he was being bullied.
"Don't cause trouble and keep practicing your sword technique. When I come back, if you have improved, we can have a dual."
Jin Long's eyes suddenly twinkled with great interest as he heard these words. He got distracted and easily let Jie Fu Lian go.
Jie Fu Lian had a new understanding of this boy's character.
Jin Long was dumb...