Aerum took a deep breath as the tower's voice echoed, announcing the start of the first challenge.
Her grip tightened on the blade she had chosen—simple, balanced, and deadly. The floor beneath her shimmered, shifting into a sun-scorched desert.
Standing opposite her was a tall man, his spear twirling effortlessly in his hands.
The spearman charged, his weapon slicing through the air with a sharp "whoosh!" Aerum stepped aside, her blade meeting the spear with a ringing "clang!"
He advanced relentlessly, each thrust pushing her back. His speed outpaced her defense, and a sharp jab grazed her thigh, sending a burning pain shooting through her leg. Aerum winced but gritted her teeth.
"You fight well," she muttered, her focus sharpening.
The spearman smirked and lunged again, but this time she anticipated his move. As he overextended, Aerum ducked under his weapon and surged forward, her blade slicing across his ribs. He gasped, faltering just long enough for her to strike a final, decisive blow.
The spearman crumpled to the ground. A soothing warmth coursed through Aerum as her wounds vanished, the desert dissolving around her.
[Congratulations! You have won the first round. Please proceed to the next challenge.]
The environment shifted to a dense forest, sunlight filtering through the canopy. A poised woman holding a longsword stepped forward, her movements precise and deliberate.
Their blades clashed immediately, the sound echoing through the trees. The woman feinted left and slashed right, her blade biting into Aerum's shoulder. Aerum hissed, but the pain only fueled her determination.
She adjusted her stance, watching for openings. As the swordsman lunged, Aerum sidestepped and countered with a slash to her ribs. The woman staggered but quickly recovered, swinging her sword in a desperate arc.
Aerum blocked the strike and retaliated with a swift, powerful blow, ending the fight. The forest faded, and her wounds healed once more.
[Congratulations! You have won the second round. Please proceed to the next challenge.]
The scene morphed into an open plain. A male archer stood at a distance, his bow drawn. Without hesitation, he released his first arrow, the projectile slicing through the air with a sharp "zip!"
Aerum dashed forward, weaving and rolling as arrows rained down around her. One grazed her arm, and another struck her side, the sharp pain nearly breaking her stride.
She clenched her jaw and pushed forward. The moment she closed the distance, the archer discarded his bow and drew a short blade. He was quick, his strikes precise, but Aerum was quicker.
After a short clash, she disarmed him with a twist of her blade and struck him down.
[Congratulations! You have won the third round. Please proceed to the next challenge.]
The air grew damp, and the setting dimmed into a shadowy cave. A female assassin stepped forward, her twin daggers gleaming.
The assassin lunged without warning, her strikes swift and deadly. Aerum barely kept up, her blade deflecting one dagger while the other nicked her arm. Blood dripped down, but she stayed focused.
The assassin circled her like a predator, waiting for an opening. When the assassin lunged again, Aerum sidestepped and countered with a kick to her midsection. The assassin stumbled, and Aerum struck swiftly, ending the fight.
[Congratulations! You have won the fourth round. Please proceed to the next challenge.]
A roaring river flowed beneath a narrow stone bridge. A male fighter spun his staff, his eyes sharp and calculating.
He struck first, the staff connecting with Aerum's side in a heavy "thwack!" She staggered but quickly regained her footing. The fighter pressed his advantage, sweeping her legs out from under her.
Aerum hit the stone hard, rolling just in time to avoid a crushing blow. She analyzed his movements, waiting for a mistake. When he overextended, Aerum darted in, her blade slicing through the staff and into his chest.
[Congratulations! You have won the fifth round. Please proceed to the next challenge.]
A bustling marketplace appeared, and a female fighter wielding nunchaku approached, the weapon spinning with a "whirl-whirl-crack!"
Aerum dodged the first strike but underestimated the nunchaku's reach. The weapon struck her ribs, and she gasped for air.
The fighter moved unpredictably, each attack relentless. Aerum waited patiently, watching for an opening. When the fighter overextended, Aerum parried the nunchaku and delivered a decisive slash to her chest.
[Congratulations! You have won the sixth round. Please proceed to the next challenge.]
Snow fell as the air turned frigid. A burly axeman charged, his weapon crashing down with a thunderous "boom!"
Aerum dodged the first swing, the axe barely missing her. His strength was overwhelming, each swing shaking the ground. She stayed on the defensive, waiting for him to tire.
When he overreached, Aerum darted in, her blade slicing his wrist and disarming him. A swift strike ended the fight.
[Congratulations! You have won the seventh round. Please proceed to the next challenge.]
The desert returned, but this time it was a canyon. A female whip master cracked her weapon with a sharp "snap!"
Aerum struggled to close the distance, the whip biting into her arms and legs. Blood dripped from her wounds, but she pressed forward.
Timing her movements, she caught the whip on her blade and yanked, pulling the whip master off balance. A quick slash ended the fight.
[Congratulations! You have won the eighth round. Please proceed to the next challenge.]
A rocky cliffside appeared, and a male fighter with a massive shield charged forward. His shield absorbed every strike Aerum threw, the sound of metal on metal ringing out.
Frustration built as she searched for an opening. When the shield bearer lunged, she sidestepped and struck his unprotected side. He staggered, and she finished him with a clean cut.
[Congratulations! You have won the ninth round. Please proceed to the next challenge.]
The final battleground was a stormy field. A male fighter wielded chains, their deadly arcs slicing through the air with a "whirl-whirl-snap!"
Aerum dodged and weaved, but the chains caught her leg, pulling her down. She rolled away, narrowly avoiding another strike.
Deflecting the chains with her blade, she advanced steadily. When she got close enough, she delivered a precise strike to his chest, ending the fight.
The storm faded, and the tower's voice echoed:
[Congratulations! You have cleared the first floor. Well done, challenger.]
[Would you like to continue or quit?]
Aerum, after a long fight, tiredly replied, "Quit."
After selecting "Quit," she was sent out of the tower.
As soon as she was outside, she could see Xenos, and beside him, she noticed his disciple sitting cross-legged in cultivation.
Aerum strode up to Xenos, her expression calm but curious. "When did they leave?"
Xenos turned, a faint smile on his face. "They left five minutes ago."
Aerum raised an eyebrow. "That fast?"
"They've only cleared the first floor," Xenos explained, shrugging.
Aerum frowned slightly, her tone sharpening. "Doesn't the option to quit only appear after the third floor?"
Xenos nodded. "It does, but for them, I changed it to every floor. They're still young and inexperienced."
Aerum crossed her arms, her frown deepening. "I'm young too. I'm only 25. Why didn't you give me the same option when I trained?"
Xenos chuckled softly, but then his tone turned teasing. "Ah, yes. Physically, you're 25. But when we factor in your soul's age, you're way older than me. Perhaps I should start calling you 'aunt' or—"
An ominous tension filled the air, and Xenos froze mid-sentence. He could feel Aerum's glare boring into him like daggers. Quickly, he cleared his throat and corrected himself, "But since your conscious self was born only 25 years ago, you are, of course, 25 years old. Young and vibrant!"
The threatening aura faded, and Aerum's expression softened. Xenos let out an inward sigh of relief, then continued, "The real reason I pushed you to complete the third floor first is because of your soul strength. Your soul is far beyond ordinary. It's solidified and possesses a soul sea, something only advanced cultivators achieve. And since your soul and your sister's are connected, your foundation had to be tempered more rigorously."
Aerum nodded thoughtfully, the explanation satisfying her curiosity. "I see. Well, I'll take a rest now."
Xenos gave a small nod. "Rest well. Be here by 4 tomorrow. We'll start training early."
"Understood," Aerum replied before turning and leaving the training grounds.
As her footsteps faded into the distance, laughter broke out among the disciples who had been quietly listening while cultivating. Valdir, Kori, Misaki, and Maximo were all grinning, trying to stifle their amusement.
Xenos turned to face them, raising an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"
Misaki, struggling to contain her laughter, said, "Master, are you really that dense?"
Xenos frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Kori chimed in, her tone playful. "Master, you should never mess with a woman's age. That's just asking for disaster!"
At her comment, all the disciples burst into laughter, their mirth echoing through the training field.
Xenos's face turned red, a rare expression of embarrassment crossing his usually composed demeanor. "Enough of this nonsense!" he barked, though his tone lacked bite.
He waved his hand, motioning toward the tower. "If you have so much energy to laugh, then go and clear the Tower of Battle!"
Still laughing, the disciples quickly stood up, sharing grins as they headed toward the tower. Even as they walked away, chuckles lingered in the air, leaving Xenos shaking his head with a mix of frustration and amusement.
After Xenos's disciples entered the Tower of Battle, they were kicked out within five minutes.
Their expressions were a mix of shock, disappointment, and embarrassment as they gathered back before their master. Xenos, standing tall with arms crossed, couldn't hold back his laughter.
The disciples looked at him with wronged expressions, as though he had betrayed them.
Misaki was the first to speak. "Master, just because we laughed at you, did you really have to take revenge on us like this?"
Xenos's laughter echoed across the training field. "Revenge? Oh no, this wasn't revenge. I wanted you to experience something... unique." His grin turned sly. "Tell me, how was your first taste of death?"
Maximo's face turned pale, and his voice trembled slightly as he replied, "Master, it was terrifying. Feeling life slipping away second by second... it was traumatic."
Xenos's demeanor shifted, his face growing serious. "Good," he said firmly, his tone carrying a weight that silenced any lingering protests. "I wanted you to understand how fragile life is. To teach you that every action you take in a fight has consequences. In there, it was just a simulation, but in the real world, those moments could mean the end."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "Emotions are dangerous. They cloud judgment, make you reckless. But that doesn't mean you should be emotionless—that is not the way of the Dao. Instead, you must learn to control your emotions, to let them serve you. Before entering a fight, you must always ask yourself: is this fight worth it?"
The disciples straightened, their initial annoyance fading as they absorbed his lesson. One by one, they nodded.
"Understood, Master," they said in unison.
Satisfied, Xenos continued. "The reason you failed to progress further is simple—your foundations in combat techniques are weak. Without a strong foundation, even the best talent will falter. Before we begin weapon training, I want each of you to tell me which weapon you wish to master."
Misaki stepped forward first. "Master, I want to fight with my fists."
Xenos nodded approvingly. "Good choice. Your small but powerful physique was made for hand-to-hand combat."
Kori was next. "Master, I would like to wield a katana."
Xenos smiled. "Excellent. Your Nine-Nether Sword Body will complement your swordsmanship perfectly."
Valdir stepped forward, his expression earnest. "Master, though I wish to continue my craft as a blacksmith, I'd like to master the spear."
Xenos's smile broadened. "A fine choice. Your blacksmith's build gives you strength and endurance, making you well-suited for the spear."
Maximo hesitated briefly before speaking. "Master, I also wish to continue my path as an alchemist, but I'd like to become a sword master."
Xenos raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "A swordmaster? I expected you to choose needles or tools more aligned with your profession. But the sword... interesting."
He then addressed them collectively. "Misaki and Kori, your choices align well with your natural talents and physiques. Valdir and Maximo, your chosen weapons don't come as naturally to you. You lack specific physical talents or innate affinities for the spear and sword, which means you'll need to work much harder to achieve mastery."
Valdir looked up, curiosity in his eyes. "Master, do we have talent for other weapons?"
Xenos shook his head. "No. Both of you were born with gifts tied to your professions as blacksmith and alchemist. That is your strength. But don't worry—I'll think of ways to help you bridge the gap."
Both Valdir and Maximo nodded, determination replacing their earlier disappointment.
"Now," Xenos said, his tone commanding, "I will teach you the fundamentals of weapon training. You must practice these basics relentlessly. Only by mastering the foundation can you create your own unique style and become truly powerful."
All the disciples stood tall, their resolve clear. "Yes, Master!" they answered in unison, ready to embark on the next stage of their training.