The Hei clan's faction was the first to appear—a team of five led by Hei Lan, the young master of the Hei clan. Hei Lan hadn't initially planned to climb the Heavenly Tower, content in his role as his clan's chosen heir. But upon hearing that Bai Xiao, his childhood rival, intended to enter, he changed his plans.
"Pathetic," Hei Lan sneered, his piercing black eyes fixed on Bai Xiao's small faction. His short black hair framed a cold, unreadable expression as he passed by. "You're still clinging to hope, aren't you? Just give up. You're no longer a genius."
Bai Xiao had once been a prodigy with unmatched talent, reaching the Foundation Realm at just four years old and the Elemental Realm by six. But his cultivation had come to a sudden halt, leaving him stuck in the Elementary Realm. Over time, Bai Xiao and Hei Lan had drifted apart, their once-friendly rivalry dissolving as Bai Xiao's progress stagnated.
"Hei Lan? Why are you here?" Bai Xiao asked, startled at his appearance. He immediately walked over, flipping the dynamic between them—now he was the one urging someone to reconsider. Gripping Hei Lan's shoulder, he said, "You're the next heir of the Hei clan. If anything happens to you, it would be a massive blow to your clan."
Hei Lan yanked his arm away roughly. "Don't touch me," he snapped. "You'll ruin my cultivation base. And as for changing my decision—forget it. No one tells Hei Lan what to do."
"But you're already doing so well," Bai Xiao argued, his concern apparent. "I won't let you throw away your future. What did your father say about this? Don't tell me you intend to climb all the way to the heavens."
Hei Lan scoffed, the very thought of reaching the heavens seeming revolting to him. "Do you know how many floors there are in the Heavenly Tower? Millions. I'd die long before reaching even a thousand."
The Heavenly Tower was legendary—a passage to the heavens, rumored to be impossibly high. Only those of immortal cultivation realms could ever hope to reach the top, and even they would need thousands of years. Immortal experts who had already cultivated for millennia were rumored to be climbing within the tower, forever ascending. Every decade, the Tower appeared in a random location in the world, and this time it was within Bai Xiao's reach. For ten days, the entrance would remain open, but priority was given to elite clans. Only afterward would guests from distant lands and those with imperial permission be allowed in. On the final day, mortals would have a chance to enter, as the heavens, it was said, were equal for all.
"Then why?" Bai Xiao pressed, only to be shoved away by Hei Lan.
"Mind your own business," Hei Lan spat, moving off with his faction members. Bai Xiao stumbled, landing in the dirt, his white robes covered in dust. Li Wei, his guard, continued eating, watching quietly. The Hei clan held a higher status than the Bai clan now, and Li Wei didn't want to risk any trouble.
"That bastard..." Bai Xiao muttered, standing up as Xia Hua hurried over to brush the dust from his sleeve. "Don't come crying to me later, saying no one tried to stop you."
"Forget him, Young Master," Xia Hua said, her voice tight as she watched Hei Lan's retreating form. "He's got a flawed personality." She had always disliked Hei Lan; he never failed to insult Bai Xiao whenever they met. But Xia Hua, knowing her place, had never dared to speak her mind to him directly.
"It seems the Bai clan is holding a banquet," someone said mockingly. It was Ruo Fe of the Ruo clan. His eyes gleamed as he waved toward Bai Xiao. Bai Xiao scoffed, his mood already sour from Hei Lan's taunts.
"To think you'd show up too, Ruo Fe. I guess being fifth in line for your clan's inheritance leaves you with little else to do. Your four elder brothers must be enjoying all the cream while you're left to spill milk over your fate."
Bai Xiao and Ruo Fe had a bittersweet relationship, both seen as disappointments by their clans. However, Ruo Fe was slightly better off, having broken through the Elementary Realm.
"Now, now, no need for taunts, Bai Xiao, my brother in grief," Ruo Fe said with a laugh, walking over and draping an arm around Bai Xiao's shoulders. His two faction members followed him three steps back.
"I am not your brother. If I were, I'd have beaten some manners into you by now," Bai Xiao said, pushing him away slightly. "But since you're here, I suppose you can sit with us. We have too much food to finish."
"Indeed, so much food, and it's delicious too," Li Wei chimed in, his mouth full. Xia Hua nodded in agreement.
"Well, since you're inviting me..." Ruo Fe grinned, gesturing for his faction members to bring something from their cart.
"Imagine climbing the Heavenly Tower with servants," Bai Xiao teased, conveniently ignoring the fact that he himself planned to bring Xia Hua.
"All out of necessity. Heaven only knows why the Tower demands a faction of three to enter," Ruo Fe said, opening the box his servants handed him.
Before Bai Xiao could respond, the air around them shifted. Whispers and murmurs spread through the crowd, all eyes turning toward a newly arrived faction.
Five otherworldly beauties, dressed in exquisite traditional garb with delicate embroidery and calligraphic characters, walked gracefully through the gathering.
"Look, the faction from the Jing clan has arrived."
"To think they'd send such delicate beauties for such a dangerous task."
"My eyes must be deceiving me... isn't that Mei Jing, the famous young genius?"
The Jing clan was renowned throughout the lands as one of the most powerful matriarchal clans. Its women, while breathtakingly beautiful, were also formidable cultivators—thorny roses.
Mei Jing, the center of attention, walked with an air of grace, ignoring the stares and whispers. Her long black hair flowed like a river, her pale, delicate face accented by a soft blush matching her attire. Her jade-green eyes and confident smile added to her unshakable presence.
"So it's you," she said, stopping before Bai Xiao for reasons unknown. Her gaze swept over him. "Lady Gia's son. Her beauty must have tempered the brutish scowl your Bai clan is known for."
Bai Xiao immediately thought of his father and uncles' harsh features. What she said wasn't far from the truth. He, too, might have worn that scowl had his mother, Gia Jing, not hailed from the prestigious Jing clan.
"Was that meant to be a compliment or an insult?" Bai Xiao asked, looking away. "But since you're acquainted with my mother, I'll forgive you. Now, scram. Don't distract me from the task ahead."
Li Wei and Ruo Fe exchanged bewildered looks. Mei Jing's sharp eyes narrowed at his dismissive words, her confident demeanor slightly bruised.
"Even without that scrowl, you're still from that brutish Bai clan," she spat, her voice suddenly thorny. "To think our precious Lady Gia would lower herself to marry into such a clan of ill-mannered good-for-nothings. Come on, girls, let's leave."
She struck her sandal against the ground as she turned, leaving shallow imprints in the earth. Her faction followed, and the crowd parted for them like the tide.
Xia Hua patted Bai Xiao's back, amused by the situation. She loved how Bai Xiao rejected Mei Jing's indirect advance. Half of her feelings were jealousy, but the other half was worry. The ladies of the Jing Clan were infamous for using their admirers for personal gain.
"Bai Xiao, you lucky bastard. To think that the famous genius Mei Jing would talk to you, and you'd dismiss her so rudely! Are you even a man?" Fe Ruo sighed, his eyes lingering on the retreating Jing Faction.
"Nonsense," Li Wei countered, also watching them leave. "Young Master Bai Xiao is above such matters. He only cares about his cultivation."
Bai Xiao stayed quiet, his sharp eyes scanning the other participants and factions gathering at the site. Most of the arrivals belonged to elite clans, officially sent on missions or specific objectives, much like the Jing Faction. Others, like Bai Xiao, Fe Ruo, and Hei Lan, were here of their own will, each with personal aims.
The area grew increasingly crowded as greetings and chatter filled the air.
"Any moment now..." Bai Xiao murmured, glancing at the sun's angle. The Heavenly Tower was almost thirty breaths late this decade.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. A deep rumble filled the atmosphere as the legendary Heavenly Tower began to emerge, its base breaking through the earth with a thunderous roar. The coloss
al structure soared upward, its seemingly endless spire piercing the heavens.