Of course, there was another, true reason: the lack of wine. The craving was hitting now, and being denied drink when one was afflicted was intolerable. In the absence of alcohol, the only recourse was to swiftly conquer the Elemental Tower to procure more. Recently, the Wine Worm had been tormenting him mercilessly; he had to put forth the effort.

Naturally, there was an alternative method for acquiring wine more quickly: abandoning the Elemental Tower altogether and going directly to raid the wine stores. However, one could only enter the Elemental Tower once. Lu Yuan was not quite the scoundrel required for such a transgression.

Forget it, push onward.

The fiftieth floor. The element here was Tin. Lu Yuan spent thirty-seven shichen mastering this Tin element. By now, he had mastered fifty elements. Lu Yuan dimly perceived that he, too, was developing a slight ability to alter objects; turning him into a White Crane was no longer a trivial task for an opponent.

He immediately surged toward the fifty-first floor. The element here was Antimony. This time, Lu Yuan needed only thirty-nine shichen to master this floor. Jian Qi, 1 Xiao Jian Jie! This technique was truly indispensable. Lu Yuan calculated that without employing Jian Qi, 1 Xiao Jian Jie, he would likely have been eliminated long ago.

The fact that Lu Yuan took only thirty-nine shichen to clear the fifty-first floor undoubtedly sent shockwaves through the observers.

Outside the Elemental Tower, over eight hundred participants had already been eliminated, leaving just over one hundred. Most of these remaining individuals were stalled somewhere around the thirtieth or fortieth stages. The primary focus of everyone’s attention lay on the Son of Buddha, ranked first, and Lu Yuan, ranked fifth. The Son of Buddha was soaring ahead, possessing the potential to shatter existing records.

Lu Yuan, however, was unleashing his power in the latter half of the ascent. His current speed through each stage was astonishingly rapid. For a difficult layer like the fifty-first, breakthrough in eighty or ninety shichen was considered a stroke of luck; yet Lu Yuan required only thirty-nine. This performance created a genuine sensation. Those who had previously suggested Lu Yuan’s fame was undeserved, that he was not equal to his reputation, had long since fallen silent.

Because this very achievement was the most potent retort.

Lu Yuan continued his exhilarating push. The fifty-second floor held the Tellurium element—an element situated between metallic and non-metallic properties. Since his craving for wine was acute, Lu Yuan decisively spent forty shichen mastering Tellurium.

Mastering the Tellurium element on the fifty-second floor took only forty shichen. Tonight, it seemed Lu Yuan was set to deliver an extraordinary jolt to everyone outside the Elemental Tower. The commotion outside was absolute; just how fast was Lu Yuan’s pace through the tower?

On the fifty-third floor, before Lu Yuan could even register what the element was, he noticed another person. Eh, isn't that Zhan Bai from the Civilization of Night? He hadn't encountered another soul after clearing so many stages. Now that he finally found someone, Lu Yuan inclined his hand in greeting.

Zhan Bai started visibly upon seeing Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan had finally caught up!

Zhan Bai maintained his composure, returned the courtesy, and immediately resumed his deep contemplation. Zhan Bai had already spent over fifty shichen on the fifty-third floor but still could not master the Iodine element of the thirteenth layer. With only forty-odd shichen remaining, he needed to hurry.

Zhan Bai was attempting to master the Iodine element. Time crept forward slowly.

After forty-two more shichen passed in this manner, Zhan Bai realized that his allotted one hundred shichen for this floor was nearly spent. He could faintly feel the repulsive force of the level pressing upon him. Damn it, only a few hours left! I must grasp the Iodine essence here within these final hours, or I’ll be eliminated right here.

Just as Zhan Bai formed this desperate thought, the gate leading to the fifty-fourth floor suddenly burst open with a resounding crash.

Huh? I haven't mastered the Iodine element yet, so why has the gate burst open?

Zhan Bai let out a small cry of surprise, only to see Lu Yuan standing plainly before the doorway.

“Then, I shall take my leave first,” Lu Yuan said, raising a hand in farewell.

At Lu Yuan’s gesture, Zhan Bai nearly collapsed in tears. He had spent a full ninety-plus shichen on the Iodine element of the fifty-third floor and still hadn't succeeded, hovering on the brink of elimination. Yet, Lu Yuan, in contrast, had mastered Iodine in a mere forty-two shichen. That speed was unbelievable—truly, comparing oneself to another was infuriating!

On the fifty-fourth floor, Lu Yuan encountered another person. This individual wore a robe woven of lightning, young and fierce: it was Lei Qi from the Civilization of Thunder. Lei Qi was currently engaged in mastering the Xenon element of the fifty-fourth floor, reaching a critical juncture. Suddenly noticing an arrival, he thought, Eh, has Zhan Bai caught up?

Then, upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't Zhan Bai from the Civilization of Night at all, but Lu Yuan of the Sword Sect.

Lei Qi shot Lu Yuan a deep look but paid him no further mind; he was at a critical point in his breakthrough and could not afford to waste time.

Then, forty-five shichen later, he tragically discovered he was about to fail, while Lu Yuan had already smoothly opened the door to the fifty-fifth floor, having clearly mastered Xenon in just forty-five shichen. This pace, this efficiency, left Lei Qi utterly dumbfounded.

“That’s too fast!” Lei Qi muttered to himself.

Lu Yuan entered the fifty-fifth level. This level housed the Inert elements, and Lu Yuan took forty-seven shichen.

Lu Yuan entered the fifty-sixth level, which contained the Yttrium elements. This time, Lu Yuan required forty-eight shichen.

Lu Yuan entered the fifty-seventh level, holding the Steel elements. This effort took fifty shichen. Truly soaring fast, exhilaratingly quick—level after level of the tower yielded easily and delightfully to his advance.

Finally, he reached the fifty-eighth floor. This level contained the Barium element. Upon entering, Lu Yuan found another person present: Ling Qingyun! Ling Qingyun had consistently ranked second in the fifty-eighth level and had never been overtaken by those behind him. However, he was now in a deadlock, having spent over ninety shichen in the fifty-eighth level without mastering the Arsenic element. He knew he had reached his limit. Even so, reaching his limit was fine; his current achievement was exceptional, something to be genuinely proud of even within the Civilization of Confucianism.

Then, seeing someone enter, he looked up and recognized Lu Yuan. He was startled.

Lu Yuan had actually caught up! Ling Qingyun, seeing his own hope of advancing to the fifty-ninth floor dashed, experienced a sudden surge of malice. This malice stemmed primarily from his desire to remain the foremost figure in Righteousness Attribute. He had always held that position, but Lu Yuan's recent rise had overshadowed him, thus inciting his ill will. Of course, fighting was permitted within the Elemental Tower, provided one didn't mind the waste of time; generally, few would resort to open conflict inside.

Ling Qingyun smiled faintly. “It is Lu Yuan.”

Lu Yuan merely shrugged. “It is Brother Ling.”

“Greetings, Brother Lu.”

Ling Qingyun smiled again, but within that expression, sword intent already flared, sending a beam of sword light directly toward Lu Yuan. What a hypocrite, what false righteousness! Lu Yuan hadn't expected Ling Qingyun to act this way, but his own power already far surpassed Ling Qingyun’s. He unleashed a single move: Fu Sheng Ruo Meng.

Ling Qingyun’s sword strike cleaved Lu Yuan in two. Just as he was about to rejoice, he heard a loud boom. Lu Yuan’s punch slammed into his back, the immense force nearly shattering his limbs and internal organs in an instant. Lu Yuan instantly shifted position, standing before Ling Qingyun. “Ling Qingyun, you are weak. Attacking me by ambush?” Ling Qingyun could never have imagined being defeated in a single move!

They were both at the same realm, World N Triple Heaven—how could the gap be so vast?

Ling Qingyun found it almost impossible to accept instantly.

Lu Yuan looked at Ling Qingyun. “Those who plot to ambush and kill me… die!” Whether Ling Qingyun belonged to the Civilization of Confucianism or not, people from common sects dared not kill members of a Civilization—they could not afford the offense. However, Lu Yuan himself had killed quite a few people from Civilizations. Naturally, this would cause some trouble, especially killing someone from an Ancient Civilization, which meant immense trouble. But Lu Yuan always adhered to this principle and had no intention of changing.

“Brother Lu, I know a secret…” Ling Qingyun gasped for breath before continuing. “Regarding the secret of Righteousness. Brother Lu practices Righteousness too; the cultivation of Righteousness has many secrets.”

Lu Yuan’s heart stirred slightly. Righteousness had nine layers in total; he was only at the fifth. He was indeed somewhat intrigued by this purported secret of Righteousness cultivation.

Ling Qingyun took a few more breaths, then said, “Actually, I was lying just now. Goodbye…” With that, his figure vanished instantly. Was that teleportation? No, that wasn't it. Lu Yuan could clearly sense that Ling Qingyun was no longer in the fifty-eighth level. Could it be that his time limit was up, and the repulsive force of the fifty-eighth floor had ejected him?

If so, this Ling Qingyun had calculated his timing from the start: if he could win, he would kill Lu Yuan; if he couldn't, he could use the repulsion to escape. If his initial attack failed, he could immediately change tactics and use words to trick Lu Yuan.

This was quite a character—a cunning schemer among hypocrites.

Lu Yuan shrugged, not taking it too seriously. He simply decided to execute this man at the first available opportunity, leaving no loose ends.

Lu Yuan immediately sat cross-legged, beginning to attempt mastery of this Arsenic element.

Outside the Elemental Tower, everyone was discussing Lu Yuan’s rapid climb. This speed was truly unparalleled. Furthermore, the announcements showed Lu Yuan had reached the fifty-eighth floor, trailing only the Son of Buddha, placing him second overall. Although still a considerable distance behind the Son of Buddha, this achievement was remarkable.

The two Elders, the East Extreme Immortal Elder and the West Extreme Immortal Elder, who presided over this Elemental Tower trial, understood the internal situation better than anyone else. They had witnessed the battle between Ling Qingyun and Lu Yuan.

What a Ling Qingyun, such a cunning hypocrite. I never realized his true nature. This man possessed a deceitful, complex, and highly adaptable temperament, placing him within the top hundred of the Genius Ranking; he was likely to become a significant figure in the future. A report must be filed advising caution regarding this individual.

Even more terrifying was Lu Yuan. Facing Ling Qingyun, he won in a single move. Ling Qingyun was no weakling, but a contender within the top hundred of the Genius Ranking, at the same cultivation level as Lu Yuan. Even so, it took only one move. Just how formidable was that power!