Upon stepping into this realm, Feng Zikang looked around, his vision blanked by confusion. He reached out a hand, able to vaguely discern his own fingers, appearing and vanishing as if ready to dissolve at any moment.

"This fog seems capable of blocking divine sense…"

Luo Lianxin’s expression grew severe. Turning back to Feng Zikang, she nestled into his embrace, appearing somewhat uneasy.

Feng Zikang nodded.

He had already discovered that his divine sense could not penetrate further than three zhang. In this misty world, where sight failed and divine sense was severed, cultivators who could once span heaven and earth were rendered like blind men—an extremely unsettling sensation.

He attempted to release his formless Heavenly Demon Avatar, but the fog’s obstruction kept the avatar from straying more than ten zhang. Beyond that distance, the avatar, which was usually solid and perfectly formed, began to melt away as if exposed to the True Sun Fire.

Feng Zikang was greatly startled. He swiftly shook his body, recalling the avatar, a lingering tremor of fear remaining in his heart.

What in the world was this place?

He inwardly harbored suspicion, his steps forward becoming even more cautious.

"Senior Brother, if you are correct, then there must be a key to the next level within each layer…" Luo Lianxin, sharp of mind, had been pondering since Feng Zikang explained the events of the second level in the cave. Now, she had reached her own conclusion.

The key from the first level to the second was the Millennium Snow Lotus guarded by the Dragon Scourge; obtaining it and saving the child's grandmother opened the passage to the second level. The key from the second to the third was the Qilin Marrow held by the Flower Miao tribe; helping the White Miao triumph over the Flower Miao to acquire the Marrow and cure the Dragon Blood Poison in his system would unlock the path to the third level.

Looking at it this way, the Trial Tower was aptly named—a genuine tower of trials. Only by passing each layer’s ordeal could they reach the bottom and uncover the true secrets.

So, where was the key for this current level?

Feng Zikang nodded slightly; he had reached the same conclusion. Though he didn't know who built this Trial Tower or when, the successive breakthroughs through each layer clearly constituted a specific kind of trial.

"This Trial Tower is mysterious and unfathomable; we must be cautious at every turn…"

Based on what they knew, it seemed the mystic realms of each level were constructed only after they entered the tower.

At least, those who had entered before them certainly had not experienced the Mystic Realms of the Snow Mountain Dragon Scourge or the War of the Two Miao Tribes. If they had, those conflicts would have been resolved long ago, certainly not waiting for their arrival.

This implied that the mystic realm of each layer was clearly embedded when the entrants arrived. Such mastery in configuring mystic realms was truly awe-inspiring.

The first few layers were merely tiny fragments of mystic realms; configuration might still be possible. But if the subsequent realms grew larger, how they managed the configuration was beyond comprehension. Whoever controlled the Trial Tower, or perhaps the tower itself, was profoundly deep.

"Yes, and the lower we go, the greater the difficulty will surely be. Senior Brother, we must be even more vigilant…"

Feng Zikang nodded. The first layer, merely confronting the Dragon Scourge, was relatively not too difficult. The second layer involved the war between the Flower Miao and White Miao, and especially once the Serpent of Chaos and the techniques of the God-Demon Chiyou were unleashed, Feng Zikang alone could not have won; it was already much harder than the previous layer.

Reaching this third layer… it would likely be even harder.

"I wonder if my Master has reached the bottom…"

Feng Zikang sighed, recalling Ye Tiansheng, who had come to this Trial Tower years ago after breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Despite Ye Tiansheng’s profound cultivation and strength, his journey in the Trial Tower might not have been smooth sailing. The mystic realm trials he encountered must have been vastly different from his own, and he wondered if his Master had reached the foundation yet.

Both Ye Tiansheng and Xiao Zhuyuan took the matter of the Trial Tower very seriously. Ye Tiansheng immediately came here upon reaching Nascent Soul, and Xiao Zhuyuan had been cultivating Luo Lianxin for decades, ensuring she could enter the Trial Tower as soon as possible. The secret hidden within must be extraordinary.

If Gongzi Yi Wu was also somehow connected to this tower, then its mysteries were utterly beyond estimation.

It was a pity they still did not fully understand why Ye Tiansheng insisted on entering the Trial Tower. It seemed to be to uncover the truth of past events, but the mass disappearance of Nascent Soul experts back then, and the entanglement between Gongzi Yi Wu and General Lu—how these were connected remained obscure.

However, since they were already here, the only path was continuous exploration until they found the result.

"Let's go!"

Feng Zikang chuckled lightly, "As long as we can reach the bottom floor, we will naturally discover the mysteries of the Trial Tower!"

It was still nothing but fog. Feng Zikang had walked for a long time, yet still saw no exit, nor had any unusual phenomena occurred.

He had even soared on his sword into the high heavens, but no matter how high he ascended, there was only unending mist, revealing nothing of the world outside. And even when flying forward at incredible speed, covering a thousand li in an instant, he seemed unable to escape the entanglement of this white vapor.

"Senior Brother, I think we might be trapped in some kind of grand maze…"

Judging by the mystic realms of the first and second layers, this third-layer realm should not be this vast. Proceeding this way, without reaching any boundary of the realm, suggests the possibility of being caught in an illusionary formation is higher.

Feng Zikang had long since lowered his sword light, sinking into contemplation.

Luo Lianxin struggled to her feet, surveying their surroundings.

Both of them were devoted to cultivation and were only moderately skilled in the art of formations. This maze offered no trace, leaving them temporarily unable to find a solution.

"This maze is not simple…"

Ordinary illusionary formations could trap common people, but they were both at the Core Formation stage, unburdened by common concerns; ordinary illusions were seen through instantly. Yet, not only had they failed to recognize this maze initially, but even after wandering in it for so long, they still had no clue. The person who set the formation was truly formidable.

"No matter what, this maze must have an exit!" Luo Lianxin stepped three paces to the left, then two to the right, advancing one step and retreating two, her expression peculiar.

"Junior Sister, have you perceived something?"

Feng Zikang knew that Luo Lianxin possessed slightly superior knowledge in formations compared to him, so he asked with humility.

Luo Lianxin nodded. "If my observation is correct, the opportunity to break this formation should lie at the hour of Wu…"

As the words fell, a shaft of intense sunlight flashed from the zenith above. The light in the dense fog had always been dim; this was the only instance of variation within the mist!

"Now is the time!" Luo Lianxin cried out sharply and sprang upward!