"This entire realm is nothing but an illusory formation; I wonder what the purpose is?" She looked around, deep in thought.

Feng Zikang nodded. The situation in this realm was vastly different from the first two layers. The previous two layers were geographically small; upon entering, they had quickly located the relevant individuals and understood their tasks.

But on this third layer, after searching for so long, the two of them had found absolutely nothing.

"It seems this layer is harder and much more expansive than the last." Luo Lianxin furrowed her brow. If this were the case, who knew how many layers this Trial Tower contained, and how incredibly difficult the next realm's mission would be.

"Since we are already inside, we'll just take it one step at a time."

Having stepped into the Trial Tower, Feng Zikang became even calmer and more composed. The various strange phenomena within served only as whetstones to temper himself.

He truly regarded this journey in the Trial Tower as a true test.

Moreover, he vaguely sensed that the final mysteries involving his Master, General Lu, and Young Master Yiwu were somehow deeply connected to him.

"But even after breaking through the illusion array, I still don't know where to begin..."

Luo Lianxin coughed lightly, her face pale.

Indeed, people had appeared in the previous two layers, but here, in the expanse of white mist on the third layer, there was no one. What were the two of them supposed to do to pass this third layer's challenge and enter the fourth?

Feng Zikang gave a faint smile. "Since there's no one... perhaps the puzzle of this third layer is actually the simplest..."

"Oh?"

Luo Lianxin's eyes lit up. "Senior Brother means..."

She looked down from her height, her gaze directed towards the densest center of the white mist.

Feng Zikang nodded. "If there are no people, then it's likely a straightforward battle. As long as we defeat whatever is hidden within this white mist, the entrance to the fourth layer should open naturally."

"Senior Brother is absolutely right!"

Luo Lianxin agreed, raising her sword to move, but Feng Zikang gently restrained her.

"Junior Sister, there's no need to rush. I see no passage of time within this Mysterious Realm. Your old injuries haven't healed, and we don't know the nature of what hides in this mist. Rushing in blindly might lead to a disadvantage. I suggest we wait until your injuries have recuperated before taking action!"

Although the poison of the Sinful Dragon's Blood in Luo Lianxin had been healed with the aid of the Qilin Grease, her vital energy had not fully recovered. They had no idea what kind of entity lurked in this white mist. Since it possessed the White Mist Illusory Array to shield itself and confuse their senses, it was likely no minor opponent. If they were to fight, it was naturally best for both of them to be in peak condition.

When Feng Zikang stopped her, Luo Lianxin pondered for a moment and found his reasoning sound. She immediately sat cross-legged in mid-air, entering a meditative state to regulate her breathing and soothe her damaged meridians.

The poison of the Sinful Dragon's Blood was no trivial matter. Even though the miraculous Qilin Grease had purged the toxin, it had still inflicted massive damage upon her body, which had been strengthened by two Heavenly-level Merit Missions. Her internal meridians were chaotic, and despite trying to regulate them secretly for the better part of the day, the effect was poor. Only by focusing all her attention and supplementing with medicine were these injuries slowly beginning to recover.

Feng Zikang did not waste the time either. This journey in the Trial Tower was also immensely beneficial to him. Having the opportunity to absorb and consolidate his cultivation, he too sat cross-legged, practicing the Formless Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra. He faintly sensed an imminent breakthrough.

Now that he had formed his Golden Core, the Military Qi and Demonic Qi within him had reached a balance, intertwining into black and white hues, forming the shape of a Yin-Yang fish inside his body.

As these two energies intertwined, stimulated by the Trial Tower, they began to grow wildly.

Having traversed two layers, he hadn't noticed it previously, but now, activating his inner sight technique to examine closely, he discovered that the Military Qi and Demonic Qi were constantly swelling, as if they had gained life, twisting and expanding.

"Strange..."

Feng Zikang nodded inwardly. He cultivated the Military Strategist's Art of Forethought and Thousand-Mile Victory, along with the Formless Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra. After condensing his core, his progress had been slow; even in seclusion within the Mysterious Realm, he hadn't experienced such visibly measurable growth.

This Trial Tower was truly miraculous.

Although he still couldn't fully grasp the purpose of this place, it was evident that cultivating within the Trial Tower could rapidly enhance one's power. The effect was particularly strong now that they were only in the Golden Core stage. At this rate, if they cultivated for a while longer, they might break through to the Nascent Soul stage, possibly even without the assistance of the Great Reincarnation Plate!

If that were the case, what level of cultivation would the Nascent Soul cultivators who entered this place three hundred years ago have reached by now?

Why hadn't they left the tower? What secrets were hidden within it?

Feng Zikang grew increasingly curious.

Days and nights were indistinguishable in the Mysterious Realm. After a long time, Luo Lianxin concluded her practice and opened her eyes, gently exhaling a breath of stale air.

"Senior Brother, have you noticed anything strange about this Trial Tower?"

It seemed she had also gained some benefits during her cultivation. Feng Zikang nodded. "Junior Sister noticed it too. This Trial Tower is indeed greatly beneficial for cultivation..."

He stopped his own practice, smiling faintly as he watched Luo Lianxin frown in thought.

In fact, Feng Zikang could speculate on the reason for the rapid cultivation here. Each layer was a separate Mysterious Realm, and those who entered were effectively designated protagonists by the Trial Tower Master. Upon becoming the protagonist, they received the protection of the realm's power, abundant spiritual energy, and naturally, accelerated cultivation.

This level of treatment was something he, as the master of his own Mysterious Realm, might not even enjoy while in seclusion within it.

"Master also told me that this tower is extremely wondrous and greatly aids cultivation, but she wasn't aware of the specific details. I didn't expect it to reach this extent; no wonder..."

Luo Lianxin shook her head, then suddenly stamped her foot. "Senior Brother, now that we are here, I can no longer keep this from you."

Her expression turned grave. "Although Master instructed me never to reveal everything I know to you, this place is so profound and mysterious, and unknown dangers abound. Since we have shared life and death, I truly cannot conceal it anymore..."

She seemed to have made up her mind. Feng Zikang smiled slightly. "If it's inconvenient, Junior Sister doesn't need to say!"

"No!"

Luo Lianxin shook her head firmly. "Actually, telling you won't change much... Senior Brother, do you know that besides Young Master Yiwu being the legendary figure who walked out of this tower—there is one other person who entered the tower and left?"

"What?"

Feng Zikang's expression drastically changed, his heart shaking violently.

"That person," Luo Lianxin paused, "was the previous Sect Master of our Military Household, the world's foremost General Lu, Martial Uncle Lu!"

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