Sovereign of Stars-Chapter 27 – First Floor of the Dragon-Seeking Tower

Unlike the True Martial Pavilion, which focuses solely on skill, the Dragon-Seeking Tower tests overall combat strength.
The Dragon-Seeking Tower has three levels. Just the first level requires some truly outstanding individuals at the peak of the Sea Transformation Realm to pass through.
Because of this, very few attempt the Dragon-Seeking Tower. After all, there aren't many in Yongning Prefecture who have reached the peak of the Sea Transformation Realm, and even fewer are qualified to challenge the tower. Most who try are defeated.
Yet today, Su Xin, who is only at the initial stage of Sea Transformation, has entered the Dragon-Seeking Tower.
...
The first level of the Dragon-Seeking Tower is a vast open space. At the forefront, a man in gray slowly approached.
"Attempting the Dragon-Seeking Tower at the initial stage of Sea Transformation... is it confidence or ignorance?" The man in gray stared at Su Xin, seeing through his cultivation level at a glance.
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"Whether it's ignorance, you'll find out soon enough, senior." Su Xin had already drawn his sword.
Although he had never challenged the Dragon-Seeking Tower before, he had heard that each level only had one guardian. Defeating this guardian meant passing the level.
The man in gray said no more, flipping his hand to reveal a pitch-black spear, and suddenly...
Thud! Thud! Thud!
With three consecutive steps, the man in gray appeared in front of Su Xin, his pitch-black spear like a viper striking from its hole... whoosh! whoosh! whoosh! It created a flurry of spear shadows, attacking Su Xin from bizarre and tricky angles.
In an instant, Su Xin was surrounded by a dense array of spear shadows.
Facing the incoming spear, Su Xin immediately unleashed more than fifty percent of his bloodline power.
His sword transformed into a mountain-sea, rolling up layers of intent, making him seem as if he were in a vast ocean.
Clang! Clang! Clang!~~~
A series of clashes rang out, and in just a moment, the two had already collided dozens of times.
"So strong!"
In the actual fight, Su Xin couldn't help but marvel.
"Whether it's strength, speed, or spear technique, he's reached the pinnacle of the Sea Transformation Realm, the ultimate combat power of an ordinary Sea Transformation practitioner. No wonder so many peak Sea Transformation experts can't pass the first level of the Dragon-Seeking Tower!" Su Xin muttered.
To defeat this man in gray, one must surpass the limits of the Sea Transformation Realm in some aspect.
For instance, in terms of strength, rare bloodline Awakened Ones at the peak of Sea Transformation can unleash power far beyond their level, easily passing through.
Others with special encounters or who have cultivated powerful techniques, like the beggar boy Duan Yunfeng Su Xin met in Dongyang City, could also achieve this. Duan Yunfeng, with a peak Sea Transformation cultivation, could effortlessly kill someone of the same level with a single strike due to his unique cultivation method.
In terms of speed or skill, if one aspect greatly surpasses the peak of Sea Transformation, they could also pass through.
For Su Xin, his greatest advantage was his skill!
Buzz~~~
Su Xin struck repeatedly, each sword strike perfectly executed.
He seemed like an immovable mountain, unshaken by any attack.
The man in gray's spear technique reached its peak, yet he couldn't move Su Xin at all.
"No wonder you dared to challenge the Dragon-Seeking Tower; you do have some skill." The man in gray couldn't help but praise, "But to truly pass this level, mere defense won't suffice."
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Su Xin changed his sword style.
Like thunderfire...
From the defensive Mountain-Sea Volume sword art, he instantly switched to the Thunderfire Volume.
His sword strikes became violent and terrifying.
Sword shadows slashed out one after another, brutally and fiercely!
The sword shadows carried intent...
"His intent has perfectly merged with the sword, forming sword intent?" The man in gray's eyes flashed with surprise.
Understanding intent and barely grasping a thread of it for battle is just entry-level.
But merging intent perfectly with a weapon to form unique sword or blade intent is a higher level of comprehension.
Su Xin's understanding of intent was evidently high, and he was using the Northern Azure Sword Art, recognized as the top sword art in the Heavenflame Dynasty...
The terrifying sword shadows, like thunderfire, enveloped the man, leaving no room to breathe, forcing him to retreat repeatedly.
Suddenly, Su Xin's sword style changed again.
"Phantom Volume, First Form... Dark Light!"
Swish!
A sword light flashed, seemingly the last glimmer of light in the world.
Its speed was unbelievably fast.
The man in gray saw the sword light and recognized it, but had no time to defend.
Swoosh!
The sword light grazed the man in gray, leaving a clear sword mark, but no blood flowed, and the mark quickly healed.
The man in gray stopped his actions and retreated to the distance, while the stone door to the second level of the tower opened.
"I passed!"
Su Xin was overjoyed.
It was as he expected.
The first level of the Dragon-Seeking Tower was rumored that an ordinary peak Sea Transformation practitioner, if they could grasp a thread of intent, could pass relatively easily.
Though Su Xin only unleashed fifty percent of his bloodline power, his strength only comparable to peak Sea Transformation, his understanding of intent was so high that it perfectly merged with his sword to form sword intent, and his skill was exceptional, using the Northern Azure Sword Art...
Overall, his combat power was slightly stronger than those who only grasped a thread of intent at the peak of Sea Transformation.
Naturally, he could pass the first level relatively easily.
"Phew!"
Exhaling lightly, Su Xin quickly ascended the stairs to the second level of the Dragon-Seeking Tower.
The guardian of the second level was still the man in gray.
"To pass the first level of the Dragon-Seeking Tower with just initial Sea Transformation cultivation, your future is limitless!" The man in gray praised Su Xin.
"Please guide me, senior," Su Xin replied humbly.
Whoosh!
The man in gray attacked again, still wielding the pitch-black spear.
But this time... the power, speed, and spear technique he unleashed clearly surpassed the Sea Transformation Realm, reaching the threshold of the Void Shattering Realm. Even the spear carried a hint of intent.
The power was at least ten times stronger than on the first level!
Su Xin didn't dare to use the Thunderfire Volume to fight the man in gray, instead relying on the Mountain-Sea Volume to defend against the terrifying spear strikes.
The Mountain-Sea Volume's defensive capability was exceptional, and with the sword intent to dissipate force, even though the opponent's power far exceeded Su Xin's, he could still defend.
Using the Mountain-Sea Volume's defensive sword art, Su Xin held out for a long time against the man in gray, but was ultimately defeated.
"Too strong!"
"The same opponent, but the man in gray on the second level is at least ten times stronger than on the first level!"
"I could easily pass the first level, but on the second level, even if I unleash my bloodline power to the fullest, it would only allow me to hold out longer. To truly defeat him... I would need a major breakthrough in my sword art or intent comprehension, or advance my cultivation to the Sea Transformation level."
Once he reached the Sea Transformation level, even with only fifty percent bloodline power, his strength and speed would match the peak of Sea Transformation. Then, relying on his sword art skill, passing the second level would be easy.
Upon leaving the Dragon-Seeking Tower, someone was already waiting for him: Yuan Qing, the manager of the Crimson Dragon Tower.
Led by Yuan Qing, Su Xin arrived at a tea room and removed his hat.
"As expected," Yuan Qing smiled. "I just received a message from the lord inside the Dragon-Seeking Tower, saying a swordsman at the initial Sea Transformation level passed the first level. I guessed it was you."
"Lord?" Su Xin was intrigued.
Yuan Qing, the manager of the Crimson Dragon Tower in Yongning Prefecture, was a Void Shattering Realm expert. What kind of person would he call 'lord'?
"You don't know the identity of that lord?" Yuan Qing asked.
"I truly don't," Su Xin shook his head.
"Haha," Yuan Qing laughed, then explained, "Su Xin, you should know that the Crimson Dragon Tower monitors the world, spread across thirty-six provinces and each prefecture. The existence of the Dragon-Seeking Tower and the True Martial Pavilion is to gather talents, and the tests in these towers are recognized as fair, with no doubts about their integrity."
"Why is that?"
"Because both the True Martial Pavilion and the Dragon-Seeking Tower are extremely strict. In the True Martial Pavilion, battle puppets are the opponents, while in the Dragon-Seeking Tower, the guardians are top experts from our Crimson Dragon Tower headquarters."
"Top experts from headquarters?" Su Xin was startled.
"Yes, the one you fought in the Dragon-Seeking Tower was a top expert from our headquarters. Of course, it wasn't their true self, but a sliver of consciousness left in a battle puppet, controlling it to fight you," Yuan Qing continued.
"Not just in Yongning Prefecture, but in the entire Cloud Province and several surrounding provinces, the guardians in the Dragon-Seeking Towers are all controlled by this lord."
"As for this lord's strength..."
Yuan Qing smiled slightly, then said, "Above the Void Shattering Realm!"
Su Xin was shocked.
Above the Void Shattering Realm, that would be the Nirvana Realm?
The Nirvana Realm, the pinnacle of power in the Heavenflame Dynasty, the highest echelon.
In the Heavenflame Dynasty, any force or family with a Nirvana Realm expert would rise to prominence, becoming a major power.
For instance, the Su Family once had a Nirvana Realm ancestor, which made them a top family in the Heavenflame Dynasty.
But after that ancestor's fall, the Su Family declined.
"In the Dragon-Seeking Tower, I fought a Nirvana Realm expert?" Su Xin marveled.
No wonder no one dared to question it.
A test personally overseen by a Nirvana Realm expert, who would dare say it was unfair?
"When the lord sent me the message, he praised you and said he would personally go to the Heavenflame Palace to recommend you."
"The Heavenflame Palace has high recruitment standards, but you've met them by passing the first level of the Dragon-Seeking Tower at the initial Sea Transformation level. With the lord's recommendation, you should soon become a member of the Heavenflame Palace," Yuan Qing smiled, his attitude very friendly.
He knew the value of being a disciple of the Heavenflame Palace.
Once in the Heavenflame Palace, barring any accidents, one would become a prominent figure in the Heavenflame Dynasty, and even if not reaching the Nirvana Realm, would at least be a top expert in the Void Shattering Realm.
Su Xin was overjoyed.
Why did he challenge the Dragon-Seeking Tower at the initial Sea Transformation level?
Not for fame or fortune, but for a special recruitment spot in the Heavenflame Palace!!
"If I can get the special recruitment and become a disciple of the Heavenflame Palace, the assassinations against me will almost certainly stop, and my Su Family will be safe!" Su Xin clenched his fists.
Heavenflame Palace disciples are highly valued by the Heavenflame Dynasty.
Sending assassins after them?
If discovered, regardless of who or what powerful force is behind it, even with a Nirvana Realm ancestor, they would be wiped out.
Like the Situ Family, still a top family in the Heavenflame Dynasty with a Nirvana Realm ancestor, but they wouldn't dare harm a Heavenflame Palace disciple.
Similarly, the family of a Heavenflame Palace disciple would be protected by the dynasty, and the Situ Family wouldn't dare target the Su Family.
If the Situ Family wouldn't, the Pang Family certainly wouldn't.
"Manager Yuan Qing, what is the name of that lord?" Su Xin asked.
"Name?" Yuan Qing shook his head with a wry smile. "I'm just a prefecture manager in the Crimson Dragon Tower; I'm not qualified to know the lord's name. He only contacted me out of duty. Otherwise, I wouldn't even have the right to speak with him."
"As for you, don't worry. When you go to the Heavenflame Palace and grow stronger, you'll have the chance to meet the lord."
Su Xin nodded.
The lord he fought in the Dragon-Seeking Tower... had no connection to him, but seeing his talent, decided to recommend him to the Heavenflame Palace.
This was a favor.
A favor Su Xin would remember.
"Su Xin, you can go home and wait for news. When the Heavenflame Palace sends someone to fetch you, I'll notify you immediately," Yuan Qing said.
"Okay," Su Xin nodded, then added, "By the way, Manager Yuan Qing, I need some pills to aid my cultivation..."
"That's simple," Yuan Qing smiled.
Soon, Su Xin left the Crimson Dragon Tower with a hundred first-grade Sea Transformation Pills.
On his way back to the Su Family, Su Xin was in high spirits.
"My Su Family is surrounded by danger."
"The Pang Family has been plotting against us, even sending assassins after me. Recently, our conflicts have been intense, and a showdown is inevitable!"
"And the Situ Family, lurking behind the Pang Family, hasn't struck due to some concerns about our family's hidden cards. But who knows how long that will last? They might strike hard at any moment!"
"But... if I can enter the Heavenflame Palace and become a disciple, these threats will vanish!"
Su Xin was deep in thought.
But then...
"Hyah!" "Hyah!"
"Move aside! Don't block the way!"
Warhorses galloped down the street, and people hurriedly dodged.
"Riding horses in the city?" Su Xin frowned.
This was the prefecture city, a bustling street. Unless it was an emergency, who would dare ride like this?
As the horses approached, Su Xin saw a bloodied, disheveled figure in a hurry.
"Ye Luo?" Su Xin was surprised.
"Young Master?"
Ye Luo saw Su Xin and immediately stopped his horse.
"What happened?" Su Xin asked.
"The Second Elder is being besieged by three peak Sea Transformation experts from the Pang Family in Darkwater Alley, East City. He's barely holding on!" Ye Luo said urgently.
"What did you say?"
Su Xin's expression changed dramatically!!