Both Lyra and Nyla were visibly surprised as they heard about what Nolan and the others had done before they had reunited.

  “How would they even know how you guys look, though?” said the former, after she blew a wild stretch of golden hair to the side of her face.

  “All of their elders carry soul stones with them,” said Avril, a shadow of sympathy on her face for the first time since they’d met her. “If one happens to die, the sister stone that they keep at the sect will break, and usually one of the great elders will look into it.”

  Nolan recalled the gigantic ethereal face that had appeared within moments of Keplin’s death. Whoever had projected their presence that day had clearly expressed their desire to hunt them down for going against one of their own.

  While everybody fell into a puddle of sombreness, an electric chill ran down Nolan’s spine. Whoever had looked into Keplin’s death must have projected their consciousness all the way from the Western Isles.

  “Nolan,” said Nyla, who’d just nudged him forward. “No use thinking about it. Come on.”

  Don't worry, said Uncle Grey as they all began to move. There should be something good at the top of this tower. If you manage to obtain it, then it'll be a great benefit. With that, you should be able to increase your strength by quite a bit.

  As with the first ascent, they made it to the third floor without any difficulties. Avril had kept a curious eye on Sean and Esteban on the way up, clearly interested in how they were able to cope with the oppressive aura while only being at the early levels of the Profound Entry stage. It wasn't just her; everybody else on this new level looked up from their meditations in surprise, and the hundred or so at the opposing staircase also stopped their struggles to cast disbelieving looks in their direction. It seemed as if the majority of the remaining participants had picked this floor to train on.

  "How can they be up here? Is that even possible?"

  "Were you always so foolish? They're obviously masking their true attainments. Can't you tell from how heavy their auras are?"

  "Ah, perhaps that's what it is..."

  "Just ignore it. Our time here is precious."

  People lost interest within moments, as nobody wanted to lose a minute within the Desolate Spirit Tower.

  It's almost as much as the Divine Spirit Fountain water?

  Nolan couldn't believe it. They were only on the tower's third level. Just how much ambient energy awaited them on the eighth floor?

  This tower is indeed a rare treasure, came Uncle Grey's voice. But it is hardly comparable to the Divine Spirit Fountain. It might be able to generate energy from the surrounding areas, but it takes a long time for it to reach its full capacity. The disciples of this place would be lucky to use it twice in half a decade.

  Nolan saw the point of what the old ghost was saying. Whereas the fountain has an infinite energy supply. I get it.

  That isn't to say that we can't snatch this tower at some point in the future. Judging by the arrayments I've seen, it should be able to shrink down to the size of a finger. It's a sacred treasure, after all, even if it’s of the lowest quality.

  Instead of replying, Nolan followed the others to the opposing side of the room, which was only about half the size of the first one. They took their time ascending to the fourth floor, leaving behind hundreds of envious-eyed hopefuls. They maneuvered around several blotches of gore on their way up the stairs, the stains trailing up the walls and across the ceiling in many places as if someone had been tossing around paintball grenades before they arrived.

  To think that you could kill people with your aura alone, Nolan sighed. So crazy.

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  "What's with this aura?" panted Sean, who suddenly seemed heavy on breathing. Esteban was having similar troubles, though neither of them seemed affected past the point of discomfort. "The energy's not too bad, but I feel like I'm carrying dumbells in both hands."

  There were only about fifty people on this floor, and none of them were attempting to head up to the next level.

  I don't feel too bad. Nolan looked over at Avril, who was in comparable condition. Nyla, on the other hand, seemed fine. Rather, she was eager to keep going.

  After standing idle for a few moments, Sean patted Esteban on the shoulder and said, "Me and the kid are gonna stay here. We'll meet you guys outside whenever this place closes, if that’s cool with you guys?"

  "So we all agree then?" said Nyla. "We'll be staying here as long as the tower's open?"

  Once everybody had nodded in affirmation, Nolan set off with the girls, one on either side of him as they crossed over the large, open space to confront the next challenge.

  "They intend to make an attempt?" someone said as they arrived in front of the door. Several people glanced in their direction, most of them looking away within seconds. "With those cultivations?"

  "With soul strength like that," said another, "they have to be at the peak of Integration."

  This was the most ominous staircase that they had faced so far. From top to bottom, it was completely dyed red and littered with countless bone fragments and bits of flesh.

  "Uhhh..."

  "Told you," said Avril. "Go on. You won't die."

  "I don't need you to tell me that."

  As over a dozen people made quiet observations, Nolan glanced between his companions and then took the leading step. Three steps up and it felt as if he were sloshing through knee-deep water. It increased by this much? Apparently, the allocation of energies within the tower rose exponentially from this point on.

  "He's fine?"

  "He must be a direct disciple from some sect. Look at his robes, they look like a uniform."

  "They're also the same as that girl's," said the first speaker.

  "Must be nice to have so many resources spoon-fed to you."

  The fact that Nolan hadn't immediately recoiled backwards had drawn a lot of attention, though most of it was limited to jealous stares.

  He took two more steps.

  "And after so many just died..." said young woman, the awe in her tone a bit bittersweet.

  There were about seven hundred people on the fourth floor, and it seemed that none of them were of a mind to make further progress. The majority of those present were disciples of the Falling Rain Sect, all of them in the middle levels of the Integration stage and all showing varying signs of discomfort. Even the local talents were heavily constrained on this floor.

  Nolan felt something on his toes and looked down. “Well that’s nice.” The slow stream of blood that dominated the stairs had just reached the landing and begun to pool around his feet.

  "Are you okay, Nolan?"

  "Yeah, I'm fine."

  "Then hurry up."

  Nyla pushed passed him with impatient steps, and rushed the way to the top.

  Silence overtook the entire fourth floor as dozens of people—including many disciples—gawked at the empty space that she had left behind.

  "Honestly wasn't expecting that," mumbled Avril, who started after the other girl with heavy steps.

  Is your cultivation technique really that amazing? Nolan called out in his mind.

  Of course! It was the best core cultivation method for arrayment practitioners at the time. How else would an ordinary cultivator like me have—ahem, I mean, of course the techniques of a master like myself wouldn't be simple.

  She's always been a bit better when it comes to our spiritual senses, but come on. She just flew up those stairs like nothing. I can’t do that.

  By the time that Nolan reached the middle of the staircase, he felt as if he were a weak, frail person that was trapped within a set of plate mail.

  Her bloodline is special. We've discussed it many times already, have you really forgotten?

  There's special and then there’s… He looked up at his goal and sighed. He had fallen far behind the others; Avril had just reached the top and Nyla was nowhere in sight.

  Now that she's reached the Integration stage, she's developed her second dantian. A proud laugh rang throughout Nolan's mind. Both of them are of much higher quality than an ordinary cultivator's would be at her level, so she can technically pass for a tenth-class arrayment practitioner.

  Tenth class? So you're finally gonna tell me how arrayment practitioners are ranked, eh?

  For now, I'll be keeping to myself. For now, my dear disciple, just focus on the goal at hand.

  It took ten minutes for Nolan to reach the top of the stairs, at which point his body was bombarded with such strong waves of energy that it felt as if a roaring tide were rushing toward him. He braced himself for the expected aura, but froze in horror when he noticed two fresh stains of scarlet about a dozen metres from the landing.

  "N—Nyla!"

  "We're right here," snapped Avril, who turned her head with a huff. "Thanks for the concern."

  "Jesus," he sighed, walking over so slowly that it looked as if he were moving on the moon. "My heart almost stopped. Why couldn't I sense you guys?"

  They had picked a spot about ten metres to the right of the entrance, the two girls quietly meditating in the corner.