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Chapter 184: Pavilion Master's Qi Condensation Realm
After her breakthrough, Ao Lan spent an entire month in the Tower of Enlightenment, solidifying her newfound strength and gaining a good grasp of her surging power.
"Are you planning to leave seclusion?"
On this day, the tower spirit who had come down from the second floor to clean, saw Ao Lan getting up and preparing to depart. The tower spirit greeted her and casually asked.
"Yes. Unexpectedly, the cultivation resources bestowed by My Lord allowed me to break through to the Third Heaven of the Tribulation Crossing Realm in one go. I haven't even fully digested the spiritual power of that Golden Core and the profound meanings contained within it.
"If I could find a suitable opponent, I might adapt to my current strength more quickly. Moreover, a significant portion of the accumulated power within me could be assimilated."
Ao Lan nodded slightly at the book-bearing tower spirit, also marveling at the astonishing generosity of the lord's gifts.
"Oh? As a matter of fact, the second level of the Tower of Enlightenment has an illusion array set up by the Pavilion master. Inside this hidden realm, one can engage in battles with the master.
"While it might not be effective for digesting the accumulated power within you, it is the most suitable way to become accustomed to your newfound strength. "Would you like to give it a try?"
The tower spirit paused, then reminded her.
"There's an illusion for sparring too? Alright then, I might as well become more acquainted with my newfound strength before I leave."
Ao Lan was taken aback. No one had mentioned this before, and since that was the case, there was no hurry to leave seclusion. It would be better to adapt to this Third Heaven of the Tribulation Crossing Realm strength first. If she were to engage in combat with others in the future, she would be able to maximize her effectiveness.
Soon, guided by the tower spirit, Ao Lan arrived at the second level of the Tower of Enlightenment.
After the tower spirit introduced her to the situation, she understood that on this second level, one could choose the level of opponent they wished to spar with.
After pondering for a moment, Ao Lan believed that the Pavilion Master was undoubtedly at the pinnacle of talent, already standing at the apex of the world. Although the Dragon Clan itself was inherently stronger than ordinary humans and could easily surpass large realms in battle, they were born as peerless geniuses among humans.
However, when facing the Pavilion Master, she felt that a more cautious approach would be better.
"Well, let's be cautious. How about… starting with the Third Heaven of the Boundless Realm?"
In Ao Lan's mind, her choice was already the most prudent, considering she was currently at the Third Heaven of the Tribulation Crossing Realm.
Before reaching the Tribulation Crossing Realm from Boundless Realm, there were still the Divinity Separation Realm, Void Refining Realm, the Fusion Realm, the Grand Accomplishment Realm, the Heaven's Gate Realm, and the Crossing Tribulation Realm – a total of six or seven major realms.
"Uh… well, your choice is actually not very cautious."
The tower spirit was startled when it heard that Ao Lan wanted to challenge Pavilion Master's Boundless Realm opponent.
It was important to note that with Leng Yanran's strength, she could easily overwhelm opponents in the Fusion Realm, and even contend against ordinary Grand Accomplishment Realm cultivators. However, within the illusion, she only dared to challenge the First Heaven of the Qi Condensation Realm opponent.
She even persisted from enduring a single breath at the beginning, to maintaining over twenty breaths before being defeated.
It was said to be a defeat, but in reality, it was death within the illusion. However, Chen Daoxuan had left a protective mechanism. When facing an inevitable fatal attack within the illusion, one would awaken prematurely.
"What do you mean? Then, in your opinion, which level of My Lord is more suitable for sparring?"
Ao Lan looked at the tower spirit somewhat bewilderedly and asked.
"Well... if you want to be more cautious, you could start by challenging the Pavilion Master's Third Heaven of the Qi Condensation Realm. But if you're willing to take on a higher difficulty, or if you're confident enough, you might consider attempting a match against the Sixth Heaven of the Qi Condensation Realm." Based on the situation during Leng Yanran's previous sparring with the illusion, the tower spirit provided a precise judgment.
"…"
However, these words struck Ao Lan dumb, leaving her silent for a long time.
Qi Condensation Realm?
Wasn't that just the realm where ordinary human cultivators began their journey?
Before the Qi Condensation Realm was the Body Tempering Realm, a stage used to strengthen the body to the point where it could contain spiritual energy. Even among their Dragon Clan, despite some dilution in their bloodline, newly born little dragons were at the Profound Sky Realm.
And yet, the Third Heaven of the Qi Condensation Realm was considered cautious, while the Sixth Heaven required a considerable amount of confidence, even labeled as a high-difficulty challenge!?
What kind of logic was this?
With a mix of trust and skepticism, Ao Lan eventually decided to follow the tower spirit's suggestion and chose to challenge the Sixth Heaven of the Qi Condensation Realm opponent. She wanted to experience firsthand what kind of high-difficulty challenge this would be.
"Are you ready? Then, let's begin."
After the tower spirit's inquiry, there was no delay. It immediately activated the illusion, plunging Ao Lan into a world of fantasy where she began her sparring with the Sixth Heaven of the Qi Condensation Realm opponent.
After seven breaths.
Ao Lan slowly opened her eyes, her expression filled with shock.
"This… is the Qi Condensation Realm!?"
Ao Lan was astonished. Although the illusion depicted the Sixth Heaven of the Qi Condensation Realm opponent, the erupting intensity of spiritual power was in no way inferior to her current Third Heaven of the Tribulation Crossing Realm.
It felt as though the spiritual power was endless, with a continuous flow of astonishing techniques. At times, the opponent employed the power of a Heavenly Demon, and at other times, they used techniques imbued with the aura of the Dragon Clan.
The most unbelievable part was that when the Sixth Heaven of the Qi Condensation Realm opponent utilized Dragon Clan techniques, the aura they radiated sent shivers through her, a Tribulation Crossing Realm dragon, within the illusion.
Was this even reasonable!?
She finally understood why the tower spirit had emphasized that challenging the Sixth Heaven of the Qi Condensation Realm was already a high-difficulty task.
"Perhaps you should lower the difficulty?"
The tower spirit asked weakly.
"No need. I'll stick with the Sixth Heaven."
Ao Lan also had her own confidence. After all, she was a mighty cultivator at the Tribulation Crossing Realm. Her initial struggle was mainly due to encountering unfamiliar techniques. This time, she would be prepared.
For the second attempt, she persevered for more than ten breaths before her consciousness snapped back.
In the tenth attempt, Ao Lan persisted for thirty breaths.
In the nth attempt, Ao Lan persevered for one hundred breaths.
"With my current Tribulation Crossing Realm peak, I should be able to endure a hundred breaths against My Lord's Qi Condensation Realm Sixth Heaven,"
Finally, on this particular day, Ao Lan emerged from seclusion. Through her bouts of sparring, she had pushed her strength to its utmost limits, even deciphering most of the techniques used by the Pavilion Master. Yet, she remained unable to surpass the barrier of a hundred breaths.
As Ao Lan departed, the tower spirit watched, unable to contain its astonishment.
"The Qi Condensation Realm Sixth Heaven is already comparable to the Tribulation Crossing Realm. Pavilion Master, you are truly fearsome. By this comparison, even at the moment of the previous master's successful Tribulation Crossing Realm ascension, he could at most compete with the Qi Condensation Realm Eighth or Ninth Heaven Pavilion Master.
"An unparalleled genius, indeed…"
After sighing, the tower spirit resumed poring over its ancient texts, no longer dwelling on the matter.
…
As Ao Lan stepped out of the Tower of Enlightenment, she realized that despite her lengthy seclusion, only a day had passed in the outside world. When she had entered in the morning, the Pavilion Master was still asleep, while two disciples were massaging their Master.
Now, the sun had just set as she emerged.
"Aunt Lan! You are finally out! Yourong nearly died waiting for you!"
The moment Ao Lan appeared, Li Yourong, who had been lounging around, munching on a stalk of spiritual rice, jumped up with delight.