High Martial Arts: I Awaken a Low-Tier Martial System

Chapter 721: Chapter 375: Challenging the Black Tower (Double-Length)

"Okay, thank you for the gift." Zhao Zixuan blinked her beautiful eyes and said.

"If the Celestial Gang Palace Master heard this, he’d surely beat me to death." Jiang Ye shook his head and replied.

"Haha, he wouldn’t." Zhao Zixuan covered her mouth and laughed.

"Alright, let’s go." Jiang Ye said no more, and flew towards the direction of the Black Tower.

Zhao Zixuan watched his back, a hint of doubt appearing in her beautiful eyes.

"Why do I feel."

"This guy seems a bit different from before?" Zhao Zixuan muttered to herself.

Previously, she could faintly see through Jiang Ye.

But now, in her eyes, Jiang Ye was like a deep abyss, filled with mystery and unfathomable depths, completely inscrutable.

"It’s only been half a month, could he have completely changed?"

Zhao Zixuan secretly shook her head, then also flew forward to catch up.

...

In the center of Black Obsidian City, there stood a gigantic black tower that spanned the heavens and the earth; its size was indescribable.

One could say.

As Jiang Ye, Zhao Zixuan, and the rest flew closer, they felt the Black Tower was as large as the stars, dominating their entire field of vision, as if it were right in front of them.

But in reality.

They were still thousands of miles away from the Black Tower.

"The Black Tower truly is a great wonder of Black Obsidian City." Jiang Ye secretly marveled.

"Each of the Twelve Ancient Cities has a Black Tower." Zhao Zixuan said: "It is said that these Black Towers are divine artifacts of the highest order. Eons ago, they originated from the same source, but for some unknown reason, were divided into twelve parts."

"Later."

"These twelve Black Towers, using themselves as the core, evolved into twelve prosperous ancient cities, which is the origin of the Twelve Ancient Cities." Zhao Zixuan slowly explained.

Jiang Ye found it rather peculiar, was there such a theory?

"This is also why every time the Black Tower opens, it impacts the entire Barbaric Dragon Star greatly."

"Once inside, the internal spaces of the Black Towers are interconnected." Zhao Zixuan said: "The City Lords and Elders of the Twelve Ancient Cities can all see the scenes inside the Black Tower simultaneously."

"It is worth noting."

"Among the Twelve Ancient Cities, Black Obsidian City is faintly regarded as the leader."

"This may be related to the Black Tower." Zhao Zixuan said.

Jiang Ye nodded slightly.

He already knew that the Twelve Ancient Cities were named after twelve different colors.

Like Black Obsidian City, Red Obsidian City, White Obsidian City, Purple Obsidian City... among these prosperous ancient cities, Black Obsidian City is the most closely related to the Black Tower.

And thus.

Over the long years, Black Obsidian City has always regarded itself as the first among the Twelve Ancient Cities.

"But."

"In recent years, the situation has been somewhat special." Zhao Zixuan suddenly said.

Jiang Ye was surprised: "What’s special?"

"In the past."

"Our Black Obsidian City produced many powerful prodigies, and each time the Black Tower opened, some extraordinary prodigy would reach beyond the tenth layer." Zhao Zixuan said: "But in the past few decades, the highest we’ve seen from Black Obsidian City is a prodigy reaching the 9th Layer of the Black Tower."

"In contrast, other ancient cities."

"Like White Obsidian City and Purple Obsidian City, have produced talents reaching beyond the ninth layer." Zhao Zixuan said gravely: "Especially Purple Obsidian City, where a prodigy reached the thirteenth layer."

Thirteenth layer? Jiang Ye couldn’t help but gasp.

He knew the difficulty of the Black Tower, reaching the 9th Layer granted eligibility to ascend to the Huanglong Main Star, a sign of formidable challenge.

In all of Black Obsidian City, only Mo Xin had succeeded previously.

The 9th Layer is already such, the 10th Layer even more so.

Thirteenth layer? The challenge must be extraordinarily massive.

"His name is Zi Yaozhi."

"I’ve heard from my sister that he might aim to challenge the fourteenth layer of the Black Tower this time." Zhao Zixuan’s eyes shone with awe: "That’s a realm only achievable by those with prodigious talent."

"Prodigious Talent?" Jiang Ye’s mind stirred: "There are those with prodigious talent challenging the Black Tower?"

"Of course there are."

"But geniuses like that don’t typically mingle with us." Zhao Zixuan said this with eyes full of reverence: "Prodigious Talents are universally acknowledged as seedlings destined to ascend to divinity."

"Whether in cultivation, discourse, or tower challenges, they are separated from us, the Tao Bone or Extraordinary level geniuses."

"They are generally nurtured by the gods themselves." Zhao Zixuan’s eyes were full of envy.

Jiang Ye was speechless.

It sounded like those with prodigious talent dismissed the ordinary, having already transcended the mundane.

But even so.

Zhao Zixuan’s attitude towards prodigious talent was filled with intense longing and reverence.

To her, prodigious talent was almost synonymous with gods.

"The birth of prodigious talent is also related to fortune."

"Our Black Obsidian City hasn’t seen a birth of prodigious talent in a long time." Zhao Zixuan sighed: "But in this generation, Purple Obsidian City and White Obsidian City both have prodigious talents."

Jiang Ye understood.

Ever since he knew that Barbaric Dragon Star was under the Huanglong Civilization, he speculated that prodigious talents must exist on this star.

So, at this moment, Jiang Ye wasn’t entirely surprised.

"With no prodigious talent in Black Obsidian City and no one reaching the tenth layer of the Black Tower," Jiang Ye pondered, "wouldn’t the position of the first ancient city be disputed?"

"Yes."

"That is why I mentioned the situation is special." Zhao Zixuan smiled bitterly: "As the first of the Twelve Ancient Cities, Black Obsidian City’s recent performance struggles to convince."

"If it continues like this."

"The position of the first ancient city might not be secure." Zhao Zixuan shook her head, sighing.

Jiang Ye was thoughtful.

It seems that among the Twelve Prosperous Ancient Cities, not everything is harmonious; there’s an underlying competitive relationship.

...

During the conversation, Jiang Ye and Zhao Zixuan arrived at the Astral Palace.

"Before the Black Tower opens, we just have to wait here." Zhao Zixuan said.

"Mm." Jiang Ye nodded slightly, recognizing quite a few familiar faces.

In the hall ahead, dozens had already gathered, among them Bai Wei, Zhao Feiyu, Zhao Chen, whom Jiang Ye met last time.

"Brother Wang Ye."

"Sister Zixuan."

"Brother Wang Ye, please have a seat." Everyone made space, treating Jiang Ye with utmost respect.

After the incident at the banquet hall, most of the core prodigies in Black Obsidian City had heard of Jiang Ye’s name.

"When does the Black Tower open?" Jiang Ye asked.

"It should be soon." Zhao Zixuan said: "Don’t worry, it won’t be long."

As they spoke.

More people arrived.

"Brother Wang Ye, long time no see." A youth in golden battle armor approached, moving with the stride of a dragon and tiger, his aura overwhelming.

"Your Highness Mo Xin." Jiang Ye nodded in acknowledgment.

"Hmm?"

"It’s been half a month, but Brother Wang Ye’s aura seems to have changed again." Mo Xin said with surprise: "Have you made progress?"

"Half a month of secluded cultivation, did yield some results." Jiang Ye smiled.

"Haha, keep it up." Mo Xin laughed: "I hope you can pass the 9th Layer of the Black Tower and join me on the Huanglong Main Star."

"Thank you for your kind words." Jiang Ye smiled slightly.

The many talents present murmured, surprised at Mo Xin’s confidence in Jiang Ye.

Passing the 9th Layer of the Black Tower? That’s no ordinary feat.

For a while, many glances subtly turned towards them.

Then suddenly.

"Rumble!"

From the direction of the Black Tower, a grand and vast wave emerged, as if the world was being created anew.

Followed by a mighty pressure that swiftly spread, enveloping the entire Black Obsidian City in an instant.

"The Black Tower has opened!"

"What a strong pressure."

"To the Black Tower." Innumerable prodigies in the Astral Palace gazed up at the towering edifice spanning the heavens and the earth.

The Black Tower radiated, releasing a dense black mist that enveloped an area hundreds of miles around.

...

"The Black Tower is in position!"

"All citizens of Black Obsidian City may enter the tower." A grand voice resonated through the heavens and earth: "Those who enter the tower can seize opportunities and defy their fate."

"But as the layers ascend, the danger intensifies!"

"Life, death, and opportunities all hinge on a single thought, so proceed at your own risk!" The grand voice gradually faded away.

...

"It’s finally open."

"Let’s go."

"To the Black Tower!" Many extraordinary prodigies soared into the sky, rushing towards the Black Tower.

"Let’s set off as well." Zhao Zixuan said.

"Depart." With a flicker, Jiang Ye transformed into a flowing light, flying towards the magnificent and vast Black Tower.