# Chapter 13: The Trial Tower
Just as Jian WuShuang stepped out of the cultivation chamber, he saw Elder Hong waiting outside.
"Hm?" The moment Elder Hong laid eyes on Jian WuShuang, he couldn't help but feel surprised, because at this moment, Jian WuShuang seemed to have changed greatly compared to before—a change in strength.
Although Jian WuShuang had not actively released his spiritual energy aura, and thus Elder Hong could not know his exact cultivation level, Elder Hong was well aware that during his time cultivating in the chamber, Jian WuShuang must have made considerable progress.
"It seems the Young Pavilion Master has gained quite a lot these past few days," Elder Hong said with a smile.
"I've gained a little something." Jian WuShuang nodded and asked, "Elder Hong, is something the matter?"
"It's like this," Elder Hong replied. "The Trial Tower reopened today. If the Young Pavilion Master wishes to participate in the Contest, he'll need to find some time to attempt it."
The Trial Tower?
Jian WuShuang's heart stirred.
The Trial Tower was a place to test one's cultivation and martial techniques. It consisted of seven floors, each more difficult than the last. Normally, the Trial Tower remained closed, and only opened one month before the annual Contest began. It could be considered the preliminary round of the Contest.
After all, the annual Sword Marquis Mandate Contest was the grandest event in the Sword Marquis Manor. At every Contest, the Sword Marquis Manor would invite powerful experts from major forces across the Ba Shui Prefecture. In front of those experts, the disciples participating in the Sword Marquis Mandate Contest naturally could not perform too poorly, so before joining the Contest, they had to first pass the Trial Tower.
Of the seven floors of the Trial Tower, only disciples who passed the first five floors were qualified to participate in the Contest—that was the minimum requirement. If Jian WuShuang wanted to join the Contest, he would naturally have to challenge the Trial Tower as well.
"I'm about to depart for Nine Wolf Mountain, and I'll likely spend the entire next month there. Since the Trial Tower can be challenged now, I'll challenge it directly and secure my spot in the Contest first," Jian WuShuang thought to himself.
Challenging the Trial Tower posed little difficulty for him. Once his mind was made up, Jian WuShuang headed straight for the Trial Tower.
The Trial Tower stood at the very center of the vast Sword Marquis Manor compound, a massive tower over a dozen zhang tall. By now, a large crowd of disciples had already gathered before the great tower.
"Look, the sixth crystal has lit up! Jian Lin has already passed the sixth floor!"
"Brother Jian Lin is amazing!"
"Hmph, what do you know? Brother Jian Lin broke through to the sixth level of the Ling Dao realm long ago, and now he's at the peak of the sixth level. With his spiritual cultivation, forget the sixth floor—even the seventh floor is nothing to him. Look, the seventh crystal has lit up too."
The numerous manor disciples were all staring intently at the seven crystals standing before the tower entrance. These seven crystals represented the seven floors of the Trial Tower. Whenever a disciple challenging the tower passed a floor, one crystal would light up. If all seven crystals lit up, it meant that disciple had passed all seven floors of the Trial Tower.
The one currently challenging the Trial Tower was Jian Lin, who had already reached the peak of the sixth level of the Ling Dao realm—and he was passing all seven floors of the tower.
Before long, the tower doors opened once more, and Jian Lin, dressed in azure robes, slowly walked out with a confident smile on his lips. Sensing the envious gazes of the surrounding disciples, Jian Lin felt even more pleased with himself.
"Jian Lin, having passed the seventh floor, you are granted a spot in the Sword Marquis Mandate Contest." An elder from the Blood Martial Hall at the tower entrance quickly recorded Jian Lin's name with his brush, then looked around. "Next!"
The surrounding disciples hesitated.
There was no helping it—the Trial Tower was not so easily challenged. Generally speaking, one needed cultivation at the fifth level of the Ling Dao realm to pass the fifth floor, and to participate in the Contest, one had to be under sixteen years of age.
Within the Sword Marquis Manor, the number of disciples who met both conditions was not large. Moreover, with so many people watching, if someone rashly attempted the tower and failed to pass the fifth floor, it would be extremely humiliating.
"Let me give it a try."
A voice rang out, followed by a young figure carrying a long sword on his back slowly walking forward.
The surrounding disciples all looked toward the newcomer, but upon seeing his face clearly, they were all stunned.
"It's him?"
"Jian WuShuang?"
"Jian WuShuang of the Sword Pavilion—the one who just spoke was him?"
"With his abilities, he wants to challenge the Trial Tower?"
Everyone wore looks of utter disbelief.
Jian WuShuang was the son of the previous generation's Sword Pavilion Master, so his status was already extraordinary. On top of that, he was the widely recognized trash of the Sword Marquis Manor, incapable of condensing spiritual energy—nearly every disciple in the manor knew of him.
Precisely because they knew him, seeing Jian WuShuang come forward to challenge the Trial Tower struck them as unbelievable.
The moment Jian WuShuang appeared, not only the disciples, but even the Blood Martial Hall elder who had been recording names couldn't help but raise his head, looking at Jian WuShuang in surprise. "You want to challenge the Trial Tower?"
"Why, is that not allowed?" Jian WuShuang's expression was cold.
"It's allowed. Any disciple of the manor under sixteen may enter." The Blood Martial Hall elder nodded. "Go on in."
"Thank you." Jian WuShuang said a single word, then ignored the gazes of the crowd and walked straight toward the Trial Tower.
But just as Jian WuShuang stepped onto the stairs before the tower, a distinctly unfriendly voice came from the side. "Jian WuShuang, you actually dare to challenge the Trial Tower? You truly don't know your own limitations!"
Jian WuShuang's footsteps paused. He glanced at Jian Lin, who was staring at him with a face full of contempt. His gaze turned slightly cold, but he said nothing, simply continuing to walk into the Trial Tower, quickly disappearing into the tower's interior.
Seeing this, the corners of Jian Lin's mouth curled up even higher. "Hmph, a piece of trash, yet so arrogant. Just you wait—I'll be watching to see how you embarrass yourself."
"Brother Jian Lin, do you think this Jian WuShuang can pass the fifth floor?" a Blood Martial Hall disciple beside him asked.
"Him?" Jian Lin sneered. "Passing the fifth floor generally requires cultivation at the fifth level of the Ling Dao realm, and just over half a month ago he was only at the third level. In half a month's time, at best he's only broken through to the fourth level of the Ling Dao realm!"
"Fourth level of the Ling Dao realm—even if he is the son of the previous generation's Sword Pavilion Master with extraordinary swordsmanship, wanting to pass the fifth floor is nothing but a fool's dream!"
The people around all nodded in agreement.
Only at the third level of the Ling Dao realm half a month ago—how strong could he possibly be now?
At best, he'd have reached the fourth level. To pass the fifth floor of the Trial Tower? What a joke!
"Hmph, someone asking for humiliation." Jian Lin sneered, his heart full of anticipation—anticipation, of course, of watching Jian WuShuang make a fool of himself before everyone.