My junior sister sees everyone as a heretical cultivator.

Chapter 23 Is he... trying to send me to my death with this stick?
As they walked, the outline of the Black Stone Tower gradually came into view.

The tower has no windows, and countless chains are wrapped around it, engraved with mysterious runes and various ferocious demons and gods.

That place is... the Demon-Sealing Tower?

Su Ling'er slowed her pace by a fraction.

Is this the place where the Demon Sect imprisons demonic beasts?
Lin Qingfeng's tone was quite relaxed: "Junior sister, this place is the Demon Locking Tower where our sect's disciples hone their skills."

"Upon entering the tower, the strength of the monsters increases exponentially with each floor you ascend."

"Unfortunately, the monsters in the tower can only survive inside the Demon Locking Tower; once they leave the tower, they disperse."

Otherwise, those people at the Beast Taming Hall and Spirit Beast Garden would probably be scheming every day about how to smuggle monsters out of the Demon Locking Tower to work as laborers.

Upon hearing the word "coolie," she thought of Elder Qian, who had been turned into a puppet.

They will never find peace even in death, and will have to serve this demonic sect for all eternity.

Monsters and spirit beasts, who were laborers in life, are optimized after death;
Elder Qian, even in death, could not find peace and was still forced to work as a laborer by the demonic sect.

If the demons inside the Demon-Locking Tower weren't unable to leave, their fate would probably be even more tragic than death.

No, it seems it can get even worse.

These demons are trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnation.

Their souls are imprisoned in the tower, solely for the disciples to cultivate and kill...

The killing of demonic beasts is a common occurrence in the cultivation world, and there is nothing wrong with that.

However, he remains imprisoned in the tower, endlessly reincarnated, constantly killed, and never able to escape...

The meaning of existence is to become resources for others.

This left Su Ling'er with an indescribable feeling, and she could only let out a sigh.

However, my senior brother brought me here.
Am I supposed to fight these monsters?
What kind of strength should I show?
Although I obtained the "True Explanation of the Return to the Origin of All Things," I haven't had time to cultivate it yet.

Should I only display... the level of a mortal martial artist?

Could he be trying to use this Demon-Sealing Tower to probe my secrets?!
Amidst Su Ling'er's countless thoughts, the two drew ever closer to the distant tower.

Many disciples also gathered in front of the tower.

Contrary to her expectations of a somber atmosphere, the place was rather noisy.

"I'm stuck on the 48th floor today and can't get past it no matter what!"

"Don't even mention it! I was farming that demonic ape on the sixteenth floor, and the drop rate was just too low! I was so unlucky today, I farmed it so many times and didn't even see a single monkey hair!"

"That's right! I was stuck on the 25th floor for ages trying to collect a full set of Fire Rhinoceros Armor!"

Hearing their conversation, Su Ling'er was completely confused.

Are they exchanging information about obtaining materials from monsters?

But didn't the senior brother say that the monsters would disperse as soon as they left the tower? So how could the materials that fell from the monsters be safely taken out of the tower?

Just then, several disciples who were talking also noticed them.

"Hey, Senior Brother's here!"

"Junior Sister is here too! Is she going to try her luck in the tower too?"

Feeling uncomfortable under those unabashed gazes, Su Ling'er simply lowered her head and hummed in response.

"Here we go! After we finish exploring this, all that's left is the Inquiry Ladder and the Sword Tomb."

"Oh! It's the ladder to enlightenment!"

"That basically tests one's willpower and Dao heart attributes, and is not limited by cultivation level or aptitude."

Even though Junior Sister's aptitude is a bit... well, who knows, she might still make some progress on the Way of Inquiry Ladder.

Unfortunately, once you reach that step, there's no reward for climbing any further.

The junior sister looked at them.

What do you mean by "my qualifications are a bit... something"? Explain yourself clearly!
Okay, my qualifications are a bit... well... I feel bad, I want to cry.

Then what are the attributes of will and Dao heart?
Is it a test of will and moral character?
The Ladder of Inquiry. What will this heretical sect's Ladder of Inquiry be like?
What are the rewards?
After greeting them, Lin Qingfeng led Su Ling'er into the Demon Locking Tower.

The main hall on the first floor of the tower appeared somewhat empty, with an antique stone table in the very center.

Sitting behind the table was the very figure that Su Ling'er had been so impressed with—Qian Buyu.

He still had that expressionless face, his eyes vacant.

Lin Qingfeng stepped forward to talk to Elder Qian, while Su Ling'er behind him looked at Elder Qian with a hint of pity in her eyes.

Alas, what difference is there between this Elder Qian and the demonic beasts in the tower?

Even after death, they will suffer endless enslavement by this demonic sect, serving it with their last breath, not knowing when they will finally find true peace...

Elder Qian waved his hand, and Lin Qingfeng said to Su Ling'er:
"Junior sister, you need to register here before entering the tower for the trial."

On the jade disc beside him, which was as smooth as a mirror, two names appeared as Elder Qian moved.

Then, Elder Qian expressionlessly took out two palm-sized black tokens.

Lin Qingfeng took the token and tossed one to Su Ling'er.

"Junior sister, take this."

"This is a trial token, which can record your achievements in the tower."

"Rewards will also be given upon exiting the tower."

Su Ling'er's heart stirred as she thought of the "True Explanation of the Return to Origin of Myriad Transformations" that she had obtained in the cultivation cave, and she suddenly felt a little expectant.

This reward... shouldn't be too bad, right?
The two walked through the hall and came to a deep, dark doorway.

This door is somewhat similar to the one in front of the mountain gate; both are pitch black inside, as if leading to an endless abyss, and even with your eyes wide open, you can't see what's inside.

"Could it be like the mountain gate, where there's a hidden paradise inside?"

As the two stepped inside, darkness instantly swallowed their figures, and the scenery before their eyes shifted rapidly.

The next moment, the hall disappeared, and they appeared on a dark, rocky ground, with only the sound of the wind whistling through the cracks in the rocks.

This is the first level of the Demon-Sealing Tower.

The junior sister was slightly shocked. Although she had seen such a wonder at the mountain gate, it still shocked her, as she was still inexperienced in the ways of the world.

really!

Just like the situation at the mountain gate, one gate opens up two different worlds.

She looked at the sorrowful flower she was clutching tightly in her hand, then at the wooden sword her senior brother had given her, and turned to ask:
"Senior Brother, how...how should I fight?"

Will they ask me to hold flowers and a wooden sword and go up and stab them?
Would that stab him to death?
Senior Brother, give me some proper weapons!
Lin Qingfeng glanced at the flowers in her hand and immediately understood.

"Junior Sister, are you worried that the Sorrowful Flower will get hurt? You're quite concerned about it."

"It's alright, I'll hold the flower for you first. You can go forward and fight with the wooden sword."

"If anything happens, I will take action."

Su Ling'er instinctively wanted to hug the Sorrowful Flower, but her senior brother had already snatched it away.

Her hand froze in mid-air for a moment, and finally fell limply to its side.

No, are you really capable of taking good care of her?!
If you're not careful and break its branch, will my arm fall off along with it?
Senior Brother, you'd better be careful!

Looking at the wooden sword in her hand, she was even more speechless.

This is all you're giving me, just a wooden sword?
Can this thing really fight monsters?
Even when dealing with the lowest-ranking demonic beasts, the outer disciples of Qingxu Temple don't use swords made of ordinary wood!
This thing would probably break even if you tried to cut a rock!

"Go, junior sister, let me see your resolve," Lin Qingfeng's voice rang out.

No, my understanding is that I should use this stick to get myself killed, right?!
Just as Su Ling'er was silently complaining to herself, Lin Qingfeng, as if afraid that she lacked courage, gave her a gentle push from behind.

Su Ling'er stumbled and took a few steps forward, officially stepping into the trial area.

She was about to turn around when she heard a "whoosh" sound!
A shadow suddenly appeared out of nowhere, heading straight for her face!
(End of this chapter)