Chapter 186: 7th Floor (1/2)

Later that day, Xiao Fang and Xiao Hei arrived at the entrance of the Ancestral Training Grounds. They paid the mandatory 3,000 merit points each, then received an orange arm band that had matching numbers on it signifying that they were a team and planning to go deeper than the 4th floor.

Xiao Fang wasn't happy that he had to spend so many merit points in one go, but for safety reasons, the sect didn't allow disciples to travel into the Ancestral Training Grounds without a partner.

They both ran down the steep spiraling tunnel, only stopping when they reached the elder guarding the gates to the 5th floor. Seeing the matching orange armbands on their arms, the elder let them pass.

”Be careful, you two,” the inner court elder said. ”I don't recognize either of you, so this must be your first time attempting the 5th floor. Unlike the 1st to 4th floor, there are certain beasts down here that we call 'abnormals'. If you are unfortunate enough to encounter one, don't try to fight it. It's very crafty and you may end up losing your lives. Proceed with caution.”

Xiao Fang continued running down the path with Xiao Hei followed close behind.

'Hm... could that be him?' the elder thought as they left.

She didn't recognize him because she, along with most of the other inner court elders, didn't attend the inner court exams. She had only heard the rumors that a man had been placed directly into the Phoenix-Class and that he was the sect's first ever male Phoenix Class disciple. Only a handful of inner court elders actually knew what he looked like, but since there weren't any other male Phoenix-Class disciples it was easy for her to put two and two together.

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Once Xiao Fang and Xiao Hei reached the 6th level, it seemed that they had reached a dead end.

”What? Isn't there supposed to be 9 floors? Why would it stop us here?” Xiao Hei thought out loud.

As she spoke, Xiao Fang unexpectedly walked right through the wall. Seeing that it was just an illusion, Xiao Hei quickly followed Xiao Fang into the wall.

”Ah, wait for me,” she said as she tried to catch up with him.

However, the moment she walked through the wall, her surroundings began to warp, making her feel disoriented.

”Fang. I... I can't see you. I'm getting dizzy.”

She called out to him feeling as if she was going to collapse from dizziness. Suddenly, Xiao Fang grabbed her hand and pulled her through to the other side.

”Xiao Hei, are you alright?”

”Yeah, just give me a second. My head is still spinning,” she said as she sat on the ground.

Xiao Fang let her rest as he went to inspect the next wall. Unlike the last wall they ran into, this one wasn't an illusion. He even tapped on it for safe measures, but based on what he could hear, there was nothing but solid earth past this point. It seemed that they had reached the last floor.

”What's wrong, can't we go any deeper?” Xiao Hei asked.

”It seems this is the deepest they'll let us go. However, I don't think it would be wise to venture any deeper than this anyways,” Xiao Fang replied.

”Hm? Why do you say that?”

Xiao Fang started to explain his reasoning.

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Based on what we know:

1st floor: 2nd - 3rd tiered beasts

2nd floor: 3rd - 4th tiered beasts

Tier levels to Cultivation Realms:

1st Tier = ~5th stage foundation realm