Cultivating Disciples to Breakthrough

Having come to a decision, the group of four left the already empty ancient structure they had spent the last few days exploring. Risking their life in the process, as their original group of seven had been reduced to the current four people, a loss they had experienced at every single one of the ancient structures they had explored so far, as even the smallest of the ancient structures posed a deadly threat to those below the Void Monarch Realm. Having started out with a group of ten when they had first entered the ancient city center. The one positive to the horrific difficulty of climbing the ancient structures was the fact that clearing them once and reaching the top meant one didn’t have to deal with those deadly traps and formations on the way down. Able to utilize the internal elevator system in the form of a floating platform that moved one up and down between the different floors.

In fact, this internal elevator system could be used at every floor once one cleared the floor to descend, but they had simply been unwilling to use it to descend before reaching the top. After all, the things they found on the previous floors were of little to no value to them and only the things at the very top floor could be regarded as worthwhile. At least that was what they had believed before they found out the top floor was completely empty, having already been raided before their arrival. The hope they had obtained from the small things found during their ascent vanishing as it had now become abundantly clear that whoever ascended this ancient structure before them was a powerful figure who simply didn’t care about those small things along the way. Giving them the false impression that this ancient structure was still one that hadn’t been raided and contained treasures at the top.

How laughable...

Reaching the bottom of the ancient structure as this thought emerged within all four at the same time, they were not met with an empty floor as they had first expected but instead found themselves facing several different groups about to enter the ancient structure like them. A single glance was more than enough to understand that these people were also below the Void Monarch Realm, as every single one of those Void Monarch Realm and Void Integration Realm seniors had shifted their attention towards those large structures by now. Knowing that the real treasures and opportunities they had come looking for were hidden within those towering structures.

”Don’t bother, it has already been raided by those seniors. If you want to search our interspatial rings, you are more than free to do so.” And knowing that these people might turn on them thinking they had obtained the treasures, the group of four directly stepped forward and offered to show what was in their interspatial rings. Aware that a fight wouldn’t be in their favor and the simple fact that all four of them had essentially gone broke after entering this place with nothing of value inside their interspatial ring.

Whoosh~

And hearing this, the somewhat tense faces of the surrounding cultivators eased visibly as disappointment could be seen on some faces while a few stepped forward and took them up on the offer to scan their interspatial rings. Soon confirming to their companions that they were telling the truth. ”How unlucky... I haven’t heard of anyone other than those seniors getting their hands on anything in here except for some lucky fellow who managed to successfully escape and should now have escaped far from Desolate River City...” Earning a silent complaint from one of the leading figures amongst the gathered cultivators.

These words echoed the true thoughts of everyone who had expected this to be a chance to reach the Void Monarch Realm but ended up with nothing and instead ended up losing their life savings to the lord of Desolate River City.

”Maybe we will have to challenge one of those large structures for an opportunity...” Taking the opportunity while everyone else were lamenting their current situation, one of the four who had just descended from the top of the ancient structure spoke out. Catching the attention of everyone present.

”This... Those large structures are far more dangerous; I attempted to clear the first floor of one already. Ended up losing half my companions in the process. Gained nothing in the end and ended up escaping afterwards.”

”True, those places are deadly, but they might be out only way to obtain anything from this place.”

”Indeed, if we all work together, we should stand a good chance. After all, we are around forty people. Working together, it should be possible to clear the first few floors with relative ease...”

”I’m in.”

”Me too, I need to earn back what I paid to the blackhearted city lord.”

”Might as well risk it, who knows, might get lucky and breakthrough to the Void Monarch Realm under the pressure.”

And as everyone began discussing amongst each other, it didn’t take long before everyone came to an agreement about them challenging a large ancient structure together with the four who had just come down from above ending up being placed in the leading role because of the simple fact that they had already shown their capabilities by having successfully conquered the final floor of the ancient structure before them and had willingly shown what was inside their interspatial rings. Earning the trust of everyone in the process.

Before long, the group found itself standing before the entrance to a towering ancient tower with a diameter of over a thousand meters. Looking like a heavenly pillar supporting the heavens above with how it seemingly vanished amidst the chaotic spatial currents above.

The reason why this ancient structure was chosen was not because it looked the least intimidating of the bunch, but instead because the group had a general idea that this was an ancient structure that hadn’t been targeted by one of those seniors at the Void Monarch Realm or the Void Integration Realm. Meaning the treasures inside hadn’t been scavenged by these seniors yet.

Standing before this towering structure, the group still hesitated for a good few minutes before they were ultimately forced to overcome their fear and enter the tower after spotting a patrolling golem turning a corner a few hundred meters away before rushing straight towards them.

If not for the fact that these patrolling golems couldn’t enter the ancient structures and the fact that the golem seemed to be covered in countless cracks that made it slower than other golems they had seen, they would have all been swept up and killed by this patrol golem.

”How scary. Completely forgot about those damnable golems just now...”

”Me too, thought we were dead, but luckily, it seems this golem clashed with one of those seniors in the past with all those cracks. If not, I doubt we would have been able to-”

”EVERYONE! We need to focus on the floor before us, we have already entered the first floor of this tower and won’t be able to get out without clearing it.”

”Got it!”

”Roger that~”

”You said it boss, I will follow your lead.”

Following the shout from one of the four recently promoted leaders, the group that had been bantering with each other after getting to safety quickly focused. Following behind this newly promoted leader with a zeal that was undoubtedly fake as everyone clearly just wanted him to be the one in front when exploring this first floor.

”...”

Understanding this as well, the newly promoted leader could not help silently cursing silently to himself. Only now did he understand why everyone so willingly made him and his three companions the leaders of the group.

But then again, as the one in charge, the rewards he would be able to claim down the line would also be larger. Rewards and danger went hand in hand, and these people wouldn’t want to ruin the peace of the entire group unless a real opportunity to reach the Void Monarch Realm emerged.

As for cultivation techniques and combat techniques that might show up... All of them could learn them together and there was no need to worry about sharing any of them.

Thud~

With that in mind, though internally reluctant, he still put on a brave front as he stepped forward and took the lead. Soon enough finding himself being swallowed up by the formation that covered the first floor of the ancient tower along with the rest of the group who followed close behind him.

The first challenge that stood before them soon became clear, as they had to force their way through an illusion world formed by the formation to successfully reach the path leading up to the second floor and at the same time also revealing the true appearance of the first floor of the tower. A challenge that was not too difficult for the group, as one of them happened to be a rare expert that had comprehended a Dao different from the Dao of Space, the Dao of Illusions.