I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

Seeing this, Jiang Wang knew that the other party didn't have time to pay attention to him, so he quickly took the booklet and temporary tower-climbing token, walked to the side, found a quiet place, and carefully looked through the tower-climbing rules. He had only read a few pages when he heard a slightly arrogant voice behind him: "Hey, you're the kid from the One Heart Realm?"

Jiang Wang turned around and saw a young man in a brocade robe with a handsome face and a hint of arrogance between his brows. Behind him were two attendants, both of whom were at the mid-stage of the Hunyuan realm. They were looking down at him with a hint of disdain in their eyes.

Jiang Wang's heart skipped a beat. He knew that the other party was most likely a local cultivator from the Auspicious Realm who looked down on him, an "outsider" from the One Heart Realm. However, he did not react. He simply smiled and asked, "Brother, this is indeed my junior. May I ask what brings you here to teach me?" The young man in the brocade robe sneered, crossed his arms, and his contempt intensified: "Teach you something? I wouldn't call it teaching you anything. I just find it laughable. A mere early-stage Primordial Chaos cultivator from the One Heart Realm dares to attempt the Secret Realm Tower? Do you even know what the first level of the Secret Realm Tower tests? With your cultivation level, you probably won't even make it past the first level. It wouldn't be a good look if you lost your life."

Jiang Wang still wore a smile on his face and spoke calmly, without the slightest anger: "Brother, you are mistaken. Although my cultivation is low and I come from the One Heart Realm, I have a strong desire to cultivate divine skills. Even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance, I am willing to try."

As for whether I can get past the first level, I'll only know by trying. It's better than not even daring to try and just standing here laughing at others.

"you!"

The young man in the brocade robe was taken aback by Jiang Wang's words, and his face immediately darkened, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. "What a sharp-tongued brat! It seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin! Let me tell you, I am Ao Lie, the young sect master of the Jade Unicorn Sect in the Auspicious Realm. My cultivation is at the peak of the mid-stage of the Primordial Chaos Realm, and I will soon break through to the late-stage of the Primordial Chaos Realm."

I advise you to give up on climbing the tower as soon as possible and hurry back to your One Heart Realm, lest you lose your life here and become a laughingstock to the cultivators of our Auspicious Realm.”

"Brother Ao Lie, you can't say that."

Jiang Wang shook his head, his tone still calm, "The Secret Realm Tower is a sacred place in the Auspicious Realm. Anyone whose cultivation reaches the early stage of the Primordial Chaos Realm is qualified to challenge the tower. Since I am qualified, I have the right to try. Why should I give up, brother? Besides, I am responsible for my own life, so there is no need for you to worry about it."

Upon seeing this, one of Ao Lie's attendants stepped forward and sternly rebuked Jiang Wang: "Insolence! Who do you think you are, daring to speak to our young sect leader like that? Our young sect leader kindly advised you, but you don't know what's good for you. Believe me, we'll cripple you right now and make sure you can't even return through the teleportation array!"

Jiang Wang raised his eyes to look at the follower, his gaze turning slightly cold. He exuded a faint aura of power, and although his cultivation was inferior to the other party's, his imposing presence was in no way weak: "Brother, watch your words."

I am only being polite to you because I respect you, Brother Ao Lie, as the young sect master of the Jade Unicorn Sect. But that does not mean I am easy to bully.

If you continue to spout such arrogant words, don't blame me for being impolite.

"Oh ho, you dare to be arrogant in front of us?"

Another follower stepped forward, a sinister smile on his face. "I think you're tired of living. Today we'll teach you a lesson and let you know that the Auspicious Realm is not a place for a brat like you from the One Heart Realm to run wild!"

As he spoke, the attendant raised his hand, gathering a mid-stage Hunyuan power, and slapped it towards Jiang Wang. The power was formidable, carrying a faint aura of law, clearly indicating that he possessed some real skill.

Jiang Wang's eyes narrowed, and he dared not be careless. He quickly dodged to the side, and at the same time raised his hand, gathering all his strength to strike the follower's arm. He coldly said, "Since you insist on fighting, then this junior can only accompany you to the end!"

"boom!"

The two palms collided, and a powerful impact spread out. Jiang Wang felt a numbness in his arm and took three steps back. A trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. The follower also took a step back, his eyes showing a hint of surprise. He obviously did not expect that Jiang Wang, a cultivator in the early stage of the Hunyuan realm, would have such strength.

"Oh? That's interesting."

Ao Lie raised an eyebrow, his disdain lessening and his interest growing. "I didn't expect a kid from the One Heart Realm like you to have such strength. It seems I underestimated you."

However, this level of strength is still insufficient; hoping to conquer the Secret Realm Tower is simply wishful thinking.

Jiang Wang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes becoming increasingly resolute, his tone icy: "Brother Ao Lie, don't speak too definitively."

My strength is not limited to this, but I do not want to fight with others here, waste my energy, and affect my tower climbing.

If you continue to pester me, I will fight you with all my might and make sure you suffer.

"Give it your all?"

Ao Lie sneered, took a step forward, and exuded a powerful aura, revealing the full extent of his peak mid-stage Hunyuan cultivation. "You? Even if you fight with all your might, you are no match for me, a mere early-stage Hunyuan cultivator."

"Alright, I'll give you a chance. Apologize to me and admit your arrogance, and I'll forgive you and stop making things difficult for you. How about that?"

"It's impossible for a junior to apologize."

Jiang Wang shook his head, his tone firm, "I have not done anything wrong, why should I apologize? If Brother Ao Lie insists on making things difficult for me, then I can only accompany you to the end. Even if I am no match for you, I will never bow down."

"Good, what a stubborn brat who won't back down!"

Ao Lie was thoroughly enraged by Jiang Wang, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes. "Since you refuse to listen to reason and are forced to drink the penalty cup, then don't blame me for being impolite! Today, I will cripple your cultivation, completely extinguishing your thoughts of challenging the tower, and letting all outside cultivators know what is right and wrong in the Auspicious Realm!"

As he spoke, Ao Lie raised his hand, gathering a power several times stronger than that of the previous follower. A faint aura of the Qilin Law surrounded him, clearly indicating that he had used his innate divine ability. He then slammed the palm down on Jiang Wang with tremendous force. If this palm were to hit Jiang Wang, he would definitely be seriously injured, and might even have his cultivation destroyed.

Jiang Wang's heart tightened, knowing that he was no match for Ao Lie. If he were to take this palm strike head-on, he would definitely suffer a loss. He quickly circulated the Chaos Power within his body and secretly communicated with the system, whispering, "System, quick, help me withstand this palm strike. I will exchange more Chaos Qi for you afterward!"

"Host, exchanging for Chaos Qi requires sufficient points. Your current points are only enough to exchange for one temporary defensive buff, which can only withstand one attack from a peak mid-stage Primordial Chaos cultivator. Do you want to exchange?" "Exchange, exchange immediately!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Jiang Wang said urgently, "As long as you can withstand this palm strike, I will definitely find a way to earn points afterward and exchange them for more Chaos Qi for you!"

"Okay, host, exchange successful. Temporary defense enhancement is in effect, lasting for ten breaths."

As the system's voice faded, an invisible defensive barrier instantly enveloped Jiang Wang's entire body, emanating a faint aura of chaos.

Just then, Ao Lie's palm struck out, slamming hard against the defensive barrier around Jiang Wang. With a loud "bang," the powerful impact spread out instantly, and the surrounding cultivators were all shaken back by the force, their faces showing surprise.

Ao Lie felt a sharp pain in his palm and staggered back two steps, his eyes filled with shock as he stared at the defensive barrier surrounding Jiang Wang, his face full of disbelief: "What is this? How can you have such a powerful defensive barrier? How could a mere kid from the One Heart Realm possess such a treasure?"

Jiang Wang breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the system's temporary defensive buff had taken effect. He remained expressionless, deliberately putting on a calm demeanor, and said in a flat tone, "Brother Ao Lie, this is a defensive treasure that I obtained by chance. Although it is not top-notch, it is more than enough to withstand your palm strike."

"A defensive treasure obtained by chance?"

Ao Lie frowned, his eyes filled with suspicion. "I don't think so. Such a powerful defensive barrier must be at least a Chaos Spiritual Treasure. How could a kid from the One Heart Realm have obtained it by chance? I think you're deliberately hiding it. Maybe you have other treasures on you. Hand them over now, or I'll cripple you even if it costs me my life!"

Jiang Wang's heart tightened; he knew Ao Lie was after the "treasure" he possessed.

He quickly composed himself, his tone icy: "Brother Ao Lie, I have already said that this is a treasure I obtained by chance, and I cannot give it to you."

Besides, I have no other treasures on me besides this defensive artifact. Even if you kill me, you won't get anything.

Ao Lie's killing intent intensified. He shouted at his two followers behind him, "You two, come at me together and cripple him! I refuse to believe that the three of us working together can't break through his defensive barrier!"

"Yes, Young Sect Master!"

The two attendants responded in unison, gathering all their strength and exuding the aura of the mid-stage Hunyuan realm. They charged towards Jiang Wang, striking his defensive barrier from the left and right.

Jiang Wang inwardly realized the danger. The system's temporary defensive buff only lasted for ten breaths, and three breaths had already passed. If the three of them attacked together, the defensive barrier would definitely collapse. He quickly circulated the Primordial Chaos Power within his body and shouted at Ao Lie, "Ao Lie, don't go too far! This is the entrance to the Secret Realm Tower, a sacred place of the Auspicious Realm. Aren't you afraid of being punished by the guards of the Secret Realm Tower for injuring people here?"

"punish?"

Ao Lie sneered as he charged toward Jiang Wang, saying, "In this auspicious continent, the Jade Unicorn Sect has more influence than the guards of the Secret Realm Tower. Even if I kill you here, no one will dare to punish me! Today, you either hand over the earthen treasure or have your cultivation crippled by us. There is no third way!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The three palms struck Jiang Wang's defensive barrier simultaneously, causing it to tremble violently and develop fine cracks. Jiang Wang felt excruciating pain all over his body, his blood surging, and even more blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He knew that the defensive barrier was about to break.

"System, quick, give me another boost to my defense. If I don't have enough points, I'll make up for it later. As long as I can get through this, I'll definitely find a way to earn more points!"

Jiang Wang spoke urgently to the system.

"Host, I'm sorry, you don't have enough points to redeem another temporary defense boost. I suggest you leave as soon as possible, otherwise you will be severely injured after the defense barrier breaks."

Jiang Wang's heart sank, knowing he had no way out. He gritted his teeth, his eyes becoming increasingly resolute. He secretly circulated the introductory mental cultivation method of the Nine Extremes Primordial Technique. Although he hadn't formally started practicing it, it could still barely increase his strength. He coldly shouted at Ao Lie and the other two, "Since you insist on killing me, then this junior has no choice but to fight! Even if I die, I'll take you down with me!"

"Compete? Do you even have the right to compete with us?"

Ao Lie sneered and increased the pressure in his hand again. "I think you should just give up. Hand over the earthen treasure obediently, and I might spare your life. Otherwise, once the defensive barrier breaks, I'll make you wish you were dead!"

Just then, a dignified voice suddenly rang out: "Stop! All of you, stop!"

The voice was full of majesty and carried a powerful aura of law, instantly overwhelming the auras of Ao Lie and his companions. Ao Lie and his companions felt their bodies stiffen, and the power in their hands instantly dissipated. They hurriedly stopped their attack and looked in the direction from which the voice came.

Jiang Wang breathed a sigh of relief and looked up. He saw the Qilin cultivator who had been in charge of registering information walking towards them with an icy expression. He exuded a powerful aura and his eyes were filled with anger, clearly provoked by their actions.

"Ao Lie, how dare you!" The Qilin cultivator walked up to Ao Lie, his tone icy, and shouted sternly, "This is the entrance to the Secret Realm Tower, a sacred place of the Auspicious Realm, where private duels are strictly prohibited. How dare you attack and injure people here, and how dare you disregard the rules of the Secret Realm Tower? Do you even have any respect for the Secret Realm Tower or the laws of the Auspicious Realm?"

Upon seeing the Qilin cultivator, Ao Lie's arrogance vanished instantly. He quickly bowed respectfully, forcing a smile, and said, "Lord Qilin, I know I was wrong. I acted impulsively and made a move here. Please forgive me, Lord Qilin. I will never dare to do it again."

He knew in his heart that the Qilin cultivator in front of him was the commander of the guards of the Secret Realm Tower, whose cultivation was unfathomable and far surpassed his own. Even if he was the young sect master of the Jade Qilin Sect, he would not dare to be presumptuous in front of him. If he really angered the other party, even the sect master of the Jade Qilin Sect would not be able to protect him.

"A moment of impulse?"

The Qilin Commander sneered, his anger undiminished. "Everyone knows the rules of the Secret Realm Tower: private duels are strictly prohibited. Yet you knowingly violated them and dared to attack cultivators who came to challenge the tower. If everyone acted like you, what rules would the Secret Realm Tower have?" (End of Chapter)