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

As he spoke, the Qilin Commander pointed at Jiang Wang, his tone softening slightly: "This young friend Jiang Wang came from the One Heart Realm and came to the Secret Realm Tower to challenge it. He has done nothing wrong. Yet you, relying on being the young sect master of the Jade Qilin Sect and your high cultivation, bullied him. Do you think what you did was appropriate?"

Ao Lie quickly said, "Lord Qilin, I didn't mean to bully him. He was too arrogant. I kindly advised him to give up on climbing the tower, but he wouldn't listen and even talked back to me. I was so angry that I took action. Please, Lord Qilin, understand."

"Really?"

Commander Qilin turned to look at Jiang Wang and asked in a calm tone, "Young friend Jiang Wang, is what he said true? Did he only attack you because you contradicted him?"

Jiang Wang quickly bowed and said, "Lord Qilin, this junior dares not lie."

I had just arrived here and was reading the rules for the Tower Challenge when this Brother Ao Lie came over and mocked me, saying that I came from the One Heart Realm and that my cultivation was too low to be worthy of challenging the Tower. He even told me to go back to the One Heart Realm.

The junior retorted a few times, but his attendants behind him shouted and even attacked the junior first. Left with no other choice, the junior could only fight back, without daring to speak disrespectfully to Brother Ao Lie.

"You bullshit!"

Ao Lie quickly retorted, his tone urgent, "Lord Qilin, that's not how it is. He was the one who spoke disrespectfully to me first, which is why I took action. He's lying!"

"Whether I lied or not, Lord Qilin will know as soon as he investigates."

Jiang Wang spoke calmly and respectfully, “When we made our move just now, there were other cultivators around who saw it all. Lord Qilin can ask them to find out who was right and who was wrong.”

Commander Qilin's gaze swept over the surrounding cultivators, who all lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes. After all, Ao Lie was the young sect leader of the Jade Qilin Sect, and they dared not offend him easily. However, some people nodded quietly, indicating that what Jiang Wang said was true.

The Qilin Commander already knew the truth of the matter. He glanced coldly at Ao Lie and said in an icy tone, "Ao Lie, even now, you still dare to argue? All the cultivators around us have seen it. Do you think you can hide it from me? Today, you violated the rules of the Secret Realm Tower by fighting and injuring others. I should have crippled your cultivation and expelled you from the Auspicious Continent, but for the sake of the Jade Qilin Sect Master, I will spare you this time."

Ao Lie felt relieved and quickly thanked him, "Thank you for your forgiveness, Lord Qilin. I will never dare to do it again, and I will never dare to fight privately at the entrance of the Secret Realm Tower again."

"The death penalty may be waived, but punishment is inescapable."

Commander Qilin's tone remained icy, "I hereby punish you by disqualifying you from this tower challenge. You are forbidden from entering the Secret Realm Tower for three months. Furthermore, you must compensate young friend Jiang Wang for the healing pills. If you dare to disobey, I will not spare you!"

"What? My tower-climbing qualification is revoked, and I'm banned from entering the Secret Realm Tower for three months?"

Ao Lie's expression changed, and he said urgently, "Lord Qilin, please don't! I have been preparing for a long time for this tower challenge. If my qualification for the tower challenge is revoked, all my efforts will be in vain. Please be lenient, Lord Qilin, and change the punishment. I am willing to compensate my friend Jiang Wang with some healing pills, and I am even willing to apologize to him."

"Make an exception?"

Commander Qilin shook his head, his tone firm, "The rules of the Secret Realm Tower are not to be compromised. Since you have violated the rules, you must be punished. If everyone were like you, what would be the use of the rules? Either accept the punishment, or I, the commander, will cripple your cultivation. The choice is yours."

Ao Lie's face turned pale and then red. He knew that Commander Qilin meant what he said. If he did not accept the punishment, his cultivation would really be destroyed. At that time, even the sect leader of Yulin Sect would not be able to save him. He could only grit his teeth, bow and say, "This junior accepts the punishment. This junior is willing to compensate for the healing pills for young friend Jiang Wang and is also willing to apologize to him."

As he spoke, Ao Lie took out a jade bottle from his robes and handed it to Jiang Wang. His tone was somewhat reluctant, yet he had to be respectful: "Young friend Jiang Wang, I'm sorry. I was wrong just now. I shouldn't have mocked you or attacked you. Please accept this bottle of healing pills as compensation."

Jiang Wang glanced at the Qilin Commander, who nodded. He then took the jade bottle, opened it, and saw that it contained three healing pills, emitting a rich medicinal fragrance. These were all Primordial Chaos level healing pills, which would have a very good therapeutic effect on his current injuries.

He quickly bowed and thanked him, saying, "Thank you for your compensation, Brother Ao Lie. I accept it and will not hold the previous matter against you."

Ao Lie snorted coldly, remaining silent, his face still grim. He knew he had lost face today, not only being punished by Commander Qilin but also having to apologize to a mere brat from the One Heart Realm. He would remember this debt and would definitely take revenge on Jiang Wang when the opportunity arose.

Commander Qilin glanced at Ao Lie, his tone icy: "Alright, since you've apologized and compensated young friend Jiang Wang, leave here immediately. For the next three months, you're not allowed to approach the Secret Realm Tower again. If I see you, I will not forgive you!"

"Yes, Lord Qilin."

Ao Lie bowed in response, glared fiercely at Jiang Wang, and left in a disheveled state with his two attendants.

Watching Ao Lie's departing figure, Jiang Wang breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time remained secretly vigilant. He knew that Ao Lie would definitely not let this go, and he would have to be careful in the Auspicious Realm in the future to avoid encountering Ao Lie again and being retaliated against.

"Young friend Jiang Wang, I'm sorry you had to suffer this injustice."

Commander Qilin turned to look at Jiang Wang, his tone softening slightly, "That brat Ao Lie, relying on being the young sect master of the Jade Lin Sect, is usually arrogant and domineering, not taking anyone seriously. Today, we've taught him a lesson, letting him know that the rules of the Secret Realm Tower are not to be ignored."

Jiang Wang quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for your help, Lord Qilin. If it weren't for you, I would have had my cultivation destroyed by Ao Lie and the others today. I am deeply grateful and will always remember your kindness."

"No need to thank me. I was just following orders to uphold the rules of the Secret Realm Tower."

Commander Qilin waved his hand and said in a calm tone, "How are your injuries? Do you want to take some healing pills and recover properly? The challenge of the Secret Realm Tower is about to begin, and if your injuries haven't healed, it will be very dangerous when you challenge the tower."

Jiang Wang nodded and said, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Qilin. My injuries are not serious. I will recover quickly after taking a healing pill. It will not affect my tower challenge."

As he spoke, Jiang Wang took out a healing pill from the jade bottle and put it in his mouth. The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, and a gentle medicinal power surged into his body, repairing his damaged meridians and blood. The intense pain in his body was also relieved considerably.

The Qilin Commander looked at Jiang Wang with a hint of appreciation in his eyes: "You lad are not bad. Although your cultivation is low and you come from the One Heart Realm, you have a firm mind, are neither arrogant nor humble in the face of adversity, and have some courage. No wonder you were able to use the teleportation array to come to the Auspicious Realm to challenge the tower."

However, you must remember that the trials of the Secret Realm Tower are extremely brutal, with deadly dangers on every level. Your cultivation is only at the early stage of the Primordial Chaos realm, so you must be extremely careful. If you encounter a trial you cannot pass, give up voluntarily; do not force yourself. Only by preserving your life can you have a chance to continue cultivating.

Jiang Wang quickly replied, "I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Lord Qilin. I will be careful and cautious and will never recklessly attempt to enter the tower. If I encounter a test that I cannot pass, I will give up to save my life." "Hmm, that's good."

Commander Qilin nodded and said calmly, "The queue at the tower entrance has already started. You should hurry up and join the queue. Once the tower opens, you won't be able to join anymore."

Remember, during your tower adventure, you must abide by the rules of the Secret Realm Tower and do not arbitrarily break the restrictions within the tower; otherwise, you will bear the consequences.

"Thank you, Lord Qilin. I will go and join the queue now."

Jiang Wang bowed in thanks, took the booklet and the temporary tower-climbing token, and walked towards the tower-climbing entrance.

Upon reaching the entrance to the tower, Jiang Wang saw that quite a few cultivators were already queuing up. These cultivators had varying levels of cultivation, ranging from the early stage of the Primordial Chaos Realm to the late stage, and there were even a few cultivators at the peak of the Primordial Chaos Realm. They all had determined eyes, clearly full of confidence in their ability to conquer the tower.

Jiang Wang found a spot and stood in line. Next to him stood a short old man with a cultivation level of mid-stage Hunyuan. His face was covered with wrinkles, but his eyes held a shrewdness. The old man glanced at Jiang Wang and said with a smile, "Boy, you're here to challenge the tower too? Judging from your cultivation level, you seem to be only at the early stage of Hunyuan. You must have come from the One Heart Realm, right?"

Jiang Wang was taken aback for a moment, then turned to look at the old man and nodded with a smile: "Greetings, senior. I am Jiang Wang, and I have indeed come to challenge the tower. My cultivation is only at the early stage of the Primordial Chaos Realm. I come from the One Heart Realm. Senior has excellent eyesight and recognized me at a glance."

"Hahaha, it's not that I have good eyesight, it's just that the aura on your body is different from that of cultivators in our Auspicious Realm. Cultivators in the One Heart Realm have a weaker aura of law on their bodies, which can be seen at a glance."

The old man smiled and said in a kind tone, "My name is Elder Mo, from the Mo Fu Sect of the Auspicious Realm. I am at the mid-stage of the Primordial Chaos Realm and I have also come to challenge the tower in order to enter the Great Dao Secret Realm and cultivate more powerful techniques."

"So it's Elder Mo. This junior greets you."

Jiang Wang quickly bowed and said respectfully, "Elder Mo, I am new to the Auspicious Realm and do not know much about the Secret Realm Tower. I wonder what the trials on each level of the Secret Realm Tower are like? Please explain them to me so that I can be prepared."

"Haha, it was nothing, no need to be so polite."

Old Mo waved his hand and said with a smile, "The Secret Realm Tower has nine levels, and the trials on each level are different. Each level is more cruel and more difficult than the last."

The first level of the test involves withstanding attacks from demonic beasts. Numerous early and mid-stage Primordial Chaos level demonic beasts will appear within the tower. If you can withstand the attacks for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn without being severely injured, you will pass the test.

Jiang Wang nodded, silently memorizing the information, and asked, "Thank you for your explanation, Elder Mo. What is the second level of the test like?"

"The second level of the test is to comprehend the laws."

Elder Mo slowly said, "A kind of law illusion will appear inside the tower, containing a kind of Great Dao law. As long as you can comprehend a trace of this Great Dao law in the illusion, you will pass the test."

However, this kind of illusionary realm based on laws is extremely strange, and it's easy for people to become lost within it, unable to extricate themselves. If they cannot wake up in time, they will be swallowed up by the illusion and their soul will be scattered.

Jiang Wang's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected the second level of the test to be about comprehending the laws, and it was so dangerous. He quickly said, "Thank you for the reminder, Elder Mo. I will be very careful. If I enter the illusion of the laws, I will stay clear-headed and never lose myself."

"Yes, it's good that you have this mindset."

Elder Mo nodded and continued, "The test on the third level is to fight against the mirror image."

Inside the tower, a mirror image identical to you will appear. This mirror image will have the same cultivation level, talent, and techniques as you, and may even be stronger than you. Only by defeating this mirror image can you pass the test.

This level of testing primarily assesses your combat skills and adaptability; many cultivators stumble and fall at this level.

"Battle mirror match?"

Jiang Wang was startled. He hadn't expected the third level of the test to be so difficult. The mirror image that was exactly like him was even stronger than him. Defeating the mirror image would not be an easy task. He quickly asked, "Elder Mo, is there any way to defeat the mirror image?"

"There is a way, but it also depends on your own abilities."

Master Mo smiled and said, "Although the mirror image is exactly the same as you, with the same talent and techniques, it has no consciousness of its own. It can only imitate your movements and attack methods. As long as you can break the rules, change your attack methods, and take the opponent by surprise, you can defeat the mirror image."

However, this is easier said than done. Many cultivators are unable to break free from their own established patterns and are ultimately defeated by the mirror image.

Jiang Wang nodded, pondering to himself. Mo Lao was right. The mirror image had no consciousness of its own and could only imitate his actions and attack methods. As long as he could break the rules and take the opponent by surprise, he should be able to defeat the mirror image.

He quickly said, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Mo. I will remember it. When I reach the third level, I will definitely try to break the rules and defeat the mirror image."

"You're welcome. It's only right to help each other when you're traveling."

Old Mo smiled and continued, "The test on the fourth level is to break through the formation. A powerful formation will be set up inside the tower. This formation contains spatial laws and killing laws, and it is very strange. As long as you can break through the formation, you will pass the test."

This formation not only attacks you, but also confuses your mind, making it impossible for you to find the exit. Many cultivators have been trapped within it and ultimately devoured by it.

"Break through the formation?"

Jiang Wang was startled again. The trials of the Secret Realm Tower were increasingly difficult, and the fourth level was actually a formation, one that contained spatial and killing laws. He quickly asked, "Elder Mo, is there any weakness in this formation? Or is there any way to quickly break through it?" (End of Chapter)