Chapter 299: Chu Hong!

The gate of the Martial Arts Tower slowly opened, revealing a slender figure.

Everyone's gaze instantly converged on that person.

There, Su Yu slowly stepped forward.

Just as Su Yu had defeated the Illusory Shadow of the eighty‑nine‑th floor, when faced with the Illusory Shadow of the ninety‑th floor, Su Yu did not hesitate to concede defeat.

The ninety‑th floor Illusory Shadow's combat power already approached that of a mid‑Half Moon strongman.

Although Su Yu could shake a newcomer to the Half Moon level, he also knew that he was still far from being a match for a mid‑Half Moon strongman.

If he wanted to shake it, he would have to play some trump cards.

And he might not even be able to suppress it.

So Su Yu simply gave up and retreated outright.

Anyway, there will be plenty of time later; he might still be able to clear this Martial Arts Tower.

When that time comes, Su Yu even wants to see what lies beyond the ninety‑nine‑th floor of this Martial Arts Tower.

Su Yu stepped out of the gate and instantly felt scorching gazes falling on him.

His scalp tingled, he forced a dry laugh, and hurried back into the mountains.

Along the way, anyone who saw Su Yu cast a scorching glance his way.

It was that gaze that made Su Yu feel his whole body was uneasy.

He could only quicken his steps and return to his cave dwelling.

Sitting cross‑legged on the bed, Su Yu's eyes flickered faintly.

"My conjecture should be correct: fifteen stars correspond to Crescent Moon strength; with certain means, one can reach the Half Moon tier. So if I light just one more star, even without relying on Martial Techniques, my power could rival that of a Half Moon strongman."

After this Martial Arts Tower test, Su Yu finally knows where his current strength stands.

If he relies solely on his own strength, he would be comparable to a late‑Crescent Moon strongman; but once he employs the Heaven‑Thunder Demon‑Slaying Slash, he could directly challenge an early‑Half Moon strongman.

Yet when facing a mid‑Half Moon strongman, Su Yu feels somewhat outmatched.

"This level of strength is acceptable; I'll keep cultivating, I wonder how many stars I'll finally light!"

A scorching brilliance flickered in Su Yu's eyes.

Since tasting the sweet allure of the ultimate Dao, Su Yu is full of anticipation for lighting more stars.

When he eventually lights all the stars, he wonders what tier his strength will reach.

Immediately, Su Yu took out today's energy stone and forged a Supreme Star Crystal.

He placed these Supreme Star Crystals beside him, then activated the Divine Demon Heart Method and began continuous cultivation.

Relying on the extremely dense energy emanating from the Energy Ore Vein, Su Yu quickly transformed a strand of Grandmaster's Power, surging it into the ocean.

As time passed, more and more Grandmaster's Power was transformed by Su Yu into the ocean.

It must be said, the cultivation speed of the eighth‑grade method and Divine Demon Heart Method is truly rapid, at least five times faster than before.

Coupled with the Energy Ore Vein and Supreme Star Crystals, Su Yu's cultivation speed is literally rocket‑like.

While other Sequences still rely on energy stones and sixth‑ and seventh‑grade methods for cultivation.

Su Yu has already begun cultivating with the eighth‑grade method, Supreme Star Crystals, and a high‑grade Energy Ore Vein.

The gap on this front instantly widened.

A few days later.

Not far from Qianlong City, a young figure in white slowly materialized.

A hint of fatigue showed on the white‑clad youth's face, but it was quickly masked by a cold pallor.

"Half a year has passed..."

The youth murmured, his gaze fixed on the location of Qianlong City, a slight smile curling his lips.

"The Inheritance Path is about to begin, and it's my last chance; whether I can obtain the First Principal's inheritance hinges on this time..."

"That guy Xiang Shaoyun wants to compare with me—how could that be!"

The youth sneered, transformed into a long rainbow and rushed toward Qianlong City.

When he reached the city gate, he stopped, then obediently passed through the gate and entered.

Flying is prohibited inside Qianlong City, unless one is within the Qianlong Academy, where stepping into the void is allowed but rapid flight is not.

Even Li Zhangsheng back then had to obey this rule.

The white‑clad youth leisurely walked into Qianlong City, gazing at everything around him with a faint smile.

"Indeed, this place still feels familiar!"

"The Continent of Ten Thousand Tribes truly isn't a place for people to linger."

The youth strolled through Qianlong City as if taking a leisurely walk in a courtyard.

Many soldiers' faces changed slightly when they saw the youth.

"Isn't that Chu Hong? I didn't expect him to return so quickly."

"Hiss, when Chu Hong left the Qianlong Academy, he was already a Crescent Moon‑level strongman; now that he's back, who knows how much his strength has increased."

"Tsk tsk tsk, the Qianlong Academy hasn't been stable lately. Su Yu caused a storm inside the Academy, and now Chu Hong is back; it seems the Academy won't be peaceful these days."

"Indeed, Chu Hong's strength is right after Xiang Shaoyun's; his return will likely shift the Academy's dynamics again."

"Hey, didn't Su Yu break Xiang Shaoyun's record a few days ago? If Chu Hong finds out, what might he do?"

The surrounding soldiers whispered as they looked at the white‑clad youth.

But who is Chu Hong?

His ears twitched slightly, catching a few voices.

"Su Yu? Broken record?"

Chu Hong's eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp gleam bursting from his pupils.

「Looks like, after half a year without returning to the academy, someone extraordinary has appeared in Qianlong Academy. 」

「This Su Yu's name—why do I keep feeling I've heard it somewhere? 」

A hint of confusion flickered in Chu Hong's eyes.

Suddenly, a stern aura erupted from Chu Hong's body.

「Su Yu? The Su Yu who is third on the Earth Ranking? 」

Chu Hong cried out.

He has been wandering the Myriad Races Continent these past six months, so he doesn't know much about what's happening in Daxia.

On the contrary, he knows more about the Myriad Races.

And that naturally includes the changes on the Earth Ranking.

「Could he be the one who, together with Teacher Li, destroyed the Mist Clan? The disciple of the Slay Dragon King, the Young Marshal of the Slay Dragon Army, Su Yu? 」

Chu Hong murmured softly, then gave a faint smile.

「I see now; I was wondering why I could break my record, and even Xiang Shaoyun's record was broken. 」

Chu Hong slowly walked toward Qianlong Academy.

「However, the Martial Arts Tower is ultimately just a lifeless object! 」

「Then let me see, Su Yu, what merit and ability you have to be able to become third on the Earth Ranking! 」

Chu Hong let out a low shout, and a soaring surge of aura burst forth from his body.