Chapter 523: The Final Round Begins

As Lin Chen’s words fell, the previously gray, hazy space underwent a dramatic transformation.

The gray mist dispersed, revealing all four walls of the Tower of Ascension—only now did Lin Chen confirm he was truly inside the Tower of Ascension.

【Combat Initiated. This level houses one of the top one hundred strongest warriors of the Flame Emperor Dynasty’s Primordial Third Realm!】

The Martial Seal’s voice echoed, and the next instant, a dueling platform appeared before Lin Chen, with a hundred figures materializing above it.

There were towering giants clad in dragon scales, a green-robed swordsman whose sword intent pierced the heavens, a colossal shadow wreathed in roaring flames, a wild knife-wielder shouldering a long blade… All were Primordial Third Realm, yet each radiated a unique aura—these were the supreme prodigies of the Flame Emperor Dynasty’s Primordial Third Realm since its founding!

“Did the Divine Seal itself select these top one hundred?”

Lin Chen recalled Yin Yue’s speculation: the Tower of Ascension had evolved from the Divine Seal, which represented the entire Flame Emperor Dynasty’s destiny—and yet it was more than mere destiny.

The Flame Emperor Dynasty had endured for hundreds of thousands of years; to rank among the top one hundred within that span meant each was an unparalleled prodigy of their age.

Three breaths later, Lin Chen heard the ring of a blade, and his entire body broke out in gooseflesh.

A piercing coldness surged from his heart, and the next instant, the other ninety-nine figures vanished, leaving only the wild knife-wielder shouldering his long blade.

So strong!

Even before stepping onto the platform, Lin Chen felt immense pressure.

Yet despite this, he flashed forward in an instant, lunging toward the dueling platform.

The moment his feet touched the ground, his vision was filled with a slash of blade-light—he didn’t even see how the opponent moved, yet searing pain erupted in his chest; had his Imperishable Body not already reached the third layer, he would have been unable to withstand even this single strike.

But before Lin Chen could counter, a second slash of blade-light filled his vision.

Second, third…

After three strikes, Lin Chen found himself standing below the platform, drenched in sweat, while the knife-wielder atop the platform had resumed his original stance—shouldering his blade, as if he had never drawn it at all.

Defeated!

This was the first time Lin Chen faced a warrior of his own realm and lost without even a chance to retaliate.

Had this not been the Tower of Ascension, where the Divine Seal’s divine power shielded him from injury, he would already be a corpse.

Perfect-grade Blade Will!

Flawless Blade Technique!

This was the power of the top one hundred Primordial Third Realm warriors of the Flame Emperor Dynasty over hundreds of thousands of years.

The confidence Lin Chen had gained from his recent breakthrough was instantly doused, like cold water thrown over him.

With his Imperishable Body and powerful spiritual core, he had believed he could even stand against a Primordial Fourth Realm warrior.

But this battle shattered every trace of arrogance that had begun to grow within him.

Crossing realms to fight meant nothing—these hundred predecessors could all do it effortlessly. The Martial Dao… even within the same realm, he was far from true invincibility.

【Tower Challenge Failed. Current level: 30. Tower of Ascension Rank currently first. After reaching one hundred participants, rewards will be granted based on ranking!】

Beside his ear, the Martial Seal’s voice echoed, and the next instant, Lin Chen saw a circle of light appear beneath his feet—the exit circle.

Lin Chen stared at the knife-wielder on the platform for several breaths, then stepped into the light.

…

Before the Tower of Ascension, as a pillar of light descended upon the circular altar, every warrior in the square did not look at the altar—they all stared toward the tower’s peak.

The Tower of Ascension Rankings descended.

【Lin Chen: Reached Level 30】

【Lü Zejia: Reached Level 10】

【Zuo Chuan: Reached Level 6】

When they saw Lin Chen’s name at the very top of the list, along with the level he had reached, the crowd fell utterly silent.

The ordinary Primordial Third Realm warriors were stunned and disbelieving; the hooded anonymous figures, beneath their black robes, fixed their eyes rigidly on the list.

Level 30!

This meant Lin Chen’s physical body and spiritual core had both reached the absolute limit of the Primordial Third Realm—and with the ten unknown levels beyond, he had likely reached the limit in at least one other aspect as well.

In just two years, how had he achieved this?

Seeing the stunned silence, Lin Chen glanced toward Yin Yue’s position, gave a slight nod, then bowed to the senior disciples of Canglan Sect below: “Brothers, I’ll withdraw first.”

Hearing Lin Chen’s words, the Canglan Sect warriors finally snapped out of their shock.

“L-Lin Brother, if you have business, go ahead.”

As Lin Chen’s figure vanished before the Tower of Ascension, only then did the entire square erupt into a roar.

“Level 30… This Flame Emperor Dynasty is about to produce an unparalleled prodigy!”

“Only two years! If Lin Chen is given enough time to grow, in less than twenty years, will anyone below the Myriad Phenomena Realm be able to stand against him?”

On his first attempt at the Tower of Ascension, reaching level thirty—Lin Chen’s achievement shattered all imagination; it was a terrifying number no one had dared to envision.

“I must report the good news—I must inform our sect!”

Xu Xia was ecstatic, and not a single person in the crowd thought him wrong; not only did Canglan Sect warriors want to report it, even the others here were desperate to leave and tell their sects and loved ones of this shocking result.

The warriors of Bahuang Sect, their expressions no longer filled with bitterness, now stared with open mouths and fear in their eyes…

When the gap was greater than they had imagined, bitterness vanished—only fear remained…

…

…

Li Family Guest Courtyard.

A young man seated in the courtyard wore a look of surprise.

“He passed level thirty…”

His expression shifted uncertainly; had Lin Chen merely passed level ten or even twenty, he would not have changed his original decision.

But level thirty…

“So this Lin Chen is the variable in the divination?”

For the first time, the young man hesitated—his decision might determine the future rise or fall of Qianji Sect.

“If heaven changes, follow its course.”

Finally, the young man murmured softly, and his figure vanished from the spot, along with the wine on the table—the entire courtyard appeared as if no one had ever been there.

…

…

Canglan Sect!

The entire sect was now immersed in excitement, countless inner disciples cheering—but in the main hall, silence reigned.

Lin Chen’s potential was higher than any of them had dared to guess.

“Master, the most urgent matter now is Lin Chen’s safety.”

Du Xiaofeng, Lin Chen’s master, no longer wore a triumphant expression—only worry and anxiety etched his face.

The Bahuang Sect and the Canglan Sect are at war; thanks to the intimidation from our Supreme Elder’s visit to the Bahuang Sect, they no longer dare to assassinate our disciples—we resolve our disputes on the battlefield. As for the Yama Sect, we have nearly wiped them out.