Three hours later, the sprawl of buildings gave way to a vast, open plaza. At its center loomed Yu Xuan's destination.
The Tower of Trials rose like a spear piercing the heavens, its golden surface alive with flowing runes that pulsed and shifted like living veins of light.
Every curve of those runes whispered a tale, and the air here felt heavy — charged, as if the tower itself were weighing the worth of all who approached.
It was monumental in scale, yet had only one entrance. A steady stream of disciples filled in, while another flowed out from a separate exit. Despite the staggering number of people, there was no chaos only a calm, disciplined order.
Yu Xuan knew the rule; each disciple could only enter once per month. No exceptions.
He joined the line, noting how even those with much higher cultivation stood patiently, showing no trace of arrogance.
