Dustwind Hidden Valley was quiet.
Too quiet.
Because everyone knew…
Today was **Floor 4**.
Floor 1: Shame.
Floor 2: Posture.
Floor 3: Emotions.
Floor 4?
Solene announced it with absolute serenity:
"Today, we confront… Physical Filth."
Every disciple screamed like frightened goats.
Auntie Bao dragged a mop behind her like a divine executioner.
Aurelius wore full sterilization armor.
Lin Ruyin clutched disinfectant like a talisman.
Jin Haru dug a shallow grave "just in case."
And Miyu?
She floated down hugging her pillow.
"...Begin."
The tower let out a deep, ancient *HMMMM*,
as if waking up and choosing violence.
---
⭐ 1. The Floor of Filth Opens
The gates slid open with a horrible, sloppy *SPLORT*.
A wave of foul, sticky-smelling aura rolled out.
Disciples gagged.
A bird fell from the sky.
A passing cloud changed direction.
Glowing text appeared above the gateway:
[PHYSICAL FILTH DETECTED. CLEANSE OR PERISH.]
Jin Haru collapsed on the spot.
Lin Ruyin whispered, voice trembling:
"No… no… PLEASE tell me the floor isn't actually dirty—"
Auntie Bao cheerfully answered,
"Oh no, child! Dirty is an understatement!"
The ground trembled ominously.
---
⭐ 2. The First Victim — I Mean, Volunteer
Tien was immediately shoved inside.
He screamed the whole way.
"N O O O O O O O O—!!"
The door slammed.
The viewing crystal activated.
Inside was a nightmare.
A swamp of sticky grime.
Floating clumps of supernatural dust.
Mysterious puddles with emotional damage.
A dripping ceiling that made no sense.
Tien gagged so hard it echoed.
"WHY IS THE FLOOR ALIVE?! WHY IS THE WALL BREATHING?! WHY IS THE AIR *CRUNCHY*?!"
A sentient blob of goo approached him.
It burped.
Tien fainted.
The blob politely poked him with a pseudopod.
Outside, Lin Ruyin whispered:
"This is worse than hell."
Aurelius nodded.
"Hygiene violations exceeding all mortal levels."
Miyu blinked with ancient disgust.
"...Unacceptable."
---
⭐ 3. The Tower Takes It Personally
The room suddenly shifted.
The filth inflated.
Grew little eyes.
Grew little mouths.
All of them giggled.
Lin Ruyin screamed.
Auntie Bao clutched her chest.
"I—I can feel my cleaning instincts activating—!!"
The filth creatures chanted:
"JOIN US. SWIM WITH US. BE ONE WITH THE FILTH~"
Tien woke up instantly.
"NO I DON'T WANT TO BE A SOUP INGREDIENT—!!!"
---
⭐ 4. The Cleaning Trial Begins
The mop materialized in front of Tien.
It glowed.
The text appeared:
[CLEAN THIS ROOM. TIMER: 5 MINUTES.]
Tien screamed bloody murder.
"FIVE MINUTES?! EVEN HEAVEN COULDN'T CLEAN THIS IN FIVE MINUTES—!!!"
The mop slapped him.
*SCHWAP.*
"COMPLAINING IS FILTHY."
He cried.
---
⭐ 5. The Filth Fights Back
Tien began mopping like a madman.
The filth screamed.
"NOOOO!! HE'S USING ELBOW GREASE—!!!"
One blob tried to jump him.
Tien dodged with a shriek that shattered glass.
A puddle tried to lick his foot.
Tien hopped onto a rock.
A slime ballooned and attempted a hug.
Tien ran in circles.
Outside, the disciples watched the chaos.
Jin Haru clutched Solene's robe.
"This trial isn't about cleaning.
It's about survival."
Solene nodded.
"It is a gentle test."
Everyone stared at her.
---
⭐ 6. The Ultimate Weapon: The Sanitization Orb
The tower materialized a glowing orb above Tien.
Text appeared:
[BREAK IN CASE OF EXTREME FILTH]
Tien broke it immediately.
A blinding light exploded.
The filth creatures screamed as they dissolved.
"NOOOO!!! TOO CLEAN!! TOO CLEAN!!!
WE ARE BUT MUDDY BABIES—!!!"
When the light faded…
The chamber sparkled.
The air shimmered.
Tien lay face-down on the spotless floor, twitching.
The door opened.
Auntie Bao ran forward, wiping tears.
"He did it… he actually cleaned something."
Miyu nodded.
"...Good."
Tien was dragged out like a sacrificed ragdoll.
---
⭐ 7. The Second Participant — Jin Haru's Nightmare
Jin Haru was next.
He begged.
He pleaded.
He tried to blend into a bush.
He failed.
Inside the chamber, the filth reacted differently.
It grew bigger.
Hungrier.
Smellier.
Jin Haru dropped to his knees.
"I APOLOGIZE FOR EVERY TIME I DIDN'T CLEAN MY ROOM—!! PLEASE DON'T EAT ME—!!"
The filth glared.
"Our revenge begins now."
Outside, Miyu frowned faintly.
"...He will survive."
Aurelius whispered,
"I give him 12 seconds."
Solene:
"I give him 9."
Auntie Bao:
"I give him tea afterward."
---
⭐ 8. Jin Haru's Miracle
Just when everyone thought Jin would die,
he snapped.
Something awakened in him.
A primal fury.
"I REFUSE TO DIE DIRTY!!!"
He grabbed the mop.
His aura burst forth.
He spun.
He flipped.
He mopped in ways that defied physics.
The filth creatures fled in terror.
"NOOO!! HE LEARNED THE ANCESTRAL MOP ARTS—!!!"
Outside, the disciples gasped.
Aurelius saluted.
"His form is perfect."
Elder Orchid cried,
"He has posture while mopping."
Miyu nodded approvingly.
"…Good disciple."
Jin Haru emerged shining like a disinfected jewel.
---
⭐ 9. The Ending — Floor 5 Awakens
As the sun dipped, the tower vibrated ominously.
Floor 5 lit up.
The text appeared outside:
[FLOOR 5 — SOCIAL CLEANLINESS: FIX YOUR AWKWARDNESS]
Jin Haru fainted again.
Lin Ruyin squeaked.
Aurelius looked terrified for the first time ever.
Auntie Bao blessed herself.
Solene murmured:
"Oh. This is the hardest one."
Miyu hugged her pillow.
"…Tomorrow."