The Tower stood at the eastern edge of the inner domain, and from a distance, it looked impressive.
Up close, it was overwhelming.
The structure was massive—easily a hundred meters in diameter at its base, constructed from dark stone that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. Spiritual formations covered every surface, glowing faintly with power that made the air itself feel heavy. The Tower stretched upward until its peak disappeared into the clouds, and Long Chen couldn't tell if it actually had a top or if it just kept going forever.
But what caught his attention more than the Tower itself was the crowd surrounding its entrance.
Disciples, hundreds of them.
They formed a line that wrapped around the Tower's base, stretching back so far Long Chen couldn't see the end. Most were inner disciples, though he spotted a few outer disciples mixed in. The atmosphere was a strange mix of excitement, nervousness, and exhaustion.
