Chapter Ten: The Numb Little Finger

The time Li Ruoyu managed to secure was considerable, for everyone remaining on the Tower of Heaven was a fierce contender, making it difficult to determine a winner. When the final two contestants resolved their duel, one opponent was transported before him by the tower.

This individual did not seem youthful, yet his face was that of a young man, exuding a heavy aura of twilight, as though he were an old man at the brink of death. His presence was unnervingly strange, and within his tranquil pupils appeared the faint reflection of starlight. He wore deep blue garments, his chiseled brows revealing a hint of ruthless temperament.

The youth of twilight sent forth lightning from his eyes, accelerating toward Li Ruoyu in attack. At their first exchange, Li Ruoyu immediately sensed this man was extraordinary—already at the Realm of Dao Realization.

"Dao Realization" was a state transcending techniques, stepping into the level of laws.

Li Ruoyu surmised this twilight youth was likely among the earlier batches admitted to the Eternal Nine Sect, his age far exceeding Li Ruoyu's own.

Li Ruoyu wielded the Supreme Bell against the twilight youth, engaging in ceaseless combat.

The twilight youth was terrifying indeed. Without employing any technique or law, he relied solely on his physical strength to suppress Li Ruoyu.

Li Ruoyu began to use the "Supreme Single Artifact Method" to command the great bell against his opponent, and he himself launched the "Demonic Fist" in assault.

At that moment, the twilight youth summoned a mirror, which cast beams of reflected light ceaselessly toward the Supreme Bell.

Li Ruoyu eyed the mirror with increasing caution and vigilance; objects like mirrors or bracelets always possessed remarkable power.

With a balance of steadiness and ferocity, Li Ruoyu battled the twilight youth, who responded by attacking rather than defending.

At this point, Li Ruoyu knew clearly: only by striking before the twilight youth could use his trump card—by shattering him in an instant—could he achieve victory while weaker. Li Ruoyu resolved to use his own secret weapon.

Li Ruoyu's left little finger began to awaken. Previously, his contests with the twilight youth had seen him defending with his left palm, attacking with the demonic fist of his right—so his opponent had not realized this was Li Ruoyu's hidden ace.

When Li Ruoyu broke through the Transformation Stage, he felt his left little finger lose some sensation; with his next breakthrough, the Divine Knot Stage, it lost feeling entirely.

Later, Li Ruoyu discovered that the finger was not truly necrotic, but was nurturing divine power within. When unused, it seemed like decayed wood.

Upon testing, he found that when activated, it could erupt with unparalleled strength within the time it took to burn one stick of incense—surpassing the limits of Dust Refinement as described in the "Common Knowledge of Cultivation," reaching the next major realm: the Power of Dao Body. Only then did Li Ruoyu understand the meaning of the phrase, "To behold the remnant wasteland is to bow in submission."

He knew that within that incense's duration, he would be nearly invincible within the Dust Refinement realm.

Li Ruoyu awakened his little finger and withdrew the bell formed by the divine chains of order, instead empowering his left little finger with those chains.

Suddenly, above Li Ruoyu's head appeared an enlarged little finger, magnified millions of times—a pillar piercing the heavens, carrying the power of Dao Body as it swept toward the twilight youth. It seemed slow, but in truth was swift beyond measure. The twilight youth, unable to enact the law he had comprehended in the Dao Realization realm, could only furrow his brow and brace himself.

He had not yet entered the Dao Body realm; after ten breaths, he was defeated, unable to continue fighting.

Li Ruoyu looked toward the other small spaces atop the Tower of Heaven, counting a total of ninety-seven—corresponding to the top ninety-seven.

He saw Feng Ruoxian, one of the Ten Beauties of the Outer Gate, a peerless talent from a cultivation family of Yan. He also spotted the "Fat Dun," standing alone upon his platform—surely having vanquished his opponent. There was Chen Cang, unleashing myriad techniques at his adversary. He saw Wang Linzi of Zhao, standing proud; Yan Meng'er of the royal family, calmly awaiting the outcome; Zhou Yue, radiating wild energy; Mang Gu, wrapped in barbaric demonic aura; and Yang Feng, Liu Daoyuan, Liu Yiyi, Meng Wansu, still locked in fierce combat.

Ultimately, Yang Feng and Liu Daoyuan were defeated, while Liu Yiyi and Meng Wansu advanced to the top hundred.

Among the hundred, only a few were from the same batch as Li Ruoyu—those who had arrived within the past three years. Most were senior disciples from earlier intakes.

After all, "Time is a blade that cleaves the proud," and the power of time is formidable; its accumulation can create terrifying beings. Li Ruoyu had once read in "Chronicles of Great Demons" that in ages past, there existed a demon god, whose years spanned the ancient histories, born of chaos, and by accumulating time, finally reached the supreme realm—never defeated, standing proud throughout eternity, reigning atop the myriad worlds, accompanied by blood and tears, known in history as the Grand Prohibited Lord.

Once again, Heng Yi stood atop the Tower of Heaven and proclaimed, "The top hundred have been decided. Tomorrow, the rankings will be determined—the higher your rank, the richer the reward. Though this first round's rules are incomplete, it is intentional by our ancestors. Cultivation is not only reliant on talent; sometimes opportunity, courage, and more are essential. May you all one day reach the supreme realm upon this path."

Returning home, Li Ruoyu reflected on his battles with Xue Yu, the burly youth, Ni Yaoyao, and the young man in green. There were flaws, and moments lacking decisiveness.

He thought upon tomorrow's contest, and reviewed the rewards listed by Sect Master Heng Yi. Comparing them to the items he had obtained from the Sumeru Pouch of the Grand Evil Lord and the Demon Daozi, Li Ruoyu decided that tomorrow, reaching around fortieth place would suffice—not too high, not too low, but comfortably above average.

The next day, Li Ruoyu returned to the Tower of Heaven. This time, his opponent was a woman.

Yu Qing—her name reflected her demeanor: cool and elegant, with waterfall-like hair, bright eyes and flawless teeth, her gaze so clear that others dared not meet it, carrying a chilling air. She had entered the Eternal Nine Sect nine years before Li Ruoyu, a senior from the previous intake, ranked fifth among the Ten Beauties of the Outer Gate. Her cultivation had reached the Realm of Dao Realization.

From the first exchange, Li Ruoyu sensed her foundation was more solid than his own—a remarkable and dazzling presence. He knew that his own strong foundation was due to the Mother Qi of Heaven and Earth.

Yu Qing's attacks were simple, just as her name implied, yet their power was immense, revealing the essence of "The Great Dao is Simple."

She resembled a lonely boat upon the sea, daring to face all dangers and obstacles. Or like a solitary peak piercing the heavens, standing proud among mountains, daring to challenge the world.

Yu Qing simply summoned a dark sword to attack Li Ruoyu; her moves were few, but extraordinary, with a majestic, unstoppable force.

Li Ruoyu understood that to defeat Yu Qing, he would need to activate the divine power in his left little finger. Having made his decision, he retreated and said, "Senior sister, your skill surpasses mine. I shall not make a fool of myself—I concede."