Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Boundary Tower

To the east of Falling Cloud City, at the farthest eastern edge, the boundless sea of sand surged forward in rolling waves. It was as though an invisible giant hand was peeling back layer after layer of the desert. The vast expanse of the dunes, silent and lifeless, exuded a solemn and imposing presence, its face set in a perpetual monotony: yellow, and only yellow, forever the blistering, scorching yellow. Here, it seemed as if nature had frozen the surging tides and furious waves in an instant, rendering them eternally still.

Li Ren and his two companions walked beneath the blazing sun.

“We’re here,” Lantis whispered softly.

Though all around them was still an endless sweep of yellow sand, both Li Ren and Shadow halted immediately.

Lantis stood still, hands clasped before her chest, and began to chant in a low, melodious voice: “From the dawn of time, boundless glory, endless agony, the bloodline of inheritance carries infinite radiance. O Nether Moon, O Black Soil, when all things prostrate at Your feet—scythe and tome—You are sovereign of all. With my soul, I beseech You, grant me Your great power, pierce all darkness, and shatter every obstacle!”

As her chant grew in pitch and intensity, a luminous point of silvery light appeared at her brow. At the same time, a massive magic circle manifested beneath her feet, from which pure and dense darkness seeped forth and gathered into her hands.

As Lantis’s incantation ended, it seemed the world itself pulsed in resonance with the dark force she wielded, and a power that could shake the very heavens and souls bore down upon them.

At that moment, space itself was like rotten wood.

After a series of piercing, creaking noises, space twisted bizarrely, and then, like a shattered mirror, broke apart, revealing another scene where there had been only yellow sand.

A tower, soaring as if to pierce the sky, stood before them.

No one could tell what material the tower was made of; it looked ashen and decrepit, yet still managed to rise to such a staggering height, each segment closely joined like the vertebrae of a spine. The sight alone inspired awe and a bone-chilling dread.

Lantis gazed at the tower.

Though she had learned of its appearance from inherited memory, it was her first time setting foot here, and even she was shaken by its grandeur. The method of opening the tower was also something she recalled from her inheritance.

“If you’re ready, let’s go in,” she said, quickly calming her heart as she turned to the other two.

“But let me say this first—the Tower imposes no penalty for death. That is, we can die here without concern. With each floor we clear, we get another chance at resurrection. If we all die, it’s considered a failed challenge. Remember these rules.”

Seeing both of them nod solemnly, Lantis was satisfied. Neither seemed to take the tower lightly, even knowing they could revive.

“As for what we’ll face inside, to be honest, I don’t know. We’ll have to take it as it comes.”

With that, Lantis turned without hesitation and entered the tower. Li Ren and Shadow followed close behind.

Once all three had entered, the tower, which had been forcibly opened, quietly vanished from its place.

Far above, in the endless sky, a pair of emotionless eyes watched from above.

A fierce wind rose, sweeping sand over the three sets of footprints, erasing every trace and returning the desert to silence.

First Floor of the Tower.

The instant they stepped inside, it was as though they had passed through a teleportation array; a wave of dizziness swept over them, and when their vision cleared, they found themselves upon a vast, boundless land.

The earth was black, and though it seemed ordinary, there was not a single trace of green for miles in every direction. Apart from the dim clouds above, there was nothing else in this world.

“There’s nothing here. How are we supposed to reach the second floor?” Shadow asked.

“If I’m not mistaken, the way up is right there!” Lantis pointed ahead.

Li Ren followed her gaze and saw a strange vortex twisting among the leaden clouds, slowly churning in the sky.

“Let’s go. But be careful—since this is called the Tower…” Li Ren cautioned.

This bizarre place filled him with an inexplicable unease. Logically, there was no need to fear death here, but something about it made his heart pound with dread.

They advanced in silence.

The three moved in a triangular formation, drawing ever closer to the swirling vortex. Lantis’s brow furrowed gradually.

“There’s something odd here,” Shadow murmured, touching his brow by habit.

“You’re right. But it’s already too late.”

No sooner had Lantis finished speaking than the black soil beneath their feet began to shake violently.

The earth split open, and a tremendous force from below sent clouds of dust billowing into the air.

Three enormous heads burst from the dark earth—sharp horns, scaled with mud, and crimson eyes.

“It’s the Earthen Three-Headed Serpent!” Lantis cried, leaping backward and pulling Shadow with her the instant the ground began to move.

Li Ren raised his massive shield, resolutely taking position at the front.

With the Wraith Set given to him by the Skeleton King, his ability to withstand attacks had become formidable.

Wraith Set: Summons a specter bone shield to guard the entire body, reducing all damage taken by 10%. Coupled with three level-70 epic pieces of armor, Li Ren was now every bit a boss-level shield warrior.

Though the Earthen Three-Headed Serpent before them was only level 100, Lantis, who was level 130, would be able to secure victory as long as Li Ren could withstand the attacks from the front.

Yet, Li Ren was only level 70. Facing a level 100 boss still put a great deal of pressure on him.

After all, this was a boss-class monster, and there was a full thirty-level gap between them.

“If you have any buffs, give them to me now. This thing won’t be easy,” Li Ren shouted, eyes fixed on the beast before him.

The moment he spoke, black light flickered over his body as various buffs took effect.

With a roar, Li Ren charged straight at the three-headed serpent.

But before he could strike, an attack from Lantis, who had been silent, arrived first.

A massive arrow of light shot over his head—a shaft of pure black, gleaming with a metallic sheen and moving so swiftly Li Ren barely registered it before it struck the serpent’s central head.

Only after the arrow hit did he feel the oppressive power it contained.

Had the scene been slowed a hundredfold, Li Ren could have seen shards of muddy scales, torn flesh, and splattered brain matter mixed with red and white clinging to the arrow’s shaft.

Like a watermelon smashed open, blood sprayed in all directions.

The Earthen Three-Headed Serpent, half-submerged in the earth and still reeling, was gravely wounded. Li Ren would not let the opportunity pass.

“Rain of Dustless Fates!”

He raised his sword high, unleashing Zhao Yun’s signature technique in a flurry of blows against the serpent.

The beast, maddened by the loss of a head, roared furiously, the ground churning as black soil swept over its body.

The searing pain awakened its true fighting instinct; encased in hardened earth, its movements were unimpeded.

Though Rain of Dustless Fates forced it to the ground, the actual damage was limited. Showers of earth flew, and only a few sword strikes managed to strip scales from its body.

“Its greatest strength and weakness is its heads!” Lantis called, unleashing another powerful spell at the serpent.

The beast, knowing the danger of her magic, hurried to evade.

Seeing its attention shift, Li Ren knew their chance had come.