His voice sounded extremely weak.

Shui Ze remained silent for a moment, then said, “If I’m not mistaken, the string on the Trial Tower seems to be gradually being devoured by demonic power, and as the spirit of the Weak Water Zither, I am naturally affected as well.”

Lu Fuyue was startled. "Demon power? Could it be that some powerful demon is imprisoned on the top floor of the Trial Tower, and the Golden Zither String is the key to suppressing her?"

"It's hard to say. Even I can't detect anything about it up there."

Lu Fuyue pursed her lips. "It seems we can't force our way in."

Having grown up in the Tianxuan Sect since childhood, she naturally knew that starting from the sixth level of the Trial Tower, to advance to the next level, one had to defeat the previous person who had entered that level of the Trial Tower.

However, there are three conditions for the ninth level of the Trial Tower.

First, to win first place in the cultivation competition a hundred years later.

Second, defeat Lu Zhengming, the sect leader of Tianxuan Sect.

Third, he would undergo the test of the Heavenly Profound Sect's patriarch.

These three conditions are all increasingly difficult.

The Cultivation Grand Competition is held once every two hundred years. It is open to all geniuses under the age of one thousand from various sects throughout the cultivation world. Winning first place is extremely difficult.

Lu Zhengming was a peak Nascent Soul expert, while she was only at the early Golden Core stage.

As for the patriarch of the Tianxuan Sect, she had never met him. The only thing she knew about him was that his own decree had been granted to her.

With her current cultivation level, she absolutely cannot meet these three conditions.

Lu Fuyue's eyes narrowed slightly; it seemed she needed to cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage as soon as possible.

To be honest, her cultivation speed was indeed extremely fast. While others might not reach the Golden Core stage even after hundreds of years, she succeeded in just over ten or twenty years.

But all this glory was earned little by little with her life.

She has escaped death time and time again, suffered serious injuries time and time again, and survived each time to get to where she is today.

To obtain that string, these three conditions must be met.

But she only has less than three hundred years to live, and if she doesn't get it, she will die.

Lu Fuyue lowered her eyes and pondered, wondering how she could increase her cultivation speed and break through the encirclement to win first place in the cultivation competition within a short period of a hundred years.

Shui Ze guessed her thoughts, "Simply improving cultivation level is not enough; actual combat is the fastest way to improve strength."

"As for your cultivation speed, your space should be of some help to you."

Lu Fuyue was taken aback. Space?

Speaking of which, the space and storage ring were shut down after the last fusion, and only returned to normal yesterday.

However, she hasn't gone inside to take a look yet.

Suddenly, a sharp aura rushed towards her. Lu Fuyue's eyes turned cold, and she turned to the side and grabbed the spirit arrow that the other party had shot at her.

Lu Fuyue looked up and saw a woman in yellow putting away her bow and arrow, looking at her coldly.

She recognized this person; one of them was Yan Wei, the woman in yellow standing before her, when they entered the Cangnan Secret Realm.

Yan Wei's expression changed slightly. "Junior Sister Lu is quite skilled."

Lu Fuyue pursed her lips, roughly guessing the other party's intentions. "So, Senior Sister is here to cause trouble?"

Yan Wei sneered, "Looking for trouble?"

"You can understand it that way too."

Lu Fuyue looked up at the other person with a calm expression, "Since that's the case, then I won't stand on ceremony, Junior Sister."

Then, he activated his cultivation technique, and with powerful spiritual energy, he swung the arrow in his hand and thrust it towards his opponent.

Yan Wei's pupils suddenly contracted, and she subconsciously took a step back. The arrow that was rushing towards her passed by her ear in a flash, and a strand of hair fell to the ground.

Lu Fuyue smiled calmly, "Since Senior Sister wants to cause trouble, then I will definitely play along to the end."

A moment later, Yan Wei turned around and glanced at the small hole left in the tree behind her. Her apprehension deepened, and she clenched her hands tightly at her sides.

Lu Fuyue has only just entered the early stage of the Golden Core realm, yet she already possesses such strength. She truly underestimated her.

However, she was at the peak of the early Golden Core stage, and she refused to believe that she couldn't defeat a little girl who had just entered the Golden Core stage.

Yan Wei looked Lu Fuyue up and down. "How about we have a match?"

"I really want to know what kind of skills Junior Sister Lu has that have enabled her to push my senior sister out of the top ten of the genius list."

Lu Fuyue pondered for a moment, "Since we're going to have a competition, for Senior Sister's safety, how about I let Senior Sister use one hand?"

"Although my senior sister just ambushed me, she is kind-hearted and likes to repay evil with good."

Yan Wei was furious and slapped Lu Fuyue, "How dare you humiliate me like this?"

Lu Fuyue shook her head. "Senior sister, how can you not understand my good intentions?"

She put her left hand behind her back, then activated the Lotus Step technique, and appeared behind Yan Wei in the next second, then kicked her hard in the back.

After all, she is now a divine beast phoenix. Even without using spiritual power, her physical body alone is already invincible among those of the same level.

Instantly, a cracking sound rang out, the sound of bones breaking.

"ah--"

Yan Wei's body was kicked and slammed onto the ground ten meters away.

Lu Fuyue walked over and slowly asked, "Senior Sister, are you alright?"

"I only used 70% of my strength in that kick. I hope Senior Sister isn't hurt?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Wei's eyes flashed with a hint of fear. Lu Fuyue was not human at all. How could she be so strong?

She forcefully suppressed the taste of blood rising in her throat, then, ignoring her injuries, slowly got up from the ground and kept backing away.

"Junior Sister, you really have impressive strength."

Lu Fuyue smiled faintly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Then thank you for your praise, Senior Sister."

By provoking someone, you can quickly find their weakness and then strike a fatal blow!

Indeed, real combat is the best shortcut to improving one's skills.

Yan Wei froze. Did this person really think she was praising her?

Lu Fuyue naturally saw through Yan Wei's thoughts. She opened her palm, and a cluster of golden-red flames appeared out of thin air.

"Senior sister, it seems you still want to compete with me. Why don't you use it to test your bow and arrow and see who is better?"

A chill ran through Yan Wei's feet, making her feel cold all over, and she involuntarily shrank back.

What exactly is this spiritual fire? Why does it fill her with such deep fear the moment it appears?

"No...no, junior sister, it was my fault this time."

"I apologize to you. Please, for the sake of my master, let me go, okay?"

Lu Fuyue pursed her lips, her gaze falling on Yan Wei, looking directly into her eyes, "But, when you attacked me just now, why didn't you spare me out of respect for Elder Yuqing?"

Yan Wei's face turned pale. "I...I didn't mean to just now."

Lu Fuyue's eyes gradually turned cold. "Disregarding sect rules and taking action against fellow disciples without authorization, Senior Sister, you truly impress me!"

"I hope to hear the news that my senior sister will voluntarily turn herself in to the Law Enforcement Hall."

"I hope my senior sister won't let me down."