Chapter 424 172: Within the Nine Heavens

Wu Sheng and Xu Lei stood side by side.

Their gazes fell in unison on Zhao Xin, who was up ahead.

At this moment, she was dressed in a simple white long dress, her steps light and graceful. She was like a Fairy who did not partake of the Mortal World's smoke and fire, so ethereal that one dared not look at her directly.

"Junior Brother Liao Chen, I won't lie to you."

Wu Sheng continued, "I too admired our senior sister back in the day, but in the end..."

He shook his head, not finishing his sentence.

"That happened?"

Xu Lei turned to look at Wu Sheng, a flash of surprise in his eyes. "Senior Brother, you pursued her too?"

"Yeah, but I failed. I gave up pretty quickly after that. Hahaha."

Wu Sheng nodded. "Senior Sister is very cold and aloof. So, I'd advise you not to get any ideas. You'll never win her over."

"Senior Brother Wu Sheng, care to make a bet with me?"

A smile tugged at the corner of Xu Lei's mouth. "Let's bet on whether or not I can win over Senior Sister Jin Xin!"

"You? Win her over?"

Wu Sheng was taken aback, then shook his head. "Junior Brother Liao Chen, why put yourself through this?"

"What, you don't dare?"

Xu Lei said provocatively, "How about we wager some resources?"

"Junior Brother, oh, Junior Brother, are you trying to set me up?"

But Wu Sheng just chuckled, his gaze as sharp as a torch. "Tell me honestly, do you already know Senior Sister Jin Xin? But she ascended a long time ago. Given your age, you shouldn't have even been born yet!"

"In the Mortal World, I was the dream lover of thousands of young women!"

A flicker of surprise passed through Xu Lei's mind, but his face remained calm. 'Do I have to know her to be confident about winning her over?'

"Then you're getting ahead of yourself."

Hearing this, Wu Sheng also chuckled. "How could Senior Sister Jin Xin possibly be compared to those women from the Mortal World? Of course, I won't bet with you. It's not just that I don't believe you can win her over, and it's not just that I don't want you to set me up. I also don't want you to earn Jue Gen's enmity. It's not pleasant being seen as his rival in love. After all, we're in this Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower now, and we still have to answer to Senior Brother Yuan Kong at times!"

Xu Lei couldn't help but frown.

'In that case, I can't openly acknowledge my connection to Zhao Xin.'

'At least not on the surface. For instance, I'll have to avoid being openly affectionate and all that for now. After all, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.'

Just then, Zhao Xin returned to her own residence and shut the door, leaving Jue Gen standing outside.

Therefore, Xu Lei didn't go find Zhao Xin to reunite with her right away. He planned to wait until he drew less attention from others before seeking her out for a talk.

After all, as a new Ascender, he was still receiving a fair bit of attention.

At that moment, Xu Lei stood on the first level of the Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower. As his gaze swept over his surroundings, a sense of anticipation for the coming trials grew within him.

He was just about to ask Wu Sheng something.

Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed throughout the Treasure Tower, catching everyone's attention.

"Newly advanced Ascender, Liao Chen, accept your novice gift package."

As the voice faded, a box shimmering with brilliant light slowly descended from the sky, landing in front of Xu Lei.

The box was carved with complex Runes and emitted a faint glow. It was clearly no ordinary object.

Everyone present stopped what they were doing, their gazes fixed on the box.

Wu Sheng stood beside Xu Lei, a trace of longing in his eyes, but he showed no intention of trying to snatch it.

He knew this was a special privilege granted to newcomers by the Celestial Palace Treasure Tower; no one could make a rash move.

Xu Lei carefully reached out and gently touched the box.

A warm energy flowed from his fingertips, putting him at ease.

He took a deep breath and then slowly opened the box.

Inside the box lay two items: a Cultivation Technique Jade Scroll and a Small Jade Bottle.

Xu Lei first picked up the Jade Scroll and extended his Divine Sense into it. The Jade Scroll recorded a Cultivation Method called the "Nine Dragon Pattern Seal."

This Cultivation Technique was profound and complex. Each seal had different key points for Cultivation and corresponding functions.

Its main purpose was to inscribe the seals onto one's Original Lotus Platform to increase one's Cultivation speed.

It also introduced some Cultivation directions for the Bodhisattva Realm, which mainly involved strengthening the halo of one's Dantian Origin until ancient Runes even appeared upon it.

The ultimate goal was to make the rings of the Bodhisattva halo manifesting behind one's head more numerous, more conspicuous, and even corporeal.

After that, Xu Lei picked up the Small Jade Bottle and found that the Spiritual Liquid inside seemed to be about the same as the few drops Bodhisattva Guan Yun had given him before.

He had forced those drops out of his body back then, but he had actually kept them all this time.

"Senior Brother Wu Sheng, what should I do next?"

Xu Lei put the items away and then asked Wu Sheng, "Do you have any suggestions?"

"There are some empty courtyards over there. Pick one and live wherever you like."

Wu Sheng thought for a moment, then said, "But don't even think about the ones next to Senior Sister Jin Xin. They're all already taken. One of them belongs to Jue Gen. The person on her other side doesn't dare make an open claim because he's afraid of Jue Gen, but he fancies Senior Sister Jin Xin too. In any case, just pick an empty one somewhere else."

Xu Lei nodded.

On the first level of the Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower, there were, of course, houses and courtyards.

After all, some Ascenders who couldn't pass the trials had to live here indefinitely. They couldn't just lie on the ground forever.

So the area was actually quite vast, with rows upon rows of buildings stretching out.

"I'll take you there."

Wu Sheng said, "I can tell you a few other things along the way. I'm pretty bored anyway. I can't pass the assessments, I can't make any friends here, and I can't win over any Female Cultivators. Life is bitter, Junior Brother. So bitter."

Xu Lei was struck speechless, then burst out laughing.

He then cupped his fists in thanks.