Long Chen sat on his cultivation platform, eyes closed, as the information about the new technique settled into his mind.

The pain from the initial circulation had faded to a dull ache. His body was adjusting, slowly, to the foreign energy patterns the technique demanded.

*The Blood Tyrant Devouring Art,* Azazel said, his voice taking on a lecturing tone. *One of the most powerful body cultivation techniques in existence. And before you start judging, let me explain what makes it special.*

Long Chen opened his eyes. "I'm listening."

*Good. Because this isn't just some random demonic technique I picked up.* Azazel's voice carried a hint of pride. *This was created by my brother—the Demon Sin of Wrath, Asmodeus. And trust me when I say he knew what he was doing.*

"Your brother," Long Chen repeated. "The Demon Sin of Wrath."

*Yes. Lovely fellow, terrible temper. Anyway—* Azazel continued without missing a beat. *The Blood Tyrant Devouring Art is special for two reasons. First, it increases your spiritual energy cultivation at a terrifying speed. We're talking about breakthrough speeds that would make normal cultivators weep with envy. But that's not even its main specialty.*

Long Chen leaned forward slightly. "What is?"

*Refinement of the body using blood.*

The words hung in the air for a moment.

Long Chen frowned. "Blood refinement. As in… using blood to cultivate?"

*Exactly.*

"That makes me no different from evil cultivators. Ghostly path practitioners who drain people dry to fuel their cultivation." Long Chen's voice hardened. "I'm not doing that."

Azazel burst out laughing.

*HAHAHAHA! Oh, you ignorant little frog sitting in your well, thinking you understand the world!*

Long Chen's frown deepened. "What?"

*I said blood, you idiot!* Azazel's voice was equal parts amused and exasperated. *Do you think my brother, one of the greatest demon lords in existence, would create a technique that requires you to murder humans like some desperate, evil-path trash? That's beneath him! That's beneath us!*

"Then what kind of blood?" Long Chen asked carefully.

*Spirit beast blood. Primarily. The purer the bloodline, the better the results. Demonic beast blood works even better. And if you're really lucky—dragon blood, phoenix blood, qilin blood. Any creature with a powerful bloodline can fuel this technique.*

Azazel's tone shifted, becoming more serious.

*But here's the thing—the first stage of the technique doesn't require blood at all, not yet. You need to lay the foundation first. Build the Tyrant Demon Physique from the ground up using spiritual materials. Herbs, minerals, treasures that strengthen and refine your body. After the foundation is set, you don't even need to procure blood, the physique sucks out the blood of your fallen foes, beast or human.*

Long Chen processed that. "So I need materials…what kind?"

*I'm getting to that.* Azazel paused. *The first stage requires specific treasures to change your body and prepare it for the transformation. Without these, attempting blood refinement would just corrupt you from the inside out.*

Information flooded into Long Chen's mind again. A list of materials, each one appearing clearly with descriptions and purposes.

*Ironbone Root.

*Silverleaf Grass.

*Jade Marrow Stone.

*Flame Heart Fruit.

*Blood Orchid Flower.

Long Chen memorized each one. "How many of these do I need?"

*One of each for the first stage. More will be needed later, but start with these five.*

"And where do I find them?"

*Your sect's Treasure Hall, probably. These aren't ultra-rare materials, most sects keep them in stock for disciples.*

Long Chen stood up. "Then I'll head there now."

*Wait—* Azazel started.

But Long Chen was already moving toward the door.

The Treasure Hall of the Inner Disciple Domain was larger than Long Chen had expected.

The building was three stories tall, constructed from dark wood with spiritual formations carved into every beam and pillar. The entrance was guarded by two disciples at Foundation Establishment Realm, their expressions bored but alert.

Long Chen walked past them without issue—his inner disciple token granted him access.

Inside, the hall was organized like a library. Rows upon rows of shelves stretched toward the back, each one holding jade boxes, sealed containers, and carefully labeled treasures. The air smelled faintly of herbs and something metallic.

An attendant sat at a desk near the entrance—a middle-aged man with graying hair and sharp eyes. He looked up as Long Chen approached.

"Name and token," the attendant said automatically.

Long Chen handed over his jade token.

The attendant examined it briefly, then nodded. "Inner disciple, you have access to the first and second floors. Third floor requires elder permission. What are you looking for?"

Long Chen pulled out a list he'd written down based on Azazel's instructions. "I need these materials."

The attendant took the list and scanned it, his eyebrows raising slightly.

"Body refinement materials," he muttered. "Ironbone Root, Silverleaf Grass, Jade Marrow Stone, Flame Heart Fruit…" He paused. "And a Blood Orchid Flower."

He looked up at Long Chen. "You're starting body cultivation?"

"Yes."

"Weird choice for someone about to start body cultivation, especially at Qi Acquisition Realm." The attendant didn't say it mockingly—just stating a fact. "Most disciples wait until Foundation Establishment before attempting dual cultivation paths."

Long Chen didn't respond.

The attendant shrugged. "Your choice. Let me check the inventory."

He pulled out a jade slip and sent his spiritual sense into it. His expression shifted as he reviewed the contents.

"Good news—we have four of the five materials you need. Ironbone Root, Silverleaf Grass, Jade Marrow Stone, and Flame Heart Fruit. All in stock, all available for purchase with contribution points."

"And the Blood Orchid?" Long Chen asked, already knowing the answer.

"Out of stock." The attendant set the jade slip down. "Blood Orchids are rare. They only grow in locations that have seen significant bloodshed—battlefields, massacre sites, places where death has saturated the soil. And even then, they're difficult to harvest because they only bloom once every ten years."

He leaned back in his chair. "We haven't had one in inventory for at least three years. Last one was claimed by a core disciple for his own cultivation."

Long Chen's jaw tightened. Of course. Of course the one material he needed most would be the hardest to find.

"Is there anywhere else I could find one?" Long Chen asked.

The attendant thought for a moment. "You could try the sect missions. Sometimes, requests come in for disciples to explore dangerous areas where Blood Orchids might grow. But those are usually high-difficulty missions—B-rank or A-rank. Not suitable for someone at your level."

Long Chen nodded slowly. "I'll figure something out. I'll take the other four materials for now."

"That'll be 150 contribution points total."

Long Chen pulled out the pouch he'd received earlier. He still had 200 points from completing the entrance exam on his own. He handed over 150 points worth of tokens.

The attendant counted them, nodded, and stood up. "Wait here."

He disappeared into the back of the hall.

Long Chen stood there, mind racing. He had four of the five materials but without the Blood Orchid, he couldn't begin the first stage of the Blood Tyrant Devouring Art. The foundation would be incomplete. Attempting cultivation without it would be dangerous at best, fatal at worst.

'Where the hell am I supposed to find a Blood Orchid?'

The attendant returned a few minutes later carrying four jade boxes, each one sealed with formation arrays. He set them on the desk.

"Ironbone Root, Silverleaf Grass, Jade Marrow Stone, Flame Heart Fruit. All sealed and preserved. Keep them in the jade boxes until you're ready to use them—exposure to normal air will degrade their potency."

"Understood." Long Chen picked up the boxes and stored them in his spatial ring.

He turned to leave, already trying to figure out his next move—

"Wait," the attendant called out.

Long Chen stopped and looked back.

The attendant was studying him thoughtfully. "You're really set on body cultivation, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Then let me give you some advice." The attendant leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "If you can't find a Blood Orchid through normal channels, there's one other option."

Long Chen's attention sharpened. "What option?"

"The Tower."

Long Chen blinked. "The Tower? You mean the sect's Tower?"

"Yes." The attendant nodded. "Most disciples don't know this because they never make it far enough to find out. But the Tower doesn't just test you—it rewards you. And not just with contribution points or techniques."

He paused, making sure Long Chen was listening.

"When you reach the higher floors, the fifteenth floor and above, you gain the right to make a request. You can ask the Tower for a specific treasure, and if the Tower deems you worthy, it will provide it."

Long Chen stared at him.

The attendant shrugged. "Of course, reaching the fifteenth floor is nearly impossible. The highest anyone in our sect has gotten is fifteen floors, and that was fifty years ago by a core disciple at Core Formation Realm. But if you're desperate…"

He trailed off, leaving the implication hanging.

Long Chen's mind raced. The Tower could provide a Blood Orchid if he climbed high enough. That meant there was a path forward.

'This should be easy, I stopped at the fourteenth floor last time, and I'm more stronger now.'

"Thank you," Long Chen said. "That's very helpful."

The attendant waved him off. "Don't thank me yet. The Tower has broken more disciples than it's rewarded. But if you're serious about body cultivation, it might be your only option."

Long Chen nodded and turned to leave.

As he walked out of the Treasure Hall, Azazel's voice chimed in his mind.

*Did you hear that? This Tower is a mystery*

"You sound surprised."

*Because I am! I've encountered countless cultivation sects, secret realms, and ancient inheritances. But a tower that exists in different places at the same time? That's new. And strange.* Azazel's tone shifted, becoming thoughtful. *What kind of entity creates something like that? Whoever it is, he's probably looking for a specific quality in someone.*

Long Chen didn't have an answer.

He adjusted his path, heading away from his cave abode and towards the Tower's location.

He'd heard about the Tower during his brief tour of the sect with Qinglan. It stood on the eastern edge of the inner domain—a massive structure that seemed to pierce the sky itself.

No one knew where it came from, or knew who built it. It had simply appeared two hundred years ago, along with towers in other sects and clans across the world.

And now Long Chen was going to climb it.

"System," Long Chen said quietly. "Any thoughts on this?"

[The Tower is not part of the original narrative you wrote,] the system replied. [This suggests it's an external element—something that exists independent of your story. Approach with caution.]

"I was just about to ask, is that possible?."

[I don't know but let's keep going, we'll probably find out more when we climb higher in the tower.]

Long Chen kept walking, his hand resting on Demon Dweller's hilt.

Fifteen floors, that's what the attendant had said. Reach the fifteenth floor, and he could request a Blood Orchid.

'Then I'll reach the fifteenth floor.'

It was that simple.

Ahead, the Tower loomed into view—dark stone rising impossibly high, its peak hidden in clouds. Spiritual energy radiated from it in waves, dense and oppressive.

Long Chen took a breath and kept walking toward it.

Behind him, the sect continued its normal rhythm. Disciples trained, studied, cultivated.

None of them knew that one of their newest members was about to attempt something that hadn't been done in fifty years.

And none of them knew what would happen if he succeeded.

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