[As for the third requirement, you will have to build the foundation for three sword techniques that will become integral to the future requirements and your future as a swordsman.
Just three, but very essential. My advice, however, is for you first to master all 10,002 sword plays, push your aspects to the requirements, and have at least six enlightenments. Then, if possible, defeat at least seven swordsmen in the sword bridge before attempting this.
You will have many more days and chances to visualize your desired sword technique. Also, it will be best to venture into mind cultivation early, as your mental capacity will be required to form these three foundations.
In fact, it’s a crucial aspect that you will need to start visualizing a sword technique that has the potential to house seven different forms.]
Kent nodded.
The current him would mess this up if he chose to dive into it now. He must first grow…and the only way for him to grow is to do more fighting and a deeper understanding of the path of the sword…
[That said, the master must really fight more since that is the best way to grow as a swordsman. You must face odds far greater than yours if you want to walk the Genesis path… trust me.]
Kent nodded again. He chose to move away after walking around the Sword of Enlightenment. His next destination was the Body Tower, which he had awakened when he became a body cultivator.
He couldn’t enter to tell what he had received or even review the message since, back then, he was just trying to break through to the Sword Grandmaster stage.
“Wow.”
Kent was taken aback when he appeared inside the Body Tower. It was not at all like he had envisioned.
Inside was a grassy field with nothing but a large, tall golden staircase housing no less than ten thousand steps.
[This is the Golden Titan Stairway. Although you temper your body to make it much more steady and durable, you must also temper it under pressure.
On the Golden Titan Stairway, you will experience pressure as you climb. The higher you climb, the greater the pressure increases.
There are 10,002 steps, and each has its own percentage of increase in pressure. But the moment you move past a step, you won’t feel any pressure later when you pass it.]
“I see. This makes more sense now. With this, my chances of becoming a Bronze body will be achieved much faster.”
“Indeed. These stairs are ideal for the master and his women. With these stairs, they will benefit more as they temper their bodies.”
Kent nodded.
‘But something ain’t adding up’
Kent started to ponder on something. The stairs were good, but he felt like something was off. So he asked Gaia. As the master of the towers, he knew when someone was being deceived.
“Gaia, I doubt this stairway is meant for just climbing under pressure. There must be more to it…right?”
Gaia looked at Kent and smiled. She seemed to have expected the question, but she wasn’t aware Kent would ask it this early. She took out that information from the messages she showed him when she awakened the Body Tower.
She had wanted it to be a surprise, but it seemed Kent was much more perceptive.
[Indeed. There is more to the stairway. The 10,002 steps are divided into 7 stages. The first stage has 300 steps. If you manage to finish a stage, you will receive a Mystical-grade tempering treasure that you can use to further temper your body.
But aside from that, for every 100 steps you climb, you will receive random body-tempering treasures ranging from Earth grade to Legendary grade.]
Kent smiled upon hearing that. Of course, he could go ahead and ask for some of these items, but he just doesn’t want to. Like how Gaia wanted to surprise him with these boons, he also wanted to surprise himself.
Kent walked close to the stairway and casually stepped on the first step. As soon as his leg touched it, he felt a change in the gravity pressing down on him.
He added the other leg but managed to remain standing.
He then moved to the second step, and like the first, the pressure changed, but he was able to withstand it. He quickly moved through the steps until he arrived at the 10th step.
That’s where he felt the pressure increase much more. He could feel he was being pressed down by a force so great that he just didn’t have the strength to move his leg.
[The master must know nothing is easy in the tower. To become a monster, you must undergo monstrous training], Gaia said with a smug expression.
Kent just sat down and started to cultivate under the pressure. He knew that to move forward, he must first become accustomed to the pressure.
After 20 minutes, his body adapted to the pressure, so he moved to the 11th step. Strangely, the pressure wasn’t as intense, so he moved ahead, and within an hour, he was on the 15th step.
He used another hour to get to the 19th step. By the 19th step, Kent finally understood why they said body cultivation is expensive.
Right now, he knew he needed loads of herbs and resources to keep tempering his body. He recognized how weak he was and how much he must improve if he wanted to always have an edge in battle… even against those stronger than him.
[The master can always visit the store to get top-notch resources. I might even give you a discount.]
Gaia joked, hovering before Kent, who was adapting to the pressure on the 19th step. He didn’t mind her and just focused for 2 hours before he adapted.
Then he moved to the 20th, but when he stepped on it, he felt a great pressure fall down on him, forcing him to move his leg back to the 19th step.
“Damn… My bones nearly broke.”
[Oh, I forgot to tell Master. Every 10 steps increase the pressure by 2. This means if the pressure on the 19th step can restrict your body, then the pressure on the 20th step can break your bones, the 30th can shatter your bones, and the 40th will grind them to powder.]
Kent sighed and then stepped on the 20th step again. He gritted his teeth and endured the pressure until he managed to step on the 20th step with both legs.
He was immediately sent down onto his knees, forcing him to kneel. He took the pressure and went into a lotus posture, beginning to cultivate the pressure.
Before he realized it, a day had passed, yet the pressure was still there… Though he had adapted somewhat, it was by a small percentage. So, he continued to cultivate…
Three days later, he finally managed to stand and move around on the 20th step. The step was large enough to fit more than 100 people at the same time.
He moved around slowly at first, but after a while, he was running, which made him very confident. But like they say, you should tap out when it’s still favorable for you.
Kent didn’t move to the 21st step. Instead, he chose to leave the tower for now. He still had to visit the Spear Saintess, but first, he needed to know more about the sect, and who better to take him around than Ingrid, his next target?
Though they didn’t know each other, Kent planned to take it slowly by getting to know her first. He would just let her play with little Kent if worst came to shove.
If only he knew, despite Ingrid’s desire to have his divine rod inside her, she would want Kent to gain her master’s permission first.
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