“Let you guys handle the chest searching,” Jiang Ke’er sighed, those memories too painful to revisit.
She hadn’t expected rewards after defeating monsters, but this did somewhat make up for the time the Taiming Sect squad lost during their expedition.
Thanks to the Divine Light Technique, Qian Yue was in no real danger and soon regained her mobility, but Jiang Ke’er still felt deeply concerned.
“My spiritual power is running low,” Qian Yue said, “Less than thirty percent left. From now on, you’ll have to rely on yourselves as much as possible.”
“That’s fine, we still have plenty left,” Xuanyang replied.
“Leave the upcoming battles to us. You rest properly first.”
“Okay.”
At that moment, Xiao Ri opened the chest, pulling out a coin, a small red skull, and a note.
The coin was obviously a token for use in the shop.
Jiang Ke’er took the skull and examined it.
【Demon Contract: From now on, the Bizarre Room will trigger two bizarre events, but these events have a higher chance of encountering traps or battles.】
Bizarre Room.
Jiang Ke’er recalled the Old Man on the first floor mentioning it before—a place where various random events could occur.
They hadn’t been there yet, but it seemed to be a place where risk and opportunity coexisted.
“Can I throw this thing away?” Jiang Ke’er curled her lips and tried tossing the skull.
But the skull seemed stuck to her.
No matter how many times she threw it, it hovered around her side.
She didn’t want it!
Although the Bizarre Room might bring some good fortune, triggering two events might be beneficial… but the skull’s description was clear: possessing it increases the chance of traps and battles.
She had suffered enough from the Tower’s ridiculously difficult fights, and given her non-spiritual cultivation, every bizarre event would probably be trouble.
“Obviously can’t throw it away,” Xiao Ri shrugged.
“What about the note?”
When Xiao Ri opened the chest, he also found a small note.
Jiang Ke’er took it and read a brief hint.
【Hint: The first team to reach the Top Floor will be able to choose a rare Magic Treasure and can carry some Magic Treasure bonuses out of the Emperor Jiang Trial.】
That was truly an exhilarating piece of news.
They had already witnessed the power of those Magic Treasures—like the Fireblade Squad’s coveted Double Attack Bonus.
If they could bring that outside, it would be an overwhelmingly powerful item to skyrocket their strength.
Of course, the prerequisite was being the first to reach the top of the Tower.
Jiang Ke’er fell into thought.
Every plan had to be laid out with the goal of reaching the Top Floor first, but… how exactly should she arrange it?
“Next stage.”
The gate to the next floor was already open.
It was Floor Five.
Among the three room options on Floor Five were two elite battles and one with a question mark.
The question mark was presumably the Bizarre Room—where all kinds of strange things might happen, good or bad… though the odds of bad events were probably higher.
The other two rooms required battles—elite battles at that.
The White Bone Sand Whale earlier had proven the strength of the Elite Monster.
Seventh Rank Ruins Realm Behemoth— they had nearly been wiped out. Even barely clearing the fight took a huge toll.
On the path ahead, if they had to enter a Public Room, those losses might cause them to be defeated and eliminated.
The Taiming Sect squad could no longer afford another elite fight.
Without the support of Magic Treasures, blindly rushing into combat rooms would be a severe disadvantage.
But the question mark room was a massive pitfall too.
Not only because they had the Demon Contract, which forced two bizarre events with a high chance of negative outcomes, but also because it was a Public Room!
Dangerous Public Room—if the Fireblade Squad or other teams equipped with powerful Magic Treasures were there, they might launch a preemptive strike, wiping out all other teams.
“Let’s go with the Bizarre Room,” Xuanyang suggested.
“If we keep fighting, we’ll fall too far behind. No matter how hard we try afterward, it’ll be hard to catch up.”
That was true.
Might as well gamble. Losing without trying was guaranteed, maybe trying could offer some chance.
Everyone agreed to head for that public Bizarre Room, so without hesitation, they stepped through the Transmission Gate.
To their surprise, quite a few people were already waiting behind the door.
“Yo, Taiming Sect,” the Dan Sect Alliance members teased.
“Coming so late, looks like you’ve had a rough time.”
The Taiming Sect group was ragged, clearly having just endured a brutal fight.
Several teams in the room looked similarly battered, some even missing members, barely holding on with just two or three people.
“Qing Yi! Qing Yi!” A familiar figure waved excitedly from afar.
It was Jie Shui.
Members of the Demon Revival Society were also present. Jiang Ke’er had noticed them back on the first floor.
Led by Emperor Taizong of Tang, the team included Jie Shui, Changsun Qingyue, Mu Guoguo, and a man she didn’t recognize.
The man dressed plainly, his brows resembling Changsun Qingyue’s, and he stood close to her… probably a relative.
“You know them?” Emperor Taizong of Tang asked, surprised.
“Yes, that’s the little girl I mentioned before who cooks amazing food, and she’s a new member of our Revival Society,” Changsun Qingyue smiled.
“…”
Suddenly, Emperor Taizong’s expression darkened with hostility.
“???”
Jiang Ke’er was baffled, not understanding why he would be hostile toward her.
Emperor Taizong reached out and pinched Changsun Qingyue’s cheek, muttering resentfully, “Used to be less chubby… now she’s round.”
Jie Shui and Mu Guoguo tried to greet them, but the plain-clothed man stopped them with an outstretched hand.
“In my opinion, the Taiming Sect has made too many enemies. Now is not the time to make friends with them. Besides, we are all enemies inside the Tower. It’s better to stay cautious. If you want to catch up, wait until we get out.”
“Brother,” Changsun Qingyue frowned, displeased.
“Qing Yi has helped us many times, even saved our lives!”
Unexpectedly, Emperor Taizong spoke again: “This matter is serious. We’ll discuss favors later. Let’s move.”
Changsun Qingyue stomped her foot and stiffened her face. “I’m angry.”
Emperor Taizong and Changsun Wuji shuddered.
Changsun Qingyue stretched out both hands, grabbing their Cat Ears fiercely, and growled, “I’m also a Taiming Sect disciple, and Qing Yi saved our lives. Now I want to ally with the Taiming Sect team. Which of you objects?”
“…Support! Support!”
“…Alliance! Alliance!”
“Ow ow ow! Can you let go so we can discuss this?”
Qingyue was as fierce and unruly as ever.
At that moment, a radiance appeared before the Taiming Sect members.
A dwarf Old Man descended from above. Unlike the dwarf Old Man on the first floor, this one looked clearly mad.
“Welcome to the Bizarre Room.”
“Now, it’s your turn… hmm? Demon Contract?”
Seeing the skull floating beside Jiang Ke’er, the Old Man suddenly threw back his head and let out two eerie laughs, his face darkening with sinister cruelty.
With a wave of his hand, the Taiming Sect members immediately felt the world spin wildly around them.
“Go to hell!”