Chapter 58: Calamity Without Cause

"What effect does the second level have?"
Ke Bei was first taken aback, then overjoyed, his voice growing a bit urgent as he asked.
The Cultivation of Vital Essence was a technique gifted by the system, and Ke Bei had never paid much attention to it. However, its effect of strengthening by the force of one man every two days could not be overlooked! He simply hadn't expected that it could be upgraded.
"When the Cultivation of Vital Essence reaches the second level, its effect increases fourfold."
As Ke Bei inquired, the system's clear prompt sounded again.
"Fourfold?"
The sudden delight left Ke Bei stunned, and it was a while before he opened his mouth in astonishment!
Gaining the strength of one man every two days from cultivation might seem insignificant, especially compared to the tempering of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Art, but in truth, it was already a heaven-defying effect.
To put it in perspective, an ordinary human at the peak of Level Three Enhancement would possess bodily strength merely thirty times that of a regular person. Even after breaking through to the Transcendence Realm, their physical strength would not increase further, unless their innate abilities happened to enhance the body.
Now, with the Cultivation of Vital Essence, Ke Bei's strength could increase almost without limit, though at a slow pace. But now that it had reached the second level, the rate had quadrupled!
A fourfold increase meant two men’s strength in a single day! Sixty men’s strength in a month! And in a year… The very thought of such progress sent a chill down Ke Bei’s spine.
Even more frightening was that Ke Bei had only acquired the upper scroll of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Art; there were still the middle and lower scrolls to obtain. The stronger the foundation, the more effective the art's tempering.
Should he acquire the remaining scrolls, Ke Bei could scarcely imagine to what terrifying degree his physical strength might ascend!
Confidence! An unprecedented confidence surged within him!
Ke Bei straightened his back and strode toward the Jiujang Base. Leaving Lingfeng City, he headed eastward, passing through the ruins of Wushan City, and after four more base cities, he would arrive at Jiujang.
Following a dilapidated highway, Ke Bei sped eastward using his Shadow Step. Even without invoking the inner energy of the Nine Suns Divine Art, his speed was still impressive.
As for any wandering zombies or beasts along the way, Ke Bei didn’t spare them a glance. With his current power, as long as he avoided the strongholds in the wilderness, he was in no danger whatsoever.
He traveled with ease, a gentle smile on his lips, and soon arrived at Wushan City. Slowing his pace, he gazed at the ruined city and let out a slow breath.
Here, once, humanity had fought a brutal battle against zombies and beasts. Tens of thousands of people lay forever in this place, which now was devoid of life save for a few bloodstained, withered grasses.
That savage slaughter, in the grand history of humanity’s struggle against zombies and beasts, was but a trivial episode.
After a brief sigh, Ke Bei continued eastward, heading for Jiujang Base. He had no idea that a miracle had manifested little more than a hundred kilometers ahead, nor that the Tower of Heaven, which he sought so earnestly, was just up ahead.
Since the miracle had appeared and the Tower of Heaven emerged over ten days ago, no one knew what accord the world’s five great powers had reached. But from that day, five super-strong individuals had appeared near the Tower.
At this moment, four elders sat at the corners of the Tower of Heaven’s pitch-black base, while atop the tower lay a beast, eight or nine meters tall, its massive eyes closed as it rested.
These five were the guardians left behind by the five great powers to watch over the Tower of Heaven.

Three of the elders were humans from the three great bases, each at the pinnacle of the Wargod Realm. The elder of the Divine Clan was a top-level Divine King, his strength rivaling the human wargods. Atop the tower, a majestic beast with violet fur, the Violet Moon Howling Tiger, lay lazily, a king-level beast at its peak.
Every month, the five great powers would send people here.
The Gu Tang Foundation and the Divine Clan each had fifty spots, the beast clan thirty-five, and the Jiujang and Haoyue Bases thirty each—the fewest.
Furthermore, anyone above the Wargod Realm from the five powers could enter the Tower of Heaven at any time, not counting toward these quotas.
These were the rules set jointly by the five strongest on Earth, and no one dared defy them.
At the base of the immense Tower of Heaven, young men and women emerged, some radiant with pride, others crestfallen, their expressions varied.
"Dammit! Why? Why am I not worthy of recognition?"
A youth in silver battle armor, four golden stripes embroidered at his chest, wore a cold and vicious expression.
"Hei Qin, this kind of thing can’t be forced. Heh, you’d best accept your fate."
A man in blood-red battle armor, his long hair flowing, glanced at Hei Qin’s vicious eyes with a touch of mockery in his voice.
"Rui Dongyang, get lost! I have no time for you!"
A cold light flashed in Hei Qin’s eyes as he barked back, his silver armor rippling with tension.
"Hmph, a failure who can’t win the Tower of Heaven’s recognition? What—thinking of starting a fight? Ranked twenty-ninth on the Azure Dragon List? Hmph, you disgrace it."
Rui Dongyang shrugged nonchalantly at Hei Qin’s anger, a faint smile on his lips.
"You… courting death!"
Hei Qin’s pupils contracted. His silver armor vibrated, and a faint golden glow surfaced on his exposed hand, his gaze turning icy and murderous.
"Haha, do you really want to fight?"
Rui Dongyang, lips curved in a faint smile, amber light glinting in his eyes, stomped the earth, sending out a ripple of invisible pressure.
Hei Qin suddenly felt his whole body pressed down as if by a small mountain. He clenched his metallic fist, glared at Rui Dongyang, snorted, and turned away.
Yet his steps seemed weighted by stone, every stride leaving a deep pit in the ground. Only after ten steps did the oppressive feeling vanish.
"One day, you’ll die by my hand!"
Once the weight had lifted, Hei Qin shot Rui Dongyang a venomous look, then marched away with a dark expression.
…

Ke Bei continued swiftly east, soon passing Wushan and heading toward the Tower of Heaven, unaware that he was nearing his heart’s desire. He’d simply chosen the shortest route to Jiujang Base, which happened to pass by Moonwatch Lake, where the Tower stood.
“Hm?”
Ke Bei paused, staring ahead.
Not far away, a squad of armored soldiers blocked the road, sealing it completely.
“What’s going on?”
Ke Bei frowned. This was the wilderness—people, let alone soldiers, were rarely seen here.
As he pondered, a young man in silver armor, four golden stripes on his chest and a sullen face, emerged from behind the troops.
“Excuse me, brother, what’s happening up ahead? Are we not allowed through?”
Ke Bei addressed the young man, thinking that someone coming from within would know why the road was blocked. If he could pass, he wouldn’t need to make a detour. Even though his speed made a detour no great inconvenience, there was no need to take a longer road if he didn’t have to.
But, to Ke Bei’s surprise, the young man didn’t answer. Instead, he hurled a punch at Ke Bei without warning!
“Out of my way!”
Hei Qin’s face was dark with rage. Failing to win the Tower’s recognition had already left him smoldering. Mocked by Rui Dongyang, he was even angrier. Yet Rui’s strength was beyond his, so he’d had to swallow his fury and walk away, not even returning via Moonwatch Lake to Jiujang Base.
That he’d failed the Tower’s test was intolerable for someone so proud. To avoid the others, he’d even taken the long route around the lake.
Now, frustrated and with nowhere to vent his anger, he saw Ke Bei approach, oblivious and naïve. His rage found an outlet. Arrogant as ever, he lashed out with a punch, not caring to explain.
“Are you insane?”
Ke Bei deftly shifted into Shadow Step, dodging the blow, his face darkening as he stared at Hei Qin.
“I just asked the way. If you don’t want to answer, fine, but to attack me out of nowhere? That’s unreasonable.”
“Reason? Hah! I, Hei Qin, have never known the meaning of reason!”
Hei Qin sneered, his hand glowing golden. With a stomp, he charged at Ke Bei!