Chapter 40: Mental Formation, The Tower Lord’s Shock

Mr. Wu’s spiritual Qi expanded, his aura billowing like a storm. He did not strike immediately; however, the moment his energy surged, several guardian beasts lying around the Drunken Immortal Pavilion erupted in roars. Every roar was ear-splitting, radiating a heavy, suffocating pressure.

Long Xiwei’s face was taut with tension. This pavilion was clearly a power they could not afford to offend: she even felt a flicker of regret for bringing Lu Jin here. Lu Jin, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable.

Song Wen and his group were practically vibrating with malicious glee.

“Hahaha! Long Xiwei, you actually dare to defy Mr. Wu? This is the Drunken Immortal Pavilion! Forget you: even if your Shifu came in person, she would have to be respectful before Mr. Wu!”

“You ignorant fool! Kneel and beg for Mr. Wu’s forgiveness at once!”

“Don’t you understand that when you are under someone else’s roof, you must bow your head?”

Hearing the mockery, Long Xiwei gritted her teeth. “Song Wen! Do not force our grievances onto Young Master Lu! Mr. Wu, today’s matter was their intentional provocation. Please, distinguish right from wrong!”

Mr. Wu’s eyes turned icy. His aura enveloped Long Xiwei, making her body tremble under the weight. “Are you saying I cannot distinguish right from wrong?” Even now, Mr. Wu wore a smile that did not reach his eyes; his face appeared almost ghoulish.

“You dare to touch my people?”

Sensing Long Xiwei being suppressed, Lu Jin’s body shuddered. A wave of spiritual Qi instantly shattered Mr. Wu’s aura.

“Brat, you are tired of living!”

Finding his authority challenged, Mr. Wu’s smile vanished. He raised his palm as spiritual Qi frantically condensed at his fingertips, forming a miniature hurricane that brewed a soul-shaking pressure.

“Stop!”

Suddenly, an old yet indisputable voice drifted down from the upper floors. Mr. Wu’s brow furrowed, and he instantly retracted his aura. “Yes! My Lord!”

The voice spoke again: “Bring this Young Friend Lu to the third floor.”

At those words, Mr. Wu’s expression shifted violently; a look of utter disbelief surfaced in his eyes. “My Lord… the third floor?” He asked again as if he needed to confirm the order before he dared to obey.

“Correct! Young Friend Lu, please!” The voice provided no hint of its owner’s mood.

“The third floor? This…” Long Xiwei’s beautiful eyes widened in confusion. The Song family members were also visibly stunned: their gaze toward Lu Jin shifted dramatically.

“An alchemist? Could he be an alchemist?”

“Only alchemists are qualified to be summoned to the third floor!”

“Hmph, don’t be so sure yet. So what if he’s an alchemist? Plenty of mental power practitioners have entered the third floor, but very few have passed the test in all these years!”

“He’s just a guy with slightly stronger mental power, that’s all. There is no need to worry!”

The Song family members spoke with forced bravado, though their eyes were flickering with unease.

Oh? Lu Jin looked up and frowned. “The third floor? What is the identity of the one speaking?”

Mr. Wu’s attitude shifted completely. “Young Friend Lu, the person above is the Lord of our Drunken Immortal Pavilion!”

The crowd was shocked once more. Although they had guessed the identity, hearing it confirmed by Mr. Wu still sent a jolt of surprise through them. The Lord of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion was a legendary figure whose tracks were as mysterious as a divine dragon’s: ordinary people had no chance of seeing him. And now, this man was right above them.

“I won’t go up without a reason,” Lu Jin said casually.

Mr. Wu narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Young Friend Lu, you might not know this, but the third floor is a testing ground for mental power. Anyone who passes the test is treated as a distinguished guest of our pavilion with endless benefits!”

Lu Jin smiled. “Waive the twenty thousand Spirit Stones fee first, then I’ll consider it.”

Mr. Wu was taken aback. “Young Friend Lu, this… I cannot make such a decision!”

Song Wen gritted his teeth and mocked: “Brat, you are truly arrogant. You don’t even know if you can pass the test, yet you’re already making demands?”

“Heh, you think the pavilion will treat you with respect before you prove yourself? You’re dreaming!”

Right then, the voice from upstairs drifted down again: “It is a mere twenty thousand Spirit Stones. Young Friend Lu, I shall waive it. Please come to the third floor immediately!”

At this, even Long Xiwei’s expression changed. Could Lu Jin be hiding a secret so great that I couldn’t see it, but the Tower Lord did? The Song family looked as though they had swallowed flies: they wanted to mock him, but they were the ones who looked like fools.

“Please!” Mr. Wu made a respectful gesture.

Lu Jin nodded and turned to Long Xiwei with a smile. “Wait for me.”

Long Xiwei nodded back. “Young Master Lu, be careful!”

* * *

After Mr. Wu led Lu Jin to the third floor, he retreated immediately; it seemed he was not qualified to stay there for a single second longer. Lu Jin scanned the room. Aside from a black stone tablet in the center, the entire third floor was empty.

“Young Friend Lu, this Mental Pressure Spirit Tablet is a rare treasure: there are few like it in ten thousand miles. If you can prove your mental talent or your potential to be an alchemist, you will be a guest of honor here!”

“Of course, if you fail, it doesn’t matter. I shall still waive those twenty thousand Spirit Stones for you today!”

Lu Jin smiled. “This is your test?”

The voice replied, “It looks simple; however, there is a mental pressure cultivation formation within this tablet. If you are not in a hurry, you can project your mental power into the formation to train. Perhaps after some hard work, your test results will be even better.”

Lu Jin nodded. He wanted to see if the formation within this tablet was as powerful as his own Mental Pressure Wheel.

Buzz…

Sitting cross-legged before the tablet, Lu Jin sank his mental power into the formation space. Instantly, an oppressive force swept over him. The surrounding space seemed to twist, and a sharp, piercing pain shrieked toward him.

It’s decent. Unfortunately, compared to my Mental Pressure Wheel, it’s far inferior!

His mental power condensed into a human shape and moved through the formation. He began to strike back against the incoming attacks, shattering them one by one.

Boom!

With every counter-attack, the mental formation erupted with violent tremors. And with every tremor, the brow of the old man sitting quietly in the shadows knit tighter.

“Good heavens! Good heavens! This kid… this brat! Fuck!!”

The old man could no longer sit still. He stood up with a clatter, his hunched back even straightening slightly from the shock. Within minutes, Lu Jin withdrew his mental power from the formation. He looked at the tablet before him with a playful glint in his eyes.

I’d like to see what level my mental power is actually at…