Chapter 678: Dragon Ancestor's Nine Refinement Tower

Meng Chuan wasn't concerned about the sacrificial scroll's ability to deduce the uses of 'physical body techniques'. His primary focus was on the Primeval Spirit lineage, and he was unwilling to spend significant time on physical body cultivation. Improvements in the physical body lineage wouldn't fundamentally transform his strength; instead, it would be better to spend that time comprehending and practicing more. Seven-Tribulation realm mighty figures have a lifespan of only about a hundred thousand years, making time precious. Dedicating the time saved from physical body cultivation to the 'Primeval Spirit lineage' could increase his chances of reaching the Eight-Tribulation Primeval Spirit realm.

As for 'possessing a physical body tribulation realm expert', Meng Chuan was somewhat interested, as it would allow him to experience the techniques of a Seven-Tribulation realm mighty figure.

"The Nine Refinements Tower." Meng Chuan was immediately excited and looked forward to the invitation from the sacrificial scroll to visit the Nine Refinements Tower.

"That's the Nine Refinements Tower! Legend has it that completely clearing the Nine Refinements Tower allows one to become an Eternal existence." Meng Chuan remembered the detailed records left by Patriarch Cang Yuan in his scrolls.

The Nine Refinements Tower was forged by the Dragon Ancestor at immense cost. He had even invited more than one Eight-Tribulation realm mighty figure to attempt it, and he himself had tried multiple times, but none could clear it.

"Patriarch Cang Yuan attempted it three times in his life, managing to clear only the fourth refinement at most," Meng Chuan mused.

Patriarch Cang Yuan only cleared the fourth refinement out of nine, which demonstrated its extreme difficulty.

"Let's go."

One of Meng Chuan's Primeval Spirit avatars, carrying the sacrificial scroll, sensed the dark vortex within the internal altar with a thought, and spatiotemporal fluctuations immediately enveloped Meng Chuan. This Primeval Spirit avatar had already departed the Kunyun Secret Realm.

After traversing spacetime and stabilizing, Meng Chuan arrived in a dark space. This dark space, spanning only a few hundred million miles, was completely isolated from the outside world. Within this dark expanse, there was only one object: a majestic and colossal tower. The tower had three levels and was constructed from massive, mysterious bones. The grey bones shimmered with starlight, having been refined into this towering structure.

"This is the Nine Refinements Tower!" Meng Chuan felt the immense pressure emanating from it. A single long bone on the tower was over a hundred thousand miles long, and its oppressive power rivaled that of the Eight-Tribulation realm mighty figure's arm once collected by Patriarch Cang Yuan.

"According to Patriarch Cang Yuan's records, these bones were used to construct the tower from the corpse of an enormous Eight-Tribulation realm mighty figure. Based on this foundation, the Dragon Ancestor then spent a vast amount of precious materials to refine it, granting the Nine Refinements Tower its formidable power." Meng Chuan understood clearly that the materials used for the Nine Refinements Tower alone probably exceeded a hundred million cubic units.

From the entrance of the Nine Refinements Tower, a figure slowly flew out: an old man with a turtle shell on his back.

"Ah, the Nine Refinements Tower finally has a living visitor," the turtle-shelled old man said with a smile, his eyebrows twitching. He scrutinized Meng Chuan. "You were invited here for creating an Emperor-level ultimate art, and you've only cultivated for over five thousand years? Quite young, aren't you? Lad, my name is 'Bei'."

"Senior Bei," Meng Chuan replied humbly. According to the Patriarch's records, Senior Bei was the Nine Refinements Tower's overseer, appointed by the Dragon Ancestor. At least within the Nine Refinements Tower, his power was terrifying; any Seven-Tribulation realm expert daring to act rashly would be easily eliminated by Senior Bei wielding the tower's might.

"I'm just a special formation spirit, hardly a senior," the turtle-shelled old man chuckled. "I like the look of you. Feel free to ask anything you don't understand."

Meng Chuan knew he had to humor Senior Bei; if he was pleased, Senior Bei would answer all questions without reserve, otherwise he wouldn't bother speaking much.

"Senior Bei, can I come back in the future?" Meng Chuan asked.

"There's no limit to the number of times, but there must be at least ten thousand years between visits," the turtle-shelled old man replied. "This is a rule set by the Dragon Ancestor. After all, the 'activation' cost for each refinement is astonishingly high. Given the Dragon Ancestor's thrifty nature, he usually profits from these things. The Nine Refinements Tower... it's a rare instance of the Dragon Ancestor actively granting boons to cultivators from his home universe."

Meng Chuan sighed inwardly.

"Home universe?" For Eight-Tribulation realm mighty figures who transcend the River of Spacetime and can journey through other universes, the concept of a 'home universe' indeed exists.

"Senior Bei, I sense that the bones used for this Nine Refinements Tower belong to an Eight-Tribulation realm mighty figure's corpse. Are they from the same mighty figure? And are they from an Eight-Tribulation realm expert of our universe?" Meng Chuan asked casually. He knew Senior Bei enjoyed chatting once he got in the mood, as he had been lonely for too long.

"No, they're not from an Eight-Tribulation realm mighty figure of our universe," the turtle-shelled old man explained. "It was a corpse of an Eight-Tribulation realm mighty figure that the Dragon Ancestor found while traveling abroad. That particular corpse was quite unique and very suitable for refining into the Nine Refinements Tower."

"Found?" Meng Chuan was surprised. Could such a thing just be found?

"Eight-Tribulation realm mighty figures can transcend the River of Spacetime, revisit the past to observe all that has occurred, travel to the future, and even journey to other universes," the turtle-shelled old man remarked. "But they are not truly Eternal; their lifespans are ultimately limited. No matter how they jump across timelines or traverse universes, their remaining lifespan will only continue to diminish..."

"If they don't wish to die, they are very difficult to kill before their lifespan reaches its limit."

"However, as they approach their lifespan's end, Eight-Tribulation realm mighty figures will also seek ways to break through to Eternal existence. Many of these methods are extremely dangerous, and it's quite normal for them to leave behind corpses," the turtle-shelled old man concluded.

Meng Chuan nodded upon hearing this.

"That kid Meng Chuan, has he gone to the Nine Refinements River Domain?" Patriarch Jie, who was fishing, sensed this. He pinpointed Meng Chuan's location through karma, and although the Nine Refinements Tower obscured the precise sensation, he could determine the approximate area. "It must be the Nine Refinements Tower. The Nine Refinements Tower is a test and also an opportunity left by Senior Dragon Ancestor for us juniors."

Patriarch Jie held the Dragon Ancestor in great reverence. From what he knew, among all Eight-Tribulation realm mighty figures born in the history of the entire universe, the Dragon Ancestor was likely the strongest, and he was also relatively benevolent towards his juniors.

"In every generation of cultivators, the strongest batch mostly gets to enter the Nine Refinements Tower, and may even receive boons from it," Patriarch Jie mused. Being invited to challenge the Nine Refinements Tower had no limit on attempts, but subsequent attempts (second, third, etc.) would not yield boons unless significant progress was made. However, the first time one challenged the Nine Refinements Tower, there would always be some form of boon.

"He's off to the Nine Refinements Tower already?" In his quiet chamber, the Demon Eye Sect Master gazed towards the Nine Refinements River Domain, a smile playing on his lips. "Meng Chuan's potential is too astonishing to be suppressed. Favored by destiny, he is destined to soar."

Destiny, or 'Qi Luck', is a mysterious concept. In reality, a cultivator's own strength is what attracts destiny. If one is powerful and highly talented, they naturally earn the respect of others and are valued by various factions. Some powers are even willing to 'invest resources' in such individuals; this is what it means to be 'favored by destiny'. However, at its core, it still boils down to the cultivator's own excellence.

For instance, Meng Chuan's son, Meng An, also possesses some destiny, but this is also because Meng Chuan himself is powerful and highly talented.

The stronger one's power, the greater their influence on the outside world. At the Eight-Tribulation realm, one can easily and completely change an era. Their favor brings great destiny, while their hostility is a nightmare. If one becomes an Eternal existence, they can even destroy universes, transcending the very concept of destiny.

"Meng Chuan went to the Nine Refinements Tower?" In a cave dwelling on Clear Spring Island, the Dark Star Sect Master also took notice. Ever since he started paying attention to Meng Chuan, the two of them had been connected by karma. He could easily pinpoint the location of any of Meng Chuan's avatars.

"The Nine Refinements Tower, for the first attempt, as long as one can clear the first refinement, there will be some form of boon," the Dark Star Sect Master said, his eyes deep. "A boon from the Dragon Ancestor."

The Dragon Ancestor was the wealthiest among the Eight-Tribulation realm mighty figures born in this universe, and possibly the strongest. Even a casual boon from him made the Dark Star Sect Master envious.

"Invited at the Six-Tribulation realm, he seems quite promising."

"Even if you can become a Seven-Tribulation realm expert in the future, it's a pity you're weak now." The Dark Star Sect Master was famously greedy, even daring to plot against Seven-Tribulation realm mighty figures. After all, having cultivated to this realm, there was very little that could make him fear.

"Yuchang, keep a constant watch on Meng Chuan's Primeval Spirit avatar in the Nine Refinements River Domain. Immediately inform me if you detect any change in his location," the Dark Star Sect Master commanded from afar.

"Understood."

Upon receiving the order, Yuchang immediately dispatched a Primeval Spirit avatar to the Nine Refinements River Domain to more accurately pinpoint Meng Chuan's location.