At this moment inside the Gravity Tower, disciples were sitting cross-legged, struggling to circulate their Cultivation Techniques.
Some swung large hammers with a powerful momentum, while others, with giant rocks strapped to their backs, hopped around the perimeter like frogs.
As soon as Xu Zimei and company walked in, they felt an immense force pressing in from all sides.
For Xu Zimei, this tremendous force simply made his movements a little slower, but it wasn't a problem.
However, for Lin Ruhu, it was as if he had been struck by a high-speed horse-drawn carriage, sending him crashing to the ground, nearly gasping for air.
"Don't try to resist the gravity with your body," Xu Zimei reminded beside him, "Take deep breaths, let your body adapt to this gravity, then relax your mind and find the trajectory of the gravity, merge your body with the gravity."
Hearing Xu Zimei's words, Lin Ruhu quickly closed his eyes and took several long breaths until he gradually adapted.
Not long after Xu Zimei started using the gravity to temper his foundation, a group of disciples surrounded them.
The leader of this group was a young girl who walked up to Xu Zimei with an air of superiority and asked, "Xu Zimei, Lin Ruhu, what are you two doing here? Are you here to cause trouble again?"
Xu Zimei glanced at the girl; she was the granddaughter of the True Martial Holy Sect's Great Elder, Liao Ruyan.
"What's it to you?" Xu Zimei replied indifferently.
"Exactly, nosy as always. Zimo bro isn't going to marry you in the future anyway," Lin Ruhu also shouted from the side.
The Great Elder and Deputy Sect Master Xu Qingshan had always been at odds. When the Sect Master left that year, the Great Elder had hoped to take over control.
To his disappointment, it ended up being Xu Qingshan who gained control, something the Great Elder has held onto ever since.
In recent years, two factions had naturally formed within the True Martial Holy Sect.
One was the Youth Faction led by Deputy Sect Master Xu Qingshan, while the other was the Elder Faction led by the Great Elder.
At this point, infuriated by Xu Zimei's words, Liao Ruyan said, "Xu Zimei, if you dare, let's have a spar."
"Not interested," Xu Zimei yawned and waved his hand dismissively, "Go play somewhere else, don't disturb my cultivation."
"If you're scared, just say it. Admit defeat, and I'll let you off," Liao Ruyan said arrogantly.
Xu Zimei shook his head, exasperated. She was like a spoiled little princess!
Right, the Great Elder's granddaughter, everyone groveled before her; how was this any different from his previous life?
He spoke slowly, "I'm not scared; it's just that a challenge usually involves a bet, right? Can you offer a stake that I'd find satisfactory?"
Liao Ruyan fell silent for a moment, then pondered and said, "If you win, I'll tell you a secret."
"That won't do," Xu Zimei quickly shook his head, "Who knows if this secret is of any use to me. What if you were about to confess that you've secretly been in love with me all this time?"
At Xu Zimei's words, all the young people in the area burst into laughter.
"Shameless," Liao Ruyan, her face turning beet red, angrily pointed at Xu Zimei and said, "If you win, I'll tell you that a couple of days ago, the Medicine Path Holy Chicken my grandfather raises had two chicks. How about that?"
With his head full of black lines, Xu Zimei spoke quietly, "I've suddenly lost interest in your secret. How about we choose a different one?"
Lin Ruhu, standing nearby, heard the words "Medicine Path Holy Chicken" and his eyes widened with excitement. He licked his lips and his gaze darted around as if contemplating something.
The Medicine Path Holy Chicken was a rare bird formed by the essence of heaven and earth, utterly scarce in variety. Even in the outside world, they were considered priceless.
They were excellent caretakers of the Immortal Fields and Spiritual Medicine, able to fertilize, loosen the soil, and catch insects, practically perfect gardeners.
And the Medicine Path Holy Chicken was the finest among them.
Like a king amongst beggars, it was a beggar all the same, yet it was on a completely different level than those other flamboyant cheap goods.
The Medicine Path Holy Chicken had been nourished by Spiritual Medicine since its infancy. Every piece of its flesh, every drop of its blood, was infused with a rich Spiritual Energy.
It was said that a mortal who ate the Medicine Path Holy Chicken's meat for the first time could extend their life by a whole year.
"So what wager do you want?" Liao Ruyan asked hesitantly.
"I heard that your grandfather's mount, the Dark Heaven Tiger, had a secret affair with the Reincarnation Celestial Cow recently and gave birth to a litter," Xu Zimei said with a sly smile.
"What are you planning to do?" Liao Ruyan asked warily, "The grandfather said he plans to give those young ones away as favors; I wouldn't dare touch them."
"I want two cubs from the Dark Heaven Tiger," Xu Zimei stated outright, "If you refuse, then forget it. There is no need for a competition."
Besides, you've always been your grandfather's treasured grandchild. Sneaking out two Dark Heaven Tiger cubs shouldn't be a problem.
In your grandfather's eyes, are you not more important than two cubs?"
"Who said that?" Liao Ruyan quickly replied, "My grandfather cherishes me very much. I, I, I... okay, I agree to your terms."
"That's settled then. What do you want to compete in?" Xu Zimei asked with interest.
"Simple, let's fight. It's straightforward to see who wins and loses," Liao Ruyan replied, her eyes gleaming with a smile.
"That's not fair," Lin Ruhu shouted from the side, "You've been practicing body tempering for half a year now, while Zimo just started his cultivation. How could he possibly stand a chance against you?"
"Then what do you suggest we compete in?" Liao Ruyan glared at Lin Ruhu, revealing her small tiger teeth as she spoke.
"I do have a method, if you don't mind me being the judge," a voice rang out from the second floor of the Gravity Tower at that moment.
Looking up, everyone saw a man descending gracefully from the upper level.
Clad in a blue robe, the man's features were resolute, with a high bridged nose and his long hair all pulled up on top of his head. A jade-green longsword hung at his waist.
"Zhong Xin, senior brother," Liao Ruyan hastily ran over with joy upon seeing the man.
"Little junior sister, the outside world is treacherous. Try to avoid contact with those with ulterior motives as much as possible," Zhong Xin replied with a smile.
Xu Zimei glanced at the newcomer. He was the Great Elder's personal disciple, known in the martial world as "Glinting Sword Guest."
The surrounding disciples, upon seeing Zhong Xin's arrival, rushed to greet him. Regardless of whether they knew him or not, they all tried to familiarize themselves with him.
"What's your method?" Xu Zimei asked indifferently.
"No need to rush," Zhong Xin replied with a casual smile and a shake of his head, "Just now, Ruyan promised you two Dark Heaven Tiger cubs if you win against her.
But what if you lose? You haven't stated your wager yet!"
"If I lose, I will fulfill any request of mine that I'm capable of. How does that sound?" Xu Zimei responded.
"Fine, if you lose, I won't make it too hard for you. All you have to do is bark like a dog three times within the sect. How about that?" Zhong Xin said with a light laugh.