"Junior Chen Nan, I pay my respects to you, Senior!"
Chen Nan quickly bowed.
Even though this person was merely a wisp of spiritual thought, he exuded an aura of unparalleled elegance, surpassing all in history.
Especially those deep, profound eyes, which even Chen Nan dared not meet directly.
"Actually, your strength is quite ordinary. You are not the successor I idealize!" The middle-aged man casually gestured, and the surrounding space shifted.
The two of them appeared on a towering, majestic mountain.
Behind them stood a colossal Bodhi tree.
White clouds drifted slowly beneath their feet.
Countless rare and exotic beasts flew and frolicked in the mountains.
Before them was a jade table, upon which rested a tea set made of white jade, appearing as a celestial treasure, exceptionally extraordinary.
Chen Nan didn't know how to respond.
Although he had completed the other party's trials, it wasn't due to indomitable strength.
It had more or less something to do with his sharp intellect.
The middle-aged man poured him a cup of tea and said slowly, "The cultivation world is a place where the weak are preyed upon by the strong, and only the fittest survive. It is very cruel; relying on trickery can never lead to longevity."
Chen Nan took a sip of the tea. A pure fragrance greeted his palate, leaving a lingering aftertaste that washed away his fatigue and previous injuries.
"Junior meant no offense; I merely wished to save my friend!" Chen Nan said with deep apologies.
The middle-aged man asked, "Do you know where this place is?"
Chen Nan shook his head.
The middle-aged man murmured, "This is the Qingyu Tower, a treasure coveted by countless Immortal Emperors in the Immortal Realm!"
"This treasure was obtained by me by chance. Each floor contains many treasures!"
"And the rules of time on each floor are different from the outside world!"
"Especially on the ninth floor, where ten thousand years pass while only one year elapses in the outside world!"
Chen Nan's heart jolted violently.
This was practically a super cheat for cultivators!
Imagine!
Encountering an enemy you couldn't defeat, cultivating for ten thousand years within, and then emerging, wouldn't it be easy to crush them?
Of course!
There was a prerequisite!
That prerequisite was being able to live for ten thousand years!
If an ordinary person entered, they would instantly age to death!
"Furthermore, each floor has cultivation techniques, magical treasures, and weapons tailored for specific cultivation realms!" he said.
"And there are corresponding Sword Immortal puppets!"
"These alone are enough to make you a being of Immortal Emperor caliber!"
"I am the best example!"
Chen Nan's heart was in turmoil. He never imagined that this Qingyu Tower contained so many treasures!
The middle-aged man continued, "Logically, you completed two rounds of trials, and I should hand over the Qingyu Tower to you. However, you ultimately won through less than honorable means."
"If I were to give it to you like this, it would be unfair to the beings within, and they would not be convinced."
Chen Nan couldn't help but ask, "Beings within? What do you mean, Senior?"
The middle-aged man replied, "The ninth floor imprisons powerful demonic beasts, and even divine beasts. They have been waiting for a new master to inherit this immortal mansion!"
"If they were to learn that you are merely a junior at the Foundation Establishment stage, they would likely be enraged to death!"
"Do divine beasts truly exist?" Chen Nan's lips twitched.
Demonic beasts were rare enough.
How powerful would legendary divine beasts be?
The middle-aged man chuckled, "I don't know about the outside world, but within the Qingyu Tower, eighteen divine beasts are imprisoned. Each one, if released, could kill an Immortal Emperor."
"Alright, let's not dwell on this."
"For fairness, I will give you two choices!"
"One, inherit this immortal mansion, control the beings within, and obtain the treasures."
"Two, I have an immortal medicine here that can save the life of that Dragon Mastiff."
"You can only choose one of the two options!"
Chen Nan replied without hesitation: "I choose the second one!"
The middle-aged man looked at him with disbelief. "You are truly willing to abandon this immortal mansion for a mere beast?"
Chen Nan said, "My purpose in entering the immortal mansion and completing the assessment was to find a way to save it. Even if the immortal mansion contains countless treasures, in junior's eyes, they are not as valuable as the Dragon Mastiff's life!"
"Even if, in your eyes, it is a beast, in junior's eyes, it is a friend!"
The middle-aged man shook his head dismissively. "However, with this immortal mansion, you could dominate the mortal world and become an supreme emperor!"
"You could also become a paramount power in the cultivation world!"
"At that point, wouldn't you have no shortage of friends?"
Chen Nan smiled, his face full of nonchalance and ease. "Peak success breeds false admiration; dusk witnesses true friendship. Even if obtaining this immortal mansion could save me many years of struggle, even lead me to enlightenment and immortality!"
"But if it comes at the cost of a friend's life, then I want no part of this immortal mansion!" He then stood up and bowed. "I implore you, Senior, to bestow upon junior the immortal medicine!"
"Since that is your wish, then take it!"
The middle-aged man waved his hand.
A medicinal herb, entirely emerald green and emitting a radiant glow, appeared before Chen Nan.
Chen Nan: "Thank you, Senior!"
The middle-aged man said, "You can descend the mountain by following the mountain path."
"Junior bids farewell!"
Chen Nan turned and resolutely walked towards the stone steps in the distance.
However, as he reached the stone steps, he stopped, turned back, and said, "Junior has one more request."
The middle-aged man asked with a smile, "Have you changed your mind?"
"No!" Chen Nan said. "Junior hopes that Senior can erase my memories of today later."
The middle-aged man revealed a meaningful smile. "Why do you wish to have your memories of today erased?"
Chen Nan cleared his throat. "I fear that if I recall today's events in the future, I might regret my decision."
The middle-aged man's smile widened. "Then why didn't you choose the first option?"
Chen Nan shrugged and said matter-of-factly, "At least I won't regret today!"
The middle-aged man burst into laughter. "Interesting, very interesting! I thought you possessed a heart of exquisite wisdom, but I didn't expect you to still be bound by worldly desires!"
"Can I interpret this as your commendation of junior?" Chen Nan asked, feeling rather awkward.
The middle-aged man slowly extended his right hand.
A miniature immortal mansion appeared in his palm, slowly rotating.
"Congratulations, you have completed the final trial and earned my approval."
"From this day forward, you are the master of this immortal mansion!"
Chen Nan looked bewildered. "The final trial?"
"Yes!" the middle-aged man said with a smile. "Actually, there were only three trials. Unlike the previous two, the final trial tests one's character."
Chen Nan secretly swallowed. "So, if I had chosen the first option just now, I wouldn't have completed the final trial?"
The middle-aged man nodded slightly. "Actually, no matter which option you chose, I would not have let you inherit this immortal mansion."
"But now, you have bestowed the immortal mansion upon junior!" Chen Nan was utterly confused, unable to comprehend why he had changed his mind.
The middle-aged man murmured, "Over the years, many prodigies have come here."
"Those individuals had terrifying backgrounds!"
"They were more outstanding than you!"
"Their talent surpassed yours!"
"They presented themselves as saints!"
"But, only you are a human!"
"A human with flesh and blood!"
"Therefore, only you can inherit this immortal mansion!"