Liam''s Perspective


    I paced the fifth floor of the Hydrating Tower, my mind racing. Elder Foster would return with his Sundering Spear soon. The Umbral Covenant''s assassins weren''t far behind. The walls were closing in, but something still didn''t add up.


    "Why build such an impressive tower around a simple water formation?" I muttered.


    The Hydrating Tower''s true power remained elusive. I''d examined every inch of the visible structure but found nothing that justified its legendary status. There had to be more.


    I knelt and pressed my palm against the floor. My spiritual sense prated the stone, probing deeper. There—a faint energy signature beneath us, pulsing like a heartbeat.


    "The power source isn''t in the tower," I realized. "It''s under it."


    With Foster''s reinforcements hours away and the Umbral Covenant closing in, I had to act fast. I channeled energy into my fist and mmed it into the floor. The ancient stone cracked but held.


    I struck again, harder. The floor splintered, revealing darkness below. One final blow shattered the barrierpletely, sending chunks of stone tumbling into the void. A cool mist rose from the opening, carrying the scent of ancient vegetation.


    "Jackpot."


    I created a light sphere and sent it down, illuminating a natural grotto about twenty feet below. Without hesitation, I jumped down,nding silently on moist stone.


    The cavern stretched before me, walls glistening with condensation. At its center stood a small tree, no taller than my waist, with luminous silver leaves and a trunk that seemed to shift between different colors.


    "The Three Pure Ancient Tree," I whispered in awe.


    Its legendary properties were well-known—herbs grown in its presence became ten times more potent, and its fruits could clear one''s mind instantaneously. More importantly, it contained energy that could help me break through to the half-step Martial Marquis realm.


    This wasn''t just some auxiliary formation—it was the Hydrating Tower''s true treasure.


    I approached cautiously, each step measured. The tree''s energy washed over me, somehow both invigorating and calming. My mind cleared, thoughts bing sharper. This was exactly what I needed to face the challenges ahead.


    As I reached for the tree, the air around it shimmered. A translucent figure materialized—humanoid but not quite human, with elongated limbs and features that seemed to flow like water.


    "A Guardian," I recognized immediately.


    Without warning, the Guardian attacked. Its arm elongated like liquid, whipping toward my throat with blinding speed.


    I sidestepped and countered with a Heaven Swallowing Palm strike. My hand passed through its chest, disrupting its form temporarily before it reconstituted.


    "Physical attacks won''t work," I noted.


    I switched tactics, channeling spiritual energy into my next strike. This time, the Guardian''s form shuddered and partially copsed.


    It recovered quickly andunched a flurry of attacks. I dodged most but caught a ncing blow to my shoulder. Pain red—its touch burned like acid.


    "Enough games," I growled.


    I activated the Nine Phantom Steps, moving so quickly I left afterimages. The Guardian tracked the wrong one, leaving itself open. My Spirit Severing de technique cut through its form, dispersing itpletely.


    "That wasn''t so—"


    The air shimmered again. The Guardian reformed, its features sharper, its movements quicker.


    "Round two, then."


    This time, I didn''t hold back. Three sessive Spirit Severing de strikes dissipated it before it couldnd a single blow.


    I waited, watching. Sure enough, the Guardian reformed again, now moving with twice its original speed.


    "It grows stronger each time," I realized grimly.


    The third encountersted longer. The Guardian anticipated my moves, countering my techniques with increasing skill. When I finally destroyed it, my breathing wasbored.


    By the sixth resurrection, the Guardian was matching me blow for blow. Its attacks carried spiritual energy that bypassed my defenses, leaving internal injuries.


    After destroying it for the ninth time, I leaned against the cavern wall, catching my breath. Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.


    "This is a battle of attrition," I muttered.


    The Guardian formed again, now radiating powerparable to a peak Grandmaster. Its features had be more defined—almost human-like but with an otherworldly beauty.


    "Who created you?" I asked, not expecting an answer.


    To my surprise, it spoke, its voice like water flowing over stones. "I am the Tree''s Will, eternal and unending."


    "I need the tree''s power," I said. "I have no desire to destroy it."


    "All whoe seek to take," it replied. "None may disturb the bnce."


    It attacked again, faster than ever. I barely blocked its first strike before its second caught me in the ribs, sending me flying into the cavern wall. Stone cracked at my impact.


    I spat blood and pushed myself up. "I don''t have time for this."


    I activated my most powerful technique—the Nine Heavens Destruction Array. Golden energy erupted from my body, filling the cavern with blinding light. The Guardian faltered, its form wavering under the onught.


    When the light faded, nothing remained of the Guardian.


    I staggered toward the tree, my energy reserves dangerously depleted. Before I could reach it, the air shimmered once more.


    The eleventh resurrection produced a Guardian that exuded the aura of a half-step Martial Marquis. It regarded me coldly, all traces of humanity gone from its features. <small ss="meta-ref-static">This content originates from *, My Virtual Library Empire.</small>


    "You cannot win," it stated.


    "Watch me," I snarled.


    Our sh shook the foundations of the cavern. Stctites crashed down around us as we exchanged blows that would have killed any normal cultivator. My reserves dwindled with each technique, while the Guardian showed no signs of fatigue.


    After an exhausting exchange, I finally found an opening. My Spirit Severing de cut through its core, dispersing itpletely.


    I copsed to one knee, gasping for breath. Blood flowed freely from multiple wounds. My internal energy was nearly depleted, and I''d used most of my recovery pills earlier.


    "One more time," I whispered, forcing myself to stand.


    The twelfth resurrection was different. The air didn''t just shimmer—it cracked. Reality itself seemed to bend as the Guardian reformed, now towering over me with the unmistakable aura of a full Martial Marquis.


    "Oh, you''ve got to be kidding me," I muttered.


    Its eyes fixed on mine, intelligent and ancient. "You have proven persistent, human. Few have destroyed my form eleven times."


    "I aim to break records," I replied, trying to hide my exhaustion.


    "Your strength is impressive but insufficient. You will die here."


    I assessed my situation honestly. My energy reserves were critically low. Even at full strength, I couldn''t match a Martial Marquis. The Three Pure Ancient Tree stood tantalizingly close, yet unreachable behind this immortal guardian.


    The smart move was to retreat, recover, and return with a new strategy. But September 7th loomed just days away. Isabelle''s wedding—her prison sentence—was approaching faster than expected. Without the tree''s power, I couldn''t reach the breakthrough I needed to save her.


    Elder Foster would reim the tower soon. The Umbral Covenant was closing in. This might be my only chance.


    The Guardian watched me, seeing my calctions. "Will you yield, human?"


    I looked past it to the shimmering tree, then back to the seemingly invincible Guardian before me. A smile slowly spread across my face—the kind that had made my enemies hesitate in the past.


    "Should I just give up like this?" I asked rhetorically, determination hardening my voice as I shifted into a fighting stance. "Absolutely not!"


    The Guardian''s eyes narrowed, and its power began to build around us like a gathering storm.