Young Master Climbs The Heavenly Tower (Xianxia)

[Gingerick]

Bai Xiao sat cross-legged atop a large rock, cultivating. His long white hair swayed in the wind alongside his equally white robes, while his blue eyes remained closed, framed by long lashes.


"Young Master Bai Xiao, there's still time—please reconsider," a deep, worried voice said. The speaker was a tall, muscular man with similar white hair, though his eyes were ordinary brown. A sword hung at his waist. This was Li Wei, Bai Xiao's personal guard, assigned to him by the clan. "Your cultivation base is too low. You aren't ready to climb the Heavenly Tower."


"Silence," Bai Xiao snapped, opening one eye to glare at him. "My cultivation base is weak; that's exactly why I have to climb the Heavenly Tower. I've already lost my position as the future heir of the Xiao Clan to my younger brother. He reached the True Spirit realm this year—he's already surpassed me. It's beyond shameful for me as the elder brother."


Bai Xiao closed his eye again, returning to his cultivation. But once more, his focus was broken as someone tugged on his arm, pressing it against something soft.


"Young Master, Xia Hua begs you…" a sweet voice whispered near his ear. His personal attendant, assigned by his mother, held his arm close to her chest. Xia Hua wasn't otherworldly, but her pale, pleasant face and short, silky black hair added a charm of their own. She wore a cheongsam with delicate flower patterns. "If something happens to you, I couldn't go on. Please, for Heaven's sake, reconsider."


"No chance." Bai Xiao yanked his arm free, fully aware of her tactic. "Even Heaven might change its will, but I, Bai Xiao, will not. If I did, I might as well cut off my manhood."


Xia Hua gasped, a blush coloring her cheeks. Even Li Wei seemed taken aback. "Young Master, please refrain from such… language in front of a lady. Besides, that's much too extreme. Even if you aren't the heir, you still have duties to the clan."


"Enough." Bai Xiao waved a hand dismissively. "My mind is set. This Heavenly Tower is my only hope to cultivate further. Otherwise, I'll remain stuck at the Elementary Realm for life."


The Heavenly Tower wasn't merely a pathway to the heavens; it was filled with countless trials and rewards that strengthened cultivators who completed them. Its Qi density was unmatched, ideal for cultivation breakthroughs.


"While it may sound tempting, Young Master, it's equally perilous. A thousand ways await to kill you there. Only half the participants come out alive." Li Wei's gaze dropped to the ground before him—an ordinary piece of earth for now, but soon, the Heavenly Tower would emerge there and pierce the sky itself. Xia Hua pursed her lips, watching Bai Xiao with hopeful eyes.


"It's decided," Bai Xiao said firmly, resuming his meditation pose. But in truth, he was only pretending; his cultivation was in such poor condition that he could barely progress. That was the real reason he intended to climb the Tower.


He had arrived early, well before any other participants, leaving the area empty but for the cold wind sweeping over it.


Li Wei finally sighed, knowing that once Bai Xiao made up his mind, only the clan's head could stop him. He'd already sent word to Bai Xiao's father, hoping the message would reach him in time.






Moments later, a burly, bald man appeared, drenched in sweat as he dragged a large wooden cart behind him.


"What… What's this, Fei Xiao? I thought I asked you to deliver my message to the clan head," Li Wei said, glaring at him.


"Brother Li Wei," Fei Xiao huffed as he halted before them, wiping his brow. "I did deliver the message. Don't think I slacked."


"Did you? Then what did the clan head say—and why in the heavens did you bring this cart?"


Bai Xiao and Xia Hua also looked on, curious. Bai Xiao knew that Li Wei had sent a message to his father. Internally, he'd hoped his father might show concern, even order him to be stopped from climbing the Heavenly Tower.


But instead…


"'Leave him be. I have no need for a son stuck at the Elementary Realm for ten years. My younger son is enough,'" Fei Xiao recited reluctantly, averting his gaze from Bai Xiao.


Quickly, Xia Hua clamped her hands over Bai Xiao's ears. "Young Master, you mustn't listen! Fei Xiao's known for his wild exaggerations. There's no way the Lord would say something like that."


Bai Xiao sighed inwardly, knowing that this was exactly what his father would say. He pulled Xia Hua's hands away, forcing a bitter smile.


"Heaven may care, but I do not," he replied, trying to sound indifferent. "Honestly, I'm relieved he didn't fuss." But the three of them knew how deeply his father's rejection cut.


Li Wei cleared his throat, quickly changing the subject. "So, that's what the clan head said. And the cart… what's that all about?"


Fei Xiao managed a grim smile, recalling the struggle of bringing it here. "When I gave the clan head your message, Lady Gia Xiao happened to be nearby. When she heard that her son was going to climb the Heavenly Tower, her eyes lit up like stars. 'Finally, he's doing something!' she said. 'But I feel worried for him. He's a picky eater and may not find food to his liking in the Tower.' So she packed this cart with a year's worth of his favorite meals and asked me to deliver it."


Bai Xiao's forced smile faded into something more genuine, though tinged with irony. His mother was more concerned about his appetite than his safety. Somehow, that seemed fitting.


"So, it's like that…" Li Wei muttered, lifting the lid of the cart and eyeing the contents with wide eyes. "Though a year's worth of food might spoil within a week… perhaps I should help lighten the load a bit." He licked his lips.


"Lady Xiao is a True Spirit Realm expert. I'm sure she used preservation techniques," Xia Hua said, knowing well the skill of the clan kitchens.


Bai Xiao scoffed, waving his hand. "I'm not taking this mountain of food with me. It's the Heavenly Tower, not a banquet."





"Don't be like that, Young Master. Your mother probably put in a lot of effort to prepare this food," Li Wei said, pulling out a few boxes. As he opened them, a fresh aroma filled the air. "Here, eat up. If you're going to climb that tower, you shouldn't go on an empty stomach—though I still think you should reconsider." He placed a box on the rock in front of Bai Xiao, disrupting his cultivation once more.


"No ne—" Bai Xiao started, but his stomach let out a loud growl, cutting him off. He cleared his throat, trying to maintain his dignity. "There's still time left. I suppose I can spare a few bites," he muttered, reaching for the food.


Li Wei turned to Xia Hua, offering her another box. "You should eat, too, Xia Hua. You've been by Young Master's side even longer than I have."


Xia Hua accepted the box with both hands but hesitated, looking to Bai Xiao for permission. Traditionally, servants weren't to eat with their masters, but Xia Hua was close enough to Bai Xiao that this custom was often set aside. Yet she still asked, out of respect.


"Go on, eat up," Bai Xiao waved a hand dismissively. "Then head back to the clan. I'll return in a few years. Take care of my pet fish while I'm away."


Xia Hua opened the box and inhaled the fragrance, smiling slightly. "Young Master, you say strange things. If you're set on climbing the Heavenly Tower, I'll follow you as part of my duty. Someone needs to be there to take care of you."


Li Wei chimed in. "Of course, I'm coming too, Young Master. Protecting you is the task your father assigned me, and I intend to see it through."


For a brief moment, Bai Xiao's chewing slowed as his eyes moistened, though he quickly resumed eating. "Fine, but don't blame me if you both end up dead," he said, trying to sound detached. Truthfully, he'd hoped Li Wei would insist on coming; he knew he'd need the protection, being at the Elementary Realm with no practical fighting skills. As for Xia Hua, taking a mortal girl along was a risk, but the Heavenly Tower required at least a faction of three to enter. And there was no one else he trusted.


The three of them ate in silence until a growing commotion broke through the stillness. More participants began arriving at the location, their footsteps and hushed conversations filling the air around them. Bai Xiao glanced up, his gaze steely with determination as he prepared himself for the path ahead.

 

[Gingerick]

The Hei clan's faction was the first to appear—a team of five led by Hei Lan, the young master of the Hei clan. Hei Lan hadn't initially planned to climb the Heavenly Tower, content in his role as his clan's chosen heir. But upon hearing that Bai Xiao, his childhood rival, intended to enter, he changed his plans.

"Pathetic," Hei Lan sneered, his piercing black eyes fixed on Bai Xiao's small faction. His short black hair framed a cold, unreadable expression as he passed by. "You're still clinging to hope, aren't you? Just give up. You're no longer a genius."

Bai Xiao had once been a prodigy with unmatched talent, reaching the Foundation Realm at just four years old and the Elemental Realm by six. But his cultivation had come to a sudden halt, leaving him stuck in the Elementary Realm. Over time, Bai Xiao and Hei Lan had drifted apart, their once-friendly rivalry dissolving as Bai Xiao's progress stagnated.

"Hei Lan? Why are you here?" Bai Xiao asked, startled at his appearance. He immediately walked over, flipping the dynamic between them—now he was the one urging someone to reconsider. Gripping Hei Lan's shoulder, he said, "You're the next heir of the Hei clan. If anything happens to you, it would be a massive blow to your clan."

Hei Lan yanked his arm away roughly. "Don't touch me," he snapped. "You'll ruin my cultivation base. And as for changing my decision—forget it. No one tells Hei Lan what to do."

"But you're already doing so well," Bai Xiao argued, his concern apparent. "I won't let you throw away your future. What did your father say about this? Don't tell me you intend to climb all the way to the heavens."

Hei Lan scoffed, the very thought of reaching the heavens seeming revolting to him. "Do you know how many floors there are in the Heavenly Tower? Millions. I'd die long before reaching even a thousand."

The Heavenly Tower was legendary—a passage to the heavens, rumored to be impossibly high. Only those of immortal cultivation realms could ever hope to reach the top, and even they would need thousands of years. Immortal experts who had already cultivated for millennia were rumored to be climbing within the tower, forever ascending. Every decade, the Tower appeared in a random location in the world, and this time it was within Bai Xiao's reach. For ten days, the entrance would remain open, but priority was given to elite clans. Only afterward would guests from distant lands and those with imperial permission be allowed in. On the final day, mortals would have a chance to enter, as the heavens, it was said, were equal for all.

"Then why?" Bai Xiao pressed, only to be shoved away by Hei Lan.

"Mind your own business," Hei Lan spat, moving off with his faction members. Bai Xiao stumbled, landing in the dirt, his white robes covered in dust. Li Wei, his guard, continued eating, watching quietly. The Hei clan held a higher status than the Bai clan now, and Li Wei didn't want to risk any trouble.

"That bastard..." Bai Xiao muttered, standing up as Xia Hua hurried over to brush the dust from his sleeve. "Don't come crying to me later, saying no one tried to stop you."

"Forget him, Young Master," Xia Hua said, her voice tight as she watched Hei Lan's retreating form. "He's got a flawed personality." She had always disliked Hei Lan; he never failed to insult Bai Xiao whenever they met. But Xia Hua, knowing her place, had never dared to speak her mind to him directly.

"It seems the Bai clan is holding a banquet," someone said mockingly. It was Ruo Fe of the Ruo clan. His eyes gleamed as he waved toward Bai Xiao. Bai Xiao scoffed, his mood already sour from Hei Lan's taunts.

"To think you'd show up too, Ruo Fe. I guess being fifth in line for your clan's inheritance leaves you with little else to do. Your four elder brothers must be enjoying all the cream while you're left to spill milk over your fate."

Bai Xiao and Ruo Fe had a bittersweet relationship, both seen as disappointments by their clans. However, Ruo Fe was slightly better off, having broken through the Elementary Realm.

"Now, now, no need for taunts, Bai Xiao, my brother in grief," Ruo Fe said with a laugh, walking over and draping an arm around Bai Xiao's shoulders. His two faction members followed him three steps back.

"I am not your brother. If I were, I'd have beaten some manners into you by now," Bai Xiao said, pushing him away slightly. "But since you're here, I suppose you can sit with us. We have too much food to finish."

"Indeed, so much food, and it's delicious too," Li Wei chimed in, his mouth full. Xia Hua nodded in agreement.

"Well, since you're inviting me..." Ruo Fe grinned, gesturing for his faction members to bring something from their cart.

"Imagine climbing the Heavenly Tower with servants," Bai Xiao teased, conveniently ignoring the fact that he himself planned to bring Xia Hua.

"All out of necessity. Heaven only knows why the Tower demands a faction of three to enter," Ruo Fe said, opening the box his servants handed him.

Before Bai Xiao could respond, the air around them shifted. Whispers and murmurs spread through the crowd, all eyes turning toward a newly arrived faction.

Five otherworldly beauties, dressed in exquisite traditional garb with delicate embroidery and calligraphic characters, walked gracefully through the gathering.

"Look, the faction from the Jing clan has arrived."

"To think they'd send such delicate beauties for such a dangerous task."

"My eyes must be deceiving me... isn't that Mei Jing, the famous young genius?"

The Jing clan was renowned throughout the lands as one of the most powerful matriarchal clans. Its women, while breathtakingly beautiful, were also formidable cultivators—thorny roses.

Mei Jing, the center of attention, walked with an air of grace, ignoring the stares and whispers. Her long black hair flowed like a river, her pale, delicate face accented by a soft blush matching her attire. Her jade-green eyes and confident smile added to her unshakable presence.

"So it's you," she said, stopping before Bai Xiao for reasons unknown. Her gaze swept over him. "Lady Gia's son. Her beauty must have tempered the brutish scowl your Bai clan is known for."

Bai Xiao immediately thought of his father and uncles' harsh features. What she said wasn't far from the truth. He, too, might have worn that scowl had his mother, Gia Jing, not hailed from the prestigious Jing clan.

"Was that meant to be a compliment or an insult?" Bai Xiao asked, looking away. "But since you're acquainted with my mother, I'll forgive you. Now, scram. Don't distract me from the task ahead."

Li Wei and Ruo Fe exchanged bewildered looks. Mei Jing's sharp eyes narrowed at his dismissive words, her confident demeanor slightly bruised.

"Even without that scrowl, you're still from that brutish Bai clan," she spat, her voice suddenly thorny. "To think our precious Lady Gia would lower herself to marry into such a clan of ill-mannered good-for-nothings. Come on, girls, let's leave."

She struck her sandal against the ground as she turned, leaving shallow imprints in the earth. Her faction followed, and the crowd parted for them like the tide.

Xia Hua patted Bai Xiao's back, amused by the situation. She loved how Bai Xiao rejected Mei Jing's indirect advance. Half of her feelings were jealousy, but the other half was worry. The ladies of the Jing Clan were infamous for using their admirers for personal gain.

"Bai Xiao, you lucky bastard. To think that the famous genius Mei Jing would talk to you, and you'd dismiss her so rudely! Are you even a man?" Fe Ruo sighed, his eyes lingering on the retreating Jing Faction.

"Nonsense," Li Wei countered, also watching them leave. "Young Master Bai Xiao is above such matters. He only cares about his cultivation."

Bai Xiao stayed quiet, his sharp eyes scanning the other participants and factions gathering at the site. Most of the arrivals belonged to elite clans, officially sent on missions or specific objectives, much like the Jing Faction. Others, like Bai Xiao, Fe Ruo, and Hei Lan, were here of their own will, each with personal aims.

The area grew increasingly crowded as greetings and chatter filled the air.

"Any moment now..." Bai Xiao murmured, glancing at the sun's angle. The Heavenly Tower was almost thirty breaths late this decade.

Suddenly, the ground trembled. A deep rumble filled the atmosphere as the legendary Heavenly Tower began to emerge, its base breaking through the earth with a thunderous roar. The colossal structure soared upward, its seemingly endless spire piercing the heavens.

 

[Gingerick]

A deafening boom resounded, and a blinding golden light erupted from the ground. The light shot skyward in a pillar so radiant it was impossible to look directly at it. The earth cracked and splintered beneath their feet.

The air thickened, an overwhelming pressure crushing down on everyone. Even the strongest cultivators gasped for breath. Bai Xiao shielded his eyes with one arm, bracing against the gale-force winds. Xia Hua clung to him, her knuckles white, while Li Wei gritted his teeth, barely managing to stay upright.

The golden pillar of light surged higher and higher until it seemed to pierce the heavens. Within the glow, a colossal shadow began to take shape—a tower—no, a monolith—rising with impossible speed yet carrying an undeniable weight.

For five whole minutes, the colossal structure climbed. When it finally stopped, an eerie silence fell, broken only by the groans of the earth settling beneath its weight. The glow faded, revealing the Heavenly Tower in its full, terrifying majesty.

It was impossibly vast, its base made of a shimmering, dark stone that seemed to drink in the light. It towered so high that its peak disappeared into the clouds. Brilliant carvings adorned its surface—runes and patterns that pulsed faintly with an otherworldly energy. Four great gates, larger than any mortal palace, stood at its base, their edges inscribed with glowing golden sigils.

The atmosphere crackled with raw power. The sheer presence of the tower seemed to suppress the world around it, making the cultivators gathered feel like ants before a mountain. Its aura was both inviting and repelling—a promise of boundless opportunity and imminent doom.

"Is this it...?" Bai Xiao muttered, his voice trembling as he staggered to his feet. His heart pounded in awe and fear as he stared at the towering monolith.

Xia Hua's voice was barely a whisper. "The Heavenly Tower…" Her knees shivered as she stared at the majestic structure. Li Wei was fallen on the ground, his mouth agape at the sight.

"This must be the work of the gods themselves. No mortal could create such a thing."

"I can feel my cultivation straining against the pressure. How can anyone climb this?"

"The runes... they're pulsing with power. This tower is alive."

Murmurs and whispered flooded the air as soon as the earth stopped shaking, but no one dared to approach the tower first. They were waiting for someone else to go and test it.

Feeling the delay, Bai Xiao scoffed and moved forward. His eyes were set with determination as he stepped on the cracked earth.

"I am going in first, Fe Rou, follow me if you wish."

"Young master can't be serious, are you going first? What if there is a trap or something for impatient participants?" Li Wei tried to reason with him, but Bai Xiao ignored him.

"I don't have any death wish, you go on, brave brother.." Fe Rou sat down on the ground, his hands still trembling. He decided to wait and watch for now.

"As you wish, cowardly brother. Li Wei, just follow me, we have to go in anyway, then why waste time?"

"But young master—"

Before Li Wei could say something, Bai Xiao himself stopped in his tracks. In front of him was a bald old man with a long beard. He was pulsing with high cultivation aura, his eyes were sunken in barely visible among the think wrinkles.

"Stop right there, dried lamp of the Bai Clan. We have things to discuss with everyone first.." He said, grabbing Bai Xiao's shoulder.

"Old bastard Qin... what are you doing here, and even blocking my path towards my destiny? Move..." Bai Xiao was about to clash with the old man but was immediately pulled back by Li Wei.

"Now, now, young master, that isn't how you talk to Elder Qin. Our clan may fall in trouble if you do. Let's just listen to what he has to say." He said, dragging him back. Bai Xiao also didn't resist; he had no intention of really messing with this Tribulation Realm Expert.

"Lords & Ladies as most of you may know, I am Gu Qin. As someone who has climbed the tower once in the past myself, I have been tasked by the emperor to provide information and guidance to all the elite clan factions. It won't take long, so listen carefully before anyone enters the Heavenly Tower."

Gu Qin was an famous elder in the emperor's court. His Tribulation Realm Cultivation had named him one of the strongest in this whole empire.

"Firstly, the thing about this tower being a gateway to heavens. Keep in mind that no one has ever confirmed such a thing. Most participants go inside to face challenges and increase their cultivation. Some even go to look for valuable items and relics. However, there surely are a few immortal cultivators climbing for the sake of heaven itself." He paused, looking around if there was someone like this in the gathered crowd. He found none.

Bai Xiao, still being held by Li Wei, listened closely since he didn't have much strength; he wanted to absorb as much information as possible.

"Now, to climb the tower, there are two ways. The first one is to climb from outside, however, it's not recommended. Even if you could climb so high for years, all the while hanging on the thin runic carvings of the tower's surface, you wouldn't get any rewards or items, neither would you be able to utilize the dense qi it has to offer. This method is only for those who want to reach the heavens without having to deal with the challenges inside."

He paused again, looking if someone would want to try this method. He found none.

"Only some idiot would even try this method.." Someone said dismissively.

"And a coward to boot.." another chimed in.

Bai Xiao didn't even consider this method; his goal was to cultivate, not reach the heavens.

"Next, the proper way is to enter one of the 4 great gates. The northern gate, the southern gate, and so on. The four gates aren't parallel, however, they don't merge for the first 10 floors, meaning the people who enter a certain gate wouldn't meet people who entered the other gates for the first 10 floors."

"No need to be so specific, we are not your disciples, hurry up, old man." Hei Lan glared at Gu Qin, being impatient. This much information was common knowledge among elite clans.

"Ah, the heir of the Hei Clan. It seems junior Hei hasn't taught his son how to speak with elders.." He laughed, ignoring him like a child.

"Oh well, it seems all you young lot are impatient. Fine, let me wrap it up. To register your faction, you must be holding hands with each other while entering the gates. A faction should have at least three members; there is no known upper limit."

"There are uncountable floors, with each floor having a floor spirit to guide you. To clear each floor, you have to meet one certain condition which can be absolutely anything. Each floor tests a different aspect of you, from strength, intelligence to honesty or even luck."

"After clearing each floor, the spirit will reward you accordingly. After every 4 floors, the 5th floor is of high difficulty. It is after clearing these hard floors that you get an option to quit & get out of the tower. However, this option is only available for the first 100 floors. After that, there is no return. That's all, the rest you can ask from the floor spirits themselves. Does anyone have any questions?"

"Me. How high had you climbed in your time, Elder Qin?" Mei Jing asked with a glint in her eyes, wondering if she could surpass him.

"Oh, how high was it again? 40-45 floors, I was quite young those days and couldn't keep up with my faction mates, and they forced me to quit." He said, recollecting his memories. "But no regrets, heavens have given me another chance. This time I will surely reach 100." He said as his eyes shone through the wrinkles.

"Huh?" Bai Xiao, Hei Lan, and Mei Jing all startled by his sudden declaration. "You are also climbing, at this age?"

Gu Qin smiled bitterly at the rude youths. "Why not? Heavens have given me another chance, after guiding the participants for the first nine days, I myself will enter the Tower."

"Whatever, Bai Xiao freed himself from Li Wei's grasp and walked past Gu Qin. "You already wasted a lot of time. Let's hurry, Li Wei, Xia Hua."

"Yes, young master." They both sang in unison, averting their eyes from Gu Qin.

"Girls, follow me, we should also get going." Mei Jing gestured as she began walking gracefully towards the Gates.

Hei Lan also walked with fast steps, wanting to take first-mover advantage. It was clear that these three factions were the boldest among the crowd and were ready to dive right in.

"Fragrant warm breeze; that flows from the east.." Mei Jing recited, going towards the Eastern Gate.

"The Majestic mountains; stand tall in the north." Hei Lan circled around, going towards the northern gate.

"The western gate that's closest to me.." Bai Xiao didn't put any thought, going straight towards the nearest gate.

The western gate, as huge as it was, wasn't any bit different from the other gates. No matter how hard they looked, the entrance was pitch black.

"Eek, you...young master...." Xia Hua gasped as Bai Xiao took her hand suddenly. Her face reddened as she looked down.

"Li Wei, I am not holding a man's hand, take my elbow.." Bai Xiao said, lifting his sleeves to expose his elbow.

"Young master, seriously..? I feel disrespected somehow.." Li Wei said, grabbing Bai Xiao's elbow.

"Now, on the count of three, we will walk in...Three... Two.... One..."

Six footsteps responded in unison, all of their visions darkened.

"Mortals. Welcome to the Heavenly Tower."