Chapter 1768 Martial Tower To improve a martial technique, one must first learn and master it. For Yuan, who had lived multiple lives as powerful immortals, each reigning supreme in their respective eras, this process came naturally. His vast experience with countless techniques made him exceptionally adept in this domain. After spending a few hours carefully studying the jade tablet with the Ancient-rank technique, Yuan fully grasped it. He then spent the rest of the day with his eyes closed, mentally practicing the martial technique as if he were crafting a treasure within his mind, refining every detail and perfecting it in his imagination. If it weren't for a disturbance, he would've spent some more time inside his mind. "You! I've finally found you!" Apprentice Huan shouted when he noticed Yuan amongst the crowd. Due to Yuan's handsome features, he stuck out like a sore thumb no matter how big the crowd around him was. After leaving the Metal Tower, Apprentice Huan spent several hours scouring the city in search of Yuan. Eventually, he decided to check the teleportation formation, hoping for a lead. Sure enough, the attendant working the formation remembered Yuan and confirmed that he had used it recently. Yuan frowned after seeing Apprentice Huan and said, "Don't tell me you followed me all the way here?" "I had no choice! You must return to the Metal Tower with me as soon as possible! Senior Liao wants to see you!" Apprentice Huan said, not even bothering to apologize. "Senior who?" Yuan raised an eyebrow at this unfamiliar name. "You don't even know the Master of the Metal Tower, Liao Tian?! He once held the title of God of Creation before retiring!" Apprentice Huan exclaimed, his face filled with disbelief. Yuan shrugged nonchalantly, "Thanks for the introduction. I definitely didn't know him before it." "Y-you disrespectful son—" Apprentice Huan forcefully stopped himself from finishing the sentence. "Now you know who's summoned you, follow me back to the Metal Tower." However, Yuan sneered, "So what if he was once the God of Creation? Even if he were the current God of Creation, I don't care! If he wants me to return to the Metal Tower, he better invite me in person!" "You're going too far, bastard!" Apprentice Huan roared. "I'm going too far? You were the one who drove me away, and instead of apologizing, you're still looking down on me. Unless this Liao Tian visits me personally, I won't return to the Metal Tower until I visit the other four Breakthrough Towers!" Yuan declared, leaving Apprentice Huan speechless. After a moment of silence, he trembled in anger and screamed, "Either you follow me back willingly, or I will force you to go back!" "Oh? I'd love to see you try." Yuan beckoned Apprentice Huan. This was the perfect time for him to improve the Ancient-rank technique through practical use. Apprentice Huan sneered in disdain and released his cultivation base, which was at the first level of Divine Ancestor. 'Senior Liao only mentioned bringing him back to the Metal Tower! He didn't say in what condition! I'll drag him back even if it's only his corpse!' Apprentice Huan laughed inwardly, showing a menacing expression on his face. Seeing that two experts were about to clash, the people there immediately scrambled to safety. Yuan retrieved his Baneful Abyss, as the Ancient-rank technique was a dagger technique. 'Since this is the Stairway to Heaven's trial, I don't have to worry about killing innocent people with its powerful poison.' Apprentice Huan trembled in fear after sensing the Baneful Abyss' ominous aura. "Did you create that monstrosity?" Apprentice Huan asked with a deep frown. "Where are your morals?" "Morals? I'm surprised you can even utter such a word!" Yuan laughed out loud. He then shouted out loud, "Martial Tower, are you watching this right now?! I will now display my improvements for the Ancient-rank martial technique!" Yuan pointed the Banefull Abyss at Apprentice Huan and said, "Don't worry, I won't kill you. After all, how else will you tell Liao Tian to come find me?" "Arrogant son of a bitch!" Just as Apprentice Huan leaped forward, Yuan's aura exploded after activating True Dragon Awakening. The abrupt appearance of such powerful pressure startled Apprentice Huan, causing him to hesitate for a split second. Yuan used this opportunity to attack. A black streak of light appeared, piercing Apprentice Huan's left arm faster than one could blink their eyes. "Wha—" Before Apprentice Huan could even process what was happening, an intense pain suddenly engulfed his entire body. It felt as though his insides were melting, the agony so overwhelming that it left him gasping for breath and unable to think clearly. If Apprentice Huan's cultivation weren't at the Divine Ancestor realm, he would've perished the second Baneful Abyss touched him. As Apprentice Huan rolled on the ground, screaming in pain, Yuan approached him. Right before Apprentice Huan succumbed to the poison, Yuan removed the poison. "Go back to Liao Tian and tell him to see me personally if he wants me to return to the Metal Tower," he said a moment later. "..." A deafening silence enveloped the area as the onlookers stood frozen in disbelief. They couldn't fathom how easily Yuan had defeated someone several cultivation realms stronger than himself, executing the feat with such effortless grace. "Hahaha!" An amused laugh suddenly shattered the silence. When Yuan and the others turned toward the source of the laughter, they saw a wise-looking old man standing before them, his presence so sudden and silent it was as if he had materialized like a ghost. "Y-you are—!" Apprentice Huan instantly recognized this old man, as did the other onlookers. "Lord Zi!" Everyone except Yuan immediately lowered their heads in respect toward the old man, whose aura and demeanor made it clear that he was a figure of immense significance. Without even looking at Apprentice Huan, the old man faced Yuan and spoke with a smile on his face, "That was magnificent—your improvement to that martial technique. How long did it take you to come up with something like that?" "A little under a day. If I hadn't been interrupted by someone, I could've improved it even further," he replied. The old man's eyes widened.