Zhang Chen gazed meaningfully at Jiang Nan and Zhang Gaoqiu, noticing that the two were already standing together, clearly having formed an alliance in secret.

"The reason Jiang Nan wants to marry Shen Qiu is definitely not because Shen Qiu is an outstanding young man. Although Shen Qiu also possesses Bloodline Power and is a direct descendant of the Shen Family, he is still far from the top echelons of youth in the world. But the Shen Family behind Shen Qiu is worth Jiang Nan climbing high branches for. If the Shen Family were to encounter turmoil in the future, who knows how Jiang Nan would choose then? That would be interesting," Zhang Chen mused silently to himself.

"I wonder what mysteries lie within Chongzheng Academy and whether they could bring us some surprises," Tushan Qing murmured expectantly behind Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen glanced at Tushan Qing, a mysterious look in his eyes, but he did not speak further.

Once Zhou Qiucheng finished calling names and confirmed everyone was present, he looked at the crowd: "You all come from prominent families. If your aim were simply to study, you could do so within your family. The reason you wish to enter Chongzheng Academy is to research the mysteries within. The court hopes to gather the talented minds from across the land to solve numerous enigmas and contact more mysteries. Therefore, I will not require you to take academic classes. I will open the mysteries of Chongzheng Academy to you, allowing you free access and plenty of opportunities to study them. Whatever you gain from this is up to you, but all you need to do is leave your insights with the academy. Naturally, if you manage to subdue certain mysteries, you must join the Imperial Guard and serve the court, or provide mysteries of equivalent value for an exchange, sparing you from joining the Imperial Guard."

After repeating the instructions, he asked again: "Have you all understood?"

"We understand," the students replied in unison.

Zhou Qiucheng nodded: "In that case, follow me."

After speaking, the group began to walk toward the back mountain, and from a distance, Zhang Chen spotted that mysterious building.

"This is the place where Chongzheng Academy researches mysteries. Sealed within are countless Immortal, extremely troublesome mysteries. If you have the ability to subdue them or decipher their laws, it will be your Creation," Zhou Qiucheng said from the front.

As the group gradually approached the building, bringing it more clearly into view for Zhang Chen, he couldn’t help but feel his pupils contract. Was that a building? It was clearly a Treasure Tower!

Most importantly, the plaque on the tower bore three ancient characters: "Exquisite Tower!"

"What a fine name!" Zhang Chen thought to himself.

At that moment, he sensed a mysterious Qi Mechanism circulating in the void, seemingly trying to suppress the Primordial Spirit within his body. The Golden Finger Qi Mechanism within him circulated, refreshing his interface:

[The discovered power shares the same origin as the Sealing Rune; skill immunity, unable to be seized]

"Power of the same origin can’t be seized? The Golden Finger has such a drawback?" Zhang Chen furrowed his brows.

"However, my Sealing Rune is far inferior in essence to this tower. My Sealing Rune must be pasted onto a living being to suppress it, whereas this tower can suppress across the void," Zhang Chen analyzed the advantages and disadvantages in his mind.

Despite the differences in essence, both powers were of the ’sealing’ kind, reaching the same goal by different means, which explained the Golden Finger’s immunity.

"Zhang Chen, there is something off about this tower!" Suddenly, the voice of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon spoke beside Zhang Chen’s ear.

"What do you mean by off?" Zhang Chen asked, puzzled.

"This building is a damaged Innate Spiritual Treasure!" the Great Freedom Celestial Demon said with shining eyes. "Unfortunately, it seems to have undergone tribulations and is already broken, leaving only twelve layers of the entire tower."

"A damaged Innate Spiritual Treasure?" Zhang Chen’s eyes lit up immediately, as he was adept at dealing with Innate Spiritual Treasures, given his Innate Qi.

"I wonder if I could lure away this damaged Innate Spiritual Treasure," Zhang Chen pondered.

While Zhang Chen mused over his thoughts, a contemplative light flickered in his eyes. At this moment, Tushan Qing noticed Zhang Chen’s unusual demeanor and approached to ask, "Zhang, did you discover something?"

"No," Zhang Chen replied hastily to Tushan Qing.

Tushan Qing looked at Zhang Chen, obviously not believing his words; had Zhang Chen detected nothing, that would be suspicious.

At this time, Tushan Qing saw the inscription on the tower’s plaque, his eyes alight with curiosity: "What script is this engraved on the tower? This script seems to embody the Dao of Heaven and Earth, appearing extremely profound. I have never seen such peculiar characters."

This question wasn’t just Tushan Qing’s; it was shared by all the students present. At this moment, someone asked Zhou Qiucheng: "Sir, what is the script written on the treasure tower?"

Zhou Qiucheng shook his head: "This script was passed down from the Ancient Opening Heaven Period, possessing an inscrutable might. Long-term observation may lead to the understanding of mysterious laws. However, this script has been buried in the river of time. Even the Ancient Race, those who passed down from the Ancient Era, cannot recognize this script. These are truly characters recording the Dao of Heaven and Earth, though unfortunately extinct. If practiced by tracing, one might gain incredible benefits."

After Zhou Qiucheng finished speaking, he arrived at the grand door. The door stood three meters tall, made of a single piece of crystal, engraved with mysterious runes and lines. The runes and lines seemed to share the same origin as the text on the door plaque, containing a mysterious power within, yet the power was subtle and not revealed, appearing extremely enigmatic.

"Now that the world has changed drastically, all mysteries are trying to restrain their Qi Mechanism to avoid consuming their Origin. This Exquisite Tower is no exception. This Heaven and Earth has transformed from the Innate Era to the Postnatal Era, and even into the End of Dharma Era, where all Innate Items nourish all living things of Heaven and Earth." Zhang Chen pondered silently.

Then Zhang Chen set his gaze on the surroundings of the Crystal Tower. Around him lay a mass of experience points, waiting for Zhang Chen to collect them.

Currently, Zhang Chen was most lacking in experience points, so he discreetly stepped forward and saw the Golden Finger Interface automatically pop up a light screen;

[Experience points found, would you like to collect them?]

"Collect," Zhang Chen said.

As Zhang Chen spoke, countless messages flashed across the Golden Finger Interface:

[Experience points +100]

[Experience points +500]

[Experience points +80]

[Experience points +300]

...

Countless messages flowed before Zhang Chen’s eyes, and he leisurely circled around the Exquisite Tower. By the time the Golden Finger Interface stopped flickering, he had collected tens of millions of experience points.

"Though tens of millions of experience points aren’t much, they are sustainable. This is a source of long-term experience points," Zhang Chen thought to himself.

At this moment, Tushan Qing was like an obedient child following Zhang Chen, bearing a reverential demeanor. Seeing Zhang Chen pause his steps, a smile appeared on his face. Tushan Qing’s heart stirred, knowing Zhang Chen must have had a fruitful gain, and curiously approached to ask, "Brother, did you harvest anything?"

He was leaning into the situation, directly calling Zhang Chen brother, lowering his status by a generation.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen glanced at Tushan Qing and shook his head, "I’m not a god; how could I harvest so quickly?"

Tushan Qing cast a doubtful glance at Zhang Chen, evidently not believing Zhang Chen’s words. But since Zhang Chen was unwilling to disclose, he had no choice but to steal himself, resolved to stick by Zhang Chen’s side to catch some good fortune.

At this moment, Zhou Qiucheng arrived at the grand door, performing incantations with his hand. In an instant, the flawless crystal door split in two, forming an entryway. Zhou Qiucheng took the lead to walk into the Treasure Tower, his voice resonating in everyone’s ears, "You may freely roam inside the Treasure Tower; if you can comprehend anything within, it’s your own skill, your chance and Creation."

"Follow me," Zhou Qiucheng said.

A group of people walked into the Treasure Tower in a rush, treading on crystal steps, entering the first major entrance, glimpsing the interior scene, which took their breath away. Inside the Treasure Tower’s first level, it was empty, but the space was remarkably vast, spanning hundreds of miles in all directions, resembling a small world.

The entire interior of the Treasure Tower was made of crystal stones, appearing as if entering a mythological world.

Mystical fluctuations circulated within the tower, and upon entering, everyone’s powers settled into silence, seemingly transforming into mortal flesh.

A group of mighty individuals, possessing Bloodline Power and standing above, suddenly lost all their power, becoming ordinary mortals, causing a commotion among the crowd.

"This Treasure Tower is a mystery, possessing the power to suppress all things in the world. In here, anyone whose cultivation has not reached the Eleventh Tier will find all their mysterious powers suppressed, turning into mere mortals. Even an Eleventh Tier expert entering would face power suppression from the tower, entirely subdued." Zhou Qiucheng said, soothing the minds of everyone, "Of course, an Eleventh Tier expert wouldn’t rashly enter the Treasure Tower; attempting to use the tower to gather them inside would be extraordinarily difficult."

Upon hearing Zhou Qiucheng’s words, the crowd felt somewhat relieved.

Zhou Qiucheng pointed at the empty crystal world, "This tower is mysterious; even though I can control its power, I can only borrow a portion of it. If you can comprehend any unknown mystery from within, you’d strike it big."

Zhou Qiucheng proceeded forward, leading everyone through the Crystal World. The ground was entirely made of crystal stone, glistening brightly and reflecting everyone, the entire Crystal Palace immaculate.

"The Great Victory Court established the Chongzheng Academy’s Inner Courtyard with one primary mission, which is to detect how a certain Secret Treasure, said to communicate with the Thirty-Three Heavens, operates, discover its pattern, and master it."