Food System in Cultivation World-Chapter 507 - 462: Hearing the Wind of Jade Capital’s Twelve-Layered Tower
The Jade Capital Twelve-Layered Tower is an exceedingly strange edifice.
It is said that this lofty structure has stood for a thousand years.
Six hundred years ago, when the Great Li Dynasty was first established, the Jade Capital Twelve-Layered Tower already existed.
Back then, Jade Capital Celestial City was not yet called Celestial City, but merely a battered old city from the former dynasty, weathered by the winds and rains of time.
During the wars among the Wei and Jin states, aristocratic clans colluded with monsters and demons, slaughtering the realm in a bloody tempest.
At that time, countless heroes of the Human Race fought fiercely for their homeland, launching raid after raid within Jade Capital.
In the early days of Great Li’s founding, Jade Capital, lauded as the foremost city of the Divine Continent, was burnt to the ground several times.
But even after enduring countless wars, some buildings within the city remained ever steadfast, untouched by destruction.
The Imperial Palace, which has existed since the Wei and Jin period, is one such structure.
The other is the Jade Capital Twelve-Layered Tower.
Legend has it that this tower was built by immortals from beyond the heavens; to ascend the Twelve-Layered Tower may grant one, through fate, the chance to hear celestial melodies from a thousand years past.
And such tales, over the centuries, have indeed been validated more than once.
For example, in Great Li’s Splendor Record, the first-ranked on the Celestial List, Xie Mingyi.
Legend says he heard the transmission of immortal teachings within the Jade Capital Twelve-Layered Tower, thereby comprehending the Star River Hanging Sword.
When his sword flashed forth, it soared three hundred li in a single strike.
He severed the head of a Great Demon as easily as reaching into a pocket.
The Thousand-legged Demon Monarch, who terrorized Youmang Mountain for nearly a century, was felled by Xie Mingyi’s sword.
And then there is the second-ranked on the Celestial List, the enigmatic Zhai Xingzi, who also experienced enlightenment within the Jade Capital Twelve-Layered Tower.
Only, Zhai Xingzi has always been shrouded in mystery.
Although she visited the Jade Capital Twelve-Layered Tower, what exactly she grasped inside, she kept secret, never speaking of it to outsiders.
Some rumors claim she in fact gained nothing, merely feigning enlightenment to save face.
Even with Zhai Xingzi’s illustrious reputation, whispers of doubt flourish in the shadows.
For who among mortals can escape being talked about?
In summary, amidst the clamor of countless rumors, the legendary image of the Jade Capital Twelve-Layered Tower grows ever firmer.
No matter how gifted or renowned, should you arrive at Jade Capital and not pay visit to the Twelve-Layered Tower, you would be disgraced to claim any fame.
This legendary tower is now overseen by the Imperial Court’s Yuting Bureau.
Imperial Chefs and palace eunuchs are transferred in to handle daily maintenance, also serving, in their own way, to signal the Court’s dominion over this celestial building.
Meanwhile, those wishing to hold a banquet here may submit a request in advance to the Yuting Bureau.
Provided sufficient silver coins and resources are paid, and one passes the identity check, one may host a banquet in the Twelve-Layered Tower.
This banquet arranged by Master Lan Yue is a result of such a process.
Though the Twelve-Layered Tower is largely open, in truth only the lower ten floors are accessible.
The upper floors, from the tenth onward, remain sealed—
This is not a closure imposed by the Yuting Bureau, but a wondrous feature intrinsic to this legendary celestial tower.
Its origins remain unknown.
The first floor of the Twelve-Layered Tower is open to all; to ascend from the second to the seventh floor requires a guide and the passing of certain random trials.
From the seventh to the ninth floor, one must rely solely on oneself to pass the tests. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
To aid or bring another is absolutely impossible.
As for the tenth floor and beyond, it is said only those "with fate" may enter.
But what qualifies as "with fate," no one knows.
Even as mighty as Xie Mingyi, he attained the Star River Hanging Sword in the Jade Capital Twelve-Layered Tower, yet it was only at the tenth floor that he found his opportunity.
He never set foot on the eleventh or twelfth floors.
Today, Master Lan Yue’s banquet in the Twelve-Layered Tower is held in the main hall on the first floor.
He has proclaimed that ascending to the twelfth floor is the victory condition, with the Feixia Pill—said to grant eight hundred years of longevity—as the prize, a matter much discussed behind closed doors.
"The Jade Capital Twelve-Layered Tower, its twelfth floor has supposedly never been reached by anyone.
To name that as the condition, it seems obvious he never intended to truly present the Feixia Pill.
That’s the twelfth floor, who could hope to reach it? Not even Xie Mingyi, most likely."
The morning sun rises, and the streets grow ever busier.
Many curious onlookers, hearing of the grand event, could not help but gather on the vast plaza before the Twelve-Layered Tower.
People gaze up at the tower’s highest floor, their words dripping with longing.
Some speak with seasoned wisdom, their tone an "only I remain sane while others are drunk" humility:
"All of you are too naive. That Feixia Pill allegedly extends life by eight hundred years—who would really give away such a Divine Pill?
Even the True Masters of Qingxu Dao Palace don’t live eight hundred years themselves.
Plainly, it’s just that carrot tied before the donkey’s nose—ha, easy to see but impossible to taste."
Upon hearing these words, all present feel a pang of recognition.
"Exactly, exactly! If it truly extends life eight hundred years, who’d gift it to others? They’d take it themselves as fast as they could."
But some counter: "Yet Xiao Elder of the front street did beg a hundred-year longevity pill from Qingxu Dao Palace. After taking it, his white hair turned black and he grew young again.
He’s even married a new concubine, and rumor has it she’s pregnant!"
"Hiss! He really grew young again?" The crowd is shocked by this news.
The gossipmonger responds cheerfully:
"Of course! I saw it with my own eyes.
And I’m not the only one, you could go to the front street now—Xiao Elder comes to the market himself each morning to make fresh soy milk.
He does it himself, with jet-black hair, a healthy glow, and strength to spare.
Were it not for his unchanged features and voice, with even his grown son calling him ’father,’ who wouldn’t say he looks like a twenty-year-old youth?"
As they’re talking, suddenly a group comes flocking around a young man in ochre robes.
This youth with a slight paunch strides energetically, as if moved by a wind beneath his feet.
Those surrounding him rush to keep pace, calling out as they run: "Father, Father, slow down!
You’re moving too fast, your son can’t catch up!"
All eyes turn; they see the man calling ’father’ appears to be a middle-aged fellow in his thirties or forties, but the one being chased has black hair and beard, radiant complexion, and
His taut face bears not a wrinkle, seeming at most twenty-four or twenty-five.
Yet he is being called "father" by a man of forty!
The crowd stirs with commotion, someone points at the youthful, vibrant man and exclaims:
"Look! That’s Xiao Elder from the front street! He has truly grown young again, so vital and youthful now!"
The black-haired "young man," striding through the crowd, hears someone mention him and suddenly turns to look in their direction.
The speaker, caught off guard, shrinks, but the "young man" bursts out in a booming, bell-like laughter.
"Hahaha, who speaks of this old man?"
Though his voice is robust and strong, it bears the clear rasp of age.
All are amazed; at last someone cannot help but ask:
"Xiao Elder, are you truly Xiao Elder? Where are you headed today?"
"I am Xiao Zhengde, never changing name nor surname, and where I go today is, of course, the Twelve-Layered Tower.
