CHAPTER 138: TOWER OF BROKEN LANGUAGES

Xu Tao’s vision flickered for a moment.

One second, he was alone in the desert; the next, he was already standing in the shadow of a giant structure. He craned his neck, trying to glimpse the tower’s peak—only to realize it wasn’t visible from his angle.

"How tall is this tower?" he whispered in wonder.

As he did, a familiar voice called out from further ahead.

"Sir Tao!"

Looking toward the sound, he saw Jehanne running toward him. Tears filled her eyes, worry etched deeply on her face.

As soon as she reached him, she clung to his frame and patted him down. "Are you alright?! You’re battered like a rag!"

"I’m... well, alive." Xu Tao smiled gently, patting the panicked Jehanne’s head.

He couldn’t exactly say he was fine—not when his whole body ached inside and out. Still, thanks to the lingering effect of the Recovery Pills, he wasn’t actually injured.

Only his clothes were so battered they no longer looked presentable. But that was fixed the next second.

A wave of green mist washed over his body. The next moment, not only were the torn, dirty clothes repaired, but the grit and sand covering his skin disappeared. He stood there sparkling clean and without a blemish.

"...Thanks, Zetian." Xu Tao glanced at the culprit and bowed lightly.

Zetian simply smiled, setting little Pepe on the ground before cupping her fists together in a gentle bow. "It’s a pleasure to be of help to you, my Emperor."

Raising her head, she continued.

"And congratulations on successfully hunting that monster, my Emperor. I always believed you could do it."

Xu Tao smiled wryly, shaking his head.

"No, I was just lucky. It was a close fight..." he said—not out of false humility, but honesty. "Anyway, what are you all doing here in front of the door? You can’t enter, perhaps?"

"Unfortunately, yes..." Arthur interjected from behind the two girls.

He stood before the giant tower’s arched doors—tall enough for giants to enter easily. "Even when I use the ring or press it against the door, nothing happens." He showed the ring resting on his palm.

"Huh?" Xu Tao tilted his head, puzzled, before asking the obvious. "Why don’t you wear it first instead? You haven’t tried that?"

"..."

Arthur’s figure flinched. He had considered wearing the ring before, but for some reason, he hesitated. Something about wearing it didn’t feel right.

"If you don’t want to, I can wear it myself—" Before Xu Tao could finish, Arthur shook his head.

"No... I was just being stubborn," he admitted.

With careful fingers, he picked up the glowing ring and slid it onto the middle finger of his left hand. The green light emanating from both the ring and the tower intensified—explosively so!

"Ugh!"

It was so bright that everyone had to cover their eyes. When the light faded... nothing changed.

"...Can you open the door now?" Xu Tao asked, dismissing the light show with a frown.

Arthur stared at the ring on his finger, then nodded. "Let’s try."

Turning, he strode briskly to the door. Everyone stepped back, giving him space and avoiding breaking his concentration.

As he reached the door, he raised his hand and pushed—but—

CREAAAAAK!

Before he could even push further, the door swung open by itself, parting just wide enough for two people to enter side-by-side.

"It’s open..." Arthur muttered, surprised.

"Just as I said, right?" Xu Tao nodded, smiling. "Let’s go inside and check the tower out!"

Arthur went in first, as the one who opened the door. Behind him, Xu Tao followed, then blushing Jehanne—overdosed with head pats—and aloof Zetian side by side. Further behind them was Achilles, his eyes pointed a little downward, watching the cakes laid before him.

Only after the main cast finished their dramatic entrance did the extras trickle in—including Yifa, who stayed back, still unsure if she belonged in the spotlight, mingling with the outer sect disciples of the Azure Dragon Sect.

One by one, the group stepped into the wide hall beyond the doors.

What awaited them were two curved staircases on either side, spiraling upward to the next floor roughly twenty meters above.

"What a high ceiling..." Xu Tao whispered, a little surprised.

"It’s not just that," Arthur added. "The floor, walls, and ceiling—all of them have drawings on them..."

Of course, no one missed what he pointed out. The murals were eye-catching.

Depicted were beings with white wings, wielding spiked swords engulfed in red flames. A golden halo hovered above their heads. On the opposite wall was an image of disfigured humanoid "monsters" with red skin and a pair of curved horns growing from their foreheads.

The land below was desolate, burned to the ground—blackened and charred. Above, the heavens showed dignity and prestige, not a hint of blemish on the lofty white clouds.

"This is..." Jehanne, who was quite familiar with the imagery, gulped. "A mural recounting the gruesome war between angels and demons!"

At that very moment, the last person entered the hall.

BAM!

Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind them. It shocked those last to enter, forcing them further inward in fright.

The next moment, a popup appeared before Xu Tao’s, Jehanne’s, and Yifa’s faces.

[The maximum number of challengers has been reached. The entrance will now be locked.]

[Welcome to the Tower of Broken Languages!]

[Reach the 49th floor—the top of the tower—and clear the challenge.]

Xu Tao raised a brow, digesting the notification.

"The Tower of Broken Languages...?" he whispered, confused.

"I..." Jehanne stirred uneasily, her brows furrowing so much they almost met. "I think I’ve heard of this tower before..."

"So this tower’s from your world?" Xu Tao asked, brows raised. "You’ve heard of it?"

Jehanne frowned, unable to answer immediately.

"From its name, I can hazard a guess..." Jehanne said slowly.

"The priests once told stories of a divine tower built to challenge the heavens... where humanity’s unity shattered, and languages broke apart. If this is that place—then we’ve stepped into something ancient... and dangerous."

Everyone’s attention turned to her, anticipating her next words.

"I think this place is... The Tower of Babel."