I became a martial arts saint while playing games.

Having broken through the fifth level, Gu Yan continued climbing to the sixth level without stopping.

This level finally saw the emergence of third-tier martial artists, namely those at the Condensation Realm.

A burly guard stood there, wielding a battle axe. He was not only protected by a protective aura, but also clad in heavy armor, his defenses fully reinforced. Although there was only one person on this level, the danger was naturally no less than before.

Without wasting words, Gu Yan stepped forward, made a feint with his palm to provoke the enemy to make a move, and took the opportunity to observe the opponent's moves.

The guard roared and brought his heavy axe down. Gu Yan dodged to the side and focused on the direction the guard had come from.

The guard pressed on, unleashing two powerful axe blows. His moves were wide and sweeping, somewhat similar to the swordsman on the fourth floor—both were the kind of bosses best suited for parrying and counter-attacking.

Gu Yan saw the axe's path clearly and already knew what to expect. When his opponent swung the axe again, he no longer retreated or dodged. Instead, he stepped forward to meet the heavy axe head-on, using the soft force in his wrist to gently guide the axe blade's edge. He then slightly deflected the axe's trajectory, following the opponent's downward strike.

The guard, having exhausted his strength with the axe, could no longer stop. The heavy axe blade instantly cleaved through the stone pillar beside him. The heavy axe became deeply embedded in the pillar, and his movements involuntarily paused.

The guard struggled to pull out his axe, leaving the gate wide open. Gu Yan struck out with a powerful palm strike, which landed squarely on the guard's chest.

He had mastered the Xuan Yue Zhen Shan Palm, and its power was truly extraordinary. However, the guard who took the blow swayed and staggered back two steps. He pulled the axe that was stuck in the stone pillar out, but he didn't stop. He roared and swung the axe again.

Gu Yan struck the heavy axe with his left palm, but the axe missed, and Gu Yan took the opportunity to dodge, frowning slightly.

The opponent was at the Condensation Realm, and was already protected by Qi. In addition, with that heavy armor, it seemed that the damage he could cause with his palm strikes was limited.

This makes this layer a little more complicated.

However, judging from the opponent's heavy axe technique, although it was fierce and domineering, it was not difficult to borrow force from it. Gu Yan's heart stirred, and he had another idea. He leaped forward and fought again.

The heavily armored guard swung his giant axe again, with the force of splitting a mountain.

Gu Yan also used the Shifting Universe Technique again, his arms gently rotating, his palms softly swirling and binding the force of the axe. He did not resist with brute force, but instead followed the momentum of the chopping strike, lightly and skillfully drawing a semicircle, and then pulling back against the force.

The guard's axe strike was completely redirected, forcibly drawing it back to himself. He roared, attempting to forcefully retract the axe with his brute strength, but Gu Yan seized the opportunity to gather his energy and unleash his palm strike. The Xuan Yue Zhen Shan Palm forcefully overlapped the axe's momentum, making the axe strike seem as if both of them had combined their full strength. It immediately pierced through the guard's protective aura, broke through his armor, and severely injured him.

Gu Yan's palm strike alone would have limited effect, and if he had only drawn the guard's axe strike, it probably wouldn't have been able to break through the iron armor. But when the two of them joined forces, their combined strength produced an immediate and remarkable effect.

Gu Yan pressed his advantage relentlessly, unleashing a barrage of palm strikes at the heavy axe that had already pierced the guard's body, each strike pushing the axe even deeper. After several blows, the guard's body was finally torn apart completely, severed in two, and vanished into nothingness before it even hit the ground.

Sixth floor, cleared.

This level is undoubtedly much more difficult than the previous five. Reflecting on his progress through these six levels, Gu Yan felt that the Tower of Ascension was deliberately honing his ability to shift the universe, and it was progressing from shallow to deep. By the time he reached the sixth level, he needed to borrow the opponent's power and then combine it with his own palm strike to break through the impasse.

Of course, if one's cultivation level is higher and one's strength is greater, one can also overcome all techniques with sheer force. But ultimately, it is not as subtle as the method of using another's strength against them.

If there is a standard answer to this Tower of Ascension, Gu Yan felt that the solution provided in the standard answer might be exactly the same as his own.

This made him increasingly curious, and he couldn't help but wonder which sect had opened up these old trial ruins? Could it really be related to the teleportation technique he learned in the game?

In any case, only one hurdle remains.

Gu Yan hadn't expended too much energy on the first five levels, so he kept walking without stopping. But the sixth level had already made him feel a bit strained, and he figured the seventh level would probably be even more difficult.

Shifting the universe is extremely energy-consuming, and Gu Yan had already used up a considerable amount of his internal energy accumulated over six levels. Therefore, he was not in a hurry this time. Instead, he took a Qi and Blood Restoration Elixir on the spot, sat cross-legged, circulated his energy for a while, and waited until his strength recovered somewhat before getting up and moving forward again.

There are no restrictions on using drugs when climbing the tower. Gu Yan had passed through the first few floors with almost no pressure and felt there was no need to waste them. But the seventh floor was not to be underestimated, and he needed to be more confident.

Upon reaching the seventh floor, the top floor, Gu Yan stood still in the tower. Soon, two illusory figures appeared before him, gradually solidifying into physical forms.

On the left stood a man in a sturdy blue robe, carrying a three-foot-long sword. On the right, a man in snow-white robes, also wielding a sword. The two, one in blue and one in white, stood side by side, the final guardians of the Tower of Ascension.

The two swordsmen, one in green robes and the other in white, drew their swords simultaneously, their blades flashing coldly as they charged straight at each other.

The swordsman in green robes was primarily fierce and ruthless, while the swordsman in white robes was primarily graceful and nimble. As soon as they clashed, it became clear that their sword styles complemented and countered each other, their advances and retreats were coordinated, and a single move could affect the entire body. Their power was far beyond the combined strength of the two of them, and far beyond what the rabble on the fifth floor could compare to.

Gu Yan initially unleashed the Xuan Yue Zhen Shan Palm against his opponent, its power solid and heavy. However, after only a few moves, he realized that the two men's swordsmanship was perfectly coordinated, their advances and retreats synchronized, and both possessed the cultivation of the Condensing Qi Realm, making it impossible for him to defeat them head-on.

So he turned to the technique of shifting the universe, trying to deflect the sword and forcefully create an opening.

But the two swordsmen were perfectly in sync. Although the Shifting Universe technique could create an opening, if one was weak, the other would immediately fill the gap and protect him, making their swordplay seamless.

As soon as one side of the sword's momentum was diverted, the other side's sword light immediately attacked, forcing Gu Yan to be unable to pursue. He deflected two swords in succession, creating an opening, but his attempt to counterattack failed, and instead he found himself surrounded by the opponent's sword momentum.

Could this be the so-called "two swords combined"?

Gu Yan didn't recognize what kind of sword technique the other party was using, but he guessed that it was a combined sword technique specifically designed to kill enemies together, which was why it had such power.

Fortunately, he had mastered the two levels of the Shifting Universe technique, and whenever he was in danger, he would deflect several deadly attacks in succession, thus resolving the crisis.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Gu Yan recalled that in his previous life, when he encountered a difficult BOSS while exploring a game, he would not rush into an attack. Instead, he would first defend and focus on parrying and dodging. Once he figured out the BOSS's attack patterns and became familiar with them, he would then look for an opening to break through.

While you can't literally memorize moves like you would when fighting a boss, the principles are similar. Although the enemy is alive and doesn't attack like a static program, their martial arts style still follows certain patterns. You can't memorize moves, but you can familiarize yourself with their routines and attacks, understand their moves, and then find an opening to counterattack.

Having made up his mind, Gu Yan withdrew his offensive, calmed his mind, and no longer rashly struck out with his palms. He only used the Shifting Universe technique to parry and defend.

The opponent's twin swords slashed, thrust, parried, and flicked continuously, the sword shadows seeming to come from all directions, but Gu Yan merely used his palms to guide and deflect them with soft force, either parrying them horizontally or pulling them diagonally, completely eliminating them without a trace.

He abandoned the offensive and focused on defense. With his mastery of manipulating the universe, he was as stable as Mount Tai, standing firmly in an invincible position.

Of course, he could block, but his mana bar wasn't unlimited. He still needed to find a way to defeat the enemy before his internal energy was exhausted.

Gu Yan observed that the two swordsmen's combined attack was truly exquisite and complex. As he countered their moves, he watched the two figures flash around him, their footwork intertwined, their advances and retreats measured, their rhythms perfectly synchronized. Suddenly, an idea struck him.

He observed intently, combining his opponent's rhythm and footwork, memorizing each move. After analyzing and dissecting over fifty moves, he finally began to grasp the key.

To break this combined sword technique, the key lies not in swordsmanship, but in the rhythm of footwork. Only when the two move in unison, advancing and retreating in perfect harmony, can they complement each other seamlessly, becoming each other's shield and spear.

Gu Yan's martial arts knowledge has improved significantly, and he has mastered a sword technique to a high level. He is also not completely ignorant of sword principles, which is why he can see the intricacies of the art.

Gu Yan usually dismantles the swordsmanship by drawing the strength of only one person, allowing the other to easily provide support. Only by using the technique of shifting the universe from both sides simultaneously, and guiding the sword techniques and footwork of both of them to disrupt their rhythm, can he break the combination of the two swords, or even cause them to hinder each other and injure each other.

However, to achieve this under such fierce combined sword techniques, one must discern the rhythm of the two's advance and retreat through footwork and be able to adapt to their rhythm.

Having grasped the key point, Gu Yan remained steadfast, intently watching the rhythm of the two men's footsteps. Seizing the opportunity, he channeled a gentle force into each palm, guiding them to the left and right.

The swordsman in green robes possessed a fierce and powerful sword style, while the swordsman in white robes followed a more subtle and graceful approach, their skills complementing each other. However, he followed the rhythm of their footwork, simultaneously shifting his force and momentum to the left and right, instantly disrupting their swordplay.

Gu Yan's left palm lightly wrapped around the green-robed longsword, slightly angled; his right palm subtly guided the white-robed sword's edge, quietly pulling it horizontally. The two's previously perfect rhythm was disrupted, and their sword paths suddenly clashed.

Not only did their combined swordplay crumble, but their swords flashed back and forth, each unleashing their own attacks on the other.

The two men, dressed in green and white, were thrown into disarray. They shouted in unison and hastily withdrew their swords to avoid injuring each other.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Gu Yan unleashed his full power with the Xuan Yue Zhen Shan Palm, the palm wind as heavy as a collapsing mountain, striking the green-robed swordsman's chest with all his might.

Although Gu Yan's cultivation level was at the Qi Control level, the Xuan Yue Zhen Shan Palm he cultivated was extremely powerful. In addition, the swordsman was trying his best to withdraw his sword to avoid accidentally injuring his teammates. Therefore, even though he was at the Qi Condensation level, he was still sent flying backward by Gu Yan's palm strike, his Qi Sea churning and blood spitting out of his mouth.

The white-clad swordsman hurriedly drew his sword to save him. But at this moment, his teammate had been knocked away, and no one was there to help. Gu Yan was not afraid of him in a one-on-one fight. After only a few moves, Gu Yan struck the swordsman's right shoulder with another palm strike.

Fortunately, he had protective qi, so although the palm strike was heavy, it only caused him severe pain in his arm. He switched the sword to his left hand and was able to fight again.

The swordsman in the green robe suppressed his injuries, shouted loudly, and stepped forward again with his sword. The two once again assumed a stance of combined swordsmanship.

But Gu Yan had already seen through their footwork and rhythm; the combined swordplay held no mystery for him. Moreover, both of them were injured, and their swordplay was no longer as fluid as before.

In less than ten rounds, Gu Yan had already drawn the two men into a fight. The two roared in unison, quickly dodging their swords to avoid injuring their teammate, but each of them was struck by Gu Yan's palm.

Gu Yan's palms didn't stop. Once he succeeded, he took the opportunity to use the Xuan Yue Zhen Shan Palm, a technique of returning to simplicity, to strike the two men from head to toe.

The two were struck repeatedly and had no time to catch their breath. They were treated like two wooden dummy targets by Gu Yan's palm techniques, causing them to vomit blood and break their bones.

But as expected of a Qi Condensation Warrior, their health bars were indeed thick. After Gu Yan finished his entire palm technique and stood still, the two of them collapsed to the ground, their figures fading and dissipating.

Tower of Ascension, seventh floor, cleared!