Immortal of the Nine Realms

The middle-aged man let out a light laugh, his gaze unwavering. ”Yes, if I truly wanted to stop the Void Immortal Sword Sect from proceeding with their journey, not even the First Rate Sect Leaders of the Central Continent Empire would be able to intervene. But why would I want to stop it?”

Lu Chunyu, still perplexed, frowned. The Void Immortal Sword Sect and the Kunlun Sword Sect had fought intensely in the past, with the former even having the edge for a time. It was only when the middle-aged man standing before him became a First Rate Sect Leader did the tables turn.

Why would he take such an indifferent stance now?

The middle-aged man continued, ”In the Qiufeng, there is a set of steps called the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps. Two great figures once made a wager there. This wager involves the three realms of Celestial Heaven, Central Continent Empire, and Northern Dipper. If they lose, the realms will be turned upside down. The fate of the cultivators in these realms... you should be able to imagine.”

Lu Chunyu’s eyes widened in shock. He knew Qiufeng, located far from Celestial Heaven, was a region rich in resources and teeming with powerful figures. But what kind of bet could possibly involve such a massive, world-changing consequence?

”They’re coming,” said the middle-aged man.

He gave a faint smile, his eyes turning toward Wang Zhenlong, Zhang Ling, and the others. Finally, his gaze settled on Fang Chen.

At that moment, Fang Chen seemed to sense the middle-aged man’s gaze, and a sudden unease crept over him, though he resisted the urge to look up.

Just as Lu Chunyu opened his mouth to continue questioning, the middle-aged man vanished from sight, leaving only the faintest trace of his presence.

Fang Chen, now deep in thought, rubbed his forearm, his skin prickling with the unmistakable sensation of goosebumps.

Just a moment ago, he suddenly had a very peculiar feeling, as if an ancient ferocious beast was watching him in the dark. This feeling quickly disappeared. If it weren’t for his soul being different from ordinary people, he might not have noticed it at all.

Wang Zhenlong glanced at Fang Chen and smiled.”Getting a little nervous, Kid? Kunlun Mountain is right ahead; don’t be afraid. Right now, the sword cultivators at Kunlun Sword Sect who are at the same level as you aren’t necessarily much stronger than the ones from those other sects.”

Fang Chen nodded lightly. ”I understand, Master.”

At the same time, a dozen sword cultivators tore through the air. Their leader was the same mysterious sword cultivator they had met on Qiankun Island.

”Why didn’t your ancestor come out to meet us in person?” Wang Zhenlong asked with a faint smile.

Wu Fenghua’s face darkened, and he coldly responded, ”If your old sword immortal had come, perhaps the ancestor would consider meeting you. As for you, how do you deserve to meet the ancestor? Stop wasting words. Since you’re here for the Sword Questioning, just follow me.”

Without giving Wang Zhenlong a chance to speak again, Wu Fenghua turned and flew off.

Wang Zhenlong smiled, leading the group to follow him.

With Wu Fenghua guiding them, various formations and restrictions on the way automatically opened. Before long, they reached Kunlun Mountain, standing before the gates of the Kunlun Sword Sect.

By the time they arrived, many sword cultivators from the Kunlun Sword Sect had already gathered.

Their cultivation levels ranged from Qi Refining to the Tribulation Realm.

Wang Zhenlong was slightly surprised to see this many gathered. It seemed that nearly ninety percent of Kunlun Sword Sect’s disciples had come out.

Wu Fenghua didn’t waste time. He glanced at Fang Chen and said, ”I heard you’ve advanced to the Enlightenment Realm. The Kunlun Sword Sect will arrange 9 sword cultivators of similar cultivation to challenge you.”

”If you can win all your battles, the Sword Questioning will have concluded successfully. From then on, both the sword sects of Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper will no longer the Void mmortal Sword Sect.”

With that, Wu Fenghua waved his sleeve, and nine Enlightenment Realm cultivators slowly emerged.

Each of them had nearly perfected their current realm, seemingly on the verge of breaking through to the mid-stage of the Enlightenment Realm. Kunlun Sword Sect’s sword cultivators were currently highly renowned across the three realms and were exceptionally talented. Any one of them would be considered a genius among geniuses.

But now, standing before Fang Chen, these nine seemed to fall short in every aspect. In their eyes, there seemed to be an underlying resolve for death, while Fang Chen remained calm and unperturbed, with not even the slightest emotional fluctuation.

Just this alone made the sword cultivators of the Kunlun Sword Sect subtly feel that the battle might end up as a stepping stone for the Void Immortal Sword Sect, enhancing their reputation.

At the same time, two figures were watching from afar.

”Li Changsheng, is this the one you spoke of? Does he have the qualifications to go to the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps?”

”Yes.”

”Is there no disciple under your command more talented than him?”

”No.”

”I predict none of the disciples of your sect will survive. It looks like you’re raising poisonous insects.”

”I’m not raising poisonous insects, I’m raising swords. Brother Chen, you don’t want this wager to be lost, do you? Apart from Celestial Heaven, Central Continent Empire, and Northern Dipper, the wager between those two also involves several other territories. If we lose, the consequences will be severe for that person.”

”Are you dissatisfied with them choosing this place as the wager?”

”Naturally, I would not dare. But if you look at the Kunlun Sword Sect, there truly isn’t a more talented disciple. I have been planning for this Sword Questioning for a long time. All preparations are in place, now we can only wait for the outcome.”

”Remember, you must send at least ten people. You must wholeheartedly select the true geniuses of this path. You cannot allow for any subpar candidates to wiggle through. Otherwise, if the wager is lost, with that person’s temperament... Heh...”

***

After a brief moment of silence, one of the nine Enlightenment Realm cultivators slowly stepped forward, locking his gaze onto Fang Chen with a trace of hatred in his eyes. ”Kunlun Sword Sect, Wu Yue is here to take the challenge!”

Wang Zhenlong looked at Wu Fenghua and asked with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, ”Is he from your sect’s younger generation?”

Wu Fenghua snorted coldly but said nothing.

In the next instant, Wu Yue drew his sword, unleashing a full-powered strike. The terrifying sword intent was enough to instantly kill an average cultivator of the same stage.

That was the offensive might of a sword cultivator.

A flash of sword light passed by.

The sword intent unleashed by Wu Yue began to dissipate as the dust settled, and the cultivator himself collapsed to his knees before Fang Chen. There was a sword wound on his brow, a wound that not only severed his vitality but also shattered his soul.

Wu Yue’s Nascent Soul rose from his body, looking at Fang Chen in confusion. ”Why... I couldn’t even withstand a single strike....”

Even though the elder Wu Fenghua had warned them before the battle that their chances of victory were less than ten percent, the current situation was far worse than that. It seemed they didn’t even have a single chance of winning.

Seeing Wu Yue’s death, the sword cultivators of the Kunlun Sword Sect tightened their lips, their eyes filled with cold, murderous intent as they stared at Fang Chen.

The remaining eight figures exchanged glances.

One of them stepped forward with a resentful expression.

”Kunlun Sword Sect, Wu Fan, here for the challenge.”

Another one with the surname Wu?

Wang Zhenlong’s gaze shifted, and the smile on his face gradually faded, turning cold as he glanced at Wu Fenghua. Wu Fenghua offered no response, his expression dark and silent.

”How strange; two sword cultivators with the ’Wu’ surname sent in succession. Are they deliberately provoking Supreme Emperor Wang...?”

Zhang Ling and the others exchanged awkward looks, remembering that Wang Zhenlong’s two disciples had been killed one after another by sword cultivators of the Wu Family.

Fang Chen noticed it as well, but he didn’t want to get too involved. These battles with the Kunlun Sect will mark the end of the Sword Questioning. The day was bound to be extraordinary.

In the unseen void, a giant Heaven Profound Mirror transmitted the scene to every other faction.

In the Central Continent Empire, Celestial Heaven, and Northern Dipper, any cultivator able to see the Heaven Profound Mirror stopped to watch, their expressions grave.