Immortal of the Nine Realms

This wager between the Long and Sun Families was a big event for the entire Prison Wind Lands. Many people planned to make a fortune from it, with over a hundred betting tables, large and small.

Those with sharp connections had already found out that the Long family had four people most likely to reach the top.

The chief of the Ninth Sword Academy, Fu Donghai—an esteemed Tribulation Realm sword cultivator—was considered the strongest contender to reach the top in this competition.

There was also Zhang Gaotian of the Ninth Sword Academy. Although his foundation wasn’t as deep as Fu Donghai’s, his outstanding performance in the Nine Academy Competition made him one of the popular candidates.

As for the other two contenders, they came from the First Sword Academy.

On the Sun Family’s side, there were six sword cultivators who were highly popular. Combined with the four from the Long Family, these ten became the hottest picks across all the betting tables.

“The sword cultivators from the Long and Sun Families are evenly matched. Some have already reached the second level. At this rate, someone might reach the thirtieth level today.”

“The thirtieth level is a threshold. I heard that after that, each step gets harder and harder.”

“I had the fortune to go up once. After passing level thirty, it felt like my sword body had been refined.”

“That’s right. For people like us, we don’t need to reach the top. Just stepping onto it once is already a great opportunity. Unfortunately, the noble clans look down on us wandering cultivators. We can only guard this place for three to five years and hope for a lucky chance to step on it.”

“By the way, has anyone placed bets on sword cultivators from the Long Family’s main branch?”

“Those guys? They’re from the boonies. Their foundation is not even as good as ours. Why bet on them?”

“Did you not see that earlier? That sword cultivator surnamed Fang has got some potential, I think.”

“Potential, my ass. He hasn’t even made it to the first level. And both the Sun Family and that elder from Yunlu City have their eyes on him. How could he possibly do well?”

Everyone shook their heads and chuckled. They couldn’t see what was happening at the lowest level of the Burial Sword Palace. They could only see what was happening above the first level, so they hadn’t witnessed the scene of the Sun Family sword cultivators getting slain.

Someone suddenly pointed toward the vines. “He’s climbing up!”

Everyone looked over and indeed saw a figure with a sword between his teeth, rapidly climbing upward with astonishing speed.

On the steps, Bai Lingyue looked at Bai Qingming, somewhat puzzled. “My steps feel heavier.”

“That’s how it is. The higher you go, the heavier it gets.”

Bai Qingming glanced down while speaking, then suddenly smiled and grabbed Bai Lingyue’s hand, intending to head to the second level of the Heavenly Steps.

“How’s Sword Chief Fang doing? I didn’t get a good look...”

“He’s fine. Let’s worry about ourselves first. Don’t be his burden.”

As Bai Qingming scanned the surroundings from the corner of his eye, he thrust his sword and killed a sword cultivator who was sneaking up on him.

Bai Lingyue recognized him as someone from the Sun Family.

Several nearby Sun Family sword cultivators saw Bai Qingming’s decisive strike and gave up the idea of swarming them. In their eyes, these sword cultivators from the countryside probably couldn’t even make it to the thirtieth level.

“Our men were taken out by that guy.”

“Send a few people. Don’t let him reach the first level of the Heavenly Steps. If he gets through, we’ll be questioned by the main family when we get back.”

Everyone looked at each other for a moment before their eyes drifted toward a young man with a proud expression.

Someone softly said, ”You’ve climbed the Burial Sword Heavenly Steps five times, and the highest you’ve reached is the eightieth level. You’re the most suitable to deal with this person.”

The young man thought for a moment before nodding. He put the sword in his mouth and signaled over a dozen Sun Family sword cultivators to follow him as he climbed downward.

Once people noticed this scene, their attention immediately shifted from those climbing higher to this group.

On the Immortal Boat, Sun Susu smiled as she looked at the tiny figure from up above. He looked nothing more than an ant from where she stood.

She turned her gaze toward the third branch and saw Li Changsheng standing with his head lowered in front of the Heaven Calamity Dragoness. She didn’t know what they were discussing.

”Huh, Li Changsheng was called over by that grandmother....”

***

The Heaven Calamity Dragoness asked indifferently, ”Weren’t you going to inform me about Li Jingnian’s matter?”

Li Changsheng lowered his head. ”You were in closed-door cultivation, and I feared the news might disturb your cultivation, Senior.”

The Loose Immortals of the third branch, led by the elderly man, were standing to the side. They were glaring at Li Changsheng with visible discontent.

The Heaven Calamity Dragoness’s tone was plain. ”His lifespan hadn’t run out. How did he pass away?”

Li Changsheng sighed softly. ”It might have been an old injury that flared up. He fought over a thousand battles in the Prison Wind Lands. It’s possible he carried hidden wounds.”

The Heaven Calamity Dragoness remained silent for a few breaths, then nodded. ”Go back.”

”Yes.”

Li Changsheng turned and walked away. By the time he returned to the Immortal Boat, cold sweat was trickling down his forehead.

Seeing him return, Li Changsheng’s wife worriedly asked, ”She didn’t say anything, did she, Dear?”

”No, she only asked about Li Jingnian.” Li Changsheng replied softly. He sighed. ”Fortunately, the timing of our meeting was right. Unlike them, she was born before the king, but the king was born after she had aged.”

The woman in the plain dress pinched Li Changsheng’s arm. ”Lower your voice. Don’t say such things.

After saying that, she lowered her head with a worried expression.

”Fang Chen is now being targeted by the Sun family. I fear—”

Li Changsheng said with a faint smile, ”Don’t be afraid. This person fought his way from a mere mortal to this point. He might not be as good as them when it comes to being an immortal, but when it comes to being a mortal, they are far inferior to Fang Chen.” ...

Fang Chen noticed several figures climbing toward him from above. One of them had a sharp glint in their eyes. Even though they had lost their cultivation, their physique was far stronger than that of an ordinary cultivator.

Suddenly, the person smiled faintly at Fang Chen before letting go of the vine. As he fell freely, he raised his sword and aimed for Fang Chen’s forehead.

”This madman!”

The Sun Family sword cultivators traveling with him were shocked and hurriedly tried to catch up, attempting to cover for the man.

The cultivators outside couldn’t help but gasp in shock.

Although the vine was only a hundred meters high, they were all now mere mortals. If they fell from such a height, they would certainly be crushed to pieces and die on the spot! For cultivators who cherished their lives, the actions of this Sun family sword cultivator were undoubtedly a desperate gamble!

With the added force of gravity, the sword strike became exceedingly fast. For an ordinary sword cultivator, there would be no place to dodge in this environment.

Sun Susu and the others couldn’t help but laugh, feeling quite satisfied with this Sun family sword cultivator’s actions. A sword cultivator had to think of their master’s interests, even at the cost of their life.

Fang Chen frowned slightly and sidestepped, easily avoiding the lethal sword strike.

At that moment, the sword cultivator’s head was directly aligned with Fang Chen’s, and he was surprised to see that Fang Chen had effortlessly dodged even his most deadly strike.

Was this the reaction of a mortal?

Realizing this, the sword cultivator immediately changed tactics. One hand grabbed toward Fang Chen, while the other slashed at Fang Chen’s heart at a tricky angle.

”Fanciful.” said Fang Chen indifferently before kicking the young man in the chest, sending him flying about ten feet.

The young man stared at Fang Chen in shock as he rapidly fell towards the ground.

After just a few moments, everyone heard a loud crash.

Boom!

The young man hit the ground, and due to gravity, his body bounced up several feet, his skull shattered and his limbs scattered far and wide.