Immortal of the Nine Realms

Bai Qingming asked, ”Junior Brother, how confident are you?”

Fang Chen smiled softly. ”Hold on, Senior Brother.”

As soon as Fang Chen said that, a sudden dizziness hit Bai Qingming, taking him by surprise. He then found himself right in front of a Long Family sword cultivator.

Fang Chen suddenly turned and slashed at another one, while Bai Qingming’s sword swept across the neck of the Long Family sword cultivator.

Puchi.

The sound of two heads rolling off echoed simultaneously, a trace of disbelief covering their faces.

The sword cultivators around were stunned.

”How could his speed be so fast!?” someone muttered in shock.

Through their observations over the past period, they thought they had a pretty good grasp of Fang Chen’s limits. But now, the speed he displayed was far faster than before.

And this was the 68th level of the Heavenly Steps!

In the blink of an eye, all the Long Family sword cultivators who had been left behind were dead.

These sword cultivators died bewildered, never understanding how Fang Chen could dart about with such speed, especially when they struggled to take even a single step on this level. Fang Chen was even carrying someone on his back!

The people watching were astounded.

”He’s been hiding his strength all along. Perhaps this is his true power!”

”Maybe he’s still holding back? Strange, how can a mortal push their body to this level?”

Fang Chen stood where he was, catching his breath as he recovered his strength. He looked visibly ashamed of his own performance.

”I haven’t tempered my body in a long time. It feels like I’m not as good as before,” he muttered.

”Not as good as before?” Bai Qingming was stunned. ”What were you doing before you started cultivating?”

”Pretty much the same as now—killing people,” Fang Chen replied. ”You might not know this, Senior Brother, but in that kind of environment, if you don’t kill, others will come and oppress you. You have to make them afraid, then they will settle down for a while.”

Fang Chen took a deep breath before looking toward Lu Bingbing and another sword cultivator from the First Sword Academy. They had yet to start climbing.

He said, ”You’re too slow.”

Lu Bingbing’s expression darkened, his eyes flickering with unease. The killing techniques Fang Chen had just displayed, his speed, and his strength were all the more striking on the Heavenly Steps.

The sword cultivator beside Lu Bingbing laughed awkwardly and immediately grabbed a vine to climb upwards. ”This person is hard to deal with. He’s here for you. I’ll take my leave first.”

Lu Bingbing thought for a moment and smiled, not minding. He looked at Fang Chen and said, ”Your methods are indeed impressive. After leaving the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps, how about I treat you all to a banquet to apologize? In the future, we will all stay in the Long Family, so we’ll be colleagues, no need to... make enemies, right?”

Bai Qingming chuckled and replied, ”Your wine? My brothers and I can’t afford it. Once we leave this place, you’ll be a Tribulation Realm sword cultivator again. You’ll immediately turn and use your sword to cut us down.”

Lu Bingbing shook his head. ”A gentleman’s word is harder to retract than a four-horse chariot. I can let go of the grudge between us, and I hope you can do the same, putting the bigger picture first.”

”You are not part of the bigger picture. Whether you live or die won’t affect today’s bet.” Fang Chen smiled. He then walked towards Lu Bingbing with his sword in hand. ”Senior Brother, let’s leave the conclusion to you.”

Bai Qingming grinned. ”Alright!”

At that moment, a sudden roar of wind and thunder echoed in the distance, like a rolling wave.

In an instant, a middle-aged man in a green robe appeared in the void. He held a long sword in one hand, while his left hand carried a mutilated corpse. The corpse had been severed from the right shoulder to the left waist with a single sword strike.

”This is...”

The Loose Immortals from the Long and Sun Families narrowed their eyes and almost simultaneously recognized the middle-aged man in the green robe. He was the head of the Long family’s First Sword Academy, Lu Qingshu.

However, all the heads of the nine major sword academies were only sword cultivators at the Ascension Realm. Yet, strangely, Lu Qingshu’s aura was faintly similar to that of a Loose Immortal.

Everyone’s expression grew serious. Had the Long Family produced yet another Loose Immortal sword cultivator?

There were few sword cultivators who could ascend to the Loose Immortal Realm in the Prison Wind Lands, with only one such figure in the Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land—Zhu Yunchen.

For a sword cultivator to ascend to the Loose Immortal Realm was thousands of times harder than for those who pursued the orthodox path of immortality!

Such a figure was the face of the major aristocratic families and sects. When matters reached a certain level, it was necessary for a Loose Immortal Realm sword cultivator to step in and resolve the issue with a sword duel.

The Four Great Aristocratic Families, Three Major Sects, and Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land each had a Loose Immortal Realm sword cultivator to represent their strength. If Lu Qingshu had truly ascended to the Loose Immortal Realm today, the Long family’s strength in this regard would surpass all others.

As soon as the Loose Immortals from both sides recognized the identity of the half corpse in Lu Qingshu’s hand, shock appeared on their faces.

”Huh, that in his hand... seems familiar.”

”Wait a minute, isn’t that Elder Zhengde, who was in secluded cultivation on Tai La Mountain?”

”It really is him.... He has ascended to the Loose Immortal Realm for over five hundred years, and now he has died at the hands of Lu Qingshu...”

”Lu Qingshu has ascended to the Loose Immortal Realm...”

Lu Qingshu slowly said, ”Elder Zhengde was deceived by others and attempted to ambush the second branch of the Long Family’s disciples a while ago. Today, he was executed. He deserved to die.”

His gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Li Changsheng.

A look of worry appeared on the face of Li Changsheng’s wife. ”Dear....”

Chen Qingtai and the others also had unsightly looks on their faces. Lu Qingshu was from the second branch, and now that he had ascended to the Loose Immortal Realm, they would have to be more cautious when traveling outside in the future.

Li Changsheng gently patted the woman’s arm, smiling as he looked toward Lu Qingshu. ”Don’t worry, even if he has ascended to the Loose Immortal Realm, he’s still no match for me.”

”Brother Lu, congratulations. With one more Loose Immortal Realm sword cultivator in Prison Wind Lands, my path is no longer lonely.”

Lu Qingshu smiled slightly, his gaze slowly drifting to the people behind him, and he bowed slightly. A flash of light passed by, and an elder, accompanied by several middle-aged and young figures, appeared.

Everyone’s expression shifted. The elder was named Long Jingyao, the Loose Immortal guardian of the second branch, and the grandfather of Long Ao. He had reached the second transformation over a thousand years ago. The few first-transformation Loose Immortals beside him were his sons, including Long Ao’s father and uncle.

Long Jingyao cupped his fist toward the crowd. ”Everyone, this old man came a step late, mainly because of Elder Zhengde. Although he was not very powerful, he was extremely cunning. He hid constantly and made it difficult for us to track him.”

A second-transformation Loose Immortal from the Sun family sneered and said, ”Your Long family was ambushed on the way here? Heh, so was our Sun family. What a coincidence.”

Long Jingyao nodded, chuckling. ”Yes, quite the coincidence indeed.”

He then exchanged greetings with Zhao Yunlu, sharing a few pleasantries. It was clear he already knew Zhao Yunlu would be present today, as he showed no surprise.

Suddenly, a voice called out from the direction of the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps.

”Father, save me!”

Lu Qingshu’s expression shifted slightly, and his gaze abruptly locked onto Lu Bingbing along with the two standing before him.

They were Fang Chen and Bai Qingming.

A cultivator from the second branch stepped forward and briefly explained the situation.

Lu Qingshu immediately turned to look at Li Changsheng. ”Li Changsheng, what is the meaning of this?”

Before Li Changsheng could respond, Long Jingyao barked coldly, ”Nonsense. Fighting among ourselves? Do you want the Sun Family to laugh at us?”

Li Changsheng sighed inwardly and looked toward Fang Chen’s location. ”Fang Chen, don’t make trouble. Your goal is to reach the top.”

His voice wasn’t loud, yet it seemed to ring right by Fang Chen’s ear

Lu Bingbing gave Fang Chen a slight smile. ”My father has already ascended to the rank of a Loose Immortal and is favored by the second branch Ancestor. His status is far above Li Changsheng’s. Daoist Fang, you should prepare to drink my apology wine.”

Fang Chen laughed heartily. ”Drink your head!”

He charged straight at Lu Bingbing.

A trace of panic flashed in Lu Bingbing’s eyes. Seeing Fang Chen drawing nearer, he had no choice but to raise his sword in defense.

One strike later, Lu Bingbing’s head rolled from his shoulders.

Lu Qingshu’s face turned a ghastly shade of blue upon witnessing the scene.

Nearby, a young sword cultivator standing beside a noblewoman from the second branch radiated killing intent.

Lu Bingbing had been his younger brother. He was the one he cherished most and the one most like him.