Immortal of the Nine Realms

From the moment he stepped into the Burial Sword Heavenly Steps on his first day, he had already learned that this place could turn everything into mere mortals. However, it still couldn’t affect his ability to project his divine soul.

Fang Chen couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration. Even Loose Immortals who enter this place become ordinary people, but the powers I inherited from that person remain unaffected.

Fang Chen flicked his fingers, and a faint spiritual energy instantly entered both his and Bai Qingming’s bodies. With this spiritual energy, they would be able to survive through the winter.

His actions couldn’t be too obvious, lest the Loose Immortals around him notice something unusual.

Several days later, Bai Qingming felt his physical strength recovering at an astonishing rate, as though he had taken some kind of spiritual medicine. He felt warm and cozy all around.

This feeling had appeared several times already, leaving Bai Qingming rather puzzled. He even began to suspect that there might be something wrong with his bloodline.

Could it be that I have some sort of exceptional talent? wondered Bai Qingming.

Yan Kun calculated with his fingers and said, ”The weather is starting to warm up. I think winter is almost over, right?”

Bai Qingming calmly replied, ”At least ten more days. You’ve been sleeping quite soundly these days.”

Yan Kun laughed heartily. ”All thanks to you two taking care of me.”

Indeed, he had been sleeping very soundly these days. His physical strength had greatly recovered.

Fang Chen suddenly said, ”Something feels off.”

A tense expression appeared on Yan Kun’s face. ”Off?”

He looked toward Fu Donghai and the others and asked, ”What’s wrong? Is it the climate here, or are they the ones acting strange?”

Fang Chen replied, ”The Loose Immortals from the Sun and Long Families have left.”

Yan Kun and Bai Qingming simultaneously looked into the distance, but the only thing they could make out from up here was the shadowy figures of the Immortal Boats in the distance.

Unless they recovered their cultivation, it would be impossible for them to see anything from this distance. This left them wondering how Fang Chen, a blind person, could possibly see what they could not?

Bai Qingming reached out to touch Fang Chen’s forehead, thinking he might have a fever. ”Junior brother, is it too cold...?”

Yan Kun smiled softly. ”Maybe the chill has finally gotten to him. He is starting to talk nonsense.”

Fang Chen said nothing more.

The sudden departure of the two families’ Loose Immortals meant that both had encountered serious trouble.

***

Another month passed.

The weather had warmed, and the snow wasn’t as deep. But at this altitude, it was nearly impossible for the snow to fully melt.

Seeing that the time had come, everyone stopped resting and continued their climb upward.

Gradually, the others noticed that while Fang Chen’s speed wasn’t fast, he was incredibly consistent. Before they knew it, he had pulled ahead, creating a noticeable gap.

Zhang Gaotian’s face was slightly pale, and his lips were cracked. He weakly said, ”Senior Brother Fu, he’s ahead of us now....”

Every time he spoke, the corners of his mouth pulled painfully.

Fu Donghai shot Fang Chen a cold glance before gripping a vine and pulling himself up forcefully. ”Don’t mind him. Even if we’re a bit slower, it doesn’t matter. As long as we reach the top!”

Six months passed in the blink of an eye.

Fang Chen and Bai Qingming had already left the rest far behind.

Chen Zuozu couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. ”97th stage...”

Although he looked down on these sword cultivators, he deeply understood that if he were to attempt the Burial Sword Heavenly Steps, he might not even reach stage 70 or 80, let alone 97.

Long Xuan’s expression was slightly excited.

The bet between the Long and Sun Families had finally shown some progress. If Fang Chen reached the top first, especially while bringing Bai Qingming along, it would essentially mean both had ascended. Regardless of the outcome, either the Sun Family or the second branch would have to pay up.

Thinking of that, Long Xuan couldn’t help but glance toward the second branch.

Sure enough, most of their faces were grim. It wasn’t that they didn’t want the Long Family to win, but they preferred that either Fu Donghai or Zhang Gaotian reached the top first.

However, from the looks of it, that was unlikely to happen. In fact, it looked like those two wouldn’t be making it at all. It currently looked like a luxury these two couldn’t have.

Yan Kun and the sword cultivators from the Sun Family were also inching upward slowly, clearly struggling. Hopes of them reaching the summit were virtually nonexistent.

The various cultivators watching this scene saw that some were joyous, while others were distressed. If Fang Chen reached the top, many cultivators would become wealthy overnight.

Fortunately, Yan Kun and the others weren’t too far behind. Even if they didn’t reach the top, as long as they bet on the correct level reached, they could still make a profit.

Bai Qingming looked greatly surprised by Fang Chen’s performance, and a hint of admiration had even appeared in his eyes. He said, ”Junior brother, we really might have a chance to reach the top. Don’t you ever run out of strength?”

When it came to endurance as a mortal, he was nothing compared to his junior brother.

Fang Chen smiled. ”I’m a bit different from ordinary people. You should speak less now. The pressure’s building up, and if you talk too much, you might faint.”

”You’re right. I’ll rest.”

Bai Qingming immediately closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Time passed little by little. At some point, the cultivators near the Burial Sword Palace suddenly began to look at the Immortal Boats in the air with strange expressions.

”Daoist Long Ao, I just remembered I have something to attend to. I’ll take my leave first.”

Several Loose Immortals who had close ties with the second branch gradually took their leave, taking their disciples with them.

The same scene also occurred with the third and fourth branches. Some of the younger disciples finally realized that something was wrong. Long Ao’s wives and children gathered around him, their expressions serious as they stared at him.

”Father, what exactly is going on?”

Long Ao’s face looked somewhat grim. ”It’s none of your concern. Don’t worry about it.”

Seeing his attitude, the others dared not ask further.

On the main family’s Immortal Boat.

Chen Qingtai looked at Li Changsheng with a grave expression. ”Brother Li... I heard rumors... that the third-transformation Loose Immortal from your family... has passed away?”

Lu Qingshu and the others’ expressions shifted, and their gazes turned to Chen Qingtai.

Li Changsheng nodded. ”That’s true. Not long ago, he was ambushed by a powerful enemy and succumbed to his injuries.”

Li Changsheng’s wife was stunned, and she stared blankly at Li Changsheng.

”How could the Sun and Long Families suddenly encounter such a powerful enemy...” muttered Chen Qingtai, a bitter smile on his face. ”Our Chen family’s estate has been built up over countless generations through hard work and struggle. I hope won’t hold it against us, Brother Li.”

Li Changsheng gave a slight nod. ”If you wish to leave, then leave.”

”Li Changsheng, why let them leave?” said Lu Qingshu, smiling. ”They’ve been relying on the Long Family for so many years. Now that the Long family is about to fall, shouldn’t they return the benefits they’ve received over the years?”

Chen Qingtai and the others were immediately stunned, looking at Lu Qingshu in disbelief. A chill suddenly crept up in their hearts.

Lu Qingshu, the head of the Long Family’s First Sword Academy, had betrayed the Long Family? From their words, it seemed that Li Changsheng had a part in it, as well.

Li Changsheng softly said, ”Lu Qingshu, don’t stir up unnecessary trouble. There’s still much to take care of.”

Lu Qingshu’s expression changed slightly, but he eventually sneered and said no more.

Long Xuan stared blankly at Li Changsheng. ”Dad... what exactly is going on?”

Li Changsheng reassured her, ”You don’t need to worry. Rest assured, this matter won’t have much of an impact on the main branch.”

Li Changsheng’s wife suddenly grabbed Long Xuan and took multiple steps back. She looked at Li Changsheng with wariness in her eyes and said, ”Dear... tell me the truth.”

Lu Qingshu gave a smile.”Lady Li, if you want the truth, I’ll tell you the truth. Someone among us sword cultivators has become a third transformation Loose Immortal.”

Suddenly, everyone present felt as if they had been struck by lightning.

A sword cultivator had attained the third transformation?

If that were true, then that person would stand invincible in the Prison Wind Lands!