Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 139 - 113: Immortality Pill and Immortal Sword_2

Chapter 139: Chapter 113: Immortality Pill and Immortal Sword_2

Two people left the team, but the others paid no mind and continued forward. As Gu Wen approached the steps, a scream of agony came from behind.

Everyone turned around, just to see a person running towards them with a severed arm, frantically shouting, "Help me..."

Before the last word could be uttered, a flying sword pierced directly through his back and chest.

Nie Fan walked over and delivered another stab; all onlookers watched with cold indifference.

They had banded together to target only the older generation, keeping out of disputes among themselves. They couldn’t possibly manage those conflicts, anyway. The division of interests was already problematic enough. It was better to let actions speak.

Gu Wen was the first to ascend. The others followed closely behind.

The atmosphere among the team turned oppressive; the sight of blood had inadvertently aroused their savage instincts.

On the fourth layer, the number of spiritual swords had halved, no longer a swarm in the sky but improved in quality to the middle-grade spiritual treasure standard.

Wisps of sword qi emanated from the spiritual swords, with a few, fueled by abundant spiritual energy, rampaging violently.

Someone with quick reflexes attempted to intercept, and was immediately attacked by a spiritual sword. An unexpected gash from the sword qi drew blood.

"What?"

Everyone’s gaze turned cautious at once, as the spiritual swords on this level possessed spirituality and aggression.

This time, five people stayed behind, reducing the team to fifteen.

On the fifth layer, the stone walls were as smooth and sharp as if cleaved by swords and axes. Spiritual swords danced around, and countless sword qis capable of severing a person at the hips filled the space.

Dozens of top-grade spiritual swords came into sight.

Xiao Yunyi took the lead, carving a path through with his Willow Sword Dharma Form. But this time, half chose to stay behind.

To ascend Heavenly Spring Mountain meant they all possessed Sword Dao dharma forms and were elite sect disciples. As long as the sect wasn’t misguided, a certain level of training was a guarantee. The first lesson the major sects imparted to their disciples was to "act within their means." The invincible mindset came later.

If someone started with an invincible mindset, it wouldn’t be excessive to drag the instructing elders to the chopping block.

The top-grade spiritual swords here were enough to benefit them significantly. The distinction between ordinary and spiritual items did not lie in their inherent power, but whether they possessed spirituality.

Arrays stretched to the heavens and penetrated the earth, yet they rarely possessed spirituality.

Ordinary, spiritual, and Daoist—these three categories correspond respectively to the nine great realms: top-grade ordinary treasures for the sensing stage, top-grade spiritual treasures for the Divine Separation Stage, and Taoist soldiers for the Returning to Void Stage and all higher realms.

One top-grade spiritual sword would suffice them until the Divine Separation Stage or even nurture it into a Taoist soldier. If they could acquire several more spiritual swords, this endeavor would be well worth it.

What mattered most was safety; they were no match for the likes of Jade Sword Buddha or others.

"Act within your means, and do not give in to greed, anger, or sorrow."

On the sixth layer, the spiritual swords no longer had aggression per se, but battled each other in the air, clashing and slashing. One of the swords even took form, elongating into a figure with a lithe frame and two pairs of wings, dragon-like yet not.

"Half-step Daoist sword?!"

A person cried out in shock, immediately wrapped in Sword Dao Skill and rushed towards it. The spiritual sword struck down, clashing with the Sword Dao dharma form. In a flash, the victor was determined, and a Sword Dao prodigy grabbed the hilt.

But before the sword could warm in his hand, an attack came. This individual, apparently with some decency, loudly announced before striking, "Fellow Daoist, this item is fated to be mine."

"Whether it is fated or not, let’s find out!"

Boom!

Their clash of skills erupted instantaneously. Fortunately, the secret realm within Heavenly Spring Mountain’s Grotto Heaven were a hundred zhang in height; each layer varied little in size, providing ample space for their combat.

As the aftershocks of their fight agitated more spiritual swords into action, three more people left the team to closely watch the battle from the sidelines near the center, forming an impromptu arena.

The unspoken rule was one-on-one, the victor takes all.

Gu Wen looked on from a distance. He wasn’t sure if it was because they were all Sword Dao elites, or for some other reason, but the Cultivation World seemed less deceitful than he’d imagined.

Or perhaps they were simply too young.

On the seventh layer, the number of swords had dwindled to eighteen, with five capable of transformation.

Only seven individuals were now left to ascend to the next layer, including Yu Hua and Gu Wen, along with Chi Yu Zi, Jade Sword Buddha, Jun Yan, Xiao Yunyi, and Lan Yongning.

The others fought over the spiritual swords on the seventh layer—those Half-step Dao Swords were enough to benefit them for life.

Gu Wen stepped onto the staircase, his knees visibly bending slightly. He pulled Yu Hua up step by step.

"Wait, you can’t go up."

Chi Yu Zi suddenly called out to him. Gu Wen turned around to see him, his short hair drenched with sweat and his expression stern, saying, "If we go up one more layer, we might become mortal enemies. By now, the Heavenly Girl should be able to ascend on her own."

"Why?" Gu Wen asked. In Chi Yu Zi’s eyes, he saw not disdain, but concern—even entreaty.

Jun Yan answered for her, "Above lies something we all desperately need, something worth fighting to the death for. The Heavenly Girl possesses the power of an Immortal, and we have ways to contend, albeit slightly. If you’re just after the Immortality Pill, it’s enough for the Heavenly Girl to go up alone; we don’t want to harm you."

They would be unable to spare Gu Wen if battle ensued, and if anyone injured him, the Taoist Heavenly Girl would surely retaliate. On the other hand, if both of them went up, who knew if it wasn’t for the Immortal Sword.

"If you still consider me a friend, then stay here," Chi Yu Zi said earnestly. "The place above is not meant for you."

"The more you say that, the more I want to see for myself."

Gu Wen turned and continued upward, each step seemingly burdened by immense pressure; the others didn’t have it easy either.

Thud!

Lan Yongning collapsed on the staircase, propping himself up against the ancient stone slabs as sweat poured down like rain.

The rest stopped and looked back from their higher vantage point, offering no help. Their detached gazes said it all. But in such circumstances, their mere pause was already a significant courtesy.