Immortal of the Nine Realms
Chapter 1030: Go Ahead

Chapter 1030: Go Ahead

Over a thousand sword cultivators stood below the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps, ranging from those in the Lower, Middle, to Upper Three Realms. They were either from the Long Family or the Sun Family.

The sword cultivators on both sides were sizing each other up, the killing intent in their eyes completely undisguised.

"Are we really about to go all out here?" Bai Lingyue gulped nervously. "We're all sword cultivators.... Must we fight each other to the death?"

"This place isn't like where we come from. You may see them as fellow cultivators, but to them, you're nothing but an enemy." Bai Qingming's eyes were cold as he stared at several sword cultivators from the Sun Family with cultivation levels close to his own. "Once we're on the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps, be decisive and merciless. If you hesitate, you'll be the one who dies."

Everyone felt a bit tense. None of them knew what it would feel like once they were stripped of their cultivation. Would their usual sword techniques still be effective?

A figure slowly approached. It was Zhu Yuncheng, the Palace Master of the Sword Burial Palace, accompanied by Zhu Kexiu and several experts.

Zhu Yuncheng looked up into the sky, where the top experts of the Long and Sun Families showed no intention of descending, choosing instead to observe from their Immortal Boats.

"Father, I think it's about time," Zhu Kexiu said with a faint smile.

Standing before the crowd of sword cultivators, Zhu Kexiu couldn't help but feel a slight sense of superiority. He was the son of a sword cultivator, but due to his extraordinary talent, he had been accepted by the Nine Immortal Mountains, allowing him to tread the orthodox path of immortality.

"Everyone, please begin," Zhu Yuncheng announced slowly.

In the next moment, countless sword cultivators rushed to the base of the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps, reaching out for the green vines.

By then, they had all been turned into ordinary mortals. They were slow and sluggish in their movements. However, it appeared to Fang Chen and the others as though most of these sword cultivators had experience climbing the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps, as they looked rather mentally prepared.

Yan Kun didn't hesitate much, charging forward with Dan Zixu, Huo Yuanwei, and the others toward the vines.

On the Sun Family's side, several sword cultivators hadn't moved. They just stood there, smirking as they watched Fang Chen.

"Senior Brother, Bai Lingyue, you two go ahead," Fang Chen said calmly.

Bai Qingming smiled. "I'll stay and watch your back."

Bai Lingyue gritted his teeth. "I'll stay too. With me, you will have another person to help."

This time, he was determined to use this chance to return the favor he owed Fang Chen.

Fang Chen showed a calm smile. "If you stay, you'll just get in my way. I won't be able to fight properly."

Bai Qingming and Bai Lingyue exchanged a glance.

Bai Qingming then gave Fang Chen a strange look and said, "Really? Don't be too proud for your own good."

Fang Chen chuckled. "Am I that kind of person?"

Bai Qingming nodded. Based on what he knew of Fang Chen, he truly wasn't the type to let pride get in the way of his judgment.

With that, Bai Qingming grabbed Bai Lingyue by the shoulder and charged toward the steps.

As soon as they reached the base, they both felt a heavy weight descend on them as their spiritual energy completely vanished. Not only that, but even their strong physiques suddenly felt all fragile and weak, like they were mortals once again.

Bai Qingming's eyes flashed with surprise. "This feeling...

Bai Qingming had started cultivating from a young age and hadn't lived as a mortal for long, so this sensation felt both familiar and utterly strange.

"Fellow Daoist Bai, we really did become mortals!" Bai Lingyue exclaimed with a peculiar expression.

"Cut the chatter. Start climbing!" said Bai Qingming, grabbing the vines right in front of him.

Without hesitation, he started climbing upward.

Bai Lingyue didn't dare delay either.

Luckily, though there were many sword cultivators present, the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps was massive. There was no crowding. There was plenty of room between climbers.

The Immortal Boat of the Long Family's First Courtyard felt emptier now that Fang Chen and the others had begun their ascent.

As Chen Zuozo looked down from the boat, he had a clear view of everything that was happening below. He saw Fang Chen standing perfectly still.

He snickered, "Fang Chen hasn't started yet. Looks like he's too scared to move."

Now that all participants' cultivation had been sealed for the ascent, Fang Chen would become no different from everyone else. Forget being unmatched among his peers—he could even lose to a person who had never cultivated a day in their life.

Long Xuan frowned. "He must have his reasons. Anyone my father values can't be that bad."

Chen Zuozu and the others exchanged looks. Though they didn't agree with Long Xuan's assessment, considering the situation, they didn't press the matter.

On the Second Courtyard's Immortal Boat, the discussions were lively as everyone onboard watched the climb unfold below.

"Zhang Gaotian of the Ninth Sword Courtyard has already reached the second step. I think he has a good shot at reaching the top."

"The sword cultivators the Sun Family brought aren't bad either. Zhang Gaotian might not be able to beat them. Right now, it's about speed. Later, it'll be about skill."

"What's happening with the First Courtyard?"

"Let me see... They haven't even reached the first step. Huh, there's one guy just standing there. Don't tell me he's frozen in fear."

The younger disciples of the second branch leaned over to watch, snickering at what they saw.

Long Ruo furrowed her brow. After a few breaths, she seemed to realize something and understood why Fang Chen hadn't moved.

On the Third Courtyard's Immortal Boat, Dongfang Haojie looked anxious.

He complained, "Madam, Brother Fang looks like he's being targeted by the Sun Family's sword cultivators. How is that fair? If they keep blocking him, he might not even make it to the first step."

Long Wu sighed softly. "The Sword Burial Heavenly Steps has always been like this... Now, your friend has no other choice but to reach the top. Otherwise, even Zhao Yunlu won't let him go."

Dongfang Haojie let out a helpless breath. He felt like Fang Chen was just as unlucky as he was.

Long Wu suddenly laughed, her plump face rippling. "Don't worry. I think Fang Chen is more prepared than he looks."

On the immortal boat of the Fourth Courtyard, Long Ying was surrounded by juniors who were pointing and gossiping about the scene below. Someone jeered, "The person the main branch values most might not even make it to the first step."

Everyone's gaze turned to Fang Chen, then to the Sun Family's group staring him down like a pack of wolves. They quickly understood.

"He's probably too scared to move. But for him, it's death either way. He has no way out."

"He's not afraid." Long Ying studied Fang Chen carefully and suddenly smiled. "I don't see any fear in his eyes."

"Then what is it?"

Long Ying explained, "He's waiting for his fellow disciples to move first. He probably doesn't want them to get dragged into his mess."

"I see... In that case, this sword cultivator has some guts. He's not like the ones raised by our Long Family."

The juniors of the Fourth Courtyard exchanged glances.

To knowingly walk a perilous path alone took rare courage. If it were them, they would definitely have chosen the safer route.

Back at the Sun Family's side, Zhao Yunlu was standing on the Long Family's Immortal Boat to watch the duel. He had been invited aboard the Long Family's boat due to the Heaven Calamity Dragoness's presence.

The younger generation of the Sun Family had clustered into distinct social circles. The group around Sun Susu wasn't the most elite, but she still stood out among her peers. Several rising talents from the Sun Family in recent years were part of her circle.

Seeing Fang Chen frozen in place, many couldn't help but sneer.

Someone turned to Sun Yi and joked, "Sun Yi, this time you're really going to vent your frustration. Forget reaching the top. He can't even touch the first step. He's going to be the biggest laughingstock."

Sun Yi forced a smile. Compared to the humiliation he suffered before, he was more eager to recover the Immortal Crystal he had lost.

That meant Fang Chen couldn't die—at least not yet. He needed to find a chance to speak with Fang Chen privately before he was soul-searched.