Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 1037: Alright, I’ll Try to Persuade Him

No one knew how much time had passed, but there were barely any Sun Family sword cultivators left standing before Fang Chen. The few who remained had never gotten close to the battlefield in the first place, and when they saw that things had turned south, they immediately grabbed the vines and began climbing upward.

Fang Chen didn’t give chase. He had been fighting for two days straight and was feeling sapped. If he didn’t rest, he would soon collapse from exhaustion.

A Sun Family sword cultivator on the 31st level shouted angrily, ”Don’t let him rest! He’s out of strength! Get up there and finish him off quickly!”

”Then you go!” replied another.

The ones closer below had no intention of throwing their lives away. They understood how to avoid danger. There was no way they would risk their lives for this.

Fang Chen had offered a truce, which should’ve meant he was exhausted. But what actually happened? He slaughered them all down nearly to the last man! Not one person had managed to survive a single sword strike from him. So, they learned that just because he was pursuing them didn’t mean he was truly exhausted. He might just be pulling the same trick again, like a cat toying with mice, drawing them in to finish them off one by one.

Seeing that their comrades had lost their courage and refused to move, the ones above could only stand there, frustrated. In their eyes, Fang Chen had to be running on empty by now. There was no way he had any strength left. ℯ

The Long Family sword cultivators exchanged glances, secretly trying to guess Fang Chen’s current state. Someone said, ”He really might be out of strength this time...”

Suddenly, Fang Chen asked, ”Is Lu Bingbing here?”

Everyone looked at each other in confusion. One of them finally shook his head. ”He’s not here. He’s further up.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Thanks.”

With that, Fang Chen said no more and continued his climb.

***

33rd level of the Heavenly Steps

Only a few dozen people were present on this level, but each one was among the top-tier sword cultivators, the cream of the crop.

”Senior Brother Lu, that sword cultivator the main branch brought in has been asking around about you. He might be seeking revenge for his comrade,” said one cultivator with a grave expression.

They had just witnessed Fang Chen cutting through the Sun Family’s sword cultivators like a demon. He was practically a monster, utterly unfathomable!

Lu Bingbing had handsome features and a slender, elegant figure. He withdrew his gaze from Fang Chen and responded softly, ”He can talk about revenge if he can catch up to me.”

After that, Lu Bingbing turned to Yan Kun, who was not far away, and asked, ”Yan Kun, what’s your relationship with him?”

Yan Kun had a calm smile on his face. ”We have a bit of a grudge. Just a gambling matter. But our master doesn’t allow infighting.”

Dan Zixu and Huo Yuanwei had made it to the 33rd level of the Heavenly Steps thanks to Yan Kun’s help. However, both were already exhausted and were seizing the chance to rest.

Lu Bingbing chuckled and asked, ”So, if this person really does come looking for me, you won’t help him?”

”You must be joking. Why would I help him?” Yan Kun smiled and shook his head. ”But I won’t interfere either. After all, our master is watching. I hope you won’t take offense, Brother Lu.”

Lu Bingbing nodded. ”I get it.”

With that, Lu Bingbing turned his gaze to Bai Qingming, who was sitting alone and meditating. He said, ”I’ve heard that you and Fang Chen are fellow disciples? From the Void Immortal Sword Sect?”

Bai Qingming opened his eyes and picked up the sword resting across his legs. ”What? You want to have a go?”

Lu Bingbing’s brows furrowed slightly, but they soon relaxed as he let out a soft laugh. ”Our goal is to reach the top. Infighting is meaningless for both you and me. If we cause trouble here, the higher-ups will hold us accountable once we leave. Even Li Changsheng may not be able to protect you then.”

Lu Bingbing paused for a moment before continuing, ”If your junior brother catches up, I hope you can persuade him not to come provoke me.”

Bai Qingming smiled and nodded. ”Sure, I’ll try to talk to him.”

Bai Qingming secretly rolled his eyes, thinking, If he’ll even listen, that is.

With what he knew of Fang Chen’s temperament, even if he had two more mouths, he still wouldn’t be able to persuade him of anything.

Lu Bingbing suddenly chuckled. ”I don’t quite believe you. Kill him and let’s save ourselves some trouble.”

Several Long Family sword cultivators exchanged glances before drawing their swords and walking toward Bai Qingming.

The Sun Family sword cultivators revealed cruel smirks. One of them sneered, ”Let me help too. That guy and his junior brother should both be eliminated. Only then can we compete on equal footing.”

”Despicable cowards, all of you!” Bai Qingming cursed furiously.

He immediately turned to run toward the vine-covered cliff, shouting over his shoulder as he did. ”Yan Kun! We’re from the same hometown! You really gonna stand there and watch me die?”

Dan Zixu and Huo Yuanwei exchanged a look, hesitation written all over their faces.

Yan Kun replied calmly, ”It’s not that I don’t want to help. I just have no choice.”

”Damn dog!”cursed Bai Qingming again before grabbing a vine and started climbing.

Seeing that, Lu Bingbing and the others gave up on resting. They moved to pursue, intending to eliminate Bai Qingming before he became a problem.

Zhang Gaotian looked at Fu Donghai. ”Senior Brother Fu, should we do something about this?”

Fu Donghai shook his head. ”Ignore it.”

***

Just like that, half a month passed. The subtle differences in everyone’s strength gradually became apparent during this period. Some had already climbed to the 50th level of the Heavenly Steps, while others were still stuck at the 40th.

Thankfully, the vines along the staircase bore fruit. These fruits not only quenched their thirst but also filled their stomachs. If not for them, as fatigue set in during the later stages, the pace of the climbers would’ve slowed down drastically. Those who didn’t manage to get their hands on these fruits often spent an entire day—or even several days—just to ascend a single step.

By now, about half of the Sun Family’s sword cultivators had perished. Some fell due to sheer exhaustion, but most met their end at the hands of Fang Chen.

In contrast, the Long Family’s sword cultivators were mostly unharmed. At this point in the wager between the two families, the Long Family’s side clearly held the advantage.

***

Three months later. 60th level of the Heavenly Sword Staircase.

According to common knowledge, anyone who reached the 60th level was already considered a one-in-ten-thousand sword genius. If a mortal managed to get this far and had even a shred of talent, major sects and families would eagerly take them in.

For sword cultivators from the Long and Sun families, who were already among the elite, reaching this height wasn’t unheard of. But their speed and endurance in doing so was what truly mattered.

At this point, many of the Long Family’s sword cultivators were still making their way up. As for the Sun Family, not a single one of them could be seen below the 60th step. Not because they’d all climbed higher, but because the slower ones had all been ”sent off” by Fang Chen.

Fang Chen stood at the 60th step, weariness etched across his face.

He muttered, ”This place... really makes every step feel like a mountain on your shoulder.”

Several sword cultivators from both families were sprawled out on the ground nearby, some fast asleep.

Suddenly, a shout came out, ”Fang Chen’s here! Wake up, everyone!”

As soon as the sword cultivators of the Sun Family noticed that Fang Chen had arrived, a look of hatred and anger appeared on their faces. However, they didn’t flee this time. After all, every step they took required immense effort.

”Don’t be afraid. He doesn’t have the strength to deal with us either,” said one of the Sun family sword cultivators in a hushed tone.

One person shouted at Fang Chen, ”Don’t come after us. The Long Family sword cultivators are chasing your senior brother. If you don’t hurry, even his corpse might go cold before you get there.”

Fang Chen smiled. ”Who is it?”

”Lu Bingbing.”

The Long Family members in the vicinity looked somewhat uneasy.

Fang Chen looked up, then headed straight toward the vines, continuing to climb upward.

Seeing that, the Sun family sword cultivators breathed sighs of relief, and they couldn’t help but feel grateful toward Lu Bingbing. If not for him, this man surnamed Fang might not have let them go so easily.

***

Fang Chen’s surroundings became emptier and more silent the higher he climbed. He didn’t encounter anyone for a while, and it wasn’t until a few months had passed that he suddenly heard a faint sound coming from deep within the vines.

”Who’s there?” asked Fang Chen.

”It’s me,” answered a familiar voice.

Covered in blood, Bai Qingming poked his head out and said, ”They’re all up above. Don’t go any higher for now. If it weren’t for these dense vines, I might already be dead.”

Bai Qingming’s waist was dangling, both feet already gone. He had tightly bound his wounds with vines just to keep from bleeding out.