Immortal of the Nine Realms-Chapter 1024: Mysterious Figure

Yan Kun looked around at the group with a cheerful smile. "There's still a few days of waiting ahead. Why don't we all go to the Sword Burial Palace and take a closer look at the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps?"

At the moment, Li Changsheng and Chen Qingtai were speaking with the heads of other noble families.

"We can go ahead and take a look?" Divine Wind Sword Sect's Dan Zixu asked, looking intrigued.

"Of course. As long as you don't step onto the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps itself," Yan Kun replied with a smile.

"Then I'll trouble Brother Yan to lead the way," said Huo Yuanwei of Seven Star Sword Sect with a clasped fist. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Yan Kun looked over at Fang Chen and Bai Qingming. "Bai Qingming, Sword Chief Fang, are you two coming along?"

Bai Qingming smiled. "Why not take a look?"

"If you're not interested, you can just wait on the Immortal Boat," Yan Kun said casually.

"Oh? And what, we need you to guide us now?" Bai Qingming sneered, half-smiling. "Yan Kun, don't forget we're all in this together. If you start infighting now, I wonder what Grandfather Li will say."

Dan Zixu and Huo Yuanwei quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"You two should stop bickering," said Dan Zixu.

Huo Yuanwei was also eyeing the two, his thoughts clear.

They were the only ones in the group with enough strength and seniority to speak on equal footing with Yan Kun and Bai Qingming. The other sword cultivators were mostly mid-level, lacking both cultivation and status.

Yan Kun let out a cold snort but said no more, leading the group toward the Sword Burial Palace.

On the way, Long Xuan and her group caught up, heading to the same destination. Yan Kun was quite familiar with them, and the conversation flowed freely. But everyone could clearly see, even though Long Xuan was more cordial, others like Chen Zuo and the rest of the young nobles wore faint smiles but carried an obvious air of arrogance and condescension.

Yan Kun seemed to notice that too, but he showed no reaction. That unsettled the rest even more.

In a flash, they reached the Sword Burial Palace. Many cultivators had already gathered out front.

The duel between the Long and Sun Families had drawn wide attention. Ordinary cultivators wouldn't want to miss such an event. Everyone wanted to see whether someone could reach the top of the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps. After all, throughout the ages, only a handful had succeeded, sometimes only once every few centuries.

The group landed before the palace. From here, the stairs looked even more imposing.

Each step was like a massive platform, and the space between steps stretched over a hundred feet, bridged by countless hanging vines.

"If one really turns into a mortal, climbing these hundred-foot vines... won't be easy," Bai Lingyue murmured.

Dan Zixu and the others nodded subconsciously. Though they hadn't entered the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps yet, they could feel a faint, oppressive pressure emanating from it just standing where they were.

Bai Qingming turned his gaze from the staircase, seeming more interested in the surrounding scene. "Huh, it's quite lively here. Is it always like this?"

The area outside the Sword Burial Palace resembled a small market. There were vendors peddling spirit herbs, pills, and artifacts.

Long Xuan smiled softly and explained, "Every few years, the Sword Burial Palace opens, allowing people to approach the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps. Most of those trying their luck are commoners or sword cultivators seeking to change their fate. Some fail time and again but refuse to give up, so they settle here. Over time, the area grew more vibrant."

Chen Zuo added with a smile, "To them, the staircase itself is already a great opportunity. Even reaching the thirtieth step catches the eye of certain sects or clans, earning them a chance to obtain a sword scripture."

"Reaching the 60th step opens the door to elite sword sects. Make it past the 90th step, and with luck, even the great clans might accept you. For them, it's a shot at soaring to the heavens. If you can reach the 90th step this time, it'll bring great honor to the First Courtyard."

"Let's go. We're still not close enough," Long Xuan said, leading the way toward the palace gates.

The sword cultivators guarding the palace recognized her as a Long Family member and allowed the group to pass without question.

"Why were they allowed inside?" someone muttered.

"They're probably from the four great clans, the three sects, or the holy land. Who else can enter at a time like this?"

"That makes sense. I saw quite a few sword cultivators among them."

"Oh? How could you tell?"

"I'm a sword cultivator too. I could sense that they've all comprehended sword intent."

Long Xuan spoke as they walked. "The Palace Master of the Sword Burial Palace is a Loose Immortal from the Holy Land of Nine Immortal Mountain. He's also a sword cultivator, like my father. He once climbed the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps and reached the top, obtaining the Black Heaven Sword Scripture for Nine Immortal Mountain. That scripture is rumored to be even more powerful than any possessed by the great clans or the sects."

She advised, "My father holds him in deep respect. If you see the Palace Master later, be sure not to show any disrespect."

The group's expressions turned nervous. Another Loose Immortal sword cultivator?

Bai Lingyue grew curious. "Young Lady Long Xuan, I heard the Long family has 36 sword scriptures. With the rest of the clans and sects, doesn't that add up to over a hundred? Were they all retrieved from the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps?"

"Not quite a hundred." Long Xuan chuckled. "In fact, Qiufeng has only yielded around 40 sword scriptures from the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps."

"Many of the ones you studied recently, like the Green Pine Sword Scripture and the Illusionless Sword Scripture, are also found among the four great clans, the three sects, and the Nine Immortal Mountain."

The group suddenly understood the implications.

Before long, they passed through layers of buildings and finally arrived directly before the staircase.

What met their eyes was a cascade of vibrant green vines, like a flowing waterfall. Looking upward, they could just barely make out a faint island shrouded in mist. But it was too far away to discern clearly.

"Can we try it now?" Bai Lingyue asked, eager to begin.

Dan Zixu and Huo Yuanwei turned toward Long Xuan, eyes filled with anticipation.

They wanted to test the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps' mystical reputation for themselves.

Long Xuan seemed tempted and was just about to speak when Chen Zuo shook his head. He said, "You're representing the Long Family this time. According to the wager between the Long and Sun Families, no one is to step onto the staircase before the bet begins."

Long Xuan sighed lightly, her gaze distant. "That's true."

This duel with the Sun family wasn't unusual. Such contests had happened many times over the years. But the side wager between the First and Second Courtyards? That was something the First Courtyard couldn't afford to lose.

Fang Chen continued to study the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps. Suddenly, he wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he thought he saw a figure standing at the very top, looking down.

Their eyes met, just for a moment. When he looked again, the figure had vanished.

There's someone at the top of the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps?

Before he could ponder further, laughter echoed from afar. Another group of people arrived. But when they spotted Long Xuan's group, they immediately halted, their smiles fading.

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