Chapter 120: Guiding Me Through the Immortal Gate

Chapter 120: Lead Me into the Immortal Sect

“Don’t come any closer!”

Cao Fu tightened his grip and clamped down hard on Leng Xuan’s throat, almost screaming the words.

“I don’t care who you are, you fraud who plays at gods and ghosts, or where you came from. If you dare take even one more step, I’ll kill this brat at once.”

This usually calm and calculating warlord felt, for the first time, that something was terribly wrong. His thoughts began to lose all order.

“After you kill him, what will you use to preserve your own life?”

Fang Junmei spoke coldly, as though he did not care in the slightest whether Leng Xuan lived or died.

Cao Fu was rendered speechless.

At that very moment, an inexplicable pressure descended upon him, as if an invisible force had pinned him down. For an instant, he felt utterly unable to move.

And that was when Fang Junmei struck.

Before the sword even left its sheath, its ringing cry had already filled the air.

The sword flashed out in a streak of azure light, piercing straight toward Cao Fu’s skull.

This sword was ethereal yet imbued with the spirit of seeking the Way beneath the heavens, as though it sought, through a single stroke, to pursue the ultimate meaning of life itself.

The final technique of the Great Freedom Sword Art—Sword Howling at the Heavens!

Pfft!

A muffled sound rang out.

Cao Fu had no time to react before the sword pierced through the center of his brow. Bright red blood sprayed into the air.

This man, a tyrant and overlord in all but name, had not yet reached the summit of his ambitions when he died in that dark prison, beneath Fang Junmei’s sword.

A moment later, his powerful body fell backward with a thunderous crash. The vitality within him gradually faded away.

Clang, clang—

Several more sounds of metal striking metal rang out as Fang Junmei casually shattered the iron chains binding Leng Xuan.

“Thank you… Grand-Uncle Patriarch…”

Freed at last, Leng Xuan spoke weakly. He immediately tried to kneel, but after enduring so much torment, he had no strength left, and every part of his body was in agony. He pitched forward instead.

Fang Junmei hurriedly caught him and laid him flat on the ground. He first sent a stream of true energy into Leng Xuan, then took out a pill and fed it to him.

Leng Xuan looked miserable, but most of his injuries were superficial. After receiving one of Fang Junmei’s immortal pills, some color and strength soon returned to his face.

“You trusted so easily that I was Fang Junmei?”

Fang Junmei studied him, let out a faint sigh, and asked with a smile.

Leng Xuan smiled. “I may not have cultivated the Great Freedom Sword Art to any great depth, but I still recognize it. Besides, my great-grandmother once left behind a portrait of you for her descendants. Grand-Uncle Patriarch, you look very much like the person in that portrait—especially those two eyebrows.”

“Who was your great-grandmother?”

Fang Junmei asked.

“Her maiden name was Shu Chuchu. She was my great-grandfather’s junior sister—and yours as well.”

Fang Junmei was stunned. He had never expected that Shu Chuchu would eventually marry Leng Qianqiu. A feeling of melancholy rose within him.

“Grand-Uncle Patriarch, you’ve finally returned. It’s just a shame that this junior failed to protect Sword North Mountain City!”

Ashamed, Leng Xuan finally broke down in tears, sobbing as though he had at last found an outlet for everything he had endured.

Fang Junmei gently shook his head and smiled. “It doesn’t matter that the city was lost. What matters is that you preserved your heart. I saw the suffering you endured for the sake of the city, but you never yielded. That makes me glad.”

With that, he lightly patted Leng Xuan on the shoulder.

Hearing those words, Leng Xuan became even more emotional, tears streaming down his face.

…

Once Leng Xuan had calmed down, Fang Junmei said, “You should have recovered some of your strength by now. Come outside with me.”

“Yes, Grand-Uncle Patriarch!”

Leng Xuan wiped away his tears and finally gathered himself. After standing, he followed Fang Junmei toward the exit.

They had only reached the steps when a mass of black-clad martial artists came rushing in from the other end of the prison. There were several dozen of them, with more following behind. At their head was a cold-faced middle-aged man.

“Kill!”

The man was decisive. Seeing Fang Junmei leading Leng Xuan out, he knew that something serious had happened below. Without wasting a word, he issued the order.

Whoosh, whoosh—

The dozen men on the outermost perimeter immediately drew their powerful bows and loosed their arrows.

By now, Leng Xuan had probably guessed that Fang Junmei was a cultivator. His expression remained utterly calm.

Fang Junmei was even more relaxed. Standing straight with his white robe gleaming like snow, he swept his gaze across those savage faces. With a slight shake of his sword, dozens of sword rays shot forth.

Those solid-looking sword rays were clearly beyond the abilities of any mortal warrior. Everyone who had rushed into the prison was startled.

Some hurriedly raised their blades to hack at them.

Others desperately tried to dodge.

Fang Junmei flicked the tip of his sword repeatedly. Almost at once, the sounds of shattered weapons and agonized screams rang out. Chaos erupted, accompanied by a scene of utter panic.

In the space of a breath, countless men lay bleeding on the ground.

Fang Junmei showed not the slightest mercy as he slaughtered his way toward the outside.

…

After fighting his way out of the underground prison, he found even more martial artists waiting outside. They had surrounded the prison completely, numbering well over a thousand. The strength of Raging Tiger Mountain City was evident. No wonder Cao Fu had harbored ambitions of unifying the martial world and conquering the realm.

The men in front had not yet charged inside when they saw those ahead of them—those still alive—crawling and rolling out in terror. Every one of them stared in shock.

When Fang Junmei and Leng Xuan emerged, they were even more astonished.

Just one man?

One man had fought his way into the secret grounds of Raging Tiger Mountain City and rescued Leng Xuan?

Who was he, and how formidable was his martial prowess?

“Cao Fu is dead. I have no intention of slaughtering any more of you today. All of you, get out of here. But if I hear that you have continued to commit evil, I will pursue you for a thousand miles and take your heads.”

Fang Junmei held his sword horizontally and shouted coldly.

The crowd fell silent. Yet for a moment, no one retreated.

“Fire! Fire the arrows! He’s only one man—what is there to fear? Though the City Lord has died, we shall inherit his will and avenge him. Whoever takes this man’s head will receive a hundred taels of gold!”

Although Cao Fu was dead, a second ambitious man immediately stepped forward. Was this not the perfect opportunity to rally the people and become the new lord of the mountain city?

The speaker was a middle-aged man with a gloomy cast to his brows and a refined appearance. His name was Chen Yu. In terms of office, he ranked just below Cao Fu; in status, he stood beneath only several old monsters who held no official position. This was the perfect moment for him to establish his authority.

Hearing this, the crowd thought it made sense. Even the strongest hero could not withstand overwhelming numbers. What was there to fear?

Swish, swish—

A storm of arrows erupted, shooting toward Fang Junmei in unison. Those skilled in hidden weapons also launched their attacks, sending flying knives, pear-blossom needles, and other weapons whistling through the air.

Like lightning, Fang Junmei lifted Leng Xuan from behind him. His figure blurred, and he avoided every incoming weapon, appearing above Chen Yu’s head.

“Die!”

With a fierce shout, he thrust out his sword and killed Chen Yu instantly.

After killing him, Fang Junmei circulated his spiritual power and unleashed the Grand Evolution Wind-and-Cloud Sword Art. At once, wind howled and clouds surged, rolling toward the desperate fighters of the mountain city.

The crowd was swept off their feet by the raging wind and clouds, let alone able to counterattack.

Fang Junmei was truly enraged now. He began a wholesale slaughter, his sword flashing like lightning as it reaped the lives of those doomed men. One scream followed another without pause.

“He isn’t human!”

“He must be a monster! Run!”

Those at the outer edges were in a somewhat better position. Seeing the strange wind and clouds twisting around Fang Junmei’s sword, they were scared out of their wits, and some began shouting as they fled.

At their cries, even more people scattered in terror.

By the time Fang Junmei stopped, at least four or five hundred bodies lay across the ground. Not one of them made another sound.

The ruthlessness, precision, and speed of the slaughter were breathtaking.

Fang Junmei gave a cold snort and did not pursue those who had already fled. After setting Leng Xuan down, he headed in a certain direction.

The shock on Leng Xuan’s face left him speechless. When he looked at Fang Junmei’s back, however, another kind of light gradually appeared in his eyes.

“Why are you still standing there? What are you waiting for?”

Fang Junmei’s voice reached his ears.

“Yes!”

Leng Xuan shuddered back to his senses. After answering, he hurriedly followed.

Everywhere they passed was already deserted. Not a voice could be heard. Even the servants and maids had fled after hearing the sounds of slaughter.

…

“How long ago was Sword North Mountain City destroyed? Was anything left behind?”

Fang Junmei asked as they walked.

Leng Xuan answered quickly.

It turned out that Sword North Mountain City had been destroyed only a little over a year ago. At the time, its lord had been Leng Xuan’s father. Cao Fu had captured Leng Xuan and imprisoned him, torturing him day and night in an attempt to obtain the Sword North Heavenly Book and the Great Freedom Sword Art.

Had Leng Xuan’s will not been strong enough, he would have confessed long ago.

As for what relics remained, Leng Xuan did not know.

Fang Junmei listened in silence, his expression growing darker.

Before long, they arrived at the broken stele. Fang Junmei picked up the two fragments bearing the image of the old man with a sword on his back, wiped them clean, and carefully placed them into his storage pouch.

Leng Xuan felt his vision blur. The two broken pieces of stone had vanished without a trace, and he became even more certain of the guess forming in his heart.

Fang Junmei turned and looked at him. “I returned this time merely to take a look. I have no other intentions. What do you plan to do?”

There was a transcendent dignity in his voice, as though he had risen beyond the mortal world. His eyes were clear and ethereal.

Thump!

At those words, Leng Xuan fell to his knees.

“May I ask, Grand-Uncle Patriarch, have you already become one of the immortals spoken of in legend? After all I have endured, I no longer feel attached to the affairs of the mortal world. I beg you to lead me onto the path of cultivation. Even if it means being shattered to pieces, I will have no regrets!”

He bowed his head repeatedly.

He knew that this might be the most important opportunity of his entire life. If he missed it, he would spend the rest of his days in regret.

Fang Junmei did not deny his words. After thinking for a moment, he found no reason to refuse. Given his current standing, bringing Leng Xuan into the Peach Haven Sword Sect should not be difficult. Offering some guidance to a junior was a trivial matter to him.

There was only one problem: Leng Xuan had to possess a spiritual root. Otherwise, he would have no way to cultivate.

“Rise first. Not everyone can cultivate this path. If you truly possess a spiritual root, I would not mind helping you take your first steps.”

Leng Xuan was overjoyed. He quickly rose and asked, “Grand-Uncle Patriarch, how can I determine whether I possess a spiritual root?”

Fang Junmei did not answer. He brushed a hand across his waist and took out seven middle- and lower-grade spirit stones corresponding to metal, wood, water, fire, earth, ice, and thunder.