Volume One, Chapter 13: Descending the Mountain

The space inside the Ancient Sword Tower seemed to have expanded significantly; areas that once appeared blurry were now much clearer.

Qin Feng especially noticed that a staircase had seemingly materialized out of thin air within the tower. Tentatively, he stepped onto it, only to immediately feel an overwhelming pressure.

This pressure surpassed even what he had faced earlier today confronting the elder in the Treasure Pavilion!

Qin Feng tried to persevere, but in the end, he could only retreat helplessly.

“You do have perseverance,” came the voice of the Nine Nether Empress.

She had clearly noticed Qin Feng’s recent attempt.

“What is this?” Qin Feng asked.

“As you guessed, this is the staircase leading to the second floor. But with your current realm, ascending is still far beyond your reach,” the Nine Nether Empress said softly.

Qin Feng inquired, “When will I be able to go up?”

“When you collect all the items you are meant to on this floor and then break through your Qi Sea realm, you will be able to ascend.”

“So, I need to break through a realm each time I move up a floor?”

But that didn’t seem right.

From what he knew, from Spirit Gathering to the Great Dao, there were only seven realms in total, meaning he could only ascend seven floors?

“Heh.”

“Only people like you would think the Great Dao is the pinnacle of humanity. Little do you know...”

“Little do I know what?” Qin Feng pressed.

“It’s nothing, young one. These matters are too premature for you. When you break through the Great Dao, then we’ll talk.”

Though the Nine Nether Empress’s tone was not condescending, Qin Feng still clenched his fist at her words.

“By the way, weren’t you wondering where the sword training materials are?” The Nine Nether Empress suddenly changed the subject. “Oh, over there.”

She gestured toward the stone door Qin Feng had previously trialed. “If you can master the third form of the Futu Sword Technique inside, the Killing Stone on the wall will be your sword-forging material.”

Qin Feng’s gaze followed her indication. He hadn’t expected such an opportunity within the trial chamber.

Thinking of his Futu Sword Technique, he had already mastered the first and second forms, but the third form—the Demon-Sweeping Sword—he was still a novice at.

To integrate all three forms seamlessly, he needed more practice.

With a firm resolve, Qin Feng’s expression hardened.

After all, the outer sect mission he just accepted only required completion within half a month; he still had time.

While Qin Feng persevered in the stone chamber, those watching him from outside noticed he hadn’t left Jade Blossom Peak for a long time.

They wanted to go up,

but Qin Feng had already activated the Mountain-Guarding Array. Anyone who tried to force their way in would be breaking sect rules!

Seeing Qin Feng acting like a coward, Xiao Ye’s face twisted with anger. “I refuse to believe he’d just take the sect mission and not do it!”

“If he dares not do it, I’ll report him!”

“You all keep a close watch on him. If he sneaks out on me, none of you will live!”

“Yes.”

Several days passed. One day, as Qin Feng sat meditating, his body suddenly rippled and a surge of spiritual energy erupted!

“Ha!”

A sharp shout.

Qin Feng’s eyes snapped open!

Spirit Gathering, twelfth layer!

He had succeeded!

Joy was impossible to suppress on his face. “The Futu Sword Technique is truly formidable!”

Every time he trained in the stone chamber, though he knew he wouldn’t die, the crushing pressure of life and death always accompanied his soul at critical moments!

Moreover, with each repetition of the death-by-sword-qi sensation, the strength of his soul had reached the peak of the Qi Sea!

Such soul strength was enough to grant him considerable immunity to many mental attacks!

Most importantly, he could now finally release his divine sense!

Closing his eyes, Qin Feng observed every detail within a five-mile radius!

Standing up, he immediately activated the Futu Sword Technique within his body.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Three sword energies shot out effortlessly, blasting a huge crater in the ground, causing surrounding buildings to tremble!

Qin Feng stared at the power before him, involuntarily drawing a sharp breath.

Especially the crater, still wrapped in the aura of destruction; it seemed no grass would grow there for quite some time.

Is this the power of mastering the first three forms of the Futu Sword Technique?

Just as Qin Feng was rejoicing,

crack—

a faint sound rang out. Instinctively, Qin Feng looked at his sword in hand—the very sword gifted to him as the top disciple by the sect.

The Sword of Mercy!

Now, on the hilt, a barely perceptible crack had appeared.

Qin Feng gently stroked it. “Old friend, you’ve endured much by my side. Soon, your time to retire will come.”

He had already acquired the Killing Stone reward from the Ancient Sword Tower. Once this journey was over, he could begin forging his own life-bound spiritual sword.

As for his sword seed, Qin Feng sensed it within. Since killing Xiao Yun and the others, it had remained dormant.

It seemed that to cultivate the sword seed further, he still needed real battle experience!

“Master, I’m setting out now. Please bless me with a smooth journey.”

Qin Feng lit incense before his master’s tablet, then walked out of Jade Blossom Peak.

Behind the scenes, many began to stir into action.

When he reached the sect’s entrance and verified his identity and mission with the gate disciples, Qin Feng mounted a horse and left the sect.

“Follow him!”

Countless voices murmured behind, but Qin Feng ignored them all.

Under the concealment of the Ancient Sword Tower, his displayed strength remained at only the seventh layer of Spirit Gathering.

Arriving at the marketplace at the foot of the mountain, still under the protection of the Eternal Celestial Sect, the bustling crowd filled the streets.

Most here were at the Spirit Gathering realm, with a small number at the Qi Sea realm. As for higher realms, they surely existed but were beyond ordinary exploration.

“Esteemed Immortal, is this your first time in our city?” While Qin Feng observed, a young boy approached him.

Qin Feng wasn’t wearing sect robes today, looking like a wandering cultivator.

Nodding slightly at the boy, though he had been here before, it had been three years ago.

“Tell me, what’s new around here lately? If you tell me well, this is yours.” Qin Feng produced a spirit stone. The boy’s eyes lit up instantly.

Usually, they only received fragments; few clients were this generous!

“Immortal, if you ask me, you’ve come to the right place. There’s nothing in this city I don’t know.”

“First, not long ago, a wandering cultivator, relying on his Divine Platform realm strength, tried to rob the Wanbao Auction House.”

“I heard the Wanbao Auction House recently excavated a bunch of treasures from a ruin. If you’re interested, you’ve come at just the right time.”

“The Wanbao Pavilion auction is scheduled for tomorrow...”