Chapter 1035: I'll See You off

The two sides faced off for several breaths before the Long Family sword cultivators gave in reluctantly, making way for Fang Chen.

What greeted Fang Chen was Bai Lingyue, covered in blood. He lay on the ground, barely gasping for air. It seemed he had completely exhausted his strength to make that last cry for help.

Fang Chen approached Bai Lingyue and crouched down to examine his wounds. There were several deep cuts all over him, some bone deep. However, these sword wounds weren't the most severe injuries. What’s worse was the condition of Bai Lingyue's lower body. It had been completely crushed.

Fang Chen asked, "Did you fall from a high place?"

Bai Lingyue was severely injured, making it difficult for him to speak. He gasped for quite a while before finding enough strength to whisper, "I was knocked down by a Long Family sword cultivator.... A Sun Family sword cultivator was causing trouble for him, and I happened to be by his side. He grabbed me to block the sword. Luckily, I was only three or four zhang high when it happened. Otherwise... I would have been completely crushed."

The nearby Long Family sword cultivators' expressions changed. One of them laughed. "Daoist Fang, that's a load of nonsense. Why would a Long Family sword cultivator use one of their own to block a sword? He was just exhausted after climbing up the vine for too long. After a few slashes from a Sun Family sword cultivator, he lost his grip and fell down."

Bai Lingyue quivered in anger. "You... You're talking nonsense...."

He let out a bitter laugh before looking at Fang Chen. "I won't survive, will I?"

Fang Chen replied, "You should be able to survive, as long as you hold on to your last breath."

"You don't have to lie to me. I won't make it with my injuries," said Bai Lingyue weakly. He grabbed Fang Chen's arm and pleaded, "If you ever have the chance to return to my homeland, please take my ashes back."

Fang Chen replied, "Fine, with injuries like yours... you really won't make it. I'll accompany you on the journey. But remember, no matter what happens, stay where you are and wait for me."

Fang Chen gripped Bai Lingyue's shoulder and began walking toward the edge.

Bai Lingyue shivered in pain, gasping sharply. He suddenly looked at Fang Chen in terror and asked, "Sword... Sword Leader Fang, w-what are you going to do?"

"Remember what I told you," said Fang Chen, smiling.

With a sudden motion, he tossed Bai Lingyue into the air, sending him plummeting downward.

Bai Lingyue's face was filled with disbelief.

"Fang Chen... I... damn you!"

His voice grew fainter until it was no longer audible. After a moment, the crowd heard a dull thud come from below.

On the Heavenly Steps, the Long Family sword cultivators exchanged shocked glances. Fang Chen’s cruelty caused their skin to pimple with goosebumps.

How could he do this to one of his own!?

On the immortal ship, Chen Qingtai couldn't help but glance at Li Changsheng. "This kid has potential."

"He didn’t want his companion to suffer, that’s all." Li Changsheng nodded. "When it's time to cut ties, one must do so. He indeed has potential."

If it were him, he would have done the same.

Further up, sword cultivators from Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper, including Yan Kun, Dan Zixu, and Huo Yuanwei, all saw this scene.

Some immediately cursed loudly, while others remained silent, continuing their ascent with their heads down.

At this point, they had no choice but to keep climbing. Reaching the top was the only way forward.

On the Heavenly Steps, Fang Chen walked up to the group of Long Family sword cultivators and smiled, asking, "Who was it that used him to block the sword?"

"You misunderstand." One of the Long family sword cultivators sneered. "His severe injuries caused him to hallucinate. No one used him to block a strike. He was simply weak."

With that, the cultivator turned around and started walking toward the vine, intending to continue the climb. However, after just taking two steps, his back suddenly felt cold. He looked down at and saw the blood-soaked tip of a sword poking out of his chest.

Fang Chen withdrew his sword and let the corpse collapse to its knees. Using the man's clothes to wipe his blade, he looked at the stunned Long Family sword cultivators.

"If it really was the Sun family sword cultivators who ambushed him, that's one thing. He was weak, so he died. But if it was one of you who caused his death, how could I allow you to walk away freely? Perhaps... I'll send all of you down to accompany him."

The Sun Family cultivators halfway up the staircase witnessed this and burst out in schadenfreude-filled laughter.

One of the Long family sword cultivators shouted in fury, "You... you have got some nerve. That was the direct disciple of the Second Sword Academy's headmaster!"

On one of the Immortal Boats, a sword cultivator with the aura of an Immortal King stood. He locked his gaze onto Fang Chen, his eyes filled with unmasked killing intent.

"Which academy's disciple are you?"

Fang Chen walked toward him.

The Long Family sword cultivator subconsciously took several steps back, and his expression twisted with anger and fear. "Don't come any closer! This has nothing to do with me!"

"Then tell me, who was responsible? Tell me, and I'll spare you," said Fang Chen with a faint smile. "You guys seem so unwilling to talk. Does the person responsible have a high status in the Nine Sword Academy? Even if you don't tell me who he is, I can find out later. Dying for this isn't worth it."

Someone shouted fiercely, "He wouldn't dare kill us! Killing one person would be fine, but if he dares to act again, when we leave the Burial Sword Heavenly Steps, the seniors of the Long Family will take his life before Yunlu City's person can deal with him!"

Fang Chen quickly walked toward this person. Seeing that, the person continuously retreated. One kept approaching while the other continued to retreat. Before long, they had reached the edge of the step. The person lowered his head to look down, feeling fearful. In the past, such a height wouldn't have fazed him, but he was nothing more than a frail mortal right now. A fall from this height would take his life.

His legs started shaking from fear, and his heart pounded crazily in his chest as his face turned bright red.

Before he could do anything, a tremendous force surged toward him, throwing him into the air. His eyes dilated with disbelief. As he plummeted, he looked down at the footprint on his chest before looking up at Fang Chen, standing on the step.

His face twisted with resentment, and he cursed furiously.

Fang Chen turned and walked toward the remaining Long Family sword cultivators. Before he could reach them, someone spoke up. "I... I noticed that Lu Bingbing was the one standing closest to him before he fell."

Fang Chen smiled. "What's his background?"

"He is the second son of the First Sword Academy's headmaster. He's a Tribulation Realm cultivator under 800 years old."

Fang Chen's smile widened. "Oh, just like Fu Donghai, another genius. But with his strength, why would he be here and run into my people?"

The other person's expression was complicated. "A sword cultivator from the Sun Family is causing trouble for him, trying to delay him."

Fang Chen nodded. "Looks like my friend wasn't spouting nonsense as you said."

With that, Fang Chen walked toward the vines.

But just as he was about to begin climbing to the higher levels of the Heavenly Steps, a swordsman from the Long Family suddenly charged at him from behind.

"I'll avenge you, Brother!"

As the assailant made his charge, a sword light flashed before his eyes, and he suddenly froze in place. A deep cut appeared on his neck, and blood gushed out uncontrollably.

He dropped his sword and hurriedly clutched his neck, looking to the group of Long Family swordsmen for help, as though seeking salvation.

But who could save him from such a wound?

He opened his mouth to speak, but due to excessive blood loss, his face turned pale, and he collapsed to the ground.

Seeing Fang Chen kill several fellow sword cultivators from the Sword Academy in quick succession, the Long Family sword cultivators were too angry to speak. However, they dared not take action. They could only glare at Fang Chen's retreating figure.