Chapter 1044: Reaching the Top

How was this possible? A sword cultivator had attained the third transformation...? But how could that be when they hadn't even heard about a sword cultivator attaining the second transformation, to begin with?

If that were true, then a sword cultivator had to have attained the second transformation at one point and kept it hidden, bidding his time!

Chen Qingtai and the others' expressions turned ugly, their eyes filled with shock.

They could hardly imagine the power a third-transformation sword cultivator held. That person's abilities would undoubtedly be terrifying.

Li Changsheng looked at his wife with a sincere gaze. "Qingyu, you are my wife. When I married into your family, it wasn't the immortal crystals they offered me for my advancement that I valued. It was you. I only did it for you.

"We've spent many years together, and I am sure you understand my feelings toward you by now. So rest assured and trust me when I say this—what I am doing will not harm the main branch in the slightest."

Li Changsheng's wife tightly grasped her daughter's hand as she gazed deeply at Li Changsheng, her expression complex. "Dear, my heart is in turmoil. What exactly do you want to do?"

Li Changsheng replied, "I only seek a dignified path for the sword cultivators here."

A faint cold gleam flashed in the eyes of Lu Qingshu and the others as they looked at the Long Family cultivators.

Lu Qingshu said calmly, "For countless years, those who sought immortality through orthodox means have seen us as heretics. Driven by jealousy and fear, they imposed many restrictions on us. They suppressed us for fear that we would surpass them one day."

"But those days are over. Today, we start with Prison Wind. But in the future, Longyan, Minghu, and Sihui will also learn to respect us. Sword cultivation is the true path. Lifespan? What does it matter? Who can compete with a sword cultivator at the same rank?"

Chen Qingtai and the others' expressions were ugly, but they didn't dare speak.

The words, though harsh, held a kernel of truth. Indeed, among those of the same rank, orthodox cultivators could not compare to sword cultivators. Furthermore, from Lu Qingshu's words, they sensed a deeper meaning!

The conflict between the Long and Sun Families was just the beginning, not the end!

Lu Qingshu said indifferently, "Li Changsheng, these people from the Long Family... they should have been controlled by now, right?"

Li Changsheng simply nodded in response.

In an instant, except for a few sword cultivators who were still confused, nearly ninety percent of the sword cultivators, following Lu Qingshu's command, captured all the Long Family cultivators present.

Long Ao and the others were filled with both anger and shock.

"Are you planning a rebellion!?" roared Long Ao.

Lu Qingshu walked up to Long Ao and slapped him hard across the face.

Slap!

Looking at Long Ao's disbelieving expression, Lu Qingshu smiled and said, "Yes, that's the look I am looking for. It's just as I imagined."

"Lu Qingshu!" Long Ao glared at Lu Qingshu fiercely. "You vile sword cultivators, what do you want to do?"

Lu Qingshu replied indifferently, "Vile? That word will be used on you from now on."

Back on the third branch's side, Dongfang Haojie tightly grasped Long Wu's hand. He stared in disbelief as the sword cultivators of their third branch turned against them.

Long Wu wore a serious expression. She reassured, "Rest assured, my dear. I will keep you safe."

Hardly had she spoken when a few sword cultivators rushed at them, attempting to take Long Wu away from Dongfang Haojie.

Tightly gripping Long Wu's arm, Dongfang Haojie fiercely shouted, "What are you doing! My brother is Fang Chen! Don't you dare!"

His words were daring, but they didn't hold much conviction.

Hearing his outburst, the sword cultivators exchanged unsure glances. After a few moments of silence, they turned and left without saying a word.

On the fourth branch's side, Long Ying and the others looked dejected. They had initially been angry that the sword cultivators who used to grovel before them were now raising their swords against them. However, it didn't take long for that anger to be replaced by panic as they started to grasp the gravity of their situation.

The same scene unfolded on the Sun Family's side. Sun Susu, Sun Yi, and even Zuo Xu, who had come to watch, were slapped by a sword cultivator, leaving them momentarily dazed.

Crouched in a corner, Sun Yi stared at the unfolding events in a daze. He murmured, "It's over. What on earth is happening? Are these people out of their minds?!"

Sun Susu was also crouched not too far away from him, her face pale.

Zuo Xu hurriedly shouted, "I am Zuo Xu! My father is Immortal Monarch Xiaoyao!" "Oh, your father is Immortal Monarch Xiaoyao?" A sword cultivator nodded toward Zuo Xu. "Then, you can step aside."

Zuo Xu breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that, realizing they were only targeting the Sun Family.

In the void, Zhao Yunlu watched everything unfold, observing silently without intervening. Instead, he took out a transmission talisman. After reading the message on it, he fell into deep thought.

***

Sword Burial Palace.

Zhu Kexiu withdrew his gaze and stared blankly at Zhu Yuncheng: "Father... what exactly is happening? How dare these sword cultivators make a move against the main branch!?"

Zhu Yuncheng smiled but said nothing.

Zhu Kexiu grew anxious. "Aren't you going to stop them? This is an act of rebellion!"

Zhu Yuncheng replied indifferently, "Did you forget? I am also a sword cultivator."

Zhu Kexiu instinctively glanced at the nearby sword cultivators, and he could see a hint of excitement on their faces. A chill ran through his heart as he realized that a massive upheaval was about to happen in the Prison Wind Lands!

***

Sword Burial Heavenly Steps.

Fang Chen had reached the 98th stage of the ladder. Suddenly, he looked up with his grayish-white pupils that were devoid of any light.

Noticing that something was off, Bai Qingming asked, "Junior Brother, what's wrong?"

"I feel like someone is watching us," replied Fang Chen.

Bai Qingming looked at him with a raised brow. "Are you saying there's someone at the top of the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps?"

Fang Chen nodded. "Yes."

Bai Qingming looked skeptical. "This doesn't seem possible... Could someone have already gotten there and just stayed up there?"

Fang Chen suddenly said, "I'm going to rest for a bit."

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Fang Chen's divine soul left his body. With a single thought, he arrived at the end of the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps.

It was a small floating island, not too big nor too small. What caught his eye were the countless sword monuments scattered across the place. It looked just like a cemetery.

A young man with a wine gourd hanging from his waist was leaning against one of the sword monuments. He appeared relaxed, casually tapping his knee while humming a tune. The tune was frivolous, much like the kind heard in brothels.

Fang Chen walked up to him and gazed at him quietly.

By all accounts, reaching the end of the ladder should allow one's cultivation to gradually recover, but the man in front of him showed no signs of any cultivation, looking no different from an ordinary mortal swordsman.

After half an hour, the young man seemed to grow tired of singing and immediately fell into a deep sleep, snoring rhythmically.

Fang Chen watched for a while before finally turning and leaving. Once he reached the top, he would learn the man's identity.

***

Days passed, and soon, another year came, bringing with it a new spring.

It had been three years since the wager battle began.

Fang Chen pulled himself up using vines and landed steadily on the ground.

Bai Qingming looked at the scene with surprise. "So many sword monuments..."

Then, he spotted someone sleeping soundly in front of a sword monument.

Bai Qingming gasped in disbelief. "There's really someone up here!?"

Fang Chen had reached the top.

The people from the Sun and Long Families also saw this scene, but by now, they had lost all interest in the wager. With both the Sun and Long Families in turmoil, this wager lost all its meaning.

Instead, the various cultivators around the world paid more attention. At that moment, some households were crying, while others were celebrating wildly.