Chapter 698: First on the Emperor Ranking, Li Changsheng

Everyone fell silent. That time was a confrontation between the Void Immortal Sword Sect and the sword cultivators from Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper. Their enemies were not ordinary cultivators but sword cultivators hailing from either of the two.

Originally, this battle was to take place in the Central Continent, where the Void Immortal Sword Sect held the advantage of both time and place. However, unexpectedly, the sword immortal from Celestial Heaven truly broke through his shackles and entered the ranks of First Rate Sect Leaders.

Even before he arrived, a single strike from him had injured the Old Sword Immortal. If not for two First Rate Sect Leaders from the Central Continent suddenly intervening, the Void Immortal Sword Sect might have already ceased to exist after that encounter.

It was precisely because the Old Sword Immortal was injured that the Void Immortal Sword Sect lost its anchor. This was why they were now being coerced with the matter of selecting a sword leader.

In the lineage of sword cultivators, a sect without a successor would end up being looked down upon. Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper had previously exploited this matter. This was due to the three great sword sects having established a pact, wherein the immortal relics each sect possessed would not infringe upon one another.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

However, within this agreement, the position of sword leader held extremely significant importance. If a sect failed to cultivate a sword leader for a thousand years, it would indicate that their foundation was nearing its end, and they would have to concede their immortal relics to other sword sects.

As the saying goes, "You can't hog the toilet without using it."

"Everyone, we must select a sword leader today. Otherwise, Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper will take our immortal relics." The sect master of the Void Immortal Sword Sect sighed gently. "Given the circumstances, we can only find a way to delay time. Selecting a sword leader does not necessarily mean we will immediately accept the examination."

Langya Wenqiu was among the disciples present. She had been listening to the elders argue when she noticed something that shocked her greatly. She quickly took out the Heaven Profound Mirror and looked at it, revealing an expression of disbelief on her face.

"Junior Sister Wenqiu, what's wrong?" asked Jing Yuehan softly.

Langya Wenqiu looked dazedly at Jing Yuehan. "Senior Sister Jing, Brother Fang is coming back."

There had been no news of Fang Chen for several years, and he had not stepped out of the Ancient Immortal Road. Now, even the Void Immortal Sword Sect believed he had met with misfortune and died there.

Unexpectedly, after five whole years, Fang Chen actually reestablished contact with her through the Heaven Profound Mirror!

Jing Yuehan was shocked. "Fang Chen is still alive?"

Just then, someone mentioned her name.

An elder looked at the master of the Extreme Sword Peak and said, "Zhang Ling, Jing Yuehan from the Extreme Sword Peak comprehended the Ice Sword Intent last month. She is likely invincible among those at the Golden Core Realm. Making her the sword leader is also a good choice."

"It is indeed rare for someone at the Golden Core Realm to comprehend sword intent. It would be difficult for Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper to find a disciple like that, so it is feasible."

"However...the sword leader has to be at least at the Nascent Soul Realm. She still lacks some experience, and I'm afraid Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper won't acknowledge her."

"What's there to fear? If we join forces, we can help her condense her Nascent Soul within ten years. It's only ten years. Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper will wait; they won't tear all pretense over this. The Old Sword Immortal is just injured, not dead."

Everyone began to discuss, occasionally glancing at Jing Yuehan.

Zhang Ling frowned slightly. She genuinely cared for her disciple, Jing Yuehan, but she believed she did not have the qualifications to become the sword leader. However, the current situation was quite severe; selecting a sword leader was merely a means to delay time.

No matter who was chosen, this sword leader would ultimately only use their life to buy time for the Void Immortal Sword Sect.

Jing Yuehan suddenly clasped her hands and said, "Seniors, I have a person to recommend. This person is nearly invincible among his peers; at least… Since his cultivation began, I have not heard of him being defeated by any peer."

Everyone was taken aback.

The sect leader of the Void Immortal Sword Sect had a strange expression. "Do we have such a person? Why was I unaware?"

Jing Yuehan replied, "Sect Leader, the person I want to recommend is Junior Brother Fang Chen."

In an instant, Jing Xu, Cheng Yuhan, and others who had interacted with Fang Chen revealed strange expressions.

Qin Hucheng sighed lightly. "Junior Sister Jing, Brother Fang may have already died in the Ancient Immortal Road…."

A senior brother dressed in white had just returned and was unaware of anything related to Fang Chen, so he asked the person next to him a few questions. "Eh? Junior Brother Fang? Who is that?"

After a few moments, he exclaimed in surprise: "White Core? But possesses impressive sword and Dao techniques and is also a disciple of the Heavenly Cloud Emperor?"

The sect leader sighed. "Fang Chen would have indeed been the perfect candidate. Alas, he died in the Ancient Immortal Road."

An old man sneered. "Even if he's not dead, he still cannot become the sword leader. He's just a White Core. If the outside world knew that our sect's sword leader is a White Core, wouldn't we become a joke?"

Everyone glanced at him but did not argue. He was the transmission elder of the Extreme Sword Peak, with considerable seniority, and his actions were relatively conservative.

And he was not the only one; those who could become transmission elders were the most conservative figures in the sword sect. Only, such beings would be impartial and would not pass on their teachings arbitrarily.

The big-bearded sword cultivator murmured to himself, "Fang Chen is indeed very suitable. Although his strongest methods may be Dao techniques, his sword technique is also quite stunning. He once broke the Sealing Immortal Formation of the Great Expansion Dao Gate with a single sword in the battle at the Immortal Dynasty Manor."

Jing Yuehan said, "Elders, Junior Brother Fang Chen just contacted Junior Sister Wenqiu. He has come out of the Ancient Immortal Road."

This statement was like a giant stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples that stirred everyone. In the blink of an eye, the Heaven Profound Mirror in Wenqiu's hand had fallen into the hands of the sect leader.

The big-bearded sword cultivator and others hurried over.

"Hahaha! Great!"

The sect leader laughed three times and then glanced at Zhang Ling and the others. "Who will go and bring this child back? We can't afford to have any more accidents on the way."

Bai Qingming smiled slightly and turned to leave. "I'll go!"

When everyone saw him going to pick up Fang Chen, they did not stop him; this disciple's strength surpassed that of the peak masters.

Langya Wenqiu took back the Heaven Profound Mirror and sent a message to Fang Chen, informing him that a senior brother surnamed Bai was coming to fetch him. She also informed him about the events that had transpired over the past few years.

"Eh, this kid is really alive…."

Langya Wenqiu looked up and saw the big-bearded sword cultivator summon his own Heavenly Profound Mirror, shown on it was Fang Chen's figure.

***

Fang Chen looked at the information in the Heavenly Profound Mirror, and his expression became a bit more serious.

It seemed that after the two seniors' chess game ended, the Void Immortal Sword Sect had engaged in a fierce battle with the sword sects of Celestial Heaven and North Dipper. What was even more unexpected was that the Old Sword Immortal of the Void Immortal Sword Sect had been injured in this battle, leading to the sect's current awkward situation.

"The sword immortal of Celestial Heaven has ascended to the rank of a First Rate Sect Leader... The offensive power of the sword cultivators was already terrifying, and now they have become a First Rate Sect Leader…."

Thinking of that, Fang Chen took out Mirror of the Universe to check.

Sure enough, the name at the top of the Emperor Ranking had changed. Originally, the names on the Emperor's List were not ranked in order, as who could predict the strength of a First Rate Sect Leader?

However, there was now a name that was clearly in first place. The name emitted a dazzling golden light, hinting at a sharp aura that made it difficult to look at for long.

[Li Changsheng]

This was the name currently at the top of the Emperor Ranking.

Mirror of the Universe commented, "Impressive! The lifespan of sword cultivators is so short, and transforming into a Loose Immortal has extremely strict requirements. If the lifespan is insufficient, one won't even survive the process of transformation.

"Li Changsheng has some skills; he probably achieved the status of an Immortal King in less than five hundred years,"

At that moment, Fang Chen suddenly sensed something. He put away Mirror of the Universe and summoned Little Sword.

He slashed toward the void.

In the void, a beam of sword light appeared, crashing toward Fang Chen with the force of thunder.

In an instant, it seemed as though Fang Chen heard countless ghostly whispers in his ears, and around him appeared illusory figures that were constantly murmuring. It felt as if he had entered the realm of the Netherland, in the Yellow Springs.