Chapter 70 - 29: Star Sword Peak, Road to Heaven

Chapter 70: Chapter 29: Star Sword Peak, Road to Heaven

’I made the right choice! It’s much easier to reach the next realm by following a prodigy than by just shutting myself away to cultivate!’

"Thank you, Young Master! Thank you for this immense favor!"

Even the Purifying Heart Spell couldn’t suppress the gratitude and excitement surging within him. In fact, it was precisely because his Heart Spirit was now so clear and immaculate that his gratitude felt all the more sincere.

In response, Jiang Xuan’s expression remained perfectly calm.

"You earned it."

His conversation with Cheng Cultivator didn’t take long. After waiting for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Nan Zhi returned, having used a Wind-controlling Divine Travel Talisman.

Just as she returned, however, Xie Hanyan and Zeng Jun happened to finish their rest.

Jiang Xuan had no intention of making them wait. Seeing that they were ready, he quickly devoured all the food that was too inconvenient to carry, stuffed the rest into a bag, and followed them toward the entrance of the Daoist School.

WHOOSH...

Just as the group reached the entrance of the Daoist School, several Flying Ships descended from the sky, landing steadily before them.

These were the standard-issue Flying Ships of the Shenxiao Sect. The Sect was vast and had countless Outer Disciples with low cultivation, so it provided many such Flying Ships for disciples to use on their travels and errands.

Now, Jiang Xuan and the others were to board these Flying Ships to travel to the mountain peaks of their choice.

Dong Hao was heading in a different direction, so they parted ways there.

"Brother Jiang, we part ways here. I hope we both achieve what we set out to do."

"Mm."

WHOOSH...

A moment later, the Flying Ship slowly rose into the air, and Jiang Xuan’s group grew ever more distant from Dong Hao.

Along the way, people constantly boarded and disembarked, but this had nothing to do with Jiang Xuan and his two companions.

Xie Hanyan was naturally cold and taciturn. As she didn’t speak, Jiang Xuan and Zeng Jun also remained quiet.

In this silent atmosphere, the Flying Ship soon arrived at the foot of Star Sword Peak.

It was a towering peak that pierced the clouds. As he gazed out from the Flying Ship, Jiang Xuan found himself fascinated by the summit. A clear lake was nestled into the very top of the cloud-piercing Star Sword Peak, and plunged into its waters were thousands upon thousands of longswords. Some of the swords even seemed to be alive, dancing through the air above the lake’s surface and clashing with one another, their Sword Intent chillingly sharp.

’So this is the power of a Middle-Class Dharma Vein. Truly extraordinary.’

Jiang Xuan mused to himself while stuffing more food into his mouth, but before he could get a better look, the Flying Ship had already landed steadily at the foot of the mountain.

"So this is Star Sword Peak! It’s magnificent!"

"I have to get into Star Sword Peak and become an Inner Sect Disciple today!"

"I heard that among the Thirty-Three Mountains, Star Sword Peak is one of the top-ranking Middle-Class Dharma Veins, and it might even have a shot at becoming one of the Nine Great Upper Veins!"

"Oh, ancestors, please, you have to let me get into Star Sword Peak!"

Many disciples had come to Star Sword Peak for the assessment, and the air buzzed with the ceaseless drone of their discussions.

Even the normally flamboyant Zeng Jun toned down his swagger here. Jiang Xuan, for his part, said nothing at all, quietly walking beside Xie Hanyan.

As he walked, Jiang Xuan listened to the conversations around him and quickly figured out the assessment method for Star Sword Peak: climbing the mountain.

An Elder from Star Sword Peak had set up an Array at the Mountain Gate. The higher the aspirants, including Jiang Xuan, climbed while under the Array’s suppression, the higher their resulting status within Star Sword Peak would be.

"They say if you can just make it to the 360th step, you’re guaranteed a spot in the Inner Sect!"

"That must be really hard, right?"

"Of course it is! Just reaching the 108th step qualifies you to stay at Star Sword Peak. The difference between that and the 360th step isn’t just three times the distance—it’s more than ten times the difficulty. The challenge doesn’t just increase bit by bit; it ramps up linearly. What’s more, the test from Star Sword Peak isn’t just on your Flesh Body—there’s also a dual suppression on your Sword Intent and Divine Soul. But it’s precisely because the difficulty is so insane that Star Sword Peak can make this promise: anyone who reaches that final step is guaranteed to be accepted as an Inner Sect Disciple."

"Oh, right! This trial isn’t just for today. Your best result from any time in the next month will count!"

’Reach the top, and you’re an Inner Sect Disciple.’ That single phrase sent a thrill through the countless disciples present, and Jiang Xuan was no exception.

’One month. Three hundred and sixty steps. The key challenges are Sword Intent and Divine Soul... I have a chance!’

The chance to lock down an Inner Sect Disciple position in a Middle-Class Dharma Vein—especially a powerful peak like Star Sword Peak, with the potential to ascend to an Upper Vein—was a tempting prospect, and Jiang Xuan was certainly moved by it.

But just as he was growing inwardly excited, an unwelcome interruption occurred.

WHOOSH...

With a sound of rushing wind, another Flying Ship descended from the heavens.

Unlike the standard-issue Flying Ship Jiang Xuan and the others had ridden, this one was massive, ornately decorated, and incredibly luxurious.

The young men and women disembarking from it were also dressed in rich attire, their expressions vibrant and confident.

Their aristocratic air, so different from everyone else’s, caused many of the disciples at Star Sword Peak to subconsciously shrink back.

"Those are... people from the Daozi Courtyard."

"Why are they here?"

"Why wouldn’t they be? Did you really think everyone from the Daozi Courtyard is guaranteed a spot in the Nine Great Upper Veins?"

From the surrounding whispers, Jiang Xuan quickly learned that this group came from Zi’s Daoist School.

Jiang Xuan didn’t think much of it at first. He gave them a passing glance before looking away—he figured that the paths of these chosen prodigies would never cross with someone like his current self.

But just as that thought crossed his mind, a girl in a goose-yellow dress from the group that had disembarked the luxurious Flying Ship began walking straight toward them.

Of course, she wasn’t looking for Jiang Xuan, but for: