Be Brave, Be Brave, My Friend… 22: Chapter 22: The Sect’s Holy Land!
Be Brave, Be Brave, My Friend… Zhang Xuan’s decision to ascend Sword Mountain spread quickly, for there had been many disciples present at the outer disciple administrative office.
Even some inner disciples who were in seclusion were stirred from their cultivation.
“Come, let’s go see!
The Young Master is ascending Sword Mountain!” “The Young Master?
Which Young Master?” “You’ve been in seclusion for years and don’t know?
The Sect Master took on a disciple a year ago.
I heard he inherited the legacy of the Sect Master’s own master — a Five Elements Low-grade Spirit Root talent, currently at the second level of Qi Refining.” “What?!
A Five Elements Low-grade Spirit Root can be a true disciple?
What dumb luck?!” “What?!
Ascending Sword Mountain at the Qi Refining stage?
This has to be a joke!” Countless inner and outer disciples rushed toward Sword Mountain, all eager to see this sect Young Master of extraordinary fortune and determine what he was made of.
Meanwhile, some inner elders who had received the news were furious.
“Ridiculous!
Ascending Sword Mountain at the Qi Refining stage — it’s child’s play!” “The sword qi on Sword Mountain is terrifying.
Even Mahayana cultivators must tread carefully.
Why didn’t anyone stop the Young Master?” “We tried, but we couldn’t!
Let’s just go see!” “Come!
The Young Master must not come to harm!” The inner sect elders were all alarmed and rushed toward Sword Mountain.
Compared to those ordinary disciples, the inner elders understood Zhang Xuan’s value all too well.
Possessing sword intent meant he was a candidate for Immortalhood.
Although Zhang Xuan had a Five Elements Low-grade Spirit Root talent, once he survived the early stages of absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth, the later stages of comprehending heavenly laws and the Great Dao would be smooth sailing.
In their eyes, Zhang Xuan was the person most likely to achieve Immortalhood after the Sect Master himself.
He absolutely must not come to harm.
In an instant, nearly the entire Azure Cloud Sect was roused, all converging upon Sword Mountain.
At the base of Sword Mountain, Zhang Xuan looked up at the mountain with an expression of keen interest.
On the way here, he had heard quite a bit about Sword Mountain.
This place was renowned throughout the entire Southern Region.
Before him stood a bare, barren peak, only a hundred zhang tall.
Compared to the surrounding mountains that soared thousands or even tens of thousands of zhang, it was little more than a small hillock.
But this bare hillock was bristling with swords of every kind, dense as a forest.
When the wind blew, the blades rippled like a tide — a spectacular sight.
Above Sword Mountain, there was not a wisp of cloud or mist, as if even the clouds had to detour around this place.
This was the Sword Mountain that Yun Yao had established, designed to temper the sect’s sword cultivators.
It was considered a holy ground of the Azure Cloud Sect.
Zhang Xuan could more or less guess the inspiration behind this mountain.
“Little Yao must have modeled it after the Boundless Sword Tomb, though it falls considerably short of it,” Zhang Xuan mused.
In his first life, he had been reborn in the Boundless Realm.
As a sword cultivator, he had naturally witnessed the eternal force of the Boundless Realm — the Boundless Sword Tomb, the holy land of sword cultivators under heaven.
There, a Sword Tomb stood that was far more magnificent than the Sword Mountain before him.
Of course, the Azure Cloud Sect had only existed for a little over twenty thousand years.
It was natural that it could not compare to those eternal forces.
The fact that Little Yao had achieved this much was already remarkable.
At the moment, numerous cultivators were seated in meditation atop Sword Mountain, enduring the tempering of sword qi.
Others appeared to be attempting to comprehend sword intent.
As for the base of the mountain, it was already packed with inner and outer disciples as well as several elders, all chattering amongst themselves.
“That’s the Young Master?” “He looks so arrogant.
I just want to punch him!” “Don’t say that — the Young Master is quite handsome!” “Hmph.
He’s only a fraction better-looking than me.
I can’t see anything else remarkable about him.” Countless pairs of eyes converged upon Zhang Xuan, yet he remained perfectly composed.
A small stage, nothing more.
He had experienced far too many moments of being the center of attention.
Today, he was here not for anyone else, but to prove himself.
He, Zhang Xuan, was incredible!
“This is Sword Mountain.
The sword qi upon it is extremely fearsome.
Once you step onto it, you will be subjected to constant erosion of your body by sword qi, though it also serves to temper your physical form.” “Moreover, there is the Sect Master’s sword intent bearing down upon it, which can also temper a cultivator’s will.” “On Sword Mountain, with every step upward, the pressure from the sword qi and sword intent increases.
Towards the end, even Mahayana cultivators are forced to retreat.
As for the peak — aside from the Sect Master, no one has ever reached it.” The Golden Core elder stood at Zhang Xuan’s side, introducing Sword Mountain, seemingly hoping to discourage him.
Guyue Fangzheng, listening nearby, had eyes gleaming with excitement.
It could actually temper a cultivator’s will?
What a place!
As expected of something established by an Immortal.
Though his own Guyue family had similar places, the significance was entirely different.
Originally, he had only come along to accompany Zhang Xuan, but now he too wanted to ascend and see for himself.
Seeing the desire in Guyue Fangzheng’s eyes, Zhang Xuan smiled and asked: “Brother Fangzheng, care to go up and take a look together?” “That was precisely my intention!” Guyue Fangzheng laughed.
The Golden Core elder’s eyelid twitched.
Were all young people this reckless these days?
Guyue Fangzheng held a special status.
If something went wrong, it would be trouble.
He was about to open his mouth to dissuade them, but Guyue Fangzheng already knew what he was going to say and spoke first: “Elder, there is no need for concern.
Should any danger arise, I will withdraw immediately!” The Golden Core elder choked on his words.
Fine — if he couldn’t stop them, then let them go.
As long as they stayed near the base of the mountain, it would be fine.
He could pull them back in time.
As for the two of them actually ascending Sword Mountain?
He had never even considered that possibility.
Zhang Xuan and Guyue Fangzheng exchanged a smile, and Guyue Fangzheng was the first to step forward, heading toward Sword Mountain.
“Hmm?” But the moment he set foot upon Sword Mountain, Guyue Fangzheng’s expression changed violently.
A torrent of chaotic sword qi blasted toward him, throwing him off balance.
He stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.
That was the better part of it.
The sword qi was insidious, seeping through every pore on his skin and madly drilling into his body.
Thus, the very first moment, beads of blood surfaced across Guyue Fangzheng’s skin.
And this was only the sword qi.
From the mountaintop, a massive sword intent descended upon him like the wrath of heaven itself, causing his mind to tremble wildly, as though he were facing the entirety of heaven and earth.
Under the assault of sword qi and sword intent, he was like a leaf in a hurricane, seemingly on the verge of being torn to shreds at any moment.
Sword Mountain was this terrifying!
Guyue Fangzheng stood in place, frantically adjusting himself to adapt, yet he did not use a single shred of magical energy to resist.
Because the sword qi was tempering his body, and the sword intent was tempering his will.
The moment he set foot on Sword Mountain, the cultivators meditating upon it opened their eyes, their gazes sharp as they looked upon Guyue Fangzheng.
Down at the base, some elders and disciples raised their eyebrows in surprise.
“For his first time on Sword Mountain, he wasn’t instantly crushed?” “So this is that Guyue family scion?
As expected of someone from a great family — his talent and foundation are truly formidable!” “What a pity.
I hear he is not a sword cultivator, or he would be an excellent prospect.” “How high do you think he can climb?” “I’d guess seven or eight zhang?” “I estimate he’ll have to come down at five or six zhang…” Watching Guyue Fangzheng’s reaction upon ascending Sword Mountain, the crowd looked on with admiration.
Many began guessing how high he could go.
As for the blood beading on his skin, no one paid it any mind.
Surface wounds — nothing unusual.
As the person in question, Guyue Fangzheng finally let out a long breath after adapting for a time, having recovered.
He looked toward the mountaintop, especially at those cultivators meditating upon the mountain, and a glimmer of understanding appeared in his eyes.
The hundred-zhang Sword Mountain — every ten zhang marked a major realm watershed.
The first ten zhang were inaccessible without Foundation Building.
Within twenty zhang was Golden Core.
Within thirty zhang was Nascent Soul… and so on.
That meant eighty to ninety zhang and above — only an Immortal’s cultivation could reach the peak!
“What a Sword Mountain!” Guyue Fangzheng exclaimed in admiration, then turned back to look at Zhang Xuan.
“Brother Zhang, this Sword Mountain has a major realm watershed every ten zhang.
At the Qi Refining stage, it truly may be impossible to climb.” He spoke in an attempt to dissuade Zhang Xuan, seemingly hoping to temper his expectations.
Zhang Xuan was amused and angered by this.
You little brat — you show off and then tell me to sit on the sidelines?
He ignored Guyue Fangzheng and turned to face the gathered crowd.
“Everyone!” Hearing Zhang Xuan’s voice, all eyes turned toward him, their gazes tinged with mockery.
The Young Master wasn’t backing out after seeing what Guyue Fangzheng went through, was he?
But Zhang Xuan declared in a loud, clear voice: “Watch closely!” “This Young Master is about to show off!” With that, he broke into a run toward Sword Mountain, simultaneously singing aloud, providing his own background music.
Be brave, be brave, my friend ♪ Even if there’s no rainbow tomorrow ♪ … Everyone froze for a moment, then nearly had their souls leave their bodies in terror.
“No — why is he running?!” “Young Master, you can’t run!
You can’t run!” “Holy crap — someone stop the Young Master!” A horde of disciples and elders stared with eyes wide enough to pop from their skulls.
The sword qi on Sword Mountain was this terrifying, and he was just going to run straight into it?
That was no different from throwing himself onto a blade!
Running wouldn’t help you climb any higher!
Guyue Fangzheng’s eyes went wide as well, and he shouted urgently: “Brother Zhang, don’t use a running start!” But Zhang Xuan moved too suddenly, and before anyone could stop him, the next instant he had set foot upon Sword Mountain.
Everyone’s hearts sank.
It’s over.
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