239: Nine Heavens Staircase

“We were all deceived by him... he is Qin Chen!” Nangong Feiyan stared at you fiercely, enunciating each word.

“I’m furious! This fellow is too cunning, making us feud with the Saint!” Sima Tao’s face was ashen, his longsword buzzing in his hand.

The remaining people all watched you with solemn expressions, their Magic Treasures trembling slightly.

Their biggest concern at this moment was how to explain themselves to the Saint after leaving the Secret Realm—they had originally hoped to curry favor with the Saint through this, but unexpectedly, they offended the true master instead.

Those Prodigies who were watching the show also kept their distance from you—they didn't want to get involved in your Karma.

Now, only Liu Ruyan remained by your side.

“Kill him, then apologize to the Saint when we get out!” Chu Hong pointed his sword at you, shouting sternly.

Before his voice faded, the twenty-odd people instantly fanned out, surrounding you in the center.

Liu Ruyan stepped forward without hesitation, raising her sword to shield you.

You, however, chuckled lightly, gently pulling her arm to shield her behind you, and declared to everyone, “You all helped this Venerable One send off the Saint. To show my gratitude, let me see you all off.”

“Attack! Don’t hold back!” Sima Tao roared, launching the first attack.

Twenty-odd people attacked simultaneously, sword light, Talismans, and Magic Treasures assailing you like a torrential rain.

You knew that a prolonged battle would be disadvantageous, and ordinary methods would be hard-pressed to withstand the combined attack of so many Prodigies.

So, you smiled calmly and whispered:

“Sword—come!”

Before your voice faded, two brilliant rays shot out from between your eyebrows—one dazzling golden light, and one churning crimson flame, precisely the immortal slaying sword (Gold) and the immortal slaying sword (Fire)!

At the same time, your Spotless Sword Body within you emitted a clear sword cry, and the power of Dao Patterns around your body surged.

“Immortal Slaying—Two Principles Rotation!”

The twin swords soared into the sky, intertwining and circling in the air, evolving into the stance of Yin and Yang.

As the sword light flowed, a massive Yin and Yang sword diagram slowly rotated, crushing, absorbing, and transforming all incoming attacks.

Those Magic Treasures and Talismans striking the sword diagram were like mud oxen entering the sea, failing to even stir a ripple.

This scene before them deeply shocked everyone, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Tan Yun, Yan Nuo, and Xiang Feng, who had traveled with you, watched dumbfounded, frozen in place.

They had been observing from the sidelines and had not participated in the encirclement against you.

But you clearly felt their estrangement.

You understood the aloofness of Xiang Feng and the other two—after all, they had come from the beginning to curry favor with the Saint.

“I didn’t expect his strength to be so formidable, not inferior to the current Saint.” Yan Nuo’s face was full of shock, his body trembling slightly.

“It is said that the Saint has reached Nascent Soul Peak, with both Divine Soul and Physical Body at Perfection, just one step away from advancing to Soul Transformation. I didn't expect Qin Chen to also possess such strength.” Xiang Feng’s expression was solemn.

“With the Saint’s defeat this time, I’m afraid that when he attempts to break through to Soul Transformation in the future... the Heart Demon tribulation will not be too smooth.” Tan Yun said in a low voice.

And those Prodigies who were attacking you were completely awed by your astonishing Divine Ability.

They felt the power of the Divine Ability you unleashed most profoundly.

You ignored them; after all, the Immortal Slaying Sword Art, which activated the Power of the Great Dao, was a dimension-reducing strike for them, and no number of people would help. So you calmly spoke:

“Go—!”

Before your voice faded, your fingertip lightly flicked, and the immortal slaying sword (Gold) suddenly transformed into a streak of aurora, circling like lightning.

The golden light flashed, so fast that they couldn't react. Their protective Magic Treasures were pierced like paper, and the bodies of more than twenty Prodigies were simultaneously run through by the sword light.

The next second, more than twenty life-saving jade Talismans activated in unison, bright white lights illuminating consecutively, teleporting all of them out of the Secret Realm.

You stood with your sword sheathed, merely smiling faintly.

Using the immortal slaying sword openly this time was truly unavoidable.

If you hadn't used the immortal slaying sword, even with Liu Ruyan's help, the two of you would have found it very difficult to escape from more than twenty Prodigies.

“Young Master, I didn’t expect you to be so formidable?” Liu Ruyan asked softly, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

“Wouldn’t you know if I’m formidable or not?” You asked back with a smile.

Liu Ruyan’s cheeks immediately flushed, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at you.

Under the shocked gaze of over a hundred Prodigies, you quickly flew towards the direction of the Highest Peak with Liu Ruyan.

After seven days of travel, you finally arrived at the foot of the Highest Peak.

Looking up, the entire mountain Peak resembled a stairway to the heavens, with flashes of combat light occasionally appearing in the clouds, accompanied by rumbling sounds.

The Highest Peak stood majestically in the center of the Secret Realm, its body piercing the clouds, its summit disappearing into a swirling cloud vortex—that was the exit of the Secret Realm.

Innumerable steep rock Peaks surrounded the mountain, like stars circling the moon, clustering around the main Peak.

At this time, figures engaged in fierce combat could be seen on various Heaven Ranks of the Highest Peak—Prodigies from all paths were fiercely clashing, either to eliminate opponents or to be the first to reach the summit.

Sword light and Talismanic Incantations intertwined, shouts and metallic clashes rose and fell, everyone fighting while pushing higher.

Just then, a streak of light swiftly arrived and landed before you—it was the Holy Maiden Shen Mengqi.

“Daddy, why are you only just arriving? Did you encounter trouble on the way? Who was so blind as to dare stop you? I’ll go teach them a lesson right now.” She asked with concern.

“It’s fine, it’s already resolved.” You replied with a smile.

You surveyed the intense battles everywhere and asked, “What’s going on? Why are everyone fighting on the Highest Peak?”

“Daddy, you don’t know, the Secret Realm exit hasn’t opened yet.” The Holy Maiden Shen Mengqi explained with a smile.

“And this Highest Peak is also called the Nine Heavens Rank; each step up leads into an illusion space, where you face different combat trials.”

“These nine stages are the Stage of Strength, Stage of Speed, Stage of Control, Stage of Illusion, Stage of Groups, Stage of Power, Stage of Endurance, Stage of Change, and Stage of Mind.”

“They are on different Heaven Ranks, and not only do they need to face the trials of the Nine Heavens Rank, but they must also defeat all opponents on the same rank to continue advancing.”

“These people want to reach the summit in advance, so they can pass through immediately once the exit opens.”

After hearing the Holy Maiden Shen Mengqi’s explanation, you immediately understood—this was clearly to prevent people from colluding and cheating.

You asked with a serious expression, “Then if we travel together, do we also have to fight each other?”

The Holy Maiden Shen Mengqi smiled sweetly, “Don’t worry, Daddy, your daughter has a way.”

“What way?” Liu Ruyan beside you immediately pressed.

The Holy Maiden Shen Mengqi frowned slightly, glanced at Liu Ruyan, and unhappily looked at you: “Daddy, who is this?”

“This is Liu Ruyan of the Liu Clan Immortal Family. She helped me on the way, so we traveled together to this point.” You introduced with a smile.

The Holy Maiden Shen Mengqi looked at you seriously: “Daddy, in the future, you must keep your distance from unrelated women.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you. Quickly tell me your method.” You urged hastily.