Chapter Twenty: United We Stand

  Lingjian Sect's Youyun Peak has a good tradition: watching the excitement is not afraid of big things.

  At first, the two black and white masters who were watching from the clouds were too bored, casually teasing the people on the road to ascension. But as Haiyun Fan led the way into the final trial, engaging in an intense battle with a third-level ninth-grade spirit, before long, dozens of black and whites gathered, pointing fingers and brandishing their arms.

  "Hmm, this young master is quite fast, isn't he? He's already reached the final level in just over ten days?"

  "What's the hurry? This Ascension Road has been deserted for hundreds of years, and he's rushing through it as if his life depends on it. The faster he goes, the closer he is to failure. And the final trial seems to be a third-grade nine-rank spirit beast... Hmm, isn't this a rare and ferocious mammoth from the Western Wilderness Continent? Who brought this thing here? This behemoth is one of the top two in its class among spirit beasts, and a third-grade nine-rank can rival other spirit beasts' seven or eight ranks. What's the point of even trying?"

  "It's hard to say, after three headshots, Mammoth's cultivation has been reduced by 70%, and its grade has dropped..."

  "What's the use? Let the sect leader lower his realm and fight with you, do you have a chance of winning?"

  "Don't lift your pole yet, look, the sea cloud sail is moving!"

  "Oh, wow! He's actually using that tiny sword in his hand to slash at the thick-skinned and tough-fleshed mammoth. His bravery is truly commendable, really truly commendable!"

  "Yes, even if one knows they will die, they still want to wield their sword. This kind of enlightenment towards the sword is admirable."

  "Ah, it seems like I've been blown away, oh dear, looks like I'm going to fall off the cliff too."

  "......it really fell down?"

  "Really? Wait and see, maybe it will turn around in a while."

  "...it's been so long and there's no movement at all! Lying in the snow pile without moving!"

  "What's going on? Where's the trump card? Where's the great reversal in desperate situation?"

  "Isn't he going to die like this? Didn't several of our seniors think highly of him? Just the other day, Master praised him in front of us as the most promising genius to ascend to immortality this time, and now it's all over for him?!"

  "Master probably wants to use this to educate us that on the path of cultivating immortality, everything is possible, and we must be cautious against pride and impatience?"

  "Anyway, it's all over, let's disperse."

  In just a few minutes, the crowd that had gathered dispersed with a roar, leaving only the two fellow apprentices who were on duty to continue standing in their original positions.

  After a while, that junior brother still couldn't believe it: "...Senior brother, Sea Cloud Sail won't really be dead, will he?"

  Elder brother gazed intently at the cloud layer, hesitating as he said: "I think he's doing it on purpose. The way he flew out just now was a bit unnatural, although I couldn't see clearly through the thick clouds and fog, I didn't have complete confidence. But thinking from another angle, when facing an opponent that can't be beaten, perhaps jumping off the cliff still has a thread of hope."

  "...... Ah! Big brother, he's moving!"

  The young monk pointed at the cloud cluster that had started moving again with great surprise.

  ——

  Hai Yunfan is certainly not dead. If he were dead, the several years of hard practice of the imperial secret swordsmanship, Rouyun Sword Art, would have been in vain.

  The Ascension Conference does not accept cultivators who have already embarked on the path of cultivation, and Hai Yunfan has only practiced mortal martial arts. His spiritual root is only third-rate, but his martial arts talent is top-notch. At the age of twelve, he had already mastered the Ruyun Sword to five or six parts of its full potential, and with the help of the Yuntai San Shenbing's Ruyun Soft Sword, even a powerful cultivator would be able to withstand it once.

  The full force of the mammoth's blow was far from being just a thousand tons, but for the giant beast, the tiny insect Ha Yunfan wasn't even worth its full strength. With a flick of those pillar-like trunks, it would be enough to turn someone into dust... If they didn't shatter, then double the force and swing again.

  Hai Yunfan's soft cloud sword precisely blocked the mammoth's first strike, then borrowed force to fly down the cliff - apart from this, he fled in any direction and would be caught up by the giant beast in one step, trampled to death on the spot.

  As for the fall, it wasn't a big problem. The cliffs of Ice Wind Valley were covered in snow all year round, and with Ruo Yun Jian's dissolving force... Although the final counter-shock made him almost spit blood, but to keep his life safe from a three-tiered ninth-grade giant spirit beast was the greatest victory.

  As she stood up dizzily from the snow pile, Hai Yunfan's face still wore a smile, but it was unclear how much of it was triumph and how much bitterness. Surviving was a victory, but after three times being forced to yield, her opponent was still so far out of reach, and Hai Yunfan had no more trump cards; this time, the path to ascension might truly be at an end.

  Of course, thinking about it, the final effort still has to be made. Ha Yun Fan struggled to climb up from the cliff, and with the infinite physical strength reward from Taoyuan Village, he finally returned to the starting point three days later. At this time, the trial players behind him also caught up.

  Unexpectedly, the person who came up was actually Wang Lu's book boy Wang Zhong!

  When Hai Yunfan saw Wang Zhong, he almost didn't recognize him. The last time they met, he was still the little book boy who followed behind Young Master, nodding and agreeing to everything. Now, when he saw him again, there were a few more hints of gloominess on the young man's face, and his original pure and simple image had vanished without a trace.

  It's not unexpected that Hai Yun Fan and Wang Zhong broke up. As someone from an imperial family, he felt that Wang Zhong was a bit too ambitious when they first met, and it was unlikely that he would remain subordinate for long in a place where anything can happen like the Immortal Ascension Path. As expected, they eventually parted ways with Wang Lu. No wonder he looks so worn out now; love indeed makes people mature.

  Hai Yunfan saw Wang Zhong, and Wang Zhong also saw Hai Yunfan. In just an instant, that gloomy face was replaced by a sincere and simple smile.

  "Isn't this His Highness the Crown Prince?"

  Hai Yunfan also put on a smile — no matter how Wang Zhong and Wang Lu made trouble, anyway, he had nothing to do with this third person, they were all companions advancing in the Ice Wind Valley, why give people a bad face from the start?

  "King Zhong? I didn't expect to see you here."

  When he heard the other party accurately calling out his name, Wang Zhong's face showed both surprise and a hint of emotion, but soon entered the topic: "Is the prince resting here?"

  That's what he asked, but Wang Zhong's gaze swept across Hai Yunfan's body, the tattered coat and the mud all over his body, which was enough to explain Hai Yunfan's sorry state. Moreover, it had been so long since he left Peach Blossom Village, yet he was caught up by those who came later, which was already enough to explain the problem.

  Hai Yunfan didn't hide it either, directly telling his frustrating experience, and the more he said, the uglier Wang Zhong's face became.

  All the way here, Wang Zhong also spent a lot of effort, and the reward he got from Taoyuan Village was used up by about half. He thought that the remaining part should be enough to get through the last level, but after hearing Haiyun Fan's description, Wang Zhong knew that it would probably not work out.

  He didn't hide anything either: "I got five stealth symbols from Taoyuan Village, but if the distance exceeds three meters, I will be discovered, and it can't cover up smells and sounds... If it's as you said, Your Highness, that giant beast is blocking the way behind, I think the stealth symbol won't be of much use."

  Hai Yunfan said: "Even if we can avoid that giant beast, it's not going to work. I feel like this level requires us to find a way to defeat it in order to get acknowledged, simply dodging is not going to cut it."

  "Defeated? Are you kidding me? How can someone who hasn't cultivated possibly defeat that monster?" Wang Zhongshi found it hard to believe.

  Hai Yunfan explained: "Using the power of the environment is still possible, for example, luring it to fall off a cliff, finding nearby Jingshen to fight with it, and then sitting back to reap the benefits... or seeking a breakthrough in oneself under such extreme natural conditions. There are always ways."

  Wang Zhong smiled slightly and didn't respond. Hai Yunfan's previous words reminded him of his former young master, and he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart.

  Hai Yunfan continued, "But I've tried probing before, that giant beast is very intelligent, and it has lived in the Ice Seal Valley for far longer than us. It's hard to design traps for it, and its strength far surpasses other magical creatures here. Even if we were to gain an advantage, it wouldn't be realistic... Ah, no wonder there hasn't been a successful precedent in hundreds of years."

  Wang Zhong couldn't help but say: "In the past few hundred years, there was no Peach Blossom Village checkpoint. This time, with the reward of the immortal family's treasure from Peach Blossom Village, it's not like there's no chance."

  Hai Yunfan couldn't help but laugh: "You think you can hide with just your stealth symbol?"

  "Of course it's not just me, there are several of my friends behind."

  Hai Yunfan was finally shocked.

  There are four to five roads behind Taoyuan Village, and about thirteen or fourteen people can pass through Taoyuan Village. On average, there should only be three or four people on one road, but from Wang Zhong's tone, this Ice Wind Valley Road seems to have an exceptionally large number of people...

  And, have you found the organization yet? No wonder they had a falling out with Wang Lu, it turns out they were fearless. Appearing in front of me at this time should also be a pioneer exploring the way, but who would make Wang Zhong willing to abandon his original master?

  It wasn't long before the answer was revealed.

  Unexpectedly reasonable - The one who lured Wang Zhong away was Zhu Qin, the prince of Da Ming State in Cangxi Province.

  The Great Ming State on the continent of Jiuzhou can only be considered a fifth-rate country. To say nothing of comparing it to the Yun Tai Empire, even among the vassal states of Yun Tai, it cannot rank in the top three. However, it is precisely this kind of mediocre national power that its royal family members are particularly good at interpersonal relationships. Moreover, Wang Zhong is from the Great Ming State and will instinctively have a reverent heart towards his own country's royal family. As long as the prince deliberately wins him over, someone like Wang Zhong, who is only around ten years old, can be easily won over.

  As for the two people surrounding Prince Zhu Qin, they were also from prominent aristocratic families of various countries, including some who had more power than Zhu Qin. Yet, at this moment, they were willing to follow him as their leader, which showed Zhu Qin's abilities.

  Of course, Zhu Qin was also very respectful when he saw Hai Yunfan, and after a few pleasantries, they got straight to the point and discussed their strategy.

  Zhu Qin said: "Let's organize the existing resources... Fifteen Lingjian symbols, one Huimeng bell, three Yinxing symbols, a bag of soft stone powder, a hundred bird whistles... Oh, and also an effective but exhausted Xiaotou grass doll."

  Hai Yunfan shrugged indifferently, gesturing for the other person to continue speaking.

  "Moreover, each person has different special rewards, such as infinite physical strength, double power and so on... If fighting alone, I believe that being able to get here like Hai Yunfan is a miracle, but if united and cooperative, there is hope for passing the level."

  Hai Yun nodded in agreement and added: "At least in this regard, we don't have a competitive relationship, everyone's goals are consistent."

  "That's right, as long as we can defeat that giant beast, all of us will become inner disciples of the Lingjian Sect. What competition there is can wait until after we've entered the sect."

  Wang Zhong also smiled and said, "Moreover, the five of us can meet on this road, it's really fate. Usually, a road only has two or three people. We have more people and greater strength, we will definitely pass smoothly!"

  "Haha, that's right, unity is strength."

  The tune has been set, next is the battle plan. The plan is simple, everyone goes on stage together, Huī Méng Líng summons sleep, Ruǎn Shí disperses and breaks defense, Bǎi Niǎo Dí summons disturbance, then, everyone holds a Ling Jian symbol, aiming at the target to gather fire.

  According to Haiyun Fan's calculations, the probability of killing a Mammoth is over 70% - after all, it was downgraded by the Grassman. If they were third-class ninth-grade spirits, they wouldn't even have a chance of winning.

  Make a plan and don't delay, if it's dragged on for too long the effect of the trick will disappear, and they'll have no choice but to swallow their regret.

  Next, Hai Yunfan led the way, and the five of them cautiously approached the mammoth's den, along the old path, walking around the bend, Hai Yunfan once again saw that ice and snow giant beast that had forced him to jump off a cliff to save his life.

  "Wait... am I seeing things?"

  Hai Yunfan rubbed her eyes very hard, almost squeezing out tears.

  "Or should I say, falling off a cliff makes me dizzy and lose my sense of scale?"

  Hai Yunfan's astonishment was not without reason, because, a hundred meters away, the giant beast that had been lurking in the mountain cave seemed to have doubled in size!

  Its original body height was ten zhang, but after the Head- Lowering Grass took effect, its height reduced to only seven zhang. Now, its height is at least fifteen zhang or more, and the ice spikes on its body have become even sharper. Its long fur covers it, and its muscles seem to have expanded several times, making the giant beast look even more majestic and rich in attacking power!

  And Hai Yun Fan and several people behind him saw this scene, they really couldn't help but exclaim: "What, what is this thing?!"

  "Are we supposed to take on this big guy? We're just here to serve him tea and snacks!"

  "Can't even melt a single icicle with that little bit of fossil fuel?!"

  "Can I ask if the Spirit Sword Symbol can make it itch a little?"

  In shock, Zhu Qin suddenly turned around and pulled Hai Yunfan: "Didn't you say that guy had been weakened by at least 30%?!"

  Hai Yunfan also smiled bitterly, and in his heart he cursed loudly: What's the point of deceiving people about this kind of thing? Can't he get extra points for harming his teammates to death? Use your brain to think, can you die?! This clearly shows that they have encountered a freak accident!

  The strange and wondrous changes in the world of cultivation are not uncommon, and it's possible for a spirit to unintentionally swallow a heavenly treasure or earthly gem, leading to a sudden breakthrough after years of bitter practice. Even a stubborn hemorrhoid that has been troubling them for ages might suddenly heal... All these things can cause a spirit's cultivation to skyrocket overnight, with an increase in power that is truly astonishing. There was once a thousand-year-old fox demon who transformed from a third-level minor demon into a sixth-level or higher nine-tailed fox in just one night. Now, this Western Barbarian Mammoth has grown from seven zhang to fifteen zhang, and it's still a fair price.

  However, that fox demon encountered a lovesick Yuan Ying old monster and was willing to sacrifice his cultivation to dual cultivate with him, which led to his rapid growth. This mammoth has an ugly appearance, which of the Ling Jian Sect's brothers with heavy taste is willing to be with him? Please stand up and let everyone take a look.

  The mutation is clearly due to other reasons.

  ——

  "What the hell is going on?!"

  On the cloud, Liu Xian, the master of the misty peak, suddenly jumped up like thunder: "Which turtle grandson dared to randomly change the Ice Wind Valley? The three-level nine-product mammoth is not fierce enough? Can't bear to upgrade it to three levels and three products, one foot can crush a foundation repair officer? Do you hate newcomers so much?"

  Liu Xian stood before them, and the crowd of black and white disciples looked at each other with their eyes cast down, not daring to speak. Although the Peak Master had burst into a loud scolding, it was clear that he wasn't scolding his own people on the Immortal Cloud Peak... At this Ascension Conference, those who had the authority to modify the Ascension Chart were, apart from the Sect Leader, seemingly only one person...

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, Liu Xian was talking non-stop, and a indignant woman's voice came from behind him.

  "Senior brother, you're farting again. I've found that since your Golden Elixir was fully formed and your internal elixir infant was born, your temper has become really explosive. Could it be postpartum depression?"

  Liu Xian was so angry that he almost split his primordial spirit, turned around and pointed at the woman in white: "If you don't give me a clear explanation today, I'll go to the sect leader's place to reason things out!"

  The woman sneered: "A way of speaking? Fine, I'll give you a way of speaking! This Ascension to Immortality painting was indeed altered by my hand, but my alterations will only make the Ascension to Immortality more humanized!"

  Liu Xian was shocked by the shamelessness of his opponent, and he turned around with a trembling body, pointing at the cloud: "Third-class third-product, this is your humanization!?"

  The woman didn't seem to be ashamed at all, but instead smiled complacently and said: "That's right. When Hai Yunfan broke through the pass alone, this Mammoth was only third-rate ninth-grade. Now that they've formed a team of five people, the Mammoth's strength should naturally be upgraded a bit. This is what we commonly say, 'united we stand'!"

  Liu Xian almost knelt down: "You damn... there are many trial-takers, so the demon's power is great!?"

  "The Legend of the Sword Mountain" latest chapter is released by Yunqi Book House, the fastest and most popular online release site! (This site provides: traditional pagination, waterfall two modes, can be selected in settings)