C22 Chapter 22

Hearing Hua Hsing's words, the other disciples looked shocked. A newcomer daring to speak to Senior Brother Zhang Bofeng like that meant he clearly had a death wish. Zhang Bofeng's strength ranked him among the top 50 in the Inner Sect, which was an extremely impressive achievement. Considering the sheer number of disciples in the Inner Sect, being able to enter the top 50 proved just how powerful he truly was.

"Kid, this time no one is going to save you. Tell me, how do you want to die?" Zhang Bofeng said coldly in a low voice.

Hua Hsing shook his head and ignored Zhang Bofeng. He headed straight for the supply hall. After collecting all his items, he returned to his quarters. Within the Inner Sect, every disciple had an independent residence, and the location varied according to strength. The residences of the top 50 disciples were filled with abundant cosmic spiritual energy, while those ranked below 50 did not receive such treatment.

After returning to his residence, Hua Hsing took out the manual and began reading. It contained a detailed description of many matters concerning the Inner Sect, including a thorough ranking of its disciples. Hua Hsing glanced through it and saw that Zhang Bofeng was ranked 50th. Soon after, he found Bing Ling's name. Her ranking was very high, placing her among the top 10 of the Inner Sect. Her cultivation had reached the Qi Refining Stage Level Five, and her strength was exceptionally formidable. It was said that the top-ranked disciple of the Inner Sect had already reached the Qi Refining Stage Level Six and could even face a warrior at the Qi Refining Stage Level Seven without suffering injury.

The cultivation tower was unique to the Inner Sect, and Hua Hsing already knew about it. As long as he had enough Spirit Stones, he could cultivate inside it. Within the Inner Sect, there was also a very mysterious mountain peak. The Sword Arts Heavenly Stairway connected that peak to the Azure Edge Sword Sect. The stairway had a total of nine levels, and no one could use raw power while climbing it. One could rely only on sword arts. Only disciples with sufficiently profound swordsmanship could reach the summit of the Sword Arts Heavenly Stairway.

Of course, in all these years, aside from Qih Nantian in the past, no one had ever reached the top of the Sword Arts Heavenly Stairway. Even Zhongyi, the current top disciple of the Inner Sect, could only reach the eighth level. No one knew what benefits awaited anyone who ascended the ninth level, but everyone knew that reaching it would surely bring extraordinary fortune.

While Hua Hsing was reading the manual, an elder suddenly came to see him.

"Elder," Hua Hsing said with cupped fists in greeting.

"Hua Hsing, as a disciple who has just entered the Inner Sect, you are required to complete a task," the elder said.

Hua Hsing nodded and asked, "What task is it?"

Hua Hsing clearly understood the rules of the Inner Sect and asked directly, "What's the mission this time?"

"It's an exploration of a tomb. There will be five of you working together. Meet at the Inner Sect square tomorrow morning," the elder instructed before leaving.

Early the next morning, Hua Hsing arrived at the square. To his surprise, the other four were already there, and he recognized two of them: Zhang Bofeng and Jiaang Xue. The other two were unfamiliar to him.

"Is it really him?" Zhang Bofeng remarked with a hint of surprise, quickly replaced by anger.

"I can't believe I have to do this mission with such a loser," Jiaang Xue said coldly.

Seeing Hua Hsing's arrival, the elder smiled faintly and announced, "All right, everyone is here. Your mission is to explore the tomb that appeared in the mountains 100 miles outside the city. But be cautious. Disciples from other sects will be going as well."

Hua Hsing was slightly taken aback by the elder's words. The tomb in the mountains matched the location on the tattered map he had found.

"Did the Inner Sect already know about this?" Hua Hsing wondered silently.

"Elder, why are we teaming up with someone so useless?" Jiaang Xue asked sharply.

"Yes, Elder, we don't want to bring someone who lacks strength," Zhang Bofeng said.

Hua Hsing remained silent as the elder replied, "He's new to the Inner Sect. You all need to watch out for one another. All right, you may set off now. Remember to stay safe."

After the elder's reminder, he left.

Hua Hsing and the others began their journey. Before long, the other four openly excluded Hua Hsing, leaving him to walk at the back of the group. He did not mind. In fact, he preferred it that way.

At the front, Jiaang Xue and Zhang Bofeng whispered to each other.

"Senior Brother Zhang, Hua Hsing has crossed you many times. Once we're inside the tomb, let's get rid of him," Jiaang Xue suggested.

"I really didn't expect to be assigned a mission with this piece of trash," Jiaang Xue said coldly.

Hearing the elder's words, Hua Hsing was slightly startled. The tomb in the mountain range 100 miles outside Liangyun City matched exactly the location written on the tattered cloth he had obtained. "Could it be that the Inner Sect already knew about this?" Hua Hsing wondered, keeping his expression unchanged.

It took them two full days to reach Liangyun City, which was far from Breeze City. Upon arrival, the group immediately headed toward the mountains 100 miles away.

Within the Liangyun Mountains, Hua Hsing and the others advanced cautiously. Hua Hsing noticed their path seemed to differ slightly from the map, but he said nothing.

They continued onward.

Two hours later, they found themselves atop a peak, the very one under which the tomb was said to lie.

"Senior Brother Zhang, this should be the mountain where the tomb is located, right?" Jiaang Xue asked.

"Not bad. According to our sect's intel, the tomb is right beneath this mountain," Zhang Bofeng remarked just as a gust of wind heralded the arrival of a group atop the peak.

"I didn't expect the Azure Edge Sword Sect's disciples to show up so early," a man in golden attire said with a chuckle, a hint of disdain on his face.

"So, it's Sunn Yunjun from the Flowing Wind Sect," Zhang Bofeng said.

The Flowing Wind Sect, also based in Azure Cloud County, was much stronger than the Azure Edge Sword Sect and was considered the most powerful sect in the region.

"Sunn Yunjun, with our Flowing Wind Sect here, you people from the Azure Edge Sword Sect won't get anything. If I were you, I'd have already turned tail," Sunn Yunjun said with a grin.

Zhang Bofeng snorted and chose not to respond. Sunn Yunjun, an Inner Sect disciple of the Flowing Wind Sect, was at the early stage of Qi Refining Stage Level Five, significantly stronger than Zhang Bofeng.

Seeing Sunn Yunjun made Zhang Bofeng's expression darken. The Azure Edge Sword Sect and the Flowing Wind Sect were bitter rivals, and meeting here, especially with the opponent's obvious strength, was far from ideal.

"How could the Seven-heaven Sect miss out on this?" Suddenly, a voice rang out as a man in white swiftly ascended the mountain.

Upon seeing the man in white, Sunn Yunjun paused for a moment before smiling and saying, "So it's you, the Seventh of the Seven-heaven Sect."

"Yunjun," the Seventh said in greeting, barely acknowledging Zhang Bofeng.

Hua Hsing had long since been excluded by the other four and walked alone at the rear of the group. He had no desire to keep their company anyway. At the front, Jiaang Xue and Zhang Bofeng spoke in low voices. "Senior Brother Zhang, Hua Hsing has offended you many times already. Once we enter the tomb, we should kill him directly," Jiaang Xue said. "Exactly. Once we enter the tomb, even if I kill him myself, no one will ever know," Zhang Bofeng said with a laugh.

Liangyun City was far from Breeze City, and it took them a full two days to arrive. After reaching Liangyun City, the five of them did not stop to rest and immediately headed toward the mountain range 100 miles away. Within the Liangyun Mountains, Hua Hsing and the others advanced cautiously. Hua Hsing noticed that the route they were taking was somewhat different from the one marked on the map, but he said nothing and continued forward with them.

Two hours later, they arrived at a mountain peak, the very peak where the tomb was located. "Senior Brother Zhang, the tomb should be beneath this mountain, right?" Jiaang Xue asked. "That's right. According to the sect's intelligence, the tomb lies beneath this peak," Zhang Bofeng replied.

Just after Zhang Bofeng finished speaking, the sound of rushing air suddenly came from the distance. A group of people appeared on the mountain peak moments later. "I didn't expect the disciples of the Azure Edge Sword Sect to arrive this early," said a man dressed in golden robes, his face carrying a trace of disdain. "So it's Sunn Yunjun of the Flowing Wind Sect," Zhang Bofeng said.

The Flowing Wind Sect was also a sect within Azure Cloud County, but its strength far surpassed that of the Azure Edge Sword Sect. It was considered the most powerful sect in all of Azure Cloud County. "Zhang Bofeng, with our Flowing Wind Sect here, your Azure Edge Sword Sect is destined to gain nothing. If I were you, I would have slunk away long ago," Sunn Yunjun said with a smile.

Zhang Bofeng snorted coldly and said nothing more. Sunn Yunjun was a disciple of the Flowing Wind Sect's Inner Sect, and his strength had already reached the early phase of Qi Refining Stage Level Five, making him far stronger than Zhang Bofeng. At the sight of Sunn Yunjun, anger also appeared on Zhang Bofeng's face. The Azure Edge Sword Sect and the Flowing Wind Sect were sworn enemies, and now that they had met here, the other side was clearly stronger than they were.

"How could an occasion like this be without the Seven-heaven Sect?"

Suddenly, a burst of laughter rang out as a man in white rushed over. In no time, he had climbed to the mountain peak. When Sunn Yunjun saw the man in white, he was briefly stunned before smiling and saying, "So it's the Seventh Day from the Seven-heaven Sect."

"Brother Yunjun," the Seventh Day greeted Sunn Yunjun, not even sparing Zhang Bofeng a glance. Among this generation of the Seven-heaven Sect, there were seven especially outstanding disciples known as the Little Seven Heavens, and the newcomer was the disciple ranked seventh among them, called the Seventh Day.

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