"Brother Chen, don't listen to her nonsense. I never thought that," Yue Qiluo blushed with embarrassment.
Yue Qimeng said with disgust, "Come on, we grew up together. How could I not know what you're thinking? You just want to cultivate with Brother Chen, but you're too shy to say it!"
"I..." Yue Qiluo was speechless.
"Let's talk about dual cultivation later. The most urgent matter is to get the Warm Jade back as soon as possible," Chen Nan smiled and said, "You sisters can cultivate here first. I'll come to find you after I finish this matter."
Then, Chen Nan headed straight for Cangyun Peak.
This was the base camp of the Huashan Sword Sect.
Cangyun Peak was over four thousand meters above sea level.
At this altitude, it would be considered a small hill in the Kunlun Mountains, but in Shaanxi Province, it could be called a high mountain.
Moreover, Cangyun Peak had steep terrain, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.
When Chen Nan appeared at the foot of Cangyun Peak, he looked up at the towering complex of buildings in the mountain. He consolidated his energy in his dantian and let out a resounding shout, "Fan Ce, this young master is here to take your life. Have you washed your neck clean?"
His resonant voice echoed through heaven and earth, scattering countless birds and beasts in the mountains.
It also provoked the anger of the disciples of the Huashan Sword Sect!
"Who dares to be so presumptuous and challenge my Huashan Sword Sect?"
A group of disciples guarding the mountain gate swarmed out, all of them at the first level of the Foundation Establishment stage.
One of them pointed his sword at Chen Nan and said, "Who are you? Are you here to die?"
Chen Nan politely replied, "My good brother, Fan Ce and I are mortal enemies. I have an appointment with him, and I am here at the Huashan Sword Sect today to retrieve my belongings and take his head."
Courtesy before force had always been his principle.
A middle-aged man roared, "Presumptuous! Senior Fan Ce is the Deputy Hall Master of our Huashan Sword Sect's Law Enforcement Hall, how can you show such disrespect?"
"How dare you disrespect Senior Fan Ce? Today, I will send you to see the King of Hell!"
More than ten experts at the first level of the Foundation Establishment stage simultaneously attacked Chen Nan!
"Kneel!"
Chen Nan's voice was like thunder.
Boom!
As he unleashed his gravity technique, those more than ten experts at the first level of the Foundation Establishment stage instantly knelt on the ground.
They were utterly incapable of resisting the attack of a peak sixth-level Foundation Establishment powerhouse!
Chen Nan lit a cigarette, his eyes deep as he looked at the building complex at the end of the stone steps. "Is this the attitude of the Huashan Sword Sect? If that's the case, then don't blame me, Chen, for shedding blood!"
As his words fell.
He took a step onto the stone steps.
"Does the dignity of the Huashan Sword Sect allow you to provoke it?" A disciple used a secret technique, forcibly increasing his cultivation, breaking through the gravity technique, and lunging at Chen Nan with his sword. "Die!"
Chen Nan did not look back. A surge of true qi struck the opponent, causing him to spit blood and die on the spot.
At this moment.
He seemed to have transformed into a god of slaughter. Behind him, none of the Foundation Establishment first-level powerhouses dared to challenge him again!
"Second Elder, that Chen Nan is ascending the mountain."
Upon hearing that Chen Nan was ascending the mountain, Fan Ce felt inexplicably panicked.
He hadn't expected Chen Nan to actually dare to risk his life.
A cold smile flickered across Hua Yan's face. "Don't worry, he won't be able to reach the summit. Well, if he thinks our Huashan Sword Sect only has the seventy-two Earthly Fiends and thirty-six Heavenly Spirits, he's greatly mistaken!"
"How could he possibly fathom the true depth of our Huashan Sword Sect?"
"Ascending the mountain?"
"Heh!"
"Can he defeat the nine Guardian Elders?"
It was said that the ascending stone steps of the Huashan Sword Sect were also known as the Stairway to Heaven, with a total of nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps.
Symbolizing the nine heavens.
When Chen Nan reached the thousandth step, a black-robed elder blocked his path.
This person looked to be in his seventies, with white hair and a youthful complexion, holding an unsheathed long sword in his arms.
He stood there quietly, yet exuded an ethereal and transcendent aura.
So much so that even Chen Nan couldn't gauge his depth.
The elder spoke, "Who are you, and why do you come to offend my Huashan Sword Sect?"
Seeing this, Chen Nan bowed to him. "Reporting to senior, this junior's surname is Chen, and his given name is Nan. I am a rogue cultivator from the mortal world."
"This junior never intended to be an enemy of the Huashan Sword Sect. It is only because Fan Ce has gone too far, stole my Warm Jade, and killed my brother. Today, I ascend the mountain only to seek justice."
Chen Nan wasn't afraid of the other party.
It was because the other party had inquired about his reason for being there!
This point alone had earned his respect!
After all!
He only wished his enemy to be Fan Ce!
The elder asked, "Is what you say true?"
Chen Nan replied, "Every word this junior speaks is the truth. If there is even a single falsehood, may lightning strike me!"
The elder spoke, "The cultivation world itself is a place where the strong prey on the weak and the fittest survive. I do not believe Fan Ce is guilty. Even if Fan Ce were guilty, he is ultimately a disciple of our Huashan Sword Sect now."
Chen Nan frowned. "So, you are going to stop me?"
The elder said calmly, "I sympathize with your plight, but our positions are different! As a Guardian Elder of the Huashan Sword Sect, my mission is to stop those who are detrimental to the sect!"
He paused here and said, "Young man, I admire your courage, but there is one thing I must remind you of: your actions are an offense against the entire Huashan Sword Sect!"
"To save my woman, and to avenge my fallen brother, why should I fear becoming an enemy of the world?" Chen Nan's heroic spirit erupted, and a powerful aura burst forth from within him.
His voice also spread throughout Cangyun Peak.
The elder did not hide his delight. "It has been a long time since I encountered such an interesting young man. Normally, I would have to kill you, but I truly wish to see your future achievements."
"I will give you three chances. If you can move me even an inch within three moves, I will not stop you!"
"Otherwise, you should quickly descend the mountain!" As he spoke, he put away his long sword.
"In that case, this junior will offend you."
Chen Nan's eyes sharpened, and he instantly appeared before the elder. The true qi within him churned and roared, like a surging river.
Boom!
He threw a punch.
The terrifying sound of breaking wind was like the roar of thunder!
It was as if the void was being sliced open by a fish fin on the surface of water!
The elder was greatly astonished.
He instinctively extended his hands to block!
But it was too late!
The fearsome true qi instantly shattered his defenses, sending him flying hundreds of meters away. As he stabilized himself, he involuntarily spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Are you some kind of monster? How can your physical body be so terrifying?" The elder's eyes were filled with dread. As an early-stage eighth-level Foundation Establishment expert, he never expected to be sent flying by a junior at the peak sixth-level Foundation Establishment stage with a single punch.
Chen Nan looked embarrassed, hesitating to speak.
The elder asked, "What do you want to say? Feel free to speak your mind."
Chen Nan cupped his hands. "This junior only used one-third of his strength just now!"
Pfft!
The elder spat out another mouthful of blood. "You... you don't understand respecting elders and cherishing the young!"
Chen Nan looked innocent. "You told me to speak my mind, and this junior couldn't possibly deceive you, could he?"
"Fine, fine, fine!" The elder sighed helplessly. "This old man keeps his word. You may continue ascending the mountain! But remember, the remaining eight checkpoints ahead will not be as easy as you imagine. It is best not to be careless!"
Chen Nan revealed a thought-provoking smile. "It seems you really hope this junior reaches the summit?"