Chapter 401

Chapter 401: Steel Rock Sword Fortress

Fang Lie rushed tirelessly and finally arrived at Sword Fortress on the fifth day.

Though named a fortress, this structure dwarfed ordinary castles in size.

The entire fortress dominated a towering mountain that pierced the clouds, spanning hundreds of miles. Composed entirely of pitch-black Steel Rock—a second-tier refining material renowned for its extreme hardness—the mountain itself was a treasure. While individual Steel Rock pieces held little value, a whole mountain formed of it remained priceless.

Originally buried beneath layers of earth and stone, the Steel Rock Mountain remained hidden until Sword Fortress’ founder stumbled upon its secret. He later transformed this natural wonder into the formidable Sword Fortress.

A sprawling complex blanketed the mountain, every inch etched with divine patterns after millennia of construction. Combined with terrifying protective arrays, the fortress became an impregnable bastion. With its master present, even three or four Thunder Tribulation Immortals could only retreat in defeat.

Yet today, Sword Fortress faced its gravest challenge.

Fang Lie approached in his Earth’s Magnetic Force Warship but was halted before nearing the fortress. As a significant power boasting 100,000 disciples and controlling 100,000-mile territory, Sword Fortress maintained numerous outposts and towns around its perimeter. These settlements supplied essentials while forming defensive buffers.

One such town lay on Fang Lie’s path. Alarmed by the warship’s menacing aura, townsfolk sounded alerts and activated their protective array. A black Divine Light barrier rose as over a hundred cultivators took flight. Their leader, a gray-robed Elder surrounded by swirling Qing Feng winds, revealed himself as a Wind Tribulation Immortal.

"Might we know your name?" The Elder spoke cautiously, recognizing the warship’s owner must hold considerable status.

"Fang Lie of Mo Sect!" declared the youth, stepping forward. "I demand an audience with your Fortress Lord!"

The Elder trembled at the name. As an East Kunlun affiliate, Sword Fortress’ higher-ups closely tracked Fang Lie’s dramatic history—how East Kunlun schemed to kill his father, how the youth slaughtered East Kunlun members in two Secret Realm contests, and how he humiliated Bailongzi at the Grand Banquet by the Sea and Sky, seizing the White Dragon Divine Sword.

This real-life tale of vengeance against a mighty sect had made Fang Lie legendary. Though merely a Qi Sea cultivator, his feats included slaying True Young Masters and Fire Tribulation Immortals Jie Kong and Jie Yan. More crucially, he embodied the Fang Family’s uncompromising spirit—destroying evil without regard for status or connections.

Facing such a lethal opponent, the Wind Tribulation Immortal from the opposing faction trembled in fear, terrified Fang Lie might impulsively strike him down.

Not daring to act superior, the old man hastily replied, "We’ve sent word. News should arrive shortly. Please wait, sir!" He tensed, fearing Fang Lie might charge in recklessly.

Yet Fang Lie merely furrowed his brows and stated calmly, "I’ll wait."

The Wind Tribulation Immortal exhaled in relief, thinking privately, ‘Fang Lie seems reasonable? Not at all like those insufferable Core Inner Gate Disciples. Far better than those arrogant sect elites!’

Meanwhile, as Fang Lie approached Sword Fortress’s gates, a tense council convened in its highest hall.

A green-robed elder exuding razor-sharp Sword Energy dominated the chamber – the Sword Fortress Leader. Beside him stood Hemingzi, a white-clad Thunder Tribulation Immortal from East Kunlun, visiting by chance. Below them gathered Fire Tribulation Immortal disciples and retainers.

Kneeling at the center was the expelled North Gang leader. After fleeing Iron-Walled Jin City without his Sumeru Bags or treasure ship, he’d spent ten exhausting days flying here, arriving barely ahead of Fang Lie despite the latter’s delayed departure.

After hearing the full account, the Sword Fortress Leader’s face darkened. "That pup dares mock me?" he snarled.

"Senior Brother," cautioned Hemingzi, "Though detestable, Fang Lie operates within his rights on Mo Sect territory. We’ve no grounds to act."

"Shall I surrender centuries of work to this whelp?" the leader roared. "Since when does East Kunlun tolerate insults?"

Hemingzi sighed. "Public action would expose your… arrangements. Covert measures prove useless – his undying nature revives him even from Lost Forest’s confinement. Worse, he wields the Kunlun Sword Token."

The fortress master paled. "Must I swallow this humiliation?"

"You’ve profited handsomely from Iron-Walled Jin City," Hemingzi urged. "Mo Sect’s no minor power. Your schemes can’t remain hidden forever. Withdraw gracefully before exposure damages both sects."

After contemplation, the leader grudgingly nodded. "As if bitten by a cur."

A crimson Flying Sword message suddenly streaked into the hall. Scanning it, the leader erupted: "That impudent Fang Lie parades his warship here! Does he think me timid?"

Hemingzi’s eyes gleamed. "Now he’s overstepped. Destroying him becomes justifiable."

With laughter, the leader transformed into a sword-beam, retinue following.

From his Earth’s Magnetic Force Warship, Fang Lie watched thousands approach. Their Fifth Rank Flying Swords revealed Nascent Soul True Immortal cultivation at minimum. The two leaders’ Sword Energy radiated soul-piercing intensity – Thunder Tribulation Immortal sword cultivators.

The East Kunlun force halted before the magnificent Seventh-rank warship, covetous eyes noting its imminent Eighth-rank potential. Their sect excelled in individual swordsmen, not naval might.

Through exchanged glances, the fortress master and Hemingzi agreed – pretexts be damned, they’d claim this treasured vessel.

"You’d dismantle my disciple’s life’s work?" the leader coldly demanded.

"Done already," Fang Lie retorted. "North Gang’s leadership is broken, their assets seized. Iron-Walled Jin City is cleansed."