Chapter 433: The Lost Sword Sect

"I can give it a try." Lu Yuqing said after a moment's thought.

"Much obliged." Han Li nodded.

Lu Yuqing stepped forward and waved her hand. A flash of spiritual light appeared in her palm, revealing an octagonal black jade token engraved with some very strange spiral patterns stacked layer upon layer, dizzying to the eye.

"This is the key to our family's Realm-Transcending Stele, said to have been passed down together with the stele. I'm not sure if this key can be used here." As she spoke, Lu Yuqing raised her hand, formed a hand seal, and struck it onto the jade token.

A beam of green light flew into the jade token, and the spiral patterns on it suddenly began to rotate, spewing a black light that projected onto the Realm-Transcending Stele.

A spiral pattern also emerged on the stele, and after several twists, a palm-sized black vortex formed in its center, spinning slowly.

However, the vortex fluctuated in size, as if one mysterious force was trying to expand it while another was compressing it.

"Could it be..." Han Li's brow twitched slightly at the sight.

"Brother Han, it seems my key doesn't fully match this stele. Quickly inject more immortal spiritual power into the jade token to help me open the stele." Lu Yuqing called out.

Without a word, Han Li raised his hand and struck toward the jade token in Lu Yuqing's hand. A vast surge of immortal spiritual power from within him poured into the jade token.

In an instant, the black light beam from the jade token thickened, causing almost the entire surface of the stele to ripple with layers of black light, twisting violently.

At the same time, the palm-sized vortex at the center seemed to overcome the mysterious force suppressing it, gradually growing larger at a visible rate.

Seeing this, Lu Yuqing's face lit up with joy, and Han Li's spirits also lifted.

The black vortex on the stele spun faster and faster, suddenly emitting a brilliant black light and a strange pulling force that swallowed both Han Li and Lu Yuqing.

After a dizzying upheaval, Han Li's vision went black, then brightened again.

But before he could steady himself and take in his surroundings, the remaining flying swords in his sleeve erupted again.

This time, the force was several times more violent than before!

Before he could stop them, dozens of beams of green light surged from his sleeve, streaking across the sky like long green rainbows, darting into the sea of clouds like dozens of green dragons and vanishing in an instant.

Han Li gave a wry smile, helplessly shook his empty sleeve, and looked ahead.

Before him stood a towering peak that pierced the clouds.

The peak was covered in lush vegetation, vast expanses of green visible everywhere, exuding vitality—a stark contrast to the environment they had just left.

Everything before him was so different that Han Li even wondered if he had fallen into an illusion again.

But after checking with both his Brightclarity Spirit Eyes and his Truthful Eyes, he found that this was no illusion but a genuine real world.

Just as he was puzzled, the space beside him twisted, and Lu Yuqing stumbled into view.

"Brother Han, have we entered the Realm-Transcending Stele?" Lu Yuqing asked, equally puzzled by the scene.

"I think so. This place is strange—all my life-bound flying swords have flown up that mountain." Han Li pointed toward the peak.

Earlier, the severed connection with the Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords had made him anxious, but now that he had entered the stele and reached the foot of the mountain, the connection was restored, putting him somewhat at ease.

"Now that we're here, those from the Ten Directions Tower probably can't follow. Since the swords are on the mountain, let's retrieve them and then hurry to rejoin our fellow cultivators from the True Flame Sect." Lu Yuqing's eyes flickered as she spoke.

"Let's go."

Han Li said noncommittally, waving his sleeve and transforming into a beam of green light that shot straight upward.

But as soon as he rose a hundred zhang, the sky above changed color, and an invisible pressure arose.

Then, the clouds in the sky seemed to press down, and a vast, mighty sword aura rolled down from on high, countless translucent sword lights swarming like a thousand troops charging, their momentum magnificent to the extreme.

Seeing this, Lu Yuqing, who had just started to rise, quickly landed back, her face pale.

Han Li, hovering in midair, his eyes flickering, saw blue light dots around him. He suddenly raised his fist and punched toward the sea of sword lights.

An invisible fist force shot upward like a boat going against the current.

With a thunderous roar,

the sky trembled as if the entire void had cracked, emitting a series of cracking sounds.

The rain of sword light suddenly slowed its descent, and where it met the fist force, countless beams of sword light shattered with a roar, exploding into countless crystalline fragments visible to the naked eye, revealing a huge gap in the midst.

Seeing this, Han Li spread his form and shot toward the gap.

However, before he could reach the edge of the opening, the clouds above seemed to press down another notch, and from the void above the gap, a layer of silver-glowing sword light materialized, filling the gap and once again bearing down on Han Li.

He frowned slightly, raised his hand, and waved it upward.

A patch of black light burst from his palm, transforming into a black giant wheel with hollow patterns, whirring as it spun toward the silver sword light.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

A series of sharp metallic clashes rang out, setting one's teeth on edge.

After many refinements by Han Li, especially after adding the second layer of heavy water, the Heavy Water True Wheel's power had reached an inconceivable level.

The water Dao patterns on it blazed with light, making the wheel's black glow even more intense, so that it looked like a black sun.

Under Han Li's urging, the Heavy Water True Wheel was like a huge black millstone, spinning madly and continuously grinding the rain of sword light into powder.

But as layer after layer of sword light was shattered, the clouds in the sky grew lower, and the sword light born from the void became denser, shifting from translucent to increasingly solid.

Han Li felt as if the space around him was being squeezed and twisted, and the atmosphere grew more grim and oppressive.

After several attempts, Han Li finally became convinced that if he fought recklessly, he might be able to force his way to the peak relying on his Mystic Immortal physique and divine abilities, but he could not guarantee he would not be harmed.

Currently in the Minghan Immortal Mansion, dangers could arise at any moment. Although he was worried about the Green Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords, he was unwilling to risk flying to the peak.

So he landed back on the ground and said to Lu Yuqing, "The sword energy here has accumulated for who knows how many years; it's too overwhelming. We can't fly up; we'll have to climb on foot."

"With our pace, climbing on foot won't take much time," Lu Yuqing nodded and said.

With that, the two followed the stone path toward the mountain's entrance.

Ever since Han Li stopped forcing his way through the air, the pressing clouds began to rise slowly, returning to their original state, and seemed to pose no further obstacle to their ascent on foot.

At the entrance, they saw a tall stone archway, with a huge plaque carved in gold seal script bearing four large characters.

"Wusheng Sword Sect"

The strokes were vigorous and unrestrained, yet also free and elegant, as if forged by a sword, revealing sharpness but also a sense of unruliness.

As Han Li's gaze swept over it, he first felt an indescribably vast sword intent rushing toward him, involuntarily stepping back a few paces, but then he froze.

The Wusheng Sword Sect had always been known for its mysterious heritage, vanishing without a trace a million years ago, so that later generations did not know its location. Who would have thought it was here?

As he pondered, he glanced at Lu Yuqing from the corner of his eye. Seeing that she showed no reaction, he wondered if it was because she was not skilled in the sword Dao and thus could not sense the sword intent within.

"My natal flying swords were attracted and flew in on their own. Could it be that there is some sword-suppressing formation within this sect?" Connecting this with the earlier clouds and sword light, Han Li couldn't help but speculate.

After a moment's thought, he and Lu Yuqing skirted around the stone archway and continued up the mountain.

The winding ancient path coiled like a long snake around the mountainside.

Hurrying along the mountain road, the two encountered many buildings hidden in the woods, but found they were ordinary houses without any protective formations.

Under the baptism of time, most had become dilapidated.

The higher they climbed, the quieter the surroundings became. In the forest, only ancient trees stood, with no birds or beasts in sight, filled with a serene and murderous atmosphere.

Passing a verdant bamboo grove, Han Li suddenly halted, catching sight of a dark green bamboo hut deep in the forest.

After a brief hesitation, he turned and followed a stone path into the bamboo grove.

Lu Yuqing, seeing Han Li change direction without a word, was curious but silently followed behind him.

Before long, Han Li noticed something unusual: the dense bamboo beside him bore many sword scars, their color darkened, clearly old wounds from years ago.

After a moment, he stopped, grasped a thick, blue-purple bamboo stalk beside him, and squeezed with his five fingers.

The bamboo creaked but did not immediately break.

Han Li raised an eyebrow, let out a soft "Eh," and increased the force in his hand.

With a loud "crack!"

The bamboo finally burst apart, sending countless iron-like fragments flying, striking the surrounding bamboo with a sound like popping beans.