Zhao Zhenshi stood within the cloud energy of the rune as he stared fixedly at the descending horse carriage.

He did not capture Fang Lang because Fang Lang was Xuanyuan Taihua's disciple. The Reincarnating Lotus Sword was still inside the Main Path Mausoleum. Fang Lang had come to retrieve the sword. If he harmed Fang Lang, he feared that he might trigger the wrath of the Reincarnating Lotus Sword.

However, if anyone else apart from Fang Lang wished to storm into the Main Path Guild in such an arrogant manner, they would have to pay the price!

The four elders rose into the air, emanating with a ferocious aura. It seemed to cause the mountain peaks to change colors from fear. Cloud energy surged as the sky and land changed colors!

These were four extremely powerful cultivators.

The spell mastery levels about the fourth-class realm were the fifth-class, cursed-human realm; the sixth-class, cursed-earth realm; the seventh-class, cursed-heaven realm and the eighth-class, forbidden-curse realm

These four elders of the Main Path Guild all belonged to the seventh-class, cursed-heaven realm. The rune that they were using right now was the most powerful rune in the Main Path Guild, the Five Phase Rune!

The Five Phase Rune was not anything like the paltry rune that An Fan had used. As soon as the rune was activated, there were strange occurrences that seemed to destroy the earth!

At that moment, all the disciples who were preparing to rush towards the Main Path Mausoleum stopped in their steps. Fang Lang looked up with a solemn expression.

Fang Lang was not sure how strong the old man was. However, since Chao Xiaojian had recommended him, he must be pretty powerful.

The horse carriage descended. The four elders floated at the four corners around the carriage. The four runes were like a seal in each of the four cardinal directions and seemed to completely crush the horse carriage.

On the horse carriage, Zhao Wuji, who was a fifth-class martial arts realm, could feel the blood in his entire body surge. It felt like a gigantic oppressive force that made him feel as though he could barely breathe!

Zhao Zhenshi stared into the void with his hands behind his back as his robes billowed. He seemed to have heard the sound of loud laughter from the horse carriage that was about to be destroyed.

"Hahahaha"

"Now that Zhao Longshi isn't at the Main Path Guild, you've become extremely bold haven't you, Zhao Zhenshi?"

"I've been a blacksmith for many years but I've never made a strike. Has this world completely forgotten my great name!?"

"Taihua subdued the Main Path Guild on her own all those years ago, today I, Huang Zhihe, will also experience that thrill."

As soon as his words landed, the curtain of the horse carriage was drawn to reveal a face covered in wrinkles like old ginger. There was a faint smile on his face as he slowly raised his hand.

Instantly, a steel hammer appeared in that hand!

A steel hammer that was covered in sword marks!

Fang Lang raised his head to see the sight. His eyes were extremely bright. He could see that the steel hammer unleashed a seemingly endless supply of sword intent!

The old man sat inside the horse carriage with a hand on his steel hammer. With a swing of his arm, that steel hammer was as sharp as a sword!

The rune that had transformed into the strange image of a dragon crouching over the mountains was instantly hit by the steel hammer. Invisible waves of energy spread out in all directions in the form of ripples. A great wind was raised!

It was like a divine blade had carved through it from top to bottom!

The Main Path Guild elder instantly went pale. He spat out a huge spurt of blood. His entire being appeared as though he had been struck by lightning as he fell back to the square. The green bricks rippled under his body, forming cracks and sunken patterns like blooming flowers.

The old man gently bent his fingers together and that powerful sword intent sent the heavy hammer flying out once again.

The four runes were met by four explosive hammer strikes!

The four Main Path Guild elders successively fell to the ground on the square.

The pressure on Zhao Wuji lessened and he was able to safely land the horse carriage on the square.

The steel hammer disappeared. The curtain of the horse carriage fell and everything returned to its previous calm.

The four elders wore baffled expressions. The depths of their eyes were filled with terror. When they saw the steel hammer covered in sword marks, they instantly knew their opponent's identity.

Zhao Zhenshi stared fixedly at the horse carriage from his rune among the sea of clouds.

"The Hammer Blade Lord, Huang Zhihe. I never expected that Chao Xiaojian would be able to lure you into action. Weren't you defeated by Xuanyuan Taihua all those years ago? Why are you helping her?" asked Zhao Zhenshi.

He knew that Huang Zhihe had held himself back. If he did not, the four elders of the seventh-class, cursed-heaven realm might have been killed in one strike!

The terror-inspiring name of the Hammer Blade Lord was not undeserved. This person used to wield a great sword and used it like a hammer. With his sword, he was one of the more powerful warriors under the heavens.

The old man still remained on the list of wanted men at the Ministry of War until today. However, in reality, his name on the list was only nominal. He was not a criminal who had committed any heinous crime. Instead, he was on the wanted list because he had connections with the surviving evil members of the former dynasty.

Of course, the imperial courts did not take this matter too seriously. They left it to fate with regards to whether they would capture him or not.

If a ninth-class warrior wished to capture him, they would need to spend a huge amount of effort and resources. The cost incurred was too much. Apart from that, Huang Zhihe had vanished from society. Hence, the higher powers did not pursue this matter.

A thin, withered hand reached out from inside the horse carriage and drew open the curtain. Ni Wen helped the old man down from the carriage.

Zhao Wuji calmly stood up.

The old man, Huang Zhihe swept a glance at Zhao Zhenshi, who remained within the Cloud Sea Rune and said, "You don't know sh*t about what I want to do."

Zhao Zhenshi, "..."

As he gazed at the four elders who had suffered a great shock when their runes were destroyed, Zhao Zhenshi understood that that old b*stard did not plan to start a fight.

"Zhao Zhenshi, I would like to watch Fang Lang compete with the disciple of your guild in the race to ascend the Thousand Cloud Stairs. Is that okay?"

"Don't refuse me. An old person like me can't handle shock. If I'm rejected, I fear that I won't be able to stop myself from hammering down your sect!"

"Zhao Longshi isn't here. As the little Zhao, you might not be able to stop me."

The old man spoke these extremely ruthless words while he was supported by Ni Wen, looking so weak that a gust of wind might blow him away.

Zhao Zhenshi glared at the old b*stard Huang. Finally, after a long time, he snarled coldly with a swish of his sleeve, "Go ahead and watch it since you want to. However, you won't be allowed to enter the Main Path Mausoleum. If not today will be the end of you, you old b*stard!"

"You little Zhao, you're pretty arrogant. Fine, I'm just a weak old man. What ill intentions could I have? All I want to do is to watch the show. I just want to see Fang Lang retrieve Taihua's sword," said Huang Zhihe with a smile.

Zhao Zhenshi stroked his beard. "You'll have to wait and see if that young fellow manages to defeat the many disciples of my guild on the Thousand Cloud Stairs before you can see that."

"If he can't even qualify to enter the Main Path Mausoleum, even if Taihua came herself, she wouldn't be able to do anything about it."

In the distance, Fang Lang saw the old man had defeated the four powerful Main Path Guild elders with a single hammer attack. He let out a sigh of relief.

As far as Fang Lang could see, this senior was extremely formidable. However, he was still up against the top guild in the Tang Dynasty. The Main Path Guild.

Even with the threat of First Sword Taihua before them, if the Main Path Guild decided to go to war, it would be extremely terrible.

Since Ni Wen and Huang Zhihe were alright, Fang Lang continued to rush ahead with the crowd of Main Path Guild disciples in the direction of the ancient-looking stone steps.

An Fan and Li Yuanzhen suddenly appeared beside Fang Lang.

"I never expected that we would meet again so soon," said An Fan with a smile as he looked at Fang Lang.

At the Resource Battle, Fang Lang's plans successfully allowed him to injure An Fan. This was something that An Fan never expected to happen.

Li Yuanzhen stared at Fang Lang. He wore a complicated expression. He had fallen into a slump because Fang Lang had beaten him.

"Your arrival has allowed the early opening of the Main Path Mausoleum. For this, we're grateful. However, you have not a shred of hope in this battle ascending the Thousand Cloud Stairs."

An Fan smiled and chatted with Fang Lang breezily like the spring winds.

As they conversed, they arrived at the sacred land of the Main Path Guild. They had reached the foot of the Main Path Mausoleum.

As they raised their eyes upwards, they could see the mountain peak concealed among the clouds. The mountain summit was magnificent and matchless. It was enveloped by endless rays of sunlight, emitting a unique aura.

At the foot of the mountain lay a massive arched gateway with the words 'Main Path Mausoleum' escribed on it.

Passing through the arched gateway, one would be able to see the green stone staircase that spanned over a thousand kilometers that could be faintly seen through the clouds as it went straight to the summit of the mountain.

The disciples of the Main Path Guild dressed in blue robes huddled tightly together as they assembled before the arched gateway. The crowd was extremely exuberant.

It was a celebration for the Main Path Guild disciples each time the Main Path Mausoleum was opened.

This was because all the disciples of the lower fourth-class realm of the Main Path Guild all anticipated the opening of the Main Path Mausoleum. Even An Fan, a genius who was half a step from the fifth-class was the same.

Zhao Zhenshi walked over.

Ni Wen supported Huang Zhihe and stopped a distance away and observed quietly.

The elders of the Main Path Guild appeared one after another, staring at the staircase and the mountain peak where the Main Path Mausoleum sat hidden behind the mist of clouds.

Zhao Zhenshi raised his hand to call over about a dozen disciples. An Fan was included among them.

These disciples were of a cultivation level similar to An Fan. They were all fourth-class, ninth-grade disciples of the Main Path Guild.

Zhao Zhenshi had a deep look in his eyes, tinged with a huge amount of expectation. "You must all be aware of the reason for the opening of the Main Path Mausoleum this time, right?"

"Fang Lang is currently merely a third-class. You have all cultivated in the sect for many years. In this ascension of the stairs, rush to grab the top ten spots at your top speed."

"You all are at an advantage compared to Fang Lang! In this ascension, Fang Lang is up against half of the Main Path Guild. If he loses, it doesn't matter. However, if he wins, you will all become huge jokes!"

The Main Path Guild disciples began to laugh. They were all peak fourth-class disciples. How could they possibly lose to Fang Lang?

"Go! Make sure you crush this brat for me!" instructed Zhao Zhenshi sternly.

The disciples dare not smile at this moment. Instead, they merely clasped their hands and bowed.

The second-class, third-class, and fourth-class disciples stood on the empty land in front of the arched gateway. They eagerly anticipated the moment of ascending the stairs.

In his white robes with his scabbard on his back, Fang Lang looked extremely eye-catching and distinct as he stood among them.

An Fan came to stand beside Fang Lang and looked intently at him. There was no trace of a smile on An Fan's face.

"In the Resource Battle, you used tricks to beat me. However, this time in the ascension of the stairs, I'll make you understand the sheer gap between our abilities. After all, a third-class is still merely a third-class."

In the distance, Zhao Zhenshi pinched a spell talisman and suddenly tossed it up. The talisman exploded. In an instant, the clouds and mist seemed to be torn open like a curtain.

"The mountain is open! Ascend the mountain!"

As soon as he finished speaking, An Fan tore his gaze away from Fang Lang and strode out, climbing up that thousand kilometers of green stone stairs as his blue robes billowed.

The thousand disciples of the Main Path Guild all started moving at the same time. It was like the skies connecting to a river stream, causing a shockingly huge wave!

Fang Lang was a dot of white among the sea of blue.

Li Yuanzhen turned his head and stared at Fang Lang, who was several disciples away from him. Each defeat had deeply crushed him. However, in this ascension of the staircase, it was a test of one's understanding of runes. This was his strong suit. He would not lose to Fang Lang again!

Fang Lang was a sword cultivator. He would not know any sh*t about runes!

A sense of boldness arose in Li Yuanzhen's heart. With that, he rushed ahead and climbed the stairs.

'System, activate the Quintuple Binding State!'

'Ding. The binding state switch is complete. Happy cultivating!'

Fang Lang swapped into binding partner state and placed his hands behind his back. Then, in his white robes, he stepped onto the first step of the cloud stairs. Instantly, he felt the activation of a rune.

The stone steps were covered in moss and dust. If one took a careful look, one would be able to see deep lines that looked like gaps under the dense moss. These lines crisscrossed to form a profound rune.

The scene before his eyes changed. A complicated rune crisscrossed in his mind to form a shape. The lines of the rune were complicated and ever-changing. Fang Lang needed to find the error in the rune in order to be able to ascend to the next step.

Fang Lang's spiritual sense spread out and enveloped the rune. Thus, even though he did not have a deep understanding of runes, his spiritual sense was not weak.

Very quickly, through the investigation of his spiritual sense, he discovered the error in the rune.

He raised his hand and used this spiritual sense as a pen and added a stroke to the rune.

Boom!

The rune was deactivated. A faint, barely detectable strand of spiritual sense rolled into Fang Lang's consciousness, making his spiritual sense stronger.

Ascending the cloud stairs was like a lucky chance. There was a great benefit to this race.

Fang Lang felt elated. The second moss-covered stone step appeared before his eyes.

When he stepped onto the second step and looked up ahead, his expression flattened. This was because he saw that the second step was packed with at least five hundred other disciples.

Further up ahead, the third and even the fourth steps were full of disciples standing there quietly.

Fang Lang noticed An Fan. An Fan looked calm and peaceful as he stood on the fourth step. Beside him were several other Main Path Guild disciples of the fourth-class realm.

Apart from that, below An Fan on the third step, Li Yuanzhen stood with a slight frown on his face as he tried to solve the rune.

How could he keep up with this!?

Even though Fang Lang's spell mastery was not weak, he had not studied runes extensively. He feared that even after activating the binding partner state and solving the runes faster than ordinary disciples, it would not be enough compared to true geniuses.

In the distance, Zhao Zhenshi stroked his beard. There were a couple of Main Path Guild elders around him. When he saw that Fang Lang had only stepped onto the second step, he could not help but break into a triumphant smile.

Fang Lang had been too arrogant! Did he really think that it would be so easy to ascend the Thousand Cloud Stairs? He even dared to compete for the top spots with the genius disciples of the Main Path Guild, who had specialized in studying runes.

Even though Fang Lang minors in spell mastery, his main cultivation was still sword mastery. How could a sword disciple know much about runes?

With the speed at which Fang Lang was solving runes, it was wishful thinking for him to have hopes of being among the top ten to reach the summit.

Zhao Zhenshi let out a sigh. He mocked himself internally for placing so much weight on Fang Lang's abilities. He was actually worried that Fang Lang might not be able to place among the top ten.

Even if Fang Lang's speed was a little faster than most typical disciples, it would be considered lucky if he continued at this rate if he managed to be among the top hundred.

On the other side, when he saw Fang Lang's speed, Zhao Wuji held a hand over his eyes as though he could not bear to continue watching.

Ni Wen pursed her lips and clenched her fists tightly.

Old Huang shook his head. "Zhao Zhenshi is a sly old fox. He managed to force Fang Lang to retreat without spilling any blood, preventing him from retrieving the sword. This fits with the Main Path Guild's intentions."

Fang Lang was a sword disciple after all. Ascending the Thousand Cloud Stairs and solving runes would be difficult for him.

Time slowly passed by.

Upon the mossy stone path, Fang Lang stopped to crack the code. There seemed to be five phantoms floating around him, looking for the error in the rune.

The rune was solved at the 82nd step. He once again absorbed a sliver of spiritual sense. Fang Lang could sense his spiritual sense growing stronger.

However, as he looked ahead, An Fan had already arrived at the 150th step. Li Yuanzhen had also reached the 100th step

The gap between them was increasing!

Fang Lang knew that it could not continue in this manner. His speed at solving runes was decent, but he was placed in the upper-mid region when compared with the Main Path Guild disciples.

He definitely had no chance of placing within the top ten!

'What should I do!?'

Fang Lang frowned. It seemed like he would have to work several times harder!

The speed that he could solve runes at on his own was too slow. Since that was the case

"System, activate the Double Cultivation Card!"

"Double Cultivation partner Ni Wen!" said Fang Lang.

'Ding! The Double Cultivation Card has been activated. Happy cultivating!'

Buzz buzz buzz...

As the Double Cultivation Card was activated, a blurry figure seemed to appear beside Fang Lang. That figure looked like Ni Wen.

Of course, the surrounding people could not see it. Fang Lang was the only one who could see the figure.

Fang Lang did not spend a lot of time studying runes. However, this was not the case for Ni Wen. In the Sword Guild, in order to study swordcraft, she had studied numerous runes. Besides that, Ni Wen had the bloodline ability-Spirit Eyes. Hence, her speed in solving runes was even faster!

'I, Fang Lang, never fight alone! Let's charge ahead, girl!'