The Cliff of Falling Earth, a place of peculiar terrain. Looking down from the first layer of the Undying Land, one saw a boundless, misty expanse below, like an abyss thousands of feet deep. Yet, upon actually leaping down, one discovered that the distance between the first layer of the Undying Land and the Cliff of Falling Earth was only about a hundred feet, not considered very deep. The forces from North Peak of Mount Hua and the Qingcheng Immortal Sect descended together.

The nine figures leaped downward in unison.

Finally arriving on the Cliff of Falling Earth, Lu Yuan took a moment to survey the area. He found it was not a very large expanse, similar in size to the Cliff of Reflection on Mount Sigua. The ground here was pitch black, utterly barren, and already a group of people stood waiting on the cliff.

There were fourteen cultivators, each clad in a gray Daoist robe, with the Yin-Yang Taiji symbol emblazoned on the back—the unmistakable robes of the Wudang Immortal Sect. This group was indeed the contingent from Wudang. Wudang’s strength was not inferior to that of Mount Hua’s Immortal Sect. They had brought fourteen members this time, and thanks to the Wudang Sword Array, they had managed to deploy two Seven Star Sword Formations, allowing them to arrive here without sustaining a single loss.

The Wudang Immortal Sect was best suited for this kind of group combat.

The leader of the Wudang contingent was Zhuo Yihang, known as the Young Sun Sword Lord of Wudang. This man was a master of the Finger-Coiling Soft Sword Technique, and his cultivation was quite formidable, having reached the Half-Step Longevity Realm. He was also skilled in leadership and fair in his dealings, earning the genuine respect of his thirteen junior martial brothers.

When Zhuo Yihang saw the contingent from the Qingcheng Immortal Sect—six people led by Yu Jiyou—he understood that Qingcheng must have suffered heavy casualties, perhaps losing five or six members to reach this point. Given Qingcheng's strength, such heavy losses were somewhat expected.

The Young Sun Sword Lord of Wudang then looked towards the North Peak of Mount Hua contingent and couldn't help but show surprise. It was widely acknowledged that the North Peak of Mount Hua was quite weak after several recent calamities. It was expected that perhaps only Fang Ru, Ye Yangrong, and Lu Yuan could have made it here. The fact that all three had arrived together, suffering no losses, was astonishing.

The journey for these three from North Peak to the Cliff of Falling Earth had been fraught with severe difficulties and obstacles.

Everyone waited here, as the Cliff of Falling Earth had not yet opened; it would open later.

After a short while, the people from the Kunlun Immortal Sect arrived, led by the Flame Light Sword Immortal, Nie Chenfeng. When they entered the first layer of the Undying Land, there were twelve of them, but only seven had made it here, a clear testament to the hardships along the way. Nie Chenfeng was stunned when he saw the three figures from North Peak of Mount Hua all present. How had all three managed to arrive intact?

Nie Chenfeng inwardly thought it strange. The path had been extremely difficult; perhaps they had been lucky enough not to encounter any major trouble?

Nie Chenfeng looked toward Fang Ru, Ye Yangrong, and Lu Yuan: “You three are quite lucky. But it’s also because you didn't run into me. If you had met me, it would have been your misfortune.” He was openly challenging North Peak of Mount Hua. Indeed, Mount Hua was naturally the premier sect, but the current Mount Hua was divided into three branches constantly embroiled in internal strife, and the Sword Qi Sect’s North Peak, having undergone a great tribulation, was extremely weak. There was little fear in offending North Peak now.

The current state of North Peak was not that everyone dared to bully them, but other upper-tier immortal sects in the Jin State truly didn't need to pay much attention to North Peak.

Of course, if they didn't have a feud with North Peak, interactions were usually cordial, but since Nie Chenfeng inherently held a grudge against North Peak, he naturally sought to make things difficult for them.

Fang Ru retorted loudly: “We’ll discuss it when we meet.” Fang Ru had always disdained engaging in mere verbal sparring and did not address Nie Chenfeng further. Lu Yuan had initially intended to offer a few sarcastic remarks, but upon hearing Martial Uncle Fang Ru speak, he held his tongue. After all, Martial Uncle Fang Ru was both a senior and the Peak Master; it was inappropriate for him to interject further.

Status and identity dictated such deference.

...

Moments later, people from the Sword Sect arrived.

The Sword Sect had come as a group of seven, led by Shi Chongtian, a Half-Step Great Dao expert. The Sword Sect boasted numerous masters—Shi Chongtian, Ling Luoshi, Mo Chuichui were all renowned experts—yet only five had reached this point. This was despite encountering relatively few demonic beasts on the way; otherwise, arriving with even five would have been a pipe dream.

Upon arrival, Shi Chongtian was startled to see the three from the Sword Qi Sect all present. They had assumed that with seven people initially, two injuries meant only five survivors, which they considered lucky. Why had the three from North Peak arrived without a single loss?

Shi Chongtian was inwardly perplexed. He had originally expected that at most, only Lu Yuan from the Sword Qi Sect would manage to reach this location.

Later, the people from the Qi Sect arrived. Originally four together, only the last remaining member, Duan Qingzhi, managed to arrive.

In fact, people from seven mid-tier immortal sects had also arrived sequentially. However, these mid-tier sects generally only managed to get one or two members here. Among these seven—the Green Medicine Immortal Sect had zero members arrive—the other six—the Snow Mountain Immortal Sect, the Iron Sword Immortal Sect, the Heavenly Mechanism Immortal Sect, the Liancheng Immortal Sect, the Shallow Land Immortal Sect, and the Wuling Immortal Sect—accounted for seven arrivals in total. Notably, the Heavenly Mechanism Immortal Sect, by predicting and avoiding misfortune, had managed to get two members here.

The necessary people had mostly arrived. Those who could come, had come.

The South Sea Immortal Sect was too far away; no one had arrived yet. It seemed the Undying Medicine would not be fated for the people of the South Sea Immortal Sect this time.

This assembly represented essentially the most elite segment of the Jin State’s Longevity Realm cultivators.

“The first layer of the Undying Land is truly difficult. We encountered the Terrestrial Crawling Beasts; that encounter was truly tragic,” exclaimed someone from the Kunlun Immortal Sect.

“Forget it. We ran into the Metal-Gold Poison Bees, which are far more terrifying than your Terrestrial Crawling Beasts. We barely survived that ordeal, and several people were seriously wounded,” responded someone from the Qingcheng Immortal Sect, exhaling deeply.

“Metal-Gold Poison Bees? Then you were lucky to survive at all.”

As these people discussed the hardships of the first layer, a large, pitch-black hole suddenly appeared in the center of the Cliff of Falling Earth. This dark abyss seemed unfathomably deep and endless. Passing through this point allowed one to randomly enter the second layer of the Undying Land.

The time had finally come. The cultivators from the various immortal sects jumped into the hole one after another, proceeding toward the second layer of the Undying Land.

After the righteous immortal sects had finally jumped in, a man in a black robe also tumbled into the chasm of the Cliff of Falling Earth: “Hahaha, these righteous immortal sect members are finally gone. It is good for me to enter now. With my Half-Step Great Dao strength, perhaps I too can obtain the Undying Medicine and secure this extraordinary treasure for the Great Yuan.”

This man in the black robe uttered the words "Great Yuan."

———————

Finally arriving at the second layer of the Undying Land.

Entry to the second layer was random. Simply put, one could no longer operate based on sect affiliation; everyone had to fend for themselves. Whether one could push forward depended on individual ability. Fortunately, Ye Yangrong’s martial uncle had warned them about the dangers here: the demonic beasts only existed to guard the Undying Medicine. Generally, if you retreated when you couldn't win, there was usually no issue; the beasts would not pursue you.

Lu Yuan surveyed his surroundings. The ground here, like the first layer, was still snow-white earth. Ahead, Lu Yuan saw an intensely dazzling burst of firelight and immediately rushed towards it. Ahead stood a large ape radiating fierce heat from its entire body, bearing about seventy percent resemblance to the Ancient Water Ape he had killed in the Divine Soul River. This Fire Ape held a long staff of flames in its hand; with a single swing, a highly explosive flame erupted, and a yawn from its mouth transformed into a long stream of fire.

This was a variant species of the Ancient Fire Ape.

Upon seeing Lu Yuan, the Fire Ape roared and swung its staff. Its strike was immensely fierce, blasting forth the Bing Fire True Thunder, causing countless sparks to explode around Lu Yuan: “Human, how dare you delve into the second layer of the Undying Land? Die!” the thought was transmitted directly into Lu Yuan’s mind.

Lu Yuan paid the Fire Ape no mind. While the ape was indeed strong, possessing the cultivation of the Tenth Level of Longevity, what of it? Lu Yuan flipped his hand, unleashing the Water Sovereign Sword Dao, imbued with Water Sovereign Celestial Might, striking toward the Fire Ape. One sword strike erupted like a vast Yangtze River, surging imperial energy rushing toward the ape.

The Fire Ape's flames were significantly diminished under the torrent of the majestic, river-like energy. The ape tried to resist, but Lu Yuan would not allow it. The Mountain Suppressing Spirit Sword was instantly unleashed, scattering sword lights as fluid as flowing water. Now, with dual swords manifesting—one like the great river, the other like the boundless ocean—one sword path expressed in two distinct ways, they relentlessly shredded the Fire Ape, the sword intent dense and continuous.

...

"Ah!" The Fire Ape shrieked once and died under Lu Yuan’s sword. As soon as the ape died, Lu Yuan felt an extraordinary energy converge above his head. Instinctively, he summoned his Crimson Sword Dao, feeling that the Crimson Sword Dao above his head absorbed this ray of flame light, its color deepening.

The progress of his Five Emperors Sword Dao had always been peculiar. The success of the first three sword paths relied on the Jianmu Tree (one) and the Profound Nether Bipolarity (two). He had absolutely no clue how he managed to perfect the other two, the Crimson Emperor Sword Dao and the Yellow Emperor Sword Dao.

He never expected that slaying demonic beasts on the second layer of the Undying Land could advance his Crimson Sword Dao. Could this place be where his Five Emperors Sword Dao would reach completion?

With this thought, a surge of excitement arose within him.

Lu Yuan’s motivation instantly soared. He searched everywhere for fire-attribute demonic beasts and quickly found a second Fire Tiger. This Fire Tiger had absolutely no chance to employ any tricks against Lu Yuan's palm.

“Die for me!” Lu Yuan slew the Fire Tiger with a strike from his Mountain Suppressing Spirit Sword, immediately feeling crimson flames enter his Crimson Sword Dao. Indeed, this was the perfect place to cultivate the Crimson Emperor Sword Dao.

Lu Yuan didn't know why this worked here, but the Undying Tree on the second layer of the Undying Land was actually a branch of the Ancient Jianmu. Demonic beasts that consumed the leaves of the Undying Tree had been affected to varying degrees, and over the years, this had developed into the current state, allowing Lu Yuan to cultivate the Crimson Sword Dao based on this fact.

(It is the Mid-Autumn Festival today. At the time of the full moon, Lu Yuan of Mount Hua holds a wine gourd in his left hand and a long sword in his right, using the tip to pick up a mooncake. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all comrades.) RO