"Hidden Sword Sect!" Lin Fei murmured softly.

When it came to sharpening saber intent, the name "Hidden Sword Sect" appeared in his mind. After all, Hidden Sword Sect had Lu Zongyi. Moreover, it had once given birth to a Martial Saint. An innate martial artist with perfect sword intent was born there!

For Lin Fei to sharpen his saber intent, Hidden Sword Sect was undoubtedly the best choice. What's more, Lin Fei had also established a good relationship with Hidden Sword Sect. He had saved Lu Zongyi's life and Lu Zongyi had sincerely invited Lin Fei to visit Hidden Sword Sect.

"It seems that I need to pay a visit to Hidden Sword Sect."

Lin Fei stood up and prepared to leave the mountain. Under normal circumstances, he would quietly leave the mountain alone.

However, his identity was different now. Nine Profound Sect Grand Elder! Every move he made represented the Nine Profound Sect. Therefore, Lin Fei had to inform the Nine Profound Sect's sect master.

Moreover, he could also learn about the situation of He Mountain Dao and Guardian Primordial Mountain from the sect master. After all, if there were forces that wanted Lin Fei dead and had enough power to kill him, it would be these two.

Lin Fei had to pay more attention to the situation of these two forces when he left the mountain. So, Lin Fei went directly to the main hall of the Nine Profound Sect.

The sect master was also in the main hall. It seemed that he was listening to a disciple's report.

"Greetings to the Grand Elder."

Upon seeing Lin Fei, the disciple immediately saluted. Lin Fei's prestige in the entire Nine Profound Sect was higher than anyone else's. He had even become the symbol of the current Nine Profound Sect.

Lin Fei nodded. The disciple hurriedly left the main hall.

"Sect Master. I plan to leave the mountain soon and visit Hidden Sword Sect. So I came to inform Sect Master."

Upon hearing Lin Fei's words, the sect master's face changed drastically.

"Elder Lin, you... you're leaving the mountain again?"

The sect master was somewhat scared. Although he was always calm and steady, he couldn't help but feel an ominous premonition when he heard that Lin Fei was leaving the mountain again.

The previous times Lin Fei left the mountain, he always caused trouble. Moreover, the troubles he caused grew larger and larger.

When he was still in the Acquired Realm, he killed an ordinary Qi Condensation disciple of He Mountain Dao during a trip down the mountain. Then, he went to Chang City and killed a sixth-level Qi Condensation disciple of He Mountain Dao.

Even on the way back to the mountain, he successively killed two high-level Qi Condensation cultivators of He Mountain Dao. But that was not the end.

The last time he left the mountain, Lin Fei led a team to participate in the Martial Alliance Exchange. This should have been relatively safe.

Many Grand Elders had led teams to participate in the Martial Alliance Exchange in the past. Almost no problems occurred.

And Lin Fei?

He led a team to the Martial Alliance Exchange and ended up killing Guardian Primordial Mountain's Yuan Gangzi with a single saber strike. That was a peak Qi Condensation cultivator at the eleventh level and he was a core elder of Guardian Primordial Mountain!

When the sect master first heard this news, it was like a bolt from the blue.

He was somewhat dazed.

"How come? Can't I leave the mountain?" Lin Fei frowned.

The sect master smiled bitterly, "Elder Lin, you are the Grand Elder of our Nine Profound Sect, how could you not be allowed to leave the mountain? It's just that, for this trip to visit Hidden Sword Sect, I have a small request."

"Sect Master, just say it."

"I just hope that Elder Lin, during this trip down the mountain, won't provoke any powerful enemies. Elder Lin has already provoked a peak Qi Condensation cultivator at the eleventh level last time.

According to Elder Lin's pattern of leaving the mountain. This time, you may provoke Qi Condensation perfection or even Foundation Establishment cultivators. Our Nine Profound Sect can't withstand the wrath of Foundation Establishment cultivators now..."

Lin Fei raised an eyebrow, "So Sect Master is worried about this. Sect Master, rest assured, I can't defeat Foundation Establishment cultivators now, so I definitely won't provoke them. So, Foundation Establishment cultivators won't come to the Nine Profound Sect.

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Moreover, I am going to visit Hidden Sword Sect to see if I can sharpen my saber intent there so that my saber intent can reach transcendence. For the matter of saber intent transcendence, I must leave the mountain!"

The sect master breathed a slight sigh of relief. As long as he didn't provoke Foundation Establishment cultivators, that would be fine.

But Lin Fei didn't say he wouldn't provoke Qi Condensation perfection? The sect master thought for a moment and finally didn't say anything. It was already good not to provoke Foundation Establishment cultivators.

As for Qi Condensation perfection? Almost all Qi Condensation perfection cultivators were desperately trying to refine Foundation Establishment pills. Therefore, there were very few Qi Condensation perfection cultivators roaming outside. There was no need to worry too much.

"By the way, have there been any recent movements from He Mountain Dao and Guardian Primordial Mountain?" Lin Fei asked again.

Hearing Lin Fei mention this, the sect master's eyes flashed with a trace of solemnity.

"Elder Lin, regarding He Mountain Dao and Guardian Primordial Mountain, we have been keeping an eye on them. Currently, He Mountain Dao is still sealed off.

As for Guardian Primordial Mountain, it's a bit strange. It's as if they're acting like Yuan Gangzi never died. They have no reaction to his death, which is really strange."

"No reaction?" A glint flashed in Lin Fei's eyes, "No reaction is the biggest reaction. That means Guardian Primordial Mountain is harboring resentment. Once the Imperial Supreme Elder dies and the person they fear disappears, they will definitely make a move against our Nine Profound Sect! Guardian Primordial Mountain is even more dangerous than He Mountain Dao!"

The Sect Master's face gradually darkened. He clearly considered the possibility as well.

"Rest assured, Sect Master. Once I become a Grand Master, or my saber intent reaches perfection. If Guardian Primordial Mountain dares to come, I will ensure they never return."

After speaking, Lin Fei turned and left the hall.

This time, Lin Fei didn't ride a horse. His movement technique, Close Yet Distant, had reached transcendence. Moreover, Lin Fei's Saber Qi was incredibly profound, using Close Yet Distant to travel was much faster than riding a horse.

A day later, Lin Fei had already arrived at the foot of the mountain where the Hidden Sword Sect was located.

The Hidden Sword Sect was situated on a continuous range of mountain peaks. At the foot of the mountain, there was a town named Sword City.

The people here, influenced by the Hidden Sword Sect, had some mastery in swordsmanship, almost everyone carried a long sword with them. Moreover, they were extremely hostile towards those carrying other weapons.

Lin Fei even saw a saber-wielding guest constantly provoked by the people of the city. The saber-wielding guest dared not fight. Once a real battle took place, and if he won, the trouble would be even greater. An endless stream of swordsmen would come to challenge, utterly annoying.

Lin Fei didn't bring a saber. Ever since he possessed Saber Qi, he had stopped carrying a saber. Otherwise, coming to Sword City rashly would indeed be troublesome.

Hidden Sword Sect was located on a mountain peak a few miles outside of Sword City. The peaks here soared into the clouds. Moreover, there was only one path for entering and exiting. That was a flight of steps. A total of one thousand and eight steps.

Hidden Sword Sect's gates were wide open. They didn't refuse anyone seeking to become a disciple. But the prerequisite was to walk to the top of the mountain on their own.

These steps were extremely narrow. One slight misstep, a slip of the foot, and falling would result in being shattered to pieces. Even some Hidden Sword Sect disciples had died, falling off the stone steps when entering or exiting the sect. But the Hidden Sword Sect showed no intention of improving the road conditions.

The Hidden Sword Sect's creed was only those who could climb the one thousand and eight steps were considered to have passed the test of will and courage and qualified to become a swordsman. Otherwise, they would be sent back to where they came from.

As for the danger? A swordsman's life was filled with life-and-death experiences. How could one become a swordsman without being tempered in life and death?

Lin Fei had learned a bit about the Hidden Sword Sect. At the moment, he had only one thought in his mind.

Ruthless! The Hidden Sword Sect was truly ruthless! Whether they were ruthless to others, Lin Fei didn't know. But the Hidden Sword Sect was indeed ruthless towards its own people!

However, perhaps it was such extreme and harsh conditions allowed the Hidden Sword Sect to endure for thousands of years.

Among all the martial arts sects in Great Chang, it was the only one with a heritage surpassing a thousand years, that could stand alongside those immortal and Daoist sects!

Lin Fei arrived at the foot of the mountain and saw many people gathered together. He made his way through the crowd. It turned out there were three unrecognizable corpses on the ground. All were young individuals. It seemed they had fallen from the tall stone steps.

"Another three dead."

"Five died this morning."

"More and more people are coming to join Hidden Sword Sect lately, and more are unafraid of death."

"Heh, these are all refugees. With the recent chaos, some think that joining the Hidden Sword Sect will at least provide food and clothing. And the result? People who can't even feed themselves think they can easily enter the Hidden Sword Sect?"

"Reaching the peak is nearly impossible for an ordinary person. Even martial artists with years of Body Refining and excellent physical strength often fall to their deaths."

Lin Fei gazed at the corpses on the ground. It seemed that the one thousand and eight stone steps of Hidden Sword Sect were not easily surmountable.

Lin Fei turned and stood at the base of the mountain. He prepared to step onto the first stone stair. However, he noticed a young man and a little girl standing before the steps.

The boy appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, while the girl was only seven or eight. Both were dressed in rags and reeked. They likely hadn't bathed in days and were probably refugees as well.

The number of refugees in Great Chang was increasing. This foreshadowed potential unrest.

"Brother, don't climb the stone steps. So many people just fell to their deaths. If you climb, you will certainly die too."

Tears streamed down the girl's face. The youth was thin and sallow, but resilient. He clenched his teeth, gazing at the towering peak, and whispered, "Sister, if I don't reach the top and become a disciple of the Hidden Sword Sect, we'll both starve to death. Father and mother are gone.

I swore I would raise you. Only by joining the Hidden Sword Sect and becoming a disciple can I support you. Perhaps I could even become a powerful swordsman, slaying our enemies and avenging our parents!"

The youth took a deep breath and he then prepared to step onto the first stone stair.

"This Hidden Sword Sect is interesting. They have people climb the stone steps to forge their willpower. Would carrying you to the top count as passing the Hidden Sword Sect's test?"

Suddenly, a calm voice sounded behind the youth.