One Punch Sword Immortal

"Tower of Swords?" Gu Qingfeng looked puzzled. "What is the Tower of Swords?"

"The Tower of Swords is a trial ground for disciples of the Sword Sect. It contains projections of past prodigies from the sacred grounds of the Sword Sect. Entering it allows one to spar with countless geniuses who have existed over tens of thousands of years, honing combat experience," Lin, the Chief, explained.

Gu Qingfeng grew even more confused. "Sister Lin, are you suggesting I go there for training?"

Lin, the Chief, shook her head. "Hear me out first. The Tower of Swords has rankings—a leaderboard known as the Prodigy Ranking. It records the names of the strongest fighters in every realm below the Heavenly Realm. The higher one's combat prowess within their realm, the higher their rank.

You are currently at the Human Yuan Divine Core Realm. I want you to break into the top ten of the Human Yuan Divine Core Ranking. If you can achieve that, I will teach you the Sealing Heaven Forbidden Technique."

"May I ask why?"

"Because I want you to bring glory to the Sword Formation lineage! Do you know how many of the top hundred in each realm’s ranking belong to our Sword Formation lineage?"

"How many?"

Lin, the Chief, raised a single jade-like finger.

Gu Qingfeng gasped. "Only ten percent?!"

Lin, the Chief, shook her head again. "Not ten percent. One person."

"Ah? Just one?"

This time, Gu Qingfeng was genuinely shocked. Among the top hundred in every realm’s ranking, the Sword Formation lineage had only one representative?

This lineage was truly pathetic.

"Indeed, just one."

"Who is it?"

"My eldest disciple, the Holy Maiden of Qingfrost Peak—Nangong Xue."

Nangong Xue?

This was the second time Gu Qingfeng had heard this name. The last woman who mentioned it had ended up with swollen lips.

Gu Qingfeng instinctively glanced at Lin, the Chief’s delicate mouth.

"Xue'er possesses the Flawless Divine Body, which allowed her to barely squeeze into the hundredth place among the Sword Sect’s historical prodigies. Without it, the top hundred would have no one from the Sword Formation lineage."

"Sister Lin, isn’t our Sword Formation lineage a bit...?"

"I know what you’re thinking. You believe the Sword Formation lineage is weak, don’t you?"

Gu Qingfeng’s lips twitched. Actually, he wasn’t going to say "weak"—he was going to say "trash."

This was downright embarrassing!

If not for the Sealing Heaven Forbidden Technique, he would never have chosen the Sword Formation lineage!

"In truth, the Sword Formation lineage is not weak. There are three reasons for its low ranking. First, the Prodigy Ranking in the Tower of Swords doesn’t just record current Sword Sect prodigies—it includes all geniuses from the past tens of thousands of years. The Sword Formation lineage was only established five thousand years ago, so it has far fewer historical prodigies.

Second, the Tower of Swords tests a disciple’s personal strength, not external aids. No divine weapons are allowed inside—the swords used must be condensed from one’s own divine energy.

This rule severely limits the Sword Formation lineage. As you know, the Sword Formation lineage relies on multiple swords forming arrays to unleash their power. But in the Tower of Swords, one can only use swords condensed from their own divine energy. This not only drains energy rapidly but also results in swords inferior to divine weapons, naturally reducing combat effectiveness.

Third, the Sword Formation lineage’s greatest strength lies not in individual power but in collective force. If several disciples form an array together, they can hold their own even against opponents a full realm above them. But the Tower of Swords forbids such methods—it only tests individual combat prowess.

For these reasons, the Sword Formation lineage ranks so low," Lin, the Chief, sighed.

Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng understood. He himself used sword formations and knew how overpowered the Gengjin Sword Formation—composed of thousands of divine swords—could be. The Sword Formation lineage relied not only on the intricacy of their formations but also on the quality of their swords.

It was an expensive profession.

No wonder their ranking was so abysmal.

"I see," Gu Qingfeng nodded.

"Traditional sword cultivators often use the Tower of Swords rankings to mock us. That’s why I want you to represent the Sword Formation lineage and break into the top ten—to restore our pride.

Though you are only at the third level of the Human Yuan Realm, you possess dual Sacred Bodies—a potential rarely seen in the world. If you cultivate diligently, reach the peak of the Human Yuan Realm, and then challenge the Tower of Swords, you will surely secure a top-ten position!

During this time, I will assign someone to teach you the ways of sword formations to enhance your strength."

"What? I have to reach the peak of the Human Yuan Realm before challenging the Tower of Swords? When will I get the Sealing Heaven Forbidden Technique then?"

Gu Qingfeng was displeased—he wasn’t willing to wait.

"Junior Brother Gu, though your talent is extraordinary, you must not grow complacent," Lin, the Chief, frowned slightly.

"The Human Yuan Divine Core Ranking you seek to challenge includes the Sword Sect’s historical prodigies. Every name in the top hundred is at the peak of the Human Yuan Realm—let alone the top ten. The top ten are all peerless geniuses who, in their time, became dominant figures of their era.

I’ve heard of your exploits in the Hanging Heaven Secret Realm—defeating Heaven Yuan opponents despite being in the Human Yuan Realm. But you relied not on your own strength but on the Gengjin Sword Formation composed of thousands of divine swords. Such methods are unusable in the Tower of Swords.

I have a rough estimate of your true strength. With dual Sacred Bodies, you should be able to fight ordinary peak Human Yuan cultivators at the third level. But those in the Tower of Swords’ top hundred are no ordinary peak Human Yuan cultivators—they all possess the ability to challenge opponents above their realm. That’s why it’s best for you to reach the peak of the Human Yuan Realm first."

Gu Qingfeng rolled his eyes. You have a rough estimate of my true strength?

You estimate nothing!

Though he had joined the Sword Sect and was technically a sword cultivator, swordsmanship was his weakest skill. He had always relied on his fists.

Ever heard of the Fist Immortal?

With his Prison-Suppressing Dragon-Elephant Body fully unleashed and the Barbarian Tribe’s totems activated, even an untested Heavenly Human would kneel and call him "Daddy" after one punch.

Seeing Gu Qingfeng’s expression, Lin, the Chief, immediately knew he was scoffing inwardly, believing his dual Sacred Bodies made him invincible within the same realm.

She declared, "This matter is settled. You will first study the ways of sword formations under my eldest disciple."

With that, she sent a voice transmission, summoning Nangong Xue.

Gu Qingfeng was taken aback. "Sister Lin, why aren’t you teaching me personally? I’m of the elder generation—is it appropriate to have a junior instruct me?"

Lin, the Chief, shook her head and sighed. "It’s not that I don’t want to teach you, but I simply don’t have the time. My Heart Demon Tribulation is approaching, and I must prepare."

Heart Demon Tribulation?

Gu Qingfeng’s mind stirred. He knew that cultivation in the Heavenly Human Realm required enduring the Five Heavenly Tribulations. Once one entered the Heavenly Human Realm, things were fine at first. But as one progressed toward perfection, further advancement would invite calamity.

These were the Five Heavenly Tribulations: the Raging Wind Tribulation, the Yin Fire Tribulation, the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, the Fleshly Body Tribulation, and the Heart Demon Tribulation.

Once the tribulations began, they would not cease unless the cultivator died or overcame them all. They descended automatically every five hundred years.

Since Lin, the Chief, was facing the Heart Demon Tribulation, it meant she was a Four-Tribulation Heavenly Human—on the same level as Meng Yan, Chief of the Reverse Scale Peak.

He wondered—does a heart demon count as a demonic entity?

If we're going to count it that way, then wouldn't that mean... Heh heh heh...