CHAPTER 210: CHAPTER 206: THE EIGHTH REALM

Li Fan and several others followed Qin Qing into Moon Gaze Pavilion.

The Moon Gaze Pavilion, situated by the lake, was elegantly and uniquely decorated. Many people in the hall were drinking, admiring sword dances, and some were playing Go and discussing swordsmanship.

"To come to Moon Gaze Pavilion, one must first be a Sword Cultivator and also have some reputation," Qin Qing explained to Li Fan, "Young Master Zuo, please follow me."

Qin Qing led Li Fan upstairs, to the top of Moon Gaze Pavilion, outside a secluded elegant room. The privacy here was excellent, and it seemed someone inside was chatting.

Qin Qing knocked on the door and said, "Young Master Zuo has arrived."

"Come in," came a voice from inside. Qin Qing opened the door, and two people were seen sitting opposite each other, enjoying the lake view, looking quite free and easy.

Li Fan was momentarily stunned upon seeing the two, did he guess wrong?

But then he smiled and walked in.

Lu Yuan was also a bit surprised, but soon she seemed to understand, whereas Yue Qingqiu’s eyes were filled with curiosity as the three women followed Li Fan into the elegant room.

"Mr. Ji, I won’t disturb you," Qin Qing bowed and saluted before withdrawing.

The Great Sword Cultivator from the Sword Ranking received the highest respect even in Moon Gaze Pavilion.

After Qin Qing left, Liu Ji closed the door and stood guard outside.

Li Fan walked forward, sat down directly, and said with a smile, "Brother Ji, Senior Brother, you’re pushing me into the fire pit."

The two people were precisely Ji Hua and Wen Ruyu.

"Master Ji, Wen..." Lu Yuan stepped forward and also called out, but she felt a bit awkward facing Wen Ruyu.

"Just address me as Senior Brother, like Junior Brother does," Wen Ruyu said to Lu Yuan.

"Senior Brother Wen," Lu Yuan saluted.

At Li Mountain, Wen Ruyu’s generation was somewhat convoluted.

His father was of the same generation as Mo Yang, so he should be of the same generation as Lu Yuan, but since he joined the Old Blind Man’s sect, his generation was higher.

Therefore, whether from his father’s side or from the Old Blind Man’s side, either could be used to determine his generational status.

"Sit," Wen Ruyu said. Only then did Lu Yuan sit beside Li Fan, since she, unlike Li Fan, had to adhere to etiquette facing Li Mountain’s two most renowned disciples, even though Li Fan and Wen Ruyu had a relationship like that of real brothers, and as a Li Mountain Sword Son, they naturally interacted casually.

"You sit too," Wen Ruyu said to Yue Qingqiu.

Yue Qingqiu nodded slightly. She felt that this handsome young man’s aura was exceptionally sharp.

After the two women were seated, Wen Ruyu then looked at Li Fan and smiled, "Junior Brother, does this seem like my method?"

Li Fan shook his head and said, "It seems like Senior Sister’s method."

"Still, you understand Senior Sister," Wen Ruyu said, "Besides Senior Sister, who else would play around like this with an air of hope? Senior Sister wants you to know she’s present."

"Yes," warmth surged in Li Fan’s heart. Every New Year, he spent time with Senior Sister.

This year, Senior Sister wasn’t around, but she told him in this way that she was with him.

"Have you been in touch with Senior Sister all along?" Li Fan asked.

"How could I not?" Wen Ruyu said, somewhat frustrated, "After the incident in Chuzhou City, your Senior Sister knew, and later heard you went out on your own to train and didn’t know your whereabouts. I got a scolding from your Senior Sister for not secretly following you."

"Therefore, when I knew you arrived, I immediately passed the message to Senior Sister. Otherwise, she might have beaten me up."

Wen Ruyu chuckled and shook his head.

Li Fan also smiled, knowing that the only person who dared to beat up his Senior Brother was his Senior Sister.

In the past, she did act on it when they were on the mountain.

Actually, in terms of age, Senior Sister and Senior Brother weren’t much older than him. When they went up the mountain to follow the Old Blind Man, they were both very young. When he was small, Senior Sister was at her most beautiful age, and Senior Brother had just become an adult.

Thinking of those youthful times, back then, in Senior Sister’s eyes, the young boy was sad and lonely, but for Li Fan, he was happy.

He didn’t mind being unpopular at Li Mountain. As long as Senior Sister and Senior Brother were there, he was quite content.

"Junior Sister Ye is quite an interesting person," Ji Hua said on the side. He had been away from Li Mountain for too long and wasn’t familiar with its people.

"Are you a disciple of Senior Brother Mo Yang?" Ji Hua asked, looking towards Lu Yuan.

"Yes, a disciple of Sword Mountain, Lu Yuan."

"I’ve heard Junior Wen mention you. Sword Valley of Li Mountain has five sword inquiries. You have a chance to inherit the Sword Mountain Master’s position. Unexpectedly, you came to Chi Xiao City with Junior Brother Xiao Fan."

"I met Lu Yuan in Yun Meng City, and then we traveled together," Li Fan said.

"I also heard about the event in Yun Meng City. They say you went to Yun Meng Swamp, and this girl, I presume, came out of Yun Meng Swamp?" Ji Hua glanced at Yue Qingqiu.

"Holy Daughter of Yun Meng Swamp, Yue Qingqiu," Li Fan said.

"Did the Old Blind Man go?" Wen Ruyu asked.

"Yes," Li Fan nodded.

"Is everything well?"

"Although there were some twists, everything turned out well in the end. The Old Blind Man should have returned to Li Mountain," Li Fan said.

"Did the Demons of Yun Meng Swamp do anything to you?" A glint of sharpness passed through Wen Ruyu’s eyes, and he vowed to visit Yun Meng Swamp in the future.

"There was some misunderstanding initially, but later, the Demon Saint and the Old Blind Man reconciled," Li Fan said. Wen Ruyu nodded since the Holy Daughter of the Demon Race had come along, indicating everything was fine.

"Is Junior Brother Xiao Fan going to Xuanyuan Sword Dojo tomorrow?" Ji Hua asked.

"Yes," Li Fan nodded, "I heard that the Xuanyuan Sword Dojo is one of the three holy lands of the Sword Dao in Da Li World and wanted to see it."

"In this way, I’m afraid your identity might not stay hidden," Ji Hua said, "But it doesn’t matter. The Court and Chi Xiao City have agreements. They won’t interfere with Chi Xiao City. The Great Practitioners of the Court won’t step into this city."

"Because of Xuanyuan Sword?" Li Fan asked.

"Yes," Ji Hua said, "The most peak of Sword Cultivators, one person can stabilize a city. Even the Court must give some respect."

Li Fan sighed inwardly. This is the deterrent force of a peak practitioner, just like how, back then, the Court dared not touch Li Mountain.

A Quasi-Saint level Sword Cultivator, and with no ties, if the Court angers Xuanyuan Sword, his destructive power would be catastrophic.

Unless the Court is confident in killing him.

But trying to kill a Quasi-Saint level Sword Cultivator, the Court would need someone of the eighth realm to take action.

"Does the Court have someone of the eighth realm?" Li Fan asked.

"Yes," Ji Hua confirmed, "The Court governs Da Li World. The eighth realm is the cornerstone of the country. Without the eighth realm, the Da Li Court would fall apart, unable to intimidate the world. This is beyond doubt."

Li Fan nodded, realizing this is ultimately a world of practitioners.

The Court governs this world, so it must have top-tier practitioners. Otherwise, what could they rely on to rule the world?

If the Court doesn’t have the eighth realm, the top-tier sects and families around the world would likely be discontent.

Therefore, the cultivators of the eighth realm are the Da Li Court’s national weapon, the foundation, and they cannot afford any errors.

Even if the Court wanted to destroy Li Mountain, an eighth realm presence never appeared, presumably due to concerns about potential accidents.

After all, there have been Sword Saints from Li Mountain.

"Apart from the Da Li Court, are there any eighth realm cultivators?" Li Fan asked again.

"I haven’t heard of any," Ji Hua shook his head. Of course, not hearing of any doesn’t mean there aren’t any. After all, Da Li is vast, and it can only be said that there’s a possibility.

"Little Junior Brother, Senior Sister has high hopes for you. To claim seventy percent of the Sword Dao fortune of the world, you must become a Sword Saint like our Grandmaster," Wen Ruyu said, "If you can enter Sainthood through the Sword, regardless of whether there are eighth realm cultivators, they will all be suppressed by the sword. If you become a Sword Saint, you will be the number one in the world."

"Don’t just talk about me, Senior Brother; you also have a chance to reach the realm of Sword Tao Saint in the future," Li Fan said with a smile, "In that case, I can be lazy."

Initially, when Li Fan was at Li Mountain, he wanted to lead a leisurely life. With Senior Brother and Senior Sister taking care of him, what was the need to work so hard?

But the turmoil at Li Mountain forced him to move forward.

If Senior Brother becomes a Sword Saint, then he can ’lie down’ and call out to Senior Brother when in need. How joyous would that be?

"You two are talking about becoming a Sword Saint as if it’s easy," Ji Hua chuckled, "Currently, there’s no Sword Saint in Da Li World. Xuan Yuan Sword has been a Quasi-Saint for many years but still hasn’t taken that final step. Once Xuan Yuan Sword takes that step, it’s truly possible to be the best in the world."

That’s one reason why the Da Li Court doesn’t offend Xuan Yuan Sword. He’s already at the Quasi-Saint level. Does the Court dare antagonize a Quasi-Sword Saint?

Suppose Xuan Yuan Sword leaves and goes into secluded cultivation for a few decades and takes that final step?

For the Court, that would be catastrophic.

Li Fan thought of the recent rumors and said, "The thing about Sword Dao fortune is getting exaggerated. Will it upset Xuan Yuan Sword?"

"Don’t think too much. Would a swordsman of that caliber be influenced by some juniors’ rumors?" Ji Hua said with a laugh, "In Chi Xiao City, every time the Green Cloud List appears, they discuss what kind of talent has soared. Numerous dashing figures have emerged one after the other, but the Number One Sword in the world remains seated there, unchallenged."

"True," Li Fan laughed, "People also say it’s boastful talk. After all, it is boastful talk, but we could just as well share five parts of the Sword Dao fortune, could we?"

"Eight parts," Wen Ruyu took a glance at Li Fan, then at Ji Hua, at himself, and at Lu Yuan.

Five parts are not enough.

"Okay, eight parts," Li Fan said with a smile, raising his cup. The senior and junior brothers raised their cups of wine together and drank it all in one go.

Outside the window, there were boats on the lake, fireworks blossomed, time was peaceful, and the mountains and rivers were picturesque.