CHAPTER 220: CHAPTER 216: ARE THERE IMMORTALS IN THE WORLD?

Seven Swords?

The atmosphere around them had been relatively relaxed, but Mei Qingzhu’s words plunged it into momentary silence.

Li Fan, Seven Swords resonating?

Was Li Fan joking, or was Mei Qingzhu?

However, when they saw Mei Qingzhu’s expression, they realized it was no joke.

"He inquired of Seven Swords?" Someone still found it hard to believe and asked Mei Qingzhu again.

Mei Qingzhu chuckled, too lazy to explain.

What was there to question about what he said?

Could it be that he collaborated with that Zuo Tu to toy with Ying Ze for amusement? He was far from so bored.

The crowd understood that Mei Qingzhu was serious. Zuo Tu had created history.

Still, they thought it surreal. How had Li Fan managed to make Seven Swords resonate?

Ke Junlin frowned deeply. He had inquired of Four Swords, the same as Ying Ze, who ranked first on the Green Cloud List. Four Swords resonating was considered excellent—but Li Fan had unleashed Seven Swords.

He recalled his master’s words, reminding him to be cautious of Li Fan.

Li Mountain.

This Li Mountain disciple had come to the Xuanyuan Sword Dojo and remained as dazzling and brilliant as ever.

Li Mountain had long been in decline. Was this next generation of Sword Cultivators from Li Mountain still seeking to suppress the sword prodigies under heaven?

*Ke Junlin couldn’t reconcile it in his heart.*

When they entered the Secret Realm, he would certainly challenge Li Fan there.

If Li Fan claimed the destiny of Sword Dao beneath heaven, then Ke Junlin would seize that destiny from Li Fan’s hands.

Among the crowd, the only one not surprised was Lu Yuan, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Li Fan.

Everything was as it should be.

She had not even bothered to ask Li Fan, nor had she shown the slightest expression of surprise.

Li Mountain’s Sword Son descended the mountain. Without Seven Swords, how could he suppress the prodigies of Sword Dao under heaven?

"These Sword Scriptures are reportedly derived from the Secret Realm. Those who enter leave behind manuscripts of what they’ve cultivated there—methods for nurturing swords, refining swords, and wielding swords."

Lu Yuhuan spoke softly as she recounted various legends about the Xuanyuan Sword Dojo.

And legends about the Secret Realm tied to the Xuanyuan Sword Dojo.

She even believed the stories linking the Secret Realm to Immortals weren’t mere fabrications but were true.

"The elder Xuanyuan Sword imprinted the Sword Scriptures here, allowing the Sword Cultivators who came here to study them. Truly, he upheld the magnanimity befitting Da Li Swordsmanship’s foremost figure." A member from Lu Yuhuan’s side added, mentioning Xuanyuan Sword—a name universally revered.

"Each of you, record a copy." Lu Yuhuan instructed.

"Understood." Everyone nodded. Such rare opportunities couldn’t be missed. Since Xuanyuan Sword had placed the Sword Scriptures here, it meant permission for them to record and use them for cultivation.

In this way, the Lu Family’s numerical advantage in the venue became evident.

"How did you do it?" At this moment, a figure approached Li Fan and asked by his side. It was none other than Duan Feiyu, ranked second on the Green Cloud List.

"Not too difficult." Li Fan replied.

Duan Feiyu: "?"

*Was this guy doing it on purpose?*

He had battled Ying Ze, and ultimately, only managed to make Three Swords resonate.

*Seven Swords weren’t difficult?*

"I just did it." Li Fan showed little concern.

*People thought he was arrogant, but he wasn’t truly arrogant. He simply understood his role clearly. As the Li Mountain Sword Master, he had to become the best swordsman under heaven. He had no choice.*

*However, he also knew he was still young, with a shallow cultivation realm. No matter how high his talent for Sword Dao might be, that talent hadn’t yet been realized.*

*Until his talent was fulfilled, he was merely a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Sword Cultivator.*

"That’s right. Everyone has different talents; effort can’t change everything. Resonating with however many swords one can inquire is their limit. But to think, after so many years, someone finally completed the Seven Inquiries here in Chi Xiao City." Duan Feiyu remarked: "Perhaps you even have the potential to become the inner disciple of the greatest Sword Cultivator under heaven. If that happens, then those disciples of the Shadow Bearing Sword Master’s lineage might—"

As he spoke, he glanced towards Ying Ze and Ren Yuzhi’s direction, his gaze tinged with a trace of mocking laughter.

These people, full of conceit, had entered the Shadow Bearing Sword Sect for cultivation yet acted high and mighty.

Cang Yunxuan had even tried stopping Li Fan from entering the Shadow Bearing Sword Arena.

If Li Fan were to join Xuanyuan Sword’s lineage, now that would be interesting.

"I have a sect." Li Fan responded.

"I’ve heard—you’re from a hidden sect?" Duan Feiyu asked: "That’s a pity."

Joining the lineage of the greatest Sword Cultivator under heaven was an extremely rare opportunity.

Ying Ze and Ren Yuzhi coldly swept their gaze across Duan Feiyu.

"Who you apprentice under doesn’t matter; what matters is your Sword Dao." Li Fan retorted, "If your Sword Dao is only about bullying those weaker in cultivation than yourself, then no matter whose lineage you join, how much can you truly accomplish?"

"Moreover, trying to bully but failing..."

Duan Feiyu paused for a moment, then laughed. This Zuo Tu was truly something.

This remark nearly pointed fingers directly at Ren Yuzhi.

Previously, Ren Yuzhi had tried to intimidate Lu Yuan as a means to deal with him.

But in the end, Ren Yuzhi failed to defeat Lu Yuan—and during Sword Inquiry, Lu Yuan had suppressed him. That battle fizzled out inconclusively.

However, Li Fan clearly hadn’t forgotten.

Ren Yuzhi’s eyes flashed with sharp intent as he stared at Li Fan’s back and said, "If you hadn’t avoided battle, why would I have gone after her?"

"You think you’re worth me avoiding battle?" Li Fan turned to face Ren Yuzhi and said, "How many swords did you inquire? For me to avoid battle with you?"

Ren Yuzhi: "..."

He had inquired Three Swords.

*Three Swords, in comparison to Seven Swords, weren’t something to brag about.*

*Li Fan’s words were rubbing his pride against the ground.*

"You couldn’t win against her, so where does your confidence come from that you can defeat me?" Li Fan continued, "The so-called fastest sword on the Green Cloud List? Your swordsmanship doesn’t seem that fast to me. If I possessed your cultivation realm, I wouldn’t dare boast of being the fastest sword."

*The people of Chi Xiao City called him arrogant, but was he truly arrogant?*

*The others—weren’t they pretending to be proud, too?*

*Li Fan didn’t think much of the so-called fastest sword.*

*What gave it strength was the wielder’s cultivation level and the Sky Splitting Sword Intent—the wielder’s understanding of Wind Attribute Sword Dao.*

"Do you want to test it out?"

Ren Yuzhi, ranked third on the Green Cloud List and widely acclaimed as the fastest sword, couldn’t stomach Li Fan’s humiliation.

"How many swords did you inquire—to test against me?" Li Fan shot back.

"You..." Sword Aura surged around Ren Yuzhi, drawing everyone’s gaze, leaving them speechless.

*Zuo Tu’s insults were truly extraordinary.*

*Just that one line: How many swords did you inquire?*

*How was anyone supposed to respond to that?*

*Among everyone present, who could even handle that question?*

"They call me reckless in Chi Xiao City, but the people I defeat all have cultivation realms above mine. I don’t challenge Soul Emergence Realm cultivators—I wouldn’t disgrace myself like that. People who think so highly of themselves should be fighting Cang Yunxuan or Mei Qingzhu, not fixating on me."

Li Fan declared, "If I were at your cultivation level, you’d understand what the fastest sword truly means."

*Though Li Fan spoke in a brazen tone, others now couldn’t help but contemplate. At his Foundation Establishment Early Stage realm, if he advanced to Late Stage Foundation Establishment, would Ren Yuzhi or Ying Ze still be able to compete with him?*

New arrivals continued streaming into the square, all individuals who’d successfully inquired at least one sword.

Upon arriving, their gaze invariably landed on Li Fan first.

Li Fan ceased engaging in arguments with Ren Yuzhi; verbal disputes were meaningless.

*He hadn’t forgotten Ren Yuzhi’s attempt to intimidate Lu Yuan. That unresolved score lingered in his mind.*

*This trip into the Secret Realm—would it bring him opportunities to consolidate his cultivation and advance to the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Realm?*

*If he entered the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Realm, then battling Ren Yuzhi and Ying Ze presumably wouldn’t be difficult.*

*Previously, he’d fought Han Zhong, who ranked seventh, gaining an understanding of the seventh-ranked strength. But Ying Ze and Ren Yuzhi were undoubtedly far stronger than Han Zhong.*

*At his current cultivation realm, it would still be somewhat challenging.*

Time passed, and more people gathered in the square. The area grew increasingly lively as attendees wandered alone or in groups, studied the Sword Scriptures, and chatted.

By nightfall, many sat cross-legged to meditate and cultivate.

Outside, the Sword Inquiries continued until the next day. Finally, no more arrivals came to the square.

Whether they were from Chi Xiao City or outside factions, almost everyone who should’ve arrived was now in attendance.

An elderly cultivator appeared, floating in the sky atop a Flying Sword. He gazed over the crowd and said, "Follow me by Sword Control."

With that, he flew on his sword, the crowd following suit, each stepping onto their Flying Swords to trail him into the deeper regions of the Xuanyuan Sword Dojo.

Li Fan also took to Sword Control, pondering how vast the Xuanyuan Sword Dojo must be if traversing it required flying.

Sword Aura whistled through the air as a mighty procession of sword cultivators soared toward the depths.

Excitement glimmered in many eyes, while others grew increasingly alert.

*Though the Secret Realm promised great opportunities, it was by no means overflowing with fortune. Rather, it was a dangerous place.*

*Each year, plenty of entrants perished within, so cultivators typically waited until they’d reached Late Stage Foundation Establishment for a greater chance of success.*

Up ahead, a towering sword came into view. Li Fan locked his gaze on it, sensing an overwhelming pressure radiating from the weapon.

*The colossal sword seemed to have descended straight from the heavens, stabbing deep into the earth and uniting the heavens and the earth around it. A wondrous Sword Domain had formed in its vicinity.*

The elderly cultivator led the group to a spot not far from the giant sword.

"We’re here," Lu Yuhuan spoke softly. Li Fan fixed his sights on the massive blade—this was the entrance to the Secret Realm?

Surrounding the sword was flowing Sword Intent that enveloped an expansive area. At its very heart, in the middle of the giant blade, seemed to be a Sword Gate.

"This sword is the gateway to the Secret Realm. They say it leads to the Immortal’s place of cultivation," Lu Yuhuan whispered.

"Has anyone ever seen Immortals in this world?" Li Fan murmured quietly.

"No one knows." Lu Yuhuan responded, "But based on some ancient legends, Immortals should indeed exist. There’s speculation that the Secret Realm is tied to a Sword Immortal."