CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 68 SWORD OF THE GREAT TAO

Li Mountain Village. The villagers stood outside their homes, watching as sword aura crisscrossed the skies over the distant Li Mountain, even enveloping the space above their village.

Outside, the sound of galloping hooves approached. Shortly thereafter, an endless tide of the imperial army surged toward the village, intent on slaughter.

Xu Bin’s gaze was cold and murderous as he muttered, "Erase this village, leave no one alive."

It was the State Preceptor’s command: total annihilation.

At the blacksmith shop, the butcher sharpened his knife while Master Yang continued forging iron, tossing weapon after weapon to the villagers outside.

The villagers quickly grabbed the weapons, their eyes locked on the advancing army.

"I’ve killed plenty of demons, but I’ve never killed a human. Wonder how it feels," someone in the village said.

"It’s no different. Just treat them like livestock and slaughter them."

"Makes sense." The crowd nodded in agreement, as a middle-aged man draped in animal pelts stood atop a rooftop. Behind him loomed the massive form of a golden eagle—his Martial Spirit—while he held a mighty bow in his hands.

He drew the bowstring tight, and the air let out a sharp, piercing whistle. Three arrows streaked through the sky like golden lightning, aimed at the oncoming army.

Several soldiers in the imperial army attempted to shoot down the arrows, but the golden shafts sliced through their arrows effortlessly, tearing onward.

"Thud..." The arrows pierced through the cavalry’s ranks, smashing through armor and striking multiple soldiers. In an instant, chaos erupted—people and horses toppled.

Xu Bin’s expression hardened as his knife-like gaze swept over the villagers in the distance. "Be cautious," he warned.

Are the villagers at the foot of Li Mountain really this powerful?

"Lord Governor, we’ll lend you a hand," came a voice, as a group of figures rushed in from afar. These were monks from Jingang Temple in Chuzhou.

"The Chen family also pledges to aid the Lord Governor in eradicating demons," another voice rang out. An elderly man strode forward, followed by a contingent of cultivators, with Chen Yan among their ranks.

That day in Lin’an County, Chen Yan had managed to escape disaster at the last moment. Wen Ruyu had slaughtered the Wuxiang Monk from Jingang Temple and the Old Demon from Medicine Cleansing Lake right then and there, leaving Chen Yan drenched in cold sweat.

*As expected, a crumbling Li Mountain still warranted caution.*

*But now, the end of Li Mountain was finally here.*

Figures emerged from every direction, representing various factions from across the land.

They gazed eagerly toward Li Mountain, where the destruction unfolded, excitement flickering in their eyes.

*"When prosperity peaks, decline begins."* For a thousand years, Li Mountain had thrived, even standing in defiance of imperial authority, refusing to heed the emperor’s commands. How could the Court tolerate this any longer? The reckoning had always been inevitable.

Now, the Emperor of Da Li had finally lost patience, seizing the opportunity as Li Mountain faltered between generations to deliver its death blow.

"When a whale falls, all creatures flourish."

Li Mountain’s thousand-year foundation was vast and sprawling, and now it teetered on the brink of collapse. The Court wanted that sword, Lingxiao Pavilion sought Sword Valley and the Li Mountain Sword Scripture, and the rest scrambled for what they could pillage.

The abundant legacy of Li Mountain—its divine weapons and countless treasures—was a prize coveted by all. Even its book tower, said to contain endless ancient writings on cultivation and secret techniques, was a tempting target.

How many Great Demons had Li Mountain slain over the centuries? Were their corpses still intact? Were their Demon Cores still preserved?

To them, Li Mountain was nothing short of an unfathomable treasure trove, sparking insatiable greed.

Otherwise, why else would they wade into these bloody waters?

As the masses charged forth, the butcher, wielding his cleaver, dove into the chaos. Swinging his blade, there was a heavy thud, and a cluster of heads rolled onto the ground, blood spurting like a fountain.

Master Yang gripped a freshly forged spear and joined the fray. With one swift thrust, the spear skewered multiple bodies, then flung them away with a powerful toss.

"Come on, then!" he bellowed. The Court had dared to strike at Li Mountain—if he died here today, then his son would avenge him someday and slay these dogs.

Qing Shan, Qing Shan, don’t let me down, old man, for giving you this name.

Elsewhere, deep within Li Mountain’s peaks, a group hurried along.

Mu Changqing led the way, followed closely by a group of children. At the rear was a water buffalo, next to which more disciples from Li Mountain were being sent their way.

"Changqing, they’re in your care now," someone said while delivering the disciples.

"Alright," Mu Changqing nodded and continued to guide them forward.

"Sir, is Li Mountain about to fall?" a child asked innocently.

"Li Mountain will always endure," Mu Changqing replied. "Li Mountain, and the lot of you."

The children couldn’t fully comprehend but glanced back occasionally, their voices tender with curiosity. "Sir, why aren’t dad and mom leaving too?"

"A real man acts with purpose," Mu Changqing said solemnly. "They are true men."

"I want to be a true man too," a child declared.

"A true man also knows when to withdraw," he instructed. "Preserve your life, grow strong, and live on."

In the distance, the sounds of battle grew louder—someone was chasing those who had escorted them.

A group of figures approached, their eyes fixed coldly on the children and Li Mountain disciples. "Where do you think you’re going?" one sneered.

The water buffalo slowly turned to face them. Its gaze locked onto the intruders, as an overwhelming blast of demon energy erupted from its body. The buffalo’s form rapidly expanded, transforming into a massive entity that resembled a mountain, blocking the children.

"A Great Demon," someone muttered with a grim expression.

"Escort them to the afterlife as well," Mu Changqing commanded as he turned away to continue pressing forward.

The water buffalo snorted streams of fiery air from its nostrils, raised its enormous legs, and stomped downward. The ground exploded as mountains crumbled, burying countless enemies alive beneath its weight.

The children tilted their heads to look at the once familiar buffalo, now brimming with awe. "The buffalo... It’s flying," they gasped.

...

Ye Qinghuang led Li Fan back to Sword Valley.

The valley was eerily empty, sealed by sword aura, with all disciples evacuated.

Though Li Fan’s mind was brimming with questions, neither of them said much. He walked forward, seated himself cross-legged in the valley, and let his consciousness drift toward the Sword Mountain Rock Wall.

In an instant, Li Fan’s awareness was enveloped within.

He advanced toward a single sword, extending his hand to grasp it.

"Boom..." A terrifying force surged into Li Fan’s mind, pulling him into the sword’s world.

"A thousand years ago, the heavens and earth transformed. Great Dao opportunities emerged. I obtained the supreme Sword Scripture, forged the Sword Seed, acquired the Nine Swords, and Divine Generals pledged their servitude, sweeping dominion across the land."

A voice echoed in Li Fan’s mind, accompanied by flashes of chaotic memories.

"For a thousand years, the General Star’s subordinate sword has passed down through generations, yet the main sword has gone unclaimed. Now that you have arrived, awaken me through cultivation techniques. I will grant you the complete cultivation method to aid you in connecting with the Sword of the Great Tao. If you succeed, you’ll become the next Sword Master after me. If you fail, it will cost you your life. Will you try?"

The voice was solemn as it resonated in Li Fan’s mind.

Li Fan finally understood—the technique that his master had taught him for guiding the sword was fundamentally connected to the Li Mountain Sword Ancestor’s method of cultivation. This was the key that had allowed him to arrive here.

*Master Yang, my teacher, and myself—we are each chosen by destiny in successive generations.*

*After undergoing trials of Sword Inquiry, self-reflection, comprehension, and determination, I grasped this sword.*

*Perhaps Master Yang, my teacher, and even my senior sister don’t fully understand the true nature of this blade.*

*If I fail, I will perish.*

*If my senior sister knew this, she wouldn’t have allowed me to come here.*

"I’ll try," Li Fan answered without hesitation. His life was already borrowed—dragged back from the gates of hell by his teacher and senior sister, who extended his time in this world by over ten years and guided him to this juncture.

*Abandoning this chance would mean living without honor or dignity.*

*As for the main sword and the General Star’s subordinate sword mentioned earlier, I still don’t fully comprehend it.*

*But with Li Mountain facing its calamity, on the verge of devastation, I must seize this sword no matter what.*

"Very well," the voice replied in satisfaction. "This cultivation technique is known as the Observing the Nine Heavens Profound Sword Scripture. What you’ve practiced thus far is merely its introductory Visualization and Sword Guidance Chapter. I shall now transmit the full scripture to you."

Suddenly, another surge of memories and images flooded Li Fan’s consciousness as the voice continued, "When cultivating the technique, you must be utterly free of distractions; even the slightest stray thought will jeopardize the effort. Focus solely on the scripture while I guide you in connecting with the Sword of the Great Tao."

*Though anxiety momentarily tugged at Li Fan’s mind,* he gritted his teeth, emptied his thoughts, and immersed himself in the cultivation method, closely observing the transmitted memories and techniques.

Countless words and vivid imagery appeared in his consciousness.

"Visualize."

Li Fan gradually calmed himself, and within his mind, a colossal sword materialized—spanning the heavens and earth. Etched on its surface were countless inscriptions: the Sword Scripture itself.

Time flowed slowly. While fierce battles roared across Li Mountain, Sword Valley remained sealed by the impenetrable Sword Veil, undisturbed.

Ye Qinghuang stood atop Sword Valley, guarding Li Fan.

Li Fan lost sense of time as he fully immersed himself in visualization. In his mind, he became tranquil, as though transformed into the sword itself; he was the sword.

From the sky above, starlight poured down, landing upon the sword. The blade rose slowly, drawn upward by the celestial glow—it beckoned him.

Soon, however, much like his previous cultivation attempts, Li Fan encountered formidable resistance.

He pressed onward, but the resistance intensified, the sensation of his consciousness peeling felt insurmountable.

At that moment, an external force augmented his awareness, aiding his response to the celestial call.

*Pain—unbearable and sharp—ripped through Li Fan’s mind, threatening to tear and scatter his consciousness.*

"Recite the scripture, anchor yourself, or you’ll face eternal ruin." The voice reminded him. Li Fan began silently chanting the Sword Scripture, desperately grounding his consciousness amidst the agony. Though the pain grew excruciating, he remained undeterred.

*He was a sword cultivator, unafraid of death—why should he fear pain?*

In the illusory space, the words of the scripture seemed to flow out of Li Fan’s lips, resonating with the sound of the Great Tao itself. His soul felt as though it was being stripped apart, nearly fracturing—but the resonance of the Great Tao preserved him.

The sword ascended further.

"Boom..."

Li Fan’s awareness was violently shaken, and in the next moment, he found himself in a void.

Looking up, Li Fan was awestruck by the scene before him.

The space resembled an ancient cosmos, as though untouched by time. Above him, a divine sword hovered like a star—ancient and enigmatic.

Surrounding the divine sword were eight additional blades, emanating terrifying auras.

"This is..." Li Fan’s heart thudded in shock.

"This is the Sword of the Great Tao," the voice announced as Li Fan’s consciousness turned toward the majestic blade.