CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 70: LI MOUNTAIN SWORD

Li Fan had been unconscious for three days. When he regained consciousness, the first thing he saw was that sword.

The sword of the Li Mountain Sword Ancestor had already fused into his body.

"Senior," Li Fan called out in his mind.

"You are awake," came a voice from within the sword.

"Are you the Old Ancestor of Li Mountain?" Li Fan asked.

"Not exactly. I am but the Sword Soul lingering in this world," the sword replied, "Since you have inherited the legacy, this sword is now yours. Per the agreement from a thousand years ago—when the dynasty becomes corrupt, you shall wield this sword to reset the heavens and earth. However, this sword is ultimately not yours. You cannot fully unleash its power, nor can you withstand its burden. Now that you have received the Great Dao inheritance, you must forge your own sword and surpass me."

Li Fan silently nodded in his heart. The Divine Sword was powerful, but it was not truly his.

The day he wielded it, though it unleashed tremendous power, it had nearly cost him his life.

With a single thought, Li Fan sensed his Sword Seed. He noticed that it seemed to have undergone some changes, becoming more radiant and extraordinary, radiating a profound Sword Intent.

Beyond that, within his Sea of Consciousness, the light points he had sensed before around the Sword Seed were now brighter, resembling countless swords.

"What is this?" Li Fan asked.

"The Nine Swords are interconnected. You are the master, and they serve as auxiliaries," the Sword Soul explained. "Once, the Li Mountain Sword Ancestor was followed by eight Divine Generals. They are the statues you saw in the Sword Wall. Likewise, you will also have eight Sword Cultivators to assist you. They have already been born into this world, though their cultivation levels vary. If they are willing, you can even directly command their swords. If you are strong enough, you won’t even need their permission."

"So domineering!" Li Fan’s mind suddenly turned to something, and a ripple stirred in his heart.

"Senior Brother..."

It suddenly made sense why he was always able to sense Senior Brother’s sword.

Many things became startlingly clear in that moment.

The Old Blind Man had taught him cultivation techniques, forged his Sword Seed, and chosen him as the inheritor. Senior Brother must have known.

So back then...

Li Fan figured out certain things and suddenly felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

He did not want his Senior Brother to be his subordinate. To him, Senior Brother was akin to an elder brother.

Moreover, someone as proud as his Senior Brother...

"I just have to decide not to think that way, and I will never use Senior Brother’s sword," Li Fan vowed silently in his heart. No matter how strong his cultivation became in the future, he would never forcibly command Senior Brother’s sword.

With this decision, Li Fan felt a small sense of relief. A thought echoed in his mind as he silently recited the Great Dao Sword Scripture.

In an instant, his consciousness roared, and he once more entered that ancient space.

In this place, nine swords hung in the heavens, like stars of the cosmos standing tall against the sky. A boundless aura emanated from the swords. Li Fan meditated upon the swords to refine his Sword Seed.

The Dharma Form was the source of Mana for Qi Cultivators, while the Sword Seed was the origin of Sword Aura for Sword Cultivators.

Without a Dharma Form, one’s Mana would be weak, with frail attributes. A sword practitioner without a Sword Seed could not even be called a true Sword Cultivator.

The stronger the Sword Seed, the stronger the Sword Aura.

Thus, Dharma Forms varied in quality, and Sword Seeds similarly had differences in strength.

Li Fan’s Sword Seed was already powerful in the past. Now, as he cultivated the Nine Heavens Mysterious Sword Scripture and used the Divine Sword to refine his Sword Seed, it was foreseeable that his Sword Seed would grow stronger and stronger.

Li Fan tried cultivating for only a brief moment before withdrawing his consciousness. Opening his eyes, he wanted to know how the world outside was faring.

He opened his eyes, sat up, and surveyed the small room. This was not a room on Divine Brilliance Peak.

Pushing open the door, he stepped outside and saw Ye Qinghuang sitting quietly, keeping watch.

Hearing movement, Ye Qinghuang opened her eyes, turned her head toward Li Fan, and gave him a faint smile.

"You’re awake," Ye Qinghuang said softly.

"Senior Sister."

"How is Li Mountain?" Li Fan asked.

"Li Mountain still stands," Ye Qinghuang replied, and at that moment, several figures arrived.

Gu Qingyang, Mo Yang, and Wu Tong.

Ye Qinghuang glanced at them as Gu Qingyang spoke: "I’ve already ordered the information to be sealed off. At Li Mountain, only a few people know of this. The Sword Valley has also been locked down. The matter of Li Fan inheriting the Ancestor’s sword must not be revealed to the outside world."

Ye Qinghuang nodded. Various factions had always wanted to know who would inherit the Li Mountain Sword, but in truth, they didn’t even know what kind of sword it was.

Only the most core inheritors of Li Mountain knew the truth of this.

If the outside world were to learn of it, chaos would surely follow endlessly from then on.

Fortunately, Li Fan had wielded the sword of the departed Li Mountain Sword Master, so outsiders would likely believe the Sword Master was still alive. As long as Li Mountain kept their secrets, the world would never suspect it was Li Fan who had unleashed that sword strike.

At this moment, Gu Qingyang and the other two looked toward Li Fan and simultaneously bowed to him.

"Masters, uncles..." Li Fan extended his hand.

"Xiao Fan, Li Mountain has wronged you," Gu Qingyang said with a sigh in his heart.

Li Fan said nothing. He could understand. After all, there was a Demon dwelling within him, but to say he bore no resentment at all would be a lie.

However, during the Sword Inquiry at the Li Mountain Sword Valley, his resentment had dissipated.

Especially toward Master Wu Tong. It was much like how he felt about the Old Blind Man—though sharp-tongued, Master Wu Tong had once sought the support of their grandmaster on his behalf, a deed rooted in guilt.

Presumably, Master Wu Tong behaved similarly toward him now. Though acerbic in words, he likely also harbored hope.

He had simply been afraid of making another mistake, plunging Li Mountain into irreversible ruin.

Gu Qingyang glanced at Ye Qinghuang, then the three of them let Sword Intent flow from their brows. In an instant, Li Fan felt a reaction. Near his brow and beside his Sword Seed, three rays of light illuminated.

Li Fan’s heart trembled, and he looked at the three before him with astonishment.

"This sword can only be passed down to the most core disciples of Li Mountain. Only the inheritors of the legacy know this secret. Your Senior Brother Wen Ruyu is also one of them," Gu Qingyang said to Li Fan. "Back then, the grandmaster designated your master as the primary sword inheritor. He was being groomed to become the Li Mountain Sword Master, but he chose a different path."

"Later, when your master returned to Li Mountain, we hoped he would designate Ruyu as the inheritor, but he took a great risk and chose you instead."

"Xiao Fan, can you understand how we might feel?"

Li Fan’s heart surged with intense emotion. The Divine Sword inheritance consisted of a primary sword with eight auxiliary swords.

The three before him were part of it.

And together with Senior Brother, there were four swords.

At this moment, Li Fan felt at peace.

His master had wagered the fate of Li Mountain on someone like himself, someone with a demon residing in him.

How could Li Mountain dare such a gamble?

If he were in their shoes, he likely wouldn’t dare either. This was a bet on Li Mountain’s destiny. Gu Qingyang and Mo Yang, as the stewards of Li Mountain, had done as much as they could by allowing him to remain and ultimately letting him enter the Sword Valley.

"Xiao Fan, from today onward, we will protect your Dao. The one who inherits this sword shall be the Li Mountain Sword Master. From this day forward, you are the new generation’s Li Mountain Sword Master," Gu Qingyang continued. "However, for now, this must remain a secret. Only a few of us know. You’ll need to bear with this for the time being."

"Me? The Li Mountain Sword Master?" Li Fan was stunned.

He had only reached the Refining God Realm.

"Yes. Since the Sword Master passed away, there has been no true successor. I have only been acting in this capacity for the time being. Your emergence is fate," Gu Qingyang replied. "You’ve inherited the Divine Sword and will eventually become Da Li’s strongest Sword Cultivator. There is no one more suited than you for this role, and besides, it is merely a title."

"Although we cannot announce your status, the entirety of Li Mountain will protect your Dao."

Li Fan looked toward Ye Qinghuang beside him, and she said, "You saved Li Mountain. This is what you deserve."

Li Fan nodded and said no more.

Several days later...

On the Sword Peak of Li Mountain, within a grand hall, the Peak Masters of Li Mountain’s Nine Peaks assembled. Some had previously been injured but were now fully recovered.

Outside the Sword Peak, in the vast plaza, all the disciples of Li Mountain had gathered.

On the day of the incident at the Li Mountain Sword Valley, the Sword Aura had shot toward the heavens. Afterward, Mu Changqing had sent the disciples of Li Mountain back.

Now, the crowd was abuzz with speculation.

The Da Li Court had retreated in defeat. Why had Li Mountain summoned all its disciples?

"I heard Li Mountain plans to send us disciples down the mountain."

"Why would we leave? With the Sword Master guarding Li Mountain, we don’t even fear the Court returning," one disciple argued. Currently, everyone—including those outside Li Mountain—believed the Sword Master was still alive. This was the impression Li Mountain’s leadership had intentionally conveyed to the outside world.

"I have no idea."

As the crowd murmured and speculated, figures stepped out from the grand hall. The Nine Peak Masters stood in a row, with Gu Qingyang and several Guardian Elders at the forefront.

Standing in front of them all was a young man, positioned at the center of the assembly.

"Li Fan."

The crowd looked toward the young man with surprise.

"Brother Xiao Fan!" Yang Qingshan and others who knew Li Fan were visibly excited.

On the day of the Sword Inquiry at Lingxiao Pavilion, Li Fan had defeated Jiang Taie and killed Chu Zili. Everyone present had witnessed it. It was clear to all that Li Fan was now being groomed as the future of Li Mountain.

Lu Yuan was also in the crowd. Her beautiful eyes fell upon Li Fan, but there was no envy in her gaze. She had once fought Jiang Taie and knew the extent of his strength. Yet Li Fan, who had never been part of Li Mountain’s core, had defeated him.

Li Fan would undoubtedly become one of Da Li’s greatest Great Sword Cultivators in the future.

Gu Qingyang stepped forward, addressing the disciples in a clear voice: "The Da Li Dynasty is decaying. Our Li Mountain has endured a perilous trial, safeguarded by the presence of the Li Mountain Sword Master who ensured our survival. But the Li Mountain of today is no longer the Li Mountain of the past. We old folks have no hope left. The future of Li Mountain lies with you."

"This mountain may not endure forever, but the true Li Mountain exists in each of you. I have issued orders to all peaks. The disciples of Li Mountain shall now descend the mountain to journey throughout the world. To avoid trouble, you may act as you see fit and are not required to identify yourselves as disciples of Li Mountain. All I ask is that you remember, you are from Li Mountain."

"One day, when the Sword of Li Mountain points toward the Da Li Court, I hope all disciples scattered across the land will respond to the call."

Gu Qingyang glanced at Li Fan beside him and continued, "There will come a day when a sword will guide you. On that day, the Sword of Li Mountain will return."

The disciples of Li Mountain listened to Gu Qingyang’s words, their eyes turning to Li Fan. They all understood that the sword Gu Qingyang referred to was Li Fan.

Li Fan would inherit the Li Mountain Sword and become this generation’s Sword Son of Li Mountain.

As they gazed upon the young man’s radiant and handsome face, their hearts were filled with emotion.

The boy who had once been protected under Ye Qinghuang’s wing had now blossomed into his own light.

From this day forward, he would represent the Sword of Li Mountain!