Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 117 - 113: Settling Down

Chapter 117: Chapter 113: Settling Down

Today, Bai Lu Academy is particularly lively. The matter of the array on White Deer Street has become known to everyone, and news that the Ji family’s daughter is a Heavenly Pride Girl has quickly spread.

Of course, Yun Zhiqiu inadvertently added fuel to the flames.

All the academy disciples, dressed in the same academy robes, walked through the academy, discussing this matter. It is said that the Ji family’s prodigy will be entering the academy tomorrow, and by then, they must see what kind of extraordinary demeanor she possesses.

Outsiders might not know, but the people of Bai Lu Academy are well aware of the significance of the white deer’s low chant.

This scenario hasn’t occurred for many years. Even in the history of Bai Lu Academy, it is extremely rare.

It is said that the last time the array was activated and the white deer issued a warning chant was because a top Great Practitioner appeared on White Deer Street.

In recent years, Bai Lu Academy can be said to be graced with many geniuses. Most of the top geniuses in Jiangzhou come to the academy to study, and even people from other states have come here.

Moreover, not long ago, an exceptionally gifted girl joined the academy. Yet even she couldn’t trigger the array on White Deer Street.

At this time, walking among the academy’s disciples was a girl quietly holding a scroll, whose stunning appearance and extraordinary temperament instantly attracted many gazes.

"Lu Yuan." Many people revealed different emotions in their eyes, including admiration and affection.

Lu Yuan joined Bai Lu Academy not long ago and became the most outstanding disciple of this generation in the academy, also attracting admiration from many academy students.

She was too remarkable. Even in Bai Lu Academy, her brilliance could not be hidden.

However, after the Ji family’s daughter arrives at the academy, Lu Yuan might have a rival.

Lu Yuan quietly walked through the crowd, her gaze calm without the slightest ripple.

After leaving Li Mountain, she came to Jiangzhou, then by chance arrived in this Yun Meng City and joined Bai Lu Academy to study.

Though she was a Li Mountain disciple, Bai Lu Academy also had areas to learn from, learning from various schools, furthering her progress.

She wasn’t worried about the Da Li Court. Although she appeared in that battle on the peak of Li Mountain, the world only remembers the most dazzling presence. Who would deliberately remember someone who lost?

That day, she lost to Jiang Taie.

Moreover, to the court, she was nothing more than an insignificant role. The court wouldn’t care about her. In fact, few would even remember her name.

She also heard the news about Ji Xue. It was mentioned everywhere in the academy, and she was slightly curious about what kind of Heavenly Pride Girl could trigger the array?

This world is truly vast, yet another astonishing cultivator?

But how does she compare to him?

In her mind, the figure of a young boy emerged, a boy who endured grievances on Li Mountain for over a decade, displaying his sword at the peak of Li Mountain, astounding it and earning fame in one battle.

Now, he has become the Li Mountain Sword Son, held in high regard by Li Mountain. Presumably, Li Mountain would protect him.

These thoughts flashed through her mind. Lu Yuan then collected her thoughts and stopped thinking about it.

For her, the most important thing currently was Foundation Establishment.

After leaving Li Mountain, she diligently cultivated, broke through realms along the way, and now has entered the mid-stage of the Soul Emergence Realm, just a step away from the late stage, and the next step is Foundation Establishment.

...

By evening, Yun Zhiqiu and a few others came again to the courtyard where Ji Xue was staying. Among them was a middle-aged man, a clan uncle of Ji Xue named Ji Ran, who worked at Bai Lu Academy and had now reached the Ning Dan Realm.

"Uncle." Ji Xue called out when she saw Ji Ran. She had great respect for this clan uncle in Bai Lu Academy, as it was Ji Ran who facilitated her journey here to study, holding expectations for her.

If Ji Ran rises another rank in the future and becomes an academy master, the Ji family’s status in Jiangzhou could rise further.

"Xiao Xue, Xiao Feng." Ji Ran smiled and called to the siblings, "Did you encounter any danger along the way?"

"Very smoothly." Ji Xue replied, "Thank you for recommending me this time, Uncle."

"With your talent, even without my recommendation, you could still study at the academy. Moreover, I just received news that when you stepped onto White Deer Street, the array reacted, and the white deer issued a low chant. It seems I previously underestimated you. Our Ji family will have another remarkable cultivator." Ji Ran said happily, "Come, today I will host a banquet for you."

"Thank you, Uncle." Ji Xue replied.

"Brother Yang, Miss Liu, join us?" Ji Feng turned around and called to Li Fan and them.

"We won’t go." Li Fan replied.

Ji Ran glanced at Li Fan, asked quietly, "Ji Feng, are they your friends?"

"Met on the way, traveled together, and now we’re friends." Ji Feng said.

"Do they also stay here?" Ji Ran continued. Yun Zhiqiu had previously mentioned this secretly to him. He worried someone with intentions might want to approach Ji Xue.

The young man indeed looked very handsome.

"There are several courtyards here. Empty anyway." Ji Feng replied.

Ji Ran frowned. When Yun Zhiqiu mentioned this before, he said that after Ji Xue entered the academy, she would surely be taken as the last disciple by the academy masters. Her future would be boundless, and she would have many suitors.

Although Ji Ran knew Yun Zhiqiu’s words were ulterior, perhaps he himself had thoughts, yet there was some truth.

Ji Xue, with such talent, should inevitably be alongside a top prodigy to match. It was necessary to cut off some gossip.

Though Ji Xue would most likely live in the academy afterward, having unfamiliar men here was somewhat inappropriate.

"Shall I arrange another place for your friends to stay?" Ji Ran said. He didn’t hide it from Li Fan and others, making it relatively clear, just expressed slightly more tactfully.

"Uncle..." Ji Feng wanted to say something, but then heard Li Fan step forward, say, "Brother Ji, we happen to have our plan to find a place to stay, so we won’t disturb here."

Now that Ji Xue’s place is bustling with guests, he didn’t want to join the crowd, avoiding drawing attention.

Ji Feng opened his mouth but was interrupted by Li Fan, "I’ll find a place nearby. If Brother Ji wants to visit me, feel free."

Ji Feng glanced at Ji Ran, his eyes dimmed a bit, then looked at Liu Ji, and said, "Let me know when you find a place, Brother Yang."

"Alright." Li Fan said, "Thanks for this journey."

Saying so, Li Fan slightly nodded to Ji Xue, then left with Liu Ji.

"Let’s go too." Ji Ran didn’t mind, while Ji Xue watched Li Fan’s back saying, "The young man is quite measured."

"Even so, you can’t judge a book by its cover, let alone we must guard against idle gossip." Ji Ran replied, and Ji Xue said no more since her uncle’s words made some sense.

If not for Ji Feng’s antics, they would’ve already parted ways when entering the city.

The group left the courtyard, heading in another direction.

Walking on the road, Li Fan and Liu Ji saw Liu Ji smiling slightly, "Is this being kicked out?"

"You’re full of trouble." Li Fan said, "They owe us nothing. Being able to take us a bit, we should be grateful. What they said makes sense. Since we’re not familiar, it’s natural to be cautious, you and I would do the same."

"You’re quite generous." Liu Ji laughed, "However, that Miss Ji lacks self-awareness."

Since the array on White Deer Street is rarely activated, why does she think she can do it?

"Fortunate coincidences, moreover her talent shouldn’t be bad." Li Fan said, people always have hopes for themselves, especially when it just happens to them. Everyone thinks it’s her. Even if Ji Xue didn’t believe it initially, she eventually self-suggests it is her.

"If she finds out the truth later..." Liu Ji showed an interesting look.

After entering Bai Lu Academy, Ji Xue’s talent will inevitably be exposed. Then she’ll know it wasn’t her; what will she think?

"Your Snake Spirit is getting more nosy." Li Fan said, "We don’t even have a place to stay now, you should find one."

"Yes, Young Master, I’ll take care of it now." Liu Ji smiled, walking in a direction, with Li Fan following behind. He could naturally feel that Liu Ji was becoming more cheerful now, likely gradually letting go of past events, heralding a new Chapter in her life.

Before nightfall, Liu Ji found a residence within White Deer Street, and the two moved in.

As night fell, White Deer Street remained lively, lights shining brightly, and pedestrians coming and going without end.

The next morning, a meditating Li Fan in the courtyard felt refreshed, with Sword Intent swirling around him.

He got up to practice his sword, not using sword intent, only swordsmanship, and sword techniques.

The sword swept horizontally. Li Fan repeated the action time after time, sometimes accompanied by wind swirling along the sword, sometimes with flashes of thunder.

His sword became faster with each strike, until wind and thunder accompanied the sword.

"The power of wind and thunder attributes can make the sword faster and sharper, but I still can’t completely integrate them into the Sword Intent." Li Fan repeatedly tried, if fully integrated, it would become Wind and Thunder Sword Intent, with even stronger attacking power.

Having an attribute doesn’t necessarily mean it can be integrated into the Sword Intent, transforming into an attribute Sword Intent.

Like his senior brother, whose killing aura fused with Sword Intent long ago, achieved the Slaughter Sword Dao.

When Li Fan stopped, Liu Ji approached with a smile, asking, "Would the young master like breakfast?"

"Liu Ji." Li Fan looked at her and said, "Go to the city and find out about the situation in Yun Meng Swamp, as detailed as possible, and tell me when you return."

"Are you going to Yun Meng Swamp?" Liu Ji asked.

"Yun Meng City is just a temporary stop. Since this is the place blocking the exit to Yun Meng Swamp, presumably many people will go to Yun Meng Swamp for demon hunting. My cultivation is still slow, and I need to kill more demons." Li Fan said.

Liu Ji rolled her eyes at him. How long had it been since Li Fan descended the mountain? Back in Lin’an County, he was only in the early Refining Realm, now already a mid-stage Soul Emergence Realm cultivator, and also an Innate Middle Realm martial arts practitioner.

Yet he still thought his cultivation was slow?

"I’ll see to it now." Liu Ji responded and left.