Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 170 - 166 The Teacher

Chapter 170: Chapter 166 The Teacher

Ten thousand swords pierced the sky. The Old Blind Man’s figure seemed ethereal, almost transparent, as a beam of sword light shot straight into the heavens, breaking apart the sky-covering demon energy, as if tearing through the firmament.

Li Fan looked up at the dazzling scene before him. He felt no joy—what he felt was worry for the Old Blind Man’s health.

*His primordial energy was already damaged, yet he unleashed such terrifying sword power. Could that frail, aging body withstand it?*

*Just as the Old Blind Man said, Heaven had lent him a hundred years, but even a Sword Immortal must bend to its will. He lamented the cruelty of time—possessing unparalleled talent, yet shackled by aging.*

"I will carry on your aspirations," Li Fan murmured to himself, silently resolving in his heart.

The Elder Mentor and the Old Blind Man both had regrets.

Two generations had now placed their hopes upon him.

Li Mountain had also placed its hope upon him.

From the firmament came an earth-shattering roar. A resplendent, fire-bathed Qilin appeared amidst the heavens. Its towering, colossal figure caused the sky itself to quake with each step it took. Flames, like those from the depths of hell, seemed intent on burning the entire sky.

The massive hooves of the Qilin crashed downward, blotting out the sun, threatening to crush the countless Sword Aura and obliterate the tiny human figures below.

But the seemingly "tiny" figure stood steadfast, sword aura surging toward the heavens, shattering the demon energy that veiled the sky. When the Qilin’s godlike hooves stomped on the Old Blind Man’s "small" frame, they were instantly torn to pieces.

The beam of light that pierced the heavens transformed into a Sky-opening Giant Sword, enveloping the ethereal figure of the Old Blind Man and plunging directly toward the Qilin Demon King.

"Aoo..."

A sound of anguish echoed through the air as the beam of light pierced the enormous figure. The Qilin’s body seemed to be run through by the sword aura, causing the hellish flames in the sky to swiftly disperse. The Qilin Demon King thrashed violently, making the heavens tremble endlessly.

Another thunderous sound rang out as the beam of sword light penetrated the firmament. The Qilin Demon King’s massive frame staggered to the side, large droplets of blood dripping down, carrying an intense heat.

A gaping wound appeared on its body. Its energy diminished rapidly, and its enormous eyes fixed on the ethereal figure, growling incessantly.

"In the end, I’m still old; even one sword couldn’t kill you," the Old Blind Man’s ethereal figure sighed in regret, lamenting the relentlessness of time. *If he had been in his prime...*

*This one sword—how could the opponent possibly survive?*

The Qilin Demon King stared at him unwaveringly. His fiery pupils burned with rage, yet the domineering aura and indomitable majesty he once possessed were no more. He remained wordless.

This one sword had inflicted a grave wound upon him. How could he dare to refute the Old Blind Man’s words?

*Why was this frail and ancient human cultivator able to unleash such astonishing sword power?*

*This question wasn’t only the Qilin Demon King’s—it was the shared confusion of the demons within the city.*

*In their eyes, humans were small and insignificant. Yet, this seemingly small figure could summon an unfathomable strength. Perhaps this was why Lord Demon Saint had commanded them to study humans.*

At that moment, from the direction of the Demon Saint Palace came a playful laugh, followed by a voice: "What a fine sword! No wonder you were once hailed across the Da Li World as the famed Li Mountain Sword Cultivator. Zuo Canglan! If you hadn’t entered the Da Li Court back then, perhaps Li Mountain might have produced a Sword Saint, and you wouldn’t have suffered under the Court’s oppression. What a pity, such a pity..."

"Zuo Canglan." For the first time, Li Fan heard the Old Blind Man’s name.

"This human cultivator is a Li Mountain Sword Cultivator. Lord Demon Saint wants him dead to honor the flag. If we march from Yun Meng Swamp in the future, his head could hang atop the banner," one Great Demon spoke aloud from another direction where demon energy surged heavily, no weaker than the Qilin Demon King.

However, seeing the Qilin Demon King wounded and overpowered, this demon refrained from taking action, choosing instead to await the Demon Saint’s judgment.

"So the Demon Saint knows my name," the Old Blind Man said, his ethereal figure moving toward the Demon Saint Palace, landing beneath the grand stairway in the blink of an eye.

"I am old, and having a successor is no easy feat. Demon Saint, release him now; I’ll take him away," the Old Blind Man said softly, raising his head slightly to address the figure above the palace steps.

The Demon Saint stood at the pinnacle of the Seven Realms. If the Old Blind Man were in his prime, he wouldn’t have uttered a word, but given his current state, he bore no certainty.

The earlier sword that failed to kill the Qilin Demon King had left the Old Blind Man lamenting his own aging.

The Demon Saint gazed downward at the Old Blind Man, breaking into laughter as he said, "A human dares to tread upon my Yun Meng Swamp! If I were to let you leave so easily, how could I command Yun Meng Swamp?"

"Fine."

The Old Blind Man said no more. *If not for his old age, why would he need to trade words with demons?*

*Thinking of this, he felt a deep sorrow.*

"Li Mountain Sword Cultivators once flourished, slaughtering demons across the Da Li World. Demons would flee at the mere sound of their names. Yet, today, the Da Li Court seeks to extinguish Li Mountain, where talent has withered, and now you, too, are destined to fall here. This thousand-year sect will eventually decline—it’s truly regrettable," the Demon Saint remarked.

As its voice fell, the heavens above were enveloped by demon energy, blotting out the sun. Gazing upward, a colossal phantom of a Demon Fox appeared, its immense figure overshadowing the sky. The fox’s two eyes shone like the sun and moon, and nine tails swayed behind it.

"Zuo Canglan." Countless voices echoed across the sky. Li Fan lifted his gaze and felt the heavens transform into an Illusion Realm, filled with infinite Demon Fox phantoms and countless pairs of eyes.

"Your disciple—he’s quite appealing. For his sake, I’ll spare your corpse from desecration."

The phantom smile on the Old Blind Man’s face deepened slightly. He raised his foot and stepped forward onto the staircase.

Sword aura flowed beneath his feet, spreading onward toward the stairs in front of him.

"In youth, I vowed to scale the skies and be first among men. Although old now, I am not a prey for demons to kill." The Old Blind Man spoke these words and took another step forward, his aura intensifying. His figure seemed to transform into a sword; his very Divine Soul became the sword.

Meanwhile, beside Li Fan, the Old Blind Man’s physical body continued to age.

"Heavenly Nine Declines."

Li Fan understood that the Old Blind Man was using the secret Sword Dao technique passed down by their Elder Mentor.

This technique demanded even the most spirited Sword Cultivators to burn themselves out temporarily, casting themselves hollow to unleash an even mightier strike.

And for the Old Blind Man in his current state, deploying Heavenly Nine Declines meant burning not just his spirit, but his very life.

*At this moment, Li Fan remembered their Elder Mentor’s final sword.*

*The scene before him felt achingly familiar.*

*Years ago, their Elder Mentor wielded such power to rescue the Old Blind Man from the Da Li Imperial City.*

*Was history set to repeat itself?*

Li Fan soared into the air, rushing toward the Demon Saint Palace.

But as he ascended, demons appeared from all directions, emanating a horrifying pressure.

"Seeking death."

Suddenly, a massive handprint emerged in the sky. The Great Demon, previously hidden in the shadows, had finally struck.

At the same moment, a giant Dharma Form appeared behind Li Fan, Qu Qingfeng’s figure materializing at his rear. The Dharma Form raised its hand and blasted apart the incoming handprint.

Li Fan pressed onward. As the demons closed in, a towering Sword Intent erupted, enveloping the demons. He shouted, "Get out!"

The frigid, killing aura of the Sword Intent forced the demons to retreat, clearing the way for Li Fan to charge straight toward the Demon Saint Palace.

"Return."

A voice abruptly reverberated, causing Li Fan to halt and look toward the Demon Saint Palace.

"Old Blind Man..." he murmured.

"To be a mentor is to do what must be done. Your Elder Mentor did so in his day, and now it’s my turn," the Old Blind Man said. "This old body can still hold up the heavens for you. If I can’t, then you’ll have to rely on yourself."

"You’ve already carried me for over ten years," Li Fan replied.

"Then I’ll carry you one more time," the Old Blind Man said. "This frail old man doesn’t have much left, but listen well—return, and don’t interfere. This is your mentor’s command."

The Old Blind Man knew what Li Fan intended to do.

But the time wasn’t right yet.

The Court already considered Li Fan a thorn in its side, dispatching Seventh Realm Cultivators repeatedly to eliminate him.

If they discovered the matter of the Divine Sword,

Li Fan would find no sanctuary, even with Li Mountain’s protection.

The Court would stop at nothing to hunt him down.

Li Fan was still so young—barely eighteen.

*He needed protection.*

*No one conquers the world at such a tender age. Even he had mentors shielding him in the past, paving a path for him to become a Li Mountain Sword Master. Only he had chosen not to walk that path.*

*Li Fan’s path was even more daunting than his.*

*He hated his own powerlessness—not being strong enough to forever shield his disciple. If he were as capable as his own mentor, Li Fan’s road wouldn’t be so arduous.*

*But at least, while he could still stand, he would stand for him.*

*Until the day he could stand no longer.*

"Yes, Mentor." Li Fan’s eyes were bloodshot as he stepped back, though he remained poised to act.

If the Old Blind Man truly faced danger, Li Fan wouldn’t hesitate, regardless of the consequences. Whatever would come, the Old Blind Man must live.

As Li Fan retreated, the Old Blind Man continued forward, taking another step. His Sword Intent grew even stronger.

"To be a mentor is to act thus."

Qu Qingfeng, shielding the Old Blind Man’s true body, sighed in admiration.

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