Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 176 - 172 Calming Down

Chapter 176: Chapter 172 Calming Down

Here is the translation, adhering closely to your guidelines:

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Li Fan was eighteen this year, twelve years away from reaching thirty.

At present, he was at the peak of the Soul Emergence Realm, just a step away from Foundation Establishment.

Slay a dragon at thirty, it shouldn’t be too difficult.

"Arrogant."

Above the sky, a thunder dragon roared, its voice akin to divine wrath. Thunderclouds churned and rolled in the heavens, crashing down in a deadly strike, targeting Li Fan and his companions.

The Old Blind Man waved his hand, unleashing a sword strike. A flash of sword light split through the heavens, dividing the sky above into two and halving the descending bolt of lightning.

"Cutting lightning."

Li Fan glanced up at the severed thunder light, *his heart stirred with awe*. The power of a top-tier Great Sword Cultivator was truly overwhelming.

The Old Blind Man stepped forward into the void, invoking the Heavenly Nine Declines once again.

He needed to finish the fight quickly, slay Leize, and use the Demon Saint’s dominance to quell the rebellious demons. Otherwise, if the demons joined forces in an all-out attack, *his current state wouldn’t hold up for long*.

Thus, he had only one chance to strike.

The heavens echoed with the cries of a sword, as though sword light was descending from above. The Old Blind Man stepped into the sky, walking toward Leize. With each step, his Sword Intent grew sharper.

A top-tier Great Sword Cultivator could shatter ten thousand spells with a single sword. To reach the pinnacle of Sword Dao was to transcend Swordsmanship and techniques altogether.

"Hum..."

The Old Blind Man transformed into a streak of radiant light, his figure vanishing completely—he had become a sword.

Man and sword had merged, reaching the pinnacle of unity. Man became sword.

Sword light slashed through the darkness, streaking across the void. Sensing the threat, Leize roared angrily; his thunderous might descended madly like a celestial tribulation, crashing upon the sword light.

Yet, the sword light tore through the thunder domain, ignoring the wild electricity entirely.

Leize’s twin eyes erupted with thunder light, releasing a deafening draconic roar. His massive body carried torrents of lightning as he dove downward with incredible speed. His thunder dragon form boasted unparalleled defenses and inconceivable strength.

*That old man’s eyes were blind, and he was gravely injured; there was no way that a sword formed from his fragile flesh could cut through his defenses or withstand his power.*

Accompanied by the earth-shattering dragon roar, countless demons raised their heads toward the heavens, their hearts pounding in their chests.

Above the sky, the colossal thunder demon dragon hurtled downward, while a piercing beam of sword light shot through the void toward the thunder dragon. Every demon felt an overwhelming pressure suffocating them, yet their gazes remained fixed upon the battle in the sky.

The blinding radiance of thunder and sword stung their eyes.

"Roar..."

The earth-shaking draconic roar echoed across the heavens. They saw Leize’s enormous body trembling violently, as though something was tearing through him.

A beam of light entered through the dragon’s head and exited through its tail, piercing entirely through Leize’s demonic form.

Leize’s massive frame quivered uncontrollably, fear flashing in his gaze. Within his dragon body, explosions erupted endlessly as Sword Aura shredded his internal organs. Cracks appeared across his once-unbreakable dragon body.

Accompanied by brilliant light radiating from within his form, the sword light illuminated the night sky.

With a deafening explosion, flesh and blood scattered as Leize’s body detonated.

The Old Blind Man extended his hand, retrieving an enormous Demon Core glowing brightly and brimming with powerful thunder energy. Leize’s colossal frame plummeted downward.

The demons below hurriedly moved aside, then heard a thunderous crash as the true dragon’s multi-hundred-meter form sprawled across the ground. Leize’s eyes dimmed, filled with unwillingness, before gently closing shut.

The Old Blind Man’s figure flew back, landing atop the ruined staircase. Though he seemed fatigued, he still spoke aloud, "Lord Demon Saint, the mission is complete."

"Well done." The Demon Saint’s enchanting voice resonated as the massive phantom of the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox reappeared above the heavens, gazing down upon the demons.

"Blind Man, I reward you with Leize’s Demon Core," the Demon Saint teased seductively, her enigmatic eyes sweeping through Demon City. "Does anyone else wish to join Leize in his rebellion?"

The demons involuntarily stepped back, fearing to participate after witnessing Leize’s tragic fate.

Besides, with Leize dead, they were without a leader.

"Qilin, do you intend to betray me as well?" The Demon Saint smiled as she looked toward the Qilin Demon King.

"I wouldn’t dare." The Qilin Demon King replied respectfully, "I was influenced by Leize earlier and didn’t realize his intentions of rebellion. I beg for your forgiveness, Lord Demon Saint."

"I said before, if you did not join Leize’s rebellion, I would pardon you. Now return to rest. If anyone disrupts me again, I will ensure their death without mercy," the Demon Saint said sharply, her enchanting voice suddenly cold and murderous. A powerful demonic aura blanketed the land.

"Yes, Lord Demon Saint." The Qilin Demon King bowed deeply, and the other demons followed suit, retreating like a tide, vanishing into the darkness within moments.

Seeing this, Bailong felt somewhat relieved that this unrest had been quelled.

Capture the leader to end the revolt. The Old Blind Man had slain Leize, leaving the other demons unable to stir much trouble.

Once the demons retreated, the Old Blind Man’s aura continued to weaken. Clearly, though the Demon Saint had temporarily restored his strength, his injuries were severe, making swift recovery to his peak impossible; otherwise, Li Mountain would have long restored him instead of waiting until now.

Still, this single strike was enough.

"How are you?" Li Fan approached the Old Blind Man and asked in a low voice.

"It’s no big deal." The Old Blind Man glanced at the enormous Demon Core in his hand and chuckled, "It’s worth it."

A Seven Realm Great Demon’s Demon Core would be perfect for Li Fan’s Foundation Establishment.

"Let’s go." They headed toward the Underground Palace.

Returning to the Underground Palace, the Demon Saint was still seated there. She had never left; the demons outside, including Leize, had only seen illusions she created.

"Blind Man, well done. You are cooperative. How should I reward you?" The Demon Saint laughed as she looked at the Old Blind Man. Though the demons might suspect her, it mattered little. Her authority remained intact, and with Leize dead, even if the demons doubted her, they wouldn’t dare act.

If Leize had killed the Old Blind Man, however, it would have been troublesome.

"Fox Demon, could you be more excessive?" The Old Blind Man retorted. Earlier, he had only cooperated to prevent the rebellion from spreading and affecting them, yet the Fox Demon had carried on with her act.

"How dare you speak to me like that, Blind Man? Don’t forget—you have no secrets before me now," the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox teased with an alluring laugh.

The Old Blind Man couldn’t be bothered to respond.

"But, Blind Man, you were quite impressive when you were young. It’s a shame you’re an old man now. Otherwise, we might have made things work," the Demon Saint said teasingly, her laughter carrying hints of ambiguity. When she had treated the Old Blind Man’s wounds earlier, she had glimpsed numerous memories within his Divine Soul.

"I have no interest in demons." The Old Blind Man replied indifferently. Fox demons were adept at seduction, and her words were becoming more and more inappropriate.

"I have no interest in old men either." The Demon Saint giggled. "But, while you’ve aged, your disciple is still young. What do you think of my disciple? Let them become a pair?"

As she spoke, her gaze fell upon Yue Qingqiu.

Li Fan heard the Demon Saint’s words and knew her schemes hadn’t ended; she still had designs on this matter.

"My disciple’s affairs are his own. This old man is too aged to meddle." The Old Blind Man replied calmly.

"How about it? You picked her name, didn’t you? She treats you well enough, doesn’t she?" The Demon Saint laughed, looking at Li Fan. "After everything you’ve been through together, does that bond not stir anything in you?"

Yue Qingqiu’s clear gaze met Li Fan’s. Li Fan looked back at her and said lightly, "Qingqiu and I are friends. Lord Demon Saint, please don’t play matchmaker arbitrarily."

"Friends?"

The Demon Saint burst into laughter. "Do you think I don’t know what’s in your heart? Qingqiu is simple and hasn’t experienced the deceit and scheming of humanity. You might fool her, but do you think you can fool me?"

"Fool?" Yue Qingqiu looked at both the Demon Saint and Li Fan.

"Qingqiu, do you want to see the human world?" The Demon Saint asked Yue Qingqiu. She knew Li Fan likely wouldn’t stay here, nor would she force him to.

And tonight’s events further disheartened her.

Leize’s betrayal wasn’t surprising—she hadn’t cared much about that. But the fact that her carefully nurtured Demon City now harbored tendencies for revolt troubled her. If Leize had controlled the situation tonight, what would happen to her once-protected demons?

Thinking of this, the Demon Saint felt weary.

*Demons, after all, might be impossible to truly reform.*

*Perhaps, whether human or demon, the essence remains the same; both operate under the law of the jungle where the strong devour the weak.*

Yue Qingqiu seemed intrigued by the Demon Saint’s words, nodding slightly.

Indeed, she was curious about the human world and wanted to see it.

"Do as you wish." The Demon Saint gave Li Fan a light smile. "Now that tonight’s matters are settled, after tonight, I won’t keep you here any longer. Stay if you want; leave if you must."

With that, she walked aside, closing her eyes to resume cultivation.

Though she appeared composed, in reality, she had exhausted herself significantly. First, she had been injured by the Old Blind Man’s sword; afterward, she had focused on healing him rather than herself, then expended her energy creating illusions.

At this moment, she was drained—weak, but unwilling to let it show.

*After all, could humans be trusted? Even if Leize and the demons of Yun Meng Swamp could betray her, were these humans any more reliable?*

The only one she could truly trust was Bailong.

Bailong quietly guarded the Demon Saint, closing his eyes.

"You should rest too, old man," Li Fan said to the Old Blind Man.

This storm had finally passed, and thankfully, no harm had come to them. Since the Demon Saint had promised not to detain them further, by tomorrow, they could leave Yun Meng Swamp.

The Old Blind Man nodded and handed the Demon Core to Li Fan, saying, "Take it. Use it as you need."

"Alright." Li Fan accepted it without hesitation, as it was perfect for his Foundation Establishment.