Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 177 - 173 Foundation Establishment

Chapter 177: Chapter 173 Foundation Establishment

The sun rises in the east, its rays generously bathing the earth.

Yun Meng Swamp’s Demon City is in a state of harmony, almost indistinguishable from a human city.

The turmoil came quickly and left just as fast. However, now that the Demon Saint is healing, he temporarily has no time to settle scores. Nonetheless, many Demon Kings are anxious, arriving early to wait outside this ruined palace.

The Qilin Demon King is also present, feeling the most uneasy.

After returning last night, he figured out that they were certainly bluffed by Lord Demon Saint yesterday. The Demon Saint must be injured, and that human must not have been invited. Somehow, the Demon Saint and the human formed an alliance and killed Leize.

If they had all fought desperately last night, there should have been a chance. But due to their deep fear of the Demon Saint, and Leize being slashed with a single sword, it intimidated the demons and led to missing the best opportunity.

Though the Demon Saint verbally promised to let bygones be bygones, it is merely an expedient measure.

If Lord Demon Saint is truly unharmed, could he have refrained from taking action yesterday to settle accounts with them?

The Fox Demon is cunning and clever, and as expected, he only fears the accounts will be settled in autumn.

"Bailong, we have come to request an audience with Lord Demon Saint." The Qilin Demon King spoke to Bailong with a more polite tone than before, after all, Bailong is a direct relative of the Demon Saint, and his performance yesterday likely elevated his status in the mind of Lord Demon Saint.

"Lord Demon Saint is busy and currently has no time to see you all, you should return." Bailong responded.

The Qilin Demon King’s eyes flickered, it seems that Lord Demon Saint is still recovering.

However, it is too late to say anything now. Even if they borrowed their courage, they would not dare to come again; the opportunity missed is simply missed.

"Bailong, please help to convey to Lord Demon Saint our request for punishment." The Qilin Demon King said.

"Alright." Bailong nodded, and the Qilin Demon King and others left with trepidation.

After the Qilin Demon King and the others left, Li Fan walked out from the ruined palace and stood by Bailong’s side.

"I have ordered the reconstruction of your previous residence, you can temporarily stay there." Bailong gazed into the distance thoughtfully.

"Thank you." Li Fan nodded.

The Demon Saint allowed them to leave at any time, yet Li Fan was not in a rush to go.

The Old Blind Man needs to recover, and outside Yun Meng Swamp, a war is breaking out. With so many people like Mr. Qu, it might not be easy to leave Yun Meng Swamp.

We can’t just have Bailong see us off, can we?

Now that the disturbance here has just settled, Bailong certainly could not leave the vicinity of the Demon Saint Palace, and the Demon Saint himself also needs time to recover.

Therefore, Li Fan plans to stay for a period until the Old Blind Man regains his Primordial Energy, and then they will leave Yun Meng Swamp.

"What do you think is the difference between humans and demons?" Bailong mumbled, asking Li Fan, as if asking himself.

From Bailong’s departure from Yun Meng Swamp to Bai Lu Academy, it showed that he harbored no great malice towards humans, and even admired people like Mr. Qu.

Additionally, Bailong is a supporter of the Demon Saint, apparently willing to learn from humans.

"Perhaps, there’s no substantial difference." Li Fan self-mockingly smiled.

Human, demon.

Just like the senior brother said, slay demons and exorcise evils; he can slay demons, but can he exorcise the evils in the human heart?

Like the experiences in Lin’an County, the court, and the Chuzhou Chen Family.

Is there any difference between humans and demons?

Demons are brutal, but there are also demons like Bai Long Yue Qingqiu.

It’s just that human and demon stand opposed by nature; they are naturally born from different camps.

The difference in race determines that they are enemies.

Bailong gazed into the distance and said, "Do you want to slay dragons?"

Li Fan: "..."

Forgot, there’s a dragon right next to him.

"Hopefully, one day, you will be a worthy opponent for me." Bailong didn’t mind, since racial opposition is destined, then he hopes in the future, there will be a worthy human opponent.

"I look forward to it." Li Fan smiled in response.

If one day he could fight Bailong, it would mean he would have become a top Great Sword Cultivator.

...

Several days later.

The Demon City gradually returned to its former peaceful state, the influence of the turmoil gradually dissipating, and the Demon City becoming lively again.

In the Demon City.

Qu Qingfeng and Aunt Mei walked on the street, many demons curiously gazed at Qu Qingfeng, knowing he is a human by the Demon Saint’s side.

However, most demons held no malice, merely curious.

"This Demon City is indeed unique. If not for the demons walking within it, I might mistake it for Yun Meng City." Qu Qingfeng said with a smile, "It seems, over these centuries, the Demon Saint has indeed achieved something."

"Otherwise, why would I have been curious about the human world back then, sneaking out of Yun Meng Swamp?" Aunt Mei replied with a smile.

"In the Demon City, who is there to teach them human customs and cultivation methods?" Qu Qingfeng asked.

"There are also teachers in the Demon City who know more about humans." Aunt Mei said.

"I want to take a look." Qu Qingfeng said, curious.

"Mm." Aunt Mei nodded, and they came to a lane in the Demon City, hearing the sound of reading.

Walking to a courtyard, they saw many young demons studying there, with a teacher instructing them. The teacher had a sheep’s head on a human body, a long goat beard, and appeared slightly aged.

As if sensing something, he looked outside and saw Qu Qingfeng, slightly bowed in salute, "Greetings, sir."

"Greetings, sir." Qu Qingfeng returned the salute.

"It’s rare to have a human teacher visit, may I ask some questions?" The Sheep Demon said warmly.

"Naturally, mutual learning." Qu Qingfeng said.

"Sir, please come inside." The Sheep Demon said politely, and Qu Qingfeng stepped inside.

As he beheld the scene before him, he contemplated that Bai Lu Academy’s motto of teaching without discrimination seemed insufficient.

While humans and demons are naturally opposed, in places like Yun Meng Swamp, if they can be educated, there is a chance for peaceful coexistence with humans.

Then, perhaps Mr. Zuo’s ideal could also be realized.

If humans and demons could peacefully coexist, governed by laws, then both would escape calamity, whether human or demon.

Of course, Qu Qingfeng understood, this is a mere ideal.

In reality, it is almost impossible.

The human heart is unpredictable.

Demons are difficult to tame.

What he can do is only to do his part well, and thus, accomplish the task of enlightenment.

Perhaps, in this Demon City, a Bai Lu Academy could be established to educate demons?

...

A few more days later, the towering Demon Saint Palace stood once more at the peak of the Demon City.

In the courtyard where Li Fan resided, he was cultivating.

At this moment, thunder roared violently within him, lightning danced around, making Yue Qingqiu beside him stare at him with curiosity.

Is this the human way of cultivation?

Li Fan’s cultivation state had persisted for quite a while.

At the moment, the demon energy within Li Fan was surging, and the power contained in the Demon Core of a Seven Realm Great Demon was frightening. With his realm, using such a Demon Core could be wasteful, but the demon within him could absorb it.

Therefore, it’s not considered wasteful.

Not everyone is suitable for utilizing a Demon Core for cultivation; property alignment is needed. He just isn’t choosy; for instance, the Old Blind Man is not suitable, but Mr. Qu, who cultivates the power of thunder, could use it.

From within his body came the sound of dragon roars, and Li Fan even sensed the remnant soul of Leize within the Demon Core, which was also devoured together.

Suddenly, in the dark night, there was an earth-shattering dragon roar, causing Yue Qingqiu’s heart to skip a beat as a phantom of a Jiao Long appeared behind Li Fan. However, at this moment, the Jiao Long seemed to be undergoing a transformation.

The golden Jiao Long was evolving into a dragon, bathing in the light of both gold and thunder, exuding a strong aura of pressure, with the dragon soul soaring upwards, spiraling above Li Fan’s head.

The Old Blind Man appeared in the distance at some unknown time, with the Martial Spirit of the Jiao Long evolving.

Moreover, lightning emanated from Li Fan’s body, his vitality became more robust, his flesh seemed refined by lightning, crystalline and transparent, as if true dragons roamed his body, like dragon patterns.

"Martial Tao Heavenly Gang." The Old Blind Man thought to himself.

Li Fan’s martial path broke through the shackles of the realm first, entering the Martial Tao Heavenly Gang Realm.

Moreover, Li Fan was no ordinary martial artist. He cultivated with strong mana, refining his body with it. His path of a martial artist was no less than that of a Qi Cultivator.

Besides, he was also a Sword Cultivator.

Li Fan continued to be immersed in cultivation, seemingly unaware of his breakthrough.

The power of thunder refined his divine soul while operating the Observing the Nine Heavens Profound Sword Scripture.

In the void, the Sword of the Great Tao spanned across.

Li Fan’s divine soul sat cross-legged, bathed in thunderlight, while numerous runes on the Sword of the Great Tao lit up, branding onto Li Fan’s divine soul.

Li Fan’s divine soul seemed to transform into a sword, this sword bathed in starlight, refined by thunder, forming a resonance as if going through tribulation.

The divine soul constantly trembled, and under the refining of the thunder’s might, that sword became forged amidst the turbulence.

"Buzz..."

A beam of light shone down from the Sword of the Great Tao, falling onto the sword of the divine soul, making it shine brighter.

In the courtyard.

Li Fan’s body erupted with an extremely intense Sword Intent, that Sword Intent was so fierce that it was as if it wanted to tear his body apart.

The mana within him roared more violently, brilliant starlight shone from the sky, devastating Li Fan, as if bathed in divine radiance, his bone structure seemed to be reshaping, his spine straightened, like a sharp sword.

This made Sword Intent exude from every part of his body, flesh and blood, like a body of a sword.

The Old Blind Man’s face revealed a smile.

Foundation Establishment Realm, forging the foundation of the Great Tao, is the true beginning of the Great Tao.

The first three realms are the foundations of cultivation.

After forging the foundation of the Great Tao, one can be said to have stepped into the gate of cultivation.

Li Fan was about to forge the foundation of the Great Tao, taking another step toward becoming a Great Sword Cultivator.

Who knows, if he could live to see that day.