Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 54 Sword Inquiry

Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Sword Inquiry

Wu Tong looked at him, speechless.

Wen Ruyu’s father was once his favorite Li Mountain disciple and later became the Li Mountain Sword Leader, so everyone in Li Mountain has had high expectations of Wen Ruyu from a young age.

Wu Tong does not like his senior brother, nor Ye Qinghuang and Li Fan, but he cannot dislike Wen Ruyu.

His father once died in battle as the representative of the Li Mountain Sword!

"Everyone’s gone mad." The Peak Master of Li Mountain Sword Peak Mo Yang also arrived, gazing at the scene before him with emotion in his heart.

The Li Mountain disciples in Sword Valley were also moved.

Is Li Mountain about to erupt in internal strife?

They couldn’t help but look towards the young boy standing on that rock. What was so peculiar about this boy that, because of him, Ye Qinghuang wanted to shake Li Mountain, the blind senior would betray Li Mountain, and Wen Ruyu would also defect from Li Mountain?

Li Fan looked at the scene before him and asked himself if he was worth such devotion from his master and senior brothers and sisters.

"Master Wu, let the elders make their own decisions." Mo Yang stepped forward, knowing he couldn’t stop Ye Qinghuang.

Especially now that his great-uncle personally intervened; ever since his great-uncle returned to Li Mountain with severe injuries back then, he has remained reclusive, never stepping beyond Divine Brilliance Peak.

But now, this master and his few disciples are willing to turn against Li Mountain for the sake of this boy.

He was also somewhat curious whether this boy would succeed.

He knew of Li Fan early on but did not know him deeply; Li Fan had always lived with Ye Qinghuang on the outskirts of Li Mountain’s Divine Brilliance Peak, more familiar with the villagers of Li Mountain Village.

The people in the village seemed to like him very much.

But the hope his great-uncle placed on Li Fan was too high.

Li Mountain didn’t want to take a gamble.

Mo Yang spoke, and Wu Tong glanced at Wen Ruyu, eventually restraining the Sword Intent from his body, and the Sword Intent in the sky dissipated as well.

Ye Qinghuang withdrew her gaze and looked towards Sword Valley; the phoenix chirped in the valley, then disappeared into Ye Qinghuang’s body, and the fierce flame in Sword Valley dissipated, returning to its original state.

Yet Ye Qinghuang did not leave but just stood there, staring at Sword Valley.

The wind in Sword Valley blew through, stirring her white robes.

"Senior Sister." Li Fan didn’t know what to say.

Ye Qinghuang displayed a gentle smile, as warm as the breeze of spring, and said, "Xiao Fan, go do what you should do."

The surrounding Li Mountain disciples saw that smile and became even more envious of Li Fan.

Perhaps only Li Fan could make Ye Qinghuang reveal such a gentle smile.

"Hmm." Li Fan nodded and continued to turn and sit cross-legged.

Ye Qinghuang stood behind him, watching the boy’s back.

She thought back to twelve years ago in that hellish scene when she was injured and unconscious. When she opened her eyes, a boy was guarding beside her. The boy endured such pain but persisted until she awoke, only then dragging his weary body away.

The sky full of demons followed him.

That day, the setting sun was like blood.

Later, the boy ascended Li Mountain.

She came to protect him.

Li Fan’s consciousness once again entered the Sword Valley Rock Wall, wishing to question the sword. First, he must enter the Refining God Realm; without a strong spirit, he couldn’t question the sword.

At this moment, Li Fan seemed to perceive that there was a sword lightly humming on the Sword Valley Rock Wall. With a thought, he established contact with the sword. Instantly, a terrifying suction seemed to swallow him whole. Li Fan felt a bit uncomfortable, but he did not resist; the next moment, his consciousness seemed to be pulled into the sword.

A picture appeared in Li Fan’s mind.

On a solitary peak, two figures, one old and one young, stood there.

"Disciple, you have no talent for swordsmanship. To this day, you have only learned one sword technique." The old man said.

"Master, can I just learn this one sword technique?" The boy asked.

"Foolish child." The old man patted the boy’s head.

The scene shifted, the boy began learning sword techniques, repeatedly practicing just one sword technique, day and night... only one sword technique.

This sword technique became faster and sharper; the boy seemed to have grown a lot, but he still only knew one sword technique, only practiced one sword technique.

"Master, disciple wishes to participate in the Li Mountain sword trials."

"Foolish boy, what swordsmanship have you learned?"

The boy shook his head.

"What will you use to participate in the Li Mountain sword trials?" The old man said, and the boy left disappointed.

During the Li Mountain sword trials, the boy quietly stood in the corner, watching the other disciples full of spirit, the one who won the sword crown was even more dazzling.

The boy left in disappointment.

One day, he found the disciple who had won the sword crown, stood in front of him, and requested a sword trial. The other was somewhat disdainful but agreed anyway.

The boy was extremely serious, drawing his sword; all these years of hard study were in this one sword technique. He only knew this one sword technique, using all his strength to wield this one sword.

The opponent fell into a pool of blood.

The boy was bewildered. He carried the corpse and knelt on Li Mountain, facing countless accusations and curses, claiming he sneak-attacked and killed his fellow disciple and wanted his life. His master severely injured him and pleaded for him. The boy was ultimately expelled from Li Mountain.

That day, heavy rain poured, and the boy, dragging his injuries, left Li Mountain to roam the world.

He roamed everywhere, making a name for himself with that one sword. Asked about his origin, he claimed to be Jian Yi, never mentioning he was from Li Mountain.

He only knew one sword technique, afraid to disgrace Li Mountain’s name.

Years later, a city erupted in a large-scale demon chaos; a Great Demon entered the city, countless beings suffered, the government was powerless, countless cultivators died fighting.

Jian Yi stepped in, with one sword slashed the demon leader.

With the sword in his hand, he made demon blood flow like a river.

But in this battle, he died in battle.

Before his death, he informed the world he came from Li Mountain.

His sword was returned to Li Mountain.

When he returned, his master was an old man with gray hair, holding his sword in his hands, brought it to Sword Valley, and personally delivered his sword to Sword Valley.

Afterward, the old man with gray hair broke his own sword and ended his life in Sword Valley.

He was not worthy of cultivating the sword, not worthy of being a teacher!

Jian Yi’s entire life passed through Li Fan’s mind, leaving him touched; he too was not recognized by Li Mountain, similar in some ways to himself.

Was it because of this that this sword connected with him?

At this moment, Li Fan entered the world of the sword.

Before him appeared a figure, who wielded a sword casually in front of him.

Li Fan couldn’t even clearly see this sword; he only saw a beam of light constantly flashing before him, repeating over and over.

That illusory figure continuously repeated this sword technique, only one sword technique.

"If you only had one sword chance, how would you strike?" A voice asked.

Li Fan knew it was time to question the sword.

If there was only one sword chance, failure meant death, how would he strike?

Li Fan swung the sword, similarly simply swinging it, but he was too slow, with the sword’s path clear and visible.

Li Fan stopped; the Li Mountain ancestor spent a lifetime mastering one sword, how could it be that easy?

Moreover, a Sword Cultivator doesn’t just wield a sword with their hands; Jian Yi earlier used intent to drive that sword, also like lightning.

Though only one sword, he had executed it to the extreme, the extreme of speed.

Li Fan didn’t continue swinging his sword but instead stared at that one sword, contemplating.

In the valley, Li Fan sat cross-legged, with Sword Intent flowing through his body.

Clearly, he was questioning the sword.

Many Li Mountain disciples’ gazes fell on Li Fan. Today, Ye Qinghuang, Wen Ruyu, and their master and disciple were willing to defect from Li Mountain, earning Li Fan a chance to question the sword. How many swords could he ask?

"Brother Xiao Fan, you can do it." Yang Qingshan looked at Li Fan with a clenched fist, though he was young, he still understood the hardships Li Fan had endured over the years.

He also looked towards Lu Yuan, only to see Lu Yuan’s gaze also on Li Fan, which made Yang Qingshan secretly pleased.

Lu Yuan must have feelings for him, knowing his close relationship with Brother Xiao Fan, and therefore paying attention to Brother Xiao Fan.

The book says this is called love for one extends to another.

He too had to work hard!

Li Fan tried using divine Sword Control, the sword was faster, but still not right.

He swung many swords, attempting again and again.

He knew this sword was questioning not his Sword Dao talent.

Jian Yi himself had mediocre talent, only knowing one sword, but persistently practiced this one sword to the extreme.

So, it didn’t question talent.

Li Fan also understood if he only focused on swinging his sword, he would never find the right answer.

He concentrated, reflecting on Jian Yi’s life, Jian Yi said he only knew one sword, but that one sword could no longer be called a sword move or sword technique.

Just one sword, how could it become a sword technique?

Li Fan recalled his own life, finding similarities to Jian Yi, but he was luckier; he met the Old Blind Man, his senior sister, and senior brothers.

They, for him, were willing to draw swords against Li Mountain.

If his senior brothers and sisters faced difficulties, what would he do?

"If there is only one sword chance." Li Fan murmured, pondering for a long time, then replied, "I would strike with protection, with conviction, with hope."

Li Fan’s arm moved, slashing with a sword, in the illusory space, the sword seemed still not fast, but when the sword was slashed, it carried a resolute aura, tearing through everything.

In Sword Valley, the sword’s hum continued unceasingly, Li Fan only felt a strand of Sword Intent pour into his mind.

"I wield the sword of despair, seeking hope." Jian Yi’s voice came, Li Fan’s consciousness roared, where a wisp of Sword Intent merged into Li Fan’s Sword Seed.

In Sword Valley, a sword clanged and soared from the rock wall, flying toward Li Fan, hovering before him.

Li Fan opened his eyes, a flash of sword light flickered in his pupils. He looked at the ordinary sword before him, but this sword contained everything of Senior Jian Yi.

He reached out and grasped the sword, and in an instant, it felt as if connected by blood, as if man and sword were originally one.

At the moment Li Fan gripped the sword, he realized Senior Jian Yi’s one sword had transcended beyond just a sword, the sword was merely a form, that one sword was his all.

He wielded the sword in despair, seeking hope.

"Thank you!" Within the sword, a voice seemed to come, a voice only Li Fan could hear.

Li Fan was taken aback, then smiled back, saying, "Thank you, Senior, for the sword!"

As Li Fan’s voice fell, that wisp of consciousness within the sword completely dissipated, Li Fan could clearly perceive its vanishing, leaving calmly, perhaps finally finding someone who understood his sword.