Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 62: The Thousand-Year Promise

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The Thousand-Year Promise

The second figure that emerged was steady and heavy, bearing the Xuanwu, with an overwhelming sense of pressure.

This time, the other party didn’t waste words, and the heavy sword directly crashed down toward Li Fan.

"Bang..." Li Fan swung his sword to block, but his body was knocked flying. The opponent’s sword was too heavy, as if truly bearing the Xuanwu beast.

"Why can’t your Martial Spirit integrate into your Sword Intent?" The opponent’s voice was deep as he asked Li Fan.

Li Fan pondered the other’s words. The tall figure earlier had also said that whether it was the Dharma Form or Martial Spirit, for a Sword Cultivator, they all supported the sword.

His Jiao Long Martial Spirit, his robust vitality, and mana were all supports to the sword.

A golden Jiao Long figure circled behind Li Fan, Sword Intent spreading, gradually emanating a heavy power aura. At this time, the opponent surged again, another sword slammed down, and the Xuanwu Divine Turtle descended with it to suppress and kill. Li Fan was knocked away once more.

The opponent attacked repeatedly, and Li Fan fell each time, but each time he stood up again, and the Sword Intent within him grew stronger each time.

Once more, Li Fan swung the sword in his hand, and the golden Jiao Long phantom roared out, moving with the sword, colliding with the Xuanwu beast. The two forces clashed fiercely, and Li Fan slid back without falling.

"This time’s chosen successor dual cultivates with martial arts? Quite resilient." The Xuanwu shadow spoke, charging forward once more. Just as the other party’s sword slashed down, there was a clap of thunder striking towards the opponent.

The Xuanwu seemed to stretch across the void above, blocking the thunder. At the same time, strands of golden lines began to entangle towards the opponent, aiming to bind the sword in their hand.

"The mana is too weak." The opponent shouted loudly, and the Xuanwu Heavy Sword directly sliced through the golden threads, but at the instant they were cut, Li Fan willed a sword to roar out with thunder to strike at the opponent.

"Hmm?" The Xuanwu figure’s eyes showed a hint of different color, striking at the approaching sword, producing a muffled sound.

"Buzz..."

The second sword arrived, swift as lightning.

Then came the third sword, the fourth... Sword Intent flowed around Li Fan, nine swords circled, each striking out.

The opponent waved the Xuanwu Heavy Sword, creating a Sword Veil surrounding him, a great Xuanwu phantom appeared there. The nine swords continuously struck down, unable to break the opponent’s defenses.

At this moment, the nine swords aligned, assaulting a single point, each sword infused with powerful Sword Dao will, repeatedly striking the Sword Veil.

Meanwhile, Li Fan’s body also moved, with the sword in hand, stabbing toward that point.

The golden Jiao Long roared and howled, breaking through an opening, penetrating the Xuanwu defenses, and tearing apart the Xuanwu Sword Veil.

A shadow retreated, standing with the sword, he looked at Li Fan and spoke: "Your comprehension is impressive."

"Thank you, Senior, for your mercy." Li Fan naturally understood that with the opponent’s realm, defeating him would be simple. Even suppressing the realm, the comprehension of the Sword Dao wasn’t something he could compare to.

Thus, the opponent was actually suppressing his battle strength to some extent while fighting him. As for how much suppression, was it all dependent on the opponent’s intention?

"The Vermilion Bird won’t be easy to deal with, be cautious." As the opponent’s words ended, he returned to the statue, and then a female statue lit up, bearing the Vermilion Bird’s Dharma Form, a scorching airflow swept towards him.

This woman’s gaze was sharp, a Vermilion Bird Divine Sword appeared before her, slowly floating, the hot air flowed towards Li Fan, who could clearly sense a dangerous aura.

"I will make only one strike," the Vermilion Bird spoke.

Upon her words, the Vermilion Bird let out a long cry, and the Vermilion Bird Divine Sword descended towards Li Fan.

Li Fan looked at the descending Vermilion Bird Divine Sword, he did not evade.

A Sword Cultivator moves ever forward.

A Sword Cultivator has no path of retreat.

"Bang..."

With a step forward, a thought into the Realm of Sword Dao Celestial, his aura surged to its peak, his body and will both ablaze, his eyes reflecting the flames of the Vermilion Bird.

Li Fan unleashed his sword.

Just one sword, Jian Yi’s sword, to decide victory or defeat.

The golden dragon shadow collided with the fiery red Vermilion Bird, a scorching Sword Dao airflow rushed forth, but Li Fan seemed unfazed.

The Vermilion Bird Divine Sword was gradually torn apart, dissolving into a sky full of flames and fading away. The woman gazed at Li Fan, said nothing, and disappeared without a trace.

Li Fan took a deep breath, his aura rapidly waning.

At the same time, the fourth statue lit up, bearing the Azure Dragon.

"Your willpower is commendable." The Azure Dragon figure was extremely domineering, he looked at Li Fan and said, "From here on, you probably won’t be able to proceed further."

Li Fan gazed intently at him, he could somewhat understand why his teacher failed in the past.

The Heavenly Nine Declines, with each sword strike consuming all Spirit.

And the opponents, one after another.

And for cultivators, there is a limit, he had already entered the Realm of Sword Dao Celestial twice using the Heavenly Nine Declines.

At this moment, the Azure Dragon figure extended his palm, immediately a swords stretched across the sky, the Azure Dragon circling behind him, domineering to the extreme.

"Go!" With a press of his palm towards Li Fan, a sword instantly burst down, encircled by the True Dragon.

Li Fan’s blood and energy seemed to be burning, his palm slapped towards the sword, the Jiao Long roared, trying to grasp the True Dragon Sword, but the True Dragon Sword directly crushed the Jiao Long phantom, suppressing all the way down.

Shhh... the Azure Dragon Divine Sword gradually tore the Jiao Long apart, Li Fan struggled to withstand it, yet the Azure Dragon figure coldly snorted, another sword descended, crushing the Jiao Long.

The Sword Intent around Li Fan condensed into swords, trying to block, but it was still ineffective.

The descending Azure Dragon Divine Sword intended to devour him.

At that moment, many figures flashed in Li Fan’s mind: his senior sister, the Old Blind Man, his junior brother...

If he fell, would the efforts of his senior sister and the Old Blind Man be in vain?

He recalled the Old Blind Man returning time and again with a weary body, bringing him good things to mend his body.

He remembered his senior sister holding his hand, asking the villagers to take care of him, confronting Li Mountain again and again for him.

He remembered his junior brother accompanying him day and night in the wilderness.

He thought of the people in the village, the butcher inviting him to eat meat every day, Grandpa Huai giving him the fruit growing on his body.

His ability to stand here was not the result of his efforts alone, but many people lifted him to this point.

A surge of Sword Intent emanated from him, and the already waning aura soared once more, growing stronger, his will ablaze, his blood and energy burning within, his pupils turned to gold, and a roar resounded from within.

The sound of dragon chants emerged from his body, Li Fan was surrounded by flowing Sword Intent, entering the Realm of Sword Dao Celestial for the third time.

A sword was nurtured into existence, incomparably sharp, with a golden Jiao Long circling it, roaring at the Azure Dragon above.

"Kill!" Li Fan raised his eyes, the sword tearing through everything, striking at the Azure Dragon, actually ripping open a fissure.

But just as the sword slashed toward the domineering figure bearing the Azure Dragon, a fierce glint flashed in the other’s eyes. "Not enough."

Simultaneously, the swords above Li Fan’s head descended, with gorgeous sword light array swirling, like a sword array of slaughter, within it, an Azure Dragon circled, clashing onto Li Fan’s sword, pressing downward, the sword’s momentum reversed downward, destructive Sword Intent falling upon Li Fan’s body, trying to tear him apart.

"Not enough, huh?"

Li Fan’s aura was weakening, with each sword of the Heavenly Nine Declines being a limit.

I seek hope with the sword from despair.

What is a Sword Cultivator? With a sword in hand, fearless, undaunted, no others, no self.

Many voices echoed in Li Fan’s mind.

His teacher’s Heavenly Nine Declines could unleash nine swords.

He, only one sword?

Not enough, then one more sword.

Li Fan’s life seemed to be burning, the Sword Intent soared sky-high, he seemed to merge with the sword, attacking the Azure Dragon above, at the limit, with the Heavenly Nine Declines he unleashed the Second Sword of Resentment.

The two sword forces merged, becoming more formidable, tearing through the Azure Dragon, breaking the sword array, and piercing into the other’s body.

The figure bearing the Azure Dragon returned to place, gazing at Li Fan, only to see Li Fan still maintained within the Realm of Sword Dao Celestial, seemingly burning himself, he stared at the other statues, unsure of how far he could go, just knowing he had to keep moving forward.

"Congratulations on passing the trial," the Azure Dragon figure spoke.

Li Fan was stunned, realizing this was only four statues.

"This test is of willpower, whether you can surpass yourself, transcend under pressure, it’s a capability a top Sword Cultivator must have," the Azure Dragon figure continued.

After listening, Li Fan’s aura rapidly waned, only feeling utterly exhausted.

It turned out, when his teacher imparted the Sword Dao to him, he was already laying the groundwork for him to come here.

Thinking of the elder entering the Imperial City with the sword, though only meeting once, left enduring impression on him.

His teacher taught him what it meant to be a true Sword Cultivator.

"Go on." The Azure Dragon figure turned to look at the sword on the throne, and himself returned to the statue.

Li Fan stepped forward, the sense of familiarity growing stronger, as if picking up this sword was his destiny.

Li Fan walked to the throne, his heart racing, he reached out and grasped the hilt, but the sword remained still.

"Channel the Cultivation Technique you practice to awaken it." A voice reminded him, Li Fan activated the Sword Drawing Technique imparted by his teacher, strands of Sword Dao brilliance fell upon the sword in his hand, the sword shone brighter and brighter.

Suddenly, it seemed as if Li Fan’s consciousness fused with the sword, countless images surged into his mind, extremely chaotic, as if he saw a world in turmoil, demons rampaging.

Within that chaotic memory, Li Fan saw a Sword Cultivator having a fateful encounter, traveling the world.

This Sword Cultivator forged vast connections, met many people, cut down demons, determined to bring peace to the world, with many followers around him, some of whom followed him in learning swordsmanship, gradually becoming Great Sword Cultivators.

They ventured through the chaotic times, the Sword Cultivator founded a sect, recruiting talents, he also met many kindred spirits, including a close friend, extraordinary in talent, magnanimous, with extraordinary strength.

They cultivated together, defeated demons, grew in strength, and the sect flourished.

This sect grew into a grand sect, swept away demons across the land.

At this time, the two friends developed differing opinions, eventually parting ways, the Sword Cultivator retired with followers and some members of the sect, but others followed his friend.

"Lishan Sect, Li Mountain, Da Li."

Li Fan diligently absorbed these memories, the sect in the memory, Lishan Sect, derived from the meaning of the common people, Da Li’s Li, rather than the Li Mountain’s Li of now.

These were memories from a thousand years ago, Li Mountain Sword Ancestor and Da Li Dynasty’s Emperor Taizu!

They were once close friends.

"The world has now settled and needs a wise ruler to stabilize the land, why don’t you become the master of the state."

"My aspiration doesn’t lie in that, power in the court erodes the heart."

"The sharpest sword in the world is in your hand, if you don’t rule, who will? Won’t the world fall into chaos again?"

"If you’re inclined, go do what you want to do, I will retire with my sword. If the world is at peace, I will not concern myself with worldly matters. But, if you govern the world and the state rots, then what?"

"You will wield the sword, changing heaven and earth."

"Alright."

The two made a pact.

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