Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 76 - 75: Annihilation of the Clan

Chapter 76: Chapter 75: Annihilation of the Clan

Li Fan’s flying sword returned, merging into a single blade before automatically sliding back into its sheath.

"A Sword Cultivator?" Situ Chan murmured softly.

"Brother Han and Sister Chan, can you help tidy up these Demon Cores?" Li Fan asked.

"No problem." Han Zong finally snapped out of his daze, nodding slightly, though his heart remained unsettled.

*It seems I’ve still underestimated Li Fan.*

The group quickly picked up their pace, slicing through demon corpses and gathering the Demon Cores. Among them, Yin Qing was the most enthusiastic. Once the Demon Cores were collected, Han Zong and Situ Chan handed them to Li Fan, but Yin Qing hesitated somewhat—until Li Fan glanced toward him. Reluctantly, Yin Qing gave up the cores he held.

Li Fan noticed that Yin Qing had secretly kept a few for himself, perhaps believing he’d gone unnoticed or assuming Li Fan wouldn’t care much.

Li Fan chose not to dwell on it, gathered the Demon Cores, and handed them to Liu Ji, saying, "Follow them."

"Brother Xiao Fan plans to chase after Xiao Mo and the others?" Han Zong’s expression grew heavy. "The Wanxiang Sect is a major power, and these demon beasts likely belong to the Tiger Demon Mountain Lord. It’s highly probable they’re headed to seek him..."

"Brother Han, you all should go to Chuzhou City first. I’ll proceed on my own." Li Fan spoke and departed, not waiting for their response.

He had let the Wanxiang Sect group escape expressly for the demons backing them. Such a lead couldn’t go to waste.

That Tiger Demon was a Four Realm Great Demon—in league with another of the same level.

*As far as Li Fan knew, back at Li Mountain, the Old Blind Man and Senior Sister had shown considerable kindness toward Liu Ji. Her cultivation level had grown drastically since then; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so obediently following him now.*

"We’ll wait for you down the road." Han Zong replied. Since Li Fan seemed so confident, he probably had a trump card. Instead of aiding him, they’d likely become liabilities.

The group split up, and Li Fan set out on horseback alongside Liu Ji, pursuing Xiao Mo and the others. Although Xiao Mo’s group had left some time ago, with Liu Ji around, it wasn’t a big issue.

"Brother Xiao Fan is surely no ordinary person." Han Zong remarked as he watched Li Fan’s distant figure disappear from sight.

Li Fan was a Sword Cultivator. Behind him might even stand a Condensed Core Realm Great Sword Cultivator.

*Who in Chuzhou’s territory could such a Great Sword Cultivator be?*

Han Zong hadn’t considered Li Mountain. The situation here differed significantly from Lin’an County back then. Lin’an County was near Li Mountain, and the Court’s plan to suppress Li Mountain had been widely disseminated among the upper circles of Lin’an. The forces sent to Fulong Manor at that time knew the Court’s actions were directed toward Li Mountain.

But this location, near Chuzhou City, was far from Li Mountain and distant from that particular turmoil.

......

On a mountain trail, Lv Qin followed Xiao Mo and his group, winding further upward.

"Brother Xiao, is this the road to Chuzhou City?" Lv Qin asked, a hint of doubt in her tone. Relying on others for shelter, she had hesitated before speaking up.

If they were headed to Chuzhou City, shouldn’t they be descending the mountain? Why did it feel like they were climbing higher?

"Of course not." Xiao Mo looked at her and replied.

Lv Qin felt her heart sink but worked hard to remain composed as she softly pressed further, "Brother Xiao, where are we going then?"

"Up the mountain." Xiao Mo responded with a smile.

"Why are we going up the mountain?" Lv Qin’s unease deepened. "Wasn’t Uncle Sun asking Brother Xiao to escort us to Chuzhou City?"

Xiao Mo cast a mocking glance toward Lv Qin, his gaze shifting briefly to the bundle she held in her arms.

Seeing Xiao Mo’s unrestrained expression, Lv Qin’s heart plunged into the depths of despair.

"Are you referring to Commander Sun?" Xiao Mo said as he stared at Lv Qin. "Your father truly doesn’t know what’s good for him. Having obtained such a treasure, he should have obediently handed it over. Attempting to trade it for cultivation resources—who does he think he is?"

The nearby Wanxiang Sect members all sneered as they regarded Lv Qin. In this moment, Lv Qin felt no more than a lamb waiting for slaughter. Her face turned deathly pale.

"Sister, what do they mean?" Lv Qi asked, looking up at his elder sister.

Lv Qin bit her lip, trembling as she extended her hand. "Brother Xiao, I’ll give you the item. Can you spare us?"

She wasn’t foolish—how could she not see the dire circumstances they were in?

Her father had obtained a treasure and sought to exchange it with an old friend for useful cultivation resources. Yet here they were, inviting calamity instead!

The siblings had hoped to seek refuge but found betrayal.

As Xiao Mo took possession of the bundle, Lv Qin hesitated to release it. Xiao Mo raised his head and shot her a cold glance, prompting her to let go.

Xiao Mo secured the bundle, intending to hand it over to Commander Sun.

Of course, he wouldn’t leave empty-handed—he too would benefit handsomely from this endeavor.

"Brother Xiao..." Lv Qin began.

"Shut up." Xiao Mo’s icy gaze swept over her, silencing her instantly. She trembled faintly, deeply regretting her actions.

The group reached a stronghold on the mountain, making Lv Qin’s heart sink further with each step.

This region was infested with demons.

And Xiao Mo seemed quite familiar with them.

Even her steed shook with fear, sensing the many demon eyes fixed upon it. Lv Qin felt overwhelmed as tears threatened to spill out—she was terrified...

"Nephew Xiao has arrived." From the clearing ahead, a towering figure strode forward, resembling a human but with the word "King" marked upon his forehead.

"Mountain Lord." Xiao Mo dismounted and bowed respectfully.

"Nephew, no need for courtesy. Has the item been secured?" the Tiger Demon asked.

"It has." Xiao Mo nodded. "I’ll proceed to Chuzhou City to deliver it to Commander Sun. Many thanks to Mountain Lord for the help."

"A trifling matter. I shall rely on Commander Sun and Mr. Xiao for future favors." The Tiger Demon replied, aware of the delicate balance required to avoid extermination by securing alliances and resources.

"As for these two, they’re yours to enjoy, Mountain Lord." Xiao Mo gestured toward the Lv siblings.

"Brother Xiao, I beg you to spare us!" Lv Qin dropped to her knees with a thud, her composure entirely unraveling. She kowtowed both to Xiao Mo and the Tiger Demon. "Please, Mountain Lord, grant us mercy!"

"The girl’s not bad." The Tiger Demon nodded approvingly before turning away. Moments later, he returned with a package and handed it to Xiao Mo. "This is for you, Nephew Xiao."

"Thank you, Mountain Lord." Xiao Mo accepted it understandingly. "With that, I’ll take my leave."

"Very well, I won’t see you off." The Tiger Demon nodded.

Lv Qin collapsed to the ground, her eyes brimming with despair.

"Hmm?"

At that moment, the Tiger Demon’s gaze grew fierce, his jaws opening as a low growl escaped. In the distance, a streak of sword aura emerged.

Xiao Mo halted, turning his attention forward. Two figures appeared, walking toward them at an unhurried pace. Leading the pair was the youth he’d encountered not long ago—the one holding a sharp blade.

"You’re still alive?" Xiao Mo stared at Li Fan. Had this youth killed all the demons?

Li Fan’s companions—Han Zong and the others—weren’t with him, meaning this teenager had done it alone?

*His age...*

"Who are you?" Xiao Mo demanded, his suspicions mounting as he realized the boy might be extraordinary.

"Brother Xiao Fan!" Lv Qin cried out like someone grasping at a lifeline. "Brother Xiao Fan, save me..."

She was convinced he had come for her rescue.

"Boom." The Tiger Demon stepped forward, fixing his gaze on Li Fan. "Where are my subordinates?"

"Tiger Demon." Li Fan studied the Mountain Lord before him, absorbing its ferocious energy. Its Demon Core would surely be quite nourishing.

As the surrounding demons lunged at Li Fan, he drew his sword. The blade erupted into dazzling brilliance, shooting forth.

The radiant sword light sliced through the air—blood splattered everywhere, and the demons fell one after another.

"A Sword Cultivator." Xiao Mo’s expression turned grim. "Sir, there seems to be some misunderstanding. I am Xiao Mo, Young Master of the Wanxiang Sect. Might..."

His words were cut short as Li Fan stepped forward like a lightning bolt. Xiao Mo tried to retreat, but the sword light reached his throat in an instant.

Clutching his neck, Xiao Mo stared at Li Fan in disbelief before collapsing to the ground, eyes wide open—even in death.

The remaining Wanxiang Sect members stared at Xiao Mo’s lifeless corpse in shock.

"Mountain Lord," they shouted, turning toward the Tiger Demon. The beast roared ferociously, revealing its true form. Lv Qin felt her courage shatter; her younger brother fainted outright.

The oppressive aura tightened around them as the Tiger Demon swung its massive claw toward Li Fan. The claw was larger than a man.

But then, a flash of movement revealed an enormous green serpent descending between Li Fan and the beast—it was coiled tightly around the Tiger Demon, radiating wisps of golden light.

"A Great Demon..." The Wanxiang Sect members turned pale, scampering back as Li Fan swiftly moved through them. Sword aura danced around him, and they soon lay lifeless in pools of blood.

Li Fan swiftly cleared out the surrounding demons before turning his gaze toward Liu Ji and the Tiger Demon locked in combat. The intensity of their battle destroyed the stronghold, though the Tiger Demon remained on the defensive throughout.

It wasn’t long before the green serpent wrapped itself entirely around the Tiger Demon, sinking its fangs deep into its neck. The Tiger Demon let out one last dreadful howl before its massive form collapsed.

Having slain the Tiger Demon, Liu Ji reverted to her human form, licking her lips and silently retreating behind Li Fan.

"Is the young master satisfied?" Liu Ji asked with a seductive smile.

Li Fan ignored her, focusing instead on harvesting the Demon Core.

Liu Ji cast a disdainful look at the crumpled Lv Qin on the ground, taking the bundle from Xiao Mo’s corpse—it was now part of their spoils.

*Li Fan’s quiet servant was herself a Great Demon, capable of killing the Mountain Lord.*

Lv Qin’s terror-stricken eyes now understood Li Fan’s power. "Brother Xiao Fan, the treasure was my father’s finding—it’s yours now. Can you take us with you?" she begged.

Liu Ji shot Lv Qin a scornful glance. Though a demon herself, she despised people like this.

Lv Qin had barely escaped death by the Mountain Lord, the treasure already claimed by Xiao Mo—and now she spoke of "gifting" it?

"This treasure buys one life. Between you and your brother, whose life will you trade?" Li Fan asked coldly after finishing with the Demon Core.

"I..." Lv Qin didn’t hesitate for a moment, not even sparing a glance at her unconscious younger brother beside her.

"Brother Xiao Fan, I’ll serve as your maid, attending to your every need. Whatever you wish, I’ll comply." Lv Qin said, her eyes filled with desperate hope as she looked toward Li Fan.

Li Fan’s gaze darkened with disgust as he started walking away. To Liu Ji, he said, "Bring her brother."

"Yes, young master." Liu Ji moved to take Lv Qi and followed Li Fan.

"No..." Lv Qin cried out, chasing after them.

Neither paid her any mind, riding away on horseback as she continued to run frantically behind.

*Lv Qin was a victim of the demons, and Li Fan had initially felt some pity for her, giving her a chance.*

*But some people simply weren’t worthy of sympathy...*

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