Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 81 - 80: Is There Anything as High as Li Mountain?

Chapter 81: Chapter 80: Is There Anything as High as Li Mountain?

The fine rain fell steadily, clouds shrouding the sky above the Cui Family.

Li Fan rode his horse into the Cui Family estate. He raised his gaze, and ahead lay a grand avenue. Further beyond, rows of towering structures stretched high, with palatial buildings looming in the distance.

The grandeur of the elite family was palpable. This was the first time Li Fan truly felt it.

Though Li Mountain was one of the top forces in the Da Li Dynasty, its grandeur could not rival that of the Cui Family before him.

On the broad avenue ahead, a line of men wielding spears sprinted toward them. Though still distant, their overwhelming vitality surged forth like a wave.

This was merely the Cui Family’s outermost area, and those sprinting figures were only the estate’s peripheral guards.

Li Fan and his companion did not halt and continued riding forward. Soon, they met these figures. The horses under them neighed sharply, startled by the guards’ intense vitality.

The Cui Family specialized in spears, and their spear techniques were renowned across Chuzhou. Naturally, their chosen guards were skilled spear-wielders. Serving as guards for elite families not only ensured safety—rarely would anyone dare provoke them without substantial cause—but allowed access to cultivation resources. For instance, even guards for the Cui Family could learn spear techniques unavailable elsewhere.

Elite families controlled cultivation resources; even a small fraction could suffice for the cultivation needs of loose cultivators.

Meng Hong was one such loose cultivator. His cultivation had reached the latter stage of the Innate Realm, and his spear techniques were masterful. He oversaw the Cui Family’s peripheral areas.

When Meng Hong spotted Li Hongyi, he immediately recognized her. This woman had stirred quite the commotion on her last visit, claiming to be a daughter of the Cui Family. To his surprise, she had returned, this time accompanied by a man, riding directly into the Cui Family estate.

Li Fan carried a faint mana shield around him, forming a layer resembling a luminous veil that repelled raindrops from wetting his clothes. At a glance, he exuded elegance and poise.

*Youthful infatuation was normal, but to be lured by a woman into such reckless bravado, challenging the Cui Family’s might—it was sheer folly. Such young minds often acted on raw passion, blind to the dire consequences.*

"Can someone from the Cui Family come out and speak with us?" Li Fan sat astride his horse, gazing ahead as he posed the question.

"Kill."

Meng Hong paid him no heed and issued the command without hesitation.

In the Cui Family estate, trying to kill and yet demanding someone from the family come out for dialogue?

If Meng Hong left to fetch someone, his position in the Cui Family would end today.

A group of guards charged straight toward Li Fan, their vitality surging to terrifying levels. All were above the Grandmaster Realm, wielding spears as they sprinted. The intense killing intent seemed to halt the falling rain in its tracks.

Li Fan focused his thoughts, and instantly a terrifying Sword Intent soared skyward. Above, the heavens blazed with sword light, as countless swords formed of Sword Aura hovered, ringing sharply.

"A Sword Cultivator?" Meng Hong’s expression changed slightly as he sensed the keen edge of the aura. The man before him was actually a Sword Cultivator in the Soul Emergence Realm?

The Sword Aura roared. From the sky, the swords descended like bolts of lightning—each straight and lethal. In the curtain of rain, blood splattered as cries of agony echoed. Figures fell one by one, injured by the swords, throwing the scene into chaotic disarray in mere seconds.

Meng Hong stared intently at Li Fan, his figure suddenly darting forward like a beast. His vitality erupted, merging him with the surrounding heavens and earth. A powerful martial intent blasted forth as he dashed straight toward Li Fan.

The Li Hen Sword unsheathed, dividing into nine. With the first sword released, the air thundered with sonic booms.

"A mere Sword Cultivator, and one only in the earlier stage of the Soul Emergence Realm, dares to wreak havoc in the Cui Family estate?" Meng Hong roared, his voice booming like thunder. His spear, crackling with explosive force, lashed out like lightning, targeting the swords flying toward Li Fan.

Though martial artists of the same realm were inferior to Qi Cultivators—and even more so to Sword Cultivators—Meng Hong’s late-stage Innate Realm cultivation bridged the gap.

"Kill!"

His spear shot forth like thunder, colliding with the sword. A deafening explosion sounded as Meng Hong felt a terrifying force crash upon him, disrupting his spear stance.

The sword vibrated sharply, still intent on striking forward. Yet another sword flew from Li Fan’s direction, cutting through the storm like a streak of lightning.

Meng Hong screamed, his spear whipping around with a force like rolling thunder. Before him arose a screen of spear shadows, forming countless layers to block the third incoming sword. But just then, a third clang echoed, and yet another sword emerged from Li Fan.

"Bang..." The explosion reverberated, shattering the spear shadows as three swords whirled forth, attacking Meng Hong from different angles.

Meng Hong’s expression shifted drastically as his carefully orchestrated spear technique unraveled. Dodging the first sword, he managed to hold off the second by raising his spear defensively. His stance faltered, a cold sweat breaking out across his brow.

Suddenly, the shriek of a descending sword came from overhead. Meng Hong looked up just as the third sword plunged. With a sickening "thud," fresh blood sprayed into the rain, cascading down with the raindrops.

Li Fan willed his thoughts, and the swords returned to their scabbards.

Continuing forward on horseback, Li Hongyi followed beside him. On both sides, the Cui Family guards instinctively made way.

This was their duty, but even so, their lives were more precious. With Meng Hong slain on the spot, any attempt to block Li Fan now would only mean certain death.

As they watched the young Sword Cultivator’s retreating figure, realization dawned. This time, the girl scorned as the "Cui Family’s bastard" had brought a young man who was anything but ordinary.

They, too, were not here to die meaningless deaths.

A glance at Meng Hong’s corpse revealed the tragic truth: had Meng Hong seen Li Fan’s Sword clearly sooner, perhaps he wouldn’t have so needlessly sacrificed his life.

Li Fan pressed forward. A staircase loomed ahead, leading deeper into the Cui Family estate.

The two continued, riding up the steps and moving onward.

Buildings appeared to the left and right. Directly ahead, there was an open plaza; this was the Cui Family’s martial training ground.

At this time, many members of the Cui Family were gathering here, their gazes fixed forward, staring at the two figures riding horseback.

From the front and both sides, people continued converging, while on the rooftops, silhouettes flitted and stood atop the buildings, looking down at the scene below—all of them Cui Family disciples.

With roots stretching back millennia, the Cui Family was abundant in its members.

Their gazes lingered curiously on Li Fan, scrutinizing the Sword Cultivator youth.

Strong swordsmanship?

Here on behalf of that bastard?

Many turned their mocking eyes toward Li Hongyi, whose determination they ridiculed.

The Cui Family had disavowed her. Yet she still stubbornly caused scenes, dragging outsiders to the estate, utterly clueless.

While they understood there might be some background to this Li Fan, in Chuzhou, the number of forces capable of intimidating the Cui Family could be counted on one hand.

A cast-off rejected by the Cui Family—how could she possibly matter?

The rain seemed to intensify. Lightning flashed, followed by a deafening roar of thunder.

A young man wearing a cloud-patterned purple robe stepped forward. His hair was tied into a high crown, his features sharp and distinguished, with a lofty nose and opulent attire that showcased the refined demeanor of a noble family’s scion.

Many nearby fixed their gaze on this youth. This was Cui Hao, directly descended from the core lineage of the Cui Family.

Cui Hao gazed first at Li Fan, then at Li Hongyi, and spoke: "If the Cui Family disavows her, why seek humiliation by coming here?"

"I want to see my mother," replied Li Hongyi, her tone firm. Her greatest fear was that something had happened to her mother.

At all costs, she needed to see her.

"The Cui Family can disown her, but why prevent her from seeing her own mother and humiliate her in the process?" Beside Li Hongyi, Li Fan spoke, directly questioning Cui Hao.

Cui Hao studied Li Fan and replied, "The gates of the Cui Family are not open for just anyone. She wants to see her mother, and so we should oblige?"

Did they take the Cui Family estate as some common ground?

"You have forcefully breached the estate, slaughtered our guards, and rode through as if this is your domain. I presume you have some formidable backing. In Chuzhou, which faction emboldened you to act this way?"

Even within Chuzhou City itself, no force dared display such audacity toward the Cui Family. Even the esteemed Lord Governor visited the Cui Family with etiquette befitting dignitaries.

A thousand-year lineage, deeply rooted and richly storied.

What—or who—gave Li Fan such courage?

Cui Hao’s sharp gaze locked onto Li Fan.

Many surrounding eyes turned toward the youthful Sword Cultivator upon his horse, curiosity brimming.

The silent atmosphere amplified the sound of rain striking the ground.

Li Fan fixed his gaze on Cui Hao, his demeanor calm and composed. He spoke lightly: "Summon someone from the Cui Family who has authority to speak."

Cui Hao frowned briefly, then unexpectedly chuckled.

"I am someone who can speak for the family," Cui Hao said, staring at Li Fan.

He was curious—what response from Li Fan could save him from death?

"You?" Li Fan glanced at Cui Hao.

"I am," Cui Hao affirmed with a nod.

Li Fan’s gaze settled firmly upon Cui Hao as lightning streaked across the sky. The spectators held their breath, waiting silently for Li Fan’s response.

"Li Fan, of Li Mountain."

"Boom..." A thunderclap resounded across the heavens, reverberating within everyone’s hearts, causing an involuntary shudder.

Cui Hao froze momentarily, seemingly stunned by the thunder’s impact. His dazed expression shifted to shock as he stared at the figure ahead.

Li Mountain!

When Cui Hao recovered, his expression became unnervingly tense. Those simple words weighed heavily, like an insult inflicted upon him, leaving him momentarily uncertain how to proceed.

He seemed... out of his depth!

Before Lin’an, when Li Daoqing wielded his spear against a demon, Cui Hao had faced unknown danger and even death with unshaken resolve.

At that time, he remembered himself, kneeling outside the Cui Family gates, the moments of humiliation flashing in his mind. He thought of Li Hongyi’s plight—it seemed that, based on her father’s status alone, she would never meet her mother.

Li Fan’s arrival gave him hope.

The threshold of the Cui Family stood tall.

But... was it taller than Li Mountain?

The surrounding members of the Cui Family stood equally stunned, staring at the two figures in a stupor.

As one of Chuzhou’s elite families, how could the Cui Family not be familiar with Li Mountain?

Li Mountain—the most prestigious force of the Da Li Dynasty—even in decline, remained far beyond the reach of the Cui Family.

Li Mountain Sword Cultivators, the core of Li Mountain.

Li Hongyi, the forsaken bastard daughter of the Cui Family—how could she possibly know a Li Mountain Sword Cultivator?

From afar, figures streaked through the air, descending around the area. The arrivals included numerous elders whose eyes all focused intently on Li Fan.

Li Fan remained quiet, standing calmly in place. Clearly, these figures had long been observing the situation here; someone had entered the Cui Family estate on horseback, and they naturally were aware. Yet none had shown themselves until now.

If Li Fan failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, they wouldn’t need to intervene; his execution would suffice.

However, the weight of "Li Mountain" was something they understood better than anyone.

A disciple of Li Mountain had entered the Cui Family estate.

Luckily, he arrived mounted, rather than one of Li Mountain’s Great Sword Cultivators arriving atop their sword.

Above Li Fan on the rooftop ahead, an elder appeared. Cloaked in a long robe, the old man exuded a steady and powerful aura. His deep, inscrutable gaze locked onto Li Fan.

Behind him, several other figures appeared, likewise observing Li Fan.

Li Fan raised his eyes toward the elder and asked evenly, "You—can you speak for the family?"

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