Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 82 - 81: Leading the Horse on Foot

Chapter 82: Chapter 81: Leading the Horse on Foot

The old man’s gaze rested on Li Fan. Compared to the Cui family disciples, he knew far more about the situation.

Not long ago, the court led various forces to Li Mountain, only to suffer a defeat.

It was said that during the battle on Li Mountain, the Li Mountain Sword Master appeared, killing Lingxiao Pavilion’s Wang Daoxuan with a single stroke. Since then, no news had come out from Lingxiao Pavilion.

The participating forces were all tight-lipped, avoiding the topic altogether. Xu Bin, the Prefect of Chu State, died at Li Mountain, and several groups from Chuzhou that had participated in the conflict managed to escape back, now living in constant fear.

Although Li Mountain remained quiet, who could say if it might retaliate?

Now, with a Li Mountain disciple showing up in Chuzhou City, what did this signify?

*Was this a signal, a warning, perhaps?*

Yet, why did they come to the Cui family and not the Chen family?

The Cui family, with its millennial legacy, had chosen not to involve itself in the campaign against Li Mountain, unwilling to gamble on the prospect; even if everyone believed the court would destroy Li Mountain, what if the unforeseen occurred?

*And now, the unforeseen had indeed occurred.*

Nonetheless, though Li Mountain was formidable, the Cui family had not participated in the campaign, which meant that no blame could be pinned on their family.

So, this Li Mountain disciple showing up at the Cui estate clearly wasn’t on behalf of Li Mountain.

Even if Li Mountain was lofty, a mere disciple arriving at the Cui estate to kill... it seemed far too disdainful of their family’s honor.

"What business is my Cui family’s private affairs to you?" the old man said coldly, his tone sharp. He rebuked, "Li Mountain Sword Cultivator, known for slaying demons and banishing evil, yet you misuse Li Mountain’s name to trespass into my Cui estate and kill! Does anyone from Li Mountain’s senior leadership know of this?"

Li Fan looked up at the old man. Li Hongyi had come seeking her mother but was humiliated by the Cui family, barred from entering the premises, referred to as a bastard child, and then injured.

He had accompanied Li Hongyi here only to be insulted by the guards, who had threatened to kill him if he took a single step forward, without even allowing them the chance to speak.

*He refused to believe the Cui family’s guards were unaware of Li Hongyi’s identity. Surely, the core members of the Cui family must have known.*

*She had come looking for her mother—what mistake was there in that? Why should she be humiliated or injured?*

*Did the Cui family seriously believe this wasn’t an act of bullying?*

Now, when he had invoked Li Mountain’s name to enter the estate, this old man wanted to start reasoning with him?

Li Fan stared coldly at the old man. Did anyone from Li Mountain’s leadership know of this?

*It didn’t need their approval.*

"My friend, Li Hongyi—her father, Li Daoqing, is my elder. We didn’t come here to seek favor from your Cui family nor to curry favor with you. We came here with only one simple request: to let my friend meet her mother." Li Fan pointed to Li Hongyi beside him.

"Where is her mother?" Li Fan asked as he raised his gaze.

Li Hongyi also lifted her head, looking at the Cui family elder.

The Cui family had smeared her reputation, claiming she was here to seek favor, but now Li Fan had spoken on her behalf to clear her name. She only wanted to find her mother.

The old man continued to stare at Li Fan, ignoring his question. Instead, he called out, "Cui Yin."

A young man stepped forward from behind him.

"The Li Mountain Sword Cultivator is famous across the world—go and experience his skills," the old man said, his gaze remaining fixed on Li Fan.

He wanted to see how much weight this Li Mountain disciple carried within Li Mountain.

Judging his strength would reveal his standing.

If Li Fan’s strength was weak, then he certainly wouldn’t hold much weight within Li Mountain.

"Alright," Cui Yin said as he stepped forward. His figure leaped and landed on the ground. Mana surged from his body, instantly covering him with radiant light, shielding him from wind and rain.

Cui Hao retreated to the side. From the moment Li Fan had invoked Li Mountain’s name, this was no longer an affair he qualified to involve himself in.

Cui Yin’s rank far exceeded his own.

As Cui Yin advanced toward Li Fan, his aura grew stronger with each step.

"Boom..." A dazzling beam of thunderous light exploded, as mana raged. Above Cui Yin’s head appeared a radiant Thunder Spear that glowed brilliantly. The thunder in the sky seemed as though summoned, its power gathering on the spear and emitting an awe-inspiring gleam.

Cui Yin himself was bathed in the thunder’s might. As he extended his hand, the dharma form in the sky dove downwards, landing in his palm. Thunderous power swirled in his grip.

Li Fan remained seated atop his horse, looking up at the old man. "We came here to find her mother, yet you wish to test my sword?"

*Why must something so simple be made overly complicated?*

*What secrets was the Cui family concealing, and what had happened to Li Hongyi’s mother?*

*Li Fan felt an uneasy premonition. If Li Hongyi’s mother was indeed the Cui family’s legitimate daughter and unharmed, then given he had already announced his identity and his connection to Li Mountain, they shouldn’t have blocked him.*

Li Fan lowered his gaze to Cui Yin in front of him and asked, "I’ll give you one chance to reconsider. Are you certain you want to test my sword?"

"Arrogant!" the Cui family elder sneered coldly as he heard Li Fan’s words. The surrounding Cui family disciples all glared at Li Fan, their faces showing anger.

*Even if he was a Li Mountain disciple, how could he be so insolent?*

Cui Yin was one of the brightest talents of the Cui family’s younger generation, blessed with exceptional aptitude. He practiced both martial arts and spells, mastering the true essence of the Cui family’s Thunder God Spear Arts, and was at the Mid Nascent Soul Stage while simultaneously at the Martial Arts Innate Realm.

In contrast, Li Fan’s aura, while clearly that of a Sword Cultivator, seemed only at the Early Stage Nascent Soul. For him to speak so arrogantly was indeed excessive.

Cui Yin took a glance at Li Fan, his eyes flickering with thunderous light. The heavenly thunder descended, merging into the Thunder Spear and causing it to erupt with brilliant lightning. His aura intensified further, making him appear as though a Thunder God had possessed him.

The white horse beneath Li Fan grew agitated with unease. Li Fan leaped off the horse, landing gracefully on the ground. From behind him, the sword at his left side emerged from its sheath. He extended his hand, gripping the sword tightly; an aura of Sword Intent radiated from him.

"How sharp is the Li Mountain Sword?" Cui Yin asked with a loud voice, his tone booming with the power of thunder. As the last syllable left his mouth, his body lunged forward. Though he had yet to fully close the distance, the spear was already raised, thrusting forward as it unleashed explosive peals of thunder from its tip.

The spear in Cui Yin’s hands was imbued with the true essence of thunder.

In the instant Cui Yin’s spear moved, Li Fan’s body shifted as well. Spells enveloped him as he moved like a breeze, his Sword Intent igniting in a flash. Within moments, his Sword Aura soared to the skies.

The spear struck; the sword responded.

"Boom..." A dazzling thunderous light burst forth, as if intent on obliterating all enemies in its path. Yet accompanying the thunderous light was blood.

The Cui family members only saw a streak of sword light, then the thunderous radiance dissipated, and the spear sailed out of Cui Yin’s grasp, clattering to the ground.

Li Fan and Cui Yin had crossed paths. Blood dripped from Li Fan’s sword.

Cui Yin, clutching his arm, revealed that his right hand—the hand that had been wielding the spear—was severed, blood spilling uncontrollably.

"You dare be so reckless!"

The Cui family elder’s face darkened immensely as he witnessed the scene, letting out an enraged yell, stepping forward, and hovering midair. An overwhelming pressure erupted from him, accompanied by an intense Spear Intent that loomed over Li Fan’s head.

Li Fan raised his eyes, glancing at the elder, his gaze sharp as a blade. From him surged an intense and terrifying Sword Intent, instantly blanketing the surrounding area and enveloping everyone present.

The elder’s expression froze, recognizing it as Condensed Core Realm Sword Intent.

His gaze fixated on Li Fan, fists clenched tightly.

"You asked him to test my sword, yet now you’re the one angry?" Li Fan said, raising his head to look at the elder, his voice as sharp as his blade.

*Did they want to test his sword before deciding how to handle him?*

*If his sword hadn’t proven sharp enough, would they have expelled him from the Cui family estate?*

"I gave him the chance. Now that the sword has been tested, can she meet her mother?" Li Fan pressed further, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the elder. From the moment he had entered, he had understood that peaceful resolutions were impossible; he would need to force his way through.

The elder simply glared at Li Fan, offering no response.

"If that’s the case, I’ll have to find her myself. Anyone who tries to stop us will face the consequences," Li Fan said as he turned back to Li Hongyi, walking over to her side. He didn’t mount his horse again but instead led hers forward, continuing to advance.

"Even as a Li Mountain disciple, even with a single Sword Intent to your name, don’t you fear my Cui family handing you over to the court, now that Li Mountain is at odds with it?" the elder shouted furiously from behind him, anger boiling over.

How dare a mere youth act so recklessly within the Cui estate?

Li Fan furrowed his brow, pausing his steps. He glanced at Li Hongyi beside him and softly said, "She just wants to meet her mother."

*Something so simple...*

"As for what you just said, I don’t want to hear it a second time," Li Fan said slowly. "Or perhaps you truly believe I possess only one Sword Intent?"

With that, he continued leading the horse forward, leaving the elder frozen in place.

What Li Fan had just displayed was the Sword Intent of a Five Realms Sword Cultivator.

*Could he also possess the Sword Intent of the Sixth, or even Seventh Realm Sword Cultivators?*

The raindrops fell on the old man’s shoulders, striking a chill into him. Perhaps... perhaps a Li Mountain Sword Cultivator didn’t need to step in for this youth.

Even with the Cui family’s millennial legacy, they truly couldn’t take on a single young disciple from Li Mountain.

No matter how exalted the Cui family’s status, how could they dare offend someone from Li Mountain?

The court might be able to deal with Li Mountain, but could the Cui family?

Li Fan continued leading the horse forward. Li Hongyi sat atop it, watching the boy leading her mount. Her eyes grew misty—she couldn’t be sure if it was from the rain or her tears.

*Her father must have risked everything to ensure he could accompany her here.*

*He had come with her, even leading her horse.*

"Miss Li, why are your eyes red?" Li Fan asked with a smile.

"Rain got into them." Li Hongyi glared at Li Fan. This guy—he already knew the answer.

"Oh," Li Fan said. He had thought she was touched.

"Won’t this bring trouble for you?" Li Hongyi asked, recalling the elder’s words. With Li Mountain’s break from the court, Li Fan openly identifying himself as a Li Mountain disciple in Chuzhou City could spell disaster if the court found out...

"Don’t worry. Li Mountain knows I’m here in Chuzhou City," Li Fan replied.

Li Hongyi nodded when she heard this. If Li Mountain knew, then surely there wouldn’t be any issues.

Li Mountain was so exalted, it would naturally protect Li Fan.

The two moved onward into the Cui estate. A pathway lay ahead of them, flanked by architecture on either side. Shadows gradually appeared in the distance, with hostile gazes fixed upon Li Fan.

Li Fan ignored them entirely, silently leading the horse forward.

Cui family members ahead seemed restless, their eyes glued to Li Fan. For their millennial family, being intruded upon by a youth in such a disrespectful manner was utterly disgraceful.

Some stood poised to block Li Fan’s path, but a stern and ancient voice suddenly rang out from afar: "Let them pass."

Those who had been ready to obstruct the path stopped abruptly upon hearing the voice. Not daring to go against it, they stood aside, helplessly watching as Li Fan led his horse past them. He marched onward, heading toward the inner sanctum of the Cui estate.

No one from the Cui family dared stop them anymore!

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