Sword Aura to the Heavens-Chapter 415 - 410: Fame in Defeat

Amidst the crowd watching from above at White Jade, only one person's expression at this moment was not one of shock.

Instead, it was peculiar.

This person was the gentle and refined scholar, Mu Changqing.

Mu Changqing looked at Li Fan with increasingly strange eyes. It really looked a bit like...

Of all the people present, the one who had spent the most time with Li Fan and knew him best was not Lu Yuan, but Mu Changqing, as he had watched him grow up. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He had come to White Jade and naturally understood White Jade as well.

Not long ago, Yan Chong asked him if the sword cultivators of White Jade were unmatched in the world, and he immediately thought of one person, the young man destined to become the world's number one swordsman.

Heavenly White Jade, this is a force standing at the pinnacle of the Great Li Cultivation World, and only a few could stand shoulder to shoulder with it. If anyone could aspire to reach the peak of White Jade, not many in the Great Li World could achieve it.

There were naturally even fewer sword cultivators.

Those who practiced both martial arts and swordsmanship, well...

Mu Changqing's gaze shifted, glancing at Lu Yuan and Yue Qingqiu. Lu Yuan's face was masked, but the heroic bearing with the sword on her back made Mu Changqing wear a look of sudden realization.

Was he almost fooled by Junior Brother?

Where did Junior Brother learn this skill of changing appearance?

He didn't know how to before, either.

He looked again at the back figure on the staircase, reminiscing about the youthful days of the past.

In Li Mountain Village, the youth played with the village kids. He once asked, Junior Brother, what do you want to be in the future?

The youth replied, wanting to become a powerful sword cultivator.

How powerful?

Powerful enough to protect Senior Sister.

That indeed required great strength, he laughed.

Back then, the youth was still met with cold shoulders, hesitating to dream too far about the future, yet still wishing he could protect the Senior Sister who always protected him.

And now, the once young boy could already aspire to reach White Jade.

The proud figure made a gentle light flicker in his eyes; Junior Brother had grown up and should soon be able to protect Senior Sister.

Junior Brother came to challenge the path of White Jade, likely for the sake of Junior Wen.

Therefore, he must question the Way of White Jade.

Atop the staircase, Li Fan continued upward, step by step toward the top of the grand hall. He moved slowly; if White Jade intended to stop him, there was no point in rushing.

"What swordsmanship are you using?" At this moment, a voice resounded from the distant hall, causing numerous cultivators at White Jade to look toward that direction.

"Taibai Sword." They naturally knew who was asking. Guan Shanyue's master, ranking sixth on the Sword Saint List, possessed extensive knowledge of the Sword Dao in the Great Li World, far beyond the comprehension of most cultivators, especially in Sword Dao.

However, even with the Taibai Sword, they did not recognize the Sword Dao that Li Fan cultivated.

Could it really be the legacy of some secluded power, or perhaps an ancient and mysterious opportunity?

"Sword of Inquiry." Li Fan replied, still not answering the question.

"In this sword, multiple sword intents are integrated; this should be a sword that bursts forth from your fusion of insights in Sword Scripture, or perhaps this is still not your entirety." Taibai Sword spoke faintly.

Inside a grand hall, a figure in a white robe sat cross-legged, sword arrays surrounding the ground. With closed eyes, he perceived everything happening outside with clarity.

This young man seemed to be hiding his true sword.

So, who is he?

"Senior has keen insight." Li Fan replied.

"Given this, on the same realm at White Jade, I'm afraid no sword cultivator could defeat you." The voice of Taibai Sword resounded again, causing a tremor in the hearts of the cultivators at White Jade Academy.

However, they had anticipated Guan Shanyue's defeat, but hearing it directly from Taibai Sword still stirred them.

Li Fan looked toward the high grand hall and continued upward, his voice loud and clear: "Senior is mistaken."

"Oh?" Taibai Sword was puzzled.

"It's not just sword cultivators, Sixth Realm Early Stage, none can stop me; there's no need to test further." Li Fan said, such arrogant words rendered the whole of White Jade City silent, the eyes of the cultivators at White Jade swirling with battle intent.

He dare claim to be unmatched at White Jade!

"Heavenly White Jade, since I have come here to question the Way of White Jade, I naturally have my reasons. In this Great Li World, outside the court, there stands one mountain, one temple, one pavilion, one academy, the leaders of the cultivation world, and White Jade Academy is a place of teaching, revered as a sacred place by cultivators everywhere. Therefore, I wish to inquire about the Way of White Jade, on behalf of the Great Li Cultivation World, questioning the sacred way in the hearts of cultivators."

Li Fan's voice was clear and resonant, as if resonating with heaven and earth, touching quite a few cultivators below.

Representing the Great Li Cultivation World, to seek the Way.

White Jade Academy is regarded as a sacred place in the hearts of cultivators, a model within the cultivation world, which is why this is so important.

"There's some reason behind it, but it's truly arrogant." Yan Chong spoke faintly. He had dared to boast that no one in the White Jade Sixth Realm Early Stage could stop him.

However, it seems he already possesses such qualifications.

Yet, the most talented in White Jade Academy is not someone at the Sixth Realm Early Stage.

His gaze turned to Xiao Lv beside him, the top student of White Jade Academy, unmatched in Daoist Skill, with a Sword Dao that reaches the heavens. If he were to take action, even if suppressing his realm to match Li Fan's, he could still defeat him and curb his arrogance.

Seeing Yan Chong looking at him, how could Xiao Lv not know his intention? He smiled and shook his head, saying, "Sir, I am at the Peak of Dao Body Realm. Even if I suppress my realm, my understanding of the Dao surpasses his; it would still be somewhat unfair to him, winning without martial prowess."

Hearing Xiao Lv's words, Yan Chong nodded slightly, not pressing further. He understood that Xiao Lv was speaking the truth. With Xiao Lv's cultivation and talent, even if he won, it wouldn't mean much, and it wouldn't be honorable.

The people would say that to deal with a Sixth Realm Early Stage cultivator, White Jade Academy actually needed Xiao Lv to step in.

He then looked at An Zhiyao.

An Zhiyao's beautiful eyes flashed with a different color, as if pondering for a moment, she said, "I am also in the Middle Realm of Dao Body."

Evidently, she was also unwilling to overpower others with realm.

The Middle Realm of Dao Body, if suppressing the realm, wouldn't be too bullying to him, at least not as exaggerated as Xiao Lv taking action. However, since An Zhiyao was unwilling, he naturally couldn't force her.

The top talents of White Jade Academy have their pride.

"In this case, do we just watch him reach the peak?" Yan Chong said somewhat sullenly.

Now, he had to admit, that kid was very strong, Xiao Lv and An Zhiyao were both unwilling to take action, and it seemed indeed hard for anyone to stop him.

Just then, in the space above the White Jade Academy steps, in a great hall, a figure slowly walked out. He stood at the top of the steps, without descending, gazing at Li Fan, as if waiting there for him.

"It's him."

The eyes of the White Jade City Cultivators brightened, not expecting him to come out.

Yan Chong was also stunned for a moment, then smiled at Li Fan and said, "He came out at just the right time, with his willingness to fight, that kid ultimately won't be able to reach the top."

The most outstanding talents of White Jade Academy were three, namely Xiao Lv, An Zhiyao, and the figure appearing now.

After them were Guan Shanyue and Qin Baiyu.

However, like An Zhiyao, he was also in the Middle Realm of Dao Body, but that kid was indeed too arrogant. If he were really to ascend, it seemed White Jade Academy would also lose some face.

After all, this battle would certainly be discussed in the Great Li Cultivation World.

If Li Fan easily reached the top, then the entire White Jade Academy would become the backdrop for that young man's fame spreading across the world.

"Who is he?" Someone in the crowd below, not recognizing the one who appeared, couldn't help but ask.

"Li Dao Ya."

Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion's Liu Qingwu looked at that appearing figure with a serious expression: "There is little known about him outside; he is extremely low-key. He was brought to White Jade by the Mountain Chief as a child and has stayed in White Jade since, considered the Mountain Chief's direct disciple."

Everyone shuddered upon hearing this. Some had heard of this name—the one who followed the Mountain Chief for cultivation from a young age?

"Is his combat strength very strong?" Someone asked.

"I don't know." Liu Qingwu shook his head: "Even many in White Jade Academy might not know very well, but given that he's standing there, he must already be able to prove many things."

The crowd nodded upon hearing this, the Mountain Chief's direct disciple?

If so, the proud figure's path might indeed end here.

White Jade Academy wasn't too hard on him, only preparing three trials.

Passing the three trials, he could ascend to the top.

At this moment, Li Fan also looked up and saw Li Dao Ya's figure. The other had no aura about him, but just standing there casually was like a mountain.

Previously, neither Guan Shanyue nor Qin Baiyu gave him such a feeling.

Clearly, this person was stronger.

White Jade Academy, truly deserving of its reputation.

"Li Dao Ya, Middle Realm of Dao Body, I shouldn't intervene, but I will suppress my realm. If you can get past, you can inquire about the Dao of White Jade." Li Dao Ya's voice was very calm, as if speaking of something insignificant.

Li Fan nodded slightly, stepping upward. As he was nearing the top, he stopped and said to Li Dao Ya, "Make your move."

With his words, the wind blew, causing his clothes to flutter.

At this moment, Li Fan stood very high, people below all looked up at his silhouette, and also at Li Dao Ya's mountain-like stance.

"In this battle, even if he is defeated and knocked down the steps, it's still enough to gain fame throughout the world." Ye Yunke laughed aloud from below.

Few cultivators in this world dared to do what he did at White Jade.

Even fewer could come this far.

Though defeated, there is still honor.

One battle can bring fame.

"But, he doesn't seem to intend to lose." Beside, Mu Changqing murmured softly.

The inheritor of Li Mountain Sword Dao asking the Dao at White Jade, how can he lose?