Sword Aura to the Heavens-Chapter 450 - 445: Reunion

"Lifeless Sword?" The crowd of cultivators gathered around the tavern looked in confusion at Sun Daozu, whose face was filled with terror, and asked, "What is the Lifeless Sword?"

They had never heard of this Sword Dao.

"I have seen records in the family's espers, but even those documents question its existence. The so-called Lifeless Sword Dao means a sword born from nothing, a sword hidden within a sword, formless and traceless. However, such a sword dao defies the rules of Sword Dao; how could it really exist, let alone someone achieving it?"

Sun Daozu stared intensely at the young woman across from him. More than the physical pain of his injuries, the impact on his soul was stronger. How could someone possibly attain such a sword dao?

Even more terrifying, the one who achieved it was just a young girl.

This gave Sun Daozu a deep sense of defeat. After dedicating his life to refining swords, what was the purpose?

After cultivating to his age, he couldn't withstand a single strike from a young girl.

The crowd felt waves of emotion rise in their hearts as they looked at the excessively young female sword cultivator. Indeed, in this world, there are peerless talents unknown to them.

Today, they've seen one, and perhaps during the Capital's turmoil, they'll see others.

For instance, those two major forces deemed equal to Li Mountain are usually exceptionally discreet and reserved.

"Leave..." The female sword cultivator's cold gaze swept past Sun Daozu, addressing not only him but also those challengers surrounding them.

At that moment, those people felt a chilling Sword Intent descend upon them, as if the woman's sword could directly strike them again.

"What a cold woman," the surrounding crowd thought. Though this young woman stood right before them, she gave them a strong sense of distance.

This feeling was peculiar, not akin to the unattainable beauty of an ice-cold mountain nor of aloofness. Instead, it was an extreme repulsion against all external things, against everything in the world.

Although she stood there, she seemed to be utterly alone, out of place in this world.

Sun Daozu bowed to the young woman, then, his Sword Aura soared to the sky. A flying sword before him, Sun Daozu looked at his sword and said, "What face do I have to wield my sword?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a crisp sound echoed; his sharp sword broke and fell to the ground, and Sun Daozu turned to leave in the air, saying, "If I cannot break through the barriers, I shall never hold a sword again in this life."

Having refined swords to his current age, he could move only an inch forward. The Seven Realms lay close before him, yet it remains an impassable path.

And today, facing a young girl whose single strike could kill him, the impact was far more intense than brought by Li Fan or Jiang Taie. What face do I have to wield my sword?

Upon witnessing this, the crowd was emotional. Other individuals glanced at the young woman before also turning away; they were uncertain if they could withstand her blade.

"Young lady, with such a high talent in Sword Dao, whom did you apprentice under?" an elder asked, but the woman only glanced at him without answering, her eyes still conveying that sense of solitude.

Throughout her life, since her memories began, there was only the sword.

The elder did not say much more, though he was curious about who could nurture such a prodigy in Sword Dao.

Perhaps it's related to the Xuanyuan Sword, the world's number one sword who've entered the Capital?

Is she also here to challenge Li Fan for the sword?

Given her Sword Dao talent, this is quite a possibility.

The woman turned towards the tavern, hesitantly, faltering.

Her lifetime memories were few, but others were different. After so many years, does Brother Xiao Fan still remember her?

Inside the tavern, a figure in white walked out slowly, stopping opposite the woman.

In that instant, countless eyes were fixated upon them. Could this be a duel of peak swordsmanship?

The young woman recognized him with a single glance. After all, Li Fan had matured since their encounter years ago. His appearance hadn't changed much, mostly just gained maturity, and of course, his demeanor was greatly transformed.

The woman's body stiffened slightly, surprisingly nervous.

"Are you here to challenge the sword, young lady?" Li Fan asked, without recognizing her. He was also puzzled by her reaction, the woman didn't even dare to meet his eyes.

With lowered eyes, she seemed to gather courage before finally looking up at Li Fan, softly calling out, "Brother Xiao Fan."

Calling out seemed to exhaust her energy, the woman stood as stiff as a statue, nervous, anxious yet holding a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Would Brother Xiao Fan remember her?

The people around were stunned; Brother Xiao Fan??

Li Fan was equally taken aback, looking at her in surprise, for he seemed to have no sister.

Moreover, no one had ever addressed him this way.

Instantly, countless thoughts flooded his mind, recalling many faces.

Years ago, there had been a girl who called him Brother Xiao Fan.

Many years have passed, and she should have grown up by now, about the same age as the young woman before him, right?

A similar age, Sword Dao.

The old Daoist who took her away was also a sword cultivator.

"Qi?" Li Fan said softly.

The woman's body trembled slightly, the nervous and anxious gaze seemed to break into a light of hope; she looked up into Li Fan's eyes, her lonely gaze now bursting with an incredibly pure smile.

"Yes." Qi responded, and the surrounding crowd looked on at the unfolding scene in disbelief. That young woman who seemed to reject everything now bore a childlike, innocent smile.

Seeing the woman nodding, Li Fan's eyes revealed a gentle smile. He stepped forward, looking at the girl, gently brushing his hand over her head. Qi didn't shy away, merely gazing at Li Fan, tears welling in her eyes.

"Qi, you've grown so much." Li Fan said with slight bitterness. He certainly remembered Qi, the first acquaintance he met after entering the world. As a child, she had endured an Asura Purgatory before being taken away by the old Daoist.

How had she fared all these years?

What had she experienced in her exceptional Sword Dao to achieve mastery?

Qi bowed her head, allowing Li Fan's hand to stroke her head. Her body leaned slightly forward, resting perfectly on Li Fan's shoulder.

"Brother Xiao Fan, I missed you so much," Qi said softly. Still like a girl, in the years of isolation, the only person she held in her thoughts was Li Fan.

"Little Qi has become remarkable." Li Fan held the girl and said gently, able to sense Qi's genuine emotions.

Watching the two embrace, the surrounding crowd was amazed.

They initially thought that the exceptionally talented sword master had come to challenge for the sword. Unexpectedly, this extraordinary woman swordsman was so close to Li Fan...almost like siblings.

In front of Li Fan, the woman displayed none of the repulsion she showed others; they could only sense reliance.

She was indeed a young girl, only a young girl with extraordinary talent in Sword Dao.

"Qi, where did the old Daoist take you all these years?" After they separated, Li Fan asked Qi.

"The South Sea," Qi replied. "I've been cultivating on an island there."

"The South Sea..." Li Fan murmured. "Have you been on the South Sea Island all the time?"

"Yes." Qi nodded.

Li Fan looked at the girl with some heartache; he'd learned a bit about what happened over the years. The old Daoist took Qi away, claiming he would give him a sword.

This sword was Qi.

Yet, for Qi, it was somewhat cruel. This isn't what Li Fan had wished for.

"What about the old Daoist?" Li Fan asked.

"He's here too," Qi replied.

"He..." Li Fan, hearing Qi's phrasing, understood that Qi had not taken the old Daoist as a master, otherwise she wouldn't use this term to refer to him.

"So, the strongest entity on the Sword Saint List has entered the Capital." Li Fan mused inwardly.

In such a situation, should a great battle erupt, if the Saint within the Imperial Palace doesn't intervene, there might be no one able to contain it.

Their conversation, though not avoiding the crowd, left those surrounding them puzzled. Who exactly is this old Daoist? The one who taught the girl Lifeless Sword Dao?

But they'd never heard of any Sword Dao master specializing in the Lifeless Sword Dao.

As for the South Sea, at the southernmost end of Da Li's Endless Sea Territory, it's said there are Immortal Mountains overseas. Many cultivators from Da Li ventured out to explore, but most did not return alive.

The sea territory is filled with many Great Demons, especially the Southern Sea Territory, which remains undeveloped by Da Li. Perhaps great terrors lurk there; now fewer dare to venture into the depths of the Southern Sea Territory.

This girl dared to venture into that desolate sea territory, untouched by human cultivators. The island where she cultivated must also be desolate.

But the sword dao she cultivated...is it truly as the legend says, with the existence of overseas Immortal Mountains? Sword Dao Immortals in the Southern Sea, or perhaps Immortal Sword Scripture?

Otherwise, how could a girl of such age master such terrifying swordsmanship? The term "prodigy" hardly suffices to describe her.