Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 141 - 137: Attack

Chapter 141: Chapter 137: Attack

The cry of the White Deer stirred a brief commotion, but it quickly settled down.

With Bai Lu Academy overseeing everything, coupled with the White Deer Formation in place, the crowd remained unperturbed even if a Great Practitioner were to arrive. After all, if Bai Lu Academy couldn’t resolve the issue, then worrying about it would be futile.

A few days later.

Under the night sky, Li Fan meditated with his eyes closed, starlight cascading down as he sat cross-legged, bathed in its glow.

In his Sea of Consciousness, the Sword of the Great Tao hovered above the sky, ancient and enigmatic. Countless symbols flowed around as Li Fan’s Divine Soul shadow meditated before the Sword of the Great Tao.

At that moment, radiant starlight surged from the Sword of the Great Tao toward him, a torrent of immense power flooding into his Sea of Consciousness. Li Fan’s Divine Soul shadow grew more dazzling, resembling a corporeal form.

Within the courtyard, Li Fan, immersed in cultivation, opened his eyes. A surge of exhilaration coursed through him as starlight swirled across his body, his vitality raced, and a faint shadow from the sky seemed to merge with his physical form, releasing an invisible Sword Intent.

His cultivation broke through into the late stage of the Soul Emergence Realm.

Li Fan opened his eyes, sword light flickering.

The next realm would be Foundation Establishment.

Once this period of turmoil passed, he planned to venture into Yun Meng Swamp again to hunt Demon Cores and refine his strength to challenge the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm would mean he had a semblance of capital.

The first three realms of cultivation served as a threshold; the limit for most ordinary individuals. The vast majority of cultivators within the Da Li Dynasty remained within these three realms.

The Foundation Establishment Realm, as the name implied, was the foundation of the Great Tao, the starting point of the Da Dao, formally entering the second stage of cultivation. This stage already eliminated most cultivators, granting those within the Da Li Dynasty a certain degree of recognition.

Ascending to the Five Realms, the Condensing Pill stage, marked one’s entry into the ranks of the strong.

At the Sixth Realm, beings like the Peacock Demon King and that elder of the academy existed. Within the Da Li Dynasty, they were considered Great Practitioners, members of the upper echelons of the pyramid, revered wherever they went.

The Seventh Realm... Master Wu Tong, along with Senior Brothers Mo Yang and Ji Hua, belonged to this realm. They were the pinnacle of cultivators, standing at the apex of the Da Li Dynasty.

As for the Eighth Realm, Li Fan hadn’t heard of anyone having reached it.

Could his master be in that realm? Did the Da Li Dynasty’s royal family have someone of this caliber overseeing them?

"Now that my Divine Soul strength has improved again, once I reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, my Primordial Spirit can traverse the day," Li Fan thought as his Primordial Spirit emerged, rising swiftly above the courtyard.

White Deer Street bustled with activity, its lights shimmering brightly as a gentle breeze brushed through, bringing comfort.

"Hmm?"

Just then, Li Fan’s Primordial Spirit seemed to sense something unusual. He glanced toward a specific direction and spotted a figure walking in an alleyway on White Deer Street. Seemingly ordinary, yet Li Fan felt a strange unease.

Returning his Primordial Spirit to his body, Li Fan enveloped himself in a gentle breeze, soaring into the air as his golden eyes scanned the area. He noticed a cloud of Demon Energy atop the individual’s head.

"A demon."

Demons appearing on White Deer Street were not uncommon; after all, many humans harbored demonic traits—like Liu Ji, for instance.

However, this particular demon exuded dense Demon Energy—it was a Fourth Realm demon.

What truly caught Li Fan’s attention was the direction the figure was heading—the location of Ji Feng’s courtyard.

A few days ago, following the White Deer’s cry, Liu Ji had sought advice from Mr. Qu, who instructed her to ask if Li Fan was willing to relocate to the academy. A Great Demon had entered White Deer Street, potentially targeting him.

Li Fan hadn’t gone to the academy, trusting the White Deer Formation’s capabilities. Against top-tier Great Demons, the Divine Deer would respond, preventing them from stealthily infiltrating.

However, with the Great Demon retreating that day, this time, it’s a Fourth Realm demon entering?

If the target was Ji Feng, then it truly was after him.

Realizing this, Li Fan descended to the courtyard, quickly donning a black robe and mask before leaving the premises.

That day, he had inadvertently used Ji Feng’s name.

If this caused harm to Ji Feng, it would be his fault, against his wishes.

Although Ji Feng was an idler, he wasn’t a bad person. While they weren’t close friends, they shared a connection. Li Fan couldn’t bear to let Ji Feng die in his stead.

Night had fallen, yet White Deer Street remained bustling and lively.

Within Ji Feng’s courtyard, he practiced swordsmanship. These days, he was somewhat frustrated. Rumors had spread about him being the mysterious expert. He was baffled but also felt a certain pressure and had begun diligently cultivating for the first time.

If he truly were that mysterious expert, he’d certainly embrace it. To rise to fame in a single day—what a magnificent triumph. Ji Feng could roam freely afterward. Alas, he didn’t possess the talent.

"What breeze is blowing today?" Ji Xue remarked coldly upon seeing Ji Feng practicing cultivation.

For reasons unknown, she had been irritated lately. The more she looked at Ji Feng, the less she liked him, feeling an urge to beat him up.

"Ji Xue, mind your own business," Ji Feng retorted bluntly. That day, he had been inexplicably beaten, yet Ji Xue hadn’t apologized.

"I’ll write to the family requesting your return to Jiangzhou City," Ji Xue said coolly.

"Ji Xue, don’t push it," Ji Feng replied. "During that day when I introduced you to Brother Yang, you acted all aloof and superior, only for Brother Yang to reject you. Now you’re venting your resentment on me?"

Ji Xue: "???"

Ji Xue stormed forward.

"What are you doing?" Ji Feng aimed his sword at her. "Stay back."

"Ji Feng, you’re courting death." Ji Xue’s face turned frosty as she drew her sword.

"Ji Xue, you’re insane." Ji Feng shuddered slightly. She was truly crazy.

Just as Ji Xue was about to strike, a loud explosion erupted outside the courtyard. A shout boomed, "Who are you?"

Ji Xue abruptly turned to look outside; it was Uncle Zhang’s voice.

Ji Xue sprinted outward, Ji Feng close behind.

As they reached the outer courtyard, a harrowing scream pierced the air. They saw Uncle Zhang’s body impaled by sharp claws, blood dripping down. Struggling, he turned his head to look at Ji Xue and Ji Feng, croaking, "Miss, run."

"Uncle Zhang..." Ji Xue froze, a chilling sensation enveloping her. Though Uncle Zhang appeared to be a mere coachman, he was in fact a Fourth Realm cultivator assigned to protect them.

In the darkness, the one who killed Uncle Zhang had piercing eyes glowing with a demonic light. His hand had morphed into razor-sharp claws—a demon’s appendages.

"Run, Ji Xue!"

Ji Feng shouted at his stunned sister, grabbing her and bolting toward the inner courtyard.

Uncle Zhang was dead; they were undoubtedly outmatched.

Moreover, the opponent dared wreak havoc on White Deer Street, clearly uninhibited by consequences.

Ji Xue snapped out of it and joined Ji Feng in fleeing. The demon coldly glanced at the pair, moving swiftly to chase them into the inner courtyard.

"We can’t escape," Ji Xue thought, feeling an icy chill pierce through her being. She suddenly pivoted, her sword flashing in the dark. Sword Aura surged as she struck at the charging figure.

"Go," Ji Xue commanded as she wielded her sword.

Ji Feng froze, his earlier anger replaced by an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

*Ultimately, blood ties triumph.*

Ji Xue’s strike was caught directly by the demon, her Sword Aura roaring, yet it failed to harm him.

"Run!" Ji Xue shouted again, Sword Intent erupting from her brow—a dazzling burst of light.

The demon swung his fist at the Sword Seed, repelling it with force. He then stepped forward, aiming a punch at Ji Xue’s head.

Ji Xue raised her sword to block, but the punch landed, bending the blade while sending her flying.

The demon’s claws transformed and struck toward her.

"Back off!" Ji Feng yelled, charging forward with his sword. The demon took him slightly more seriously, converting his claws into a punch to counter Ji Feng’s strike.

Ji Feng’s sword snapped instantly, his body hurled backward, leaving the demon slightly puzzled.

"So weak??"

"Are you Ji Feng?" the demon questioned, gazing at him.

"I am. If you’re after me, spare her," Ji Feng declared, stepping forward.

The demon seemed disappointed. Observing the young man, who appeared formidable that day, he realized Ji Feng was merely at the third realm—the Peacock’s words had overstated things. He could dispatch him with ease.

As the demon strode forward to finish the job, an overwhelming aura locked onto him. Startled, he looked up and saw the source, his pupils contracting.

Standing on the roof of the courtyard was a figure clad in a black robe and a silver mask, his robe rippling in the breeze. It was the same figure from the battlefield.

"Hmm?"

Another one?

Then who was this Ji Feng?

Noticing the demon’s hesitation, Ji Xue and Ji Feng also became puzzled. Following his gaze, their attention shifted to the rooftop, where the black-robed figure stood.

"Impressive," Ji Feng thought with admiration.

Li Fan held the "Tianxing" sword in his hand, channeling the Realm of Sword Dao Celestial. Sword Aura enveloped him, seemingly merging with the heavens and earth. At this moment, he was the embodiment of a drawn sword.

... [TRANSLATION CONTINUES]