CHAPTER 218: CHAPTER 214 BET

Mei Qingzhu sought Li Fan not out of deep enmity but merely to see how this madman, newly arrived in Chi Xiao City, might fare in the Xuanyuan Sword Dojo—how many swords he could inquire of.

This curiosity wasn’t limited to Mei Qingzhu; it was the question on everyone’s mind in Chi Xiao City.

Lu Yuan had inquired five swords. As for the madman Zuo Tu, who claimed he could command seven shares of the world’s sword destiny, the question lingered: how many swords would he dare to ask?

Li Fan raised his head to look at the Seven Inquiry Swords.

Each of the seven swords was no ordinary weapon; they assessed different manifestations of a Sword Dao Practitioner’s talent.

Seven swords, seven inquiries.

So, he came forward to test them one by one.

Sword Seed, Sword Intent, Swordsmanship, Sword Gall, Sword Bone, Sword Heart, Sword Soul.

As he lifted his gaze, a brilliant light ignited at the center of his brow. In his mind, the Sword Seed he had cultivated began to flicker and hum, resonating with one of the seven swords. In an instant, that sword perceived Li Fan’s Sword Seed and trembled uncontrollably, humming aloud.

The inquiry of the first sword was complete.

"Like Mei Qingzhu, he made the inquiry of the Seven Inquiry Swords, provoking their resonance without the need for battle." The crowd fixed their gaze on his poised figure, though they weren’t surprised. After all, this had been expected.

In their eyes, since Lu Yuan had achieved five swords, then with Zuo Tu’s undeniable talent, five inquiries should pose no problem.

If he couldn’t inquire five swords, he’d be considered unworthy.

Li Fan’s Sword Intent surged outward, wind and thunder roaring as his Sword Aura swirled. The second sword emitted a clear, vibrant hum.

With Sword Aura swirling before him, Li Fan reached out and gripped the hilt. Achieving Unity of Heaven and Man in a single thought, he unleashed his blade, slicing forward in radiant sword light. The third sword began to resonate in response.

Three swords rang as one, their harmony perfect and seamless.

This drew an increasingly serious look from the crowd. Even the second and third-ranked geniuses of the Green Cloud List had only managed to provoke resonance from three swords—but for Zuo Tu, the harmony of three swords seemed merely the beginning, an effortless feat.

Cang Yunxuan, too, had his eyes fixed on Li Fan, his expression grim.

Since the day Li Fan had appeared outside Shadow Bearing Sword Arena, his standing in Chi Xiao City had plummeted. First, Li Fan had carved inscriptions beside his own that overshadowed him entirely. Then, he had intercepted Li Fan’s entry into the dojo.

Unbeknownst to many, people had started comparing Cang Yunxuan to Li Fan.

The brighter Li Fan shone, the more Cang Yunxuan’s poise faded.

The harmony of three swords seemed so effortless.

Mei Qingzhu’s talent was known to him—if Mei Qingzhu had wished to become his master’s disciple, there would be no objections. Moreover, Mei Qingzhu hailed from the top lineage of Great Sword Cultivators, inheriting the prestigious legacy of the Mei Family.

And yet, Li Fan did not stop.

A subtle sound like a dragon’s roar emanated from within his body, his frame straight and sharp like a sword. His bones echoed with crisp, snapping sounds, as the dragon’s roar combined with the resonant hum of the sword.

The fourth sword trembled, then began to hum.

Li Fan had forged a Sword Bone of the highest grade.

Four swords now answered his call, matching the accomplishment of Ying Ze, the first-ranked genius of the Green Cloud List.

If Ying Ze were present, surely, this would unsettle him.

Sword Seed, Sword Intent, Swordsmanship, Sword Bone—four swords answered his inquiries.

Raising his eyes, Li Fan gazed upon the fifth sword and asked, "You seek my Sword Heart?"

As though mirroring Mei Qingzhu’s own method, Li Fan seemed to communicate with the sword, engaging in inquiry.

He stared at the blade, his Sword Heart pure and unclouded. The fifth sword radiated with brilliant light that spilled onto Li Fan’s form. Bathing in its luminescence, his Sword Intent coiled around him, unwavering.

Moments later, the fifth sword began to stir, resonating with a hum. He had now matched Lu Yuan and Mei Qingzhu, with inquiries for five swords answered.

Mei Qingzhu stood quietly by, her gaze tinged with subtle surprise.

This world truly breeds heroes like clouds—so young, having already surpassed Cang Yunxuan in inscriptions, and now, here in the Xuanyuan Sword Dojo, about to unveil unparalleled talent in the way of the sword?

Only one sword remained.

Were Li Fan to inquire of one more, he would surpass them all, achieving an unprecedented record.

The inquiry into six swords marked the highest historical achievement.

Li Fan’s momentum carried forward. Could he succeed?

Li Fan paced toward the seventh sword, standing at the center. Closing his eyes, his Primordial Spirit left his body, transforming into a blade that radiated an impossibly sharp aura. Within his mind, constellations and the Sword of the Great Tao converged, bursting forth as the Sword of the Primordial Spirit unleashed its energy. A storm of Sword Aura howled furiously, engulfing the area around him in a tempest.

The fearsome energy of Sword Dao rampaged violently, crashing onto the sixth sword, which trembled incessantly, singing its clear refrain.

"He’s done it."

The crowd erupted in a cacophony of astonishment and cheers.

Li Fan had equaled the historical record.

Even though they had anticipated the outcome—Lu Yuan had achieved five swords, and Lu Yuan’s closeness to Li Fan suggested his talents must surpass hers—six swords had been within reach.

Yet, this was still history.

Moreover, it was today’s apex.

The shadow Bearer inscriptions outside the Sword Arena surpassing Cang Yunxuan’s might have been attributed to chance or to particular aspects of his talents.

But today, within the Xuanyuan Sword Dojo, Li Fan had once again proven himself above the other Sword Cultivators. Among the Seven Inquiries of the Sword, he had demonstrated exceptional talent in six areas, exceeding not just Cang Yunxuan but also Mei Qingzhu.

"Who was the last person to inquire six swords?" someone asked, feigning ignorance.

"Within the dojo of Xuanyuan Sword predecessors," another replied, "he has now joined the Sword Ranking."

To have been admitted to the Sword Ranking.

Its significance could only be imagined.

In the realm of Sword Dao talent, six superior grades make it nearly impossible not to become a Great Sword Cultivator.

Cang Yunxuan’s gaze darkened as he looked at Li Fan. His expression soured visibly.

In days to come, would people of Chi Xiao City think of Li Fan and recall his words—his dismissal of Li Fan as overly arrogant, his refusal to admit him into the Shadow Bearing Sword Arena?

If one day Li Fan joined the Sword Ranking, what perspective would prevail?

He feared he’d become a cautionary tale, remembered for failing to recognize greatness.

Unless he could consistently surpass Li Fan, keeping him beneath his foot.

For now, he was already in the Condensed Core Realm—one major realm higher than Li Fan. Even if Li Fan inquired six swords, how could he defeat that gap?

In the crowd, no one was happier than the Lu Family’s members.

Li Fan’s inquiry of six swords meant six members of the Lu Family could access the Secret Realm, a precedent unheard of before.

Hope—hope for unparalleled opportunities.

"This one’s talent truly stands above the rest," said Lu Yulin as his eyes narrowed critically on Li Fan. Beside him, Lu Yuhuan gave a faint nod.

Li Fan’s accomplishments had exceeded even their highest expectations, vastly outperforming what they’d imagined.

And to think, it had all begun with the debate over swords while drinking wine.

Beside Li Fan, Mei Qingzhu gazed at him intently.

When he had previously inquired of the sixth sword, he had failed. His Sword Soul lacked strength, unable to win the blade’s recognition.

Yet somehow, Li Fan had succeeded.

Still, surely this was his limit.

The seventh sword had yet to be inquired of by anyone.

Li Fan raised his head to the Seven Inquiry Swords and watched as one sword emitted dazzling light. He seemed to step into a distinct Sword Domain, like a world within the blade itself.

In this supernatural world, an awe-inspiring force of Sword Dao descended upon him. Everywhere within heaven and earth were swords.

This realm appeared like a magnificent city, where ten thousand swords hung suspended above, all poised to strike.

Li Fan felt suffocated, as though his death could arrive at any moment.

"This, the seventh sword?"

*Li Fan pondered silently. Was it only those who could inquire of six swords who were given access to the seventh inquiry?*

Ten thousand swords hung above the skies, drifting throughout the heavens. Li Fan felt his insignificance keenly. Gazing forward, he spotted a figure seated atop the citadel of swords. From this figure radiated a supreme sword aura, as though the sworded world was their domain.

"Buzz..." The figure opened his eyes, casting a glance at him.

Li Fan instantly felt as small as an ant. Gazing at this figure steeped in majesty, a name emerged in his mind.

Tianxia’s Greatest Sword, Xuanyuan!

Only the Xuanyuan Sword could emanate such unparalleled sword aura.

"You seek seven shares of Tianxia’s sword destiny?" A voice blazed in his mind, razor-sharp and piercing, as though questioning him.

*Faced with Tianxia’s Greatest Sword, did he dare claim seven shares of sword destiny?*

"These words are not mine," Li Fan replied.

"So just empty boasting?" Xuanyuan Sword pressed.

"Junior dares not claim seven shares of sword destiny, but in the future, I shall claim a place within Tianxia’s Sword Dao. If Tianxia’s sword destiny is divided into ten shares, I wish to claim one," Li Fan declared. "This is my truth."

"You hail from Li Mountain, don’t you?" Xuanyuan Sword asked.

Li Fan was slightly taken aback, but quickly composed himself. "Yes," he replied.

"Li Mountain’s Sword Dao has already fallen into decline. To raise a future champion once again, do you think I would allow it?" Xuanyuan Sword inquired.

"Without Li Mountain Sword, would your blade feel loneliness, venerable elder? As Tianxia’s Greatest Sword, does it not feel solitude? If no opponents remain standing, can your sword advance even further?" Li Fan retorted.

Suddenly, Xuanyuan Sword burst into laughter. In that laughter, Sword Aura soared into the sky. Under its immense pressure, Li Fan felt utterly engulfed by Sword Intent, death seeming ever-present.

"So your intent is to become my rival someday?" Xuanyuan Sword sneered, a faint trace of disdain in his tone.

*He was Tianxia’s foremost blade, supreme among the Da Li Sword Dao. Surely, he had earned the right to disdain the bold claims of a youth.*

"It’s not impossible," Li Fan replied. "If I don’t rise to the occasion, then no one else in Da Li’s realm could either."

"You’re arrogant, boy," Xuanyuan Sword remarked. "I’ll give you one chance: throw in your lot with me. If not—since you claim to become my rival, I have no qualm eliminating any latent threat."

Li Fan fell silent.

*The seventh inquiry... was it to ask of Sword Gall? Or merely a trap, a scheme laid by Xuanyuan Sword?*

*As he had said, either join him or be erased as a danger.*

Seeing Li Fan’s silence, Xuanyuan Sword chuckled. "You want to gamble? Indeed, this is an inquiry into Sword Gall. But as long as you agree, I assure you I’ll take you as my disciple. I’ll secure your future entry into the Sword Ranking and protect you from the Court’s threats. Compared to being a Li Mountain Disciple, wouldn’t that be far superior? Yet, if you refuse and lose the gamble..."

"I will gamble," Li Fan said after a moment’s pause.

"Hmm?" Xuanyuan Sword’s piercing gaze fell upon him, his oppressive aura palpable. It was as though failing the gamble would lead to nothing but despair.

"I gamble that Tianxia’s Supreme Sword is not a petty man," Li Fan said, fixing his gaze forward. Should Xuanyuan Sword intend to kill him, perhaps it truly would spell nothing but doom.

This was Tianxia’s foremost blade.

*Even so, he wagered that this inquiry was genuinely about Sword Gall.*

"The last one to inquire six swords has become my direct disciple and now stands on the Sword Ranking. Have you decided?" Xuanyuan Sword spoke coolly.

"A man has his principles," Li Fan replied. "Sword Cultivators have no fear."

*Xuanyuan Sword stared at him, a suffocating pressure descending as billions of swords bore down upon him, as if judgment day was at hand.*

"Your gamble has paid off, yet you’ve also missed out on an opportunity."

With Xuanyuan Sword’s last words, Li Fan emerged from the Sword Domain.

In the outside world, the Seven Inquiry Swords rang out together, their harmonies echoing boldly as Sword Aura soared into the skies.