CHAPTER 317: CHAPTER 312 MISSED?

Who exactly is this Yang Qingshan?

Yuwen Jing entered the fight. Although it had nothing to do with personal grudges, it certainly aimed to defend the reputation of West Flame Island.

However, after just one clash, Yuwen Jing openly admitted that he was inferior to Yang Qingshan, even using the words ’far superior’ to describe the latter.

To outsiders, wouldn’t this seem like a loss of face for West Flame Island?

Li Fan glanced at Yuwen Jing. Since Yuwen Jing wanted to personally engage in a sword discussion, Li Fan fulfilled that wish. What surprised him was Yuwen Jing’s forthrightness in admitting defeat, showing a candid acceptance.

"Young Hero Yuwen, with your combat prowess, there’s no reason you couldn’t continue the fight. Why be so modest?" said Nan Chen from the West Emperor Palace.

This wasn’t a true duel, and with Yuwen Jing’s real combat ability, he might not necessarily lose.

"If one’s skills are inferior, why invite humiliation upon oneself? My combat strength indeed surpasses this, but Brother Yang, how could your combat strength just stop at that?" Yuwen Jing looked at Li Fan and said, "The combat power Brother Yang displayed, if I haven’t guessed wrong, is far from reaching its maximum potential."

Observing Li Fan’s Sword Dao, one could slightly glimpse his combat prowess. Li Fan’s sword had not reached its limit, and many abilities had not been used.

Everyone turned to look at Li Fan.

Previously, Li Fan boldly claimed that any Ning Dan Realm Sword Cultivator of West Flame Island could be casually challenged to a life-and-death fight, demonstrating his confidence in his combat ability.

His peak combat strength could rival any Ning Dan realm cultivator from West Flame Island, including those at the Pinnacle Stage. Many thought this exceedingly arrogant, yet Yuwen Jing’s acknowledgment of his strength illustrated that Li Fan indeed had such qualifications.

What they had seen of Li Fan wasn’t even his strongest state.

"You can’t defeat me. No Ning Dan cultivator from West Flame Island can," Li Fan said to Yuwen Jing, also glancing at Kong Zhou and others, his words brimming with immense confidence.

His confidence came from his understanding of his own combat power. Just by mastering the Sword Dao, he could defeat Mid Stage Condensed Core Sword Cultivators. When pushed to the limit, the Heavenly Human Nine Decays Sword Dao would burst forth, unobstructed in the Ning Dan realm.

Yuwen Jing was initially stunned by Li Fan’s arrogant words but then nodded, saying, "I believe."

Since Li Fan claimed as much, he believed Li Fan could achieve it.

The crowd was internally shaken. Yuwen Jing could slay a Fifth Realm pinnacle Jiao Dragon, so did this mean Yang Qingshan could do the same?

What kind of monster was this person?

Li Fan turned and controlled his sword downward, coming to the side of Luo Qingyan and Meng Hong, saying, "Let’s go."

"Mm." The two nodded, looking back once at the crowd. Despite being injured, Luo Qingyan’s eyes carried the demeanor of a victor, as if all Li Fan accomplished was her achievement, sharing in the glory.

The group ascended into the air and left.

Kong Zhou slightly frowned and, after they departed, glanced at Yuwen Jing, transmitting a message, "Why did you do that, Junior Brother?"

"Senior Brother, the Sword Dao he inherited is very strong, stronger than any Sword Cultivator I’ve seen. His background might not be lesser than our master’s," Yuwen Jing transmitted back. "The world is vast, Yang Qingshan comes from the mainland, we on West Flame Island couldn’t assert Sword Dao supremacy over the world."

Kong Zhou pondered a bit. He knew Yuwen Jing’s strength and vision well, and given Yuwen Jing’s high regard for Li Fan’s inherited Sword Dao, he believed it too.

This begs the question, does Yang Qingshan truly have a world-renowned Great Sword Cultivator supporting him?

Could it be a direct disciple of the Sword Saint List?

But, which rank on the Sword Saint List?

The world’s number one sword Xuanyuan was certainly impossible, could it be someone from the Da Li Imperial City?

Kong Zhou glanced at the disappearing silhouette, lost in thought.

Back at his place, Li Fan was met by Luo Qingyan, who said, "Thank you."

"It arose because of me. If it weren’t for me, West Flame Island wouldn’t have taken it out on you, causing you grievance," Li Fan replied, "Was it because they mentioned Li Mountain?"

"Yes." Luo Qingyan nodded. "These West Flame Island Sword Cultivators, entering the world with eyes on their heads, even as defeated generals, consider themselves invincible. Pity we can’t reveal your identity, or I’d like to show them the gap between West Flame Island Sword Cultivators and Li Mountain Swords, so they’d be silenced henceforth."

"West Flame Island Sword Cultivators entering the world seeking fame is quite normal, but in the end, a Sword Cultivator still needs to speak through the sword," Li Fan said indifferently.

People will see the day of the Li Mountain Sword.

Returning to his place, Li Fan walked into the courtyard and saw Yue Qingqiu standing outside, blocking his path, eyes directed towards where Lu Yuan was.

In the courtyard, Sword Aura filled the air, flowing like Taiyin Water, smooth as a stream, forming layers of sword mist, with the entire courtyard veiled by a Sword Veil. Within the sword mist, there seemed to be a bright moon.

"Hmm?"

Li Fan was surprised, showing a puzzled expression. Before he left, he’d had a conversation with Lu Yuan, who now seemed inspired, showing signs of breakthrough?

However, reaching Ning Dan is not an overnight effort and requires some time. At this moment, Lu Yuan felt inspired and began to touch the bottleneck. If she could seize this opportunity, she might achieve an immediate breakthrough, stepping into the Ning Dan Realm.

"Don’t disturb her cultivation," Li Fan transmitted the message to those behind him. They nodded, and Luo Qingyan and others showed bright eyes. This Li Fan was undeniably a genius, and so was Lu Yuan, who at a young age could aspire to Ning Dan. However, considering Lu Yuan’s identity, it wasn’t surprising.

In the blink of an eye, some time passed. The Sword Intent in the courtyard grew increasingly stronger, with the entire place enveloped in that Taiyin Sword Intent aura. When Li Fan and others cultivated there, a chill could be felt.

Even elsewhere in the West Emperor Palace, people sensed the phenomenon, knowing someone was attempting to break through to the Ning Dan realm.

As the sword intent grew stronger, each night, brilliant moonlight cascaded down from the Sky, reflecting as if the moon were shining directly into Li Fan’s courtyard.

One night, under the splendid moonlight, moon waves poured down, seemingly connecting the sky and ground. Many in the West Emperor Palace looked far toward Li Fan’s courtyard.

"Is this a sign of a breakthrough, with hidden heavenly phenomena happening?" Many whispered.

In the place where West Flame Island Sword Cultivators dwelled, Kong Zhou, Yuwen Jing, and others stood together, gazing over, with Kong Zhou murmuring, "Do you feel it?"

"Yes." Yuwen Jing nodded, "It’s a Sword Cultivator breaking through to the Ning Dan’s sign."

Kong Zhou looked at the descending moonlight, "It shouldn’t be far off, and these signs foretell a phenomenon, suggesting a genius Sword Cultivator."

"So not only Yang Qingshan, but this breaking-through cultivator should be the woman beside him," Yuwen Jing surmised, and Kong Zhou pondered.

He’s already witnessed Li Fan’s talent, and now the woman beside him is also a genius Sword Cultivator. What does this imply?

Even many Sword Cultivators on West Flame Island, when breaking into Ning Dan, struggle to elicit phenomena, with only a few managing it.

At this moment, a shadow walked through the void toward Li Fan’s courtyard. Before it arrived, a figure appeared mid-air, saying, "Halt, Senior."

The incoming person was a Moon Palace envoy, his eyes fixed intently forward.

The brilliance of the moon, the power of Taiyin.

This kind of power was similar to the cultivation techniques of his Moon Palace.

Was it that woman?

If she had such a talent and could enter the Moon Palace... the Moon Palace could cultivate her into a top-tier cultivator.

Moon Palace’s ancestors attained great cultivation techniques suitable for those with the gift for Taiyin power.

Blocking his path was Li Fan.

"I only came to have a look and won’t disturb her cultivation breakthrough," the Moon Palace envoy said.

Li Fan, however, shook his head, "My friend is at a critical juncture and can’t afford any mistakes; I hope the Senior understands."

The Moon Palace envoy frowned, his gaze swept Li Fan once, emitting a chill, causing Li Fan to feel a bit cold all over.

"Do you think I would interfere with a junior’s breakthrough?" the Moon Palace envoy snorted coldly in displeasure. Even if Li Fan was exceptionally talented, wasn’t blocking his way a bit too presumptuous?

Li Fan shook his head, "I still hope the Senior understands."

When Lu Yuan was taken away by Mo Yang, Lu Yuan’s identity was bound to be exposed sooner or later, it couldn’t be hidden for long.

Currently, the Moon Palace’s attitude toward Lu Yuan was unclear, but recalling the events of the past...

It probably wouldn’t be favorable.

The Moon Palace envoy gazed at Li Fan. This utterly disrespectful junior cultivator! Defeating the West Emperor Palace Sword Cultivators, did he become boundlessly arrogant?

In the West Sea domain, the foundation of the Sun and Moon Dual Palace was unlike that of the West Emperor Palace.

The West Emperor Palace’s strength lay in having a top-tier Great Sword Cultivator.

But the Sun and Moon Dual Palace, with a millennium foundation, though unknown in the inland, was widely known in the West Sea domain.

"Humph."

He snorted coldly, speaking indifferently, "You’ve missed an opportunity."

He initially intended to recruit that cultivator, but since Li Fan was so ungracious, he rescinded that opportunity.