CHAPTER 347: CHAPTER 342 THE SO-CALLED GENIUS

The demon chaos brought a tribulation upon the West Sea, but after this ordeal, the cohesion among the practitioners of the West Sea reached an unprecedented level. After more than a year of demon-slaying actions, now all the islands of the West Sea are brimming with vitality.

Li Fan visited the Sun Palace, leveraging his connection with Mo Yang and the debt of gratitude for his help. In the future, if the world truly changes, the Sun and Moon Palace could both be valuable allies.

The Da Li Dynasty has ruled the world for a thousand years, with profound foundations, and has allied with many aristocratic families. Now, in the Da Li Imperial City, many flourishing families have intricate relations with the royal family.

Therefore, Li Fan needs to plan ahead.

West Flame Island, once little known, where the West Flame Island Master reclusively cultivated and taught his disciples,

But now that West Flame Island has emerged into the world, it has naturally become familiar to people, especially during this demon slaying. Everyone witnessed the strength of West Flame Island, especially the West Flame Island Master, who is not inferior to the Palace Master of the Sun and Moon Dual Palace.

After the resolution of the West Sea demon chaos, many sword cultivators from the West Sea flocked to West Flame Island in search of the Sword Dao. Since then, West Flame Island gradually became bustling and prosperous.

Now, the tenth-ranked sword cultivator in the world, Gu Jinghong, has come to West Flame Island to challenge the sword, which has shaken the West Sea region. Countless cultivators have come upon hearing the news. The outskirts of West Flame Island are filled with a seemingly endless expanse of various boats.

Many practitioners have also arrived from West Emperor Island, including quite a few disciples from the West Emperor Palace. Even the West Emperor Palace Master Liu Zonglin has arrived, visiting West Flame Island as a guest to witness the event.

The continuous string of boats along the coast, groups of practitioners from all sides, some drinking and chatting, some sparring with swords, some comparing martial arts, creating a lively scene.

Among the crowd, there is a boat from the West Emperor Palace, with a group of people standing on the bow, scanning the crowd with their eyes.

"This grand event has attracted many West Sea cultivators to attend, yet it is a mixed bag, with all sorts of people mingling in." A young cultivator looked at some disputes in the distance, a trace of disdain in his eyes.

"They’re all just people who love to join in the excitement, and for them, it’s future bragging material." The person next to him said with a smile, "It’s rumored that Gu Jinghong brought only one of his direct disciples, whose age is similar to ours, but has already reached the pinnacle of the Condensed Core Realm as a sword cultivator with extraordinary talent. This time, Gu Jinghong came to challenge the sword, presumably to build a reputation for his disciple."

"I wonder how he compares to Yuwen Jing?" Back then, in the West Emperor Palace, the sword cultivator Yuwen Jing from West Flame Island was quite astonishing to them, at least among those who practiced swordsmanship in the West Emperor Palace, there was no one who could match him.

"Yuwen Jing is also extraordinarily talented, but I’m afraid it’s not enough, after all, there are even more outstanding sword cultivators on West Flame Island."

Beside them, Song Siyu was pondering, and a face involuntarily emerged in her mind, that floating white robe that couldn’t be erased, it was her nightmare, her arch-nemesis, but yet so dazzlingly brilliant, making her remember him whenever she heard the word genius.

That once inconspicuous young man she looked down upon later revealed a talent that, at least to her now, no one could match.

She was also once hailed as a genius of the West Emperor Palace, yet she was nothing before Yuwen Jing. In the eyes of the West Emperor Palace, Yuwen Jing was the pride of heaven, yet even he was eclipsed before that person.

Genius? Just a mere backdrop.

The Song Family, why did they become mortal enemies with such a person.

Thinking of this, Song Siyu felt an inexplicable discomfort in her heart, knowing also that her revenge would be impossible.

He entered the West Emperor Palace, and the Palace Master personally received him.

At this moment, a commotion arose from behind.

Many people turned to look back, asking, "Who is coming?"

"I don’t know, it seems to be a famous cultivator?" someone responded.

"Hmm?" The people of the West Emperor Palace turned to look as well, and saw the boats by the shore voluntarily making way, forming a water path, with cheers coming from afar, indicating that the comer had an extremely high reputation.

In the center of that water path, a small boat slowly sailed towards them, eliciting cheers, while many others curiously inquired, "Who is coming?"

The figure on the small boat had an exceptional aura, with the white-robed young man in the lead being peerlessly graceful, and the two women beside him looked like heavenly beauties.

"Do you not recognize this person?" someone laughed aloud, "Back when the West Sea demon chaos was quelled, it was due to him."

"The genius sword cultivator who wielded the Xuanyuan Sword?"

"Exactly, that’s him. Not only did he wield the Xuanyuan Sword, but he himself is also extraordinarily gifted, having been invincible in the Condensed Core Realm upon initial entry." Someone anticipated, "Now with Gu Jinghong and his disciple coming to challenge the sword, and him also arriving at this time, the trip to West Flame Island is all the more promising."

The small boat moved slowly forward, cheers echoing continuously.

On the boat from the West Emperor Palace, Song Siyu again saw that familiar figure, lowering her eyelids, not daring to look directly at him.

On the small boat, Luo Qingyan noted the cheering voices on both sides with a smile, "Am I so popular now?"

"Nowadays in the Land of the West Sea, perhaps even if one hasn’t seen him, there can’t be anyone who hasn’t heard of him." Meng Hong responded with a smile, requesting the assistance of the world’s number one sword to slay the Nine Infant, resolving the crisis of the West Sea; who in the Land of the West Sea wouldn’t know about this?

Several individuals also shared in the honor, standing with their spines straight.

"Young Hero, have you been well lately?" someone asked Li Fan.

"Quite well." Li Fan smiled and nodded.

"Is the person beside the Young Hero the Moon Palace Saintess, Miss Lu? It’s heard that both of you are cultivating on Li Mountain, truly a couple made in heaven." Someone around offered praises, to which Li Fan had become numb, while Lu Yuan’s eyes showed a trace of embarrassment.

"Are you also here on West Flame Island to seek the way of the sword, Young Hero?"

"Li Mountain is the foremost sacred land of sword dao in the world, and West Flame Island is the foremost sacred land of sword dao in the West Sea. The tenth on the Sword Saint List, Gu Jinghong, has also brought disciples here, indeed making West Flame Island quite lively."

Li Fan, hearing the voices around him, had no time to respond, as the light boat continued to proceed forward.

At this moment, in the direction of the coast, several individuals could be seen striding on swords, moving along the waves as if riding the waves, each carrying a treasured sword on their back, with extraordinary presence.

"Sword cultivators of West Flame Island." Seeing those figures walking on swords, everyone’s expressions changed, wondering if they were coming for Li Fan?

"There are numerous rumors about those sword cultivators in the West Sea nowadays. But, are they really as formidable as rumored? Or is it just because they are disciples of Li Mountain, acquainted with the Xuanyuan Sword, that their fame has spread like magic?"

Li Fan looked ahead and saw the figures approaching him, led by someone who appeared to be in their thirties, with a solid build, giving off a steady impression, carrying a large sword on their back.

"Are you Young Hero Li Fan?" the person asked loudly.

"Precisely me." Li Fan responded over the sea.

The person cupped his hands toward Li Fan, saying, "Lan Li from West Flame Island, ordered by my master to welcome guests here, welcome Young Hero to visit West Flame Island."

"Thank you." Li Fan smiled in return, as the light boat continued forward, but he noticed that Lan Li and his group didn’t step aside or guide them to the island, instead standing still.

Moreover, Li Fan noticed that Sword Intent lingered around Lan Li, and the gazes of the people behind him carried a hint of hostility toward Li Fan.

Clearly, the events of the Demon Slaying Summit were known to them.

"It’s heard that Young Hero is unrivaled in sword dao, invincible in the Condensed Core Realm. Lan has cultivated on the island for many years and considers my sword dao to be extraordinary. Today, having the chance, I wish to inquire about the sword dao here, to witness the grace of the prodigy from Li Mountain Sword Dao," Lan Li said, looking at Li Fan.

"We also want to experience the sword dao of Your Excellency," said the sword cultivators behind Lan Li, all enveloped in Sword Intent.

"Wasn’t the Demon Slaying Summit enough? Speaking as if welcoming guests, yet coming to provoke, how utterly uninteresting," Huang Xiong behind Li Fan shouted loudly.

"What sort of small fry are you? There isn’t a place for your words here." A rather young sword cultivator behind Lan Li coldly rebuked Huang Xiong, his gaze sharp as a sword.

Li Fan frowned, but saw Huang Xiong already stepping on the waves. A Martial Artist entering Golden Body can also traverse the heavens and seas.

He stood gracefully on the waves, looking ahead, and said, "If you want to seek the way of the sword, first deal with me, the small fry."

Lan Li frowned, the sword cultivators behind him already releasing Sword Intent, whistling through the air above the sea, while the surrounding spectators were exceedingly excited.

Li Fan didn’t draw his sword, but the burly man behind him stepped forward.

Lan Li’s look at Li Fan showed slight dissatisfaction, seeking to inquire about sword dao, but the other appeared somewhat disdainful.

Behind him, a young sword cultivator stepped out, walking on waves, Sword Aura surging, staring at Huang Xiong, his voice sharp: "We sword cultivators of West Flame Island, even if nameless outside, are still prodigies of sword dao; how could we endure such humiliation."

Sword Aura surged like tides, rushing toward Huang Xiong, covering the sea, as endless sword shadows attacked, all in a brief instant, the furious roar of Sword Aura overpowering the sound of the waves.

That young sword cultivator’s figure surged toward Huang Xiong like a shadow, endless sword light swept in like waves, extremely suppressive, engulfing Huang Xiong’s body, yet everyone could see that he didn’t move at all.

A glimmer of light blossomed in the sky above the sea; the young sword cultivator’s sword slashed down, and a crack appeared on the sea surface.

"Clang..." Everyone saw Huang Xiong’s body shining with golden light, his vitality illuminating the starry river, mystic technique operating akin to a Golden Body, the sword striking him didn’t break his Golden Body.

Furthermore, the young sword cultivator’s arm was already caught by Huang Xiong, his expression in great shock, staring at a pair of eyes like copper bells, which said: "So-called genius is merely the threshold of the supreme."

With that, he punched out, the sound of broken bones echoed, the figure was smashed into the sea.