CHAPTER 349: CHAPTER 344: SWORD DISCUSSION

Liu Zonglin looked at Li Fan with a smile in his eyes, showing a hint of admiration.

Facing the world’s renowned top Sword Cultivators, as a younger generation, neither humble nor arrogant, he made a name for Li Mountain.

This Li Mountain is ultimately the world’s number one Sword Dao Sacred Land. The representative figures of Li Mountain who once traveled the world were the Canglan Blade, and also the famous Wen Jianshou.

Nowadays, Li Fan should have inherited the legacy of the Canglan Blade, his style definitely not inferior to the Canglan Blade of old.

"The martial artists of Li Mountain are so formidable, it does make my West Flame Island Sword Cultivators seem inept." The West Flame Island Master spoke faintly, seemingly self-mocking, with a somewhat displeased expression.

He had been in seclusion, cultivating assiduously for many years, and had taught a group of disciples, all of whom were talented Sword Cultivators.

That Lan Li, with no lesser talent and strong combat power, was still defeated by Huang Xiong, which somewhat embarrassed him, especially since Huang Xiong was merely a martial artist.

"Your words are mistaken, Senior." Li Fan responded: "The West Flame Island Sword Cultivators have extraordinary flair, which I certainly admire; previously, I fought side by side with Yuwen, cherishing each other, and the Island Master himself is unparalleled, surely to become renowned throughout the world, but..."

The West Flame Island Master’s expression slightly softened upon hearing these words, but with just the word "but" spoken, his gaze darkened as he listened to Li Fan continue: "But the thousand-year reputation of Li Mountain, with so many astonishingly talented individuals, in the whole of Da Li, who can compare to Li Mountain, being defeated by a Li Mountain disciple is nothing to be concerned about, Senior."

"Hmph."

The West Flame Island Master snorted coldly, appearing to compliment West Flame Island, but in the end, he spoke of Li Mountain.

"The thousand-year reputation of Li Mountain is true, but is today’s Li Mountain still the Li Mountain of old?" Kong Zhou, sitting to the side, looked towards Li Fan and said indifferently.

The decline of Li Mountain is a fact, known to all, otherwise, the court would not dare to target Li Mountain.

"Senior questioning Li Mountain, isn’t that questioning West Flame Island?" Li Fan looked at Kong Zhou and replied, causing Kong Zhou to be speechless for a moment. If West Flame Island Sword Cultivators are inferior to Li Mountain disciples, aren’t they worse off if they claim Li Mountain is ineffective?

"Moreover, don’t speak of the prowess of the past, even now, the court launched a heavy assault on Li Mountain and was repelled; now Li Mountain remains unscathed, during the trip to Chi Xiao City, Li Chengying, the world’s fifth-ranked Sword Cultivator, tried to oppress me but was killed by my Master’s Grandmaster, and the world’s number one sword, Xuanyuan Sword, was instructed by my Master’s Grandmaster and gifted me with three swords, one of which was used to slay the Nine Infant."

Li Fan continued: "Is this the downfall of Li Mountain? In the entire Da Li realm, who else, can withstand two swords of Xuanyuan?"

Li Fan’s words brought a momentary silence to the banquet.

Li Fan’s Master’s Grandmaster was the Eternal Sword Saint.

Whether the Eternal Sword Saint still exists is unclear.

But the two swords of the Xuanyuan Sword are enough to overshadow half of Da Li, who dares to withstand one sword of Xuanyuan?

"Moreover, atop Li Mountain, there are numerous Great Cultivators of the Seven Realms, who else in this world, aside from the court, has such?" Li Fan raised his voice and continued: "What the world calls the decline of Li Mountain is relative to Li Mountain itself, even if Li Mountain has declined, it still can prevail over any force outside the Da Li court."

The decline of Li Mountain?

Li Fan’s words were meant to tell those present to recognize themselves, to recognize Li Mountain.

The decline of Li Mountain is not something anyone can comment on flippantly.

There was a moment of silence at the banquet, many young Sword Cultivators looking at Li Fan with a hint of fighting spirit, knowing what Li Fan said is true; precisely because Li Mountain is world-renowned as Da Li’s number one Sword Dao Sacred Land, this makes all Sword Cultivators want to surpass Li Mountain Sword Cultivators.

Back then, when the court attacked Li Mountain, Lingxiao Pavilion Sword Cultivators ascended Li Mountain to challenge as well.

"Li Mountain..."

At this moment, a low voice was heard, Gu Jinghong, who had been silent all along, lightly grasped the wine cup in his hand, then looked up at Li Fan: "Do you know what Li Mountain represented to the world’s Sword Cultivators once?"

"Please advise, Senior." Li Fan replied.

"The pinnacle of Sword Dao."

Gu Jinghong stared at Li Fan, his eyes gaining a hint of sharpness, continuing: "Li Mountain slaying demons and eradicating devils was how common people viewed Li Mountain, but for Sword Cultivators, Li Mountain was the pinnacle of Sword Dao in the Da Li realm, a mountain peak that world Sword Cultivators desired to surpass, in those days, there were two kinds of Sword Cultivators in the world, one was Li Mountain Sword Cultivators, the other was all other Sword Cultivators."

"What you just said is also true, the decline of Li Mountain is relative to Li Mountain itself, but Li Mountain has indeed declined; are there Li Mountain Sword Cultivators’ names among today’s most famous Sword Cultivators?"

Li Fan gazed intently at Gu Jinghong, momentarily speechless.

In this regard, he had to admit, Li Mountain has indeed declined.

"You also mentioned the Xuanyuan Sword just now, it is renowned as the world’s number one sword today, if in a few years, the top Great Sword Cultivators standing at the world’s pinnacle still do not include the name of Li Mountain Sword Cultivators, then, is Li Mountain still Li Mountain?" Gu Jinghong seemed to murmur to himself, yet it felt like he was asking others.

Li Fan remained silent for a moment, then slightly bowed to Gu Jinghong, saying, "Thank you, Senior, for your guidance. The Li Mountain Sword Cultivator will stand at the peak of the world."

Li Fan’s voice was very calm; the wind blew across his garments. Gu Jinghong looked up and earnestly observed his face, seeing the youth’s confidence.

"I look forward to the day when, at the pinnacle of Sword Dao, the Li Mountain Sword Cultivators will challenge the sword," Gu Jinghong replied.

"Please sit."

The West Flame Island Master gestured to Li Fan and the others.

Li Fan nodded and proceeded forward along with Lu Yuan, Huang Xiong, and Yue Qingqiu. Liu Ji and Luo Qingyan, on the other hand, were very aware and did not advance, knowing that even sword talents like Yuwen Jing stood aside, so they naturally did not have the qualifications to sit.

Li Fan, Lu Yuan, and Huang Xiong were disciples of Li Mountain, and they had this qualification.

As for Yue Qingqiu, she didn’t understand social niceties and simply followed Li Fan to sit down.

"Back in the day, when the Canglan Blade was young, it was already radiantly sharp, with a Sword Dao talent that crowned the world. Today, I see his shadow upon you," said the West Flame Island Master, looking at Li Fan.

"Senior knows my Master?" Li Fan asked.

"Many years ago, I broke through my realm to become a Sixth Realm pinnacle Sword Cultivator, just one step away from the Seven Realms. That year, the wind and snow swept across the capital, and I traveled there to inquire into Sword Dao. The Da Li capital was filled with heroes from across the land like carp crossing the river, yet I was quite confident in my own Sword Dao, thinking I could become a Sword Cultivator renowned across the world. That year, as I discussed the sword in the capital, I encountered a young man, and in one sword discussion, I was inferior. Since then, I traveled afar to this Land of the West Sea to go into retreat for cultivation," the West Flame Island Master reminisced with a sense of relief, "That young man was named Zuo Canglan."

Li Fan was taken aback; the West Flame Island Master actually had such a past?

The surrounding West Flame Island Sword Cultivators were also quite astonished, looking at their Master in disbelief, surprised that their Master had such a past.

Moreover, their Master spoke of it openly in public.

Li Fan also gazed at the West Flame Island Master with surprise, and his impression of the Sword Cultivator before him greatly changed. To speak of such matters openly revealed that the Master’s heart was not as he had imagined.

"Master has never shared such past matters with me," Li Fan said, as in his growth, the Old Blind Man never mentioned his own past.

Even before descending the mountain, he did not know of the dazzling brilliance of the Old Blind Man’s past.

Yet from those fragments, he could still see the image of a once splendidly unmatched young Sword Cultivator.

"Many people were present at that sword discussion, perhaps your Master does not remember me," the West Flame Island Master said, "Now, I quite wish to have another discussion with him."

"There will be a chance," Li Fan smiled and replied. The Resurrection Tree has been sent to Li Mountain, and the Old Blind Man will certainly be able to restore his Divine Soul. In the not-too-distant future, the Canglan Blade will reappear in the world.

"Were you invited by Senior to West Flame Island?" Li Fan asked.

"Naturally to ask you to challenge the sword and experience the elegance of West Flame Island Sword Cultivators," the West Flame Island Master looked at Li Fan, "Regarding the Demon Slaying Summit, my disciples are quite resentful. Now that there’s an opportunity, you shouldn’t disappoint them."

After speaking, he looked at Gu Jinghong and said, "Now, Cultivators from the West Sea are awaiting in the vicinity of West Flame Island. Between us, it’s time to begin."

Cultivators from the West Sea have come for the purpose of witnessing with their own eyes the duel between two peak Sword Cultivators.

Li Fan felt somewhat peculiar upon hearing the West Flame Island Master’s words. The sword challenge at West Flame Island had been arranged many days ago, but it commenced upon his arrival, as if waiting for his presence.

"After witnessing today’s sword challenge, you may return and tell Zuo Canglan that, should he recover someday, I will personally visit Li Mountain," the West Flame Island Master further remarked to Li Fan.

This further confirmed to Li Fan that the opponent was indeed deliberately waiting for him, commencing the sword challenge upon his arrival.

"Let’s begin," Gu Jinghong also said.

Two beams of light soared straight to the sky, reaching high altitudes in an instant.

The wind and clouds changed atop the sky, a terrifying Sword Intent enveloping the boundless land, and the vast West Flame Island was under the influence of two Sword Intents.

At this moment, cultivators both inside and outside West Flame Island looked heavenward, feeling their hearts surge with emotion.

Liu Zonglin, the Palace Master of the West Emperor Palace, stood up, gazing at the high sky and laughing aloud, "To personally witness two top-tier Great Sword Cultivators challenging the sword today is already a great joy of life—the opportunity is rare, so make sure to watch closely and not miss it."

Li Fan and Lu Yuan also looked up.

Coming to the appointment today, he saw the two top Great Sword Cultivators, each possessing an extraordinary aura.