Sword Aura to the Heavens

The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion hails from the capital of Da Li, claiming to know the affairs of the world.

This woman is a cultivator of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, so her words naturally carry some weight, causing everyone to fall silent for a moment and carefully digest the names of the powers she mentioned.

Among them, several forces were known to many. Some ancient noble families in the imperial city were also deeply hidden, and it was said that most had been recruited by the royal family. In the Great Li World, there were so many powers that during the court's unification process, it had to recruit those it could, suppressing those forces that were disobedient.

Throughout many years of history, many forces had turned to dust. However, there had always been two mysterious and powerful forces that had existed for many years. They were relatively low-key, and many people didn't even know of their existence. Only some top-tier forces in the hinterlands of Da Li knew of them: the Taiping Temple and the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple.

It's rumored that they only emerge in times of chaos.

The woman stated that Taiping Temple and Ten Thousand Buddha Temple each had one person, but even though they were from major sects, they still didn't know who these individuals were.

"What kind of forces are the Taiping Temple and the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple? And who are the individuals you're referring to?" someone asked. They were discussing those who stood a chance at ruling the world, the unparalleled figures of their time.

"I cannot say." The woman smiled meaningfully, saying, "I dare not speak indiscriminately."

Everyone's heart trembled; the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion dared not discuss the Taiping Temple and the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple?

"Zuo Canglan has another disciple named Li Fan, known as the Li Mountain Sword Son. Doesn't the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion have his name?" someone else inquired.

"Within the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, there's already much information about this individual. In the distant Land of the West Sea, in Chi Xiao City, this person has reportedly shown astonishing talent. However, he has yet to enter the center of the cultivation world of Da Li and contend with the top figures of this era, so he hasn't been listed yet."

The woman continued, "However, he has already reached the hinterlands of Da Li, and he might have arrived in this Jade City. Whether he will become one of them or not, we might have an answer soon."

"Has the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion come to Jade City just for the excitement?" Qi Zhanyun from the Qi Tian Pavilion asked the woman.

"With such excitement in Jade City, how could the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion miss out?" the woman smiled gracefully, "The talented individuals from the world are gathered here, and there might be a chance to see the top geniuses compete. Isn't that why you, Qi Zhanyun, are here?"

Qi Zhanyun looked at her without responding, instead raising his wine glass to drink.

"I am somewhat curious." At this moment, a voice rang out, and as everyone looked over, they saw Li Fan playing with the wine glass in his hand, smiling lightly: "The name of Li Mountain is renowned throughout the world, and the name of the Li Mountain Sword Cultivator is thriving for a thousand years. The son of the Haoran Sword, Wen Ruyu, cut down the Saint Heir of Tiandu Palace and others. Killing him can only count as half?"

The woman examined Li Fan. She knew the identities of many present, yet this charismatic young man before her was someone whose existence she was entirely unaware of.

However, she soon revealed a slight smile. It seemed the other party was very concerned about her previous remark that killing Wen Ruyu only counted as half.

So, he is also here to kill Wen Ruyu?

Wishing to make a name for oneself!

Now in this Jade City, many people think the same as he does.

"Wen Ruyu, like Li Fan, although famous, has no other glorious achievements besides that one time. Even so, it barely counts as half, otherwise, with the current declining state of Li Mountain…" The woman smiled and replied: "Look at the people I mentioned earlier, what kind of people are they?"

The court's royal family, White Jade Academy, Taiping Temple, and Ten Thousand Buddha Temple are all the top forces in the world today. Li Mountain was once among them, but nowadays, Li Mountain does not measure up.

Besides these forces, only Jiang Taie from the Jiang Family and Lingxiao Pavilion with the Innate Sword Body holds a spot.

Moreover, among the two from the royal family, one can also be considered from Li Mountain.

"So the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is just like that." Li Fan sneered, raising his wine glass and downing it, with a faint tone of mockery in his words.

This caused the woman's smile to pause, her eyes fixating on Li Fan, mockingly smiling back: "Are you not acknowledging my words?"

"Judging heroes based on family background, and besides that, one needs explicit achievements in battle. If someone defeats those people you mentioned in the future, the world will know. Does the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion need to comment?" Li Fan mocked: "If that's the case, then the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion can just watch as the world's talented individuals compete, no need to show off here."

The woman looked at Li Fan, somewhat stunned, seeing the strong confidence emanating from his words, his sharp, sword-like brows exuded a bold and prideful spirit, as if he didn't view the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion in his eyes.

"Liu Qingwu from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. Who are you?" the woman asked: "Such arrogance."

"A nobody." Li Fan responded indifferently, as if he didn't regard the other party at all, and Liu Qingwu did not expect to be so disregarded.

"Lingxiao Pavilion has only Jiang Taie, what qualification does Wen Ruyu from Li Mountain have to count as half?" Just then, another voice came, and as everyone turned their gaze, they saw a group of figures coming up the steps to this terrace. The people turned to look and saw this group exuding sharp auras, carrying swords on their backs. As they arrived, a dangerous aura suddenly filled the Chaotian Pavilion, as if swords might be drawn at any moment.

An invisible Sword Intent spread unconsciously, and as people turned their gaze, they knew that Sword Cultivators from Lingxiao Pavilion had arrived.

The leader was a middle-aged man with an inscrutable and profound aura, but it was the young man behind him who spoke, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. Then the group found a spot to sit down.

"It seems they've come for Wen Ruyu again," everyone thought to themselves. Lingxiao Pavilion now had the tendency to become the Da Li swordsmanship orthodoxy, but Da Li swordsmanship has always had Li Mountain.

Li Mountain is like a sword hanging over Lingxiao Pavilion's head. As long as Li Mountain exists, Lingxiao Pavilion cannot become the foremost power in the Da Li sword world.

Moreover, Lingxiao Pavilion itself is supported by the court, precisely to replace Li Mountain.

"Yue Yunxiao, Shen Jing." Liu Qingwu looked at the Lingxiao Pavilion sword cultivators with great interest and then glanced at Chu Jiankuang.

These two are both personal disciples of the Lingxiao Pavilion Sect Leader, who is the second-ranked Great Sword Cultivator in the world.

And Chu Jiankuang is also a disciple of a Great Sword Cultivator on the Sword Saint List.

Besides, those who came must also be the proud talents of Lingxiao Pavilion.

Yue Yunxiao was the leader of Lingxiao Pavilion. He had a calm demeanor but gave off a faint oppressive aura. Shen Jing was sharper. Both were Dao Body cultivators, especially Yue Yunxiao, who had been in the Dao Body Realm for some years.

Even this small 'Chaotian Pavilion' tavern was already a gathering of the winds and clouds.

"Why can't Wen Ruyu be counted?" Chu Jiankuang asked with a low voice.

"One who is about to die naturally has no place," Shen Jing's words were as sharp as a sword. Other than Jiang Taie, Lingxiao Pavilion had many talented sword cultivators. His senior brother, Yue Yunxiao, and himself had entered Dao Body, and there were other more outstanding senior brothers, yet none caught the eye of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.

Therefore, Wen Ruyu naturally couldn't either.

"Such arrogant words." After hearing this, everyone was silent for a moment. A cold glint flashed in Li Fan's lowered eyes, but he did not act, just silently drank his wine.

"Talking so much is useless. After a fight, everyone will naturally know," Qi Zhanyun from Qi Tian Pavilion said with a hearty laugh while drinking a cup of wine.

"Well said." Li Fan replied with a smile, toasting Qi Zhanyun, "No matter how much boasting, if I haven't fought you, I don't believe a word of it."

"Cheers." Qi Zhanyun found Li Fan's words to his liking, and they both drank their cups dry from a distance.

"Who are you talking about?" A cold voice came, causing the atmosphere on Chaotian Pavilion to suddenly freeze. An invisible Sword Intent enveloped the tavern, even making the wine in everyone's cups tremble.

"If the shoe fits." Li Fan replied with a smile, pouring himself another cup of wine.

But as Li Fan poured the wine, it seemed as though the wine was sliced by a strand of Sword Aura mid-air, unable to flow down. A suppressed aura spread out. In front of Shen Jing, a glimmer of sword light appeared, crackling like lightning, condensing into a small sword.

That three-inch small sword seemed to harbor incredibly terrifying power, as if absorbing the world's strength, making the sword increasingly bright. Shen Jing extended a finger, and the three-inch small sword swirled around his finger. Instantly, threads of lightning crossed the sky, dancing around Shen Jing's fingers like tribulation light.

"What's going on?" Cultivators in the distance turned their gaze toward Chaotian Pavilion, sensing an extremely sharp presence.

"Are you sure you mean what I think?" Shen Jing toyed with the small sword on his finger, speaking in a low voice, as if waiting for Li Fan to regret it.

Li Fan did not respond. He mildly lowered his hand holding the wine jug, instantly enveloping the space in an invisible aura, cutting off the sword energy. The wine flowed smoothly from the jug into the cup, creating the sound of flowing water.

Shen Jing's eyes flashed with a cold glint, and with a flick of his finger, that light painfully pierced the eyes, and the sword light slashed through space.

"Looking for death." At that moment, everyone's hearts skipped a beat, as if they had already seen the scene of Li Fan being pierced by a flying sword.

But at that very moment, the veranda of Chaotian Pavilion shook violently. They saw Li Fan extend his left hand, a heavy aura sweeping out. They felt a gust of aim, a dragon's roar erupted by the ear, causing their bodies to lose balance.

The flying sword paused before Li Fan's palm, emitting a sharp, screeching sound. Li Fan clasped his left hand, instantly overwhelming and burying that three-inch flying sword.

Li Fan acted like nothing had happened. He retracted his left hand just as the wine cup was filled on the table. He put down the wine jug with his right hand, raised the cup, took a gentle sip, and then put it down, saying, "This Chaotian Pavilion wine, is just so-so, living on reputation alone."

With these words, the Lingxiao Pavilion sword cultivators exuded a menacing Sword Intent, an invisible storm enveloping Chaotian Pavilion, spreading to the surroundings.

The wine of Chaotian Pavilion lives on reputation alone.

And the sword of Lingxiao Pavilion?