Sword Qi to the Sky

Chapter 390: Changing Swords
The official road outside Yujing City was bustling with people, and cultivators gathered in large numbers.

It wasn't just because of Wen Ruyu; Yujing City was already extremely famous in Dali, and cultivators from all over the world aspired to go to Baiyujing Academy.

Li Fan and his group were also traveling along the road. Looking up from more than ten miles away, they could see the majestic city in the distance, as well as the super array that enveloped the magnificent city.

"Is that the legendary Heaven-Locking Formation?" some pedestrians on the road discussed.

"This formation was left by the Master. It was last activated during the demonic upheaval. Now it's being activated to capture Wen Ruyu?"

"You are unaware of this. Many years ago, in order to protect the people of the city from the scourge of demons, the Master used his sage power to set up the Heaven-Locking Array. The Heaven-Locking Array can block most demons, but because its range is too large, it is useless against the most outstanding cultivators, at least it cannot stop cultivators of the seventh realm."

"The Holy Son of Tiandu Palace and the Princess are all students of Baiyujing Academy. Wen Ruyu killed everyone, and there is also pressure from the imperial court. Considering both factors, it is normal for Baiyujing Academy to activate the Heaven-Locking Array."

How strong was the Master back then?

"Who can know about the figures of ancient times? Now we can only admire them from afar."

The founder of Baiyujing Academy and its first headmaster, he was known as Master.

As Li Fan walked among the crowd, he noticed a strange ominous sign about the large formation in the distance. If his junior brother hadn't left Yujing City in time, he would probably still be in the city now.

Fortunately, this magnificent city is extremely large and has countless cultivators. As long as they are well hidden, it will not be easy for the imperial court to find them.

"I don't know if we'll be checked when we enter the city. We're also wanted people, so it'll be easy to get in but hard to get out," Lu Yuan said to the two people beside her.

Li Fan frowned slightly as he looked at the great formation. The presence of the Heaven-Locking Formation did indeed increase the level of danger considerably.

"Is this okay?" Yue Qingqiu asked Li Fan.

Li Fan looked at her and saw that Yue Qingqiu's face under the veil was gradually changing, and soon she had a different face. Even her whole aura had changed.

"Huh?" Li Fan transmitted his voice, "You have this ability?"

Why didn't you say so sooner?

"The Demon Saint possesses the ability to transform in countless ways. This is demonic magic, which you cannot learn..." Yue Qingqiu looked at the two of them. Even demons would find this technique difficult to master, requiring special talent.

Li Fan recalled the abilities of the Demon Saint of Yunmengze. The Demon Saint's true form was a nine-tailed celestial fox, capable of bewitching people and possessing extremely powerful illusion magic.

So this sorcery is a type of illusion?
"How will I know if I don't try? Maybe I can succeed?" Li Fan said.

“Then I’ll teach you,” Yue Qingqiu replied.

"Let's leave this area first," Li Fan said, deciding to enter the city later and heading towards a sparsely populated area in the distance.

Several days later, when they returned to the outskirts of Yujing City, Li Fan had changed his appearance. Although he was still exceptionally handsome, he was even more imposing and arrogant, with pride etched between his brows, like a holy son of a great sect. His aura had also changed, exuding an overbearing air.

The mask on his face was worn by Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan couldn't learn this demonic magic... She only learned a little bit of it, which slightly changed the aura around her.

But that's enough; unless someone knows them very well, they wouldn't recognize them.

This makes it much safer.

Entering Yujing City was not difficult; without being checked, Li Fan and his companions easily entered the city. However, they realized that getting out would not be so simple.

Stepping into this ancient and magnificent city, Li Fan moved swiftly and soon arrived at a secluded place. He closed his eyes and sensed the sea of ​​knowledge.

"As expected, my junior brother is in Yujing City." Li Fan thought to himself. In a mansion in Yujing City, Wen Ruyu, who was cultivating with her eyes closed, seemed to sense something.

"Xiao Fan, what brings you here?" Wen Ruyu's voice entered Li Fan's mind.

“Junior Brother, I heard about what happened in Jade Capital City, so I came here. Uncle Xing Feng may have entered the city as well,” Li Fan replied.

"Nonsense." Wen Ruyu said coldly, "I will be fine. Now that you're in the city, don't cause trouble or come looking for me, lest you expose yourself."

"I know," Li Fan replied, then opened his eyes.

Of course, only the two of them know the details of their conversation.

"What's wrong?" Lu Yuan asked him telepathically.

"Junior Brother is here." Li Fan replied, gazing into the distance. There, a celestial palace stood, reaching into the clouds. Amidst the misty clouds, it resembled the abode of immortals. The majestic city was centered around that celestial palace, receiving the utmost worship from the Jade Capital City.

"The Jade Capital in the heavens," Li Fan murmured, guessing that it must be the Jade Capital Academy, and only the Jade Capital Academy could have such grandeur.

Junior brother, he's also in that direction.

Could it be that Junior Brother thinks the most dangerous place is the safest place?
The Baiyujing Academy has sealed off Yujing City with the Heaven-Locking Array, so its stance is unlikely to be friendly.

"Let's go." As soon as Li Fan finished speaking, he flew through the air.

"Where are we going?" Lu Yuan and Yue Qingqiu followed.

"Trading Pavilion, I need a sword," Li Fan said. His own sword was no longer usable, so since he had changed his identity, he naturally needed to change his sword as well. Only in this way could he truly transform himself and no one would recognize him.

The three entered Yujing City, inquired around, and arrived at a magnificent palace. This was the most famous place in Yujing City and the largest trading place.

As Li Fan entered the main hall, he was struck by his extraordinary bearing. A beautiful and refined woman came forward to greet him, asking, "What does the young hero need?"

"Sword." Li Fan looked at the other party and said, "Sixth rank."

"Please, young hero." Upon hearing this, the woman became even more polite and led the way. "My name is Yunshang. Are you familiar with the trading rules here, young hero?"

"Tell me about it." Li Fan exuded an air of arrogance, a characteristic of his identity.

"We only trade rare and precious materials or top-tier cultivation methods," Yunshang said.

“Okay.” Li Fan nodded. He had a lot of good stuff on him. Yunshang led him through the long corridor of the main hall to the back of the hall. She opened a mechanism, and the group sank down into an underground space.

The view ahead suddenly opened up, revealing a dazzling array of magical treasures displayed on the golden stone walls on all four sides.

“The lowest-grade magic weapon here is top-tier fifth-order, and I don’t have the authority to use it.” Yunshang walked up to an old man and whispered a few words. The old man looked at Li Fan and smiled, “Young hero, although there are quite a few swords here, there aren’t many sixth-order swords. I saw a sword that suits your temperament, young hero. Let me take a look at it.”

As the old man spoke, he went behind the stone wall in front of him, where there was a secret chamber. A moment later, the old man returned to Li Fan's side, holding a sword in both hands. The sword had a golden scabbard inlaid with gemstones and was extremely dazzling.

"Golden Punishment Sword, mid-grade sixth rank." After saying this, the old man placed his palm on the hilt of the sword, and the blade slowly emerged from its sheath. In an instant, golden light shone, and an extreme sharpness erupted, enveloping the underground palace.

"How is it, young hero?" The old man smiled at Li Fan as he sheathed his sword. The young man before him had an extraordinary bearing, as did the woman beside him. Moreover, he couldn't discern Li Fan's cultivation level. He was either a disciple of a major sect or a prodigy from a noble family. The Jade Capital City was in turmoil, with countless prodigies.

“Okay.” Li Fan nodded, then waved his hand, and a skeleton and a sixth-realm demon core appeared on the ground. He looked at the old man and asked, “Is this enough?”

The old man looked him over for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright, I won't haggle with you any longer."

As he spoke, he handed the Golden Punishment Sword to Li Fan: "May I ask your name, young hero?"

“Lu Qingqiu,” Li Fan said.

Lu Yuan: "?"

Yue Qingqiu: "?"

The two of them glanced at Li Fan quietly, wondering if he was just making up names so casually.

"Farewell." Li Fan said, turning to leave, with Lu Yuan and Yue Qingqiu following closely behind. The old man said, "Young hero, take care."

After seeing Li Fan off, Yunshang returned to the old man and asked, "Who is this person?"

The old man shook his head: "I have never heard of this name. Judging from his extraordinary demeanor, his cultivation is at least at the late stage of the Core Formation Realm. If he does not have some secret methods, he may even have entered the Dao Body Realm."

"Such a young Dao body?" Yunshang whispered.

“Judging from his bone structure, he is indeed very young. If he is a sword cultivator, he will have his own sword. This boy needs a sword either because his own sword is broken, or because he needs a stronger sword after breaking through to the Dao Body realm.” The old man said in a low voice, “If he has truly entered the Dao Body realm at such a young age… I have heard that there is only one sword cultivator in the Great Li Dynasty.”

"Who?" Yunshang asked.

“Lingxiao Pavilion, Jiang Tai’a.” The old man said in a low voice. Yunshang’s heart trembled. It was that peerless young sword cultivator from Lingxiao Pavilion. He had actually entered the Dao Body realm.

"A storm is brewing in this Jade Capital," the old man murmured.

(End of this chapter)