Sword Qi to the Sky

Chapter 394 Half a stick of incense

Li Fan withdrew his gaze from the direction of the Heavenly Gate, and Bai Yujing Academy allowed the geniuses from all sides to ask Bai Yujing.

Three days later, he also wanted to go.

He wanted to go up and see the Jade Palace in the sky.

“This Baiyujing Academy truly lives up to its reputation as the number one academy in the world. Surrounded by ethereal mist, that woman is like a fairy.” Lu Yuan said as Li Fan turned his gaze back to her.

"Ok?"

Li Fan looked up at Lu Yuan, who was wearing a mask, and said, "Don't forget, you were once hailed as a fairy."

On Mount Li, in the hearts of the young people of Mount Li, Lu Yuan of Sword Mountain was a fairy-like figure.

"Me?" Lu Yuan said in a low voice, "You've probably forgotten about her."

Li Fan was stunned, and another white-clad figure appeared in his mind.

Yes, with my senior sister here, who dares to call themselves an immortal on Mount Li?

Thinking of his senior sister, a tenderness flashed in Li Fan's eyes. How was his senior sister doing?

Lu Yuan glanced at Li Fan with her head down and saw the change in his eyes. His bright eyes dimmed a little, but then he smiled, as if mocking himself.

Who wouldn't like a character like Fairy Ye?

Back then, she, like countless others who left the mountain, admired Fairy Ye.

“An Zhiyao, the pride of Baiyujing Academy, one of the most talented students in the academy,” Yang Tai from Chaotian Pavilion said with a smile as he watched the two discussing.

He was also a student at Baiyujing Academy, so he naturally knew more about it.

"Sir, how do you ask about Baiyujing Academy?" Li Fan asked. Although he knew about Baiyujing Academy, he did not know how to ask about it.

"The Jade Capital in the heavens is renowned throughout history. Some come to learn, some come to seek the Dao. There are many who seek knowledge, but few who seek the Dao." Yang Tai replied with a smile: "The so-called seeking the Dao is simple. No matter what level of cultivation you are, as long as you can safely step onto these nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, you can enter the Heavenly Gate and step into the Jade Capital Academy. In the academy, there are people who will discuss the Dao with you."

Li Fan seemed to be deep in thought, and murmured, "It seems...not difficult. Thank you for your guidance, sir."

Yang Tai was taken aback for a moment, then laughed heartily and said, "It is indeed not difficult, but it is also a chasm that many people cannot cross."

He turned and left, walking downhill.

On the terrace, many eyes fell on Li Fan. They could see that the young man in front of them was extremely arrogant. Of course, he seemed to have the right to be arrogant. He had entered the Dao Body at a young age, his talent was amazing, and he dared to fight against the sword cultivators of Lingxiao Pavilion.

Few can match his spirit.

"It's been a long time since anyone has inquired about Baiyujing. I never expected that so many heroes would gather here to inquire together. In three days, Yujing City will be a grand spectacle once again." Someone said with a smile, and everyone could already imagine the scene three days from now.

Shen Jing returned to his original spot, glanced at Li Fan with his sharp eyes, and then the Lingxiao Pavilion group got up and left.

Li Fan didn't care. Shen Jing looked down on him, but he didn't take Shen Jing seriously either. He sensed that Shen Jing's cultivation was the same as his, both being at the early stage of the Dao Body realm. He had also felt the intensity of that sword intent earlier.

Shen Jing is not worthy to be his opponent.

His opponent was Jiang Tai'a, whom Liu Qingwu of Tianji Pavilion called the number one swordsman of Chaotian Pavilion and one of the candidates to stand at the pinnacle of the world in the future.

In his youth, he defeated Jiang Tai'a atop the mountain.

Of course, he also understood that it only represented the past.

Based on what he had heard, he could deduce that Jiang Tai'a had grown rapidly in recent years. The Jiang Clan and Lingxiao Pavilion had poured all their resources into cultivating a top-tier swordsman in Dali, and Jiang Tai'a did not seem to disappoint them.

How strong is that young man now?

He was looking forward to it.

…………

The capital city of Yujing has been unusually lively lately. People from the imperial court and cultivators from all sides are searching for Wen Ruyu's whereabouts. To the world, Wen Ruyu is not a sword cultivator who has left the mountain, but a 'treasure'. The imperial court's bounty is enough to make countless cultivators' hearts flutter.

Furthermore, news of what happened at the foot of Baiyujing Academy quickly spread throughout Yujing City, and countless cultivators rushed to Baiyujing Academy.

On this day, cultivators from all directions gathered at the foot of the towering Heavenly Palace, and all the restaurants were packed with guests, with few empty seats.

Especially those seats offering a view of the Baiyujing Academy's steps are extremely difficult to secure.

"Many powerful sects have arrived." The terrace of Chaotian Pavilion was also packed with people, who had already secured their spots. Looking towards the steps of Baiyujing Academy in the distance, they saw many powerful cultivators gathering in different directions.

"The Qingya Holy Sect arrived very early." Someone looked in one direction and saw a group of people flying through the air with extraordinary temperament, especially the young man at the very front, Lin Bai, the Holy Son of the Qingya Holy Sect.

"Why are you here at Tiandu Palace too?" From another direction, a large group of figures appeared, led by a middle-aged man with a powerful presence.

After the Holy Son of Tiandu Palace was killed, a large number of cultivators from Tiandu Palace came to Yujing City to search for Wen Ruyu's whereabouts. The leader of them was a seventh-realm cultivator.

Wen Ruyu not only killed the Holy Son of Tiandu Palace, but also damaged the relationship between Tiandu Palace and the imperial court. This debt must be settled.

"After the Holy Son of Tiandu Palace was killed, another successor was chosen, namely the next Holy Son. Now that there is an opportunity to ask Baiyujing, it must be because the 'new Holy Son' has come to make a name for himself."

"Thump..." A muffled sound came from the air. Everyone looked up and saw a group of figures walking towards the stairs. One of them took large strides, causing the air to tremble. It was none other than Qi Zhanyun. With each step, he pushed his aura to its peak. When he reached the front of the stairs, a wave of energy emanated from Qi Zhanyun. He seemed to be surrounded by holy light, which was somewhat dazzling.

The aura of a martial arts practitioner at the Golden Body realm is already awe-inspiring, let alone a martial arts practitioner at the True Intent realm.

Afterwards, a number of powerful cultivators arrived. They stood in the air, and those who came to watch below could feel an invisible pressure permeating the heavens and earth.

Li Fan arrived early as well. He stood inconspicuously in the crowd, quietly watching the arriving figures.

Not far in front of him, Li Fan saw a familiar figure.

Chu Jiankuang was also in the crowd. He seemed to be different from his name. He was not arrogant. Shen Jing, who was also a sword cultivator, was obviously more arrogant.

Perhaps it's because Shen Jing comes from Lingxiao Pavilion, or perhaps it's because Shen Jing's master is the second-best swordsman in the world.

Sword energy whistled in the sky, and sword intent flowed through the air, transforming into streaks of golden light that were dazzling and eye-catching. When everyone looked up, the sword cultivators from Lingxiao Pavilion seemed to be walking on golden light, shining brightly.

"Lingxiao Pavilion has always wanted to become the world's leading swordsman, so they are extremely flamboyant, as if they are afraid that people will not know about them," someone in the crowd whispered.

"To become the world's greatest swordsman, one must ultimately prove their strength. At least for now, Lingxiao Pavilion is still lacking," someone nearby replied.

Lishan still exists, even in its decline, it still represents the thousand-year history of the Great Li sword path. If Lingxiao Pavilion wants to take its place, it should at least produce the greatest swordsman in the world first, right?
Now, the leader of Lingxiao Pavilion is ranked second on the Sword Saint List.

At this moment, rays of light shone down from the sky above the steps, and ripples spread from top to bottom. In an instant, the nine hundred and ninety-nine steps seemed to be enveloped by an invisible force, and silver light covered the steps, and the formation opened.

A line of figures emerged from the steps and stood outside the Heavenly Gate. These figures, dressed in the robes of the academy, spread outwards from the steps and lined up in a row.

An Zhiyao's figure appeared once again in front of the Heavenly Gate, like a celestial maiden.

"Please enter the formation and inquire about the Dao," An Zhiyao said, her gentle voice coming from the heavens and spreading below.

Countless people looked up at the fairy-like figure and the unreachable celestial gate.

The Jade Palace in the heavens.

These 990 steps are as difficult as climbing to heaven.

"Om."

A burst of dazzling sword light appeared, and the Lingxiao Pavilion sword cultivators walked forward simultaneously, landing at the bottom of the steps.

"Enter the formation," Yue Yunxiao said. He and Shen Jing took the lead, their bodies resembling swords pointing straight upwards.

The sword cultivators behind them also entered the formation and headed upwards, just like them.

However, before long, some people slowed down, becoming slower and slower, until they stopped.

"Bang..." One person was thrown back down the stairs, letting out a muffled groan.

"Asking about Baiyujing is not that easy," everyone thought to themselves. Apart from those exceptionally talented individuals, the vast majority of people could not ascend to it.

Even for those exceptional individuals, reaching the top still requires some time.

With a loud bang, Qi Zhanyun stepped up from another direction, each step causing an earthquake-like sensation.

"Let's go." The people from the Qingya Holy Sect of Qingya Mountain entered the formation. They were to the left of Qi Zhanyun. The steps were wide enough to accommodate a hundred people side by side.

After that, Chu Jiankuang entered the formation.

"I'll give it a try too." Someone spoke up loudly, stepped forward, and after a short while, rows of cultivators began to ascend the steps below.

However, everyone knows that most people are just there for the spectacle.

In mid-air, Liu Qingwu's body hovered in the air, with other Tianji Pavilion cultivators behind her. Looking towards the steps, a young man with golden eyes said, "Who do you think can reach the top first?"

Liu Qingwu shook her head and smiled, "Although I don't know who will be the first to reach the top, I do know that it will take at least half an incense stick's time."

The young man smiled. Many years ago, a person of special status came to Baiyujing Academy, wanting to ask the headmaster of Baiyujing Academy for advice. With his status, he could have gone directly to Baiyujing Academy, but he did not do so. Instead, he went up from the foot of the mountain to ask Baiyujing.

That time, it took him half an incense stick's time to enter the immortal realm.

Since then, this half-stick of incense has become the goal that countless geniuses of the Great Li Dynasty want to break.

However, no one has managed to do it.

After all, once you step onto the stairs and enter the formation, you will not only be subjected to the pressure of the formation's power, but also to special attacks.

"I've heard that one day in the future, Jiang Tai'a will come here to challenge that half-stick of incense," the young man said. "Do you think he can do it?"

"No," Liu Qingwu said firmly.

"You forgot? That's the person you admire." The young man shook his head with a smile. "Unfortunately, you have no chance whatsoever."

"It's alright." Liu Qingwu smiled. "Watching him rule the world is enough."

(End of this chapter)