Chapter 524 - 519: Declaring War on the World

The development on Li Mountain is no longer just limited to the mountain gate. Since the peaks of Li Mountain extended all the way down, numerous buildings have risen from the ground, stretching outward.

From the sky looking down, the peaks of Li Mountain are shrouded in mist and swirling with golden Sword Intent, resembling Immortal Palaces, while the surrounding area appears akin to secular powers under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Palaces.

Li Mountain has built a city.

Outsiders call it the Li Palace.

Just like the Da Li Imperial Palace in the Imperial City, now some opportunists have named parts of Li Mountain as Li Palace; its meaning is self-evident.

Moreover, cultivators have been gradually arriving in this city. According to reports, a large army of cultivators from overseas is now within Li Palace, and in the future, this overseas army’s scale might rival the court’s controlled military.

This realization makes the world aware that for a thousand years, Li Mountain has remained hidden in cultivation, only coming down into the world when demons rampaged.

But now, due to pressure from the court and two other top forces, Li Mountain is expanding its influence and preparing to enter the world grandly.

It’s not just about entering the world, but also about overturning this realm.

"Why has the court not acted yet, allowing Li Mountain’s development?" In various places in Da Li, countless people discussed.

"Dare Li Mountain act this way, there is no longer any suspense about the Sword Saint emerging. Even though it’s just entering the Saint Realm, the offensive of a Sword Cultivator has always been fierce. Back in the day, weren’t every Sword Saint from Li Mountain unmatched in their time? Even if the court also has Saints, there’s no guarantee of victory, right?"

"How many Saints are there in today’s world?"

"Saints rarely interfere in worldly affairs. But according to the latest news, besides the newly ascended Sword Saint from Li Mountain, there are at least four other Saints in the world, belonging to the powers at the pinnacle of the world."

"One mountain, one temple, one sect, one academy in the court?"

"That’s the current narrative."

"If that’s the case, why don’t the court, Taiping Temple, and Ten Thousand Buddha Temple join forces to assault Li Mountain? Even the newly ascended Sword Saint from Li Mountain can’t withstand the union of three Saint Realms, right?"

"How do you know Li Mountain has only produced one Sword Saint?" someone asked.

Decades ago in that battle, aside from the Xuanyuan Sword, Zuo Canglan also revealed Half-Saint cultivation, slaying top Great Cultivators from several mighty powers.

Who knows whether the two entered the Saint Realm together?

Moreover, the title of Li Mountain Sword Master doesn’t belong to Zuo Canglan but to Li Fan.

This is enough to spark wild imaginations.

...

On this day, outside Li Palace, a group of figures traveled through the air.

The leader was a man in his fifties, carrying the aura of a superior person, his gaze sharp as an eagle’s. Though he did not release any aura, he gave an innate sense of might.

He scanned the view ahead with his eyes, his Divine Sense sweeping across, showing him that the scale of the towering city ahead already matched the Da Li Imperial Palace.

Furthermore, in different locations, he surprisingly sensed several auras not weaker than his own. And this was just the outskirts of Li Mountain, not the Sword Aura-shrouded mountains ahead.

Figures appeared out of the sky, instantaneously before him, led by one whose aura even carried an imperial majesty.

"King of the Divine Country," he thought, the existence of the Divine Country now not a secret, for they have sent people secretly to the South Sea, and the information has now returned to several top forces of Da Li.

"I am Liu Cheng, Left Imperial Censor of Da Li, here by the Emperor’s command, visiting as Da Li’s emissary." Liu Cheng bowed respectfully.

An emissary?

Emperor Chen gazed at his counterpart; he was one of the three living emperors of the Seven Countries, Emperor of Jin Dynasty, sent on mission here.

He knew of the grievances between Li Mountain and the Da Li court, but he was unsure how to handle Da Li’s envoy here.

"Bring him into the mountain," a voice called from the direction of Li Mountain. Emperor Chen understood and said, "Follow me."

Then he turned to lead the way.

Passing through misty peaks of Li Mountain, the once simple Li Mountain now appeared grand and vast, with Immortal Palaces rising on each peak.

On Sword Mountain, the place seemed like the dojo of a Sword Immortal. Walking here, Liu Cheng felt as if he were entering the Imperial Palace for a morning court session.

Before Liu Cheng was a lofty hall reaching into the clouds, above which a giant sword pierced the skies. This sword was formed by condensed Sword Intent, making the entire hall seem encased in Sword Aura.

Before the hall lay a flight of Sword Dao steps. Seeing this scene, Liu Cheng could sense Li Mountain’s ambition.

"Liu Cheng, Left Imperial Censor of Da Li, comes to pay respects to the Li Mountain Sword Master," Liu Cheng bowed deeply; he served the Da Li court and was also the head of a noble family in the Da Li Imperial City.

Years ago, when he heard Li Fan’s name, Li Fan was merely a gifted youth. Later, Li Fan entered the Capital, revealing unparalleled talent.

Today, he is the Li Mountain Sword Master, poised to overturn the Great Li World.

"What matter?" A voice emerged from the hall, and Liu Cheng didn’t know who it was.

Liu Cheng cupped his hands and said, "The Emperor of Da Li has decreed that in today’s world, since Li Mountain has produced a Sword Saint, it can stabilize one region, uphold the millennial purpose, slay demons and eradicate evils, and protect the peace of the people. Past grievances, the court shall not pursue."

There was a moment of silence in the grand hall, and then Liu Cheng felt a light shining through. A dazzling Sword Aura entered his eyes, so bright that it was nearly impossible for him to open them. Squinting, he saw a figure walk out from the grand hall, stopping at the top of the steps, dressed in white that fluttered without wind.

"Li Fan!"

In the past, Liu Cheng had seen Li Fan in the Capital, where he was the pride of the heavens. Today, seeing him again, he appeared as a sword immortal, dazzling and unparalleled.

Previously there were rumors that Li Fan was not at Li Mountain, yet now, he has returned.

"Are you suggesting that Li Mountain, as before, regards the court as Da Li’s legitimate rule and considers Li Mountain a sect of the Great Li World?"

Li Fan spoke, and a sense of oppression fell upon Liu Cheng. The young sword dao prodigy exerted pressure akin to that of the Emperor of Da Li.

"A millennium of peace in the world benefits the country’s governance and the common people." Liu Cheng declared emphatically.

"Beneficial to the governance of the Da Li Royal Family’s affairs, but as for whether the world is at peace, whether the people live in peace, ask Lin’an County at the foot of Li Mountain, ask those people who suffered because of demons."

Li Fan responded coldly, his gaze fixed on Liu Cheng as he spoke loudly, "A thousand years ago, Li Mountain ancestors led the masses alongside the ancestors of Da Li to pacify the world. Afterward, the Li Mountain Sword Ancestor secluded himself in the mountain to teach the dao, while Emperor Taizu established the dynasty, seizing the realm."

"Decades ago, when demons wreaked havoc, the Da Li Court, as the world’s legitimate rule, should have slain demons and eradicated evils but instead caused harm to Li Mountain cultivators, eliminating dissent, and later conspired with demons to frame Li Mountain."

"The court, Taiping Temple, Ten Thousand Buddha Temple—those forces at the peak of Da Li—were unresponsive when demons entered the Capital, yet dispatched top cultivators to besiege the world’s foremost sword, Senior Xuanyuan, and the cultivators of Li Mountain."

"This world has already rotted."

Li Fan’s voice caused the void to tremble, penetrating hearts.

"Given that Da Li’s seized realm has now completely rotted, what qualification does it have to be the legitimate rule?"

"Today, I proclaim as the Li Mountain Sword Master, I command cultivators from all over the world to overthrow the Da Li Court, rout Taiping Temple, extinguish Buddhist Path, slay demons, bringing darkness within Da Li to light again."

His voice spread thousands of miles from Li Mountain, so that even cultivators from the distant Lin’an County could hear clearly.

Countless hearts surged with waves of shock.

Li Mountain formally declared war on the world.

Not only against the court but also Taiping Temple and Ten Thousand Buddha Temple, seeking to overthrow the entire world and rebuild order.

"Has Li Mountain produced two Saints?" Someone pondered with astonishment, for otherwise, how could they dare to declare war on the world?

This news will soon sweep across Da Li, shaking the legitimacy of the court.

Since thirty years ago, people’s trust in the Da Li Court has waned, but the court’s oppression of the world is unmatched.

Taiping Temple and Ten Thousand Buddha Temple were quietly allied with the court.

Until now, Li Mountain stood up, declaring war on the world, destabilizing the foundation of the court.

Liu Cheng was speechless; he hadn’t harbored great hope for today’s envoy mission to Li Mountain. The two sides are utterly opposed; he didn’t expect Li Mountain to be so resolute, directly declaring war.

Could it be, Li Mountain believes it now possesses the power to confront the entire Great Li World alone?

"This time, you came not as an envoy; I won’t kill you. Return and report to Emperor Li; start from a thousand years ago. It wasn’t the Ye Family’s world to begin with. Begin from decades ago—did the previous emperor fall without cause, was it because he usurped the Da Li throne? This Da Li heaven should be replaced."

"Next time, if Li Mountain court people step into Li Mountain, they shall be slain without mercy."

Li Fan waved his hand to dismiss the guest. Liu Cheng wanted to say something but knew his words were insignificant.

He clasped his hands in salute, saying, "Farewell."

With that, he turned and left, glancing at the grand Li Mountain.

The Li Mountain of tonight is not the same as the Li Mountain of yore.

The Li Mountain Sword is drawn, destined to contend for the world.

After Liu Cheng left, Li Fan still stood there, beside him appeared two equally ethereal figures.

Former Princess of Da Li, Ye Qinghuang, and Wen Ruyu.

"For many years, the Da Li Court was the legitimate rule of the world, and that Imperial Palace gathered the world’s fortune. Taiping Temple and Ten Thousand Buddha Temple absorbed Tao State and Shanzhou’s fortune. Now, apart from declaring war, we must reveal their sins to the world and sever their fortunes."

From behind, Shi Dao Ren approached, looking at Li Fan’s back and spoke.

The world’s fortune should belong to Li Mountain.

"Senior sister, little senior brother, the world owes you both. Let’s reclaim it together." Li Fan murmured softly.

Now that they had declared war on the world, no one knew how the battle would end.

But regardless of the outcome, they feared nothing!