Liu Yanping gave Meng Fan a puzzled glance, seemingly baffled.
"What do you mean 'wait for you to come back'? Can you tell me?"
The next second, her expression changed dramatically, staring at Meng Fan in disbelief.
"Don't tell me you're also participating in that Demon Realm mission? But you didn't even go up to the Heaven-Connecting Platform to showcase your sword techniques during the literary competition!"
Meng Fan shrugged helplessly, "Elder Lin signed me up and got me on the list."
"I'm so envious of you!" Liu Yanping immediately looked at Meng Fan with immense envy.
"What's there to envy? It's truly dangerous, and even I can't guarantee I'll come back unscathed," Meng Fan said with utmost humility.
"Cut it out, don't I know you? If even you can't make it back in one piece, then this time our Shu Mountain Sword Sect, along with the Limitless Sword Sect and Kunlun Sword Sect, are all doomed!"
Liu Yanping could be considered the person who knew Meng Fan's strength the best, aside from Elder Lin.
After all, Meng Fan was somewhat her half-master!
Liu Yanping's eyes flickered, and a special expression crossed her face.
"What mischievous plan are you concocting now?" Meng Fan asked helplessly upon seeing Liu Yanping's malicious gaze.
"Actually, I lied to my grandfather about not going to the Demon Realm. I was thinking of sneaking away before. Now that you're going too, I feel relieved!" Liu Yanping said with a beaming smile.
Meng Fan frowned. Was this something he should be hearing?
If Liu Yanping disappeared, Elder Liu might come looking for him, accusing him of abducting his granddaughter.
That's a blame Meng Fan refused to take!
"Stop right there. Whatever you're planning, I'm not interested, and don't bother telling me," Meng Fan decisively said, cutting off Liu Yanping's next words.
Liu Yanping rolled her eyes and said, "Anyway, once we're in the Demon Realm, you have to look out for me!"
Knowing Meng Fan was heading to the Demon Realm, Liu Yanping, who had been somewhat indecisive, suddenly made up her mind.
She decided to slip away from Shu Mountain Sword Sect in advance and then rendezvous with the main force.
Once it's a done deal, her grandfather couldn't do anything to her.
How could she miss out on such an interesting place as the Demon Realm?
"By the way, I heard that Jiang Poyue is a scumbag. He killed a female disciple from our sect on the second day of the literary competition," Liu Yanping suddenly asked.
"It can indeed be said that he caused her death," Meng Fan nodded.
"I was put under house arrest right after the competition and only found out about it yesterday. I didn't expect Jiang Poyue, who looks so decent, to be such a scoundrel behind the scenes!"
"Weren't you the one who previously said he was your future husband?"
"I admit I was blind, okay?"
"By the way, what did you come to see me for?"
Although Liu Yanping visited him quite often, every visit was for a serious matter, not just to catch up.
"Oh, I want to exchange for a new Spiritual Sword. You're in charge of the Sword Pavilion, aren't you?" Liu Yanping said matter-of-factly.
"What do you mean I'm in charge of the Sword Pavilion? I don't have that much clout. Even if you come to me, exchanging swords still costs ten Spirit Stones. I can't give you any special treatment!" Meng Fan said.
"Spirit Stones? Are you looking down on me?" Liu Yanping was furious, feeling her status as the top rich woman among the inner disciples was insulted.
Ten Spirit Stones?
She wouldn't bother picking them up if they fell on the ground… in the water, for that matter.
If they fell on the ground, she would still casually pick them up. She wasn't that pretentious, not to that extent.
***
In the evening, Meng Fan left the Scripture Pavilion, and Liu Yanping followed him to the Sword Pavilion.
In fact, she was right to seek Meng Fan.
Under normal circumstances, as a mere True Martial Realm third-layer disciple, she might be overwhelmed by a Spiritual Sword.
Just like Dugu Ming, who previously came to the Sword Pavilion to exchange swords and nearly died from the sword's backlash if Elder Lin hadn't intervened!
Desiring a Spiritual Sword without sufficient strength could be fatal.
Liu Yanping's strength was probably not much different from Dugu Ming's. Even if she was slightly stronger, it wasn't by much.
If she encountered a fierce Spiritual Sword, she would have to face the consequences.
But she was lucky to encounter Meng Fan.
Back at the Sword Pavilion, Meng Fan casually picked out a Spiritual Sword and tossed it to Liu Yanping.
"Illusory Rain Sword!"
Meng Fan had previously dealt with this sword, having refined and absorbed its Sword Wraith, so it wasn't particularly dangerous.
Even if Liu Yanping couldn't subdue the sword, she was unlikely to be harmed.
If it had been before, he would have demanded a hundred Spirit Stones from Liu Yanping.
But now they were too familiar, and he found it hard to be so strict.
Liu Yanping took the Illusory Rain Sword, and as soon as she held the long sword, she felt a special aura surge towards her.
An immense deterrent force enveloped her, making her tremble uncontrollably.
Yet, she gritted her teeth and persisted. Moments later, she fiercely drew the Illusory Rain Sword and began to practice swordplay.
"Out!" Meng Fan slapped Liu Yanping's shoulder, sending her flying out of the Sword Pavilion and landing outside its main gate.
In her current state, Liu Yanping was already somewhat delirious. If she were allowed to practice swordplay on the first floor of the Sword Pavilion, she might have turned the place upside down.
Meng Fan would have to clean up the mess.
So without hesitation, he sent Liu Yanping flying out.
Liu Yanping didn't have time to settle scores with Meng Fan. Holding the Illusory Rain Sword, she began to practice the Emerald Sea Tide Rises Sword Technique.
From the sword moves to the Sword Rhyme, and finally, the Sword Intent!
Gradually, Liu Yanping's expression calmed down, and the Illusory Rain Sword in her hand also settled.
She succeeded; the Illusory Rain Sword temporarily ceased resisting her.
"Ha-ha, I did it, I have a Spiritual Sword now!" Liu Yanping laughed heartily, drawing curious glances from the occasional passing disciples.
She didn't feel embarrassed, continuing to laugh unabashedly, thrilled and excited.
"My grandfather said I wasn't worthy of a Spiritual Sword and couldn't possibly get one. I'll show him how wrong he was when I get back, I'll slap his face with this sword, ha-ha!"
The young lady was clearly getting carried away.
Without a doubt, if her grandfather heard this, she'd be locked up for another month!
"Alright, stop showing off. If it weren't for giving you the most docile and honest Spiritual Sword, do you think you could have succeeded?" Meng Fan, disliking Liu Yanping's smugness, spoke to deflate her ego.
"Nonsense, how would you know which sword is the most docile? Why don't you say you're the Sword Person?" Liu Yanping glared at Meng Fan.
"Oh, don't believe me? Try exchanging for another one."
"I won't, I'm exhausted."
"You…"
Meng Fan wanted to say more, but Liu Yanping handed him a hundred Spirit Stones.
"No need for change!"
Meng Fan stored the hundred Spirit Stones in his Storage Ring and immediately changed his tune, "Elder Sister Liu's skills are unparalleled; this Spiritual Sword is a perfect match for you."
"That's more like it." Liu Yanping nodded in satisfaction and took the Spiritual Sword with her.
As for her previous long sword, it had already been placed on a table in the Sword Pavilion.
Meng Fan returned to the Sword Pavilion and took Liu Yanping's long sword to the recovery room.
Although the sword was intact, it still needed to be processed in the forge before it could return to the Sword Pavilion.
Checking the time, it was the point of closing the Sword Pavilion. Meng Fan locked the main gate and returned to his room to continue cultivating the Supreme Dominance Body.
One Dominance Body Pill a day, Meng Fan's cultivation of the Supreme Dominance Body was indeed effective, feeling his physical body growing stronger day by day.
Time flows like water, and days without showing off always fly by.
***
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Meng Fan successfully cultivated the second layer of the Supreme Dominance Body.
Having finished the sword scriptures on the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion, and coupled with the swordsmanship foundation accumulated from the Sword God Stele, he successfully created the second form of his Myriad Swords Returning to One.
Meng Fan named this form—Annihilation of All Directions.
Just by the name, it sounded formidable.
If it wasn't strong, it would be a disservice to such an impressive name!
Now, Meng Fan's accumulated strength had reached a terrifying level.
His power was equally terrifying, but since he was confined to Shu Mountain Sword Sect, he had few opportunities to display it.
This trip to the Demon Realm was his chance to shine.
To kill with abandon!
One day, Meng Fan went to the second floor of the Sword Pavilion and said to Elder Lin, "Master, I've run out of Dominance Body Pills."
Clearly, he had the cheek to ask for more Dominance Body Pills.
Elder Lin glared at Meng Fan all day, saying grumpily, "I don't have any more. Those were my stock from years ago, and I gave them all to you. Once they're gone, they're gone. Do you think these are common goods? The entire Shu Mountain Sword Sect probably doesn't have any Dominance Body Pills!"
Hearing Elder Lin's words, Meng Fan felt a bit regretful.
To be fair, the Dominance Body Pills were indeed very effective.
Unfortunately, Shu Mountain Sword Sect was a sword cultivation sect and didn't prioritize body refinement.
It wasn't that they didn't consider it important, but even if they wanted to, they couldn't emphasize it much, given the sect's heritage.
It's like a sect that specializes in knives trying to produce unparalleled swordsmen; it's just not feasible.
The same principle!
"Master, don't we have any other effective body refining items? If I can't enhance my physical strength, I might perish in the Demon Realm…
It wouldn't matter much if I perished, I'm not afraid of death, but then I wouldn't be able to serve you, Master.
And about the challenge in over a year, if I perish, I won't have the chance to avenge you!"
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan
Recheck: Lotas