Blocking the Road and Holding Him Up

The system needed to make some preparations, and so did Li Fan, especially when he returned to his main body and found that a group of people had surrounded the Moon Worship Formation.

"What happened?"

Xuan Tian said, "Didn't I tell you to leave quickly? It seems that White Crane Fist has called for reinforcements."

Five Nascent Soul Realm cultivators were waiting for him outside the formation. Li Fan recognized him using his Gu Guan Method. The guy from Hotong Mountain who used the White Crane Fist was mixed in among them. It was probably dawn now, and he had changed into a mask and night clothes, dressed up like a real immortal with Purple Sash Immortal Clothes robe and a whisk, a Real Immortal crown on his head, and a three-strand long beard.

The other four were also dressed as True Cultivator. One wore the earth-yellow robe of Mount Song, while the other three were probably from 'reputable sects' as well. One had a large beard, and the other was a tall, thin man, wearing similar black Daoist robes with slight differences in details, so they were probably not from the same sect but were from the same lineage. The other was a round-faced man with a mustache, wearing Confucian robes and carrying a sword box, so he was probably a practitioner of both Daoism and Confucianism.

In short, the five are of similar strength and cultivation level, but in terms of ranking, Songshan seems to be the most respected, and Hotong Mountain is not even in the top ranks. If they are ranked according to strength, then if they fight without using their true abilities, it will probably be quite troublesome.

Li Fan's face darkened. He dispelled the magic array, flew into the air, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and asked, "What brings you here?"

The five didn't make the first move. Hotong Mountain's men remained hidden in the back, probably thinking that Li Fan wouldn't recognize them after changing their clothes. It was the cultivator from Songshan who stepped forward, bowed, and said...

"Is Your Excellency practicing heretical and demonic arts?"

Li Fan: "I don't know what you're talking about."

A bearded man spoke up, "Friend, there's no need for excuses. We were just passing by and clearly saw the malevolent energy surging within the formation. What kind of evil magic are you practicing? Dare to let us enter and take a look!"

Li Fan said coldly, "Which one of you is your friend? You've gathered a crowd around me in this desolate place. Are you trying to rob me?"

Without wasting words with Li Fan, a tall, thin man flashed past Li Fan, accompanied by leaping lightning.

Li Fan made no move, only slowly narrowed his eyes, because Xuan Tian had reminded him that it was the Shenxiao Yuqing Bikong Dunyin.

The tall, thin man is from the Shenxiao Sect...

In the blink of an eye, the lightning flashed past him again, and the tall, thin man reappeared, jumping back to the Songshan cultivator's side and handing over what he was holding to everyone.

Those were the remains of a child who had just been cremated last night.

"What's going on! Isn't this a child?! You demonic cultivator! You kill people to cultivate your power! What explanation do you have?!" The bearded man glared and roared angrily.

Hotong Mountain also came over to take a look, did some calculations with his fingers, glanced at the round-faced man with the mustache next to him, and then looked at Li Fan, "There are remnants of Sword Qi on this body."

The round-faced man with the mustache was shocked. "He murders, mutilates corpses, and sets fires! What kind of demonic art does he practice to be so vicious!"

Songshan frowned. "What explanation do you offer?"

Li Fan glanced at the five men, sighed, pulled a handful of Divine Astral Coin from his sleeve, and tossed them on the ground. "I don't have time to mess with you guys today. Here, this is all the change I have. Take it and divide it up."

"Hmph! Demon Path! They're courting death! Tian Xiren Danxia Mountain! Please enlighten me!"

The bearded man rolled up his robe and revealed a four-foot-seven-inch broadsword. He held it firmly between his right thumb and forefinger, holding it upright in front of his face. The sword's spine was made of fish-scale patterned black iron, engraved with seven stars, gleaming brightly.

Li Fan raised an eyebrow, looking at his opponent, then at the four people watching behind him.

"What? A one-on-one fight? Why make it so complicated? Let's start a massacre and attack together."

The bearded man chuckled coldly, his azure-blue Dao Breath billowing from his mouth and nose like flames, causing lightning to dance on the blade and the Sword Qi to become chilling. "To slay evil cultivators like you! I alone am enough! Draw your weapons!"

Li Fan glanced at the bearded man, then at the guy hiding among the four, and chuckled, "Alright, I'll play with you then."

So he crossed his hands in front of his chest, and the true qi in his sleeves billowed out, wrapping around his hands and turning into a pair of boxing gloves.

"Huh? Heavenly Garment True Qi? You are from the Bi Xia Dao?" Songshan frowned, seemingly noticing something amiss.

Li Fan shouted and pounced forward, shouting, "White Crane Fist!"

"What?!" "It really is White Crane Fist!"

How could it be fake? Although the analysis wasn't triggered and there was no internal energy coordination, Li Fan had already mastered the external moves after seeing them only once. Plus, he was very strong, so what was wrong with calling it White Crane Fist?

Not to mention the astonished expressions of the other passersby, Hotong Mountain's face was even more ashen. Just look at Tian Xiren, the bearded man from Danxia Mountain in the arena. He clearly never expected that Li Fan, this audacious demonic cultivator, would reveal the true teachings of Bi Xia Dao and Hotong Mountain right from the start!

This guy had obviously heard of the reputation of Hotong Mountain's White Crane Fist. He became very wary and threw out seven or eight Sword Qi with his right hand to attack from a distance, while his left hand blasted out patches of thunderclouds to block the attack. He actually took the initiative to keep his distance and dared not fight Li Fan in close combat.

However, Li Fan didn't have time to deal with this group. He probably had a cruiser to fight that night, and it wouldn't be proper for him to be messing around with these 500-point people instead of conserving his energy for a major battle. Oh, they haven't started the killing spree yet, right? Then there's only one point left! Damn it! Get the hell out of here!

"Ice River Escape--!"

Li Fan roared and immediately launched his ultimate attack! He stirred up a cloud of icy dust that swept across the sky, engulfing Tian Xiren in the icy rain! He pounced forward and used the White Crane Fist, his hands forming crane wings, slashing like blades and fans, aiming straight for his opponent's neck!

"Nine Heavens and Ten Thunderbolts Gather in True Form!"

Tian Xiren also roared angrily, and with a hand gesture, the thunderclouds he had unleashed suddenly gathered around him to protect him! His entire body was shrouded in thunderclouds, making it impossible to see his true form!

But Li Fan wasn't afraid! He used his Gu Guan Method to lock down his opponent and directly protected himself with his Heavenly Robe True Qi! He plunged into the rolling black clouds and thunderous layers! In an instant, he unleashed a hundred sets of punches and kicks! But he only felt a sluggishness and obstruction upon contact, unable to break through the thunderclouds and breach their defenses! Meanwhile, the true qi within the surrounding thunderclouds was raging! Thunder and lightning flashed everywhere! Dissolving his Heavenly Robe True Qi layer by layer!

In that short time, Tian Xiren finished reading the message! He raised his Seven Star Broadsword high and roared!

"Thirty-six Thunderbolts punish the wicked!"

In an instant, lightning gathered! Stars flashed! A bolt of heavenly thunder struck! It gathered and exploded with light just as it hit the tip of the sword! It was as if one held an incomparably blinding bolt of lightning in their hand!

"Nine Heavens Responding to the Origin of Thunder and Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable's Sword Fire Thunderclap True Technique!"

Then, with a furious roar, he thrust his longsword, now imbued with lightning, straight at Li Fan's chest!

"The skill name is too long! Palm Lightning!"

Li Fan roared as well, grabbing the incoming sword tip with his left hand, his palm crackling with electricity! Arcs of electricity flashed between his sword and palm! Sparks flew! Thunder roared! Crackling sounds filled the air!

"What! Jade Pure Water Yin Thunder! You're from Qingcheng Mountain!" Tian Xiren exclaimed in shock!

"White Crane Fist!"

Li Fan roared, but suddenly unleashed a kick—the very same move he had been hit by last night. Having learned his lesson, he had now innovated, secretly concealing the Tai Sha Sword Embryo in the sole of his shoe. This sudden kick instantly shattered the protective lightning layer of Danxia Mountain! It also severed Tian Xiren's right arm! And he snatched his longsword along with it!

"Ah--!" Tian Xiren screamed in agony as his severed arm exploded with lightning, the backlash of his Dao power blasting him out of the clouds and sending him flying out of the battlefield of thunderclouds and ice dust!

Then a flash of blue lightning appeared, and the tall, thin man caught Tian Xiren in a flash, then moved away, strangely maintaining a distance from the other three as well.

Li Fan looked at the severed arm and the sword in his hand. "You're too kind?"

In the blink of an eye, the outcome was decided in a move or two, yet an eerie silence fell over the arena. The man from Songshan and the round-faced man with the mustache didn't even look at the two thunder cultivators; instead, they turned to look at the man from Hotong Mountain.

The cultivator from Hotong Mountain knew he could no longer hide, so he stepped forward, bowed, and said...

"Nine Heavens Mysterious Mother Holy Mother Heavenly Venerable, Yan Benjing the Immortal Crane Forest of Hotong Mountain, I do not know where the direct bloodline of the Three Mountains is, and how you know the secret teachings of my Dao?"

Li Fan sneered at him, "Li Yaoshi, a rogue cultivator from the South China Sea."

Upon hearing "South China Sea, "Yan Benjing was immediately taken aback and fell silent for a moment.

But the round-faced man with the mustache suddenly chuckled and interjected, "Your Excellency was able to break through the Heavenly Heart Divine Thunder True Qi of Danxia Mountain with the White Crane Fist, demonstrating your profound understanding of this art. You must be a true disciple of Hotong Mountain, right? Why have I never heard of your name before? And why did you end up in the South China Sea?"

Li Fan pointed at Tian Xiren's severed arm and cursed angrily, "What kind of thing are you! You don't even know how to introduce yourself before speaking to your elders! Didn't your mother teach you that! Do you not have a mother?!"

Her round face turned purple with rage, her mustache bristling, and she roared, "I am Magu..."

"Shut your head! You're not getting a chance to talk! It's not your turn yet!" Li Fan turned his head and pointed at Tian Xiren with his severed arm. "Hey you! Are you going to fight or not? I've already given you an answer! Give me one too!"

Tian Xiren had his right arm severed and his lightning magic broken. His face was charred black from the explosion. He gritted his teeth, clutching his wound, and said, "My skills are inferior. I admit defeat."

So Li Fan tossed his hand over, saying, "Fine! I'll take your sword! Come back to Tan Flower Island in the South China Sea in twenty years to return it!"

The tall man from the Shenxiao Sect flashed forward, caught the severed arm, turned around and helped up the bearded man. The two bowed to Li Fan, nodded to the Daoist priest from Songshan, and then left.

That got rid of the two most troublesome ones. To be honest, Lei Faxiu and Li Fan really don't know how to fight. He just forcibly stole a sword strike, then switched moves, and the electric shock left half of Lei Faxiu's body stiff. If he hadn't secretly cheated using the Tai Sha Sword Embryo, he probably would have been in serious trouble...

Of course, he couldn't let these Xuanmen cultivators True Cultivator his weakness at this moment, so Li Fan pointed to the round face again.

"What does your aunt have to say?"

"... Auntie, humph!" A murderous glint flashed in the round-faced man's eyes. "Cai Zhun of the Xiandu Temple Magu Mountain! You are from the South China Sea and are proficient in the White Crane Fist. What is your relationship with the Lü Family of Yanzhou Island!"

Li Fan rolled his eyes at him. "None of your business."

"You!"

"What do you mean, 'what are you asking me?' Are you trying to stir up trouble? Are you up to no good? Are you trying to sow discord?"

"I!"

"What am I! I feel bad all over when I see your stinky face so early in the morning! If you want to fight one-on-one, just come up and do it! Don't hide behind your back and beep! Bah!"

The round-faced man was furious and was about to attack after making a sword gesture.

Li Fan ignored him, holding the Seven-Star Broadsword, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the cultivator from Mount Song, saying, "Is this mage cultivating on Mount Song?"

The cultivator from Mount Song glanced at the silent Yan Benjing, then at the murderous Cai Zhun, and then at the two streaks of lightning that had fled. He half-closed his eyes and said noncommittally, "Pei Shiqing of Mount Song."

Li Fan didn't mind his slight and simply took something out of his sleeve and tossed it to him, saying, "I wonder if the Master recognizes Xu Luoyan of Pearl Curtain Waterfall? Please pass this on to her."

Pei Shiqing was taken aback when he saw the Golden Dragon in his hand. "... You and the fairy are...?"

Li Fan, hands behind his back and sword at his side, said, "Fellow Daoist."

Pei Shiqing opened his chin, momentarily speechless. He looked at the Golden Dragon, then at Li Fan, hesitating for a long time before finally nodding silently and saying to Cai Zhun,

"Brother Cai, this Fellow Li Daoyou uses my Xuanmen Cultivation Method in his attacks. He may have his own secret inheritance, but he is certainly not a heretic. There may be some misunderstanding."

Yan Benjing surprisingly said, "The Lü Family rebels have been wiped out, and the karma has been settled. Fellow Li Daoyou has been living in the South China Sea for a long time. Perhaps the Lü Family's Cultivation Method have been scattered, or perhaps other disciples of Hotong Mountain exchanged the secret manuals. I still need to return to the mountain to investigate this matter. By the way, I have some healing ointment that Brother Tian can use. I'll take my leave now."

Pei Shiqing quickly added, "Ah! That's right! I just remembered I also have a family heirloom healing elixir, but I forgot to give it to Fellow Daoist Tian. I'll be going now."

So the two of them simply flew away!

Kindness?

Not only was Cai Zhun dumbfounded, but Li Fan was also a little confused.

What the hell is going on? He just wanted to provoke a fight to avoid it being too exhausting and interfering with their nighttime operations, but it worked so well?

So Li Fan glanced at Cai Zhun and said, "Hey, you're still going to hit him, aren't you?"

The round-faced man snorted coldly and turned to leave.

... No, so what exactly are you guys arguing about? Are you really only picking on the weak?

Xuan Tian said, "It's good that a fight didn't break out. This place is still too close to Hengshan, and there's no killing spree yet. Once the escape lights start to entangle, it will attract a lot of attention in no time. However, I don't think this matter will be so easy to resolve. During the day, they will pretend to be a righteous sect, but at night they will probably change their identities and come to settle their karmic debts. Be careful."

Damn it, if these cowards really come and ruin his plans tonight, he'll have to kill them.

So Li Fan searched the ground and found the remains of the sword boy that the tall, thin man from the Shenxiao Sect had dug up. He put them back in the grave and buried them, then flew south to keep as far away as possible.

But to everyone's surprise, Li Fan had only been flying south for less than an hour when he was stopped again!

There are five men in front and five women at this end.

"Escape!" "Assassin!" "Protect the Palace Master!" "Who is this sorcerer?!" "Form ranks!"

These five female cultivators were all Fake Nascent Soul from the Immortal Palace. They were dressed identically, in white robes, carrying jade swords, wearing bamboo hats, and their faces were covered by light veils. They also carried a basket on their backs, containing a little girl, cough cough, about three or four years old. They seemed to be traveling north and were resting and recovering their Qi in the woods below.

Out of caution, Li Fan used his Gu Guan Method to take a look. The level of these five people was far too low; they were like chickens and dogs, the kind that Li Fan could slap to death. They were probably from the Immortal Palace lineage.

However, it really had nothing to do with him; it was just a simple collision while flying.

To avoid misunderstanding, Li Fan didn't pass directly over their heads, but instead used his escape technique to circle around them and continue on his way.

But Li Fan suddenly felt a stirring in his mind. He had a vague sense of familiarity with the Gu Guan Method, as if there was someone among them whom he had met somewhere before. So he turned around and looked again.

Just then, a little girl peeked out from the basket and exchanged a glance with Li Fan.

Upon seeing her appearance, Li Fan instantly remembered her.

So he suddenly turned around and rushed back from behind! The five white-clad female cultivators had just sheathed their swords when they were caught off guard. He struck their acupoints from a distance, sealing their meridians in a few quick moves, freezing them in place without them even having to make a single move!

Li Fan landed on the ground, used his long sword to lift the veil covering the basket, revealing a little girl with wide-open eyes inside.

"We meet again, Nangong Wuqing."

The girl was so frightened by the sword pointed at her that she dared not move.

Li Fan laughed heartily, tapping her cheek with the tip of his sword. "What did I tell you! The time has come! So what if you can reincarnate! You still can't escape my grasp! Look! You've fallen into my hands again! Ha!"

Then the girl burst into loud sobs, a heart-wrenching wail that echoed through the mountains and forests.

Li Fan frowned, "... Hey, no, say something! Do you think you can hide this from me? I've already recognized you... No! She really is Nangong Wuqing, isn't she!"

The female cultivators around him glared at him as if he were scum.

No! Xuan Tian! You were there too!

Xuan Tian said, "... Regardless of whether it is true or not... Even if it is, could you really bring yourself to do it? Why not wait ten years to seek revenge?"

Li Fan choked for a moment, then thought that he couldn't wait ten years. He sheathed his sword, slung the basket over his shoulder, and said, "Whatever, I've already caused enough trouble. One or two more won't make a difference."

So, despite the 'scumbag, scumbag, scumbag' stares from behind, he snatched the child away...