166: Chapter 166: Sword Intent

The next morning.

Xiao Ran departed from the stronghold with Song He, flying towards the Sword Qi Great Wall.

A journey that would take three days using Song He's escape technique took less than half a day under Xiao Ran's technique.

This was still because Xiao Ran had deliberately slowed down his speed to observe the Far North Land.

Even so, Song He was shocked after arriving at the Sword Qi Great Wall.

"Since we are both in the Soul Transformation Stage, why are you so outstanding?"

From then on, Song He's attitude towards Xiao Ran became even more cautious.

Xiao Ran did not care, as he had never taken Song He to heart.

He merely raised his head and looked at the Great Wall on the distant horizon.

It was truly endless, stretching as far as the eye could see.

It was the barrier of the Far North Land, separating the Human Race from the Yao Race.

Outside the city walls lay the endless Wilderness Lands.

The grayish-yellow wasteland extended to the horizon, and one could vaguely see the figures of huge Yao Beasts wandering in the distance.

Inside the city walls was a bustling human world.

And the city was built right beneath the Sword Qi Great Wall.

It was a massive city that spanned across the land.

The city walls stretched for ten thousand miles, towering into the clouds, and were built entirely of massive black stones.

"So this is the Sword Qi Great Wall..."

Xiao Ran whispered to himself, a flash of shock appearing in his eyes.

He had seen many cities.

The mountain gate of the Eternal Night Demon Sect was majestic and grand, and White Emperor City was bustling and noisy, but neither could compare to even one ten-thousandth of the city before him.

Because it was not just a city, but more like a monument.

A monument to the Human Race resisting the invasion of the Yao Race.

Xiao Ran and Song He landed in front of the city gate and joined the queue to enter.

The city gate was ten zhang high and five zhang wide, with a hundred-zhang-tall stone statue standing on each side.

The stone statues were a man and a woman, both holding long swords, their gazes resolute as they looked out towards the Wilderness Lands.

"Who are these two..."

Xiao Ran asked.

Song He quickly replied.

"These two stone statues are the founders of the Sword Qi Great Wall."

"During the Human-Yao War back then, it was they who led the Cultivators of the Northern Territory to drive the Yao Race back to the Wilderness Lands, built the city here, and guarded the border forever."

A sense of solemnity arose in Xiao Ran's heart.

Regardless of where one is, heroes are always worthy of respect.

"Are these two both invincible Sword Cultivators of the Mahayana Stage?"

Upon hearing this, a flash of reverence appeared in Song He's eyes.

"Yes, Sword Venerable Li Qinglian and Sword Saint Mu Hongchen."

"Ten thousand years ago, they used their supreme Sword Intent to build the city here, splitting the heavens and earth with a single sword strike, and blocking the Yao Race outside."

"Ten thousand years have passed, and that Sword Intent has still not dissipated."

Xiao Ran looked into the distance.

It seemed as if a golden light was flowing faintly on the Sword Qi Great Wall, emitting a heart-palpitating Sword Intent.

Eternal for ten thousand years.

This was the power of the Mahayana Stage.

As the two spoke, they queued to enter the city.

Upon entering the city gate, the scene before him made Xiao Ran pause once again.

The streets were wide and clean, with shops lining both sides.

Restaurants, teahouses, inns, medicine shops, Magical Artifact shops... everything was available.

Pedestrians were like a woven fabric, carts and horses were like a flowing stream, and the sounds of hawking, laughter, and bargaining intertwined, creating a bustling atmosphere.

"Selling candied haws! Authentic Spirit Fruit candied haws, one bite and the sweetness goes straight to your heart!"

"Sword Qi Tea produced by the Sword Qi Great Wall! Refreshes the mind and aids cultivation! Delicious and affordable!"

"Magical Artifact robes woven from Far North ice silkworm silk, impervious to blades, spears, water, and fire! Don't miss out!"

"Freshly baked Yao Beast meat buns, filling and can increase Spiritual Qi!"

"..."

Watching this scene, Xiao Ran's mouth twitched.

How was this a bitter and cold city in the Far North Land?

It was clearly even more prosperous than White Emperor City!

"Deacon Song, that is not what you said yesterday."

"You said the Far North Land was poor, but where is the poverty here?"

Xiao Ran said faintly.

Song He quickly stepped forward to explain, smiling apologetically.

"Elder, what I said was the truth. It is indeed bitter and cold outside the city, but it is different inside."

"The Sword Qi Great Wall is the only safe zone in the Far North Land, where all resources, trade, and population are gathered."

"Under such circumstances, the harsher it is outside, the more prosperous it is inside."

Xiao Ran thought about it and realized it made sense, so he said no more.

The two continued to walk forward.

On both sides of the street, there was a dazzling array of shops.

Some sold Yao Beast Materials, some sold Spirit Pills and medicines, some sold Magical Artifacts, and others sold all sorts of strange and curious items.

Xiao Ran noticed that the cultivation of the Cultivators on the street was generally not low.

Golden Core Stage Cultivators could be seen everywhere, Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators were not rare, and occasionally one could even sense the aura of a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator.

"It is indeed a major city."

Xiao Ran thought to himself.

After walking for a while, Xiao Ran stopped.

"Let's find a place to sit down!"

Song He immediately understood and pointed to a teahouse at the corner of the street.

"That Tingyu Pavilion is not bad; the tea is good, and you can listen to storytelling."

Xiao Ran nodded, and the two walked into the teahouse.

The teahouse was not large, but it was elegantly decorated.

There were a dozen tables in the lobby on the first floor, and quite a few people were already seated.

There were private rooms on the second floor, but Xiao Ran chose the first floor because he could listen to the storytelling up close.

They sat down, and a waiter quickly ran over.

"What would you like to drink, guests? Our shop has hundred-year-old Sword Qi Fragrance tea, and newly arrived Far North Snow Buds; both are good things!"

Xiao Ran looked at Song He.

Song He smiled.

"Let's have the Sword Qi Fragrance, bring a pot."

"Right away!"

The waiter turned to brew the tea.

A moment later, the fragrance of tea rose in curls.

Xiao Ran picked up the teacup and took a sip.

The tea was slightly bitter upon entering the mouth, but then a sweet aftertaste followed, and a gentle Spiritual Qi circulated in his body; it was indeed quite good.

"Good tea."

He put down the teacup and looked towards the center of the lobby.

There, an old man was sitting on a high platform.

He held a gavel, and a table was placed in front of him.

On the table were a pot of tea, a folding fan, and a gavel.

This person was the storyteller of the teahouse.

With a strike of the gavel, the whole room went quiet.

The old man cleared his throat and spoke slowly.

"Everyone, today we will continue to tell an old story first."

"What story? The story of the Sword Qi Great Wall."

Someone in the audience jeered.

"Old man, the story of the Sword Qi Great Wall has been told eight hundred times, can you tell us something fresh?"

The old man was not annoyed and said with a smile.

"Eight hundred times? Then this old man will tell it for the eight hundred and first time today."

"Because some stories are worth telling ten thousand times."

He paused, and the gavel struck again.

"It is said that ten thousand years ago, the Northern Territory was not what it is today. At that time, the Human Race and the Yao Race lived in the same place, fighting and killing each other, with blood flowing like rivers."

"The Yao Race was powerful, and the Human Race retreated steadily."

"Just as they were about to be driven out of the Northern Territory, two people stood up."

The old man's voice rose sharply.

"One was named Li Qinglian, the other was named Mu Hongchen. They were Senior Brother and Junior Sister, Dao Companions, and the strongest Sword Cultivators in the Northern Territory at that time."

"Li Qinglian held his sword, splitting the heavens and earth with one strike, cutting the Yao Race army in half."

"Mu Hongchen drew her sword, creating a ten-thousand-mile Great Wall with one strike, trapping the Yao Race in the Wilderness Lands."

"In that battle, the heavens collapsed and the earth cracked, and the sun and moon lost their light."

"Li Qinglian died from exhaustion, and Mu Hongchen sacrificed herself to the sword, turning into the final Sword Intent on the Great Wall."

"From then on, the Yao Race was driven out of the Northern Territory, and the Human Race was able to multiply and thrive."

"And this Great Wall is the legacy they left for future generations."

Below the stage, there was a moment of silence.

Someone asked softly.

"Is that Sword Intent still there after so much time?"

The old man nodded.

"Yes, eternal for ten thousand years."

He looked at the city wall outside the window.

"Every City Lord of the Sword Qi Great Wall will nourish that Sword Intent with their own cultivation."

"As long as the Sword Intent does not perish, the Yao Race cannot attack."