Rise of the Sword Son-in-Law

Chapter 98 Li Huo Sect

"Li Huo Sect is located in the central region of Tianlong County, nestled between Bull Head Mountain and Heaven’s Palm Mountain in Crimson Fire City," the Great Elder Zhao Tianlong informed the crowd.

"The Li Huo Sect is within the city?" Long Yan asked, puzzled.

Usually, sects would choose locations in the wilderness where the spiritual energy was richer.

Establishing the Li Huo Sect within a city was somewhat unusual.

"Yes, Li Huo Sect is built inside the city. However, the spiritual energy there is exceptionally dense due to a Great Formation they possess, known as the ’Crimson Refined Heaven-Scorching Formation,’" Zhao Tianlong explained.

"Crimson Refined Heaven-Scorching Formation?" The crowd was perplexed.

However, Xu Ping’an said, "Crimson Refined Heaven-Scorching is a Sixth Rank Spirit Gathering Array, capable of absorbing the spiritual energy from a thousand li around it, making the density of spiritual energy within the Formation twenty times greater than that of the outside world."

"Twenty times?" Tang Qingheng and the others gasped in astonishment.

"Correct, this is exactly the foundation of the Li Huo Sect. They are able to rank first among the four major sects in Tianlong County, mostly because of this Great Formation," the Second Elder Xie Tianqiong followed up.

Xu Ping’an nodded.

If the density of spiritual energy was twenty times that of the outside world, it would be at least ten times greater than that of Beichen Sword Sect.

A tenfold difference in spiritual energy meant the Sect Disciples’ foundational cultivation speed would also be ten times faster.

Although the gap might not be large in the short term, over ten, twenty, or even a hundred years, the difference would be astonishingly huge.

The four major sects of Tianlong County were established around four hundred years ago.

The disparity in their foundations over centuries could be imagined.

"Great Elder, just how strong is Li Huo Sect in reality?" Xu Ping’an continued to inquire.

"We don’t have much intelligence, but from what we do know, there are a total of sixteen Third Rank Sect Disciples in their sect, among which three are at the Ninth Layer Realm and two at the Eighth Layer Realm," Zhao Tianlong said.

"Sixteen? So many? And there are three at the Third Rank Ninth Layer Realm?" Long Yan took a sharp breath.

Tang Qingheng and Zhao Kai’s expressions stiffened as well.

What did that make them?

The faces of Xu Ping’an and Li Qingyi grew solemn.

Li Huo Sect was indeed strong, and not just by a small margin.

The gap between Beichen Sword Sect and Li Huo Sect was far too large.

"Both Tyrant Heavenly Sect and Yudao Sect have one Third Rank Ninth Layer Disciple each, and that’s only on the surface. So, Xu Ping’an, your chances of making it into the top five this time might be quite slim," Xie Tianqiong looked at Xu Ping’an and said.

Xu Ping’an smiled but did not reply. Instead, he asked, "What about the Fourth Rank?"

"As of now, there shouldn’t be any. But that doesn’t mean there are none hidden away," Zhao Tianlong replied.

In past sect competitions, Beichen Sword Sect barely made a show, without any real chance of vying for a spot.

But this time it was different, this time there were Xu Ping’an and Li Qingyi.

They were still quite optimistic, especially about Xu Ping’an.

Xu Ping’an nodded. There might yet be Fourth Rank cultivators, especially in the Li Huo Sect.

If they had produced three Third Rank Ninth Layer individuals, it was possible someone had already broken through to the Fourth Rank.

It seemed he would have to take this sect competition more seriously.

Li Qingyi stood beside him with clenched fists and an unwavering gaze.

She knew that if she failed to secure a spot in the top five, she might fall behind Xu Ping’an considerably.

Therefore, despite the difficulties, she was determined to give her all for one of the five spots.

Xu Ping’an was unaware of Li Qingyi’s thoughts.

His mind was currently occupied with the affairs on Heaven’s Star Island.

As for the matter of the demonic entity, he had told no one.

Firstly, it was just his speculation, and even if it were true, informing Dugu Tianyu would be futile.

After all, his strength was ultimately too weak.

The weakest of the demonic entities that caused chaos in the Spirit Realm had the strength of the Seventh Rank, and the strongest had reached the Twelfth Rank.

It was unknown what level of strength the demonic entity suppressed beneath Heaven’s Star Island possessed.

For their journey, they rode a Second Rank Demon Beast, the Wind-Tracking Tiger-Patterned Leopard, exclusive to Beichen Sword Sect.

Thus, reaching Li Huo Sect took only one day.

After a day of travel, Xu Ping’an and the others soon arrived at Crimson Fire City.

They all showed surprise at the sight of the immense city walls and structures before them.

Crimson Fire City was bigger and more majestic than any city they had seen before.

The city tower alone was nearly fifty zhang tall.

The entire wall of Crimson Fire City was made from tough fire rock stones.

The walls were a continuous expanse of crimson, spanning dozens of miles.

It was like a blazing red flame, which was probably why the city was named so.

Xu Ping’an was not too surprised.

The Spirit Realm had many more magnificent and imposing cities than this one, and the Immortal Emperor City where he had once lived was even suspended above the Nine Heavens.

Upon entering Crimson Fire City, everyone discovered that it was even busier than they had imagined.

Within Crimson Fire City, there were many merchants coming and going, seemingly from all over Tianlong County.

The variety of goods here was dazzling, including not only items used by common folk but also those used by cultivators.

There were also many cultivators here, with First and Second Layer Cultivators being a common sight.

It should be known that in the Tianlong River Basin, a cultivator who reached the peak of the Second Rank could become the head of a cultivator family.

It appeared that Crimson Fire City was much more powerful than the Tianlong River Basin.

"I’ve long heard that the central region of Tianlong County is extremely prosperous, and seeing it today, it truly is extraordinary," Tang Qingheng said with genuine admiration.

Long Yan and Zhao Kai also nodded in agreement.

Li Qingyi, though she did not speak, also felt quite surprised in her heart.

This was also her first time to the Heaven-Opening Tianlong River Basin.

When she chose Beichen Sword Sect, she was actually trying to avoid her elder brothers in the family.

Now it seems that staying in the Beichen Sword Sect really did hold back her talent to some extent.

Of course, she had no regrets, as it was in the Beichen Sword Sect that she met Xu Ping’an.

"They’re actually selling cultivation techniques and even spiritual artifacts and elixirs," Zhao Kai said in surprise after looking around.

It should be noted that these resources, even in the Beichen Sword Sect, were very hard to come by.

Yet here, these items were readily available in the shops on the streets.

"Let’s keep moving, the Li Huo Sect is in the central area of this Crimson Fire City," Zhao Tianlong said, seeing his own sect disciples looking around with curious and astonished expressions, he himself felt a sigh in his heart.

The Beichen Sword Sect was ultimately too weak.

If it hadn’t been for the Wilderness Forest these past years, it probably would have been even more destitute.

The five young people before him were all outstanding talents.

If they were in other sects, they would surely achieve greater accomplishments.

Of course, these thoughts were just in his mind.

The growth of the Beichen Sword Sect still needed talents like theirs.

Before long, the group followed Zhao Tianlong and Xie Tianqiong to the center of Crimson Fire City.

What came into view was the immensely large entrance of the Li Huo Sect.

The entrance was at least thirty feet wide and more than ninety feet tall.

In front of this enormous entrance, there were also two huge and majestic sculptures of Fire Qilins.

It could be said that the Li Huo Sect appeared very imposing.

Xu Ping’an’s gaze, however, fell upon the Formation that enveloped the space above the Li Huo Sect.

He saw a gigantic light shield like an inverted colossal bowl, covering hundreds of buildings in front of it.

This invisible light shield seemed to contain extremely strong defensive power.

Even a Fifth Rank power would find it very difficult to break through this formation’s defenses.

"Are you all from the Beichen Sword Sect?"

Just then, two disciples dressed in Li Huo Sect uniforms came out.

The cultivation of these two disciples wasn’t low, and they had clearly reached the Third Rank.

One was at the First Layer of the Third Rank, and the other at the Second Layer.

In the Beichen Sword Sect, such cultivators would be considered among the best.

Clearly, they were dispatched by the Li Huo Sect specifically to welcome guests.

"Yes, we’re from the Beichen Sword Sect, here is our invitation," Xie Tianqiong said, handing over an invitation.

"So it’s really the uncles and senior fellows from Beichen Sword Sect. My name is Yao Guang from the Li Huo Sect, and I’m responsible for welcoming you all this time," said the young man at the Second Layer of the Third Rank.

"Thanks for your trouble, Yao nephew," Zhao Tianlong said with a smile.

"It’s no trouble at all. However, the uncles will have to wait a bit longer, as people from the Yudao Sect are about to arrive, please uncle and the junior brothers and sisters wait for a moment," Yao Guang said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Xu Ping’an and the others’ faces stiffened.

They sneered inwardly.

Yao Guang seemed polite on the surface, but he was actually making them wait for the Yudao Sect to arrive.

It was clear that he did not hold them in high regard.

But one does not slap the face that’s smiling.

They did not have good cause to make an issue of it.