Volume 1, Chapter 219 – A Sword Formation

The moment those words left her mouth, Liu Beichuan and Liu Beihai froze, identical looks of incredulous shock spreading across their faces!

The Grand Elder was going to personally establish a clan-protecting grand formation for the Liu family?!

This was a peerless mighty expert capable of wiping out an entire sect with a single stroke of her sword!

The power of a formation she created would be unimaginable!

Liu Beichuan’s lips trembled. For a moment, he had no idea how to respond, overwhelmed by a tremendous surge of joy.

Even Liu Beihai’s breathing quickened, his eyes filled with disbelief!

Liu Ruyan shuddered as well, her delicate face equally astonished.

In truth, the same thought had occurred to her just moments ago.

If a stronger grand formation could protect the family, she would no longer have anything to worry about.

But such a request would have been far too presumptuous, and this Grand Elder was notoriously temperamental. Liu Ruyan had not dared voice it.

She had even planned to wait until her Master emerged from seclusion, or to return and ask Elder Die Wu for help.

She had never expected the Grand Elder to offer of her own accord!

“G-Grand Elder…”

Liu Beichuan finally came back to his senses. His voice trembled with apprehension as he bowed, about to drop to his knees.

“For such an immense favor, my Liu family…”

“There is no need for such ceremony.”

Li Hanyi raised a hand and stopped him.

“This is no more than a simple task for me. Besides…”

She looked at Liu Ruyan, a trace of firm resolve flashing through her cool eyes.

“You are the Palace Master’s disciple. Naturally, your family should not be left without a strong foundation.”

At those words, Liu Ruyan felt her nose sting. She bowed deeply and solemnly to Li Hanyi.

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“I… thank the Grand Elder!”

Li Hanyi nodded slightly and said nothing more.

She walked slowly to the square at the center of the Liu family estate, looked up at the sky, then surveyed the surrounding terrain.

After a moment’s consideration, she turned to Liu Beichuan.

“What I shall establish for the Liu family today is no ordinary defensive formation, but a sword formation.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Hanyi’s entire aura abruptly changed!

The sword intent that had lain still within her like a fathomless pool now erupted from her body like an awakening dragon!

Above Qingyang City, the once-clear sky suddenly darkened!

Countless illusory stars wheeled and flickered across the heavens, casting down billions of strands of silvery-white starlight visible to the naked eye!

The starlight poured down like a waterfall, enveloping the entire Liu family estate while furiously drawing in spiritual energy from within a hundred li!

“Let heaven be the canopy, the stars the eyes, and sword intent the bones.”

Li Hanyi’s voice rang out amid the starlight, carrying an almost sacred majesty.

She slowly raised her right hand, spread her fingers, and gently closed them around the empty air!

Countless threads of sword intent, each as fine as a strand of hair yet condensed to the utmost degree, burst from Li Hanyi’s palm!

They seemed to follow trajectories of unfathomable complexity.

They crossed, wove together, and condensed in midair!

With the Liu family estate at their center, they extended east, west, south, north, upward, and downward!

Every thread of sword intent landed with perfect precision at a designated point.

“Let the earth veins be the foundation, the water veins the guide, and starlight the source of power.”

Li Hanyi’s words fell like heavenly decrees. With each one, another layer of formation patterns lit up!

“Hum!”

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The ground trembled!

Around the Liu family estate, eight pillars formed entirely of starlight and sword intent soared into the heavens!

Each pillar rose more than three hundred meters high. Countless intricate gray-white sword patterns flowed across their surfaces, radiating a terrifyingly sharp aura!

They did not remain still. Like living things, they slowly revolved in a mysterious rhythm, resonating with one another!

“Ordinary cultivators and living creatures may enter and leave this formation freely, without obstruction.”

Li Hanyi continued, her voice reaching everyone’s ears with perfect clarity.

“But if anyone harboring hostility, murderous intent, or malice steps inside, the formation will sense it on its own. Thousands upon thousands of strands of sword intent will descend upon them. Even a Mahayana cultivator will meet a bitter end on the spot!”

As if to demonstrate her words, Li Hanyi flicked a finger, sending a wisp of spiritual power infused with unmistakable hostility toward the curtain of swords.

“Hiss!”

The instant the spiritual power touched the sword curtain!

Dozens of streaks of sword radiance erupted from it, shredding the spiritual power so completely that not even the slightest fluctuation escaped!

The sight made Liu Beichuan and the others’ scalps prickle, but their eyes shone with excitement!

With this grand formation in place, anyone harboring ill intentions would not even make it through the Liu family’s gates!

Liu Beichuan trembled with excitement, tears streaming down his aged face as he bowed deeply to Li Hanyi.

“Grand Elder! This kindness… my Liu family will never forget it for all eternity!”

Liu Beihai and the many Liu clansmen drawn over by the spectacle also bowed in unison, their voices choked with emotion.

“Many thanks to the Grand Elder for bestowing this formation upon us!”

Li Hanyi nodded slightly and calmly accepted their bow. Her tone then turned solemn.

“Although this formation is powerful, Family Head Liu must exercise proper judgment in how and when it is used.”

Liu Beichuan nodded firmly and replied with respect,

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“This junior understands! This formation will be used only to protect the peace of our family. We would never dare abuse it!”

After a moment’s consideration, Li Hanyi spoke again.

“Do you still have the Profound Light Mirror bestowed by the Palace Master?”

Liu Beichuan hurriedly took the ancient-looking bronze mirror from inside his robes and presented it with both hands.

“Senior, it is here.”

Li Hanyi accepted the Profound Light Mirror and flicked a finger, sending a thread of sword intent into it!

“Hum…”

The Profound Light Mirror trembled gently. The previously dim patterns on its surface seemed to flare back to life, flowing with a warm spiritual glow.

The aura emanating from the mirror became even more restrained than before, yet it now carried a faint, indescribable edge.

“This mirror has now formed a connection with the sword formation I just established.”

Li Hanyi handed the Profound Light Mirror back to Liu Beichuan.

“From this day onward, this mirror shall serve as the nexus that controls the formation.”

She paused, sweeping her gaze over Liu Beichuan and Liu Beihai before continuing solemnly,

“If another crisis arises, the two of you must activate it together to unleash its full power!”

Liu Beichuan and Liu Beihai exchanged a glance, unable to put their excitement into words.

“Grand Elder… This junior, this junior…”

Liu Beichuan’s voice choked, and even the hands cradling the mirror trembled slightly.

Li Hanyi waved a hand, cutting off his emotional words.

“The clan-protecting grand formation is now complete. The Liu family’s safety is assured for the next five hundred years.”

She turned toward Liu Ruyan, who had been standing quietly nearby all this time.

“Ruyan, it is time for us to return.”

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Liu Ruyan drew a deep breath and suppressed the emotions surging within her.

She walked over to her parents and uncle, then bowed.

“Father, Mother, Second Uncle, with this grand formation protecting the family, I can finally set my mind at ease.”

“I will return with the Grand Elder now. I will cultivate diligently and never fail the family’s expectations or my Master’s teachings!”

Madam Wang’s eyes brimmed with tears as she stepped forward and helped her daughter straighten. All the words in her heart came down to a single plea.

“Yan’er… take good care of yourself, and take good care of your younger sister too!”

Liu Beichuan’s eyes were filled with pride and relief.

“Go! Your father will take care of everything at home!”

Liu Ruyan nodded firmly. After one last, lingering look at the familiar estate and her family, she turned and walked toward Li Hanyi.

The two transformed into streaks of white and azure light and shot into the sky, disappearing beyond Qingyang City’s horizon in an instant.

Liu Beichuan, Liu Beihai, and the assembled Liu clansmen watched the direction in which they had departed until the streaks of light vanished completely.

Liu Beichuan lowered his gaze to the Profound Light Mirror in his hands, then looked toward the sword formation surrounding the estate, where terrifying sword intent faintly circulated.

He tucked the mirror into his robes, his eyes filled with determination.

“Pass down my orders.”

Liu Beichuan’s voice regained its usual composure and rang clearly across the square.

“From this day onward, the cultivation resources allocated to every eligible young member of the family shall be doubled!”

“Yes!”

The Liu clansmen answered in unison, their voices brimming with fierce determination.