Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Sword King Chu Bai, Four Great Sword Sects

Daybreak.

A thin mist drifted through the mountain forest.

An old man, a young man, and two picturesque women.

Ning Jiang brandished his longsword. In his hand, the blade seemed to come alive, moving like a dragon as it soared and twisted, leaving a trail of sword marks on the surrounding trees.

This was the complete Shocking Cloud Sword Technique.

He didn’t use any True Qi cultivation, merely demonstrating its artistic conception.

Liu Yuanlong and Liu Xianyu already knew Ning Jiang was a monstrous talent in the Sword Dao, but they never imagined he could replicate the Shocking Cloud Sword Technique in its entirety after only seeing Liu Xianyu perform it once.

And at the Perfection Realm, no less!

Nearby, Liu Shiyi was aghast. At this moment, she finally understood why Liu Yuanlong held Ning Jiang in such high regard.

’So, he was holding back during those matches. He was just toying with us.’

Liu Shiyi’s heart trembled. During the five matches at the banquet, the first had been to replicate the opponent’s Martial Technique. At the time, Ning Jiang had reproduced about seventy percent of the Flowing Cloud Swordsmanship, and everyone had assumed Liu Xianyu must have demonstrated it for him beforehand.

But now, Liu Shiyi realized that Ning Jiang hadn’t even used a tenth of his true ability back then.

Furthermore, in the match where they extinguished candles, Ning Jiang had only displayed something close to Body Sword Control, still half a step away from achieving it.

Yet now, Ning Jiang was clearly demonstrating Heart-Sword Control!

Liu Shiyi nearly groaned aloud. ’Heart-Sword Control at sixteen years old... How terrifying is that?’

Wenhua City, known as Luoyang’s number one Sword Cultivator, had only entered this realm at the age of seventy. The gap between him and Ning Jiang was immense!

’No wonder Grandfather wanted me to get close to him.’ Now, Liu Shiyi felt nothing but profound admiration for Ning Jiang.

”From now on, spend two hours here every day, contemplating the sword marks on these trees. The rest of your time should be spent training on the mountain peak. Use the pressure of life and death to temper your mind and force out your potential. With this two-pronged approach, as long as you’re not a complete fool, your Shocking Cloud Sword Technique is bound to improve by leaps and bounds.”

Ning Jiang said coolly after finishing his demonstration of the Shocking Cloud Sword Technique.

Liu Xianyu nodded, understanding his implication. ”Mr. Ning, will you not be coming to the Liu Family anymore?”

”It’s not that I won’t come, it’s just that there’s no need for me to come every day. What I’ve taught you now is enough for you to work on. When you reach a point where you can no longer improve, come find me, and I’ll teach you something new.”

As he spoke, Ning Jiang turned to Liu Yuanlong. ”Liu Yuanlong, you look like you want to say something. What is it? If it’s about last night, you can rest assured. I’ve always been clear about grudges and gratitude. You’ve already given me an explanation, so this matter won’t affect our collaboration.”

”Haha, you’re a straightforward young man. If I were to keep mincing my words, it would seem disingenuous. In that case, I’ll be direct.”

Liu Yuanlong laughed heartily, his demeanor becoming more frank. ”Actually, at your age, many people are already courting and have someone in mind. I wonder if you have any intentions in that regard? What do you think of the two pearls of my Liu Family?”

A smile played on Liu Yuanlong’s lips as he glanced at Liu Xianyu and Liu Shiyi.

He had specifically brought Liu Shiyi here as an additional bargaining chip. The two pearls of the Liu Family were equally beautiful, but they had different temperaments. Liu Xianyu was as cool and distant as the moon, while Liu Shiyi was as graceful and elegant as a lotus.

Liu Yuanlong understood just how immensely valuable Ning Jiang was, and the best way to win him over was to make him one of their own.

Upon hearing Liu Yuanlong’s words, both Liu Xianyu and Liu Shiyi couldn’t help but blush.

”Liu Yuanlong, I understand what you mean. They are both quite remarkable. This generation of the Liu Family is a case of the women outshining the men.”

Ning Jiang looked up at the sky. Snow fell in the cold winter, bleak and desolate—a sorrowful season. ”However, matters of the heart depend on fate. When the time is right, things will fall into place naturally. You can’t force it. A melon plucked before it’s ripe isn’t sweet.”

His meaning was crystal clear.

Hearing this, Liu Yuanlong sighed. If it had been anyone else in Ning Jiang’s position, they probably would have been unable to refuse such a temptation.

But Ning Jiang was a celestial being, a god-like man—an existence that even he had to admire.

”Grandfather, my father’s death has not yet been avenged. Until then, I won’t consider matters of love,” Liu Xianyu said at this moment, her gaze firm.

”Spoken with character. Very good.” Ning Jiang smiled, expressing his admiration.

”Mr. Ning, I know you must be an expert in the way of the zither. May I have the chance to hear you play just once?” Liu Shiyi couldn’t help but ask.

She was a zither fanatic, obsessed with the instrument.

”No.” Ning Jiang was blunt. ”I play the zither for a kindred spirit, and you are not yet mine. However, you are obsessed with the zither and sincere in your desire to learn, so I can teach you a way to improve your Zither Skill.”

”From now on, when you practice, find some people to bang gongs and beat drums around you. The sound must be loud and chaotic. Have them use various methods to distract you. In that kind of environment, you must strive to quiet your mind, hold fast to your intent, and pour all your focus into the music. Over time, you will surely make great progress.”

”If, one day, the sound of your zither can influence those banging gongs and beating drums, causing them to become so captivated by your music that they can’t pull themselves away, then you will have earned the right to hear me play.”

As far as Ning Jiang was concerned, as long as someone possessed a sincere desire to learn, he was willing to offer a few pointers, even if they were just a beggar.

”That is all I have to say. Farewell.” Ning Jiang departed with a flourish.

’I’m not yet your kindred spirit? Not yet qualified?’ A determined glint flashed in Liu Shiyi’s beautiful eyes. ’One day, I will make you acknowledge me!’

”Sigh.”

At that moment, Liu Yuanlong let out a long sigh.

”Grandfather, what’s wrong?” Liu Xianyu asked.

”I originally thought that, being young and full of vigor, he might be moved by matters of the heart. It seems I was mistaken,” Liu Yuanlong said. ”With a person like him, you can only treat him with sincerity and move him with earnestness. Any other method will be useless.”

”In any case, the Liu Family must do everything in its power to win him over. Perhaps in the future, the Liu Family will be the next Yang Family, or even surpass them.”

At his words, a strange light flickered in the eyes of the two young women.

The Yang Family, a renowned and prestigious house.

Over twenty years ago, the Yang Family was merely a small, second-tier family. But at that time, they discovered a young man!

That young man’s name was Chu Bai!

Before Chu Bai had revealed his astonishing talent, he was suppressed and ostracized by the Chu Family. In a fit of anger, he betrayed them and left.

The Yang Family had a keen eye for talent and formed a good relationship with Chu Bai back then.

Afterward, Chu Bai had a sudden epiphany. At twenty-three, he achieved Heart-Sword Control and rose through the ranks, defeating all manner of geniuses until, at the age of twenty-eight, his name shook the Cyan Cloud region.

Today, at forty-one, Chu Bai is a Sword King of his generation, reigning supreme over the Four Great Sword Sects.

And the Yang Family, because of Chu Bai, leaped from a second-tier family to a renowned and prestigious house.

A renowned and prestigious house, even more powerful than a First-Class Noble House!

...

Drunken Moon Pavilion.

Ning Yu’an hadn’t slept all night, worried sick about Ning Jiang. Seeing him return safely, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

”Sister An, I’m sorry to have worried you. Go get some rest. I’m going to talk to Zheng Zhiyuan.”

After Ning Yu’an went to rest, Ning Jiang said to Zheng Zhiyuan, ”Don’t worry, my promise still stands. As long as you can gather all the medicinal herbs, I will save your wife.”

”Thank you.”

Zheng Zhiyuan hurried away. He had to race against time to collect the herbs; the longer he took, the more danger his wife would be in.

Returning to his room, Ning Jiang did not disturb the resting Ning Yu’an.

He stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the plum blossoms in the courtyard of the Drunken Moon Pavilion.

The plum blossoms were in full bloom, enchanting and refined. He could even see the delicate patterns on their petals with perfect clarity.

This was the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer: Training the Seven Apertures.

The Seven Apertures are the two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and the mouth.

After stepping into this realm, one’s hearing and sight became exceptionally sharp. His vision was ten times keener, like an eagle’s eye, able to see tiny objects a hundred meters away. His hearing was also more sensitive, capable of listening in all directions and catching the sound of footsteps from a hundred meters away.

His nose could detect scents from a hundred meters away, and his mouth was now filled with iron teeth, strong enough to bite through steel.

A Martial Artist in this realm experienced a significant boost in power. For example, one benefit of enhanced senses was the ability to see an opponent’s movements more clearly, allowing for quicker reactions in battle.

They also no longer had to fear sneak attacks from behind, because their ears served as a second pair of eyes.

The Seventh Layer was Blood and Flesh Cultivation, the Eighth Layer was Training the Seven Apertures, the Ninth Layer was tempering the five viscera, and the Tenth Layer was Qi Refining and Gang Transformation.

The reason Ning Jiang had been able to reach the Eighth Layer so quickly was because of the Violent Qi Pill.

He had refined the Violent Qi Pill himself, making it unique. Not only did it not leave him in a Weakness Stage afterward, but its energy was actually absorbed by his body, allowing him to break through to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer in one fell swoop.

The day he was reborn was the fifteenth of the eleventh month, and at that time, he was at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer.

Now, only a few days later, he was already at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer.

For an ordinary person, this would have required at least two or three years of arduous training. His speed was enough to shake all of Luoyang.

Throughout the day, Ning Jiang focused on consolidating his cultivation.

After all, he had used an elixir to break through, and without consolidation, his realm would inevitably be somewhat unstable.

Fortunately, the quality of his elixir was exceptional, so only a little consolidation was needed to eliminate any future problems.

During this time, Shopkeeper Zhu from the Drunken Moon Pavilion came to see Ning Jiang in a hurry. His form of address had changed to ”Mr. Ning,” and his attitude was one of utmost respect.

Ning Jiang knew that Shopkeeper Zhu had most likely found out what happened at the Liu Family estate. Although Liu Yuanlong had issued a gag order, it wouldn’t have been difficult for a man who had worked for the Liu Family for many years to hear some news.

Besides, with so many people involved, it was hard to keep a secret. Some rumors were bound to leak.

「That night.」

”Sister An, attack me.”

Ning Jiang and Ning Yu’an were practicing their moves. Or rather, he was helping Ning Yu’an improve her combat skills, which were crucial for a Martial Artist and an area where she was not particularly strong.

”Little brother, be careful.”

As Ning Yu’an attacked, a hazy purple qi, like smoke and mist, swirled around her body.

She had already reached the Entry Level in the Purple Qi Creation Technique.

It usually took a hundred days to reach Minor Achievement and a thousand days for Great Success. The Purple Qi Creation Technique was a Profound Level Top Grade cultivation method, so the fact that Ning Yu’an could reach the Entry Level after just a few days was thanks to Ning Jiang’s guidance. Otherwise, it would have taken her much longer to figure it out on her own.

”Little brother, this Purple Qi Creation Technique is amazing! Just at the Entry Level, it’s already stronger than my Yuqing Qigong was at Great Success.” Ning Yu’an was overjoyed with the technique.

”The Yuqing Qigong is a Profound Level Low Grade technique. It’s too crude to be compared to the Purple Qi Creation Technique,” Ning Jiang said with a smile.

Time passed until noon the next day, when Zheng Zhiyuan finally returned with news of the last medicinal herb: the Golden Summit Silver Snake Grass.

The once-a-month Treasure Auction!