Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 116: Chapter 113: Taiyang Divine Crystal, Sun and Moon Divine Eye

Cultivation was monotonous, and time flew by.

The higher a Martial Artist’s Realm, the longer their secluded cultivation would often last. For example, some Celestial Martial Realm Kings might enter seclusion and emerge only after several hundred years had passed.

When they came out, the world would have changed completely, a new landscape before their eyes.

After all, an Innate Realm Martial Artist only had a lifespan of two hundred years, and even those in the Spirit Realm only lived for five hundred.

Immersed in his Cultivation, Ning Jiang had no concept of time. He pushed the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill to its limits, devouring Lotus Seed after Lotus Seed like a whale drinking the ocean.

In four months, the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lotus had consumed a total of four million Primordial Stones, at a rate of one million per month.

What did four million Primordial Stones represent?

Such a quantity of Primordial Stones could support the expenses of an entire second-tier family.

Calculations had been made: for a Martial Artist to step into the Innate Realm, they needed about ten thousand Primordial Stones. Reaching the Innate Middle Stage required thirty thousand, the Innate Late Stage one hundred thousand, the Innate Peak three hundred thousand, and the Innate Limit one million.

The Lotus Seeds formed from four million Primordial Stones, if used by other Martial Artists, would be enough to create forty Innate Late Stage powerhouses.

But Ning Jiang was different.

While the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill was powerful, the Energy required for each of his breakthroughs rose proportionally, far more terrifyingly than for an ordinary person.

An ordinary person needed ten thousand Primordial Stones to reach the Innate Realm.

He needed the Energy equivalent of at least three hundred thousand Primordial Stones to reach the Innate Realm.

The price for a thirty-six-fold cultivation speed was a terrifying consumption of Primordial Stones. Without enough of them, advancing his Realm was next to impossible.

Three days later, Ning Jiang’s aura broke through from the Innate Early Stage to the Innate Middle Stage. But it didn’t stop there, continuing to climb steadily upward.

Ten days later, Ning Jiang’s aura reached the Innate Late Stage!

The moment he broke through, a tremendous presence erupted from his entire body, sweeping outward in all directions like a massive storm.

If anyone had been standing nearby, they would have been blown away by this presence, unable to resist it.

His clothes whipped about, and his hair danced wildly. The storm created by his presence lasted for a full quarter of an hour before finally subsiding.

’I can’t believe four million Primordial Stones only got me to the Innate Late Stage.’

Sighing, Ning Jiang slowly opened his eyes.

The energy from one million Primordial Stones was enough for a Martial Artist to reach the Innate Limit. Four million could create four such experts.

But for him, it was only enough to reach the Innate Late Stage.

Of course, he wasn’t discouraged.

His Innate Late Stage Gang Qi was in no way weaker than the Gang Yuan of an Innate Limit Strong Person.

Back when he was at the Postnatal Peak, his Postnatal Gang Qi could already rival Innate Gang Qi. What more now?

The Innate Gang Qi cultivated through an Unparalleled Skill like the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill was the absolute peak of its kind. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it the ”King of Gang Qi.”

POP.

With a flick of his finger, Ning Jiang sent out a strand of Innate Gang Qi. Like the sharpest of swords, it pierced straight through the wall, penetrating to a depth of a hundred feet.

The power of a single flick of his finger could kill an Innate Late Stage cultivator.

It was no exaggeration to say that even if a hundred Innate Late Stage cultivators came at him, he would slaughter them all effortlessly. They wouldn’t stand a chance.

’From this day forward, beneath the Spirit Realm, I reign supreme!’

At this moment, Ning Jiang had reached an extreme in both his physical body and his Cultivation. Killing an Innate Limit Strong Person would be no problem at all.

And his potential didn’t end there. If his Cultivation could break through further, say, to the Innate Limit, he would likely be able to contend with a Spirit Realm Powerhouse.

Furthermore, once his Great Sun Glazed Golden Body reached Perfection, it too would be enough to fight against the Spirit Realm.

Throughout history, anyone who could fight against the Spirit Realm while still in the Innate Realm was an outstanding genius of the Great Thousand Realms.

’Next, I’ll go down and investigate.’

Ning Jiang’s skin was like flawless Jade, shimmering with a faint luster, and he even emitted a light, fresh fragrance.

With a single movement, he slipped into the magma as smoothly as a fish entering water.

Previously, his Great Sun Glazed Golden Body at Minor Achievement could not withstand the magma’s temperature for long. But now, at Great Success, the magma could no longer harm him.

The magma was incredibly viscous, and he couldn’t see a thing.

He descended a thousand feet, a depth that surprised even Ning Jiang.

At the same time, the surrounding temperature soared. With his previous physical body, he would have likely melted from the intense heat by now.

”Huh?”

After descending a bit further, Ning Jiang discovered golden particles appearing within the dark red magma.

As soon as these golden particles touched his skin, white smoke rose, and he felt a searing heat.

’Could it be?’

A thought struck Ning Jiang, and immense joy filled his eyes.

His body twisted, moving like a traversing dragon as he rapidly descended.

After three thousand feet, the surrounding golden particles grew more and more numerous. At this point, even Ning Jiang’s physical body was beginning to feel the strain.

”Great Sun Dharma Body.”

A golden light erupted from his skin, forming a ten-foot-tall Great Sun Dharma Body around him.

The moment the Great Sun Dharma Body appeared, it insulated him from the extreme heat. Impervious to all techniques, he immediately felt a sense of relief.

As he continued to descend, a blinding golden divine radiance suddenly appeared ahead, turning the dark red magma into a sea of gold.

”It is! It really is!”

Ning Jiang repeated his exclamation. Usually composed, a trace of excitement now showed in his eyes. In his line of sight was a Crystal Stone the size of a human head.

This Crystal Stone was golden all over. Peering through its crystal-clear exterior, one could see that its interior was filled with a golden, water-like liquid. Every drop shone with a brilliant, dazzling radiance, like a miniature sun.

”Taiyang Divine Crystal!”

Ning Jiang slowly uttered the three words.

Taiyang Divine Crystal. It was an incomparably precious Crystal Stone, even rarer than a Spirit Vein in terms of value.

This type of Taiyang Divine Crystal was generally only born within magma, requiring over ten thousand years and a series of fortuitous coincidences to have a chance of forming.

Sometimes, one could search all the subterranean magma in an entire province and still not find a single Taiyang Divine Crystal.

The Taiyang Divine Crystal contained pure Taiyang Power, which was Supreme Yang and Firm and could suppress all evil. This item could be used to cultivate some powerful Martial Techniques, especially Fire Martial Techniques.

’To think this little Demon Mist Mountain Range would be such a treasure trove.’

A smile touched the corners of Ning Jiang’s lips. ’With this Taiyang Divine Crystal, there are several Martial Techniques I can cultivate. For example, the Taiyang Battle Armor, which, once mastered, can form a Flame Battle Armor that covers my entire body. Or the Taiyang-Burning Celestial Palm...’

Various Martial Techniques flashed through Ning Jiang’s mind, only to be dismissed one by one.

Finally, one Martial Technique remained in his thoughts—the Sun and Moon Divine Eye!

The Sun and Moon Divine Eye was a terrifying Pupil Technique. Once mastered, it would be no weaker than eyes with Heavy Pupils.

In terms of offensive power, the Sun and Moon Divine Eye might even have the upper hand.

The left eye Taiyin, the right eye Taiyang. With the circulation of yin and yang, its divine might would be endless.

’Cultivating the Sun and Moon Divine Eye can’t be done overnight. Besides, the Taiyang Divine Crystal alone isn’t enough; I’m still missing the Taiyin Divine Crystal.’

Ning Jiang pondered. To cultivate the Sun and Moon Divine Eye, both yin and yang were required.

He placed the head-sized Taiyang Divine Crystal before him into his Storage Ring.

After taking the Taiyang Divine Crystal, Ning Jiang searched the area carefully once more. Confirming there was nothing else at the bottom of the magma, he left and swam back up.

”This trip was quite a harvest,” Ning Jiang said, satisfied.

Not only had his Cultivation improved tremendously, but he had also gained the opportunity to cultivate the Sun and Moon Divine Eye. Now, all he had to do was find the Taiyin Divine Crystal in the future.

”Luoyang City, it’s time to go back!”

...

「In Luoyang City, July was the height of summer, and the sun blazed relentlessly.」

The summer sun hung high in the Nine Heavens like a great ball of fire, its scorching rays beating down on the earth.

From the trees, the incessant chirping of cicadas underscored the sweltering summer heat.

However, Martial Artists were immune to heat and cold, so even in such scorching weather, they would hardly break a sweat.

「At the Bai Family estate in Luoyang City.」

At this moment, inside the Bai Family’s council hall, the many Innate Realm experts of the family wore grim expressions.

”Don’t you dare go too far, Wang Family!”

A cold voice rang out. Bai Yueru’s beautiful face was frosty. Her figure was graceful, and though she was in her thirties, her skin was as smooth and tender as suet jade. With her stunning beauty, she looked no older than a woman in her twenties, possessing instead a mature charm.

”Go too far? Bai Yueru, for our Clan Leader to take a fancy to you and want you as his concubine is your good fortune. Don’t be ungrateful.”

Across from Bai Yueru, several Innate Realm experts from the Wang Family sneered, their demeanor aggressive and overbearing.

Hearing this, Bai Yueru’s delicate body trembled with anger.

The Wang Family had come this time to convey Wang Jiangshi’s intentions—he actually wanted her to become his concubine.

She had remained unmarried her whole life, pure as ice and jade. Moreover, Wang Jiangshi was already in his sixties or seventies. How could she possibly agree to such a condition?

”Forget it.”

Bai Yueru spat out the two words coldly.

”Bai Yueru, don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. I’m telling you, if you don’t marry him, don’t blame the Wang Family for being ruthless.”

The Innate Realm expert from the Wang Family was incredibly aggressive. ”Back then, you got close to the White Head Sword Sect and were injured by our Clan Leader. We thought you would have learned your lesson, but you still dared to secretly contact people from Kunlun and the Liu Family, providing them with medicinal herbs in the shadows. Isn’t that right?”

Bai Yueru’s expression stiffened.

’It was true that she had secretly provided Kunlun with some medicinal herbs, but she had always been extremely discreet about it. Only a few people in the Bai Family knew. How could the Wang Family have found out?’

”Yueru, if you marry Wang Jiangshi and form an alliance with the Wang Family, it would be a good thing for our Bai Family as well.”

While she was still bewildered, a middle-aged man in purple robes stepped forward, an expression of self-righteousness on his face.

”Big Brother, it was you! You betrayed me!”

Pain filled Bai Yueru’s eyes as she spoke, her heart aching. ”I know you’ve always had complaints about me being the head of the family, but we are family, after all! Have I ever mistreated you? Doesn’t your conscience bother you for doing this?”

Bai Yueru was a woman, yet she held the position of the Bai Family’s Clan Leader. She understood that this was likely the reason she had attracted such jealousy and resentment.

”Yueru, how can you say that? I’m only doing this for your own good. You’re a woman, after all. You can’t stay alone forever, can you? Wang Jiangshi is an Innate Limit Strong Person. What’s so bad about that?” the man in purple shouted.

Hearing this, Bai Yueru clenched her fists, beside herself with anger.

”Bai Yueru, not only must you marry our Clan Leader as a concubine, but you must also reveal the whereabouts of the people from Kunlun and the Liu Family. Otherwise, you’ll face a dead end, and even your Bai Family will be implicated.”

The Innate Realm expert from the Wang Family declared, his chin held high in arrogance.

A flash of anguish crossed Bai Yueru’s beautiful eyes. She was the great second Sword Master of Luoyang; when had she ever been forced into such a predicament?

”Sigh. Yueru, you really shouldn’t have gotten involved with Kunlun back then.”

”That’s right. That White Head Sword Sect is a menace. Look at everyone associated with him—which one of them has come to a good end?”

At this point, several other Innate Realm experts from the Bai Family began to blame her.

”Yueru, for the sake of the Bai Family, just make this sacrifice,” a white-haired family elder said. His words chilled Bai Yueru to the bone; this was a man who had watched her grow up.

”Bai Yueru, make your choice,” the Innate Realm expert from the Wang Family sneered.

Bai Yueru clenched her teeth. In such a situation, did she have any other choice?

Who else could help her?

”Bai Yueru, since they are forcing your hand and causing you grief, just kill them. How can a Sword Cultivator tolerate such humiliation?”

Just then, a white-haired figure slowly walked in.

After leaving the Demon Mist Mountain Range, Ning Jiang had come to Luoyang City. Since the Bai Family estate was relatively close, he decided to pay a visit first.

He remembered Liu Xianyu once telling him that Bai Yueru had been injured by Wang Jiangshi for speaking up for Kunlun. And back at Crescent Lake, Bai Yueru had also stepped forward to support him.

He had kept all these things in mind.

He never expected that upon his arrival, he would walk into a scene straight out of a palace coup drama.