Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 190: Chapter 187: Venerable Technique, Five Great Sects

The Qingjiang River Basin was immense, stretching across the entirety of Qing Province.

The Qingjiang River of Cyan Cloud Country was, in fact, merely a tributary of this vast basin.

”At our current speed, we’ll pass through this tributary in five days and merge into the main channel of the Qingjiang River Basin. After sailing along the main channel for another half a month, we’ll arrive at the Yanyue Sect.”

Yue Lianxi stood at the bow, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. Her long, dark hair danced in the wind, which pressed her dress tightly against her skin, revealing her perfect figure.

”Mm,” Ning Jiang nodded.

An apologetic look appeared on Yue Lianxi’s face as she said softly, ”I’m sorry for making you leave Cyan Cloud Country in such a hurry, without any time to prepare.”

”It’s fine. It was an emergency. Since I agreed to join the Yanyue Sect, and your Sect is in trouble, it’s only right that I help,” Ning Jiang said, not minding at all.

’The only one I’ve wronged is Ning Yu’an. I thought I’d be able to spend a few more days with her. Who knew we’d have to part so suddenly?’

”If you can’t bear to leave your sister, you could bring her along and have her join the Sect as well. I have enough authority for that,” Yue Lianxi offered.

”There’s no need. She’s better off in Cyan Cloud Country.”

It wasn’t that Ning Jiang hadn’t considered bringing Ning Yu’an with him to the Yanyue Sect. However, in a Sect environment, she would face even more dangers in the future, and he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to protect her.

Besides, he had found a place rich in Spiritual Qi back in Cyan Cloud Country. As long as Ning Yu’an focused on cultivating the Purple Qi Creation Technique there, she would definitely stun the world one day!

Because this was a Venerable Technique!

This technique came from the Purple Moon Venerable of 100,000 years ago. In her era, the Purple Moon Venerable was also known as the Purple Moon Fairy. Her beauty was so breathtaking it could topple nations, and countless Venerables admired her from afar.

Among the Venerables of that time, while she couldn’t compare to the Legendary Venerable Ning Jiang, she was still a top-level figure who could rank in the top twenty.

Previously, he had only taught her the first two scrolls of the Purple Qi Creation Technique. This time, he had given her the subsequent cultivation methods.

With this technique in hand, Ning Jiang wasn’t worried at all that Ning Yu’an’s cultivation would be slow.

’If Sister An has a few more fortunate encounters, perhaps in the future, she could become someone who is in no way inferior to the Purple Moon Fairy.’

Ning Jiang looked forward to this prospect.

He hoped that Ning Yu’an could stand at the peak with him, enjoying the view from the top together.

”Tell me about the situation in Qing Province,” Ning Jiang said, his gaze distant.

”Qing Province is one of the Six Eastern Provinces. Cyan Cloud Country is just a small nation within it. Across all of Qing Province, there are at least several dozen countries like Cyan Cloud Country. You should already know this, so I won’t elaborate. I’ll mainly talk about the Sects in Qing Province.”

”There are actually quite a few Sects of various sizes throughout Qing Province, but the most famous are the Five Great Sects. These five are part of the Seventy-Two Sects of the Six Eastern Provinces. My Yanyue Sect is one of these Five Great Sects. As for the others, they are all very small.”

The Six Eastern Provinces covered a vast territory, dotted with as many as a thousand Sects.

Among these thousands of Sects, the Seventy-Two Sects were the most famous and powerful.

The other, smaller Sects might only have one or two Spirit Realm powerhouses presiding over them.

To be one of the Seventy-Two Sects, one had to have at least a Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm expert. The higher-ranked ones even had Earth Martial Realm and Heaven-Reaching Realm powerhouses.

”Actually, among the Six Eastern Provinces, our Qing Province is the weakest, which is why we have the fewest major Sects. The rest of the Seventy-Two Sects are scattered throughout the other five provinces, far outnumbering those in Qing Province,” Yue Lianxi explained.

”Do you know about the Seven Great Super Sects?” Ning Jiang asked.

”Of course I do. They are the seven Sovereigns of the Six Eastern Provinces, ruling over the entire region. Even the Seventy-Two Sects have to pay tribute to the Seven Great Super Sects every year.”

When she mentioned the Seven Great Super Sects, a trace of awe appeared in her expression. ”The Seven Great Super Sects are so powerful that any one of their Elders could annihilate our Yanyue Sect. You must know that the reason they are so supreme is because they have Kings presiding over them, right?”

A Celestial Martial Realm King could live for ten thousand years. For them, three thousand years was but a spring, and another three thousand an autumn. A vast ten-thousand-year span was merely a single cycle of seasons.

Such an expert could destroy a city and kill millions with a flick of their finger.

It was precisely because they had such figures presiding over them that their Sects became Super Sects.

”Of course I know. I even have some grudges with them,” Ning Jiang said with a cold smile.

’Ling Tianxu of the Celestial Sword Sect, and the contempt shown to me by the Moon God Palace... How could I ever forget these things?’

He had once declared that he would one day set foot in the Moon God Palace. In their eyes, it was nothing more than the arrogant boasting of a nobody, not worthy of a second thought.

But he knew he would definitely achieve it!

”What? You have grudges with the Super Sects?”

Yue Lianxi was so startled the hairs on her body stood on end. ’These are the Super Sects! They rule over the six provinces, supreme and absolute, their words becoming law! How could Ning Jiang have provoked them?’

”If you’re afraid of being implicated, it’s not too late to kick me out of the Yanyue Sect,” Ning Jiang said with a faint, teasing smile.

”Hmph, don’t look down on me. Since I’m the one who brought you here, I won’t let you leave so easily.”

Yue Lianxi shot Ning Jiang a glare before her tone turned serious. ”If you have grudges with the Seven Great Super Sects, you must be careful. With their strength, even the Yanyue Sect can’t do much to help you.”

Hmm?

Ning Jiang was surprised. He could hear genuine concern in Yue Lianxi’s words.

’This woman isn’t so bad after all.’

”Don’t worry. I won’t go looking for death before I have the strength to back it up,” Ning Jiang said leisurely.

After that, the boat continued its journey.

Five days later, the large boat officially left Cyan Cloud Country, passing from the tributary of the Qingjiang into its main channel.

The tributary was only about three hundred zhang wide, but this main channel was a thousand zhang across—a truly magnificent sight.

’If this were an array...’

A sudden speculation arose in Ning Jiang’s mind. If this was an array, it would be utterly astounding.

In his past life, he had witnessed some Top Level Array Masters who carved rivers into the earth, using the waterways to lay out arrays that spanned several provinces at once—a truly grand undertaking.

When such an array was activated, even a Venerable would find it troublesome.

Of course, it was just a passing thought. It was unlikely to be such a coincidence.

During his time on the boat, he would occasionally chat with Yue Lianxi, but other than that, he was completely absorbed in his cultivation.

He was absorbing the Spirit Core he had obtained from Pill King Valley to nourish his physical body. He was now only a hair’s breadth away from Golden Body Perfection.

This was because he had been training his physical body not just on the boat, but every night he had free time back in Cyan Cloud Country, after spending the days with Ning Yu’an.

’In just a few more days, my physical body will achieve a complete breakthrough. Once I reach Perfection, I’ll be able to slay Spirit Realm experts!’

...

”In another five days, we’ll arrive at the Yanyue Sect.”

Having been on the boat for so long, Yue Lianxi was also feeling a bit tired. She gave a big stretch, accentuating her stunning curves.

What secretly annoyed her was that despite her countless charming and delicate poses, Ning Jiang didn’t even spare her a glance. It made her wonder what kind of person he was. ’Is his head made of wood?’

”Has there ever been an Elder in your Yanyue Sect as young as me?” Ning Jiang asked casually.

”No,” Yue Lianxi said, covering her mouth with a smile. ”Only Spirit Realm Powerhouses can serve as Sect Elders, and the youngest one is over fifty.”

”In that case, I imagine many people will be dissatisfied with me becoming an Elder, right?”

”Hehe, I’m sure you can handle it.”

Yue Lianxi laughed, her voice enchantingly sweet with a hint of languor, like a kitten tickling one’s heart and making it itch with anticipation.

”By the way, Lianxi would like to play a zither piece for the Young Master.”

TWANG...

As soon as the music began, Ning Jiang listened for a moment before a strange expression appeared on his face. ”An aphrodisiac song?”

”Hehe, since the Young Master has no worldly desires, it shouldn’t matter if you listen for a bit, right?”

Yue Lianxi raised an eyebrow, her eyes glimmering flirtatiously. Her entire demeanor was coquettish, exuding an aura of seductive gentleness.

A stunner like her, now employing an aphrodisiac song—even a man with a will of iron would find it hard to resist. Yet, Ning Jiang remained sitting there, perfectly calm and composed from beginning to end.

”You really are a block of stone.”

After the music ended, Yue Lianxi gnashed her teeth in frustration and stomped her foot.

’Ning Jiang didn’t even flinch!’

”Alright, stop playing these little games. You can’t bewitch me,” Ning Jiang said flatly.

”Is that so?”

Unconvinced, Yue Lianxi bit her lip, pressed her body directly against Ning Jiang’s, and boldly wrapped her arms around his neck.

At the same time, her breath fragrant as an orchid, she blew softly into his ear and whispered in an incredibly seductive tone, ”Young Master Ning, how about you let Lianxi keep you company tonight?”

The end of her sentence curled upwards, her tone so bewitching it could steal one’s very soul.

”Alright.”

”Ah?”

Yue Lianxi froze. In the next moment, she felt Ning Jiang grip her chin. His face drew close, and his lips pressed towards hers.

Her heart thrown into chaos, she scrambled backward.

”You...”

Only when she saw the look in Ning Jiang’s eyes did she realize she had been tricked.

His eyes were still as clear and pure as ever. How could that be the look of a man who had been bewitched by her?

’He was clearly just trying to scare me!’

”What’s wrong? Weren’t you trying to bewitch me? Why run away at the critical moment?” Ning Jiang asked with a teasing smile.

”You win.”

Yue Lianxi had to admit she had been outplayed. Though she appeared bold and proactive, that would have been her first kiss, which was why she had retreated in a panic when Ning Jiang actually moved to kiss her.

”I lost that round, but if I let you kiss me now, would you dare?”

As if to recover the face she had just lost, Yue Lianxi laughed sweetly and pressed against Ning Jiang again. She tilted her head up slightly, her gaze heart-wrenchingly lovely, presenting herself as a flower ready to be plucked.

”Alright, stop fooling around. Someone’s coming.”

Ning Jiang’s gaze shifted to the distance, where several figures were flying rapidly toward their boat.

As they drew near and she got a clear look at their attire, Yue Lianxi’s previously carefree expression vanished instantly, replaced by a solemn one.

”Trouble’s here!”