Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 243: Chapter 239: Duel Against Jian Xinghe, Sword Intent

”He won.”

Countless shocked gazes stared unblinkingly at Ning Jiang, at the white-haired man in white robes.

Even a force as strong as the Twin Sword Sons, who had used the Seventh Kill of the Star Pointing Seven Kill Sword—their most powerful technique—to fight Ning Jiang, had still been defeated by his blade.

At this point, who would dare doubt Ning Jiang’s strength?

”The Yanyue Sect is so lucky to have produced such a demon.”

Some said sourly, envious of the Yanyue Sect. Who would have thought that a Sect, once in decline, would have a hidden dragon in its midst?

”Grand Elder, the heavens are truly watching over our Yanyue Sect,” a few Elders said, their expressions full of excitement as they watched Ning Jiang.

Meng Nanfeng shook his head. ”It isn’t the heavens watching over us. It’s Ning Jiang!”

”Yes, yes, you’re right. It’s Ning Jiang. It’s the Ninth Elder.” They nodded repeatedly, their faces full of gratification.

”This year’s Qing Province Convention was well worth the trip.”

Ge Changming chuckled. He too had found the previous battle spectacular.

He rose to his feet and announced in a loud voice, ”Ning Jiang wins this match.”

As his voice faded, the entire arena instantly erupted into a deafening uproar.

”The next match has to be Ning Jiang versus Jian Xinghe!”

”Based on the strength Ning Jiang has displayed, he’s more than qualified to contend with Jian Xinghe.”

”It’s hard to say who will be number one among Qing Province’s younger generation this year.”

The crowd chattered excitedly. At first, they had naturally assumed Jian Xinghe had the higher chance of victory.

But after Ning Jiang defeated the Twin Sword Sons’ Seventh Kill, who would dare underestimate such power?

”Hmph. Beating the Twin Sword Sons might have just been a fluke. He’ll definitely lose against Jian Xinghe,” the members of the Fire Cloud Sect grumbled, clearly displeased.

Some of the people nearby couldn’t help but sneer when they heard this.

’Yuwen Chi only managed to place sixth. What right does your Fire Cloud Sect have to talk?’

”Ninth Elder, are you confident you can win against Jian Xinghe?”

In the viewing stands, the members of the Yanyue Sect asked.

”I will win.”

Ning Jiang answered with just three words. If he lacked even that much confidence, there would be no point in fighting. Fearing a battle before it begins was a great taboo for any warrior.

A similar question was also being asked over at the Star Sword Sect’s side.

”He will fall by my sword. My true targets are the other provinces in the Eastern Domain. Here in Qing Province, absolutely no one can stand in my way!” Jian Xinghe’s eyes flashed with a piercing light.

「An hour later.」

The sky had darkened, and the stars shone brightly.

The arena fell silent as all eyes turned to the two figures standing opposite each other on the stage.

One had a full head of golden hair, his aura as deep as an abyss and as suffocating as a prison—powerful and terrifying. The other had a full head of white hair, his aura as calm as still water—deep and unfathomable.

”I have no rivals left in Qing Province. Your appearance, however, might at least make things a little more enjoyable for me.”

Jian Xinghe’s voice was level, yet it carried an air of dominance and the loneliness that comes from a lack of worthy opponents.

Sometimes, having no rivals is its own form of solitude. That was why he had set his sights on the world beyond Qing Province.

”No rivals? That’s because you haven’t met me.”

Ning Jiang’s voice was like a clear, flowing spring, yet it held the same pride of a peerless Swordsman.

”Is that so? Then let’s see if you have the right to make such a claim.”

Jian Xinghe raised his gaze, and it was as if a bolt of lightning flashed through the void.

WHOOSH.

With a flash of sword light, he tapped his toes on the ground and shot toward Ning Jiang. The sword in his hand seemed to come alive, dancing like a relentless, coiling dragon.

He went for close-quarters combat from the very beginning, engaging in a direct contest of Sword Technique.

Now, it all came down to who had the deeper comprehension of Sword Technique.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG—

The Ice Soul Sword and the Xinghe Sword clashed, sending sparks flying with a deafening ring.

”Even my brother and I together are no match for Senior Brother Xinghe’s Sword Technique. That man will be defeated within a hundred moves!”

The Twin Sword Sons said, their faces pale. Their previous injuries had not yet fully healed.

It’s said that two fists are no match for four hands.

Even as twins with two swords, they were still at a disadvantage when clashing with Jian Xinghe’s Sword Technique. This was a testament to how refined his Sword Technique truly was.

”Jian Xinghe truly is a genius of the Sword Dao. He’s so relentless, one strike after another. If it were me up there, I wouldn’t even be able to block ten of them.”

”His comprehension of Sword Technique is on par with a Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm expert, isn’t it?”

The crowd gasped in amazement. With his sword in hand, Jian Xinghe either thrust, hacked, swept, parried, pointed, flicked, or intercepted...

Every strike flowed like water, a relentless, furious storm that gave his opponent no quarter and no chance to catch their breath.

Against such a furious and dense Sword Technique, even a momentary pause in one’s rhythm would create an opening to be seized for a fatal strike.

”But this Ning Jiang’s Sword Technique is incredible, too.”

All eyes turned back to Ning Jiang. No matter how ferocious Jian Xinghe’s attacks became, Ning Jiang blocked every single one.

Ning Jiang’s Sword Technique lacked the ferocity of Jian Xinghe’s offense, but one had to admit, it was incredibly efficient. It wasn’t flashy or brimming with killing intent. It was simple, as if to say, ’I can block your sword.’

It could be said that Ning Jiang’s Sword Technique had been stripped of everything unnecessary, leaving only the purest essence.

It was a Sword Technique that had returned to its simplest, most authentic form.

Each and every move was utterly practical.

”In this contest of Sword Technique, Jian Xinghe is about to lose.”

”What do you mean? Jian Xinghe is still the one on the offensive, isn’t he?”

”Attacking for so long without gaining ground is a sure sign of defeat. This Ning Jiang is terrifying. No matter how fiercely Jian Xinghe attacks, he can’t even force him back a single step.”

A few of the Primordial Spirit Fourth Stage Realm experts discussed amongst themselves.

It was true. Jian Xinghe was the one on the offensive, each strike sharp and lethal, yet he hadn’t forced Ning Jiang to retreat even half a step.

”Jian Xinghe, your Sword Technique is still lacking.”

Ning Jiang’s wrist trembled, his blade blooming like a flower. The Ice Soul Sword gently tapped the Xinghe Sword. With a burst of Soft Force, he used four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds, sweeping his opponent’s blade aside.

Then, his Ice Soul Sword shot forward, aimed at his opponent’s throat, chest, eyes, and other vital points.

There was no way to counter this strike except to retreat.

Jian Xinghe stomped his foot, his sleeves billowing as he shot back several dozen feet.

”In a contest of pure Sword Technique, Jian Xinghe actually lost!”

Countless people were stunned by this sight.

Who was Jian Xinghe? He was from the Star Sword Sect, a Great Sect of Sword Dao! He had honed his Sword Technique since childhood, constantly refining and perfecting it. What’s more, he was even guided by their Old Sect Leader, an expert in the Earth Martial Realm!

And yet, in a direct clash of Sword Technique, he had lost to Ning Jiang!

”It’s been a while since I’ve competed in pure swordplay. I’ve grown a bit rusty. However, my true strength lies in my Sword Techniques!”

As expected of the number one expert of the younger generation, Jian Xinghe wasn’t discouraged. His eyes blazed with boundless battle intent.

”Ning Jiang, face my sword—Xinghe Chaos!”

Spiritual Qi surged. The sword in Jian Xinghe’s hand erupted with a brilliant, intense starlight. With one sweep, a cascade of starlight burst forth, instantly shrouding the massive stage.

A crescent-shaped Sword Aura shot out in a wide arc, carrying a Thunderous Force as it slashed toward Ning Jiang.

The power of this strike was no weaker than the Twin Sword Sons’ Sixth Kill.

”Spring Birth.”

As Ning Jiang’s Sword Technique shifted, a cyan light rose. It was as if they had entered the vibrant season of spring, where all things were reviving, and blades of grass broke through the soil, brimming with life.

”Let’s see how many of my strikes you can take.”

Jian Xinghe took a step forward. SWISH!

Like a flickering star that suddenly went dark, he reappeared in front of Ning Jiang. The Xinghe Sword, filled with the purest killing intent, thrust forward.

It was still the same technique, Xinghe Chaos, which contained both a slash and a thrust.

Before it was a slash, now it was a thrust.

The strike was unbelievably fast, elevating the power of his Sword Technique to a whole new Realm.

But Ning Jiang remained unhurried. He used the simple Spring Birth technique, standing firm like a reef in the ocean. ’No matter how turbulent your assault, I will remain unmoved.’

”Kill!”

Jian Xinghe took a deep breath and unleashed his full power. In an instant, his Xinghe Sword thrust out dozens, even hundreds of times.

CLANG CLANG CLANG!

The sound of clashing metal echoed in all directions. Each of Jian Xinghe’s strikes was powerful enough to kill one of the top young prodigies, yet he couldn’t faze Ning Jiang in the slightest.

”Hmph, Xinghe Split!”

Suddenly, Jian Xinghe’s Sword Technique changed as he brought his sword down in a powerful overhead slash.

The attack seemed to split the very river of stars, its power rising to a new level.

Ning Jiang could feel that the might of this strike was comparable to the Seventh Kill of the Twin Sword Sons.

”Summer Flourish.”

His Sword Technique changed, shifting from the grassy, vibrant spring to the scorching heat of summer. One after another, cyan lotuses condensed and surged upward to meet the attack.

BOOM—

The two ultimate techniques canceled each other out.

”Xinghe Shattered!”

Having two consecutive techniques fail did not make Jian Xinghe retreat. In an instant, a beam of starlight shot toward the heavens from his sword, as if to shatter everything in existence.

As the sword descended, Ning Jiang felt a powerful Power press down on him, as if it would tear him to shreds.

He let out a breath.

He took a deep breath. ’Jian Xinghe is indeed far stronger than the Twin Sword Sons,’ he thought. ’The power of this Xinghe Shattered is enough to sweep aside every member of Qing Province’s younger generation.’

”Four Seasons Sword Technique, Third Stance: Autumn Withered.”

Ning Jiang spoke slowly. As his Sword Technique changed, all the cyan lotuses crumbled and disintegrated, transforming into a flurry of withered, yellow leaves.

In autumn, all things begin to wither; the world falls into silence.

All the leaves converged, forming a single, withered-yellow Sword Aura. Wherever it passed, it seemed to strip away all signs of life.

BOOM!

When the two sword auras collided, the stage trembled, and a terrifying storm of Sword Qi erupted.

If even one of the top young prodigies were to step into such a storm of Sword Qi, their life would be in danger.

”Is this the power of someone who has reached the Ninth-Mile? How terrifying.”

”Below the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm, is there anyone who can still contend with them?”

The many Martial Artists in the crowd gasped. The air around the stage was riddled with holes, torn apart by the wisps of Sword Qi that shot out from the epicenter.

”Hahahaha! How exhilarating! Ning Jiang, you’ve earned the right to face my full power!”

A peel of boisterous laughter rang out, shocking everyone. ’That wasn’t Jian Xinghe’s full power?’

Just then, the crowd felt a new aura begin to emanate from Jian Xinghe.

VVVMMMM! VVVMMMM!

As this aura spread, the Treasure Swords of the many Sword Cultivators in the crowd began to vibrate uncontrollably, as if paying homage to Jian Xinghe.

”This is Sword Intent!”

In an instant, the expressions of countless Sword Cultivators changed dramatically.

”You forced me to use my Sword Intent. Even in defeat, you can be proud,” Jian Xinghe said, his victory all but assured.

PS: One more Chapter to come. I’ll keep writing, so you all should get some sleep!