Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 410: Chapter 406: Ning Jiang’s Layout

”The Celestial Pearl is appearing? Tell me everything.”

Ning Jiang was extremely interested in this so-called Celestial Pearl.

”Yes, sir.”

East Clan Leader didn’t dare hide anything and began to explain in detail. ”We don’t know the specific origins of the Celestial Pearl either. All we know is that it appears once every three years...”

According to East Clan Leader, the true nature of the Celestial Pearl was a mystery no one had solved.

The Celestial Pearl would appear on schedule every three years, and its arrival always sent the entire Underground Palace Realm into an uproar.

This was because Cultivation and Martial Techniques would emerge from it, to be obtained by the fortunate.

”Three years ago, Young Master Yanluo’s talent was merely average. He had virtually no presence among the younger generation. However, when the Celestial Pearl appeared that time, he seemed to have gained its favor. A wisp of gas floated out from the Pearl and entered his body. After that, Young Master Yanluo’s progress was explosive, advancing by leaps and bounds.”

East Clan Leader clicked his tongue in amazement. Young Master Yanluo’s story was known by nearly everyone and had spread far and wide throughout the Underground Palace Realm.

It was precisely because of examples like Young Master Yanluo that the Celestial Pearl inspired such fanaticism among the people.

’So that thing really is the Celestial Pill...’

After hearing East Clan Leader’s explanation, Ning Jiang was almost certain.

A Celestial Pill was the condensed essence left behind after the death of a Celestial Martial Realm King. It contained all of the King’s memories, which in turn held thousands, even tens of thousands, of Cultivation and Martial Techniques.

The fact that East Clan Leader said the Celestial Pearl released Cultivation and Martial Techniques was enough to confirm it was a Celestial Pill.

As for the gas Young Master Yanluo had received, Ning Jiang had a good idea of what it was. It was most likely a wisp of Pill Qi.

A Celestial Pill could be considered a type of Elixir. Even a single wisp of its Pill Qi contained incredibly pure Energy. Young Master Yanluo had likely been refining that Pill Qi bit by bit, which was why his Cultivation had progressed so rapidly.

’Finally, a clue to the Celestial Pill. But getting my hands on it will be anything but easy.’

Ning Jiang murmured to himself.

This Celestial Pill had existed in the Underground Palace Realm for many years. He refused to believe others hadn’t tried to claim it. The fact that no one had succeeded spoke volumes.

Furthermore, and more importantly, he wasn’t the only outsider who had entered the Underground Palace Realm. The Top Level prodigies of the Seven Great Super Sects were here as well!

All of them had come for the Celestial Pill. Once it appeared, a massive free-for-all was inevitable. When the dust settled, who could say who would come out on top?

’The Celestial Pill... I must find a way to obtain it.’

A chilling glint appeared in Ning Jiang’s eyes. Ning Yu’an was in the hands of Wuliang Palace. Only by obtaining the Celestial Pill could he set a plan in motion to rescue her.

”Sir, is there anything else you wish to ask?”

East Clan Leader asked when Ning Jiang remained silent.

”Tell me about the number of experts within the Yan Tribe,” Ning Jiang said coldly.

East Clan Leader was startled. ”Reporting to you, sir, the Yan Tribe has over a dozen experts at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm. With your strength, however, you need not worry about them. The ones who truly warrant concern are the Yan Tribe’s Grand Elder and Clan Leader. The Grand Elder is at the Earth Martial Realm Early Stage, and their Clan Leader has reached the Earth Martial Realm Middle Stage.”

”The Yan Tribe’s strength is indeed impressive.”

Ning Jiang nodded. Such strength was comparable to an Upper Grade Sect in the outside world.

For a place as small as this Underground Palace Realm—only half the size of the Cyan Cloud Country—to produce Earth Martial Realm experts was already quite remarkable.

The Star Sword Sect, which had once dominated Qing Province, had only a single Earth Martial Realm expert.

But the current Ning Jiang had even crossed blows with someone at the Heaven-Reaching Realm. How could a mere Earth Martial Realm expert possibly intimidate him?

”If I may ask, sir, why are you asking about this?”

East Clan Leader couldn’t help but ask. Surely Ning Jiang wasn’t thinking of fighting his way into the Yan Tribe’s territory?

”Didn’t you just say that Young Master Yanluo is collecting ten types of Treasures to concoct an Elixir?” Ning Jiang said faintly.

East Clan Leader understood his meaning at once, his eyes widening. ”Sir, are you planning to steal Young Master Yanluo’s Treasures?”

”You’re a sharp one.”

This was indeed Ning Jiang’s plan. The Underground Palace Realm was currently a torrent of hidden currents, and his own strength was not yet enough to suppress all opposition.

The Top Level prodigies from the Super Sects were all at the Immortal Realm, capable of standing on equal footing with Earth Martial Realm experts. Against them, Ning Jiang held no significant advantage.

And though he now had the Divine Origin Fruit Tree, it was far from enough to help him break through to the Immortal Realm.

The Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill he cultivated required at least ten times more Energy than others’ for each breakthrough. And so, he had set his sights on Young Master Yanluo!

’If I can get my hands on the Treasures Young Master Yanluo has collected, I can concoct my own Elixirs and achieve a breakthrough. Then I’ll have enough confidence to vie for the Celestial Pill,’ Ning Jiang thought.

”Does that mean you’re going to attack the Yan Tribe, sir?” East Clan Leader asked, startled.

”No need. Since Clan Leader Yan was sent to retrieve the Divine Origin Fruit Tree and he hasn’t returned, Young Master Yanluo will certainly send someone to investigate. I’ll just follow them back then.” As he spoke, Ning Jiang took out a piece of paper and wrote down a list of materials. ”Gather these for me.”

”Yes, sir.”

East Clan Leader didn’t dare to delay. He had a faint suspicion that Ning Jiang... was likely not from this world!

’Could the ancient records be true? Is there really a greater world beyond our own?’

Full of doubt, he retreated and mobilized the entire tribe’s strength to help Ning Jiang find the materials.

In less than a day, the Eastern Tribe had gathered all the materials Ning Jiang required.

”You’ve done well. Take these.”

Ning Jiang didn’t take their things for free, casually tossing them some Elixirs.

He always repaid what he took; that was just his nature.

After accepting the Elixirs, East Clan Leader and the others weren’t very impressed at first. But when they examined them closely, their faces filled with shock. ”How is this possible? I’ve seen the Elixirs that Young Master Yanluo refines, and they’re definitely the best in this world. But compared to these... his seem somewhat inferior.”

They found it utterly unbelievable.

Each Elixir was covered in Pill Patterns that resembled the meridians of the human body, making them look incredibly profound.

Ning Jiang had refined all these Elixirs in his spare time. With his experience as a Venerable, even the Elixirs he made casually were beyond anything Young Master Yanluo could produce.

”Alright, you are dismissed. Do not disturb me.” Ning Jiang waved his hand.

”Yes, sir.”

Growing even more reverent toward Ning Jiang, East Clan Leader and the others retreated.

After they left, Ning Jiang began his first session of secluded cultivation in the Underground Palace Realm.

However, this session wasn’t to raise his Cultivation.

It was to refine an Array Disc!

’Once this array is complete, it’ll be enough to ensure my safe retreat from the Yan Tribe’s territory,’ Ning Jiang thought.

At his current level of Cultivation, he stood no chance against the Yan Tribe’s Earth Martial Realm experts. Therefore, he had to prepare a fallback plan.

「The night passed without incident.」

The next day, just as Ning Jiang had predicted, Young Master Yanluo sent an envoy to investigate, as Clan Leader Yan had been gone for too long.

”What? You killed Clan Leader Yan? How dare you!” the envoy roared, glaring at Ning Jiang.

Ning Jiang couldn’t be bothered to waste words on him. He made a grabbing motion with his hand, and a vast Power swept forth. In less than ten moves, he had captured the envoy, an expert who had reached the Immortal Realm.

”If you don’t want to die, take me to Young Master Yanluo.”