Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 446: Chapter 442: The Kings’ Retreat

”What is this?”

When this Thunder Seal appeared, the pupils of the Seven Great Kings constricted. They felt a profound sense of danger.

”This is bad! Stop him!”

The Celestial Sword King was the first to strike, unleashing a sword attack.

CRACKLE.

But a bolt of lightning descended from the Thunder Seal, effortlessly neutralizing his attack.

The other Kings also attacked with their full power, but it was all in vain.

”A futile effort.”

Ning Jiang shook his head. With a single step, he appeared above the Nine Tribulations Celestial Thunder Seal and sat down cross-legged. The Thunder Seal was immense, as large as a mountain and wreathed in thunderbolts, emanating a supremely powerful aura.

The Nine Tribulations Celestial Thunder Seal was one of the three supreme Martial Techniques of the Celestial Thunder Sect.

The Nine Tribulations Celestial Thunder Body that Ning Jiang cultivated included a technique also called the Nine Tribulations Celestial Thunder Seal, which was actually a simplified version of the one he was using now.

This was the true Nine Tribulations Celestial Thunder Seal—the one the Celestial Thunder Sect used to shake the world a hundred thousand years ago!

”Damn it! The aura from this thing is at least at the level of a Four-Stars King!”

The Seven Great Kings sensed it carefully, and their expressions changed drastically. They could contend with a Three-Stars King by relying on their Celestial Spirit Artifacts, but a Four-Stars King represented a massive leap in power.

”Cough, cough...”

Atop the Thunder Seal, Ning Jiang gave a few weak coughs. His face was pale; activating the Nine Tribulations Celestial Thunder Seal was clearly taking a toll on him.

His eyes, however, were incredibly resolute.

”It’s time for all of this to end!”

As his voice faded, he activated the Thunder Seal.

CRACK!

A thunderbolt fell from the Thunder Seal, so dazzling that the entire world lit up in a flash, outshining even the sun.

Its power sent a tremor of shock through the hearts of the Seven Kings.

”Block it together! The boy can’t last much longer.”

The seven of them let out a long cry. Their auras, vast as mountains and seas, merged, roiling the heavens. As they unleashed their combined attack, the very sky changed color and the world shook.

BOOM.

The sound was deafening.

The single bolt of thunder easily shattered their combined attack, blasting all seven of them backward.

The Celestial Sword King had the highest cultivation, possessing the strength of a Two-Stars King, so only a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth. The other six, however, were not so fortunate. They all coughed up blood, their faces turning ashen.

And that was only the beginning.

Next, Ning Jiang relentlessly activated the Thunder Seal. Bolts of lightning, like celestial rays, rained down from it, bombarding the Seven Great Kings.

With every impact, the Seven Great Kings coughed up a mouthful of blood. After a dozen or so strikes, even the Celestial Sword King could no longer bear it and spat out a large mouthful of his own.

”Heavens! What’s happening? The Seven Great Kings are actually on the losing end! Is Ning Jiang going to win?”

”If Ning Jiang really defeats the Seven Great Kings, that would be an unprecedented achievement, wouldn’t it?”

”No, it’s too early to talk about victory or defeat. Look at Ning Jiang. Every time he activates the seal, he suffers as well!”

A True Monarch of the Heaven-Reaching Realm shook his head.

Following his gaze, they saw Ning Jiang atop the Thunder Seal. With every activation of the Nine Tribulations Celestial Thunder Seal, his face grew a shade paler. Soon, blood began to trickle continuously from the corners of his mouth.

”Wielding such immense power must be an incredible burden on Ning Jiang’s body. I wonder how long he can hold on?”

”In other words, the outcome of this battle depends on who can endure the longest!”

As they spoke, another dozen thunderbolts descended. Under such a relentless assault, the Seven Great Kings’ injuries grew more and more severe.

”’Just a little longer! He’ll be the first one to collapse!’” the Celestial Sword King said coldly.

At that moment, Ning Jiang’s body was already swaying precariously.

”’We are Celestial Martial Realm Kings! Seven of us, united! I refuse to believe we can’t take down a single junior!’”

”Attack with all your power!”

”Kill!”

The Seven Great Kings roared, their fury stoked by Ning Jiang. What kind of men were they? They were the Sovereigns of the Six Eastern Provinces, masters of life and death for countless people. They had always been high and mighty, invincible.

For a mere Ning Jiang to be suppressing them like this naturally ignited a monstrous rage within them.

CRACKLE.

After several dozen more thunderbolts, the Seven Great Kings’ injuries became even more severe. The Primordial King’s thousand-zhang-tall body was pierced through by a bolt of lightning, and blood gushed out like a river.

The other Kings were all grievously wounded as well.

Although as Kings, physical injuries weren’t enough to threaten their lives, if the battle continued like this, that might change.

”’Damn it, how can he last this long?’”

”’Just how much longer can he possibly last?’”

Even beings as powerful as the Seven Great Kings were shocked by Ning Jiang’s stubborn tenacity.

They could all sense that Ning Jiang’s body, Primordial Spirit, and Dantian—his entire being—were suffering from severe strain. And yet, his eyes blazed with a crazed, unyielding obsession!

It was the look of a man who would fight to his last breath, even if his body were destroyed and his Primordial Spirit shattered!

”What? Are you scared now?”

Looking at the Seven Great Kings, Ning Jiang began to laugh. His aura was as faint as a candle in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment, yet his tone was one that looked down upon the world. ”Weren’t you going to fight me to the death? Come on, then. Let’s see how many of you I can take with me!”

Those words struck the Seven Great Kings like a physical blow.

It was true. In the current situation, it was entirely possible that before Ning Jiang died, he could take some of them with him.

”’Everyone, fighting him to the death here would be unwise,’ ” the Celestial Sword King said, taking a deep breath. ”’Let’s retreat for now. Once his time is up, his death is certain!’”

”’Right. There’s no need to go all out against a dead man walking!’”

The more powerful one was, the more they cherished their own life.

Otherwise, the Infinite King would never have forced Ning Jiang to seize the Celestial Pill just to extend his own lifespan.

The Seven Great Kings exchanged a look and began to disperse.

”What? The Seven Great Kings are retreating?”

Seeing this, the Martial Artists watching from a thousand li away were all dumbfounded.

”’Sigh. This settles it. Ning Jiang’s defeat is now certain,’ a True Monarch of the Heaven-Reaching Realm lamented.”

Su Yuying also sighed softly. ’You shone too brightly, but in the end, what is too rigid is easily broken. The problem is that the Sect Leader himself made a move against him this time. If that child Chenyu finds out...’

She was worried.

She had once told Ye Chenyu to leave Ning Jiang, saying they were from different worlds.

She remembered with perfect clarity the look Ye Chenyu had given her then—a look that had made even her own heart tremble in fear!

It was as if Ye Chenyu would have killed her without hesitation had she dared to stand between them...

”’Trying to leave?’ Ning Jiang’s gaze swept across the retreating figures, finally locking onto the Infinite King. A cold, sharp killing intent erupted in his eyes. ’Infinite King! Anyone else can leave, but not you! It’s time we settled the score between us!’”

RUMBLE!

He directed the Nine Tribulations Celestial Thunder Seal to unleash innumerable thunderbolts, which surged toward the Infinite King and drowned him.

”AARGH!”

The Infinite King instantly let out a bloodcurdling scream as his physical body began to disintegrate, piece by piece, beneath the searing thunderbolts!