Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 449: Chapter 445: First Entry into the East Sea, First Encounter with Danger

The East Sea was a place of endless mystery.

Countless secrets lay buried in this vast, boundless expanse of water. An infinite number of opportunities and fortunes awaited discovery within its depths.

Of course, this sea was also fraught with peril. Over countless years, the various Demon Beasts lurking in its waters alone had claimed the lives of innumerable Martial Artists.

Even Celestial Martial Realm Kings faced the risk of death when confronting this vast ocean.

The East Sea was also home to many ancient legends: erratically floating islands, ancient cities lost for ages, strange and mysterious Ghost Ships, and the Land of the Ruins buried in the abyssal depths...

At that very moment, a figure floated on its back upon the boundless surface of the sea. Its clothes were tattered, its breathing barely perceptible. If not for the faint rise and fall of its chest, anyone would have mistaken it for a corpse cast into the ocean.

The water swelled and receded, creating endless ripples, and the figure bobbed along with them.

’I’m still alive...’

Feeling the chill of the seawater, the figure opened his eyes and gave a bitter smile.

This figure was none other than Ning Jiang!

’These injuries are serious. This is going to be troublesome.’

During his battle with the Seven Great Celestial Kings, Ning Jiang had invoked the Power of Laws to activate his Celestial Thunder Technique. While it appeared devastatingly powerful, he had paid a price for every use.

Now, most of his meridians and bones were shattered. Even the three Primordial Spirits within his sea of consciousness had not been spared; they were riddled with cracks and on the verge of breaking apart. His Spiritual Qi was utterly depleted, with not a single trace remaining.

His injuries were so severe he could barely even move a finger.

Any random Qi Cultivation Realm Martial Artist could have taken his life.

For the next full day, Ning Jiang lay on the surface of the sea like a corpse, circulating the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill to slowly absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and carefully nourish his ravaged body.

After a day, some strength finally returned to his body.

With great difficulty, he managed to move a finger to activate his Storage Ring. An Elixir materialized, and with a trembling hand, Ning Jiang slowly placed it in his mouth. The simple action sent sharp, twisting pains through his body, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

’It’s a good thing I refined some Healing Elixirs for myself. They’re nowhere near enough to recover from injuries this severe, but it’s better than nothing. As long as I can restore some of my Cultivation, I’ll figure something out.’

As Ning Jiang mused, the Elixir’s Medicinal Power dissolved within him, spreading in warm currents to nourish his entire body.

The Elixir was truly one of Ning Jiang’s own creations. A few hours later, he had recovered a sliver of his strength.

’My usable Cultivation should be around the Spirit Realm now. As long as I don’t run into any major trouble, survival shouldn’t be an issue.’

Just as Ning Jiang muttered to himself...

BOOM!

Suddenly, the calm sea convulsed. The surface of the water exploded upward, throwing up a wave dozens of feet high, from which a behemoth emerged.

Caught off guard, Ning Jiang was sent flying by the massive wave. The impact on his already grievously wounded body caused him to violently spit up a mouthful of blood.

Once the sea calmed, he got a clear look at the creature, and the corner of his eye twitched violently.

It was a Sea Serpent, dozens of feet long, its body covered in multicolored patterns. Its tongue flicked in and out, making a hair-raising HISS.

The aura it exuded was shockingly that of a Demon Beast at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm!

’Did I just jinx myself?’

Ning Jiang mocked himself helplessly. Just a moment ago, he had been thinking that survival wouldn’t be a problem as long as he didn’t run into any major trouble. In the very next instant, that trouble had appeared right before his eyes.

In his current state, the most Cultivation he could muster was at the Spirit Realm. To face a Demon Beast at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm, his chances were slim.

But who was he?

He was a magnificent Venerable. Even in such a predicament, he felt not the slightest trace of fear.

’I could kill this serpent if I use some forbidden techniques... but my injuries would become even worse. Still, I have no other choice...’

Ning Jiang sighed softly and looked around at the vast, empty sea.

He could only hope that after killing this Demon, he would be able to find a place to rest.

ROAR!

The Sea Serpent before him naturally had no idea what Ning Jiang was thinking. It let out a tremendous roar, opened its cavernous maw, and lunged forward to bite him.

Ning Jiang circulated the Power within his body, preparing to rise from the water.

SWISH.

But just then, a figure streaked in from the distance, arriving in the blink of an eye.

”Vile beast! Don’t you dare harm him!”

It was a petite, delicate figure. She struck out from mid-air, her surging Palm Power forming a giant hand that slapped toward the Sea Serpent.

However, the Sea Serpent was incredibly fierce. It whipped its tail around like a mountain, shattering the giant hand.

Then, it opened its mouth. A stream of water gathered within, instantly forming into a barrage of Water Bombs that shot out, blanketing the area.

This single attack was powerful enough to shatter a mountain.

The petite figure was a young woman. Her face paled at the sight; such power was far beyond what she could withstand.

”Xiu’Er, be careful!”

Just at that perilous moment, another sharp cry rang out. A flash of sword light shot to the scene, revealing a woman who appeared a few years older.

”Break!”

Her Cultivation was far more profound. With a single slash of her sword, she not only neutralized the Sea Serpent’s attack, but her sharp Sword Qi also shot forward, inflicting several wounds on the beast.

Wounded, the Sea Serpent let out a WHIMPER and dove into the water, trying to escape.

”Trying to run?”

The woman snorted. With a flick of her hand, the Treasure Sword shot from her grasp. ”Go!”

She controlled the Treasure Sword, which transformed into a streak of sharp light and shot toward the fleeing Sea Serpent. The razor-sharp Sword Qi parted the very water, and the serpent below could not escape. It was sliced in two.

Bright red blood instantly dyed the surrounding water.

’Just my luck...’

Lying on the surface of the sea, Ning Jiang coughed up another mouthful of blood and passed out.

He had been gathering his Power to kill the Sea Serpent, and the sudden interruption had caused a backlash.

When it rains, it pours.

”Sister, this man is still alive.”

Just before he lost consciousness, Ning Jiang faintly heard a delicate voice by his ear.

Ning Jiang awoke again three days later.

A violent tremor wracked his grievously injured body, making him feel as if he were about to fall apart. It was this intense pain that jolted him awake, and he struggled to slowly open his eyes.

His eyes opened to an unfamiliar place. As his gaze swept around, he quickly realized he was in a room.

’So I was rescued?’

He looked down at himself. The bloodstains on his body had been wiped away, and his tattered clothes had been replaced with a clean, white robe.

’It seems I was saved... but what’s with this shaking?’

Puzzled, Ning Jiang headed for the door.