Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 499: Chapter 495: Breakthrough, The Magical Treasure’s Metamorphosis

BOOM!

Ning Jiang’s aura surged as he began to break through to the Earth Martial Realm. From the unseen depths of the world, a faint ”CRACK” could be heard.

It was the sound of his bottleneck shattering.

A bottleneck is an ethereal, intangible thing, yet it truly exists. It’s like how one must blast open the Celestial Gate to enter the Celestial Martial Realm—that is a bottleneck made visible to the naked eye.

But for the average person, the bottleneck to the Earth Martial Realm was by no means easy to overcome.

In this world, countless Martial Artists were stuck at the Immortal Realm, unable to step into the Earth Martial Realm. They were held back by this very bottleneck, sometimes for their entire lives.

But Ning Jiang was different. His foundations were more than sufficient.

Ever since he entered the Immortal Realm in the Six Eastern Provinces, he had fought one great battle after another. First, he fought Jian Jiuge, Yan Qingxue, and the other five in the Underground Palace Realm.

After that, he fought the Sword King Body Ling Tianxu, followed by the Seven Great Kings. Upon arriving in the Meteor Sea Region, he fought again in the Meteor Festival. All these battles had solidified his foundation.

Therefore, this breakthrough was as simple and natural as water carving a channel, completely without difficulty.

A flood might not be able to break a sturdy dam, but an ocean could breach it in an instant.

Ning Jiang’s foundation was as deep as the ocean!

’I’ve succeeded.’

After breaking through to the Earth Martial Realm, Ning Jiang’s aura became incomparably tyrannical. He was more than ten times stronger than before.

Now, with a mere wave of his hand, he could crush any other Earth Martial Realm cultivator of the same level.

Even if a hundred of them came at him, he could slaughter them all as easily as snapping dry twigs.

This was the power of the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill. By cultivating this Supreme Celestial Skill, his strength far surpassed what ordinary people could ever hope to match.

”Huu...”

Just then, Ye Chenyu let out a soft breath. Her face was a little pale, and her eyes were filled with deep exhaustion.

’I saved up three years’ worth of the Power of the Heavy Pupils just to barely open the Celestial Gate. If I were a bit stronger, I could have helped him break through to an even higher Realm.’

Ye Chenyu reproached herself, feeling she hadn’t helped Ning Jiang enough.

Ning Jiang’s heart stirred. ’She saved up the Power of the Heavy Pupils for three years just to help me.’ This girl’s devotion warmed even the heart of a Venerable like him.

”Chenyu, helping me break through this time has saved me at least a year of hard cultivation. It’s more than enough.”

Ning Jiang gently squeezed Ye Chenyu’s hand. ”You rest first. I’m going to go face my tribulation.”

WHOOSH.

Ning Jiang shot into the sky.

At that very moment, dark clouds filled the sky, and massive bolts of Thunderbolt churned within them. Just moments ago, the sun had been shining brightly, but now, the sky was covered in thunderclouds. The stark contrast drew everyone’s attention.

”So it’s that kid breaking through to the Earth Martial Realm.”

The people from Creation Academy also noticed the scene.

RUMBLE.

Before long, the first bolt of Thunderbolt fell. It was ridiculously huge. From a distance, it looked like a Thunder Dragon pouncing down from the heavens.

”Break.”

Ning Jiang threw a punch, shattering the Thunderbolt.

However, this was only the beginning. More and more bolts of Thunderbolt descended, each one possessing world-shaking power.

”This kid is no simple character. For his Thunder Tribulation to be this powerful... I’d say any one of those bolts could kill an ordinary Earth Martial Realm cultivator,” one of the Kings from Creation Academy said in astonishment.

”Let’s keep watching. We’ll see just how far his Celestial Tribulation can go,” the Third Elder said.

After that, the power of the Thunderbolt gradually intensified.

But Ning Jiang was incredibly fierce. As the tribulation progressed, he stopped resisting it altogether. Instead, he opened his mouth and sucked the bolts of Thunderbolt right into his body.

’Is this kid some kind of Thunder Beast?’ The Kings from Creation Academy felt their eyelids twitch.

”Sword-Hiding Gourd, Thunder Punishment Sword, Celestial Thunder Banner—all of you, come out!”

Ning Jiang brought out his three Magical Treasures.

The Sword-Hiding Gourd was the first Magical Treasure he had obtained. It was an Innate Spiritual Treasure, but it was severely damaged. Nevertheless, Ning Jiang had never stopped trying to repair it.

This time, he planned to use the Thunder Tribulation to reforge all three Magical Treasures.

CRACKLE.

Seven small swords shot out from the Sword-Hiding Gourd. Ning Jiang channeled the Celestial Tribulation Power and began the reforging process.

Using a Celestial Tribulation for Artifact Refining produced excellent results. Once completed, the weapon would contain a faint trace of celestial might. This pressure alone was enough to make the weapon far more lethal.

But most people simply didn’t have the ability to do so.

After all, when facing a Thunder Tribulation, one could barely fend for oneself. Who would have the spare energy for Artifact Refining? Too many people in this world died during their tribulations. Someone as relaxed as Ning Jiang was a rare exception.

The Celestial Tribulation grew stronger and stronger until it descended like an ocean, completely submerging Ning Jiang. And within that lightning, Demon Beasts actually began to appear, one after another.

ROAR!

These Demon Beasts formed from Thunderbolt were incomparably ferocious, pouncing on Ning Jiang to kill him.

”Hmph. The stronger the Celestial Tribulation, the stronger my Magical Treasures will become. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Ning Jiang was completely unconcerned. After achieving Perfection in his Nine Tribulations Celestial Thunder Body, this level of Thunderbolt held little lethal power against him.

As time passed, a layer of dazzling, brilliant lightning appeared on the seven swords of the Sword-Hiding Gourd. Then, to everyone’s surprise, the body of the Sword-Hiding Gourd trembled slightly, and more sword lights shot out from its mouth.

These sword lights were actual swords—twenty-nine of them. Added to the original seven, there were now thirty-six in total!

’Excellent. This Innate Spiritual Treasure has repaired itself a little more.’

A look of delight appeared in Ning Jiang’s eyes. The original seven swords had been born from the Sword-Hiding Gourd itself. As it repaired, it would naturally produce more swords.

And with thirty-six swords, he could activate an even more powerful Sword Array.

Besides the Sword-Hiding Gourd, the might of the Celestial Thunder Banner also increased significantly. The Thunder Spirit War General within it roared, absorbing bolt after bolt of Thunderbolt to enhance its own power.

Finally, there was Ning Jiang’s Thunder Punishment Sword.

The Thunder Punishment Sword was his personal sword, the one he used most often, and its transformation was the greatest of all.

This sword was originally a Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact, but after being reforged, it completely transformed into an Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact. Moreover, a Thunder Dragon had appeared within the Thunder Punishment Sword!

This Thunder Dragon was formed by him repeatedly using Thunder Dragon Fist to shatter the Thunder Demon Beasts, infusing both the Thunderbolt and his fist’s intent into the sword.

”Go.”

Ning Jiang tossed the Thunder Punishment Sword, and it flew high into the air, transforming into a Thunder Dragon several dozen zhang long. It bared its fangs and brandished its claws, shaking the heavens and the earth.

’From now on, the Thunder Punishment Sword should be called the Thunder Dragon Sword. However, this Thunder Dragon is still a long way from being a true Artifact Spirit.’

Ning Jiang murmured to himself.

Top Level weapons all possess an Artifact Spirit, just like a King’s Celestial Spirit Artifact.

But for an Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact, forming an Artifact Spirit was still too difficult. This Thunder Dragon only had the form, but no intelligence!

The key to an Artifact Spirit was possessing intelligence.

When all three Magical Treasures had been completely reforged, the Celestial Tribulation also came to an end. The thunderclouds in the sky slowly dissipated, and clarity returned to the world.

And at that very moment, Ning Jiang suddenly felt a powerful battle intent surging toward him!