Chapter 103: Chapter 100: Red Lotus Sword, Her Surname is Ye?
SHHIIINNG!
The moment the sonic boom rang out, every gaze in the Ning Family was drawn to it.
To the west.
A sword, coming from the west!
It was a long, fiery-red streak, like a flame streaking across the sky, fast as lightning, leaving a long red trail in the air.
It was a sword.
The instant this sword appeared, everyone felt a piercing sharpness that seemed to cut their very skin.
The sword was as fast as a thunderclap, flying straight toward Ning Jiang.
In the span of two blinks, it crossed several hundred yards to arrive before him.
Ning Jiang reached out his five fingers and grabbed lightly. Like a dragon extending its claw, the hilt fell into his hand, cool to the touch.
This single move made many people’s pupils shrink.
When the sword flew, it was like an arrow loosed from a bow, a white rainbow piercing the sun. Its momentum was so fierce it could have shot through bronze walls and iron ramparts.
Catching such a sword was no simple feat. Even if one managed to grab the hilt, the immense force of its flight would send them flying. Yet, Ning Jiang had caught it with casual ease.
After their silent shock, the crowd shifted their gaze to the Treasure Sword itself.
The sword was three feet and six inches long, and half a finger’s width wide. Its entire body was like Red Jade, crystal clear and translucent, covered in vermilion, ice-crack patterns.
"The sword carries a sharp aura! This is a Top Grade Treasure Sword!"
A knowledgeable Sword Master in the crowd immediately recognized the sword’s grade and cried out in astonishment.
There is a saying about Top Grade Treasure Artifacts: "Sharpness fully revealed."
It means the Treasure Artifact itself radiates a sharp aura.
When you hold such a Treasure Artifact and strike, even if the weapon itself doesn’t touch someone, its aura of sharpness alone can cause injury.
"Ning Xiaoyou, this is the grand gift I prepared for you. What do you think?"
Amidst loud laughter, Wenhua City flew through the air and landed in the Ning Family’s courtyard.
"Wenhua City of the Sword Sect!"
When the members of the Ning Family learned of Wenhua City’s identity from others, they were all aghast. Some couldn’t even stop themselves from trembling.
Wenhua City. The name was not unfamiliar to them.
He was a top-level figure listed on the Innate List!
The Innate List and the Famous Family List—who in the Cyan Cloud Country didn’t know of these two lists?
Any Martial Artist worth their salt would buy a copy to learn about the heroes of the world.
As someone on the Innate List, Wenhua City was held in even higher esteem than a typical Innate Limit expert. To the Ning Family, a figure like him was completely unattainable.
But now, Wenhua City of the Sword Sect had come in person, and it was to give Ning Jiang a sword!
And his opening gift was a Top Grade Treasure Artifact!
"A Top Grade Treasure Artifact!"
Many in the Ning Family groaned inwardly, their eyes turning red with envy.
Any single Top Grade Treasure Artifact was worth over five hundred thousand Primordial Stones, and they were often priceless items with no market availability.
"A fine sword."
Ning Jiang flicked the body of the sword with his finger. The blade vibrated, letting out a long cry that soared to the heavens.
The moment the sound rang out, the surrounding air grew sharp. Some Martial Artists with lower cultivation even felt uneasy, their skin tingling faintly as if being cut by blades.
This sword from Wenhua City was likely a top-level item even among Top Grade Treasure Artifacts, probably worth over a million Primordial Stones.
"This sword doesn’t have a name yet. Ning Xiaoyou, why don’t you think of one?" Wenhua City said.
"Red Lotus." Ning Jiang slowly uttered the two words.
"Red Lotus? Excellent. A good name," Wenhua City said with admiration. "A fine sword for a hero. In your hands, Ning Xiaoyou, this Red Lotus Sword will surely shine brilliantly, becoming a famous sword in Cyan Cloud Country, known throughout the world."
People have names, and swords have names.
For example, as the Alchemy Grandmaster Tan Jinglin became famous, the Top Grade Pill Cauldron he used, the Red Crane Flying Heaven Cauldron, also became renowned.
For the sword to become famous, Ning Jiang would have to build its reputation through his deeds.
"I’ll remember this favor," Ning Jiang said, putting away the Red Lotus Sword.
Ordinarily, he wouldn’t have accepted it, because a debt of gratitude is the hardest to repay.
But Wenhua City had left Luoyang City for several days specifically to find this sword for him. His sincerity was as firm as gold. If Ning Jiang were to refuse, it would seem cold and unreasonable.
"HAHAHAHA, you’re being too formal, Xiaoyou."
Wenhua City laughed, filled with gratification. He had expended immense effort to find the Red Lotus Sword in order to befriend Ning Jiang.
But given Ning Jiang’s potential, it was worth it.
He was incredibly optimistic about Ning Jiang’s future.
"By the way, I am a lone wolf. Why don’t I also join your Kunlun, Xiaoyou?" Wenhua City’s words left the crowd dumbfounded once again.
This Sword Grandmaster, renowned throughout Cyan Cloud, had always been a free spirit, a solitary figure who had never joined any faction.
In the past, some of Cyan Cloud’s most famous major factions had invited Wenhua City, but he had refused them all.
But now, this famous Sword Grandmaster actually wanted to join Kunlun.
’The skies over Luoyang City are truly about to change,’ more than one person murmured.
"Welcome," said Ning Jiang.
’Kunlun’s rise is now unstoppable.’
The various powers of Luoyang City thought to themselves, their gazes filled with even more awe. Kunlun already had eight Alchemy Masters, plus the Liu Family, and now an expert from the Innate List. Who in Luoyang City could possibly stand against them?
Previously, Kunlun lacked an Innate Limit expert to hold the fort. Relying on just eight Alchemy Masters was, in fact, slightly insufficient.
The eight Alchemy Masters’ strength lay in alchemy.
But for any faction, martial strength was ultimately the most important thing. What if an Innate Limit expert refused to give the eight Alchemy Masters any face?
If an Innate Limit expert were to become enraged and act recklessly, they would be more than capable of killing all eight Alchemy Masters and destroying Kunlun.
That was absolute power.
The power to crush everything.
But now, Kunlun had two Innate Limit experts joining its ranks, especially Wenhua City, an expert from the Innate List. Who in Luoyang City would dare to provoke such a force?
Before, Kunlun was a tiger cub. Now, it was a ferocious tiger with sharp claws and fangs!
The Ning Family courtyard fell completely silent.
A sixteen-year-old boy had achieved something they couldn’t even dare to imagine.
Ning Feng stared blankly at it all, at the Ning Jiang he had never once taken seriously.
His heart was suddenly submerged in an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
’How long would it take for me to achieve what Ning Jiang has? Fifty years? A hundred? Or would I never be able to?’
The more he thought, the more despair he felt.
Ning Changhan was stunned speechless. He had been so proud of his son for breaking through to the Innate Realm, but what did that amount to when compared to Ning Jiang?
’I’ve lived for so long, thinking my judgment was sharp, but I still misjudged him completely. These old eyes of mine are truly failing...’
The old master, Ning Shoujing, mocked himself. He had always felt that Ning Jiang was not a true member of the Ning Family, that he didn’t have their bloodline, so he had always treated Ning Jiang with indifference.
Just last night, he had sided with Ning Feng and the others, demanding that Ning Jiang hand over his Primordial Stones.
But from today’s perspective, how foolish was that decision?
The rest of the Ning Family were all stunned.
When the Qin Family had come to demand retribution, they had pushed Ning Jiang out to face them, not wanting to get involved. What seemed like a wise move at the time now made them regret it so much their insides were turning green.
’I’m afraid the Ning Family no longer has a place in Ning Jiang’s heart, right?’
"With his current power, if our Ning Family had managed to keep him on our side, then we would be the ones calling the shots in Baiquan Town! What would the Qin and Song Families amount to then?"
The old Patriarch of the Ning Family’s voice trembled, his heart filled with endless regret.
Why hadn’t he spoken up to protect Ning Jiang back then?
The chance to soar to greatness had been right in front of them.
But they had driven it away with their own hands.
Would such a stroke of fortune, such an opportunity, ever come a second time?
Compared to the endless regret sprouting in the depths of the Ning Family’s hearts, the members of the Qin Family were all pale-faced and terrified.
Revenge?
They had long since thrown that thought to the highest heavens.
Right now, the only thing on their minds was how to survive.
That’s right, just survive!
With Ning Jiang’s current power, he only needed to give the order, and everyone in the Qin Family would die without a burial place.
’That damned Qin Lie! How did he provoke such a figure? Isn’t this just pushing our entire Qin Family into a pit of fire?’ the purple-robed, middle-aged leader thought, filled with hatred.
He hated Qin Lie for getting them involved with such a monster.
Qin Lie was just his nephew, not even his own son. Besides, even if it had been his own son, if he provoked someone like Ning Jiang, his death would be for nothing.
If an ant dared to provoke a dragon in the sky, it would just be courting death. Who would help it get revenge on the dragon?
Just as the Qin Family members stood there, uneasy and silent as cicadas in winter, Ning Jiang’s gaze shifted over to them.
"The Qin Family is looking for revenge against me?"
It was just a calm question from Ning Jiang, devoid of any emotion, but it instantly made every hair on the Qin Family members’ bodies stand on end. A chill shot up from their tailbones straight to the tops of their heads.
"Hmm?"
Liu Yuanlong, Wenhua City, the Luoyang Hundred Families, and numerous other experts all turned their gazes toward them in unison.
Some even radiated killing intent on the spot.
They knew this was a golden opportunity to get on Ning Jiang’s good side!
At that moment, the members of the Qin Family felt a pressure so immense it could shatter their minds and suffocate them.
"Sword Grandmaster, spare us!"
THUD. The purple-robed middle-aged man fell to his knees on the spot, abandoning all dignity.
THUD, THUD, THUD...
The other Innate Realm experts from the Qin Family all knelt as well. They felt the killing intent from their surroundings and feared that if they were a second too slow, they would be executed on the spot. It would be too late for regrets then.
"Qin Lie provoked a Sword Grandmaster and deserved to die ten thousand deaths for it! When I return, I will grind his bones to dust! I only beg for the Sword Grandmaster’s forgiveness!"
The purple-robed middle-aged man buried his head deep into the ground, his posture the very picture of humility.
Watching the members of the Qin Family kneel and beg for mercy, Qian Lan and Hou Zheng, Ning Jiang’s former friends, felt their legs give out and collapsed to the ground.
Their eyes, too, were filled with endless regret.
’If only they hadn’t abandoned Ning Jiang to cozy up to Qin Lie... If only they were still friends with Ning Jiang... how many benefits could they be reaping from him right now?’
’Even a casual boost from him would have benefited them immensely.’
...
「Meanwhile, just outside the Ning Family residence.」
The two Ning Family Guards responsible for the gate were still chattering amongst themselves.
"What on earth is happening at the Ning Family estate? Why have so many families shown up today?"
"I can’t guess either. I really want to go in and see." As he spoke, he suddenly let out a soft sound of surprise. "Look, more people are here."
Following his gaze, they saw a man and a woman approaching.
The man was handsome and distinguished, while the woman had delicate features and was as beautiful as a flower.
"So this is the Ning Family? To think that sister of ours has ties to a third-class family from this tiny backwater of Baiquan Town." Gazing at the residence before him, the man’s eyes revealed a trace of disdain.
"What sister? Don’t you forget, her surname is Ye. She took her mother’s name, not our Yi Family’s name. That shows that in her heart, she doesn’t consider herself one of the Yi Family at all."
