Chapter 173: Chapter 170: Kiss, Spirit Realm Demon Beast
August 1st.
Ning Jiang defeated two Kings on the Qingjiang River, then slew a disciple of the Lin Family.
Once the news spread, the world was shaken to its core.
"This Ning Jiang is a true God of Slaughter. How many people has he killed on his path? Pass down the order: from now on, all family disciples must give him a wide berth. He is not to be offended, no matter what."
Ning Jiang’s immense power was astounding.
But his every action struck terror into the hearts of countless factions.
From the Huangfu Family of Golden Cauldron City to the Cheng Family and the Jiang Family, all these factions were prominent Noble Families. But after offending Ning Jiang, every one of them suffered a devastating catastrophe.
The great Noble Families had been toppled from their lofty pedestals in an instant.
How could the various Noble Families not fear such a decisive and ruthless man?
Many Noble Families immediately labeled Ning Jiang an unoffendable God of Slaughter, repeatedly warning the hotheads within their clans.
...
On the Qingjiang River, a great ship sailed, cutting through the wind and waves.
This was a ship the Jiang Family had given to Ning Jiang as an offering to appease his anger.
The night grew deep.
"According to what my Pill King Valley knows, that Master from the Lin Family should be their ancestor, Lin Tiantian. A hundred years ago, Lin Tiantian was a rare genius of his generation, talented enough to be ranked among the top three in the Cyan Cloud Country of that era."
Lu Changsheng explained slowly, "Moreover, back then, Cyan Cloud Country still had Spirit Veins and was overseen by Sects. It seems Lin Tiantian was a Sect Disciple, but I heard he was later expelled from his Sect for some reason."
According to Lu Changsheng, a hundred years ago was an era when Sects flourished in Cyan Cloud Country.
Unfortunately, the Spirit Veins in Cyan Cloud Country later vanished, and the major Sects had no choice but to leave that barren land for other kingdoms.
Cyan Cloud Country is just a small nation within Qing Province. The entire province has at least several dozen countries like it.
"To think that this Lin Tiantian has quietly broken through to the Spirit Realm. He must have had some sort of fortuitous encounter. Otherwise, it would be impossible to make such a breakthrough in a place with no Spirit Veins."
Lu Changsheng sighed.
Beside them, Ning Yu’an listened nervously, her pretty face growing a little tense.
Although she had always been very confident in Ning Jiang, hearing that his opponent was a Spirit Realm Powerhouse still made her worry.
She could never forget how a Spirit Realm Powerhouse had forced them all into a perilous situation at Crescent Lake in Baiquan Town. That battle had led to Kunlun’s destruction, and Ning Jiang had been severely injured and unconscious for a long time afterward.
She never wanted to experience something like that a second time.
"Now that the Young Master has killed someone from the Lin Family, I’m afraid Lin Tiantian won’t let this matter rest. Frankly, with the Young Master’s potential, if Lin Tiantian truly comes looking for trouble, you only need to avoid a direct confrontation for now. In a few years, you will surely surpass him."
Lu Changsheng said after a moment of thought.
He didn’t believe Ning Jiang could win a fight against a Spirit Realm Master, so he was tactfully suggesting that Ning Jiang should exercise some restraint.
"Are you telling me to hide?" Ning Jiang flicked his fingernails, completely unconcerned. "A mere Spirit Realm. You think I can’t kill someone at that level? If he dares to come looking for trouble, I’ll make sure he never returns."
In truth, with Ning Jiang’s current strength, dealing with a Spirit Realm Master would indeed be a stretch.
But one must not forget that he had been a Venerable in his past life. If he truly went all out, he had more than enough methods at his disposal.
’Still, the best solution is to advance my cultivation or improve my Great Sun Glazed Golden Body.’
Ning Jiang thought to himself. Whether it was his cultivation reaching the Innate Limit or his Golden Body achieving Perfection, either would allow him to kill those in the Spirit Realm, a feat that transcended his own level.
He currently had a Spirit Core from a Spirit Tree. Using its power, he was confident he could achieve a breakthrough with his Golden Body.
However, refining the Spirit Core would take time; it wasn’t something that could be done overnight. Ning Jiang estimated it would take at least three months.
If he really went into seclusion for three months, he feared that others might be harmed during that time.
Besides, Young Master Soaring Dragon had challenged him to a duel on August 15th. He didn’t have time for a long seclusion right now.
"By the way, do you know the origins of this Young Master Soaring Dragon?" Ning Jiang asked casually.
Lu Changsheng shook his head. "I don’t know Young Master Soaring Dragon’s specific origins either. However, there are rumors that he isn’t from Cyan Cloud Country. He might even be a disciple from a Sect."
Ning Jiang nodded. It was common for some Sects to send their disciples out into the world to train and mature.
Disciples who stayed within the Sect, under its protection, were like flowers in a greenhouse—they would struggle to achieve anything great.
Since ancient times, every powerhouse has had to endure countless trials to grow strong.
Unpolished jade never shines.
"Alright, you may go."
"Yes."
Lu Changsheng bowed and departed.
"Little Brother, today is your birthday. Do you remember?"
At the bow of the ship, the two siblings gazed out over the river.
The earlier downpour had softened to a drizzle, but within a ten-zhang radius of Ning Jiang, not a single drop of rain could penetrate.
Today, August 1st, was Ning Jiang’s seventeenth birthday.
"I remember."
Ning Jiang smiled, a touch of warmth in his eyes. "Every year at this time, Sister An always gives me a gift. I wonder what you have for me this year?"
"You still have the nerve to ask me?" Ning Yu’an shot him a playful look and said softly, "My little brother is so powerful now, your big sister doesn’t even know what to get you anymore."
Ning Jiang blinked and smiled. "No matter how powerful I get, I’ll always be Sister An’s little brother. Anything you give me will be perfect."
If anyone else saw him acting like this, their jaws would drop to the floor.
Was this really the same decisive and ruthless Ning Jiang?
The same monster who killed without batting an eye?
"Sweet talker."
Ning Yu’an huffed, but the honey-sweet look in her beautiful eyes betrayed her happiness.
"Little Brother, you... close your eyes." Ning Yu’an’s pretty face suddenly flushed crimson, her voice barely a whisper.
"Hm? What’s the surprise?" Ning Jiang obediently closed his eyes.
As Ning Jiang closed his eyes, he didn’t see the beautiful woman beside him, whose cheeks were now as red as a fiery sunset.
A moment later, a faint fragrance wafted toward him.
Ning Jiang felt a gentle softness press against his lips.
After an unknown amount of time, the softness on his lips vanished. Ning Yu’an’s face was burning hot as she scrambled away, disappearing into the night.
Savoring the faint, lingering fragrance on his lips, Ning Jiang slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze was distant. To him, physical beauty was like a pile of dry bones, not worth coveting.
But his feelings for Ning Yu’an were a natural and logical progression.
How could he not have understood Ning Yu’an’s feelings for him all this time?
"It seems we don’t need to worry about these two children anymore. All we need to do is give them our silent blessing."
In the distance, Ning Changfeng and Li Qingyun exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.
...
ROAR—
After the great ship had been sailing on the Qingjiang River for some time, a sudden roar erupted from beneath the water’s surface.
An Ice Python appeared. It approached Ning Jiang with a respectful posture.
"Take me there."
Ning Jiang stepped onto the python’s head. At his command, the Ice Python moved, swimming away swiftly.
One hour later, it stopped in an area with turbulent rapids.
The current here was incredibly fierce, even forming whirlpools that emanated a terrifying Devouring Power.
GROWL...
The Ice Python let out a low growl, its voice laced with fear. It dared not advance any further.
Ahead lay an aura that terrified it.
’A Spirit Realm Demon Beast?’
A grave expression appeared in Ning Jiang’s eyes. Through his communication with the Ice Python, he knew there was a Spirit Realm Ice Python in the Qingjiang River—that one was the true Master of Qingjiang.
However, the object at the bottom of the Qingjiang River intrigued him greatly.
After all, this Ice Python had only been able to evolve because of some wondrous object at the river’s bottom.
He suspected he might find a Taiyin Divine Crystal down there. If so, he would be able to cultivate the Sun and Moon Divine Eye.
’Something’s strange.’
Ning Jiang’s brow furrowed. He had a peculiar feeling, as if something under the water was attracting him, calling to him.
At that moment, he could faintly feel the blood in his veins begin to boil.
’Perhaps I can also find the answers to my origins down there,’ Ning Jiang guessed.
Years ago, he had appeared on the Qingjiang River and been found by Ning Changfeng.
Now that he had returned to this place, he felt a strange connection.
His eyes slowly narrowed as he weighed whether or not to go down and investigate.
A Spirit Realm Demon Beast was far more difficult to deal with than a Spirit Realm Martial Artist of the same level, especially in the water. Ning Jiang estimated that it would take at least three Spirit Realm Martial Artists of the same caliber working together to handle a Spirit Realm Ice Python like this.
His Golden Body had not yet reached Perfection. If he went down rashly, he would likely be in danger.
Even if he had some forbidden techniques, activating them would inevitably come at a price.
"Hm?"
Just as Ning Jiang was contemplating, the sound of cracking and freezing, CRACKLE, CRACKLE, suddenly came from the depths of the water.
"Fall back, quickly!"
The moment Ning Jiang spoke, the Ice Python beneath him also sensed that something was wrong. It retreated rapidly, covering several hundred zhang in the blink of an eye.
When it was several hundred zhang away, they looked back and saw that their previous location—an area one hundred zhang in every direction—had been instantly frozen solid!
If Ning Jiang had retreated even a split second slower, he would now be an ice sculpture.
"A Spirit Realm Demon Beast!"
Then, under Ning Jiang’s solemn gaze, a behemoth slowly emerged from the surface of the river.
PS: The recent plot points have been quite difficult to write, and I don’t have a stockpile of Chapters, so I have to post them as I write them. If the next Chapter goes smoothly, I should be able to finish it around two o’clock.
