Chapter 176: Chapter 173: Ice Soul Sword
There were two main challenges in refining the Ice Python’s entire spine into a sword.
One was that the spine was simply too large. The other was the need to preserve the icy chill within the bone, ensuring that the cold energy remained undamaged.
Artifact Refining, after all, used Flame. Flame and cold energy were fundamentally opposed. During the refining process, it was highly probable that the cold energy within the spine would be damaged.
If that happened, the resulting sword would be flawed.
For someone like Ning Jiang, who always strove for perfection, this was unacceptable.
WHOOSH!
Flames raged, enveloping an area a hundred zhang wide.
The entire area had become like a gigantic furnace, with heat waves surging into the sky.
A white spine was engulfed by the Flame, burning fiercely.
At the same time, Ning Jiang’s fingers were stained with blood as he continuously drew strange runes.
This was the blood of the Ice Python.
With every rune he drew, he pressed it onto the massive spine.
This was an ancient method of Artifact Refining.
’Is there anything he can’t do?’
Lu Changsheng watched from the side, utterly shocked as he observed Ning Jiang’s fluid and masterful Artifact Refining techniques.
Ning Jiang wasn’t just skilled in Alchemy; he was also an expert in Artifact Refining.
Alchemy and Artifact Refining were two completely different professions.
And what’s more, Ning Jiang was trying to refine a Spiritual Artifact!
A Spiritual Artifact! This was something that surpassed Treasure Artifacts, something only a Spirit Realm Powerhouse could possess.
In all of Cyan Cloud Country, one might be able to find someone who could refine a Top Grade Treasure Artifact, but someone who could refine a Spiritual Artifact was unheard of.
His reverence for Ning Jiang grew even deeper.
While Ning Jiang was immersed in Artifact Refining, a storm was brewing in the outside world.
The Lin Family, Cyan Cloud’s First Family.
"Ning Jiang has three days to get his ass to the Lin Family and admit his guilt!"
When this news spread from the Lin Family, it instantly sent Cyan Cloud into an uproar.
"Ning Jiang killed a member of the Lin Family. Of course they couldn’t just sit back."
"This is getting interesting. On one side, we have the peerless Young Master Wushuang, who defeated two Kings. On the other, a Spirit Realm Master."
"So what if he’s peerless? How could someone in the Innate Realm possibly stand against the Spirit Realm?"
Discussions erupted across the land.
In many people’s eyes, no matter how strong Ning Jiang was, he was no match for the Lin Family Master.
The gap between the Innate Realm and the Spirit Realm was as vast as the one between heaven and earth.
"Hmph, the Lin Family is really throwing its weight around."
The people from Kunlun were furious when they heard the news.
They were all in the same boat as Ning Jiang. Having been through life and death together, they were already of one mind.
"Don’t worry. He’s sure to have a plan."
Liu Yuanlong had complete faith in Ning Jiang. He was one of the first to have met him and knew full well that Ning Jiang was not one to fight a battle he wasn’t confident of winning.
"First Young Master Soaring Dragon, now the Lin Family Master... Jiang’Er is in a rather dangerous situation this time." Li Qingyun couldn’t help but worry.
"Little brother will turn this misfortune into a blessing. This won’t be enough to stop him," Ning Yu’an said, full of confidence.
"You silly girl, you always take his side. He’s a dragon among men now, so outstanding. Don’t blame your mother for not warning you beforehand, but you’ll have to watch out for love rivals in the future," Li Qingyun said earnestly.
"Little brother isn’t a womanizer."
Although Ning Yu’an said this, a hint of nervousness still flickered in her beautiful eyes.
’Indeed, the Ning Jiang of today is too exceptional.’
’And the women who appear by his side are all as beautiful as flowers. I’m a woman, after all. I have to be on my guard.’
Amidst the fervent discussions across the land.
「The date arrived: August sixth.」
The three-day deadline passed, and Ning Jiang had not even offered a response.
"Well, well, Young Master Wushuang, Ning Jiang. It seems he truly holds our Lin Family in contempt."
In the Lin Family’s meeting hall, every seat was filled.
In the main seat sat a middle-aged man with a dignified and imposing expression.
His aura was commanding, his face stern.
His fingers tapped on the table, making a "TAP, TAP" sound.
This was Patriarch Lin.
"If we don’t deal with this Ning Jiang, who will ever respect our Lin Family in the future? It seems our Lin Family has stayed out of worldly affairs for so long that people have forgotten us."
A high-ranking member of the Lin Family, seated below, had a cold look in his eyes.
Cyan Cloud’s First Family could not be provoked.
Ning Jiang had killed one of their own; he had to pay with his blood.
So what if he was Young Master Wushuang?
As long as he wasn’t in the Spirit Realm, the Lin Family could crush him.
"Well said. Young Master Wushuang, what a joke. He’s too full of himself. A young man who doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth, does he think no one in Cyan Cloud Country can put him in his place?"
"Since he doesn’t respect us, there’s no need for us to be polite. We’ll use a lesson written in blood to make Cyan Cloud Country understand the might of our Lin Family."
"Clan Leader, it’s time to ask the Ancestor to come out."
The men spoke coldly.
Half an hour later, the meeting concluded.
Patriarch Lin went alone to a courtyard. It was a forbidden area within the Lin Family estate, and normally, only he was qualified to enter.
Because one person resided here!
The Lin Family Ancestor, Lin Tiantian!
In the courtyard was an old man with a full head of white hair.
The old man exuded no aura whatsoever; he looked no different from an ordinary person.
His face was a web of deep wrinkles, like a candle sputtering in the wind.
This was very strange. Generally, after a Martial Artist’s Cultivation reached a high level, their spirit would be abundant and their complexion full of life; they would not look so decrepit.
However, his aged eyes were filled with wisdom, as if nothing in the world could escape his notice.
Patriarch Lin bowed slightly, his eyes full of reverence. "Ancestor, that Ning Jiang has shown no intention of coming to the Lin Family to admit his guilt. We are now only waiting for your order, and the Lin Family will mobilize its full strength to uproot him and all his forces."
"Mm."
Lin Tiantian nodded.
"It’s just... Ancestor, I don’t quite understand. Why did you have Bai Xuan seek out this Ning Jiang? Is he of any use to our Lin Family?"
Patriarch Lin hesitated for a moment before voicing his confusion.
Lin Baixuan had only sought out Ning Jiang because he had received orders from Lin Tiantian to bring Ning Jiang to the Lin Family.
Why had Lin Tiantian done this?
"Our Lin Family is Cyan Cloud’s First Family. Do you know why that is?" Lin Tiantian asked instead of answering.
"Of course, it is because you, Ancestor, preside over us," Patriarch Lin said respectfully.
In the current Cyan Cloud Country, the Lin Family was the only family with a Spirit Realm Master presiding over it.
"But what if one day I am gone?" Lin Tiantian said.
A chill went down Patriarch Lin’s spine. He quickly replied, "Ancestor, what are you saying? A Spirit Realm Master can live for five hundred years. You are only just over a hundred years old; you can still protect our Lin Family for several more centuries."
"I know my own condition. Back then, in order to break through to the Spirit Realm, I paid a terrible price and damaged my life’s origin. In my current state, I have a few years left at most. After that, it will be dust to dust."
Patriarch Lin broke out in a cold sweat. This was the first time he had heard any of this.
Lin Tiantian’s voice was faint. "The Lin Family today is withering. Of Cyan Cloud’s Nine Great Young Masters, not a single one is from our Lin Family. Once I die, the Lin Family will inevitably decline. At that time, the families who hold grudges against us will come knocking, one after another. Will you be able to defend our home?"
"This..."
Patriarch Lin was at a loss for words. He was aware of the Lin Family’s situation; in the last two generations, there had indeed been no outstanding talents.
"This Young Master Wushuang, Ning Jiang... From the moment he appeared, he has displayed an indestructible physical body. His Cultivation has clearly not reached the Innate Limit, yet his Gang Qi allows him to contend with an Innate Limit Strong Person. This proves that the Cultivation Technique he practices is of the Top Level in this world!"
"I have my eyes on him for his Cultivation Technique. Moreover, according to rumors, he has a method to control Demon Beasts. If our Lin Family could obtain this method, then even after I am gone, the family could prosper for a long time to come," Lin Tiantian said slowly.
"Ancestor, your intentions are profound. I only regret that we have not lived up to expectations and have forced you to worry about us." Patriarch Lin looked ashamed.
He now understood. Lin Tiantian was making a move against Ning Jiang for the future of the Lin Family.
In fact, many people throughout Cyan Cloud Country had guessed that Ning Jiang’s Cultivation Technique was Top Level.
His Great Sun Dharma Body had made countless Body Refiners green with envy.
But envy was one thing; no one was suicidal enough to dare try and steal Ning Jiang’s Cultivation Technique. After all, Ning Jiang’s power had already reached the pinnacle of Cyan Cloud Country.
But Lin Tiantian was different. He was a Spirit Realm Powerhouse.
He had the confidence and power to snatch Ning Jiang’s Cultivation Technique.
"The Soaring Dragon Guard requests an audience."
Suddenly, a voice came from outside.
A short while later, a letter was delivered to the courtyard.
This letter was personally written by Young Master Soaring Dragon, and it was addressed to Lin Tiantian!
After opening it, Lin Tiantian read the contents, his eyes slowly narrowing. "He wants me to hold off on dealing with Ning Jiang until after August fifteenth."
"Hmph, isn’t this Young Master Soaring Dragon a bit too arrogant? What right does he have to order you around, Ancestor?" Patriarch Lin said angrily.
"Never mind. He has a Sect backing him. And strictly speaking, he can be considered my junior brother. I should give him this bit of face," Lin Tiantian said, waving his hand dismissively.
A hundred years ago, he too was a Sect Disciple.
But later, he made some mistakes and was expelled from the Sect.
The Sect that Young Master Soaring Dragon belonged to was the same one he had joined back then, which was why he considered Young Master Soaring Dragon his junior brother.
"Yes, we will follow all of the Ancestor’s commands."
...
「Time flew, and soon it was August fourteenth.」
「Within the Flame Array.」
The hundred-zhang-long Ice Python spine had vanished, replaced by a three-chi, nine-cun-long Treasure Sword!
The sword was snow-white, crystalline, and translucent. Within its sharp blade, the individual segments of the spine were clearly visible.
The spine was covered in dense, intricate runes.
While refining the sword, he had used the Ice Python’s blood to draw the runes. Over more than ten days, he had drawn a total of ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine runes.
An icy chill spread out from the body of the sword.
It was bone-piercingly cold.
"It’s finally done."
Ning Jiang surveyed the sword with satisfaction. This was the first Weapon he had refined since his rebirth, and it was a Spirit Treasure.
"Sever."
Ning Jiang slashed out, and a terrifying cold energy transformed into a white Sword Aura that swept forward.
In an instant, the Flame Array was extinguished, and a thick layer of frost covered the ground.
"Not bad."
A glint in his eye, Ning Jiang activated it again. This time, the runes inside the sword’s body began to glow.
"ROAR."
Following a furious roar, the phantom of an Ice Python, a hundred zhang long, emerged from the sword, radiating a terrifying might!
He had painstakingly drawn ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine runes. Did you think they would be useless?
Those runes were Soul Refining Talismans.
This was the soul of the Ice Python!
"I’ll call you Ice Soul Sword."
