Chapter 188: Chapter 185: Sword Array, the Ancient Well of the Cave Abode
After the Lin Family Master, this was the second Spirit Realm Master Ning Jiang had seen in Cyan Cloud Country.
This person had entered the Demon Mist Mountain Range years ago in search of a way to extend his life. It seemed he had succeeded.
Once one stepped into the Spirit Realm, their lifespan would increase to five hundred years.
But from another perspective, he was also quite pathetic.
He had been trapped here by an Array, with no freedom.
"Do you want to leave this place?"
Ning Jiang had an idea. ’If I can subdue this Spirit Realm Master and have him guard Kunlun and protect Ning Yu’an and the others, they’ll be much safer.’
"What? You can get me out of here?"
"That’s right, as long as you work for me," Ning Jiang said lightly.
"Work for you?"
Zhong Ji’s eyes slowly narrowed. A moment later, he burst into a wild laugh. "A mere Innate Realm cultivator wants me to work for him? Who do you think you are? I’m a Spirit Realm Master! Once I get out, I’ll become the number one expert in Cyan Cloud, reach the pinnacle, and command the wind and rain! Why would I ever submit to someone else?"
"Kid, I’ll give you a chance. Since you know the way out, hurry up and lead me there. I might take you as my servant and spare your life."
As Zhong Ji spoke, he looked at Yue Lianxi, and his eyes lit up. "What a stunner. I haven’t touched a woman in decades. The heavens are truly kind to me today."
BOOM!
A giant hand materialized in the air and shot directly toward Yue Lianxi.
Ning Jiang shook his head, having gotten a measure of this Zhong Ji.
The Martial Artists of this world were divided into righteous and demonic factions. Some demonic cultivators were utterly unscrupulous, acting perversely, maliciously, and without restraint.
Zhong Ji was clearly one of them.
Moreover, having been trapped here for decades, his temperament had likely become twisted.
CLANG.
The Ice Soul Sword left its sheath. Ning Jiang slashed down, tearing apart the hand that was grabbing for them.
"That’s a Spiritual Artifact! Kid, hand it over!" A flash of greed crossed Zhong Ji’s eyes.
"I suggest you kneel now. It’s your only chance to live," Ning Jiang said calmly.
"You’re courting death! You think you can fight me just because you have a Spiritual Artifact? I’ll show you the power of a Spirit Realm Master."
Zhong Ji laughed wildly, his sleeves fluttering as he attacked with his full strength.
’Overestimating his own strength.’
Yue Lianxi sneered. Although this Zhong Ji was in the Spirit Realm, he was, in fact, just like the Lin Family Master—among the weakest of his kind.
For one, Zhong Ji had no Spiritual Artifacts, nor did he have any decent Cultivation and Martial Techniques to practice.
Zhong Ji was only practicing a Profound Level Technique. At least Lin Tiantian had mastered the Spirit Level Shattering Gold Finger.
In a direct comparison, Zhong Ji was even weaker than Lin Tiantian.
"Go."
Ning Jiang tossed his palm forward. The Ice Soul Sword transformed into a streak of white light and shot out, instantly shattering all of Zhong Ji’s attacks.
"What kind of technique is this?" Zhong Ji cried out in shock.
’To use a Flying Sword technique while only at the Innate Realm... he’s the only one in all of Qing Province.’
Yue Lianxi’s beautiful eyes were like water as she reeled in silent shock. She was from the Yanyue Sect and knew about the prodigies of the other Major Sects.
She was certain that no matter who it was, none of them possessed a technique like Ning Jiang’s.
Under the Ice Soul Sword’s relentlessly sharp attacks, Zhong Ji was forced into a steady retreat. His Protective Spiritual Qi was completely unable to block the blade.
"Ah!"
After a dozen more strikes, Zhong Ji let out a pained scream. A gash appeared on his chest, nearly splitting him in two.
"I’ll give you one last chance. Death, or submission."
Ning Jiang stood with his hands behind his back, his indifferent gaze devoid of all emotion, like a ten-thousand-year-old arctic wind.
WHOOSH!
The Ice Soul Sword circled above Zhong Ji’s head, emanating a bone-chilling cold. If Zhong Ji so much as uttered a single word of defiance, the sword would instantly descend and behead him.
"I... I will submit."
After hesitating for less than three breaths, Zhong Ji made his decision.
For a demonic practitioner like him, his life was more important than anything else. He had been trapped here for decades and had only just broken through to the Spirit Realm; he had no desire to die so pointlessly.
"Don’t trust him! Be careful he doesn’t go back on his word and turn on you!"
Yue Lianxi hurriedly warned. For someone like Zhong Ji, killing him was the best option.
Who could guarantee his submission was sincere?
He might find an opportunity to plot against Ning Jiang.
"It’s fine. I have my own ways of dealing with people like him."
Ning Jiang waved his hand dismissively. He then squeezed a drop of blood from his fingertip and drew a talisman in mid-air. "Words alone are not enough proof. I’m going to plant a Soul Refining Talisman in you. If you betray me, your body and soul will be annihilated."
A crimson, mysteriously complex rune appeared in the air.
"Don’t resist, or I’ll kill you right now!"
With a flick of his finger, Ning Jiang sent the red Soul Refining Talisman flying toward the spot between Zhong Ji’s eyebrows as a beam of light.
Zhong Ji gritted his teeth, not daring to resist. He allowed the Soul Refining Talisman to enter his forehead.
The moment the Soul Refining Talisman vanished, Zhong Ji felt his body grow heavy as the crimson rune appeared in his mind.
He could clearly feel that if he had even a single thought of betrayal, the Soul Refining Talisman would instantly blast his soul and body to smithereens.
’Damn it, who on earth is this kid? How can he possess such a technique?’
Zhong Ji was utterly horrified. He had never even heard of a technique that could control one’s soul.
Watching from the side, Yue Lianxi grew even more astonished.
Zhong Ji might not understand this technique, but as a member of a Sect, she knew what it was.
Once a person’s Cultivation reached the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm, they could use their Primordial Spirit Power to place a restriction inside someone’s mind.
’But Ning Jiang is only in the Innate Realm!’
"Remember, from this day forward, I am your master. Your life is mine to take with a single thought."
As Ning Jiang spoke, he activated the talisman with his mind.
"AHHH!"
Instantly, Zhong Ji shrieked as if he were being tortured by a thousand cuts. The Soul Refining Talisman had activated, inflicting a tearing pain upon his soul.
"Master, spare my life!"
Zhong Ji fell to his knees with a THUD and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Enough. Tell me about this place."
Ning Jiang stopped activating the Soul Refining Talisman and spoke calmly.
"Yes."
Zhong Ji looked at the white-haired youth before him with immense reverence. Faced with Ning Jiang’s god-like methods, he didn’t dare harbor the slightest thought of betrayal.
He immediately recounted everything he knew in full detail.
According to Zhong Ji, he had been trapped here for nearly thirty years. This valley had no other exit; once you entered, you could never leave.
"Oh? A forbidden ground?"
Ning Jiang was surprised. Zhong Ji mentioned there was a forbidden ground deep within the valley, a place he didn’t dare enter because of a Killing Array.
"Take me to see it."
"Yes."
Zhong Ji led the way, and soon, they came upon a secluded glen.
The glen was beautiful, lined with blooming flowers and plants. It felt very peaceful, with no trace of killing intent.
Beneath their feet was a winding, man-made stone path that stretched out of sight.
"There’s a Killing Array here?"
Yue Lianxi frowned slightly, finding it hard to believe.
"He wasn’t lying about this part."
As Ning Jiang spoke, he flicked his finger, sending out a wisp of Innate Gang Qi.
PSSSHHH!
Instantly, a shocking change occurred in the previously calm glen. Streaks of white Sword Aura materialized from thin air and shredded the wisp of Innate Gang Qi to pieces.
"With this level of power... forget a Spirit Realm expert, even a master at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm would be in danger, wouldn’t they?" Yue Lianxi exclaimed in shock.
The Sword Auras were terrifying. Even from a distance, any single one of them made her feel a sense of mortal danger.
"Interesting. You two wait here. I’m going in to have a look," Ning Jiang said.
"You can’t! It’s too dangerous. You’re an Elder of my Sect now; I can’t let you take such a risk," Yue Lianxi quickly tried to stop him.
"Do I seem like someone who acts impulsively without confidence?"
Ning Jiang’s question left Yue Lianxi stunned.
’That’s right. Since I’ve known him, when has Ning Jiang ever been reckless?’
In the brief moment she was dazed, Ning Jiang had already taken a step and entered.
Yue Lianxi’s pupils contracted, terrified that the Array would activate and slice Ning Jiang to pieces.
But all was calm!
Nothing happened. It was as if the Sword Auras they had seen before were just an illusion.
’So that’s how it is.’
After observing for a moment, Yue Lianxi had a sudden realization. Ning Jiang’s every step was strange, following a specific pattern. It was clearly the method to enter the Array.
Anyone who didn’t understand this Array would be killed without a proper burial if they took a single wrong step.
With his hands behind his back, Ning Jiang strolled leisurely into the glen as if walking through his own backyard, eventually disappearing from their sight.
After following the stone path for over a thousand zhang, a cave residence appeared ahead.
At the entrance of the cave, seven swords were thrust into the ground, each a different color: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and violet.
Each sword was three feet and three inches long and released a sharp Sword Qi.
’A Sword Array.’
A Sword Array was a type of Array. Most Arrays were powered by Array Banners, but Sword Arrays were powered by swords.
All seven swords were Spiritual Artifacts.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Ning Jiang felt a strange fluctuation from within his Storage Ring. It was his Sword-Hiding Gourd.
’Could it be that the Sword-Hiding Gourd is related to this place?’
Ning Jiang had acquired his Sword-Hiding Gourd from the Treasure Auction. The gourd had been brought out of the Demon Mist Mountain Range by someone, but at that time, it was already damaged and devoid of any spiritual properties.
Later, it was Ning Jiang who, at the cost of his own life force, had managed to partially repair it.
The moment Ning Jiang took out the Sword-Hiding Gourd...
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Instantly, the seven swords at the cave entrance began to tremble and hum. Then, like swallows returning to their nest, they shot one by one into the Sword-Hiding Gourd.
’What a fateful encounter. It seems these seven swords were originally nurtured by the Sword-Hiding Gourd itself.’
Ning Jiang was quite pleased to have obtained seven Spiritual Artifacts. The Sword-Hiding Gourd was an Innate Spirit Treasure with immense potential.
In the future, once he had enough resources, he would fully repair the Sword-Hiding Gourd.
With the Sword Array collected, Ning Jiang faced no more obstacles and entered the cave residence.
The inside of the cave was covered in a thick layer of dust, showing that no one had been there for a very long time.
Upon reaching the deepest part, he saw that it was very simple. There were no grand immortal pavilions, just a few stone rooms and almost no furnishings.
The only peculiar thing was an ancient well inside.
When Ning Jiang leaned over and glanced into the ancient well, his expression changed dramatically!
