Chapter 191: Chapter 188: Sect Grades, Falling into Danger
"Who are they?" Ning Jiang asked.
A total of three people had arrived: a middle-aged couple and an old man.
The old man flew at the forefront, clearly the leader of the group. His aura was also a cut above the other two.
"One of the Five Great Sects, the Fire Cloud Sect!" Yue Lianxi answered, a hint of confusion in her beautiful eyes. ’Why would people from the Fire Cloud Sect be here?’
"Is this Sect an enemy of yours?"
"Yes," Yue Lianxi nodded. "The enmity between the Fire Cloud Sect and my Yanyue Sect runs deep."
The Five Great Sects held sway in Qing Province, but they were far from peaceful. On the contrary, friction and clashes were common. This was especially true between the Yanyue Sect and the Fire Cloud Sect; to say they were as incompatible as fire and water would be no exaggeration.
Composing herself, Yue Lianxi asked, "What business do the three of you have here?"
"Which one of you is Ning Jiang?"
The moment the elder spoke, Yue Lianxi’s expression changed dramatically.
’They’re actually here for Ning Jiang!’
’But how could the Fire Cloud Sect know of Ning Jiang?’
’Could it be...’
"He is Ning Jiang."
Just then, a voice rang out from the boat. A handmaiden was pointing her finger at Ning Jiang.
"Qiu Han, what are you talking about?"
Beside Qiu Han, Qiu Yue exclaimed in astonishment. Both were Yue Lianxi’s handmaidens and were usually as close as sisters.
"Don’t ask, Qiu Yue. She has betrayed us."
Yue Lianxi’s gaze turned icy, filled with disappointment. "Qiu Han, why? Have I ever mistreated you?"
"Milady has been very good to me," Qiu Han said coldly, avoiding Yue Lianxi’s gaze. "But a wise bird chooses its branch. The Yanyue Sect can’t even protect itself now. I have to think about my own future."
"Enough. We have no interest in watching this melodrama. Ning Jiang, I hear you’ve comprehended Half-Step Sword Intent, is that correct?"
The leading elder spoke with an air of authority. "I am Elder Han of the Fire Cloud Sect. These are Elder Zhou and Elder Wu. The three of us have come to invite you to join the Fire Cloud Sect."
"You’re inviting me?"
"That’s right. Anyone who can comprehend Half-Step Sword Intent is a rare talent. Join the Fire Cloud Sect, and we will be sure to invest in your development."
Elder Han sized up Ning Jiang, finding it hard to believe that a boy so young could have comprehended Half-Step Sword Intent.
’With the right training, Ning Jiang should be able to compete with that prodigy from the Star Sword Sect.’
"Impossible. He is already an Elder of my Yanyue Sect. He won’t be joining the Fire Cloud Sect," Yue Lianxi interjected hastily.
’I saw his potential back when he was still weak, and I forged a bond with him. After waiting so long for him to finally grow strong, how could I let someone else just steal him away?’
"Yue Lianxi, this is not your place to speak. Whether or not he is willing to join the Fire Cloud Sect is his decision to make," Elder Han snorted.
At his words, Yue Lianxi looked nervously toward Ning Jiang.
Ning Jiang simply shook his head. "My apologies. I’ve already joined the Yanyue Sect, and I don’t go back on my word."
A promise was a promise, and Ning Jiang was not the type of person to break one.
"Please, leave," Yue Lianxi said, breathing a sigh of relief.
Elder Han’s gaze sharpened. After a moment, he sneered, "Yue Lianxi, have you told him about the crisis your Yanyue Sect is facing?"
"That is..." Yue Lianxi frowned, looking as if she had something difficult to say.
"Heh, so you haven’t told him. No wonder. You’re afraid he’ll abandon the Yanyue Sect if he knows the truth, aren’t you?" Elder Han taunted.
"What’s wrong?" Ning Jiang asked.
Yue Lianxi sighed softly. Knowing she could no longer hide it, she explained the Yanyue Sect’s situation.
The Yanyue Sect, one of the Five Great Sects of Qing Province, was ranked sixty-sixth among the Seventy-Two Sects and classified as a Middle Grade Sect.
A Sect’s grade was a mark of its power.
Sects were divided into Low Grade, Middle Grade, Upper Grade, and Top Grade.
Low Grade Sects were all minor Sects; more than ninety percent of the Sects in the Six Eastern Provinces fell into this category.
To even be ranked among the Seventy-Two Sects, a Sect had to be at least Middle Grade. The higher-ranking ones were Upper Grade Sects, and those at the very top were Top Grade Sects.
As for Super Sects, they stood above even the Top Grade Sects, holding dominion over the Six Eastern Provinces.
The Yanyue Sect was originally ranked sixty-sixth among the Seventy-Two Sects. While not a high rank, it was still one of the five major powers in Qing Province, commanding its territory with immense authority.
Unfortunately, a few years ago, the Yanyue Sect suffered a devastating blow during a mission. They lost many experts, including several powerhouses at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm.
Afterward, the Yanyue Sect began to decline. Several years had passed, and its overall strength had fallen by more than half. It was now a Sect in decline, its former glory gone.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hide it from you," Yue Lianxi said guiltily.
"Heh, the Yanyue Sect is now on the verge of being delisted from the Seventy-Two Sects. Do you still want to join a dying Sect like that? The Fire Cloud Sect is ranked sixtieth. Only by coming with us can you secure a better future."
Elder Han once again extended an olive branch to Ning Jiang.
The light in Yue Lianxi’s beautiful eyes dimmed, and she was left speechless. ’After learning the truth about the Yanyue Sect, would Ning Jiang still be willing to stay?’
’After all, people naturally strive for better opportunities.’
’The Yanyue Sect was in decline. Any other Martial Artist in this situation would choose the Fire Cloud Sect, wouldn’t they?’
"My apologies, but my answer is the same. I have already joined the Yanyue Sect," Ning Jiang replied. Beside him, Yue Lianxi’s eyes sparkled, and she wanted nothing more than to cup his face in her hands and kiss him.
Hearing this, the gazes of Elder Han and his two companions turned cold.
"Are you certain you want to refuse the Fire Cloud Sect?"
"I am."
"Hmph. It seems you’d rather do this the hard way."
Elder Han’s face darkened, his gaze as sharp as a knife. "The Yanyue Sect is an enemy of the Fire Cloud Sect. We will never allow a talent like you to join them. Since you’ve refused our offer, we have no choice but to eliminate you here and now!"
"Do this, and aren’t you afraid the Yanyue Sect will declare war on you?!" Yue Lianxi’s face paled as she shouted angrily.
"Hahaha! With what little strength the Yanyue Sect has left? What gives you the right to declare war on us?"
As Elder Han spoke, an overwhelming aura spread out from him.
All three of them were powerhouses at the Spirit Realm Early Stage. Elder Han, in particular, had an aura that suggested he was just a hair’s breadth away from the Spirit Realm Middle Stage.
"Ning Jiang, this is your last chance. Don’t be a fool."
Elder Han’s voice boomed like thunder. He stood in the air, sleeves fluttering, looking like a War God.
"Then let’s fight."
Ning Jiang took a deep breath and spoke three words.
"Arrogant brat."
Behind Elder Han, the middle-aged man named Elder Zhou stepped forward. With a grabbing motion of his hand, he condensed a massive palm of energy and sent it hurtling toward Ning Jiang.
SHING!
The Ice Soul Sword shot from its scabbard, transforming into a streak of white light that pierced through the giant hand and continued toward its target.
"What?"
Elder Zhou was taken aback, but he was worthy of his status as a Sect Elder. A saber appeared in his grasp, and he brought it down in a vicious slash against the Ice Soul Sword.
CLANG!
Sparks flew as the Ice Soul Sword was knocked back.
"A Spiritual Artifact."
Ning Jiang’s gaze sharpened, his expression growing grim.
These Spirit Realm powerhouses from Major Sects were a far cry from a destitute Spirit Realm cultivator like Lin Tiantian. They all wielded Spiritual Artifacts and had cultivated numerous Spirit Level Techniques.
It would likely take two Spirit Realm cultivators like Lin Tiantian to even stand a chance against a single Elder Zhou.
With his current strength, even with the help of the Ice Soul Sword, the best Ning Jiang could hope for was to fight Elder Zhou to a standstill. But there were three Spirit Realm experts here!
He had no chance of winning this fight.
Yue Lianxi had clearly realized the huge disparity in their strength. Biting her lip, she said, "Ning Jiang, if you really want to go to the Fire Cloud Sect... I won’t blame you. I can only blame my Yanyue Sect for not being strong enough to keep a talent like you."
"Do you really see me as the kind of person who forsakes his allies for personal gain?" Ning Jiang rolled his eyes. He knew in his heart that she was only saying this for his own good.
’If he joined the Fire Cloud Sect, he’d be out of danger instantly.’
’Beneath that bewitching exterior was a kind heart...’
"I’m glad I met you."
Looking into his clear, resolute eyes, Yue Lianxi’s heart was touched.
’Not everyone was willing to share in your hardships.’
’At a dangerous time like this, any smart Martial Artist would know the logical choice. But Ning Jiang chose to stay by her side.’
"It’s a Flying Sword! Don’t kill him. Capture him alive, and we’ll interrogate him about the secret to his Flying Sword!" Elder Han’s eyes glinted.
"Alright." Elder Zhou’s face lit up with excitement. "Brat, prepare to die!"
BOOM!
The battle erupted. Ning Jiang controlled the Ice Soul Sword, locking himself in a fierce struggle with Elder Zhou.
"I’ll go and play with her."
The woman, Elder Wu, advanced on Yue Lianxi. With a soft snort, Yue Lianxi produced a zither. She plucked a string, and sound waves instantly spread out, transforming into countless Sound Blades that sliced through the air.
The zither could produce beautiful melodies, but it could also be a devastating weapon.
This was the first time she had revealed her strength.
Spirit Realm Early Stage!
In the Cyan Cloud Country, a woman of her unparalleled beauty could only remain safe by relying on her own strength!
"As expected of the Yanyue Sect’s genius. To reach the Spirit Realm at her age... even if she’s not quite on the level of those other prodigies, she’s not far off."
As Elder Wu spoke, she drew a long whip. It became a blur of motion, lashing out with countless phantom strikes.
’Hm? This kid is tougher than I thought.’
After a moment, Elder Han frowned. He realized that Elder Zhou was completely unable to gain the upper hand against Ning Jiang. And Ning Jiang’s Cultivation was only at the Innate Realm!
’Forget it. The longer this drags on, the more likely something will go wrong. I’ll just capture them myself.’
Elder Han shook his head. This was the main channel of the Qingjiang River, a busy waterway. If they didn’t resolve this quickly, there could be unforeseen complications.
BOOM!
He unleashed two separate palm strikes, one for each of his targets.
The moment he unleashed his power, which was close to the Spirit Realm Middle Stage, Yue Lianxi’s expression changed dramatically.
"Break!"
Her fingers danced across the zither strings, sending a volley of white Sound Blades rushing forward.
But a single palm strike shattered every Sound Blade. The residual Qi Force struck Yue Lianxi, causing her to spit out a mouthful of blood.
Ning Jiang didn’t fare any better. Although the Ice Soul Sword blocked the brunt of the attack, the remaining Power still made him cough up blood and sent him flying backward.
In an instant, both of them were in grave peril!
