Chapter 192: Chapter 189: Give Me 3 Days, a Life-and-Death Breakthrough
’Even five Lin Tiantians combined would be no match for this man.’
Ning Jiang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression grim.
He could slay the weakest of Spirit Realm experts, like Lin Tiantian, with his Ice Soul Sword. But someone like Elder Zhou would force him into a bitter struggle.
As for this Elder Han, he felt he had no chance of victory.
Such was the gap between their Realms. Elder Han’s Cultivation was approaching the Spirit Realm Middle Stage, while Ning Jiang’s strength was merely at the Innate Peak. The difference was a chasm.
Throughout history, only those with at least a Sacred Body could defeat an expert like Elder Han at this Realm.
Even someone with a King’s Body couldn’t guarantee victory.
"I’ll do my best to hold them off. Look for an opportunity and run," Yue Lianxi whispered, moving closer to Ning Jiang.
As if to reassure him, she added, "With my grandfather around, they wouldn’t dare do anything to me."
Ning Jiang shook his head. "I am not a coward who clings to life and fears death. Hardship is a necessity on the path of Martial Arts, and calamity is an inevitability."
’If I were to abandon a woman and flee on my own, I’d be unworthy of being called a man, let alone a Venerable.’
"If you refuse to leave, then neither of us will get away." Yue Lianxi gave a bitter smile. ’One of us escaping is better than both of us being wiped out.’
"Not necessarily."
"I advise you to surrender without a fight," Elder Han said, his hands clasped behind his back, the situation firmly in his grasp.
Ning Jiang ignored him and took out the Sword-Hiding Gourd.
"Sword Array, form!"
Seven Spirit Swords shot out from the Sword-Hiding Gourd. They hovered in the air, their blades humming and trembling as they formed a Sword Array.
"Go."
The Sword Array swirled into a cyclone, enveloping Ning Jiang, Yue Lianxi, and the maidservant Qiu Yue, and tore through the sky.
’It’s a shame I don’t have enough Spiritual Qi. Otherwise, I could have used the Sword-Hiding Gourd to fight them.’
Activating the Sword-Hiding Gourd, especially with all seven Spirit Swords, required a massive amount of Spiritual Qi.
His Sword-Hiding Gourd had only absorbed a small amount of Spiritual Qi back in the Demon Mist Mountain Range, which wasn’t nearly enough to sustain a battle.
For now, his only option was to avoid a direct confrontation.
"Damn it, after them!"
Seeing the trio fly thousands of feet in the blink of an eye, Elder Han and his men roared in fury and pursued them at top speed.
But how could their speed possibly keep up with the Sword Array being pushed to its limits?
An hour later, amidst a primeval mountain range, Elder Han and his two companions lost sight of Ning Jiang’s group.
"Elder Han, what do we do now?"
"Search! They must still be here!"
...
Behind a waterfall, there was a natural cave.
"Give me three days!"
With those words, Ning Jiang immediately sat down cross-legged and began to cultivate in seclusion.
His Great Sun Glazed Golden Body was only a hair’s breadth from Perfection. Once his Golden Body reached Perfection, his strength would advance by leaps and bounds, and he would be strong enough to start Slaying Spirit Realm experts!
WHOOSH!
As he operated the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill, his body became like a great vortex. The power from the Spirit Tree’s Spirit Core in his hand flowed endlessly into him.
To reach the Great Success and Perfection stages of the Golden Body, one had to undergo a Rebirth and a bone reforging, respectively.
Back in the lava, his physical body had been destroyed, and he had undergone a Rebirth. Now, all he needed was to reforge his bones to bring his Golden Body to complete, flawless Perfection.
CRACKLE!
A series of sounds like popping beans echoed from within Ning Jiang’s body as his bones shattered one by one.
Ignoring the intense pain, he guided the pure energy from the Spirit Core to envelop the powdered bones, slowly nourishing them.
"My Lady, please don’t be sad. Qiu Hai will surely regret this one day."
Qiu Yue comforted Yue Lianxi, her heart filled with resentment.
If it hadn’t been for Qiu Hai’s betrayal, they would never have fallen into such peril. Yue Lianxi was a deeply sentimental person, and Qiu Yue knew her lady must be in immense pain.
"It’s not your fault. I was a poor judge of character."
Yue Lianxi concealed the sorrow in her beautiful eyes and looked toward Ning Jiang. ’Our only hope is him now. Three days... I pray we can get through them safely.’
"You are a blessed person, My Lady. I’m certain you’ll be safe," Qiu Yue insisted.
Time ticked by, second by second.
In the tense atmosphere, every moment was an agony, and time itself seemed to stretch on for an eternity.
Fortunately, the first day passed without any danger.
The cave was safe. They remained undiscovered.
But as the second day drew to a close, the atmosphere inside the cave grew heavy.
Throughout the day, the three Elders from the Fire Cloud Sect had passed nearby several times.
’We can’t hide here for long. They’ll find us sooner or later.’
Yue Lianxi clenched her delicate fists, understanding that this was a moment of life and death.
If Ning Jiang could break through soon enough, they would have a chance to live. But if they were discovered before his breakthrough, it would be a dead end.
Their very lives rested on Ning Jiang’s shoulders.
Slowly, the third day arrived.
The third day was the critical moment.
Yue Lianxi could feel the aura around Ning Jiang growing stronger. Just by sitting there, he exuded a palpable pressure.
The sun rose, and then slowly set.
’He’s almost there.’
That evening, Yue Lianxi’s lovely face was filled with anticipation. Golden light surged from Ning Jiang’s body, and she could hear the sound of his Blood Qi roaring like a river.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a tremendous bang erupted.
The sound was like a clap of thunder, so immense that cracks appeared on the surrounding cave walls.
A hundred booms of shattering bone, and the Golden Body reaches Perfection!
Just a breath after the first boom, a second one rang out, like a thunderclap on a clear day, sharp enough to pierce metal and shatter stone.
"This is bad." Yue Lianxi’s expression changed drastically.
「At the same time.」
"Damn it, it’s been three days and we still can’t find them."
"If this doesn’t work, our only option is to return to the Sect and ask the Grand Elder to come. With his Primordial Spirit Power, he can search this entire region. Then there will be no escape for him."
"Alright, I’ll go back and get the Grand Elder."
Just as they agreed on the plan, a thunderous boom reached their ears.
"Let’s go take a look."
The three immediately rushed over, arriving at a waterfall, and discovered that the thunderous sound was coming from behind it.
"Hahaha, found them! So they were here all along!"
Elder Han split the waterfall with a single strike, revealing the cave behind it, and threw his head back and laughed.
"Qiu Yue, watch over him. I’ll go stop those three," Yue Lianxi said with determination.
"My Lady, that’s too dangerous!" Qiu Yue’s face paled.
"I know you’re worried, but he has reached a critical moment and cannot be interrupted, no matter what. We have no other choice."
After speaking, Yue Lianxi took one last look at Ning Jiang, her beautiful face icy cold. Cradling her zither, she walked out, her expression one of grim resolve.
Watching Yue Lianxi’s departing figure, Qiu Yue was momentarily stunned.
It was the stance of someone ready to face death!
"Yue Lianxi, what do you think you’re doing? You intend to take on the three of us alone?" Elder Han taunted.
"I won’t let you disturb him, even if it costs me my life."
With this resolve, Yue Lianxi’s fingers swept across the zither’s strings, and an urgent, staccato melody erupted.
HUM!
Sound Blades blossomed forth, and the battle began.
"Please... hurry and wake up..."
Inside the cave, the maidservant Qiu Yue murmured.
