Chapter 205: Chapter 202: Seven Kills Sword Array, Laying the Groundwork
Handing over the Spirit Vein and being forced to kneel and kowtow... These demands stirred a murderous intent in Ning Jiang.
A Martial Artist should be magnanimous, able to endure humiliation for the greater good. But once a line was crossed, killing was the only answer.
"That’s right. Kill them. We’d rather die than be humiliated."
Zi Yunfei and the others voiced their agreement. If they knelt, it would birth a Heart Demon in their martial hearts, and they would never be able to advance again. This was tantamount to ruining their lives.
Better to go down fighting a glorious battle.
"Ninth Elder, just give the order. We won’t hesitate, even if it means we all perish together."
The eyes of these Core Disciples were firm and unshakeable.
"You are indeed the fish. A pity that you alone are not enough to break the net!"
Shangguan Yang snorted coldly. At the same time, the other Fire Cloud Sect disciples all revealed their killing intent.
With Shangguan Yang taking the lead, they could slaughter to their hearts’ content.
"Cover me. Don’t let a single one of them escape." Ning Jiang’s figure slowly rose into the air.
"You expended a great deal of energy defeating Guo Jiang. How much power could you possibly have left? Surrender now, and I might let you live," Shangguan Yang said coldly.
"Seven Swords, come forth!"
Ning Jiang took out the Sword-Hiding Gourd. Instantly, seven swords shot out and hung in the air, glowing brilliantly in red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple.
"Huh? A Sword Array?"
Shangguan Yang was taken aback, a flicker of greed in his eyes. "What kind of Treasure is that? Hand it over!"
He could tell at a glance that the gourd in Ning Jiang’s hand was extraordinary and likely had a profound origin.
"You’re at death’s door and you still dare to covet my Treasure?"
A mocking glint in his eye, Ning Jiang formed a series of hand seals and channeled his Magic Formulas. "Seven Kills Sword Array!"
VMMMMMM—
The seven swords began to tremble, radiating a brilliant light. A shocking, razor-sharp killing intent erupted from them, making everyone’s skin feel as though it were being sliced.
"None of you are escaping today. Kill!"
Ning Jiang’s expression was grim. In an instant, the seven swords streaked through the air from seven different directions, leaving long trails of light as they sliced toward the Fire Cloud Sect disciples.
"Aaargh!"
A pained scream rang out as blood splattered.
In the very first moment, a first-tier expert fell, his head sent flying—a ghastly sight.
This was the true power of the Sword-Hiding Gourd.
In the past, the Sword-Hiding Gourd couldn’t absorb any Spiritual Qi, so it had been unable to unleash its full power.
But during the month Ning Jiang had spent in seclusion, the Sword-Hiding Gourd had been constantly absorbing the Spiritual Qi of the Yanyue Sect, accumulating sufficient power.
The Seven Kills Sword Array, meanwhile, was a Sword Array he had specifically chosen. This terrifyingly deadly array came from a Great Sect of Sword Dao that existed a hundred thousand years ago.
That Sword Dao Sect was more than a hundred times stronger than the Star Sword Sect.
Once the Seven Kills Sword Array was unleashed, its killing intent soared to the heavens. The power of each sword was comparable to that of a first-tier expert.
In the space of a single breath, more than half of the Fire Cloud Sect disciples were dead.
"Just who in the world is the Ninth Elder?!"
The members of the Yanyue Sect watched, dumbfounded. Such a technique was too terrifying. Once the Sword Array was unleashed, it was simply unstoppable.
"Run!"
The remaining members of the Fire Cloud Sect were terrified, fleeing for their lives.
But no matter how fast they were, how could they possibly outrun the Seven Kills Sword Array?
The seven longswords tore through the sky, emitting piercing sonic booms. With every breath that passed, another person fell.
In less than ten breaths, all the disciples of the Fire Cloud Sect had been reduced to corpses on the ground. Only Shangguan Yang and Cai Qingqiu remained.
"How dare you commit such a massacre! The Fire Cloud Sect will never let you get away with this!"
Cai Qingqiu’s gaze was like ice. They had brought the elites of the Fire Cloud Sect this time, including five first-tier masters alone.
Yet now, all five had been killed.
They hadn’t suffered such a devastating loss in decades. Once word of this reached the Fire Cloud Sect, the entire sect would erupt in fury.
"Now it’s your turn."
Ning Jiang showed no mercy. The seven swords howled, carrying a monstrous killing intent as they closed in on the two of them.
"If you dare kill me, the entire Yanyue Sect will be annihilated because of you! You cannot bear the wrath of my Star Sword Sect!" Shangguan Yang shrieked, retreating hastily.
His face was filled with terror. He hadn’t expected Ning Jiang to be so insane.
"And you cannot bear my wrath."
Three breaths later, a sword pierced through Cai Qingqiu’s neck.
’The Ninth Elder is truly ruthless.’
Seeing such a delicate beauty meet her end, the Yanyue Sect members couldn’t help but sigh at Ning Jiang’s decisive and merciless nature.
’It doesn’t matter how beautiful you are; if you cross him, you die.’
"Aaargh!"
Five breaths later, Shangguan Yang shrieked in agony. The tendons in his wrists and ankles had all been severed.
Then, he was captured by Ning Jiang, who proceeded to cripple his cultivation.
"You animal! You dare cripple my cultivation! I curse you to a horrible death! You’ll live out the rest of your life in agony! The Star Sword Sect will avenge me!"
Knowing he had no chance of survival, Shangguan Yang began to curse wildly.
"Do you hate me? You brought all of this on yourself," Ning Jiang said lightly, stunning Shangguan Yang into silence.
’He was right. It was all because I pushed Ning Jiang.’
’Otherwise, how could I have brought such a fatal disaster upon myself?’
’In the past, with the Star Sword Sect backing me, I was high and mighty, never afraid of offending anyone. But today, I ran into Ning Jiang and sealed my own fate.’
"I admit I was wrong today. But the Star Sword Sect will find the killer, and you will eventually pay the price."
"Find me? If I dared to make a move, you can be sure I came prepared. The reason I’m not killing you now is to use you to feed the Star Sword Sect false information."
Ning Jiang gave Shangguan Yang a cool glance. The indifferent look in his eyes made Shangguan Yang’s heart shudder.
"Soul Refining Talisman!"
He then began to draw symbols in the air with his finger. Ignoring Shangguan Yang’s curses, he sent the runes one by one into the man’s mind.
Gradually, Shangguan Yang’s eyes grew vacant, until finally, all the light had gone out of them.
"Where is that Spirit Vein?"
After dealing with Shangguan Yang, Ning Jiang asked.
"I’ll take you." Zi Yunfei led the way, bringing Ning Jiang to the Spirit Vein’s location.
The Spirit Vein was located deep within a fissure in a valley, buried hundreds of yards down, making it extremely well-hidden.
"It’s a shame we don’t have time to mine this Spirit Vein. Otherwise, the Spirit Stones from a small Spirit Vein would be enough to cover the Yanyue Sect’s expenses for three years."
Zi Yunfei sighed. They had killed people from the Fire Cloud Sect and the Star Sword Sect; they had to leave as soon as possible.
Mining a Spirit Vein would take at least a month, if not longer.
"You can go on ahead. I have something to take care of," Ning Jiang said.
Zi Yunfei nodded. After witnessing Ning Jiang’s ruthless and decisive side, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe toward this young Elder.
After Zi Yunfei left, a divine light flared in Ning Jiang’s eyes.
’This Spirit Vein will be the fuel for my breakthrough to the Spirit Realm!’
The Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill he cultivated required an immense amount of Spiritual Qi for the breakthrough to the Spirit Realm, and this Spirit Vein was the perfect choice.
He forced blood from his fingertip and began to draw a Demon Beast on the surface of the Spirit Vein, one stroke at a time.
An hour later, he stopped, his face pale. His skin was dry and shrunken, leaving him looking like skin and bones. He had lost over half the blood in his body.
’It’s done.’
Ning Jiang’s eyes shone brightly. On the surface of the white Spirit Vein, a lifelike Heaven-Devouring Sparrow had appeared, looking as if it might spring to life at any moment.
’In just one month, all the Energy in this entire Spirit Vein will be mine to use!’
As he finished his thought, the blood-formed Heaven-Devouring Sparrow slowly faded into the Spirit Vein, vanishing without a trace.
This technique was similar to Ning Jiang’s old Heaven-Devouring Demon Lotus. That technique involved planting a lotus with his blood, using the Demon Lotus to absorb Energy and form Lotus Seeds.
This new Heaven-Devouring Sparrow technique, however, was more than ten times as sophisticated as the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lotus.
When he left the fissure, Ning Jiang found the others waiting for him. They still looked nervous. After all, they had killed so many people. If they were found out, the entire Yanyue Sect would face disaster.
"Let’s go."
Ning Jiang said, his expression calm as ever.
"What about him?" Zi Yunfei pointed at the dazed Shangguan Yang beside them.
"Leave him here. He’ll serve a great purpose."
Boarding the Iron-Winged Eagle, the group departed.
「...」
In a grand, imposing hall within the Star Sword Sect.
The hall was utterly silent. An Array was carved into the floor, providing formidable defense.
Dozens of lamps burned within the hall.
Suddenly, the flame of one lamp dimmed rapidly, shrinking to less than a tenth of its original size.
"It’s Shangguan Yang’s Soul Lamp! He’s in mortal danger!"
An old man, who had been sitting as still as a statue, suddenly opened his eyes.
A Soul Lamp was a special type of Magical Treasure. A Martial Artist would place some of their blood within it; if they died, the Soul Lamp would shatter.
Any disciple of significant status in a Sect would have a Soul Lamp made for them.
Soon, the entire Star Sword Sect was in an uproar.
In the Star Sword Sect, Shangguan Yang was not only a first-tier master, but also the son of a Primordial Spirit Realm Elder. His status was considerable, so any trouble involving him was bound to cause a huge stir.
"Shangguan Yang should be at the Fire Cloud Sect. Send some experts to investigate the situation."
「...」
A thousand miles away, at the Fire Cloud Sect.
In the main hall.
One by one, the Soul Lamps were extinguished.
"Who dares to kill my Fire Cloud Sect’s people?!"
An enraged roar shot toward the heavens, echoing throughout the entire Fire Cloud Sect.
"Investigate! We must find the killer! No matter who it is, find them, flay them alive, and make them suffer endless torture!"
On this day, the Fire Cloud Sect was thrown into unprecedented turmoil.
Countless masters were dispatched. The incident was simply too shocking. Over a dozen Soul Lamps had been extinguished, including those of five first-tier masters, and even Cai Qingqiu’s.
Cai Qingqiu was the granddaughter of the Fire Cloud Sect’s Grand Elder, one of the sect’s four great Primordial Spirit Realm experts.
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, someone from the Star Sword Sect is here."
That night, the masters from the Star Sword Sect arrived at the Fire Cloud Sect.
Facing this Upper Grade Sect, the Fire Cloud Sect did not dare show any neglect, respectfully ushering their guests into the reception hall.
When the two sides sat down to confer, the people from the Star Sword Sect were shocked to hear that the Fire Cloud Sect had lost several of their first-tier masters.
"Everyone, Shangguan Yang was indeed with my Fire Cloud Sect’s disciples. Earlier today, they went to a Spirit Vein Land together. Let’s all go and see what happened there."
