Chapter 207: Chapter 204: Heading to the Fire Cloud Sect
Yanyue Sect Plaza.
"Watch yourself, Senior Brother Yuan Tao."
On the vast plaza, three figures were surrounding and attacking Yuan Tao.
"Golden Lock Appearance."
CLANK! The three of them stomped their feet in unison. Their auras condensed, and a golden lock appeared, wrapping around Yuan Tao and binding him tightly.
The Three Talents Golden Lock Formation.
After returning to the Yanyue Sect, Ning Jiang had officially taught this Battle Array to the sect’s disciples.
The entire Yanyue Sect was overjoyed. With the Eye Power of the various Elders, it wasn’t hard to see the immense value of this Battle Array and its ability to let the weak defeat the strong.
Although the Yanyue Sect had some Arrays of its own, they were far inferior to the Three Talents Golden Lock Formation.
"Did you hear? The Ninth Elder is giving a lecture today to share his cultivation experience."
"What? That’s really happening? I had no idea."
"The Ninth Elder is a remarkable man. You have to go to his lecture."
On the seventh day, news of Ning Jiang’s lecture sent shockwaves through the Yanyue Sect. Countless disciples heard the announcement and scrambled to attend.
"If anyone has questions about their cultivation, feel free to come up and ask me."
On the massive plaza, Ning Jiang stood at the very front, facing the thousands of Yanyue Sect disciples with a calm and composed demeanor.
"Ninth Elder, I’ve been running into some problems with my saber practice lately," a disciple said as he walked up.
"Demonstrate it for me," Ning Jiang said.
The disciple nodded and demonstrated his Saber Technique.
After watching, Ning Jiang slowly said, "Your problem is simple. Your mind isn’t decisive enough. Practicing with a saber requires the courage to fight, to go all out, to press forward relentlessly. That’s why Saber Techniques are broad and sweeping, emphasizing momentum. You lack this momentum. When your momentum is weak, your Saber Technique naturally becomes weak as well."
"Thank you for your guidance, Ninth Elder."
A look of understanding dawned on the disciple’s face as he stepped back.
"Next."
"Ninth Elder, can we ask you about anything?" another disciple asked, walking up with a spear in his hand.
"What, are you afraid I don’t understand the spear? At their highest level, all weapons are interconnected. It’s said that the Myriad Techniques share one source. Of the three thousand Great Daos, all roads lead to the same destination in the end. Just tell me what your problem is."
"Yes, sir."
He described his problem and then demonstrated his Spear Technique.
"Please guide me, Ninth Elder."
"Your Spear Technique is interesting. It’s relentless, daring to kill and fight. Anyone weaker than you who faces this technique is doomed."
Ning Jiang’s critique was sharp. "But you also have a major problem. You blindly follow a path of pure ferocity, lacking any flexibility. As they say, what is too rigid is easily broken. Everything requires moderation. A balance between tension and relaxation, hard and soft, is the only way to last."
"Can’t I reach the pinnacle by just being ferocious?" the disciple asked doubtfully. He didn’t want to bother with flexibility; he only wanted to take ferocity to its absolute extreme.
"You’re mistaken. Do you think what is soft cannot be ferocious? Look at water. It is the softest of things, yet when it becomes ferocious, it can topple mountains, overturn seas, and destroy everything in its path."
"Pure ferocity is only the most superficial Realm. If, one day, you can comprehend the Realm of ultimate hardness from within ultimate softness, then you will have truly achieved something profound."
"Remember this: hardness and softness are one. Seek relaxation from within tension."
Ning Jiang then gave several other examples, explaining the principle of balancing hardness and softness to everyone present.
’Listening to the Ninth Elder’s words is worth ten years of my bitter cultivation.’
Finally, the disciple gave Ning Jiang a respectful bow with his fists clasped.
"Ninth Elder, me next!"
After that, numerous disciples scrambled onto the stage, eager for Ning Jiang’s guidance.
No matter who it was, Ning Jiang could accurately point out their mistakes and offer the most effective advice.
’The Ninth Elder is incredible. He knows everything.’
All the disciples were shocked. They had high expectations for Ning Jiang’s lecture from the start, but they hadn’t actually expected to gain much of use.
After all, Ning Jiang was so young and lacked sufficient life experience.
But to everyone’s surprise, Ning Jiang seemed to understand everything.
Every word he spoke was a gem, striking right at the heart of the matter. Everyone present benefited immensely, feeling as if his words were a wake-up call that sparked deep reflection.
"Hey, look at the Grand Elder and the others!"
Just then, a disciple noticed that Grand Elder Meng Nanfeng and the other seven Elders had all sat down cross-legged to the side, listening to Ning Jiang’s words in silence.
They all wore pensive expressions, like humble students.
"The Ninth Elder is truly a remarkable man. Even I have learned a great deal just from listening to his explanations," Meng Nanfeng exclaimed in amazement.
Although he was the Grand Elder of the Yanyue Sect, with a wealth of experience and a knowledge of Martial Arts that ranked among the best in the sect, how could he possibly compare to Ning Jiang?
Ning Jiang was a Legendary Venerable from a hundred thousand years ago who had comprehended the origin of the world. In front of him, Meng Nanfeng was merely a junior.
"Heh, with the Ninth Elder in our Yanyue Sect, we are sure to grow stronger and return to our peak," an Elder said, gratified.
"Alright, if there are no other questions, that will be all for today."
The lecture had lasted for a very long time, continuing from morning until nightfall.
This was mainly because Ning Jiang’s lecture was so popular. After all, even the Elders were listening from the side, and the entire plaza was completely packed with people.
"Wait, Ninth Elder! I have one last question," a disciple said, standing up.
"What is it?"
"I’d like to ask you, Ninth Elder, in this world, there are some Martial Artists who are blessed by heaven from birth, like those with Spirit Bodies or King’s Bodies. For ordinary people like us, our starting point is so much lower than theirs. Do we have any chance of catching up to them?"
As soon as this question was asked, all eyes turned to Ning Jiang, waiting to see how he would answer.
It was a sharp question, and one that was on many people’s minds.
Because most people in the world were ordinary.
Could ordinary people like them ever surpass those who were blessed from birth?
"That’s a good question. I have a question for you as well: Do you know what the spirit of seeking the Dao is?"
"Please enlighten us, Ninth Elder."
"The spirit of seeking the Dao is the courage to abandon everything, to fear nothing, to remain unshaken even if the heavens collapse and the earth cracks open. It is having nothing but the Dao, to the point where if you hear the Dao in the morning, you can die content in the evening. This requires great courage, great wisdom, great sacrifice, and great ambition. That is the spirit of seeking the Dao."
As he spoke, Ning Jiang looked at everyone and said sternly, "A person with the spirit of seeking the Dao, even if they come from humble beginnings and are born lowly, can rise all the same. What does a Spirit Body or a King’s Body matter? Even a Sacred Body or a Dao Body can be surpassed!"
"Ninth Elder, isn’t that a bit too idealistic?"
"Idealistic? Let me ask you this: when you were a newborn, could you climb a mountain?"
"No."
"Exactly. At first, you couldn’t. But once you grew up, you could reach the summit. Later still, you can ascend to the heavens and look down upon the mountains and rivers. The sea of stars may seem distant, but eventually, we will conquer it step by step. Never, ever deny yourself just because you are ordinary."
Ning Jiang said a great deal all at once.
He wasn’t being idealistic, because he himself was a perfect example.
In his past life, he too had come from a common background, with nothing but a mere Mortal Body. But in the end, he became a Legendary Venerable, able to stand on equal footing with a Great Emperor.
"Alright, that’s all for today. You are all dismissed. From now on, I will hold a lecture every seven days," Ning Jiang announced.
"Thank you for your guidance, Ninth Elder!"
A thunderous voice echoed as everyone bowed to Ning Jiang with clasped fists.
They had gained so much today, and many were eager to return and digest their new insights.
"I think I’ll be able to break through in just three days after this!"
"I feel like I’m about to break through, too."
Amidst the excited chatter, the crowd dispersed.
"Ninth Elder, thank you."
The other Elders also gave Ning Jiang a quick salute before hurrying away.
"Thank you for everything you’ve done for the Yanyue Sect." After everyone had left, only a single enchanting figure remained. It was Yue Lianxi.
She had seen everything Ning Jiang had done for the Yanyue Sect during this time.
Both the Three Talents Golden Lock Formation and this lecture were of immense value.
"It was nothing. I was idle anyway," Ning Jiang said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"You came to my Yanyue Sect because of the favors you once owed me, but everything you’ve done has long since repaid that debt. You don’t owe me anything anymore," Yue Lianxi said softly, her voice gentle and sweet.
"What are you trying to say?"
"In one month, are you really going to the Fire Cloud Sect?"
"Of course."
"Don’t go. You don’t owe me anything anymore. There’s no need to risk your life," Yue Lianxi said, biting her red lip. "With your talent, as long as you live, there will surely come a day when you can soar. You should leave the Yanyue Sect."
"Leave the Yanyue Sect? The moment I leave, the Fire Cloud Sect will make its move against you. Don’t you care about that?"
"I do care, but I don’t want to involve you. This has always been a grudge between my Yanyue Sect and the Fire Cloud Sect. I was the one who dragged you into this mess. I’m sorry. It’s all my fault," Yue Lianxi said, her voice filled with guilt and self-blame.
"You’re wrong. This was my own choice."
Ning Jiang looked up at the sky, his voice cool. "Since I chose to step into this mess, I won’t be afraid. If a mere Fire Cloud Sect can force me to flee, I might as well be dead."
"But—"
"Enough. Say no more. In one month, the Fire Cloud Sect will learn what a grave mistake it was to provoke me," Ning Jiang said before turning to leave.
In the days that followed, Ning Jiang spent his time leisurely, showing no signs of being troubled by the Fire Cloud Sect.
He also continued to give his lecture every seven days, and it remained immensely popular.
And so, time passed until the twenty-ninth day.
"If you die, I will find a way to avenge you, and then I will join you in the Yellow Springs." That night, as Ning Jiang was about to depart, Yue Lianxi stood beside him and spoke with determination.
Although she had always been confident in Ning Jiang, this trip to the Fire Cloud Sect was a journey into a dragon’s den and a tiger’s lair, fraught with hidden killing intent. His chances of survival were slim to none.
Naturally, her heart was filled with worry.
"Don’t worry. I cherish my own life even more than you do."
Without any more words, Ning Jiang’s body flickered. He left the Yanyue Sect under the cover of night and soon vanished over the horizon.
’Fire Cloud Sect, I wonder if you’re ready to receive my grand gift?’
