Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Duel of the Body Refiners
The Demon Fog churned, a vast and boundless expanse.
"It’s been seven days. Seven days, and we still can’t get out. Are we going to be trapped here for the rest of our lives?"
Amidst the boundless Demon Fog, a group of people looked crestfallen. The one who spoke was a tall, thin young man in magnificent brocade robes, his expression anxious.
"Gu Zheng, don’t say things that will crush our morale." Beside him, a woman with a heroic air frowned.
This was Zhang Yao.
The group of more than a dozen people, men and women, all had cultivation at the Peak of Postnatal.
If anyone were to see them, they would surely be astonished, for all dozen or so of them were candidates for the Ten Great.
This was a gathering, and the organizer was Gao Jin.
Gao Jin, the number one person beneath the Ten Great.
The reason for this gathering was that Gao Jin had discovered an ancient cave manor within the Demon Mist Mountain Range. He suspected it might contain something left behind by a powerful expert of old.
However, the cave manor was protected by an Array, and the area where it was located was also the territory of an Innate Realm Demon Beast.
Even with Gao Jin’s strength, he could do nothing about it.
And so, he organized this gathering, inviting numerous candidates for the Ten Great to deal with the Innate Realm Demon Beast together.
The others had no reason to refuse. For one, they hoped that the pressure from an Innate Realm Demon Beast might allow them to achieve a breakthrough in the heat of battle.
Secondly, they also wanted to enter the cave manor and see if there were any Treasures inside.
This cave manor was originally located within an area of Demon Fog.
However, in the entire Demon Mist Mountain Range, aside from the forbidden zone of Ox Horn Cliff, one could usually find their way out of the other areas as long as they didn’t venture too deep inside.
Everyone had originally thought this affair wouldn’t be too dangerous.
But unexpectedly, while they were fighting the Innate Realm Demon Beast, the beast actually broke through mid-battle, advancing from the Innate Realm Early Stage to the Middle Stage. Its power skyrocketed in an instant.
As a result, the tables turned. They found themselves hunted by the Demon Beast and were ultimately forced deep into the Demon Fog.
And so, they became lost within it, unable to find a way out for seven consecutive days.
"Miss Yan, is there still no way out?"
At this, someone looked toward a woman in the group.
The woman was about twenty years old. Her eyes were as clear as spring water, her gaze radiant, and she possessed a refined and noble elegance.
Yan Shuangying.
She was an Appraiser from the Treasure Auction, but she was also an Array Master.
Of the Four Beauties of Luoyang, Liu Xianyu was famed for her sword, Liu Shiyi for her zither, Wei Yanran for her Alchemy, and Yan Shuangying for her Arrays.
The way of Arrays was vast and profound.
Much like Alchemists, Array Masters were rare, and every single one held a noble status.
Yan Shuangying, at the Peak of Postnatal, was also one of the candidates for the Ten Great.
Liu Shiyi and Wei Yanran were both also candidates for the Ten Great, but neither had been interested in this gathering, so they were not here.
Similarly, Wang Tao of the Wang Family was also absent.
After obtaining the Fiery Fire Qi Exposure Technique, Wang Tao had begun to bitterly cultivate the Secret Technique. Why would he care about some gathering?
Yan Shuangying had come because she was curious about the cave manor’s Array.
"I still have no leads. The Array covering the entire Demon Mist Mountain Range is vast, profound, and incomparably intricate. To find a way out, I’ll need more Time."
Yan Shuangying sighed softly. Even with her temperament, being unable to find a way out for seven straight days was making her anxious.
In fact, the entire Demon Mist Mountain Range was one gigantic Array.
It was precisely because of this Array that the region was perpetually shrouded in Demon Fog.
They were now trapped within the Array, with no way out.
"Everyone, complaining is useless right now. All we can do is our best and leave the rest to fate." The speaker was dressed in black robes, with black hair and black eyes, and his posture was as straight as a sword.
This was Gao Jin.
Among Luoyang’s younger generation, there were three outstanding Sword Cultivators.
One was Liu Xianyu, a Sword Dao genius who had mastered Body Sword Control.
But Liu Xianyu was not the only one. Besides her, two other geniuses had achieved Body Sword Control. One was Wang Ziyang, who was also one of the Ten Great.
The other was Gao Jin.
The only thing Gao Jin lacked was having yet to step into the Innate Realm.
But everyone knew that once he stepped into the Innate Realm, a place among the Ten Great would surely be his.
Hearing Gao Jin’s words, several others snorted coldly.
There were quite a few people displeased with Gao Jin, as he was, after all, the one who had organized the expedition.
However, out of respect for Gao Jin’s strength, no one voiced their complaints.
"Huh? Someone’s here!"
Suddenly, the group heard the sound of footsteps.
This was the first time in seven days they had heard any sound other than their own.
All eyes turned in that direction. A moment later, the footsteps drew closer, and a white-haired youth appeared before them.
"You are... Ning Jiang? Young Master Ning?"
Yan Shuangying was stunned to see Ning Jiang.
Ning Jiang’s transformation was simply too great.
His full head of white hair was tied back with a simple circlet of grass, and he wore a pair of straw sandals. His robes, though extremely simple, billowed around him, giving him an otherworldly air. He seemed like a celestial being, untouched by the mortal world.
Furthermore, his face had changed considerably. The old Ning Jiang had been pleasant-looking and subtly handsome, but now he possessed a striking beauty. His eyes were like morning stars, pure and flawless.
Yan Shuangying had seen many handsome men, but compared to the Ning Jiang before her now, she felt that none of them could hold a candle to him.
Yan Shuangying wasn’t the only one who was surprised; so was Zhang Yao.
The Ning Jiang of today seemed like a completely different person from the one she knew.
’What a handsome man.’
Several of the women in the group couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances at Ning Jiang.
Everyone, man or woman, appreciates beauty.
"Shuangying, who is he?" Gao Jin asked.
Hearing Gao Jin’s familiar address, Yan Shuangying couldn’t help but frown. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. She opened her mouth, about to introduce Ning Jiang, when another voice cut in ahead of her.
"Heh heh, what a coincidence. I know this guy too. Why don’t I make the introductions?"
A man in yellow robes stepped forward, a disdainful smirk on his lips. "Everyone, I believe I’ve mentioned him to you before. A while ago at the Treasure Herb Hall, I met a coward who would rather sever his own arm than dare to fight Zhao Feng. He’s spineless, incompetent, and utterly gutless. The person I was talking about... is this very man."
This person was Huang Qing!
Upon hearing his words, the others couldn’t help but exchange strange looks.
Huang Qing had told this story as a joke on more than one occasion.
"Ning Jiang... that name sounds familiar. Wasn’t he the one who fought a life-and-death battle with Zhou Wenhao?" someone asked in confusion.
"Him? That coward? He wouldn’t dare, not even if you gave him ten times the nerve," Huang Qing scoffed, pursing his lips.
Ning Jiang’s gaze remained calm, as if Huang Qing’s words were nothing but a passing breeze. Without even glancing at Huang Qing, he spoke, "I overheard your conversation just now. You can’t find your way out? You’re trapped here?"
"And what if we are?" a dark-skinned youth replied coolly.
What Huang Qing had said left him with a poor impression of Ning Jiang.
"Five Thousand Primordial Stones per person, and I can lead you out."
Ning Jiang was direct, not wasting a single word. The Sword-Hiding Gourd had devoured every last Primordial Stone he possessed, leaving him utterly broke.
Encountering a group like this at such a time was like a welcome rain after a long drought.
"You can lead us out?" Zhang Yao couldn’t help but ask in surprise.
"Don’t listen to his bull. Even Miss Yan is helpless against the Array here. Don’t tell me he’s some kind of Array Master?" Huang Qing said coldly.
Yan Shuangying, however, recalled Ning Jiang’s insights on the killing intent of weapons at the Treasure Auction. Not daring to underestimate him, she asked, "Young Master Ning, do you perhaps understand Arrays?"
"In this world, there are Trapping Arrays, Killing Arrays, Illusion Arrays, and Defensive Arrays—thousands upon thousands of them. Some of the finest Arrays integrate both offense and defense. Step into one, and you’ll die without a grave."
Ning Jiang’s expression was unreadable. "The Array here is a type of Trapping Array. It can only trap, not kill. It’s nothing more than a simple, common array."
"Simple and common?"
Hearing such a dismissive description, many of the people present felt that Ning Jiang was incredibly arrogant.
The Array in the Demon Mist Mountain Range had existed for many years, keeping the area shrouded in Demon Fog. No one had ever been able to crack it.
It was said that even an expert at the Innate Limit had once entered, never to return.
With such a precedent, who would dare to underestimate this place?
Yet in just a few words, Ning Jiang showed complete disregard for the Array. Such arrogance was astounding.
"You have no other choice but to trust me. My patience is limited. If you don’t agree, I’m leaving now," Ning Jiang said, his tone cold.
Everyone’s gaze hardened.
They were like drowning men, and Ning Jiang was their only lifeline.
"I believe Young Master Ning."
Yan Shuangying said with a nod after some deliberation.
"I believe him too." Zhang Yao had witnessed Ning Jiang’s strength; he didn’t seem like the type to make empty boasts.
’Fine, Five Thousand Primordial Stones it is. We don’t need to worry about him scamming us. If he did, he wouldn’t be able to get out himself either.’
This line of reasoning convinced many of them. If Ning Jiang couldn’t get out himself, what was the point of scamming them for their Primordial Stones?
Besides, if they stuck with Ning Jiang, they wouldn’t have to worry about him taking their Primordial Stones and bolting.
In the end, sixteen of the seventeen people in the group handed over the Primordial Stones, Gao Jin included.
An Ordinary Innate Realm cultivator typically had a net worth of ten thousand Primordial Stones. As candidates for the Ten Great, Five Thousand Primordial Stones wasn’t a difficult sum for them to produce.
Only Huang Qing remained.
Seeing that everyone else had paid, Huang Qing snorted and was about to take out his Primordial Stones.
"If you want to get out, it’ll be ten thousand for you," Ning Jiang said suddenly.
"What!" Huang Qing instantly flew into a rage, his gaze turning sinister. "Brat, are you looking for trouble?"
"Ten thousand Primordial Stones," Ning Jiang repeated, his gaze impassive.
"It seems you’re choosing the hard way over the easy way. Fine. Why should I give you any Primordial Stones? Once I capture you and torture you, I’m sure you’ll talk." Huang Qing clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking loudly.
In his eyes, Ning Jiang was just a coward. ’Why should I be worried?’
"Huang Qing, I advise you to drop it. I’ve fought Young Master Ning before. He’s stronger than I am," Zhang Yao said suddenly.
Her words shocked everyone.
Zhang Yao was a candidate for the Ten Great. No more than five people here could say with certainty that they could defeat her.
"I don’t believe he’s that strong. Brat, take this!"
From the very beginning, Huang Qing hadn’t taken Ning Jiang seriously.
He refused to believe that Ning Jiang could be stronger than Zhang Yao.
The words had barely left his mouth when he lunged forward, unleashing his power. His fist was as fast as a thunderbolt, and as his blood circulated, it actually emitted a faint rushing sound.
’A Body Cultivator?’
Ning Jiang neither dodged nor evaded. He simply clenched his slender fingers into a fist and met the attack head-on.
Fist against fist.
’Huh? He wants to meet force with force? Isn’t that way too arrogant? Huang Qing’s Body Refining is quite accomplished; his physique is the strongest among us. Clashing with him physically like this is a sure way to suffer a major loss.’
The dark-skinned youth shook his head. Engaging in a physical confrontation with a Body Refiner was the most unwise thing one could do.
"That’s right. Trading fists with a Body Refiner is like an egg hitting a stone. I’m afraid this one punch will be enough to fracture his arm," Gu Zheng commented.
Most of the group was pessimistic about Ning Jiang’s chances, secretly shaking their heads.
ROAR!
Suddenly, the sound of surging blood erupted from Ning Jiang’s body.
It was even louder than Huang Qing’s.
Everyone’s eyes... widened in an instant.
’Another Body Refiner!’
