Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Buying the Bamboo Sea Manor
Liu Xianyu was confident that she was no weaker than Wang Ziming.
’Who was Ning Jiang? A prodigy of Heart-Sword Control. Every time he offered guidance, Liu Xianyu would benefit immensely and make great strides.’
Under these circumstances, it was only natural that her Sword Technique improved by leaps and bounds. Surpassing Wang Ziming was to be expected.
"He’s coming over."
As soon as Ning Jiang finished speaking, Wang Ziming walked straight over and stood before the two of them.
"Xianyu, it’s been a while." Wang Ziming’s tone was familiar, as if he were treating Liu Xianyu like a friend.
But Liu Xianyu’s expression was cold and aloof. "Wang Ziming, our families are enemies. You don’t need to act familiar with me. I’m not buying it."
Wang Ziming didn’t get angry. He simply smiled. "The issues between our families aren’t that significant. As long as you agree to marry me, we’ll be one family. Then, our two families can join forces, and all of Luoyang will be ours."
A man like Wang Ziming naturally wouldn’t spare a glance for an ordinary woman.
But Liu Xianyu was different. She was one of the four great beauties of Luoyang and a genius in the Sword Dao. As she was also a Sword Cultivator, this was a major factor in his attraction to her.
"Marry you? Dream on."
Liu Xianyu curled her lip in disdain and said bluntly, "Wang Ziming, you’re domineering and aggressive, a true egoist at heart. You’re fundamentally a cold and faithless person who could never be sincere with anyone. You see only personal gain. I could never like someone like you."
Her stance was resolute.
Besides, she saw his wild ambitions as clear as day.
If she were to marry into the Wang Family, they would eventually swallow the Liu Family whole.
’Besides, the Liu Family has already changed in secret. My grandfather’s injuries have long since healed!’
"It doesn’t matter if you reject me now."
Hearing Liu Xianyu’s resolute words, the smile on Wang Ziming’s face stiffened slightly.
Then, his gaze shifted to Ning Jiang. "White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang? Quite famous recently. I wonder what his relationship is with you?"
"Whatever our relationship is, what’s it to you?" Liu Xianyu’s tone was frigid.
"What’s it to me? If he’s just an ordinary friend, I don’t mind. But if he gets too close to you, then I’ll take his life!"
As Wang Ziming spoke, a chilling intent, sharp as a blade, bloomed in his eyes.
This was a naked threat.
His personality was laid bare in just a few sentences. He was a domineering man who saw Liu Xianyu as his private property. Anyone else who dared to get close would provoke his killing intent.
"Let me warn you," Liu Xianyu said coldly, "Mr. Ning is not someone you can afford to offend."
"Him? I could make him disappear from Luoyang City with a single word."
A flicker of disdain crossed Wang Ziming’s eyes. As one of the Ten Great and backed by a First-Class Noble House, why would he ever take Ning Jiang seriously?
With the Wang Family’s backing, if he wanted Ning Jiang dead, he wouldn’t have to lift a finger. His subordinates would handle it for him.
Liu Xianyu frowned. ’The main reason Wang Ziming was so fearless was that Ning Jiang’s identity as a Pill King hadn’t been made public.’
’That day, Ning Jiang had killed Yan Ziling with his sword, and afterward, Grandmaster Tan Jinglin had ordered Ning Jiang to the Liu Family to make amends. The only ones who paid close attention to these events were Alchemists.’
’In the end, the matter had strangely been dropped, and Ning Jiang received no punishment whatsoever.’
’This had caused a huge sensation within Alchemist circles at the time. No one understood why Tan Jinglin hadn’t killed Ning Jiang to avenge Yan Ziling.’
’But eventually, the matter was put to rest.’
Currently, outside of Alchemist circles in Luoyang City, most Martial Artists were completely unaware of what had happened.
Even the title "White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang" had only really circulated among the younger generation.
For the older generation of Martial Artists to know the name, he would have to make a name for himself in a single battle at a grand event like the Luoyang annual gathering. Only then would his fame shake the city and be known to all, young and old.
"You must be Wang Ziming?" Ning Jiang glanced at him, a faint, unreadable smile on his face. "Do you know a Chen Wu?"
Instantly.
Wang Ziming’s pupils constricted slightly. Then, his eyes slowly narrowed, and a sliver of killing intent stirred within them.
"You killed Chen Wu?"
"That’s right," Ning Jiang said without expression, his tone mocking. "I never would have thought that the distinguished Mr. Wang would keep such a vicious dog, one that runs around committing evil, murdering people for their treasures."
"You have a sharp tongue, but I wonder if your life is tough enough to back it up?" Wang Ziming’s gaze was as sharp as a knife.
"Elder Wenhan Cheng is here."
Just as the atmosphere turned icy, a sudden announcement sent the entire crowd into an uproar.
All eyes turned to the sky.
There, an old man was crossing the sky, seemingly appearing out of the void itself.
Generally, only a Spirit Realm Powerhouse could travel through the air.
However, an Innate Limit Strong Person, having compressed their Gang Qi into Gang Yuan, could use that internal Gang Yuan to achieve flight for a short period.
Of course, compared to a true Spirit Realm Powerhouse, this form of flight was far inferior in both altitude and speed.
A true Spirit Realm Powerhouse could fly to a height of hundreds of yards. This was considered high altitude, allowing them to fly alongside the birds.
An Innate Limit Strong Person, however, could only reach mid-air at best. Their maximum height was less than half that, and their speed was also far slower.
SWOOSH.
A few breaths later, Wenhan Cheng landed before everyone’s eyes.
He was a tall old man with skin the color of yellow jade and salt-and-pepper hair. The wrinkles on his face were as coarse as old tree bark.
Yet, no one who stood before him would mistake him for a decrepit old man. Instead, they would keenly sense that beneath the withered skin and white hair lay a peerless, sword-like sharpness. It was an overwhelming power that felt ready to erupt at any moment and cut down everything in its path.
"Greetings, Elder Wenhan Cheng."
Everyone bowed in unison. Even someone as arrogant and domineering as Wang Ziming was completely respectful.
Only Ning Jiang remained unmoved, standing there and doing nothing.
"Brat, are you not going to pay your respects to Elder Wen?"
Wang Ziming shouted, raising his voice to draw everyone’s attention.
Seeing this, the surrounding Sword Cultivators all showed looks of disapproval.
Wenhan Cheng was Luoyang’s foremost Sword Cultivator and a master of Heart Sword Control. For such a figure to arrive, yet for Ning Jiang to show not a shred of respect, was unacceptable to them.
"I don’t bow to anyone."
Ning Jiang’s voice was as cool and clear as freshly drawn spring water.
’He stood on equal footing with heaven and earth, with the sun and moon themselves. Why would he ever need to bow to a mere person?’
"How arrogant."
"In that case, get out of here."
People in the crowd were already shouting in anger.
"Since you refuse to bow to Elder Wenhan Cheng, why are you shamelessly here today to learn his Sword Technique? Do you have no sense of shame at all?" Wang Ziming’s words were sharp and overbearing.
"Who said I’m here to learn a Sword Technique?"
Ning Jiang let out a cold laugh. "I’m here to buy Bamboo Sea Manor!"
The moment he said this, everyone stared at him as if he were a fool, their faces full of ridicule.
