Chapter 74: Chapter 74: I am the Sword Sect
One versus seven. A sixteen-year-old boy against seven veteran Sword Masters.
It was an unprecedented event, something so absurd that anyone who heard of it would find it utterly ridiculous.
Yet it was happening before everyone’s very eyes!
The air fell silent.
Only the ringing of three swords from the high platform echoed in all directions, drawing every eye.
Three Sword Masters attacked Ning Jiang at once.
One from the left, one from the right, and one from the center.
They were all experts in Body Sword Control, their bodies following their blades, instantly sealing off the three directions in front of Ning Jiang.
Faced with such an attack, any normal person would have no choice but to retreat and search for an opening to counter.
But with a light tap of his foot, Ning Jiang’s body became as light as a willow catkin. His sword moved without a trace, its path perfectly natural as it swept gently across.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Three clashes of metal rang out as sparks flew.
It was a Swift Sword.
Three men had struck simultaneously, yet he had parried all three with a trio of consecutive strikes.
In all the world’s martial arts, speed is the one thing that cannot be defeated.
When two masters clash, one fast and one slow, victory is decided by that very margin.
"Such a fast sword."
The one-eyed old man’s name was Xie Baichuan, and he was renowned for his Swift Sword. Among the seven Sword Masters, his blade was the fastest.
Now, seeing Ning Jiang’s Swift Sword, he was eager to test his own skills.
Such were Martial Artists. Regardless of age, they felt a hunter’s thrill upon spotting a worthy opponent and couldn’t resist a duel.
"Come at me together."
While fighting three against one, Ning Jiang’s Swift Sword completely suppressed the attacks of the three Sword Masters. He could even speak with ease in the middle of combat, a clear sign he was not yet using his full strength.
In a duel between masters, one must be completely focused. Every breath is crucial. Speaking could disrupt one’s breathing, creating an opening for an opponent to land a fatal blow.
"I’ll go."
A woman’s voice rang out. She was the only female among the seven. Though in her thirties, her skin was fair and supple, her figure slender, and her graceful charm was undiminished. She looked almost no different from a woman in her twenties, save for an added layer of mature allure.
Bai Yueru.
Among the seven Sword Masters, she was easily ranked second.
She held a rapier. With a flick of her wrist, the entire blade quivered like a snake.
The sword seemed to come alive in her hand, like a venomous viper swaying its head and flicking its tongue, ready to deliver a fatal strike at the first opportunity.
There are a thousand kinds of Swordsmen in the world.
Some practice the Swift Sword, others the Heavy Sword. Bai Yueru, however, trained with a flexible sword.
Her sword was the epitome of softness and flexibility.
Yet, the more flexible it was, the more ferocious its attacks.
Like a whip, a single light lash could split skin and sunder flesh. It was often used for torture; a person would be tied to a post, and a single crack of the whip would make them wish for death, their cries of agony unending.
Now, as Bai Yueru struck, her sword swayed left and right, a blur of feints and true attacks.
Her blade aimed straight for Ning Jiang’s vitals: the center of his brow, his throat, his eyes, and his heart.
She struck with her full power from the very start, holding nothing back.
This was a sign of respect for Ning Jiang. To hold back would have been an insult.
Ning Jiang’s expression remained unchanged. His sword quivered like a churning dragon, devoid of his opponent’s flexibility. It was pure, ferocious power.
What is a dragon?
A dragon hides among the clouds of the Nine Heavens, rarely revealing its claws. But when it does, it strikes with thunderous fury, enough to shatter the heavens and split the earth.
How could a snake ever hope to defeat a dragon?
Bai Yueru’s lovely face changed as her attack was instantly suppressed by Ning Jiang.
"Now you face one of my moves."
Ning Jiang’s blade stabbed forward, a flurry of strikes as swift and precise as blooming plum blossoms. She was the epitome of softness, so he met her with Supreme Strength, smashing through her defense as easily as crushing dry weeds.
SHHHRRRIP!
The air tore with a piercing sound.
Shen Fei had made his move. His broadsword was colossal, a king among blades. It was incomparably ferocious, and as it chopped down, it looked like a massive door being slammed down to tear through everything in its path.
This strike was the apex of ferocious power, the very embodiment of the principle that pure strength can overcome any technique.
It was a strike that had gathered momentum before suddenly erupting. Like a dormant volcano, its explosion was world-shaking.
In everyone’s eyes, a strike like this could only be dodged. It was impossible to block head-on.
But once again, Ning Jiang left everyone dumbfounded. His sword turned gentle. With a simple, light flick, he tapped Shen Fei’s broadsword, embodying the principle of "four ounces deflecting a thousand pounds."
A powerful force suddenly twisted the broadsword, changing its trajectory and sending it crashing toward Bai Yueru’s incoming blade.
He was using their own strength against them.
It was a masterful technique.
One sword was flexible, the other unyielding. If the two collided, neither wielder would escape unscathed.
But at the critical moment, Bai Yueru retracted her Sword Momentum. Like a snake instantly coiling, she stood ready, searching for an opening.
Five of them had attacked, yet none could gain an advantage over Ning Jiang.
All five Sword Masters wore grave expressions.
Ning Jiang’s sword style was a perfect blend of hard and soft, so masterful that it was impossible to find a single flaw.
All the Sword Cultivators present were shaken to their core.
Even a top-tier expert like Wenhua City watched with a look of astonishment.
Finally, the sixth person struck.
The ring of a sword sounded behind Ning Jiang, instantly putting him in a pincer attack.
It is said that even in a fair fight, two fists are no match for four hands. Now, attacked from both front and back, he was caught in a dilemma with nowhere to turn.
But something even more terrifying was about to happen.
SHINK!
The seventh sword thrust forward.
The number one among the seven Sword Masters, Xie Baichuan, had finally made his move.
Xie Baichuan looked ancient, like an old man with one foot in the grave. But the moment he struck, he seemed to grow taller.
His spine straightened, his eyes blazed with light, and his sword erupted in a frenzy of motion. It was so fast that the acrid smell of burning iron filled the air.
"A fine attack!"
Ning Jiang let out a long cry. A battle was only interesting when the pressure was high.
With all seven attacking at once, he was assailed from every direction, and he finally felt a sliver of pressure.
His figure flickered, becoming ghost-like.
Ten Steps of Impermanence.
Of course, without being able to use his Cultivation, he couldn’t even unleash a tenth of the true power of the Ten Steps of Impermanence.
He swayed left and right, dodging the attacks by a hair’s breadth.
"Instant Sword Technique!"
He unleashed his Instant Sword Technique, matching Xie Baichuan’s speed with his own. The two blades clashed, ringing without pause.
’Who’s faster?’
Everyone watched the duel between the two swords.
"Xie Baichuan is retreating!"
After three breaths, the crowd erupted in gasps of shock. Xie Baichuan, a man famous for his Swift Sword, was actually losing to Ning Jiang, forced completely on the defensive.
"Such a fast sword!"
Xie Baichuan’s heart pounded in his chest.
"Die."
Ning Jiang’s fighting spirit soared. The tip of his sword danced like an embroidery needle, light and nimble, but in the next instant, it struck with the fury of the Duke of Thunder.
As ferocious as the Duke of Thunder, as gentle as an embroiderer’s needle.
The sword in his hand was an extension of his will, its form ever-changing.
One against seven, and he was not at a disadvantage.
"After today’s battle, the name of the White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang will shake all of Luoyang!"
All the Sword Cultivators were deeply shaken. One against seven, and Ning Jiang was holding his own, remaining undefeated.
CLANG!
After another fierce collision, the battle on the high platform paused.
"White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang, you are incredible," Shen Fei said slowly. "Your Sword Technique is simply sublime. None of us are your match in a one-on-one duel. But one against seven, you can’t defeat us either."
"I can’t defeat you?" Ning Jiang murmured.
"Why aren’t you using your full strength?"
Suddenly, a voice boomed like a thunderclap, sending a shockwave through the entire audience.
The one who spoke was Wenhua City.
With his Eye Power, he could tell at a glance that this was not Ning Jiang’s full strength. Ning Jiang was clearly holding back, wary of something.
’Not using his full strength?’
The seven Sword Masters were stunned. If anyone else had said such a thing, they would have scoffed. But the speaker was Wenhua City, a Sword Dao Grandmaster!
"You’re right. I haven’t been using my full strength," Ning Jiang said, letting out a long breath, his voice tinged with deep reluctance. "It’s a pity. The world is vast, but my foundation is not yet secure. I cannot act as I truly wish."
Others might not have understood his words, but Liu Xianyu did.
She knew Ning Jiang was lamenting that his power was not yet absolute, so he could not afford to be too conspicuous.
The tree that stands tallest is the first to be broken by the wind.
The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.
Until now, Ning Jiang had not revealed that he had reached the Realm of Heart-Sword Control, fighting only with Body Sword Control.
’When one’s Martial Arts reach Great Success, one can be unyielding, slaying gods who stand in their way. But before then, the proper way is to remain unobtrusive, as disciplined as a meditating monk. That is the path to survival.’
’Just like my identity as the Pill King, I cannot reveal everything.’
’If I shine too brightly, someone will inevitably try to snuff me out.’
On the high platform, Ning Jiang suddenly closed his eyes.
He was lost in thought, contemplating how, ever since his rebirth, he had always practiced restraint. He had cultivated diligently while avoiding the spotlight, all because his foundation was not yet secure.
’But what is this foundation?’
’The foundation is the heart. A strong heart creates a strong foundation. A weak heart creates a weak foundation.’
’Sometimes, restraint is necessary for the bigger picture, but over time, it will inevitably stifle the will of the heart.’
’If I cannot use my sword to express my heart’s desire, then what is the point of practicing swordsmanship at all?’
’I, Ning Jiang, stand between heaven and earth. Why should I fear calamity? The worst that can happen is death, and I have long since transcended the fear of it.’
’With my sword in hand, I shall slay gods who block my path and slaughter buddhas who stand in my way.’
Within Ning Jiang’s heart, an aura of carefree abandon erupted.
In that instant, his spirit was like a Flood Dragon entering the sea or a great bird taking to the sky. ’The heavens are vast enough for me to soar, the oceans wide enough for me to roam!’
All hesitation vanished from his heart.
He opened his eyes.
The hearts of the seven Sword Masters clenched. They all felt that the look in his eyes had changed.
The sharpness hidden deep within his gaze burst forth. It was the look of a man who would conquer the heavens, no matter how high, and the seas, no matter how deep.
Not the vast, starry cosmos, nor infinite obstacles could stand in his way!
"Could it be... he’s going to...?"
Liu Xianyu’s body trembled as she realized what was about to happen.
SHING!
A clear ring from a sword, soaring toward the heavens, was her answer.
Ning Jiang let out a long, roaring laugh. With his sword in hand, he slashed toward the seven Sword Masters.
In the first snap of a finger.
Sword Master Lin Feng was wounded and thrown back.
In the second snap of a finger.
Sword Master Shen Fei was wounded.
In the third snap of a finger.
In the fourth snap of a finger.
With every snap of a finger, another was wounded.
After seven full snaps of a finger!
The world fell completely silent.
Every gaze was fixed in horror upon the seven Sword Masters.
All seven were wounded!
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
In the dead silence, only Ning Jiang’s wild laughter echoed as an invincible aura erupted from him, shaking heaven and earth. "I am the Sword Sect!"
So what if I reveal my true edge? So what if I’m the tree that stands tallest in the forest?
He was fearless!
He was a dragon, and a dragon is meant to soar above the Nine Heavens.
"Yesterday, I walked the mortal world, covered in mud. Today, I soar to the heavens, my heart filled with joy."
In that moment, Ning Jiang’s laughter was endless. His will seemed to rush into the Nine Heavens, looking down upon the firmament with pride.
「On the first day of the first month.」
With a single sword, Ning Jiang had suppressed all.
Heart-Sword Control. A young Grandmaster.
Luoyang... was shaken to its core!
