Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Disaster, a Martial Artist’s Great Taboo, the Innate List
The entire arena fell silent.
Gazing at Ning Jiang on the high platform, every Sword Cultivator felt a groan rise from the depths of their souls.
Even if word of today’s events got out, how many people would actually believe it?
Sword King Chu Bai achieved Heart Sword Control at twenty-three. He was hailed as a once-in-a-century prodigy of the Sword Dao and is now a Sword King, reigning supreme over the Four Great Sword Sects.
However.
Ning Jiang was only sixteen. A sixteen-year-old with Heart Sword Control!
A sixteen-year-old Young Sword Sect!
He was more terrifying, more monstrously talented than Chu Bai.
Neither Liu Xianyu nor Wang Ziming were even qualified to be compared to him.
’In the end, he revealed it after all!’
Liu Xianyu murmured. She never thought Ning Jiang would so brazenly reveal his Heart Sword Control.
But this was Ning Jiang—he did as he pleased, bound by no taboos.
Beside Liu Xianyu, Wang Ziming’s face was pale. He was utterly speechless.
A Young Sword Sect.
The gap between him and Ning Jiang was as vast as the heavens and the earth.
There were no more than ten individuals at the level of Sword Sect in the entire Cyan Cloud Country.
And Ning Jiang was the youngest among them.
Being the youngest also meant he had the most potential and was the most terrifying!
He recalled his earlier words—that Ning Jiang wasn’t qualified to challenge him. Now, he was so ashamed he could die.
"I never imagined we would be fighting a Young Sword Sect. To be in the presence of a Sword Sect... I am utterly convinced of my defeat in this battle."
Shen Fei burst into laughter, not the least bit disheartened. There was no shame in losing to a Sword Sect.
The burly man took a few steps forward, bowed to Ning Jiang, and said, "This junior, Shen Fei, pays his respects to the Sword Sect."
"Well, well... One is never too old to learn. To have the honor of meeting such a Young Sword Sect, this old man can die without regrets."
The eldest of the seven, Xie Baichuan, shook his head with a wry smile. "This junior, Xie Baichuan, pays his respects to the Sword Sect."
After him, the other Sword Masters didn’t hesitate, each stepping forward to bow.
"This junior, Lin Feng, pays his respects to the Sword Sect."
"This junior, Bai Yueru, pays her respects to the Sword Sect."
"This junior..."
All seven Sword Masters, without exception, bowed.
Though they were much older than Ning Jiang, their hearts were loyal to the sword. Since Ning Jiang far surpassed them on the Sword Dao, they were his juniors.
In learning, there is no seniority; the master is revered.
"We pay our respects to the Sword Sect!"
The unified voice was immense, seeming to vibrate the very air. Hundreds of Sword Cultivators across the arena bowed as one.
It was just as they had bowed to Wenhua City upon his arrival.
In the presence of a Sword Sect, one must bow.
"Wang Ziming, are you not going to pay your respects to the Sword Sect?"
Just then, Liu Xianyu’s voice rang out.
In an instant, all eyes turned to him.
Wang Ziming’s expression grew paler. This scene mirrored the moment he had questioned Ning Jiang for not bowing to Wenhua City.
Now, Liu Xianyu was questioning him—why would he not bow to a Sword Sect!
"Hmm?"
The seven Sword Masters all looked over. Even they had bowed to Ning Jiang. If Wang Ziming refused, wouldn’t that imply they were a level below him?
Wenhua City also cast a glance his way.
At that moment, Wang Ziming felt the pressure was suffocating. Even with the Wang Family backing him, he didn’t dare provoke the crowd’s anger at a time like this.
Wang Ziming’s face was ashen. Though his heart was filled with bitter reluctance, he had no choice but to bow his head and say in a low voice, "This junior, Wang Ziming, pays his respects to the Sword Sect."
Ning Jiang didn’t even spare him a glance.
Wang Ziming lowered his gaze as a flash of killing intent flickered in the depths of his eyes.
"A sixteen-year-old Young Sword Sect... If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, who would ever believe it?"
Wenhua City exclaimed in amazement. He had been obsessed with the sword his entire life, utterly sincere and loyal to it. He had spent all his time on the Sword Dao and only achieved Heart Sword Control at the age of seventy.
Yet Ning Jiang had become a Young Sword Sect at sixteen, surpassing even the Chu Bai of old.
Comparisons are odious.
"The Bamboo Sea Manor is yours," Wenhua City said magnanimously, waving his wide sleeve.
For the Bamboo Sea Manor to fall into the hands of a Young Sword Sect wouldn’t tarnish its reputation. On the contrary, it would make the place even more famous.
"Congratulations, Sword Sect."
The seven Sword Masters offered their congratulations.
"In all of Luoyang City, we are the only two Sword Sects. We should exchange pointers often in the future."
Wenhua City smiled. He was treating Ning Jiang as his peer.
Ning Jiang was qualified to stand with him on equal footing.
Perhaps Ning Jiang’s Cultivation wasn’t high right now, but once he matured, he was bound to surpass him. He might even become another Sword King.
He was not a stick-in-the-mud. This was the kind of person he had to befriend, to form a good relationship with. Who knew, perhaps one day he would need to ask Ning Jiang for a favor.
If even he was thinking this way, the other Sword Masters were certainly no exception.
Just think of the Yang Family. They were once a mere second-rate family, but because of their connection to Sword King Chu Bai, they were now a renowned and powerful clan.
This was the importance of forging connections.
"Senior Sword Sect, could you give us some pointers on our Sword Technique?"
Among the many Sword Cultivators, a young female Sword Cultivator boldly spoke up.
In the battle just now, Ning Jiang’s brilliance had been on full display, dazzling everyone. An unknown number of female Sword Cultivators had secretly lost their hearts to him.
He was already handsome, and now with the title of Young Sword Sect, many women instantly saw him as an ideal partner. Among them were young misses from prominent families and ladies from high society.
Ning Jiang’s gaze swept over the crowd, and he saw that everyone present wore an expression of longing.
Receiving guidance from a Sword Sect would be a great opportunity for them.
"Any Martial Arts, be it Sword Technique, Saber Technique, Fist Technique, or Palm Technique, must be honed through life-and-death trials. The path of Martial Arts can only advance through such trials. I can teach you one method."
Ning Jiang wasn’t an unreasonable person. Besides, today was supposed to be a Sword Dao exchange hosted by Wenhua City. If he hid his knowledge and acted high and mighty, he would seem petty.
"Liu Xianyu, you explain it," Ning Jiang said.
Liu Xianyu nodded, her voice clear and elegant, as she explained the method of practicing with the sword on a cliff’s edge.
The Sword Cultivators broke out in a cold sweat as they listened. The method sounded simple, but putting it into practice was incredibly perilous. It meant constantly walking the line between life and death. One misstep, and you would fall to your death.
Very few would dare to try it.
"As a Sword Cultivator, you must see through life and death and possess the heart of an invincible. The difference between experts lies in the mind. A strong heart makes a strong sword." Seeing the terrified looks on their faces, Ning Jiang shook his head and said.
"’A strong heart makes a strong sword.’ Well said," Wenhua City voiced his approval.
Afterward, Ning Jiang and Wenhua City sat in the seats of honor. They answered any and all questions. Ning Jiang, in particular, spoke words of profound wisdom, every sentence a gem. Even Wenhua City was astonished by some of the principles and felt he had gained something.
"Listening to your words is more enlightening than reading books for ten years," Wenhua City said, his face filled with gratification.
This Sword Dao exchange continued late into the night before finally concluding.
"You may be a Sword Sect, but a Martial Artist’s most important asset is still their Cultivation. At this year’s annual gathering for Luoyang’s younger generation, if you dare to show up, I won’t hold back!" Before leaving, Wang Ziming issued a challenge to Ning Jiang.
In Sword Technique alone, he admitted he was no match for Ning Jiang.
But there was another crucial aspect to a Martial Artist: Cultivation. No matter how brilliant or exquisite your Sword Technique was, if his Cultivation was stronger, he could crush Ning Jiang with it alone.
So what if he was a Young Sword Sect?
Defeating a Young Sword Sect would be all the more meaningful.
In Wang Ziming’s eyes, Ning Jiang had already become a stepping stone.
"I’ll be waiting for you." Ning Jiang’s eyelids drooped slightly.
After Wang Ziming left, Liu Xianyu said, "Mr. Ning, your battle today has made you famous throughout Luoyang, but it will also invisibly create many enemies for you in the future. It’s easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to defend against an arrow in the dark."
"I know what you mean." The sky was dark. Ning Jiang looked up at the night sky, his voice ethereal. "Do you think I should have continued to lie low for a while, developing my strength in secret, and only soaring to the heavens once my power has reached Great Success?"
"The biggest advantage of that method is that it avoids life-threatening danger. But for me, it would actually be detrimental."
Ning Jiang’s words were simple, but they revealed a profound wisdom. "On the path of Martial Arts, hardships are necessary, and tribulations are inevitable. A smooth journey is not a good thing. ’Jade cannot be polished without friction.’ As a Martial Artist progresses, they even have to face the Celestial Tribulation, which cannot be avoided. Therefore, since ancient times, calamity has always been inescapable."
As he spoke, he thought about how his journey since his rebirth had been relatively smooth and uneventful.
Even that time he was hunted by Chen Wu had been a blessing in disguise, leading him to discover the Molten Rock Jade and forge the Great Sun Glazed Golden Body.
Prosperity leads to complacency; adversity forges growth.
A Martial Artist needs adversity to temper themselves.
"Remember this: seeking fortune and avoiding disaster is a great taboo for a Martial Artist. People like us must advance even if tribulation is a blade at our throats. The worst that can happen is death, so what is there to fear?"
"I revealed my Heart Sword Control precisely to place myself in a dangerous environment and use that pressure to push myself forward."
A divine light shone in Ning Jiang’s eyes, his pupils seeming to compete with the sun and moon for brilliance. "No matter the calamity, I will sweep it all away with a single swing of my sword!"
At this moment, Ning Jiang’s thoughts were clear and his will was unobstructed.
Revealing his Heart Sword Control had, on the contrary, freed him from all inhibitions.
His mind was lively and bright, as clear as the moon hanging in the sky. He felt a sense of ease throughout his entire being.
The sky is wide for birds to fly, the sea is vast for fish to leap.
"I understand now." A look of respect appeared in Liu Xianyu’s eyes.
The weak fear other people; the strong fear the heavens.
But Ning Jiang feared nothing. He was a divine being, a man of the heavens.
"’The new waves of the Yangtze push the old,’ and ’the blue dye comes from the indigo plant but is bluer still.’ It’s all so true."
Wenhua City exclaimed in amazement after hearing Ning Jiang’s words. "First there was Sword King Chu Bai, then Young Master Soaring Dragon, and now you. I’m afraid that in just a few years, you’ll be able to contend with the Nine Great Young Masters, and even get your name on the Innate List."
"Years?" Ning Jiang’s response was noncommittal.
’Why would it take years?’
The Innate List.
This was a list famous throughout Cyan Cloud Country.
The list only had thirty-six spots, and every person on it was an Innate Limit Strong Person.
In the entire Cyan Cloud Country, it wouldn’t be difficult to find over a hundred experts at the Innate Limit, but only thirty-six could be ranked on the list.
Someone like Liu Yuanlong, for example, was not qualified to be ranked on the Innate List.
Wenhua City was only ranked in the thirties.
Of the Nine Great Young Masters, only five had made it onto the list.
Among them, Young Master Soaring Dragon stood out, ranked seventh on the Innate List, his fame shaking Cyan Cloud Country.
"I am all alone in this world, and my Sword Technique hasn’t improved in over a decade. If nothing changes, I’m afraid I’ll never glimpse the realm of Heart Sword Control in my lifetime." Suddenly, Xie Baichuan’s expression turned serious as he said to Ning Jiang, "I am willing to serve you. Can you help me?"
