Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Lord of Kunlun, The Demon Lotus Matures
Xie Baichuan, ranked first among the seven Sword Masters, had reached the Innate Peak in his cultivation.
His skin was withered, and at nearly a hundred years of age, his face was etched with deep wrinkles. Blind in one eye, he looked like an ordinary old man who might draw his last breath at any moment.
Of course, Martial Artists in the Innate Realm could live for up to two hundred years, so being a hundred was nothing remarkable.
But to have remained in the Sword Master Realm for a century, unable to grasp Heart Sword Control, was a clear sign that his potential was exhausted.
Throughout history, those who became Sword Dao Grandmasters almost always did so within their first century. After that, the hope of a breakthrough was slim.
"You are nearly a hundred, yet you still have the will to improve. That’s excellent. Your mentality is no worse than that of a young man."
Ning Jiang said coolly, "Time is a blade that ages all men. Growing old isn’t what’s fearsome; a heart that has grown old is. If your heart ages and you lose the drive of your youth, you will stagnate, unable to advance even a single step."
"The path of Martial Arts is like rowing a boat upstream; if you don’t advance, you fall back. You must always maintain your drive, with no room for complacency." Ning Jiang flicked a fingernail, producing a sharp *twang*. "I can help you."
"Thank you, Sword Sect." A smile spread across Xie Baichuan’s withered, bark-like face.
"Congratulations, Brother Xie. Unfortunately, I have too many ties to my family to break away. Otherwise, I would follow the Sword Sect just as you have. By the way, Sword Sect, if you ever need anything in the future, you can come find me at the Bai Family residence. I am the Clan Leader of the Bai Family, and I can at least be of some small assistance."
Bai Yueru spoke slowly. She was in her thirties, but she looked no different from a woman in her twenties. Dressed in a simple white gown, she was tall and slender, with a mature beauty.
For Ning Jiang to have achieved Heart Sword Control at sixteen, and for his speech to reveal such extraordinary insight... she hoped to form a good relationship with a person like him.
"I appreciate the thought," Ning Jiang said with a nod.
Afterward, the other Sword Masters also expressed their goodwill.
Each of them was a distinguished individual, wielding significant influence in Luoyang City. Bai Yueru, for example, was the Clan Leader of the second-tier Bai Family, possessing both power and status. The others were no less impressive.
"It’s getting late. We’ll take our leave now." After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the six Sword Masters departed.
"This has truly been my happiest day in recent years," Wenhua City said. "Young friend, if you ever run into any trouble, you can come find me as well."
Ning Jiang nodded and watched Wenhua City leave.
「That night.」
Ning Jiang brought Ning Yu’an over from the Liu Family’s estate.
"My little brother is getting more and more incredible."
When she learned that Ning Jiang was now the master of Bamboo Sea Manor, a radiant smile bloomed across Ning Yu’an’s face, as beautiful and captivating as a hundred blossoming flowers.
She was filled with pride, feeling as though her little brother were a dragon, finally taking flight and revealing his magnificence.
The more exceptional Ning Jiang became, the happier she was.
"As long as Sister An likes it."
Ning Jiang smiled. He didn’t particularly care about Bamboo Sea Manor; what mattered was making Ning Yu’an happy.
This woman had sacrificed so much for him. She was the person who had treated him best in all his life, and he cherished her beyond measure.
"Zheng Zhiyuan, this manor needs someone to manage it. From now on, you will be the butler here."
Ning Jiang instructed, "Tomorrow, find some people with clean backgrounds to take care of the manor. Don’t hire too many, just enough to get the work done. Peace and quiet are the priority."
"Yes," Zheng Zhiyuan replied respectfully.
As he spoke, he stole a glance at Xie Baichuan, and his respect for Ning Jiang deepened.
’I made the right choice in following Ning Jiang. Now, even a Sword Master like Xie Baichuan is his follower.’
The Young Sword Sect.
’Who could have imagined Ning Jiang had such a trump card up his sleeve?’
"Xie Baichuan, from now on, you will be responsible for protecting Sister An."
Ning Jiang had accepted Xie Baichuan partly because of the man’s ambition, but also for this very purpose.
While he himself did not fear danger, he had to guard against anyone who might target Ning Yu’an.
"I understand," said Xie Baichuan.
With an expert at the Innate Peak protecting her, no one would be able to harm Ning Yu’an unless an expert at the Innate Limit personally made a move.
「The next day.」
When news from Bamboo Sea Manor spread, Luoyang City was thrown into an uproar.
The Young Sword Sect.
One man against seven, dominating them all with his sword.
When these reports reached the public, the initial reaction was universal disbelief. It all felt too surreal.
A sixteen-year-old Sword Sect sounded like something out of a fairy tale.
At first, no one was willing to believe it.
But then, even the Sword Masters themselves confirmed the rumors: the story of the Sword Sect was true!
In an instant, it was as if a massive earthquake had swept through all of Luoyang.
"White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang... I suppose we should call him the White Head Sword Sect from now on, shouldn’t we?"
Ning Jiang’s fame blazed like the midday sun.
While the outside world was in an uproar, Zheng Zhiyuan had already hired a staff to manage the day-to-day affairs of Bamboo Sea Manor.
They were all ordinary Martial Artists from the Qi Cultivation Realm.
"Xie Baichuan, the key to Heart Sword Control is the heart itself. First, you must empty your mind and let your heart become like still water. Then, you must use your heart to commune with your sword."
Early in the morning, Ning Jiang was instructing Xie Baichuan. "People say a sword is an inanimate object, but that is not so. With Heart Sword Control, you must treat the sword as a living thing, capture its essence, and let your heart and the sword become one, inseparable. This realm may sound profound, but once you reach it, you can sense the sword’s position with your heart even with your eyes closed."
As he spoke, Ning Jiang moved the sword in his hand.
In Xie Baichuan’s eyes, with every breath Ning Jiang took, the sword seemed to breathe in unison. As his body rose and fell, the sword moved with it. He and the blade were one, moving in perfect rhythm.
Vaguely, Xie Baichuan even had the strange sensation that he could hear two distinct heartbeats.
One was Ning Jiang’s. The other was the pulse of the sword.
Of course, it wasn’t that the sword truly had a heartbeat. Rather, Ning Jiang’s heart and the sword had become one, and his heartbeat had infused the blade, making it seem to any observer as though the sword itself had a pulse.
"Sublime. Truly, sublimely wonderful," Xie Baichuan sighed in admiration.
"In truth, the more one experiences, the stronger the bonds of emotion and desire become, and the harder it is to quiet one’s heart. The saying goes, ’a heart like still water,’ but very few can actually achieve it."
Ning Jiang said, "I will teach you a method. In the morning, as the sun rises, let your intent rise and flourish with it. In the evening, as the sun sets, you must seal your intent away. Observe the sun as it rises in the east and sets in the west, and cast aside all other distracting thoughts. Over time, you will find your way to Heart Sword Control."
"Thank you for your guidance, Sword Sect."
Xie Baichuan cupped his fist in a deep bow toward Ning Jiang. He knew Ning Jiang wasn’t holding anything back and was genuinely guiding him. Every sentence he spoke contained boundless truth.
For the next few days, Ning Jiang remained at Bamboo Sea Manor, occasionally offering pointers on Xie Baichuan’s Sword Technique and Ning Yu’an’s Purple Qi Creation Technique.
During this time, he keenly sensed that there were often Martial Artists outside Bamboo Sea Manor, spying on the estate.
Most were simply curious about him.
Countless people wanted to catch a glimpse of the sixteen-year-old Young Sword Sect.
Aside from them, however, there were others guarding the perimeter of Bamboo Sea Manor, remaining ever vigilant and observing their surroundings.
These guards included people sent by the Liu Family, as well as forces dispatched by several of the Alchemy Masters.
Both the Liu Family and the Alchemy Masters were worried that someone might try to harm Ning Jiang.
Assassinating a prodigy was an all-too-common occurrence.
Ning Jiang didn’t object to them proactively sending people to protect Bamboo Sea Manor.
Although he had deliberately revealed his mastery of Heart Sword Control to draw his trials to him, he didn’t want to be assassinated at Bamboo Sea Manor. That would only make Ning Yu’an sick with worry.
If he were out on his own, he wouldn’t need any protection.
He feared no trial, no matter what it was.
Nine days passed.
It was now the tenth day of the month.
Du Wanqing came to visit, bringing a piece of news.
The eight Alchemy Masters of Luoyang had joined forces. The eight disparate powers had, over the past few days, slowly condensed into a single entity.
"The eight of us have joined hands to form a new power. Since this power was born because of you, Pill King, it is only right that you should be the one to name it."
Du Wanqing said with a serious expression. This was, after all, the purpose of his visit.
"It shall be called..." Ning Jiang paused, then slowly uttered a single name, "Kunlun!"
"Kunlun?"
"That’s right. ’Kun’ means vast. That which is limitlessly vast is Heaven. ’Lun’ means profound. That which is profoundly virtuous and supports all things is Earth." Ning Jiang’s aura became vast and ethereal, his gaze distant. "Therefore, Kunlun also means Heaven and Earth."
"I see."
Du Wanqing’s heart trembled. The name "Kunlun," while not as direct as "Heaven and Earth," possessed an astonishing presence and profound implications.
And from that moment on.
Ning Jiang was now the Lord of Kunlun!
"For now, go and handle this for me. I will be away from Bamboo Sea Manor for the next few days."
"Yes."
After Du Wanqing left, Ning Jiang went to find Ning Yu’an.
"Sister An, I’m taking you somewhere."
"Oh? Where are we going?"
"The Demon Mist Mountain Range!"
A strange light flickered in Ning Jiang’s eyes. With the fifteenth day of the month approaching, he could finally sense it: the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lotus he had planted was now ripe!
Now was the time to harvest his prize.
...
「The Demon Mist Mountain Range.」
"Damn it, that kid is cunning. He actually managed to shake us."
A few disgruntled voices muttered. As soon as Ning Jiang had left Bamboo Sea Manor, they had latched onto him, following him in secret.
However, the moment they entered the Demon Mist Mountain Range, Ning Jiang moved like a phantom and easily lost them.
「One hour later.」
「Within the Demon Fog.」
Ning Jiang set Ning Yu’an down, her beautiful face still faintly flushed.
To shake off their pursuers, Ning Jiang had immediately swept Ning Yu’an into his arms and used the Ten Steps of Impermanence the moment they entered the fog.
Ning Yu’an was light to begin with, and what’s more, as a Body Refiner, Ning Jiang’s power was astonishing. Carrying her felt as effortless as holding a paper kite, and he had easily shaken off their pursuers.
’Looks like there are quite a few people who wish me ill,’ Ning Jiang thought. ’But I don’t have time to get tangled up with them right now.’
Before him and Ning Yu’an stood the entrance to a cave dwelling.
SCREECH!
Just as he and Ning Yu’an were about to enter, a cry suddenly echoed through the sky—a sound so piercing it could shatter stone, making their eardrums throb with pain.
"A Cyan-Scaled Eagle!" A sharp glint flashed in Ning Jiang’s eyes.
