Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 246: Chapter 242: A Mere Divinity Transformation Realm, and You Think I Can’t Kill You?

A gigantic palm pulsed with ferocious energy as it reached for Ning Jiang.

"The Star Sword Sect is as domineering as ever."

"They’re the number one sect in Qing Province and ranked thirtieth among the Seventy-Two Sects. I suppose they have the right to be this arrogant."

The crowd broke into a flurry of discussion. No one had expected the situation to escalate to this point.

Ning Jiang had won first place in the Qing Province Tournament, claiming the title of the number one expert of Qing Province’s younger generation by overpowering Jian Xinghe. It should have been a moment of unparalleled glory.

But now, the Star Sword Sect wanted to drag him away and use a Soul Searcher on him. Who could possibly accept that?

For a Martial Artist, death is preferable to dishonor.

"Winter’s End!"

As the giant palm descended upon him, Ning Jiang’s expression turned grim. He unleashed the strongest attack of the Four Seasons Sword Technique.

A bone-chilling cold emanated from him as a ghastly white Sword Aura erupted, filled with an aura of deathly stillness and decay.

BOOM—

The giant palm and Winter’s End collided. The palm shattered, but Ning Jiang grunted in pain, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he stumbled back more than ten steps.

’The Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm is ultimately superior to the Spirit Realm.’

Ning Jiang sighed inwardly. The gap between their Realms was undeniable.

But to everyone else, the scene was simply unbelievable.

"This kid’s a monster! Shangguan Yu may only be at the First Realm of the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm—the Divinity Transformation Realm—but he’s still a Primordial Spirit Realm expert. And this kid actually blocked his attack?"

The Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm and the Spirit Realm were two entirely different levels of power. The difference was like that between heaven and earth.

A single expert at the Divinity Transformation Realm could not be matched even by ten cultivators at the Spirit Realm Peak combined.

Yet Ning Jiang had managed to withstand a blow from Shangguan Yu. Even though he was injured, it was an achievement he could be proud of.

’As expected of the man who defeated Jian Xinghe. He’s shockingly powerful,’ the crowd thought in amazement.

"Hm? You’ve got some skill. But that was only seventy percent of my strength. Let’s see you block this."

Having his attack blocked by a mere Spirit Realm cultivator was a huge blow to Shangguan Yu’s pride. He was already bullying someone far beneath him; if he couldn’t even take down Ning Jiang, where would he ever show his face again?

RUMBLE.

He struck out with his palm again. The power was terrifying, shattering the very air in its path.

"Block it!"

At the critical moment, Meng Nanfeng and the other Elders of the Yanyue Sect sprang into action, rushing in front of Ning Jiang to block the blow.

SPURT.

The Elders were only at the Spirit Realm Cultivation level and were no match for Shangguan Yu. They all spat out mouthfuls of blood, and the ones with weaker cultivation were severely injured.

"Hmph. Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Meng Nanfeng, are you all looking to die?" Shangguan Yu said coldly.

"Shangguan Yu, don’t you dare go too far! If you want to take our Ninth Elder, you’ll have to step over our dead bodies!" The speaker was the Second Elder, his hair stark white, but his voice was firm.

"That’s right! The Yanyue Sect may be in decline, but it won’t be so easy for your Star Sword Sect to bully us!" another Elder declared, his expression resolute and fearless.

The surrounding crowd was moved by the scene.

"The Yanyue Sect is so unified."

"The Yanyue Sect may be in decline now, but with that kind of unified spirit, it’s no wonder they were once one of the Five Great Sects."

"The Yanyue Sect has fallen on hard times, that’s true, but their spirit remains noble."

Many of the smaller sects silently asked themselves what they would do. Faced with such pressure from the Star Sword Sect, they would have had no choice but to hand Ning Jiang over. Who would dare to defy the Star Sword Sect?

In an instant, many people found themselves looking at the Yanyue Sect with newfound respect.

"Fine. Very well. Since you’re so eager to die, I shall grant you your wish." Waves of killing intent rolled off Shangguan Yu.

"Kill us, and your Star Sword Sect will be forever short one part of the key. Then, no one will be getting into that Secret Realm," Meng Nanfeng sneered.

Shangguan Yu’s brow furrowed at his words.

’A key? What’s he talking about?’

Some of the uninformed onlookers were confused.

"You must be new here. This whole Qing Province Tournament was held for the sake of a Secret Realm, but you can’t just waltz in. The Five Great Sects control the only way to enter. I heard it’s a Jade Token that was split into five pieces. Only when all five are brought together can the Secret Realm be entered," a Sect Leader explained to his disciples.

"Elder Shangguan, your grudge with the Yanyue Sect can wait until after we deal with the Secret Realm."

Just then, an indifferent voice spoke up. It belonged to a mature-looking woman in her thirties—the Hall Master of Floating Snow Hall.

"That’s right. The Secret Realm is the top priority. We can’t afford to sacrifice the greater good for a petty squabble," another man agreed with a nod, his voice booming like thunder. He was the Sect Leader of the War Elephant Sect.

With two figures at the Sect Leader level speaking out, Shangguan Yu had no choice but to pay attention. People of their standing were a cut above him, on equal footing with the Vice Sect Leader of the Star Sword Sect.

"Vice Sect Leader," Shangguan Yu said, turning to the Vice Sect Leader on the viewing platform to ask for his decision.

The Vice Sect Leader considered for a moment, then nodded. "Elder Shangguan, since two Sect Leaders have made their opinions known, you should show them that courtesy."

"Yes." Shangguan Yu shot a cold glare at Ning Jiang. "You little bastard, I’ll let you live a few more days. But after the Secret Realm, if you still can’t provide a satisfactory explanation, don’t blame me for slaughtering everyone in the Yanyue Sect!"

The moment he finished speaking, he suddenly flicked a finger toward Ning Jiang.

Star-Breaking Sword Point.

It was one of the Star Sword Sect’s ultimate killing moves, a Martial Technique that fewer than ten people had ever mastered. In terms of destructive power, a master could kill a Spirit Realm Peak cultivator with a mere flick of their finger.

’Not good!’

The attack was so sudden that none of the Elders had anticipated it. They had no time to intervene.

A beam of Sword Qi shot from his fingertip like a tiny, brilliant meteor, piercing through the air with unstoppable force as it flew toward Ning Jiang.

CLANG.

Ning Jiang raised the Ice Soul Sword to his chest and blocked the attack. However, the residual force was still immense. It rattled his internal organs to the point of tearing, and he coughed up a large mouthful of blood.

"Shangguan Yu, you’ve gone too far! I’ll fight you to the death!" Meng Nanfeng roared in fury.

"Grand Elder, I’m fine," Ning Jiang said, shaking his head as he held Meng Nanfeng back.

"Hmph. Just a small lesson," Shangguan Yu said with a flick of his sleeve before turning to leave.

"Alright. We will all gather at the entrance to the Secret Realm in seven days. For now, we shall take our leave."

After the Star Sword Sect’s Vice Sect Leader finished speaking, he led his sect members away.

"Let’s go." The members of the other Major Sects also departed to prepare for the Secret Realm.

"We need to get back to the Sect immediately."

Meng Nanfeng quickly gave the order. His only thought was to get back to the Yanyue Sect as fast as possible. After all the attention Ning Jiang had drawn, he was worried someone might make a move against him.

With the Major Sects leading the departure, the area quickly emptied out.

"The Yanyue Sect really drew the short straw this time. They won first place and should be celebrating, but instead they’re being bullied by the Star Sword Sect."

"The Yanyue Sect already had an enemy in the Fire Cloud Sect. Now they’ve made an enemy of the Star Sword Sect, too. Life is only going to get tougher for them."

...

"Ninth Elder, are you alright?" The Yanyue Sect contingent was seated on the back of an Iron-Winged Eagle.

"It’s nothing serious. I’ll be fine after a few days’ rest."

As he spoke, Ning Jiang swallowed an Elixir to help his body recover.

"The Star Sword Sect is despicable!" one of the Elders said, still fuming over what had happened. The others murmured in angry agreement.

"Elders, thank you for before," Ning Jiang said.

"Ninth Elder, there’s no need for such formalities. We’re the ones who should be thanking you. In truth, we’re the ones holding you back, forcing you to suffer this humiliation by staying with a declining sect like ours," Meng Nanfeng sighed.

"Ninth Elder, just focus on your recovery. Don’t you worry. If the Star Sword Sect comes for you again, we’ll fight to our last breath before we let them take you," a white-haired old man said.

It was the Seventh Elder, and his voice was firm.

"That’s right, Ninth Elder. Now that you’ve joined the Yanyue Sect, we’re all family. When family is in trouble, we’ll gladly risk our old lives to help," another Elder added.

Ning Jiang looked from one Elder to the next. He hadn’t spent much time with any of them, but the emotions in their eyes were utterly sincere, without a trace of falsehood.

These Elders were willing to die for him.

Because he was the Yanyue Sect’s hope!

"Such deep loyalty in your Yanyue Sect."

Suddenly, a cold, mocking voice drifted over from the distance.

Two figures were visible, standing unsupported on a layer of clouds, their bodies bobbing with the air currents.

"It’s the Fire Cloud Sect and the Cyan Splendor Sect!"

The Yanyue Sect Elders immediately recognized them by their robes.

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"Do you even need to ask? Your Yanyue Sect’s Ning Jiang killed several of my Cyan Splendor Sect’s most talented disciples. This is a blood debt your Yanyue Sect must repay."

This was the Sect Leader of the Cyan Splendor Sect, a man named Lei Yuan. He was also an expert at the Divinity Transformation Realm.

The Cyan Splendor Sect was one of the foremost among the various Major Sects. As the Yanyue Sect declined, the Cyan Splendor Sect had once sought to take its place, an ambition made possible because they were presided over by a Divinity Transformation Realm expert.

"Sect Leader Lei, enough wasting words on them. Let’s do this."

Besides Lei Yuan, there was another expert at the Divinity Transformation Realm, this one from the Fire Cloud Sect.

Two Divinity Transformation Realm experts had been dispatched, and they were all here for Ning Jiang.

’Just as I feared. The worst-case scenario has come to pass.’

Meng Nanfeng’s expression was grave. He had been worried that Ning Jiang’s monstrous talent would attract this kind of jealousy, and now his fears had become reality. Two Divinity Transformation Realm experts were here to kill him. How could a group of Spirit Realm cultivators like them possibly fight back?

"Ninth Elder, you are the Yanyue Sect’s hope. As long as you live, the Yanyue Sect lives. We will die to ensure your safety. We’ll hold them off with everything we have. You must use that chance to escape back to the Yanyue Sect. With our Sect Leader there, they won’t dare to attack."

Meng Nanfeng said, taking a deep breath, his expression one of grim determination.

The other Elders exchanged a look. Their battle intent surged, and they all prepared to fight to the death.

"Grand Elder, I know what you intend to do, but I will not flee. If I sacrificed all of you just to save myself, what would be the point of living? I, Ning Jiang, stand proud in this world. I would rather die with honor than live in shame. My sword knows only one path: forward. The threat of death does not frighten me!"

As he spoke, a sharp light glinted in Ning Jiang’s eyes. It was the gaze of someone who could cut down anything in his path, who feared nothing, and who looked down upon the entire world.

"Besides, do you really think I can’t kill a couple of mere Divinity Transformation Realm cultivators?"

"I’m not just going to kill them. Afterwards, I’m going to hunt down the Star Sword Sect and kill Shangguan Yu. How could I possibly swallow today’s insult!"