The Arrival
Ning Qi severed the Sword Dao rule divine chain, which was at half its strength.
Jian Jingjue raised his eyes to look at Ning Qi, his sword-like eyes revealing admiration.
"Indeed, you can withstand even half of my strength, and you can even comprehend the Dao on the spot. Your talent surpasses even mine."
"However, I will be using 70% of my power next. Are you ready?"
Ning Qi replied, "Then please, Sword Ancestor, enlighten me further."
Thus began their third duel.
This time, both Ning Qi and Sword Ancestor only released one chain of divine rules.
The chains of divine rules collided instantly, their Sword Intent both incredibly sharp.
Even the powerful onlookers felt a stinging pain in their eyes just by watching, and even their Primordial Spirit dared not look directly at them.
The two chains of divine rules were like two giant snakes battling in the void, completely suppressing all other rules in the void, as if it were in a vacuum.
Initially, Sword Ancestor Jian Jingjue was able to suppress Ning Qi with his Sword Dao.
However, after only a few breaths, Ning Qi's Sword Dao rules reversed and suppressed Jian Jingjue's Sword Dao.
Many of the onlookers swallowed hard, seemingly unable to believe what they were seeing.
They did sense that the Sword Ancestor had improved his cultivation again, but how come Ning Qi now had the upper hand?
Finally, Ning Qi's Sword Dao rules completely annihilated the Sword Ancestor, and the void returned to calm.
Upon seeing this, Jian Jingjue's outstretched hand froze in mid-air.
His sword-like eyes gleamed, staring at Ning Qi as if he had discovered some treasure.
He had seen too many geniuses in his life, but he had never seen anyone Ning Qi who made such tremendous progress at a speed visible to the naked eye.
After all, Jian Jingjue was also a genius. He was praised by his master and fellow disciples when he was young and dominated the Northern Xuan Region in his youth.
"I'll use all my strength from now on, so be careful," he said.
"Good."
This time, Jian Jingjue no longer held back.
His figure suddenly rose into the air from the square, and the Sword Intent around him descended upon the entire space like winter frost, killing everything in its path. It seemed as if he was the only one left in the world.
The powerful figures watching below dared not move an inch, as if the slightest movement would instantly annihilate their Primordial Spirit, causing their bodies and souls to vanish.
They were filled with fear and doubt, wondering just how high a level of cultivation the Sword Ancestor had reached.
They were also at the late stage of the Void Dao Realm, so why did they seem like fallen leaves facing the autumn wind in front of the Sword Ancestor?
The powerful figures couldn't help but turn their gazes toward Ning Qi.
Despite the terrifying Sword Intent, Ning Qi was still able to fly out; he was the only one who could move amidst the pervasive frost!
Ning Qi climbed step by step, as if ascending a ladder to the clouds, and finally stood at the same height as the Sword Ancestor.
The sword, gleaming and awe-inspiring, hovered in the void, its robes fluttering, its hair and beard dancing.
He gazed at Ning Qi and suddenly said, "Your swordsmanship is just beginning; do you intend to surpass mine?"
However, Ning Qi uttered a single word. "None!"
Jian Jingjue was taken aback.
The size of a person's heart determines the height of their potential.
From the moment he was born, Jian Jingjue never followed any rules or regulations; those so-called rules about respecting teachers and elders could not bind him at all.
Unlike other disciples of the Wuji Sword Sect, he never regarded his sect's master or the sect's number one person as unsurpassable.
It was precisely because of this that Jian Jingjue became the most amazing genius in the history of the Wuji Sword Sect at that time.
Therefore, Jian Jingjue deeply understands that a person's heart must be like a sword, cutting through everything, in order to truly transcend.
He always looked down on those who followed the rules, because these people didn't dare to break the mold and had no ambition to surpass their predecessors!
That's why Jian Jingjue asked at this moment whether Ning Qi intended to surpass him.
After learning about Ning Qi's deeds, Jian Jingjue believed that Ning Qi was a person like himself.
But Ning Qi answered, "No!"
Jian Jingjue snapped out of his daze and asked, puzzled, "What do you mean by 'nothingness'?"
Ning Qi said, "I have never had the intention of surpassing him!"
The powerful onlookers saw that although the two had not made a move, they were exchanging words that contained profound meaning.
They could understand the words of the Sword Ancestor, but not Ning Qi's.
Only Jian Jingjue suddenly widened his eyes, and after a long while, he said:
"What a fine thing!"
Jian Jingjue pondered these words carefully and gradually understood Ning Qi's meaning. He, Jian Jingjue, had the ambition to transcend everything and not be ordinary, but he had fallen into the Lower Vehicle.
Ning Qi went a step further than him, never considering surpassing him as surpassing him, which is truly Higher Vehicle.
In short, Jian Jingjue has someone he can surpass.
For example, when he was young, he had ambitions to surpass his parents and elders at home; after entering the sect, he had ambitions to surpass his senior brothers and masters within the sect; and even extended these ambitions to all the strong individuals in the Northern Xuan Domain and Southern Zhen Domain who were stronger than him in Sword Dao.
Ning Qi had no such thoughts from the very beginning; in his mind, there was no one in front of him!
"Then let me see your methods!"
After speaking, Jian Jingjue swept his hand across the air as if caressing the Hidden Sword.
The space around the two instantly gave rise to countless sword shapes, all of which were constructed from the rules of Sword Dao.
The powerful beings below nearly popped their eyes out when they saw this.
"Is this the Sword Ancestor's true power?"
No wonder the Sword Ancestor could seal off all the surrounding rules; no wonder they couldn't even condense their own rules in front of him.
Even Ning Qi was taken aback, and at the same time felt admiration.
The criterion for judging a powerful being in the late stage of the Void Dao Realm is not based on the number of rules they have mastered, but rather on the number and length of a single type of divine chain of rules.
For example, when Ning Qi broke through to the Void Dao Realm, he went straight to the late stage of the Void Dao Realm.
At that time, Jiang Qingxue used the fact that Ning Qi had twelve single-rule divine chains, each eleven zhang long, as a basis, which far exceeded the judgment standard of ordinary late-stage Void Dao Realm cultivators, who should have at least five chains ten zhang long.
The Sword Ancestor before us has been in seclusion for ten thousand years, focusing solely on the Sword Dao, yet he remains at the Void Dao Realm.
However, his Sword Dao has only one rule, yet it permeates the entire void!
Now, they are surrounded by layers upon layers of densely packed objects, like a sphere.
At first glance, if you were to estimate its length, it would probably be tens of thousands of meters!
Therefore, even Ning Qi had to admire him.
The Sword Ancestor before them was indeed at the Void Dao Realm, but with his ten-thousand-meter-long Sword Dao rule divine chain, combined with his Dao of One Sword Breaking All Laws, even a Body Integration Realm cultivator would be no match for him.
"Are you ready to take this attack?" Jian Jingjue asked.
Ning Qi suddenly said, "Wait a minute, Sword Ancestor, are you sure you used seventy percent of your strength when you sparred with me earlier, and not seven-thousandths?"
A rare smile appeared on Jian Jingjue's face.
"Kid, are you scared?"
Ning Qi was speechless; he just felt the contrast was too great.
Fear? The word "fear" doesn't exist in his dictionary!
Seemingly sensing Ning Qi's thoughts, Jian Jingjue coughed lightly, a strange flush appearing on his thin face, before speaking:
"Don't worry, I did use 70% of my strength before; the current situation is just a bit special."
Ning Qi vaguely sensed that the Sword Ancestor seemed to be hiding something in his words.
He especially noticed the strange look that flashed across Jian Jingjue's face.
"Alright, I won't hold back anymore," Ning Qi said.
After he finished speaking, suddenly, with a whoosh, chains of divine rules shot out from behind him.
This time, Ning Qi no longer used a single chain of Sword Dao rules to deal with the Sword Ancestor, but instead unleashed all the rules he had mastered.
Sword, water, fire, thunder, metal, earth, wind, blade...
The appearance of eight divine chains of rules once again shocked the powerful figures watching.
"When did Sect Master Ning master the eight rules, Ziyang? Do you know?" Jiang Ruhai asked.
Ziyang shook his head with difficulty, "We've been traveling the same path all along, so naturally I didn't know. The Sect Master probably only recently grasped this..."
"Recently? Didn't you only return to your sect a little over ten days ago?" another powerful figure asked in surprise.
True Person Ziyang glanced at him, chuckled, and said:
"Ten days is already a lot. You forgot, even including our trip to the Xuanzhen Secret Realm and the round trip, it's only been a little over two months. And two months ago, the sect leader was only at the Primordial Spirit Realm."
The powerful figure choked on his words, feeling quite displeased.
In just over two months, I've progressed from the Primordial Spirit Realm to the late-stage Void Dao Realm, and now I have these eight divine chains of rules... Heh...
If it weren't for real-life examples, he would have strangled his opponent and cursed him for talking nonsense!
At this moment, Jiang Baichuan looked at the eight divine chains of rules behind Ning Qi, feeling extremely bitter.
It turns out that Ning Qi had already held back when dealing with the four powerful figures from the Ye Household.
It's laughable that he actually wanted to suppress Ning Qi back then. If Ning Qi had revealed his full strength, he, as the sect leader, would probably have been beaten like a dog by Ning Qi!
What puzzled everyone even more was that they were unable to condense the power of rules in front of the Sword Ancestor.
Why is Ning Qi still able to...?
Sword Ancestor Jian Jingjue had the same question in his mind.
Even if he used 30%, 50%, or 70% of his power, it wouldn't matter. But now that he has revealed his full strength, why was Ning Qi able to break through his Sword Dao's blockade?
They were naturally unaware that Ning Qi Qi's rules were different from theirs.
Their rules were condensed from the Mountain and Sea Realm, but Ning Qi's were condensed from the True Martial and infused into his reincarnation body by his original body.
Before the crowd's astonishment subsided, the eight chains of divine rules behind Ning Qi continued to extend.
From eleven zhang to twenty zhang, then to fifty zhang, one hundred zhang, and finally three hundred zhang!
Eight different 300-foot-long divine chains of rules appeared behind Ning Qi.
All the great powers were shocked, and even the Sword Master was shocked!
All of them, even the youngest among them, had lingered in the Void Dao Realm for hundreds of years, and the divine chains of rules they condensed were mostly over ten feet long.
The standard for judging the length of the rule divine chain of a powerful being in the late stage of the Void Dao Realm is ten zhang.
Why this judgment?
It's not that they don't want to create a longer chain of divine rules, but rather that they have the will but lack the strength.
The longer it is, the more mental and Primordial Spirit energy it will consume, and the more difficult it will be to control and command.
If a child were to play with a Guan Dao (a type of halberd), let alone kill enemies, they probably wouldn't be able to stand the sight of it themselves.
That's why another criterion exists: the number of items!
Almost all Void Dao Realm experts, after condensing a ten-zhang-long chain of divine rules, will focus on increasing the number of chains.
They looked at the two men now fighting before them, and there was no doubt that both were freaks among freaks.
The Sword Ancestor condensed a ten-thousand-meter-long divine chain, signifying his unparalleled talent and terrifying control in the path of Sword Dao.
As for Ning Qi, not to mention how many rules he has, none of you powerful beings would have expected that his divine chain length is also terrifyingly long.
Across from him, Jian Jingjue also showed surprise on his face, and he suddenly said:
"Well, you've been hiding your strength well! Tell me, how much of your power did you use when you fought me just now?"
Ning Qi smiled and said, "Since the Sword Ancestor used 70%, then I'll also use 70%."
Jian Jingjue coughed lightly, "Alright, now it's a 100/100 battle, let's see whose 100% is stronger."
He suddenly slashed his right palm together like a sword, aiming it at Ning Qi.
In the void, the ten-thousand-meter-long chain of sword -Sword Dao rules thunderously converged, completely transforming into a majestic divine dragon.
Dragon whiskers, claws, scales, and tail, so lifelike, swirled around the two figures in the air.
"Go!" Jian Jingjue pointed.
The dragon of Sword Dao rules suddenly bared its fangs and claws, and with a casual movement, the void collapsed, revealing a deeper black hole.
The enormous Sword Dao dragon charged towards Ning Qi.
Behind Ning Qi were eight rules, primarily based on the Sword Dao, with the other seven merging into a dazzling dragon spear.
Thunder and lightning surged above it, wind and clouds shifted, water and fire coexisted, its sharp edges were menacing, yet it also possessed a profound sense of weight!
The dragon spear pierced through the void, aiming at the Sword Dao dragon.
When the two met, Spiritual Qi was annihilated, the void shattered, and the central peaks of the Wuji Sword Sect seemed to be trapped in a meteorite field.
Rumble!
At first, the onlookers could see some fragments of the battle and hear some sounds.
Then, they could no longer see or hear anything; all five senses were gone.
Like a weak person falling into an abyss, with neither sky above nor earth below, only a faint ember of the spirit remains, reminding them that they are still alive.
After a few breaths.
The Sword Dao dragon suddenly disintegrated, and the dragon spear shattered as well.
The void where they were was filled with endless Spiritual Qi and rules, light reappeared, and sound returned.
The powerful onlookers turned their attention to the two individuals.
Ning Qi appeared to be thrown back ten feet in mid-air, but he remained impeccably dressed in white, calm and composed.
The back of the Sword Ancestor Sword Jingjue was just as it had been when they first met, standing as straight as a divine sword.
Only Ning Qi saw from the front that a trace of blood seeped from the corner of Jian Jingjue's mouth, but he wiped it away in an instant.
Ning Qi's eyes flickered. He couldn't help but think of what Jian Jingjue had said before: that his situation was somewhat special, and that the Sword Ancestor had decided to hide some important matters!
But now is not the time to ask these questions.
Ning Qi landed on the plaza and said, "Ancestor's achievements are beyond my reach; I am no match for them."
Jian Jingjue coughed lightly again and landed in the arena.
He looked at Ning Qi, deeply shocked.
That ten-thousand-meter Sword Dao technique was used at the cost of his Great Dao injury. Although it could only be maintained for a moment, he could still cut down ordinary Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.
Originally, Jian Jingjue did not intend to use this move, but he was eager to try it out, and when he encountered Ning Qi, a prodigy who appears only once in a million years, he finally used it.
If Ning Qi had not gained any insights from his teachings before he began transmitting the Dharma, he naturally wouldn't have used it.
However, after several exchanges, Jian Jingjue discovered that Ning Qi's comprehension was too extraordinary. After several exchanges, Ning Qi had grasped about 70-80% of his Sword Dao.
That's why he used it.
However, to everyone's surprise, even when his strength waned, Ning Qi was able to hold on, and even...
Jian Jingjue pursed his thin lips. Ning Qi could defeat him!
"You brat, don't flatter me. We sword cultivators act with integrity; one is one, and two is two."
He sighed softly and said, "I'm getting old after all. I'm not as good as you, my talent is not as good as yours, and my future is even less promising!"
Ning Qi was taken aback. He couldn't help but feel a sense of goodwill towards the Sword Ancestor for being so composed.
The powerful figures watching felt as if they had been struck by Sword Dao upon hearing this.
What did the Sword Ancestor just say?
Before Ning Qi appeared, the most brilliant and talented person in the Wuji Sword Sect actually admitted that he was inferior to Ning Qi. Had he lost?
All the powerful beings turned their heads with difficulty, shifting their gazes from the Sword Ancestor to Ning Qi.
Their pupils dilated as they stared at the white-clad figure, their gazes growing increasingly fanatical.
Even the Sword Ancestor admitted he was inferior to them; how fortunate the Boundless Sword Sect was, and how honored these elders were to live and witness this.
The desolate air about Jiang Baichuan vanished instantly, and he finally felt relieved.
It is truly fortunate that a prodigy like Ning Qi has become the sect leader of the Wuji Sword Sect. If he continues to cause trouble, not to mention whether he himself will get into trouble, he will definitely slow down the future of the sect.
"I have preached the word; you may all go down and study it."
The Sword Ancestor waved his wide sleeves.
Everyone bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Sword Ancestor."
"Ning Qi stays."
Ning Qi stopped abruptly as he took his first step, then followed the Sword Ancestor back to the Mingxin Hall.
The two sat down, Ning Qi took out the tea set and personally brewed a pot of Enlightenment Tea.
In a moment, the aroma of Enlightenment Tea filled Mingxin Hall, the tea soup was clear and bright, and a misty Spiritual Qi rose up.
"Sword Ancestor, please have some tea."
Sword Master, engrossed in his swordplay and oblivious to everything else, glanced at Ning Qi with surprise and said:
You also know tea ceremony?
"Cook it occasionally."
Jian Jingjue nodded, took the teacup, and sipped it.
After taking a sip of tea, even at his level, Jian Jingjue felt his Dao heart become clearer and his Primordial Spirit more lucid.
"Huh, what is this tea? It has such effects?"
Ning Qi smiled and replied, "This is Enlightenment Tea, which I found in the Mysterious Realm."
You are truly blessed with great fortune.
After the two finished drinking tea, Ning Qi took the initiative to ask:
"I see that Sword Ancestor seems to be injured? If it weren't for that injury, young man, you would never be a match for him."
Jian Jingjue glanced sideways, "You figured it out?"
"Yes, I wonder if Sword Ancestor can trust me. If so, please tell me. I am willing to do my part to help Sword Ancestor recover from his injuries as soon as possible."
Jian Jingjue said nonchalantly, "You've already become the sect leader, what else is there to distrust?"
Then, he slowly revealed it.
Ten thousand years ago, Jian Jingjue also ventured into the Xuanzhen Secret Realm.
It was he who brought out the Wuji Sword Manual, the ultimate technique of the Wuji Sword Sect.
However, just like Ning Qi and his group this time, the Northern Profound Upper Sect also wanted to eliminate Jian Jingjue, a terrifying genius from the Wuji Sword Sect, within the Xuanzhen Secret Realm.
But he was later killed by him.
However, the other party's True Disciple found an evil object in the Xuanzhen Secret Realm, which probably belonged to the side that was behind the split of the Xuanzhen Realm back then.
The other party used this item on Jian Jingjue, and from then on, Jian Jingjue suffered a great injury, only able to break through to the Void Dao Realm, and could no longer go higher.
That's why he secluded himself for ten thousand years, and chose to take a different path, to break through all laws with a single sword, and to condense a ten-thousand-meter-long divine chain of Sword Dao rules.
Jian Jingjue originally intended to use this opportunity to completely eradicate the Great Dao wound within his body.
Unfortunately, that evil entity possessed his Primordial Spirit and physical body, and even after ten thousand years of seclusion, he could not remove it; on the contrary, the injuries only worsened.
When he fought Ning Qi with all his might before, he could only maintain the ten-thousand-meter-long chain of rules for a few breaths. If it weren't for his eagerness to use it, he wouldn't have used it at all.
Upon hearing this, Ning Qi frowned slightly.
So that's the story behind the Sword Ancestor.
"Sword Ancestor, could you perhaps force out a trace of that evil substance so I can see it? This will help me find a cure for it in the future."
Jian Jingjue placed his hand on his Dantian and then closed his eyes.
He was trembling slightly, and his Primordial Spirit Spiritual Qi were gathering in his Dantian.
Before long, Jian Jingjue sealed a wisp of black energy with the rules of Sword Dao, put it into a jade, and handed it to Ning Qi. His face was pale, and his forehead was slightly sweaty.
A man like him would never utter a word of complaint even in death.
But it only forced out a trace of Evil Qi, like contracting an illness.
Jian Jingjue said, "Don't have too high hopes. Your talent far surpasses mine. Don't waste your time on me. I can still hold on."
Ning Qi accepted it carefully.
"Sword Ancestor, rest assured, this young man will not act rashly."
He didn't examine the Evil Qi for the moment, but instead asked, "Why did the Sword Ancestor leave me here alone?"
Jian Jingjue then took out another Jade Slip and handed it to Ning Qi.
"I have observed the heavens and practiced the Way for ten thousand years before I came to this understanding, which consists of three parts."
"Firstly, it is the true understanding of breaking through all techniques with a single sword strike."
"Secondly, it is the art of Sword Dao that controls all paths."
Thirdly, though I am not talented, I have vaguely sensed some things between heaven and earth.
Sword Ancestor pondered for a moment, then looked into the void. His sword eyes seemed to be able to see through the roof, pierce through the void, and reach straight into the spirit realm.
"This spiritual realm seems incomplete. If we continue with our original cultivation methods, we might encounter serious problems. By fortuitous opportunity, I comprehended a new method, which can be considered a blessing in disguise. However, in my path, I am afraid only you in the entire sect can inherit it, so I will now completely impart it to you."
Ning Qi accepted it with great care, and he was filled with admiration for the Sword Ancestor's understanding of the subject.
As the Lord of the True Martial, he could see what the Sword Ancestor could also see.
Jian Jingjue's face suddenly turned serious, and he continued:
"What I just mentioned is too far in the future. There is an important matter right now, one that is urgent and I must tell you."
"Please enlighten me, Sword Ancestor."
Jian Jingjue nodded slightly.
"As the sect leader, are you aware that the spirit realm we inhabit also possesses its own consciousness?"
Ning Qi nodded. "Is the Sword Ancestor going to talk about the Spirit Realm War?"
"That's right, I didn't expect you already knew."
"Elder Ziyang once mentioned some of this to me."
Jian Jingjue understood immediately, "That makes things easier. The war in the Spirit Realm is extremely dangerous. Even if the two of us in the sect reach the Integration Realm, or even the Dao Integration Realm, we might not be able to survive if the war in the Spirit Realm fully begins, let alone protect the sect."
Ning Qi asked, "Sword Ancestor, since the war in the Spirit Realm is so perilous, is there no way for us to retreat?"
Jian Jingjue said, "We are merely a superior sect in the Northern Profound Domain, but the war in the Spirit Realm is a war between realms. As people of one realm, we naturally have no way out; we are all in the same boat, for if one prospers, we all prosper; if one suffers, we all suffer."
He paused slightly, "Fortunately, even if a war in the spirit world begins, unless it's absolutely necessary, it will usually be soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals."
"My emergence from seclusion this time was not only due to the turmoil within the sect, but also because I sensed the impending war in the Spirit Realm. Our Wuji Sword Sect will certainly be summoned there, so I hope you can lead the Wuji Sword Sect through this difficult time."
"Danger can also breed opportunity. Now that you are the sect leader, judging from your performance in leading the team in the Xuanzhen Secret Realm, I believe you will be able to lead the Wuji Sword Sect through the crisis and turn it into an opportunity."
Ning Qi followed Jian Jingjue's gaze.
The gaze also passes through the roof, reaching straight into the void and beyond the spirit world.
While other sects may be worried about the Spirit Realm War, only Ning Qi himself knows how important it is to him.
If the True Martial wants to escape the fate of being swallowed up by the Mountain and Sea Realm, one option is to integrate multiple rules to advance to the Spirit Realm and contend with it.
Secondly, he actively participated in the war in the spirit world, a situation where the clam and the crane fight, and the fisherman benefits.
Ning Qi wants both to be done simultaneously!