Ning Ye's grand plan was to overthrow the Black and White Divine Palace and restore the Heavenly Mechanism Sect.
But the plan was so vast that he might not accomplish it in his lifetime, not with his own strength alone.
Fortunately, even the greatest plan could usually be broken down into countless smaller ones. For Ning Ye, all he had to do was divide the grand plan into steps and carry them out one by one.
As the saying went, though the road was long, you would reach the end if you kept walking; though the task was difficult, you would succeed if you kept at it.
The first step was to find a Thousand Mechanism Hall Fragment.
The Black and White Divine Palace possessed one, something Ning Ye had known since his days in the Heavenly Mechanism Sect. But he had no idea where it was kept.
The Black and White Divine Palace had dozens of storerooms, organized by rank and jurisdiction. Even the Kunlun Mirror couldn't determine exactly how many. But one thing was certain: even if a divine treasure like the Thousand Mechanism Hall Fragment had no practical use, the Black and White Divine Palace wouldn't leave it lying around just anywhere.
With Ning Ye's current strength, finding the fragment's whereabouts was almost impossible.
Of course, he could wait until he grew stronger. But the plan was immense. If he had to wait decades just to take the first step, what about everything that came after?
To overthrow the Black and White Divine Palace, Ning Ye had made a hundred-year plan. He gave himself two years to find the Thousand Mechanism Hall Fragment.
That was precisely why he couldn't wait.
Ransacking the storeroom to startle the snake was the first step in this branch of the plan.
After that, Ning Ye didn't make another move. He simply continued cultivating in peace.
Since all the stolen goods had been recovered, the storeroom incident soon blew over. The disciples who had been interrogated, however, suffered for it. Every one of them was thoroughly tortured before being released.
During this time, Ning Ye devoted himself to making talismans and practicing the blade. His Blade Dao improved at a steady pace, but his Talisman Dao advanced far more quickly.
Most talisman makers needed at least half a year just to get started. Ning Ye made no effort to hide his "genius"—in just two months, he officially unveiled his Ninth-Grade Talismans.
The Ninth-Grade Talismans didn't take the market by storm, but they did startle Zhang Liekuang. It seemed this kid had more talent for the Talisman Dao than the Blade Dao.
Zhang Liekuang didn't know whether to be happy or annoyed. Either way, he felt decidedly uncomfortable.
Today, as usual, Ning Ye finished making a batch of Ninth-Grade Talismans and took them to Heavenly Collection Peak to sell.
After making the trip so often, Ning Ye had established a steady partnership with a shop on the peak. He could simply hand over his finished talismans, and though he got a little less for them, it saved him time.
After completing the transaction, Ning Ye was about to leave when he saw someone come in.
Chen Changfeng?
Ever since Ning Ye had injured him last time, the kid had spent quite a while recuperating. He should have recovered by now, and he still had that same smug look on his face. He even had two lackeys with him now—probably bodyguards he'd hired after learning his lesson last time.
Chen Changfeng clearly hadn't expected to run into Ning Ye here. He froze for a moment, then his expression turned vicious. "Ning Ye? You still dare show your face in front of me?"
That made no sense at all. He was the one who'd lost last time, wasn't he?
Ning Ye looked at him, then at the defiant expressions on his lackeys' faces. Suddenly, he understood and laughed. "Don't tell me you told them that you only suffered superficial injuries last time, while I took the brunt of your hidden force and was hurt even worse?"
Chen Changfeng froze. He hadn't expected Ning Ye to guess the story he'd been feeding his lackeys.
At least he wasn't foolish enough to ask how Ning Ye had figured it out. But his expression told Ning Ye all he needed to know. After sizing him up, Ning Ye said, "Still at the second level?"
Chen Changfeng froze again.
After Ning Ye defeated him, he'd spent a long time recuperating. Naturally, his cultivation had stalled, and he was still stuck at the second level.
Ning Ye smiled. "I'm at the second level too."
Damn it!
Chen Changfeng was furious enough to curse.
But Ning Ye had already squeezed past him. "Move, move."
Then he headed outside.
Bastard! You're asking for it!
Chen Changfeng abruptly drew his sword and stabbed at Ning Ye's back.
This time, he'd learned his lesson. He didn't aim for a vital spot, but instead thrust toward Ning Ye's spine. The sword moved in sinister silence, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue. The strike wouldn't kill him, but if he didn't dodge, he'd be badly wounded.
Yet the instant Chen Changfeng struck, a talisman appeared on Ning Ye's body. It shimmered, and a current of water rippled across it. The sword thrust was swept aside by the flowing current, grazing past Ning Ye's armpit.
At the same time, Ning Ye retreated sharply.
He'd been facing away from Chen Changfeng, and his retreat sent him crashing straight into Chen Changfeng's arms. Then he snapped his head back and slammed it into Chen Changfeng's nose. The piercing sting left Chen Changfeng seeing stars.
The two lackeys cried out and lunged. Ning Ye already had seven or eight talismans in his hand. With a BOOM, they shot out and transformed into blades, which thudded into the two men and sent them flying. But Chen Changfeng managed to jab Ning Ye in the back with a sword finger.
A fleck of blood welled at Ning Ye's lips. He struck backward with both elbows, his arms like blades. Chen Changfeng screamed in pain, and two bloody holes appeared beneath his ribs.
The No-Sorrow Lineage fought with vicious, underhanded moves: snapping tendons, shattering bones, ruining blood, devouring souls. They excelled in prolonged battles but were poor at direct assaults. The Seven-Kill Lineage, on the other hand, prized momentum: once the blade was drawn, there was no turning back; each step brought another kill. That was why, when disciples from the two lineages fought at roughly equal strength, the Seven-Kill Lineage would inevitably gain the upper hand early on.
Chen Changfeng couldn't withstand a head-on clash. He let out a furious cry.
But the kid still had a trump card. The next moment, he raised his long sword.
He stabbed at Ning Ye with the Silver Moon Sword, the magical weapon he'd brought from his Household. At the same time, his two lackeys charged again, trying to surround Ning Ye from the front and behind.
Ning Ye still had no magical weapon. He had talismans, but no weapon of his own, and he was up against three opponents. Unless he used the Heavenly Mechanism Sect's techniques, he had no chance of winning if the fight dragged on.
Just as he considered whether to slap his hidden Eighth-Grade Talismans right into his opponents' faces, a strangely beautiful flute melody suddenly rang out.
The flute's notes were clear, winding and melodious, like bells ringing in an empty valley. They soothed the heart, and their sound brought a sense of calm and ease.
Ning Ye, Chen Changfeng, and the two lackeys all slowed at once. Even their surging battle intent ebbed.
Mystic Sound Art?
Ning Ye was startled.
Mystic Sound Art was a broad category referring to those who used music to fight. It came in many forms: the Way of the Wondrous Wind Immortal Sound was mostly used for support; the Thunder Sound Brain-Piercing Method could wound groups of enemies; and the Heavenly Demon Melody was a seductive, bewitching tune that disturbed the mind and was the hardest to withstand.
But music was naturally gentle, unlike the ferocity of battle techniques, so such arts were usually supernatural abilities cultivated later on.
The newcomer had used a gentle melody to calm their blood and steady their breathing. That meant his cultivation was far beyond theirs.
Ning Ye looked back and saw a man in white, robes fluttering, enter with a jade flute in hand.
Chen Changfeng was handsome enough, but next to the man before them, he fell far short. Every fine description, from sharp brows to bright, starry eyes, fit the newcomer perfectly.
What was more impressive was his excellent bearing—gentle, refined, and courteous.
When he reached them, he smiled. "We're all disciples of the same sect. Why fight among ourselves? You're breaking the sect rules, to say nothing of how much worse it would be if someone got hurt."
Chen Changfeng's side thought they had the advantage. One of his lackeys, seeing the newcomer act so high and mighty, snapped, "Who the hell are you?"
The handsome man smiled. "I'm Xu Yanwen."
He spoke with an unmistakable confidence, clearly not some nobody.
Chen Changfeng found the name vaguely familiar and was trying to remember where he'd heard it when the lackey, an utter fool, shook his head and said, "What kind of stupid name is Xu Yanwen? Never heard of him."
Xu Yanwen paused. "You don't know who I am?"
"No. So what?" The lackey thrust out his chin as he answered.
Xu Yanwen sighed softly. "Well, that's no good..."
The next moment, his expression changed completely. His handsome face twisted into a snarl. "I'll fuck your grandmother!"
BANG!
He brought the jade flute down hard on the lackey's head.
Down he went!
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