Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: A 5-Round Contest, Condensing Water into a Word

That one casual sentence was enough to infuriate everyone present.

The eyes of the brothers, Liu Feng and Liu Yun, turned icy. Liu Ying shook her head repeatedly. To think she had once been so curious about Ning Jiang—it was laughable now.

Liu Shiyi’s fine brows furrowed slightly as well. ’Is Ning Jiang arrogant, or just confident?’

The crowd was in an uproar.

”See? They get this angry over a single sentence. Such petty people will never amount to anything,” Ning Jiang said to Liu Xianyu, ignoring the crowd’s reaction.

”You whelp! Since you’re looking for death, we’ll grant you your wish!” Liu Feng said, his voice cold as ice.

”Whatever games you want to play, it’s up to you,” Ning Jiang replied, perfectly at ease and speaking in a relaxed tone.

Everyone shot Ning Jiang a venomous glare before huddling together to discuss.

After about half a stick of incense, they reached a conclusion.

There would be five rounds in total, each a different kind of competition.

Each round would have a wager of ten thousand Primordial Stones. As for Ning Jiang, he was also betting his life.

”Since this is a betting match, I’ll sweeten the pot. I’ll act as the house and take bets. I’m backing Young Master Ning to win, with one-to-one odds.”

Liu Xianyu announced. Ning Jiang had told her long ago not to call him Mr. Ning in public and to keep things low-key.

”Heh, Liu Xianyu, if you want to hand us free Primordial Stones, we’d be more than happy to take them,” Liu Feng guffawed.

’Idiots,’ Liu Xianyu snorted inwardly. ’If these people had any idea how extraordinary Ning Jiang is, they would all be stunned.’

But this was good, too. She could take this opportunity to make a hefty profit. She had absolute faith in Ning Jiang.

”Mr. Ning, when I win as the house, we’ll split the profits fifty-fifty,” Liu Xianyu whispered, leaning close to Ning Jiang’s ear, her breath sweet.

Such an intimate gesture made many of the onlookers secretly frown, wondering about the exact nature of Ning Jiang and Liu Xianyu’s relationship.

Friends? Lovers?

”I’ll bet two hundred Primordial Stones.”

”I’ll bet four hundred.”

”Three hundred and fifty from me.”

”...”

More than half of the people present placed bets. These Liu Family disciples were all wealthy and didn’t hesitate to spend lavishly.

More than sixty people placed bets, bringing the total to a staggering 21,000 Primordial Stones. If Ning Jiang won, Liu Xianyu would win it all; if he lost, she would have to pay out 21,000.

”Shiyi, aren’t you going to place a bet?”

”I’ll pass.” Liu Shiyi shook her head; she was still observing.

’Liu Xianyu is so confident in Ning Jiang... Is there truly something special about him? After all, even Liu Yuanlong told me to get close to him. I have to be cautious.’

”The first round begins.”

Once the betting was concluded, a man named Liu Fei stepped forward as Liu Yun’s voice faded.

The first round was a contest of Martial Techniques.

This competition, however, was rather unorthodox. The rule was that each contestant would demonstrate a Mortal Level Top Grade Martial Technique, and their opponent would then have to replicate it.

”You can go first,” Liu Fei said coldly.

Ning Jiang didn’t hold back. He performed the Big Splash Wind Sword, his movements as fierce and fast as a sudden downpour.

”A Perfect Martial Technique. He’s got some skill, after all.” Many in the crowd showed surprise. It was no easy feat to cultivate a Martial Technique to the Perfection Realm; only a few among them had managed it.

After watching, Liu Fei pondered for a moment before attempting to replicate the Big Splash Wind Sword based on Ning Jiang’s Sword Technique.

He, too, was a Sword Cultivator, and a Postnatal Early Stage Martial Artist at that.

However, this sort of contest placed more importance on aptitude than Cultivation. Someone with high aptitude would have a stronger ability to learn, and thus a higher degree of replication.

In fact, some masters used this very method to select disciples. They would perform a Martial Technique to see how much a candidate could comprehend. Those who met the requirements became disciples, while those who fell short were disqualified.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Liu Fei thrusted his longsword, his Sword Momentum fierce. The air filled with the ringing of his blade.

”He’s managed a thirty percent replication,” Liu Yun commented after watching for a while.

A thirty percent replication was a sign of superior aptitude. Even if he were the one performing, Liu Yun estimated he himself could only manage about forty percent.

Liu Xianyu judged herself as well. ’I could probably replicate forty or fifty percent.’

”Alright, my turn.”

Liu Fei flicked his longsword, creating a series of graceful flourishes. His Sword Momentum was as light and nimble as a floating cloud, every single move filled with a gentle grace.

”The Mortal Level Top Grade Martial Technique, Flowing Cloud Swordsmanship,” someone whispered. It was one of the Liu Family’s Sword Techniques.

After demonstrating the entire technique, Liu Fei said proudly, ”If you can replicate even thirty percent, I’ll admit defeat.”

’Thirty percent?’ Ning Jiang was noncommittal. With his abilities, forgetting thirty percent—even a complete replication would be effortless. Besides, Liu Fei had only cultivated this Sword Technique to the Great Success realm. In Ning Jiang’s hands, it would instantly be at the Perfection Realm.

But doing so would be far too shocking.

’Besides, if my performance is too astonishing, they’ll be too scared to bet against me. How am I supposed to win their Primordial Stones then?’

”Watch closely.” Ning Jiang’s sword moved. It flowed like a cloud, rising and falling, erratic and unpredictable.

”An eighty percent replication!” The corner of Liu Yun’s eye twitched in disbelief.

”Despicable! Liu Xianyu, I remember you cultivated this Flowing Cloud Swordsmanship back when you were in the Qi Cultivation Realm! You must have performed it in front of this whelp before. He was already familiar with it, which is the only reason he could replicate eighty percent right away!” Liu Feng roared.

Many in the crowd nodded in agreement. They also refused to believe Ning Jiang could replicate eighty percent of the Flowing Cloud Swordsmanship after seeing it only once.

”If you can’t afford to lose, then don’t play.”

Liu Xianyu couldn’t be bothered to explain, knowing it would be useless.

Only she knew the truth. ’What’s replicating eighty percent of the Flowing Cloud Swordsmanship? Ning Jiang has performed the Cloud-Piercing Sword at the Perfection Realm! Even if it was just a single stance, that technique is Profound Level!’

”I concede this time.” Liu Fei shot Ning Jiang a cold glare, believing in his heart that he had only lost because of Liu Xianyu.

”Don’t get cocky. You just got lucky this time. There are still four rounds left,” Liu Feng said, his expression grim.

In this round, Ning Jiang won ten thousand Primordial Stones, plus the 21,000 from the side bets, which he split evenly with Liu Xianyu.

The second round began shortly after.

Liu Xianyu continued to act as the house. The loss in the first round hadn’t dampened the crowd’s enthusiasm. On the contrary, they were even more eager to win back their losses, and the total wagers reached 25,000 Primordial Stones.

The second round was a contest of weapon control.

The one competing against Ning Jiang was a man named Liu Qi, a Spear Technique expert of the Liu Family who wielded a long spear.

The Liu Family was not exclusively a Sword Dao Family; its members studied a wide variety of arts. Liu Yuanlong, for instance, was most proficient in Palm Techniques.

Liu Xianyu, on the other hand, had a particular affinity for the sword, and so she chose to cultivate Sword Techniques.

This competition was simple. A row of thirty-six candles was set up. The contestants had to use their weapons to extinguish the flames without damaging the candles themselves.

Whoever extinguished the most flames within three breaths would win.

Liu Qi gripped his long spear, squatted, and assumed a horse stance. His posture was as if he were riding a wild stallion. He took a deep breath, concentrating his mind. He held the long spear with one hand, his arm incredibly steady.

”Hah!”

With a thunderous shout, Liu Qi’s arm shot forward. The spear tip flashed with a cold light, its power so immense it could have run a man clean through.

Within three breaths, his spear tip moved without pause, so fast that it left afterimages. He thrusted twenty-five times in succession.

A full twenty-three candle flames were extinguished, while he missed two.

”Amazing.”

”Extinguishing a single flame isn’t difficult. The hard part is doing it consecutively. That requires incredibly precise control.”

”With Spear Technique like that, he’s probably only one step away from the realm of Man and Spear Unity.”

The so-called Man and Spear Unity was the same as the Realm of Man and Sword as One. Man and Sword as One meant achieving Body Sword Control, a realm Liu Xianyu herself had reached, earning her the title of a Sword Dao genius.

Those who reached this Realm experienced a boost in their combat power. Though they were both in the Innate Realm, Liu Yun was no match for Liu Xianyu.

And this Liu Qi was just one step away from achieving Man and Spear Unity with his Spear Technique.

”I refuse to believe he can win this round, unless he’s reached Man and Sword as One and his Sword Technique is just as meticulous,” Liu Fei snorted, still brooding over his loss to Ning Jiang in the first round.

Liu Xianyu, however, almost laughed out loud. ’Competing against Ning Jiang in weapon control? They’re completely overestimating themselves. Given his realm of Heart Sword Control, unless Wenhua City himself were here, no one would be qualified to compete with Ning Jiang.’

After the candles were relit, Ning Jiang, with a calm expression, drew his sword. Within three breaths, he delivered thirty consecutive strikes.

Twenty-nine candles extinguished, one miss!

He had done it on purpose, holding back a great deal of his true strength.

But the crowd didn’t see it that way. One astonished gaze after another fell upon him.

”Hmph, I miscalculated. If Liu Qi is one step away from Man and Spear Unity, then this man is only half a step from Man and Sword as One,” Liu Yun snorted.

Liu Xianyu wasn’t surprised. ’I knew he’d hold back. Otherwise, if he revealed his Heart Sword Control, who would dare compete against him? A tiger wanting to play with sheep must hide its claws and don a sheepskin.’

On the other side, Liu Shiyi sighed internally. ’So far, I still don’t see anything remarkable about Ning Jiang. Even being just half a step away from Man and Sword as One is far from enough.’

’Unless he has truly achieved Man and Sword as One—Body Sword Control—only then would I start to take him seriously.’

The second round still went to Ning Jiang.

The faces of the Liu Family members had already turned ugly. After two rounds, they had lost a considerable amount of Primordial Stones.

The third round was a contest of True Qi control.

The wager was ten thousand Primordial Stones, plus side bets totaling 23,000 Primordial Stones.

A giant water vat was brought to the center of the bamboo grove.

Competing against Ning Jiang was a slender man with fair, delicate skin named Liu Li.

”I may be at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, and my Cultivation is higher than yours, but this competition is about True Qi control, which isn’t closely related to one’s Cultivation. You shouldn’t have any objections, right?” Liu Li said.

”Fine.” Ning Jiang offered only a single word.

Liu Li snorted coldly and walked to the water vat. His palms, fairer and more delicate than a woman’s, extended slowly, stopping about three feet above the surface of the water. In the next moment, True Qi surged from his body and flowed into his hands.

Immediately, the surface of the water rippled, disturbed by his True Qi.

A shocking scene unfolded. In the center of the vat, the water surged and condensed, gradually forming the character for ”Liu.”

Condensing water into a character!

This single feat stunned the entire audience.

”Disturbing the water’s surface from a distance with True Qi isn’t hard, but controlling each individual current, giving form to the formless, and condensing it into a character... that level of control is something most Innate Realm experts can’t even achieve!”

The crowd’s shock was not yet over. Liu Li’s eyes went wide, bloodshot veins spreading across them.

”Rise.”

He roared, and the ”Liu” character in the vat, as if pulled by an invisible force, slowly rose up from the surface of the water!

At that moment, even the top prodigies of the Liu Family—Liu Xianyu, Liu Shiyi, Liu Yun, and Liu Mi—all looked on in astonishment.

”Bravo!”

Instantly, the crowd erupted in applause.