Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: I Will Kill, and None Can Escape

It was a dark and windy night, perfect for murder and arson.

In the dead of night, the Liu Mansion was still brightly lit and heavily guarded.

Deep within the Liu Mansion, in a quiet room under dim light, the soft moans of a woman and the heavy panting of a man could be heard from time to time.

After a long while, the commotion finally ceased.

”How is it? Feeling any better?”

A bewitchingly beautiful woman cooed, her voice carrying a deliberately coquettish tone. She was currently sitting on the edge of the bed, tidying her clothes.

This was Feng Xue.

The man beside her was Liu Feng. He had been beaten to the ground by Ning Jiang earlier that day and was stewing in anger. This amorous encounter had indeed improved his mood considerably.

As for his broken nose, it was mostly healed after he took some medicine.

”Much better. But why isn’t Zheng Zhiyuan back yet?”

Liu Feng’s brow furrowed. Zheng Zhiyuan had been gone for too long. Logically, he should have returned by now.

”Brother Feng, if that kid is really valued by Old Sir Liu, won’t you get in trouble for having him killed?” Feng Xue had also heard roughly what happened at the Liu Family’s banquet today.

What she never expected was that even Liu Feng had suffered a major defeat at Ning Jiang’s hands, and the entire younger generation of the Liu Family had been utterly humiliated.

”Hmph, so what if he’s valued by Grandpa? Once a person is dead, they’re just a corpse. A dead person has no value.”

”Besides, I hired someone to kill him. Who’s going to know it was me? That kid offended so many people, anyone could have wanted him dead. And even if they did find out it was me, would Grandpa really raise a fuss over a dead man? I have his blood in my veins, while he is just an outsider.”

”Now I just have to wait for Zheng Zhiyuan to come back. After I give him his payment, I’ll have him leave Luoyang City immediately. That way, not a single clue can be traced back!”

Liu Feng’s voice was ice-cold. He hadn’t even told Liu Yun about this matter. The fewer people who knew, the safer it was.

’What the hell is this Zheng Zhiyuan up to?’

Liu Feng put on his clothes. With Zheng Zhiyuan still not back, a sudden unease crept into his heart.

”You won’t be waiting for him anymore.”

BANG.

Suddenly, the door was thrown open.

”It’s you!”

By the lamplight, Liu Feng saw the visitor clearly.

It was a young man, holding a longsword.

”That’s right, it’s me.” Ning Jiang’s steps were silent as he entered the room. ”I’ve come to kill you. You know why.”

”Where is Zheng Zhiyuan?!” Liu Feng was both shocked and furious.

”He works for me now.” Ning Jiang’s gaze was lowered, like a benevolent god or buddha. ”And you don’t need to look behind me. I came alone tonight.”

”Damn it! Zheng Zhiyuan dares to betray me? It seems he doesn’t want his wife to live anymore,” Liu Feng said grimly. ”If you had brought Zheng Zhiyuan with you, my chances might have been slim. But just you alone? You want to kill me? You must be dreaming!”

Ning Jiang said nothing. True Qi surged from within him and onto his longsword. His killing intent was set.

”Hm? Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer. It seems you’ve taken some kind of elixir to boost your strength. But so what? Can you even imagine the gap between the Postnatal Realm and the Qi Cultivation Realm? Ten ordinary Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer martial artists are no match for a Postnatal Early Stage expert!”

”You’re right. A Postnatal Realm Martial Artist wields Postnatal Gang Qi. Gang Qi is far more condensed than True Qi—more than ten times stronger,” Ning Jiang said.

Martial Artists in the Qi Cultivation Realm absorb Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, refining it into the energy known as True Qi within their bodies.

The Qi Cultivation Realm’s Tenth Layer is also called Qi Refining and Gang Transformation. At this stage, one gradually converts all of their True Qi into Gang Qi. Once the Dantian’s Qi Vortex transforms into a watery whirlpool, one can officially step into the Postnatal Realm.

The Postnatal Realm involves mastering Postnatal Gang Qi, which is more condensed and robust, its power completely different from that of True Qi.

If one breaks through from the Postnatal to the Innate Realm, Postnatal Gang Qi transforms into Innate Gang Qi. The power of Innate Gang Qi increases explosively. With a body full of Innate Gang Qi, even ten or twenty Postnatal Martial Artists would be no match for a single Innate Realm expert.

An Innate Realm Martial Artist can cross hundreds of feet in a single leap with a breath of Gang Qi, easily vaulting over cliffs and spanning great rivers.

As for those experts at the Innate Limit, they have already compressed all their Gang Qi into Gang Yuan.

Such experts can even achieve flight by relying on their dense and powerful Gang Yuan. However, their Gang Yuan is limited, and Flying in the Sky consumes it at a severe rate, depleting it in less than a day. Thus, they generally avoid doing so.

Only experts who break through the Innate Realm and enter the Spirit Realm can fly for extended periods, soaring through the Cyan Netherworld. Not only that, but they can also achieve Qi Refining and Grain Avoidance, and their lifespan can reach five hundred years.

”Since you know all that, you still dare to come here and die.”

”’Ten ordinary Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer martial artists are no match for a Postnatal Early Stage expert.’ That statement is correct, but you’re wrong about one thing!” Ning Jiang cut Liu Feng off, enunciating every word. ”I have never been an ordinary person!”

”Liu Feng! What you did tonight crossed a line. Grudges in the open should be settled in the open. But you resorted to underhanded assassination, so I cannot spare you.”

”Even in the feud between your Liu Family and the Wang Family, the conflicts have always been out in the open. No one dares to cross the line and resort to assassination. Doing so breaks the unwritten rules and will trigger an all-out war.”

”My coming to kill you today is perfectly justified!”

”You crossed the line!”

”Deserve death!”

As those two words left his mouth, Ning Jiang’s perpetually calm eyes suddenly erupted with a sharp glint. A fierce killing aura burst forth.

CLANG.

The longsword in his hand let out a clear, crisp ring, resonating with his intent.

This sword was named Chasing Wind.

The sword was three feet and three inches long, one finger-width wide, and cyan all over.

It was a Middle Grade Treasure Artifact, a gift from Ning Changfeng.

At the same level of strength, the difference between having a sword and not having one was enormous.

Ning Jiang practiced Heart Sword Control. With a sword in hand, had his power not increased by more than tenfold?

At the banquet, he had defeated Liu Feng single-handedly within three moves. What more now?

The moment he drew his sword, it moved like a heavenly shuttle. His feet seemed to skate across the floor as he closed in on Liu Feng.

”AOOO!”

Liu Feng let out a piercing shriek. The sound was like a steel wire flung high into the sky—sharp, ear-piercing, and spreading in all directions. The paper on the windows shattered instantly from the cry, making a series of POP-POP-POP sounds.

Then, he stomped his foot hard on the ground. The Postnatal Gang Qi in his body erupted at full power, pulverizing the bluestone floor beneath him.

SWISH.

With a single movement, he shot to the left, like a bird darting into a forest.

He was running away!

Faced with Ning Jiang’s sword strike, despite his Postnatal Early Stage cultivation, he didn’t dare to confront it. He fled without even fighting.

This was a disgrace. If word of this got out, his reputation would be in tatters, and he would never be able to hold his head high again.

But Liu Feng couldn’t be bothered with that anymore. No one who hadn’t truly faced Ning Jiang could understand how terrifying he was.

That sword strike had made him feel death’s approach.

Moreover, the psychological shadow Ning Jiang had cast over him during the banquet had not yet dissipated. Back then, Ning Jiang had used only one hand. Now, with a sword in his grasp, his sharpness was fully revealed.

If the Ning Jiang from back then was a Treasure Sword hidden in its Sword Scabbard, then the Ning Jiang of this moment was an unsheathed God of Slaughter!

He would slay gods and buddhas who stood in his way. With his three-foot cyan blade, he would cut down all ghosts and deities.

With sword in hand, he was unstoppable.

’Run, run, run, run!’

There was no will to fight left in Liu Feng’s heart. If he could just hold on for a little longer, he could escape with his life.

That long shriek had already alerted everyone nearby. Once the people of the Liu Family arrived, it would be Ning Jiang’s doom!

He threw his body forward, executing the Golden Snake Step Technique. Fueled by his Postnatal Gang Qi, his speed was more than ten times faster than before. In a flash, he was at the window, about to break through it to escape.

But Ning Jiang had already anticipated everything.

When he fought Ma Hong, he had predicted Ma Hong’s actions through subtle movements. It was the same now; Liu Feng’s every move was completely within his grasp.

He tapped his toes on the ground, his body as light as a falling leaf. His sleeves fluttered as if he were floating. He leaped forward, the tip of his sword striking straight ahead.

SWISH. A cold light flashed.

The sword reached the spot on Liu Feng’s back over his chest. This strike was aimed at his heart.

DING!

The sword struck Liu Feng’s back. His clothes ripped, but the blade was blocked, sending sparks flying.

It was a piece of jet-black Treasure Armor.

Treasure Armor was always rare and precious, its value second only to a Pill Cauldron. Ordinary people could never afford it. Only a disciple from a clan like Liu Feng would have such financial resources.

This was a Low Grade Treasure Armor. The Wind Chasing Sword had left a mark on it, but it was a Treasure Artifact after all and couldn’t be pierced in a single strike.

PUFF. The sword was blocked, but the immense force was still transmitted into his body. Liu Feng immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.

At the same time, he used that force to launch himself into the air, break through the window, and burst out of the room.

”You’re dead!”

Liu Feng laughed maniacally. He could already feel auras rapidly approaching from all directions.

”When I decide to kill someone, no one can escape. Not to the heavens above, nor the earth below.”

Ning Jiang’s voice was devoid of emotion. He suddenly erupted forward, taking eight consecutive steps, launching himself into the air. His speed was soul-stealing, life-reaping.

Eight-Step Chasing Cicada!

This was a Mortal Level Top Grade Martial Technique. Unlike the Cloud Traveling Step, which was a Lightweight Skill used for sustained movement, the Eight-Step Chasing Cicada focused on explosive power within eight steps.

Within eight steps, one’s speed would more than double. No matter how fast the enemy, they could not escape one’s grasp.

Again, it was at the Perfection Realm.

Like a grim reaper, Ning Jiang appeared behind Liu Feng. His sword flashed. This time, his blade was aimed at Liu Feng’s neck.

This was a fatal strike.

”Stop!”

Suddenly, a furious roar came from not far away. The aura of an Innate Realm expert erupted without reservation. The newcomer was Liu Yun.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH.

From all directions, more figures rushed over. The ones living here were all from the third generation of the Liu Family’s youth.

”Big brother, save me!” Liu Feng let out a bloodcurdling scream.

But in the next moment, his voice came to an abrupt halt.

SPURT.

The longsword flashed across Liu Feng’s neck and was gone. Ning Jiang sheathed his sword, his expression calm.

SPURT.

A breath later, a head rolled to the ground. A geyser of blood shot more than ten feet high from Liu Feng’s neck, a shocking and gruesome sight.

Liu Yun froze on the spot.

Liu Xianyu, Liu Shiyi, Liu Mi, and the many others who arrived after him all stared in shock at the scene before them.

Right before their very eyes, Ning Jiang had killed Liu Feng with a single sword strike!

”He’s dead, he’s so dead.”

Feng Xue’s body trembled. She looked at Ning Jiang in disbelief. ’This person... actually dared to commit murder in the Liu Family’s own home. What kind of madman have I gotten involved with?’

”You animal! I’m going to tear you to pieces!” Flames seemed about to erupt from Liu Yun’s eyes.

”Kill!”

He attacked brazenly. Innate Gang Qi condensed on his hands, transforming them into two jet-black iron palms the size of cattail fans. As he clapped them together, the air boomed.

HISS.

Suddenly, a streak of sword light, as swift as a thunderclap, shot toward Liu Yun.