Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Way of Give and Take, Closed-Door Cultivation

In the sky, a great wind howled.

A giant bird let out a long, sharp cry.

The massive bird was powerfully built. Its wingspan was over ten meters, and its body was covered in dark cyan scales that glinted like sharp metal in the sunlight. Its talons, curved like iron anchors, could snatch up an elephant with a single light grasp.

It was a Cyan-Scaled Eagle, a creature infamous even among Demon Beasts.

Others might not have known, but Ning Jiang did. This type of Demon Beast was a descendant of the Qingtian Roc, and it might be possible to refine a trace of the Qingtian Roc’s bloodline from its body.

The Qingtian Roc was a terrifyingly vicious bird. Even across the entire Great Thousand Realms, it was considered an Overlord Level Demon Beast.

While it might not compare to a Top Level existence like the Golden-winged Roc, it still ranked among the foremost of the Roc species, its ferocious might renowned.

An adult Qingtian Roc could annihilate the entire Cyan Cloud Country without breaking a sweat.

”Little brother, you’re not planning to go after it, are you?”

Ning Yu’an was startled when she saw a strange look in Ning Jiang’s eyes. It was as if he was coveting the Cyan-Scaled Eagle.

”Sister An, you know me best. A Demon Beast like the Cyan-Scaled Eagle is a rare sight. If I miss this chance, who knows when I’ll encounter one again. I need some of its bloodline; it’ll be of great use.”

Ning Jiang smiled. The Demon Mist Mountain Range was vast, and accurately tracking a Cyan-Scaled Eagle within it was no easy task.

Since he’d run into one this time, there was no way he would let it go.

”Since you have a plan, please be careful.” Knowing Ning Jiang’s personality, Ning Yu’an said no more.

”Don’t worry, Sister An.”

Ning Jiang smiled, telling Ning Yu’an to stay at the cave entrance while he went out.

”SHHIIING!”

He threw a punch, and the Postnatal Gang Qi in his body erupted with a bang, soaring seventy zhang high.

The Cyan-Scaled Eagle was flying over a hundred zhang up in the sky. Naturally, his punch couldn’t harm it, but it was more than enough to get the Demon Beast’s attention.

Sure enough, the Cyan-Scaled Eagle shrieked from high above. Spreading its wings, it dove straight toward Ning Jiang.

This Demon Beast had inherited the Qingtian Roc’s speed. As it dove, its body shimmered with a cold, cyan light, looking sharp and intimidating.

’Innate Middle Stage!’

Ning Jiang’s eyes narrowed. He guessed this was the same Cyan-Scaled Eagle that had snatched the Pure Essence Fruit. It had probably eaten the fruit and advanced from the Innate Early Stage to the Middle Stage.

As the Cyan-Scaled Eagle charged down, a fierce wind blasted him first.

Its enormous body cast a large shadow over the forest. Covered from head to toe in cyan scales that looked forged from steel, it glinted with a cold light, its ferocious aura overwhelming.

An ordinary Innate Realm expert would likely be terrified by such a ferocious display.

Ning Jiang remained perfectly calm. He activated Ten Steps of Impermanence, and his body seemed to take flight, darting into the dense forest like a bird returning to its nest.

In terms of Cultivation, he was far inferior to the Cyan-Scaled Eagle. He had to make use of the terrain.

’In battle, you have to know how to use everything to your advantage.’

BANG.

Just as Ning Jiang entered the forest, a massive crash echoed behind him. The Cyan-Scaled Eagle’s wings were like two sharp longswords, shattering a huge swath of towering trees in one go. Broken branches and splinters flew everywhere.

This Demon Beast’s physique was formidable. Its body was harder than steel, and trees dozens of zhang tall were like tofu before it, unable to withstand a single blow.

It was terrifyingly powerful, filled with strength. A single dive had left the area in utter chaos.

However, obstructed by the dense forest, its speed was ultimately affected and couldn’t be fully utilized. Otherwise, it would have caught up to Ning Jiang in a matter of breaths.

One pursued while the other fled. They quickly covered several hundred zhang.

The Cyan-Scaled Eagle swept through everything in its path, plowing through the trees with unstoppable force as it rapidly closed the distance.

Swarms of trees were cut down, littering the ground with broken branches and debris.

’This is the place.’

At that moment, Ning Jiang suddenly drew his sword.

He didn’t aim his sword at the relentlessly pursuing Cyan-Scaled Eagle, but at several large trees around him.

SHHIIING!

The Wind Chasing Sword swept across a circle of surrounding trees.

SKREEE!

Finally, the Cyan-Scaled Eagle caught up. A vicious glint flared in its eyes as it brought its longsword-like wings down in a fierce slash.

The air shrieked as if it were cloth being cut.

BOOM.

The ground shook violently. Its iron-like wings were indestructible. A single strike on the ground instantly created a fissure several zhang long.

Fortunately, Ning Jiang had dodged just before the blow landed. Otherwise, he would have been sent to the Yellow Springs.

Having missed its first strike, the Cyan-Scaled Eagle was about to launch its next attack.

CRACK.

Just then, the great trees that Ning Jiang had severed with his sword began to fall in unison from all directions, crashing down on the Cyan-Scaled Eagle at the center.

These trees were enormous, each one so thick it would take several people to encircle it. Their astonishing weight could crush a person to a pulp.

Dozens of great trees toppled at once, a terrifying sight. It was like a massive net pressing down on the Cyan-Scaled Eagle, leaving it no room to escape.

BANG.

Pinned underneath, the Cyan-Scaled Eagle let out an enraged shriek.

As expected of a Qingtian Roc’s descendant, it was astonishingly powerful. Relying on its physique, it struggled furiously, shattering the giant trees pinning it down one by one. It seemed it would break free in a matter of breaths.

But this was a trap Ning Jiang had specially laid. How could he let the Cyan-Scaled Eagle escape?

He stretched his limbs. The blood in his veins surged like great waves crashing against the shore, making a roaring sound.

Golden Blood Qi erupted from his entire body, enveloping him like an Immortal Divine Fire, burning fiercely.

”Great Sun Demon Slaying Fist!”

He leaped onto the Cyan-Scaled Eagle’s head. Pushing his Physical Power to its limit, he executed the technique. His fist, like a cannonball, smashed down fiercely on the eagle’s head.

BANG.

His Fist Power was terrifying; even a wall of bronze and iron would be shattered by his punch. With a loud crash, the Cyan-Scaled Eagle’s head was slammed into the ground, creating a large pit riddled with cracks.

However, only a few scales on the Cyan-Scaled Eagle’s head cracked, and a little blood trickled out.

’Amazing. Truly a descendant of the Qingtian Roc.’

Ning Jiang exclaimed in admiration. After his Great Sun Glazed Golden Body reached Minor Achievement, he could already fight an Innate Realm expert with his bare hands.

However, the Cyan-Scaled Eagle was an Innate Middle Stage Demon Beast, and a descendant of the Qingtian Roc at that. Its physical body was far stronger than other Demon Beasts of the same rank, so Ning Jiang’s punch wasn’t enough to kill it.

If his Great Sun Glazed Golden Body had reached Great Success, killing the Cyan-Scaled Eagle with a single punch would have been a simple matter.

SKREEE!

The pain only stimulated the inherent ferocity in the Cyan-Scaled Eagle’s bones, and it began to struggle violently.

If it managed to break free, Ning Jiang’s efforts would be for naught, and he might even be in mortal danger.

”Move again and you die.”

Suddenly, Ning Jiang took out a cyan gourd and aimed it at the Cyan-Scaled Eagle’s head.

A sharp Sword Aura flickered at the gourd’s mouth, ready to erupt at any moment for a killing blow.

Instantly, the Cyan-Scaled Eagle stopped struggling, for it sensed a mortal threat.

This was an Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Sword-Hiding Gourd.

The Sword-Hiding Gourd could absorb Primordial Stones to form Sword Auras. Ten thousand Primordial Stones could create one Sword Aura, which was powerful enough to kill an Innate Early Stage expert.

But this particular Sword Aura was even stronger, its edge overwhelming. This was a Sword Aura formed from one hundred thousand Primordial Stones!

He had performed Alchemy for Liu Yuanlong and received a payment of one million Primordial Stones. With such wealth, he naturally didn’t lack Primordial Stones.

This Sword Aura, formed from one hundred thousand Primordial Stones, was more than enough to kill the Cyan-Scaled Eagle.

’Smart, as expected.’

Seeing the Cyan-Scaled Eagle cease its struggles, Ning Jiang said, ”I know you’re intelligent enough to understand me. I won’t kill you. I only need some of your bloodline. In exchange, I can bestow upon you a Demon Technique for you to cultivate.”

Generally, once a Demon Beast reaches the Innate Realm, it gains intelligence and can understand human speech, especially a creature like the Cyan-Scaled Eagle.

Sensing the Sword Aura above its head that could end its life at any moment, the Cyan-Scaled Eagle gave a low cry, not daring to resist.

”You know how to adapt to the situation.”

After that, Ning Jiang cut a wound on the Cyan-Scaled Eagle’s body and drew out ten jin of blood.

Ten jin of blood wouldn’t seriously harm the Cyan-Scaled Eagle. It could recover after a few months of rest.

He didn’t kill the Cyan-Scaled Eagle because he had his principles and didn’t want to kill wantonly.

If he were to kill this Cyan-Scaled Eagle just to take some of its bloodline, it would be a method of the Demon Dao.

He never killed without reason.

”There is a way to giving and taking. I take your blood, and in exchange, I will grant you a Demon Technique. Listen carefully.”

Ning Jiang’s words were always as good as gold; he never went back on his promises.

This was also in accordance with the Celestial Dao and with nature. There is a way to giving and taking; only then can everything in the world be in balance.

Word by word, he uttered strange syllables.

It was an ancient Demonic language, each word mysterious. A normal person hearing it would probably think Ning Jiang was spouting gibberish, having no idea what he was saying.

But the Cyan-Scaled Eagle’s eyes glimmered with the bright light of intelligence.

Each and every word seemed to strike deep into its heart.

After reciting the entire Dharma Gate, Ning Jiang put away the Sword-Hiding Gourd and floated backward.

’I’ve enlightened this Cyan-Scaled Eagle this time. If it cultivates successfully, perhaps it can serve as a temporary mount in the future.’ The thought flashed through Ning Jiang’s mind.

”Little brother, are you hurt?”

Halfway back, Ning Jiang unexpectedly ran into Ning Yu’an.

Ning Yu’an grabbed Ning Jiang with a concerned expression, looking him over from left to right.

The sounds of battle from the forest just now had been too astonishing. She had been so worried that she couldn’t stop herself from coming to find him.

”Sister An, I made you worry.”

A warmth spread through Ning Jiang’s heart. Ning Yu’an cared for him so much that she had disregarded the danger to her own life to come looking for him.

”It’s all my fault for being too weak right now. I can’t help you, so you have to take risks everywhere,” Ning Yu’an said, blaming herself.

”Sister An, after this, both of our strengths will improve by leaps and bounds. You don’t need to worry,” Ning Jiang reassured her.

He led Ning Yu’an back to the cave dwelling, then jumped down through the opening in the center, entering the space below.

The place had undergone a considerable change. The entire small Primordial Stone Ore Vein had vanished, completely devoured, making the space seem even more empty.

”What is this?”

Ning Yu’an was shocked. Reflected in her beautiful eyes was a huge black lotus. The flower was taller than a person, its entire body as crystalline as jade.

At the center of the petals was a lotus seed pod.

The seed pod was the size of a washbasin, and it was filled with countless Lotus Seeds.

A faint lotus fragrance wafted from it. Just smelling this aroma made the Postnatal Gang Qi within her body stir and grow restless.

”Sister An, consuming these Lotus Seeds will transform them into pure Postnatal Gang Qi. We will enter secluded cultivation here. When we emerge, it will be time for me to reign over Luoyang and suppress its entire younger generation!”