Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 119: Chapter 116: The Real War Is About to Begin

Raindrops the size of beans poured down, so heavy you could barely see your hand in front of your face.

Ning Jiang stood in the rain. The moment the drops landed on him, they were repelled by a strange power.

He walked casually, yet his hair, skin, and clothes seemed to have become like lotus leaves, shrugging off the raindrops as they landed.

This was a clever application of Innate Gang Qi.

His control over Innate Gang Qi had reached a microscopic level of precision. His body was like a lotus leaf, untouched by dust or grime.

In the downpour, Ning Jiang moved at will, like a mythical dragon controlling the clouds and rain. Wherever he walked, the water parted automatically—a truly magical sight.

”Your control of Gang Qi is far beyond that of even many Innate Limit experts.”

Bai Yueru exclaimed in admiration. She too was perfectly dry, untouched by the rain.

However, she had circulated her Innate Gang Qi to form an outer cloak, like a raincoat draped over her body, warding off the downpour.

This was a feat that any Innate Peak expert could accomplish.

But maintaining this cloak of Gang Qi was draining over long periods.

She was a long way from being able to do what Ning Jiang did—internalizing his Gang Qi, his body like a lotus leaf that no drop of water could touch.

Ning Jiang had infused his Gang Qi into every inch of his flesh and blood, merging it with his body. This was a Realm that very few Innate Limit experts could ever hope to reach.

As for the two girls, Zhou Lingwei and Zhou Chuchu, they were in a much sorrier state. Their cultivation was too low to even form a cloak of Gang Qi, so they could only huddle under an umbrella to hide from the heavy rain.

”After the Zhao Family, the Zhou Family is the closest, right?”

Walking through the storm, Ning Jiang’s voice was soft, yet it was not drowned out by the roaring rain.

After killing the dozen or so Innate Realm experts of the Zhao Family, he hadn’t slaughtered the innocent. He had simply turned and left.

The entire Zhao Family had hundreds of members, many of whom were innocent. To kill them all on a whim would be the way of the Demon Dao.

Ning Jiang couldn’t distinguish which members of the Zhao Family had participated in suppressing the Liu Family and Kunlun, and which had stayed out of it.

All he needed to do was eliminate the chief culprits.

’I won’t kill the old, the weak, or the women and children, but you few Innate Realm experts can forget about leaving here alive.’

For a family, Innate Realm experts were their foundation. With them dead, the Zhao Family was as good as finished.

Having lost their Innate Realm experts, the Zhao Family would be kicked while they were down by other families, especially old rivals, who would never pass up an opportunity to suppress them.

「The Zhou Family, Main Hall.」

A group of Zhou Family higher-ups were gathered together, the tables laden with fine food and wine. Laughter filled the hall.

”Wenjie, congratulations on your breakthrough to the Innate Realm! Your potential is no less than Wenhao’s. Of course, you mustn’t become arrogant. The future of the Zhou Family rests on the shoulders of your generation.”

Patriarch Zhou sat in the seat of honor, a flash of grief crossing his eyes.

He thought of his deceased son, Zhou Wenhao. If Zhou Wenhao were still alive, the Zhou Family would have had two prodigies in a single generation—two Innate Realm cultivators among the young.

”It’s a pity I can’t kill that Ning Jiang with my own hands to avenge Brother Hao,” Zhou Wenjie said coldly. Although he and Zhou Wenhao had different fathers, they were quite close.

”Forget it. That little bastard isn’t worth mentioning. He’s already dead anyway. Even the once-mighty Kunlun is a thing of the past, and the glorious Liu Family has vanished without a trace. Meanwhile, our Zhou Family is thriving, growing more prosperous by the day.”

As he spoke, Patriarch Zhou’s grief faded, replaced by a hint of smugness.

After the Liu Family disappeared from Luoyang City, the resources they once controlled had been carved up by the other families, and the Zhou Family had benefited greatly.

Of course, the Wang Family was the one that had gained the most.

For example, the Liu Family’s large Primordial Stone Ore Vein had been taken by the Wang Family.

”I say we raise this glass to celebrate Ning Jiang’s death—”

Zhou Wenjie raised his cup, proposing with a loud laugh.

The others were just about to raise their cups in agreement when suddenly, a sharp whistle cut through the air. A beam of Innate Gang Qi, like a sword, shot in from outside, piercing through Zhou Wenjie’s throat in an instant.

Blood gushed from Zhou Wenjie’s throat. His eyes widened, and in his final moment, he saw a white-haired figure emerge from the rain at the doorway.

”Who said I was dead?”

Ning Jiang walked forward step by step, appearing before everyone’s eyes.

”Ning Jiang of the White Head Sword Sect!”

Everyone present recognized Ning Jiang at once. In their utter shock, some of them leaped straight out of their chairs.

”Aren’t you supposed to be dead?” an Innate Realm expert asked in shock, his face ashen.

”Dead? I was indeed gravely injured that time, not far from death. But a pity, isn’t it? The Underworld wouldn’t have me, so they sent me back.”

Ning Jiang stepped out of the rain and into the hall, his expression calm as he said faintly, ”I’ve always been one to settle scores. When I killed Zhou Wenhao back then, it was because he brought it on himself; no one else is to blame. But you people of the Zhou Family took revenge on Kunlun and the Liu Family during my absence. For that, I cannot spare you.”

”White... White Head Sword Sect, let’s talk this over. It’s better to resolve grievances than to create them. Whatever you want, our Zhou Family will surely provide.”

Patriarch Zhou’s heart ran cold. The beam of Innate Gang Qi that had killed Zhou Wenjie was so fast that even he hadn’t been able to react.

He had no choice but to fear Ning Jiang’s power.

”I want your lives.”

Ning Jiang’s tone held no killing intent, yet his words plunged the room into an icy chill. As he spoke, he was already making his move.

THWIP! THWIP! THWIP! THWIP! THWIP!

He flicked his fingers several times in succession, each beam of Innate Gang Qi lethally sharp, each one claiming a life.

”Kill him!”

Seeing Ning Jiang attack, Patriarch Zhou and the others knew there was no room for negotiation. They all charged, launching their own attacks at Ning Jiang.

”A bunch of ants.”

Three breaths later, the hall fell silent once more.

”I regret this so much...”

A bloody hole appeared on Patriarch Zhou’s forehead, his eyes filled with regret.

”Let’s go. Take me to the Xue Family.”

After leaving the Zhou Family, the waiting Bai Yueru and the other two led the way for Ning Jiang.

The Xue Family. The family of Xue Wuhen.

It was Xue Wuhen’s instigation that had driven the Ten Great to attack him together. In the end, he had killed them all, thus sowing the seeds of hatred.

But if Ning Jiang had to choose again, he would still have killed them.

Those who kill will always be killed.

He never regretted his actions.

The Xue Family had over a dozen Innate Realm experts.

Among them were two at the Innate Peak, and one old man in particular gave Ning Jiang a bit of a surprise.

’Interesting. He has the aura of Gang Yuan about him.’

Ning Jiang saw through the situation. This was the old Patriarch of the Xue Family. Although he had Peak Innate Cultivation, he was already beginning to condense Gang Yuan.

Innate Limit experts were those who had condensed their Gang Qi into Gang Yuan.

Given the man’s condition, Luoyang City would likely have another Innate Limit expert in another five or six years.

”Junior, since you can see that much, why don’t you surrender without a fight?” the old man said coldly.

”I can kill even an Innate Limit expert, let alone you. You’ve only condensed a tiny bit of Gang Yuan. What does that count for? Come at me together,” Ning Jiang said with indifference.

”Kill him!”

The battle erupted. Every strike from Ning Jiang claimed a life. Within two breaths, several Innate Realm experts had been killed.

”You deserve to die!”

The Xue Family’s old Patriarch roared, activating the ball of Innate Gang Yuan he had painstakingly condensed. In an instant, a massive blade of light, dozens of feet long, slashed down, carving a vacuum in the pouring rain.

”Pathetic tricks.”

Ning Jiang threw an unstoppable punch.

The blade of light shattered. The Xue Family’s old Patriarch let out a bloodcurdling scream. From dozens of feet away, he was struck and killed by the ferocious Fist Force.

Ten breaths later, Ning Jiang walked out of the Xue Family residence, his clothes unstained by blood.

Next was Hong Tai’s Hong Family.

The Hong Family as a whole specialized in Body Refining. Hong Tai himself even held the title of ”Iron Vajra.”

The strongest expert of the Hong Family had flourishing Blood Qi that burned like fire, extending over half a foot from his body. He was almost a Body Refining Grandmaster.

”Do you dare take a punch from me?!”

Surging with Blood Qi, this strongest expert of the Hong Family was powerfully built, with a thick, wiry beard, and stood two heads taller than an average man. With a great roar, he channeled all his Blood Qi into his fist, which glowed like a scorching branding iron.

”You want to compare physical bodies with me?”

Ning Jiang casually threw a punch, his fist striking like a great spear.

As his arm shot forward, a white, rainbow-like shockwave flashed and vanished.

BOOM.

With a thunderous explosion, the Hong Family’s strongest expert was sent flying backward. His entire arm exploded, blood poured from his Seven Apertures, and his internal organs were pulverized by the shock.

”A Body Refining Grandmaster,” he uttered with a bitter laugh, dying with his eyes wide open in disbelief.

An hour later, Ning Jiang arrived at the Xu Family’s estate from the Hong Family’s.

The family of Xu Tengfei of the Shadowless Step.

Within ten breaths, he killed the Xu Family’s dozen or so Innate Realm experts and left without a backward glance.

Next were the families of Gao Jin, Peng Zhuang, Lin Qiuye, Bai Qi, and the others.

Ning Jiang spared none of these major second-tier families.

After a short four hours, the Innate Realm experts of several major second-tier families had all been wiped out by Ning Jiang.

”Besides them, there were quite a few other families who kicked us while we were down for their own benefit.”

After killing the members of several great families, Ning Jiang wasn’t finished.

Among the powers that had moved against Kunlun and the Liu Family, some, like the Zhao and Zhou Families, had acted out of enmity with him and were the most ruthless. Another group had simply acted for profit, wanting a piece of the pie.

Yet another group had done it to curry favor with the Wang Family, acting as their vanguard and cheerleaders.

Ning Jiang intended to kill every single family involved.

Next, led by Bai Yueru, Ning Jiang went from house to house, killing.

Eight hours later, he had slain the Innate Realm experts of twenty-eight families in total.

These included second-tier families like the Zhao Family, as well as many smaller, third-tier families.

”Luoyang has over a hundred influential families. In a single night, a quarter of them are about to collapse.”

Bai Yueru was secretly terrified. Ning Jiang seemed so amiable and easygoing, but when he started killing, he showed absolutely no mercy.

She couldn’t imagine just how many people Ning Jiang must have killed to be able to do it with such tranquility.

”There’s only one family left.”

Ning Jiang’s gaze was profound as he looked toward the heart of Luoyang City.

Bai Yueru’s heart trembled.

The real battle was about to begin!