Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 121: Chapter 118: It Begins Here, It Ends Here

Star Moon Lake.

A small wooden boat drifted slowly across the surface of the lake.

The torrential rain PIT-PATTERED on the water, sending up endless splashes across the great lake, creating a unique kind of beauty.

”Ever since Kunlun and the Liu Family were destroyed, the Wang Family has become the undisputed ruler of Luoyang City. Even this Star Moon Lake is Wang Family territory now. They moved onto the mountain near the lake.”

The speaker was an old man in a straw raincoat, standing at the stern of the small wooden boat.

His Cultivation was not high; he was a Qi Cultivation Realm Martial Artist who worked as a boatman here, earning a few Primordial Stones by rowing for others.

Star Moon Lake was enveloped by a crescent-shaped mountain range. The incredibly wealthy Wang Family had built pavilions and palaces directly on the mountainside and taken up residence there.

Many in Luoyang City were naturally unhappy about the Wang Family seizing the mountains of Star Moon Lake, but they were furious and dared not speak out.

At that moment, at the boat’s prow, Bai Yueru stood beside Ning Jiang, holding an umbrella to shield him from the rain.

As for the two sisters, Zhou Lingwei and Zhou Chuchu, they were huddled under the boat’s canopy. Their Cultivation wasn’t high enough, and not wanting to get soaked by the downpour, they could only hide inside.

The old boatman rowed while mumbling, ”This Star Moon Lake is a famous scenic spot. Every night, the lake’s surface reflects the myriad stars in the heavens, which is how it got its name. Since it’s raining now, you can’t see such a beautiful sight. But what’s most famous is the annual gathering held here half a year ago.”

”Tsk, tsk, that was a truly grand event. Young man, I wonder if you’ve heard the name ’White Head Sword Sect’? In that battle, this old man personally witnessed what a monster the White Head Sword Sect was. He defeated the Ten Great with a single sword strike, completely unrivaled. Truly terrifying.”

Bai Yueru’s expression turned odd as she listened, and she glanced at the young man beside her.

’The White Head Sword Sect is right in front of you!’

However, ever since boarding, Ning Jiang had kept his back to the old boatman, not letting the man see his face. With the heavy rain obscuring his vision, the old man naturally didn’t recognize Ning Jiang.

”Heh heh, I’m not just bragging, you know. The White Head Sword Sect once took this old man’s boat and chatted with me for quite a while.”

As the boatman spoke, a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes. He looked at Ning Jiang’s back and found it somewhat familiar. ’Why does he look so much like the White Head Sword Sect?’

But the thought vanished as quickly as it came.

The White Head Sword Sect was dead. A genius had fallen. This was news that even he had heard.

He had lamented it time and again.

At the prow, Ning Jiang shook his head with a smile. ’This old man sure can brag. When did I ever talk to him?’

But the world was vast, and it took all kinds. Some people just liked to spin a few yarns, and there was no malice in it. He didn’t feel the need to expose the lie.

”SPLASH.”

The lake’s surface splashed as Ning Jiang pulled up a fish he had caught.

He wasn’t holding a real fishing rod.

It was a wisp of Innate Gang Qi, extended outward to form a rod. The Innate Gang Qi then transformed into a line, which dangled into the lake.

He was fishing with Innate Gang Qi.

Condensing a sliver of Innate Gang Qi wasn’t difficult; even Bai Yueru could do it. But to maintain the Innate Gang Qi like Ning Jiang did—preventing it from dissipating or breaking, keeping it as tough as a steel wire—increased the difficulty more than tenfold.

”You mentioned before that my control over Innate Gang Qi surpasses that of many at the Innate Limit. In truth, there are methods to improve one’s control.”

Ning Jiang said faintly, and Bai Yueru listened with rapt attention.

”In the future, you can fish with Innate Gang Qi like me. Once you’re proficient, you can try weaving it into a net to cast for fish.”

With a grasp of his palm, strands of Innate Gang Qi fell into the lake.

A moment later, what seemed like a great, invisible net lifted hundreds of fish from the water, suspending them in mid-air.

With but a thought, the threads of Innate Gang Qi could slice all those fish to pieces.

But he never killed wantonly.

Even a small fish was a life.

He relaxed his hand, and the great net of Innate Gang Qi dissipated, letting the hundreds of fish fall back into the water.

”Th-This...”

The old boatman was completely stunned. He had never even heard of such a technique. ’Just who is this young man?’

’What kind of person have I taken on my boat?’

”Huh? Why are so many people here?”

Just then, the old man noticed countless people swarming toward Star Moon Lake from all directions—a black, dense sea of people.

He had only ever seen such a spectacular sight during the annual gathering, and this time, it was even more exaggerated.

Innumerable people arrived at the lakeshore, where they stopped, drawing no closer.

The old man realized that everyone’s eyes were fixed on his boat. And in those gazes, there was awe, jealousy, envy...

The old man heard the surrounding crowd chattering about something. Though they were far away and he couldn’t hear clearly at first, more and more voices reached his ears.

Finally, he made out what they were all saying!

”White Head Sword Sect!”

The old man muttered the four words he’d heard, forgetting to even row.

His gaze instantly shot to Ning Jiang. ”White hair, white clothes, the center of everyone’s attention...”

When these factors combined, a name rose in his mind.

Ning Jiang!

”SPLASH.”

His hand went slack, and the oar he was holding fell into the lake.

...

”The people from Kunlun and the Liu Family are here!”

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the dense crowd.

The sea of people parted to form a path, and a group walked out. It was precisely Liu Yuanlong leading the members of the Liu Family, along with Du Wanqing and the others.

”It seems that from now on, we no longer need to hide in the shadows.”

Liu Yuanlong let out a long breath. For the past few months, they had been forced to hide outside, not daring to set foot in Luoyang City. They had been holding in this frustration for a long time.

”Luoyang City should have been our territory in the first place. Now, we’re going to take back everything that originally belonged to us,” Du Wanqing added.

Their injuries hadn’t fully recovered yet. Ning Jiang planned to help them with Alchemy after settling matters in Luoyang City.

”Luo Haisheng of Tianya Pavilion is here too.”

”Not long ago, Tianya Pavilion released the new Famous Family List and removed the White Head Sword Sect from it. This is awkward.”

Under the crowd’s gaze, Luo Haisheng’s face indeed showed a hint of helplessness.

’The Grand Pavilion Master probably never expected the White Head Sword Sect to still be alive, right? I wonder what level his strength has reached now?’ Listening to the surrounding discussions, Luo Haisheng smiled wryly.

”That guy... he’s been full of surprises since the day I met him.” Yue Lianxi’s voice was coquettish, so alluring it could melt one’s bones.

She had come as well. Her charming, seductive figure frequently drew gazes from the crowd. Countless men stared at her with burning eyes, secretly swallowing their saliva.

”These damn men.”

The maid, Qiu Yue, held an umbrella and cursed under her breath. Then she looked toward Ning Jiang, astonished at her lady’s eye for men.

’Who could have imagined that the young boy who had his arm broken and was humiliated at Treasure Herb Hall would grow up so fast?’

”The Wang Family should be here soon.”

Ning Jiang stood at the prow, calm and composed. He hadn’t gone to the Wang Family’s home himself, because there was no need.

Luoyang City was already in an uproar. Countless people had gotten the news and rushed here. How could the Wang Family, living right next to Star Moon Lake, not know what was happening?

”All causes began here, and all effects will end here. This is karma!” Ning Jiang’s tone was ethereal, as if his voice descended from the Nine Heavens.

Back then, it was here that he killed the Ten Great, making enemies of the various great families.

Now, he had returned here to end it all.

A confluence of causes, a turning of the wheel of Reincarnation.

”They’re here!”

A heaven-shaking roar erupted from the crowd as countless gazes turned in one direction.

In the heavy rain, a group of people with grim expressions walked out.

There were more than thirty Innate Realm experts in total. This was the strongest power in Luoyang City—the First-Class Noble House, the Wang Family!

The man leading them was in his sixties or seventies. He looked small and thin, but his back was ramrod straight, like a majestic peak piercing the sky. He radiated a sharp aura, his presence pressing down on all directions.

The strongest expert in Luoyang City today, Wang Jiangshi!

”Hmph.”

Wang Jiangshi snorted coldly. The rain in a hundred-foot radius shuddered. He shot into the sky, soared over the heads of the crowd, and landed on the surface of the lake.

”Sir, we should retreat,” Bai Yueru said.

The battle was about to break out. Given the power of an Innate Limit Strong Person, if they remained on the lake, they would inevitably be caught in the aftershocks, and that would not be pleasant.

”Alright, alright. To think my boat would one day carry the White Head Sword Sect... I can die with no regrets.”

The old man looked at Ning Jiang’s figure, his face wreathed in smiles. This would be something he could brag about to others for the rest of his life.

Bai Yueru, Zhou Lingwei, Zhou Chuchu, and the old man quickly left the area.

On the vast surface of the lake, only an old man and a young man remained.

”If I said we don’t have to fight to the death, what would you think?”

Wang Jiangshi stared at Ning Jiang for a long time before suddenly speaking. ”As long as you are willing to join my Wang Family, you can take your pick of our women. I can give you everything.”

Facing this young man, his heart suddenly wavered.

He couldn’t sense any sharpness or domineering aura from Ning Jiang, only a kind of detached indifference that looked down on all living things.

”It’s useless. It’s too late. The moment you moved against Kunlun and the Liu Family, we became irreconcilable enemies. Besides, do you really think I would care for anything the Wang Family has to offer?” Ning Jiang said faintly.

”Make your move.”

His voice carried through the rain, completely unaffected by the downpour, revealing his profound Cultivation.

Wang Jiangshi cast aside all distracting thoughts, no longer hesitating.

’Since it’s irreversible, then I’ll just have to kill Ning Jiang. Once he’s dead, all of this will be over!’

SWISH.

A cold glint flashed as he drew out a long spear.

The spear was pitch-black and shimmered with light.

It was a Top Grade Treasure Artifact.

”Draw your sword,” Wang Jiangshi said, pointing his spear directly at Ning Jiang, his fighting spirit soaring, resolute and unyielding.

”Why would I need a sword to deal with you?” Ning Jiang was unmoved.

”You’re courting death.”

Wang Jiangshi thrust his spear forward, the tip like a white rainbow piercing the sun, tearing through the sky.

Everyone’s hearts were in their throats.

In this battle, who would win?