Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 180: Chapter 177: Beating Down the Spirit Realm

Silence fell over the entire area.

Countless gazes were fixed on Lin Tiantian.

Although they had long known that a battle between the Lin Family and Ning Jiang was inevitable, they never expected Lin Tiantian to make his move now.

”Heh heh, now Ning Jiang’s in for it. That’s a Spirit Realm Master we’re talking about!”

Someone sneered, pleased to see such a scene unfold.

Ning Jiang’s power had already become formidable; there was practically no one left in Cyan Cloud Country who could control him. Naturally, this was not a situation his enemies wished to see.

”Lin Tiantian, do you really think I’d fall for such a ridiculous lie?”

Ning Jiang’s expression was calm. Even facing a Spirit Realm Master, he remained unfazed.

Lin Tiantian had offered to let him go in exchange for his Cultivation Technique. That was like releasing a tiger back into the mountains—Lin Tiantian couldn’t possibly be that foolish.

Otherwise, when Ning Jiang came seeking revenge in the future, what would Lin Tiantian do?

Thus, from the very beginning, they were destined to be mortal enemies, as incompatible as fire and water.

”Clever boy. In that case, are you going to surrender obediently, or must I force you?”

Lin Tiantian looked down on Ning Jiang from his superior position.

”You want me to surrender? You’re not worthy.”

Ning Jiang’s tone was level, yet everyone could hear an overwhelming arrogance in his words, as if he looked down upon the entire world.

”Arrogant brat.”

”How ridiculous. Does he really think someone in the Innate Realm can contend with the Spirit Realm?”

”Once the old master unleashes his power, he’ll learn the difference.”

The members of the Lin Family sneered.

”Perhaps Ning Jiang can exchange a few blows with a Spirit Realm Master, but a Realm is a Realm. His chances of victory are less than ten percent.”

Like them, many in the surrounding crowd did not favor Ning Jiang.

The moment one steps into the Spirit Realm, the difference is like that between heaven and earth.

The Spirit Body of a Spirit Realm Powerhouse alone was something no Innate Realm expert could hope to match.

”Since you’re so confident, I’ll let you see just how enormous the gap between us is.”

Standing in mid-air, Lin Tiantian flicked a finger, shooting out a brilliant golden beam.

’A Gold Attribute attack!’

Ning Jiang’s eyes narrowed; he could tell his opponent cultivated a Gold Attribute Cultivation Technique.

The vast gap between the Spirit Realm and the Innate Realm was partly because Spirit Realm Powerhouses cultivated Spiritual Qi and their attacks were Elemental Attacks.

These included elements like Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, as well as Wind, Thunder, Light, and Dark.

Meanwhile, those in the Innate Realm were still at the stage of using Gang Qi. The difference was obvious.

CLANG!

The Red Lotus Sword unsheathed as Ning Jiang unleashed Broken Mountains and Rivers.

A golden Sword Aura bloomed, illuminating the night sky.

His Broken Mountains and Rivers technique was enough to severely injure anyone below the rank of an Innate Realm King.

BOOM!

With a loud bang, the golden beam shattered Broken Mountains and Rivers. However, the beam itself dimmed considerably, shrinking to half its size.

Only by unleashing Broken Mountains and Rivers a second time was Ning Jiang able to stop the beam.

’The gap is too big.’

The crowd shook their heads. Lin Tiantian had merely flicked a finger, yet Ning Jiang needed two sword strikes to block it—and Lin Tiantian clearly wasn’t even using his full strength.

”Not bad, you actually took one of my attacks. However, I only used eighty percent of my strength. Do you still intend to resist?”

Lin Tiantian said coldly.

”You talk too much,” Ning Jiang replied.

”Courting death.”

Lin Tiantian snorted, flicking his finger again. The golden beam shrieked through the air.

A simple flick like that was enough to kill an Innate Limit Strong Person.

”Slaying Heaven and Earth!”

The second form of the Great Sun Sword Technique, an even more powerful strike.

This time, the beam was utterly annihilated by his sword.

’Lin Tiantian’s strength is no match for that Spirit Realm Ice Python.’

Ning Jiang made his judgment. Not only was the Spirit Realm Ice Python’s body more powerful, but its aura was also far more terrifying. He estimated it would take three Lin Tiantians to match it.

”Fight!”

It wasn’t in Ning Jiang’s nature to be on the defensive. To the crowd’s utter astonishment, he moved and launched an attack of his own.

”Heavens, he must be insane! He’s actually taking the initiative against a Spirit Realm Master!”

”Worthy of being called Young Master Wushuang. He dares to challenge even a Spirit Realm Master. Truly peerless under the heavens.”

The crowd was won over by Ning Jiang’s actions.

To dare draw his sword against a Spirit Realm Master—that courage alone was enough to make countless people feel ashamed of their own inferiority.

It was like an ordinary man facing a ferocious tiger; instead of running, he bravely chose to fight.

In an instant, this act earned him immeasurable admiration.

”Overestimating his own abilities.”

Lin Tiantian didn’t take Ning Jiang seriously at all.

In his eyes, anyone not in the Spirit Realm was nothing more than an ant. At best, Ning Jiang was just a slightly stronger ant.

He merely extended one hand, flicking his fingers to send several beams streaking toward Ning Jiang.

SWISH.

The beams passed through Ning Jiang’s body without obstruction—it was an afterimage, not his true self.

He had activated Ten Steps of Impermanence!

Ning Jiang’s body blurred, and in an instant, he appeared behind Lin Tiantian.

SHING SHING SHING SHING—

A series of tearing sounds ripped through the air. Gripping the Red Lotus Sword, Ning Jiang’s arm quivered, and in the span of a finger-snap, he struck twenty times.

A finger-snap contained twenty moments, and in each moment, a sword strike.

Instant Sword Technique.

Each thrust left a long, thin, sharp Sword Aura trailing in the air, sharp enough to pierce a mountain.

Faced with such Swordsmanship, even the Spirit Body of a Spirit Realm Powerhouse would be harmed.

BAM BAM BAM BAM—

A rapid series of impacts rang out as a hazy yellow barrier materialized behind Lin Tiantian, blocking every single attack.

This was Protective Spiritual Qi.

Innate Realm experts could envelop their bodies with Gang Qi for protection. Spirit Realm Masters could do the same, but their defense was far more powerful.

”Useless effort.”

Lin Tiantian turned around, his face indifferent.

”Is that so? Then let’s see you take this! Condensing Sword into Silk!”

This time, Ning Jiang gripped the Red Lotus Sword with both hands. He thrust it forward in a motion that seemed slow, yet was blindingly fast.

In that instant!

A red Sword Aura, as fine as a strand of hair, shot forth.

This was still the Instant Sword Technique, just an exceptionally advanced application of it.

The ”one strike per instant” aspect of the Instant Sword Technique was merely its most basic principle.

With a normal use of the Instant Sword Technique, the Sword Aura, while slender, was still about as thick as a finger.

The Condensing Sword into Silk technique was far more advanced. It compressed the Sword Aura to the fineness of a hair, tremendously increasing its power and penetrative force.

”Hm?”

As the sword light shot out, Lin Tiantian’s pupils contracted. He sensed danger.

But the Instant Sword Technique was all about speed, and Condensing Sword into Silk was even more so.

Almost instantaneously, the silk-fine sword thread struck the Protective Spiritual Qi in front of Lin Tiantian.

BANG—

To Lin Tiantian’s utter shock, his seemingly indestructible Protective Spiritual Qi was actually pierced by this attack. The remaining Sword Qi struck his chest, and though its power was greatly diminished, it still managed to break his skin and draw blood!

”What!”

Lin Tiantian was both shocked and furious.

Not only had the attack broken his Protective Spiritual Qi, it had actually wounded his Spirit Body.

If he had possessed the Mortal Body of someone in the Innate Realm instead of a Spirit Body, the remnants of that Sword Qi would have been enough to kill him.

’This brat must not be allowed to live!’

Killing intent surged in Lin Tiantian’s heart. For someone in the Innate Realm to wound someone in the Spirit Realm... it was terrifying.

’Once Ning Jiang steps into the Spirit Realm, what then? Killing me would be as easy as slaughtering a chicken!’

But the stronger Ning Jiang was, the more delighted Lin Tiantian became. It only proved that Ning Jiang’s Cultivation Technique was truly extraordinary.

”Brat, how many more of those attacks can you use?”

Lin Tiantian suppressed his shock, believing such a powerful Swordsmanship technique must come at an immense cost.

”Try me and find out.”

Ning Jiang snorted, gripping his sword with both hands and thrusting rapidly.

Before Lin Tiantian’s disbelieving eyes, Ning Jiang unleashed a dozen more strikes.

Every single one was the same deadly technique, Condensing Sword into Silk.

How could Lin Tiantian possibly know that while a killing blow like Condensing Sword into Silk was indeed draining, stamina was the last thing Ning Jiang feared?

He cultivated the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill, a Supreme Celestial Skill. Its most formidable aspect was its ability to devour and absorb energy.

Even in the midst of battle, he was simultaneously absorbing the world’s Primordial Qi to replenish his own.

An ordinary Martial Artist would be exhausted after using a killing blow like Condensing Sword into Silk a few times. He, on the other hand, could use it hundreds of times without issue.

Dozens of sword lights descended like a shower of stars, sealing off every inch of space around Lin Tiantian.

PING PING PING PING—

After being weakened by his Protective Spiritual Qi, the remaining Sword Auras bombarded his Spirit Body, shredding his clothes in numerous places and inflicting several new wounds.

”Dammit!”

Lin Tiantian roared in fury, but before he could counterattack,

Ning Jiang closed the distance in a flash, appearing right in front of him. The Red Lotus Sword, practically grazing his face, chopped straight down.

”Slaying Heaven and Earth!”

An immense golden Sword Aura erupted, slamming viciously into Lin Tiantian’s body.

And it wasn’t just one.

In a single breath, Ning Jiang unleashed ten Slaying Heaven and Earth strikes, nearly depleting his body’s Innate Gang Qi. The ten overlapping strikes created a blinding golden radiance.

BOOM!

Before the dumbfounded eyes of the crowd, the massive golden Sword Aura crushed Lin Tiantian, slamming him violently into the earth below.

Dust billowed into the sky as the ground trembled. A massive chasm, hundreds of feet long, appeared before everyone’s eyes.

”Gods, am I dreaming? A Spirit Realm Master is actually getting pummeled?”

”What kind of freak is this kid? After unleashing so many techniques in a row, just how abundant is his Innate Gang Qi?”

The Martial Artists were terrified. They could never have imagined, not in their wildest dreams, that Ning Jiang possessed three Primordial Mansions and could replenish his energy mid-battle.

”Could the Lin Family Master have died just like that?”

Staring at the dust-filled chasm, the crowd was utterly shaken.

Ning Jiang’s explosive assault had been too ferocious, giving Lin Tiantian no room to breathe. He had seized the advantage and refused to let go.

”Brat, I’ll kill you!”

Lin Tiantian’s furious roar echoed through the sky. With a WHOOSH, he shot back up from the ground.

He was a pathetic sight, his hair disheveled, his clothes in tatters, and his body covered in bloodstains.

Who could have imagined that a Spirit Realm Master would be beaten so miserably?

’He really is tough to deal with.’

Ning Jiang frowned slightly. That series of attacks just now would have killed Young Master Soaring Dragon ten times over, yet Lin Tiantian had only suffered light injuries.

’It seems my current Cultivation is still a bit lacking when it comes to dealing with a Spirit Realm Master.’

But Ning Jiang wasn’t discouraged. After all, his Cultivation still had room for improvement; he was far from his limit.

At that moment, he put away the Red Lotus Sword and took out another sword.