Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 250: Chapter 246: Spiritual Replenishing Pill, Yue Lianxi’s Situation

”Pass down the order! From this day forward, no disciple of our Sect is to offend the Yanyue Sect. Violators will have their cultivation crippled and be expelled!”

Within one sect, a Sect Leader whose power had reached the Divinity Transformation Realm solemnly warned his thousand-plus disciples.

A few hundred miles away, in another sect.

”What? You say you recently clashed with disciples from the Yanyue Sect? You damn fool! Go and make amends at once.”

Elsewhere.

”Heh heh, I happen to have a bit of a connection with one of the Yanyue Sect’s Elders. Prepare a generous gift; we need to go and foster better relations with them.”

When the news of Meng Daoyi’s deeds spread, all of Qing Province was thrown into an uproar.

In an instant, countless minor sects sprang into action.

The Yanyue Sect may have been in decline, but now, with Meng Daoyi backing them, who would dare to provoke them?

This was a terrifying figure who had dared to march on the Star Sword Sect and kill five of their Divinity Transformation Realm Elders. Even the Star Sword Sect had been forced to swallow their anger, so what could these minor sects possibly do?

With such a fearsome figure protecting the Yanyue Sect, its prestige would only grow even stronger than before. After all, in the past, the Yanyue Sect had only possessed three Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm experts.

And this fearsome man named Meng Daoyi was capable of challenging Wang Qingcang of the Earth Martial Realm.

Just as Meng Daoyi’s name was causing a sensation across Qing Province, a piece of news suddenly emerged from the Fire Cloud Sect.

It was said that a heaven-shaking roar of fury echoed from within the Fire Cloud Sect, but in the end, they could only make one helpless decision.

To seal their mountain!

”What? The Fire Cloud Sect sealed its mountain?”

As this news spread, many factions were shocked.

”Heh heh, I heard that after the Qing Province tournament ended, people from the Fire Cloud Sect and the Cyan Splendor Sect tried to ambush and kill members of the Yanyue Sect. They ended up losing two Divinity Transformation Realm experts, and now both major sects are living in fear, terrified that Meng Daoyi will come knocking on their doors to kill them.”

”The Fire Cloud Sect’s luck has really run out. The Yanyue Sect was already waning under their pressure, but who would have thought that first, Ning Jiang would appear and take first place in the Qing Province tournament, and then Meng Daoyi would show up? As long as Meng Daoyi is around, the Fire Cloud Sect has no choice but to lay low and not dare to cause trouble.”

People discussed amongst themselves. Unquestionably, under the current circumstances, sealing the mountain was the Fire Cloud Sect’s best option.

All disciples were to remain within the Sect and were forbidden from leaving. This would also prevent any potential conflicts with the Yanyue Sect.

While all of Qing Province was abuzz over the battle at the Star Sword Sect...

「Within the Yanyue Sect.」

Numerous minor sects had come to offer congratulations, and the entrance was as crowded as a marketplace, bustling with activity.

The purpose of these sects’ visits was self-evident: they all wanted to curry favor with the Yanyue Sect because of Meng Daoyi’s existence.

’This is a world where strength reigns supreme. When our Yanyue Sect was in dire straits, how many people couldn’t wait to kick us while we were down? And now, the mere mention of Meng Daoyi’s name is enough to silence the major sects and send them flocking here to suck up to us.’

Zi Yunfei sighed, her understanding of human nature growing ever clearer.

「In an Alchemy Room on the back mountain.」

A Pill Cauldron rested above a Flame. Ning Jiang sat cross-legged before it, continuously feeding medicinal ingredients into its depths.

”Ninth Elder, quite a few people from the visiting sects wish to see you.”

Grand Elder Meng Nanfeng was with Ning Jiang. ”The rumor circulating outside is that you are Meng Daoyi’s disciple and have received his personal instruction,” he said. ”Countless people want to use you to build a connection with Meng Daoyi.”

Meng Nanfeng found the whole affair quite amusing.

’How could anyone outside possibly know that Meng Daoyi and Ning Jiang are the same person?’

But it was a secret he had no intention of revealing.

”Most of these sects are just fair-weather friends. Pay them no mind,” Ning Jiang said faintly.

Ignored in decline, adored in glory. The world was just that pragmatic.

And a true expert needed only to remain true to themselves—steadfast when ignored, and as calm as still water when envied by the masses.

”Indeed. We can leave it to the other Elders to handle those sects.”

Meng Nanfeng had no fondness for these sycophantic sects either. They were unreliable. If disaster ever struck the Yanyue Sect, they would be the first to flee. The only thing one could truly rely on was one’s own strength.

Putting those thoughts aside, Meng Nanfeng looked toward Ning Jiang, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

He watched as Ning Jiang tossed the final medicinal ingredient into the Pill Cauldron.

It was a fruit, its surface dotted with star-like patterns.

It was the Divinity Transformation Fruit.

And the elixir Ning Jiang was refining was none other than the Spiritual Replenishing Pill.

He had previously entered the Death Mountain Range to find the ingredients for the Spiritual Replenishing Pill, but he never expected so many other things to happen along the way.

...

「Inside the reception hall.」

”Sect Leader Liu, you’re here as well.”

”Sect Leader Bai, it’s been a while.”

All those in attendance were figures of the Sect Leader level, and they exchanged a few pleasantries with one another.

Seated in the primary host’s position, the ones entertaining them were several of the other Elders.

”Second Elder, will your Ninth Elder not be making an appearance?” someone asked. Many of them had come specifically for Ning Jiang.

They had no hope of meeting a figure like Meng Daoyi, but they might have a chance to get acquainted with Ning Jiang.

”My apologies, the Ninth Elder is currently occupied with Alchemy,” the Second Elder said coolly.

Hearing this, everyone was taken aback. ’Ning Jiang knows Alchemy, too?’

’Isn’t this just some excuse they’re using to put us off?’

Disbelief was written on every face. Not only was his Sword Technique exceptional, but he also knew Alchemy? Was there anything he couldn’t do?

”Huh?”

Just as everyone was feeling skeptical, a rich, fragrant aroma suddenly descended, permeating the entire Yanyue Sect.

”This is... coming from the Alchemy Room. Could it be that the Ninth Elder’s elixir is complete? Everyone, please excuse us for a moment.”

Excitement flashed in the Elders’ eyes. Forgetting their duties as hosts, they rushed out immediately.

”So he really was performing Alchemy.”

”This elixir’s fragrance is astonishing! I’ve seen some famous Alchemists refine elixirs before, but the aroma they produced wasn’t even a tenth as potent as this.”

”An aroma that fills the entire Yanyue Sect... isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?”

”Young man, what kind of elixir is your Ninth Elder refining?”

The reception hall erupted in discussion.

All the Elders had left, leaving only a few disciples behind to attend to the guests.

”The elixir the Ninth Elder is refining is called the Spiritual Replenishing Pill. It’s said to be powerful enough to heal the Sect Leader’s Injuries to the Primordial Spirit.”

The moment the disciple shared this news, the entire hall was in an uproar.

”Impossible! Injuries to the Primordial Spirit aren’t that easy to treat. Not even the Star Sword Sect’s treasured Longevity Fruit can heal them.”

”Exactly. If Injuries to the Primordial Spirit were that easy to heal, the Yanyue Sect wouldn’t have fallen into such a sorry state.”

No one could believe it. The claim was too incredible, like something out of a fantasy.

’Oh well,’ they thought. ’The Yanyue Sect is not what it once was. Even if they’re lying, it’s best not to call them out on it and risk offending them.’

But just then, a grand voice, rolling like thunder, boomed through the air, stunning everyone into a daze.

”Ever since my Primordial Spirit was injured, I have been lost in a daze for months. To think I would finally regain my clarity today... HAHAHAHA!”

Following the voice, a vast and boundless wave of Primordial Spirit Power swept across the entire Yanyue Sect. Everyone felt an intangible force wash over them.

The reception hall fell deathly silent.

After what felt like an eternity, someone finally gulped and uttered in a strained voice, ”Yue Wenfu’s injuries... they’ve actually healed!”

”Ning Jiang... It seems we’ve all underestimated him.”

...

「On the Yanyue Sect’s back mountain.」

”Sect Leader, you’re finally lucid!”

Grand Elder Meng Nanfeng and the others were overcome with emotion, their lips trembling. They were on the verge of tears—tears of pure joy.

Ever since Yue Wenfu’s Primordial Spirit was injured, the Yanyue Sect had hit rock bottom. The Sect’s situation worsened by the day, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere had settled over everyone.

The Elders wore worried frowns all day, mired in gloom.

But from this day forward, all of that would be in the past. The Yanyue Sect would rise again. The darkness was over, and a future of infinite brilliance awaited them.

”Ninth Elder, thank you.”

Grand Elder Meng Nanfeng, along with all the other Elders, cupped their fists and bowed deeply to Ning Jiang, completely and utterly convinced of his abilities.

Everyone understood clearly that all of these changes were due to Ning Jiang’s arrival.

It was Ning Jiang who, single-handedly, had turned the tide for a sect on the verge of collapse.

He had brought them miracles and hope, breathing new life into a sect on the brink of death.

”Ning Xiaoyou, you’ve healed the injuries to my Primordial Spirit. This is a debt of gratitude that I, this old man, can never repay. All I can say is this: if the day ever comes when you have need of me, you may take even my life.”

Yue Wenfu looked at Ning Jiang, his words astonishing.

He had already learned of everything Ning Jiang had done for the Yanyue Sect.

Moreover, the name Ning Jiang was not unfamiliar to him. During the time he was lost in his daze, Yue Lianxi had been the one taking care of him.

Back then, Yue Lianxi had often spoken of Ning Jiang in his presence.

Now that he was lucid, he remembered those moments with perfect clarity.

”There’s no need for thanks. I saved you because I owed Yue Lianxi a favor. Nothing more.”

Ning Jiang’s voice was level, neither servile nor overbearing, even when facing the leader of a sect. ”I want to talk to you about Yue Lianxi. You should know what happened to her, right?”