Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 366: Chapter 362: Arrival in Liang Province, Nine Profound Sect

Liang Province, one of the Six Eastern Provinces.

Unlike Qing Province, Liang Province was closer to the center of the Six Eastern Provinces. It was incomparably prosperous, and experts emerged from it in droves.

Qing Province, for example, was a remote and historically weak province among the Six Eastern Provinces. Even its neighbor, Lei Province, wasn’t much stronger.

Lei Province had only one Top Grade Sect, the Evil Spirit Sect, followed by three major Upper Grade Sects.

Liang Province’s overall strength, however, far surpassed that of Lei Province. Here, there were over a dozen Upper Grade Sects alone, each overseen by an Earth Martial Realm expert.

Furthermore, it was also home to the Extreme Heaven Sect, ranked first among the Eight Top Grade Sects!

Just how strong was the Extreme Heaven Sect?

It was a commonly accepted fact that even the other seven Top Grade Sects combined were no match for the Extreme Heaven Sect.

Rumor had it that the Cultivation of the Extreme Heaven Sect’s Sect Leader was already incredibly close to that of a Celestial Martial Realm King.

Meanwhile, in the southwestern region of Liang Province.

The Nine Profound Sect—a rather unremarkable Middle Grade Sect in Liang Province.

Early in the morning, Lü Xingfan, the Sect Leader of the Nine Profound Sect, was waiting outside the gates with several Elders. Their gazes frequently drifted outward, as if they were expecting someone.

”Sect Leader, you had us wait here since early this morning, saying a great personage was coming. Who exactly is it?”

One Elder was puzzled. Their Sect Leader, Lü Xingfan, was a God-Seizing Realm expert, yet he was here to greet someone so early. ’Could the visitor be at the Earth Martial Realm?’ he wondered.

”Someone who can resolve our sect’s crisis!”

Lü Xingfan was an old man, but he was fair-skinned and plump, giving him a rather kindly appearance.

”What? Is that true?”

Upon hearing this, the Elders behind him were visibly shaken, their faces alight with excitement.

Life had not been easy for the Nine Profound Sect lately. Because they had offended an Upper Grade Sect, they had come under pressure, and several Elders and talented disciples within the sect had already died under mysterious circumstances.

Although the Nine Profound Sect knew who was behind the ruthless attacks, they were helpless.

Upper Grade Sects all had Earth Martial Realm experts watching over them. The strongest in the Nine Profound Sect, however, was only at the God-Seizing Realm—they didn’t even have anyone at the Immortal Realm. How could they possibly contend with an Upper Grade Sect?

Take Qing Province in the past, for instance. A single sect like the Star Sword Sect could stand high above all, commanding respect from every direction. Who among the five major Middle Grade Sects would have dared to offend them?

”Sect Leader, who is this person you’re talking about?”

The Elders couldn’t contain their curiosity and asked one after another, ’When did our sect gain such a powerful backer?’

”Hehe, over a decade ago, I was traveling through the Six Eastern Provinces. While in Qing Province, I befriended a man named Yue Wenfu. Like me, he was also the sect leader of a Middle Grade Sect. We hit it off immediately, and our private relationship was quite good.”

Lü Xingfan explained with ease.

”Sect Leader, if it’s just another Middle Grade Sect, they won’t be able to help us, will they?” one of the Elders asked, stunned for a moment before frowning.

Never mind one Middle Grade Sect; even five or six more would be useless. The key was the Earth Martial Realm.

”There’s something you don’t know. This friend of mine had a great stroke of luck, a massive opportunity. He has since risen to prominence. Now, even Upper Grade Sects are beneath his notice. It truly makes one envious.”

Lü Xingfan exclaimed, his tone thick with envy.

”A massive opportunity? Sect Leader, please stop keeping us in suspense,” the Elders said in surprise.

”Hm?”

Just then, Lü Xingfan sensed something. His gaze shifted to the distant sky as he said, ”Haha, they’re here! Everyone, come with me to greet them. We must not be negligent.”

Seeing how serious Lü Xingfan was, the others dared not delay and quickly followed.

A hundred li out, the group met the newcomers.

There were two of them: an old man and a white-haired youth.

It was none other than Yue Wenfu and Ning Jiang!

”Younger Brother Lü, long time no see.”

Yue Wenfu laughed heartily upon seeing Lü Xingfan and went to meet him.

Lü Xingfan’s face lit up with joy. ”I was afraid you might have forgotten your younger brother, Brother Yue. It seems I was overthinking things. We haven’t seen each other in years, but your distinguished air is even greater than before.”

The two hadn’t seen each other in over a decade. Since Yue Wenfu’s status was now extraordinary, Lü Xingfan had been worried he might act superior, but Yue Wenfu’s warmth showed him that his fears were unfounded.

”Younger Brother Lü, you’ve certainly weathered a lot.”

Yue Wenfu observed Lü Xingfan. Compared to over a decade ago, the man looked as if he had aged ten years.

”Sigh... It’s a long story.”

Lü Xingfan sighed. His sect was under immense pressure, so of course, life wasn’t easy for him as its leader. It would be strange if he *hadn’t* become careworn.

”Younger Brother Lü, don’t be sad. I came this time to help you solve these problems.”

Yue Wenfu patted Lü Xingfan’s shoulder. The man’s situation was very similar to his own back then.

Back then, his Yanyue Sect had been suppressed by the Fire Cloud Sect. But the Fire Cloud Sect was only a Middle Grade Sect, whereas Lü Xingfan was now being suppressed by an Upper Grade Sect, putting him in an even worse position.

After the two reminisced for a while, Lü Xingfan’s gaze shifted to Ning Jiang. ”Brother Yue, who is this? A junior of yours?”

As he spoke, he observed Ning Jiang and was secretly alarmed to find that he couldn’t see through the youth’s aura at all.

”Hahaha, Younger Brother Lü, you’ve misjudged! He’s no junior—he is my Sect Leader!”

As Yue Wenfu’s words fell, Lü Xingfan’s expression changed dramatically.

He had only known that Yue Wenfu was coming. He had no idea that, besides Yue Wenfu, there would be such a monumental figure!

”What? Brother Yue, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Lü Xingfan jumped in fright. He hurried before Ning Jiang and bowed respectfully. ”I am Lü Xingfan of the Nine Profound Sect. Greetings, Sect Leader Ning. I failed to recognize you earlier. I hope you can forgive my oversight.”

He kept his head lowered in a deep bow toward Ning Jiang, like a humble junior meeting a long-famous senior.

”This...?”

Behind him, the eyes of the Nine Profound Sect’s Elders nearly popped out of their sockets.

Even now, they still had no idea who this young man was to command such a deep bow from the leader of a sect.

”Sect Leader, who on earth is he?”

”Show some respect,” Lü Xingfan said in a low, measured voice, his head still bowed. ”This is the Sect Leader of the Qing Province Myriad Swords Sect, Ning Jiang!”

The moment that sentence was spoken, everyone’s expression turned to one of pure shock.

The Myriad Swords Sect, a newly risen Top Grade Sect built upon the bones of the Evil Spirit Sect—how could they not have heard of it?

And its Sect Leader, Ning Jiang, was even more famous. Despite his youth, he had used Array Power to slay several Earth Martial Realm experts and annihilate the Evil Spirit Sect’s army of ten thousand.

Later, on the day the Myriad Swords Sect was founded, he killed Pang Jie, the number one genius of the Wind Thunder Sect, and then also slew Ji Tianxing, one of the top ten disciples of the Moon God Palace.

One could say that the name Ning Jiang carried a fearsome reputation, one that was even more renowned than that of the Myriad Swords Sect itself.

Many people might not know of the Myriad Swords Sect, but they would absolutely know of Ning Jiang.

”What are you all standing there stunned for? Hurry up and pay your respects to Sect Leader Ning.”

”Yes.” The men hurried forward and said with the utmost respect, ”We greet Sect Leader Ning.”

”Alright, no need for such ceremony,” Ning Jiang said, waving his hand dismissively. His voice was light. ”Solving your troubles is only a secondary reason for my visit. I have my own goals as well.”