Chapter 105: Slaughter
The snow on True Martial Mountain grew heavier.
Although Dragon Mountain Daoist was already a Heavenly Human Realm expert, he wouldn’t idly change the weather for no reason.
As the year-end approached, True Martial Disciples gradually returned to the mountain one by one. Outer and Inner Disciples rubbed their fists eagerly, preparing to show off their skills at the Year End Grand Competition. With Dragon Mountain Daoist stepping into the Heavenly Human Realm, True Martial Sect also began orderly expansion.
The rewards at the grand competition became increasingly generous, with many martial arts secret techniques that made the disciples very envious.
But what they didn’t know was.
The vast majority of them were created by Ning Qi.
Over these years, Ning Qi had read through the Scripture Depository. Even if done casually, each one was an extraordinary martial art. With his current realm, creating martial arts for Body Tempering Realm and Inner Yuan Realm was as simple as eating and drinking.
His current focus was basically on Heavenly Human-level secret techniques.
True Disciples returned to the mountain one after another.
They all showed visible progress, but basically none brought back the news about the Martial Saint that Ning Qi wanted to know. They only felt guilty and could only collect some other miscellaneous classics to enrich the Scripture Depository’s library a bit.
Ning Qi was not surprised by this and just smiled to comfort his senior brothers that it was fine, to pay more attention in the future.
After all, it was just an attempt. His senior brothers and senior sisters were all at Inner Yuan Realm or Gang Yuan Realm cultivation. To touch upon things in the Martial Saint domain, even if just some rumors, depended on luck.
But Jiang Baishan seemed to have good luck.
He was the last one to return to the mountain.
This time, Jiang Baishan who returned to the mountain was not as disheveled as before; instead, there was always a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
The congregation all teased him that last time he returned, he almost had his arm chopped off. They asked if this time he had met that woman again and gotten revenge. Jiang Baishan just shook his head with slight embarrassment. The congregation teased him, but he didn’t mind and was unwilling to say more details.
The congregation clicked their tongues in wonder.
Then they were attracted by another piece of news Jiang Baishan brought:
“Little Junior Brother, although I didn’t find any news about the Martial Saint this time, I learned some news about existences on the same level as the Martial Saint.”
Ning Qi became interested and quickly reacted:
“You mean, exotic beasts?”
Jiang Baishan smiled:
“That’s right. We all know that exotic beasts are said to be descendants of Heavenly Beasts. Exotic beasts comparable to Heavenly Human Realm experts are called Beast Kings, and those comparable to Martial Saint experts are called Beast Emperors. I heard that in the deepest part of the Hundred Thousand Mountains in the Southern Border, there are Beast Emperors!”
“But for some unknown reason, after these Beast Emperors briefly appeared, they gradually disappeared and rarely venture out into the outside world.”
“One theory is that the Beast Emperors have excavated their Heavenly Beast bloodlines to an extremely profound level, and as rumored, Heavenly Beasts were rejected by heaven and earth, so these Beast Emperors are very likely suffering the same treatment as Heavenly Beasts.”
Ning Qi’s eyes lit up, his interest even stronger.
“Where did you hear this news?”
Jiang Baishan scratched his head and said:
“It was heard by chance; I don’t know if it’s true or false. Little Junior Brother, don’t fully believe it.”
Ning Qi nodded slightly.
His intuition told him that Beast Emperors and Martial Saint-level existences had common points; the two were definitely not unrelated.
Perhaps… one day, if the White Ape’s bloodline was excavated deeply enough for it to advance to Beast Emperor, there might be hope to learn the truth. Ning Qi secretly kept this thought in his heart. This was also a path, though it might take a while.
Jiang Baishan continued:
“Next year, I’ll go look again for more detailed news.”
Ning Qi smiled and nodded.
He always felt that the news Jiang Baishan got might have some connection to that unknown woman, but he didn’t pursue it. Everyone has their own secrets. Even with good senior brother relationships, some boundaries are needed. Learning this piece of news already satisfied him greatly.
…
At the year-end gathering, the congregation all shared what they had seen and heard down the mountain.
Ning Qi stayed on True Martial Mountain year-round and listened with great interest. Over these nine years, apart from experiencing some local customs of the Great Yan Dynasty on the way when Dragon Mountain Daoist brought him to True Martial Mountain, the farthest place he had gone was True Martial City at the foot of the mountain.
However, Ning Qi didn’t find it boring.
Only by enduring loneliness could one seek the Great Dao.
But Ning Qi estimated.
Next year, he would most likely go down the mountain.
The root cause was with Blood Rain Tower.
A few days ago.
Someone sent a message by flying pigeon to inform Dragon Mountain Daoist that Blood Rain Tower had suddenly contracted, as if it had detected someone secretly investigating.
“Little Nine, this Blood Rain Tower is not simple. There might be Heavenly Human Realm experts behind it. The ones who massacred Snow Plum Villa back then might have just been a small force among them.” Dragon Mountain Daoist discussed with Ning Qi.
In the end, Ning Qi made up his mind.
After the year-end, he would personally track Blood Rain Tower’s traces.
As long as Blood Rain Tower showed the slightest slip, with the various secret techniques Ning Qi mastered, he could definitely track them down. It would just take some time. Originally, Ning Qi planned to have others handle this process and have him strike the final blow to kill the enemies.
But now, it seemed better to resolve it quickly to avoid prolonged delays.
Ning Qi didn’t dwell too much on this issue.
With his current strength, he just needed to find them. Back then, that ‘Lord Feng’ was still wary of Dragon Mountain Daoist who was only at Core Elixir Realm. It couldn’t be that after nine years, he had already stepped into the Heavenly Human Realm—no prodigy advanced that fast.
Moreover, even if he had stepped into the Heavenly Human Realm, Ning Qi could easily suppress him.
True Martial Sect’s Year End Grand Competition proceeded normally, with the sect filled with thriving vitality.
True Martial Sect’s foundation was now increasingly profound. With just some time to settle, it would inevitably erupt with powerful strength that would make everyone take notice.
…
Heavy snow swirled.
Divine Sword Sect was also holding its Year End Grand Competition. Last time at the Dead Fire Abyss branch, Divine Sword Elder had also participated in the battle, but he was lucky with only minor injuries, which had long healed.
At this moment.
Divine Sword Elder watched the sect disciples sparring, but his mind was wandering outside his body. He recalled the matter reported by his disciple a couple of days ago and felt something was off.
“Master, are you still thinking about the news Senior Brother Zhang brought back?” The eldest disciple Dong He beside him asked. “Hasn’t that blood pool already been destroyed? You don’t need to worry.”
Divine Sword Elder nodded:
“I always feel that blood pool isn’t that simple. It’s not just wealthy merchants seeking to extend lifespan; perhaps something broader is involved behind it.”
Dong He paused and said:
“If that’s the case, our Divine Sword Sect should not delve deeper. If it involves something broad, I’m afraid the sect disciples will be drawn into the turmoil. Better to pretend it never happened.”
Divine Sword Elder’s brows furrowed, and he angrily shouted:
“Dong He! How have I taught you all usually? When encountering injustice, one must have a sense of righteousness. To turn a blind eye to evil cults is to be an accomplice. If we don’t investigate this blood pool matter thoroughly, who knows how many more innocent people will die unjustly.”
There was disappointment in his eyes toward Dong He.
The congregation all looked over tensely, not knowing why Divine Sword Elder was so furious. Why had Master and Eldest Senior Brother suddenly clashed.
Divine Sword Elder suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice:
“After the year-end, I will personally investigate this matter. I want to see exactly who is stirring up trouble behind the scenes!”
Dong He hung his head low, his voice carrying a strange tone:
“Master, why do you always like to suffer for the sake of face?”
Divine Sword Elder froze in place, looking at Dong He in disbelief. He could hardly believe such words came from his eldest disciple’s mouth.
“You!”
Dong He slowly raised his head, a trace of blood color surging in his eyes. Without any warning, he struck. A strand of Gang Qi erupted, slashing toward the nearby Divine Sword Elder.
He didn’t know when he had broken through White Mist Realm, not even known to Divine Sword Elder.
“What you? Old thing, die!”
He roared angrily, his face fiercely distorted. The others looked on in horror at this scene, not knowing what had happened.
Divine Sword Elder’s hands and feet trembled. His Core Elixir shook, Gang Qi surging, but in an instant, he noticed something wrong.
“Traitorous disciple! You poisoned me?”
He was furious, with deep sorrow in his eyes.
Back when they were at Divine Sword Mountain, Dong He had followed him. He never expected betrayal today, which was unbelievable:
“Why?”
Dong He drew his long sword, ruthless strands of Sword Qi slashing out, as if venting all the malice in his heart:
“Why? It’s all because you’re this old thing who suffers for the sake of face, wanting nothing, giving nothing. After losing Divine Sword Mountain back then, you still prided yourself on keeping your word—you’re a fool among fools. Do you know how much cultivation time I wasted because of that?!”
“Why? You still have the face to ask me why? I also want Condensing Gang Pills. I also want to break through to Gang Yuan Realm!”
Heaven knows how envious he was when he saw Luo Wentian step into Gang Yuan Realm with a single Condensing Gang Pill.
Unfortunately.
He wasn’t so lucky.
Divine Sword Elder was utterly disappointed. He felt all his years of teachings had been fed to a dog. His gaze gradually sharpened:
“Wretch, do you think poisoning me lets you fight me? Naive!”
Gang Qi surged in his body, suppressing the severe poison.
Dong He’s smile grew more twisted, blood color thick in his eyes, with a sense of perverse pleasure:
“One person naturally isn’t enough, but…”
“With us?”
Low, sinister laughs rang out. Outside Divine Sword Sect’s gate, black-clothed figures swooped in like eagles, carrying rolling killing intent. Even within Divine Sword Sect, some disciples’ eyes showed blood color.
Divine Sword Elder’s heart sank continuously.
He knew.
Today, things were about to go wrong.
He didn’t know the origins of those charging black-clothed people, but the leaders’ auras erupted, all at Core Elixir Realm. Even at his peak, it wouldn’t be easy to handle, let alone now poisoned by Dong He.
“Divine Sword Sect disciples, engage the enemy!!” He shouted sharply, howling toward the sky.
The great battle was imminent.
Heavy snow swirled, stained with blood as it fell.
Shouts of killing and screams filled Divine Sword Sect.
Zhuang Chen was stunned by the sudden change nearby. He couldn’t believe it—his usually amiable and cute Eldest Senior Brother had suddenly become like a ferocious ghost. He gritted his teeth and swung his sword. With his Inner Yuan Realm cultivation plus the Innate Sword Body secret technique taught by Ning Qi, he could unleash considerable strength.
The leading black-clothed man locked onto him:
“Capture that fat guy for me! Alive!”
Greed flashed in the black-clothed man’s eyes. He had learned from Dong He that Zhuang Chen had Innate Sword Bone.
Divine Sword Elder’s Gang Qi moved, shielding Zhuang Chen behind him. He glanced back, desolation in his eyes.
Familiar disciples from the past lay in pools of blood one by one.
Divine Sword Sect was destined to be destroyed today.
Tears streamed down his old face, guilt in his heart, but looking at Zhuang Chen, a trace of affection flashed in his eyes.
“Chen’er, Master will protect you on your final journey!”
Divine Sword Elder roared toward the sky. His Core Elixir cracked with a snap, fissures appearing as incomparably surging Gang Qi erupted, sharp as a divine sword. His hair and beard flared, like a god or demon.
This was the final move recorded in the incomplete Sword Saint Legacy he obtained back then.
Sword Core Disintegration Great Law.
