Chapter 158: Little Nine Isn’t The Heavenly Sword True Person, Is He? Reunion With Fellow Disciples
Lei Prefecture.
Deep within Yan Mountain.
Two figures were practicing swordplay in front of a wooden hut. Each move and stance was filled with tender affection, like the sun and moon shining together, revealing exquisite subtlety between sunrise and sunset. This joint sword technique required the two to have minds in sync to unleash its astonishing power; the lurking killing intent beneath the dreamlike beauty was not to be underestimated.
A moment later.
Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua stopped their swords. Lin Ruhua’s eyes were full of happiness:
“Baishan, your comprehension is truly unparalleled in the world. With the two of us using this Sun and Moon in the Sky Sword Technique, we can even fight against a Core Elixir Realm Expert.”
Her lover being a martial arts prodigy made her adore him while feeling immensely proud.
Jiang Baishan smiled faintly and then said:
“My meager comprehension is far from unparalleled in the world. If you knew about Little Nine’s feats, you certainly wouldn’t think so.”
Lin Ruhua was a bit curious. Jiang Baishan rarely mentioned Ning Qi. Her impression of him was from the last True Martial Peach Gathering, when Ning Qi had given them a pair of mandarin duck jade pendants, which she still wore at her waist.
That time on the mountain, she had sensed that Ning Qi’s status was unusual, evident from everyone’s attitudes.
Such a prodigy disciple of True Martial Mountain, yet almost no one had heard of him—it was strange. But she had never asked much about it.
Now hearing Jiang Baishan bring him up, she finally couldn’t hold back and asked:
“Tell me quickly about Ninth Junior Brother’s amazing exploits.”
Jiang Baishan smiled, gently stroking Lin Ruhua’s belly, his thoughts seeming to traverse time and space back to the year when Ning Qi had just begun learning martial arts:
“By my calculation, Little Nine is over eleven years old now, but do you know how long he has been practicing martial arts?”
“Eight years.”
Lin Ruhua’s eyes widened.
This would mean Ning Qi had started on the Martial Way at three years old?
Unheard of.
Jiang Baishan continued:
“That year, Little Nine had just stepped onto the Martial Way and already showed prodigy talent. Ruhua, you know I cultivate the Suan Ni Stance, one of the True Martial Nine Stances. It took me three years to cultivate it to Divine Intent Perfection, but do you know how long it took Little Nine?”
“One year?” Lin Ruhua hesitated; she thought that time was already outrageous.
Jiang Baishan shook his head with a smile, full of emotion:
“One day. Even, perhaps not a full day.”
Lin Ruhua was stunned.
Cultivating a superior stance technique to the highest realm in one day—this was pure fantasy. If not for these words coming from her husband’s mouth, she would never believe it.
Jiang Baishan laughed:
“After that, we stopped checking Little Nine’s realm. Among us senior brothers, we even avoid the topic sometimes. We all know that Little Nine may have already quietly surpassed us.”
“He’s only eleven years old. His future is limitless; becoming the strongest being in the world is just a matter of time. If our child can have even half of Little Nine’s talent in the future, that would be wonderful.”
He sighed sincerely.
Lin Ruhua nodded instinctively.
A mother naturally holds infinite hope for her child, always thinking her own is better than others. But hearing Ning Qi described this way by Jiang Baishan, she truly hoped her child could have world-shaking talent like Ning Qi.
She couldn’t help but touch her lower abdomen, full of maternal love.
Jiang Baishan leaned over too.
His large hand rested on Lin Ruhua’s belly, his eyes filled with anticipation. This was the fruit of their love, especially at this moment, shining like a light of hope in their hearts.
The two nestled together, watching the sunset, talking about their expectations for their future child.
Suddenly.
Both their bodies shook as they looked into the distance.
Almost in the same instant, they drew their swords and stood ready. They sensed powerful auras approaching from all sides without concealment, accompanied by a low laugh:
“Excellent! I didn’t expect the daughter of the Sacred Sect Vice Sect Master to debase herself, getting involved with a True Martial Sect disciple, betraying the Sacred Sect, and even bearing a bastard child. Truly excellent!”
The voice laughed, but the anger in it was perceptible to all.
Lin Ruhua’s face paled, all her lingering hopes dashed.
“It’s an Elder from the Demonic Sect, who has been in the Heavenly Human Realm for a long time. Though not at Heavenly Human Ranking level, he’s not to be underestimated.”
She spoke rapidly, her voice like a mosquito in Jiang Baishan’s ear:
“Baishan, listen to me. In a moment, I’ll hold them off. You find a chance to escape. Don’t worry, my mother is after all the Demonic Sect Vice Sect Master; they won’t dare do anything to me. But you’re different. If they catch you, they’ll definitely use you to threaten Master and Senior Disciple Brother!”
Jiang Baishan’s face changed, shaking his head resolutely:
“It’s just death. How could I abandon my wife and child to flee alone? Besides, they came prepared. Even without this Heavenly Human Realm Expert, I couldn’t escape the other Gang Yuan Realm Experts.”
He knew these Demonic Sect people might not harm Lin Ruhua’s life, but what happened after capturing her was unknown. Their unborn child certainly couldn’t be protected.
He was prepared for a desperate fight.
Both felt heartache.
They had just been envisioning the future, and in the blink of an eye, they fell into this desperate situation.
Guilt in Lin Ruhua’s eyes:
“If I hadn’t snuck out some days ago, they probably wouldn’t have left a trace. Baishan, it’s my fault.”
Jiang Baishan gripped her right hand, shaking his head firmly:
“We are one. No need for such words. Even our unborn child surely wouldn’t fear it!”
They exchanged a glance and suddenly smiled, seeing the resolve in each other’s eyes.
If so, only fight to the death.
Perhaps there was a slim chance of survival?
In a short moment.
Over a dozen black-clothed martial artists quietly appeared near the wooden hut, surrounding them completely. All were Gang Yuan Realm cultivators, with several Core Elixir Realm among them.
Then, a red-faced Elder slowly descended from the horizon. He hovered in the air, looking down at them with a sense of oppression. The earlier words were his.
“Miss Lin, your eyesight isn’t great. Ignoring the Sacred Sect’s peerless Holy Son to choose this mere White Mist Realm boy—you’re truly blind.” The Elder sneered.
Lin Ruhua knew why.
Due to Lin Xueshuang’s power and status, she had always been a prized catch in the sect. Many wanted to gain Lin Xueshuang’s support through marriage with her. The earlier Qin Yun was just one; the Elder Ye before her was a supporter of another Candidate Holy Son, Ye Qin.
She was furious inside but showed nothing on her face:
“Elder Ye, please show mercy and let us go. If you let him leave, I can go back with you, even marry Ye Qin.”
Lin Ruhua revealed her trump card right away, making Elder Ye show a trace of astonishment, but he soon sneered:
“Ridiculous. You wouldn’t marry properly before, and now as a broken shoe, you want to marry Qin’er? Truly laughable! Let me tell you: today, the wild man beside you must die, the bastard in your belly can’t be kept, and as for you? You’ll go back to face the Great Elder’s judgment!”
Lin Ruhua’s gaze turned cold:
“Isn’t Elder Ye afraid my mother will fully side with Jiang Tianlong?”
That was another Candidate Holy Son.
After Qin Yun lost power, it was Jiang Tianlong and Ye Qin competing, already at a white-hot stage. Everyone knew that once the Sacred Sect Martial Saint Reserve was born, the Holy Son would become the new generation’s Martial Saint Reserve.
Hearing this, Elder Ye just gave a cold hey-hey laugh:
“Seems Miss Lin doesn’t know the situation within the Sacred Sect yet. In that case, come with this old man and see for yourself.”
Lin Ruhua’s heart sank.
She was always clever; from Elder Ye’s words, she roughly knew what had happened on her mother’s side.
But now wasn’t the time to worry about her mother. She was stalling with Elder Ye on the surface while observing the best direction for breakthrough. Jiang Baishan suppressed his anger, drawing a few strokes on Lin Ruhua’s palm with her right hand.
Their minds were in sync; one look, one action, and they understood each other.
Lin Ruhua took a deep breath, opened her mouth to speak, but in the next instant, she and Jiang Baishan burst forth together. Long swords in hand unleashed Sword Gang, merging like two wandering dragons into a sun-and-moon shining state. Sword Gang headed east; their coordination was seamless.
Such a sudden outburst.
The Jade Liquid Realm Demonic Sect martial artist on the east was instantly killed. The two broke through the encirclement and fled into the distance.
Elder Ye was slightly stunned, admiring their technique, but soon a cold smile appeared on his lips.
He waved his hand.
The other martial artists all charged out.
Far ahead, several martial artists suddenly rushed out to block Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua’s path.
The trace of joy that had just risen on their faces vanished instantly. They hadn’t expected the Demonic Sect to send so many people. Just these fifteen or sixteen Gang Yuan Realm martial artists were enough to trap them in a desperate situation.
Jiang Baishan didn’t hesitate, swallowing a Blood-Burning Pill, while simultaneously activating the secret technique extended from Ning Qi’s Virtual Sword Core Disintegration Great Method.
“Kill!”
In an instant, his Gang Qi surged even more fiercely. Coordinating with Lin Ruhua, they even forced several Core Elixir Realm experts to be somewhat helpless. Mainly, Jiang Baishan’s desperate, all-out fighting style made the other Demonic Sect martial artists fearful.
But the hard strength gap was there. Jiang Baishan was already injured, deep blood marks visible to the bone appearing, making Lin Ruhua’s eyes blur with tears.
Blood had unknowingly flowed onto the mandarin duck jade pendant at her waist.
Seeing this, Elder Ye snorted lightly:
“A bunch of trash!”
With seven or eight times the numbers, including several Core Elixir Realm, yet unable to take down two Jade Liquid Realm martial artists—this angered him, while also making him somewhat appreciative.
“This True Martial Sect boy does have some skill; a hero. Given time, he’d surely be a peerless expert. Pity he’s not from our Sacred Sect.” He shook his head slightly, his body already rising into the air.
He didn’t plan to waste time.
Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua’s hearts grew darker; they had sensed the terrifying sense of oppression approaching.
The gap between Heavenly Human Realm and Gang Yuan Realm was too vast, let alone that they weren’t even Core Elixir Realm.
At this moment.
Elder Ye struck with one palm, a massive palm print immediately suppressing down. Wild winds roared like wailing.
Jiang Baishan blocked in front of Lin Ruhua, feeling his bones about to shatter, his hair crown breaking, his wild hair flying, but he roared:
“Old dog Ye, if I don’t die today, someday I’ll slaughter your entire clan!”
This was the only sentence he said since the battle began.
His eyes were fierce like a vicious wolf, making Elder Ye’s heart chill. This boy indeed had world-shaking talent; if he escaped, endless future trouble. He sneered:
“There won’t be that day. Today you die without doubt, shattered to pieces!”
The palm print pressed down, majestic in aura.
He deliberately slowed it, making Jiang Baishan taste the suffocating despair of impending doom.
Jiang Baishan’s front Gang Qi shattered inch by inch. His eyes reddened; he could no longer roar, only watch helplessly as the palm print crushed down. Lin Ruhua’s vision blurred with tears; she wanted to beg for mercy but was suppressed by Heaven and Earth Power, unable to speak, only watching Jiang Baishan helplessly.
All watched mockingly.
The palm print was already a mere zhang above his head, like a mountain pressing down. Jiang Baishan half-knelt on the ground, bleeding all over, but unyielding. Suddenly, his spirit shook as he sensed a fluctuation spreading. His gaze dropped, discovering the source was the mandarin duck jade pendant Ning Qi gave him, now bloodstained and looking somewhat eerie.
He was about to think.
“Buzz!”
A buzzing sound rang in everyone’s ears. Elder Ye’s danger sense flared; his figure rapidly rose into the sky.
Only to see the jade pendant at Jiang Baishan’s waist shatter, peerless Sword Intent rising. Terrifying Sword Qi splashed out in all directions.
Everything happened in a flash.
No one could react—not even Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua themselves, who were stunned. But soon, a jolt from the surrounding cries of agony woke them. The Sword Qi’s power was terrifying; the surrounding black-clothed people had no chance to resist and were instantly killed.
Elder Ye was chased far by the most terrifying Sword Qi. The two saw from afar Elder Ye cry out in agony too, blood flashing as an arm was shredded to powder by Sword Qi.
Both were dumbfounded by the sudden change.
“This is… the jade pendant Little Nine gave us?”
Jiang Baishan still clutched a jade pendant fragment, waves surging in his heart.
Lin Ruhua touched her intact jade pendant at her waist, equally shocked.
The scene before them was too astonishing.
From desperate situation to survival—they couldn’t help but weep with joy. Fortunately, both knew not to dwell now.
Lin Ruhua helped Jiang Baishan up and hurriedly said:
“Baishan, Old Ghost Ye only lost an arm. We must escape immediately, or if he reacts and catches up, even injured, he’s not someone we can fight.”
Jiang Baishan nodded quickly.
The two mustered Gang Qi, trying to erase traces as they fled into the mountain forest.
They fled at full speed.
Jiang Baishan looked miserable but wasn’t gravely wounded. Now with a breather, he couldn’t help recalling the terrifying Sword Qi eruption just now:
“Ruhua, didn’t you feel that the Sword Qi and Sword Intent earlier seemed familiar?”
Lin Ruhua was also pondering this.
Hearing this, she subconsciously said:
“Heavenly Sword True Person!”
Jiang Baishan nodded vigorously:
“Right, it’s Heavenly Sword Senior. This Sword Intent is identical to that of the True Martial Sword Stele and when that old senior acted before!”
As they fled, they exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.
“Little Nine… what relation does he have with Heavenly Sword Senior?”
“Perhaps… Ninth Junior Brother was favored by Heavenly Sword Senior?”
Various guesses arose in their hearts. Hearing Lin Ruhua’s explanation, Jiang Baishan thought it reasonable, but vaguely felt something off. Yet saying Heavenly Sword True Person was Little Nine was too absurd.
He shook his head, casting aside distractions, but his heart warmed immensely. Regardless of the exact relation between Heavenly Sword True Person and Ning Qi, for Heavenly Sword True Person to create such a powerful treasure was no small feat. Without deep senior brother bond, it would be impossible.
“This time, we truly owe it to Little Nine.”
Jiang Baishan exhaled deeply and said gravely:
“Ruhua, our biggest trump card now is the jade pendant you have left. We must use it well, or we can’t escape Old Ghost Ye’s pursuit.”
Lin Ruhua nodded firmly and handed over the jade pendant:
“You use it! Soon Old Ghost Ye will catch up. Aim to kill him in one strike then, so we have a chance to escape. From what I know of the Demonic Sect, they never send just one force; there are surely others. We must shake off Old Ghost Ye before they arrive.”
Jiang Baishan didn’t refuse.
The two fled through the mountain forest while stuffing various pills into their mouths to optimize their condition.
Meanwhile, Elder Ye.
Finally recovered from his earlier shock.
“This Sword Intent resembles the one mentioned in intelligence about Heavenly Sword True Person. Seems Heavenly Sword True Person sealed two strands of Sword Qi for them. Damn it!” Elder Ye gritted his teeth, looking at his severed left arm.
Careless, he had capsized in the gutter and become crippled.
“The jade pendant on Jiang Baishan is gone; only Lin Ruhua’s remains. I need to be more careful.” He had just arduously removed the lingering Sword Intent. He feared that Heavenly Sword True Person to the extreme and itched with hatred for the two.
He secretly swore that if he caught them, he’d make them wish for death!
Without hesitation, he soared into the sky.
Chasing along their escape traces.
A Heavenly Human Realm expert flying through the air was naturally extremely fast, plus the two were injured and couldn’t hide traces well. Thus, soon Elder Ye caught up, his face dark:
“Two little beasts, still want to run?”
His voice boomed, layer upon layer, making the mountain forest undulate like waves. Giant trees snapped under Heaven and Earth Power, exposing the two’s figures.
Jiang Baishan sneered mercilessly:
“Old dog, doesn’t feel good to lose an arm, huh?”
Elder Ye flew into rage:
“Very good! Soon I’ll let you see what true cruelty is!”
“Old thing, come if you dare!” Lin Ruhua raised the jade pendant in her hand, pinching it in her palm with only a corner showing. Elder Ye’s pupils shrank involuntarily.
The two fled swiftly, racing deep into Yan Mountain. Heaven and Earth Power was mighty but too distant; the two could barely dodge amid their sorry state. Patches of mountain forest were destroyed in Elder Ye’s fury. Elder Ye probed, gradually lowering height; the two’s pressure mounted.
Suddenly.
Lin Ruhua halted, raising her jade pendant:
“Old dog, behold Sword Qi!”
Elder Ye’s heart jolted; he immediately soared high. The shadow of his severed arm was still fresh.
But who knew.
No Sword Intent erupted at all. Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua seized the chance to dive into another mountain forest, with mocking laughter:
“What a cowardly old dog!”
Elder Ye raged, veins bulging on his forehead. Toyed with like this, he wanted to tear them to shreds.
A moment later.
He tried approaching again.
Lin Ruhua repeated the trick.
Elder Ye fled high again in fright. Even knowing it might be a bluff, he dared not bet, lest he lose another arm—a huge loss.
Lin Ruhua’s crisp laughter rang in the mountain forest, piercing Elder Ye’s ears gratingly. His face was dark as if dripping water.
Continuously toyed with by two juniors—this was utter humiliation.
In the chase.
They delved deeper into Yan Mountain, said to have a Beast King too. Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua aimed to play one beast against another for escape.
Elder Ye clearly noticed.
He waved, driving strands of Heaven and Earth Power; the sense of oppression grew stronger. Repeatedly tricked by Lin Ruhua, he grew impatient, descending lower each time, rising shorter distances after scares. The two kept vomiting blood; at this range, Heaven and Earth Power’s aftershocks already harmed them.
Jiang Baishan swung his sword, knocked flying sideways by Heaven and Earth Power’s aftershock.
Lin Ruhua raised the jade pendant again:
“Old dog, behold sword!”
This time, Elder Ye grinned ferociously, descending instead of rising. He aimed to exploit the psychological gap for a surprise kill. Heaven and Earth Power swept in, the Heavenly Human Realm Expert’s aura fully unleashed. Lin Ruhua’s body was immediately flung away.
“You really were bluffing!” Elder Ye laughed maniacally, reaching to grab Lin Ruhua.
But almost instantly, the laughter stopped.
Lin Ruhua’s palm opened; the jade pendant fell—it was clearly a jade pendant fragment, from Jiang Baishan’s earlier one.
Elder Ye felt a chill down his spine.
Behind him, peerless Sword Intent erupted instantly, terrifying Sword Qi assaulting. He subconsciously let out a strange yell.
Jiang Baishan’s slightly mad laughter rang out:
“Old dog, the real sword is with this daddy!”
The two had acted crazily all along, finally convincing Elder Ye the jade pendant was with Lin Ruhua. Unbeknownst, they had swapped at the start; now it worked.
Jiang Baishan struggled to help Lin Ruhua up. This time, they finally witnessed the Sword Qi’s power.
Strands of Sword Qi swept toward Elder Ye. No matter how he manipulated Heaven and Earth Power, he couldn’t counter it; instead, the Sword Qi’s sharpness severed barrier after barrier.
A cry of agony.
Half of Elder Ye’s body was severed. His aura weakened to the extreme; he plummeted from the void.
Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua rejoiced.
This result exceeded their expectations.
They had no thought of finishing Elder Ye. Even weakened, he was Heavenly Human Realm; any trump card counterattack would turn joy to sorrow. Their only thought now was to flee quickly!
Yet just as they stepped, Elder Ye’s shrill voice echoed through the void:
“Why haven’t you acted? If they escape, can you bear this responsibility?!”
Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua froze, horror surging. Their gazes turned uniformly to the front jungle.
Only the rhythmic sound of snapping tree branches rang out.
Then.
A cold-faced white-haired youth stepped out, appearing in their sight.
