Chapter 284: Ten Years
“Brother Ning, it’s only been a little over a month since we last met, and you’ve truly scared old Niu to death!”
Niu Man and several demons strolled with Ning Qi and the Sword Ancestor within the Boundless Sword Sect. Niu Man was still emotionally stirred.
He had met Ning Qi in Ningyu City within the Profound True Secret Realm.
Back then, one man and one demon drank and chatted merrily, critiquing the heavenly prides of the north and south.
Now, aside from that rogue cultivator Fu Chen, all the other heavenly prides had perished, leaving only the two of them.
Ning Qi had even broken through to the Late Void Dao Realm and taken over as sect leader of a sect, which truly filled Niu Man with endless emotion.
Although Ning Qi’s strength back in the Profound True Secret Realm had already shocked Niu Man and the other demons, their current reunion was like heaven and mud.
“Brother Niu, you overpraise me. I still have to toast you for inviting Senior Niu Ding Tian of the Ox Demon Upper Sect to help my Boundless Sword Sect.”
Ning Qi said humbly, while cupping his hands in thanks to a three-zhang-tall old ox beside him.
That old ox had an honest face, with a steady aura as heavy as a mountain emanating from his body.
Niu Man smiled and said, “We agreed on it back in the secret realm; how could I go back on my word.”
The Sword Ancestor and the old ancestor of the Ox Demon Upper Sect accompanied them.
The two men and several demons chatted as they walked.
Niu Ding Tian’s gaze occasionally swept over Ning Qi and Jian Jingjue. As a Body Integration Realm magnate, his personal arrival was due to the persuasion of Niu Man and the others.
However, generally speaking, even if he only sent a Perfection of Void Dao Realm great demon from the sect, it would have been acceptable.
But he had ultimately come personally.
First, because Niu Man and the other demons had detailed their experiences in the Profound True Secret Realm, particularly praising Ning Qi highly.
Niu Ding Tian had never seen his own juniors praise someone so much before. After all, in the past, those heavenly prides on the same level as Niu Man were mostly dismissed by him with disdain.
Second, because Jian Jingjue had personally come to request their assistance.
Jian Jingjue was a heavenly pride from ten thousand years ago, and Niu Ding Tian, even as a Body Integration Realm magnate, knew of Jian Jingjue’s talent.
He had even sparred with Jian Jingjue at the Ox Demon Upper Sect.
After their exchange, Niu Ding Tian immediately recognized that Jian Jingjue had the potential for Dao Integration. Facing such a prodigy, how could he not understand the principle of sending charcoal in the snowy winter?
Before they left the Ox Demon Upper Sect, Niu Ding Tian had also asked Jian Jingjue about Ning Qi.
Jian Jingjue had only said: This child far surpasses me!
These words immediately piqued Niu Ding Tian’s curiosity even more, so he had come personally to the Boundless Sword Sect, not hesitating to become enemies with the Northern Profound Upper Sect.
But he never imagined that while they were still on the way, the Northern Profound Upper Sect had unluckily and tragically been wiped out by a mysterious person.
Niu Ding Tian’s gaze fell on Ning Qi, and he suddenly said:
“I’ve heard from Little Jian that Sect Master Ning’s talent surpasses even his. How about you and I have a spar?”
“Little Jian?”
Ning Qi was stunned, then looked at the Sword Ancestor, who had an awkward expression.
There was no helping it; Jian Jingjue was still a Perfection of Void Dao Realm cultivator, so facing a Body Integration Realm magnate, he naturally had to position himself as a junior.
“If Senior Niu is willing to give this junior some pointers, how could this junior refuse?”
Ning Qi took the lead, guiding everyone to the Central Plaza. “Please!”
Seeing Ning Qi so carefree, facing even a Body Integration Realm cultivator with composure, Niu Ding Tian secretly praised him in his heart.
Immediately after, the man and the demon stood facing each other in the plaza.
The others all stood on the outer sides to watch.
Niu Ding Tian actually shrank his body to about human size and said, “Sect Master Ning, please go first.”
“Good. Since Senior Niu says so, this junior will make the first move.”
A sword appeared in Ning Qi’s hand, and a sharp sword intent erupted from his body.
“One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws!”
Ning Qi directly used the same sword that had slain the peerless great power of the Northern Profound Upper Sect back then!
He took a step forward and thrust a single sword straight at Niu Ding Tian, with no fancy techniques—just a simple, extremely condensed sword strike.
A bucket-thick void black hole instantly appeared from the sword tip, pointing straight at Niu Ding Tian’s chest.
The surrounding spectators were shocked upon seeing this sword, especially Niu Man and the other demons. If it were them facing it, they would probably be instantly slain, with no chance to even escape.
Even the Sword Ancestor stroked his beard and nodded. Young Ning had indeed grasped the essence from him.
The other elders were still fumbling, but Young Ning could already use it freely!
As a Body Integration Realm magnate, Niu Ding Tian faced the sword light and directly let out a mad bellow.
The void in front of him also shattered, revealing a black hole that directly roared away Ning Qi’s sword.
Seeing this, the crowd could only say it was worthy of a Body Integration Realm magnate.
Only Niu Ding Tian muttered to himself inwardly: That roar had used a full twenty percent of his power. He was at Integration Perfection, after all.
Ning Qi’s sword danced in his hand, thrusting out several swords in succession. Countless void black holes surrounded Niu Ding Tian and pressed directly toward him.
“Sect Master Ning, your sword technique is indeed unique. But let me demonstrate a method of mine, which achieves a similar effect through different means!”
Niu Ding Tian stood calmly in the center of the void black holes.
As soon as he finished speaking, a wildly ferocious Qiu Niu Divine Form suddenly manifested around his body, all condensed from Rule Divine Chains.
At the Body Integration Realm, rules were refined into the fleshly body, forming innate Supernatural Powers.
Clearly, Niu Ding Tian’s Supernatural Power was this Qiu Niu Divine Form.
The Qiu Niu was like another form of Niu Ding Tian’s, carried by his main body and making the same movements.
With a void bellow from the ox, the Qiu Niu Niu Ding Tian stood tall and proactively charged toward the void black holes created by Ning Qi’s several sword strikes.
Those pitch-black void black holes looked capable of annihilating all things, able to obliterate the spiritual energy and rules within the void.
But facing the massive Qiu Niu Divine Form, they were like a muddy swamp, unable to contain its divine form.
This was because at the Body Integration Realm, one no longer condensed rules from the void but released them from within one’s own body.
Niu Ding Tian tore out from the void black hole and landed in front of Ning Qi. He did not proactively attack Ning Qi but said:
“You break ten thousand laws with one sword; I break ten thousand laws with sheer force!”
By this point, Niu Ding Tian had already confirmed that Ning Qi’s talent surpassed Jian Jingjue’s.
After all, Jian Jingjue was already an old monster from over ten thousand years ago, while how old was Ning Qi?
After verifying it, he knew Ning Qi’s Void Dao Realm was absolutely solid. No wonder the Boundless Sword Sect had made him sect leader.
It wasn’t that the sect lacked talent, but that Ning Qi’s strength had truly surpassed those people.
Thus, Niu Ding Tian became even more satisfied with Niu Man. Befriending someone like Ning Qi was probably the greatest opportunity of Niu Man’s life.
Niu Ding Tian had no intention of continuing the fight, but at this moment, Ning Qi was staring at him with a playful expression.
This Body Integration Realm magnate had chosen to use something else—why the Qiu Niu Divine Form of all things?
One must know that he had just incarnated as Zhan Xuan Shang Jun, and the one who slew the Integration Perfection Zhou Tianzi was using the Dragon’s Nine Offspring Divine Forms, among which was the Qiu Niu.
“Senior Niu, this junior has one more move I’d like to exchange with you.” Ning Qi said calmly.
Niu Ding Tian was taken aback. “Oh?”
He had thought that Ning Qi’s previous sword move was his most powerful technique, but unexpectedly, Ning Qi still had an ultimate move up his sleeve.
The surrounding spectators all exclaimed in admiration one after another.
Even the Sword Ancestor looked puzzled. He had sparred with Ning Qi before, and the Sword Ancestor was confident that Ning Qi’s strongest attack right now was absolutely the One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws he had taught him.
How did Young Ning have a new move now?
He was inwardly shocked. Had this kid gained another insight so quickly?
“Then show it to me.” Niu Ding Tian retreated back to his previous position.
Ning Qi took a deep breath, divine light shining brilliantly in his eyes.
This reincarnated body of his could only be invincible at the Void Dao Realm right now; he couldn’t borrow his main body’s world power like he had against the Northern Profound Upper Sect to battle Niu Ding Tian.
But since Niu Ding Tian had brought out the Qiu Niu Divine Form, Ning Qi also wanted to test where his own limit lay.
Ning Qi’s Primordial Spirit Power erupted, and one after another different Rule Divine Chains emerged in the void, shining with various colors.
Seeing so many kinds of Rule Divine Chain Manifestations, and each so long, Niu Man and the other demons were all stunned.
Even Niu Ding Tian couldn’t help his pupils contracting. Good grief, this kid had hidden his depths so well. No wonder he had previously thought Ning Qi’s strongest attack was just that One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws technique.
Ning Qi used his Primordial Spirit Power to control the Rule Divine Chains. Suddenly, his Primordial Spirit seemed to parasitize upon the Rule Divine Chains.
This came from the Void God Refining True Method of the Northern Profound Upper Sect, a Nascent Soul Fetal Parasitism Technique that could only be used at the Void Dao Realm!
But they usually viewed this technique as a body seizure method, to be used when the fleshly body was destroyed but the Primordial Spirit remained, to seize another person’s body for one’s own use.
Ning Qi had perfected it, allowing it not only to seize others’ fleshly bodies but also the heaven and earth rules.
Thus, the crowd saw the Rule Divine Chains condensed in the void gradually forming a illusory figure.
Its form gradually solidified, reflecting in everyone’s pupils.
Sword Dao Rule Divine Chains, Thunder Rule Divine Chains, Wind Rule Divine Chains formed its claws and fangs; Earth Rule condensed its entire body.
A Qiu Niu stepped out from the void, looking at the crowd with eyes that overlooked all things.
Niu Man and the other demons involuntarily gaped, simply unable to believe the scene. Why did Ning Qi’s condensed Qiu Niu Divine Form feel more authentic than their old ancestor’s? It was full of Qiu Niu Divine Intent!
Niu Ding Tian was stunned again, feeling the same as the crowd.
After stepping into the Body Integration Realm, he had always been refining rules into his fleshly body, ultimately selecting the Qiu Niu as his fleshly body Rule Divine Ability.
Even now, Niu Ding Tian’s Qiu Niu had only its form; it always lacked something in its divine intent.
The Qiu Niu condensed by Ning Qi charged toward Niu Ding Tian, every move and stance fiercely sharp!
No longer shattering the void to form black holes like One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws, but rather making the entire void revolve around it, suppressing Niu Ding Tian.
Niu Ding Tian naturally wouldn’t let Ning Qi attack freely. He too manifested a Qiu Niu form, and the two Qiu Nius battled in the void.
They fought from the sky to the ground; the plaza on the ground shattered. Then they fought back into the sky, where thunder rumbled unceasingly, interspersed with deafening roars—Moo! Shaking mountains and rivers!
The more Niu Ding Tian battled Ning Qi, the more shocked he became.
At this moment, he had already used twenty-five percent of his Body Integration Realm power, yet he still couldn’t immediately take down Ning Qi.
Instead, he was still being suppressed by Ning Qi, as if Ning Qi’s displayed Qiu Niu Divine Form was the orthodox one, completely suppressing Niu Ding Tian’s Qiu Niu in terms of bloodline and divine intent.
What surprised Niu Ding Tian even more was that a faint sense of fear inexplicably arose in his heart—truly strange.
Finally, after hundreds of exchanges, Niu Ding Tian finally used thirty percent of his power to barely shatter Ning Qi’s Qiu Niu Divine Form.
The void calmed, and Niu Ding Tian landed on the shattered plaza, looking toward Ning Qi opposite him.
Since Ning Qi had used the Nascent Soul Fetal Parasitism Technique to parasitize the rules, his fleshly body hadn’t moved, instead sitting cross-legged in one corner of the plaza.
At this moment, Ning Qi slowly opened his eyes and walked to three zhang away from Niu Ding Tian.
He cupped his hands and said, “Senior Niu’s spells are profound; this junior is no match.”
A brilliant smile appeared on Niu Ding Tian’s ox face. He directly took out a jade slip and handed it to Ning Qi.
“Your talent is rare in the world, little friend. I have here the method for condensing the Qiu Niu fleshly body at the Body Integration Realm—it’s the insights from my lifetime of cultivation. How about I give it to you?”
Seeing this, the crowd nearly dropped their jaws.
Niu Man and the other demons exchanged glances. They had naturally seen that their old ancestor had intended to test Ning Qi earlier.
But now, why had their old ancestor become so proactive, eager to get closer to Ning Qi? He had even directly addressed him as little friend?
The Sword Ancestor Jian Jingjue felt the most sour about it. Damn it, calling him Little Jian but Ning Qi little friend—how did it feel like his seniority had dropped?
Ning Qi accepted Niu Ding Tian’s jade slip. He understood the demon’s mind and also took out a jade slip to give to Niu Ding Tian.
“Senior Niu, I too will give you some insights on the Qiu Niu Divine Intent. I hope you won’t disdain it.”
Niu Ding Tian’s mouth nearly split to his ears. He said, “What Senior Niu? Little friend, just call me Old Niu.”
Ning Qi glanced at the crowd.
Niu Man’s ox face seemed extremely entangled. How had Brother Ning and their old ancestor become brothers? Then how should they address each other?
The Sword Ancestor, meanwhile, had a face full of displeasure, making Ning Qi both amused and exasperated.
Niu Ding Tian said again, “Little friend, this gift of yours is worth a thousand years of my bitter cultivation. If there’s anything you need in the future, I, Niu Ding Tian, will go through fire and water without hesitation.”
“Senior Niu…”
“Still calling me Senior Niu?”
Ning Qi was helpless. “Then how about calling you Brother Niu?”
Niu Ding Tian nodded in satisfaction.
He had originally come to fulfill his juniors’ promise and make an early investment, never expecting to gain such a great benefit from Ning Qi as well.
A gleam of wisdom flashed in Niu Ding Tian’s ox eyes. He saw even more clearly than the junior Niu Man how brilliant Ning Qi’s future would be.
Not to mention that Qiu Niu Divine Form—just the fact that he had needed thirty percent power to win this spar let Niu Ding Tian know that Ning Qi would soon catch up to them old fellows.
Afterward, Niu Ding Tian and the several demons stayed another day in the Boundless Sword Sect before preparing to return to the Ox Demon Upper Sect.
Before leaving, Niu Ding Tian suddenly said:
“Ning little friend, although the Northern Profound Upper Sect has been destroyed, there’s one thing I must inform you of.”
“Brother Niu, please speak.”
Niu Ding Tian pointed at the sky. “That Spirit Realm War is probably not far off. If we get drawn, we can team up to go.”
Ning Qi nodded. Niu Ding Tian was looking out for him and the Boundless Sword Sect.
After all, on the surface, the Boundless Sword Sect still had no Body Integration Realm existence.
“Then many thanks, Brother Niu.”
Niu Ding Tian said again:
“The Southern True Domain hasn’t been peaceful lately. The true disciples of the Heavenly Star Upper Sect and Feathered Ascension Upper Sect have all been wiped out, and they’re suspecting our two sects.”
“However, Old Niu will try my best to hold off those two sects. Little friend, you can rest assured.”
Ning Qi cupped his hands in thanks. This Niu Ding Tian was truly not bad.
Though he had intentions to invest in him, it was also sincere.
Moreover, even Ning Qi himself knew that for this reincarnated body to break through to the Body Integration Realm, it would require a tremendous opportunity.
If relying solely on time to cultivate, it would take over a hundred years at least.
At the same time, Niu Ding Tian said, “Ning little friend, if you have nothing to do, come visit my Ox Demon Upper Sect.”
“Alright, Brother Niu, but right now I still need to guard the sect and see the aftermath of the Northern Profound Upper Sect situation. In a few more years, I will definitely come disturb you.”
“Alright. You must come then!”
“Good.”
After exchanging farewell words, Niu Ding Tian finally led Niu Man and the other demons away.
Behind him, the Sword Ancestor said, “Kid, this Niu Ding Tian has bet on you early; his character as an ox is decent. You can rest assured.”
Ning Qi nodded, then said, “Sword Ancestor, I want to go into closed-door cultivation for a while.”
The Sword Ancestor understood. “Alright, with old me guarding the Boundless Sword Sect, go ahead.”
……
Within the closed-door cultivation place built for the sect leader in the Boundless Sword Sect.
Ning Qi released all the gains from annihilating the Northern Profound Upper Sect one by one.
As a top-tier upper sect with Body Integration Realm existences, the gains inside might not match the Profound True Secret Realm, but there were many items for Body Integration Realm and Void Dao Realm use.
One incomplete high-grade Spiritual Treasure, five mid-grade Spiritual Treasures, twenty incomplete mid-grade Spiritual Treasures, and countless lesser ones.
Thirty Heaven and Earth Unity Pills for Body Integration Realm use, two hundred Void Dao Purple Gold Pills, eighty Rule Jades.
There were also the cultivation methods cultivated by the various great powers of the Northern Profound Upper Sect, Old Ancestor Zhou Tianzi’s cultivation method, and numerous heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
Combined together, these far surpassed everything in the Boundless Sword Sect’s treasury.
Previously, Ning Qi had even been eyeing his own sect’s treasury, but now he had no need at all.
He sent all the items to his main body in the True Martial Realm.
True Martial Realm.
Within the Inner World.
Realm Lord Ning Qi looked at the teleported treasures and skillfully decomposed all of them, beginning to give birth to new Rule Origins for the True Martial Realm.
Previously, the Wood Rule among the Five Elements had been just short; now it was finally perfected!
Ning Qi released the Origin of Wood Rule, and a green thunderbolt shot toward the Outer World.
The entire True Martial Realm had green clouds densely covering the sky.
Upon the ground, with the Origin of Wood Rule complete, endless vitality erupted, startling all beings, who prostrated toward the Realm Lord in unison.
Now with the Five Elements gathered, the entire True Martial Realm expanded rapidly once more.
Rumble!
Between heaven and earth, the other four qi were also driven by the wood qi, with Five Elements Qi circulating endlessly.
The beings of the True Martial Realm each felt an indescribable sense of perfection. Many of the beings born today possessed Five Elements Spirit Bodies.
Whether mortals or cultivators, their lifespans all increased—some by decades, others by over a thousand years.
Even more precious was that with the Five Elements complete, it also made the other rules of the True Martial Realm thicker.
With the Five Elements Power in balance, it was like opening a pump in the True Martial Realm. Ning Qi clearly felt that the True Martial Realm was now drawing rules from the Sea of Realms three times faster than before.
At the same time, it could also independently absorb some Power of Rules that the True Martial Realm lacked. Though not Rule Origins, at this rate, the entire True Martial Realm could gradually be perfected.
As for the cultivators.
Previously, the True Martial Realm had hundreds of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, and countless at lower realms.
Now, at the moment the Five Elements Rules gathered, two instantly broke through to Void Dao Realm, and Nascent Soul Realm reached five hundred…
Now the True Martial Realm finally had Void Dao Realm cultivators.
Afterward, Realm Lord Ning Qi began condensing other Rule Origins.
Besides the Origin of Wood Rule, based on the materials gained this time plus previous reserves, he successively condensed four more rules.
Among them, the Ice Rule and Dark Rule were particularly prominent, providing tremendous assistance to the entire True Martial Realm.
Many reincarnated ones also gathered many Spiritual Treasures for Ning Qi during this time. Ning Qi sent them into the True Martial Realm again, condensing yet another Rule Origin.
He had previously held eight Rule Origins; this time he birthed six more, for a total of fourteen Rule Origins.
Then, Ning Qi began closed-door cultivation.
Time flew in the mountains, spring came and summer grew, autumn harvested and winter stored; the four seasons cycled.
In the blink of an eye, another ten years passed.
Ning Qi finally awoke from closed-door cultivation.
Within the Inner World.
As Ning Qi awoke, it was as if thousands of rays of rosy light bloomed. He opened his eyes, and two divine beams slashed toward the outside of the True Martial Realm, straight into the Sea of Realms.
That Boundless Sea of Realms was instantly like a stone thrown into it—something Ning Qi couldn’t do before.
He took a step, and his figure arrived at the Realm Wall.
Ning Qi suddenly pinched his fingers into a sword, and a bushel-sized clump of chaos cloud qi from within the Sea of Realms was instantly slashed down by Ning Qi and pulled into the True Martial Realm, where it fused.
After ten years of profound comprehension, Ning Qi had thoroughly mastered what the Sword Ancestor had taught.
Whether the Dao of One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws or Sword Dao Controls Ten Thousand Daos, Ning Qi had surpassed the Sword Ancestor.
Only the Sword Ancestor’s ten-thousand-meter Sword Dao Rule Divine Chain he still couldn’t achieve, but now every rule he controlled was also a thousand zhang long.
After ten years, the True Martial Realm had changed greatly once more.
With the various rules supplemented by Realm Lord Ning Qi, the True Martial Realm was now twice as large as ten years ago.
The beings within had also doubled in those ten years.
The cultivators within were the same.
There were now five Void Dao Realm cultivators, a thousand Nascent Soul Realm, and uncountable cultivators at lower realms.
Within the Boundless Sword Sect.
As the main body awoke, Ning Qi’s reincarnated body also synchronously awoke.
In the void, fourteen different Rule Divine Chains naturally manifested around him, making the Ning Qi in the center seem like a god or a demon.
The sect leader’s closed-door cultivation place where he was suddenly collapsed, as if unable to bear the energy overflowing from Ning Qi’s body.
The Sword Ancestor was startled first, then the other elders, then the nearby true disciples.
Everyone rushed over, and at the first sight of Ning Qi, they were shocked nearly to tumble from the clouds.
The sect leader’s closed-door cultivation place, inherited for tens of thousands of years, had been destroyed by Ning Qi’s hand, yet no one was angry.
After ten years without seeing him, their sect leader seemed even more transcendent, even giving everyone an impulse to worship.
Fourteen Rule Divine Chains of different colors shone. All the Rule Divine Chains were like divine dragons coiling in the void, while Ning Qi at the center was like a divine king who could command ten thousand dragons.
Suddenly, all the Rule Divine Dragons abruptly contracted, shrinking rapidly like Mount Meru into a mustard seed, all attaching to Ning Qi’s body surface.
An elder murmured, “Could this be…”
A envious look appeared in the Sword Ancestor’s sword eyes. He explained to the crowd, “The rules are beginning to attach to the body; he has entered the Half-step Body Integration Realm!”
Hearing this, everyone was shocked!
Ten years—just ten years—and their sect leader had passed through Void Dao Realm Perfection and begun advancing toward the Body Integration Realm.
Although right now it was just the rules beginning to attach to the sect leader’s body surface, everyone understood what this meant.
Ning Qi could probably slay Early Body Integration Realm magnates now, or even battle Mid Body Integration Realm magnates!
After all, before closed-door cultivation, Ning Qi had already been able to slay peerless great powers and even exchange hundreds of rounds with Niu Ding Tian, the Integration Perfection magnate of the Ox Demon Upper Sect.
Ning Qi raised his eyes to look at the crowd.
“Now that you are all here, I can just pass on the insights from my ten years.”
Dao sounds rang out layer upon layer, lotuses blooming everywhere.
Everyone felt their minds and bodies cleansed, inside and out illuminated. They hurriedly sat cross-legged around him, listening to the Dao sounds.
Even the Sword Ancestor sat to the side, looking at Ning Qi with an eager-to-learn expression.
