Chapter 294: He Reigns Supreme Over Mountains And Seas
Ox Demon Upper Sect.
The news of annihilating Feathered Ascension Upper Sect had long been transmitted back, and at this moment, the sect was filled with a festive atmosphere.
With the triumphant return of the expeditionary force, plus the arrival of guests from Boundless Sword Sect.
The great demons in Ox Demon Upper Sect brought out prepared delicacies and fine wines to entertain the congregation.
Ning Qi and the others gazed at the grand banquet laid out in Ox Demon Upper Sect, with plenty of meat dishes larger than small mountains on it.
Various roasted fragrant meat legs, various oily roasted whole ferocious beasts, with wine cups the size of water buckets placed beside them.
Niu Ding Tian led the congregation to their seats.
The people from Boundless Sword Sect were participating in a demon race banquet for the first time and were truly shocked.
Most of these meat dishes were larger than their entire bodies, but fortunately, the congregation were all cultivators and could eat them.
All within Ox Demon Upper Sect were demonic beasts, with diverse races.
And among the various meat dishes at the banquet, there were quite a few of their own kind, though mostly mundane creatures without spiritual intelligence.
Ning Qi saw Hu Xiao Tian eat a whole roasted ox right in front of Niu Ding Tian, and Niu Ding Tian along with all the ox demons in the sect showed no sign of caring.
He also saw Niu Man gnawing on a large tiger whip, and Hu Xiao Tian and the other tiger demons didn’t care either.
Perhaps Ning Qi and the others’ gazes caught their attention, so Niu Ding Tian took the initiative to explain:
“Young Ning, eat without worry. Our demon race doesn’t have the concept of kin like you human race, so this is also the cornerstone of your human race’s strength.”
“Whether it’s the demon race or the hundred beasts without spiritual intelligence, we have long been accustomed to the natural ecology. In nature, we can see other wild beasts eating their own kind at any time, and to us, it’s no big deal.”
“After our demon race gains spiritual intelligence, we’re slightly better than beasts, but though most demon races don’t eat their own kind, some do.”
The people from Boundless Sword Sect nodded in understanding.
The demon race and beasts were indeed like that.
Humans, because of the concept of kin, would never watch another species eat humans.
So, this was the fundamental difference between humans and the demon race and beasts, and also the reason for humanity’s rise.
Since the demon race didn’t care, they also began to eat.
Let alone, these great demons’ culinary skills were pretty good. Though not as varied in flavors as human delicacies, they had a wild, primal original taste.
Ning Qi said while eating:
“Brother Niu, what is the background of that Qingxuan Immortal Sect? Do you have any intelligence on them?”
Mentioning Qingxuan Immortal Sect, Niu Ding Tian’s expression turned solemn as he said:
“Qing Xuan Sect is a major sect in Fuyao Region. Their old ancestor is named Si Kong Qing. Because he broke through to Dao Integration Realm twenty years ago, Qingxuan Immortal Sect was also promoted to immortal sect status.”
Hearing that the other party had only just broken through, Ning Qi felt even more relaxed.
Just broken through twenty years ago, he must still be in Early Dao Integration Realm!
Niu Ding Tian said to Ning Qi:
“This time, Feathered Ascension Upper Sect went to Qingxuan Immortal Sect for aid. Si Kong Qing sent four venerables, first to display the prestige of an immortal sect, and second to acquire more resources before the Spirit Realm War, so he dispatched four venerables.”
Ning Qi said: “What is Qingxuan Immortal Sect’s strength in Fuyao Region, and how many resources do they occupy?”
Niu Ding Tian replied: “Fuyao Region also has a long-established immortal sect, which occupies most of the resources there. Qingxuan Immortal Sect has only recently been promoted to immortal sect and doesn’t dare to challenge it.”
Ning Qi nodded slightly.
Niu Ding Tian continued: “So, Si Kong Qing thought of coming to Southern True Domain without Dao Integration Realm experts to seek opportunities. Our other Dao Integration Realm experts here look down on it, but for someone like him who has just advanced, it’s extremely attractive.”
“But this time, Young Ning instantly killed their four venerables in one go. I think that Si Kong Qing must be suspicious and paranoid right now. In his cognition, it’s impossible for Southern True Domain to have anyone capable of this. He probably thinks someone from Fuyao Region is targeting Qingxuan Immortal Sect.”
Mentioning this, Niu Ding Tian suddenly added:
“Young Ning, you can’t cover fire with paper. When that Si Kong old ghost figures it out, he will definitely come to cause trouble for you and me.”
“I think before he comes, we need to prepare countermeasures.”
Sword Ancestor also said at this time: “Young Ning, I think we should return to Sword Sect early. Although the opponent’s cultivation is only early stage, it’s still a major realm higher. If we rely on the sect protecting grand formation to hold firm, we should be able to cope.”
Niu Ding Tian smirked mischievously at this time.
“Exactly so, but before you leave, Young Ning, can you help with one more thing?”
Ning Qi directly said: “Brother Niu, please speak.”
“Young Ning, I see you are extremely proficient in the formation dao. Could you help us modify the sect protecting grand formation? Before the Spirit Realm War begins, we won’t leave the sect.”
Ning Qi looked up and scanned the entire Ox Demon Upper Sect.
As an old-established top-tier upper sect, Ox Demon Upper Sect covered a larger area than Boundless Sword Sect.
All within were demonic beasts with massive bodies, naturally requiring more spacious territory.
But their sect protecting grand formation was extremely crude. The demon race wasn’t good at formations, and of course, other sects in Southern True Domain didn’t dare to cause trouble on their territory.
“Alright, I happen to have a Twelve Zodiac Grand Formation that even your demon race can perfectly master, though you’ll have to provide the resources yourselves.”
Niu Ding Tian immediately said joyfully: “Of course, of course.”
Thus, after the banquet, Niu Ding Tian opened their sect’s treasury, allowing Ning Qi to use the resources inside.
It had to be said that the demon race had a truly vast collection.
Besides resources used by human cultivators, their treasury also had plenty of treasures left behind by deceased demon race members.
For example, divine ox horns, mountain-piercing scales, color-changing armor, and so on. Ning Qi even saw dragon scales, not knowing where Ox Demon Upper Sect got them from…
Niu Ding Tian said from the side: “Young Ning, if you like any, just take them.”
Ning Qi thought of the incomplete mid-grade spirit treasure he obtained from Ye Chen back then, named Wind Dragon Scale Armor.
Though incomplete, it was passable in both offense and defense.
His primordial spirit swept over the treasures, and Ning Qi collected three dragon scales from the treasury, each with different attributes: fire, water, and lightning.
“Brother Niu, I’ll take these three dragon scales then.”
Seeing Ning Qi take the three most precious dragon scales from the treasury, Niu Ding Tian not only wasn’t unhappy but was delighted.
Now, Ox Demon Upper Sect’s destiny was completely tied to Boundless Sword Sect.
Ning Qi had helped them many times, and Ox Demon Upper Sect truly had nothing to repay him with. For Ning Qi to take a liking to their things naturally made Niu Ding Tian overjoyed.
He said: “Brother, take more.”
Ning Qi smiled faintly. “No need for the rest. I’ll now improve the sect protecting grand formation for Ox Demon Upper Sect.”
His primordial spirit power surged out, instantly stirring up various materials in the entire treasury. Then Ning Qi flew out of the treasury, and those materials swiftly fell toward various territories in Ox Demon Upper Sect.
The congregation saw multicolored lights flying through the air, but strangely, once they landed, no colors were visible, and even the treasures among them vanished one by one.
While the demons were puzzled, soon, above Ox Demon Upper Sect, a transparent grand formation surged like rippling water.
Its other powers weren’t visible yet, but the demons of Ox Demon Upper Sect clearly felt the spiritual energy within becoming thicker and thicker.
They immediately rejoiced.
After about half a quarter of an hour, Ning Qi finally descended from the air.
He said to Niu Ding Tian: “Brother Niu, why not give it a try?”
Niu Ding Tian nodded his massive ox head upon hearing this.
He directly flew out of Ox Demon Upper Sect, manifesting his enormous main body dharma image, with two pitch-black ox horns on his forehead as sharp as divine swords.
In the blink of an eye, Niu Ding Tian crashed toward the modified sect protecting grand formation like a meteorite.
Boom!
The surface of the sect protecting grand formation rippled like waves, vanishing in an instant.
Amid the booming sound came a crisp cracking noise!
Niu Ding Tian was directly bounced back, and the two extremely sharp ox horns on his forehead broke off with a snap.
The demons of Ox Demon Upper Sect: “…”
Niu Ding Tian was at least at Integration Perfection, and under his full-force strike, the new sect protecting grand formation only rippled slightly.
Note that no one was assisting in operating this grand formation!
Many great demons who had followed Ning Qi to attack Feathered Ascension Upper Sect had personally seen their grand formation.
That formation, powered by the entire sect’s strength, barely withstood Jian Jingjue’s strike, but many among them still vomited blood from the shock.
Clearly, in comparison, the formation Ning Qi had modified for them was much stronger than Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s.
For a moment, all the great demons looked at Ning Qi with shocked expressions.
How was this young sect leader of Boundless Sword Sect so strong in every aspect?
Niu Ding Tian used mana to retrieve his two broken horns and reattached them. He landed beside Ning Qi and murmured:
“Young Ning, I’m convinced by you now! With this formation in our sect, as long as we don’t leave the grand formation, we’re not afraid of that Si Kong Qing anymore.”
Ning Qi had said that this formation was called the Twelve Zodiac Grand Formation. In critical moments, twelve great demons from Ox Demon Upper Sect could guard the formation eyes, boosting its power to a whole major realm higher.
That Si Kong Qing was merely Early Dao Integration. Even if he came, he couldn’t do anything to this formation.
Ning Qi nodded slightly, pointed to a spot, and took out a jade talisman to hand to Niu Ding Tian.
“I built a small teleportation array there, which can teleport five people to our Boundless Sword Sect, but each use consumes quite a few spirit stones, and you need this jade talisman to proceed.”
Niu Ding Tian was stunned and exclaimed: “The legendary teleportation array?”
Whether in the current North and South Regions or the former Xuanzhen Domain, there had been no teleportation arrays for hundreds of thousands of years.
So, Niu Ding Tian was extremely shocked upon hearing this.
“Step into it, and you can instantly reach Boundless Sword Sect?”
Ning Qi replied: “Not instantly, at least ten breaths are needed!”
“Ten breaths is still extremely fast.” Niu Ding Tian sighed.
The two sects were in the North and South Regions. Even for Integration Realm magnates like them, traveling between sects at full speed would take two days.
Unexpectedly, the teleportation array only needed a dozen breaths to arrive.
Niu Ding Tian solemnly took the jade talisman and said: “Young Ning, from now on, our sect will follow your lead!”
Not far away, Hu Xiao Tian, another Integration old ancestor of Ox Demon Upper Sect, heard this and had no objection.
Niu Ding Tian’s words used only “you” instead of Boundless Sword Sect, clearly indicating that all of Ox Demon Upper Sect acknowledged Ning Qi himself!
The people from Boundless Sword Sect weren’t disappointed by this; instead, they felt proud that Ox Demon Upper Sect thought so highly of Ning Qi.
“Alright, Brother Niu, send me a message if there’s anything. I can also rush over instantly from Boundless Sword Sect through this array, avoiding back-and-forth travel in the future.”
Ning Qi then summoned the people from Boundless Sword Sect and bid farewell to the demons.
Niu Ding Tian and the other demons were about to see Ning Qi and the others off when Ning Qi directly unleashed several rule divine chains from his body, while sacrificing many spirit stones to catalyze the spiritual energy within them.
In the air ahead of him, the rule divine chains intertwined, spiritual energy filled them, and a space channel opened in the void, immediately forming a massive teleportation gate.
The teleportation gate faintly showed an illusion of Boundless Sword Sect’s mountain gate.
“Brother Niu, no need to see us off. We’re heading back to the sect now!”
Ning Qi led the congregation with a carefree smile.
Under the gaze of all the great demons, Ning Qi took out the Five-Colored Treasure Boat, everyone boarded it, the treasure boat gradually rose into the air, then stepped into the formation.
Actually, when they came to Ox Demon Upper Sect, they hadn’t used a teleportation array.
Before leaving Boundless Sword Sect then, Ning Qi had only set up the teleportation grand formation there, without Ox Demon Upper Sect’s spatial coordinates.
But now returning to the sect was different. With Boundless Sword Sect’s formation coordinates, Ning Qi could naturally open the teleportation gate directly to send them back.
Beside him, the people from Boundless Sword Sect were also experiencing a teleportation gate for the first time, including Sword Ancestor, who found it extremely novel.
If not for considering that there were many true disciples who might not adapt well, Ning Qi wouldn’t have sacrificed the Five-Colored Treasure Boat for everyone to stay inside with an extra layer of protection.
Of course, even as first-time guinea pigs, the congregation still held unwavering trust in Ning Qi. Even if they had some worries deep down, they appeared calm and composed on the surface.
Couldn’t they see the demons of Ox Demon Upper Sect watching them?
At this moment, heads could be severed, blood could flow, lives could end, but Boundless Sword Sect’s prestige could not be lost!
The Five-Colored Treasure Boat rose into the air and plunged into the teleportation gate in the blink of an eye.
Until the boat’s tail fully entered, the teleportation gate shrank and vanished into nothingness.
The demons of Ox Demon Upper Sect stared blankly at the shadowless departure of Boundless Sword Sect’s people, each filled with shock.
Ning Qi’s own strength was already terrifying enough, and the disciples under his command were each comparable to top-tier prodigies from other sects.
That was fine, but unexpectedly, Ning Qi could open a teleportation gate and instantly take away so many experts.
From everyone’s expressions just now, they seemed already accustomed to void teleportation.
If this formation were used in war, it would simply be a mobile war machine!
Among the remaining Integration old ancestors of Ox Demon Upper Sect was one named Kong Cai Chen, whose main body was a Peacock King. He looked at the teleportation array Ning Qi had set up in Ox Demon Upper Sect and suddenly said:
“Brother Niu, Brother Hu, isn’t setting up this teleportation array in our sect a bit dangerous?”
Niu Ding Tian and Hu Xiao Tian understood his meaning. Kong Cai Chen was worried that Ning Qi said they could only send five people with the jade talisman to use the teleportation array.
But Ning Qi himself seemed unrestricted and could reverse-use the teleportation array to instantly send over many people.
But both shook their heads.
Hu Xiao Tian said: “Brother Kong, one must guard against others, but you stayed in the sect to guard and didn’t go along, so you don’t know Ning Qi’s capabilities.”
His tiger eyes gleamed with wisdom.
“Now that Ox Demon Upper Sect and Boundless Sword Sect have established mutual trust, it’s nothing much to Ning Qi, but to our Ox Demon Upper Sect, it’s a tremendous opportunity!”
Niu Ding Tian also said: “Yes, Brother Kong, you’ll gradually understand in the future.”
Kong Cai Chen narrowed his slender eyes. Someone who could convince both Brother Niu and Brother Hu was naturally trustworthy to him as well.
It was just that he had never traveled with Ning Qi and wasn’t fully aware of everything about him.
“Brother Niu, why not tell me about Ning Qi.”
Niu Ding Tian chuckled and turned around. “I’m afraid it’ll scare you.”
Hu Xiao Tian was also very interested, after all, he had only witnessed Ning Qi’s terror this time.
Niu Ding Tian called over Niu Man and other demons, planning to have them recount from when they first met Ning Qi to the encounters in Profound True Secret Realm later on.
This action directly gathered the demons of Ox Demon Upper Sect, sitting around outside, listening to legendary tales one after another.
In the end, Kong Cai Chen’s face faintly showed excitement.
He said: “Brother Niu, Brother Hu, your decision is correct. That Ning Qi will likely dominate the entire Mountain Sea Realm in the future!”
The nearby demons who heard this all gaped, jaws nearly dropping to the ground.
Dominate Mountain Sea Realm? Wasn’t that too exaggerated?
Unexpectedly, their other two ancestors didn’t refute, instead showing hopeful expressions, plunging the demons into prolonged shock.
…
Boundless Sword Sect.
The teleportation grand formation suddenly fluctuated violently, like boiling water.
This immediately alerted the great powers and true disciples stationed at Boundless Sword Sect, who gathered around one after another.
Pop!
The void burst as if punctured, the grand formation flashed with boundless radiance, space rippled in waves, and finally, a Five-Colored Treasure Boat emerged from it.
Ning Qi and the others’ figures appeared on the treasure boat.
“It’s the Sect Leader!”
“The Sect Leader is back!”
The stationed crowd immediately became extremely excited.
They were also seeing a teleportation grand formation operate for the first time. Seeing Ning Qi and the others emerge unscathed, they were both excited and novel.
Ning Qi and the congregation disembarked from the treasure boat.
Sword Ancestor shook his head, feeling a bit dizzy.
The many great powers and true disciples felt the same, their reactions similar despite differing cultivations.
Their first void crossing left them somewhat dizzy but otherwise fine, with no other discomfort.
Sword Ancestor glanced at Ning Qi and complained:
“Young Ning, for this breakthrough invention, can you let us test it first next time before group use?”
“You directly used it in front of Ox Demon Upper Sect’s demons earlier, and we boarded for Sword Sect’s face. If something went wrong midway, it would’ve been trouble.”
He seemed to complain, but his mouth was nearly grinning to his ears.
Ning Qi glanced sideways at Sword Ancestor and replied: “Testing would’ve wasted too many spirit stones. Or does Sword Ancestor not trust me?”
Sword Ancestor patted his shoulder. “I trust, I trust. Anyway, you stole all the limelight.”
True Person Ziyang laughed: “Sword Ancestor, we’re fine now, but Ox Demon Upper Sect must be scared witless!”
Jiang Ruhai also said: “Not just them—even if someone suddenly pulled this off in front of us and set up a teleportation array in our sect, we’d be terrified to death.”
Qin Minghao and the others chimed in: “Sect Leader Senior Brother’s move should have thoroughly convinced Ox Demon Upper Sect.”
Former Sect Leader Jiang Baichuan’s face was also full of smiles at this moment.
Being approved by Ning Qi to go along this time had truly opened his eyes.
“The Sect Leader’s might is now unrivaled in the North and South Regions. When they reunify into Xuanzhen Domain, Boundless Sword Sect will soar to the heavens.”
The people stationed in Boundless Sword Sect didn’t know what they were talking about and immediately pulled aside friends who had gone to inquire in detail.
At this moment, Vice Sect Master Cang Wanhe, stationed in the sect, also hurried over.
He had heard the congregation’s conversation from afar and landed before them.
Cang Wanhe directly complained: “Sect Leader, next time there’s action, please take me along. This vice sect master can’t always be stuck guarding the sect; I need to go out with you to see the world too!”
Seeing Cang Wanhe’s face practically screaming “Sect Leader, take me along,” the congregation couldn’t help but laugh.
Ning Qi also felt a bit guilty and said: “Definitely next time!”
Upon hearing this, Cang Wanhe immediately showed joy.
Then, the congregation discussed Qingxuan Immortal Sect, fearing Si Kong Qing would come for revenge, so they prepared to guard the mountain gate firmly before the Spirit Realm War began.
With the grand formation Ning Qi had carefully set up, they could rest assured.
Ning Qi greeted his disciples, left instructions for Cang Wanhe to distribute this trip’s gains, and returned to the sect leader’s closed-door cultivation place.
During this, he inquired about Lu Ziyue’s situation.
As the most special person to him in Boundless Sword Sect, Lu Ziyue hadn’t participated in previous battles but had been in closed-door cultivation.
The reply Ning Qi got was that Lu Ziyue’s closed-door cultivation site had recently emitted waves, suspected to be on the verge of breaking through to Void Dao Realm.
Lu Ziyue’s cultivation progress wasn’t slow, nearly catching up to the former top ten true disciples like Jiang Qingxue.
After all, only after Ning Qi became sect leader did Lu Ziyue truly enter Nascent Soul Realm.
At that time, the top ten true disciples were already at late Nascent Soul Realm or even perfection.
Since Lu Ziyue was about to break through, he would give her a gift.
Ning Qi suddenly took out the three dragon scales obtained from Ox Demon Upper Sect, along with the incomplete mid-grade spirit treasure Wind Dragon Scale Armor from back then.
Rule divine chains turned into knives, decomposing the large dragon scales into thumb-sized tiny scales step by step.
Then he shuffled the four-colored dragon scales randomly, and his primordial spirit power threaded them like needle and thread.
Ning Qi then engraved micro formations using various rule divine chains and activated each dragon scale’s inherent attributes.
Then, Ning Qi spat out three flavors of Dao Fire to refine away the impurities.
He also took out some heavenly materials and earthly treasures, infused them, turning hardness into softness.
Finally, a magnificent women’s dragon scale inner armor gradually formed in the Dao Fire.
Gazing at this spirit armor and sensing its fluctuations, Ning Qi smiled in satisfaction.
Previously, with just one wind dragon scale, it was already an incomplete mid-grade spirit treasure.
Now, after Ning Qi’s refining, the four-colored dragon scales were warm and smooth. Once mana was injected, it would unleash various powers, qualifying as a high-grade spiritual treasure.
Several days later.
Lu Ziyue emerged from closed-door cultivation.
Her figure was graceful, her neck white and slender like a swan’s elegance.
A purple shadow rose into the air, her brows sharp as swords, proud and unyielding.
Ten Sword Dao rule divine chains surged like a sword river under her jade feet, each ten zhang long.
Above her head, purple thunder rumbled, with ten lightning rule divine chains interwoven, forming a flickering purple cloud of thunder light.
Perfectly matching her title Purple Sword True Person.
Lu Ziyue’s emergence naturally drew much attention—no helping it, her relationship with Sect Leader Senior Brother was too special.
Seeing her breakthrough with two kinds of rules, each with ten chains ten zhang long.
Many were secretly shocked inwardly. Such an anomaly probably only the sect leader back then could surpass.
“Congratulations, Senior Sister Lu!”
Someone immediately cupped fists in congratulations.
Lu Ziyue nodded her exquisite chin, immediately flushing that person’s face red.
Dispersing all rule divine chains, Lu Ziyue was about to inquire about Ning Qi’s whereabouts.
Unexpectedly, Ning Qi’s figure immediately appeared before her.
Ning Qi stepped out from the void, a faint smile on his face, his white robes purer than snow, his demeanor near-immortal.
Lu Ziyue’s somewhat heroic face bloomed into a smile.
“Sect Leader Senior Brother!”
Her voice was crisp and melodious, full of boundless vitality.
