Chapter 44: Great Accomplishment
Due to Qin Yun’s matter, coupled with Dragon Mountain Daoist entering a death seclusion, the True Martial Sect, from top to bottom, was inevitably affected to some degree. Although they had recovered somewhat during this period, morale remained somewhat low.
And now.
Jiang Baishan’s breakthrough to the Gang Yuan Realm immediately filled everyone with immense excitement.
With a Gang Yuan Realm expert guarding them, they could at least quell some of the creeping thoughts of petty thieves.
The True Martial Sect was founded on True Martial Mountain, and with so many disciples to feed and clothe, they naturally couldn’t rely solely on the mountain itself.
In reality.
The True Martial Sect’s main sources of wealth were primarily two-fold.
Firstly, some wealthy families, if they sent their disciples to the True Martial Sect to train, would naturally need to pay a considerable annual fee. Of course, the True Martial Sect would also look after their safety, and others, seeing this, would give the True Martial Sect some face and refrain from infringing upon them.
As the world becomes increasingly chaotic, this type of income is also increasing annually.
Secondly, the True Martial Sect’s own industries.
Some disciples within the sect who were not skilled in martial arts would be arranged to go down the mountain to manage businesses, such as escort agencies, restaurants, and money houses. Over time, these have accumulated to a considerable extent.
When True Martial Sect disciples go down the mountain for experience, they would also help resolve any troubles encountered by these industries.
The rest are some minor sources.
But no matter which.
Powerful martial force is the guarantee.
If they were to know the True Martial Sect was weakening, packs of wolves would rise to devour them.
During this period, first the true disciple betrayed the sect, and then the only Gang Yuan Realm expert entered a death seclusion, which naturally invited many probes. After all, the true disciples knew Dragon Mountain Daoist was trying to break through to the Heavenly Human Realm, but others did not. Moreover, rumors of Dragon Mountain Daoist having clashed with experts from the Demonic Sect further fueled all sorts of speculation in people’s minds.
Fortunately, Dragon Mountain Daoist’s death seclusion was not prolonged, and his deterrence was still present. Luo Wentian and others could temporarily handle the situation.
And now.
Jiang Baishan’s promotion to the Gang Yuan Realm was enough to make these people completely cease their actions.
On the training ground.
Jiang Baishan was surrounded by disciples, everyone very excited.
“Congratulations, Fifth Senior Brother, on stepping into the Gang Yuan Realm!”
Ning Qi could hear the congratulatory voices from far away.
Luo Wentian had specifically gathered the disciples to spread this news and bolster their prestige. He watched with a smile, showing no displeasure. Being the oldest, he had witnessed the childhood and youth of most of the true disciples.
“Congratulations, Fifth Senior Brother.”
Ning Qi congratulated Jiang Baishan with a smile, curiosity in his eyes.
The Gang Yuan Realm experts he had encountered were top-tier powerhouses like Dragon Mountain Daoist and Divine Sword Elder. He had never seen a newly promoted Gang Yuan Realm expert before, and he had always wanted to know how his current strength compared to the White Mist Realm.
Perhaps this was an opportunity.
Jiang Baishan was full of vigor.
He had originally thought he would need another year or two for refinement, but he didn’t expect that the stimulation from Qin Yun’s affair during this period had built up a surge of determination, allowing him to directly break through to the Gang Yuan Realm.
“Little Nine, do you want to see what Gang Qi looks like?” Jiang Baishan laughed heartily.
Ning Qi smiled and nodded.
Fourth Disciple He Yan, standing beside them, chuckled:
“You little Fifth, we’ve been talking for ages, and you’ve been putting on airs. Now that Little Nine is here, before you’ve even said a word, you’re going to show off.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
“Fourth Senior Brother, are you going to watch or not!”
“Watch! Watch!”
All the disciples looked on with anticipation, then parted ways.
Ning Qi stared at Jiang Baishan.
Jiang Baishan exhaled gently, his gaze then becoming solemn. During his Inner Yuan Realm cultivation, he practiced Heaven Shaking Strength, and his Gang Yuan Realm cultivation method was Heaven Shaking True Gang. Having just transitioned, he already possessed an extraordinary aura.
The onlookers had already sensed the oppressive feeling.
He gently waved his long sword.
Sword Qi, like shooting stars, shot out, its sharpness unparalleled, as if slicing through the air, landing on a boulder thirty feet away.
There was no earth-shattering sound, only the brilliant sword Qi cutting back and forth.
The sword light was dazzlingly sharp.
Then.
The crowd gasped.
They saw that the boulder in the distance had turned into a pile of incredibly neat rubble, with incredibly smooth cuts, and even the pieces were almost of the same size.
“This is Gang Qi! Even thirty feet away, it possesses such terrifying power. It’s far stronger than Inner Strength. No wonder they say Nine Stacks Inner Strength cultivators can only flee when facing a Gang Yuan Realm expert. The gap is too large; it’s hard to even get close.”
Luo Wentian couldn’t help but sigh.
All eyes were filled with astonishment. Many were witnessing the power of Gang Qi demonstrated by a Gang Yuan Realm expert up close for the first time.
Even Ye Qinghe, who had always been less interested in martial arts, felt a rare yearning for the Gang Yuan Realm.
Jiang Baishan laughed even harder. He began to perform a complete sword technique. With the augmentation of Gang Qi, the originally ordinary sword technique became terrifyingly powerful.
Exclamations continued to ring out.
Dazzling and mesmerizing.
Ning Qi was also watching.
He was also somewhat amazed.
“Gang Qi leaving the body for thirty feet, perhaps not even the limit. It’s indeed formidable.”
However, Ning Qi realized he had both underestimated and overestimated the strength of the Gang Yuan Realm.
Underestimated.
Because he hadn’t expected Jiang Baishan, merely at the White Mist Realm, to be able to project Gang Qi thirty feet, capable of killing enemies and protecting himself. That sword Qi was far more powerful than Inner Strength.
Overestimated.
Was when comparing it to his own strength. Ning Qi felt that although Gang Qi’s power was immense, if he went all out… he might even surpass it some?
“The advantage of Gang Qi Realm experts lies in their Gang Qi being able to leave their bodies, giving them an advantage in long-range combat. But if they let me get close, with my terrifying physical strength coupled with my vast Inner Strength, I’m afraid even their Gang Qi defense wouldn’t be able to block me.”
Ning Qi pondered the advantages and disadvantages between the Gang Yuan Realm and himself.
He used Jiang Baishan as a hypothetical opponent and finally concluded.
“If I were to go all out, Fifth Senior Brother should not be my opponent?”
The corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curl up slightly.
Although they hadn’t fought, he felt his deduction was likely very close to the truth.
However, the power of Gang Qi still made him a little wary. He thought that if he encountered a Gang Yuan Realm enemy, it would be best to use movement techniques to dodge the Gang Qi, then approach the enemy with lightning speed to achieve victory in one fell swoop. Otherwise, if the Gang Yuan Realm expert gained distance, it would be troublesome.
News of Jiang Baishan’s promotion to the Gang Yuan Realm spread.
The True Martial Sect’s situation stabilized.
Gang Yuan Realm experts lived for four hundred years and were already considered renowned figures in Great Yan. Ordinary forces would not dare to offend them. The covetous gazes that had been present earlier instantly vanished.
Ning Qi also began to proceed with his fifth feigned death with peace of mind.
Half a month later.
Ning Qi awoke.
His physical body underwent another metamorphosis, its strength reaching six times that of Body Tempering Perfection, which was extremely exaggerated.
But what brought Ning Qi the most joy.
Was the breakthrough in his Inner Strength.
Sixth Layer Realm, Inner Yuan Major Accomplishment!
Ning Qi extended his hand, and strands of incredibly solidified Inner Strength surged out from his palm. The Inner Strength continuously condensed and elongated, reaching over ten feet before reaching its limit, as if a sword had grown from his palm.
With a thought.
The originally invisible ‘Inner Strength Sword’ immediately underwent changes. It would sometimes radiate heat, sometimes surge with frost, sometimes roar like a Bi An, sometimes cry out like an ancient eagle, and it was even mixed with mysterious oscillations and rotations.
Ning Qi revealed a smile.
“Ordinary Nine Stacks Realm martial artists’ Inner Strength is not as solidified as mine. With this ten-foot extension of Inner Strength, I can now say with one hundred percent certainty that Fifth Senior Brother is not my opponent; he might be defeated by me quite easily.”
This thought flashed by. He then looked at White Ape with some curiosity.
“Now that my Inner Strength can extend beyond my body, perhaps I can try to investigate Tian Sheng’s bloodline?”
