Chapter 131: Demon Saber Slashes Flying Sword, Saber Intent Refines Sword Spirit!
Fast!
It was really too fast!
No matter which swordsman or which saber user Ji Qing faced.
He had never seen such a fast sword before.
However, this was not an ordinary sword, but a flying sword!
As the white glow approached, Ji Qing could already see the outline within the white light.
“Clang.”
Ji Qing drew sword.
The flying sword was indeed very fast, and Ji Qing only drew sword after confirming he had locked onto the flying sword and its speed.
The demon saber struck accurately on the flying sword.
“Ding.”
A crisp sound.
Ji Qing unexpectedly felt a tremendous force.
As if it were about to shake his demon saber from his hand.
However, Ji Qing’s saber strike ultimately landed on the flying sword.
However, the flying sword’s sturdiness still exceeded Ji Qing’s expectations.
Fortunately, the demon saber in his hand was a divine weapon with extraordinary materials.
Otherwise, if it were an ordinary saber, even if he struck the flying sword’s sword body, the ordinary saber would probably shatter.
Ji Qing repelled the flying sword.
At this moment, the layer of white light on the flying sword also dissipated, revealing the flying sword’s true appearance.
Ji Qing looked closely, and it was a short sword about one foot long, without a sword handle, emitting a white glowing light.
Completely different from a martial artist’s short sword.
A flying sword only needed to be sharp, sturdy, and fast.
And this was a flying sword with no one controlling it.
Its speed was already almost too fast for Ji Qing to keep up with.
If someone were controlling it, the flying sword’s speed would undoubtedly be even faster.
“Immortal masters… also known as cultivators. Ordinary martial artists can hardly compare, and probably only innate realm can barely match ordinary cultivators.”
Ji Qing’s heart tightened.
He had not even reached the innate realm yet.
No wonder he felt it somewhat strenuous to deal with this flying sword.
Yes, it was strenuous.
Simply using martial skills to counter a flying sword already made Ji Qing feel strenuous.
And he was the world’s number one saber user!
As for the flying sword?
It had no one controlling it.
However, a flying sword with no one controlling it had a fatal flaw.
“Boom.”
The next moment, Ji Qing unhesitatingly unleashed his saber intent.
Suddenly, it was as if the entire heaven and earth came surging.
The flying sword, which had just been extremely imposing, actually began to vibrate slightly.
Moreover, Ji Qing could see a vague figure on the sword body, facing Ji Qing’s saber intent as if it were crumbling like dry weeds and rotting wood.
It couldn’t withstand it!
The sword spirit simply couldn’t withstand it!
“Spare me…”
The sword spirit spoke.
It did not know who Ji Qing was.
It did not even know why Ling Ling had fled here.
The sword spirit, as always, charged straight ahead recklessly.
Anything blocking the way was pierced directly with one sword strike.
Ever since the sword spirit escaped the seal and pursued Ling Ling here, it had never encountered any obstacles.
Nor any trouble.
No martial artist could withstand a single strike from it.
However, today the sword spirit clearly kicked an iron plate.
For the first time, it felt it would be “erased.”
Just like the fear it felt when once dominated by its “master.”
Unfortunately, begging for mercy was already too late.
The sword spirit was not Ling Ling; Ji Qing could not control the sword spirit.
And the flying sword was too dangerous.
Who knew if the sword spirit would turn traitor?
If it turned traitor and sneak-attacked later, Ji Qing himself would be in great danger.
Therefore, Ji Qing did not hesitate at all; his saber intent directly crushed down, instantly landing on the sword spirit.
“Ah…”
The sword spirit screamed and wailed.
Unfortunately, under Ji Qing’s saber intent, the sword spirit watched helplessly as it shattered bit by bit, ultimately ground into powder.
“Pa.”
The flying sword fell to the ground.
Completely devoid of spirituality.
The flying sword’s sword spirit was thoroughly annihilated.
Actually, destroying the flying sword’s sword spirit like this was somewhat wasteful.
Magic treasures and magic tools were different matters with or without a spirit of the tool.
The difference was huge.
If there was a spirit of the tool, its might could skyrocket.
If Ji Qing were a cultivator, he would definitely refine the sword spirit and use it for himself.
But he was not a cultivator; he had no magic power.
Even if he refined the sword spirit, this flying sword would be of little use in Ji Qing’s hands.
It did not even have a sword handle, making normal use problematic.
Ji Qing beckoned with his hand, and the flying sword came into his grasp.
He carefully examined the flying sword.
This flying sword was too sharp.
So sharp that even a slight touch would cut open his palm.
And incredibly tough.
Even when Ji Qing struck it hard with the demon saber, he could not damage the flying sword.
However, this flying sword was too small and had no sword handle.
It was a magic tool tailored for cultivators.
Martial artists could not use it at all.
“Ling Ling, put the flying sword back into the storage jade pendant.”
“Yes, Mister Ji.”
Ling Ling did not call Ji Qing “master,” which also indicated their relationship.
Ji Qing kept his promise and did not forcibly refine Ling Ling.
In the past few days, Ji Qing had already gone through all the treasures in the storage jade pendant.
But he still had not found any spiritual object.
This could not help but make Ji Qing somewhat disappointed.
“Ling Ling, do you know where there are spiritual objects?”
Ji Qing asked.
“There are many storage magic tools where my master was sealed; there might be many treasures inside. But that place is easy to leave but hard to enter, and even if found, Mister Ji has no magic power and cannot open the storage magic tools.”
“Mister Ji, why are you so insistent on finding spiritual objects? To refine pills?”
Ling Ling asked curiously.
“Refine pills? No, I’m naturally looking for spiritual objects to break through to innate realm, transforming the body from acquired to innate and birthing innate true qi, which requires a large amount of spiritual objects.”
Ji Qing did not hide it.
This was not some secret anyway.
Every grandmaster needed spiritual objects.
“Acquired to innate? Birthing innate true qi?”
Ling Ling frowned.
“Mister Ji, acquired to innate requires the spiritual energy in spiritual objects; martial artists can directly swallow spiritual objects to extract the spiritual energy within. But spirit stones contain even purer spiritual energy, so if there are spirit stones, why need spiritual objects?”
Ji Qing was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
He was stunned.
Yes, the fundamental reason martial artists needed spiritual objects was to borrow the spiritual energy within to aid their acquired to innate transformation.
But spirit stones had even purer spiritual energy, so why need spiritual objects?
Spiritual objects could be eaten; who said spirit stones could not be eaten?
Martial artists had incredibly strong digestive abilities.
Swallowing spirit stones was no problem at all.
“Quick, take out some spirit stones.”
Ji Qing’s eyes lit up, and he immediately had Ling Ling take out over a dozen spirit stones from the storage jade pendant.
Ji Qing held the spirit stones and carefully sensed them.
Sure enough, he sensed that the spirit stones contained extremely pure and vast spiritual energy.
Moreover, it was the same as the aura of the spiritual objects he had seen in the Water Mansion back then.
All spiritual energy.
In other words, Ling Ling was right.
Martial artists could completely use spirit stones to replace spiritual objects for breaking through to innate realm.
And the reason martial artists had used spiritual objects for breakthrough all these years was simple.
Spirit stones had long been mined out by cultivators when heaven and earth spiritual energy gradually decreased.
They were generally kept in storage magic tools.
Martial artists had no magic power and could not open storage space at all.
Naturally, there were no spirit stones available.
But spiritual objects were different.
Even with a tiny bit of spiritual energy, spiritual objects could grow.
Over time, spiritual objects could mature, and martial artists naturally used spiritual objects to break through to innate realm.
Now Ji Qing had encountered the spirit of the tool Ling Ling.
With high intelligence.
Although Ji Qing had no magic power and could not open storage magic tools, Ling Ling could.
Suddenly obtaining the entire fortune of a “talisman master,” which contained countless spirit stones.
In theory, now as long as Ji Qing knew a suitable innate cultivation technique, he could rely on these spirit stones to immediately break through and promote to innate realm!
However, Ji Qing still wanted to cultivate the Innate Five Elements Destruction Scripture.
Which required gathering spiritual objects of the five elements attributes.
But now Ji Qing had changed his thinking.
Spirit stones of the five elements attributes would also work.
“Ling Ling, what five elements attribute spirit stones are in the storage jade pendant?”
Ji Qing asked.
Ling Ling immediately checked.
“My master had wood and fire dual attribute spiritual roots, so the cultivation basically used wood attribute and fire attribute spirit stones, or some spirit stones without attributes.”
“Only wood attribute and fire attribute spirit stones?”
Ji Qing took out wood attribute and fire attribute spirit stones to examine.
They contained astonishing spiritual energy.
Ji Qing sighed inwardly.
He still could not gather the five elements attribute spirit stones or spiritual objects after all.
Still missing gold attribute, earth attribute, and water attribute spirit stones.
Moreover, Ji Qing remembered that the spiritual object in Yunmeng Goddess’s Water Mansion was also wood attribute.
“Looks like I still have to go to Shangdu.”
After weighing it in his mind, Ji Qing still decided to go to Shangdu.
Deifying Yunmeng Goddess was still a step that needed to be done.
Only after deifying the goddess could five elements attribute spiritual objects be nurtured, and Ji Qing would have a chance to promote to innate realm with the “Innate Five Elements Destruction Scripture.”
Of course, now that Ji Qing had so many spirit stones, his options were broader.
If deification really failed.
And he could not find other five elements attribute spiritual objects or spirit stones.
Ji Qing could still promote to innate realm with these spirit stones.
It was like having a backup plan.
And no need to wait twenty years for the spiritual object in Yunmeng Goddess’s Water Mansion to mature.
No need for that long!
“Right, I need to go to Chen Family.”
Ji Qing remembered he had not yet gone to Chen Family.
Because of Ling Ling’s matter and waiting for the sword spirit, he had delayed three days.
Thus, Ji Qing left Hundred Battles Sect and, following the intelligence from Listen to the Wind Tower, arrived at Chen Manor.
Fortunately, the people of Chen Manor had not left yet.
After all, they had not recruited any second-rate experts.
Ji Qing arrived outside Chen Manor and said to the gatekeeper, “Is your Chen Manor recruiting martial artists?”
“You are also a martial artist?”
The gatekeeper sized up Ji Qing.
Since the curse had been removed, Ji Qing’s head of strange white hair had fully returned to normal.
So he did not look so out of place.
“Yes, I am a martial artist!”
“Alright, follow me.”
The gatekeeper directly led Ji Qing into Chen Manor.
Ji Qing saw many servants of Chen Manor already packing.
And horse carriages.
It seemed the Chen Family was already impatient and wanted to set off for Shangdu as soon as possible.
Ji Qing was brought to the hall.
“Swish.”
One by one, gazes fell on Ji Qing.
Ji Qing glanced around.
Sitting at the head of the hall was an old man, who should be Old Master Chen, the father of that official in Shangdu.
On both sides of the hall were a group of martial artists dressed as Jianghu people.
After seeing Ji Qing’s attire, some did not care, but some changed expressions drastically.
Even though Ji Qing no longer had that signature white hair.
But this was An Yang City.
Many Jianghu people had seen Ji Qing.
“Ji…”
Some Jianghu people immediately prepared to stand and salute.
With one look from Ji Qing, they felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar and did not dare speak out of turn.
Old Master Chen, hearing the gatekeeper’s report, nodded and said, “How should I address you, sir?”
“Li Mu.”
Ji Qing used an alias.
This trip to Shangdu was not suitable to be too high-profile.
“Great Hero Li, since you are willing to escort us, as long as you successfully escort my Chen Family safely to Shangdu, the reward is five hundred taels of silver, how about it?”
Ji Qing did not answer.
This time he wanted to “keep a low profile,” so he could not leave these Jianghu people who knew him behind.
He glanced over; there were six such Jianghu people in the hall.
Thus, Ji Qing asked, “These people are also martial artists escorting Chen Family together?”
“Yes, like you, each gets five hundred taels of silver. But they all claim to be third-rate martial artists; no second-rate martial artists came, what a pity…”
Old Master Chen actually wanted to find second-rate martial artists.
Because it was more secure!
He was willing to pay a high price to second-rate martial artists.
But the fact was no second-rate martial artists were willing to “escort” Chen Family, so he could only settle for third-rate martial artists.
After all, Chen Family had already delayed many days.
Could not delay any longer.
With the current situation, no one knew when rebel army might appear outside An Yang City.
It was safer to go to Shangdu early.
Ji Qing’s gaze swept over the six people.
All six lowered their heads.
“Old Master, just give me the silver for these six people.”
“You six can leave; Li will escort Chen Family alone!”
Ji Qing said calmly.
Old Master Chen’s eyes widened upon hearing this.
“Li Mu” was chasing people away?
However, he did not stop it.
He knew these Jianghu people were all hot-headed and fought bravely, none submitting to another.
The “Li Mu” before him looked so arrogant with such a big tone; the six probably would not submit.
They were bound to fight each other.
Old Master Chen was happy to see these Jianghu people fight each other so he could see their true strength.
However, a scene that greatly surprised Old Master Chen appeared.
In his view, the six hot-headed, unsubmissive Jianghu people actually immediately stood up, even cupping fists toward “Li Mu,” then strode away.
From start to finish, the six did not say a word.
Their faces showed no displeasure.
“This…”
Old Master Chen was indeed old, but not senile.
He immediately guessed the reason.
These Jianghu people being so “accommodating” was definitely not a change of character.
There was only one reason.
They could not afford to provoke “Li Mu.”
This “Li Mu” must be a “big shot” in Jianghu.
Otherwise, how would these Jianghu people submit?
Old Master Chen’s guess was actually correct.
These Jianghu people submitted to nothing but the strong!
Some among them might not have known Ji Qing before, but now they had pretty much “realized.”
Not to mention some “reminded” them.
Plus “Li Mu’s” such domineering tone, they naturally believed “Li Mu’s” identity.
The one before them was the famed “Astonishing Swan Saber” Ji Qing of Jianghu.
Such a big shot actually came to Chen Family?
And wanted to personally escort Chen Family, yet used an alias.
There must be deep calculations.
Since Ji Qing told them to leave, they naturally left immediately and did not dare interfere.
Even after leaving, they had to keep their mouths shut.
Whoever leaked a word would be cutting themselves off from Jianghu.
This was Ji Qing’s current prestige!
“Great Hero Li, these people have left…”
Old Master Chen finally spoke.
“No matter, Li alone can ensure Chen Family safely enters Shangdu! Just about the silver…”
Ji Qing also acted as if he coveted the silver.
If he did not covet silver, Old Master Chen might suspect Ji Qing’s true purpose.
“Great Hero Li, are you a second-rate martial artist in Jianghu?”
Old Master Chen asked.
“Correct.”
Ji Qing nodded.
Second-rate martial artist would not make Old Master Chen suspicious.
And it was not too high-profile.
“Good! I originally wanted to find a second-rate martial artist, but no one came.”
“How about this, I will give Great Hero Li five thousand taels of silver, and Great Hero Li escorts my family to Shangdu, alright?”
Old Master Chen immediately had someone bring out five thousand taels in banknotes.
“Fine.”
Ji Qing agreed.
“Hahaha, good, good, good! With Great Hero Li protecting us, we can rest easy on the road.”
“Men, prepare immediately; we set off tomorrow!”
Old Master Chen was already impatient.
If not for things not ready, he wished to leave today.
Ji Qing stayed at Chen Family.
That evening, Old Master Chen even called the whole family, including the women, to meet Ji Qing.
Though somewhat against rules.
But Old Master Chen was very pragmatic.
This trip to Shangdu, the whole family old and young depended on Ji Qing alone; he naturally had to find ways to win him over.
Even that night, two beautiful maidservants stood delicately outside the door.
“Great Hero Li, Old Master sent us to serve you.”
Ji Qing glanced at the two maidservants.
Twins?
And indeed sweet-faced and pure.
Originally, this pair of twins had been trained by Old Master Chen to bring to Shangdu for his son to give to some high officials to pave the way for his career.
But after much thought, Old Master Chen still gave this pair of twins to Ji Qing.
Family safety was still most important.
In these times, long journeys were too unsafe.
“Go back and report to Old Master, no need for this. Li keeps his word in Jianghu; since I took the silver, I will naturally do the job and ensure Chen Family safely reaches Shangdu.”
With that, Ji Qing directly closed the door.
The two twins exchanged glances but still went back to report to Old Master Chen.
At this moment, Old Master Chen was in the hall.
In the hall was also his granddaughter Chen Susu.
Chen Family had male heirs.
But those people were basically spoiled and lacked initiative.
The promising ones had long gone to Shangdu.
Only his granddaughter Chen Susu had some insight and could discuss with Old Master Chen.
“Old Master, Miss, Great Hero Li says no need, he took the silver and will do the job.”
Old Master Chen and Chen Susu exchanged glances.
“Go on.”
The twins respectfully withdrew.
“Susu, how about the people you sent out?”
Chen Susu replied, “The people I sent found three of the previous six Jianghu people and asked about Great Hero Li’s identity. But all three were evasive; only after giving silver did they say one sentence, meaning that our Chen Family just needs to trust Great Hero Li; no matter what dangers on the road, as long as Great Hero Li is there, we can go without worry.”
“All three gave similar answers; clearly, this Great Hero Li’s identity in Jianghu is probably not simple, and his coming to our Chen Family this time might not be just for the silver…”
Old Master Chen pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
“No matter, we only seek to safely enter Shangdu; as for Great Hero Li’s purpose, what does it have to do with our Chen Family?”
“Besides, once in Shangdu, we are officials, he is Jianghu person; our wells do not cross paths, probably no further intersection.”
Chen Susu thought about it and felt her grandfather was right.
“Alright, go rest well…”
Chen Susu also turned and left.
Neither Old Master Chen nor Chen Susu noticed a wisp of white light in the room.
As the two left, the white light also floated out the window and gradually drifted into the guest room.
“Swish.”
Ji Qing in the guest room suddenly opened his eyes.
