Silence for Ages, But a Single Cry Stuns the World (Part 2)

Chapter 170: Silence for Ages, But a Single Cry Stuns the World (Part 2)

“I lost… I lost… How could this be…” Yinxue Wenjian sat upon the stone pillar, his face pale as snow, unable to accept this truth.

In battles between cultivators, the line between life and death was incredibly thin.

Lose by a single move, and you die.

“He used a puppet, and I used one too.” Yinxue Wenjian simply could not accept it. “The cores of both puppets were the same; the elemental ki was naturally identical. It was completely fair. What mattered was our understanding of the Dao, our sword arts, and such. How could his sword arts be stronger than mine?”

How could he know that Ji Ning had already reached the ‘Domain of the Dao’ level?

The Domain of the Dao was a realm normally achievable only by Primal Daoists. Of course, every single disciple of the Black-White College was a monstrous genius, so many Wanxiang Adept disciples had reached that level. But Yinxue Wenjian was still a trace short of the Domain of the Dao.

He relied on his sword technique itself to barely touch that realm.

It was just like Ji Ning in his youth, when he studied the ‘Dripping Sutra’. Back then, he hadn’t yet reached Unity of Man and Heaven, but by relying on the sword technique itself, he could unleash power at that level. Such was the benefit of a supreme art!

In terms of realm, Ji Ning was superior.

In terms of sword technique, after being tempered by the Aquatics Palace’s Stellar Hall and the Black-White Diagram, and then studying the ‘Lesser Five Elements Sword Manual’, Ji Ning’s skill had reached the pinnacle of his current stage.

In terms of soul strength, Ji Ning had already reached the Divine Sense level. Even among the Wanxiang Adept disciples of the Black-White College, only a handful of reincarnated Immortals could match him.

No matter which aspect was compared, Wenjian was inferior.

How could he not lose?

“Senior apprentice-brother Wenjian, I was fortunate to win by a single move,” Ji Ning said with a smile, rising to his feet. The sealing formation beside him was already dissolving. With a slight push off the ground, he flew directly out of the arena, landing some distance away.

Yinxue Wenjian’s face was ugly. He too flew out of the arena.

He strode directly towards Ji Ning, flipped his hand over to produce two jade bottles, and tossed them over. “One hundred Black-White Pearls and a hundred catties of Primordial Liquid. Take them.”

Ji Ning naturally reached out and accepted them smoothly.

“Hmph, Ji Ning.” Yinxue Wenjian stared at Ji Ning, his eyes filled with battle intent. “No wonder the Diancai Immortal accepted you as his disciple. I have nothing to say about my loss. However… next time, I will challenge you again.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Ji Ning said with a smile. If someone was handing him Black-White Pearls and Primordial Liquid, how could he be modest?

“Hmph.” Yinxue Wenjian immediately walked over to Bu Ying’s side. “Junior apprentice-brother Ying!”

The green-robed youth, Bu Ying, glanced at him. “Relax. Leave it to me.”

This plan to teach the new disciple a lesson had been organized by Bu Ying. He was the one who had personally gone to invite Yinxue Wenjian… Now that Wenjian had lost, regardless of the circumstances, there was no way Bu Ying was just going to let Ji Ning leave with a win.

Bu Ying’s gaze swept across the other senior apprentice-brothers and sisters beside him.

“Impressive.”

“Junior apprentice-brother Northmont’s strength cannot be underestimated.” These genius disciples all had cautious looks in their eyes. From Ji Ning’s earlier performance, they all realized his strength was definitely not inferior to their own. Without a certain degree of confidence, none of them were willing to go down.

“Senior apprentice-brother Ying.”

“Senior apprentice-brother Ying, only you stand a chance.”

“That’s right, Senior apprentice-brother Ying. You also practice the ‘Lesser Five Elements Sword Manual’, and you’ve been studying it for even longer. Your chances of winning are higher.” The others all spoke up.

Bu Ying cursed inwardly. What use was studying it for a longer time? Training in swordsmanship didn’t depend on how long you practiced, but on your own comprehension of the Dao. If an Immortal were to study the ‘Lesser Five Elements Sword Manual’ for the first time, even they could reach an extremely profound level in just half a day.

But Bu Ying also knew…

This matter had been initiated by him. Regardless, he had to step up. If you do a job, you have to be responsible for it.

…

Ji Ning’s victory had Mu Northson extremely excited. “Great win! Let those old disciples know that not every new disciple can be bullied so easily.”

Ji Ning smiled.

Winning was truly satisfying. And just like that, a hundred Black-White Pearls and a hundred catties of Primordial Liquid had fallen into his hands. Last time, it had cost him only eighty catties of Primordial Liquid to break through from the early Zifu stage to the Zifu stage of perfection.

“Junior apprentice-brother Northmont.” Bu Ying walked over from the group of old disciples. “Senior apprentice-brother Ying,” Ji Ning acknowledged.

“Junior apprentice-brother Northmont, your strength is truly remarkable. I never imagined that so soon after entering the college, you would already have such profound attainments in the ‘Lesser Five Elements Sword Manual’. This suggests that your comprehension of the Dao must be extremely high,” Bu Ying said.

Ji Ning understood that the other party was trying to fish for information. He immediately replied with a smile, “I’ve just begun studying it; I still need to train much more.”

Bu Ying laughed heartily. “Junior apprentice-brother is too modest. I also practice the ‘Lesser Five Elements Sword Manual’. Seeing your swordsmanship makes my own hands itch. How about the two of us spar a round?”

“Oh? I was just thinking the same thing!” Ji Ning immediately replied.

Who would refuse a gift that walked right up to your door?

According to his calculations, especially with his powerful soul giving him such a massive advantage… among the Zifu Disciple disciples, there were probably very few who could match him. Unless a reincarnated Immortal appeared out of nowhere.

“What about the stakes?” Ji Ning asked.

“One hundred Black-White Pearls and ten catties of Primordial Liquid,” Bu Ying said with a smile. “Any more than that would hurt the friendship.”

“Agreed,” Ji Ning nodded.

…

A short while later.

Both Ji Ning and Bu Ying were sitting cross-legged on their respective stone pillars.

“Begin,” the white-haired elder called out, and the sealing formation once again appeared.

“The puppet I have chosen is the ‘Pivot Control Puppet’,” Bu Ying announced loudly. “Junior apprentice-brother, you must be careful.”

“Senior apprentice-brother, after you,” Ji Ning replied loudly as well.

The two men sat upon their pillars, facing each other from afar.

Below them, the two puppets were also facing each other.

“Kill!” Bu Ying had been all smiles before, but then his expression grew stern. With a low shout, the ‘Pivot Control Puppet’ below him simultaneously sent thirty-six flying swords soaring out from its back. Each flying sword was covered in special talisman markings. It was named the Pivot Control Puppet because it was capable of executing the ‘Pivot Control Mystical Formation’.

Seeing this, Ji Ning frowned. “Go!”

From behind the Thousand Sword Puppet, twelve flying swords shot out at once. The twelve swords tore through the air, and in midair, they transformed into a dense curtain of raindrops. Every single raindrop carried immense power.

“Hummmm~~”

The thirty-six flying swords spun around, with every six swords forming a formation base, creating the Pivot Control Mystical Formation.

The entire great formation transformed into a massive wind-wheel.

“RUMBLE~~~” It came crushing forward.

Bam bam bam~~~

Countless raindrops smashed ferociously against the massive wind-wheel, but the thirty-six spinning swords of the wind-wheel easily deflected the impact force.

“I can’t block it. This Bu Ying is indeed much stronger than Yinxue Wenjian. Thankfully, I was prepared,” Ji Ning thought, his expression shifting. A fierce light flashed in his eyes.

The twelve flying swords under his control suddenly split into two groups. They spun around in the high sky, then crossed paths.

SWOOSH!

The twelve flying swords, entangled with each other, transformed into a massive azure-flame sword.

BOOM!

The colossal azure-flame sword stabbed directly into the wind-wheel. The wind-wheel held on for only a moment before scattering.

“The Two Forms Azurefire Sword!” Bu Ying, sitting cross-legged, turned pale. He then sighed, and did not even resist as he allowed Ji Ning’s azure-flame sword to pierce straight through his puppet’s protective layer.

“Ji Ning wins!” The white-haired elder announced once more in a loud voice.

…

The Dao Debate Hall was in an uproar. Bu Ying was definitely one of the most outstanding disciples among the Zifu Disciple disciples of the Black-White College, a man of influence and reputation. His strength was far greater than Yinxue Wenjian’s. And yet, he too had been defeated by this new disciple who had only just joined the Black-White College.

“They are monstrous geniuses, but this Ji Ning is an absolute freak,” Nine Lotus said from a distance, watching silently in her heart. “Only sixteen years old, and he’s already at the Domain of the Dao level? His soul is suspected to have reached the Divine Sense level… He really is a freakish talent on the level of a reincarnated Immortal.”

“Losing to a freak like him is no disgrace.”