The Letter That Burns

Now it was the New Year. Ji Jiuhuo and the others did not immediately disturb Ji Ning. They waited until the sixteenth day of the first month before setting out for Serpentwing Lake.

Serpentwing Lake. Heartbright Island. Inside the study.

Ji Ning stood before the desk, gripping a writing brush as he wrote large characters. Autumn Leaf was beside him, grinding ink.

‘Calligraphy’ had become something Ji Ning had grown fond of in recent years. It was also one of his methods for tempering his heart and training in the sword.

Every stroke of the brush was like a streak of sword-light, soaring across the paper. Ji Ning’s calligraphy… radiated an overwhelmingly powerful sword-intent.

“The sword-intent in Master’s calligraphy is growing stronger and stronger,” Autumn Leaf marvelled silently. “Although my sword-arts were taught by Master personally and I have already reached the Xiantian perfection level, just looking at these characters makes my heart tremble. I have no will to resist at all. Over these past few years, Master’s sword-intent has become more and more astonishing.”

No one knew exactly how powerful Ji Ning had become after nine years. However, the few times Ji Ning had carried out his Yinglong Guard missions had already filled all sides with shock.

His most famous battle was when Ji Ning had slain the Realperson Venomous Dove. It must be understood that cultivators who walked the evil path, unburdened by karmic sin, generally had combat power far exceeding their peers. The Realperson Venomous Dove was one of the most outstanding among them, a man capable of fleeing from Primal Daoists—yet he had failed to escape from Ji Ning’s hands. This led the outside world to speculate wildly… just what level Ji Ning’s strength had reached.

Only Autumn Leaf, who was closest to Ji Ning, had a more precise sense of it.

“When Master writes, his sword-intent is constantly rising, his progress terrifying. Even compared to three years ago, there has been a qualitative transformation. Let alone compared to nine years ago.” Autumn Leaf thought to herself.

“Alright.” Ji Ning set down his brush, smiling. “Autumn Leaf, take this calligraphy and burn it.”

“Yes, Master.” Autumn Leaf obediently acknowledged. In the past, when Ji Ning had first instructed her to burn his work, Autumn Leaf had been unwilling. At the time she had said: “Master, such beautiful calligraphy! I can already sense the surging sword-intent within it. Leaving this in the tribe for the younger generation to study would be a good thing.”

But Ji Ning had replied: “I write every day. Over the course of many years, how much would I accumulate? Moreover, these are all written on a whim; they are not worth preserving. I will keep one piece of calligraphy each year and store it within the tribe. As for the rest, burn them all.” After Ji Ning had said this once, Autumn Leaf never questioned it again.

“Master! Master!” A voice suddenly came from outside.

Ji Ning looked up. Autumn Leaf walked out and asked: “What is it?”

The maidservant who had come to report said: “The chieftain and the others have arrived. They are waiting in the greeting hall.”

“Uncle Liuzhen?” Ji Ning smiled and instructed, “I’ll be right there.”

“Help me tidy up.” Ji Ning glanced at Autumn Leaf, who nodded. Some of Ji Ning’s frequently used items were always cleaned by Autumn Leaf herself; ordinary maidservants were forbidden to touch them. Especially things like Ji Ning’s sword-intent-infused calligraphy… if an ordinary Houtian martial artist were to look at them, they might be scared to death by the sword-intent radiating from the characters!

Even ordinary Xiantian lifeforms would be frightened on the spot, collapsing to the ground. Autumn Leaf, having studied under Ji Ning’s lineage and possessing extremely high sword-arts, still felt her heart palpitate whenever she looked at them.

The greeting hall.

Ji Ning, dressed in animal-hide clothes, strode in with a smile. When he saw that the hall actually contained Ji Liuzhen, Ji Jiuhuo, Granny Shadow, and the old servant Awaken, he could not help but raise an eyebrow in surprise, laughing: “I thought it would only be Uncle Liuzhen. I didn’t expect the old chieftain and the rest of you to come as well. The four of you coming together like this… there must be something major happening.”

“There is something major.” Ji Liuzhen nodded.

“Speak. What is it?” Ji Ning sat down directly.

Ji Jiuhuo and Ji Liuzhen exchanged a glance, then both nodded slightly.

Only then did Ji Liuzhen say: “Ji Ning, as you know, after our Ji Clan gained your assistance, our power began to rise rapidly. Naturally, we started to expand.”

Ji Ning nodded.

Any tribe, once its strength grew powerful, would expand! He himself had used his contribution points at the Yinglong Guard branch to exchange for some techniques that could be taught to the tribe. It should be noted that some Ki Refining techniques existed in even slightly stronger tribes. But these techniques were only permitted to be taught to the tribe by the Yinglong Guard branch at a much higher cost in contribution points.

Ji Ning’s several missions had been carried out precisely for this purpose.

Aside from techniques, Ji Ning had also prepared Primordial Liquid, spirit pills, and the like. With occasional personal guidance from him, the Ji Clan now had over ten Zifu Disciples. Three of them had already left the Yan Mountains to join sects.

“Tribes like the Kou and the Bianhe have had ties with our Ji Clan for many years,” Ji Liuzhen sighed. “But when it comes to the prosperity and growth of our own tribe, our Ji Clan cannot afford to be soft-hearted. We had them actively relocate and leave the Yan Mountains.”

Ji Ning nodded. He knew about this. He did not blame them.

Take the Dongyan clan, for example. Their lair occupied a mountain range spanning hundreds of thousands of li, equivalent to over a hundred Yan Mountains! Snowdragon Mountain likewise occupied a vast territory as its sect’s mountain gate. Of course, the Black-White College pursued an elite-style path and did not require such a large territory. But that was a sect; the Black-White College could recruit talented disciples from outside.

For a tribe, however, they trusted their own clansmen more. As the tribe multiplied, they naturally needed more and more territory.

“Right now, throughout the entire Yan Mountains, only that Snowdragon Mountain branch has not relocated,” Ji Liuzhen said. “All the other forces have moved one by one. But the Snowdragon Mountain Yan Mountain branch, relying on the backing of Snowdragon Mountain, completely ignores our Ji Clan. They have even publicly declared that if our Ji Clan dares to invade, they will dare to kill. Clearly, they are prepared for war. Although our Ji Clan has deepened its foundation over the years, behind that Snowdragon Mountain Yan Mountain branch there is a sect providing endless support. If we really go to war… it will be very difficult for our Ji Clan.”

Ji Ning understood now. Frowning, he said: “This Yan Mountain branch is so reckless and unwise?”

“They have calculated that our Ji Clan does not dare to fight them,” Ji Liuzhen said through gritted teeth. “They even sent an envoy to see me, saying that they will not expand, but neither will they relocate. Their attitude is extremely tough. Hmph! Speaking of it, back when our Ji Clan was weak, that Dong Qi was leading the Yan Mountain branch. Didn’t he browbeat our Ji Clan, even trying to annihilate us? Now that they see you, Ji Ning, are not someone to be trifled with, they say they will not expand. It’s not that they don’t want to expand… it’s that they don’t have the strength to!”

When one is weak, claiming one will not expand is nothing but self-aggrandizement.

Back when the Yan Mountain branch was strong, hadn’t they been steadily expanding their territory? They had gone from being outsiders to the strongest power in the Yan Mountains.

“Ji Ning, what do you think our Ji Clan should do now?” Ji Liuzhen looked at Ji Ning. “Our decision now will affect the entire clan. We dare not show the slightest negligence.”

“This Yan Mountain branch truly overestimates itself. A mere little branch, yet so arrogant.” Ji Ning frowned, then said directly: “I will write a letter by hand. Uncle Liuzhen, have someone deliver it to the Yan Mountain branch. Once the letter is rolled up, do not open it under any circumstances. I will place some restrictions on it.”

“Alright.” Ji Liuzhen nodded.

Ji Ning immediately took out a piece of animal-hide paper and wrote a letter.

Ji Jiuhuo, Granny Shadow, Ji Liuzhen, and the old servant Awaken all watched from the side. After looking at it, their expressions changed.

“This… isn’t this going too far?” Ji Jiuhuo was worried.

“Relax.” Ji Ning said calmly. “Snowdragon Mountain? I truly do not hold it in much regard.”

Nine years. Ji Ning was naturally the most clear about his own strength.

In just over three years at the Black-White College, he had been able to comprehend two stances of the Three-Foot Sword. Now, nine years had passed. With the aquatic palace also in hand… Ji Ning had long since cleared the fourth floor of the War God Hall and chosen a treasure from the Treasure Hall. Ji Ning’s current strength was far beyond what it had been nine years ago. It was an immeasurable gap.

“Attacking Snowdragon Mountain? That is their sect’s foundation, with countless trump cards hidden there. Even an Immortal would not dare to barge in recklessly. My strength is not yet sufficient. But outside, without the enhancement of the many formations within their mountain gate… I truly am not afraid of Snowdragon Mountain’s Primal Daoists,” Ji Ning mused to himself.

Snowdragon Mountain did have a backer. Its backer was Northmont of Anchan!

Generally speaking, all forces within the Anchan Commandery pledged allegiance either to Northmont of Anchan or to the Yinglong Guard branch (i.e. the Grand Xia Dynasty).

But Ji Ning also had a backer! He had an even closer relationship with Northmont of Anchan, and behind him was his master, the Diancai Immortal!

That very night. Within the Yan Mountains, Snowdragon City. This was now the only city of the Snowdragon Mountain Yan Mountain branch. As for the other two cities… after Dong Qi and the others had died, their two vassal tokens had been obtained by the Ji Clan. With the tokens in hand and the Ji Clan now strong, they had naturally seized control of those two cities easily.

But Snowdragon City was like a nail, driven into the Yan Mountains.

“An envoy from the Ji Clan?”

“Hmph! This tiny Ji Clan has only risen because of that Ji Ning. How old is he? Although his potential is astonishing, he might very well fall midway. Who knows how many geniuses have died on the path of cultivation!” A silver-haired old man’s expression was ugly.

His name was ‘Xu Fang’, and he was the overseer of Snowdragon City.

The current Yan Mountain branch was controlled by the Xu clan. The Xu clan was a relatively powerful clan within Snowdragon Mountain. They had quite a few Wanxiang Adepts. But back then, the Realperson Xu Li had died. The Xu clan had been enraged. When Snowdragon Mountain was preparing to arrange someone to take over the Yan Mountain branch, the Xu clan had volunteered.

But Ji Ning’s progress had been too astonishing. The true leader of the Xu clan within Snowdragon Mountain, the Realperson Xu Ke, had been frightened into returning to the sect, leaving only a Zifu Disciple, ‘Xu Fang’, to manage the city. After all, to Ji Ning, killing Wanxiang Adepts was as easy as killing a chicken. Naturally, the Realperson Xu Ke did not dare to take the risk here. Only when something major occurred would Xu Fang send word to the Realperson Xu Ke back at the sect.

“Xu Fang, this is a personal letter from my young master.” A tall, robust old man said coldly.

Inside the hall. Xu Fang sat upon the main seat. Beside him were three other Zifu Disciples.

“Your young master?” Xu Fang was unable to scold the man for his rudeness, for the words ‘young master’ had startled him. The young master who had sent him a personal letter… there was only one possibility: the legendary Ji Ning of Serpentwing Lake!

The other three Zifu Disciples in the hall were also frightened. They could be disdainful toward Ji Liuzhen and the others, but toward the legendary Ji Ning of Serpentwing Lake, they felt genuine fear from the depths of their hearts.

“Catch it.” The Ji Clan old man directly tossed the letter over.

Xu Fang reached out and caught it. The other three cultivators also drew near.

They unrolled the rolled-up animal hide. The sword-intent that rushed out from the characters first made the four of them’s hearts tremble. All of their legs went weak.

“To the Xu clan of the Yan Mountain branch: I order you to get out of the Yan Mountains within ten days. If you have not relocated by then, do not blame me for being ruthless with my sword.” A very casual sentence, yet it carried an overwhelming domineering pressure! The Ji Clan and the Yan Mountain branch had always been wrangling with each other, but they had never come to actual blows. This personal letter from Ji Ning, however, left no room for negotiation.

Move within ten days, or he would act!

“This, this…” Xu Fang’s eyes bulged as he roared: “He completely disregards Snowdragon Mountain! Quickly, report to the sect! Quickly report to the sect!!!”

As his voice fell… Whoosh. The restrictions on the animal hide attracted the flames of Heaven and Earth, and the animal hide instantly burned, turning to ash.

“Hmph.”