Immortal Sword Master

Ning Jiang had left Qing Province and suddenly arrived in Liang Province for one reason and one reason only: Liu Xianyu!

He had never stopped searching for Liu Xianyu since her disappearance from the Cyan Cloud Country. The vow he had made before Liu Yuanlong’s tomb to find her was no empty promise.

He had to protect Liu Yuanlong’s bloodline, no matter the cost.

Besides, Liu Xianyu was his friend. How could he stand idly by while she was missing?

As the number one Sect in Qing Province, the Myriad Swords Sect possessed overwhelming power. He had mobilized the entire Sect to search for Liu Xianyu, and his efforts had finally paid off, yielding a few clues.

And those clues pointed directly to a Sect in Liang Province... the Extreme Heaven Sect!

Coincidentally, Yue Wenfu also had a good friend in Liang Province, which was why the two of them had come here together.

"Please, Sect Leader Ning, just ask. If it is within my power, I will do everything I can."

Lü Xingfan said hurriedly. He knew this was a golden opportunity to get on Ning Jiang’s good side. With Ning Jiang as their backer, the Nine Profound Sect’s future would be secure.

"I’ve heard the Extreme Heaven Sect is holding a grand event soon. Are you aware of it?" Ning Jiang asked.

"Yes, Sect Leader Ning. The Extreme Heaven Sect holds this grand event once a year. We are aware of it."

"And I’ve heard that every year, all the major Sects in Liang Province receive invitations?"

"That is correct. Upper Grade Sects typically receive ten invitations, Middle Grade Sects receive five, and Low Grade Sects receive three," Lü Xingfan replied honestly.

’Just as I thought.’

Ning Jiang’s eyes narrowed. The invitations were the real reason he had come to the Nine Profound Sect.

"How much do you know about the Extreme Heaven Sect’s true strength?" Ning Jiang asked.

He knew the Extreme Heaven Sect was the strongest of the Eight Top Grade Sects, but he was certain Lü Xingfan would know more about its specific capabilities.

"Sect Leader Ning, the Extreme Heaven Sect has over a hundred experts at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm, and more than a dozen at the Earth Martial Realm."

A note of awe crept into Lü Xingfan’s voice as he spoke. "More importantly, they have four Heaven-Reaching Realm experts. And according to the legends, the Sect Leader of the Extreme Heaven Sect is on the verge of becoming a Celestial Martial Realm King."

"Across the Six Eastern Provinces, he’s even known as the strongest person beneath the Celestial Martial Realm!"

The strongest person beneath the Celestial Martial Realm—it was an astonishing title.

It meant that short of a Celestial Martial Realm King, he was the strongest, utterly invincible.

Such power meant he was even stronger than Su Yuying, the Vice Palace Master of the Moon God Palace. Su Yuying was at the Supreme Celestial Rank, just one step away from becoming a Celestial Martial Realm King.

The Extreme Heaven Sect Leader was also at the Supreme Celestial Rank, but he was even closer to that breakthrough than Su Yuying was.

"What incredible strength. No wonder they say the other seven Top Grade Sects combined are no match for the Extreme Heaven Sect."

Yue Wenfu was shocked to hear this. The Sect Leaders of the other Top Grade Sects were only at the Little Celestial Rank. The gap between them and the Extreme Heaven Sect Leader was immense.

The Extreme Heaven Sect Leader alone could slaughter the leaders of the other Top Grade Sects, and that’s not even counting their three other Heaven-Reaching Realm experts.

Over a dozen Earth Martial Realm experts was also a staggering number. The Evil Spirit Sect, which Ning Jiang had destroyed, had only possessed three.

"The Extreme Heaven Sect’s foundation is almost one-third that of a Super Sect. All they’re missing is a true Celestial Martial Realm King!" Lü Xingfan said.

"They are indeed powerful."

Ning Jiang nodded, agreeing with Yue Wenfu’s assessment.

’A hundred thousand years ago, I could have annihilated a Sect like this with a single breath. But my foundation is still shallow now. The Myriad Swords Sect’s total strength isn’t even a tenth of the Extreme Heaven Sect’s.’

"It seems an invitation is essential to get inside the Extreme Heaven Sect."

Ning Jiang murmured. Given the Extreme Heaven Sect’s power, he obviously couldn’t just fight his way in.

His only chance was their annual grand event. He would have to use an invitation to get inside and then figure out how to find Liu Xianyu.

’Sect Leader Ning wants an invitation to the Extreme Heaven Sect?’

Lü Xingfan suddenly felt a pang of fear. ’For Ning Jiang to be asking about the Extreme Heaven Sect like this... he doesn’t have a grudge against them, does he? If so, I don’t dare get involved in these muddy waters...’

’A behemoth like the Extreme Heaven Sect is a hundred times more terrifying than any Upper Grade Sect.’

Just as he was hesitating, several tyrannical auras suddenly flared in the distant sky, rapidly approaching their location.

"Lü Xingfan, get out here!"

The figures had yet to arrive, but their voices preceded them, ringing in everyone’s ears.

"Dammit, it’s the Mountain and Sea Sect!"

The expressions on Lü Xingfan and his men changed instantly. The Mountain and Sea Sect was the very Upper Grade Sect that had been oppressing them.

This time, their aggressive arrival spelled trouble!

Soon, over a dozen figures rushed forward. The leader was a burly, bearded man with a coarse, wild look. The aura radiating from him was that of an Immortal Realm expert.

The men with him were all experts at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm.

"Mountain and Sea Sect, what do you want?"

Lü Xingfan’s expression was grim. The force gathered before them was more than enough to annihilate the Nine Profound Sect.

"What do we want? It’s simple. The Nine Profound Sect dared to offend us, so you will pay the price. We’re here to give you two choices. The first is to disband the Nine Profound Sect and have you few cripple your own Cultivation. The second... is for every last one of you to die!"

The burly, bearded man said forcefully, his arms crossed over his chest.

"What? You’ve gone too far!"

Lü Xingfan and his men’s eyes turned red with rage. Crippling their own Cultivation was no different from a death sentence.

If the Nine Profound Sect were to be disbanded, they would be traitors to its legacy, unable to face the Sect’s founders even in death.

"Oh? So you refuse? Fine. Kill them all. Leave no one alive." A cold glint flashed in the burly, bearded man’s eyes.

As he spoke, the Primordial Spirit Realm experts behind him stepped forward as one.

Instantly, an overwhelmingly tyrannical aura bore down on Lü Xingfan and his men, threatening to suffocate them.

Lü Xingfan’s expression flickered. Then, gritting his teeth, he cupped his fist and bowed to Ning Jiang. "Sect Leader Ning, please, lend us your aid and save the Nine Profound Sect! We will be eternally grateful! From this day forward, we will obey your every command!"

Just a moment ago, he had been hesitant, worried that Ning Jiang had a grudge against the Extreme Heaven Sect.

But now, facing a life-or-death situation, the choice was obvious. Offending the Extreme Heaven Sect was a secondary concern; surviving the immediate crisis with the Mountain and Sea Sect was all that mattered.

"Very good."

Ning Jiang nodded. He had been waiting for Lü Xingfan to make this commitment. He then said coolly, "I will protect the Nine Profound Sect. You can all go home now."

"Huh? Where did this punk come from? Who are you to speak here? You’re courting death."

The burly, bearded man had an explosive temper. He clenched his fist as he spoke and threw a punch directly at Ning Jiang.

"You’re the one who’s courting death!"

Ning Jiang’s gaze turned icy as a sword hummed to life.

The Thunder Punishment Sword left its sheath. With a single slash, a brilliant, immense bolt of lightning erupted forth, utterly unstoppable.

Before everyone’s shocked eyes, the burly, bearded man coughed up blood and stumbled back. A gash so deep the bone was visible had been carved into his chest, nearly tearing his body in two!

Instantly, the area fell deathly silent!