Chapter 120: Chapter 106: Break and Then Rebuild (Request for Monthly Ticket)
The Divine Sword Old Man was buried in the back of True Martial Mountain.
Ning Qi took out the Dragon Owl Sword and buried it together with the Divine Sword Old Man. It was the Divine Sword Old Man’s favorite sword during his life. Last time, he lost it to Ning Qi in a ten-year agreement, and now it returned to its rightful owner. To Ning Qi, the Dragon Owl Sword was no longer of use to him.
Zhuang Chen gratefully called out, "Ninth Senior Brother."
Then.
Zhuang Chen personally erected a monument for the Divine Sword Old Man.
He respectfully kowtowed several times.
In this misfortune, the saving grace was that his master could pass away peacefully, and he could still come to visit if he wished.
Even though Zhuang Chen’s eyes were filled with sorrow, they also contained determination. He remembered everything that happened that night, as well as the terrifying look of his once kind and amiable eldest brother. He secretly vowed to seek justice for his master.
Taoist Longshan sighed softly, brushing Zhuang Chen’s head:
"Shi, from now on, True Martial Mountain is your second home. It was also the home of the Divine Sword Brother. With him here, you won’t be alone."
Zhuang Chen nodded vigorously:
"Yes, Master."
Luo Wentian and the others all looked at Zhuang Chen with concern. For this additional Tenth Junior Brother, they all felt a sense of pity and sympathy.
"Shi, you can stay with peace of mind at the True Martial Sect. If anyone dares to bully you, just come to your senior brothers for help!"
Looking at the many kind senior brothers and sisters, a warm feeling arose in Zhuang Chen’s heart.
Then he felt waves of fatigue sweeping over him, and he fainted.
He had been fleeing for a long time and sustained serious injuries. Zhuang Chen had been relying on sheer willpower to hold on, but now, after handling the funeral affairs of the Divine Sword Old Man, he had finally reached his limit.
Everyone was startled.
Taoist Longshan and Ning Qi examined him closely.
Taoist Longshan initially sighed in relief, but then frowned slightly. The condition inside Zhuang Chen’s body was not good.
"Such a malicious force, it destroys one’s foundation and even shatters Shi’s sword bone. Surviving is not a problem, but can he still cultivate in the future?"
Everyone was shocked.
If he really couldn’t cultivate, it would be another huge blow to Zhuang Chen.
Taoist Longshan looked at Ning Qi, as did everyone else. They all knew Ning Qi was skilled in the medical and alchemical arts, perhaps he had a solution.
Ning Qi spoke softly:
"We don’t know how yet; we can only try. Let’s place the Tenth Junior Brother in the Seeking Tao Institute, and I’ll first stabilize his injuries."
He had some confidence, but couldn’t guarantee anything for now, and it wasn’t the right occasion. Luckily, during the previous Celestial Being Grand Ceremony, he had thoroughly investigated the condition of Zhuang Chen’s Innate Sword Bone and, based on that, developed the Secret Technique of Innate Sword Body.
Now, the hope for the revival of Zhuang Chen’s Sword Bone rests on this Secret Technique.
Everyone breathed a silent sigh of relief.
They understood Ning Qi and knew that since he hadn’t guaranteed its impossibility, it meant there was still hope.
Taoist Longshan instructed all the disciples to disperse and be on guard. The enemy was hidden, their exact strength unknown. Although the Divine Sword Old Man had said that no Celestial Human Realm experts had appeared, it was still wise to be cautious.
He himself then accompanied Ning Qi back to the Seeking Tao Institute.
"Jiu, I always felt that the group attacking the Divine Sword Sect and the group that annihilated Snow Plum Manor years ago were somewhat similar. Perhaps there’s some connection between them." Taoist Longshan said in a deep voice.
Some things were not appropriate to discuss in front of everyone just now.
Ning Qi nodded slightly:
"I have the same feeling. The Blood Rain Tower might just be a smokescreen like the golden cicada shedding its shell."
The two bear some resemblances. Both were annihilated after discovering some truth. Now, if it could be verified that what Ning Qi’s father discovered back then was also a Human Blood Pool or something similar, it could nearly conclude that there was indeed a connection between the two.
Taoist Longshan pondered for a moment before finally making up his mind:
"I’ll go down the mountain now and head to the Divine Sword Sect to have a look. Perhaps there will be some traces left. Additionally, I’ll create a bit of a stir to let those people know I’ve left the True Martial Sect."
Ning Qi immediately understood Taoist Longshan’s intention.
As long as Taoist Longshan remained on True Martial Mountain, those in hiding wouldn’t dare to attack. But if it was confirmed that Taoist Longshan was absent, the situation would change.
In the eyes of outsiders.
The True Martial Sect apparently only had a few White Mist Realm True Disciples.
As for True Man Tianjian, an old monster nearing the end of his lifespan, he might not intervene for minor matters and might not even always be on True Martial Mountain.
After all, there was a precedent. When Taoist Longshan was in life-and-death seclusion, the Iron Ridge Three Fierce and several Gang Essence Realm experts once attacked True Martial Mountain at night, but it was never heard that True Man Tianjian intervened. Known to all, True Man Tianjian first acted when Old Demon Lin attacked.
Ning Qi nodded and said:
"This method is worth a try. It might lure the snake out of its hole. Master, you can leave the mountain with peace of mind. Since I am here within the sect, it’s also a good time to treat Tenth Junior Brother’s injuries and revive his Sword Bone, which requires some time."
He had just checked the condition inside Zhuang Chen’s body, which was indeed not good.
Now was the best time to revive the Sword Bone. If he waited to descend the mountain and then return to revive Zhuang Chen’s Sword Bone, it would likely be too late, and Zhuang Chen would forever be crippled. Therefore, now sending Taoist Longshan down the mountain was the best choice.
Taoist Longshan looked at the unconscious Zhuang Chen and sighed:
"Shi is also a pitiable person. Jiu, if you have confidence, do your best to revive his Sword Bone."
Ning Qi solemnly said:
"I will do my best."
He always had a good impression of Zhuang Chen. Now that Zhuang Chen had become his junior brother, he would care even more. This was a matter of legacy, just like when he had first come up the mountain, the senior brothers and sisters had all treated him with great care.
Taoist Longshan left.
Ning Qi then turned his gaze to Zhuang Chen, who was lying on the bed, and instructed White Ape:
"Tiansheng, go get some Gold Silver Grass, Phoenix Tail Flower, Purple Rattan..."
He needed some herbs to stabilize Zhuang Chen’s injuries.
White Ape left quietly, looking worried. Although he had a small conflict with Zhuang Chen when they first met, they got along well afterwards. Zhuang Chen was one of the few who knew part of White Ape’s abilities, and now seeing Zhuang Chen in such a terrible state, he was somewhat angry.
He ground the herbal juice and had White Ape feed it to Zhuang Chen.
Several silver needles fell, swiftly darting across various points on Zhuang Chen’s body.
Although Zhuang Chen was still unconscious, his originally pale face was gradually improving. With Ning Qi’s medical skills, such wounds were naturally not a problem, but the crucial issue wasn’t these external injuries, it was Zhuang Chen’s Sword Bone.
Ning Qi took a light breath, a wisp of Gang Qi probing out, beginning a more detailed examination of Zhuang Chen’s internal condition.
A moment later.
His expression turned slightly surprised.
He discovered.
After Zhuang Chen’s Innate Sword Bone shattered, some of the fluctuations within became even more evident, much clearer than during previous examinations. Ning Qi almost instantly recorded these special fluctuations, then compared them one by one with the Innate Sword Body he had created.
Immediately, he found that the Innate Sword Body he had created previously still had many flaws.
This was not hard to understand, after all, Ning Qi’s study of White Ape and Zhuang Chen was only superficial, the essence of power wasn’t sufficient to support deeper exploration. It was only by accident that a part of the essence had been revealed.
"Moreover, initially I didn’t notice anything during a rough check, but now on closer inspection, Shi’s Sword Bone seems to be actively converging?"
This was somewhat miraculous.
But Ning Qi also discovered that this active convergence was only a tendency and wasn’t very strong, furthermore, there was tremendous resistance. Without strong external interference, it was more likely than not to fail.
"But it is much better than I initially predicted. Studying these fluctuations to improve the Secret Technique of the Innate Sword Body, using it to promote resonance to assist the Sword Bone’s convergence seems highly feasible."
"Moreover, after the Sword Bone re-converges this time, Shi might be able to further tap into the potential of the Sword Bone."
"In some respect, this can be considered as breaking and then establishing anew, it’s just that the price is somewhat too heavy."
Looking at Zhuang Chen, who was still furrowing his brow in his sleep, Ning Qi sighed lightly.
...
Taoist Longshan instructed the disciples to remain vigilant at all times and then descended the mountain, heading straight to the former site of the Divine Sword Sect. He wanted to start investigating from there to see whether that group of people had left any traces.
Furthermore, the destruction of the Divine Sword Sect would also stir up a wave in Qing State.
Although the Great Yan Dynasty was somewhat chaotic now, the annihilation of a first-rate force with a Primordial Core Realm expert would still attract considerable attention.
Taoist Longshan did not deliberately conceal his movements.
Three days later.
News of the Divine Sword Sect’s annihilation gradually spread, and Taoist Longshan’s involvement in helping an old friend track down the culprits also drew much attention.
In a small courtyard within a county town near the True Martial Sect, unnoticed by others, several figures gathered in a secret room.
Each of them exuded a powerful aura, all in the Primordial Core Realm.
If anyone knew, they would be utterly shocked, finding it hard to imagine that such an ordinary small town housed so many Primordial Core Realm experts.
The leader spoke:
"The Innate Sword Bone is a perfect great elixir for cultivating the Blood King Gu. If we can bring it back, it will be a great achievement. Now that True Man Longshan is not at the True Martial Sect, perhaps it is our chance."
He looked around at the few people, his gaze carrying a certain oppressive force.
The scar-faced middle-aged man said in a deep voice:
"Even though True Man Longshan is not here, the True Martial Sect still has an even more powerful True Man Tianjian!"
Another alluring woman chimed in:
"That’s right, True Man Tianjian is of the Celestial Being List caliber. Even if we all attack at once, it would be just a flick of a hand for him."
The leader shook his head:
"No, True Man Tianjian might not concern himself with such a trivial matter. I have studied the two times True Man Tianjian made a move. Both were during attacks by Celestial Human Realm experts, only when the survival of the True Martial Sect was at stake did he act. Previously, when True Man Longshan secluded himself to break through to the Celestial Human Realm, several Gang Essence Realm figures attacked the mountain, yet True Man Tianjian did not make a move."
"This time, our target is merely the Innate Sword Bone, without harming others, it might not alarm True Man Tianjian."
"Besides True Man Longshan and True Man Tianjian, the True Martial Sect only has a few True Disciples at the White Mist Realm. We just need one Primordial Core Realm to easily take away the Innate Sword Bone, thus intimidating True Man Longshan and making him wary."
Several fell silent, then said:
"Ultimately, this is just your speculation. What if we actually encounter True Man Tianjian, what then? If he catches us, it would ruin everything."
The leader was prepared; he took out a wax-sealed pill and said:
"This is the Heaven-Sensing Gu. Swallowed, if unusual Power of Heaven and Earth fluctuations are detected nearby, it will immediately shatter, releasing poison, blasting the shackles. At that time, don’t hesitate in the slightest, shatter your Primordial Core and commit suicide to avoid falling into enemy hands."
Everyone’s expressions turned solemn.
There was no fear, only a clear understanding that the importance of the Innate Sword Bone even surpassed that of a Primordial Core Realm life, to the point of sacrificing one to probe, most likely due to orders from above in recent days.
"Who’s going?" someone asked the question that concerned everyone.
The leader scanned the crowd, finally taking a deep breath and said:
"Old rules, draw lots."