Chapter 51: The Shocked Zhou Lingwei

"Liu Xianyu... Why is she here?" Hu Jia’s eyes held a trace of envy.

Although she was known as a candidate for the Ten Great, she was still a far cry from the real thing.

It was the difference between a flood dragon and a true dragon.

AWOO.

The Iron Claw Demon Wolf and Liu Xianyu were locked in a fierce battle, the commotion immense.

At the same time, wolf howls echoed from all around.

Wolves are pack-type Demon Beasts. This Innate Realm Iron Claw Demon Wolf was the Wolf King, and besides it, a large pack of other Demon Wolves was present.

"Prepare for battle!" someone from the Guard Team roared.

Even with Liu Xianyu handling the Innate Realm Iron Claw Demon Wolf, the Zhou Family’s situation was still dire.

More than thirty Postnatal Realm Demon Wolves appeared, each one revealing its vicious nature with bared claws and fangs. Their howls made Zhou Chuchu’s face turn pale.

This pack of Demon Wolves was far more difficult to deal with than the troop of Long-armed Demon Apes.

"I’m afraid many will die this time," Hu Jia said.

Zhou Lingwei clenched her fists, her heart filled with self-blame. It was her stubborn insistence on venturing into this basin to gather herbs that had led the Zhou Family into such a perilous situation.

"Sister Hu, when the fighting starts, could I trouble you to get Chuchu out of here?" Zhou Lingwei asked.

"I’ll do my best." Hu Jia glanced at Zhou Chuchu. The little girl had delicate features and large, bright eyes, making her quite endearing.

"Brother Ning!" Suddenly, Zhou Chuchu cried out in delight, waving her hand vigorously.

Zhou Lingwei froze. She followed the girl’s gaze and saw a figure with white clothes and white hair appear.

Who else could it be but Ning Jiang?

"We’re safe now." Hu Jia suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

But Zhou Lingwei didn’t hear her at all. Her fine brows furrowed. When Ning Jiang approached, she said coldly, "I didn’t think we’d meet again. What happened to your hair? Never mind, there’s no point asking that now."

"You can see the situation. When the fighting starts, if you can break through, just leave. Don’t stay here and get yourself killed."

"You’re an interesting one. Your words are harsh, but your heart isn’t bad," Ning Jiang said with a laugh.

Although Zhou Lingwei clearly disliked him, she had no intention of harming him. In fact, she was telling him to find a chance to break away and escape.

"My words are harsh? Isn’t it because you love to spout nonsense and act all high and mighty? Don’t you know that sometimes, a few careless words can bring about your own death, and even implicate those around you?"

Zhou Lingwei snorted, feeling a sense of exasperation. She glanced again at Liu Xianyu, who was battling the Iron Claw Demon Wolf in the distance. "See her? That’s Liu Xianyu. You can boast to us about her learning Sword Technique from you, but don’t you dare say it in front of her. With her temperament, I doubt she’d let you off."

"Sigh. Honestly, aside from your habit of bragging, you’re not so bad."

Zhou Lingwei looked at Ning Jiang. With his full head of white hair, his face was several times more handsome than before, possessing a strange sort of charm.

"Whatever. I’ve said my piece. Now that even Li Jie is gone, our chances of survival are slim." A shadow passed over Zhou Lingwei’s beautiful eyes. ’Maybe dying here isn’t so bad. At least I won’t have to be a sacrifice for a family marriage alliance.’

After Li Jie’s arm was severed, he had no choice but to return and recuperate.

However, Li Jie hadn’t told Zhou Lingwei that Ning Jiang was the one who did it. He was too ashamed to admit it, so he simply blamed it on a Demon Beast.

"Zhou Lingwei, you’re a Martial Artist, for crying out loud. The greatest taboo for a Martial Artist is to be like you—so fragile-minded. You lose all hope and wish for death over a small setback."

Ning Jiang’s tone was dismissive. "It’s just a pack of Demon Wolves. What’s the big deal? If a Martial Artist wants to improve, they must have a fearless heart."

"You really never change, always bragging! This pack of Demon Wolves—you think you can handle them?" Zhou Lingwei was thoroughly exasperated with Ning Jiang.

"Zhou Lingwei, I’ve told you before, you’re too short-sighted. You always think I’m just bragging, but how could you possibly know what I’m capable of? I’ll kill this pack of Demon Wolves and show you."

With a step, Ning Jiang moved forward, sword in hand.

"You just don’t know what’s good for you." Zhou Lingwei was furious, thinking Ning Jiang was rushing to his death.

"Ahem." At this moment, Hu Jia finally couldn’t help but speak up. "Ling Wei, there’s something I want to say, but I’m not sure if I should."

"Sister Hu, do you also think he’s an arrogant braggart?" Zhou Lingwei assumed Ning Jiang’s behavior had given Hu Jia a terrible impression.

"No." Hu Jia shook her head, her expression complex. "Ling Wei, if I told you he’s that ’ruthless person’ I mentioned before, would you believe me?"

"Him? How is that possible?" Zhou Lingwei shook her head instinctively.

Her impression of Ning Jiang was that of a madman who looked down on all the heroes of the world. She had never in her life met such an arrogant person.

She would never believe that Ning Jiang was the ruthless figure who had swept through the candidates for the Ten Great.

"Ling Wei, sometimes life is just that coincidental. The Ning Jiang we know isn’t just someone with the same name—he’s the very same person. See for yourself!" Hu Jia exclaimed in amazement.

"Brother Ning is so strong!" Zhou Chuchu suddenly shouted.

"So strong."

At the same time, the members of the Zhou Family Guard Team all cried out in shock.

Zhou Lingwei froze, her gaze slowly shifting.

And then, she witnessed a scene she would never forget for the rest of her life.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four...

With every swing of his sword, a Demon Wolf fell dead.

That man, his white hair dancing in the wind.

It was Ning Jiang, the one she had so thoroughly despised!

At this moment, Ning Jiang’s true edge was revealed.

One man, one sword, dominating all before him.

He was like a merciless God of Slaughter, reaping the lives of one Demon Wolf after another.

Before Ning Jiang, these ferocious Demon Wolves were as fragile as tofu, unable to withstand a single blow.

"Do you see? This is how he swept through all of us. We couldn’t even take a single one of his strikes!" Hu Jia said with a bitter smile.

Zhou Lingwei’s face had unknowingly turned pale.

"He became famous in a single battle. Before long, everyone in Luoyang City’s younger generation will know his name. And we call him..." Hu Jia paused, then slowly said, "White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang!"

Zhou Lingwei’s face grew even paler.

Among the younger generation of Luoyang City, besides the Ten Great, Ning Jiang was the eleventh person to earn a title.

"Ling Wei, whatever misunderstanding there is between you two, you should apologize to him. It would be your good fortune to befriend him," Hu Jia said.

Zhou Lingwei’s delicate body trembled, and she was rendered speechless.

She stared without blinking, her vision filled entirely with the sight of Ning Jiang’s domineering figure.

She had never imagined that this young man she had constantly looked down upon could be so dazzling and brilliant when he finally revealed his true prowess.

Before long, Ning Jiang had slaughtered the Demon Wolves until they were terrified, and the survivors scattered and fled.

"Brother Ning, you’re amazing!" Zhou Chuchu ran to Ning Jiang’s side and couldn’t help but cheer.

The members of the Zhou Family Guard Team, however, were all silent, looking as if they had seen a ghost.

"It seems he killed the Ape King that day with his own strength, not through a sneak attack. Killing the Ape King, driving back the Demon horde... we already owed him a favor for that. Today, he fought off the wolf pack and saved us from any casualties. To think we repeatedly looked down on such a benefactor... I’m truly ashamed," one of them said. Hearing this, the other Zhou Family guards were filled with shame.

"See, Sis? Brother Ning is really strong! You all underestimated him," Zhou Chuchu said, innocent and carefree.

Zhou Lingwei’s expression was complicated. She couldn’t put a name to the emotions churning within her.

"The battle between Liu Xianyu and the Iron Claw Demon Wolf is about to end," Hu Jia said suddenly.

"Cloud-Shattering Sword!"

Elsewhere, Liu Xianyu let out a long cry.

The Innate Gang Qi throughout her body surged, concentrating into the Treasure Sword in her hand.

SHIIING.

A moment later, a thirty-foot-long Sword Aura erupted from her Treasure Sword. It was incredibly brilliant, crashing down like a mountain.

The Shocking Cloud Sword Technique contained many Sword Techniques, and the Cloud-Shattering Sword was one of them.

This one strike was enough to slice through bronze walls and iron ramparts.

SPLURT.

Blood sprayed. The Iron Claw Demon Wolf shrieked in pain as the strike landed, leaving a massive, bone-deep gash on its body.

Fortunately, the bodies of Demon Beasts were tough and powerful. Otherwise, that single strike would have taken the Iron Claw Demon Wolf’s life.

SWISH.

The Iron Claw Demon Wolf knew how formidable Liu Xianyu was. With a single move, it turned and fled.

"At last year’s annual gathering, the most Liu Xianyu could have done was fight the Iron Claw Demon Wolf to a draw. It’s incredible how much her Sword Technique has improved. Her ranking is bound to rise several places at this year’s gathering," Hu Jia said in surprise.

Last year, she had witnessed Liu Xianyu’s Sword Technique, and it was nowhere near as sharp as it was now.

"Her Sword Technique is so-so, I suppose. You could say she’s made a little progress," Ning Jiang said lightly at this moment.

Hu Jia froze. ’So-so?’

"White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang, your strength is great, and I admire you for it. But Liu Xianyu is one of the Ten Great. She has stepped into the Innate Realm and achieved Body Sword Control. For you to call her ’so-so’ is a bit too arrogant," Hu Jia couldn’t help but say.

Zhou Lingwei also spoke up, "Ning Jiang, your strength is indeed great. I underestimated you in that regard, and I was wrong. However, I still absolutely refuse to believe that Liu Xianyu learned her Sword Technique from you."

"Liu Xianyu is coming over."

Suddenly, the faces of the Zhou Family Guard Team members lit up with excitement.

Liu Xianyu was seen walking in their direction.

’Oh no. Innate Realm experts have keen hearing. Don’t tell me she heard what Ning Jiang said and is coming to cause trouble for him?’ Zhou Lingwei thought.

"Thank you for saving us, Miss Liu!" At the same time, the members of the Zhou Family hurriedly expressed their gratitude.

But how could Liu Xianyu even see them?

She walked briskly up to Ning Jiang.

And then.

This genius Sword Cultivator of Luoyang City, one of the Ten Great whom countless members of the younger generation looked up to, spoke respectfully to Ning Jiang. "Mr. Ning, my Shocking Cloud Sword Technique has reached a bottleneck. Just practicing on the cliff is no longer enough to improve. When can you start teaching me something new?"

At that moment, the surroundings fell silent.

Hu Jia’s jaw dropped.

Zhou Lingwei was rooted to the spot.

’What did I just hear?’

This noble lady of Luoyang City, the genius Sword Cultivator she had always admired, was now like a humble student, asking Ning Jiang when he would start teaching her something new?

The shock of this scene struck her like a bolt from the blue, like a meteor crashing to earth.

’So, the reason Liu Xianyu’s Sword Technique improved so quickly... was because he was guiding her?’

Hu Jia murmured. Now, she finally understood. When Ning Jiang had called Liu Xianyu’s Sword Technique "so-so," he wasn’t being overly arrogant.

Instead...

He had the right to say it!

PS: I’ve created a new group for Immortal Sword Master, 432754418. If you have any opinions or ideas, feel free to join and chat with me. I’ll be online every day to answer questions. Third update of the day, asking for recommendation tickets!