Chapter 139: Chapter 136: The Might of a Single Sword

Everyone stared in shock at the white-haired young man, the joy on their faces frozen stiff.

They could hardly believe that the Giant Ape Battle Array, formed by the combined power of the Four Great Innate Limits and over one hundred and fifty Innate Realm experts, had been utterly useless against Ning Jiang.

That single punch, they knew, had been powerful enough to kill anyone in the top ten of the Innate List.

’Thank goodness I didn’t make an enemy of him.’

Li Huqing took a deep breath. What he had witnessed today was, without a doubt, the most shocking thing he had seen in his entire life.

A sixteen-year-old boy had single-handedly crushed the entire Huangfu Family. Who would even believe it if word got out?

"Dad, Mom, our little brother won."

A beautiful, radiant smile bloomed on Ning Yu’an’s lovely face. Ning Changfeng and Li Qingyun exchanged a glance, each seeing the profound shock in the other’s eyes.

Who could have imagined that the adopted son they had taken in would turn out to be so terrifyingly powerful?

"Changfeng, we brought home a dragon..."

Li Qingyun’s voice was filled with deep wonder.

Everyone present had a different expression on their face. Ning Jiang stood there, and as his gaze swept over them, every member of the Huangfu Family felt an immense pressure.

"Huangfu Feihong."

When his eyes landed on Huangfu Feihong, the ashen-faced man shuddered and gave a bitter laugh. "So be it. To think that I, Huangfu Feihong, who have dominated for a lifetime, would make such a misjudgment in my old age."

The other members of the Huangfu Family, even the three at the Innate Limit, trembled slightly.

Who could have expected Ning Jiang to be the final victor? Even the Huangfu Family’s ultimate trump card, a concentration of all their power, was useless before him. Who could possibly restrain this Divine Demon of a man?

The Sword King Chu Bai, number one on the Innate List?

"Mr. Ning, this battle is the Huangfu Family’s loss. However, this matter has nothing to do with the others. I ask that you show mercy, Mr. Ning, and take only this old man’s life."

Huangfu Feihong let out a breath, seeming to age decades in an instant.

"Father."

Huangfu Cheng and the others looked on with sorrowful eyes, their bodies trembling.

The old patriarch of the Huangfu Family planned to sacrifice himself to preserve his family.

"Not enough."

Ning Jiang shook his head and spoke those two words, his gaze indifferent. "My killing has always been a matter of cause and effect. Since you came to kill me, you should have been prepared to be killed by me."

If he hadn’t been the stronger one today, he would be the one dead right now. The Huangfu Family would have never let him live.

And once he was dead, Ning Yu’an and the others would have inevitably been implicated.

Ning Jiang was not a bloodthirsty person, but he was by no means soft-hearted. When others had already come to kill him, what mercy was there to show?

"Flee."

Huangfu Feihong let out a long cry, ordering everyone from the Huangfu Family to escape.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH—

All the members of the Huangfu Family tried to flee at once. They scattered in every direction, hoping that even if Ning Jiang gave chase, he wouldn’t be able to get them all.

But before Ning Jiang, who could possibly escape?

CLANG.

With a clear ring, the Red Lotus Sword was unsheathed.

Its vermilion blade was covered in a red, ice-crackle pattern. This was the first time he had used this sword since obtaining it!

"If you can escape this one strike from me, I will spare your lives!"

Ning Jiang slowly raised the sword in his hand. "Great Sun Sword Technique, First Form: Broken Mountains and Rivers."

SHIIING—

He gripped the Red Lotus Sword and swept it in a circle.

The magnificence of this strike is impossible to describe.

In an instant, a golden line of light spread out rapidly in a circle, seeming to slice the very air in two. In the pupils of countless onlookers, there was nothing but this single, heaven-reaching, earth-shattering golden ray.

It was a strike just like this that had broken the siege of the Ten Great at the annual Star Moon Lake gathering.

How was his current strength compared to back then? A hundred times greater? More?

Back then, he was only at the Postnatal Peak. Now, he was Martial Arts Heaven-Reaching!

"AHHH!"

A chorus of agonized screams rang out. Before this single sword strike, all the experts of the Huangfu Family were as fragile as paper, their bodies swept over by the light.

The four Innate Limit masters were not spared, and even Huangfu Feihong’s Grandmaster Level physique couldn’t withstand a single blow!

Under numerous horrified gazes, all the scattering experts of the Huangfu Family were split in two, their bodies becoming corpses.

’Am I seeing things?’

In the distance, many experts from Golden Cauldron City watched this scene, dumbfounded.

The earth-shattering sounds of battle from the Li Family’s estate had drawn them over.

Furthermore, the events at Lotus Garden had already caused a stir in Golden Cauldron City. Countless people knew the Huangfu Family had come to the Li Family seeking revenge, so they had all rushed here hoping to witness the battle.

But none of them had expected to arrive just in time to see all the experts of the Huangfu Family annihilated by a single sword strike!

Just one strike!

"Who in the world is that person? With one strike, he wiped out the entire foundation of a Noble Family!"

Countless voices were filled with terror. Some bit their tongues, feeling that this had to be a dream, that it couldn’t be real.

’So, this is his true power!’

Li Huqing’s eyes were now filled with reverence. Before, he had feared Ning Jiang. Now, that fear was mixed with respect.

Ning Jiang’s power had convinced him heart and soul, erasing any thought of resistance.

"Old Patriarch, how do you think his strength compares to the Sword King Chu Bai of years past?" Li Shiyu couldn’t help but ask.

Ning Jiang’s strike had reminded her of the Sword King Chu Bai, who reigned supreme atop the Innate List.

Sword King Chu Bai, a name that inspired awe in all.

He was the most outstanding Sword Dao genius the Cyan Cloud Country had seen in a hundred years. Ever since he ascended to the top of the Innate List, he had loomed over everyone else. That ranking hadn’t changed in ten years.

"With strength like this, I fear he is no weaker than the Sword King Chu Bai was back then," Li Huqing said slowly.

"What?" Li Shiyu was astonished. "Doesn’t that mean he’s qualified to take the top spot?"

"You can’t quite say that. The Sword King Chu Bai hasn’t taken action in ten years. Who knows how much his strength has grown in that time?"

Li Huqing said, "The top three positions on the Innate List haven’t changed in a very long time. None of those three have fought in years. No one can guess how strong they are now."

The top three on the Innate List represented the three supreme figures of the Cyan Cloud Country.

Among them, the Sword King Chu Bai had sealed his sword for a decade, not making a single move in ten years.

Ten years ago, he split a river with a single strike, his fame shaking Cyan Cloud. He was honored as the Sword King, revered by the world.

After ten years, how much stronger would he be?

And besides him, how much had the second and third-ranked individuals improved in their pursuit of the Sword King Chu Bai?

"What is certain is that the Cyan Cloud Country is about to become much more interesting because of his arrival!"

Li Huqing took a deep breath, walked up to Ning Jiang, and said respectfully, "Mr. Ning, your divine might is unparalleled. After today’s battle, your name will surely shake Cyan Cloud and be revered by the entire country!"

"I’m not interested in your flattery. Regarding Sister An and my adoptive parents, the Li Family still owes me an explanation."

A cold light glinted in Ning Jiang’s eyes, his sharp gaze piercing.

"Yes, yes, I will certainly give Mr. Ning an explanation for this matter."

Li Huqing’s body trembled as he spoke hurriedly, sweat beading on his forehead. He knew that if he didn’t handle this properly, he would likely end up like the corpses on the ground.

Ning Jiang had killed so many people just like that; it was clear he was a ruthless person.

"Your explanation had better satisfy me. Otherwise, I don’t mind going on a killing spree and bathing the Li Family in blood," Ning Jiang said indifferently.

"Please rest assured, Mr. Ning. The Li Family will do everything in its power to atone for its mistakes."

More beads of sweat appeared on Li Huqing’s forehead. This master from the Innate List said in terror, "Mr. Ning, please adjourn to the main hall, where the Li Family will give you your explanation."

"Sister An, Father, Mother, let’s go to the main hall and see what kind of explanation he can offer."

Accompanied respectfully by Li Huqing and the others, Ning Jiang’s group walked step by step towards the grand hall.

Ning Changfeng and Li Qingyun were still having trouble accepting this change in their status.

Before, the two of them had been confined within the Li Family estate, forbidden to leave, with less freedom than even a Li Family servant. They were like birds in a cage.

But now, the Li Family’s old patriarch, Li Huqing, walked beside them with a deferential attitude. The current Clan Leader, Li Tongsheng, was also exceedingly cautious, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

As for the relatives who had once mocked them, they were now all terrified, their gazes evasive, not even daring to look at them.

And all of this was because of Ning Jiang!

"Little brother, you have to tell me everything that’s happened to you over the past six months," Ning Yu’an said, walking beside Ning Jiang, her eyes filled with happiness.

"Alright. As long as Sister An wants to hear it, I’ll tell you everything," Ning Jiang said with a smile.

"That’s more like it."

Ning Yu’an beamed. Although Ning Jiang had grown stronger, his heart hadn’t changed. He was still her little brother.

Seeing that their relationship was still so good, Ning Changfeng and Li Qingyun exchanged a glance and smiled without a word.

Soon after, they arrived at the grand hall used by the Li Family to entertain honored guests. The four of them—Ning Jiang’s group—sat down directly, while Li Huqing and the others stood respectfully to the side, not daring to take a seat.

"Mr. Ning, over the past six months..."

"Wrong. It’s not about the past six months!"

Ning Jiang snorted, his gaze icy. "We need to start from the year my adoptive mother was expelled from the Li Family. Li Huqing, don’t tell me you knew nothing about these things!"

Back then, when Li Qingyun married Ning Changfeng, a man from a third-rate minor family, the matter caused such a commotion that many people in Golden Cauldron City knew about it. How could the Li Family not have known?

Li Huqing trembled and said cautiously, "Reporting to Mr. Ning, I did indeed hear about this matter back then. I did not step in to stop it. I know that this affair wronged the child, Qingyun. This is the Li Family’s fault."

Thinking of the past, a trace of sadness appeared in Li Qingyun’s eyes.

Li Huqing’s gaze shifted, landing on Li Qingyun’s mother and Li Tongguang, who had just returned from Lotus Garden. He barked, "You two bastards, get over here and kneel! Atone for what you did back then."