Chapter 161: Chapter 158: Tianya Pavilion’s Shock

Tianya Pavilion Headquarters.

"Breaking the sound barrier and killing Wang Jiangshi with a single punch... I think that level of strength warrants a spot in the top ten of the Innate List. But putting him in the top seven seems like a bit of a stretch."

Inside, the upper echelons of Tianya Pavilion were deep in a heated discussion.

"I agree. Seventh place is the Grand Elder of Pill King Valley. His physical body is incredibly tough, second only to the Vajra King in all of Cyan Cloud Country. Placing this person from the White Head Sword Sect in the top seven would be hard for the public to accept."

"Actually, I think he can make it into the top seven."

At that moment, Protector Cao Tiangang, who was seated at the front, spoke up. He was ranked tenth on the Innate List and was second only to the Grand Pavilion Master within Tianya Pavilion, holding a position of considerable prestige.

When the Famous Family List was released, he had even personally delivered the list to Ning Jiang.

"Top seven? You’re overestimating him. Killing Wang Jiangshi with one punch is something basically anyone in the top ten of the Innate List can do."

Another voice rang out. It was the other Protector, Xie Qingrong. He presided over the lands North of the River, and his territory was divided from Cao Tiangang’s by the river itself. He also ranked two places higher than Cao Tiangang on the Innate List, at number eight.

However, he and Cao Tiangang had never gotten along.

"According to the descriptions from the scene, he also shattered the Water Dragon Array with a single punch. Pavilion Master Luo Haisheng of the Luoyang City branch said that the Water Dragon Array was at least comparable to someone in the top twenty of the Innate List. Xie Qingrong, do you think you could destroy an Array of that level with one punch?"

Cao Tiangang said coolly.

Xie Qingrong snorted coldly. "Who knows if the strength of that Water Dragon Array has been exaggerated?"

"Protector Xie, I dare to stake my life on it. That Water Dragon Array absolutely had the strength of someone in the top twenty of the Innate List."

Luo Haisheng was also present. Upon hearing Xie Qingrong’s doubt, he quickly stood up and spoke.

"Hmph. You’re just the Pavilion Master of a minor branch, and you haven’t even reached the Innate Limit. What right do you have to make such guarantees?" Xie Qingrong said dismissively.

A flash of anger crossed Luo Haisheng’s face, but he didn’t dare say more.

Compared to a Protector like Xie Qingrong, his status was indeed far more humble.

"I believe this man can be ranked ninth on the Innate List. What does everyone think?"

Xie Qingrong announced loudly.

Seventh place was the Grand Elder of Pill King Valley, and eighth place was himself. Of course he didn’t want to place Ning Jiang ahead of him.

"I agree."

"I agree as well."

"Protector Xie’s arrangement is very fair."

Many of the high-ranking figures present nodded in agreement.

Cao Tiangang’s brows furrowed tightly. He felt Ning Jiang’s ranking should be several places higher, but relying solely on Luo Haisheng’s testimony wasn’t very convincing.

"Heh, then it’s settled..."

Before Xie Qingrong could finish, a figure suddenly burst in, looking flustered.

"What happened? Why the urgent look?"

Xie Qingrong frowned, speaking with displeasure.

"Reporting to Protector Xie, some earth-shattering news has just arrived from Golden Cauldron City!" The newcomer cupped his hands and said in a shocked tone.

"Oh? What earth-shattering news?"

Everyone was a little surprised. This man also held a position of some importance, yet he was so pale with shock. It was clear that this was no simple matter.

"Young Master Floating Snow has been killed in Golden Cauldron City!"

"What?!"

Everyone was stunned. But they had no idea that something even more shocking was yet to come.

"And that’s not all! From the Noble Huangfu Family, four Innate Limit Strong Persons, including Huangfu Feihong, as well as over one hundred and fifty of their Innate Realm experts, were all killed!"

"Is this true?"

Xie Qingrong’s face was a mask of shock. He couldn’t believe it. This was a Noble Family they were talking about!

Huangfu Feihong was ranked twelfth on the Innate List, a major figure renowned throughout Cyan Cloud. And he was killed?

Even he could, at most, defeat Huangfu Feihong. Killing him was basically impossible.

"Furthermore, all of the Huangfu Family’s experts were slaughtered by a single sword strike!"

BOOM!

It was like a bolt from the blue.

When these words were spoken, no one in the room could remain seated. With a SWOOSH, everyone shot to their feet.

"One strike? Are you joking with us? Was it the White Eyebrow Sword Sect? Or Sword King Chu Bai?"

Xie Qingrong cried out, having lost his composure. In his mind, the only Sword Cultivators capable of such a feat were the White Eyebrow Sword Sect and Sword King Chu Bai.

But neither of them was known to have any grudge against the Huangfu Family.

So what was going on?

"It was neither of them."

The messenger shook his head, took a deep breath, and said, word by word, "The killer... was Ning Jiang!"

"Ning Jiang? Are you talking about Ning Jiang from the White Head Sword Sect?" Upon hearing the name, Xie Qingrong’s eyes went wide.

"It was him," the messenger confirmed.

Hearing this, the others all stared at each other in disbelief. Even Cao Tiangang was dumbfounded, unable to believe Ning Jiang was so terrifying as to slaughter over one hundred and fifty experts of the Huangfu Family with a single sword strike.

"Hahaha! Xie Qingrong, what do you have to say now? With this level of strength, forget the top seven of the Innate List, he’s more than qualified for the top five!" Cao Tiangang burst out laughing.

"Hmph. I’ll admit he can rank in the top seven, but the top five is still out of the question."

Xie Qingrong’s face was ashen as he said, "The positions of the three Kings in the top three are unchangeable. Fourth is the White Eyebrow Sword Sect, known as the head of the Four Great Sword Sects. Fifth is Young Master Soaring Dragon, the number one of the younger generation. I believe sixth is the highest he can be ranked."

Many of the high-ranking members nodded, thinking his words were reasonable.

Young Master Soaring Dragon’s strength was plain for all to see, having suppressed all Nine Great Young Masters at the gathering of geniuses. The White Eyebrow Sword Sect was the head of the Four Great Sword Sects. As for the top three, they held the title of King, making their positions even more immutable.

"I think he can at least be ranked ahead of Young Master Soaring Dragon." Cao Tiangang frowned, believing Ning Jiang could reach fifth place at a minimum.

"He’s not quite ready to surpass Young Master Soaring Dragon," Xie Qingrong said firmly.

"Xie Qingrong, I know you and Young Master Soaring Dragon are on good terms and interact often, but showing such favoritism is hardly fair, is it?" Cao Tiangang said, displeased.

"Hmph, and you aren’t biased toward that man from the White Head Sword Sect?"

Just as the two were locking horns, someone else suddenly rushed in.

"Reporting to the two Protectors, I have an urgent matter to report!"

"What is it?"

"Something major happened on the Qingjiang River! Young Master Qingjiang, Jiang Yunfei, was killed with a single punch. Afterward, the killer subdued an Innate Limit Ice Python and rode away on it!"

"Who was it?"

"The killer... was Ning Jiang!"

"What a lawless junior," Xie Qingrong sneered. "This man is so cruel and ruthless, going on killing sprees like this. Both Young Master Floating Snow’s Cheng Family and Young Master Qingjiang’s Jiang Family will surely seek revenge."

The other high-ranking members knew a thing or two. Xie Qingrong had always thought highly of Young Master Qingjiang and had established a friendly relationship with him.

Now that Young Master Qingjiang was dead, he was naturally furious with Ning Jiang. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"When a Martial Artist walks the world, no matter who they are, they should be prepared to be killed. This has always been a world where the strong are revered," Cao Tiangang said.

"Hmph. I’m also an old acquaintance of the Jiang Family’s ancestor. If the Jiang Family asks for my help this time, I won’t refuse."

Xie Qingrong stated. At once, Cao Tiangang’s expression changed.

Xie Qingrong was implying that he would move against Ning Jiang!

"Report!"

Suddenly, another loud voice echoed from afar as a person burst in.

"What’s with all the panic?"

Xie Qingrong’s brows knitted together. He suddenly had a bad feeling. ’Don’t tell me this is about Ning Jiang again?’

"Reporting to Protector Xie! I just received news that Ning Jiang from the White Head Sword Sect has stormed Pill King Valley!"

"What? He’s that bold? He dared to cause trouble at Pill King Valley?"

Everyone was startled, their mouths hanging wide open.

Pill King Valley was a top-tier power in Cyan Cloud Country, with over a dozen Innate Limit Strong Persons and the White Eyebrow Sword Sect stationed there. The place could be described as a dragon’s pool and a tiger’s den.

Was Ning Jiang insane, daring to cause trouble there?

"What happened to Pill King Valley then? Quickly, tell us!" Xie Qingrong urged.

"Yes. After he stormed Pill King Valley, he first killed a member of the Ji Family, then forced the Little Pill King, Wei Tianchen, to his knees. This drew out the Thirteen Elders."

"With the Thirteen Elders making a move, he must have been suppressed, right?"

"No. The Thirteen Elders joined forces, but he cut through them like splitting bamboo, killing four. The Grand Elder competed with him in physical strength and had an arm shattered by his punch."

Hearing this, the high-ranking members present all sucked in a cold breath.

"Don’t forget about the White Eyebrow Sword Sect. I refuse to believe even he couldn’t take Ning Jiang down," Xie Qingrong said.

"Reporting to Protector Xie, the White Eyebrow Sword Sect did indeed make a move. Moreover, he broke through to the realm of Sword Qi Thunder Sound!"

"Sword Qi Thunder Sound! That’s the realm Sword King Chu Bai is in! In that case, the White Eyebrow Sword Sect is now qualified to challenge the top three Kings!" everyone exclaimed in shock.

"Heh. With the White Eyebrow Sword Sect breaking through to Sword Qi Thunder Sound, he must have won the battle," Xie Qingrong declared with certainty.

The others nodded as well!

However, the messenger just shook his head and said, "Ning Jiang of the White Head Sword Sect is also at the Sword Qi Thunder Sound realm. And... he defeated the White Eyebrow Sword Sect with a single sword strike!"

"Impossible!"

Xie Qingrong’s expression changed drastically, his eyes looking like they were about to pop out of their sockets.

"That’s not all. After the White Eyebrow Sword Sect was defeated, the Pill King activated the Eight Desolates Fire Dragon Formation, using decades of accumulated Array Power to fight him. In the end, the Grand Array was still broken by a single sword strike!"

"The Eight Desolates Fire Dragon Formation... that’s Pill King Valley’s Mountain Protection Array! It’s the life’s work of several Array Grandmasters."

Cao Tiangang said in disbelief, "With the power of the Eight Desolates Fire Dragon Formation, it should be comparable to one of the top three Kings on the Innate List. And he broke it with a single sword strike?"

"Nonsense! You must be talking nonsense!"

At this, Xie Qingrong roared angrily, "Are you taking us for fools? With that kind of strength, wouldn’t he be able to contend with Sword King Chu Bai?"

"I don’t believe it either."

"Defeating the White Eyebrow Sword Sect with one strike and breaking the Eight Desolates Fire Dragon Formation with another... that sounds like a fairy tale."

The others all shook their heads repeatedly. Even Cao Tiangang wore a look of doubt.

"Everything I’ve said is true!"

The messenger shouted frantically.

Just then, a voice suddenly echoed from the inner chamber:

"There’s no need to doubt. It is all true."

The voice was androgynous. A person wearing a mask walked out, and everyone present was startled. They bowed toward the masked figure and said, "Greetings, Grand Pavilion Master."

The Grand Pavilion Master sat down in the main seat and said slowly, "He is not deceiving you. I am already aware of the events at Pill King Valley, and they are absolutely true. There is also one more thing he didn’t mention. This man from the White Head Sword Sect competed in Alchemy with Lu Changsheng and refined nine Supreme Grade Elixirs in a single session. He has already been honored as a Pill King, and the entire Pill King Valley has bowed its head to him!"

"This—!"

Xie Qingrong and the others were horrified beyond belief. Not only was Ning Jiang’s mastery of Martial Arts world-shaking, but he was also a Pill King?

But they had no choice but to believe the words of the Grand Pavilion Master.

"I heard your earlier debate. As for his ranking on the Innate List, I have already made my decision!"

P.S. The Innate List is about to be released, and the "Young Master" titles are coming too. I’ve only seen one person guess his title correctly. As for something like "White Head," that’s definitely not it.