Chapter 167: Chapter 164: The Lin Family, Exiting Seclusion

Sword King Duan Wuya and Vajra King Meng Bubai.

The two Kings had challenged Ning Jiang to a battle at the Qingjiang River. This was a world-shaking event.

But three days had passed since the challenge was issued, and the much-heralded Young Master Wushuang, at the peak of his fame, had yet to make an appearance.

"I think he’s just scared."

Countless Martial Artists, dissatisfied with Ning Jiang, sneered and jeered.

"This new list from Tianya Pavilion is going to be a laughingstock. So much for being number one on the Innate List! So much for being ’peerless under heaven’! In the end, he doesn’t even dare to accept a challenge from two Kings."

"Heh, that Ning fellow is hiding in Pill King Valley. He probably realized the gap in their strength and decided to cower."

Across the land, countless Martial Artists sneered.

At first, some people still defended Ning Jiang, thinking he might have simply been delayed by some other matter.

But as the fourth and then the fifth day passed...

...finally, almost no one who believed in Ning Jiang remained.

Ninety-nine percent of the population believed Ning Jiang didn’t dare to face the challenge. The so-called Young Master Wushuang had become a laughingstock.

On the bright side, the crowd was gratified to find that over ninety percent of Cyan Cloud Country’s greatest masters had gathered for the occasion.

For instance, all of the Nine Great Young Masters were present, with the sole exception of Young Master Soaring Dragon.

Over ninety percent of the figures on the Innate List and the Famous Family List had also arrived.

Likewise, the major Noble Families and First-Class Noble Houses had not missed this grand occasion.

"My brother will definitely come."

By the Qingjiang River, Ning Yu’an and the members of the Li Family had arrived as well.

With news this momentous, especially since it involved Ning Jiang, there was no reason for them not to be there.

The members of Kunlun from Luoyang had also arrived, one after another, and gathered with Ning Yu’an’s group.

Ning Yu’an, for her part, had unshakable faith in Ning Jiang.

"That’s right. I believe he’ll come too."

Liu Yuanlong, Wenhua City, and the others from Kunlun all nodded in agreement. ’Since when has Ning Jiang ever been afraid of anything?’

All this time, Ning Jiang had displayed only one quality: utter fearlessness.

No matter the enemy before him, his steps had never faltered.

So what if it was two Kings?

’Can they be stronger than someone with the Sword King Body?’

"My brother’s birthday is coming up soon."

Ning Yu’an’s thoughts drifted elsewhere. It was already July 25th, and Ning Jiang’s birthday was on August 1st.

On that day, Ning Jiang would turn seventeen.

"You’re all connected to Ning Jiang, aren’t you?"

Suddenly, an aggressive-looking group of people stomped over to confront Ning Yu’an and the others.

"Huh? It’s the Jiang and Cheng Families. What do they want?"

"Isn’t it obvious? Ning Jiang killed their clans’ most brilliant prodigies. What else would they be here for but to cause trouble?"

The surrounding crowd noticed the confrontation, their expressions turning strange.

The ones in the lead were indeed from the two great Noble Families: the Jiang Family and the Cheng Family.

"That’s odd. I heard that after Ning Jiang reached number one on the Innate List, the Jiang and Cheng Families were planning to go to Pill King Valley to apologize to him. Did they change their minds this quickly?"

"Maybe seeing the two Kings emerge and Ning Jiang too scared to show his face made them change their tune."

Many people speculated, but a few perceptive individuals sensed that something was amiss.

Even if the two Kings had emerged and Ning Jiang was too afraid to fight, his power was still far beyond what those families could afford to offend.

"Is there something you need?"

Ning Yu’an could sense their ill intent.

"’Is there something we need?’ Heh. Ning Jiang killed our people. We’re here to settle that score with you."

An expert from the Cheng Family stepped forward, his voice chilling.

"Aren’t you afraid of Young Master Wushuang?" Liu Yuanlong asked with a frown.

"Hahaha! Young Master Wushuang? Right now he’s nothing but a coward hiding in his shell! He’s holed up in Pill King Valley; does he even have the guts to come out?" a member of the Jiang Family jeered. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"It seems you’ve found some powerful backing. You think you can stand against Young Master Wushuang now, is that it?"

Liu Yuanlong was shrewd and experienced. He could see they were acting with uncharacteristic boldness, as if they were holding some trump card.

"You don’t need to know the details. Just come with us," the man said, his tone unyielding.

"Hmph. When my brother gets here, you’d better not regret this," Ning Yu’an snorted.

With that, the members of Kunlun and the Li Family were all led away.

Their strength was no match for two great Noble Families. Starting a conflict would have been foolish.

Soon after, the group was taken aboard a Jiang Family ship and imprisoned directly.

...

"Have you found out what’s going on?"

Members of Tianya Pavilion had also arrived at the Qingjiang River.

Cao Tiangang’s brow was deeply furrowed. He couldn’t understand where the Jiang and Cheng Families had suddenly found the confidence to cause trouble for Ning Jiang’s people.

"Protector, according to our investigation, the shadow of the Lin Family looms behind these two houses."

"What did you say?"

Upon hearing the name ’Lin Family,’ Cao Tiangang—a Protector who was normally unfazed by anything—was visibly shocked, his expression changing dramatically.

"If it’s really the Lin Family, then things have become troublesome." Cao Tiangang’s brow furrowed. ’Cyan Cloud’s First Family... What is their motive?’

The Lin Family. Those two words carried immense weight.

This family had always maintained a low profile in Cyan Cloud Country. To ordinary Martial Artists, the Lin Family’s name was not nearly as well-known as that of some other Noble Families.

But to those well-informed, high-ranking Martial Artists, the two words ’Lin Family’ held an extraordinary significance.

Though their deeds were rarely spoken of, all the major Noble Families held this family in the deepest awe.

This was because, for as long as anyone could remember, this family had held the title of Cyan Cloud’s First Family!

There were even rumors that the Lin Family might be the only family today with a Spirit Realm master in their ranks.

Even powers like Tianya Pavilion and Pill King Valley had to give this family a wide berth.

...

Time passed, and soon it was July 31st.

Eleven days had now passed.

For eleven whole days, there had been not a single word from Ning Jiang.

The voices of doubt aimed at Ning Jiang had reached a crescendo.

"I say Tianya Pavilion owes an apology to every Martial Artist in Cyan Cloud Country! How dare they call such a coward ’peerless under heaven’?"

"Heh, and who even knows who that Grand Pavilion Master of Tianya Pavilion is? I hear he never shows his true face. So secretive, always hiding in the shadows."

The crowd jeered with disdain.

"Looks like we were all wrong about him. He’s not worthy of our admiration or respect at all."

"A man like him is utterly unworthy of being called the number one of the younger generation. If it were Young Master Soaring Dragon, he would never have shied away from a fight!"

Previously, Ning Jiang’s strength had won him a great many admirers among the younger generation of Cyan Cloud Country.

But over these eleven days, that admiration had crumbled away, piece by piece, until all that remained were countless hisses of disappointment.

He didn’t even dare to face the challenge. Why should they respect someone like Ning Jiang?

The one thing a Martial Artist cannot be is spineless and timid.

"It’s probably wise of him not to come. The Vajra King’s physique is even more terrifying than it was ten years ago. Even I probably couldn’t take a single blow from him."

An expert in the crowd spoke, eliciting gasps from those around him.

This was a Body Refining Grandmaster, a well-known figure in his own right.

But for someone of his caliber to admit he couldn’t take a single blow from the Vajra King... just how powerful had the King’s physique become?

"Sword King Duan Wuya has grown more terrifying as well. Just looking at his silhouette makes my heart pound in my chest."

"Ten years have passed, and both Kings have grown immensely stronger. It makes you wonder what Realm the Sword King Chu Bai has reached by now."

Both banks of the Qingjiang River were packed with Martial Artists, a veritable sea of people.

For the past eleven days, countless eyes had been fixed on the two Kings, the subject of endless discussion.

Throughout this time, the two Kings themselves had remained perfectly calm and unhurried, staying by the Qingjiang River in quiet anticipation.

Their patience alone earned them the secret admiration of many.

"Sigh, those two Kings are true martial fanatics. One spent ten years in harsh cultivation in the Arctic Icefield, the other in the Western Wilderness. An ordinary person could never endure a decade of that kind of loneliness and solitude."

one of the Innate List Powerhouses exclaimed, his voice full of respect.

For most people, a few days or even a few months of secluded cultivation is no great feat. But to train harshly for ten years in a desolate wasteland? That level of determination and perseverance was far beyond ordinary people.

"Since that Ning Jiang insists on hiding, why don’t they just storm Pill King Valley and be done with it?"

a radical proponent clamored.

Meanwhile.

Far away in Pill King Valley, nestled within the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

"I wonder when he’ll come out of seclusion," Wei Yanran said, her face etched with worry as she stood outside the Alchemy Room.

Although Pill King Valley was secluded from the world, hidden deep within the mountains, there was no way news of this magnitude would not reach them.

They were well aware of the two Kings’ challenge to Ning Jiang, and they had even heard many of the public’s derisive comments.

"Sigh. Now, the outside world is saying he’s too scared to fight and has gone into hiding. His reputation has plummeted."

Li Shiyu sighed, feeling helpless about the situation.

There was only one way to resolve this: Ning Jiang had to emerge from seclusion, go to the Qingjiang River, and face the two Kings. Only then would all the rumors and slander be shattered.

But how much longer would it be before Ning Jiang finally emerged?

As they waited anxiously, time passed, and August 1st arrived.

CREAK.

The door to the Alchemy Room, sealed shut for over ten days, finally swung open.

On the morning of August 1st, Ning Jiang emerged from his seclusion!