Chapter 169: Chapter 166: Clashing Head-on with a Top Grade Treasure Artifact

The Tiger Soul Blade.

Fifty years ago, Duan Wuya was cultivating in the Western Wilderness when he acquired it from a cave dwelling.

The blade was three feet and six inches long and weighed a thousand catties. Its hilt was shaped like a tiger, and its body was thick, broad, simple, and imposing.

After obtaining this blade, Duan Wuya fought his way across the land. With blade in hand, he was unstoppable, and was eventually revered as the Sword King of the Cyan Cloud Country.

CRACK.

Duan Wuya tightened his grip, and the Tiger Soul Blade—a weapon that had shaken Cyan Cloud and defeated countless powerful foes—was finally unsheathed.

ROAR—

On both banks of the Qingjiang, countless people heard the ferocious roar of a tiger. The sound was so immense that for a moment, they felt as if they had been transported to a deep, ancient forest, witnessing a tiger roaring at the sky, its ferocious might overwhelming the world.

Even the thundering sound of the mighty river’s current was suppressed by this tiger’s roar.

"Take this!"

Gripping the Tiger Soul Blade, Duan Wuya raised it over his head and slashed down.

In that instant, a brilliant Sword Aura erupted, surging forth.

A colossal Sword Aura, over a hundred zhang long, appeared in everyone’s vision. A strike like this was enough to split mountains and crack the earth, leaving even an Innate Limit Strong Person with no place to be buried.

"That’s the same move that severed the Qingjiang before. I wonder if he can take it?"

The crowd cried out in alarm.

More than ten days ago, Duan Wuya had displayed this ultimate technique of severing the river with a single slash, stunning everyone present.

Faced with such a powerful slash, many of the powerhouses on the Innate List felt a sense of dread. They shook their heads, believing such an attack to be unstoppable.

"Good."

A sword hummed, the sound rising to the heavens.

The Red Lotus Sword was unsheathed, and a flash of red light instantly streaked across heaven and earth.

SHIIING!

He swung his sword in a horizontal slash. The sharp Sword Qi made the skin of many Martial Artists in the distance tingle with pain.

BOOM!

The Gang Qi collided, shaking the world in all directions.

"Sweeping Thousand Armies."

Duan Wuya’s aura surged. With a tremor of his arm, he unleashed dozens of slashes in an instant—fast and urgent, fierce and ruthless—pressing down on Ning Jiang like an avalanche.

As far as the eye could see, the entire space above was filled with sharp Sword Auras.

"Instant Sword Technique."

Ning Jiang didn’t retreat an inch. He thrust his sword out, and in the blink of an eye, two strikes became four, four became eight, eight became sixteen, and sixteen became thirty-two.

This Profound Level Top Grade Martial Technique had served him well in the past, helping him slay many enemies.

This Technique was all about one thing: speed. One instant, one sword strike, every move lethal.

In the past, Ning Jiang’s Cultivation had been insufficient to unleash the full power of the Instant Sword Technique. But now was different. His Cultivation was more than ten times stronger than before.

With one thrust, the Sword Qi transformed into a single thread, shooting forward like a Thunderbolt with terrifying piercing power.

With the current power of this Sword Technique, a single strike could pierce a mountain.

The sky-filling Sword Qi seemed exceptionally ferocious, but in the blink of an eye, it was riddled with holes by the Sword Qi of the Instant Sword Technique, unable to unleash its might.

"Gale Sword Sect, what do you think of your Swift Sword compared to his?" someone in the crowd on the banks asked.

The Gale Sword Sect was second only to the White Eyebrow Sword Sect among the Four Great Sword Sects. His strength was formidable, and he had always been known as the second greatest Sword Sect.

His specialty was his Swift Sword. When he used it, he was as fast as a gale wind. Often, people were sent to the Yellow Springs before they even saw him draw his sword.

"The difference is too great. His Swordsmanship of one strike per instant is already faster than the naked eye can follow. If I were to compete with his Swift Sword, his blade would have pierced my heart before I even began to draw my own."

The Gale Sword Sect sighed softly, admitting his inferiority.

He had always been proud of his Swift Sword, but after witnessing Ning Jiang’s Swordsmanship, he could only admit the gap between them.

"What a masterly Swift Sword."

Duan Wuya retreated. This retreat wasn’t a sign of being at a disadvantage, but rather a move to build up power.

In battle, only those who can advance and retreat at will are true masters.

Some ordinary Martial Artists just charge and attack head-on. It may look brave, but it’s actually the reckless courage of a brute, with no strategy.

That which is too rigid is easily broken. It’s as simple as that.

Duan Wuya was clearly not such a person.

As he retreated, his aura actually grew stronger, surging skyward in waves.

"Reverse Flow Slash!"

When his aura had built to its peak, Duan Wuya slashed out. An arcing Sword Aura shot forth, and the air resounded with a tearing sound. The leading edge was filled with the power to annihilate everything.

The very air in the space seemed to be pulled by this slash, flowing backward and upward with a great RUSHING sound.

Li Liushui’s gaze narrowed. The Reverse Flow Slash was Duan Wuya’s signature technique, one he had comprehended after ten years of arduous cultivation in the Western Wilderness.

A single slash could make a waterfall hundreds of zhang high flow in reverse.

"Broken Mountains and Rivers."

A golden Sword Aura, like a sliver of sky between cliffs, swept out horizontally.

BANG.

The Sword Qi and Sword Qi collided, locked in a stalemate.

Finally, both exploded simultaneously, forming a terrifying, sharp gale that swept out in all directions.

The mighty storm engulfed a distance of several hundred zhang.

Aside from the powerful experts on the Innate List, the other Martial Artists cried out in alarm and retreated. Some with weaker Cultivation even suffered minor injuries from the explosive storm.

"You are indeed worthy of the title of King for being able to receive that strike," Ning Jiang said.

One must know, this was the same strike that had defeated the White Eyebrow Sword Sect. Back then, his Cultivation was only at the Innate Late Stage. Now, at the Innate Peak, its power was even greater.

Ever since his debut, this move, Broken Mountains and Rivers, had been unstoppable. Sword King Duan Wuya was the first person ever to withstand it.

"You are no simple man yourself," Duan Wuya said with a sigh of admiration.

"Both of you come at me together. That way, you might last a few more rounds," Ning Jiang said.

"Arrogant! I’ll show you the true power of the Vajra Unbreakable Body!"

Vajra King Meng Bubai stomped his foot, and his body shot into the sky.

At the same time, Blood Qi billowed from his entire body, roaring like a river, deafening all who heard it. Gradually, a golden Blood Qi began to emerge.

Finally, this golden Blood Qi formed a suit of Dark Gold Armor around his body, so lifelike it completely and tightly encased him. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

At this moment, he resembled a Divine General forged from steel, clad in Heavy Armor, ready to charge into battle. His presence was intimidating without him even needing to fight.

The Vajra Indestructible Golden Battle Armor!

This was a Martial Technique that could only be mastered after achieving Perfection in the Vajra Unbreakable Body. This was the first time Meng Bubai had ever revealed such a method to the world.

"Vajra Staff!"

At the same time, Meng Bubai also held a long, golden staff.

The staff was taller than a man, dark gold in color, and covered in inscriptions. It was forged from thousand-year-old Vajra Stone, weighed ten thousand catties, and was indestructible.

For an ordinary person, holding this staff would be more of a burden than a help.

But in the hands of the Vajra King, the ten-thousand-catty Vajra Staff felt as light as an embroidery needle.

He cultivated a Staff Technique, following the path that brute force overcomes all skill.

"Kill!"

Clad in his Battle Armor, the Vajra King’s body shot forward like a striking Flood Dragon, pouncing on Ning Jiang.

BOOM!

The air exploded. In that instant, his speed had broken the sound barrier.

Countless people wore looks of horror.

Such power was not human; he was more like a peerless Great Demon.

’A little interesting,’ Ning Jiang thought with a glance, as Blood Qi erupted from his body.

The Vajra King was a dark gold color, while he was a flawless, pure gold, like the Taiyang in the sky.

A ten-foot-tall Great Sun Dharma Body condensed into form.

"Take my staff!"

In the blink of an eye, the Vajra King was before Ning Jiang, smashing his staff down. The strike seemed powerful enough to overturn heaven and earth, unstoppable in its ferocity.

Before the staff even landed, an unstoppable gale blasted toward him.

A strike like this was enough to shatter a mountain. Even Duan Wuya admitted to himself that he would have to retreat from its edge.

However, Ning Jiang didn’t retreat an inch. He stood his ground, immovable as a mountain.

"Great Sun Demon Slaying Fist."

The Great Sun Dharma Body punched out, the golden light on its fist dazzling as it tore a golden trail through the void—a magnificent sight.

BOOM!

Countless Martial Artists covered their ears, unable to withstand such a tremendous sound.

"Hahahaha!"

Ning Jiang laughed heartily. Since his debut, he had always crushed his opponents with ease and had barely found anyone who could trade blows with him.

The Vajra King’s physique was truly extraordinary, enough to let him have a satisfying fight.

"Again!"

Ning Jiang’s figure flickered. He retreated several dozen zhang through the air, then abruptly changed direction like a swimming dragon and punched out once more.

"Break!"

Gripping his Vajra Staff, Meng Bubai let out a long cry and swept it out, using the full extent of his Physical Power.

BOOM! BOOM!

The most terrifying collisions yet took place.

In the crowd’s line of sight, the two had transformed into two golden orbs of light. Every collision kicked up countless raging torrents of Qi Force.

’Truly awe-inspiring!’ Duan Wuya watched, his expression growing more and more solemn.

Meng Bubai had already brought out his full strength, pushing the power of his Vajra Staff to its peak. Every strike was enough to shatter a mountain, yet Ning Jiang wasn’t using his sword, fighting back with only his Great Sun Dharma Body.

One side was using a Top Grade Treasure Artifact, while the other was empty-handed.

It was a known fact that a Martial Artist’s combat power differed immensely with and without a Weapon in hand.

Duan Wuya, however, did not know that once activated, the Great Sun Dharma Body was powerful enough to rival a Top Grade Treasure Artifact.

’If it weren’t so, why would I have specially chosen this Body Refining Technique from my own vast library of memories?’

’The most frightening part is that this Body Refining Technique hasn’t even reached its limit yet. Right now, it’s only at Great Success. Once it reaches Perfection, that’s when it will be truly terrifying.’

’Oh no, Meng Bubai can’t hold on much longer.’

Suddenly, Duan Wuya’s gaze sharpened.

At first, Meng Bubai had been able to fight Ning Jiang to a standstill with his Vajra Staff, but as time went on, the Vajra Staff in Meng Bubai’s hands actually began to deform.

When the crowd saw this, a chill ran down their spines.

"This is terrifying! Is he going to destroy a Top Grade Treasure Artifact with his bare hands?"

Generally speaking, Top Grade Treasure Artifacts were indestructible, and Meng Bubai’s Vajra Staff was one of the finest among them.

And yet, such a Treasure Artifact was gradually deforming in a clash against Ning Jiang. How horrifying was that?

POW!

After another clash, Meng Bubai’s figure was thrown back violently.

"Meng Bubai, show me everything you’ve got."

Ning Jiang stood proudly in the void, a brilliant light surging in his eyes.

"Fine! Then I’ll let you witness my strongest strike! Vajra Dragon-Subduing Staff!"

PS: Writing has been difficult recently, so I’ve been a bit slow. There will be one more Chapter after 2 AM. Everyone, please get some rest.