Chapter 197: Chapter 194: Wings, Coming Out of Seclusion

Inside the cave residence, Ning Jiang muttered to himself.

If anyone had seen him at that moment, they would have been astonished.

For a pair of black wings had sprouted from his back. When spread, they spanned a full five zhang, and every feather was the color of jet.

At the same time, the wings radiated a terrifying, sharp aura, as if they were a pair of black Celestial Blades capable of slaying anything.

The Heaven-Devouring Sparrow, one of the Dharma Bodies of the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill.

The Great Sun Glazed Golden Body, a Body Refining Technique, could condense a Dharma Body. A Supreme Celestial Skill like the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill could naturally do the same, and create an even stronger one.

The Heaven-Devouring Sparrow Dharma Body was merely one of several Dharma Bodies from the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill.

One could say the Heaven-Devouring Sparrow was just the starting point; there were even more powerful Dharma Bodies to come.

But even as the most basic starting point, cultivating it was several times more difficult than the Great Sun Dharma Body.

After devouring the Ice Python’s Demon Crystal, Ning Jiang had only managed to condense a single pair of the Heaven-Devouring Sparrow’s wings.

’The Energy required for a complete Heaven-Devouring Sparrow Dharma Body is simply staggering.’

Ning Jiang sighed. In truth, the vast Energy contained within a single Ice Python Demon Crystal was enough for a Martial Artist to break through to the Spirit Realm.

Yet, when used to condense the Heaven-Devouring Sparrow Dharma Body, it only formed a pair of wings.

By his calculations, he would need at least five more Demon Crystals to form the complete Heaven-Devouring Sparrow Dharma Body.

Besides condensing the pair of wings, his Cultivation had also progressed from the Innate Peak to the Innate Limit. The next step was to break through to the Spirit Realm.

’The amount of Energy I’ll need to reach the Spirit Realm is probably terrifying.’

Ning Jiang mused. An ordinary person only needed a few thousand Spirit Stones’ worth of resources to enter the Spirit Realm. But for him, breaking through with the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill would likely require more than ten times that amount.

’When I break through to the Spirit Realm, I’m afraid there will be a great calamity. If I’m not mistaken, a Celestial Tribulation might even descend.’

Ning Jiang’s tone was heavy.

It was a premonition that had come to him on a whim. For someone like him, such a feeling was never baseless.

Celestial Tribulation.

Those two words were incredibly heavy.

Generally, a Martial Artist would only face a Celestial Tribulation upon reaching the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm. They had to endure four tribulations across the four realms.

But no one had ever heard of a Martial Artist encountering a Celestial Tribulation when breaking through to the Spirit Realm.

Ning Jiang, however, had this premonition. The Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill he cultivated was simply too heaven-defying. The more heaven-defying the Cultivation Technique, the more difficult it was to practice.

If he were to face a Celestial Tribulation with his current strength, his chances of survival would be next to none.

’Breaking through to the Spirit Realm will likely be the greatest ordeal I’ve faced since my rebirth.’

Pushing the thoughts aside, Ning Jiang walked out. He had heard voices outside.

Sure enough, when he stepped outside, he saw Yue Lianxi.

"Oh? You’re out of seclusion? I was just about to look for you."

"What happened?"

"Let’s talk as we walk."

Yue Lianxi led the way, and after she finished explaining, Ning Jiang understood the whole story.

He now had a much clearer understanding of the Yanyue Sect’s current weakness.

One of the Five Great Sects, a major power in Qing Province, was being bullied at its own doorstep by the Cyan Splendor Sect.

They called it a sparring session between the younger generation, but if the Yanyue Sect lost, the blow to their overall morale would be devastating. Moreover, once word got out, outsiders would think the Yanyue Sect’s glory days were over.

"The Yanyue Sect is already on shaky ground. If we lose to the Cyan Splendor Sect, I’m afraid many disciples will lose faith and leave the Sect," Yue Lianxi said helplessly.

She wasn’t being an alarmist. In the recent past, some disciples had indeed already left the Yanyue Sect.

"Since we’re in the same Sect, our fortunes are tied. I’ll help you with this," Ning Jiang said lightly.

"As long as you’re willing to step in, I can rest easy." Yue Lianxi nodded.

...

「The arena.」

It was built in a wide valley, and at this moment, it was surrounded by a dense crowd of people.

The many disciples of the Yanyue Sect watched the two figures on the arena stage, their expressions tense.

"In the first four matches, our Yanyue Sect has two wins and two losses. I wonder if we can win this one."

This time, the Cyan Splendor Sect’s Grand Elder had brought several members of the younger generation to spar with the Yanyue Sect for four rounds.

After four matches, the Yanyue Sect and the Cyan Splendor Sect were currently tied.

Now, in the fifth match, the arrogant young man was facing off against one of Yanyue Sect’s Core Disciples, the one ranked tenth.

BANG.

With a loud noise, after only three moves, a figure was blasted off the stage.

"This..."

The expressions of the Yanyue Sect members changed. The one knocked away was their Core Disciple.

"Is this all the strength your Yanyue Sect’s Core Disciples have?"

Standing on the stage, the arrogant youth crossed his arms and looked down on the crowd condescendingly.

"Damn it."

"That guy is so arrogant."

"Hmph, I’ll take him on." Someone leaped onto the stage.

"It’s Senior Brother Tian Buqi! He’s ranked sixth among the Core Disciples. With his strength, he can definitely win back our honor!" many Yanyue Sect disciples cheered.

"You’re ranked sixth among the Core Disciples? If you can take ten of my moves, I’ll consider it my loss!"

The arrogant youth grinned and attacked without hesitation.

"Insolent."

Tian Buqi was a plump, fair-skinned youth with an unremarkable appearance, but his attacks were extremely sharp.

Moreover, he didn’t dare to be careless, adopting a steady and cautious approach.

As long as ten moves passed, he would win.

"Everyone, why don’t we guess how many moves it’ll take for Senior Brother Ma Yan to defeat this guy?"

The younger generation from the Cyan Splendor Sect already seemed to think victory was in the bag.

"I’d say five to seven moves."

"A Core Disciple of the Yanyue Sect can’t be that weak, can he? I’ll guess seven to nine moves."

"By the way, Senior Brother Liang Xiao, how many moves do you think?" At this, the crowd turned to the cold, stern-looking youth who hadn’t spoken.

The stern youth’s name was Liang Xiao, and his strength was the highest among them.

"Eight moves."

With almost no hesitation, Liang Xiao gave a precise number, unlike the others who could only guess a range. After speaking, he closed his eyes, seemingly unconcerned with the fight on the stage.

BOOM—

A loud explosion echoed from the stage. On the eighth move, Tian Buqi’s expression changed drastically as he felt an irresistible Power strike him.

Pfft.

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Tian Buqi was sent flying off the stage.

Just as Liang Xiao had predicted, the match was decided in eight moves.

"Hahahaha! The sixth-ranked Core Disciple can’t even take ten of my moves! It seems the Yanyue Sect has truly fallen."

Ma Yan stood on the stage, laughing wildly.

Grand Elder Hong Lie smiled. It wasn’t appropriate for him to say such things himself, but he could let the younger generation say them. Ma Yan’s words voiced his own thoughts.

In any case, they had come this time specifically to trample on the Yanyue Sect, so there was no need to be polite.

"Insolence!"

The many disciples of the Yanyue Sect were furious, their fists clenched.

"I’ll go face him."

At that moment, a figure rose and flew onto the stage.

"With Senior Brother Yuan Tao stepping up, he’ll definitely take him down!"

Seeing that it was Yuan Tao, ranked fourth among the Core Disciples, many Yanyue Sect disciples were filled with confidence.

"But what if even Senior Brother Yuan Tao loses?"

Some disciples were worried. If Yuan Tao lost, no one left in the Yanyue Sect could stop him.

At that point, the Yanyue Sect would be utterly humiliated.

"Even if you’re the fourth-ranked Core Disciple, you’ll still lose!"

Seeing Yuan Tao take the stage, Ma Yan’s fighting spirit soared. With a low shout, his body shot forward like a pouncing tiger-leopard.

At the same time, his right palm struck out like lightning.

The force arrived before he did, creating faint ripples in the air.

Yuan Tao’s expression was grave. He stomped his foot, shot out like a bolt of lightning, and met Ma Yan’s strike with a palm of his own.

BOOM!

A transparent, spherical wave of air expanded in all directions. At the same time, the two figures separated, each shooting backward.

Both fighters struggled to control their momentum. Once they stabilized themselves, they pounced at each other again, launching a flurry of sharp attacks.

Their exchange was ferocious. Both were aiming to defeat the other, so naturally, neither dared to hold anything back.

Soon, dozens of moves had passed.

"Senior Brother Yuan Tao is already suppressing him! This battle is ours!"

The many disciples of the Yanyue Sect looked excited. In the heat of battle, Yuan Tao was fighting more and more fiercely, gradually putting Ma Yan on the defensive.

But contrary to their excitement, the faces of the Cyan Splendor Sect members showed disdain.

The Yanyue Sect’s Grand Elder, Meng Nanfeng, sighed at this moment. "Yuan Tao is about to lose."

Sure enough, just as he finished speaking, Ma Yan let out a long cry and unleashed an explosive attack. This strike was like a sudden mountain peak rising from the plains—an unexpected counter that seized control.

RUMBLE.

Yuan Tao’s body was blasted back, flying off the stage.

"How is that possible?"

Watching this scene, the many disciples of the Yanyue Sect found it hard to accept.

Even Yuan Tao, the fourth-ranked Core Disciple, had been defeated. Who was left to stop the Cyan Splendor Sect?

Was the Yanyue Sect really going to be trampled under the Cyan Splendor Sect’s feet this time?

"Hahahaha! Who else does your Yanyue Sect have? Come out all at once! I’ll take on all of you!"

Ma Yan stood upon the stage, laughing boisterously, looking high-spirited and triumphant.

Seeing the silence from the crowd below, Ma Yan’s face twisted into a sneer as he mocked them mercilessly, "What’s wrong? One of the so-called Five Great Sects, and you’re this useless now? Can’t you even find a single person who can fight?"

"What did you say?"

The Yanyue Sect disciples were enraged. This was a blatant insult.

"Hmph, did I say anything wrong? What right does the Yanyue Sect have to be one of the Five Great Sects anymore? If you ask me, you might as well give the position to my Cyan Splendor Sect."

Ma Yan declared arrogantly, "If you’re not convinced, feel free to come up here."

Hearing this, the crowd became furious.

"It’s normal that Yuan Tao lost. His fighting style was fierce, but it lacked resilience. His opponent waited for him to tire himself out, so of course he won."

Ning Jiang had arrived and offered his analysis.

Yuan Tao had indeed been suppressing Ma Yan earlier, but his purely aggressive fighting style was difficult to sustain. As they say, what is too rigid is easily broken.

During the fight, Ma Yan adopted a defensive stance, conserving his energy and letting Yuan Tao attack. Then, he took advantage of Yuan Tao’s fatigue to claim victory.

This was a classic strategy of letting the enemy exhaust themselves.

It was precisely because Grand Elder Meng Nanfeng saw this that he had predicted Yuan Tao’s defeat.

"Who are you? I’ve never seen you before! What right do you have to critique Senior Brother Yuan Tao!"

Hearing Ning Jiang’s words, a Yanyue Sect disciple looked over at him and spoke with displeasure.

With Yuan Tao’s loss, many were angry. Hearing someone speak ill of him naturally sparked resentment.

"Ninth Elder, you’ve come out of seclusion."

Just then, Meng Nanfeng’s pleasantly surprised voice rang out.