Chapter 212: Chapter 209: Jian Xinghe, Fragment Map

Everyone present was waiting for a good show. Among the current Five Great Sects, only the Yanyue Sect was the weakest, without a single Young Giant.

Meanwhile, the Fire Cloud Sect had recently suffered a Celestial Tribulation, taking heavy casualties. Their members were holding in a bellyful of resentment and were sure to cause trouble the moment they saw the Yanyue Sect.

"The Yanyue Sect is here."

Just then, a group of people walked in, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Huh? Strange, who’s that white-haired person walking in front?"

Although the Yanyue Sect was no longer as glorious as it once was, everyone present still recognized its top experts, people like the first-tier disciples Tang Lin, Zi Yunfei, and Xiang Yinghao.

But these three top-tier experts were actually walking behind a white-haired young man, seemingly following his lead.

What was going on?

Who was this white-haired young man?

"Once we enter the Death Mountain Range, you’ll be on your own. Be careful."

Ning Jiang said faintly. Although he had arrived with them, he planned to act alone.

"We know." Tang Lin and the other two nodded.

"Hmph, the people from the Yanyue Sect actually dare to show their faces."

At this moment, the young experts from the Fire Cloud Sect spoke in cold voices. They had always been at odds with the Yanyue Sect, and with the recent Celestial Tribulation, they were just looking for a place to vent their frustrations.

"Now this is going to be a good show."

The members of the other sects wore expressions of schadenfreude, waiting for the drama to unfold.

But unexpectedly, a different group began striding menacingly toward the Yanyue Sect.

"Huh? It’s the Cyan Splendor Sect. Do they have a grudge against the Yanyue Sect?" The surrounding crowd was stunned.

"You must be living under a rock. I heard that a while ago, a young expert from the Cyan Splendor Sect went to the Yanyue Sect to ’spar,’ but their first-tier disciple, Liang Xiao, ended up getting killed."

As a first-tier expert, Liang Xiao was quite famous among the younger generation of Qing Province. His speed and Body Technique had been a headache for countless masters.

"You’re the one who killed my Cyan Splendor Sect’s Liang Xiao?"

The one leading the Cyan Splendor Sect was a horse-faced young man named Teng Yuan, also a first-tier expert.

"I killed him. Is there a problem?" Ning Jiang didn’t even spare him a glance.

"How audacious! Your Yanyue Sect can barely protect itself and is on the verge of being removed from the Five Great Sects, yet you dare to offend my Cyan Splendor Sect. You truly don’t know what’s good for you." Teng Yuan’s expression was grim.

"The Cyan Splendor Sect? What’s that?" Ning Jiang’s eyes showed his disdain.

"You dare insult my Sect!"

Teng Yuan flew into a rage. In a public setting like this, under everyone’s watchful eyes, Ning Jiang was looking down on the Cyan Splendor Sect. If he did nothing, the Cyan Splendor Sect would never be able to hold its head high again.

"You arrogant whelp! Today, I will avenge Junior Brother Liang Xiao."

As he spoke, a tyrannical aura erupted from Teng Yuan’s body, blasting out in all directions and causing the expressions of many onlookers to change.

"Is that a Young Giant?"

"No, he’s still a ways off from being a Young Giant. You could say he’s a half-step Young Giant."

The people around them looked shocked. Teng Yuan’s strength had exceeded many of their expectations. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"To think that a mere Low Grade Small Sect like the Cyan Splendor Sect could produce a genius like Teng Yuan. I bet it won’t be long before he truly joins the ranks of the Young Giants."

"If that’s the case, the Cyan Splendor Sect might very well seize the Yanyue Sect’s position among the Five Great Sects."

The crowd chattered amongst themselves. With Teng Yuan’s level of strength, the Yanyue Sect likely had no one who could stop him. Only Tang Lin, Zi Yunfei, and Xiang Yinghao, fighting together, might stand a chance against him.

"Brat, you humiliated my Sect! Before I kill you, I’ll force you to your knees and teach you that the Cyan Splendor Sect is not to be trifled with." Teng Yuan slammed his palm forward, and an immense pressure, like a collapsing mountain, descended upon Ning Jiang.

"Nothing but an ant."

Ning Jiang stood there, motionless. With a simple wave of his large sleeve, an overwhelming power spread out like a tidal wave.

Teng Yuan’s face went pale. He let out a muffled grunt and stumbled back three steps.

’How is this possible?’

His heart pounded in terror. At that moment, Ning Jiang brought a palm down. "The one who should be kneeling is you!"

"AHHH!"

Teng Yuan let out a roar of shock and fury. He felt an irresistible force pressing down on him, and the bones throughout his body creaked and groaned.

THUD.

His knees buckled. Unable to resist any longer, he was forced to the ground. The immense force cracked the floor beneath him, nearly shattering his kneecaps.

*HISS!*

A wave of sharp gasps swept through the crowd. Countless eyes stared at Ning Jiang in disbelief.

Teng Yuan was a half-step Young Giant! Besides another Young Giant, who could possibly suppress him?

"This person is also a Young Giant!"

To be able to force Teng Yuan to his knees, what else could Ning Jiang be but a Young Giant?

"You bastard, let Senior Brother Teng Yuan go, or your Yanyue Sect will face the wrath of our Cyan Splendor Sect!" the other Cyan Splendor Sect disciples roared furiously.

"The Cyan Splendor Sect’s wrath? I’ve already killed one Liang Xiao. Killing another one doesn’t make a difference." Ning Jiang was completely unconcerned and abruptly applied more force.

"AHHH!"

With a final, wretched scream, Teng Yuan’s body was crushed into a pile of bloody pulp by the immense force.

"Die."

With another wave of his sleeve, the remaining disciples of the Cyan Splendor Sect were all sent flying backward and slain on the spot by Ning Jiang.

"What a decisive and ruthless person."

"Once you’ve made an enemy, killing them is the best solution. Think about it, if the Yanyue Sect had been the weaker party today, would Teng Yuan have let them go?" someone commented.

If the Yanyue Sect had been weaker, Teng Yuan would have shown them no mercy. It was precisely because he knew this that Ning Jiang had been so ruthless.

This was the world of Martial Artists. Once you made an enemy, it was either you kill them, or they kill you. Kill or be killed—that was the law of this world.

CLAP. CLAP. CLAP.

The sound of clapping rang out. It was Yuwen Chi of the Fire Cloud Sect. "I never would have thought the Yanyue Sect was hiding its hand so well, to actually have a Young Giant in its ranks."

Of all the people present, the ones most displeased by Ning Jiang’s appearance were naturally the members of the Fire Cloud Sect.

At this very moment, a soaring battle intent erupted from Yuwen Chi, and astonishing waves of heat pulsed out in all directions.

"You want to fight?" Ning Jiang raised an eyebrow.

’Ever since I broke through to the Spirit Realm, forged the Nine Tribulations Celestial Thunder Body, and acquired the Heaven-Devouring Sparrow Dharma Body, I have absolutely no fear of these so-called Young Giants.’

"Heh, I’ll let you off the hook for now. There will be plenty of opportunities once we’re inside the Death Mountain Range."

After a moment’s hesitation, Yuwen Chi decided not to act.

If it were just him and Ning Jiang here, he wouldn’t mind having a go.

But with the other Young Giants present, if he and Ning Jiang fought and both were injured, the others would be the ones to profit.

He needed to preserve his full strength before entering the Death Mountain Range so he wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.

’Another one to watch out for.’

Li Kuangba of the War Elephant Sect gave Ning Jiang a couple of extra glances, memorizing his face.

Liu Bingxue of Floating Snow Hall also turned her beautiful eyes toward Ning Jiang, committing this suddenly emerged Young Giant to memory.

"No need to pay him much mind. He’s no match for the two of us anyway."

Among everyone present, the only ones who didn’t seem to care about Ning Jiang were the Twin Sword Sons. One was named Qi Ming, the other Qi Feng.

Individually, their strength was at the Young Giant Level, on par with the others. But when they joined forces, their minds linked as one, they were even more terrifying. That was why they didn’t pay Ning Jiang much heed.

"Twin Sword Sons, is Jian Xinghe not coming?" Li Kuangba asked.

Upon hearing the name Jian Xinghe, everyone else pricked up their ears.

This was that prodigy from the Star Sword Sect, the one who seemed poised to become the number one expert of Qing Province’s younger generation.

"Not sure. He’s in seclusion practicing a Cultivation Technique. If he finishes early, he’ll probably come take a look," one of the Twin Sword Sons answered.

Even the twins had to be serious when Jian Xinghe was mentioned.

The two of them were confident they could defeat any other Young Giant by joining forces, but against Jian Xinghe, their chances of victory were less than ten percent.

"Is this Jian Xinghe very strong?" Ning Jiang asked.

"Extremely strong. During the last Qing Province Convention, he defeated several Young Giants with just one hand. Only the Twin Sword Sons managed to force him to use both hands, but even they didn’t last three moves."

Zi Yunfei said gravely. Jian Xinghe—it was a heavy name that weighed down every member of the younger generation.

The younger generation of Qing Province all saw him as their goal, someone they hoped to surpass.

"I see." Ning Jiang nodded.

Zi Yunfei was taken aback for a moment. Hearing Ning Jiang’s tone, it seemed he wasn’t concerned about Jian Xinghe at all.

’Ninth Elder is still young, after all. It’s inevitable that he’d have some pride. He probably refuses to admit Jian Xinghe is superior, right?’ Zi Yunfei thought to herself.

If Ning Jiang knew what she was thinking, he wouldn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

As a Venerable, what kind of genius hadn’t he seen? Jian Xinghe truly wasn’t worth his concern.

The sky gradually darkened.

Just then, everyone felt the deathly aura within the Death Mountain Range begin to weaken.

"We can go in now."

SWOOSH!

Instantly, several beams of light shot into the Death Mountain Range. The first were the Twin Sword Sons, taking the lead, followed by the other Young Giants.

"Be careful on your own."

Ning Jiang reminded Tang Lin and the others, then was the last to fly in.

The Young Giants all acted alone. This was partly due to confidence in their own strength, and partly because they didn’t want to be held back. Bringing people along was ultimately inconvenient.

"Heh heh, Yanyue Sect, you’d better watch your backs."

The remaining experts from the Fire Cloud Sect threatened viciously before walking in.

"As long as we stick together, we shouldn’t be in any danger."

Tang Lin and the other two exchanged a look. They had already mastered the Three Talents Golden Lock Formation. With this array, they could even hold their own for a while if they ran into a Young Giant.

"Junior Sister, after we get inside, let’s go look for the place marked on the Fragment Map. I wonder if there will be anything good there."

"That Fragment Map was left behind by the deceased Old Sect Leader. It’s been so long. Even if there was something there, it was probably discovered by someone else long ago, right?"

A senior brother and junior sister conversed in low voices as they entered the Death Mountain Range.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the area outside the Death Mountain Range was completely empty. Everyone had gone inside.