Chapter 17 Buying a Sword

Two days later.

In a mountain forest overgrown with weeds, a large number of Black Armor Guards were surrounding a serpent demon.

"Roar~~" It was a massive snake, its body entirely blood-red with a bright silver belly. On its belly were two curved claws with four toes, and its pair of red vertical pupils were enough to make one's heart tremble. But at this moment, the great snake was completely trapped by a large net, and no matter how it twisted its body, it could not break free.

"Hahaha." The big-bearded man in fiery red armor laughed loudly, "A stupid great snake, so easily captured alive by me. You there, quickly bind it."

"Yes."

Immediately, dozens of Black Armor Guards swung huge chains, which flew like many great snakes, quickly winding around the red serpent. The red serpent, trapped in the net, twisted and struggled in vain. Soon, its body was completely bound by chains, and its huge head was wrapped layer upon layer, preventing it from opening its mouth.

"Commander, what origin does this great snake have, that it actually has claws?" A young Black Armor Guard beside him asked curiously, having pondered for a long time without identifying which divine beast it was.

The big-bearded man laughed: "Snakes are by nature lecherous, their bloodlines mixed. I alone have seen over a hundred different kinds of snakes with divine demon bloodlines. Only those with relatively pure bloodlines and greater fame have names. Strange beasts like this, born of mixed bloodlines, simply have no names."

"The young master is now practicing his sword and needs some powerful postnatal demon beasts. This great snake is not bad." The big-bearded man examined the red serpent and nodded with satisfaction. "Take it back."

"Yes."

The Black Armor Guards responded in unison.

Their commander was a Xiantian lifeform powerhouse of the Ji clan's Western Mansion—the First Divine Archer, Meng Yu! Meng Yu was the enlightenment teacher of Young Master Ji Ning, and he undoubtedly stood on the side of the mansion's masters, Ji Youyang and Ji Yichuan, in the Western Mansion. Moreover, Meng Yu was especially proud to have Ji Ning as his disciple.

And the news of Young Master Ji Ning fighting demon beasts to practice his sword had long since spread.

After all, a demon beast died every three days, and a large number of demon beasts had died in succession. Since almost all of these demon beasts were captured alive by the Black Armor Guard army, the news had naturally spread throughout the military.

"Young Master Ji Ning has long reached the postnatal perfection stage, with his sword technique at the level of 'entering subtlety' and 'uniting man and sword.' He also practices the top-tier sword techniques of our Ji clan. Killing a postnatal perfection demon beast is a piece of cake."

"It's said that even a postnatal divine beast has been killed."

"Given Young Master Ji Ning's status, he must have a supremely sharp divine weapon. With a divine weapon and his sword technique at the level of 'entering subtlety,' it's not difficult to kill a postnatal perfection divine beast."

The rumors in the Western Mansion's army were vivid and detailed.

Even Ji Lie, another powerful figure in the Western Mansion, believed that the young Ji Ning must have relied on a divine weapon to kill a divine beast.

...

Dragon Castle, within the cage.

A sturdy demon beast with black spots lay on the ground, its thick hide split open with huge wounds, blood flowing everywhere.

Ji Ning stood aside, frowning in thought. The sharp sword in his hand vanished into thin air. When fighting ordinary postnatal perfection demon beasts, he only used internal energy and a fairly good sword, far from a divine weapon. After all, his strength was already this great; using a divine weapon would eliminate any tempering effect.

"Ji Ning!" A voice came from above.

Ji Ning looked up and saw his father, Ji Yichuan, on the viewing platform above. Surprised, he asked, "Father, why have you come?"

Because he came to Dragon Castle every three days for a life-and-death battle, and except for the first fight with the Howling Moon Wolf, his father had not come for the dozens of bloody battles since.

"To see how your sword technique is progressing," Ji Yichuan said. "Have you entered the realm?"

"No," Ji Ning shook his head. "Among the many moves of the 'Drip Water Sutra' and the 'Thunderfire Sword Fragment,' I haven't achieved minor success in a single one."

The 'Drip Water Sutra' had nine sword moves.

The 'Thunderfire Sword Fragment' had three sword moves.

These sword moves were special techniques... If one practiced them to a very high level, they would sense the state of unity between heaven and man, drawing upon the power of heaven and earth. This was called 'entering the realm.' However, this did not represent reaching the third level of sword technique, 'unity of heaven and man.' Because true unity of heaven and man meant that at any time, with any random sword move—even a simple thrust, chop, or slash—one could draw upon the power of heaven and earth. Only then was one considered to have reached the realm of unity of heaven and man!

Entering the realm, on the other hand, was merely a brief unity of heaven and man achieved when executing a specific special move.

According to what his father said...

When one could enter the realm, it represented minor success in the sword technique.

When one reached unity of heaven and man, it represented great success in the sword technique.

It was said...

Beyond unity of heaven and man, there were even higher levels. Supreme sword techniques like the 'Drip Water Sutra' and 'Thunderfire Sword Fragment' could only be created by beings whose realm surpassed unity of heaven and man.

"You don't have to ponder your sword technique all the time," Ji Yichuan said. "Today, take Chuncao and Qiuye and go out for a stroll."

Ji Ning nodded: "Yes, Father."

Ji Ning then turned and walked out through the narrow passage that had been opened. As for the dead demon beast's corpse, someone would come to clean it up.

...

Xifu City was a large city with hundreds of thousands of inhabitants.

"Young master, we haven't come out to stroll in a long time." The two maids, Chuncao and Qiuye, followed at his side, looking very pleased.

Ji Ning walked with a smile along the street, which was also the busiest avenue in Xifu City, where merchants generally did business. The street was originally over ten zhang wide, but the vendors on both sides occupied most of the street space, leaving only about seven or eight zhang for walking.

"Look at the women, plump women with big hips, good for bearing children. Ten pieces of horned sheep skin for one."

"These men are all fine warriors, each able to lift a thousand jin. Only five taels of gold—buy one man and get a child free."

A bald-headed man dressed in animal skins was shouting loudly. Around him were dozens of burly men in animal skins keeping watch, along with slaves dressed in tattered, dirty animal skins. They looked around eagerly, hoping to find a good master to buy them. These slaves all had straw tags stuck in their hair.

Straw tags meant they were for sale.

…

He walked and looked as he went.

Along the street, there were sellers of slaves, animal skins, weapons, wild beasts, demonic beasts... all kinds of things, even precious books, divine weapons, poisons and herbs, secret manuals and techniques—everything was for sale.

"Our tribe lost over a hundred warriors to obtain this precious divine weapon, then traveled through mountains and wilderness, enduring hardships to reach Xifu City, just to sell it! Some traveling merchants came to our tribe and offered thirty beast-head gold pieces, but we didn't trade. Your ten beast-head gold pieces are too few—at least a hundred beast-head gold!" A rough voice came from the side.

Ji Ning looked curiously.

Dozens of people were gathered there. The stall was run by three sturdy, dark-skinned men, one of whom had a black snake coiled around his arm. He kept saying, "A hundred beast-head gold pieces, a hundred beast-head gold pieces and it's yours."

"That's really steep."

"Daring to ask for a hundred beast-head gold pieces." Chuncao and Qiuye muttered.

Ji Ning was also surprised. Beast-head gold typically referred to a standard of ten jin; a hundred pieces would be a thousand jin of gold. Though trivial to a young master of the Ji clan, it was a huge fortune for an ordinary tribe.

"No matter how sharp, it's still just a weapon."

"It's not a fully intact magic treasure—it's a completely damaged one that can only be used as a weapon."

"Twenty beast-head gold pieces. I'll offer at most twenty. If you want to sell, I'll buy!"

Someone was making an offer.

"A hundred beast-head gold." The black snake man held firm, unwilling to budge. The two dark-skinned men beside him watched the crowd warily, afraid someone might snatch their treasure. Their tribe had lost many people for this treasure, and after traveling through forests and wilderness to reach Xifu City, another dozens of warriors had died. They had to sell it at a high price.

After selling it, they could buy slaves, good swords, bows, arrows, and poisons, greatly increasing the tribe's strength.

"Let me have a look." Ji Ning stood behind the crowd, glanced at the divine weapon the black snake man was holding, and stepped forward.

The people around turned to look.

"Young master."

"Young master."

"That's the young master of the Ji clan? The only son of Drip Sword?"

A few of them quickly stepped back respectfully. Those who could offer high prices here were not ordinary people. In recent years, Ji Ning had gone out of the city every morning with the Whitewater Marsh to practice archery, entering and leaving the city daily. Naturally, many in the city recognized this highly esteemed young master of the Ji clan. Those who didn't know Ji Ning quickly learned from those around them.

When the black snake man saw the others step aside and heard "young master of the Ji clan" and "only son of Drip Sword," his heart trembled with fear. Living on the territory of the Ji clan's Western Mansion, everyone knew of the legendary "Drip Sword," the strongest warrior in the land of the Ji clan's Western Mansion, a godlike existence.

This youth before him was the only son of Drip Sword?

"Let me see it." Ji Ning said.

"Honorable young master, please look." The black snake man quickly and respectfully handed over the divine weapon with both hands. The two men behind him were anxious, worried that this obviously high-status youth might seize their treasure by force. Among tribes, it was common for the stronger party to rob treasures. Although robbery was forbidden in Xifu City and no one dared to challenge the Ji clan, wasn't this youth said to be the young master of the Ji clan, the only son of Drip Sword?

Ji Ning took it. It was slightly heavy in his hand—a pitch-black sword with a thick, plain scabbard. On closer inspection, though it was a single scabbard, three swords were actually sheathed inside.

"Three swords in one scabbard?" Ji Ning drew the swords in surprise.

Chi!

He pulled out all three swords at once. The blades gleamed with a cold light, and faint ancient, broken patterns were visible on the surface.

"What a pity." Ji Ning shook his head with a sigh. He had seen many treasures in the mansion. The aura emanating from these mysterious patterns told him that this had once been a magic treasure, likely used by a cultivator to control three flying swords for long-range attacks. But the patterns were broken, indicating severe damage; it could only be used as a weapon now.

"Chi." Ji Ning ran his finger along the blade.

"Be careful, it's very sharp!" The black snake man shouted in panic. This divine weapon could cut through rock like tofu.

Ji Ning felt a slight tremor on his finger's skin and was startled: "I have the Golden Dust Armor protecting me, fused into every inch of my skin. That casual swipe just now... actually faintly shook the Golden Dust Armor. If I struck with force, it might pierce through. I've been practicing archery and strolling through the city every day, seeing many weapons for sale, but I've never encountered such a sharp divine weapon."

Others only felt the weapon was very sharp, but they didn't know how sharp it truly was. Ji Ning, however, could sense that even the Golden Dust Armor could barely withstand this divine weapon.

"I'll take this weapon." Ji Ning looked at the black snake man.

The black snake man was both delighted and flustered, quickly saying, "Young master, our tribe went through so much for this weapon..." Before this highly esteemed youth, he lacked confidence and dared not insist on a high price.