Chapter 150: The Whetting Stone, A Shocking Seventh Stage

Chapter 150: The Whetting Stone, A Shocking Seventh Stage

Luo River.

Under the water's surface.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Three rapid clangs reverberated through the water.

Liu Qingsong swiftly distanced himself from Jiang Ning, creating a gap of several yards between them.

Then, he reached into his waist with his right hand.

Swish!

A soft sword was instantly drawn from his waist.

As his wrist trembled, the soft sword instantly straightened into a line.

Only at this moment did Liu Qingsong finally heave a sigh of relief, now having the leisure to scrutinize Jiang Ning.

At the same time, the surging vital energy from Jiang Ning's hand restored his numbed right arm to normal.

"Is this the Seventh Stage Martial Dao?"

"What an astonishing burst of power!"

He secretly marveled in his heart: "A mere iron orb can produce a force that numbs my arm, and this is underwater, with the current reducing the impact. If this were on land, it would be even more terrifying!"

Thinking of this, he felt even more that inviting Liu Qingsong into the water was a wise decision.

On land, facing such a Seventh Stage Martial Dao would be extremely dangerous.

But underwater, it's a different story.

A mere Seventh Stage Martial Dao is no match for me as long as we're underwater.

Jiang Ning's heart brimmed with confidence regarding this.

Water Control Technique gave him ample confidence.

At this moment, Liu Qingsong first carefully observed Jiang Ning, then glanced at the two corpses beside him.

Instantly, his eyes narrowed, his expression as calm as still water.

But at this moment, his heart was turbulent beneath his serene exterior.

In that perilous situation, he had not the slightest thought of backing down.

He snapped his fingers four times, unleashing an overwhelming burst of power. Now, those two fingers were temporarily rendered useless.

Even with his robust physique and muscular strength, his fingers couldn't withstand the force emitted from his entire body.

He was also well aware of how terrifying the power of his four snaps was.

Even a one-centimeter-thick iron plate would be directly pierced by the iron orb he had just snapped out.

Such lethality, in such a short distance, would, in his opinion, be fatal even to Tian Bu Yi.

But it was evident that Jiang Ning stood before him without a scratch, indicating that those four snaps hadn't harmed Jiang Ning in the slightest.

"You're quite something!"

"To hide your strength so deeply!"

Liu Qingsong slowly spoke, his wrist trembling.

The long sword in his hand suddenly quivered, and ripples of water instantly spread out in all directions from the sword's surroundings.

"Now it's my turn!" Liu Qingsong said, and his figure moved, rushing straight towards Jiang Ning.

In the face of his powerful burst, the water where his feet landed seemed like solid ground.

The long sword in his hand instantly transformed into a sword beam, sweeping towards Jiang Ning, visibly parting the water.

This sword aimed straight for Jiang Ning's throat.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning instantly counterattacked, unleashing the Quintuple Power Strike, allowing him to burst forth with a peak blade technique.

Whoosh!

The water was split by the blade, and even underwater, a brief vacuum formed.

The next moment.

Clang!

The blade collided with the sword's edge, and a flash of light passed by.

Immediately, a powerful impact erupted from where the blade and sword met, like a bomb dropped into deep water.

The powerful impact even caused some of the water to vaporize, and a cavity formed underwater as a result.

At the same time, the surging water rippled, and their figures involuntarily retreated backward.

On the lake surface above their heads, ripples also formed due to the impact.

"What a formidable young man!!!" Liu Qingsong felt the impact transmitted through the sword, and his expression involuntarily became extremely solemn.

His heart instantly filled with apprehension.

Because he discovered that in a direct confrontation, he unexpectedly didn't have the upper hand.

He, himself, was a Seventh Stage Martial Dao, an Elder of Medicine King Valley, a strength that, throughout Luo River County, and even in the entire Dongling County, could be considered among the strong.

Not to mention in the small Luo River County, those who could consistently defeat him were barely more than ten.

As for Jiang Ning before him, according to what he knew, had only practiced martial arts for a short time.

If he hadn't experienced this personally, he wouldn't have dared to believe that this could happen.

What kind of monstrous existence is this?? Liu Qingsong's gaze firmly fixed on Jiang Ning, and he thought back to the scene he had seen when he first entered the water, doubt flooding his heart.

Instantly, his gaze shifted from the soft sword in his hand, and his pupils constricted again.

Because he saw that on the sword he had carried for nearly twenty years, there was now a crack on the blade.

Seeing this crack, his heart ached with pain.

At the same time, his heart also gave birth to apprehension, apprehension towards Jiang Ning's long blade.

Liu Qingsong was very clear that the sharpness of weapons in this situation had a significant impact.

Ordinary weapons would find it difficult to break his defense, let alone inflict a fatal injury.

Therefore, facing ordinary weapons, he could attack without fear, holding the absolute advantage.

Even if someone were two or three levels stronger than him, they wouldn't be his match in this situation.

But now, it's different. Jiang Ning's blade is clearly extraordinary, and even his own sword, which could be considered a divine weapon, was damaged during the collision, leaving a gash.

How could one's physical resilience alone withstand such a weapon?

If one fails to block even a single strike, they would be severely injured, if not dead.

On the other side, Jiang Ning's heart was filled with silent astonishment.

So powerful!!!

The intense clash of strength made him keenly aware of Liu Qingsong's explosive power.

At this moment, he felt a slight numbness in his palm, and his internal energy surged.

It was evident that Liu Qingsong held a soft sword, indicating his expertise in technique rather than raw power.

Yet, even so, the force Liu Qingsong unleashed at this moment made Jiang Ning feel utterly outclassed.

If it weren't for his mastery of the Canglang Sword Art, he wouldn't be able to unleash the fivefold power.

He couldn't even block Liu Qingsong's sword strike.

Liu Qingsong was this formidable, yet he held such apprehension towards his master, Wang Jin.

This clearly demonstrated the sheer strength of his master, surpassing Jiang Ning.

During the brief confrontation with his master, Cao Rong had clearly held the upper hand.

Thus, although Cao Rong and Liu Qingsong were both at the seventh stage of the Martial Dao, there was a significant gap in their abilities.

I am not yet capable of facing him.

After this brief exchange, Jiang Ning had a rough estimate of his own strength.

Using all his skills, he surpassed the eighth stage.

He could compete with some at the seventh stage of the Martial Dao, but in a fair contest, he was probably inferior to a seasoned seventh-stage expert like Liu Qingsong.

The next moment, Jiang Ning tightened his grip on his long sword, and the strangeness he felt in the water quickly dissipated, returning him to peak condition.

His essence, energy, and spirit were fully replenished, reaching a state of overflow.

At this moment, he gained a deeper understanding of the 'Water Spirit Affinity' trait, realizing that as long as he was in water, the benefits were immense.

Not only did his five senses greatly enhance, but his physical condition recovered at an astonishing rate.

"Again!"

Feeling his body's condition, Jiang Ning's fighting spirit soared, and he brandished his long sword, advancing towards Liu Qingsong.

"Well done!" Liu Qingsong smiled.

With a flick of his long sword, it transformed from a rigid, straight blade into a lively spirit snake.

Ssss—

The long sword thrust forward, instantly creating a vacuum in the water, darting towards Jiang Ning with lightning speed.

Jiang Ning's expression changed slightly at this sight.

His sword stance shifted, blocking the sword tip.

Clang—

A flash of fire, and Jiang Ning retreated.

Liu Qingsong advanced again, and with a shake of his soft sword, it straightened instantly.

Ssss—

Another vacuum appeared in the water, the sword tip moving like lightning.

Clang—

Jiang Ning blocked with his horizontal sword, and another flash of fire appeared.

Then—

Ssss—

Ssss—

Ssss—

Liu Qingsong manipulated the soft sword with exquisite skill.

Each thrust and parry transformed into blossoming pear flowers in the water.

As Jiang Ning repeatedly blocked, his body continuously retreated.

Facing this fierce onslaught, he didn't dare to even breathe.

With a release of breath, he could no longer defend.

After a few breaths—

Liu Qingsong sheathed his sword.

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His face turned slightly red, then returned to normal.

"Not bad!" He looked at Jiang Ning with a slight nod: "To be able to receive my Torrent Sword Technique at your age, you are the first."

Huff—

Only then did Jiang Ning dare to slowly exhale the turbid air he had been holding in his mouth.

He smiled at Liu Qingsong: "Senior, you flatter me! I merely had better opportunities than others!"

At this moment, Jiang Ning was also willing to engage in conversation with Liu Qingsong.

In the water, he could breathe freely, unlike Liu Qingsong.

Without reaching the Internal Fortitude realm and tempering his five viscera and six bowels, no matter how strong one was, their ability to hold their breath underwater was limited.

Therefore, the longer the delay, the more advantageous it was for Jiang Ning.

Once the oxygen in their body was depleted, no matter how powerful they were, they could only meet their end here.

After Jiang Ning spoke, Liu Qingsong also asked: "Do you have the Panther Embryo Transformation Body Pill?"

"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded.

He then added: "So, Tian Bu Yi was also killed by you?"

"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded slightly again.

Even though Liu Qingsong already had a fifty percent certainty, he was still surprised when Jiang Ning confirmed it.

Tian Bu Yi, the River Dragon, was at the eighth stage of the Divine Strength Realm, and he could withstand Liu Qingsong's attack without dying, indicating his formidable strength.

Unexpectedly, he met his end at the hands of a junior like Jiang Ning.

Immediately, Liu Qingsong recalled their recent confrontation and nodded slowly.

Indeed!

To be able to withstand my Torrent Sword Technique without a scratch, such strength was far beyond what Tian Bu Yi could handle.

Thinking of this again, Liu Qingsong's eyes shone with astonishment and admiration.

Such an exceptional junior was the first he had encountered in his life.

"What a pity, this young man will perish here today." Liu Qingsong felt a sudden sense of regret and sighed inwardly.

At this moment, although he cherished such talent, it only strengthened his determination to kill.

Such a monster, now an enemy, must not be spared.

In Liu Qingsong's eyes, if Jiang Ning escaped this calamity today,

In the future, when he grows up, it will bring calamity to Medicine King Valley.

Moreover, it will be an insurmountable calamity.

In his understanding, even those renowned masters of the world, at the beginning of their martial journey, could only compare to Jiang Ning, a monstrous talent.

After a few months of martial arts training, he could face Jiang Ning head-on without being at a disadvantage.

Who would believe this if it were said?

Who would believe it?

If this hadn't happened to him, he wouldn't have believed it either.

After that.

Liu Qingsong calmed his mind and spoke to Jiang Ning, "You are so open with me now, it seems you've decided that only one of us will survive and return to shore today."

"Indeed!" Jiang Ning nodded, "Senior, you see it clearly."

"You are very confident," said Liu Qingsong.

"Aren't you, Senior?" Jiang Ning smiled.

"Indeed!" Liu Qingsong nodded in agreement.

Then he smiled, "I don't know where your confidence comes from, but I'll soon tell you where my confidence lies."

The next moment.

Liu Qingsong flicked his wrist, and the soft sword in his hand instantly danced, creating a sword flower.

His figure then rushed towards Jiang Ning.

After a simple test, he had already understood Jiang Ning's reliance.

With an extraordinary physique and his sword technique reaching the pinnacle, it was likely that he possessed innate divine strength.

For this reason, he could precisely receive Liu Qingsong's torrent sword technique and block all the sword lights.

However, Liu Qingsong also discovered Jiang Ning's weakness.

His practical combat experience was lacking, and his sword technique was straightforward, lacking any feints or variations.

Liu Qingsong had encountered many such opponents.

If they met someone weaker than them, their opponents would naturally be overwhelmed and unable to resist.

But in the eyes of an experienced and powerful warrior like Liu Qingsong, these were all flaws.

Liu Qingsong leaned in, and his longsword stabbed again.

Ssss—

The water flow parted.

A noticeable vacuum appeared in the water, creating a vacuum-like void.

This sword strike was one-tenth faster than the previous one.

In actual combat, a one-tenth difference often meant the gap between heaven and earth.

"There's more to this?" Jiang Ning's heart tightened.

He blocked the sword horizontally once more.

In an instant.

Wrong!!!

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Surrounded by flowing water, at this moment, the water around him was equivalent to his bodily perception.

Feeling the water's feedback, Jiang Ning instantly realized that Liu Qingsong's longsword had changed.

The next moment.

The longsword, which had been aimed at his blade, suddenly softened, coiling around the blade like a spirit snake and heading towards Jiang Ning's wrist tendons.

"As expected!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.

As Liu Qingsong's sword technique shifted, Jiang Ning reacted instantly.

His body, which had been standing still, instantly retreated.

With the control of his water manipulation technique, his speed was no less than on land, and perhaps even better.

In this seemingly dangerous situation, Jiang Ning evaded Liu Qingsong's deadly strike.

"Hmm?" Liu Qingsong muttered.

He continued to press towards Jiang Ning, and his sword fully demonstrated the advantage of a soft sword.

It transformed into an incredibly agile spirit snake, coiling around without striking, avoiding direct contact with Jiang Ning's longsword.

Then, it constantly attacked Jiang Ning's vital points.

At this moment, Jiang Ning could only keep retreating, and his longsword flashed with cold light as he defended and retreated.

Amidst the flashing sword lights, Jiang Ning could only dodge and block, with no power to counterattack.

At this moment, Jiang Ning once again witnessed the fearsome abilities of this older generation of powerful warriors.

"Fortunately, fortunately, this is in the water. The water's perception is equivalent to my bodily perception." Jiang Ning thought to himself.

At this moment, both of them were enveloped by the lake water during their confrontation.

Every tiny change in Liu Qingsong was crystal clear in Jiang Ning's mind.

At this moment, he felt that even with his eyes closed, he could still accurately see Liu Qingsong's every move.

"What an incredible water spirit affinity! In the water, I practically have the ability to anticipate the enemy. This effect is astonishing." Jiang Ning sighed inwardly.

Yet, his entire body remained vigilant, as no one knew if Liu Qingsong was still holding back.

If he was still holding back, relaxing his guard would be like seeking death.

At the same time, Liu Qingsong became increasingly shocked.

Because he could clearly sense that Jiang Ning was initially flustered and overwhelmed.

As Jiang Ning adapted, Liu Qingsong felt that Jiang Ning gradually entered a state of ease and control.

Moreover, the more they fought, the more uncomfortable Liu Qingsong felt.

Regardless of how the sword technique changed, it seemed that Jiang Ning easily saw through it, and every time he struck, his sword would be blocked at its weakest point.

Or he would attack Liu Qingsong's vital points.

This made Liu Qingsong feel extremely uncomfortable.

Although it seemed that he had the upper hand, he had already fallen into a disadvantage.

"What kind of monstrous talent is this child?!" Liu Qingsong was shocked at this moment.

He realized that he had become Jiang Ning's whetting stone.

The more they fought, the sharper Jiang Ning's sword became, exuding a chilling intent!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end