Chapter 210: Walking on Water, Practicing Archery in the Lake

Chapter 210: Walking on Water, Practicing Archery in the Lake

Outside the Xie Family Manor.

Xie Xiaojiu sat in the carriage as it made its way towards the Inspection Office.

At the corner of the alley, Jiang Ning stood in awe of the horse pulling the carriage, which had just stopped.

"Big Yellow, stop!" Xie Xiaojiu called out.

The horse immediately halted, and Jiang Ning, standing nearby, couldn't help but marvel at its intelligence.

Although he had witnessed the horse's ability to understand human speech and stay awake all night, he was still amazed by its extraordinary abilities.

In his past life, only a few animals possessed such intelligence.

However, upon reflecting on the wonders of this world, Jiang Ning felt a sense of relief.

"Please get in, sir!" Xie Xiaojiu said, lifting the curtain to reveal her beautiful profile.

Jiang Ning gracefully jumped into the carriage with a light nod.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting, sir!" Xie Xiaojiu said with sincerity.

Jiang Ning shook his head and asked, "Do you have any news about the Yellow Heaven Sect?"

"Yes!" Xie Xiaojiu nodded and took out a folded piece of paper from her waist. "Sir, take a look at this!"

Jiang Ning took the paper and slowly scanned through the hundreds of words written on it.

In just a few breaths, he had finished reading the entire report.

"Someone entered the Yellow Heaven Sect's base last night," Jiang Ning stated.

"Yes!" Xie Xiaojiu confirmed. "According to the report, at midnight last night, a mysterious figure, fully covered in a hood, entered the main gate of the Yellow Heaven Sect's base."

"Who do you think this person is, and why did they deliberately reveal their presence?" Jiang Ning asked, deep in thought.

Even with his initial assessment, Jiang Ning felt that this mysterious figure was not ordinary.

If they had a hidden agenda and wanted to remain unnoticed, why would they appear at the Yellow Heaven Sect's gate at midnight? Anyone with a certain level of strength and the ability to conceal themselves would not be discovered by those watching.

Jiang Ning himself had entered the Xie Family Manor several times over the past few days without attracting any attention.

"Sir, I really can't figure out the answers to your questions," Xie Xiaojiu said after a moment of thought.

Jiang Ning smiled, neither confirming nor denying her words.

He couldn't figure it out either.

After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Ning decided to put the matter aside for now.

He would personally investigate later when the opportunity arose.

But not now, as he was certain that Liu Linmen would detect his presence if he got too close.

Liu Linmen, a powerful Fifth Rank Martial Dao practitioner with heightened senses, had proven his abilities to Jiang Ning just a few nights ago.

Even in pitch-black darkness and heavy rain, Liu Linmen could still sense Jiang Ning's arrow, which exceeded ordinary factors, at critical moments.

This alone demonstrated Liu Linmen's extraordinary senses.

There was no way someone could be watched without being noticed.

If Jiang Ning went there now, he might be discovered.

"Not yet!" Jiang Ning thought to himself. "I'm still safe for now, and there's no need to take risks. Enhancing my strength is the right path."

Half a quarter later, the carriage arrived at the Inspection Office.

Jiang Ning stepped out of the carriage.

Pitter-patter—

The sound of raindrops hitting the carriage echoed.

Xie Xiaojiu, who had just exited the carriage, couldn't help but shiver slightly.

"Sir, it's raining!" Xie Xiaojiu exclaimed.

Jiang Ning nodded as the raindrops, carrying the essence of autumn, fell from the gray sky.

As the rain touched his neck, a bone-chilling sensation spread through his body.

This was the first natural rain Jiang Ning had experienced since his arrival.

The previous rains had been summoned by his own Cloud Walking Rain Summoning technique.

Feeling the raindrops nourishing his skin, Jiang Ning's spirit soared.

"Let's go inside and take shelter from the rain," Jiang Ning suggested.

Several hours later, at the banks of the Luo River.

"Ahh—"

Jiang Ning gazed at the vast lake before him, feeling a sense of relief.

After handling some urgent matters at the Inspection Office, he had left the building.

Through these tasks, he also gained an understanding of the activities of the staff.

Following Hong Minghu's orders, the entire Luoshui County was focused on eradicating the Idolatry Sect.

However, over the past few days, despite their efforts, the subordinates had little success.

It seemed like the Idolatry Sect had disappeared overnight.

Jiang Ning had a basic understanding of this situation and decided not to pay further attention.

He had known that the Idolatry Sect was not as simple as it seemed.

If it was that simple, how could the Idolatry Sect's deity statue be enshrined in the City God Temple, allowing all the citizens to offer incense to it?

In Jiang Ning's opinion, the Idolatry Sect was not only connected to the Cao family but also had deep ties with the Liu and Xie families, and even the County Magistrate.

That County Magistrate, although seemingly non-existent now, had been in this world for so long, and Jiang Ning hadn't even seen him in person.

But Jiang Ning felt that the County Magistrate might not disappear so easily.

Moreover, from what he had seen a few nights ago, he knew that the Idolatry Sect might have connections with the Yellow Heaven Sect.

After the reports from the past few days, Jiang Ning felt that this possibility was even greater.

If it weren't for someone's assistance, how could the Idolatry Sect, which had been cultivating in Luoshui County for so long and left so many traces, suddenly vanish without a trace?

After that, he no longer stayed at the Inspection Office.

Now that he had fully digested the Dragon Tiger Sinew Pill, although his sinew refinement was still a step away from the Serpent Sinew level, he didn't plan to waste more time on it.

Without the precious Dragon Tiger Sinew Pill, his sinew refinement couldn't be improved in a short time.

Spending time on sinew refinement in the short term wouldn't bring about a sudden leap in progress.

At this moment, Jiang Ning desperately needed the sense of security that a boost in strength would bring.

So, he set his sights on the Gale Thunder Archery.

The first breakthrough in Gale Thunder Archery gave him control over Gale Thunder power, and this change greatly enhanced his combat power.

Future breakthroughs would also bring significant improvements.

Only the Gale Thunder Archery could rapidly increase his strength in a short time.

To gain experience in Gale Thunder Archery, he needed a vast space.

The Inspection Office was no longer a suitable place for him.

Where was the best place for him to practice archery?

Other than Luoshui Lake, where else could he go?

Luoshui Lake, vast and boundless, was rarely visited by people.

No matter how much noise he made while practicing archery, it wouldn't attract any attention.

At this moment, standing on the shore of Luoshui Lake, Jiang Ning leaped into the air and landed on the lake's surface.

Boom—

As his feet touched the water, his right foot stepped on the lake's surface, and the water beneath him suddenly exploded like a cannonball. Jiang Ning's body rose and rushed forward towards the lake's surface.

Boom—

Boom—

With each step, the lake's surface exploded, and water splashed in all directions like countless shattered pearls.

Stepping on the lake's surface, Jiang Ning's body rose and fell, easily moving forward on the lake.

"No wonder they say that Seventh Rank Warriors can walk on water."

Feeling his current state, Jiang Ning sighed in his heart.

At this moment, his speed wasn't fast; he wasn't running at extreme speed on the water's surface.

It was the terrifying explosive power within a small space that allowed him to achieve this feat.

Refining sinews like a dragon, even within a small space, could easily mobilize the strength of the whole body and burst out with twice the usual explosive power.

This was the most terrifying aspect of the Seventh Rank.

Although he hadn't reached the level of refining sinews like a dragon, he was only a step away, and he could still easily take this step.

At this moment, with each step Jiang Ning took, the explosive power within a small space instantly solidified the water's surface beneath his feet.

The reaction force from stepping on the water's surface easily propelled his body forward and backward, covering a distance of two or three zhang with each step.

At this moment, Jiang Ning effortlessly walked on the lake's surface.

He also constantly felt the changes brought about by the breakthrough in sinew refinement.

Half a tea time later...

"The breakthrough in sinew refinement is indeed vastly different from before!" Jiang Ning sighed.

After half a tea time of careful comprehension, he had a thorough understanding of his current physical body.

The strength in his body flowed as he wished, and he could burst out in any part of his body in an instant.

Normally, only warriors who had reached this step could walk on water.

The ability to burst out with ten times the usual strength within a small space was the secret to walking on water.

The next moment...

Boom—

He stomped hard, and the water beneath his feet suddenly exploded, forming a vacuum that spread in all directions.

His body suddenly surged forward, and his speed instantly increased.

In an instant...

He crossed a distance of over ten zhang.

At this moment, he was like a raging storm on the lake's surface, and the raindrops falling around him were directly swept away by the wind around his body, unable to touch his skin.

Moving like the wind, this moment perfectly displayed his prowess.

On the vast and boundless lake's surface...

If someone were sailing on the lake, they would see a figure swiftly running on the water's surface, leaving behind a trail of residual shadows.

This was a visual error caused by extreme speed.

After a long while, a loud boom echoed through the air.

The lake water erupted, and Jiang Ning soared into the sky.

In an instant, he crossed over a cliff several zhang high and landed on the edge of a desolate island.

"I'm back!" Jiang Ning smiled upon seeing this familiar place.

This desolate island was the best place in his mind to practice archery.

Practicing here, he had no fear of being discovered by anyone, let alone Liu Linmen finding him.

Then, a longbow appeared in his hand.

He nocked an arrow, effortlessly drawing the bowstring to its limit.

Boom—

[Gale Thunder Archery Experience +1]



The arrow was released, creating a wave of air that blew away the raindrops in the sky.

In mid-air, a visible trail was left behind by the arrow's path.

The arrow flew several li before gradually losing momentum and falling diagonally towards the lake.

[Technique]: Gale Thunder Archery (Limit Break 2/2000) (Attribute: Gale Thunder Breath)



Glancing at the skill panel, Jiang Ning saw that the experience points for Gale Thunder Archery had increased by one.

He nocked another arrow and released it.

Boom—

Boom—

Boom—

Arrows shot through the air one after another.

The Gale Thunder Force within his body was continuously consumed.

At the same time, the experience points for Gale Thunder Archery were steadily increasing.

On the other side.

At the headquarters of the Yellow Heaven Sect.

"Pavilion Master Sun, my apologies! I was in secluded cultivation last night and couldn't receive you immediately!" Liu Linmen entered the hall with a friendly expression.

Then, he blinked.

Even after a night of recovery and briefly opening his heavenly eye, his eyes still felt sore.

"It's fine!" The visitor, upon seeing Liu Linmen, removed the hood covering his head, revealing his face.

He was a middle-aged woman in her forties.

Then, she asked, "Xiangzhu Liu, are your eyes unwell?"

Liu Linmen smiled and replied, "I injured my eyes a few days ago, and I opened my heavenly eye yesterday. It will take some time to fully recover, and they still feel sore."

Upon hearing the words 'heavenly eye,' the middle-aged woman immediately showed respect.

"So, Xiangzhu Liu is also a Heavenly Master!"

"I'm not quite there yet," Liu Linmen smiled and waved his hand dismissively. "I've only managed to barely grasp the ability of the heavenly eye."

Then, he asked, "Pavilion Master Sun, when you entered the city last night, did anyone notice you?"

"Of course not!"

"That's good!" Liu Linmen nodded. "I wonder what your Sect Leader is thinking. Would you be willing to join the Yellow Heaven Sect? If so, I can ask our Heavenly King to remove the false divine power from your members."

Hearing these words, the middle-aged woman's expression remained unchanged.

They were already aware of this condition.

It was also because of this condition that the Idols Sect had the idea of joining the Yellow Heaven Sect.

After all, it's better to have a strong backer, and the Idols Sect, having worshipped that deity for a long time, had accumulated too much of that power. Now, the higher-ups in the sect were in a worse state.

Moreover, there was another crucial matter.

But at the moment, they weren't in a hurry.

"The Sect Leader is still considering," she said slowly.

"Still considering?" Liu Linmen's eyes narrowed.

"Yes," the middle-aged woman nodded. "This is the decision from above."

Then, she asked, "Heavenly Master Liu, do you know why our Xiangzhu was attacked after following you, and who the attacker was?"

"I haven't fully investigated yet," Liu Linmen shook his head. "But I've narrowed down the target, and I'll find out soon."

Liu Linmen explained to the middle-aged woman.

Before he came to Luoshui County, he had been given a task from above to recruit the Idols Sect into the Yellow Heaven Sect.

The higher-ups were very interested in the Idols Sect's worshipping methods.

Being able to truly summon something wasn't a simple matter.

In this world, churches with such potential were few and far between.

That was why Liu Linmen held the Idols Sect in high regard.

At the same time.

Upon hearing Liu Linmen's words, the middle-aged woman said, "I trust the words of Heavenly Master Liu. If you find out who the attacker is, please let me know."

"Don't worry! It won't take many days!" Liu Linmen said calmly.

"Since Heavenly Master Liu has given his word, I'm at ease!" The middle-aged woman nodded and continued, "Then, I'll take my leave now!"

"Alright!" Liu Linmen slightly bowed his head, seeing off the middle-aged woman as she left.

He watched until she disappeared around the corner outside the door, and only then did a thoughtful expression appear in his eyes.

After the Idols Sect lost two Xiangzhus, they actually sent a Tanzhu.

It seemed that the statue was still in Luoshui County, otherwise, it would be impossible for such a high-ranking member to come to this small place.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end