Chapter 215: The Terror of Advanced Martial Arts

Chapter 215: The Terror of Advanced Martial Arts

In the valley, a burly man with a fierce aura leaped out from behind a boulder, roaring as he charged towards Jiang Ning like a raging tiger.

A sharp ringing sound reached Jiang Ning's ears as a sword glinted in the air.

The attacker was none other than Xie Xiaojiu.

In the next moment, Xie Xiaojiu was sent flying backward, her longsword slipping from her grasp and embedding itself in the trunk of a nearby tree.

"An adult, a Seventh Stage Mastery!" someone exclaimed.

"Don't engage in a direct fight!"

"Retreat, quickly!"

Xie Xiaojiu's face paled as she shouted.

Facing this barehanded, burly man, she was overwhelmed in just one exchange.

The brief encounter allowed her to sense the man's terrifying power.

At that moment, the burly man, with a ferocious gaze, sent Xie Xiaojiu flying with a palm strike and then charged towards Jiang Ning.

Suddenly, an overwhelming aura and killing intent erupted from his entire being.

Over the years, he had taken countless lives, and many had perished at his hands.

In that instant, the spirits of those he had killed seemed to materialize, their killing intent pressing towards Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning's eyebrows furrowed slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

In his perception, the burly man was surrounded by black flames, an intangible aura that seemed to affect his senses.

The burly man, seeing his own reflection in Jiang Ning's eyes, surrounded by black flames, couldn't help but reveal a chilling smile.

This was a technique he relied on for survival, using killing intent to oppress his enemies on a spiritual level.

With this skill, he had survived countless battles.

His decision to join the Black Lotus Sect and the Black Mountain Cavalry was also due to this technique.

To solidify killing intent, one must take lives.

And the easiest place to kill is on the battlefield!

At that moment, Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed, and his vision cleared.

The demonic image of the burly man in his eyes vanished, returning to its ordinary state.

"Impossible!" The burly man's expression changed, revealing disbelief at Jiang Ning's sudden clarity.

This sudden turn of events caused the man's aura to waver, no longer as formidable as before.

"Nothing is impossible," Jiang Ning said calmly.

He struck out with a palm, his body infused with the fusion of water and fire true essence.

A dull boom reverberated through the air, and the burly man retreated as if electrocuted.

His face paled instantly, and his eyes revealed extreme fear.

"Impossible!!!"

Before he could finish his words, the burly man witnessed his right arm disintegrating inch by inch.

His flesh and blood dissolved continuously.

In the blink of an eye, his right arm turned into nothingness.

Moreover, he could sense two invisible forces intertwining within his body.

These forces spread throughout his body, erasing his flesh, blood, and bones wherever they passed.

He looked up with terror, his eyes gradually dimming until they became lifeless.

Thud!

The over two-meter-tall burly man's body fell straight back, landing heavily on the ground.

If someone were to examine his body at this moment, they would find that his internal organs had been reduced to powder.

Only an empty shell remained.

Jiang Ning was momentarily stunned by the sight before him.

"Is it that simple?" he wondered, filled with surprise.

The brief exchange had allowed him to gauge the burly man's level.

A Seventh Stage Warrior, with sinews like a dragon.

This martial level was higher than his own.

Yet, in just one exchange, he had been defeated by a single move.

"Is this the power of water and fire true essence, the might of advanced martial arts?" Jiang Ning wondered, feeling a mix of surprise and joy.

This was his first time using water and fire true essence, an advanced martial art, in combat.

The effect it produced far exceeded his expectations.

With just a simple clash, he had defeated a warrior of a slightly higher martial rank.

On the other side, Xie Xiaojiu, who had just managed to stop her retreat, stared in disbelief at the scene before her.

Having fought the burly man before, she was well aware of his terrifying strength.

His thick flesh was like hardened steel, capable of deflecting her longsword with a single palm strike without a scratch.

The force contained within his body made her feel utterly hopeless of winning.

A Seventh Stage Mastery, the level of sinews like a dragon.

This was beyond her capabilities as an Eighth Stage warrior.

Such power, even in the previous Luoshui County, would have placed him in the top ten.

Even someone like Wang Jin, a Head, might not have been a match for this man in his prime.

But now, this seemingly invincible figure lay motionless on the ground, a lifeless corpse.

Xie Xiaojiu turned her gaze towards Jiang Ning, her eyes filled with complex emotions at that moment.

Action: At this moment, Jiang Ning's performance is beyond Xie Xiaojiu's comprehension.

Such achievements, in Xie Xiaojiu's eyes, are beyond the capabilities of even a Sixth Stage Martial Dao warrior.

"What kind of strength does this man possess?"

This question popped into Xie Xiaojiu's mind.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ning looked at the valley and nocked another arrow.

Boom—

Boom—

Boom—

The arrows flew like rainbows, turning into deadly projectiles.

Each arrow released would undoubtedly claim a life.

Without their leader, this group of Black Mountain Army soldiers had lost their ability to resist and were thoroughly hopeless.

No matter how they tried to dodge the incoming arrows, they couldn't escape being hit.

No matter the evasive maneuvers, they were still pierced by the arrows, each one a fatal shot.

At this moment, Jiang Ning's performance is beyond Xie Xiaojiu's comprehension.

Such achievements, in Xie Xiaojiu's eyes, are beyond the capabilities of even a Sixth Stage Martial Dao warrior.

"What kind of strength does this man possess?"

This question popped into Xie Xiaojiu's mind.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ning surveyed the valley and nocked another arrow.

Boom—

Boom—

Boom—

The arrows flew like rainbows, becoming instruments of death.

Each released arrow claimed a life, and some even without evasive maneuvers, they were still pierced by the arrows, each one a fatal shot.

On the other side, Liu Zhaonan and Liu Sansheng retreated from the battlefield and observed from a distance.

"So strong!" Liu Zhaonan couldn't help but mutter as he watched another arrow fall.

"Indeed, very strong!" Liu Sansheng, standing beside him, also looked on with a complex expression.

He clearly saw that as the arrows fell, their formidable enemies were now being easily slaughtered.

Each arrow effortlessly pierced through armor and took a life.

A moment later, not a single arrow fell, and the entire valley was now filled with the cold corpses of the Black Mountain Army.

"Brother Liu, what should we do now?" Liu Zhaonan asked.

"Go and thank him!" Liu Sansheng turned towards Jiang Ning, who had just descended from the cliff, and spoke.

Upon hearing Liu Sansheng's words, Liu Zhaonan nodded.

"Come over here!" Liu Zhaonan called out to the others.

The group behind him quickly followed the two men.

Zhao Hu, with his severed arm, could only grit his teeth and endure the pain as he followed.

As Jiang Ning and Xie Xiaojiu landed, they saw a group of people quickly approaching them.

"Greetings, Commander Jiang!" Liu Zhaonan took the lead in saluting.

"Greetings, Commander Jiang!" Liu Sansheng also saluted with a complex expression.

He remembered that not long ago, he had visited his sister, Liu Wanwan, and her family.

At that time, he had been entrusted by his brother-in-law, Jiang Li, to help Jiang Ning join the Inspection Department.

Now, he could only bow before Jiang Ning.

Moreover, if it weren't for Jiang Ning's assistance today, he felt that they all might have been completely defeated.

In other words, Jiang Ning had saved their lives today.

"Can you help me bring these bodies back?" Jiang Ning asked.

"No problem!" Liu Zhaonan confidently patted his chest and said, "Commander Jiang, rest assured. Leave the battlefield cleanup to us. These are your achievements; we will ensure that every single one of them is returned to the Inspection Department as your contribution."

"Mm-hmm!" Jiang Ning nodded.

The next moment, he left with Xie Xiaojiu.

Until Jiang Ning's figure disappeared.

Liu Zhaonan exhaled, wiping the nonexistent sweat from his forehead.

"Brother Liu, what do you think of his strength?" Liu Zhaonan asked.

Liu Sansheng nodded solemnly.

"His abilities are unfathomable!"

"Unfathomable!" Liu Zhaonan agreed, nodding repeatedly.

Recalling the events that had just transpired, he felt that Jiang Ning's strength might not even be inferior to those four extraordinary commanders.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ning secretly rejoiced in his heart.

In his other Sumeru Ring, there now lay three corpses.

These three corpses were the very same three who had charged towards him earlier.

After a simple examination, he discovered that these three were Martial Dao warriors at the Seventh Stage.

In other words, they were all Seventh Stage warriors.

According to the Inspection Department, eliminating a Seventh Stage warrior from the Black Mountain Army would earn five thousand contribution points.

With three Seventh Stage warriors, that alone would amount to fifteen thousand contribution points.

This already fulfilled nearly a third of the fifty thousand contribution points needed.

In other words, they were close to accumulating a third of the contribution points required for the Dragon Ascension Pill.

"If we add the achievements in the valley, the contribution points will reach nearly twenty thousand." Jiang Ning said as the two of them found the light boat and departed from North Qiu Mountain.

That evening, at the Inspection Department.

"Jiang, you've truly accomplished a great feat!" Ye Qiu laughed and approached Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning asked, "Is the verification complete?"

"Yes, it's done!" Ye Qiu nodded and continued, "Three Seventh Stage Martial Dao warriors, seven Eighth Stage warriors, and twenty-one Ninth Stage warriors."

As he spoke, Ye Qiu took out a pouch from his waist and handed it to Jiang Ning. "These are your contribution points; please count them."

Jiang Ning took the pouch from Ye Qiu with a slight smile.

He opened it and counted the contribution points, which totaled nineteen thousand five hundred, already exceeding the required amount for a third of the Dragon Ascension Pill."

After Jiang Ning finished counting, Ye Qiu said, "Jiang, is this enough?"

"Yes, it's enough!" Jiang Ning nodded.

Upon seeing this, Ye Qiu's face immediately showed a look of awe.

"Brother Jiang, you're not simple at all!"

"Among this group of Black Mountain Army, there are still five Black Mountain Cavalry, yet you, Brother Jiang, managed to capture them single-handedly!"

Jiang Ning smiled, "It's just good luck!"

Ye Qiu said, "How is this good luck! Your arrow technique is simply unparalleled! I never thought that the Wind and Thunder Arrow Technique you obtained not long ago has reached the level of perfection."

Outside the Inspection Department.

"Sir!"

When Xiao Jiu saw Jiang Ning lifting the curtain of his sedan, he immediately spoke up.

Jiang Ning nodded, "Let's go back!"

"Yes, sir!" Xiao Jiu nodded.

As the carriage started moving, Jiang Ning couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

After a brief exchange with Ye Qiu, he had left.

From their conversation, he suddenly understood.

The supplies he obtained from the Internal Affairs Department had no secrets at all.

The Wind and Thunder Arrow Technique had already been exposed to them.

After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Ning shook his head.

Forget it!

Let them know if they know!

It's not a big deal for outsiders to be aware of these things.

Even if they know my martial arts realm, they don't know my true combat strength! Jiang Ning thought, becoming even clearer.

His survival doesn't rely primarily on his martial arts realm but on his skills.

It is the constant breaking of limits in his skills that has led to his current achievements.

It is because of this that his strength is no longer something that can be measured by his martial arts realm alone.

This also allows him to constantly exceed others' expectations and understanding.

Only then can he not fear certain threats.

The next day.

Jiang Ning opened his eyes.

[Name]: Jiang Ning

[Essence Energy]: 35.47

[Skills]:

Character Recognition (3rd Break Limit 688/4000) (Traits: Photographic Memory, Extraordinary Five Senses, Quick Thinking)



Five Animals Fist (1st Break Limit 733/2000) (Traits: Vital Organs Storing Essence)



Enhanced Firewood Chopping Sword Technique+ (5th Break Limit 6000/6000) (Traits: Lateral Thinking, Sword Like the Swift Wind, Divine Sword Control, Man and Sword as One, Innate Sword Bones)



Inner Core Nourishing Technique (Minor Success 687/5000)



Unbreakable Body Technique (Minor Success 453/5000)



Enhanced Water Skill+ (5th Break Limit 6000/6000) (Traits: Underwater Breathing, Water Control, Water Spirit Affinity, Cloud and Rain Incantation, Water Spirit Body)



Wind and Thunder Arrow Art (3rd Break Limit 49/4000) (Traits: Wind and Thunder Breath, Mind Arrow Technique, Thunderbolt Arrow)



Water and Fire True Essence (Minor Success 45/500)



After glancing at his skill panel, Jiang Ning realized that in the short term, he couldn't improve his skills any further.

For the skills where experience points were not a problem, the real challenge was the essence energy points required to level them up.

Take the Enhanced Firewood Chopping Sword Technique and Enhanced Water Skill, for example; although the experience points for these skills were already maxed out, breaking the limit for either of them required a full 500 essence energy points.

As for the Wind and Thunder Arrow Art, while increasing experience points wasn't difficult, Jiang Ning estimated that he would need a full 1,000 essence energy points to break the limit again.

Whether it was 500 or 1,000 points, it was something he couldn't obtain at the moment.

"Now, I must focus on my fundamental martial arts realm!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.

Meanwhile.

"Is this information accurate?" Liu Lintang exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the report presented by the person below.

"Reporting to the Xiangzhu, this information is absolutely true!"

Hearing this, Liu Lintang's expression turned solemn.

"Despite the two captains from the Inspection Department leading the operation, they couldn't defeat that Black Mountain Army. Yet, that Jiang Commander relied solely on his arrow technique to slaughter them all."

"It seems my previous guess was correct!"

"The killer that night was indeed that mysterious Jiang Commander! No wonder I've been suspicious of him these past few days!"

Liu Lintang muttered to himself.

When he saw the report, he had already determined a 90% possibility.

According to his understanding, no one in Luoshui County possessed the terrifying arrow technique of the killer that night.

Moreover, no one could summon a heavy downpour covering half of Luoshui County.

Even in the Yellow Heaven Sect, no one could perform the Rain Summoning Technique.

"This Jiang Commander is indeed a huge problem!" Liu Lintang affirmed his previous speculations.

Whether it was the rain or the intelligence report, or Jiang Ning's current strength, they all made Liu Lintang feel that Jiang Ning might be from the same group as the rumored Bodhisattva and Daoist Priest.

"I just don't know why he targeted me that night?"

After a moment of contemplation, Liu Lintang slowly shook his head.

No, that's not right!

Perhaps attacking me was just a ruse!

The person he killed that night was the real target! Among those he killed that night, one of them was his true objective! Attacking me might have been a way to lead me to him.

At this thought, Liu Lintang immediately recalled the first person who died under Jiang Ning's arrows that night.

That person was from the Cult of Malevolent Gods, a Xiangzhu of the cult.

He had come to Luoshui County with Liu Lintang to stabilize the chaotic situation of the Cult of Malevolent Gods in the county.

On the other side.

"Is this information accurate?" Liu Lintang exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the report presented by the person below.

"Reporting to the Xiangzhu, this information is absolutely true!"

Hearing this, Liu Lintang's expression turned solemn.

"Despite the two captains from the Inspection Department leading the operation, they couldn't defeat that Black Mountain Army. Yet, that Jiang Commander relied solely on his arrow technique to slaughter them all."

"It seems my previous guess was correct!"

"The killer that night was indeed that mysterious Jiang Commander! No wonder I've been suspicious of him these past few days!"

Liu Lintang muttered to himself.

When he saw the report, he had already determined a 90% possibility.

According to his understanding, no one in Luoshui County possessed the terrifying arrow technique of the killer that night.

Moreover, no one could summon a heavy downpour covering half of Luoshui County.

Even in the Yellow Heaven Sect, no one could perform the Rain Summoning Technique.

"This Jiang Commander is indeed a huge problem!" Liu Lintang affirmed his previous speculations.

Whether it was the rain or the intelligence report, or Jiang Ning's current strength, they all made Liu Lintang feel that Jiang Ning might be from the same group as the rumored Bodhisattva and Daoist Priest.

"I just don't know why he targeted me that night?"

After a moment of contemplation, Liu Lintang slowly shook his head.

No, that's not right!

Perhaps attacking me was just a ruse!

The person he killed that night was the true target! Among those he killed that night, one of them was his true objective! Attacking me might have been a way to lead me to him.

At this thought, Liu Lintang immediately recalled the first person who died under Jiang Ning's arrows that night.

That person was from the Cult of Malevolent Gods, a Xiangzhu of the Cult of Malevolent Gods.

He was also the one who came with Liu Lintang to stabilize the chaotic situation of the Cult of Malevolent Gods in Luoshui County.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end