Chapter 333: On the Verge of Fourth Stage, Leaving the City!

Chapter 333: On the Verge of Fourth Stage, Leaving the City!

At Wanhua Tower, the scorching midday sun shone directly overhead, even though it was still only late January. The recent warm spell had caused temperatures to rise significantly, and ordinary folks had shed a layer or two of clothing.

Jiang Ning couldn't help but be speechless as he watched Lin Qingyi gracefully sit down in front of him.

"Sit down, why are you standing?" Lin Qingyi stretched her legs onto the stool in front of the wicker chair, causing her smooth skirt to slide down to her knees, revealing a pair of slender, reflective calves.

Jiang Ning sat down opposite Lin Qingyi, following her lead.

Just as he raised his head, he stood up again, coughed, and walked towards the chair next to Lin Qingyi.

His perspective had just been problematic.

At this moment, Lin Qingyi also seemed to sense something amiss.

Her legs instinctively drew together, and then she placed them back on the stool.

After feigning composure, she cleared her throat and finally spoke.

"Speak! Why are you here?"

"Lin Sister, can't I come if there's nothing wrong?" Jiang Ning asked with a smile.

"Don't I know you?" Lin Qingyi rolled her eyes, curled her legs to her right side, and then pressed them against her body.

Her floor-length skirt instantly covered her body completely.

"Lin Sister, I'm going to make a trip to Dongling City," Jiang Ning said.

"Dongling City?" Lin Qingyi murmured, then turned to Jiang Ning, "You should indeed go to a big city and broaden your horizons. Staying cooped up here will greatly impact your future!"

"Lin Sister, why don't you leave Luo Water County as well?" Jiang Ning suggested.

"Why, do you not want to part with me?" Lin Qingyi smiled.

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "Luo Water County might not be safe for a period of time."

"Why do you say that?" Lin Qingyi asked.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning shared his discovery from Luoshui Lake with Lin Qingyi.

He also wanted to hear Lin Qingyi's insights.

After all, when it came to experience, his knowledge was limited to what he had read in books.

How could he compare to Lin Qingyi, a Grandmaster?

"A great demon, Bai Chi?" Lin Qingyi muttered, deep in thought.

After a while, she straightened her back in the wicker chair.

"According to what you said, that great demon has clearly embarked on a different path."

"In the demonic race, there are two paths to enlightenment. One path involves absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, gathering the essence of heaven and earth, breathing the wind and drinking the dew, and achieving enlightenment through pure cultivation."

"Although progress on this path is slow, the foundation is solid, and each step is taken with care. When facing the tribulation, success is more likely."

"The other path disregards morality and achieves enlightenment by devouring and refining living beings."

"This cultivation method progresses rapidly and is more favored by the demonic race, once being the mainstream."

"But this path also has a drawback."

At this point, Jiang Ning couldn't help but be curious, so he asked, "What drawback?"

Lin Qingyi looked at Jiang Ning, a smile playing on her lips, "The consequences are immense, the slaughter is too heavy, and the tribulation will result in a one-in-ten chance of survival."

"One in ten?" Jiang Ning looked perplexed.

"Yes, one in ten!" Lin Qingyi nodded slightly, revealing her smooth chin.

Jiang Ning was astonished by her words. He had expected her to say a hundred percent chance of death, but he never imagined it would be just one in ten.

Lin Qingyi noticed Jiang Ning's expression and shook her head slightly.

"Don't underestimate the terror of a one-in-ten chance of survival!"

"You should know that great demons who reach the tribulation stage have endured countless calamities and faced innumerable challenges."

"Each of them is renowned and formidable."

"Yet, under the tribulation, they face the terror of a one-in-ten chance of survival."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded in agreement.

Based on his understanding from books, any great demon with three thousand years of cultivation would face the tribulation.

After overcoming the tribulation, the inner core is tempered by its power, allowing further cultivation.

At this stage, within the demonic race, they are just a step away from immortality.

Along their journey, they have long surpassed the masses and countless living beings.

Each of them is a proud genius, unparalleled among their peers.

Yet, at this critical juncture, nine out of ten will fall.

"What about the demonic beings who cultivate by absorbing the essence of the sun and moon and gathering the essence of heaven and earth?" Jiang Ning asked again.

"About half of them can overcome this tribulation!" Lin Qingyi replied.

"Half, that's five times the success rate!" Jiang Ning nodded.

Lin Qingyi said, "However, in this era, I haven't heard of any great demons surviving the tribulation! That demon you speak of wouldn't dare to come ashore."

"Why?" Jiang Ning asked.

Lin Qingyi explained, "Times have changed. This era belongs to humanity! Martial arts flourish, and even immortals and gods are no longer present in the world!"

"If that demon dares to come ashore, a Grandmaster will go to the lake to slaughter it."

"In this era, not only would a single great demon be killed, but even if a demonic king on par with immortals and gods were to appear, they would still be slain!"

"So, there's no need to worry too much!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded.

"I understand!"

"How about a meal?" Lin Qingyi suddenly spoke up.

Looking at Jiang Ning, she continued, "Before we part ways, let's have a drink!"

"Okay!" Jiang Ning nodded in agreement.

An hour later.

Lin Qingyi's face was flushed red, and she softly leaned on the table.

"Sister Lin, you've had enough to drink, right?"

"I can still drink more!" Lin Qingyi opened her slightly squinted eyes and refilled her cup.

Seeing Lin Qingyi's eyes wandering and her face flushed with redness, Jiang Ning immediately stood up.

"You really shouldn't drink anymore!"

He grabbed the cup from Lin Qingyi's hand and pressed it down on the table.

Lin Qingyi lifted her head and met Jiang Ning's serious gaze.

"Alright, I won't drink anymore!" Lin Qingyi muttered, then stood up.

The next moment, she went limp and fell to the side.

Jiang Ning quickly reached out to catch her, looking at Lin Qingyi who was drunk and giggling. He shook his head, "Forget it, I'll take you back to rest!"

"Hehe, thanks!"

Lin Qingyi leaned softly against Jiang Ning's body.

Jiang Ning put his hand on Lin Qingyi's shoulder, but he suddenly felt uncomfortable.

Lin Qingyi was still wearing the same dress, exposing her shoulders and slender arms.

He moved his hand down to support Lin Qingyi's waist, and the feeling became even more unsettling!

His palm immediately left Lin Qingyi's body.

"Rub my waist, help me back to rest, I feel a little dizzy!" Lin Qingyi said.

As she spoke, Jiang Ning felt her cool palm on the back of his hand, grabbing his hand and placing it on her waist.

At this moment, Lin Qingyi's body also leaned softly against Jiang Ning, her face flushed.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning no longer minded.

He supported Lin Qingyi to her room and laid her on the bed.

Thump—

With a series of sounds, Lin Qingyi immediately fell onto the bed, her eyes slightly closed.

Even lying flat on the bed, Lin Qingyi's body still displayed a majestic figure.

Jiang Ning shook his head, lifted Lin Qingyi's legs onto the bed, covered her with a blanket, and then turned to leave.

Creak—

As the sound of the closing door echoed, Lin Qingyi, who had been sleeping on the bed, suddenly opened her eyes.

She looked in the direction of the door, speechless.

After giving him such an opportunity, Jiang Ning didn't even touch her!

This made her doubt her own charm.

Lin Qingyi lowered her head and untied the sash of her dress.

"No problem!" She muttered to herself.

6◇9◇

From Jiang Ning's unintentional glances, Lin Qingyi had long realized that her figure held great appeal to him.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Jiang Ning descended the stairs and exited the main entrance of Wanhua Tower.

He understood the opportunity Lin Qingyi had given him, but he dared not act on it.

After these days of interaction, he knew that Lin Qingyi carried a great secret and was entangled in a major problem.

With his current meager strength, how could he dare to get involved in Lin Qingyi's troubles?

Lin Qingyi had already reached the level of a Grandmaster.

Even the weakest among Grandmasters, the Human Grandmaster, was still a genuine Grandmaster.

At the city gate of Luo Shui County.

A woman with a white veil covering her face and wearing a blue long dress stood at the entrance of Luo Shui City.

Looking at the three large characters "Luo Shui City" on the city wall, the woman's face hidden under the veil broke into a smile.

"Luo Shui City, this is it!"

If Xiao Emei were here, he would recognize this woman as Yu Manyun.

She was the most promising candidate to succeed Xiao Qiushui as the next Palace Master of Shuiyue Sword Palace.

After failing in her mission assigned by Xiao Qiushui, she took the initiative to accept the task of inviting Jiang Ning to Shuiyue Sword Palace as a guest.

Her intentions were clear.

Yu Manyun's appearance at the city gate of Luo Shui City also had the same purpose—to meet Jiang Ning.

Yu Manyun lifted her leg and walked towards the city gate of Luo Shui County.

A moment later, she arrived at the gate, joining the sparse queue behind the small gate.

Just then.

Clop-clop-clop—

The sound of horse hooves approached.

The sound of wheels rolling echoed in her ears.

After a brief moment, two carriages slowly emerged from the main gate of the city wall. Yu Manyun couldn't help but glance at them twice. The lead carriage was pulled by two white and red-flamed steeds, a rare breed even in Dongling County. These horses gave her a powerful and vigorous impression, far surpassing ordinary horses. It was like the difference between a regular wolf and the wolf king in a pack. Yu Manyun took a quick look, but soon averted her gaze as it was her turn to enter the city.

Inside the carriage, Lu Yi sat cross-legged with bare feet, slowly lighting incense. On the table was a water tank containing a golden-red dragon carp, peacefully floating and fast asleep. Jiang Ning sat quietly, absorbed in his book. He needed to further enhance his skill in Shi Wen Duan Zi, a literary comprehension technique. He also contemplated breaking through the Fifth Rank and entering the Fourth.

Unknowingly, he had already reached a remarkable level within the Fifth Rank. With almost two cycles of cultivation, he was not only exceptional among the Fifth Rank but could also hold his own against Grandmasters. After all, even Grandmasters typically cultivated for two cycles.

Those who achieved the Grandmaster level were extraordinary, with talent and potential surpassing their peers. Accumulating several years of cultivation in one year was not uncommon. However, even with such progress, reaching the Fifth Rank at the age of twenty-five was still remarkable. To accumulate two cycles of cultivation would take decades, and by then, one would be in their twilight years. Even becoming a Grandmaster wouldn't guarantee peak performance.

Jiang Ning realized that his accumulation of inner breath had reached an astonishing level. Every time he thought about this, he felt he had underestimated the Thunder Tribulation Fruit, a rare treasure of heaven and earth. This fruit was far superior to ordinary heaven-bestowed treasures. Just one hundred-year-old Thunder Tribulation Fruit had increased his cultivation by over a cycle. Even now, he still found it unbelievable.

Those few fruits had allowed him to complete his inner breath cultivation. The qualitative transformation, just a few years away, would elevate his inner breath to the level of the Five Viscera Thunder Sounds, an inner breath like a raging storm. With this transformation and two cycles of cultivation, he would be at the peak of the Fifth Rank.

Even the renowned Lu Qingshan, the master of Medicine King Valley, was at this level, the pinnacle of the Fifth Rank. Strictly speaking, two cycles of cultivation, when transformed into an inner breath like an ocean, would make one the peak of the Fifth Rank. Those who progressed further, with one cycle of cultivation and an inner breath like an abyss, were legendary figures.

The ability to slay a thousand armies with a single breath was a legend created by such warriors. Not to mention someone like him, possessing two cycles of cultivation.

Jiang Ning understood that, at the Fifth Rank, he was just one step away. Once his inner breath transformed, there would be little need to linger at this level. Breaking through to the Fourth Rank and becoming a Grandmaster was his current goal.

Only by reaching this level could he have a broader view of the world. Currently, although he was capable, he remained in a state of limbo. He also refrained from using his unique abilities, as their power was beyond comprehension. Exposing them could bring unforeseen consequences. The power of the Master of Rivers was too mysterious to be used only in life-or-death situations. For now, it remained his trump card.

Sitting in the carriage, Jiang Ning continued reading while enjoying the refreshing incense. After making his decision, he would dedicate his time to improving his literary comprehension skill. The journey to Dongling City would take a few days, and he couldn't rush the process.

Traveling with his entire family required carrying many items, and without the carriage, his hands alone wouldn't suffice. He planned to use this time to read and gain experience in literary comprehension. The importance of mental power increased as one advanced in the martial path.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end