Chapter 9: Sword Art

Entering the main hall felt like stepping into another world. Outside the hall, no music could be heard, but once inside, the sound of music was clear and distinct, echoing throughout the entire hall.

Ji Ning glanced around.

Inside the hall, female immortals were dancing gracefully, and musicians were playing various instruments. The musicians alone were divided into nine groups, all hidden behind pearl curtains. There were probably hundreds of musicians, and hundreds of dancing fairies as well, all moving slowly at the edges, merely providing entertainment.

"Greetings, Senior Blackmist." Ancestral Immortal Gong Chao said respectfully, "Master, the Northern Abyss Ancestral God has been brought."

Ji Ning also looked upward. At the top of the hall, on the left sat a white-haired old man in a loose white robe, cross-legged. On the right sat a disheveled, somewhat slovenly black-haired man. Both emanated waves of pressure, like the oppressive feeling of a chaotic world.

"World God, Chaos Immortal." Ji Ning sensed a strong threat.

Although with the help of the divine sword Violet Light Qiong he barely reached the threshold of the World level, compared to those who had been at the World level for eons, the gap was still very obvious.

"Greetings, two seniors." Ji Ning and Fuzhe Island Lord also said respectfully. As ancestral gods and ancestral immortals, they were qualified to stand and speak. If they were true gods or true immortals, they would have had to kneel.

"So you are Northern Abyss?" The old man in the loose white robe spoke slowly. He was the Void Nether Chaos Immortal.

"Yes." Ji Ning said respectfully.

"It seems you are quite confident. You just joined the Mistrock Army and already asked a World-level expert to verify your strength." The Void Nether Immortal chuckled softly. "Now all nine World-level experts on our Mistrock Star know your name."

Fuzhe Island Lord had reported to all nine World-level experts, including the Mistrock Star Lord.

The Void Nether Immortal was the first to respond, but the other World-level experts also knew about this matter.

"Hmm." The Blackmist World God, sitting at the other end above, held a wine cup and looked down.

"Master." A red-robed youth with rosy lips and white teeth standing to one side spoke loudly, "This Northern Abyss Ancestral God—where did he come from? Does every ancestral god or ancestral immortal who shows up require Master's intervention? Your disciple is willing to fight and first see how capable this Northern Abyss Ancestral God really is. If he can't even defeat me, there's no need for Master to act."

The Void Nether Immortal above smiled.

The Blackmist World God beside him held his wine cup, eyes drunken and hazy: "Brother Void Nether, your little disciple is quite skilled. He can have a match with that Northern Abyss."

"Very well." Void Nether Immortal nodded and instructed, "Disciple, spar with Northern Abyss. Neither of you may take the other's life."

"Yes." The red-robed youth said respectfully.

"Yes." Ji Ning also responded.

When two World-level experts gave orders, what could he say?

...

Above the hall.

Void Nether Immortal and Blackmist World God both looked down.

"What do you think of that Northern Abyss?" Void Nether Immortal asked with a smile.

"Quite calm." Blackmist World God said, "Seems he should have some skill."

Void Nether Immortal nodded: "Blackmist, who do you think will win between the two?"

"Let's watch." Blackmist World God observed with interest.

...

Within the hall, restrictions automatically appeared, completely enclosing Ji Ning and the red-robed youth.

Inside the restrictions.

Ji Ning and the red-robed youth faced each other from a distance.

"Listen well, my name is Feiying." The red-robed youth produced two swords in both hands. "I specialize in swordsmanship."

"I also specialize in swordsmanship." Ji Ning similarly produced two Northern Abyss swords in his hands. Earlier on the training ground, he had directly crushed the Black Jiao Ancestral God with the Star Picking Hand, but before two World-level experts, Ji Ning felt it was better to be more cautious. After all, using palms to execute sword techniques was not as powerful as using divine swords.

Swords are sharper and faster.

...

"He specializes in swordsmanship?" Ancestral Immortal Gong Chao and Fuzhe Island Lord were both startled. Earlier on the training ground, Ji Ning had been so brutal—could he actually use a sword?

...

"Also uses a sword?" The Blackmist World God above smiled. On the entire Mistrock Star, there were two who excelled in swordsmanship: one was the Mistrock Star Lord, whose "Heavenly Chen Sword Canon" was even sold to outsiders; the other was the Blackmist World God himself. The Blackmist World God had a very close relationship with the Mistrock Star Lord—in fact, he had watched the Mistrock Star Lord grow up.

The Mistrock Star Lord's swordsmanship was originally taught by the Blackmist World God, though now the Mistrock Star Lord had far surpassed the Blackmist World God.

"A duel between two swordsmen is interesting." Void Nether Immortal laughed. "Blackmist, if this Northern Abyss is good, you could take him as a disciple."

"I said I would never take disciples." Blackmist World God said.

Void Nether Immortal shook his head inwardly.

The Blackmist World God once had a disciple. After that disciple died, he never took another.

...

Ji Ning and the red-robed youth both moved at once, charging straight at each other.

Both had reached a very high level in swordsmanship, controlling their divine power with perfect ease, completely internalized without any leakage.

"Fifth level of sword force? His sword art is truly impressive." Ji Ning felt pressure as soon as they clashed. The red-robed youth's sword technique was more ethereal, like a hornless dragon's horn or a heavenly horse flying through the sky—unfettered and free. Each sword's speed also exceeded the limits of the Heavenly Dao, clearly indicating he had obtained a technique similar to the "Five Aspects Sword Art."

Ji Ning was not surprised; after all, the youth was a disciple personally taught by a Chaos Immortal, so having such techniques was normal.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh."

Ji Ning's swords were more elusive and eerie.

He was executing the Shadowless Form from the "Moonbright Sword Art," which also made the red-robed youth struggle to defend.

"Your swordsmanship is not bad, but with such skill, you are not qualified to make my master act." The red-robed youth shouted while fighting.

"Then be careful." Ji Ning gave a loud shout.

Boom~~~

The power of the two sword lights Ji Ning wielded suddenly surged. Originally, they were only eerie, elusive, and fast, but now their strength also exploded. Earlier, Ji Ning had not used the 'Star Picking Hand,' while the red-robed youth had already used a divine ability to match Ji Ning's half-step World God power. Now, with the Star Picking Hand divine ability activated, his power surged dramatically on the original basis.

Fast, fierce, eerie...

Ji Ning's sword light pressed down on the red-robed youth, whose expression changed drastically. He quickly shook his body, manifesting six arms, but Ji Ning also shook his body, manifesting three heads and six arms, and continued his fierce assault.

"Bang, bang, bang." Ji Ning's sword light was extremely heavy and fierce, causing the red-robed youth's ethereal sword technique to be repeatedly disrupted, losing its ethereal quality.

"Bang."

One of Ji Ning's sword lights struck the red-robed youth's body, sending him flying backward and crashing to the ground. The main hall trembled faintly, and the red-robed youth couldn't help spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"He's just stronger than me." The red-robed youth was unwilling and wanted to charge at Ji Ning again.

"Enough."

A voice came from above. "You lost, so you lost."

"Yes, Master." The red-robed youth replied respectfully, somewhat ashamed. He had wanted to defeat this unknown ancestral god, but instead, he had lost. In terms of swordsmanship, he was among the top three in the entire Mistrock Army, yet he lost to this Northern Abyss.

...

"What do you think?" Void Nether Immortal looked at Blackmist World God. "You are more qualified than I to judge."

Blackmist World God looked down at Ji Ning, admiration in his eyes: "This Northern Abyss's swordsmanship is very high. On the surface, the two seemed evenly matched, and Feiying lost only because of a disadvantage in strength. But in reality, during the exchange, Northern Abyss's sword techniques flowed continuously, more complete and natural, everything seamlessly integrated... If I'm not mistaken, this Northern Abyss has only revealed a fraction of his swordsmanship; his truly powerful techniques have not yet been used."

"Oh?" Void Nether Immortal was surprised.

But the Blackmist World God had long reached the level of 'Sword World' in the way of the sword, so his judgment of swordsmanship was naturally more profound.

"Although he didn't use more powerful sword techniques, the seamless and complete essence cannot be hidden." Blackmist World God smiled. "It's hard for a weakling to pretend to be a strong swordsman. But it's also hard for a strong swordsman to pretend to be weak. Every move of his sword has an extraordinary essence. Void Nether, I have an impertinent request."

"Oh? What is it?" Void Nether Immortal asked.

"Let me spar with him." Blackmist World God put down his wine cup. "By personally sparring with him, I can better understand the true level of his swordsmanship."

"Haha, I am quite ordinary in the way of the sword. It is most fitting for you to go." Void Nether Immortal agreed.