Chapter 17

After midnight, it will be Monday. Everyone, remember to vote! ————

Two days later.

In a mountain forest overgrown with weeds, a large number of black-armored guards surrounded a snake demon.

"Roar~~" This was a large snake with a blood-red body and a bright silver belly, with two curved claws on its belly, each with four toes. Its pair of red vertical pupils were even more chilling. However, at this moment, the large snake was completely trapped in a huge net, unable to break free no matter how it writhed.

"Ha ha ha." The bearded man in fiery red armor laughed, "A clumsy big snake, so easily captured alive. Quickly tie it up."

"Yes."

Immediately, dozens of black-armored guards swung huge chains. The black chains, like large snakes, quickly entangled the red snake. The red snake, trapped in the net, struggled in vain. Soon, it was completely bound by the chains, and its massive head was tightly wrapped, preventing it from opening its mouth.

"Commander, what is the origin of this snake? It has two claws?" A young black-armored guard asked curiously. He had thought for a long time but couldn't identify which divine beast it was.

The bearded man smiled, "Snakes are inherently promiscuous, with mixed bloodlines. I have seen over a hundred different snakes with divine and demonic bloodlines. Only those with relatively pure bloodlines and greater fame have names. These mixed-blood divine beasts have no names."

"Master Ji Ning is currently practicing sword techniques and needs some powerful innate demons. This large snake is quite suitable." The bearded man examined the red snake, nodded in satisfaction, and said, "Take it back."

"Yes."

The black-armored guards responded in unison.

Their commander was a born spirit warrior of the Ji Family's Western Manor—Meng Yu, the first divine archer! Meng Yu was Ji Ning's启蒙 teacher and undoubtedly stood on the side of Manor Lord Ji Youyang and Ji Yichuan. Moreover, Meng Yu was particularly proud of having Ji Ning as his disciple.

Ji Ning's practice of sword techniques by battling demons was already well-known.

After all, a demon died every three days, and a large number of demons died one after another. These demons were almost all captured alive by the black-armored guards, so the news had spread quickly within the army.

"Ji Ning has already reached the peak of innate perfection, with his sword techniques refined to the point of merging with the sword. He also practices the most advanced sword techniques of our Ji Family. Killing a demon at the peak of innate perfection is easy."

"Rumor has it that even innate divine beasts have been killed."

"Ji Ning's status is such that he must have an incomparably sharp divine weapon. With a divine weapon and sword techniques refined to the point of merging with the sword... killing a divine beast at the peak of innate perfection is not difficult."

The news in the Ji Family's Western Manor's army was detailed and vivid.

Even Ji Lie, another powerful figure in the Western Manor, believed that Ji Ning, that little guy, must rely on a divine weapon to kill divine beasts.

...

In the Dragon Castle, inside the cage.

A powerful demon with black spots lay on the ground, its thick fur torn by huge wounds, blood flowing everywhere.

Ji Ning stood to the side, frowning in deep thought. The sharp sword in his hand disappeared into thin air. When he fought ordinary demons at the peak of innate perfection, he only used internal strength, and the weapon he used was just a relatively good sword, far from being a divine weapon. After all, his strength was already so great that using a divine weapon would have no effect on his training.

"Ji Ning!" A voice came from above.

Ji Ning looked up and saw his father, Ji Yichuan, on the viewing platform, which surprised him. "Father, why are you here?"

Because he came to the Dragon Castle every three days for a battle, except for the first battle with the howling moon wolf, his father had not come to the other dozens of bloody battles...

"To see how your sword techniques are progressing," Ji Yichuan said, "Have you reached the realm yet?"

"Not yet," Ji Ning shook his head, "I haven't even achieved minor success in any of the techniques from the 'Dripping Water Sutra' or the 'Thunderfire Sword Remnant.'

The 'Dripping Water Sutra' has nine sword techniques.

The 'Thunderfire Sword Remnant' has three sword techniques.

These sword techniques are special... if practiced to a high level, one can feel the realm of harmony with heaven and earth, invoking the power of heaven and earth. This is called 'entering the realm.' However, this does not mean reaching the third level of sword techniques, 'harmony with heaven and earth.' True harmony with heaven and earth means that at any time, any simple stab, slash, or draw can invoke the power of heaven and earth, which is considered reaching the realm of harmony with heaven and earth!

Entering the realm is merely a brief harmony with heaven and earth when performing a specific special technique.

According to what Father said...

When one can enter the realm, it means the sword techniques have achieved minor success.

When one reaches harmony with heaven and earth, it means the sword techniques have achieved major success.

According to legend...

Above harmony with heaven and earth, there are even higher levels. Sword techniques like the 'Dripping Water Sutra' and the 'Thunderfire Sword Remnant' can only be created by those who have transcended the realm of harmony with heaven and earth.

"You don't need to constantly ponder your sword techniques," Ji Yichuan said, "Today, take Chuncao and Qiuye for a walk."

Ji Ning nodded, "Yes, Father."

Ji Ning then turned and walked out through the narrow passage that had been opened. As for the dead demon's body, someone else would take care of it.

******

The Western Manor City was a large city with hundreds of thousands of residents.

"Master, we haven't been out for a walk in a long time," Chuncao and Qiuye, the two maids, said happily as they followed him.

Ji Ning walked down the street, which was the most prosperous avenue in the Western Manor City. Merchants and traders usually operated on this street. The street was originally over a dozen zhang wide, but the vendors on both sides occupied most of the space, leaving only about seven or eight zhang for pedestrians.

"Look at the women, plump women, big butts, very fertile, ten sheepskins for one."

"These men are excellent warriors, all capable of lifting a thousand catties, just five taels of gold, buy a man and get a child for free."

A bald man in animal skins shouted loudly, surrounded by dozens of muscular men in animal skins. There were also dirty slaves in tattered animal skins, each with a grass tag on their heads, looking around hopefully, hoping to be bought by a good master.

The grass tag indicated that they were for sale.

...

As they walked and looked around.

On the street, there were slave traders, fur traders, weapon traders, wild animal traders, demon traders, and all sorts of other vendors. Even precious books, divine weapons, medicinal herbs, secret manuals, and other items were for sale.

"We lost over a hundred warriors from our tribe to obtain this precious divine weapon. We crossed forests and wilderness, enduring great hardships to reach the Western Manor City, just to sell this precious divine weapon! Some traders came to our tribe and offered thirty gold pieces, but we didn't trade. Your ten gold pieces are too little, at least a hundred gold pieces!" A rough voice came from the side.

Ji Ning looked curiously.

He saw a group of people gathered around, and the stall was run by three muscular, dark-skinned men. One of them, with a black snake coiled around his arm, kept saying, "A hundred gold pieces, a hundred gold pieces to take it."

"Too expensive."

"Actually daring to ask for a hundred gold pieces." Chuncao and Qiuye muttered.

Ji Ning was also surprised. Gold pieces usually referred to ten pounds, so a hundred gold pieces would be a thousand pounds of gold. While it was insignificant to a Ji Family master, it was a huge sum for an ordinary tribe.

"It's just a weapon, no matter how sharp."

"It's not a fully intact magical treasure, just a damaged one that can only be used as a weapon."

"Twenty gold pieces, I'll give you twenty gold pieces, if you want to sell, I'll buy it!"

Someone was making an offer.

"A hundred gold pieces." The black snake man refused to budge. The two dark-skinned men beside him watched the crowd carefully, fearing someone would snatch their treasure. Many people from their tribe had died to obtain this treasure, and they had lost dozens of warriors crossing forests and deserts to reach the Western Manor City. They had to sell it for a high price.

After selling it, they would buy some slaves, better weapons, and poisons to greatly enhance their tribe's strength.

"Let me see." Ji Ning stood at the back of the crowd and glanced at the divine weapon the black snake man was holding, then stepped forward.

The people around turned to look.

"Master."

"Master."

"Is this the Ji Family master? The only son of the Dripping Water Sword?"

A few people respectfully stepped back. Those who could offer such high prices were not ordinary people. Ji Ning had been practicing archery with Bai Shui Ze every morning for the past few years, entering and leaving the city daily, so many people in the city recognized this revered Ji Family master. Those who didn't recognize Ji Ning also knew after hearing others.

The black snake man, seeing everyone move aside and hearing "Ji Family master" and "only son of the Dripping Water Sword," was instantly terrified. Living in the territory of the Ji Family's Western Manor, who didn't know the legendary "Dripping Water Sword," the strongest being in the Western Manor, a god-like existence?

The youth before him was the only son of the Dripping Water Sword?

"Let me take a look." Ji Ning said.

"Respected master, please look." The black snake man respectfully handed over the divine weapon with both hands. The two men behind him were nervous, worried that this clearly high-status and revered youth would forcibly take their treasure. In tribal conflicts, the stronger side often forcibly took treasures. Although such behavior was prohibited in the Western Manor City, no one dared to challenge the Ji Family, and this youth was known to be the Ji Family master, the only son of the Dripping Water Sword!

Ji Ning took it, feeling a slight weight. It was a black sword with a thick, simple sheath. Upon closer inspection, he realized that although it was just a sheath, it actually contained three swords.

"A sheath for three swords?" Ji Ning was surprised as he drew the swords.

Swoosh!

He drew the three swords simultaneously. The blades were cold, with faint, ancient, and broken patterns on the surface.

"Pity." Ji Ning sighed, having seen many treasures in the manor. The mysterious patterns emitted a faint aura, indicating that this was originally a magical treasure, likely used by a cultivator to control three flying swords simultaneously. However, the patterns were broken, indicating severe damage, making it usable only as a weapon.

Swoosh. Ji Ning ran his finger along the blade.

"Be careful, it's very sharp." The black snake man shouted in alarm, as the divine weapon could cut through rock like tofu.

Ji Ning felt a slight tremor in his skin, which was protected by the Golden Dawn Robe, which was integrated into his skin. A casual swipe... had almost shaken the Golden Dawn Robe. If he had used more force, it might have pierced through. He practiced archery and walked around the city daily, seeing many weapons, but he had never seen such a sharp divine weapon.

Others only felt that the weapon was very sharp but didn't know how sharp it was. Ji Ning, however, could feel that even the Golden Dawn Robe struggled to withstand this divine weapon.

"I want this weapon." Ji Ning looked at the black snake man.

The black snake man was both delighted and anxious, saying, "Master, our tribe... for this weapon..." In front of this high-status youth, he lacked the confidence to demand a high price.

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