Ji Lie returned to his mansion with a grim face, followed by a four-legged beast. As he walked through the estate, servants and guards either knelt or lowered their heads, afraid to breathe. It was clear that their master, Ji Lie, was in a foul mood; angering him could lead to severe consequences.
"Father." A voice came from afar as a middle-aged man with numerous braids approached. This was his most capable son, Ji Wu Yu, also a congenital being. Ji Lie frowned and asked, "Wu Yu, is it true? I just went hunting, and I heard that Ji Yi Chuan's brat has already reached the level of sword integration?"
"Yes, Father," Ji Wu Yu sighed, shaking his head. "Today, Ji Ning competed with nine Nine-Tooth warriors and broke through in swordsmanship. It's undeniable."
"Alas!" Ji Lie spoke resentfully, "Heaven does not favor me, Ji Lie. My elder brother Ji You Yang was never as capable as I, yet in my youthful arrogance, I allowed him to take the position of lord. Now his lineage boasts a remarkable Ji Yi Chuan, and now there's an even more monstrous Ji Ning, who has achieved sword integration in just six years!"
"Achieving sword integration in six years—compared to the three prodigious youths we selected from various tribes, he still outshines them." Ji Wu Yu shook his head. They had specially chosen three high-potential youngsters from many tribes, raising them from infancy, yet they still fell short compared to Ji Ning.
"If only Pi were a few years younger…" Ji Wu Yu lamented.
"Pi?" Ji Lie was taken aback. Pi was his adopted son. During a campaign, he encountered a formidable beast, the Golden-Haired Pi. After a fierce battle, Ji Lie discovered an infant in Pi's den—an infant with innate strength, which pleased Ji Lie immensely. "You survived being raised by the Golden-Haired Pi! From today, you shall be my son—Pi!"
Adopting a gifted child was not uncommon. Pi, brought back at one year old, was now thirteen and had been trained as a fearsome warrior. Ji Lie nurtured him from infancy, allowing him to fight beasts, even teaching him the most suitable cultivation methods. He had already reached the realm of "man and blade as one."
"The Golden Sword Ceremony is held every four years, and this year is one of them." Ji Wu Yu squinted. "In four years, Pi will be seventeen. He won't qualify for the ceremony, and it won't help us stop Ji Ning!"
"Our last hope lies with those three youngsters we're cultivating. We can only pray that one becomes a congenital being within four years," Ji Lie said darkly.
"Indeed!" Ji Wu Yu nodded. "They are the best from numerous tribes and have already reached the pinnacle of acquired beings. If just one can transition to congenital, we will win."
Ji Lie agreed. Though they were competing for the lordship, neither had ever considered harming Ji Ning. To survive in this vast land, a tribe must unite; internal strife was strictly forbidden! Especially since Ji Ning was a candidate; anyone who harmed him would face the wrath of the entire Ji clan.
---
Thick candles illuminated the hall, where Ji Yi Chuan sat at the head of the table, flanked by Wei Chi Xue and Ji Ning. The family enjoyed their meal.
"Yi Chuan," Wei Chi Xue said, watching her son devour meat with pride, "Ning has laid his foundation for three years and reached sword integration in another three! The lordship seems within his grasp."
Ji Yi Chuan nodded while holding a cup made from a horned beast's head. "Ji Ning only used his internal strength in the competition and didn't employ the first technique of the Divine Demon Body Refinement, the 'Red Sun Nine Heavens Map.' He fought with just one sword."
Others might not grasp Ji Ning's power, but his parents understood it well. Winning the Golden Sword? It would be as easy as taking candy from a baby!
"Now, if Ji Ning goes all out, he can easily win the Golden Sword. In four years, even congenital beings won't stand in his way," Ji Yi Chuan poured himself more wine.
Ji Ning continued to feast. Thanks to practicing the 'Red Sun Nine Heavens Map,' he had an immense appetite, devouring dozens of pounds of beast meat at each meal. Two years ago, he reached the third stage and was now at a bottleneck, waiting to advance to the fourth stage—the realm of congenital beings.
"Gulp, gulp…" Ji Ning drained a large jug of water, feeling satisfied. "That's refreshing."
"Ning'er," Wei Chi Xue smiled at her son.
"Mother," Ji Ning replied obediently. He felt his father's affection and the weight of his responsibilities, while his mother focused solely on him, prioritizing her son's well-being above all.
Wei Chi Xue continued, "Your father taught you the '108 Swords of Heaven and Earth.' It's a complex sword technique, ideal for reaching the realm of 'man and sword as one.' Now that you've achieved it, this technique is no longer useful to you."
"Indeed," Ji Yi Chuan added, "I advised you to prepare your body and mind for every move, from thrusts to cuts, all executed with lightning speed and precision, as if etched in your bones. You learned '108 Swords' to advance from simplicity to complexity."
"The path of swordsmanship begins with simplicity, then moves to complexity, and finally returns to simplicity for mastery." Ji Yi Chuan observed his son. "Now that you've reached sword integration, each strike flows effortlessly."
Ji Ning nodded, understanding the importance of this progression. Without experiencing the transition from simple to complex and back, true integration would be elusive.
"Next, you must achieve the state of Heavenly Heart and become one with Heaven and Man," Ji Yi Chuan sighed. "This step is exceedingly challenging."
"Becoming one with Heaven and Man…" Ji Ning felt a surge of excitement.
"Since sword techniques no longer serve you, it's time to learn our clan's supreme sword technique." Ji Yi Chuan gazed at his son, his tone serious.
Ji Ning's eyes lit up. The Ji clan's supreme sword technique?
"Our clan is renowned for swordsmanship," Ji Yi Chuan reflected. "Our stronghold is named 'Ten Thousand Sword City' because our foundation was established through 'The Ten Thousand Sword Melody.'"
"Over thousands of years, the Ji clan's top sword techniques include five volumes: 'The Ten Thousand Sword Melody,' 'Thunderfire Sword Compilation,' 'Illusory Demon Book,' 'Dripping Water Scripture,' and 'Northern Dipper Secret.' Each is profound, created by those beyond the Heavenly Man realm, wielding immense power when mastered." Ji Yi Chuan looked at Ji Ning. "I practice 'Dripping Water Scripture.' Typically, one can only choose one technique even after reaching sword integration, as dividing focus isn't beneficial. However, you can select two."
With a flourish, Ji Yi Chuan conjured five books and tossed them lightly, causing them to spin through the air and land in neat stacks on the table.
"Supreme sword techniques?" Ji Ning realized these were just simplified versions; he'd receive the complete texts only upon selection.
"Choose wisely," Ji Yi Chuan warned. "Once selected, it will be documented for verification by the Ji clan. If not recorded, it's deemed theft, punishable by the joint wrath of the five clans."
"Ah!" Ji Ning was surprised but understood. "Why wasn't there this rule for the 'Red Sun Nine Heavens Map'?"
"Although the 'Red Sun Nine Heavens Map' is the first method of Divine Demon Body Refinement and widely disseminated, it's not exclusive to clans like ours. Basic cultivation methods aren't highly valued; only exceptional techniques, like these five sword techniques, are guarded closely. Four of these belong solely to our clan, while the 'Northern Dipper Secret' is also held by the 'Black Fire Sect.'"
Ji Ning nodded, knowing the six major powers in the region often clashed but never dared provoke the military of the Great Xia Dynasty.
"Now," Ji Ning began to peruse the five ultimate sword techniques. While still at sword integration, mastering one could greatly enhance his strength.
"Dripping Water Scripture…" Ji Ning opened the first volume, intrigued by the technique that had earned his father's fame as the 'Dripping Water Sword.'