Two days later.
In a wild, overgrown forest, a large number of black-armored guards were surrounding a snake demon.
"Roar~~" This was a large snake, its entire body blood-red, with a bright silver belly. There were also two curved claws on its abdomen, each with four toes. Its red slit pupils were especially terrifying. However, at this moment, the large snake was completely trapped by a giant net, and no matter how much it twisted its body, it could not escape.
"Hahaha," a bearded man in fiery red armor laughed heartily. "A foolish snake, so easily captured alive. You lot, hurry up and bind it."
"Yes."
Immediately, dozens of black-armored guards swung large chains. The black chains, like serpents, flew through the air and quickly entangled the red snake. No matter how the red snake struggled and twisted in the net, it was in vain. Soon, the chains completely bound its massive body, and even its head was tied so tightly that it couldn't open its mouth.
"Commander, what kind of snake is this? It has claws?" a young black-armored guard asked curiously, unable to identify what kind of divine beast it was after thinking for a long time.
The bearded man chuckled, "Snakes are inherently lustful, with mixed bloodlines. I've seen over a hundred different types of snakes with divine or demonic blood. Only those with relatively pure bloodlines or great fame have names. This one, born from a mixed bloodline, doesn't even have a name."
"Young master is currently training his swordsmanship and needs some powerful postnatal beasts. This snake is perfect." The bearded man eyed the red snake with satisfaction and nodded, "Take it back."
"Yes, sir."
The black-armored guards responded in unison.
Their commander was Meng Yu, the first divine archer and a powerful innate being of the Ji Clan's Western Estate. He was also the mentor of young master Ji Ning. In the Western Estate, Meng Yu was undoubtedly on the side of estate lord Ji Youyang and Ji Yichuan. Moreover, Meng Yu took great pride in having Ji Ning as his disciple.
News had long spread that young master Ji Ning was training his swordsmanship by battling beasts.
After all, every three days a beast died, and the army had captured these beasts alive. This information quickly spread within the military.
"Young master Ji Ning reached postnatal perfection long ago, with swordsmanship that has entered the minute realm and a state of unity with the sword. He also practices our Ji Clan's top sword techniques. Killing postnatal perfection beasts is a breeze."
"They say even divine beasts have been slain by him."
"Given young master Ji Ning's status, he must possess unmatched divine weapons. With such weapons and his mastery of swordsmanship, it's no wonder he can slay postnatal perfection divine beasts."
Rumors spread throughout the Ji Clan's Western Estate army.
Even another powerful figure in the Western Estate, Ji Lie, believed that young Ji Ning's success in slaying divine beasts was due to his divine weapon.
...
At Dragon Fort, inside a cage.
A mighty beast with black spots lay on the ground, its thick fur torn apart with massive wounds, and blood covered the floor.
Ji Ning stood nearby, frowning in thought. The sword in his hand disappeared into thin air. When fighting postnatal perfection beasts, he only used his inner strength and a decent sword—not a divine weapon. With his current strength, using a divine weapon would remove any training value.
"Ji Ning!" A voice came from above.
Ji Ning looked up and saw his father, Ji Yichuan, on the viewing platform. Surprised, he asked, "Father, why are you here?"
His father hadn't come to any of his many battles in the Dragon Fort after the first one against the Howling Moon Wolf.
"I came to see how your swordsmanship is progressing," Ji Yichuan replied. "Have you entered the realm yet?"
"Not yet," Ji Ning shook his head. "Among all the techniques in the 'Dripping Water Sutra' and the 'Thunder Fire Sword Fragment,' I haven't even mastered a single one."
The "Dripping Water Sutra" contained nine sword moves.
The "Thunder Fire Sword Fragment" had three sword moves.
These were special techniques. If practiced to a high level, they would induce a state of unity with the heavens and earth, summoning the forces of nature. This was known as "entering the realm." However, it did not mean achieving the third level of swordsmanship, "unity with the heavens and man." True unity meant that any move, even a simple stab or slash, could summon the forces of nature.
Entering the realm only meant that a specific move temporarily achieved this state.
According to his father, when one could enter the realm, their swordsmanship was considered small success. Achieving unity with heaven and man meant large success.
It was said that above the realm of unity, there were even higher levels of mastery. The "Dripping Water Sutra" and the "Thunder Fire Sword Fragment" were created by those who had surpassed the realm of unity.
"You don't have to overthink your training all the time," Ji Yichuan advised. "Today, take Chun Cao and Qiu Ye and go out for a stroll."
Ji Ning nodded, "Yes, father."
He then turned and left through the narrow passage that had been opened, leaving the dead beast for others to clean up.
...
The city of the Western Estate was home to hundreds of thousands of people.
"Young master, we haven't been out for a stroll in ages," Chun Cao and Qiu Ye, the two maids, said cheerfully as they walked by his side.
Ji Ning smiled as he walked along the street, the busiest avenue in the Western Estate city. Merchants conducting business often passed through here. The street was originally about ten meters wide, but the stalls on both sides took up most of the space, leaving only seven or eight meters for walking.
"Look at these women, full-figured, perfect for bearing children. Ten goatskins for one."
"These men are strong warriors, capable of lifting a thousand pounds. Just five gold taels for one man, and you get a child for free."
A bald man in animal skins shouted loudly, surrounded by dozens of muscular men also in animal skins, guarding the dirty slaves dressed in tattered furs. The slaves looked around longingly, hoping for a good master to buy them. Each slave had a grass marker stuck to their head.
A grass marker indicated they were for sale.
...
Walking along, they saw people selling slaves, animal skins, weapons, wild animals, and even demon beasts. There were all kinds of items for sale, including rare books, divine weapons, poisonous herbs, and cultivation techniques.
"Our tribe lost over a hundred warriors to get this precious divine weapon. We crossed mountains and wilderness to reach the Western Estate city, just to sell it. A traveling merchant offered thirty pieces of beast-head gold, but we didn't trade. Your offer of ten pieces is far too low. At least a hundred pieces of beast-head gold!"
A loud, rough voice came from nearby.
Ji Ning looked over curiously.
A group of dozens surrounded the area, where three dark-skinned, burly men were running the stall. One of them, with a black snake coiled around his arm, was persistently saying, "A hundred pieces of beast-head gold, and it's yours."
"What a rip-off."
"How dare they ask for a hundred pieces of beast-head gold?" Chun Cao and Qiu Ye whispered.
Ji Ning was also surprised. Beast-head gold usually referred to a standard weight of ten pounds. A hundred pieces amounted to a thousand pounds of gold. While that was nothing to someone of Ji Ning's status, it was a fortune for an ordinary tribe.
"No matter how sharp, it's just a weapon."
"It's not even a perfectly intact magic treasure, just a damaged one that can only be used as a weapon."
"I'll offer twenty pieces of beast-head gold. If you sell, I'll buy!" someone bid.
"One hundred pieces," the black-snake man stubbornly held his ground. The two dark-skinned men beside him kept a close watch on the group, fearing someone might snatch their treasure. They had lost many lives for this treasure, and crossing the forests and wastelands to reach the Western Estate city had cost them dozens more. They needed to sell it for a high price.
Once sold, they could buy slaves, good swords, bows, arrows, and poison, greatly strengthening their tribe.
"Let me take a look," Ji Ning said, stepping forward and glancing at the divine weapon in the black-snake man's arms.
The people around turned to look.
"Young master."
"Young master."
"Is this the Ji Clan's young master? The only son of the Dripping Water Sword?"
Several people stepped back respectfully. Those who could afford such high prices were not ordinary, and Ji Ning had spent years training with Bai Shui Ze outside the city, making him a familiar face to many. Others, hearing who he was, quickly realized they were in the presence of the prestigious Ji Clan's young master.
The black-snake man was terrified, trembling at the mention of the "Dripping Water Sword," the first mighty warrior in the Western Estate, a god-like figure.
And this boy was the son of the Dripping Water Sword?
"Let me see it," Ji Ning said.
"Of course, young master, please look," the black-snake man said respectfully, handing over the divine weapon with both hands. The two men behind him were nervous, fearing that this high-status youth might seize their treasure. Among tribes, the powerful often took what they wanted. While such behavior was forbidden