UGB Chapter 34 Urgent Northern Disaster
Chapter 34 Urgent Northern Disaster
Zhou Ning looked at the boulder, which was about half a person's height, then at the Qingfeng sword in his hand, gave a wry smile, and raised the sword again.
One sword, two swords, three swords...
Ten swords, twenty swords, thirty swords...
The sun rises from the east to its zenith, then slides back down to the west.
Zhou Ning's clothes were soaked with sweat, his arms ached so much he could barely lift them, and blisters formed on the back of his hands from the sword hilt, but he didn't stop.
"break!"
Another sword strike was unleashed.
The sword energy struck the boulder, deepening the cracks on it, but it still didn't break open.
Zhou Ning gritted his teeth and forced the last bit of his inner energy into his body.
"Break for me!"
A dazzling blue light shone from the Qingfeng Sword, stronger than ever before.
The sword energy struck the boulder like a bolt of lightning.
"Snap!"
The boulder split in two and crashed to the ground.
Zhou Ning slumped to the ground, panting heavily.
His internal energy was almost completely drained, and he didn't even have the strength to stand up.
But his eyes were full of joy.
He did it.
Yan Chixia walked up to him, looked down at the two halves of the boulder, and said calmly:
"Barely passable. But how much internal energy did you use for that sword strike?"
Zhou Ning thought for a moment: "Mostly."
"Most of it?" Yan Chixia shook his head.
"That's too much. The true 'Demon-Slaying Slash' only requires 20% of your inner energy. You used most of it, which means your energy concentration efficiency isn't high enough. Keep practicing."
Zhou Ning smiled wryly: "This disciple understands."
Yan Chixia took out a pill from her sleeve and handed it to him:
"This is a Qi-restoring pill; it will help you quickly recover your internal energy. After taking it, continue your practice."
Zhou Ning took the pill, tilted his head back, and swallowed it.
A warm medicinal power spread throughout the body, and new vital energy gradually surged from the parched dantian.
He stood up, walked to another boulder, and raised his sword again.
The days passed by.
Zhou Ning's "Demon-Slaying Slash" became more and more proficient. Initially, it required most of his Qi to be used, but later it only required 30%, then 20%, and then 15%.
He was finally able to unleash a considerable sword aura without exhausting his inner energy.
His skill in manipulating objects was also improving in the same way.
Under his divine will, the Qingfeng Sword could now fly steadily in the air for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Although it can't be used for attacks yet, at least it won't be crooked and fall down at any time like before.
On this day, Yan Chixia summoned him to the back mountain.
"You have already mastered the basics of the 'Demon-Slaying Slash,' and your manipulation of objects has also laid some foundation," Yan Chixia said.
"From today onwards, I will teach you something new."
Zhou Ning's eyes lit up: "Please give me your guidance, Master."
Yan Chixia took out a copper coin from his sleeve and placed it in his palm.
"Watch closely."
He closed his eyes and concentrated, the copper coin in his palm trembled slightly, then slowly rose and hovered in the air.
Zhou Ning held his breath and stared at the copper coin.
The copper coin spun a few times in the air, then suddenly flew out like an arrow, shooting towards a large tree ten paces away.
"Take it!"
The copper coin was embedded in the tree trunk, reaching a depth of one inch.
Zhou Ning gasped.
A tiny copper coin, driven by the master's divine will, could unleash such great power.
If it were shot at a person's vital points, wouldn't it be an instant kill?
"The art of controlling objects can not only control swords, but also anything else." Yan Chixia put away the copper coin.
"Coins, nails, flying needles... the smaller the object, the faster it moves and the harder it is to defend against."
He handed the copper coin to Zhou Ning: "Give it a try."
Zhou Ning took the copper coin, placed it in his palm, closed his eyes, and used his divine sense to perceive it.
The copper coin was very light, unlike the Green Edge Sword.
The moment his divine sense touched the copper coin, it trembled slightly and then flew up.
But it only flew less than three feet before falling to the ground.
"Too hasty," Yan Chixia said.
"The art of controlling objects emphasizes 'using spirit to control qi, and using qi to control objects.' If you directly use your divine sense to control the copper coin, it will naturally be unstable. You must first use your mind to guide the qi to envelop the copper coin, and then use the qi to drive it."
Zhou Ning seemed to be deep in thought, picked up the copper coin, and tried again.
This time, he didn't directly use his divine sense to control the copper coin. Instead, he first condensed his inner energy in his palm, letting it envelop the copper coin, and then used his divine sense to guide the flow of the inner energy.
The copper coin slowly rose and hovered three inches from the palm of the hand.
Although it wobbled, it didn't fall.
"Not bad." Yan Chixia nodded.
"Hold on. Let it move according to your will."
Zhou Ning gritted his teeth and focused all his attention on the copper coins.
The copper coin moved slowly forward, one inch, two inches, three inches...
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew by, and the copper coin lost its balance and fell to the ground.
Zhou Ning sighed, picked up the copper coin, and continued practicing.
One day, two days, three days...
The copper coin hovered in his palm for longer and longer periods, and moved farther and farther.
On the fifth day, the copper coin finally flew a distance of ten feet under his guidance and then landed steadily on the ground.
Although it didn't embed itself in the tree trunk like its master, at least it was able to fly away.
"There has been progress," Yan Chixia said.
"From today onward, you will practice with copper coins for one hour every day. Only when you can make them as agile as a flying sword will you be considered to have mastered the basics."
Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple understands."
He continued practicing, day after day.
Copper coins increased in size from one zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) to two zhang (approximate
From straight-line flight to curved flight, to hovering in the air...
From landing silently to making a small crater in the ground...
Zhou Ning's skill in manipulating objects finally made a qualitative leap.
One day, he was practicing on the back mountain when he suddenly heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats coming from below.
He sheathed his sword, turned around, walked to the edge of the cliff, and looked down. He saw a knight in official robes galloping along the mountain road.
"Brother Zhou, Brother Zhou, the imperial court has issued an order."
Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine and quickly walked down the mountain.
The knight dismounted, took out an official document from his pocket, and handed it to Zhou Ning.
"By order of the Demon Suppression Bureau, we request that Immortal Yan and his disciples proceed swiftly to the north to ward off the demonic calamity."
Zhou Ning took the official document, unfolded it, and took a look.
The official document was stamped with a bright red seal, and its contents were largely the same as what Master Wang had said before.
The demonic calamity in the north is escalating, with several cities already breached by the monsters, resulting in countless deaths and injuries among the people.
The imperial court called upon all those who practiced spiritual cultivation to join in the national crisis.
"I understand." Zhou Ning carefully put the official document away.
"I will go and report to Master right away."
He strode into the main hall and handed the official document to Yan Chixia.
After reading it, Yan Chixia remained silent for a moment, then said:
"The situation in the North is more serious than I imagined."
He stood up, hands behind his back, and paced back and forth:
"Your current cultivation level is not yet sufficient, but we can't delay any longer."
Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "Master means..."
"Go," Yan Chixia said.
"But not in the name of the Demon Suppression Division, but in the name of my disciple Yan Chixia."
He took out a token from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning:
"This is my token. When you arrive in the North, if any cultivators try to make things difficult for you, show this token, and they will not dare to act rashly."
Zhou Ning accepted the token and solemnly said, "This disciple understands."
"And another," Yan Chixia added.
"The journey to the north is fraught with peril. Although you have made some progress in your 'Demon-Slaying Sword Technique' and your ability to manipulate objects, it is still far from sufficient. You must practice diligently on the road and not slack off."
Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple has remembered."
"Go ahead," Yan Chixia waved his hand. "Come back soon."
Zhou Ning bowed respectfully and withdrew from the main hall.
He returned to his lodgings and packed his bags.
This time, he brought more things than ever before.
The Qingfeng Sword, the Bixie Sword, copper coins, talismans, cinnabar, yellow paper, elixirs, and that book, "Local Landscape Records".
With everything prepared, he bowed deeply to Yan Chixia and then went down the mountain.
When he reached the foot of the mountain, he looked back at Lanruo Temple.
Yan Chixia stood at the entrance of the main hall, hands behind his back, watching him leave.
Zhou Ning felt a warmth in his heart, turned around, and strode towards the north.
Behind me, the sun was setting, and the evening glow was like blood.