Chapter 30: A New Record

Sword Dynasty

Volume 2

Chapter 30: A New Record

A black lacquered gate in the courtyard opened from the inside. Wang Taixu, wearing a white fox fur robe, walked out and boarded the carriage waiting at the entrance.

In the hall behind this gate were dozens of prominent figures from Changling's street and underworld gangs. They stared at his retreating back in silence for a long time.

A few weeks ago, the master of the Two Level Tower had been sitting with them, but a few weeks later, he had received strong support from the powerful Warden’s Office. The Warden’s Office had employed some incredibly powerful tactics to help pave his way into Changling. From that day on, he would determine many of the rules of Changling's streets and underworld.

Everyone present knew something about the events of that bloody night, to varying degrees. In their opinion, seizing territory and profits from street and underworld gangs was nothing major, but daring to seize territory from the Warden’s Office was truly admirable and worthy of respect.

After entering his carriage, Wang Taixu rubbed his temples. Exhausted, he leaned back against the soft cushions and closed his eyes to rest.

Establishing rules and redistributing territory for the major figures in Changling's street and underworld gangsters was no easy feat. He knew he could not rely solely on threats to establish his position from now on. He had to make people feel that he was superior to those before him.

The end of the year was approaching. The streets of Changling were busier than usual, and happy children were running everywhere.

Even Falling Parasol Alley, once a poor place, now had a cheerful atmosphere with its garlands and ribbons.

When Ding Ning saw Wang Taixu's carriage appear at the alley entrance, he immediately went to greet him.

After settling comfortably in his usual spot in the carriage, Ding Ning looked at Wang Taixu, who had removed his mask, and said, “Taking revenge is very tiring.”

Wang Taixu smiled.

Every time he saw Ding Ning, he felt very relaxed. This relaxation came from the fact that he did not have to rack his brains to think and solve problems. Ding Ning was usually better at this than he was.

“It should be Liang Lian.” He suppressed a smile as he looked at Ding Ning.

To anyone else, these words would have sounded abrupt and confusing. But Ding Ning knew all the information contained in Wang Taixu's words.

Ding Ning sneered. “What a coincidence.”

Wang Taixu misunderstood Ding Ning's meaning, nodded, and said, “His military achievements are complete. He only lacks the foundation to be elevated to marquis. He has quite a high status in the military. Several clues also point to him… Moreover, recently, he has been the only one who has been the target of dissatisfaction from the empress and the two prime ministers. It's a coincidence that Sect Master Xue was being used to convey the empress's intentions.”

Ding Ning fell silent.

To him, his grudge against Liang Lian was far greater than what was happening right now.

“Liang Lian can't be dealt with so quickly. You still lack the support of a sufficiently influential cultivator.”

A moment later, Ding Ning looked at Wang Taixu and said, “Previously, there was Sect Master Xue, but now there isn't.”

Wang Taixu nodded. “How is Sect Master Xu’s health?”

Ding Ning said, “He will live to see next year’s Min Mountain Sword Trials.”

Wang Taixu smiled bitterly.

Ding Ning glanced at him and said, “However, you don’t need to look for anyone else for the time being. Perhaps, after next year’s Min Mountain Sword Trials, I might have considerable influence.”

Wang Taixu immediately stilled.

“It’s not that I will have enough power. But if I can achieve first place, my status in the eyes of the powerful and noble people in Changling will be different. For example, no one in Changling would dare to kill An Baoshi and Jing Liuli,” Ding Ning said calmly.

“Achieving first place in the Min Mountain Sword Trials?”

Although Wang Taixu knew that Ding Ning had joined the White Goat Cave to participate in the Min Mountain Sword Trials, when he heard Ding Ning’s words just now, he still found it hard to believe.

Ding Ning glanced at him but did not explain. He simply said, “If you’re free, you can pick me up tonight.”

Wang Taixu’s tired eyes immediately flashed with light.

He knew that Ding Ning would not have said such things if there wasn't a special reason. So he said without hesitation, “Alright, I'll wait for you outside the gate of the White Goat Cave.”

 

As the end of the year approached, it was also time for the White Goat Cave to take a break. Most of the disciples had left the sect, so the White Goat Cave was quieter than usual.

Ding Ning was led by a master of the White Goat Cave to a hidden hut on a cliff. After closing the door, he sat on a meditation mat and took out a pill bottle from his sleeve. He swallowed the slightly bitter yellow medicinal liquid without leaving a single drop.

As usual, he closed his eyes and quickly entered his inner perception.

The yellow medicinal power spread throughout his body. As time passed, his five organs turned slightly yellow. The presence his five organs were emitting became extremely powerful, as if his five organs were burning. The countless “little silkworms” hidden within his body began to awaken and gently and quickly devour the medicinal power, then, like spinning silk, released an even purer medicinal power.

The five energies in his body became increasingly powerful. Under the control of his mental power, the countless “little silkworms” within his body became more active. Initially, they had been passively consuming the five energies and the energy from the spirit vein around their mouths, and now they were gulping down large amounts.

The meditation mat beneath him began to emit a low hissing sound.

At first, the spirit vein beneath him naturally released energy. Immediately, like a large amount of water being sucked in, the energy merged with the physical energy within his body and then flowed into his energy sea. The physical energy in his energy sea nd the bodies of the countless “little silkworms” became even more condensed.

Ding Ning seemed to know that he had reached a certain point which was a threshold, and a certain point where an opportunity had arrived. His mental power, in a calm state of mind, began to slowly spill out of his body. His body and the air around him seemed to have become a small pond.

If Nangong Caishu could sense his perception at this moment, she would surely be shocked.

In his perception, there were countless lines. The color of each line, and the direction and speed of each energy flow were all very clear.

He did not wait like Nangong Caishu. Instead, he gently channeled his mental power into these numerous energy lines.

The original energy within these energy lines feels absolutely no fear or resistance. Instead, they seemed excited, as if meeting old friends. They seemed to cheer and impatiently merge with Ding Ning's mental power. They flowed rapidly into his body and joyfully merged with his physical energy.

It was as if they were meant to be here all along and had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Countless stars of light continuously twinkled on the surface of Ding Ning's skin, emitting a dazzling brilliance.

This process was completely beyond the control of most cultivators. It was like snow falling from the sky; whether it was heavy or light, and when it would accumulate was up to the will of the heavens.

Yet Ding Ning was able to control this process!

Countless invisible silkworms seemed to rise and crawl on the surface of his body, and countless thin strands stretched into the surrounding air.

Guided by those thin strands, it was like snowflakes falling in large numbers and at an even faster speed, and the stars of light on his body surface appeared even more rapidly. The physical energy in his body merged with the primal energies of the universe, and the speed of his transformation increased. He appeared as radiant as jade. All the vital energy in his body, which had been in a gaseous state, vanished and became a luminous liquid that now flowed into his energy sea.

This was the Vital Energy Realm.

The breakthrough he experienced was not simply a case of flowing water eventually forming a channel, but rather, it was as if he had dug the channel before the water arrived, allowing it to flow more smoothly.

The breakthrough did not take long. Once his physical energy and body reached the point where they could condense vital energy, the breakthrough occurred instantly.

The obstacles that hindered the progress of other cultivators seemed to be nonexistent to him.

It was late at night, and so dark that even his fingers could not be seen. The master of the White Goat Cave, who was waiting on a nearby suspension bridge, began to grow worried.

Normally, Ding Ning would have come out by this time. Had he encountered some kind of problem in his cultivation today?

Just as he was about to rush towards the hut where Ding Ning was, the door of the hut was pushed open.

When he saw Ding Ning come out and saw Ding Ning's exceptionally bright and clear face, this middle-aged master of the White Goat Cave began to tremble uncontrollably.

The suspension bridge beneath him even emitted countless metallic clanging sounds due to the turbulence of his presence being released.

 

Wang Taixu waited quietly in the carriage at the gate of the White Goat Cave.

In fact, the carriage had not left since he brought Ding Ning here this morning.

When he heard familiar footsteps, he lifted the curtain and saw Ding Ning walking down the mountain path. Wang Taixu was very surprised.

A moment later, looking at Ding Ning, who was already walking towards him, he said softly, filled with admiration, “I knew something unusual would happen today. But I didn't expect it to be so unusual.”

Wang Taixu paused for a moment and looked at Ding Ning. He continued, “From the sword test festival until now, it hasn’t even been eight months.”

Ding Ning and Wang Taixu had not even known each other for eight months. But Ding Ning clearly understood why Wang Taixu had deliberately mentioned eight months.

Because the fastest cultivation record set by the young geniuses of Changling, An Baoshi and Jing Liuli, for realm two Energy Refinement to realm three Vital Energy, was eight months.

So Ding Ning's breakthrough today was certainly a new record in all of Changling.

 

Notes:

This novel is not my work... I just translated it from a Chinese web novel written by Wu Zui

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