Chapter 152: Nine Babies

Ning Changjiu took the sword, stepped over the array, and walked towards the center of the arena.

No one noticed when he arrived, nor did anyone know who he was.

"Courageous indeed." Fang Hege glanced at him, praising him genuinely, then asked, "May I know your esteemed name?"

Most of the genius disciples among the Four Peaks were already famous; even if they hadn't fought, they had heard of each other. Fang Hege's question, if directed at another somewhat well-known disciple, would have been considered an insult.

However, no one from the other three peaks truly recognized Ning Changjiu; even the elders had only 'occasionally heard' of this disciple.

Ning Changjiu looked at the young man in elegant white robes before him and noticed that the other's white robes were even cleaner than his own.

Though this was due to days of travel, it made him somewhat displeased. He replied calmly, "Ning Changjiu."

"Ning Changjiu..." Fang Hege pondered for a moment and then recalled him, "Are you Ning Xiaoling's senior brother?"

Ning Changjiu was slightly surprised, thinking that Xiaoling was quite famous now. He nodded, "Precisely."

Fang Hege gently shook his head and said, "Let your junior sister come. You won't do."

While this was an insult to Ning Changjiu, it was an immense affirmation for Ning Xiaoling. Among the Four Peaks, some already regarded the rising star of Tianku Peak as another Lu Jiajia, often comparing her to other geniuses. Ning Xiaoling's swordplay today was eagerly anticipated by many.

The Shouxiao Peak Master, relieved to see Lu Jiajia return to the peak, looked at the young man challenging his eldest disciple and whispered to someone nearby, "I have heard of this person. But weren't the rumors that he was an outer disciple? Wouldn't participating in the Four Peaks Sword Meet break the rules?"

"He's reportedly become an inner disciple," the elder beside him replied, "but he's probably just seeking fame, riding on his junior sister's coattails."

"Ning Xiaoling..." the Shouxiao Peak Master murmured the name, "Lu Jiajia was about this age when she participated in the Four Peaks Sword Meet, wasn't she?"

"Do you think she can be compared to Jiajia?"

"We'll only know after seeing her sword."

"And this Ning Changjiu..."

"Perhaps just a pawn to test Hege's style, giving Ning Xiaoling some mental preparation."

"The Peak Master is right."

The disciples of Tianku Peak were pleased by Ning Changjiu's presence, but this joy stemmed from their master's safe return. Regarding the challenge to Fang Hege, most still thought Ning Changjiu was overestimating himself.

Le Rou stared at the white robes, her past conjectures swirling in her mind, and the jeers and sneers of others buzzing around her. Suddenly, her heart warmed, and she felt Ning Changjiu could win.

She turned her head, her gaze piercing through many contemptuous eyes, towards the back of the crowd, where Ning Xiaoling, in a delicate white dress, stood beside her master.

Ning Xiaoling's face held a smile like cherry blossoms opening in the spring breeze, while her master, standing beside her, was like a wall of unmelting ice beside the cherry blossoms.

She suddenly felt she had gained a secret, a secret known only to herself and Ning Xiaoling.

Everyone thought Ning Changjiu would lose, but they knew he could win.

This thought gave Le Rou an indescribable feeling. She even wanted to throw her arms up and tell everyone the secret, then listen to their mockery before witnessing their stunned expressions.

Clenching her fists to her chest, she forcefully suppressed the secret deep within, her eyes fixed on his back, her breathing growing heavier. She told herself that if Ning Changjiu truly won, her master would surely see his true colors and would definitely guard against him in the future!

Of course, it was also possible that she had misjudged him…

Ning Changjiu stood still, seemingly oblivious to Fang Hege's mockery, waiting only for the elders to announce the start.

Nan Cheng also fixed his gaze on him. Before returning to Tianku Peak, he suddenly cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "This person's swordsmanship is not simple. Senior, you must be careful."

Ning Changjiu hummed in acknowledgment.

Senior?

These words greatly perplexed many who heard them, wondering if Nan Cheng's mind had been affected.

Amidst their whispers, the sword contest finally began.

Although Fang Hege didn't truly consider him an opponent, he didn't underestimate him either. With a serious expression, he began to draw his sword.

The swordsmanship of Shouxiao Peak differed greatly from the spiritual elegance of Tianku Peak and the effortless grace of Xuairi Peak. Shouxiao Peak emphasized grandeur and power, like a solitary figure holding a sword atop a cloud, guarding the nine heavens, stirring the four seas with a single movement of sword qi.

The moment Fang Hege's sword qi surged, even the disciples standing far away felt their breath catch under the distant pressure. Many imagined themselves facing this sword directly, and their sword hearts flickered like candlelight in the wind, swaying ceaselessly.

The dozens of elders positioned around were ready to draw their swords and intervene at any moment.

Ning Changjiu calmly waited for Fang Hege to draw his sword. His sword, though originating from the same lineage as Tianku Peak's swordsmanship, when actually performed, was like the difference between detailed brushwork and splashed ink in a painting.

Even many female disciples who found Ning Changjiu handsome couldn't bear to watch the scene that was about to unfold.

Fang Hege, man and sword, descended as one.

From the sword's edge, several streams of sword qi burst forth like white dragons emerging from water, with earth-shattering force. Instantly, they condensed and swirled, rushing towards Ning Changjiu.

Ning Changjiu's lips moved slightly, as if he said something.

No one present could hear these words, but Fang Hege did.

Ning Changjiu had said, "Too slow."

He thought he had misheard.

The white dragons struck the ground, like waves engulfing snow, submerging Ning Changjiu's figure. Simultaneously, Fang Hege struck again towards the center of the vast sword qi, and plumes of snowy white sword qi exploded, obscuring their forms.

That moment felt both short and long.

The clash of blades rang out at an extremely high frequency within the sword qi, so fast it seemed like a single sound.

The sword light dissipated, like a spring breeze clearing mist from a cliffside.

Their figures reappeared.

They stood back to back, not far apart, with no visible injuries.

But Fang Hege no longer held his sword; Ning Changjiu held one in each hand.

Ning Changjiu glanced at the sword he had taken, thinking that the Shouxiao Peak master's eldest disciple's sword was indeed better forged.

He tossed the sword to Fang Hege: "Catch!"

Fang Hege hadn't fully recovered from the humiliation of having his blade taken from him bare-handed. He stood motionless, watching the sword fall to the ground.

Clang.

The sword arena was utterly silent now, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, let alone a sword.

Everyone was gripped by shocked silence.

Only a few highly cultivated elders had clearly seen what transpired within the sword qi.

Ning Changjiu's swordplay was remarkably simple: he used his own sword to strike his opponent's sword, an unknown number of times within a single breath, directly numbing Fang Hege's tiger's mouth, then reached out, grasped his sword hilt, and snatched the sword away.

Although Nan Cheng knew the senior would win, he hadn't expected it to be so effortless. He just didn't understand why a master like the senior would pretend to be a disciple. Then he thought of the scene when his master took him away alone that day, and felt as if he understood something.

The senior's ambition... was vast indeed.

Lu Jiajia showed little emotion, while Ning Xiaoling was beaming, shouting "Senior Brother! Senior Brother!" several times, her cries sounding extremely out of place in the silent sword arena.

Then, many disciples from Tianku Peak also began cheering his name.

Le Rou turned around, speechless. She hesitated about how to express her emotions; it felt awkward to rejoice with them, but staying aloof would make it seem like she was jealous of him, when she was the first to discover his hidden talent…

She was terribly conflicted.

Fortunately, no one noticed her.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on Ning Changjiu.

"What kind of swordsmanship is he using?"

"I didn't see clearly. It looked like just a few slashes?"

"Is Tianku Peak's swordsmanship that unadorned?"

"What do you know! That's called the Great Dao of Simplicity."

"I doubt it. Perhaps that Fang Hege was just seeking fame too."

"Why?" Fang Hege stared at the sword on the ground, hesitating whether to bend down to pick it up.

He didn't want to humble himself again under everyone's gaze.

Ning Changjiu said, "I told you, your sword is too slow."

Fang Hege didn't understand. "I'm already the fastest swordsman of our generation."

Ning Changjiu thought, "That simply means everyone else's swords are even slower. Do I really need to explain such a simple truth? How can he be dumber than Xiaoling?"

And at that moment, Ning Xiaoling was still giddily waving her arms, unaware of her senior brother's silent criticism.

Ning Changjiu originally didn't want to explain anything, but thinking of how Tianku Peak had been suppressed by the other peaks for so many years, he felt it was time to boost Lu Jiajia's prestige. So he put away his sword, clasped his hands in his sleeves, and with the air of an otherworldly master, said coolly, "Your dao heart is flawed. How can your sword be fast?"

A simple sentence, a broad generalization—Ning Changjiu himself wasn't sure what he was saying, but Fang Hege, upon hearing it, thought of many past events. It was as if he had been enlightened; his sword heart suddenly cleared.

The Shouxiao Peak Master frowned and murmured, "Hege actually broke through his long-standing mental block."

"What?" Another martial uncle, recovering from his shock, exclaimed, "Could this be Hege's destined opportunity?"

"After all these years, it was time for him to lose a sword fight. It's not a bad thing for him. If they meet again, this young man might not be his match."

"The Peak Master is absolutely right. We just don't know when their next encounter will be."

Fang Hege couldn't hear what they were saying, but his actions seemed to be an attempt to make up for the elders' regret. He turned to Ning Changjiu and seriously asked, "I lost this round, but may I ask you for one more sword?"

Ning Changjiu noticed the change in his body's sword intent and was somewhat surprised, but he didn't refuse, nodding, "You may."

Fang Hege didn't use spiritual energy but instead bent down and picked up his sword.

This time, there was no vast sword qi like a sea of clouds. The impurities in his sword intent were as if purified of lead, utterly pure. His sword was still not fast, but it showed no flaw, as if there was no other solution but to meet its blade head-on with a weapon.

Ning Changjiu's expression finally turned serious. As Fang Hege raised his hand, Ning Changjiu also drew his sword.

Their invisible sword intents clashed, sparking off tiny flickers of sword fire. These sword fires exploded between them like fireworks, brilliantly beautiful.

Sword met sword, twisted and entangled.

A piercing sound, like a sonic boom, erupted, and both their long hairs flew backward.

Their swords crossed and passed.

The sword fire quickly exhausted itself, a fleeting burst of fireworks.

Their sword contest still ended quickly.

Ning Changjiu used the fingers of his left hand to pinch Fang Hege's blade, while the sword in his right hand rested against the opponent's Adam's apple. When Fang Hege reached out to grasp it, Ning Changjiu had already stopped his sword, leaving Fang Hege to grasp only a handful of fresh blood.

Fang Hege's expression flickered; his dao heart nearly crumbled. He looked at Ning Changjiu and asked, "Why was that, again?"

Ning Changjiu was too lazy to explain much, simply saying, "Because I am stronger than you."

He sheathed his sword and walked towards Tianku Peak.

"Wait." Suddenly, someone called out to him.

It was a middle-aged man in black robes. He said, "The Four Peaks Sword Meet isn't over yet."

Only then did Ning Changjiu remember that he still had many opponents. He turned around and asked, "Who's next?"

No one responded.

After a long silence, a disciple who refused to believe in fate finally stepped forward. He was a disciple from Huiyang Peak. He felt that Shouxiao Peak's sword might have been naturally countered by Ning Changjiu, and since his own swordsmanship was different, he might have a chance.

But he exchanged only a single move with Ning Changjiu before his sword was gone, again disarmed bare-handed.

Then a young girl came forward, saying she wanted to spar with Ning Changjiu. Ning Changjiu, always soft-hearted towards younger girls, pretended to be evenly matched and exchanged a few moves with her.

However, the young girl had finally mustered the courage to challenge him, hoping to learn some invaluable moves, but she didn't expect such differential treatment. She felt even more ashamed than when her sword was taken in one move, and actually cried in frustration, turning to leave immediately.

Upon returning to her peak, another female elder, elegant and quiet in appearance, comforted her by stroking her head.

A man accompanied the female elder.

No one noticed how forlorn Luo Yuanbai looked as he stared at the woman.

Ning Changjiu stood in place, waiting a while longer. He actually disliked the feeling of hundreds of people staring at him. He just wanted to get the Phantom Snow Lotus and leave; it was what Zhao Xiang'er needed.

"Where did you learn your swordsmanship?" Xue Xunxue asked, full of questions.

Ning Changjiu answered evasively, "My master taught me well."

The disciples of Tianku Peak thought, "Why is he putting on airs? I've never seen him pay attention in class!"

Ning Xiaoling thought, "Senior Brother really does spend a lot of time alone with Master…"

Lu Jiajia felt a little guilty about this statement; after all, he was the one teaching her things every night.

Her heart couldn't help but ripple, yet her face remained expressionless, her figure in the snow-white robes, stirred by the spring breeze, only appeared colder and more arrogant.

Xue Xunxue had always believed she was no weaker than Lu Jiajia, and Ning Changjiu's words clearly seemed to her like a deliberate attempt to belittle her.

A hidden anger rose in her heart. She scanned the surrounding disciples, silently wondering if there was anyone she could send out to deflate his arrogance, but as she looked around, she suddenly felt that all she saw were stubborn dolts with lowered heads.

No one came forward to challenge him.

All the disciples of Tianku Peak were very happy. They had never imagined that this unremarkable Ning Changjiu was so formidable, and they couldn't help but feel ashamed about their past criticisms of him.

However, a few disciples couldn't be happy at all.

Yun Ze whispered, "He clearly had cultivation, but he kept pretending. He only got his inner disciple's plaque two months ago. He was clearly toying with us!"

Xu Weiran, however, had already resigned himself, saying, "It wasn't exactly toying. After all, he never told us his cultivation level. We should have realized it the day he lit up his sword star…"

Le Rou smoothed her skirt. The thought of how she had tried to trick him in the past and ended up getting beaten by her master made her feel she could never forgive him.

"Is there anyone else?" Ning Changjiu waited a while longer, unable to resist asking.

"Yes."

Finally, someone answered.

That answer, however, came not from within the Four Peaks, but from the distant heavens.

The peach curtain vibrated uneasily.

"Who dares trespass into the Heavenly Sect!" The Shouxiao Peak Master roared in anger.

The other three Peak Masters also rose to their feet, jointly activating the great mountain protection array.

"Jing Yangxia, your current cultivation is indeed acceptable, but you are far, far from Han Chi Zhenren. Do you really think you can stop me?"

Jing Yangxia was the Shouxiao Peak Master's name, known by few.

The peach curtain, taller than the mountains themselves, swayed restlessly like an ordinary cloth in a strong wind. From its tightly closed center, a gap began to open.

From within the Four Peaks, several swords shot out simultaneously, slashing towards the trespassers.

With a resounding boom, purple qi came from the east. Countless swords converged into a hurricane, suddenly tearing open the curtain. Several figures, carried by the hurricane of dao swords, flew through the air, reaching the outside of the Heavenly Sect in an instant.

The Four Peaks' great mountain protection arrays activated together, and the sky-filled sword intent shredded the flowing clouds.

The intruders were led by an old man in purple robes, followed by two individuals and several more in purple robes.

The Shouxiao Peak Master, Jing Yangxia, stared at the old man leading them, his voice chilling, "Shi Wu…"

Shi Wu, the Master of the Zitian Dao Sect, had personally arrived at the Heavenly Sword Sect.

"Your Zitian Dao Sect is considered orthodox. Are you truly going to commit such an act of cultivators harming one another?" Jing Yangxia already held his Bihua Sword, standing ready.

Shi Wu looked at him, smiling slightly, "What, do you dare to draw your sword against me?"

Jing Yangxia said, "When Han Chi Zhenren was at Huanpo Mountain, why didn't I see you making such a racket?"

Shi Wu gave a carefree laugh and said, "Are you trying to say this old daoist is bullying others with power? Haha, your Heavenly Sword Sect acted unjustly first. Today, I merely come to seek justice."

Jing Yangxia said, "If you want to frame someone, you'll always find an excuse. You don't need to find such high-sounding reasons."

Shi Wu scanned his surroundings, his smile fading, his expression cold, and said, "Hand over the Heavenly Soul Lantern, and I won't wish to be your enemy."

"The Heavenly Soul Lantern?"

"Don't play dumb. A few months ago, the Heavenly Soul Lantern was stolen. We followed the clues and finally pinpointed the Heavenly Sword Sect. Qi Yi infiltrated your peak and found the Heavenly Soul Lantern's hiding place, but you silenced him." Shi Wu looked towards Tianku Peak and said, "Qi Yi's death is a disgrace to my Dao Sect. However, if you are willing to directly hand over the Heavenly Soul Lantern, I can let bygones be bygones and avoid conflict."

Shi Wu's words were light as the wind, yet as they swept past the mountain protection array, they vibrated like wind through a curtain, shaking the Four Peaks' great array.

Everyone else looked towards Tianku Peak.

Lu Jiajia stepped forward, sword in hand, saying, "I know nothing of any Heavenly Soul Lantern. But an outsider trespassed into my peak, even attempting to assassinate me. My killing him with my sword was not undue."

Only then did the other disciples of Tianku Peak learn of Lu Jiajia's assassination attempt that day, and they were filled with indignation.

Behind Shi Wu, an inconspicuous person suddenly raised his head, his cold eyes piercing through the mountain protection array and settling on the white-robed figure: "You killed Jiu San?"

Lu Jiajia said coldly, "Sending others to their deaths after issuing a challenge yourself—it seems the renowned Fourteen Robes are nothing special after all."

Fourteen Robes, however, laughed. His laughter was like the grinding of pebbles, extremely unsettling. "Don't you dare disappoint me."

Lu Jiajia showed no fear towards this mysterious Dao Sect master. She said, "Today's Four Peaks Sword Meet is a major event for our Heavenly Sect. What is your true intention in trespassing at this time?"

Shi Wu smiled slightly and replied, "A hundred years ago, the Dao Sect and the Sword Sect were on good terms, and during the Four Peaks Sword Meet, disciples from my peak often came to spar. Now that the Heavenly Sect's influence grows ever greater, are you disdaining our disciples as too weak, no longer taking us seriously?"

Jing Yangxia remained silent. Indeed, a hundred years ago, the Four Peaks Sword Meet frequently invited members of the Zitian Dao Sect to spar together, but later, as the paths of the two sects diverged, interactions became rare.

Then Shi Wu turned his attention to the only young man still standing in the sword arena, saying, "Is this your eldest disciple? He seems to be called… Fang Hege? His demeanor is indeed impressive."

Jing Yangxia's expression grew even darker.

He knew he was no match for Shi Wu, but within the Heavenly Sword Sect, bolstered by the Four Peaks Array, he believed that even if Shi Wu forcibly attacked, he would have a chance to directly sever his sword.

But today, Shi Wu seemed so determined…

Jing Yangxia vaguely worried, "Could there be a hidden traitor within the Four Peaks?"

Ning Changjiu was not surprised by the Zitian Dao Sect's arrival. He directly followed Shi Wu's line of questioning: "Do you also have a disciple to challenge?"

"This young man is indeed intelligent," Shi Wu smiled and nodded. "Do you dare to fight?"

As he spoke, a young boy who appeared even younger than Ning Changjiu stepped out from behind him.

The boy wore black robes, his eyebrows were equally dark, yet exquisitely delicate, and his cheeks were as white as a corpse. His pupils, however, held a different color, like a red beach soaked by tides.

"Master," he bowed to Shi Wu.

Jing Yangxia sneered, "You merely want to find an excuse to trick us into activating the mountain protection array. Such clumsy tactics, yet you dare to call yourself a Peak Master."

Shi Wu shook his head and smiled, "This is my newly accepted personal disciple. We'll just send him in, and my companions and I are willing to retreat to the edge of the peach curtain and absolutely will not interfere."

"Who knows if he's really a disciple or some master who has reverted to childhood?" Xue Xunxue angrily retorted, "Don't take us for fools."

Shi Wu's smile was like an eternally unfurled banner. "With Peak Master Xue's discerning eye, can you truly not discern even this?"

Xue Xunxue's expression was grim.

Jing Yangxia stared at the disciple for a moment, indeed finding no abnormalities; he was merely a young man of exceptional talent.

Shi Wu said, "His name is Ba Yin, and he is only fourteen this year. A fight with your eldest disciple shouldn't be a disadvantage. If he loses, we will withdraw from the Heavenly Sect. If he wins, you merely hand over the Heavenly Soul Lantern. How about it?"

Lu Jiajia said, "I told you, Tianku Peak simply…"

Shi Wu interrupted, "Whether you have it or not isn't for you to decide. I want to search personally."

Lu Jiajia exchanged glances with the other Peak Masters. They tacitly understood, ready at any moment to unleash their mountain-guarding swords and force Shi Wu out of the peak.

But Lu Jiajia knew better than the other three that the Zitian Dao Sect must have a significant trump card now.

But how could the Heavenly Sect, established for over three hundred years, back down?

"Let him in," Ning Changjiu said.

His words were ill-timed; no matter how great his talent, what was happening now was not something a mere disciple could influence.

Shi Wu laughed, "Are the demeanors of you Peak Masters truly inferior to that of a mere disciple?"

Jing Yangxia ignored Ning Changjiu's words and said to the other Peak Masters, "There must be no breach in the mountain protection array."

The disciple named Ba Yin, however, seemed a bit impatient. He furrowed his pale face, his voice somewhat childish, "Master, since they won't let me in, I'll go in myself then."

These words seemed contradictory.

But a triumphant smile spread across Shi Wu's face.

Ba Yin's body floated lightly, and under everyone's stunned gaze, he passed through the Four Peaks' mountain protection array as if it were nothing, arriving effortlessly in the arena.

This was something even Shi Wu couldn't do, yet this young child had accomplished it with ease.

He stood before Ning Changjiu, truly appearing as if he had only come for a martial contest.

It was at this moment that Ning Changjiu finally confirmed his identity and sighed softly, "Nine Infant."

Space was, after all, one of the fragmented authorities he wielded.

The black-robed youth's brows furrowed little by little, like a child whose beloved toy had been taken away.

He had just been reborn today and originally wanted to pretend to be an ordinary person and play for a while longer, but he hadn't expected to be directly recognized by this person. This made him extremely angry.

He flared up childishly, "How dare mere mortals utter my name directly?"

This statement sounded somewhat ridiculous coming from his face.

But the next moment, the world cleared.

All the cold mist condensed into gigantic swords. These swords were like boats suspended in the air, and without exception, their prows were aimed directly at Ning Changjiu.