Chapter 291: Chapter 289: Creating Sin!

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Chapter 291 -289: Creating Sin!

“Ah?”

The woman was taken aback, but secretly delighted inside. The grinding stone had been picked out from a pile of rubbish by her, and she had no use for it. Now that someone was willing to spend five copper coins to buy it, why would she be unwilling to let it go?

Therefore, she bit her red lips and said, “Alright, five it is!”

Ning Daoran took out five copper coins from his storage bag, which were so plentiful for him that copper coins really were a rare commodity.

As for the grinding stone, he threw it directly into the storage bag.

Using divine sense to inspect the grinding stone was fruitless, because its exterior was wrapped in a thick layer of mysterious rock material that divine sense couldn’t penetrate, making it impossible for even a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator to find any value in it by chance.

But Ning Daoran’s Returning to Nature level Grey Eyes Technique could see through the heart of the grinding stone, where there was a fiery red jade which could likely be refined into a third-tier low-grade magic jade stone type of treasure.

Even if he didn’t refine it into a treasure, keeping it as a trading chip was also viable, placing it in the storage bag as if to enrich his own foundation!

Ning Daoran found this sensation all too familiar.

In his previous life, when he was young, he played games with his classmates for three years. When the farewell meal was over and he was clearing his account to leave the game, he found continuous surprises in the storage—here an extremely good Good and Evil Horse, there a whole wagon of level 60 rings, and in the home storage a level 100 Divine Protection Zhanlu sword that wasn’t being used, among other things. Each discovery of remnants from the past brought him endless joy and satisfaction.

Glancing at the delighted woman, Ning Daoran felt a bit of pity.

“Miss, what is your name?”

“Chi Susu.”

The other party cheekily said, “The senior isn’t…thinking of returning the item, right?”

“Not at all.”

Ning Daoran smiled and shook his head, and then left with Big Stupid Deer.

…

After passing through the alleyway full of stalls, the bustling main street of Ji City lay ahead.

Rows of taverns, guesthouses, gambling houses and the like densely packed the street, with the prosperity of the main street forming a stark contrast to the everyday lives of the common people living amongst the decrepit walls of the alley.

Eventually, Ning Daoran settled down at a guesthouse named Tongfu Inn; a second-floor room costing twenty copper coins per night, which was fairly cheap.

However, the meals were a bit expensive.

For lunch, Ning Daoran and Old Lu ordered two meat and two vegetarian dishes and it cost a whole coin of silver; the food wasn’t even that great—it was too salty!

But as an immortal, he couldn’t be bothered to fuss over it.

In the afternoon, Ning Daoran took the White Deer back into the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven and left the city, changing his appearance to that of Independent Practitioner Jianjia, and headed towards Dragon Martial Mountain to the north of Ji City.

Dragon Martial Mountain was a rather famous sect within Xuzhou, entirely composed of martial artists and inherited one of the Three Great Martial Arts Absolutes, the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture.

The Sect Leader Nie Qinghe, at the early stage of the Baodan realm, was only average in terms of cultivation.

However, Dragon Martial Mountain stood unshaken due to its formidable Supreme Elder.

Nie Shentong, a martial arts fanatic over a hundred years old, was said to possess late-stage Baodan realm strength. It was said that he once killed a mid-stage Golden Core provocateur with three punches, serving as the live advertisement for Dragon Martial Mountain.

“I am Independent Practitioner Jianjia, seeking an audience with the Sect Leader of Dragon Martial Mountain.”

Ning Daoran first gave a show of respect and seeking permission with his Golden Core status, even without a visitation note, but the status alone was sufficient.

Not long after, two late-stage Liquid Condensation elders hurried down the mountain, inviting Ning Daoran to ascend with respectful attitudes.

At the summit, in the main hall of Dragon Martial Mountain.

A robust middle-aged martial artist with a strong presence stepped forward, greeting with a respectful smile, “I am Nie Qinghe, the Sect Leader of Dragon Martial Mountain. Fellow Daoist Jianjia, your visit truly graces our Mountain!”

“Fellow Daoist is too kind!”

Ning Daoran greeted with a clenched fist and a smile, “I come to Dragon Martial Mountain to discuss a certain transaction with Fellow Daoist.”

“Oh?”

Nie Qinghe was struck with a sense of anticipation, “May I ask what transaction Fellow Daoist wishes to discuss?”

Ning Daoran glanced around to indicate there were too many people here.

Nie Qinghe immediately understood, gesturing for everyone to step back.

“Sect Leader Nie.”

Ning Daoran sat sipping tea and said, “No need to conceal it, I practice dual cultivation of magic and body. On the outside, I am a Golden Core, but actually, I am also a martial artist with exceedingly strong Blood Qi. However, my expertise as a martial artist is not nearly as advanced as Fellow Daoist’s. Therefore, my visit to Dragon Martial Mountain is actually to seek a complete copy of the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture, to advance further on the path of Body Refining.”

Nie Qinghe’s expression changed.

Ning Daoran quickly said, “Fellow Daoist, please don’t be in a hurry to refuse. I promise that once I obtain the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture, I will only practice it myself and will not spread it. If there comes a day when I die, the spread Dragon Demon Heart Scripture will also perish with me. I can make a Supreme Path Oath on this matter.”

“Hmph…”

Nie Qinghe said, “As for a supreme path oath like that, all those cultivators talk a big game, but in the end, who actually takes a Supreme Path Oath seriously?”

“Since Fellow Daoist doesn’t trust my character, maybe we can consider a trade. As long as Dragon Martial Mountain is willing to make a copy of the complete Dragon Demon Heart Scripture and give it to me, I will be at your service for any demand, whether it is magical treasures, spirit stones, talismans, or arrays, and so forth; I can satisfy Dragon Martial Mountain’s needs.”

“You misunderstand, Fellow Daoist.”

Nie Qinghe frowned and said, “The reason I hesitate is that the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture is the absolute skill of Dragon Martial Mountain. Even the inner sect disciples are only taught the upper part of the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture. To learn the complete scripture, one must be an Inner Sect Inheritor, meaning, the complete Dragon Demon Heart Scripture is actually passed down from one sect leader of Dragon Martial Mountain to the next. How could it be freely given to outsiders?”

“Do you really refuse to show any leniency, Fellow Daoist?”

Ning Daoran’s gaze turned frosty, “Even if I were to kill you, would you still not hand over the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture?”

“Feel free to try.”

Nie Qinghe, with his eyebrows tightly locked, said, “If I cannot defeat Fellow Daoist and you take away the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture, then it means I, Nie Qinghe, am not capable enough. Even if I go to the netherworld, I can still face my ancestors. But if I were to give the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture to an outsider just for some treasures, how would I, Nie Qinghe, have the face to meet my ancestors?”

“Is that so?”

Ning Daoran slightly raised an eyebrow, and suddenly a burst of cyan light radiated from within his body. A heaven-covering spiritual pressure descended, pinning Nie Qinghe in place, preventing him from moving. Then with a flick of his fingertip, a strand of sword intent pierced into the center of Nie Qinghe’s forehead.

That sword intent plunged into his inner world, pointing directly at his Divine Soul.

With just a thought, Ning Daoran could kill this Sect Leader of Dragon Martial Mountain!

“Fellow Daoist, go ahead and kill me!”

Nie Qinghe’s gaze was icy cold, “The Dragon Demon Heart Scripture is not with me. Killing me, you still won’t get it. Although Fellow Daoist might eventually find it after searching the whole sect, it doesn’t matter. At least I, Nie Qinghe, can face my ancestors after I go to the netherworld.”

Ning Daoran felt somewhat helpless.

This Nie Qinghe was really stubborn.

“Forget it, since Fellow Daoist is so set in your decision, I won’t force you against your will.”

Ning Daoran withdrew his finger, retracted his spiritual pressure, and said, “I will leave the mountain right away, sorry for the disturbance.”

“…”

As he watched Ning Daoran disappear like a fleeting shadow, it was Nie Qinghe who was left completely befuddled.

He had heard of the name Independent Practitioner Jianjia, who was rumored to be the “Great Evil of the Eastern Wasteland Cultivation World.” Even though he is a Golden Core Independent Practitioner, he possesses extraordinary strength, having even given the Nascent Soul Old Monster known as the Soul-devouring Demon a hard time. Moreover, it was said that this person had been at odds with the Xu Family in the area of the Immortal White Dragon City and even dueled Ancestor Xu, who was at the Early Stage of Nascent Soul, over the Tianluo Sea.

How incredible was it to duel a Nascent Soul monster and not die?

Nie Qinghe couldn’t understand. This Independent Practitioner Jianjia, without using any magical treasures, was able to immobilize him in an instant just with spiritual pressure and sword intent. This person, also regarded as a cultivator who walks the line between righteousness and evil, why didn’t he just kill him and take the complete Dragon Demon Heart Scripture? Wouldn’t that be cleaner and simpler?

For a moment, Nie Qinghe’s opinion about this Independent Practitioner Jianjia’s character wavered, torn between “He’s a good person” and “If Jianjia were a good person, pigs would climb trees.”

“Order passed down, activate the Mountain Protection Formation!”

Nie Qinghe still felt that this person was not easy to deal with, and he swiftly ordered to brace the mountain for defense against a possible surprise attack from Jianjia.

…

Deep in the night.

Deep beneath Dragon Martial Mountain, there was suddenly a strong fluctuation of prohibition, followed by a small breach in the base of the Mountain Protection Formation. A figure used Earth Escape Technique to pass through the prohibition and enter Dragon Martial Mountain.

Needless to think, it was Ning Daoran.

He was not someone who would just accept a refusal and back down. In his previous life, he was the sort who would persist and finally succeed after failing his driving test dozens of times; a person of unwavering determination. Since he had decided to come to Ji City to seek the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture, he wouldn’t leave without the complete scripture.

Therefore, Ning Daoran activated Plan B.

He decided to secretly infiltrate the back mountain of Dragon Martial Mountain, to the “Ancestral Mausoleum” where the previous sect leaders were interred, and Soul Search those old fellows. As long as the souls of these ancestors were still there, he should be able to piece together the entire Dragon Demon Heart Scripture; it was just a bit more troublesome.

As for why he didn’t Soul Search Nie Qinghe during the day, it was because outside the main hall door, a group of Martial Artists at the Late-stage Liquid Condensation level were on high alert. If he actually conducted a Soul Search, the entire Dragon Martial Mountain would rise up against him, which would be too troublesome.

Back mountain.

Mausoleums stood tall, those in the front row belonging to people who had made outstanding contributions to Dragon Martial Mountain. The middle rows were filled with vice sect leaders and elders of merit, and the last few rows were the resting places of all past sect leaders of Dragon Martial Mountain, including the first generation Sect Leader Taoist Longwu.

Ning Daoran employed his Divine Sense and saw clumps of hazy souls.

This was a place where most people would not dare to come.

“Shua!”

He executed a graceful somersault and landed in front of the last row of mausoleums. The first tombstone belonged to Taoist Longwu, the second to Master White Tiger, the second sect leader, and the third belonged to a legendary figure of Dragon Martial Mountain hailed as the Sovereign of Resurgence… the legendary Tombstone of Taoist Chongxu…

Ning Daoran took a deep breath, activated his Returning to the True Level Soul Searching Technique, and instantly, his eyes glowed with a bloody light. With a stomp, he said in a deep tone, “Come out, all of you. No hiding!”

“Shua shua shua~~~”

One after another, hazy figures rose from the graves, from Taoist Longwu to Taoist Chongxu, and even to the previous Sect Leader Nie Qiuzhen. Perhaps because Nie Qiuzhen had died most recently, his visage was the clearest and his Divine Soul Strength was the highest.

…

All of a sudden, an old man hiding in the shadows, who had been observing Ning Daoran’s actions, couldn’t help but tremble. As he watched the Residual Soul of Nie Qiuzhen, tears involuntarily streamed down his face, “Brother… what a sin…”