The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun.

"When we practice, we always say it's almost there, but now it's always just a little bit short. If you were to actually fight someone, that little bit of shortness would be enough to kill you countless times."

Bang!

Linghu Chong was sent flying by Feng Qingyang's blow.

"Your Huashan swordsmanship is so poor, and your movements are so slow. Your legs are even worse than mine, an old man in his seventies or eighties. The Huashan swordsmanship in your hands is just a show. Who are you trying to impress?"

Feng Qingyang sneered.

Linghu Chong looked sullen, but his anger surged after hearing Feng Qingyang's words.

"Then please instruct my grand-master on how to use it."

"hehe."

Feng Qingyang laughed: "Since you are so eager to learn, then I will reluctantly teach you."

As he spoke, Feng Qingyang looked around, flicked his sleeve, and a gust of wind struck a tree branch, which flew off and landed in Feng Qingyang's hand.

Feng Qingyang, with one hand on his waist and the other holding a tree branch, looked at Linghu Chong with a smile, but his entire demeanor suddenly changed, revealing his sharp edge.

"Now I'll demonstrate the Huashan Sword Technique to you, move by move. You'd better watch carefully and learn well."

As soon as he finished speaking, Feng Qingyang flicked his wrist, adopting the same stance as "Welcoming Guests with Pine Trees," but both his speed and movements were far more ferocious than Linghu Chong's previous move.

Linghu Chong was startled and quickly got up to defend himself.

Bang!

The tip of the branch in Feng Qingyang's hand landed on Linghu Chong's left shoulder, causing him excruciating pain. However, he reacted quickly, raising his right hand to sweep the branch upwards with his sword, intending to cut it in half. But Feng Qingyang had already pulled the branch back, and with a flick of his wrist, he delivered a powerful blow to Linghu Chong's back, causing him to feel a burning pain in his back.

But it wasn't over yet. Feng Qingyang kept whipping Linghu Chong with the tree branch in his hand, each strike landing hard on Linghu Chong's body. Every move was a Huashan sword technique, and Linghu Chong couldn't dodge a single one.

Linghu Chong endured seventy or eighty blows from Feng Qingyang before he finally stopped.

"I've just used all of the Huashan sword techniques. How did it feel?"

It hurts, it hurts too much.

Linghu Chong grimaced, his entire body burning with pain except for his face.

Feng Qingyang withdrew the internal energy attached to the tree branch and casually tossed it aside, looking somewhat refreshed.

Do you still think you're good enough?

Linghu Chong looked ashamed when asked the question and remained silent.

After a while.

“My grand-disciple is arrogant and complacent. Grand Uncle is right to teach him a lesson.”

Linghu Chong said sullenly.

"Grandmaster Uncle, please rest assured, your grand-disciple knows his mistake and will continue to focus on practicing at the Cliff of Repentance."

Although he was badly beaten like last time, Linghu Chong was still grateful to Feng Qingyang, who was telling him not to be complacent.

Moreover, this time was much better than the last time; at least the other party didn't embarrass us.

"Oh."

Feng Qingyang chuckled lightly: "What does it matter to me whether you focus on practicing your skills or not?"

After saying that, Feng Qingyang left gracefully.

Linghu Chong glanced at the luggage that had been packed earlier, sighed, picked up the package, and took it back into the cave.

……

courtyard.

Jiang Ning stood in the open space, one hand on his hip, eyes closed, motionless, surrounded by falling maple leaves.

After a while.

Jiang Ning moved slightly and began practicing martial arts in the courtyard. It was a basic Huashan martial art, but the movements were very slow, much slower than usual.

A gust of wind blew, and countless maple leaves fluttered and danced around Jiang Ning in the courtyard.

Jiang Ning kept his eyes closed and moved extremely slowly, with maple leaves swirling around him and refusing to dissipate.

After a while.

Jiang Ning stopped moving, opened her eyes, and the wind stopped, causing the maple leaves floating in the air to fall one after another.

Jiang Ning stretched out his hand, and one of the maple leaves landed in his palm. Jiang Ning stared at the maple leaf in a daze, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he had something on his mind.

"bottleneck."

Jiang Ning's gaze was unfocused, and he muttered to himself.

Two months have passed since Huiyin, a disciple of the Emei lineage, descended the mountain. During these two months, his progress in the Innate Skill has been slow and has now stagnated. He knows that he has reached a bottleneck.

Breaking through to the fourth stage seemed more difficult than he had imagined; he couldn't feel any sense of progress at all.

"I wonder how Master broke through to the next level."

Jiang Ning frowned slightly.

"Senior brother, senior brother."

In the distance, a junior disciple ran towards them, waving his arm and holding something in his hand.

Someone delivered a letter to you.

"letter?"

Jiang Ning was surprised, then took the letter. The envelope was addressed to Brother Jiang Ning, and the handwriting was Zhang Quandao.

Zhang Quandao was a Taoist priest from the Qingcheng School.

Ok?

Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow. Why would Zhang Daoshi write him a letter for no reason?

Chapter 170: The Storm is Brewing

He had never written to Zhang Daoshi before, so he wondered why Zhang Daoshi had suddenly written to him this time.

Could it be that something is wrong with those children?

With a hint of curiosity, Jiang Ning opened the envelope.

Brother Jiangning:

Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person; opening it brings a smile to my face.

It has been a long time since we last met, and the weather has been unpredictable lately, with fluctuating temperatures. Please take good care of yourself.

The text began with greetings, which Jiang Ning quickly skipped before moving on to the main content. The Taoist priest mentioned the children who had been rescued. They had all basically joined the Qingcheng Sect and become Taoist novices. They were doing quite well recently, and the Taoist priest had even started teaching them to read.

However, in the next part of Zhang Daoshi's letter, he mentioned that not long ago, rumors were circulating in the martial arts world that Jiang Ning, a disciple of Mount Hua, had chased down the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect. The rumors were spreading like wildfire, and Zhang Daoshi asked if the matter was true.

News of the previous battle between Jiang Ning and Ren Yingying still got out.

Jiang Ning was not surprised to see this.

There are no secrets that stay hidden forever. He and Ren Yingying fought in Hanzhong Prefecture. If someone wanted to investigate, they could. Moreover, with such a large flow of people at the time, it's possible that some people spread the word. It's just that he's a little surprised that it's only now spread to the martial arts world.

After mentioning this matter, Zhang the Taoist brought up another one.

The Five Poisons Sect, which has long been based in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Hunan, has recently started to make big moves. Some people have seen many members of the Five Poisons Sect heading towards the Central Plains, and their direction of travel seems to be towards Shaanxi.

Zhang the Taoist priest didn't know what the Five Poisons Sect wanted to do, but the Huashan Sect was located in Shaanxi. He was worried that the Five Poisons Sect might be detrimental to the Huashan Sect, so he sent this letter to warn Jiangning and the Huashan Sect to be careful.

Jiang Ning frowned after reading the letter.

Has Ren Yingying finally made a move?

Since he chased Ren Yingying last time, Ren Yingying has remained silent, as if she has disappeared, and has not made any further moves against the Huashan Sect.

He thought Ren Yingying was seriously injured and dead.

It seems the other person is lucky to be alive.

Jiang Ning put away the letter and prepared to go find Yue Buqun.

The Five Poisons Sect is a subordinate unit of the Sun Moon Sect. Their unusual movements, especially their direction towards Mount Hua, clearly indicate that they are targeting the Mount Hua Sect. He needs to warn Yue Buqun.

However, before Jiang Ning had gone far, another Huashan disciple was walking in this direction.

"Junior Brother Jiang Ning, where are you going?"

The Huashan disciple was surprised.

"Senior brother, is there something you need?"

Jiang Ning inquired.

"Yes, Master asked me to come and get you. He has something to discuss with you and is waiting for you in the main hall now."

Hmm? Yue Buqun also needs to see him?

Jiang Ning was surprised, then nodded to the Huashan disciple and quickened his pace toward the main hall, arriving shortly afterward.

"Master."

As soon as Jiang Ning stepped inside, he saw Yue Buqun sitting in the main seat with a furrowed brow and a piece of paper on the table.

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's voice, Yue Buqun raised his head and looked at him: "A letter has arrived from the Hengshan Sect. Take a look."

Jiang Ning was about to tell Yue Buqun the contents of the letter sent by the Qingcheng Sect when, unexpectedly, the Hengshan Sect also sent a letter. Both letters arrived at the same time.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Ning first picked up the letter on the table to read its contents, and then handed his letter to Yue Buqun.

"Master, this is a letter from Master Zhang of the Qingcheng Sect. It arrived today. Please take a look."

"Did it arrive today too?"

Yue Buqun, who had been looking somewhat solemn, was surprised upon hearing the news. He then took the letter and began to examine it.

After a while.

Jiang Ning's brows furrowed as well.