Chapter 403: Simply Outrageous!

For a moment, all those watching the battle were filled with shock and uncertainty.

Ning Zhuo comprehended a technique mid-battle. From Linghu Jiu, he had learned the spell Three-Thousand Water Strikes.

But his version of Three-Thousand Water Strikes was not ordinary. It was like dragons and serpents weaving about, moving endlessly, combining into joint assaults, forming three massive strikes.

Shen Lingshu, unaware of the truth, could no longer remain composed. His eyes widened, his heart trembling:

“Such extraordinary comprehension, as the rumors say—I’ve truly witnessed it with my own eyes today. Is this the Child of Tribulation? Truly remarkable!”

Zhu Xuanji also spoke:

“Ning Zhuo’s comprehension is this strong? No wonder he has advanced so greatly in Wood-attribute spells! No wonder the Three Sect Lords chose him.”

But Ning Jiufan, Lin Bufan, Lin Shanshan and others knew the truth.

It was because Ning Zhuo had once again received the guidance of the Five Elements Divine Lord beneath the Lingyin Willow. His realm had been elevated—something Ning Zhuo himself had disclosed to those around him.

Not only Sun Lingtong and Ning Jiufan, but even Linghu Jiu had not concealed it.

Since Linghu Jiu knew, then naturally Lin Bufan and Lin Shanshan also understood.

Even Lin Bufan’s beard-stroking came to a halt. His eyes flashed sharply:

“This brat Ning Zhuo—what level exactly has his Five Elements realm risen to?”

“To reach this degree, learning after just one glance… at least the level of a Grandmaster.”

At the Grandmaster level, one grasped the essential truth. Any cultivator at this stage could create spells and techniques by following the fundamental principles.

Grandmasters… were those capable of founding sects.

Ning Zhuo’s mid-battle comprehension essentially meant that he had long since mastered the essence of Water. Seeing Linghu Jiu display Three-Thousand Water Strikes was merely seeing an application of Water’s principles.

Thus, he could follow that principle, imitate such an application, standing at a vantage point above, naturally with an extremely high success rate.

Ning Jiufan split his mouth into a soundless laugh.

Ning Zhuo’s astounding display made the old ancestor of the Ning Family shine with pride.

“Ning Zhuo… still dependable!”

“A Grandmaster-level Five Elements realm… even I cannot help but envy it. I have cultivated until today yet never reached this level. This brat Ning Zhuo—after merely a few days and by fortuitous chance, he has attained it.”

“Where is the justice in this!”

Lin Shanshan also understood:

“I see it now.”

“Brother Ning’s Five Elements realm is too profound. So when he sees any Five Elements spell, he can immediately perceive it.”

“From the inside out, he already grasped the principle. For the application, he only needs to imitate a little, and he can reproduce it.”

“Senior Brother’s Wood and Water spells—so long as he is given some time to test and err, after a few tries he can perform them skillfully.”

“Doesn’t that mean, any Comprehension Diagram of the Five Elements will be clear to him at a glance?”

“All the Five Elements spells under heaven—could he not learn them instantly?”

“Heavens! Ning Zhuo is only how old?!”

Even Lin Shanshan, usually magnanimous, now felt a surge of envy, even jealousy.

She grew angry, as if she had lived like a dog, wasting too many days. But thinking further, even if she studied diligently, she could never reach Ning Zhuo’s level.

For the guidance of the Five Elements Divine Lord, the Lingyin Willow—such were extraordinary fortunes that no one else could replicate!

Realizing this only angered Lin Shanshan more:

“Why couldn’t I encounter such a fortune?”

Linghu Jiu was the first to accept it.

Both shocked and pleased, he praised:

“Brother Ning, what a realm you’ve reached!”

Ning Zhuo quickly replied:

“Elder Brother flatters me. This junior only received help from sages. It was not through my own effort, hardly worth mentioning.”

Yet at that moment, the laughter of the Five Elements Divine Lord rang out:

“Hahaha, what is there to be ashamed of? Boy, you are simply too humble.”

“Know this—an ordinary person receiving my guidance could never raise their Five Elements realm so high.”

“Your comprehension is rare, and you are further aided by immortal aptitude. In due time, you will sweep across the world. At the very least, you will dominate one region!”

Hearing this evaluation, the spectators’ expressions all shifted.

Ning Zhuo’s heart gave a jump:

“Immortal aptitude? My second aptitude—no, my original aptitude—is it supreme?”

Zhu Xuanji and Shen Lingshu were unsurprised. Both thought: as the Child of Tribulation, he must achieve such things. If not, how could he face the great tribulation of Buddha and Demon?

Ning Jiufan was overjoyed again and again:

“Ning Zhuo’s future is limitless. My Ning Family has birthed a dragon! Our prosperity is close at hand!”

But Lin Shanshan and Lin Bufan’s expressions were far more complicated.

Lin Bufan sank into thought. Ning Zhuo’s future was immense—immortal aptitude, sixteen years old, and at least Grandmaster in Water. With the Five Elements Divine Lord’s guidance, he would surely surpass himself one day.

Faced with someone like this, not an enemy—then how should one respond?

“My eldest disciple Linghu Jiu merely has superior aptitude. He is carefree and straightforward. Even if he inherits my Myriad Medicines Sect in the future, he may only preserve it, not expand it.”

“By contrast, this brat Ning Zhuo—he has ambition, clever means, eloquence, and ruthless decisiveness.”

“He kidnapped Shanshan—that enraged me—but putting aside my emotions, recalling it now, he struck quickly, accurately, ruthlessly. If it were me, I would do the same.”

“What if… what if I married Shanshan to him?”

Suddenly, a bold thought sprouted in Lin Bufan’s mind.

He turned his gaze to Lin Shanshan.

Her expression was also conflicted—both joy and resentment.

Her thoughts churned, her eyes shone:

“This thick-headed brat. From the first time I saw him, I thought he was extraordinary. My eyes were right!”

Seeing his beloved daughter staring intently at Ning Zhuo, Lin Bufan’s heart twisted with mixed feelings. He immediately denied the thought:

“No. With Shanshan’s temperament, if she married Ning Zhuo, she would be devoured with not even bones left.”

“This boy Ning Zhuo is shameless and ruthless, absolutely not a good match for Shanshan.”

“Rather, Jiu’er is straightforward and kind, deeply devoted to Shanshan. He would never mistreat her.”

Lin Bufan had originally married and taken disciples for power and cultivation.

But as he once said in the Reception Hall—people change.

After spending so much time with Lin Shanshan, Linghu Jiu, and others, as father and master, his heart shifted.

He now wished for Lin Shanshan’s future to be stable.

Water element—emerald waters flowed.

Ning Zhuo laughed loudly, succeeding again in imitating, mastering another spell.

Streams like jade circled him. Stepping on the water’s surface, he cast Three-Thousand Water Strikes, forcing Linghu Jiu to retreat again and again.

The battlefield Linghu Jiu had painstakingly arranged became Ning Zhuo’s advantage instead.

Geographically, both benefited equally.

Linghu Jiu took a deep breath, devising a new strategy.

Laughing boldly, he called:

“Brother, can you imitate the next spells too?”

Wind element spell—Turbulent Wind Surge!

Fierce winds rolled in waves, clashing against Three-Thousand Water Strikes, dispersing the Water.

Wind element spell—Gale Cascade!

Linghu Jiu rushed in again. Where he passed, the winds howled ferociously, toppling Ning Zhuo’s surging waters.

Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth—but this time, he could not comprehend it.

Wind, Thunder, Ice, Magnetism—though closely linked to the Five Elements, strictly speaking, were not part of them.

Wind spell—Hero of the Wind.

Eight-Directions Sword Art—Upper Wind Sword.

With sword in hand, Linghu Jiu was graceful and unrestrained. His sword-light was like water, like wind—fusing spells and swordsmanship into an offensive far beyond before—

Upper Wind Sword!

Even with Demonic Blood Tendon Technique and Water Encompassment as protection, Ning Zhuo dared not face it head-on and retreated repeatedly.

Linghu Jiu pressed forward, wind strengthening with each step.

Ning Zhuo realized his mistake. An assault like Linghu Jiu’s gained momentum endlessly—the stronger the wind, the stronger the strike.

The best strategy was to cut it off in its infancy.

But now, relying on spells alone, he could not stop it. His only choice—

At that instant, Ning Zhuo decisively unleashed his mechanical creations.

Dozens of floating mechanisms, with arms and legs, thirty in total.

His ten fingers spread and moved, pulling and tugging, straightening and curling.

The thirty constructs split into three waves, charging at Linghu Jiu.

The Upper Wind Sword slashed them, damaging but not destroying. Ning Zhuo had crafted them with Foundation Establishment-level materials.

Frost Fist.

Old Cold Legs.

Bitter Body!

Especially the last—damaged constructs only became stronger.

Linghu Jiu was forced to defend, sword weaving dazzling light to block all sides.

But thirty fists and feet struck endlessly, coordinated, forming a relentless storm that wore him down.

Seeing the reversal, the spectators stirred.

Many asked themselves: at Foundation Establishment, how could they compare? They lacked such endless methods!

Ning Zhuo escalated his assault.

While controlling the mechanisms, he cast spells:

“Earth veins sink deep, dark roots coil, vines entangle, all is imprisoned. Rise!”

Vines sprouted, binding Linghu Jiu—even for mere moments, enough for the mechanisms to land blows.

“Pines roar, verdant waves surge, forest seas overturn, earth collapses. Sweep!”

Emerald light surged like tides, toppling Linghu Jiu. The constructs pursued, striking mercilessly.

“Ancient trees towering, tree realm vast, heaven and earth dim, spirit roots descend. Manifest!”

A forest arose. Branches and vines, paired with mechanical fists and feet, pressed Linghu Jiu into a corner.

His wounds worsened—bruised face, frost clinging, strength declining. He was on the verge of defeat!

Lin Bufan and Lin Shanshan’s faces changed.

With such strength, Ning Zhuo could seize the top at Lesser Strife Peak. Even Lai Wuying or Zheng Xingchen might not withstand this tide.

Ning Jiufan smiled, stroking his beard.

But then Linghu Jiu cried out, unleashing his trump card!

He wielded his sword, movements light and soft.

Sword intent drifted, illusory and dreamlike.

Lonely Sword Sutra—River Moon as Dream.

Life like a dream, a toast to the river moon… In an instant, Ning Zhuo saw an illusion: Linghu Jiu sat on a lone boat, raising a cup to the river’s reflection.

When Ning Zhuo realized, he was already caught!

Most of his constructs shattered, vines withered.

With one move, Linghu Jiu broke free.

He charged at Ning Zhuo, sword thrusting!

The battlefield was water around ancient trees. Ning Zhuo hid among canopies.

As Linghu Jiu lunged, Ning Zhuo did not wait—he cast Fragrant Flower Evasion to teleport.

But Linghu Jiu had planned it. Without shifting, he launched a second strike.

Lonely Sword Sutra—Snow Clears the Lone Boat!

Man and sword as one, like a lone boat on snowy seas, unyielding before waves.

Snow fell, Linghu Jiu sat fishing on a lonely boat, sipping cold wine.

When Ning Zhuo opened his eyes, a sword’s edge loomed before him.

The sword ignored teleportation—it locked onto him!

Ning Zhuo’s pupils shrank. Danger screamed.

“Dasheng, guard me!”

He struck his belt, releasing a Golden Core-level Mechanical Ape.

Heavy Armor Blood Ape—Dasheng!

Yuan Dasheng’s giant frame blocked Linghu Jiu.

The sword left a shallow scar on him. Roaring, Yuan Dasheng charged to embrace him.

Wood element—Phantom Bamboo Void Shadow.

Linghu Jiu’s shadow was caught, true body slipping past, still charging Ning Zhuo.

Lonely Sword Sutra—Snow at World’s End!

Sword light spread into endless falling snow, chilling to despair.

Cornered, Ning Zhuo drew the Serpent Scythe!

The Demonic Weapon of Night Rain!

Zhu Xuanji’s face changed.

That weapon had left him a deep impression.

“Not good! Snow at World’s End!” Lin Shanshan suddenly leapt in.

“Senior Brother hasn’t mastered this move—it is too powerful and may kill Ning Zhuo!”

Driven by worry, she landed between them.

“Little Junior Sister!” Linghu Jiu cried, horrified, changing his move.

“What—?!” Facing Lin Shanshan’s unguarded back, Ning Zhuo had already swung the scythe with full force—he could only divert it.

Boom!

A violet blade-light shot into empty ground, leaving a scar that lingered.

Linghu Jiu’s sword-light curved around Lin Shanshan, stopping at Ning Zhuo’s throat.

The three froze.

Staring at the sword-tip beneath his chin, Ning Zhuo’s voice was dry:

“I lost.”

But Linghu Jiu, staring at the violet scar, eyes trembling, slowly sheathed his sword:

“No—I lost.”

The Five Elements Divine Lord appeared, staring at the scar, moved:

“What is this technique?”

Though at Void Refining strength, the scar to him was like a raindrop. What moved him was the essence within!

Even Lin Bufan was stunned. From that one swing, he felt a power that could threaten him.

A mere early Foundation Establishment… to threaten Nascent Soul!?

Simply outrageous!