This spear attack was both swift and fierce, startling Big Master, who only managed to raise his left arm in time to shield his face from the vitals!
"Boom!"
In the muffled echo, blood sprayed everywhere.
With intense pain, Big Master's left arm was reduced to mush, but it didn't completely block the attack, as the spear still left a several inches deep gash across his face!
"You..."
In pain, Big Master retreated, his right hand continuously tapped the storage bag, and a long spear appeared out of thin air in his hand, infused with mana, causing the spear to hum with vibrations.
But how could Ning Daoran give him a chance to counterattack, the second spear strike descended mercilessly!
"Clang~~~"
The blades of the two long spears collided, sending sparks flying.
The massive force exploded, sending the room's decorations scattering.
"Hum!"
The piercing sound in the air intensified, and the third spear strike came!
Big Master felt his back hair almost exploding, a foreboding sense of impending death looming over him.
With a flick of his spear, he thrust out smoothly and directly, aiming for his opponent's abdomen.
In the art of spear techniques, Big Master had impressive skills!
Moreover, as he launched this attack, a strand of blood-red spiritual power, under the guidance of a thread, suddenly transformed into a streak of blood light aimed directly at his opponent's back.
In an instant, Ning Daoran's eyelids twitched crazily; he quickly maneuvered the Big Green Dragon in his hand lightly, fending off the opponent's spear.
At the same time, his left hand spread open, enveloping it with golden Body Tempering Technique Spirit Mastery, and directly caught that streak of blood.
"Something's wrong..."
Suddenly feeling a chill in his heart, what he caught in his hand was spinning rapidly, even cutting his palm, and despite being protected by the Return to Nature level Body Tempering Technique, Ning Daoran still felt his palm's skin being scraped open, the wound exposing bone in a blink of an eye.
This was a magic artifact, and at least a top-grade magic artifact!
"Go!"
Ning Daoran suddenly exerted force with his right hand, and the Azure Dragon Spear emitted a piercing shriek, puncturing Big Master's right arm and the long spear into the wall behind him.
In an instant, the sword sheath behind him resonated continuously, and under the pull of powerful mana, the Qiushui Sword clanged out of its sheath and was seized in hand, a massive influx of Wood Attribute Magic Power from the Evergreen Technique pouring into it!
He raised his sword horizontally!
"Puff!"
Blood splattered, and Big Master's head tumbled and rolled off his neck.
The moment Big Master was killed, the incredibly sharp magic artifact that Ning Daoran held in his left hand finally ceased operating, turning into a piece of broken porcelain no larger than half a palm.
Amidst strong fluctuations of mana, it was indeed a magic artifact!
Soul Search!
Immediately, Ning Daoran conducted a soul search on Big Master, quickly sweeping away all of his treasures.
When Ning Daoran leapt up and disappeared into the night sky, mountain bandits finally came holding umbrellas and torches.
"Big Master is dead... it's over…"
...
"Old Lu, let's go home!"
Outside the mountain village, Ning Daoran gave a low shout, and in the blink of an eye, he and the deer disappeared into the night.
At dawn, he reached Chaotic Sect, changed into the garments of an Outer Disciple, and returned to Qiongbi Peak.
The Small Cloud Mist Array was reactivated, and Ning Daoran began to tally his spoils.
True to being the leader of Black Wind Village, the two mountain bandits contributed over three hundred low grade spirit stones alone, pushing Ning Daoran's reserves of spirit stones instantly over four hundred—a hefty windfall indeed!
Moreover, the greatest gain was probably the storage bag on Big Master's waist.
When Ning Daoran infused mana to erase its imprint, he discovered it was about five meters in length and width, considered medium-sized among storage bags.
Until now, Ning Daoran possessed no such item during his cultivation journey; this storage bag was like timely assistance amidst snow.
Inside the storage bag, there were two low-grade magic artifacts, and there was also a martial arts secret manual named "Silver Dragon Spear Technique" of Yellow Rank Middle Grade.
However, what most surprised Ning Daoran was that piece of broken porcelain that had injured him.
This turned out to be a first-tier top-grade magical tool, although just a tiny piece, it surely must be part of a third-tier magical treasure, or even a fourth-tier spiritual treasure, otherwise, it couldn't possess such terrifying power.
Ning Daoran speculated that the broken porcelain might be part of some ancient spiritual treasure level porcelain vessel.
Even flesh that has been cultivated to the Return to Nature level with the Body Tempering Technique could be damaged, indicating the formidable power of this top-grade magical tool.
Such a weapon, capable of silently killing, would naturally be kept; once refined, it could serve as his trump card.
As for the other two low-grade magic artifacts, Ning Daoran was somewhat disdainful; when it comes to treasures, greed does not pay, and suitability is paramount, refining one or two pieces would suffice, and he would find an appropriate opportunity to sell these two low-grade magic artifacts later.
It wasn't that Ning Daoran was being picky.
These two low-grade magic artifacts were a brocade handkerchief and a Phoenix Head Hairpin.
He did want to use them himself, but he feared that might just get him laughed at...
As for the Silver Dragon Spear Technique... just perfect, Ning Daoran happened to have an Azure Dragon Spear of unknown grade in his hand; if he could cultivate the Silver Dragon Spear Technique to the Return to Nature level, it would surely greatly enhance his combat abilities.
At that moment, he noticed Old Lu, who was also gaping at the spoils.
After a night washed by heavy rain, Big Stupid Deer revealed a body of clean fur, surprisingly pure white, adorned with beautiful patterns and spots, giving it somewhat the feel of a high-level spiritual beast.
"Eh?"
Ning Daoran was slightly startled: "Old Lu, I just realized today that you are actually white?"
"Ao~~~"
Big Stupid Deer called out unhappily; he had always been white—it had just been ten years since his last bath.
"Ha ha~~~"
Ning Daoran grinned, vigorously rubbing the head of Big Stupid Deer, "It doesn't matter what color it is!"
...
Twenty meters below ground in a secret chamber, Ning Daoran decided to refine the Broken Porcelain.
In the blink of an eye, the Evergreen Technique Power enveloped the Broken Porcelain, and as the power continually scorched it, the Broken Porcelain emitted a sizzling sound, and the Divine Soul Imprint of the Big Master inside seemed to struggle.
But it was useless; in terms of both mana and Divine Sense, the Big Master was no match for Ning Daoran. The imprint was erased within thirty minutes, and then Ning Daoran began the formal refinement of the Broken Porcelain.
About two hours later, the refinement was complete, and a new imprint was etched onto the Broken Porcelain.
He put the Broken Porcelain into the Storage Bag.
Then, sweeping his Divine Sense across the Storage Bag to lock onto the Broken Porcelain, with a thought and a motion of his mana, the Broken Porcelain "swooshed" out of the Storage Bag, spinning at high speed in the air like a top, its cutting through the air unceasing.
Its sharpness was formidable, awe-inspiring.
Ning Daoran nodded in satisfaction, then with a flick of his fingers, a thread of blood-colored silk appeared between his index finger and the Broken Porcelain, caressing it, manipulating it to spin freely in the air.
This Top-grade Magical Artifact was truly powerful!
Ning Daoran frowned slightly, it was deadly silent and extraordinarily sharp, a treasure that could kill invisibly, and he even felt that with the right opportunity, he could steal the lives of Foundation Establishment Ancestors!
Such a sharp artifact, fortunately, now belonged to him.
He looked at his left hand, where all five fingers had cuts, blood and flesh exposed.
Luckily, the Evergreen Technique had a strong self-healing capability. Running the Evergreen Technique repeatedly to heal, the wounds were already closing at a visible pace.
The Evergreen Technique practiced to the Third Layer was merely so-so.
But once the Evergreen Technique reached the Seventh Layer, its wondrous uses would be endless.
"Phew…"
He lay back in a chair, looking at the ceiling of the underground chamber, starting to review the events that had happened today.
He had attacked Black Wind Village from a hundred miles away, taking down two leaders in one fell swoop.
This act, though seemingly reckless, was actually a permanent solution.
In fact, Ning Daoran himself knew that although it seemed perilous, it was almost entirely safe. Through the Soul Search of two minions, he knew both leaders were in the Qi Refinement Realm, and under a sneak attack, nothing was likely to go wrong.
If he didn't kill them, the enemies would definitely send a second and third wave of minions to Chaotic Sect to keep probing, which would inevitably lead to trouble sooner or later.
Now it's best; it was settled once and for all.
However, after doing this, he would inevitably need to keep a low profile for a while.
Given that, he wouldn't leave the mountain for a year, staying put at Qiongbi Peak for a year!
...
Time flew; a year whisked by.
In the early morning within the Small Cloud Mist Array, the windmill turned as Big Stupid Deer tread on it, watering the Spirit Field, looking quite professional.
Ning Daoran sat in a small cabin, slowly closing his eyes, decided to cultivate the Yellow Rank Middle Grade Silver Dragon Spear Technique after accumulating a year's worth of dedicated cultivation Time.
As the saying goes, the more skills, the better!
Inserting the refined Time into the Silver Dragon Spear Technique, he began to cultivate!
[The first year, as you study the Silver Dragon Spear Technique Secret Manual, the path of Martial Arts in your heart suddenly opens; you are extremely excited, but soon you realize, this is not so simple.]
[The sixth year, after six years of hard practice, you finally make progress.]
[Silver Dragon Spear Technique. Yellow Rank Middle Grade (Entry)]
[The twenty-eighth year, as you practice the spear like a silver snake in the courtyard, stirring up the falling leaves; even the girls across the street in the brothel applaud you. They, among whom you had admirers, flirt with you, beckoning you to come and play.]
[Silver Dragon Spear Technique. Yellow Rank Middle Grade (Small Accomplishment)]
"Oh?"
Ning Daoran was slightly shocked, so smooth, just 28 years and his Spear Technique reached Small Accomplishment?
Somewhat surprised, could my Martial Arts talent be this terrifying?
[The ninety-ninth year, your prowess in the Silver Dragon Spear Technique is quite astonishing, but you still wish to advance further, thus practicing the spear tirelessly each day.]
[The two hundred and fortieth year, the girls in the brothel across the street changed for dozens of generations, but you still captured the attention of those young girls, who, because you never visited, joked calling you the Spear God.]
[One thousand and thirty-three years, your Spear Technique becomes more fluid and well-rounded, tinted with a strong killing intent, resembling a great general who charges on the battlefield.]
[Silver Dragon Spear Technique. Yellow Rank Middle Grade (Great Success)]
[One thousand nine hundred years, dissatisfied with the Great Success level of the Silver Dragon Spear Technique, you decide to travel and challenge the foremost experts of various martial arts schools in the state, defeating them one by one, but your mastery of the spear did not advance any further.]
[Four thousand five hundred and sixty years, you sit desolately by the river, watching the tide rise and fall, and suddenly an epiphany strikes you as you practice your spear; your Spear Technique starts to harmonize with the ebb and flow of tides, aligning with nature.]
[Silver Dragon Spear Technique. Yellow Rank Middle Grade (Perfect)]
"Phew…"
Ning Daoran opened his eyes, somewhat speechless, why does peerless martial arts always require thousands to tens of thousands of years to practice…
He started to have a clear understanding of his martial arts talent, realizing that his previous thoughts were mere illusions.
The itching in his hands was uncomfortable.
So, with a light pat on the Storage Bag, he took out the ungraded iron spear from big master, immediately starting to practice the Perfect Level Silver Dragon Spear Technique in the courtyard.
Refining Time is Refining Time.
Such martial techniques still needed to be practiced multiple times by oneself to truly master them, lest they prove clumsy on the battlefield.
For a moment, the Perfect Level Silver Dragon Spear Technique was smooth as flowing water, flawless. When it rained, every single drop was deflected by the tip of the spear, none could get close.
Impenetrable!
Ning Daoran took a deep breath, infused the Evergreen Technique Power into the iron spear, and immediately a shrill whistling burst forth. White Spear Radiance even appeared at the tip of the spear!
Big Stupid Deer watched, dumbfounded, its deer eyes round, and it cried out in admiration. No wonder he was the elder brother, proficient in all eighteen types of weapons.