Chapter 1880 - 194: Not Second in the World, but the First! (Part 2)

"Chasing geese all day, only for them to peck out my eyes!"

Xia Xuanyan murmured, gazing at that figure, an involuntary admiration rising in his eyes.

"Truly a remarkable individual! The era of the Martial Saint has passed, and now another such figure emerges!" Xia Xuanyan murmured, his expression slightly solemn, continuing, "Yet your stance and mine are destined to oppose, and this era cannot possibly allow you to fully grow!"

As his words fell, his figure slowly disappeared beneath the large tree, leaving no trace.

...

In the Imperial Palace.

"Uncle Wang, what is his current strength?" Ji Minghao said softly, though his voice couldn’t conceal the emotional fluctuations.

Hearing this, Ji Xuan beside him fell into silence.

He understood whom Ji Minghao referred to with "he," it was the current Jiang Ning.

After a few breaths of silence, Ji Xuan slowly shook his head.

"I don’t know!"

Then he added, "His current strength has surpassed the realm I can comprehend."

"Uncle Wang, do you think it’s possible that he has reached a level comparable to the Martial Saint?" Ji Minghao asked.

"Not very likely!" Ji Xuan shook his head, then said, "Your martial path has not yet reached the end, you cannot understand what level that is."

"Uncle Wang, but I feel he might indeed reach the level of the Martial Saint!" Ji Minghao softly murmured, as if speaking to himself or conversing with Ji Xuan.

Hearing this, Ji Xuan once more fell into silence.

At this moment, the figure in the sky had completely landed, in an area visible to him.

"In the past, I would scoff at this claim, the achievements of the Martial Saint cannot be replicated!"

"But now, I no longer have such confidence!"

"He might truly be different!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Minghao also fell into silence, his eyes flickering with complex emotions.

...

Elsewhere.

Jiang Ning landed on the ground.

"Good kid, you’ve really done it, hiding your skills so well!" the Martial King said loudly, grinning at Jiang Ning.

Just as he was about to go up and pat Jiang Ning on the shoulder, he remembered something and stopped his steps.

"You’ve mastered the Vajra Temple’s Sixteen-foot Golden Body Technique, so it’s no wonder that the Beiman’s King Zhuanlun was defeated by your divine skill!" Xiao Wuque said to Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning nodded, confirming it.

"Good heavens, how did I not know about this?" Xiang Yuan’s eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

"Senior brother never cares about court affairs, how would you know!" Xiao Wuque replied.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Yuan scratched his head awkwardly.

Then turning to Jiang Ning, as if changing the subject.

"Kid, now you’re truly the second in the world, right? Once, five men were jointly called the second in the world, now in hindsight it seems quite laughable."

"Not second, but the first in the world!" Xiao Wuque shook his head, speaking with earnest tone.

Hearing this, Xiang Yuan’s expression froze, his rugged face taking on a hint of sadness.

"Indeed! The first in the world!"

As the words fell, the two immediately fell into silence.

Gazing at the two, Jiang Ning understood from where their sudden sorrow came.

The Martial Saint’s passing.

The most grieving should be Xiang Yuan and Xiao Wuque, the Martial Saint’s disciples.

For between master and disciple, the essence is no different than father and son, perhaps even more so.

Because to reach the level of Xiang Yuan and Xiao Wuque.

A lifespan of several cycles of Jiazi.

Family, friends, even direct descendants may not occupy long in their lives.

Time, is always the greatest power.

Between master and disciple, between comrades, often being of the same level, living long enough, accompanying each other enough time, deep affections naturally form.

The thought flashed through his mind.

At this moment, Jiang Ning suddenly had an impulse.

He thought of Wang Jin.

The Wang Jin he hadn’t visited for a long time.

That was his first master.

To reach where he was today, Wang Jin’s help was significant.

Without Wang Jin’s protection, back in Luoshui County, his situation would have been incredibly difficult.

For him at that time, the Cao family was like a giant, impossible to resist.

Various thoughts flashed through his mind.

He walked to Su Qingying’s side.

"Are you alright!"

"I’m fine!" Su Qingying shook her head, her face still pale, a hint of pain barely concealed in her eyes.

On her weak body, the spot of blood on her chest was particularly prominent.

Jiang Ning glanced, then reached out with his right hand.

"Don’t move!" he said, feeling Su Qingying’s slightly swaying body.

The next moment.

Su Qingying’s face quickly improved, with color returning to her cheeks.

"Now that’s what I call being fine!" Jiang Ning withdrew his hand and said calmly.

Just now, on Su Qingying’s wound that pierced through her, there was still an extremely fierce Sword Intent remaining, which continued to tear at her wound.

But as this palm was placed, the lingering Sword Intent was erased.

Without the erosion of Sword Intent, such a simple flesh wound would be quite easy for a strong warrior of Su Qingying’s level to recover from.

"Thank you!" Su Qingying’s clear and pure eyes looked at Jiang Ning, and she slowly uttered two words.

"You’re welcome!" Jiang Ning smiled faintly.

"Master Xiao, Martial King." He looked towards Xiao Wuque and Xiang Yuan.

"I’ll take my leave now!" Jiang Ning spoke again under the gaze of the two.

...

Dongling Marquis Mansion.

The front gate was open at this moment.

"Young Master!"

"Ah Ning!"

"Little Brother!!"

"Little Uncle!"

"Uncle!"

When Jiang Ning’s figure appeared at the front gate of the mansion, pairs of excited eyes looked over.

Seeing his brother and sister-in-law’s family, seeing Lv Yi’s eyes, and seeing Lin Qingyi standing quietly to the side with gentle eyes, Jiang Ning felt warmth in his heart, his gaze swept over everyone.

His elder brother Jiang Li stood on the steps, his expression filled with relief and concern.

Beside him, Liuu Wanwan was holding Little Dumpling, her eyes full of concern.

His nephew Jiang Yiming stood tall at his side.

Lv Yi stood on the other side of the steps, her eyes full of excitement.

Lin Qingyi stood by the door, her gaze soft.

All of this instantly formed a frozen picture in his heart, imprinted in his mind.

Then, he took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Big Brother, I’m back!"

"It’s good that you’re back safe!!" Jiang Li was full of excitement, raising his right hand heavily, but gently patted Jiang Ning’s shoulder.

Jiang Ning could feel that at this moment, Jiang Li’s palm was still trembling slightly.

He also understood why Jiang Li’s body still harbored fear.

Because just now, that sword was the Immortal’s Sword.

In the eyes of ordinary people, how could a mortal withstand the Immortal’s Sword?

But he himself understood, he had taken that crucial step and was no longer ordinary.

The distance to reaching the level of Martial Saint was just a natural progression.

The next moment.

Jiang Li extended his hand and pulled his arm.

"Come on, Little Brother, now that you’re back, you must drink with me!"

"Ah Ning, you go to the hall with Brother Li first, and I’ll go to the kitchen to make you two some snacks to go with the drinks!" Liuu Wanwan said with a smile.

"Okay!" Jiang Ning nodded, not refusing their kindness.

Because he knew, with true family, there was no need to be so formal.

...

In the front hall.

Just as Jiang Ning sat down, Little Dumpling immediately snuggled into his arms, sitting on his lap, chirping "Uncle" incessantly in his ear.

Lv Yi was busy to the side brewing tea.

Lin Qingyi brought over small plates of fruits.

Jiang Ning sat in the chair, feeling the long-awaited warm and peaceful atmosphere, the tight string in his heart finally eased a bit.

A moment later.

As Liuu Wanwan brought over the first serving of snacks, Jiang Ning and Jiang Li began to pour drinks as well.

Only after three large gulps did the atmosphere become even livelier.

...

Time passed.

In the blink of an eye, half an hour had passed.

By this time, Jiang Li also began to sway, evidently intoxication filled his mind.

Feeling it was about right.

Jiang Ning stood up.

"Big Brother and Sister-in-law, I have to go out for a while!"

"You’re leaving again?" Jiang Li’s eyes quickly cleared, and he spoke.

"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded, "I want to visit my mentor."

"Is it Master Wang?" Jiang Li asked.

"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded.

Hearing this, Liuu Wanwan gently tugged on Jiang Li’s sleeve.

"Ah Ning, feel free to go!"