Chapter 13: Lingering Troubles

Jiang Ning hurried back to his own residence without stopping for a moment.

“Damn, I really got screwed this time…” he cursed inwardly.

Erhuang’s external wounds looked terrifying. Jiang Ning took out a bottle of healing medicine and applied it to Erhuang’s injuries. This medicine was also something Erhuang had once stolen from the medicine garden and had kept for emergencies.

Worried that the medicine might not be enough, Jiang Ning thought for a while, then brought out a spiritual fruit, cut off a fifth of it, squeezed out the juice, and applied it together with the medicine.

“That should do it. If it’s too much, the surge of spiritual energy could cause internal injuries.”

After observing for a long time and probing Erhuang’s insides with his spiritual sense, he found that its life force had stabilized considerably. All that was needed now was for Erhuang to wake and for the external wounds to heal; at last, the heavy stone in Jiang Ning’s heart was set down.

“This time, exposing my strength has left a lot of hidden dangers behind…”

He began to consider whether he should leave Cloud Idle Sect.

First, during the fight, he had no idea if those old monsters had been observing with their spiritual sense. He didn’t dare extend his own sense outward to investigate—besides, those old monsters who had reached the Ninth Heaven of Gods and Demons had spiritual senses far more powerful than his; he wouldn’t have noticed even if they were watching.

“The real issue isn’t just exposing my strength. If any of those old monsters were watching the fight and discovered something unusual about my physique, then that’s a matter of life and death…”

Jiang Ning’s mind was unsettled; he sensed danger.

Nothing could be said for certain.

“There’s a second problem with exposing my strength,” Jiang Ning muttered, his head aching. “I’ll draw too much attention, and afterward, I might never get a moment’s peace.”

When one is strong, all sorts of people come knocking, hoping to make connections.

Jiang Ning needed to avoid anyone who might uncover his secrets. He had already been doing his best to keep away from others, and now, it was more crucial than ever.

“Are you kidding me…”

He let out a long sigh, feeling that surviving in such a world was just too dangerous.

In a world where power ruled among cultivators, nothing but his own ability could protect his secrets.

“And aside from the risks of exposing my strength, there are two more matters.”

First, Wang Shuo had forced him to make a move, likely under someone’s orders. Who was it that so badly wanted to know his true strength?

Second, after the baptism of spiritual energy, the imprint of the Great Dao hidden in his meridians still hadn’t been removed.

If that old man truly meant him harm, and this thing wasn’t purged, it might one day erupt and take his life.

“Damn it…”

Jiang Ning, after holding back for most of the day, finally spat out a curse.

“All things considered, leaving Cloud Idle Sect is the best way to avoid all these hidden dangers.”

If nothing else worked, running away was the safest option.

What made Jiang Ning hesitate, though, was the matter of the Great Dao imprint.

“The problem is, can that old man track me down through this imprint?”

He wasn’t sure.

If the imprint was as problematic as Li Zhenyu had said, then the old man should be able to sense his movements. Jiang Ning didn’t believe the imprint was harmless; Old Yang was unlikely to give him something so valuable for nothing.

Wasn’t Yang Xiangtian his own son? If it was such a good thing, why not leave it to his son instead of giving it to Jiang Ning?

Cultivators were human too—they did what anyone would do.

There was no reason for someone to hand over great opportunities just because of good talent.

Jiang Ning had once felt a sliver of respect for the old man, but Li Zhenyu’s warning had left him suspicious ever since.

“So, what is the purpose of this imprint? Is it really because my nature fits his Dao? That doesn’t make sense. Imbuing me with his Dao’s insight should have more drawbacks than benefits. Is it that he noticed something special about my physique and wants to investigate? Then why hasn’t he acted? Or is it because I’m still within the Cloud Idle Sect, so he can’t act openly, and gave me this imprint as a preliminary move?”

The more Jiang Ning thought about it, the more convinced he became.

“Could it be that today’s events, with Wang Shuo forcing my hand, were orchestrated by that old man?”

“He knows I’m cautious and keep a low profile. Only he and the Grand Elder could have guessed my true power during the spiritual energy baptism. If I have a huge secret, then after exposing my strength, I’m likely to leave Cloud Idle Sect, at which point he can make his move?”

This line of reasoning made Jiang Ning break out in a cold sweat.

Thinking this way, everything seemed to fit.

He still didn’t know exactly what the imprint left inside him would do, but he was sure it brought more harm than good. Even Wang Shuo, at the sixth layer of the Enlightenment Realm, could sense a trace of Dao resonance. Over the past few days, Jiang Ning had tried to sense it himself, but the imprint blocked his perception; it seemed impossible to merge with the world around him. Before the imprint was placed on him, he’d never felt this strange disconnection.

After much deliberation, Jiang Ning decided he ought to stay a while longer in Cloud Idle Sect.

“At least while I still carry this damned imprint, I haven’t encountered any true danger yet.”

“Leaving the sect could go one of two ways: either I shake off all hidden threats and remain safe, or it’s just as I fear—the old man has been waiting for this very moment, and when faced with an old monster at the Ninth Heaven of Gods and Demons, I’ll have nowhere to run or hide.”

The most urgent matter now was to use the safety of Cloud Idle Sect to see if he could break through to the Body Forging Realm.

With the seal on his inherited memories lifting, he had access to countless secret arts and hidden paths of the Immortal Spirit Body, even methods of evolution. He could use the breakthrough as an opportunity to try erasing the imprint completely, which would be the safest course.

He couldn’t gamble—he had to choose the safest way.

He sighed.

Jiang Ning looked up. Dusk had passed; another day was gone, yet Erhuang still had not awakened.

A myriad of stars hung in the night sky, and atop the 108 main peaks of Cloud Idle Sect, the power of the stars flowed, looking incomparably sacred. From afar, it seemed as though countless invisible presences were draping a thousand silken threads over the entire sect.

Tranquil and serene.

Yet Jiang Ning felt that everything was oddly sinister.

The blend of these two sensations made his skin crawl.

“There are still some hidden dangers that must be resolved quickly.”

He took a deep breath, wrapped himself in spiritual energy, concealed his presence, and headed straight for one of the 108 main peaks.

…

At this moment, Zhao Feng was extremely frustrated.

He’d been humiliated today; his cultivation couldn’t compare to Jiang Ning’s at all.

He’d gained nothing. Wang Shuo was still unconscious and healing, and so not only had Zhao Feng lost his formation, but his side had suffered casualties.

Suddenly, his face changed dramatically!

A figure appeared behind him, and a dagger pressed coldly against the back of his neck.

This sensation was all too familiar—he immediately knew who it was.

“Jiang Ning…”

He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

“I have some questions for you,” Jiang Ning’s voice was icy, as if he might kill at any moment.

…

A while later, Jiang Ning emerged alone from Zhao Feng’s residence.

“So Zhao Feng really doesn’t know who was behind it all…”

“Wang Shuo is still unconscious and healing. I didn’t expect my full-force attack to be so strong. Had I held back a little, I could have questioned him myself.”

“As for Zhang Yanli, she’s just a minor character used to provoke me—not worth questioning. No matter how much time you give someone like her, she’ll never pose a real threat to me. Saves me another trip and reduces the risk of exposing myself…”

He hid in the darkness, ready to leave.

“Junior Brother Jiang Ning, wasn’t your hand a bit too heavy?”

Suddenly, a soft laugh came from behind, making Jiang Ning freeze. He slowly turned around…