Chapter 5, Surging Waves and Terrifying Storms

Ning Jiang suddenly sat up, using the candlelight from the candlestick by the bed to look at his pale-faced younger sister, and softly said: "Xiao Meng, did I scare you?"

After being examined by Zhao Hong, a martial artist, and falling into a deep sleep under his official authority, it seems that this young man is indeed unconscious. Cao Kai let out a cold snort, turned around with his hands behind his back, completely unaware that Ning Jiang's soul was watching him from the ceiling

In this world of martial arts, there is only knowledge of physical training, but not of soul refinement. Once the physical form is perfected to its utmost, the martial path reaches its limit

Afterwards, he summarized and categorized his cultivation process, dividing the process of refining the soul into five stages: Golden Soul, Fire Spirit, Spiritual God, Yin God, and Yang God. However, at this moment, during the reckless leap into the void as the sword shattered the universe, his innate Yang God cultivation was continuously disrupted. First, it was reverted to the Yin God, then further back to the Spiritual God and Fire Spirit, until finally, even his Earth Immortal body completely collapsed, allowing only a wisp of Golden Soul to successfully be reborn.

After all, given what just happened, he does not dare to let his sister leave his side tonight. Moreover, Xiao Meng is ultimately a girl who has not seen much of the world, and thinking of Kui Er's death, she always feels anxious in her heart

He closed his eyes, held his breath, and calmed his mind, as his consciousness gradually sank into stillness, and his spirit slowly began to rise, rise...

Seeing the young lady in such a frightened state, others felt even more pity for her. During the day, her elder brother was pushed into the lake, and it was still uncertain whether he would wake up. That night, her personal maid was harmed. Some kind-hearted aunts came over to help support her, while others followed the county magistrate to the residence of the young master of the Ning family to watch the commotion

He closed his eyes and introspected.

If the officials are like this, what can be expected of the common people? If the county magistrate truly sends my brother to the Western Ridge, it would be no different from sentencing him to death.

Cao Kai calmly said: "Ning Jiang's unfilial actions will not go unpunished; I will take it upon myself to make a decision for you. He will be exiled to the Western Ridge, never to return. However, you must understand that the Ning family's assets are granted to you by me; without my support, you will receive nothing.

He said coldly: "How is tomorrow's matter being handled?"

Hmm! Ning Jiang said earnestly, "No matter where we go, I will take Xiao Meng with me, whether it be the ends of the earth or the corners of the sea, I will not let you leave me again"

Moreover, during the process of traversing the space-time black hole with the ability to break through the universe, the "Sun God" he had painstakingly cultivated was also continuously weakened, reverting to its original form

he whispered again: "That child ... ... "

Although it is almost impossible to pretend to be unconscious in front of Cao Kai and Zhao Hong, Ning Jiang must give it a try

In this world, there are Confucianism and Daoism, as well as martial arts.

Confucianism and Daoism represent the path of the sage, while martial arts embody the path of the rivers and lakes

As for Confucianism and Daoism, it goes without saying that although they are the great paths of the sages, with Confucianism holding a position of supremacy, they are fundamentally not self-cultivated. Instead, they rely on the spiritual imprint at the center of the brow and the star of Emperor Wen, utilizing the power of the sages through the resonance of heaven and man. It is precisely for this reason that a few years later, when the元魔皇, hidden deep underground, gathered boundless malevolent energy and struck down the star of Emperor Wen, the scholarly aura of Confucian scholars across the land was completely lost. Faced with the relentless cavalry of the northern barbarian tribes and the opportunistic rise of the Miao people in the western mountains, they became utterly useless scholars.

Whether it is the way of the sage or the way of the rivers and lakes, both have already formed complete systems. However, the "way of the immortals" is likely the only one that has been successful since ancient times. If it were not for the need to return to this point in time to save his sister, it could be said that he would have been able to manipulate qi and transcend the physical realm, casually living for several hundred or even over a thousand years, which is something others cannot achieve

Cao Kai stepped forward twice, the aura of the imperial court transforming into official authority, and shouted at the youth on the bed: "Ning Jiang?!" He shouted again: "Ning Jiang?!" The official authority transformed into an invisible momentum, sweeping towards the youth on the bed.

Ning Xiaomeng saw the county magistrate and Captain Zhao leading people towards her brother's courtyard, and her entire little face turned pale with fear

But this is just the beginning. After reclaiming what belongs to him, he will fulfill his promise to this world. He will never allow himself to be submerged by the tides of time and space, nor does he wish to be a trendsetter in the currents of history. In this life, he aims to become... the tumultuous waves that roll through time and space!

Cao Kai let out a cold snort, while Ning Jiang remained unconscious and showed no signs of waking, leaving him without any suspicion. Ning Xiaomeng was merely a delicate girl; no one would believe that she was the one who committed the murder, especially since the victim was her personal maid. Furthermore, the other servants could all testify that they were not present at the scene. Even if he wanted to find someone to frame Ning Ji, it would be impossible. Moreover, Ning Yicheng had been dragged out of bed in front of so many people, completely naked, making it impossible for him to deny it. The other servants could all testify that they were not present at the scene. Even if he wanted to find someone to frame Ning Ji, it would be impossible. Moreover, Ning Yicheng had been dragged out of bed in front of so many people, completely naked, making it impossible for him to deny it.

Ning Jiang held his sister's hand and comforted her, saying, "Xiao Meng, don't worry, nothing will happen. Brother is here, brother has come back... everything will be fine." Fifty-six years of suffering... fifty-six years of effort, he finally succeeded in returning to her side. Everything will be fine... this is his promise to her after fifty-six years.

A person, as long as they are awake, even if lying still, the rhythm of their heartbeat and the flow of their breath will quicken significantly. The breath of someone in a coma is completely different from that of someone who is awake. This point is something Zhao Hong, who has practiced martial arts, naturally understands well

Ning Ji hesitated and stammered, yet was unable to provide an answer

In his previous life, after fifty-six years, he broke the universe with a single sword at the summit of Mount Tai, traversing through a time-space black hole. In this process, the celestial body he had painstakingly cultivated was completely shattered; thus, what returned to this point in time was merely his soul. The body he currently possesses is still that of a common youth in his early years, one who has yet to begin his journey into martial arts.

In his previous life, Ning Jiang collected countless esoteric techniques, refining and distilling them, and through continuous experimentation and contemplation, he ultimately succeeded in cultivating the "Yang Spirit"

This time, he will never allow anyone to take away what belongs to him, whether it be his sister, his family assets, his character, or his dignity. He will firmly hold on to everything that is rightfully his

What if they find out that the elder brother has already woken up? What if they discover that it was the elder brother who killed Kui'er?

Ning Ji hurriedly said: "My lord, rest assured, tomorrow morning, I will unite the various branches and the local gentry, and we will collectively submit a petition, accusing Ning Jiang of the crime of unfilial conduct. At that time, I will ask my lord to take charge of the matter"

In his comforting voice, the girl, unable to hold on any longer, fell into a deep sleep. Ning Jiang stood up, covered her with a blanket, and lowered the soft curtain. He stepped to the window, opened the gauze window, and gazed at the moonlight outside. The once bustling Ning residence had transformed into tranquility at this moment, with the phoenix trees swaying their leaves in the night breeze, the low rockery, the rising and falling pavilions, the fragrance of flowers drifting in the cool air, and the flickering starlight in the night sky

At this moment, the night had grown deep. Ning Xiaomeng whispered a few words outside the courtyard, leaving an elderly couple to watch over the garden while she quietly returned to her brother's room, carefully saying: "Brother?"

At that moment, Cao Kai ordered the constables to take Ning Yicheng to the county office in front of everyone. After he left, Ning Ji looked towards his nephew's courtyard and sneered coldly: "Cousin Jiang, do not blame me. Even if it were not for the family fortune, for the sake of my precious son, you can only be the one to suffer."

Cao Kai determined the course of action: "Since this matter has already escalated, it cannot be ignored. However, rest assured, as long as I obtain what I need, I will naturally ensure that your son does not die. The crime cannot be evaded, but whether it is violence or adultery, whether it is brutal murder or accidental killing, there is much that can be articulated within this context. In the end, it could be judged as mutual affection and accidental homicide, resulting in a sentence of three to five years in the southern water towns, and he will naturally return. However, if I do not obtain what I need... you should weigh this carefully!"

Recalling the perilous experience in the space-time black hole, he still felt a lingering fear; it was only by a narrow margin that he escaped utter ruin. At the same time, he was acutely aware that if he were to face it again, he would not be so fortunate.

Certainly, this does not imply that the literary style of the degree holders is too weak; rather, it is a matter of specialization. The summoning of spirits is not a strong suit of Confucianism, which advocates for "respecting the spirits and keeping a distance from them"

She wanted to stand up and follow, but her legs were weak. Although she was supported by the old woman, she could barely take two steps, only able to cry softly. She was determined that if she were discovered, she would take the blame for her brother, saying that it was she who killed Kui'er. As for whether they would believe her, she could no longer concern herself with that.

Cao Kai coldly asked: "What is the hidden truth?"

At this moment, Ningjiang's golden spirit has left his body, and the body on the bed is akin to that of a vegetative state. Not to mention that a mere juren like Cao Kai cannot be awakened, even if the Sage of Literature, Confucius, were to come, he would also be unable to awaken him. Unless the soul-calling technique of the Miao people from the Western Ridge is employed, it would require a sufficiently powerful sorcerer skilled in such dark arts, for his "golden spirit" is far more resilient than that of an ordinary person.

In the path of immortality, one must not only cultivate the body but also refine the soul, achieving a harmonious balance of both internal and external practices, blending water and fire, regarding life as the sacred flame and the body as the furnace.

Let Xiaomeng lie on the bed, cover her with the quilt, and let her sleep early. Xiaomeng closed her eyes and slept for a while, but couldn't help but open her eyes again, tears streaming down her face: "Brother, what will happen tomorrow? What if the county magistrate really sends you to Xiling..." Even though she didn't know much about the outside world, she understood that although Xiling was nominally part of the Great Zhou territory, it was a place filled with poisonous miasma and fierce customs. Officials sent to govern Xiling were called "exiled officials," and usually, only those who were hated by the emperor or had been defeated in the power struggles of the court would be exiled there, with eight out of ten dying in office. She also knew that although Xiling was nominally part of the Great Zhou territory, it was a place filled with poisonous miasma and fierce customs. Officials sent to govern Xiling were called "exiled officials," and usually, only those who were hated by the emperor or had been defeated in the power struggles of the court would be exiled there, with eight out of ten dying in office

The petty person knows, the petty person knows, "Ning Ji Dao, " the great person can rest assured, when the petty person becomes the head of the family, he will naturally present the ancestral land.

He stood there, with his arms crossed, quietly gazing at the distant sky. His gaze was so far-reaching, and his expression was so serene

Cao Kai stepped out of the courtyard and arrived at the flowerbed. He waved his hand, instructing the others nearby to disperse, and called for Ning Ji. Ning Ji hurriedly ran to him and bowed anxiously, saying: "My lord, the child is definitely wronged; there must be other hidden circumstances in this matter"

Under his official authority, ordinary people, even if they are still asleep, would be startled awake. However, the youth on the bed remained completely still, clearly not in a state of "deep sleep" but rather in a coma. Cao Kai must have witnessed this youth fainting after falling into the water during the day. Given the youth's constitution, it is certainly not surprising that he remains in a coma until now

At that time, Xiaomeng was originally worried that the county magistrate and Captain Zhao would discover that her brother had already woken up. However, after the county magistrate and Captain Zhao came in to take a look, they left, which relieved her. Immediately after, she became concerned that her brother had truly fainted again. Now, seeing that her brother is fine, she can finally set her mind at ease.

Looking around, the number of onlookers was increasing. By tomorrow, it was likely that the entire county would know about it. He couldn't help but resent his own incompetence. It was just a maid who had died; if he had quietly suppressed the matter and settled it with the aggrieved party, it would have been fine. He could have easily fabricated a story about an accidental drowning, a sudden illness, or even a suicide by hanging. As long as there was no official report from the aggrieved party, even if others knew, they would pretend not to. Now, however, everyone was aware of what had happened, and he found himself unable to help.

After the county magistrate escorted Ning Yicheng away, there was a commotion outside for quite a while, and only then did it gradually quiet down

Ning Ji hurriedly bowed and said: "Thank you, my lord, thank you, my lord! Rest assured, my lord, you can be at ease!"

Xiao Meng wiped her tears with her other hand, her eyes misty with tears: "If brother is going to Xiling, Xiao Meng wants to go with brother."

A crowd surrounded the county magistrate as he entered the residence of the young master of the Ning family, and indeed, the young master was lying on the bed. County magistrate Cao Kai glanced at the head of the constabulary, who understood and approached to place his hand on the wrist of the youth on the bed. After a while, he whispered, "The vital energy is low and weak, the heartbeat is slowed, he is indeed in a deep sleep."

Realizing that he had worried his younger sister, Ning Jiang apologetically took her small hand, guiding her to sit by the bed. He softly comforted her for a few moments, but upon seeing the tear stains on her face, he used a handkerchief to wipe them away. By this time, the sky had darkened, and after a day filled with fright, Xiao Meng was already exhausted. Ning Jiang then got off the bed and allowed her to sleep on his bed.

Although for his younger sister, for his hometown, and for many people here, nothing has yet begun to change, for him, after fifty-six years of wandering, he has finally returned to his original home. The tide of history is like a vast flood; will he once again be submerged in this overwhelming wave of time and space, or will he become a wave rider who propels the giant waves forward

And now, although the Yang Spirit he painstakingly cultivated has been reduced to nearly the most basic level of "Golden Soul," it is still significantly stronger than the ordinary souls that most martial artists have never even attempted to cultivate.