155: Conquer the three friends and get the seven-string invisible sword!

The iron gate was connected to the entire dungeon.

Touching one part would affect the whole.

The iron gate was several inches thick, even a Jianghu master with a Sharp Weapon would find it difficult to break.

But as Ning Yuan fully activated his power, terrifying True Qi instantly condensed and burst forth at a single point.

Boom!

The earth shook.

The entire underground cave began to tremble, and pieces of rock fell. The several-inch-thick iron gate in front of them was directly twisted by this force.

Hei Baizi, behind the door, saw this scene and his eyes widened in horror, filled with shock.

"How is this possible?"

"This iron gate is so sturdy, even Ren Woxing couldn't break it. How could you break it from the inside?"

Hei Baizi cried out in alarm.

This dungeon was specifically built to imprison Ren Woxing.

The iron gate was also carefully selected; even first-rate Jianghu masters couldn't break it.

Now... Ning Yuan pushed open the twisted iron gate and walked out.

He came before Hei Baizi.

"You, what do you want to do?"

Hei Baizi asked tremblingly.

"Haven't you always wanted to obtain the Star Absorbing Skill? Now I'll let you experience the Star Absorbing Skill."

Ning Yuan raised his hand and placed it on Hei Baizi's shoulder, activating the Bei Ming Divine Skill.

In an instant, all of Hei Baizi's Internal Energy flowed into his body.

Hei Baizi's eyes widened, unable to speak, and his Face gradually turned pale.

Having just absorbed Ren Woxing's Internal Energy, Hei Baizi's meager Internal Energy was, for him, better than nothing.

Ning Yuan casually threw him into the dungeon, then strode out.

Inside the dungeon, Hei Baizi's eyes were wide, he spat out blood, pointed in the direction of the passage, and said in disbelief: "Star, Star..."

Rumble!

The last sound completely disappeared as the falling rocks crashed down.

When Ning Yuan returned to the surface, Huang Zhonggong and the other two were standing by, fully prepared.

Upon seeing Ning Yuan, they breathed a slight sigh of relief, then their gaze fell behind Ning Yuan, but Hei Baizi's figure was not seen for a long time.

The three couldn't help but look puzzled.

"It's good that Headmaster Yue is fine. But where are Hei Baizi and Ren Woxing?"

Huang Zhonggong was the first to ask.

Ning Yuan shook his head, "Ren Woxing and Hei Baizi have both remained below forever."

As he spoke, a whirlpool suddenly appeared on the surface of West Lake, as if collapsing downwards, emitting a rumbling sound.

Then a wave of water suddenly gushed out through the passage.

"Hei Baizi!"

Tu Biweng shouted, but it was clear that everything was beyond saving.

Ning Yuan, however, said with a look of regret, "I'm also very sorry. Hei Baizi opened the iron gate, but I didn't have time to take him with me."

The Faces of Huang Zhonggong and the other two changed several times. Although they were suspicious, the person was already dead and the evidence destroyed, so the truth was completely buried.

They had no way of knowing.

After a long while, the three finally calmed down.

"So, Ren Woxing also..."

Huang Zhonggong looked at Ning Yuan and asked.

Ning Yuan nodded, saying with a solemn expression, "I did not fail in my mission. I have finally rid the Martial Forest of a Devil Head."

Huang Zhonggong's Face showed a complex expression upon hearing this, and after a moment, he said, "Headmaster Yue has great skill."

"This is also fortunate that Ren Woxing was imprisoned for many years, and his Internal Energy had not fully recovered, which gave me the opportunity."

Ning Yuan said humbly.

The four returned to the house and sat down.

Soon, Ning Yuan brought up the martial arts of the three.

"Eliminating Ren Woxing has resolved a heavy matter in my heart. Now I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. If I offended you in any way before, I hope the three of you can forgive me."

Ning Yuan cupped his fists and spoke, behaving courteously.

"Not at all!"

Huang Zhonggong immediately shook his head and said, "We few, by a twist of fate, mistakenly entered the Demonic Sect back then. Although we wished to withdraw, once in the Demonic Sect, we were no longer free and could only obey orders."

"Although we never committed evil, we actually lived in fear."

"I have heard about the matter at the Liu Manor. Liu Zhengfeng merely shared a common interest in music with Elder Qu, yet he was accused of colluding with the Demonic Sect, and they sought to exterminate his entire family. Fortunately, Headmaster Yue showed great benevolence and saved Liu Zhengfeng's family, which clearly demonstrates Headmaster Yue's attitude towards us."

"Therefore, we also greatly admire Headmaster Yue's character."

"Since it is the Righteous Path of Jianghu, one must act righteously. The task of eliminating evil and defending the Dao must be done, but one cannot indiscriminately condemn. One cannot brand everyone in the Demonic Sect as evil. Perhaps they also have their difficulties, some have never committed evil, some have good intentions, and some have merely taken a wrong step."

"Therefore, I am willing to give them a chance. We cannot deny them all; they should be allowed to start anew."

"This not only reduces killing but also weakens the Demonic Sect. This is the Righteous Path."

Ning Yuan said righteously.

"Headmaster Yue is indeed noble!"

Huang Zhonggong, Tu Biweng, and Dan Qingsheng all cupped their hands in admiration.

They felt that Hei Baizi's death might truly have been an accident.

"I like to make friends with heroes like Headmaster Yue. I wonder if Headmaster Yue would grant me the Face of having a drink with me."

Dan Qingsheng picked up the wine pot and filled the cups.

"Why not?"

Ning Yuan picked up his wine glass, and the two drank together.

"Good, Headmaster Yue is indeed forthright. It's true that hearing about him doesn't compare to meeting him; I didn't expect Headmaster Yue to be such a passionate person."

Dan Qingsheng laughed heartily, appearing very joyful.

"Actually, I'm also very interested in your martial arts. Each of you has unique strengths that truly impressed Yue. Especially Brother Huang's Seven-String Formless Sword, it's incredibly subtle. The deeper one's Internal Energy, the easier it is to be countered, which is truly astonishing."

Ning Yuan sighed faintly.

"Headmaster Yue flatters me. I also thought that my Seven-String Formless Sword was a unique skill in Jianghu, capable of affecting anyone with deep Internal Energy in the world. Only after meeting Headmaster Yue today did I realize I was like a frog in a well."

Huang Zhonggong, however, shook his head repeatedly, sighing, "I couldn't even affect Headmaster Yue's Internal Energy, which clearly indicates that my Seven-String Formless Sword still needs improvement."

"When masters exchange blows, victory is decided in an instant. If I were fighting someone at that moment and Brother Huang intervened, then I would probably Face danger."

Ning Yuan sighed, "Such swordplay, I have only witnessed for the first time. I hope Brother Huang will not hesitate to teach me."

Ning Yuan respectfully cupped his fists, "I am also willing to use my Mount Hua Swordplay to verify our respective learnings with the three of you."

Seeing Ning Yuan's solemnity, the three's expressions also changed. After exchanging glances, they quickly stood up and said, "Headmaster Yue is too kind."

"It is also our honor to be able to exchange martial arts with a master like Headmaster Yue."

That night, Ning Yuan discussed swordplay and even the Dao with the three.

He also displayed extraordinary painting and calligraphy skills, impressing Tu Biweng and Dan Qingsheng.

Afterwards, he even played a musical piece.

Ning Yuan himself didn't understand these things, but with the enhancement of his Comprehension Ability, he learned from scratch and progressed very quickly.

In just a few hours, he had made extraordinary progress.

Especially in music, he even played the tune of "Smiling Proud Wanderer" from memory.

This greatly surprised and excited Huang Zhonggong.

"I never expected Headmaster Yue to have such an accomplishment in music. It truly makes me, who has been immersed in this Dao, feel ashamed."

Huang Zhonggong cupped his hands, his emotions stirred.

"Brother Huang, you exaggerate. How could I have such an accomplishment? This piece was not created by me."

Ning Yuan, however, shook his head and denied it.

"Not created by Headmaster Yue?"

Huang Zhonggong was startled, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Then who created it? There is such a master in the world, yet I did not know, truly like a frog in a well."

"Hahaha..."

Ning Yuan chuckled softly, "The person I'm talking about, Brother Huang should know. You just mentioned him."

Ning Yuan didn't intend to conceal it, nor did he think of claiming it as his own.

"I know him, and I mentioned him?"

Huang Zhonggong frowned in thought, then seemed to realize something, his eyes suddenly lit up, "Does Headmaster Yue mean Elder Qu and Liu Zhengfeng?"

"Precisely."

Ning Yuan nodded slightly, "This piece is called 'Smiling Proud Wanderer,' and it was indeed created by those two."

"No wonder, no wonder!"

Huang Zhonggong's Face showed sudden understanding, "Such a carefree Concept indeed matches Elder Qu's style. However, when Headmaster Yue played the zither earlier, his technique was unfamiliar, yet in a short time, he mastered the essentials and played like someone who had studied for years. His talent is truly extraordinary."

"If Headmaster Yue could enter my musical Dao, the music world would surely give birth to another Zither Saint."

"Brother Huang, you exaggerate. Yue's skill is merely a minor trick. However, discussing with the three of you today, Yue has also benefited greatly. It's late now, and Yue should take his leave."

Ning Yuan stood up and said.

The others tried to persuade him to stay for a few more words, but Ning Yuan insisted on leaving.

Everyone could only see him off.

After watching Ning Yuan leave, everyone returned to Plum Manor, and couldn't help but sigh.

Of the Four Friends of Plum Manor, only three of them remained.

They felt a moment of wistful melancholy.

Hei Baizi's death, though full of doubts, now had to be accepted.

"Big Brother, now that Ren Woxing is dead, how should we report to the Divine Sect?"

At this moment, Tu Biweng asked, full of worry.

Dan Qingsheng's Face also stiffened, then he said, "Yes, Dongfang Bubai ordered us to guard Ren Woxing. Now that he has been killed by Headmaster Yue, how should we report this?"

"If we anger Dongfang Bubai, I'm afraid we..."

Dan Qingsheng also showed concern.

Huang Zhonggong pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "For so many years, the Divine Sect has never inquired about this matter. We might as well suppress it for now and not report it. Now we can only take it one step at a time."

"That's all we can do."

Tu Biweng and Dan Qingsheng exchanged glances, then nodded slightly... Meanwhile, on the other side.

After Ning Yuan returned to the inn, he immediately began to cultivate in seclusion.

Although Ren Woxing's Internal Energy had not recovered to its peak, his Internal Energy was still unparalleled in Jianghu, far beyond what the three Sword Sect masters or the Thirteen Taibao of Mount Song could compare to.

Perhaps only slightly inferior to Zuo Lengchan.

After all, Ren Woxing had not recovered his peak strength.

As Ning Yuan completely transformed Ren Woxing's True Qi into his own Internal Energy.

Although Ning Yuan's cultivation Realm did not increase, his Internal Energy truly doubled.

He was only a step away from making further progress and reaching the Realm of a top-tier master.

"I feel that as long as I absorb another master close to the first-rate Realm, I should be able to Breakthrough."

Ning Yuan opened his eyes and muttered to himself.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door, and Ning Zhongze walked in.

"Senior Brother, where did you go today?"

Ning Zhongze couldn't help but ask curiously.

"I went to Plum Manor to see a few friends. Tomorrow, we'll continue our journey to Fuzhou."

Ning Yuan omitted the details, said casually, then reached out and pulled Ning Zhongze into his embrace.

"Junior Sister, you should be well-rested now, right?"

Ning Yuan asked playfully.

Ning Zhongze's cheeks immediately flushed, naturally knowing what was about to happen.

She didn't know why, but she was particularly sleepy today!