Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 542 - 68: Consuming the Yin Yang Fish, Life Soul Breakthrough! The Legend of Liu Tianning! (8K)_3

Chapter 542: Chapter 68: Consuming the Yin Yang Fish, Life Soul Breakthrough! The Legend of Liu Tianning! (8K)_3

"Don’t ask me, I’ve only just recently apprenticed myself." Zhao Xing was also puzzled; he truly didn’t know of any illustrious deeds Liu Tianning might have had in the past.

As for Liu Tianning’s strength, he did have a rough guess.

Lao Liu was a Military Minister of Agriculture Officer from the Self Sect, and his Grassman Skill was unrivaled in the world. His case was an extreme one, and though of the fifth-rank, he likely possessed fourth-rank combat strength.

As to which level of the fourth rank he could contend against, Zhao Xing wasn’t clear. After all, Lao Liu had only made a move once at the Sacrificial Soul Pass and hadn’t engaged in a real battle.

But judging by the number of Grassmen from the Ten Thousand Skill Palace, Zhao Xing estimated that Liu Tianning could hold an undefeated position among the fourth-rank.

The Fourth Grade Primordial Spirit Realm didn’t have many soul-damaging techniques. As long as Liu Tianning’s Life Soul wasn’t severely damaged, he would be invincible!

How much combat strength he could exhibit depended on the number of Liu’s Ten Thousand Skill Avatars and how much of the main body’s strength they retained.

Xia Jing spoke, "I do recall my father mentioning it."

"Oh?" Zhao Xing got interested, "Come on, what did Xiahou say?"

Xia Jing reminisced, "He said that Liu Tianning reached fifth-rank before he was thirty. For the next ninety years, he stayed at this realm, shouldering his family’s heritage, and delving deep into the Liu’s Grass Doll Skill."

Zhao Xing nodded, "Liu Tianning is now one hundred twenty-seven years old. He was a genius in his youth, reaching fifth-rank before thirty. Only by studying the Self Sect’s toughest technique, the Ten Thousand Skill Grass Man, could he spend so much time on it."

With other sects, there’d be nothing left to research long ago, and they would have tried to advance in rank.

However, it seemed there’s more to the story. Why had Liu Tianning remained at fifth-rank? It should’ve been easier for him to advance to fourth-rank.

Zhao Xing was puzzled.

Xia Jing continued, "When he was sixty, there’s a famous event, the battle at the head of the Xunyang River."

"Xunyang River?" Zhao Xing recalled, "The fourth largest river inland, Xunyang River?"

"Yes," Xia Jing said, "It’s in Dao Yuan Continent."

"Liu Tianning was passing Xunyang River on his way to his post and encountered a natural disaster."

"A great surge took place at Xunyang River, whipping up giant waves. It’s said the highest wave reached a hundred zhang."

"A hundred zhang?" Chen Shijie couldn’t help but exclaim, "That must be a provincial-level great disaster!"

One zhang is three-point-three meters, a wave of a hundred zhang, over three hundred meters high!

What kind of concept was that?

An earthquake triggered by a level 7 earth vein eruption would only cause tsunami waves around seventy to eighty meters high.

"The legend might be somewhat exaggerated. The highest wavehead being over three hundred meters doesn’t mean the whole disaster was that intense," Zhao Xing said, "Brother Xia, please continue."

Xia Jing nodded, "Indeed, the disaster wasn’t random; it was instigated by an Outer Sect."

"Liu Tianning, passing by, acted to quell the floods and the enormous waves."

"At that moment, a fourth-rank and eight fifth-rank cultivators ambushed Liu Tianning while he was managing the flood."

"Behind him was Xunyang City, in front of him massive waves. If he dodged, it would spell devastation for those behind him. If he didn’t, he’d face a joint attack."

"And then?" Long Xiao quickly asked.

"Then, Liu Tianning held the giant wave with one hand and pointed at the nine Outer Sect evil cultivators with the other. Those evil cultivators turned into nine giant salamanders."

"The giant wave was also subdued by him."

"That’s Hou Transformation Technique!" Chen Shijie couldn’t help but marvel, "His Hou Transformation Technique is so powerful?!"

"Is that even true?" Ji Ziyun said, "Qilin’er, how come I’ve never heard of it?"

"I don’t know if it’s true; it’s what my father told me," Xia Jing said.

Zhao Xing wasn’t surprised. If Liu Tianning did that, its authenticity was likely high; he was a genius Agronomist unrivaled for several dynasties.

"Father said he had just returned from a visit to Prince Xunyang’s house when he heard about it from a letter the prince wrote, filled with trepidation. It should be true," Xia Jing added.

"Who is Prince Xunyang?" Zhao Xing vaguely felt it was familiar but couldn’t recall.

"He’s Princess You Ruo’s maternal uncle," Ji Ziyun said, "also a descendant of the Bishui Sect."

"Hmm?" Zhao Xing calculated: "Lao Liu is one hundred twenty-seven, Princess You Ruo is seventy-nine. When he was sixty, she was twelve. Could they have known each other back then?"

Zhao Xing’s mind conjured up a story of a tsundere loli falling for a cool older man.

Xia Jing said, "Father also mentioned a secret. Liu Tianning once challenged thirty-two Daoist Academies over an incident."

"But this was quite secretive, with no Mirage Pearl recordings, so it couldn’t be verified."

"The Seventy-two Daoist Academies of Great Zhou, he challenged almost half?" Long Xiao’s eyes widened in awe, "If that’s true, he’s practically an immortal!"

"That’s probably true," Zhao Xing knew this because the Biography of Marquis mentioned Liu Tianning sparred with the various academies. His late years were spent teaching at the Creation Dao College.

It’s now a secret because it wasn’t honorable, but once Liu Tianning became the Grand Minister of Agriculture, it became a point of praise.

There’s no mention of why he fought, only the line, "Liu excelled in techniques, fought at thirty-two Daoist Academies, never defeated."

"Teachers like Liu Tianning are rare to find," Ji Ziyun sighed, "We’re really lucky thanks to Zhao Xing."

Indeed, they were fortunate.

Because next, Zhao Xing flew under Liu Tianning’s banner, circling southwest of Ice and Fire Island.

They encountered patrolling flying boats, all of which retreated without issue.

The five of them had initially prepared for battle.

But Zhao Xing just yelled out, "My master is Liu Tianning."

And the area was cleared!