The Desolate Era

by S.H.A aifu

Fate had never been kind to Ji Ning. Wracked by illnesses and infirm his entire life on Earth, Ning knew early on that he would die as a teenager. What he didn’t know was that there really was such a thing as life after death, and that the universe was a far larger place than he thought. A lucky twist of fate (one of the few in Ning’s life) meant that Ning was reborn into a world o

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Chapter 26 – Success

The crown prince and the princess were indeed rather dazed. They could clearly see that the person before them was merely a Primal Daoist. For him to kill hundreds of Flamewing Guards was one thing, but how was it that he had killed eight of the Twelve Monster Kings of the Eastern Flows?

Although they hadn't personally witnessed it, the tens of Immortal-ranked magic treasures before them were real. They didn't believe that the Flamewing King and the other monster kings who had used these Immortal-ranked magic treasures to dominate the region would just voluntarily give them to senior Darknorth.

"Big brother, we must take on this senior Darknorth as our master. Once we miss this opportunity, we might never encounter someone like him again for the rest of our lives," the black-robed princess suddenly said.

"Right." The crown prince's eyes lit up as he nodded repeatedly. "Senior Darknorth is even more formidable than the twelve monster kings! He is far more powerful than our Qi Empire ever was."

The black-robed princess said solemnly, "The Flamewing King is now dead; the Flamewing Guards under his command were sent fleeing in panic. They know that we are under senior Darknorth's protection, and so the surviving ones definitely will not pursue us any longer. In the future, we will no longer need to flee."

The crown prince was startled for a moment, but then he nodded repeatedly with excitement. He hadn't seen the situation as clearly as his little sister.

"But the only two survivors of the imperial Qi clan are the two of us. How are supposed to grow stronger?" The black-robed princess said in a low voice, "The two of us, relying on our own efforts…we will probably never see the Qi Empire returned to its former glory again in our lifetimes. But by borrowing the strength of senior Darknorth, we would still have hope."

"Right." Qi Rufeng nodded solemnly. "Let's go take him on as our master."

"We have to do so with sincerity. For someone as formidable as senior Darknorth…if he detects even a hint of insincerity, he will probably refuse," the black-robed princess warned.

The two siblings thus entered the Immortal estate as well.

Within a hall in the Immortal estate. Bluecliff Xiaoyu was seated there, watching as the two imperial siblings entered the estate.

"We wish to see senior Darknorth," Qi Rufeng said.

"Master is in seclusion right now. Wait a bit." Xiaoyu didn't shoo them away, because she knew that the only reason why the two were able to enter the Immortal estate was because Ning had permitted it. Ning was the master of this estate, after all; if he didn't wish to permit it, there was no way they would've been able to enter at all.

The reason why Ning had let them enter was because he had discovered some interesting things.

"Eh?"

"A treasure trove?" Ning flipped through the maps in front of him. There were eight maps, all identical, and all pointing towards a treasure trove!

Although the eight slain monster kings were formidable, their storage-type magic treasures were all merely Heaven-ranked items. It was naturally quite easy for Ning to bind them. As he sorted through their items, he discovered to his surprise…that every single storage item contained a map of a treasure trove. All the maps were completely identical.

The treasure maps only had some simple markings atop them, such as 'Qi Empire', 'Riverfang Mountains', etc. This made it so that Ning knew that the treasure map was originally created by the imperial Qi clan! This was the reason why Ning permitted the two imperial Qi clansmen to enter his estate.

"Each of the eight monster kings had a copy of this map, with the Flamewing King's copy being much older. The other seven should've been made through a ink-duplication technique." Ning frowned. "Right…I merely killed a few hundred of Flamewing Guards, but all twelve of the monster kings immediately attacked just a short while later. Logically speaking, the twelve of them should be scattered throughout the Eastern Flows; it would take them quite a bit of time just to spread the word to gather here. There can only be one explanation…when word of my slaughter of hundreds of Flamewing Guards made its way to the Flamewing King, the other monster kings were already present!"

"What sort of a situation would cause all twelve monster kings to gather together?"

Given that every single one of them had a copy of this treasure map…Ning had his answer. "They were most likely gathering for the sake of this treasure trove!"

Ning immediately began to search through the other items, paying especially close attention to the storage treasure of the Flamewing King. And indeed…although he didn't find anything in the other storage treasures, within the Flamewing King's items, Ning found an ancient book with golden parchment; clearly, it was designed to be able to withstand the passage of ages.

"The first time I ventured to the Riverfang Mountains, I was merely adventuring and entered by accident…"

"I am already a Void-level Earth Immortal; before my tribulation comes, I've decided to venture there once more, even though I know this place is very dangerous. I've only investigated a very small portion of this treasure trove; I trust that if I can acquire some more treasures, I will have a good chance of overcoming my Celestial Tribulation and becoming a Celestial Immortal."

"Six Loose Immortals once more ventured to the Riverfang Mountains…"

"This time, we prepared many Dao-seals and treasures before venturing forth to the Riverfang Mountains…"

Ning flipped through the pages of the book. This was a legacy record passed down by the imperial Qi clan; it described the secrets of the Qi Empire's sudden rise to power. The founding emperor of the Qi Empire had acquired a portion of the benefits of the treasure trove and thus founded his empire. In just a a few tens of thousands of years, the Qi Empire had grown to encompass an enormous territory and have quite a few Earth Immortals and Loose Immortals. Thus, the imperial Qi clan had naturally tried repeatedly to enter and investigate further. As they did, they had noted down the various dangers within the treasure trove.

They wanted to accumulate more experience and penetrate deeper within!

"A treasure trove?" Ning said softly in surprise, "Based on what this book describes, this treasure trove has Ki Refining Techniques, divine abilities, and secret arts…and is the reason why the Qi Empire was able to give birth to dozens of Earth Immortals and Loose Immortals within a short span of just a few tens of thousands of years. This is far more formidable than the Black-White College; I imagine that these techniques also vastly surpass the Black-White College's."

"Mm. I need to go take a look."

While at Mount Innerheart, Ning would often chat with his fellow disciples, and so he naturally knew quite a few things about this Crescent world. For example…he knew about the secrets of Viledragon River. He also knew the secrets of many other places.

Although Patriarch Subhuti had created the Crescent world, in truth, when Pangu's World had shattered, Patriarch Subhuti had used a powerful divine ability to teleport some of the shattered portions of the Primordial World to his own Crescent world. In addition, when Patriarch Subhuti wanted to test something or create something a new, his experiments would be carried out here on the Crescent world! This was because this world was his territory; the secrets here would never be released to outsiders.

"From what my senior fellow disciples told me…within this Crescent world are some remnant parts of the ancient Pangu's World, as well as some of the treasures left behind by that cataclysmic war." Ning instantly felt a hot eagerness rise in his heart. Very few knew this secret, and almost all who did were the personal disciples of the Old Patriarch. Thus, they would often go roving and exploring within the Crescent world.

"But after the Old Patriarch sealed off these places with vestigial powers left behind by the cataclysmic war that ended Pangu's World…if one doesn't visit the places in person, it would be very hard to locate the places from afar."

"Now, it seems…this treasure trove is one of those special places."

Ning felt quite certain. This was because the book stated that the deepest ripples within the treasure trove caused the Loose Immortals of the Qi Empire to tremble with terror. It must be understood that Loose Immortals were capable of suppressing and binding Immortal-ranked magic treasures, and sometimes even capable of suppressing Pure Yang treasures. A treasure that could cause them to feel terror? Could it be the corpse of a major power from the Primordial Era? A weapon? A grand formation? Or was it some other oddity?

"I need to go take a look." Ning immediately made up his mind to go take a look. Since destiny had come knocking, why hesitate?

The crown prince and the princess waited for Ning for a long time. Finally, Ning came out.

Ning asked questions them regarding the treasure trove. The second princess knew nothing of this matter, while Crown Prince Qi Rufeng hemmed and hawed, not wanting to reveal the biggest secret of their imperial Qi clan. However, by the time Ning spoke of the Riverfang Mountains…the crown prince felt regret for his hesitation. Only now did he hurriedly reveal everything.

"You can leave now." This was the last thing Ning said to them.

The crown prince and the princess both fell to their knees, wanting to beg Ning to take them on as disciples. But Ning's response was very simple; he teleported them outside the Immortal estate, and then caused the entire Immortal estate to vanish into thin air.

The crown prince, the princess, and their servants stood there in a daze, atop the half-shattered mountain peak. The mountain wind blew through their hair, causing them to feel despair.

"The opportunity was right there in front of me. Why didn't I tell him? It's just a treasure trove! Senior Darknorth already knew about it; he must've been considering taking us on as disciples, and just wanted to give us a test. But I didn't tell him! Damn me!" Crown Prince Qi Rufeng was utterly tormented by regret.

But he had no idea that even if he had been honest, Ning still wouldn't have taken him on as a disciple.

How could one accept disciples in such a casual manner?

Ning didn't immediately hurry to the treasure trove area in the Riverfang Mountains. Instead, he went to search for those two other great sinners.

He first went to search for the three surviving monster kings of the Twelve Monster Kings of the Eastern Flows who had fled. Unfortunately…the only one Ning found was the fourth, the 'Venomspike King'. The Venomspike King was drinking unhappily in his palace with a belly full of anger and unhappiness. He was toying with a beautiful, fox-like maiden in his arms as he drank.

When Ning appeared, the Venomspike King was so terrified that he wanted to immediately flee…but how could Ning give him the opportunity to do so?

"How the hell did I piss you off?!" The Venomspike King was only able to let out one final enraged bellow before being killed by Ning.

Ning then spent more than half a month before finally finding a Loose Immortal within a school whose evil reputation was widespread. This was a human Loose Immortal, and the most powerful expert of his school! This was an old fellow who had lived for six hundred thousand years. His school was an evil one, and so Ning immediately went to uproot this vile base!

He first slaughtered three Loose Immortals who charged towards him, causing the old fellow to appear at last. As the many disciples of the school watched with anticipation…their 'infinitely powerful' and savage Patriarch battled against Ning for a period of time, then was pincered and slain by Ning's true body and Primaltwin!

"What a fellow. His power was close to the Goldfur Bearking's; only, his defense was a bit weaker." Ning had enjoyed this battle quite a bit. He had also acquired two more Immortal-ranked magic treasures from the old fellow, one a high-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasure, one a top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasure.

This was the most powerful person Ning had slain.

"Wonderful, wonderful."

"I've killed so many formidable Loose Immortals, all of whom were surrounded by vicious, baleful auras. My three Darknorth swords are now comparable to high-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords now." Ning felt quite delighted; killing ordinary Loose Immortals didn't do much, but the nine monster kings and that wicked Patriarch released an absolutely astonishing amount of baleful energy when slain. The wicked Patriarch in particular; his baleful aura was comparable to four or five of the monster kings combined!

"If I kill ten more figures like that wicked Patriarch, I imagine that my Darknorth swords will be comparable to top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords." This was Ning's estimation.

He had successfully taken on a disciple. He had also killed ten great sinners. Now, Ning led his disciple, Bluecliff Xiaoyu, to the Riverfang Mountains.

"So these are the Riverfang Mountains?" Ning stared towards the distance. The mountains here stretched out past the horizon and were perpetually shrouded by fog and clouds. From Ning's vantage point, these mountains did indeed look like a series of sharp fangs that were jutting towards the skies.

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Chapter 27 – Riverfang Mountains

As Ji Ning stared at the distant Riverfang Mountains, he couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat. He could vaguely sense an incomparably terrifying threat that lay coiled deep within the mountains.

"At my current level of power…there are very few people in the entire Crescent world who can pose a threat to me. The ones who are more powerful than me have almost all been recruited into Mount Innerheart; when they see me, they might even have to address me as 'uncle-master'. Even the True Immortals and Empyrean Gods would be my fellow disciples," Ning mused to himself.

Roaming within the Crescent world should be like roaming within his own family garden. This was the very first time he felt a thrill of fear!

"It seems there really is some danger here, enough danger to threaten me." Ning nodded lightly. "Mm. If the situation looks bad, I'll immediately hide in the underwater estate. Later, I'll ask Master to help me escape back to Mount Innerheart."

When trapped in dire circumstances, ask for Master's aid. Although this was a bit shameless, Ning was within the Crescent world, after all; his master couldn't be too strict with him. In addition, after he truly left the Crescent world, Ning wouldn't even be able to mention his master's name; he'd have to rely on himself for everything.

"Master?" The nearby Bluecliff Xiaoyu called out softly.

Ning glanced sideways at his disciple, then said with a laugh, "Xiaoyu, I am going into the mountains to take a look. These mountains are very dangerous; go into the Immortal estate first."

"Yes, Master," Xiaoyu said obediently.

Ning waved his arm, immediately drawing Xiaoyu into his Immortal estate. And then, by himself, Ning transformed into a streak of light that flew straight into the Riverfang Mountains.

Ning had acquired the detailed records produced by successive generations of Qi Empire experts. He soon reached the outer perimeter of the treasure trove.

"Eh?" As he strode through the mountains, Ning felt a strange sensation coming to him through the earth.

"Kill…kill…kill…"

He could vaguely sense as though an invisible howl was being transmitted from far away through the dirt, as though an unfathomably long period of time ago, an enormous battle had occurred in this place. Even now, after so many years had passed, the murderous intent from that battle remained unabated.

"The earth here is different from the ordinary earth found elsewhere in the Crescent world. It's clearly much heavier, and the earth's aura in this region is significantly denser as well." Ning nodded lightly. "This might truly be a tiny remnant of Pangu's shattered Primordial World which was teleported here."

With the aid of the tests the imperial Qi clan had carried out, Ning quickly found a mountain valley and began to walk through it. The clouds and the mists coiled about here, making it so that even Ning was only able to see to one or two kilometers. As for divine sense? What his divine sense found was completely different from what his physical eyes could see. This was because….

"My divine sense has been completely fooled. Everything my divine sense is showing me is false." Ning even stretched his hand out to touch a place, ascertaining that his eyes weren't being deceived as well!

He carefully advanced.

Far away, up ahead, he saw an enormous ravine. Ning could sense a terrifyingly sharp saber-intent radiating from that ravine.

"Apparently, although this ravine looks as though it was naturally formed, it was actually carved out through saber-ki." Ning walked forward for the amount of time needed to boil a kettle of tea. Suddenly, he felt an invisible pressure envelop him.

"This is the same as what was recorded within the Qi Empire's book. According to the book, the deeper one goes in, the greater the pressure shall become. The experts of the various generations of the Qi Empire were all ultimately forced to give up by this pressure and return. The pathway I'm walking through right now should be the pathway with the least amount of pressure." Ning quickly advanced. As he did, the strength of the pressure rose dramatically.

When Ning had first entered this region, five thousand kilograms of pressure was evenly being applied to his body. But now, it had already reached five hundred thousand kilograms…fifty million kilograms…

Rumble…

A powerful repulsive force collided against Ning's body, causing a series of rumbling sounds. The amount of pressure pushing down against Ning was now comparable to a series of massive mountains that were smashing down repeatedly towards him!

"Even most Loose Immortals wouldn't be able to withstand this amount of pressure." Ning waved his hand, and the Thousandbull Sword appeared within it. Brandishing the Thousandbull Sword, Ning caused a divine black dragon to suddenly howl forth, striking against the pressure that was crushing down against Ning and lessening it.

"Pretty easy." Ning continued to advance forward while using the Thousandbull Sword to chop apart the invisible pressure.

Clearly, this sort of invisible pressure was born from some sort of ancient, powerful restrictive formation; it sent pulses of pressure out to attack. Loose Immortals were generally Ki Refiners with very weak bodies; thus, if they wanted to advance, they would have to rely on their magic treasures to break apart the pulses of pressure. Previously, Ning had been relying on his Fiendgod Body and so didn't need to use any magic treasures to make it to this point.

Whoosh. Yet another divine black dragon howled forth, leaving behind a dazzling arc in the mist and blasting apart yet another pulse of pressure.

After walking for another period of time.

"Change!" Ning suddenly transformed into his three-headed, six-armed form. Five more Immortal swords appeared in his hands, all of them the illusory black Heavenraker swords. In such a dangerous region, Ning was unwilling to let his Primaltwin appear. Thus, his true body would temporarily use the Heavenraker swords; after all, the power of top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords was very great.

With six top-grade Immortal-ranked swords in his hands, as well as the [Three Heads, Six Arms] divine ability, Ning once more found it easy to advance through the region.

The amount of divine power [Three Heads, Six Arms] used up was more than ten times less than the amount the [Starseizing Hand] used up.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh…

Six divine black dragons howled forth, blasting apart one pulse of pressure after another. However, some remnant pulses still made their way through and struck Ning, causing explosive sounds when they did! Ning, however, was a Fiendgod Body Refiner; so long as the remnant pressures didn't contain too much power, he would be fine.

"This place is a place the imperial Qi clansmen have never reached."

After walking for another period of time, Ning realized that even with six Immortal swords, he was beginning to feel a bit taxed. Right at this moment, Ning saw a figure off in the distance. The figure saw Ning as well.

"Immortal Darknorth." A booming voice rang out.

"Goldfur Bearking." Ning spoke out. The man before him was the tall, muscular Goldfur Bearking. Around him were those ninety-nine pearls that were circling and swirling as they broke apart the pulses of pressure.

"Immortal Darknorth, you acquired a treasure map and discovered this place?" The Goldfur Bearking said.

"Just so." Ning didn't deny it.

"Originally, the twelve of us were planning to enter these Riverfang Mountains. We were discussing this matter with our third brother, but when we received word that hundreds of his Flamewing Guards had been slain, all of us immediately followed him to your place to provide support…but who would've thought that most of the others would die, and that today I would be the only person to come to this treasure trove? Oh, and you, Immortal Darknorth, the slayer of so many monster kings…you came as well. Truly, anything can happen in this world!" The Goldfur Bearking sighed.

Ning laughed. "I do indeed need to thank the Flamewing King. Otherwise, how could I have learned about this treasure trove? Still…why have you come to a halt here? Are you unable to move any further?"

There was something quite strange about this region. If one advanced, no matter towards which direction, one would feel tremendous amounts of pressure crashing down upon one's body. However, if one didn't move at all, one wouldn't suffer the pressure.

"Right, I can't move any further! You have a Fiendgod body, and so you can endure the remnant repulsive force when it strikes you. Loose Immortals Ki Refiners like myself, however, don't dare to fight head on in such a manner. We need to completely dissipate all of the terrifying pressure, which requires an enormous amount of elemental ki to be used up. I need to first restore more of my elemental ki before I go in any further," the Goldfur Bearking said.

"Then I'll take my leave for now," Ning said with a chuckle. Six top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords in his hands, Ning once more began to force his way forward, quickly disappearing from the Goldfur Bearking's field of vision.

"The preparations we made all ended up benefiting this Immortal Darknorth." 1 The Goldfur Bearking gritted his teeth, but he felt quite helpless. He knew that Ning was more powerful than he was, and as a Fiendgod Body Refiner, Ning had a better chance of survival in a place like this.

"[Starseizing Hand]!"

Ning was finally forced by the pressure to use his [Starseizing Hand].

Instantly, the power of the divine black dragons of sword-light increased dramatically. In fact, Ning even temporarily cancelled his [Three Heads, Six Arms] technique. Just by relying on the Thousandbull Sword and the [Starseizing Hand, he carved a path forward!

Charge! Charge! Charge!

But gradually, Ning was once again pressured to the point of being forced to use [Three Heads, Six Arms]. All six arms were now using the [Starseizing Hand]. After a long period of time, Ning was even forced to take a break, so as to recover his largely depleted divine power.

Occasional breaks, followed by occasional advances. Towards the end, Ning would have to use six strikes of the [Starseizing Hand] for every thirty meters he travelled. One could imagine how quickly his divine power was being used up!

Rumble…

As Ning took one more step forward…he actually broke through and out of the pressure region.

"Hahahaha."

"I finally escaped that damn place."

Ning laughed loudly. There were no more ripples of pressure in this location. For the first time in his life…Ning felt as though walking forward normally was actually quite an enjoyable thing.

"I spent nearly a full day walking a mere several thousand kilometers, and I used up all of my divine power several times." Ning shook his head and sighed. Still, he continued to advance with all six Immortal swords at the ready. He tried to use his divine sense to scout ahead, but unfortunately, his divine sense remained deceived, as everything it was telling him was clearly false.

Ning walked forward, following a winding creek. Fog and mist continued to swirl around the region, causing him to only be able to see to a distance of one or two kilometers, where he could vaguely make out a gorge.

CRA-KOW! Just as Ning took a step forward, a bolt of lightning suddenly descended out of nowhere.

"Beat it!" Ning didn't hesitate at all as he immediately swung out all six swords with full force. Six divine black dragons of sword-light hwoled forward, shattering that bolt of lightning.

Crackle crackle crackle…a large amount of lightning and thunder began to swell forward towards him.

"Previously it was invisible pressure…but at least that wasn't lethal. But this lightning is." Ning hurriedly used his swordplay to defend. He noticed that so long as he retreated, the number of attacking thunderbolts would lessen. When he advanced, however, the attacking thunderbolts would increase at an astonishing rate, growing increasingly savage and increasingly powerful.

Ning was only able to advance three hundred meters before being forced to come to a halt, unable to advance any further.

Rumble….

The bolts of lightning were now as thick as a water barrel. They wildly flooded towards and hammered down upon Ning, who struggled to block them. He tried to take a single step forward, but the increasingly frenetic thunderbolts instantly pushed him backwards.

"What should I do? I can't advance at all." Ning was worried now. The attacks were simply too powerful.

Ning had tested letting a small amount of the lightning strike him, and his divine body had easily deflected it. However, as he continued to test it, he realized that there was a limit to how many thunderbolts his divine body could endure. He had to use his sword-light to break apart the rest!

The only reason he had made it as far as he did was because of his Fiendgod-like body.

"Am I going to have to go back? Going back is easy, as the number of lightning bolts will lessen as I retreat. As for the pressure zone, I'll only need around half a day or so to move through it and slowly escape." Ning didn't have any problems with leaving, unlike some; according to the imperial Qi records, there had been Loose Immortals who had used special methods to force a path forward, but after making it too far in, they were unable to escape. This was because when leaving, they still had to go through the pressure zone once more. They eventually had to spend countless years retreating, one step at a time.

What Ning didn't realize was that the Flamewing King had been trapped within the pressure zone for tens of years!

Rumble…

Countless bolts of lightning continued to slam down frantically.

Ning truly didn't want to give up.

"Kiddo, you came in at such a low level of power? I urge you to hurry up and leave. Don't lose your life here!" A shrill voice suddenly rang out within Ning's ears.

1. In the original Chinese, the saying was 'made wedding clothes for him'; this is a classic saying about how you put in a tremendous amount of work, only for someone else to reap the benefits.

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Chapter 28 – Returning to Mount Innerheart

There was someone else here?

Ji Ning was startled. He hurriedly retreated several meters, causing the striking lightning bolts to weaken slightly. Only now did he dare divide his attention to look around carefully.

"Eh?" Ning frowned. From the crevices between the bolts of lightning that continued to hammer towards him, Ning saw a black-robed youth was standing far away at the entrance to the distant gorge.

Swoosh! Ning hurriedly retreated, leaving from the thunder field region. All of the lightning bolts vanished, allowing Ning to clearly see the figure at the entrance to the gorge. The black-robed youth was similar to Mu Northson in height, and even skinnier than Ning himself. However, Ning could sense that this black-robed youth had been alive for a long, long time.

The black-robed youth's gaze was both sharp and terrifying. His face was expressionless; he was most likely the type that was born arrogant and aloof.

"Who are you?" Ning asked.

"Me?" The black-robed youth's voice was shrill. He looked thoughtfully towards Ning. "Even if I told you my name, kid, you wouldn't recognize it. You should be at the early Void stage, but you actually broke through the first forbidden zone, and were even able to advance three hundred meters in the second zone, the lightning zone. You just barely qualify as having the power of a Celestial Immortal. For someone to have such power at the early Void stage…which school do you belong to? Who is your master?"

Ning was secretly surprised. Celestial Immortal?

Since the black-robed youth had already arrived at the entrance to the gorge, he clearly should've already made it past the lightning zone. This meant he was far more powerful than Ning. Ning's Primaltwin at full power would be just barely at the average Celestial Immortal level; some particularly formidable and monstrously talented Celestial Immortals were far more powerful than him.

"My master's name is not for the likes of you to learn," Ning said.

"Oh, is he a True Immortal or Empyrean God?" The black-robed youth chuckled softly as he carefully scrutinized Ning's face. Ning, however, remained calm.

The black-robed youth shook his head. "Leave, hurry up and leave. Even I am unable to acquire the treasure within. Even if you were a hundred times stronger than you are now, it wouldn't suffice."

"A hundred times?" Ning frowned, not believing it.

"You don't believe it? Then listen to this; this treasure trove is divided into three forbidden zones. The first zone simply uses pressure and repulsive force! It is quite safe. The second zone is the lightning zone, and it is 540 meters long in total. As for the third forbidden zone, it forbids the usage of all magic treasures. Even I am unable to break through it."

The black-robed youth looked disdainfully at Ning. "And you? You haven't even overcome a Celestial Tribulation. You might be a peerless genius, but you are unable to advance past three hundred meters of the lightning zone. You must know by now that with each step forward, the power in the lightning zone increases dramatically. Only if your power increases tenfold will you be able to break through the second zone…but the third zone is even more terrifying. I imagine not even many Celestial Immortals are capable of breaking through it."

"What is in the third forbidden zone?" Ning couldn't help but ask.

"That's not for you to worry about," the black-robed youth said.

"Why haven't you left?" Ning asked.

"I'm a Celestial Immortal with an infinite lifespan. Since the treasure is here, I will slowly train here. Perhaps a chance will present itself and I'll be able to acquire it," the black-robed youth said.

Hearing this, Ning instantly felt irritated. He could sense the faint ripples of power coming from within the valley; the ripples were extremely old yet very powerful. "The Thousandbull Sword is almost at the level of Pure Yang treasures in power, but its ripples are vastly inferior. The treasure within must have be an extremely powerful one that was left behind from Pangu's World."

"However…I can't even make it through the second forbidden zone. How am I suppose to pass all three?"

Ning stood there by the creek outside the lightning zone. He pondered quietly for a moment, then gritted his teeth, turned, and left.

Whoosh.

Ning quickly re-entered the invisible pressure zone, slowly forcing his way outwards.

"He's gone?" The black-robed youth shook his head. "A young kid who was far too weak. Given his talent, though, he might have a shot at becoming a Celestial Immortal." And then, the black-robed youth once more walked into the gorge.

"Immortal Darknorth, you returned?" On the way back, Ning once more encountered the Goldfur Bearking. The Goldfur Bearking was advancing again, but he had only traversed a kilometer beyond his earlier point.

"I'm not strong enough. Naturally, I have to return."

Ning, in his three-headed, six-armed form, wielded six Immortal swords and chopped a path through the pressure pulses as he left.

"Not strong enough?" The Goldfur Bearking muttered to himself, "Is it possible that this Darknorth has already acquired the treasures? Still, from the look on his face, I'd say he isn't lying." Although he secretly mumbled and muttered to himself, the Goldfur Bearking wasn't confident in being able to wrest any treasures from Ning's grasp.

Ning exited the Riverfang Mountains.

Turning his head, he gave the mountain ranges, perpetually shrouded by fog and clouds, a glance. He murmured softly, "Wait for me to train in the arcane art…I'll give you another try then."

Whoosh. A spatial ripple appeared, and Ning disappeared into it. He reappeared in the sky above the mountain peak of Mount Innerheart, a cloud beneath his feet.

"Come out." Ning willed it, and instantly a white-robed maiden appeared by his side. This was Ning's disciple, Bluecliff Xiaoyu.

"Master." Xiaoyu stood atop the cloud, staring at her surroundings. "Where are we now?"

Ning looked at his disciple, then turned to stare at the levitating Mount Innerheart. It had only been a month, but he had already accepted a disciple and killed ten great sinners. Bluecliff Xiaoyu's golden glow of karmic virtue stretched to more than nine hundred meters…and now, Ning's own clean aura of holiness had also transformed into the golden glow of karmic virtue!

However, his divine sense told him that his own golden light of karmic virtue merely stretched to be three feet long.

Actually, the process of accepting a disciple and killing the monster kings had already caused his clean aura of holiness to become quite dense; after he killed the wicked Patriarch, it suddenly transformed into the golden light of karmic virtue.

"Three feet of golden karmic light, compared to nine hundred meters for my disciple." Ning laughed, then pulled Xiaoyu by the hand as he flew upwards.

"Xiaoyu, the mountain up ahead is Mount Innerheart. This is the place where Master's school is located," Ning said with a laugh.

Xiaoyu stared at the massive levitating mountain, then lowered her head to look at the endless world beneath them. "Master's school?" She felt rather stunned.

They flew into Mount Innerheart, went up the mountain road, and soon arrived at the gates. Xiaoyu was only Ning's disciple, and so Ning didn't take her to see the eldest apprentice-brother.

At the gates were those two azure-robed Dao-novitiates. When they saw Ning, they immediately bowed and said with great respect, "Patriarch."

"Mm." Ning nodded.

Still stunned, Xiaoyu let Ning tug her forward by the arm. After passing through the gates, Xiaoyu came back to her senses. She whispered, "Master, it seems as though those two novitiates at the gates were very powerful?"

"Both were Void-level Earth Immortals," Ning said casually.

Just as Ning's words came out, two extremely ancient and powerful Void-level Fiendgods walked over. Both of them called out with tremendous courtesy, "Patriarch?"

The feeling these two ancient Fiendgods gave Xiaoyu…was that they were even more terrifying than the monster kings. They caused her to quiver and shake! And yet, they referred to her master as 'Patriarch'?!

They continued walking up the mountain path of the Tristar Crescent Abode. As they did so, they encountered humans, monsters, and even Fiendgods, all of whom had powerful auras and many of whom were even more terrifying than the monster kings. And yet, upon seeing Ning, they all showed extreme respect, addressing him as either 'Patriarch' or 'Uncle-Master'.

"It seems as though my master has a very high status in his school. On our way over…it seems everyone we ran into had a lower status than him. I haven't even met a single person on his level," Xiaoyu murmured to herself.

"The Divinities Palace is up ahead," Ning said.

"Divinities Palace?" Xiaoyu looked curiously at the nine-storied Divinities Palace. Many disciples of Mount Innerheart were congregating outside of it, and they all respectfully bowed towards Ning and addressed him as uncle-master or as Patriarch. Little Qing and Uncle White ran straight towards him; they were spiritually connected to Ning and knew exactly where he was.

"Master."

"Ning, child."

Both Little Qing and Uncle White ran over.

Right at this moment, a handsome, white-robed man walked over from the entrance to the Divinities Palace. This was naturally the controller of the Divinities Palace, Silvermoon. Silvermoon smiled as he walked over. "I heard, junior apprentice-brother, that you accepted a disciple and subdued viledoers in the world below us. This would be the apprentice you took on, yes? What a pretty little lass."

"I've finally met someone of the same generation as Master…and they seem quite friendly. He doesn't have any frightening aura at all," Xiaoyu mused silently to herself.

"Xiaoyu, hurry up and pay respects to your uncle-master," Ning instructed.

"Greetings, uncle-master," Xiaoyu said as she hurriedly bowed with respect.

"Since you've addressed me as uncle-master, I need to prepare a gift for you." Silvermoon shook his head and laughed. "It'll be hard for a little girl like you to make proper use of a good treasure. Mmm…keep this little toy with you. Even if a Celestial Immortal wants to kill you, it'll be able to protect you for the time needed to boil a kettle of tea."

As he spoke, he tossed a jade brooch towards Xiaoyu.

Xiaoyu was rather stunned. A Celestial Immortal's attacks? Able to withstand them for a short period of time? This tiny little brooch? Not even the treasure which her master had given her was this incredible.

"But…but…" Xiaoyu couldn't help but feel awkward at the 'pricelessness' of this treasure.

"Hurry up and take it," Ning chortled. "This jade brooch is nothing to your uncle-master. He kills Celestial Immortals as easily as killing chickens."

"Junior apprentice-brother, you…fine, I admit that I did indeed make this jade brooch in a rather casual manner. I'll also give you another gift then, a Greater Teleportation Dao-seal. I'm not capable of forging them; I used treasures to trade for it." Silvermoon handed over a Dao-seal to her.

Ning's smile became incandescent. His senior apprentice-brother was an Empyrean God; although a Greater Teleportation Dao-seal was a treasure to Ning, it wasn't much to Silvermoon. It was only fair for him to seize this opportunity to milk Silvermoon for a few things.

Xiaoyu blinked repeatedly.

Two treasures? Given away so casually? Kill Celestial Immortals as easily as chickens? This…what the hell type of school had she been recruited into?!

"Little Qing, show Xiaoyu around the Tristar Crescent Abode and help her familiarize herself with this place. Chat with her a bit as well; she still doesn't know what sort of a school the Tristar Crescent Abode is," Ning said with a laugh.

"Yes, Master." Little Qing immediately responded with excitement.

Ning immediately said, "Senior apprentice-brother, I am going to go to the Three Realms Palace."

"Go, go," Silvermoon said, nodding his head and smiling. "It seems you are going to leave our master's tutelage soon."

The Three Realms Palace.

Second apprentice-brother Crazy Ji was beaming merrily here as he waited for Ning.

"Senior apprentice-brother." Ning bowed.

"Master told me that you passed the trial. This is the full copy of the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]. You can learn it now." Crazy Ji held his fan in one hand and used the other to hand over a scrolled bamboo book.

Ning's eyes instantly lit up. The [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]? After he gained a basic level of expertise in it, his body would be like an Immortal-ranked magic treasure. He would definitely be able to give the Riverfang Mountains another try by then.

"Thank you, senior apprentice-brother." Ning immediately accepted the bamboo book. He sent his divine sense into it, and instantly an utterly prodigious amount of information began to flow into his soul.

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Chapter 29 – Training in the Arcane Art

By the time Ji Ning came back to his senses, it was already dark.

He was still standing outside the small building. As for the nearby Crazy Ji, he had long since gone back to sleep and was snoring contentedly.

"Although my soul is unfathomably more powerful than it was back when I learned the [Starseizing Hand, it still took me many hours to process all that information." A hint of a smile was on Ning's face. This feeling of complete confidence was quite wonderful. He had fully memorized the method of training in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art].

"It truly is the number one divine ability in the Three Realms for those below the True God level."

Ning smiled as he walked into the Three Realms Palace.

"Junior apprentice-brother, you can just put the complete copy of the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] back in the Three Realms Palace. If you want to choose something else, you can do so." Crazy Ji lay there, seemingly mumbling in his sleep. He then turned and started to snore again.

Ning smiled. He turned and bowed. "Yes, senior apprentice-brother."

After returning the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art, Ning unhesitatingly walked forward to pick up another abridged book. Atop this book were the characters: [Houyi's Archery].

Ning had dreamed of learning [Houyi's Archery] for a long time now. His own divine ability was the [Starseizing Hand, a divine ability which caused his pair of hands to possess unfathomably great power. With one hand holding the bow, and the other drawing it…and in addition, [Houyi's Archery] was a technique-focused ability. These two divine abilities, both ranked in the top ten of the Three Realms, could be used simultaneously and would synergize very well.

The first gave Ning's twin hands unfathomable power. The second would raise his archery skills to the limit. Combined…they would become one of Ning's most powerful killer combinations.

"However…this trial truly is difficult. Can I accomplish it?" Ning stared at the trial, frowning. "No matter what, I have to give it a try. There's no time limit, anyhow."

"Senior apprentice-brother." Ning put down the abridged book, walked to the doorway, and looked at the slumbering Crazy Ji. "I wish to learn [Houyi's Archery]."

"Go then. Come back after you pass the trial," Crazy Ji mumbled in his sleep.

Ning smiled, turned his head, and immediately departed.

Actually, although on the surface it seemed as though he was informing Crazy Ji, in reality his was telling his master, Patriarch Subhuti! After all, it was the Patriarch who would decide whether or not this technique could be taught to him.

Whoosh. Ning departed.

Crazy Ji suddenly sat up. Leaning against the wooden door of the hall, he frowned as he stared at the departing Ning. "He wants to train in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] and [Houyi's Archery]? Doesn't this little junior apprentice-brother of mine walk the path of the Sword Immortal? Why is it that I feel as though he views [Houyi's Archery] as absolutely critical for him to acquire? No one in the entire Three Realms has ever reached a level of archery as terrifying as Houyi did."

The [Starseizing Hand] only required sufficient amounts of Five Elements essence; with it, one could train all the way to the Sixth Cycle and master it!

The same was also true for the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]. Upon gaining a basic level of skill with it, as long as one fused enough magic treasures, one could master all nine of its cycles.

But the [Starseizing Hand] and the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] both needed astonishing amounts of items. The first required shocking amounts of Five Elements essence, while the other required similarly shocking amounts of magic treasures. There were quite a few people in the Three Realms who trained in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art, but the number who truly achieved mastery and an unbreakable, vajra-like body was very very low.

[Houyi's Archery] was completely different! It was a skill-based, technique-based ability. It required a certain level of comprehension and enlightenment. This made it even harder to master! It also required a person to constantly ruminate on the Dao of Archery…although Houyi's own level of archery had already surpassed the bounds of the actual Dao of Archery.

"A Sword Immortal…who is also going to split up his attention to walk the Dao of Archery?" Crazy Ji pondered. "Perhaps it is simply because this junior apprentice-brother knows that [Houyi's Archery] is one of the top ten divine abilities of the Three Realms, and so he truly wishes to learn it. After he learns how truly difficult it is, he might just give it up."

Within the Still Room in the underwater estate. Ning was seated in the lotus position as he began to train in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]. This was a divine ability, and so he had to have his true body train it!

Whooosh. Ning let out a breath of air. A blurry golden light began to slowly appear around his body. The golden light was very faint at first, but it slowly grew denser until Ning seemed to be made out of gold.

"Change!" Ji Ning, who had been seated atop the netherwater jade bed, suddenly vanished. Atop the jade bed appeared a rock. However, this rock had a living aura; any Immortal cultivators would be able to immediately tell that it was extraordinary.

"Cancel." The rock disappeared and Ning once more reappeared.

For a Fiendgod Body Refiner at Ning's level, the divine body could be completely transformed into divine power, and vice versa! In fact, even a single hair could be transformed into a completely separate body! Thus, to transform one's self into a rock wasn't difficult; what was difficult was to make it so that one's aura would be so retracted that one would be indistinguishable from a true rock.

"Retract the aura? Change even the aura of one's soul?" Ning murmured softly to himself, "This [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] truly is difficult to learn. However…once I gain a basic level of expertise, I can change my aura as I please and will be able to easily make it so that I am like a rock or a piece of dirt."

The [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] was the [Seventy-Two Transformations]. As noted, the term 'seventy-two' came from the term 'eight-nine'; in reality, the number of transformations it allowed was limitless. Rocks, trees, flowers, plants, animals…even humans, monsters, and Fiendgods! Anything that existed in the Three Realms, one could transform into. Even the aura would become absolutely identical.

Even those more powerful than the user would find it difficult to see through the transformation. Only those who specialized in extremely powerful 'god-eye' techniques or other special techniques, when actively using those techniques, would be able to see the truth! If they didn't actively use the special techniques, however, even they would be unable to realize that the tree before them was actually someone else transformed.

Early dawn.

Bluecliff Xiaoyu, rather bored, walked out of her room.

"It's been half a year since Master brought me back to Mount Innerheart, but he's only taught me twice. He instructed me to go learn everything, such as Ki Refining Techniques, divine abilities, and secret arts, from the Divinities Palace." Xiaoyu felt rather resigned. She knew that some experts had strange temperaments, but she didn't expect that her master would care so little about her. She normally didn't even have a chance to meet him.

"Still…"

"Mount Innerheart truly is an incredible place." Xiaoyu sighed in amazement. Over the course of the past half year, she was often together with Uncle White and Little Qing, as well as the other disciples of Mount Innerheart. Thus, she was beginning to learn more and more. And the more she learned, the more amazed she was!

Celestial Immortals? Their statuses was lower than her master's!

Personal disciples? The others were all Pure Yang True Immortals or Empyrean Gods. The guard of the Divinities Palace was an Empyrean God. No wonder that day her master had told her that this uncle-master killed Celestial Immortals as easily as chickens!

Whaaaat?! The entire Crescent world had been created by Patriarch Subhuti? He had set up his own cycle of reincarnation? The Old Patriarch had done this all by himself?

Xiaoyu now realized that the entire Crescent world was like a garden world for the members of Mount Innerheart. Supposedly, beyond the Crescent world, there was the even vaster Three Realms. Supposedly, this 'Three Realms' had many other major powers that were comparable to the Old Patriarch.

"Um." Xiaoyu saw a large rock next to her as she walked forward. Without thinking too much, she plopped her rear down on it and sat down.

"I wonder when I'll see Master again," Xiaoyu murmured to herself. And then…

"Eh?" She suddenly frowned, glancing downwards at the stone beneath her. "Weird. If memory serves…there shouldn't be a rock here. Where did this rock come from? Uh…well, this is Master's Immortal estate; everything within it is under his control. No need for me to worry about it, I suppose. Mm…right. I'm going to go find that big dumb lunk. He's at a fairly high level of enlightenment; he can provide me with some guidance."

Bluecliff Xiaoyu stood up and quickly ran off.

Whoosh.

The stone transformed into a fur-clad youth, Ji Ning.

"…I was actually sat on by my disciple." Ning took a deep breath. "Fortunately, no one saw this. Um…right. Definitely can't tell anyone about this."

"No more transforming into rocks. I'll transform into a tree. I refuse to believe anyone is going to sit on me then."

Whoosh.

In a corner of the estate, there were some trees and flowers. Another tree, a small pine tree that was a few meters tall, now joined their ranks. The branches of the tree even fluttered in the breeze.

Ning had already more than half-mastered the rudiments to the transformation aspects of the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]. What he was doing every day was transforming into rocks, trees, creeks, grass, and other things. To this day, no one had been able to discover him. In fact, Ning's Primaltwin had visually searched, used divine sense, and even opened the 'Celestial Eye', but was still unable to discover any flaws!

When Ning was transformed into a tree, his bark, his branches, his leaves…they were absolutely identical to real ones. Even the aura of his soul had transformed into a tree's aura! There was nothing special about it at all!

Time flowed on, day by day. Ning constantly trained in his transformation techniques, testing himself repeatedly and accruing more and more experience. Finally, after spending a year and three months on the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art, Ning mastered all of the 'seventy-two' transformations.

"The final transformations truly were difficult. They took so much time! Still, I've finally mastered them. Change!"

Ning had been seated in the lotus position next to a creek, but suddenly his figure changed completely. Now, seated next to the creek was a handsome, fan-wielding, white-robed man; Empyrean God Silvermoon. He was identical in both appearance and aura. That incomparably powerful aura, so great as to cause others to tremble in fear…the aura of an Empyrean God…and the unique properties of Silvermoon's own personal aura…Ning had replicated it all.

"Let me give it a try."

Ning, appearing as Silvermoon, smiled as he walked through the Tristar Crescent Abode.

"Patriarch."

"Patriarch."

"Senior uncle-master."

"Master."

As he walked through the Tristar Crescent Abode, Ning heard others address him for the first time as 'senior uncle-master'. It must be understood that amongst the other personal disciples, Ning was the newest addition, and so most people just addressed him as 'uncle-master'.

"Haha. These Void-level Fiendgods and Diremonsters…none of them suspect a thing." Ning was in an extremely good mood. He occasionally even nodded to them.

"Strange. Why isn't Patriarch Silvermoon at the Divinities Palace?"

"It's quite rare to see Patriarch Silvermoon out for a walk, isn't it?"

"It is rather odd."

After Ning walked away, the disciples of Mount Innerheart quietly speculated amongst themselves. Silvermoon was simply too famous for his ferocity; he was truly a demon-like figure. The amount of sin which swirled around him was utterly inconceivable! Silvermoon had accumulated so much sin that he was no longer covered in the bloody light of sin; rather, covering him were the legendary karmic sinflames!

However, given how unearthly powerful Silvermon was, he didn't fear the karmic sinflames at all!

Ning quickly arrived at the Divinities Palace. In front of it, as always, were congregated many of the disciples of Mount Innerheart.

"Patriarch."

"Senior uncle-master."

They all called out with respect, and even Bluecliff Xiaoyu, who had been chatting with the other disciples, hurriedly rose to her feet and called out respectfully, "Senior uncle-master."

But Little Qing and Uncle White stared in amazement at Ning.

"Who are you?!" Because of their spiritual connection to Ning, both Little Qing and Uncle White knew that it was him. However, they couldn't help but feel completely amazed and confused. The terrifying aura of the white-robed man before them…his appearance…clearly, this should be Empyrean God Silvermoon! But their spiritual sense was telling them that this man before them was actuall Ji Ning.

This caused both of them to feel very strange. Previously, Ning had only displayed the ability to transform into a tree in front of them; he had never transformed into a person before.

"Mm." Ning nodded, then smiled as he walked into the Divinities Palace.

Within the Divinities Palace there was another white-robed man, also holding a fan. Their gazes met. Their appearances and their auras were identical.

"Someone who dares transform into my appearance? Second senior apprentice-brother has better things to do, and Lord Jiang doesn't have this sort of personality…junior apprentice-brother, it seems you've successfully trained in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]?" Silvermoon immediately guessed that it was Ji Ning.

"Formidable, senior apprentice-brother." The figure of one of the white-robed men turned blurry, then transformed back into the figure of a fur-clad youth, Ji Ning.

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Chapter 30 – The Power To Roam the Three Realms

Silvermoon shook his head and laughed. "It's not that I'm formidable; it's that there are only a few people at Mount Innerherat who have trained in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]. By process of elimination, I was able to guess that it was you, junior apprentice-brother."

Ning nodded. The [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] was located in the Three Realms Palace; only personal disciples and those who had received special permission from the Old Patriarch could learn it.

"If you transformed into someone else, I might not have been able to tell that it was you," Silvermoon said with a laugh. "These 'seventy-two transformations' cause a person's aura to completely change; even the appearance of sin or karmic merit surrounding you changes. This truly is an incredible transformation divine ability."

Ning nodded. Indeed. For example, when Ning transformed into a rock, he could use the technique to completely retract his three-foot aura of golden karmic light. If he transformed into a viledoer, he could transform to display the bloody light of sin.

"Back in the era of Pangu's World, there was an ancient Diremonster who relied on these seventy-two transformations to transform into the appearance of a Buddha. He used it to trick people for thousands of years before being discovered," 1 Silvermoon said with a laugh. "You have now gained a basic level of expertise into the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]; your foundation is set. These seventy-two transformations alone will serve as a top-notch escape method or hiding method."

"However…at this level, it merely remains a deceptive tool, a hiding method. When you are truly in a dire situation, what matters the most is your combat ability," Silvermoon said. "Junior apprentice-brother, although you've reached the early Void stage and are comparable to ordinary Celestial Immortals…I'm afraid that slightly more powerful Celestial Immortals would be able to deal with you or even kill you."

"I understand." Ning truly did. Unless he was so lucky as to only encounter extremely weak Celestial Immortals, the amount of power he currently had was only enough to allow him to swagger around in front of those who had yet to overcome their Celestial Tribulation.

"That's why I've come to find you, senior apprentice-brother. I've come to ask you for help," Ning said with a laugh.

"Help?" Silvermoon waved his fan, then said in a leisurely manner, "Speak. What do you need?"

"I'm currently quite weak; forgot about the Thee Realms, even in this Crescent world, any random Celestial Immortal might be able to kill me. Thus, I wish to reach the Third Cycle of the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] as soon as I can," Ning said.

Silvermoon stared at him. "The amount of treasures consumed by the training of the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] is utterly astonishing; even I had to spend countless ages to be able to train to my current Sixth Cycle! Can it be that you, you little brat, want me to give you my treasures for free to help you train? No way!"

The [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] used up far too many treasures. To reach the Ninth Cycle? Even Daofathers would feel pain at the cost!

Even a mighty demon like Empyrean God Silvermoon had only trained to the Sixth Cycle; logically speaking, Empyrean Gods should be able to reach the Ninth Cycle, but he simply didn't have enough treasures.

"Of course I wouldn't ask you to give them to me for free," Ning said hurriedly. "During this trip of mine to the outside world, I acquired some Immortal-ranked magic treasures. I wanted to trade them to you for Immortal pills, senior apprentice-brother!"

"Trade for Immortal pills?" Silvermoon nodded lightly. Immortal pills referred to Immortal-ranked spirit-pills, Pure Yang spirit-pills, and Great Firmament spirit-pills.

"That's acceptable." Only now did Silvermoon agree. "Bring out your Immortal-ranked magic treasures. I definitely won't make you suffer a loss, and I won't profit from this trade with you."

Ning smiled, then waved his hand. Whoosh. Instantly, one Immortal-ranked magic treasure after another appeared, hovering in the air. These were the spoils he had gained from killing the monster kings and the evil Patriarch on the last journey. In fact, he even took out the low-grade Immortal-ranked flying sword the Grand Xia Emperor had given him.

"Let me take a look." Silvermoon quickly spread out his divine power to bind each of the magic treasures.

There was no way to use divine power to actually control magic treasures, but upon overcoming the Celestial Tribulation and becoming an Empyrean God, things would change. Empyrean Gods were unfathomable in their power, and their divine power could be applied to all sorts of magic treasures. The Empyrean Gods and True Gods who were birthed from the primordial chaos were born with the ability to easily use magic treasures. Only the weaker Fiendgods, such as those that were born at the Xiantian level, were only able to use Bloodforged weapons.

"Mm." Silvermoon looked through the weapons, then said, "Three top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasures, nineteen high-grade, twenty one middle-grade, and sixteen low-grade."

Silvermoon kept his calculations simple and by grade. For example, he counted the six scimitars which the Flamewing King had used as six separate items! That was why the number was so high.

"Junior apprentice-brother…the difference is pretty huge." Silvermoon looked at Ning, then said helplessly, "The amount of Immortal pills you can trade for with such a small amount of Immortal-ranked magic treasures…there's no way you can train to the Third Cycle."

Ning immediately asked, "How far off am I?"

"Even if I'm generous to the point of suffering a loss…I could at most give you sixty of my top-grade Immortal-ranked spirit-pills! But to train to the Third Cycle, if you completely rely on such pills, you would need at least a hundred of them," Silvermoon said helplessly.

Ning felt resigned as well. He had kept behind a single low-grade Immortal-ranked flying sword for Little Qing, and had kept the Immortal-ranked magic item he had acquired in the underwater estate for Uncle White! He needed to use both the Thousandbull Sword and the Heavenraker swords. He had taken out every other magic treasure he had left. In fact, aside from the Heavenraker swords, he no longer even had three spare Immortal-ranked flying swords for his [Three Heads, Six Arms] technique!

"How about this?" Silvermoon waved his hand, and a piece of parchment appeared. "Write on top of this paper that today, you are borrowing a total of forty top-grade Immortal-ranked spirit-pills from me. You have to repay me a hundred such pills within ten thousand years. If you are unable to do so within ten thousand years, then you'll have to pay me back with the most valuable treasure you carry!"

Silvermoon waved his fan as he beamed merrily towards Ning.

Ning felt resigned. He had heard from others long ago as to what sort of a person this Silvermoon was; the reason why all of the disciples of Mount Innerheart secretly referred to him as 'that demon Silvermoon' was because he, an exalted Empyrean God, would seek opportunities to squeeze and extort even the ordinary disciples.

"Fine." Ning lowered his head.

"Hurry up and write," Silvermoon chortled merrily. "Junior apprentice-brother, the sword you used to display your swordplay last time was pretty good; it nearly has the power of a Pure Yang treasure. That sword alone is worth nearly a hundred top-grade Immortal-ranked spirit-pills. I'm sure that within ten thousand years, you'll have acquired even better treasures."

Ning immediately began to furiously scribbling on the parchment.

Between fellow disciples, a written acknowledgment of debt was enough; everyone would give each other face.

"Here you go!" Silvermoon waved his hand and a white jade bottle flew towards Ning. "These are top-grade Immortal-ranked spirit-pills that were forged in Doushuai Palace. They contain extremely pure elemental essence and are very well suited for training in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]." 2

Ning had been instantly impoverished…and now owed a hundred top-grade Immortal-ranked spirit-pills to Silvermoon. Still…Ning accepted this. He wasn't strong enough to leave his master's tutelage yet; any powerful Celestial Immortal was capable of annihilating him.

"The [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]."

Ning sat on the netherwater jade bed within the Still Room. Hefting the jade bottle, he poured out a spirit-pill. The spirit-pill was a white-jade color, and it emanated a faint aroma of mouth-watering fragrance.

If an ordinary Zifu Disciple or Wanxiang Adept were to eat this top-grade Immortal-ranked spirit-pill, they probably wouldn't even be able to refine it; their Zifus would explode! After all, the purity of the elemental ki within these pills was comparable to that used by Celestial Immortal. These sorts of pills were usually given to reincarnated Immortals, so as to allow them to reach an extremely high level of power in a short period of time.

Alternately, Celestial Immortals who had fought for a long period of time, or who had used up a great deal of energy in binding a Protocosmic spirit-treasure, would use them to instantly replenish their elemental ki.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh…

One pill after another came pouring out, each comparable to a high-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasure in value.

Ning swallowed them all in one gulp. He then immediately began to activate the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] technique. The purpose of the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] was to train his body to the point of making it as indestructible as a magic treasure! This required an enormous amount of energy…and top-grade Immortal-ranked spirit-pills were purposefully designed for replenishing energy. As for ordinary liquefied elemental essence? Absorbing them took too much time; there was no way one could use them to activate the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art].

Rumble…

Ning's entire body immediately began to transform. His bones, his marrow, his sinews, his flesh, his skin, his hair…every part of his body was now changing. If previously Ning's flesh and bones could be described as tofu, then after using up the very first spirit-pill, they had reached the consistency of stone.

But of course, in reality, Ning's divine body had already been extremely powerful. From this, one could imagine how huge the improvement brought by the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] was!

"The First Cycle is complete!"

Ning could sense how powerful his divine body had become. A single top-grade Immortal-ranked spirit-pill had allowed him to complete the First Cycle and allowed his body to become incomparably mighty.

Clang! Ning formed his finger into a sword and slashed at his other arm. Sword-light flashed past, but the only thing it left behind was a white smudge.

"My body is already comparable to a Heaven-ranked magic artifact. I can just stand there without doing anything and Loose Immortals will be unable to damage me at all. And this is just the First Cycle!"

"This [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] is far more powerful than whatever divine ability Adept Ninedeaths used back during the Conclave of Immortal Destiny. Her body was like a magic treasure, but by comparison…her technique could not compare to the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]." Ning didn't spend too much time thinking about it; after all, only a Primal-level Fiendgod could even begin to train in the basics of the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art].

Adept Ninedeaths had only been a Wanxiang Adept; there was no way she could've trained in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art, even if someone had given it to her.

"The second pill." Showing no hesitating at all, Ning began to digest additional pills. The incomparably pure elemental ki of the top-grade Immortal-ranked spirit-pills flowed through Ning's entire body, being drawn into every part of it. Ning's body was like a sponge, ravenously drawing in the power of these pills…and then his body began to repeatedly transform, like a sword being reforged time and time again.

"The eleventh pill." As Ning was digesting and refining the eleventh pill, the Second Cycle of the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] was mastered.

One spirit-pill after another was rapidly consumed. Ning's body was continuously rising in power as well, increasing in both endurance and resilience. Clang, clang clang! As Ning continued to train, rumbling and clanking sounds could be heard coming from within his body as his muscles and flesh clashed against each other. It sounded like two mighty mountains were colliding, and as Ning's heart beat, it sounded like a sea was trembling.

Ning knew that this was a form of tempering! Magic treasures would be tempered through magic fire and other sources of power, while the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] tempered the body. Every single organ, including even the skins and the hair, would be tempered nonstop by this technique. By now…a single strand of Ning's hair was so tough that even if a Loose Immortal were to wildly hack at it with full power, he wouldn't be able to damage it in the slightest.

Rumble…

Another booming sound could be heard from Ning's body. His muscles rumbled, his bones rumbled, his organs rumbled…the rumbling almost seemed to form into a wondrous sort of music.

Ning's skin was beginning to shine with a dark light. He seemed to have transformed into a terrifyingly powerful magic-treasure. Only when the dark light faded away did he seem like an ordinary person once more. His skin was very soft and white, seemingly quite tender; one could not tell just by looking at him as to how powerful he had become.

"Hahaha…I've finally completed the Third Cycle." Ning was overjoyed. Waving his hand, he immediately produced the Thousandbull Sword. "Time to test my power."

WHOOSH! The Thousandbull Sword transformed into a black dragon of sword-light, carrying unearthly power with it as it chopped down against Ning's left arm…but it didn't even leave a white smudge behind.

"[Starseizing Hand]." Ning used his full power, launching an even more powerful blow!

BANG!!!!

A thunderous banging sound could be heard within the Still Room…but Ning's left arm still didn't have even the slightest hint of a mark at all on it.

"I've mastered the Third Cycle. My body is comparable to an Immortal-ranked magic treasure now. When striking myself with full force, I can't even leave behind a tiny white mark. I imagine that even Celestial Immortals would only be able to stare at me, stupefied, without knowing what to do. This truly is the number one divine ability in the Three Realms for those below the True God level. Primaltwin, Heavenraker Sword Formation – Attack!"

Ning was utterly delighted. In front of him suddenly appeared the black-robed Ning, who immediately controlled the power of the Heavenraker swords, transforming them into nine streaks of sword-light and sending them howling forth as they stabbed towards Ning's bared upper chest!

1. This is a reference to a story in Journey to the West, where a monster was transformed into the appearance of Buddha in order to trick travelers going on a pilgrimage to visit the real Buddha. He would eventually eat them.

2. Doushuai Palace, in Chinese legends, is the place where Laozi, the founder of philosophical Daoism, resides. In Journey to the West, this is also the place where Laozi concocts pills for heaven, and the place where Sun Wukong stole and ate countless pills of Immortality when he was drunk.

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Chapter 31 – Returning to the Riverfang Mountains

Rumble…

Ji Ning's bare chest was stabbed into repeatedly by the top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords, but they were still unable to leave behind any mark at all. Although he was knocked backwards with each collision, he was still able to walk back to his original spot.

"Heavenraker – Blackwater Line!"

The black-robed Ning exploded with maximum power, unleashing the most devastatingly powerful stance of the [Heavenraker]. Whoosh whoosh whoosh! One sword-tear after another slashed through the air in wavy lines so thick that they each seemed to be like a river. The illusory rivers flooded into one location like all the rivers flowing into the sea as they merged into a single torrential black flow!

This torrential black flow represented all nine Heavenraker swords as they stabbed simultaneously towards Ning's chest.

BANG!

This time, Ning's true body wasn't able to stay standing; he was knocked flying away as he slammed into the wall behind him with a banging sound. However, Ning used his palms to push off from the wall, stabilizing himself and landing on the ground.

Ning lowered his head. He still couldn't see any hint of damage at all on his chest or his skin.

"What a divine ability. What a divine ability!" Ning felt utterly overjoyed. The whole point of leaving the Grand Xia for thirty years was to learn some formidable abilities before returning. And now…he had!

The [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] truly was the number one divine ability of the Three Realms for those below the True God level. The most powerful leaders of the Three Realms had joined forces in an attempt to develop a divine ability that would result in a body as mighty as that of Pangu's. Although they hadn't been able to develop the Twelfth Cycle…the first Nine Cycles were already incredible.

Ning was extremely weak right now, after all; he was still far from becoming an Empyrean God. As for becoming a True God? That was an even greater distance away. Even if this divine ability truly did have a tenth, eleventh, or twelfth cycle, there was no way he would be able to train in it for the foreseeable future.

"I've gained expertise in this divine ability. I can now go to the Riverfang Mountains again!" Ning immediately rose to his feet, the furs once more reappearing around him.

As Ning walked out of the Immortal estate, he collected it with a wave of his hand.

"Master, where are you going?" Bluecliff Xiaoyu was just about to enter the Immortal estate.

"I'm going down into the world. I should be back in a few days." Ning instructed, "If your Aunt Qing or Grandpa White ask, that's what you should tell them."

"Alright." Xiaoyu nodded obediently.

Ning left by himself. As he walked past the Divinities Palace…

"Junior apprentice-brother, junior apprentice-brother." Silvermoon beamed merrily as he walked over, fanning himself with his fan. "Judging from your high spirits, you must've just finished the Third Cycle of the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art, right?"

"Precisely so." Ning nodded.

There were two tough parts to training the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]; the first was the initial mastery of the concept of the 'seventy-two transformations', which was a bit difficult, and the second was acquiring enough treasures to temper one's body! Ning had gained a basic level of expertise already; naturally, he had been able to train to the Third Cycle at one go after acquiring enough top-grade Immortal-ranked spirit-pills.

"How many pills did you use up?" Silvermoon asked with curiosity.

"Ninety-nine," Ning said with a laugh.

"Wow, it was just barely enough." Silvermoon nodded. "Work hard, junior apprentice-brother, and earn back enough treasures to pay me back."

"Definitely." Ning nodded. "I have business to attend to; I'm leaving now."

"Go, go." Silvermoon beamed as he watched Ning leave.

After Ning left, Silvermoon shook his head, utterly tickled with himself. "I, Silvermoon, am quite the clever fellow. I gave this junior apprentice-brother of mine a hundred Immortal pills, and in ten thousand short lazy years, he'll have to pay them back to me! I won't end up losing a single pill, and I'll have acquired dozens of Immortal-ranked magic treasures as well, as well as have him owe me a favor."

Actually, these treasures really meant very little to an exalted Empyrean God like him. However, Silvermoon loved to feel like he had made a clever bargain.

The Crescent world. The Star continent.

Deep within the Riverfang Mountains. Within the lightning zone, there were two figures that were seated on the ground. One of them was the Goldfur Bearking, while the other was a youth dressed in loose Daoist robes and whose eyes were like the stars.

"Elder brother," the Goldfur Bearking said hurriedly, "The lightning here is too hard to overcome. Even a Celestial Immortal like you has tried eight times without success. Just now, the two of us joined forces but we were still stopped at the 540 meter mark by the lightning bolts, giving us no chance to advance at all. This is our utmost limit. As I see it…we should invite another Celestial Immortal to come."

"You fool!" The robed youth frowned as he glanced sideways at the Goldfur Bearking. "How can we let word of such a treasure trove spread to others?"

"But…all we can do is sit here and stare. Elder brother, you know as well as I do that the black-robed youth has already passed through the lightning zone into the gorge. The more we delay, the greater the chances that he might acquire the treasures," the Goldfur Bearking said.

Ning had previously chatted with the black-robed youth, then gritted his teeth and departed. After Ning's departure, the Goldfur Bearking had mustered all of his power to finally break through the first forbidden zone, but upon encountering the lightning zone…although he was skilled at defense, he was unable to advance a single meter further after reaching the 360 meter mark. The black-robed youth had mocked him as well, and the Goldfur Bearking, worried that the youth might end up taking the treasures, had hurried out of the Riverfang Mountains and invited a good friend of his, Patriarch Limitless.

The two had immediately sworn an oath to the Dao of the Heavens. Upon acquiring the treasures, they would split them evenly! Patriarch Limitless was a Celestial Immortal and thus a bit stronger, but the Goldfur Bearking was the one who had acquired the information regarding the treasure trove. Thus, they would split things evenly.

"There are already quite a few who know about this treasure trove. If word spreads further…the treasure probably won't end up in our hands at all." Patriarch Limitless shook his head. "You big dumb bear. Don't worry too much. When that black-robed youth said that there is a third forbidden zone here, he should've been telling the truth. If there wasn't, he would've left with the treasures long ago. Since he hasn't…that means that the third zone is very hard to overcome. If that's the case, then even if we do invite another Celestial Immortal, our chances of success will still remain low…but word will have spread to even more people. It's better for us to take things slowly."

"Fine." The Goldfur Bearking nodded.

"Let us both meditate on how to use a more appropriate formation for overcoming the lightning zone," Patriarch Limitless said.

"Alright." The Goldfur Bearking nodded again.

Just two hours after they had begun meditating, a series of rumbling sounds could be heard coming from the invisible pressure region behind them.

"An expert has arrived!" Patriarch Limitless frowned as he heard the rumbles. "The rate of advancement is very fast. Can it be that news has leaked to someone else?"

"It shouldn't have. You and I have already warned the other two surviving monster kings of us Twelve Monster Kings of the Eastern Flows about telling others and even forced them to swear an oath to the Dao of the Heavens." The Goldfur Beraking frowned. "As for that Immortal Darknorth, he gave up more than a year ago without coming back.. Can it be…can it be the imperial Qi clan? But they are so puny…"

Right as they were chatting…

Boom! A figure charged forward and landed on the ground. It was a fur-clad youth who was wielding an Immortal sword with an incomparably enormous aura of power.

"Immortal Darknorth?" The Goldfur Bearking was amazed.

"Young fellow," Patriarch Limitless said with a frown, "Who is your master?"

He had heard from the Goldfur Bearking about Ning; naturally, he had immediately guessed that for this 'Darknorth' to be so powerful at the early Void level meant that he most likely had an incredible master behind him. Perhaps this person also came from Mount Innerheart, like he himself did! However…given how many disciples Mount Innerheart had, how could he, an exalted Celestial Immortal, possibly give up this sort of treasure trove to another fellow disciple?

"Goldfur Bearking, this is your helper?" Ning's gaze flickered towards Patriarch Limitless. This man was an azure-robed youth with an extraordinary aura.

"He is my elder brother, someone far more powerful than me: Celestial Immortal Limitless," the Goldfur Bearking said smugly.

"A Celestial Immortal?" Ning was startled.

Patriarch Limitless repeated, "Young fellow, I asked you a question. Who is your master?"

Ning chuckled but didn't respond. He just walked straight into the lightning zone.

Patriarch Limitless couldn't help but frown. Still, given how calm Ning was, he felt all the more certain that Ning's background must be incredible, and so he just said coldly, "Young fellow, this is the lightning zone. You need to make it past 540 meters of the zone before you succeeded. Given your power…you are far from being able to do it."

Ning continued to make his way into the lightning zone.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Instantly, one bolt of lightning after another began to hammer down. Ning remained quite calm, not resisting at all as he allowed the lightning bolts to slam onto his body.

"Even a Fiendgod Body Refiner will only be able to use his body to forcibly withstand the lightning in the lightning zone for the first thirty meters." Patriarch Limitless shook his head.

Ning continued to walk forward.

Thirty meters. Sixty meters. Ninety meters…

The lightning grew increasingly savage, but Ning continued to stroll forward, one step at a time, allowing the lightning to hit him at will.

"But, but but…" Patriarch Limitless and the Goldfur Bearking were both stupefied.

210 meters. 240 meters. 270 meters…

Ning continued to walk forward in a relaxed manner. The bolts of lightning were now as thick as water barrels, and they came crashing down with utter savagery…but Ning seemed to be simply walking through a mild rainstorm. He felt quite relaxed and content; the clashes against his skin felt like an incomparably comfortable massage.

360 meters. 390 meters. 420 meters…

Ning continued to simply walk forward.

The black-robed youth had appeared once more at the entrance to the gorge. Even he stared in amazement at this sight. "It's only been a year since I saw this fur-clad youth…how did he suddenly become so powerful?"

480 meters. 510 meters…

"These fur robes of mine were formed from top-grade Heaven-ranked Daoist robes. They are extremely tough, resilient, and good at deflecting attacks; they are comparable to low-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords in endurance." Flying swords were too thin and sharp, and thus broke apart more easily! In terms of ability to withstand attacks, top-grade Heaven-ranked Daoist robes were indeed comparable to low-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords.

Bathed by countless bolts of lightning, Ning stepped past the 540 meter threshold…and the lightning instantly vanished.

Patriarch Limitless and the Goldfur Bearking, on the other side of the lightning zone, were both completely dazed.

"He used his body to endure it all? But, but…at the 540 meter mark, the power of the lightning was comparable to full-force combination attacks from the two of us. That's most likely equal to a high-class Celestial Immortal." The Goldfur Bearking was truly amazed. "He's at the early Void stage, but he didn't even use a magic treasure…he just used his body to endure it all?! This body is too…"

"His body must be comparable to an Immortal-ranked magic treasure." Patriarch Limitless' face suddenly changed. He was a disciple of Mount Innerheart, after all; he suddenly thought of a famous divine ability, reputed to be the number one divine ability in the Three Realms for those below the True God level – the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art].

"To have a body of such toughness at this level of power…the only possibility is the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]! But only personal disciples of the Old Patriarch can learn the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art, or those the Old Patriarch provides special dispensation to. Can it be that he is a disciple of the Old Patriarch?" Patriarch Limitless instantly began to panic as he thought of this possibility. He hurriedly sent a mental message to Ning, "Dare I ask, Immortal Darknorth…do you know Empyrean God Silvermoon?"

Empyrean God Silvermoon was the controller of the Divinities Palace; every single disciple of Mount Innerheart knew him.

"You know senior apprentice-brother Silvermoon?" Ning turned his head to glance at him.

"This junior, Limitless, pays his respects to you, uncle-master!" Patriarch Limitless hurriedly sent a respectful mental message to him. He didn't suspect Ning of faking it at all, because no one from the outside world could even enter the Crescent world! In addition…there was no faking the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]!

Ning was startled. Still, it made sense; most of those in the Crescent world who overcame the Celestial Tribulation and became Celestial Immortals had been recruited into Mount Innerheart.

"Oh. If we have the chance, let's chat more back at Mount Innerheart." Ning turned once more to the gorge, then walked towards it. The black-robed youth at the entrance to the gorge frowned, then turned and walked into the gorge himself.

Soon, Ning entered the fog-shrouded gorge…and he could sense that the terrifying ripples coming from within the gorge were gaining in power.

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Chapter 32 – Fiendgod Corpse

There were some grass and flowers within the gorge, but after Ji Ning stepped into it, he felt his heart shudder for some reason.

"Die!"

An ancient, primordial howl of rage smashed against Ning's soul.

A series of ripples of boundless, terrifying killing intent surged towards Ning. Ning hurriedly visualized the image of Maiden Nuwa, and instantly the divine image of Nuwa appeared within his soul, stabilizing it considerably. After having spent so many years at Mount Innerheart, Ning had learned that the [Nuwa Painting] was a visualization technique passed down by Nuwa's lineage that possessed boundless life-force. Even if the soul was to be badly wounded, through visualizing the [Nuwa Painting] one could quickly recover. This was one of the most awe-inspiringly famous visualization techniques that existed in Pangu's World.

On the ninth floor of the Divinities Palace, there was a copy of the [Nuwa Painting] visualization technique, and it was described as one of the most supreme of nurturing and defensive techniques for the soul.

"This place is…?" Ning quickly came to his senses, and he stared at the scene before him in the gorge.

Because of the mist wreathing this place, Ning was only able to see to a distance of one or two kilometers. From far away, he could see a human-shaped creature that was lying on the ground unmoving. Ning could only make out the rough contors of two legs and an abdomen…but the legs alone were like massive blocks of stone that were over three hundred meters long.

"Given how strong the aura of death is here, it should be dead. It seems as though it was many hundreds of meters tall…given its size, it must have been a Fiendgod," Ning secretly predicted.

This treasure trove region was extremely mysterious; there was no way to investigate it through divine sense, and so Ning had to make guesses for everything.

"Die…"

"Die…"

Boundless amounts of killing intent surged forth in waves from that enormous Fiendgod corpse, smashing against Ning's soul. The closer Ning moved towards the corpse, the more powerful the killing intent became, forcing Ning to constantly visualize the image of Maiden Nuwa to resist it.

"For the remnant killing intent left behind in a corpse to be capable of forcing me to use the image of Maiden Nuwa to resist it…if he was still alive, he probably would be able to kill me with ease." Ning's soul had been split in two long ago; if one counted the soul within the Primaltwin, he actually had three souls!

One soul was within his Primaltwin.

One soul was within his true body's Primal Turtle-Snake, which had advanced to the Goldlotus.

Another soul had been completely fused with his true body's very flesh and bones. Every hint of blood and flesh contained a hint of his soul. It was at this level that Fiendgod Body Refiners were capable of creating an entire body from just a bit of flesh and blood.

Anyone who trained as both a Ki Refiner and as a Fiendgod Body Refiner would have to split his soul at the Primal level. One part of the soul would fuse into the body, while the other would enter the Primal Turtle-Snake.

Ning's Ki Refiner soul was finding it rather difficult to deal with the waves of killing intent, but his Fiendgod Body didn't fear it at all, because his soul in his Fiendgod body was connected to every bit of his flesh and blood, making it incredibly stable. Now that Ning had also trained in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art, even if the killing intent was hundreds of times more powerful, it wouldn't be able to do anything to this Fiendgod body of his.

Ning moved forward one step at a time, purposefully taking a circular path around the enormous Fiendgod corpse as he slowly advanced.

Finally…Ning was able to see it clearly. The Fiendgod corpse had ashen gray skin that was stone-like in texture. The corpse had an ordinary, plain face. Its body was covered in wounds, and the black armor it wore had been torn apart in many places. By its side were two fiery arrows, as well as a mighty black greatbow with a shattered bowstring.

"I didn't expect that you would be able to come to this place. For a weak little early Void-stage fellow to possess such ability…admirable, admirable." The shrill voice rang out once more.

Ning turned to look towards the source of the sound. From afar, at the corner to the entrance of the gorge, he saw the black-robed youth in a seated position.

"Do you know Empyrean God Silvermoon?" Ning suddenly asked. This black-robed youth was most likely a Celestial Immortal, given that he was able to make it here. Most likely, quite a few of the Celestial Immortals of the Crescent world were disciples of Mount Innerheart. If they were fellow disciples, things would probably proceed more smoothly."

"Empyrean God Silvermoon? Heh heh, an Empyrean God? Not bad. But I've never heard of him." The black-robed youth sat there, staring at Ning. "Kid…it seems your background is significant, given that you know an Empyrean God. However…here in this treasure region, it doesn't matter who you know. If you want to acquire the treasures…it'll all be up to your own abilities."

Ning quietly came to the conclusion that this black-robed youth was most likely not a member of Mount Innerheart. When Ning had traversed the lightning zone, even the outside Patriarch Limitless had been able to guess that Ning was a member of Mount Innerheart…and yet, this black-robed youth didn't seem to react to that at all.

"There are still quite a few Celestial Immortals in the Crescent world who have not become disciples of Mount Innerheart…and some don't even know of it," Ning mused to himself.

"Kid, you've already passed through two of the forbidden zones. This is the last one, but let me warn you…the treasures on that Fiendgod's corpse aren't so easily acquired." The black-robed youth sat there lazily, seemingly waiting to mock Ning when he 'inevitably failed'.

Ning looked back at the black-robed youth. "I've come to take the treasure, but you aren't going to stop me?"

"How would I do that? Even the lightning zone wasn't able to damage you at all, you freak. Even if I attacked you, I'd be wasting my energy. If I had trap-type treasures, I might try and trap or bind you…but unfortunately, I don't." The black-robed youth spoke in a resigned manner.

Ning knew what the weakness of the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] was. Training to the Third Cycle of the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] resulted in an extraordinarily powerful body, but if he encountered restrictive items like magic ropes or monster-sealing pagodas, he might be wrapped up or drawn into the magic treasures. Still…Ning was no fool. He would use his sword to block; to actually trap and bind him would be an extremely difficult matter. And even if he was trapped…he wouldn't die from that, in and of itself.

"Then I'm going to go take the treasure." As Ning spoke, he moved closer towards the Fiendgod body.

When Ning reached a distance of roughly three hundred meters from the body, suddenly…

The black greatbow next to the Fiendgod suddenly lit up. The bowstring of the black greatbow was shattered, but an utterly enormous flood of natural energy was gathering around the black greatblow. It actually created a second bowstring that was completely composed of natural energy, as well as a fiery arrow that was similarly composed of natural energy.

Swish! No one was controlling the black greatbow, but it shot the arrow straight out towards Ning.

The arrow shot through the air, moving lightning-fast and almost instantly appearing in front of Ning.

"Block!" Ning waved his arm, allowing the arrow to strike directly on his upper arm.

BOOM. The powerful collisive force sent Ning flying back hundreds of meters, smashing against the distant canyon walls. The canyon walls cracked apart with a rumbling sound as many rocks came crashing down…but with a backflip, Ning emerged from a large crater that had been created in the wall.

"What a treasure." Ning wasn't worried; to the contrary, he was delighted.

"You freak, you could even take that?" The distant black-robed youth was amazed.

Ning was incomparably excited. He stared at the black greatbow, surrounded by the natural energy of Heaven and Earth. "For it to be able to gather such natural energy without any elemental ki guiding it…clearly, the spirit of the treasure of this black greatbow has activated it. For it to have such power without even a person controlling it…this is inconceivable."

Long ago, Xue Hongyi had been able to forcibly subdue the Azuresilk Godfire Lamp. At the Wanxiang level, Ning had been able to use the [Starseizing Hand] to forcibly hold the Thousandbull Sword. And now, Ning's power was unfathomably greater than it had been before…but he had just been sent flying back by the natural energy gathered by an ownerless treasure!

"The Thousandbull Sword is top-grade amongst top-grade Immortal-ranked artifacts, close to Pure Yang treasures in power. Then this greatbow…it has to at least be a Pure Yang treasure, and if it is, it has to be either a high-grade or even a top-grade Pure Yang treasure. Or it might even be a Protocosmic spirit-treasure!" Ning instantly came to this conclusion.

The magic treasure, without anyone controlling it, already had the offensive power of a Celestial Immortal!

"It makes sense. This Fiendgod must have died countless years ago, but his remnant killing intent is still so terrifyingly strong. Given how powerful he was, how could his bow be poor?" Ning frowned. "However…the bowstring to this black greatbow is broken, and tears have appeared on his armor. I wonder what sort of a battle he must have encountered for even magic treasures on this level to have been damaged. Even the Fiendgod himself perished…and strangest of all, the Fiendgod's body remained, even after he himself died!"

It must be understood that a Fiendgod's soul was completely intertwined with his blood and flesh. If so much as a single drop of flesh or blood remained, he could be reborn! Unless…

A supremely mighty power had been able to annihilate every single scrap of the soul that was within the Fiendgod's flesh and blood! Without any soul left in the body at all, the flesh would be useless.

"How massive a battle was this?" Ning thought back to the great tribulation that had resulted in the destruction of Pangu's World. That had definitely been an incomparably terrifying battle, one which even Patriarch Subhuti had been afraid to participate in. Daoist Threelives had killed multiple Fiendgod Daofathers in it before even he himself had perished.

"No matter what…although the black greatbow and the armor are both damaged, given how powerful they are without any owner, they must be incredible treasures."

Ning waved his hand, causing the Thousandbull Sword to appear. Ning then quickly advanced, once more pressing closer.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The black greatblow shot out more fiery arrows towards Ning, both the arrows and the bowstring formed from natural energy.

Ning, however, used his swordplay to block. His sword-light flowed out like water, deflecting the arrows of natural energy to the side. Ning was using one of the sword-arts from the ninth floor of the Divinities Palace known as [Water Filling the Heavens]; this was his most defensively suited sword-art technique.

Swish swish swish…

Suddenly, a large number of arrows shot out; in fact, up to ten arrows were shot out simultaneously, causing tens of arrows to instantly fly out within a short period of time. However, despite the arrows coming faster, the power of each arrow had naturally dropped.

Ning used either the Thousandbull Sword to block or his body to take the blows head on.

"Kid, although your divine body is like a magic treasure, this is just the attacks of a divine bow without a master; it's not that impressive for you to be able to withstand it. Let me tell you this; once you reach thirty meters of the corpse, you'll have entered the third forbidden zone. Passing it has nothing to do with the strength of your body, and the fact that it is as unbreakable as a magic treasure won't help you." The black-robed youth sat there, watching Ning advance and fight forward.

Ning forced his way forward, charging through the hail of arrows. When he reached a distance of thirty meters from the Fiendgod corpse, the natural energy surrounding the black greatbow dissipated, no longer attacking Ning.

"Whew." Ning took a deep breath. At such a close distance to the Fiendgod body, the invisible aura of majesty surrounding it caused even his heart to shudder.

"The third forbidden zone?"

"No matter what I have to acquire this treasure." Ning stared at the treasures on the corpse of the Fiendgod…but what drew his attention most was still that black greatbow.

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Chapter 33 – Rahu Bow

Ji Ning's body flickered, then he transformed into his three-headed, six-armed form. He wielded the Thousandbull Sword in his hands, as well as five of the top-grade, Immortal-ranked Skyraker swords.

In the face of this third forbidden zone, Ning didn't dare to relax in the slightest. Only after fully preparing himself did he step forward towards the Fiendgod corpse, moving past the thirty-meter threshold and entering the field of the third forbidden zone.

Rumble…

"Ning, son, eat some more."

This was an incomparably familiar hall. The lit candles here were as thick as a child's arm, and the child-Ning was seated in front of a table. Atop the table there was a flagon of water as well as a plate of meat and pastries.

"This…" The child-Ning stared in front of him. In front of him was a woman, her gaze filled with benevolent love as she looked at him. "Why are you looking at me? Hurry up and eat."

Ning turned his head to look backwards. Indeed; behind him was seated a handsome young man, Ji Yichuan. However, he only gave Ning a frowning glance, then barked coldly, "What are you looking at? Focus on your food when you are eating!"

"Yes, father." Tears suddenly streamed out of the child-Ning's face, but he hurriedly lowered his head, picked up a biscuit, and began to wolf it down.

Within the mountain gorge.

The black-robed youth remained seated in the lotus position at the corner of the gorge. He stared towards Ning, who had made it within thirty meters of the Fiendgod corpse, then shook his head. "The third forbidden zone isn't so easy to overcome. It tests the weakest, softest parts of your soul. It doesn't matter how powerful your body is, how mighty your divine power is, or how formidable your sword-arts are; all of those are useless."

The days child-Ning spent with his parents were very happy. One day passed after another, and the child-Ning learned both agility techniques and sword techniques.

One night.

The child-Ning arrived outside his parent's room. There was a female servant yawning sleepily outside. Upon seeing the child-Ning arrive, she couldn't help but feel surprised. However, she didn't stop him as he moved to knock on the door.

Creaaaak. The door opened.

It was the fur-clad Ji Yichuan who had opened the door. Upon seeing his son, he frowned and said coldly, "It's late. Why have you come here instead of sleeping?" Ning's mother, Yuchi Snow, left her bed and walked over, smiling as she rubbed the child-Ning's head. "Hurry up and go back to sleep. It's late."

"Father. Mother." The child-Ning suddenly said.

"Eh?" Yichuan and Snow both looked at their son.

"I want to hug you two," the child-Ning said.

Yichuan was puzzled, but Snow just laughed. "Silly boy." She immediately pulled Ning into her arms.

In his mother's arms, Ning stretched one of his own arms to tightly embrace his mother, then the other towards his father.

"Father…" The child-Ning looked at his father.

"You are just…" Yichuan gently shook his head, but he still moved closer, allowing Ning to hold him.

With one arm, he held his father. With the other, he held his mother. Ning pressed against his parents, smelling their scent. He closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face. He said very softly, "I really want to continue like this, but…my memories are already beginning to grow blurry."

"Ning? Son?" Snow looked at Ning, and Yichuan look at him as well.

Ning raised his head, his tears blurring his vision. He just stood there and stared at his parents.

"Awaken."

"Awaken."

"AWAKEN!"

Ning's unwilling, angry roar suddenly filled the entire illusory world, shaking it and instantly shattering it like glass. Everything quickly vanished.

One illusory world after another appeared, each one playing on all the deepest desires in a person's heart. Greed…love…hate…obsessions…

"How can this be?" The black-robed youth, still seated in the corner of the gorge, stared at the scene before him in astonishment. Ning had already spent more than an hour within the third forbidden zone after taking his first step…but after that first hour, each subsequent step needed less than the time needed to boil a kettle of tea. One step at a time, he broke through the illusions until finally, all of them vanished.

The black-robed youth laughed, then said with a soft sigh, "So he is the one." And then, he disappeared into thin air.

Ning arrived at the side of the Fiendgod corpse, having completely awoken. He stared at the enormous figure of the Fiendgod corpse, at the shattered armor it wore and the black greatbow with the snapped bowstring, as well as those two glowing arrows.

"Master…thank you."

Ning's gaze was distant and dreamy. He murmured softly, "Although the time I spent in that illusory world was very short…it was the happiest I've ever been since I left Swallow Mountain. That experience made me even happier than acquiring these treasures left behind by this Fiendgod."

Ning knew quite well that this third forbidden zone had been created by Patriarch Subhuti himself. It must be understood that when Pangu's World was destroyed, it had been Patriarch Subhuti who had personally teleported each remnant onto his Crescent world. Naturally, it had also been Patriarch Subhuti who had set up the forbidden zones. As for which of his disciples would be able to acquire the relics and treasures from the Primordial World, that was up to luck and destiny.

"Young fellow." Suddenly, the figure of the black-robed youth appeared in the air above the black greatbow. He said delightedly, "I bet you didn't guess this, did you?"

"You are…" Ning was startled. "…the spirit of the treasure?!"

"Of course! When I told you I was a Celestial Immortal, I was just playing with you. I didn't expect you to actually pass the third forbidden zone. Based on what Patriarch Subhuti said back in the day, anyone capable of passing the third forbidden zone would have to have an incredibly formidable Dao-heart." The black-robed youth sighed. "Although you haven't overcome the Celestial Tribulation to become a Celestial Immortal yet, you aren't bad at all."

Ning laughed softly.

"You…don't seem that excited." The black-robed youth sat in the lotus position above the black greatbow. He said in amazement, "I bet you don't know who I am, right? Let me tell you. I am one of the top ten divine bows of the Primordial World, a high-grade Protocosmic spirit-treasure!"

"A Protocosmic spirit-treasure? Wonderful." Ning revealed a smile and said a word of praise.

"But…I don't feel as though you are that excited." The black-robed youth frowned.

"That's only because just a short while ago, I was given something even more precious." Ning smiled. "Please introduce yourself to me, as well as this ancient Fiendgod."

The black-robed youth nodded. "In the era of the ancient Primordial World, the major powers once killed an incredibly terrifying creature named 'Rahu'. 1 They used the various components of Rahu's corpse, mixed with many other incomparably precious materials, to finally forge a top-grade Pure Yang spirit-treasure. That would be me…and the name given to me was the 'Rahu Bow'. Over the course of countless ages after my creation, my spirit grew increasingly powerful until I finally evolved to become a Protocosmic spirit-treasure. As soon as I made my breakthrough, I became a high-grade Protocosmic spirit-treasure."

"Oh." Ning nodded.

"Just 'oh'?! I'm one of the ten great divine bows of the Primordial Era! Only one bow, the legendary Houyi's Bow, was ranked as the undisputed number one; the rest of us, such as the Qiankun Bow or the Blacknether Bow are all ranked on par with each other." The black-robed youth said arrogantly, "In fact, during that great tribulation, all of Master's Pure Yang treasures were damaged, and even the spirits of those treasures were destroyed. I was the only one left."

Ning chortled. "But your bowstring is broken."

"You can just help me get another bowstring, right?" The black-robed youth shook his head. "You need to understand that for divine bows like myself, the bow shaft is what matters; that's where the increased power comes from. But of course, the bowstring is also very important. In the future, I'll help guide you to picking or forging a good bowstring."

"Alright." Ning asked, "How should I bind you, then?"

"Just use your elemental ki. I'll give you all the help I can," the black-robed youth said. "I've been here for an eternity. I've been bored senseless."

"Alright." Ning immediately began to bind it.

Generally speaking, binding Mortal-ranked, Earth-ranked, Heaven-ranked, Immortal-ranked and Pure Yang treasures all had certain requirements in terms of elemental ki. For example, one had to at least be at the Void level to bind Immortal-ranked magic items, or at the Celestial Immortal level to bind Pure Yang treasures.

However, Protocosmic spirit-treasures had the blessings of Heaven and Earth. They were extremely mysterious…and if the spirits of the treasures was willing, they could allow even an ordinary mortal to use them!

If they were unwilling…even Celestial Immortals would be unable to bind them. Perhaps Pure Yang True Immortals could forcibly bind them, but if the spirit of the Protocosmic spirit-treasure were to resist, the binding process would be extremely tiresome. It would have to be done at one go; if one were to pause midway through, the efforts would be for naught, and one would have to start from scratch again.

Thus, binding a Protocosmic spirit-treasure was very troublesome. Fortunately, the Rahu Bow had a good impression of Ning. By overcoming the third forbidden zone, Ning received his acknowledgment.

Just a short while later, the binding process was complete.

Ning heft the Rahu Bow in his hands. He could sense the limitless power hidden deep within it; this was a sort of sinister might that also carried a sort of power that was akin to the ripples of water. This power was unfathomably deep and infinitely powerful.

"In you go." Ning waved his hand, and the Fiendgod corpse next to him was collected as well.

Instantly, all of the ancient restrictive formations that had existed within the Riverfang Mountains were automatically deactivated. Previously, divine sense could not be used to search the region, but now it could.

Ning used his divine sense to sweep the region, locating the Goldfur Bearking and Patriarch Limitless outside the gorge.

"Time to go back." Ning flew into the skies, then immediately executed a spatial teleportation. Entering the spatial ripples, Ning disappeared into thin air.

"Divine sense?" Both the Goldfur Bearking and Patriarch Limitless were stunned. There was no way to use divine sense within this region…but just now, they sensed someone scan them with it.

"The restrictions are gone."

"The lightning zone is gone as well." They quickly discovered that even the terrifying ripples that had emanated from deep within had also disappeared. By the time they charged into the gorge…they saw nothing within it at all.

The Riverfang Mountains had become an extremely ordinary mountain range. Although there were some peculiarities to it, it was no longer anything special.

"The treasure was taken away by uncle-master Darknorth." Patriarch Limitless knew what had happened.

Ning returned to Mount Innerheart. He first rested for a day, then went into the mountain forests of Mount Innerheart. A violet greatbow appeared in his hand; this was a Heaven-ranked treasure.

"The test for [Houyi's Archery] really isn't easy." When Ning thought back to the trial mentioned on the abridged version of [Houyi's Archery, he couldn't help but feel a headache.

It really was too hard. This was the hardest trial of the Three Realms Palace.

"Junior apprentice-brother." Suddenly, a voice rang out.

Ning turned his head to look, only to see a hatchet-carrying swarthy-skinned man wearing hempsack clothes, a grass hat, and grass shoes come walking towards him with a smile.

"Eldest apprentice-brother," Ning hurriedly greeted him. Mount Innerheart was vast; he needed some additional space for training in archery, and so he had left the Tristar Crescent Abode and come to the mountain forests outside of it. He hadn't expected to run into his eldest apprentice-brother.

"Why have you come here?" The woodcutter asked him.

"I want to train in archery," Ning replied.

"Oh?" The woodcutter glanced at Ning's greatbow, then asked, "[Houyi's Archery]?"

"Right." Ning nodded. "But only the trial for [Houyi's Archery] for now."

"That's not easy. Train hard." The woodcutter smiled, nodded, then leisurely sauntered away, hatchet over his shoulders.

1. This is the name of a Hindu demon that swallows the sun.

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Chapter 34 – When The Arrow Flies…

Ji Ning stood there in an empty field within the mountain forest, holding the bow in front of him as he stared towards the distance.

Ten thousand kilometers away, at another part of Mount Innerheart's forest, there was a black-robed Ning. He waved his hand, and next to him appeared an archery target.

"I need to hit the archery target dead center from ten thousand kilometers away." The black-robed Ning shook his head slightly.

This was the trial for [Houyi's Archery]; without the usage of divine sense and without using elemental ki or divine power to actively control the trajectory of the arrow, using just raw, primal physical force…one had to hit an archery target dead center from ten thousand kilometers away. The center of the target was just one inch in size. One had to hit it ten times in a row!

This was an extremely difficult trial.

Without the usage of divine sense…even most Earth Immortals and Loose Immortals could just barely see ten thousand kilometers away. As for the heart of the archery target? There was no way to see that clearly at all. In addition, because there was a separation of ten thousand kilometers, there would generally be some mist, trees, and other things impeding one's vision, causing one to be unable to see clearly.

In other words, one of the prerequisites for passing this trial was the possession of a divine ability akin to the [Farseer Eye].

This divine ability, when trained to the peak, could allow one to clearly see past a distance of a million kilometers or even more!

Naturally, Ning had never trained in the [Farseer Eye, but he had trained in the even more formidable [Torch Dragon's Eye]. Ning had learned the first part of the [Torch Dragon's Eye] in the imperial treasury of the Grand Xia, which was suited for Fiendgods up to the Void-level. Over the course of the many years he had spent here at Mount Innerheart, when Ning was relaxing, he would harvest some of the Polaris light from the Nine Heavens and refine it within his eyes, forming it into the 'innate torch-light'!

Although the training process was quite difficult, Ning had still managed to reach the second stage of the innate torch-light.

Upon using this divine ability, Ning could use his naked eye to clearly see an ant that was a hundred thousand kilometers away.

"I'll give it a try."

Ning stood there within the mountain forest. He executed the [Torch Dragon's Eye]; instantly, both of Ning's eyes began to shine with the light of a torch. If an ordinary Immortal cultivator were to exchange glances with Ning right now, while Ning was intentionally releasing his power…that cultivator would first feel as though his vision had just turned completely white, followed by the entire world turning dark and pitch-black.

Temporary blindness…and some weaker individuals would become permanently blind!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh….as Ning executed this divine ability, countless rays of light came from far away, gathering within Ning's eyes. Countless rays of light reflecting off of countless objects were all being gathered.

The trees, the creek, the pool, the mountain path…everything was within Ning's vision now.

This included the archery target that was ten thousand kilometers away, as well as the black-robed Primaltwin Ning that stood next to it.

"Can't use divine power or elemental ki to control the arrow." Ning waved his hand, and a black arrow appeared in front of him. He nocked it onto his bow, the pulled the bowstring.

Swish!

Ning's raw physical power was utterly astonishing; he was fully capable of tossing around an entire massive mountain as a toy by now. He instantly pulled this violet Heaven-ranked greatbow to a perfect full draw.

Ning sensed the wind…

The wind was blowing…

For archery, being able to sense the wind was very important. The wind would have a tremendous impact on the arrow. When Ning was a child, he had spent a tremendous amount of effort training in archery. However, after embarking on his Immortal path, he had stopped training in it; after all, his current level of archery was already sufficient, and when truly necessary he could use his elemental ki to control his arrows, causing it to curve and arc in small degrees. That way, even if he missed his shot due to the distance simply being too great, he could adjust the arrow mid-flight!

But now Ning was forbidden from using elemental ki to control the arrow. He couldn't even use divine power!

"The speed of the wind…its changes…"

"Right about…now…"

"Go."

Ning's eyes blazed with innate torch-light as he stared fixedly towards the distance. The fingers of his right hand suddenly relaxed.

Twang!

The arrow instantly transformed into a streak of light, piercing through the heavens.

The trees in its path were pierced through, and the stones in its path were shattered. However, due to these impediments as well as the changes of the wind…these seemingly minor factors caused an astonishing amount of impact over the course of ten thousand kilometers. Swish! The arrow missed the target by nearly three kilometers.

"Uh…" Ning's eyes were blazing with innate torch-light; he could clearly see what had just happened. He couldn't help but feel flabbergasted. "I was off by that much?"

Three full kilometers?

This was ridiculous!

"I'll give it another try." Ning once more nocked his violet greatbow, then sent out yet another arrow.

Twang!

The sound of the bowshot rang out once more, and the arrow itself transformed into a streak of light that flew into the distance. This time, the arrow missed the target by more than five kilometers.

"Mm." Ning frowned.

"Let's do that again."

One arrow after another flew out. Some were off by three, four, five kilometers. Sometimes, when Ning was lucky, the arrow would make it to one kilometer. One time, when Ning was extremely lucky, the arrow passed the target by a few dozen meters.

Ning shot off more than ten thousand arrows at one go before coming to a halt. For an early Void-level Fiendgod like Ning, whose body was comparable to an Immortal-ranked magic treasure, shooting arrows was a very simple matter on a physical level. His mental energy, however, had been used up!

"I knew it would be hard, but I didn't expect there would be so many problems." Ning had tried more than ten thousand times, and in doing so discovered many of the problems.

To simply rely on raw physical force in shooting an arrow ten thousand kilometers and hitting the center of a target…

The first problem was that the trees and stones between him and the target served as forms of obstruction. When the arrow passed through them, it would be impacted, albeit by a tiny, minute amount. Although Ning's raw power was so great that his arrows would only be impacted slightly…all of the accumulated obstructions over ten thousand kilometers would still cause tiny deviation in the flight path. A tiny deviation magnified over ten thousand kilometers would result in a huge deviation.

The second problem was the wind!

Ning had mastered the Dao of the Gale during the Conclave of Immortal Destiny, and his heart had long ago become one with the wind. His wind-sense was extremely accurate by now. However…the wind that Ning could sense was only the wind during the instant the arrow was released! In addition, it was only the wind around Ning himself!

As the arrow flew forward, the wind would change!

In addition, the wind around Ning might be very weak, but five thousand kilometers away there might be a storm.

Even though he could still get a vague sense for how the wind was off in the distance, and even though Ning's arrow was very fast…it would still be affected by it.

These were the two major problems that made it so that hitting the target dead center from ten thousand kilometers away was very difficult.

"What should I do? Right…I have the spirit of a Protocosmic spirit-bow. He must have seen divine archers of the Primordial Era train before." Ning instantly willed the spirit of the Rahu Bow to be summoned forth.

Whoosh. The black-robed youth appeared next to Ning.

"What do you need from me?" The black-robed youth looked at the bow in Ning's hands. "Oh, training archery?"

"Rahu Bow, I wish to train in [Houyi's Archery," Ning said directly. "However, I have to pass a trial before I can do so. This trial forbids the usage of divine sense, and it also forbids me from using divine power or elemental ki to control my arrows. Just by using raw physical strength, I need to hit the center of a target from ten thousand kilometers away. The center is only one inch in size. I have to hit it ten times in a row to succeed."

"[Houyi's Archery]?" The black-robed youth called out in amazement, "Master, you have a chance to learn [Houyi's Archery]?"

Ning nodded. "But, I have to pass this trial first."

"This trial is pretty hard. Shoot a hundred arrows and let me take a look first," the black-robed youth said.

"Alright."

Ning immediately shot out another hundred arrows. Although he knew where the problems lay…there was nothing he could do about it. He failed every time by an enormous margin.

The black-robed youth watched from afar. Through using his invisible senses, he could naturally see the target that was more than ten thousand kilometers away.

"How was it?" Ning looked towards the black-robed youth.

"It seems you have a bit of a foundation. I thought you'd be off by at least a hundred kilometers." The black-robed youth nodded. "The art of archery…the most important part of it lies in 'accuracy'. The more formidable an archery technique, the more powerful the arrows it unleashes, but as for accuracy? For powerful archery arts, it is very difficult to use divine power to improve the accuracy of a shot, and so accuracy is extremely important."

Ning nodded.

"Start from the basics. First shoot from a hundred kilometers," the black-robed youth said.

Under the guidance of the Rahu Bow, Ning once more began to train in archery. Although the Rahu Bow had never trained personally, he had seen many of his successive masters train in archery. Those were the divine archers of the Primordial Era!

First, a hundred kilometers.

Then two hundred. Then three…

Ning spent nearly three years training in accordance with the guidance from the Rahu Bow, but was still only able to hit the center of targets from 1200 kilometers away when using just raw force. 1200 was a limit for him; no matter how hard Ning tried, he was still unable to improve at all.

"What's going on? Generally speaking, this is how one trains in archery; one needs to master one's wind-sense and one's sense of Qiankun. You've accomplished both, and the speed of your arrow isn't bad. But why is it that I keep on feeling as though you are missing something?" The black-robed youth was extremely puzzled.

He had only watched others shoot arrows, after all; he himself wasn't a divine archer.

Over the past three years, Ning had even gone to the Divinities Palace to pick out some archery techniques from the eighth floor. He had ruminated over them alongside the Rahu Bow, which was why he had improved this much over the past three years.

"What's going on?" Ning sat down on the ground, feeling perplexed.

"Junior apprentice-brother, still training archery?" A laugh rang out as the woodcutter came walking over, hatchet over one shoulder and firewood over the other.

"Eldest apprentice-brother." Ning hurriedly rose to his feet, then said with embarrassment, "I've trained bitterly for three years, but I'm still unable to pass the trial for [Houyi's Archery]."

"[Houyi's Archery] is indeed extremely difficult, and the trial is quite difficult as well. Shoot a few arrows for me to see," the woodcutter said with a smile.

"Alright." Ning was instantly overjoyed.

The eldest apprentice-brother was the absolute number one expert amongst the Old Patriarch's disciples. Even the second apprentice-brother, Crazy Ji, admitted his inferiority, as did all of the other disciples. In fact, when Ning was chatting with Silvermoon, Silvermoon had secretly told him that their eldest apprentice-brother was definitely at the Daofather level of power. Given his incredible power and given how long he had lived here in seclusion, he had almost assuredly analyzed a technique like [Houyi's Archery, one of the top ten divine abilities of the Three Realms.

Although there were quite a few disciples of the Old Patriarch who trained in [Houyi's Archery, none of them were that formidable in it. Given their eldest apprentice-brother's power, however…he surely was.

Twang! Twang! Twang! Twang! Twang! Twang!

One arrow after another shot out. Ning used all of his power while attuning to both the wind and to the Qiankun. In this instant, the world and the wind were all one with his heart. It was as though he himself was the master of the entire world, as though he was the master of countless winds. In fact, even some of the distant transformations of the wind were held within his heart, as though his subconscious was whispering to him of what would happen. This state was the state known as the Dao Domain of the Dao of Archery. Given what a high level of comprehension Ning was at, and given that the Dao of Archery was heavily related to both 'wind' and 'Qiankun', Ning had advanced fairly quickly along this Dao.

One arrow after another flew out, striking towards the distant target, more than ten thousand kilometers away.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Each of the arrows howled past the target by more than ten meters. In fact, purely thanks to luck, one of the arrows actually struck the target. However…it only hit the target, not the center of the target.

"Alright. You can stop now," the woodcutter said.

"Please guide me, senior apprentice-brother." After halting, Ning respectfully asked for advice.

The woodcutter laughed. "Your fundamentals are quite solid. However…you are lacking in the most important aspect."

"The most important aspect?" Ning was puzzled.

"Right." The woodcutter nodded. "Remember this: When the arrow flies, the heart flies with it. Once you reach this level, you'll be able to hit the center of the target from ten thousand kilometers away." After speaking, the woodcutter turned and leisurely departed, still carrying his hatchet and his firewood.

Ning stood there unmoving. He murmured to himself, "When the arrow flies, the heart flies with it?"

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Chapter 35 – …The Heart Flies With It

As he watched the woodcutter depart, Ji Ning grew increasingly puzzled. "When the arrow flies…this part I understand. But 'the heart flies with it'…what does that mean?"

Twang! Twang! Twang!

Ning pulled his bow, testing out a few more arrows, growing increasingly puzzled as he did.

"Little master." The black-robed man appeared once more, face full of excitement. "Your eldest apprentice-brother said, 'When the arrow flies, the heart flies with it.' I think I somewhat understand."

"Oh?" Ning revealed an expectant look on his face.

The black-robed youth immediately explained, "I've gone through many masters and watched many of them train in archery, as well as watched them train their successors and descendants in archery. I remember often hearing them say something; 'You need to put your heart into it. Put your heart into the arrow.' When I was guiding you, I didn't think of these words, because I thought they were just casual words of encouragement, but now…it seems those words must have some special meaning."

Ning was an extremely intelligent person. This guidance from the black-robed youth didn't clearly point at what was necessary, but Ning now already had his own ideas.

To use the heart?

To put the heart into the arrow?

When the arrow flies? The heart flies with it?

"My guess is that 'the heart flies with it' means exactly that; having your heart and mind fly along with the arrow," the black-robed youth said. "This 'heart' is most likely a reference to a sort of invisible force."

Ning listened to the black-robed youth, thinking to himself at the same time. He had shot out tens of thousands of arrows every day for nearly a year; thus, he was familiar with all the technical tricks to it. Actually, Ning had already vaguely touched upon the level of having the heart fly with the arrow, but no one had been able to guide him to actually breaking through to it.

Ning once more nocked an arrow to his bow.

"The air…"

"The wind…"

In this instant, his heart became one with the Heavens and the Earth…and his will began to fill the arrow.

Soon, Ning managed to brush against the level of 'forgetting the self'; although his heart had become one with the Heavens and the Earth, everything around him seemed vague and blurry, as his heart and will were focused completely on his arrow.

Twang!

A thunderous twanging sound. The arrow shot through the air, and Ning's invisible will was fused into it. In fact, he had an extremely strange feeling; he felt as though he himself had transformed into an arrow! As the arrow shot through the skies, as it pierced through the trees, Ning felt as though it was he himself who was shooting through the trees. This sort of feeling, where his mind and heart were one with the arrow, was quite strange and marvelous…

However, after the arrow flew for a hundred kilometers, that sort of invisible connection between his heart and the arrow dissipated; Ning was no longer able to maintain the wondrous feeling of him having transformed into an arrow.

Swish!

The arrow finally plunged deep into the target that was ten thousand kilometers away…but of course, it was still quite a bit off from the heart of the target.

"That's the feeling! Right. That's the feeling." Ning began to laugh loudly out of excitement as he jubilantly lifted the bow up with energy. "Right. When the arrow flies, the heart flies with it. I felt as though I had transformed into an arrow myself…this was a wondrous feeling, and in that state, I felt as though I was able to control the direction of the arrow."

"I'll try again."

Ning once again nocked an arrow and drew his bow. Twang! The arrow shot through the skies, and Ning once more felt as though he were an arrow, with his heart focused upon the arrow.

Change directions! Change directions!

While flying through the air, the arrow suddenly began to change directions. Although the magnitude of the change was very small, as Ning repeatedly strove to influence it, the arrow began to arc outwards and fly even farther, before finally overshooting the target by thousands of kilometers.

"When the arrow flies, the heart flies with it…"

"This is the feeling. However, I'm only able to maintain this state for a hundred kilometers; any farther, and my will dissipates and becomes unable to maintain contact with the arrow." Ning nodded to himself. This sort of invisible, formless feeling of his will being one with the arrow was a strange, subtle thing. However…there was indeed such a thing as a power forged from heart, from will.

That ancient Fiendgod corpse of the previous owner of the Rahu Bow was proof of it. Despite having died so long ago, the remnant, vestigial will of death and killing still was enough to cause Ning's heart to quiver.

Strictly speaking, the ancient Fiendgod's soul had been destroyed long ago…so where did that invisible will and intent come from?

This was what 'heart' was all about.

It was an invisible force! The power of the heart! It was different from divine power, elemental ki, and soul power. It was an extremely illusory, difficult-to-detect sort of power, but it did indeed exist. A truly divine archer would have to be able to master this power, the power of heart; only by mastering it could one become one of the formidable divine archers of the three realms. And this was just one of the prerequisites!

"Use the heart."

"The heart!"

"The heart flies with the arrow!"

Ning began to train.

He knew very well that given how firm his Dao-heart was, the power of his heart should logically be quite formidable. However, he was still only able to keep his heart merged with the arrow for a distance of a hundred kilometers. The reason for this was…his heart was not sincere enough! His heart was supremely sincere towards the Dao of the Sword, but it was not yet sincere enough to the Dao of Archery.

Only with sincerity would the power of the heart grow!

Fortunately, thanks to his three years of painstaking training, Ning had established a solid foundation, and as Ning's attitude towards the bow had changed and as his feelings towards the Dao of Archery grew increasingly resolute, the power of his heart had grown increasingly strong. In the legends, there were some truly formidable figures who, no matter what they trained in, were able to maintain a supremely loyal heart to whatever they focused on. By doing so, they were able to improve at a truly astonishing rate.

The power of the heart was sometimes even more important than raw talent or comprehension.

A thousand kilometers.

Two thousand kilometers.

Three thousand kilometers.

As the days passed, the connection between Ning's heart and his arrow became increasingly strong.

"Wow! Little master, when you draw the bow, you now have a certain aura…an aura that only the divine archers of the Primordial Era used to have!" The black-robed man watched excitedly from one side.

When one had a heart that was supremely loyal to the bow, there would be a difference that would be very hard for most to detect, even if the difference was magnified ten thousand-fold. However, that innate charisma really did make an impact. The Rahu Bow, which had passed through the hands of quite a few divine archers, was definitely able to tell the difference.

Twang!

Swish!

The arrow plunged straight into the heart of the target.

Ning, however, maintained his calm as he continued to shoot arrows. Ning was now able to hit the target dead-center every so often, and even when he didn't, he was still definitely able to hit the target. To be able to occasionally hit the target dead-center from a distance of ten thousand kilometers, with trees and boulders blocking the way, while using nothing but raw physical strength was already a truly astounding feat…but unfortunately, passing the trial required one to accomplish this feat ten times in a row.

Five thousand kilometers. Six thousand kilometers…

Ning's heart was able to ride with the arrow for increasingly long periods of time. Under this sort of training, Ning's Dao-heart was actually beginning to grow even more powerful, and his eyes were beginning to grow increasingly bright! When he drew his bow…anything he stared at would feel as though a God of Death was staring at them from afar, causing a sort of inexplicable, nameless terror!

This was the sort of mental, psychological sensation of threat which only a true divine archer was able to impose upon the minds of his foes.

Ning's own heart was like an arrow, seeking to stab itself into the enemy's own heart. The enemy would subconsciously sense this and feel terrified!

Eight thousand kilometers. Nine thousand kilometers…

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

An arrow struck straight into the heart of the target. So did a second arrow. A third. A fourth…Ning shot out a hundred arrows, and each and every one of them struck the target dead-center. The inch-thick heart of the target was completely filled with a tight cluster of arrows now.

"Whew." From ten thousand kilometers away, Ning let out a sigh.

This sort of state, where his heart rode with the arrow, consumed a tremendous amount of mental stamina with each arrow. Shooting out a hundred arrows in a row in this state caused an extremely nauseous feeling of exhaustion! If Ning was simply shooting out arrows without using the power of his heart, he wouldn't feel the slightest bit tired after shooting out even ten thousand. But it was very, very exhausting to be in the state where 'when the arrow flies, the heart flies with it!'

However…the power of the arrows in this state was truly tremendous, and the arrows were also much more accurate!

"Little master, you succeeded. You succeeded!" The black-robed youth was very excited.

"Thank you, Rahu Bow." Ning smiled in gratitude. Over the past three years, although he did study some of the secret archery manuals of the Divinities Palace, what truly made the distance was the guidance of the Rahu Bow! The Rahu Bow had watched many divine archers grow up; although he himself was not a divine archer, he had still been able to provide Ning with a shockingly significant amount of help.

If it hadn't been for the Rahu Bow, even ten years probably wouldn't have been enough for Ning to complete this trial.

"Heh heh, little master, only after you become a true divine archer can I, the Rahu Bow, truly show off my own illustriousness." The black-robed youth was extremely excited. "If you, little master, truly wish to show your gratitude towards me, then just procure a good bowstring for me."

"Right." Ning nodded and smiled. "Of course."

He had a number of poorer-quality bowstrings. After all, he could remove the bowstring from the violet greatbow he was currently using and use it for the Rahu Bow. However…this bow was far too weak. The Rahu Bow was a top-grade Protocosmic spirit-treasure; Ning really did have to procure a good bowstring for it!

Mount Innerheart. The Tristar Crescent Abode. Outside the fairly small Three Divinities Palace. Crazy Ji continued to snore there as he always did.

"Second senior apprentice-brother." Ning walked over.

Crazy Ji didn't even open his eyes as he mumbled, "The complete copy of [Houyi's Archery] is on the table. Go take it yourself."

"Thank you, second senior apprentice-brother."

Ning immediately stepped inside. Floating above the abridged versions was a very eye-catching furled bamboo book. It was indeed the complete copy of [Houyi's Archery]. Ning walked over, immediately filling it with his divine sense.

Rumble…

A large amount of information instantly began to flood into Ning's soul.

A long, long time later. The sun had both risen and fallen. By the time the dawn was just arriving, as half of the distant Golden Crow could be seen peeking out from the distant horizon, Ning woke up.

"What a powerful archery technique," Ning murmured to himself.

He was stunned. Truly, completely stunned.

According to the description of [Houyi's Archery, if it was truly trained to the limit, to the level of the mighty primordial divinity Houyi who had created this divine ability…the power of the arrows would be truly terrifying, to the point of being above even the Sixth Cycle of the [Starseizing Hand]!

If a True God were to reach the peak of this divine ability, then with a single arrow, the True God would be able to heavily injure or even kill other True Gods!

But there was a reason why the complete mastery of [Houyi's Archery] was so ridiculously powerful.

Number one: The amount of mental energy this supreme archery technique used up was simply enormous. At the level of perfect mastery, even a True God would probably only be able to fire three, four, or five arrows before becoming utterly mentally drained and unable to fire off another arrow. Ning's [Starseizing Hand, however, could be used continuously without worry of using up any mental power.

Number two: This archery technique had extremely high requirements with regards to both the bow and the arrow. Especially the arrow! It must be understood that at full power, [Houyi's Archery] was mighty enough to annihilate a True God with a single arrow; to be able to compress this much power into a single arrow, the arrow had to be of tremendous quality, as it would otherwise collapse and break apart.

Thus, in order to execute this technique, one not only needed a good bow, one also needed some specially-prepared arrows that were incredibly powerful!

A superb bow. Superb arrows. And just a few shots before utter exhaustion!

Slightly poorer archery arts could allow for a hundred shots, while even poorer archery arts could easily allow for ten thousand shots. This was a testament to how truly draining this supreme archery technique was when it came to the power of the heart.

"The power of this archery art…although the number of times it can be used in succession is low, it truly is without question one of the top ten divine abilities created since Pangu established the universe!" Ning felt endless admiration towards this divine ability, as well as the number one God of the Bow of the Three Realms, Houyi.

Ning then stepped forward and picked up the abridged copy of the [Torch Dragon's Eye].

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Chapter 36 – Leaving the Master's Tutelage

Early dawn.

"Uncle-master."

"Uncle-master."

"Patriarch."

Escorted by a chorus of respectful calls, Ji Ning arrived at the entrance to the Tristar Crescent Abode. Holding a broom in his hands, he began to personally sweep the mountain paths.

Sweep. Sweep. The fallen leaves on the ground were all being swept away.

"That's odd."

"The Patriarch is personally sweeping the mountain paths? Isn't that the trial for the first level of the Divinities Palace?"

"The Patriarch can enter even the ninth level whenever he pleases, to say nothing of the first. He defeats the ninth golem with utter ease."

"But the Patriarch truly is sweeping the paths personally. Are we seeing things?"

"Maybe…maybe the Patriarch is meditating on something."

The two Dao-novitiates who were guarding the entrance stared in amazement as they watched Ning personally sweep the mountain roads. They stealthily sent mental messages to each other regarding this. News quickly began to spread, and soon all of the disciples of Mount Innerheart came to know of it.

Ning was very calm. He kept his head lowered, focusing on his broom. Each sweep of the broom felt like a cleansing sweep against his soul as well.

He swept each of the mountain steps, one at a time. His sweeping speed wasn't too fast; he seemed to be enjoying this sweeping process.

He only finished his labors late in the afternoon.

"Oh, I'm done?" Only now did Ning come back to his senses. He straightened his back, then murmured softly to himself, "It seems as though when Master set trials such as sweeping the path and weeding the mountain, he had certain other things in mind as well."

"Apprentice." A voice suddenly rang out by Ning's ears.

Ning was momentarily startled, but then hurriedly responded, "Master!"

Despite having been on the mountain for so many years, Ning had never before received a direct mental message from his master like this.

"After you learn the [Torch Dragon's Eye, come to my place," the voice rang out again.

"Yes, master," Ning replied respectfully.

Ning quickly moved up the mountain, heart filled with questions. Why was his master summoning him? This was extremely rare. Could it be…that he was going to leave his master's tutelage soon?

Ning went to the Three Realms Palace and acquired the full copy of the [Torch Dragon's Eye].

To date, the three major techniques which Ning had learned from the Three Realms Palace were the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art, [Houyi's Archery, and [Torch Dragon's Eye].

The process of being transmitted the information regarding the [Torch Dragon's Eye] took a full day. The next day, Ning regained his faculty of mind. Only then did he head towards the Daoist monastery of Patriarch Subhuti.

"Uncle-master."

The two Dao-novitiates at the entrance to the monastery both called out respectfully. One of the two, Clearwater, also added, "Uncle-master, the Patriarch has sent word that you are to be allowed direct entry."

Ning nodded, smiled, then passed in.

Within the Daoist monastery.

There was a prayer mat within an open region with a skinny old man dressed in loose Daoist robes seated atop it. The old man's hair was completely white, but he didn't seem decrepit at all; rather, Ning felt as though this person had reached the level of infinite eternity. In addition, he also could sense a boundless life-force coming from this person. Ning couldn't help but feel his own spirit completely calming down, thanks to his master's simple presence.

"Master." Ning walked in, then called out respectfully.

"Sit," the Old Patriarch said.

Ning immediately sat down on a prayer mat in the lotus position, awaiting instruction.

The Old Patriarch looked at Ning, then said slowly, "How long have you spent on Mount Innerheart?"

"It has already been more than thirty years and five…this year shall be the thirty-sixth," Ning said respectfully.

"Which abilities have you learned?" The Old Patriarch asked.

"Your disciple has learned the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] and reached the Third Cycle! I've just reached a basic level of skill in [Houyi's Archery]. I have also trained in the [Torch Dragon's Eye] and reached the second stage of innate torch-light! In the past thirty-plus years, your disciple has primarily focused on swordplay; I've already mastered the ninth stance of the [Three-Foot Sword, and have learned other, more powerful sword-arts as well," Ning said respectfully.

The Old Patriarch nodded. "You have many abilities now; it can be said that you are a completely different person compared to when you first came up the mountain. At your current level…remaining on Mount Innerheart will no longer help you as much as before. What you need to do now is go temper yourself within the real world, so as to prepare for your upcoming Celestial Tribulation. Given your abilities, and given that you have the legacy of brother Threelives…your Celestial Tribulation will surely be extraordinary. It will be very, very difficult."

"Your disciple shall remember to be cautious." Ning was enlightened. So indeed, it was as he had expected…it was time for him to leave his master's tutelage.

"It is time for you to leave now." The Old Patriarch looked at Ning. "I once said that when you left my tutelage, I would give you two great gifts."

Ning instantly felt intrigued.

"After you entered my tutelage, I often watched you, appraising your comprehension ability, your talent, your habits…all for the sake of developing a completely unique evasion divine ability for you, known as the [Obscuring Wind of the Nine Heavens," the Old Patriarch said.

Ning was overjoyed. This had been created just for him?!

Ning was badly in need of an evasive ability right now. He had been preparing to 'settle' for an evasive technique from the Divinities Palace if he couldn't find a good one, but unexpectedly his master had been preparing this for him the entire time, developing an evasive divine ability that was completely suited for Ning.

"You are a human, after all; if you are to train in any other evasive abilities, it will be hard for you to reach the peak in them. Even if I gave you the [Wings of the Garuda, from which your Windwing Evasion ability originates, you will never be able to reach the level which the great Roc did," the Old Patriarch explained. "The 'best' skill is the one most-suited to you. This technique, the [Obscuring Wind of the Nine Heavens, when trained to the utmost peak…although it might not be as good as perfect mastery over [Wings of the Garuda, it isn't that far off. You will be able to move 90,000 kilometers in a single movement." 1

"90,000 kilometers in a single movement?" Ning was extremely delighted. 90,000 kilometers…this was an astonishing speed!

"This is the evasive divine ability I prepared for you. In the future, when you have your own insights, perhaps you'll be able to further perfect it, allowing you to move even faster. That, however, shall be up to you," the Old Patriarch said.

Ning nodded.

An evasive ability which Patriarch Subhuti had personally developed…most likely it would be hard for Ning to improve on, even after he became an Empyrean God. Improving it…that would be a very, very distant task.

"I can see that in the future, you shall be a Sword Immortal. But any truly formidable Sword Immortal needs a powerful sword-formation," the Old Patriarch said. "The so-called [Heavenraker] sword formation, in truth, was used by Daofather Heavenrake as something he could teach his disciples. Even I don't know what his most formidable and profound sword-arts…Daofather Heavenrake keeps them hidden as his secret weapons for keeping himself alive."

Ning nodded.

"Your [Lesser Thousand Swords Formation] relies on using many treasures, relying on superiority of numbers; when combined with an appropriate sword-art, it is indeed capable of unleashing tremendous power. Both the Daoist Path and the Buddhist Sangha have similar types of techniques that rely on overwhelming numbers. Using your [Lesser Thousand Swords Formation] as the foundation, I have distilled the essence of the best Daoist and Buddhist techniques of this nature and developed a new sword-formation technique for you. I have given it the name, [Greater Thousand Swords Formation," the Old Patriarch said. "If you have enough treasures, the power of this [Greater Thousand Swords Formation] will be absolutely astonishing. It can be described as one of the supreme sword-formations of the Three Realms."

"Thank you, Master!" Ning was both excited and overjoyed. The [Obscuring Wind of the Nine Heavens] evasive technique, the [Greater Thousand Swords Formation] sword-formation technique…his master had personally designed both for him.

What Ning did not realize…

Was that Patriarch Subhuti was truly very diligent in teaching his students. Despite the passage of countless ages, the total number of students he had taken on was quite low, but he whole-heartedly focused on every single one he took on, especially during the early periods when they had first entered his tutelage. Although it seemed as though Ning hadn't had the chance to meet with his master many times, in reality Patriarch Subhuti had been constantly monitoring Ning. Then, based on Ning's own traits and characteristics, the Old Patriarch had tested out and developed these techniques in a completely separate world.

The [Obscuring Wind of the Nine Heavens, for example; Patriarch Subhuti had spent hundreds of thousands of years developing it.

By comparison, the [Greater Thousand Swords Formation] was easier; after all, this sort of formation simply centered around massive numbers of treasures. Patriarch Subhuti had only spent a thousand years to develop it.

In this other world, the flow of time was different. This was why Patriarch was able to bring out these two techniques now.

"Step forward," the Old Patriarch instructed.

Ning hurriedly stepped forward, walking in front of the Old Patriarch. The Old Patriarch tapped Ning on the center of his forehead.

Instantly, a large amount of information flooded into Ning's brain.

By the time Ning recovered, the [Obscuring Wind of the Nine Heavens] and the [Greater Thousand Swords Formation] had been firmly imprinted into his mind.

"Alright. It is time to leave," the Old Patriarch said.

"Master," Ning said respectfully. "Your disiciple also wishes to meditate on the secrets of the lotus. I wish to make a trip to the Divinities Palace and acquire a few manuals on lotus techniques."

The Old Patriarch waved his hand and a bamboo book appeared within it. He handed it to Ning. "This is a set of lotus techniques I acquired by accident. The mysteries within it are unfathomably profound, and will be more than enough for you to meditate on. You can carry it with you."

"Thank you, Master." It was one surprise for Ning after another. Ning hurriedly added, "Your disciple has an apprentice, Bluecliff Xiaoyu, who has just arrived on the mountain and only been here a few years. She is still quite weak; your disciple would like to let her remain here at Mount Innerheart for now…"

The Old Patriarch nodded. "Then let her remain here and train quietly on the mountain. When the day comes that she can defeat the ninth golem, I will let her leave and send her to your Grand Xia world."

Only now did Ning feel completely relaxed. Everything had been arranged for.

"Alright. Time to leave the mountain," the Old Patriarch instructed. "Remember this: Without my permission, you are not to say that you are my disciple. Otherwise…do not blame your master for showing you no mercy. Only when I summon you back can you return to Mount Innerheart."

"Yes," Ning said respectfully.

"The Three Realms are now filled with secret, turbulent undercurrents. Even I, your master, might perish. You must be careful. You are not to be too rash and cause a disaster for yourself," the Old Patriarch said.

Ning instantly felt his heart shake. What? The Three Realms were filled with secret, turbulent undercurrents? Even his master might perish? Then how was someone like him, a junior fellow who wasn't even a Celestial Immortal, supposed to make it?

The Old Patriarch waved his sleeve. "Be it fortune or calamity…you shall bring it to yourself, and have no one else to blame or to thank. Now, go!"

Ning respectfully fell to his knees, pressing his head down to the ground and kowtowing heavily nine times. "Your disciple is leaving now. Master, take care!"

His master had indeed spent considerable effort on his behalf. Both the [Obscuring Wind of the Nine Heavens] and the [Greater Thousand Swords Formation] were truly supreme techniques of the Three Realms. Even Daofathers weren't capable of casually creating techniques on this level. Although his master hadn't spelled it out, Ning could imagine how much enormous effort his master must've gone into in order to develop these techniques.

Ning would naturally engrave his memory of this kindness into his heart.

In addition, the thirty-plus years he had spent on Mount Innerheart had been the most peaceful years of his life, the years when he had truly, firmly established his foundation. After leaving the mountain, it would be as his master said; given how the Three Realms were filled with dangerous undercurrents, it would probably be hard for him to find such peace again.

After Ning left, another person appeared within the Daoist monastery. It was the second apprentice, Crazy Ji.

"Master." Crazy Ji watched as Ning walked away, then sighed, "This junior apprentice-brother of mine truly is a man of deep emotions."

"Unfortunately, he was born at the wrong time." The Old Patriarch shook his head. "When most of you were growing up, I was able to protect you. But he will be growing up in an era when a great tribulation is descending upon the Three Realms. The Three Realms are already filled with many dangerous undercurrents…and this tribulation may prove to be even more terrifying than the one that shattered Pangu's World."

"What?!" Crazy Ji's face instantly changed.

"Nuwa has left long ago, entering the endless primordial chaos. Despite the passages of countless years, she has never returned," the Old Patriarch said. "When Nuwa was present, the Three Realms were finally settled down and the Six Paths of Reincarnation were established. The Celestial Court was created to manage the Three Realms, and the Daofathers and True Gods all separated into their respective territories. But with Nuwa gone…with the Six Paths of Reincarnation destroyed…with the Celestial Court only a court in name…with the Three Realms filled by dangerous undercurrents…I fear that this tribulation…"

The Old Patriarch shook his head.

Crazy Ji began to worry.

"But in times of tribulation, a person can bring either fortune or calamity upon himself. If it is calamity, only he himself can save himself," the Old Patriarch said. "Everyone, including you and the others, all need to be careful. I imagine that a large number of True Gods and Daofathers shall die during this tribulation…and if even half of the Empyrean Gods and True Immortals survive, they should count their blessings. If you are faced with danger, I may not be able to protect you."

"Your disciple shall remember and be cautious," Crazy Ji said respectfully.

Ning led Little Qing and Uncle White out of Mount Innerheart.

On the path to Mount Innerheart. Bluecliff Xiaoyu fell to her knees, pressing her forehead against the ground. "Your disciple shall definitely train hard. After I reach the ninth floor of the Divinities Palace, I will immediately head for the world of the Grand Xia to reunite with you, Master."

Ning nodded and smiled. He then led Little Qing and Uncle White to fly out of Mount Innerheart.

They arrived in the sky-void, and as they did, a void tunnel appeared. This was a void-tunnel which Patriarch Subhuti had personally opened for them.

Ning, Little Qing, and Uncle White flew directly into it.

Swoosh! They all disappeared, and the void-tunnel closed behind them.

"Master!" Xiaoyu knelt there, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. "I will definitely go to the Grand Xia world and meet you there."

1. Alas, this isn't quite as fast as Sun Wukong's 'somersault cloud', which allowed him to move 108,000 kilometers in a single somersault.

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Chapter 1 – Homecoming

The world of the Grand Xia. Stillwater Commandery.

A spatial ripple appeared in the air above Serpentwing Lake. From within, out strode a plainly dressed youth, a snowy white hound by his side and a little azure serpent around his arm.

"We're back."

Ji Ning stared downwards at Serpentwing Lake. He murmured softly, "When I left here, I fled in such a pathetic state. But now…no one should even think about forcing me, Ji Ning, to leave again!"

Ning felt closer to this lake than anything else. If it hadn't been because the Youngflame clan was so much more powerful than him back then, how could Ning have beared to part from it?

Swoosh. With a single step, Ning arrived within Brightheart Island, at the very center of Serpentwing Lake.

The buildings of Brightheart Island had all been rebuilt. There were quite a few servants and guards present. As Ning strolled forward through the sand, he quietly gazed at everything and everyone. His divine sense had long ago encapsulated the entire island. "When I fled, Brightheart Island had been leveled by the Youngflame clan. I didn't expect that it would have been rebuilt, and that it would be built to look exactly the way it did in the past. However…it seems as though there is no one here that I recognize."

"I imagine that elder sister Autumn Leaf is still at the City of Ten Thousand Swords."

Ning took a walk around Brightheart Island. He visited the place where Autumn Leaf had previously stayed, as well as the place where his father had once lived. The servants and guards didn't see him at all.

Brightheart Island of Serpentwing Lake was Ning's home. Coming home was truly a wonderful feeling.

"This time…no one should even think about destroying Brightheart Island again," Ning murmured softly. "Uncle White. It'll be up to you."

The Whitewater Hound behind Ning spoke out. "I've analyzed quite a few grand formations at Mount Innerheart, and within some of the secret tomes on formations there were also some hidden formations of supreme power. Although I haven't thoroughly comprehended them all…simply setting them up in accordance with the instructions will prove simple. In the future, the entire Swallow Mountain region, all hundred thousand kilometers of it, will be surrounded by hundreds of layers of grand formations! Formations within formations within formations; not even Celestial Immortals will dare barge in here."

"Good." Ning nodded.

A powerful school or sect would definitely layer many terrifying formations around its headquarters.

In order to lay down a formation, one would first need to procure a formidable formation technique, and then go buy enough treasures to actually set it up. Thus, the formations of major schools were usually built up by successive generations of disciples of the school. The longer a school's history, the more complicated and powerful its many layered formations would be, to the point of causing any enemy to hesitate!

Although Ning and the Whitewater Hound didn't have that sort of long history and background, they were the disciples of Mount Innerheart!

Formation tomes generally weren't valued that much, and so the formation tomes which Uncle White had acquired on the sixth floor of the Divinities Palace were already some of the supreme formations of the entire Three Realms. Naturally, he had learned an enormous number of formidable formations. Some he had thoroughly mastered, while others he had not, but even those he had not mastered, he could still lay them out according to the instructions.

"Uncle White," Little Qing said, "I heard that some major schools take up hundreds of thousands of kilometers, all of which is completely covered up by formations, some of which are set down by generations of Loose Immortals and Celestial Immortals. You need to make sure that our formations aren't weaker than theirs!"

"We are of Mount Innerheart; our formations are unfathomably more profound than the formations of those so-called major schools," Uncle White said confidently. "With enough magic treasures…I can turn the entire Swallow Mountain into an unbreakable steel dome."

"Right. When the time comes, let's pay a trip to the imperial capital and buy some formations materials. Uncle White, think about what you need and prepare a list," Ning said.

"I will. I'll come up with some of the most supreme killing formations that I've learned from those formation manuals."

A short while later. Outside the City of Ten Thousand Swords.

The gates to the city were open. Ning led a snowy white hound inside through the city gates. The gateguards couldn't see them at all; naturally, they wouldn't bar their way.

"The changes are so significant." Ning murmured softly, "In the past, the City of Ten Thousand Swords had many ordinary mortals within it, and there were many hawkers lining the streets. Now…everything has changed. There are very few mortals here."

The many former residences of the City of Ten Thousand Swords had all been demolished, and the entire city had been completely renovated in a beautiful manner!

Within the city, there were now far more soldiers! There were also many more men and women that were dressed in absolutely beautiful clothes.

"Even I can barely recognize this place. I feel as though the City of Ten Thousand Swords has been transformed into an enormous private estate," Uncle White sighed in amazement.

Whoosh. Ning swept forward with his divine sense.

Within an estate, there were two powerful Immortal Diremonsters who were leisurely sipping wine – Immortal Duohe and Immortal Witchsui. Their faces suddenly changed; they could sense an incomparably powerful, almost crushingly-strong divine sense sweep past them! Just from this divine sense alone…they could tell that the wielder was above ordinary Loose Immortals and Earth Immortals. It was extremely rare for Loose Immortals to have such a terrifying divine sense.

"Not good." Immortal Duohe and Immortal Witchsui both were shocked. "An enemy!"

"Wait."

Puzzled looks quickly appeared on their faces. The divine sense seemed rather familiar…

"Fellow Daoist Ji Ning?" They shared a glance of disbelief…but indeed, when they carefully checked again, that surge of divine sense did indeed belong to Ji Ning. However, it was even more powerful and graceful than before.

"Immortal Witchsui, Immortal Duohe, we'll meet at Darknorth Palace in a bit," Ning sent mentally.

"Alright," the two Diremonster Immortals assented.

Within a secluded courtyard in the City of Ten Thousand Swords. Autumn Leaf was taking care of her flowers. She had lived by herself for the past few decades, quietly focusing on her training. Without planning to, she actually made a breakthrough and reached the early Wanxiang level. Although Ning had previously provided her with some help, and although this was partially due to the fact that the Ji clan now had a prodigious Dao-repository, her own talent clearly was exceptional as well.

"Auntie." A youth walked in, a look of absolute delight on his face and a look of yearning in his eyes. "Auntie, auntie, my swordplay has reached the 'one with the world' level."

"Oh?" Autumn Leaf turned around, smiling as she looked at the youth. "One with the world?"

"Right right! When I was out adventuring and fighting Diremonsters, I suddenly made a breakthrough and my swordplay reached the 'one with the world' level," the youth said excitedly. "Auntie, you promised me to teach me a powerful sword-art when I reached the 'one with the world' level."

Autumn Leaf smiled. But suddenly…her body trembled. A look of disbelief and delight appeared in her eyes.

The youth was immediately puzzled.

"Little Rocky, hurry up and head back. Auntie has something to do," Autumn Leaf said.

"But Auntie, you promised to teach me swordplay…" The youth was rather hesitant, unwilling to leave.

"Go back for now," Autumn Leaf said.

"…fine." The youth turned and left helplessly.

After the youth left, the courtyard once more became quiet. Autumn Leaf hurriedly stared at the surrounding area with agitation, searching for that familiar figure. And right at this moment, a fur-clad youth suddenly appeared out of nowhere, not too far away in front of her.

"Young master!" A look of excitement was on Autumn Leaf's face. He looked just the same as he always had; he hadn't changed at all. "Young master. You came back."

"Right. I'm back." Ning nodded slowly.

"Will you be leaving?" Autumn Leaf asked softly.

"Not this time," Ning said.

Tears appeared in Autumn Leaf's eyes. She nodded repeatedly. "Autumn Leaf will definitely take good care of you, young master."

"It wouldn't feel right if anyone else was to take care of me," Ning said with a smile. "Let's go and see Uncle Truekeep and the others."

"Alright." Autumn Leaf immediately followed him.

The City of Ten Thousand Swords. Darknorth Palace.

After the complete overhaul of the City of Ten Thousand Swords, the most important palace of the the entire Ji clan became this place, the Darknorth Palace. It was named 'Darknorth' after Ning's own Daoist title, of course! Ever since news had spread of Ning's victory in the Conclave of Immortal Destiny, the entire Ji clan had celebrated with wild abandon. This was a glory which the Ji clan had never before even imagined of in all of its history!

Ji Ning had become the absolute most glorious figure in the Ji clan's entire history!

"Uncle Truekeep, Granny Shadow, Immortal Duohe, Immortal Witchsui." Ning walked into Darknorth Palace, then called out to them.

Only four people were present within the palace. Clearly, the news of Ning's return was too shocking and sudden; none of the other formidable figures of the Ji clan had been notified yet. His return was to be kept a secret for now.

"It's good that you are back. It's good that you are back!" Granny Shadow looked at Ning, a hint of excitement and delight in her eyes.

"Where's the former patriarch and the others?" Ning couldn't help but ask.

"Because they reached the end of their lifespans…my big brother and Ah Xing have both passed on," Granny Shadow sighed. "After they left, I spent all my time by myself within the Dao-repository, waiting for my end to come as well. Who would've thought that after being within it for so long, I'd actually end up making an unexpected breakthrough?"

Ning sighed. The former patriarch, Ji Ninefire, as well as the old servant Ah Xing had both died. Of the older generation, only Granny Shadow remained.

"However, before they died, they learned of the fact that you, Ji Ning, became the champion of the Conclave of Immortal Destiny," Granny Shadow said excitedly. "They were both excited and proud. Our Ji clan actually produced a scion that became one of the most glorious figures of the entire Grand Xia Dynasty. This is an incomparable honor for our entire clan! Right…after you became champion, you suddenly disappeared for thirty years. Did you go follow a Celestial Immortal to study the Dao?"

The nearby Immortal Witchsui said with a laugh, "Only a truly peerless genius could become champion of the Conclave. It is quite normal for such a genius to be taken on by a Celestial Immortal; in fact, even Pure Yang True Immortals and Empyrean Gods would consider accepting such disciples."

Immortal Witchsui was of Celestial Immortal Witchriver's lineage; naturally, he knew about True Immortals and Empyrean Gods.

"I did indeed leave to go studying," Ning said with a nod.

Ning had already prepared his explanation for his thirty-plus years of disappearance. The explanation was…he had left to go studying!

Studying with who? Who was his master? That would be a secret! The more mysterious it seemed, the more caution it would inspire in careful-minded folk.

"If my gaze is correct…fellow Daoist Ji Ning, you are now a Void-level Earth Immortal," Immortal Duohe said with a laugh.

"Not just that; both of fellow Daoist Ji Ning's spirit-beasts have become Void-level Earth Immortals," the nearby Immortal Witchsui added.

"What?!" Granny Shadow, Patriarch Ji Truekeep, and Autumn Leaf all stared towards them in astonishment.

Although they were delighted by the fact that Ning had become a Void-level Earth Immortal, this was as they had expected, because they had heard long ago about Ning's Primaltwin being capable of killing Loose Immortals. Given that Ning had also gone to study the Dao with a powerful figure, what was so strange about him now having reached the Void-level and become an Earth Immortal? But the two spirit-beasts had also become Void-level Earth Immortals?!

"Right." Ning smiled and nodded, then said, "I can see that the Ji clan has changed quite a bit."

"Thanks to the help of Princess Xiyue, the squads which the Youngflame clan had stationed in the Ji clan's territory left long ago." Truekeep tamped down the curiosity he felt, then explained, "And given the additional fame and glory you won at the Conclave of Immortal Destiny, Ji Ning, who would dare antagonize our Ji clan now? We haven't expanded; we've just continued to stabilize around Swallow Mountain. Over the past few decades, Swallow Mountain's defenses have become airtight."

Ning nodded.

"Our Ji clan hasn't changed that much; by comparison, Stillwater Commandery has changed much more." Truekeep let out a sigh. "The entire Stillwater Commandery is now vastly different from what it was like when you left. Even the Marquis of Stillwater has changed."

"The Marquis of Stillwater has changed?" Ning was surprised. "To who?"

The two principal contenders for the position of Marquis of Stillwater had been Northmont Yin and Northmont Blacktiger.

"The current Marquis of Stillwater…is Northmont Yin," Truekeep said.

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Chapter 2 – Ji Ning Is Back

"Northmont Yin?" Ning was startled.

"Then what of Northmont Baiwei and his father, Northmont Blacktiger?" Ning hurriedly asked, "Are they doing alright?"

Internicine struggles within ancient clans could be incredibly devastating; generally, the losers would have dire ends.

"I know about the relationship between you and Northmont Baiwei," Ji Truekeep said, "So I kept abreast of this matter. Northmont Blacktiger and his son continue to live within Stillwater City and continue to reside within the Northmont Blacktiger Estate. Although their power is not as it was before, they aren't at risk of dying."

Ning finally let out a sigh of relief. Still…he was quite surprised.

Based on what he understood, the struggle within the Northmont clan of Stillwater for the position of Marquis would be extremely cruel and savage; the loser would be driven out of their estate and perhaps even expelled out from Stillwater City to some other places. In an extremely serious case, they might even be sent to a completely different minor world with the assignment of subjugating it for the clan. There, they might live out the end of their days. Unexpectedly, after Northmont Yin had become the Marquis, his most powerful foe, Northmont Blacktiger, was still able to reside in Stillwater City.

After the time needed to boil a kettle of tea, Ning finished asking his questions and felt a bit more relaxed. He then said, "I'm going to make a trip; I should be back in ten days or half a month or so."

"Ji Ning," Granny Shadow said in her gravelly voice, "The outside world is very chaotic right now. You must be careful."

"Chaotic?" Ning was puzzled. "Why is it chaotic?"

Truekeep explained, "Our Ji clan is permanently stationed here at Swallow Mountain, and so we don't know too much about the chaos in the outside world. What we do know, however, is that in the past twenty to thirty years, many tribes and clans within Stillwater Commandery have been wiped out! The entire Stillwater Commandery is in a state of enormous upheaval right now. Of course, the annihilated clans and tribes were all fairly weak tribes that had no Immortals…but there were still a number of annihilated clans that were comparable to Snowdragon Mountain back in its heyday."

"What?!" Ning felt as though something was off. In Stillwater Commandery, powers comparable to Snowdragon Mountain were already fairly strong.

Powers with Immortals guarding them, by contrast, would be considered truly first-rate.

Above them would be the eight supreme powers; the Black-White College, the Skysplitter Sword Sect, the Hundred Flowers Fairyland, the Heavenly Saint Church, the Blood God Church, the Dragonhunter clan, the Eastriver clan, and the Bluewood clan.

The most supreme powers, of course, were the Northmont clan as well as the local Raindragon Guard.

"Powers comparable to Snowdragon Mountain…they all have extremely deep and stable roots; it's rare for one of them to be wiped out, even in a thousand years. How is it that a number of them have been wiped out in twenty to thirty short years?" Ning said.

"The Ji clan stays here at Swallow Mountain. We're not too sure," Truekeep said.

Ning frowned.

When Ning had left Mount Innerheart, his master had warned him of the dangerous undercurrents within the Three Realms, claiming that even he himself might fall. Now, upon returning to Stillwater Commandery, he discovered that local regions were already beginning to turn chaotic…

"A great secret most likely lies behind the chaos in Stillwater Commandery," Ning mused silently to himself. "It seems I need to be even more careful than I anticipated. If even Master must be extremely careful…this little bit of power I have is nothing."

"Granny Shadow. Uncle Truekeep." Ning immediately said, "Given the state of chaos Stillwater Commandery is in, your actions are correct. It is best for our Ji clan to peacefully remain here at Swallow Mountain. Mm…I'm going to make a trip. I'll be back in ten days or so. Autumn Leaf, no need to follow me; wait here for my return."

"Alright." Autumn Leaf nodded.

"Immortal Duohe, Immortal Witchsui…the safety of my Ji clan will depend on your efforts," Ning said.

"We are only acting as is proper. Fellow Daoist Ji Ning, you rescued all of us from the Immortal estate; it is right and proper for us to help out," Immortal Witchsui said hurriedly.

"The monsters of the Immortal estate are living here at Swallow Mountain as well. We shall prosper together or perish together with the Ji clan." Immortal Duohe spoke out warmly as well. In the past, for the sake of their clan, they had sworn a thousand year oath…but now that Ning had come back as a Void-level Earth Immortal, as had his two spirit-beasts, their attitudes had changed significantly.

In the air a few thousand kilometers outside of Stillwater City. A spatial ripple appeared, then a fur-clad youth walked out, a snowy white hound by his side.

Around Ning's arm was a little azure snake. The snake raised its little head, staring into the distance, then said excitedly, "We're finally at Stillwater City. Hahaha, I, Little Qing, have become a Void-level Earth Immortal. I'd be considered an expert even here in Stillwater City now!"

Swoosh!

Ning rode the wind as he flew towards Stillwater City.

"I'm back. I wonder if Master is at the Black-White College." Ning quickly saw the distant Black-White College; when Ning had left, Immortal Diancai had gone out adventuring to temper himself. Nearly forty years had passed since then; Ning wondered if he was back yet.

Whoosh. Ning flew directly into the Black-White College.

Within the marquisate of Stillwater. There were many crystal globes hovering in midair, each being watched over by an Immortal cultivator.

"Someone flew directly into Stillwater city!" A cultivator quickly noticed the scene that just appeared within one of the watched crystal balls. He immediately reported this aloud, and soon had his report verified by someone else.

"A fur-clad youth, an Azure Skysnake, a Whitewater Hound."

"This person should be the person who became the champion of the Conclave of Immortal Destiny more than thirty years ago, then disappeared without a trace – Adept Darknorth, Ji Ning!"

"Intelligence reports regarding Adept Darknorth are classified as top-priority. Quick, go report this!"

Soon, this intelligence report was transferred to higher-ups.

The Northmont clan of Stillwater kept an extremely tight watch over its enfeoffed territory. In Stillwater City at least, anyone who dared to fly about in the open had to be clearly investigated. In fact… whenever there was an especially powerful ripple of elemental energy anywhere in the entire vast commandery of Stillwater, it would be discovered and investigated!

For example, when Immortal Firedragon made his breakthrough in Swallow Mountain, the Northmont clan of Stillwater immediately discovered it.

"Ji Ning?"

"The Ji Ning that disappeared more than thirty years ago after the Conclave of Immortal Destiny?"

"This information needs to be reported to the Patriarch right away!"

"Right."

The news continued to climb through the ranks. And soon…the news made its way to Celestial Immortal Hunchmont.

A hunchbacked old man with white hair who held a gnarled wooden staff took a single step forward and appeared in midair, then flew towards the direction of the Black-White College.

"I heard that Sword Immortal Evergreen of the Crimsonbright League had intended to take Ji Ning as his disciple…but it seemed as though Ji Ning didn't take him on as his master, nor did he apprentice himself to any of the other Immortals or Empyrean Gods affiliated with Daofather Crimsonbright. In fact…the Immortals of the Crimsonbright League have no idea where Ji Ning is at all." Celestial Immortal Hunchmont quietly pondered over this.

Ning's disappearance had briefly caused a stir. It must be understood that even Pure Yang True Immortals like Lu Dongbin had been interested in taking Ning as a disciple…and in fact, Lu Dongbin had been extremely eager to do so. However, the Grand Xia Emperor had resolutely refused to agree, insisting on keeping Ning for the Crimsonbright League.

But in the end…?

Almost everyone who had been in the Skylight Palace for the Conclave had been a Celestial Immortal. The news of this matter had quickly spread. All of those Celestial Immortals were under Daofather Crimsonbright's command, and so they were all investigating this matter. They all had learned that Sword Immortal Evergreen had sought to take Ning as a disciple, but Ning had refused and disappeared.

However…no matter how they searched, none of the Immortals under Daofather Crimsonbright's command could find out who had taken Ning on as a disciple. Everyone guessed that Ning had most likely ended up not joining Daofather Crimsonbright's side.

So where had Ji Ning gone to?

Why didn't he take Sword Immortal Evergreen as his master?

Who had he taken as his master? Or did he even have a master at all? Was he wandering alone?!

This became a mystery!

"You all seem to be having a happy chat." The staff-holding Celestial Immortal Hunchmont arrived before the Headmaster's Hall in the Black-White College. He strode inside, sweeping the people within with his long-browed, deep gaze. There were more than ten Immortals gathered here. Thirty years ago, the Black-White College didn't have this many Immortals. During the past period of time, however, Stillwater Commandery had simply become too chaotic, and so the Primal Daoists with very deep levels of enlightenment such as Daoist Jadesea, who had previously been taking their time, all decided to make their breakthroughs. They had all reached the Void-level and become Earth Immortals.

"Senior Hunchmont."

Instantly, all the Immortals of the Black-White College saluted respectfully. Ning saluted as well. "Senior Hunchmont."

"Ji Ning returned?" Celestial Immortal Hunchmont nodded lightly, his eyes lighting up. "It's only been thirty years, but both you and your spirit-beasts have reached the Void-level as Earth Immortals. Monsters train much more slowly than we humans do, but your two spirit-beasts have both reached the Void-level…it seems the past thirty-plus years represented a huge stroke of fortune for you."

The short elder nearby, Immortal Fivecraze, let out an emotional sigh. "We were just discussing this as well. Becoming a Void-level Earth Immortal is no easy task. Ning and both his spirit-beasts…well, our Black-White College now has three more Earth Immortals. Naturally, all of us are extremely happy."

Celestial Immortal Hunchmont nodded, then said, "Young friend Ji Ning, you disappeared all those years ago, drawing quite a bit of attention. Where did you go for the past period of time?"

Ning smiled. "I went to take on a master and to study."

"Take on a master?" Celestial Immortal Hunchmont was intrigued. He hurriedly asked, "Might I ask who?"

"Forgive me for not being able to tell you," Ning said.

Celestial Immortal Hunchmont laughed. "I won't force it, I won't force it." But in his heart, he secretly mumbled to himself, "It seems one of the powers of the Three Realms must've run off with him, which is why he isn't willing to say his master's name; I imagine he doesn't want to cause trouble. However…for his master to be so daring means that he is most likely a formidable figure."

The question of who Ning had taken on his master was indeed quite an intriguing one. This was because any power who took on Ning as a disciple would have at least somewhat offended Daofather Crimsonbright's side!

Still…the Crimsonbright League wouldn't hold anything against Ning personally. This was because if one was to take on a disciple, the disciple had to be willing! True Immortals, Empyrean Gods, Daofathers…anyone taking on a disciple had to ask if the disciple was willing to accept him as a master! If Ning was unwilling, nobody could force him. For Ning to willingly run off with someone else and take him or her as his master only meant that the Grand Xia Emperor would have to suffer this loss in silence.

"If you are free, young friend Ji Ning, you can pay a visit to the marquisate of Stillwater," Celestial Immortal Hunchmont said with a chortle.

"Definitely," Ning said.

"Right. I won't interrupt your reunion with your comrades any longer." Celestial Immortal Hunchmont immediately turned, still-leaning on his gnarled staff, and gracefully departed.

Within the hall.

"Ji Ning, Stillwater Commandery is a bit chaotic right now. You need to be careful. Although our Black-White College stands on the side of the Northmont clan of Stillwater…we can't just stupidly offer ourselves up and die for them for no reason," Immortal Fivecraze said in a low voice. All the other Loose Immortals and Earth Immortals present all nodded and looked towards Ning.

Ji Ning and the Sloppy Daoist were the two mighty future pillars of their Black-White College! They didn't wish for Ning to be taken advantage of.

Ning nodded. "I understand. Right…has my master returned to the Black-White College?"

"Your master came back just a few days ago. He's in closed-door meditation right now; most likely, he is going to attempt his Celestial Tribulation soon," Immortal Fivecraze said.

"Tribulation?" Ning was surprised.

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Chapter 3 – Blood God Church

Soon, Ji Ning met with Immortal Diancai.

Within a quiet, secluded courtyard. There was a gourd of Immortal wine, two wine cups, a master, and a disciple. The two were drinking wine and chatting with each other.

"Master, I didn't disturb your meditations, did I?" Ning asked.

"I was just engaging in ordinary meditation; I wasn't in a prajna-state of sudden enlightenment. What's there to disturb?" Immortal Diancai looked at Ning, then nodded with satisfaction. "Ji Ning, you are far more powerful than you were in the past. When you first entered my tutelage, you were a piece of unpolished jade; you were quite young. But now, your divine sense is a bit more powerful than even mine; you truly are the peerless genius who became the champion of the Conclave after having trained for merely thirty or so years."

"If you keep praising me this much, Master, I'm going to start wiggling with delight," Ning joked with a laugh.

"You little punk…" Immortal Diancai laughed, then shook his head.

Ning said seriously, "Master, are you truly planning to take on your Celestial Tribulation soon? This is something that you need to be extremely cautious about; you can't be the slightest bit over-confident in handling it."

"I know that. Of course I know that. There are countless Earth Immortals and Loose Immortals, but it's rare for the entire Grand Xia world to produce a single Celestial Immortal in a million years." Immortal Diancai continued, "But times are changing. In the past twenty, thirty years, there were multiple Earth Immortals who successfully overcame their Celestial Tribulation and became Celestial Immortals in the Grand Xia world."

"Multiple?!" Ning was surprised.

"Right." Immortal Diancai nodded. "The greater a storm, the more experts are born from within! And during my previous period of training, my subconscious was telling me…that a great storm is coming. If I want to overcome my tribulation and become a Celestial Immortal, I have to do so before this storm comes. Only then will I have a chance. If I delay…I'll probably die within it."

Ning was secretly shocked.

An Immortal's subconscious senses were usually very accurate. In truth, ever since he had returned to the Grand Xia world, Ning himself had subconsciously felt as though a terrifying tempest was about to erupt. However…he didn't sense that he needed to make his breakthrough before it. Clearly, with his success in training the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art, Ning's chances of survival were much greater than Immortal Diancai's.

"Master." Ning suddenly waved his hand, and a man-high pile of books suddenly appeared.

"What's this?" Immortal Diancai said, puzzled.

"A Dao-Repository," Ning said. "You can look at these three books, Master."

Ning pulled out three thick tomes from the pile.

Immortal Diancai immediately accepted the three books, then began to flip through them. These had been acquired by Ning in the Crescent world after killing the monster kings and the evil Patriarch! It must be understood that these powerful figures were generally extremely self-confident; in order to prevent other powers from destroying their Dao-Repositories, they would generally carry a copy with them at all times. When the Flamewing King had destroyed the Qi Empire, he had acquired a portion of the Qi Empire's Dao-Repository, which Ning now naturally had as well.

"A fine sword-art. A fine sword-art!" Immortal Diancai's eyes were shining as he flipped through a second book. He said excitedly, "This directly guides one through the Grand Dao!"

Ning laughed.

It must be understood that the Qi Empire needed only a few tens of thousands of years to establish an Empire that spanned a million kilometers. How incredible had its Dao-Repository been? The Twelve Monster Kings of the Eastern Flows and the evil Patriarch were all comparable to Celestial Immortals; the Dao-Repositories they had built up were similarly astonishing. Although there was no way they could come close to comparing to Mount Innerheart's, their repositories were ten times superior to the Black-White College's!

"Ji Ning, these Dao-Repositories…?" Immortal Diancai looked towards Ning.

"Don't worry, Master. Your disciple acquired them with his own power; they don't come with any strings attached. I prepared them for you, Master, and for the Black-White College," Ning said. Because of the rules of the Old Patriarch, the supreme arts of Mount Innerheart were absolutely not to be taught to any outsiders. There were no such restrictions, however, on the techniques Ning had acquired from the monster kings and the evil Patriarch.

The Black-White College had ten-plus Earth Immortals and Loose Immortals, all of which were extraordinary. With these Dao-Repositories, their level of power would rise once again.

As for the Ji clan?

Ning had used an ink technique to duplicate copies for the Ji clan. In addition…Ning believed that as he grew increasingly powerful, the Dao-Repositories he would acquire would also become increasingly formidable. For the dreams of his father, for the dreams of the deceased Patriarch Ninefire and the others, and for the sake of himself as a descendant of the Ji clan, he would naturally do everything he could to make the Ji clan flourish.

"Good, good, good. These Dao-Repositories are all quite incredible." Immortal Diancai was truly excited. "The three sword-arts manuals you picked out are all of great help to me and have given me insight. I need to immediately go into closed-door meditation and ponder on them. My chances of overcoming the tribulation are now a bit greater."

Ning nodded.

These three sword-arts manuals were all comparable to the complete [Three-Foot Sword]; they were truly superb tomes on the Dao of the Sword! In the current Black-White College, there were only two Sword Immortals at the Void level; Ji Ning and Immortal Diancai. No one would fight with Immortal Diancai over these tomes.

"Wonderful."

All of the Earth Immortals and Loose Immortals of the Black-White College were now gathered at Immortal Diancai's place. Upon seeing the piles of Dao-Repositories, they were instantly all overjoyed.

"Divine ability, [Nine Melodies of Virtue]."

"Divine ability, [Bloodshadow Evasion]."

"Secret art, [Thousandstar Soulscour]."

"A Pure Yang-level Ki Refining Technique. Our Black-White College has no Pure Yang-level Ki Refining Techniques!"

"This one is a Pure Yang-level Ki Refining Technique as well."

"A formation here."

"Is this a technique for creating constructs?"

All sorts of tomes on the Dao were present. The Loose Immortals and Earth Immortals could feel the blood boiling in their veins as they read.

Ning just quietly sighed to himself. At Mount Innerheart, there were quite a few Ki Refining Techniques that were at the Daofather level! There were many sword-arts created by Daofathers, but unfortunately Mount Innerheart techniques could not be taught to others. Thus, he could only give the repositories of the monster kings and the vile Patriarch to his school…and yet, this was already enough to make them go wild with joy.

The Earth Immortals and Loose Immortals of the Black-White College were all extraordinary figures.

In the past,they didn't have a truly top-tier Dao-Repository. Now that Ning had given them one, it was guaranteed that all of them would once more increase in power. Even Immortal Fivecraze was laughing loudly right now. "With this Dao-Repository, the fortunes of our Black-White College have improved tenfold! Back during the Conclave of Immortal Destiny, when little Sloppy entered the top six and Ji Ning became champion, I knew that our Black-White College was in for an era of tremendous luck…and today, I've finally seen the fruits of that luck. With this Dao-Repository, haha…even I myself can live for at least another ten thousand years."

Immortal Fivecraze had expected that after roughly nine centuries or so, he would no longer be able to withstand the next trial from the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, but with these new Dao-Repositories, his insights would deepen and his strength would grow; naturally, he would now be able to live longer.

Night.

Ji Ning and Immortal Diancai were walking within a path inside the Black-White College.

"Ji Ning, a Dao-Repository is a school's foundation. With these new ones, the Black-White College will grow more powerful, and will become comparable to some of the supreme schools of the entire Grand Xia Dynasty." Immortal Diancai looked at Ning. "This is all because of you. The contribution you have made this time is too, too great."

Some disciples preferred to give powerful Dao-Repositories to their own tribes instead. It was very rare for them to give so much to their school.

"It really was nothing." Ning shook his head.

"Currently, it isn't just Stillwater Commandery that is in a state of chaos; there are dangerous undercurrents within the entire Grand Xia world, causing all sorts of trouble. With these Dao-Repositories, the supreme Loose Immortals and Earth Immortals of our Black-White College will rise to a new level of power. As a result, more members of the Black-White College will be able to survive this storm." Immortal Diancai looked at Ning. "The arrival of a Dao-Repository at such a critical moment is worth more than ten Dao-Repositories that come after the storm passes."

Ning was puzzled. "Master, how exactly is our Stillwater Commandery in a state of chaos?"

"You don't know?" Immortal Diancai didn't understand.

"I just returned to the Grand Xia, and I didn't have a chance to chat too much with old brother Fivecraze before you left your meditations, Master," Ning said.

Immortal Diancai nodded. "Then I'll give you a rough idea. Stillwater Commandery…right, roughly ten years ago, that friend of yours named Northmont Baiwei suffered an assassination attempt and nearly died. The assassination attempt was here in Stillwater City!"

"What?!" Ning was shocked. "Within Stillwater City? But…but this is a direct challenge to the Grand Xia Dynasty!"

Violence was forbidden within the commandery cities of the Grand Xia. This was the law! When the likes of the Youngflame clan sent out the likes of Immortal Floatcloud, they were sending out Deathsworn who were willing to die!

"How is Northmont Baiwei doing now?" Ning asked.

"He was lucky enough to survive, and so he's naturally doing fine," Immortal Diancai said. "During the past twenty, thirty years…there have been more than a hundred assassination's within Stillwater Commandery. Although we all suspect that it was the Blood God Church behind them, that's just our suspicion; we have no proof. Without proof, it isn't appropriate for the Grand Xia Dynasty to intervene."

Ning said, puzzled, "The Blood God Church…one of the eight great powers of Stillwater Commandery? They have this sort of audacity?"

More than a hundred assassinations within Stillwater City…this was too crazy.

"Why wouldn't they? They have more audacity than you can imagine." Immortal Diancai shook his head. "The Blood God Church has always been an association of madmen…and in recent days, they have exploded forth with astonishing power. They butted heads with the Northmont clan multiple times recently, and it was actually the Northmont clan that was at a disadvantage each time."

"What?!" Ning could hardly believe it. The Northmont clan of Stillwater held the marquisate for this entire region! The Blood God Church was merely one of the eight strongest powers here. Logically speaking, if the Northmont clan wanted to deal with the Blood God Church, it wouldn't be too hard for them to completely wipe it out.

"The Blood God Church's power is far greater than it appeared in the past," Immortal Diancai said. "The leader of the Blood God Church battled against Celestial Immortal Hunchmont…and even Celestial Immortal Hunchmont was unable to do anything to him. Quite a few bases and cultivator armies of the Northmont clan have been forcibly wiped out and uprooted by the Blood God Church. In battles at the Loose Immortal level or at lower levels, the Northmont clan has never been able to seize the upper hand. All that can be said is that both sides are fighting a tight battle against each other."

Ning could scarcely believe what he was hearing. An exalted marquisate was actually unable to wipe out just one of eight major powers within its demesnes?

"The leader of the Blood God Church wasn't this powerful in the past." Immortal Diancai shook his head. "I even fought with him, the 'Son of the Blood God', in the past. In such a short period of time…he's actually raised his power to the Celestial Immortal level."

Ning nodded.

"The Northmont clan of Stillwater is feeling some pain now. They want to pull in the other powers to deal with the Blood God Church together," Immortal Diancai said. "But not just our own Stillwater Commandery is in a state of chaos; the entire Grand Xia Dynasty is in a state of chaos. How could the various tribes and schools dare act rashly?"

"How could things have ended up this way?" Ning frowned.

The entire Grand Xia was in a state of chaos; it seemed as though the previous order had already been torn apart. It was as though there was an incomparably terrifying invisible hand moving behind the scenes, guiding everything.

"The storm sweeping the entire Grand Xia world, the sudden increase in power of the Blood God School…these things have caused us to guess that there should be a tremendous secret behind the rise of the Blood God School. Ji Ning, you must not be a fool and charge blindly forward into it. This is something for the Northmont clan to worry about," Immortal Diancai instructed. "During a storm, during a tribulation…you need to be extremely careful."

"Right." Ning nodded. "Master, go rest for now. I'm going to go meet with my fellow disciples."

"Your fellow disciples? Do you know where your junior apprentice-brother, Mu Northson, has gone?" Immortal Diancai asked.

"No idea. We haven't met for thirty-plus years; I was planning to go see him." Puzzled, Ning asked, "What, where is he?"

Immortal Diancai shook his head. "More than twenty years ago, Mu Northson and his Dao-companion both disappeared!"

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Chapter 4 – Those Retainers From Back Then

"Missing?" Ji Ning's heart trembled. He hurriedly asked, "Since when did he get a Dao-companion? Who is his Dao-companion? And this 'disappearing' that happened twenty-plus years ago; are there no clues about it at all? Can't we ask the Heavenly Treasures Mountain to help out?"

Upon seeing now nervous Ning was, Immortal Diancai immediately explained, "After you became the champion of the Conclave, some of the disciples of the Black-White College that were outside returned here. Mu Northson returned to Stillwater City as well, spending most of his time training in his art of cconstructs. Occasionally, he would gather with Northmont Baiwei as well as some of the other members of the younger generation here in Stillwater City. During one of these gatherings, he met with a female disciple of the Thousand Rivers School, 'Adept Yuxia'. Soon after they met, they grew to be quite close and ended up becoming Dao-companions."

"These two Dao-companions had very deep feelings for each other, and quite a few members of the younger generation here in Stillwater City envied them. They were a celebrated couple."

"But after a period of time, both he and his Dao-companion vanished. Generally speaking, when disciples of the Black-White College go out adventuring, they will inform people within the College, or leave behind a message of some sort. But neither Mu Northson nor Adept Yuxia left any messages; they just vanished."

"The Black-White College looked into this matter; we even asked the Northmont clan of Stillwater to help out, as well as the Heavenly Treasures Mountain. However, we were still unable to find any traces of them."

"They seemed to have completely vanished from this world!"

Hearing his master's words, Ning grew even more panicked. He said hurriedly, "Can it be that there have been traces of them in the past twenty-plus years?"

"None." Immortal Diancai shook his head.

Ning was really worried now. It didn't add up. This made no sense at all. Northson wasn't the unreliable sort. Northson was a true lifelong friend for Ning, and friends with others besides! If he truly did have to leave because of an important reason, he would've left a message for Ning at least.

"During the past twenty-plus years, even the number one intelligence organization in the world, the Heavenly Treasures Mountain, wasn't able to find any trace of him at all," Immortal Diancai said. "Northson's parents died long ago; he had no other kin. Adept Yuxia, however, did have a tribe behind her, with both parents and elders; both of her parents are alive, but they don't have any news of her either."

"However…don't panic," Immortal Diancai said.

"His life-tablet?" Ning immediately asked. Given how long Northson had been missing for, he was very possibly dead.

"Mu Northson's life-tablet remains intact…but his Dao-companion's has shattered," Immortal Diancai said. "Neither of them left behind any messages before disappearing; they should've both met an unusual circumstance. However…Northson has remained alive during the past twenty-plus years. He probably won't die that easily."

Ning was worried now.

Northson's Dao-companion had perished! This meant that their disappearance involved a matter of great danger!

"Since he's alive, my best guess is that he is trapped in a special area that he can't leave for now," Immortal Diancai said.

"Right." Ning nodded.

No matter what, he had to find out a way to investigate.

"Go and rest for now. I'm going back into my closed-door meditation," Immortal Diancai said. "The three sword-arts manuals you gave me have inspired me significantly; if there's nothing important, don't bother me. I'm going to be in seclusion for an extended period of time. Most likely, once this seclusion ends, I will begin my Celestial Tribulation."

"That fast?" Ning hadn't expected his master to be in such a rush even after he had given his master those three sword-arts tomes.

"I believe these three sword-arts tomes will be enough to allow my sword techniques to rise to a higher level in a short period of time. However…the reason I can rise to a higher level in such a short time is because of all of my accumulated experiences over the past years! If I want to rise any further, however, I'll probably need another century, or perhaps even longer…and I have the feeling that I can't wait that long!" Immortal Diancai said softly, "That sense of pressure and threat which my subconscious can sense…it is telling me that I cannot afford to waste any time."

Ning nodded solemnly.

After separating from his master, Ning returned to the Darknorth Peak, the place within the Black-White College which was reserved for him.

A sumptuous feast had been prepared within a courtyard inside Darknorth Peak.

While Ning had been chatting with Immortal Diancai, he had instructed the Whitewater Hound and Little Qing to go back to Darknorth Peak.

"Senior apprentice-brother." Three figures within the hall bowed reverently. A short little figure fell to his knees. "I pay my respects to you, elder."

Ning swept them with his gaze.

One of the three was Meng Roch, who looked as honest as always but now seemed even more muscular than before. Next to him was a tall, skinny youth with a deep gaze; this was Cloudship, who was now far calmer and more stable than he had been before. Finally, there was a woman dressed in black gauze, whose gaze remained as charismatic and alluring as before; Cloudjade, who had been so young and fresh. She was holding the hand of a child in her own.

"Eh?" Ning's gaze fell upon the child.

"Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning, this is my child, Cloudease," Cloudjade said nervously.

"We haven't met for a few decades…to think you have a child now!" Ning laughed, then nodded. "Meng Roch, it seems you are quite talented as a Fiendgod Body Refiner; you've already trained to the Wanxiang level. Cloudship, you have done well too."

As he spoke, Ning sat down. "Come, all of you, sit," Ning said with a laugh. Immediately, all the others sat down as well.

"Years ago, when we heard that you became the champion of the Conclave of Immortal Destiny, and that your Primaltwin had killed a Loose Immortal, all of us were filled with veneration and admiration. Now, we've finally met you again, senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning," Cloudship laughed.

Ning nodded calmly. "Right. Have you been well, these past years? Weifang, Forgard, Nethersun; where are they?"

He had taken on a total of six retainers. They were Meng Roch, Cloudship, Cloudjade, Weifang, Forgard, and Nethersun.

"Should I…or should…" Cloudship looked towards Roch and Cloudjade.

"Big brother, why don't you tell him," Cloudjade said. Roch nodded as well.

Cloudship looked towards Ning, then said, "Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning, you have left Darknorth Peak for nearly forty years. Ever since you left, the six of us trained diligently. Meng Roch is extremely talented as a Fiendgod Body Refiner, and so focused on that, rarely leaving the College. Nethersun, Forgard, Weifang, and myself would often go out and adventure."

"Forgard was originally very powerful, but his potential was limited, and he improved very slowly. Roughly ten years ago, when adventuring, he was killed by another peak Zifu Disciple," Cloudship said.

Ning immediately sighed.

Forgard…

He had been a loyal guard of Northmont Baiwei. He had appeared quite simple and honest, and Ning originally had high expectations for him. However…after getting to know him, Ning had realized that Forgard had slowly begun to change after entering the Black-White College, causing Ning to feel rather disappointed. And now, unexpectedly, he had ended up dying.

"Weifang was extremely talented, even more so than the rest of us," Cloudship said. "However…he became Dao-companions with a female cultivator of the Hundred Flowers Fairyland. There ended up being some disputes between him and that female cultivator, and in the end, a senior apprentice-brother of that female cultivator actually killed him."

"What?!" Ning was shocked.

He had heard long ago that some Dao-companions would grow to hate each other, betray each other, and even fight against each other. But he really didn't expect that this would happen to one of his six retainers!

"Nethersun?" Ning asked. "Is he dead too?"

"Nethersun left long ago. He went back to his homeland. Based on what he said to us when he left, he probably won't come back in the future. He will probably stay back at his homeland and protect it," Cloudship said.

Ning nodded gently.

"Cloudjade became Dao-companions with a young master of the Eastriver clan, Eastriver Bluecloud," Cloudship said, and as he did, he instantly grew so angry he began to grind his teeth. "Eastriver Bluecloud was a rare genius, and he even became a member of our Black-White College. Because he also likes to train in the sword, others often flattered him as the 'second Immortal Darknorth'. However, compared to you, senior apprentice-brother, he is unfathomably inferior."

Ning drank his wine, listening.

"Both I and my little sister misjudged him. He came from a large clan, after all, and was quite young; after he entered the Black-White College, especially after he started hanging around with some of the other young masters of Stillwater City, he changed. He began to buy quite a few female slaves to play with, and he even started to hit and curse at my little sister. Enraged, she separated from him, then brought little Cloudease back to Darknorth Peak. Eastriver Bluecloud even wanted to cause her some trouble, but thanks to your reputation, senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning, he didn't dare to act too rashly," Cloudship said.

Cloudjade sat there, eyes red. She said softly, "I've embarrassed myself before you, senior apprentice-brother."

Ning sighed.

Cloudjade truly was an extremely alluring beauty. When she had first entered the Black-White College, Ning's own subordinates including Weifang, Nethersun, and Forgard had all pursued and courted her. There were quite a few ordinary disciples within the Black-White College who had courted her, but she had her sights set higher and had taken an interest in none of them.

Who would've thought that in the end, she would end up choosing a talented young master of the Eastriver clan, Eastriver Bluecloud, a formal disciple of the Black-White College?

Unfortunately…

In the end…this had been her aftermath.

"Brother Meng Roch has become the most formidable of us," Cloudship said. "Brother Meng Roch is extremely talented as a Fiendgod Body Refiner, and in fact Immortal Fivecraze took a liking to him and took him on as a disciple, making him a formal disciple of the Black-White College. He has his own mountain peak now, but he's always continued to live here, not moving away."

"Oh?" Ning looked towards Roch with surprise, then laughed. "You've become a formal disciple? Old brother Fivecraze has exceptionally astute judgment; since he's taken a liking to you, it must mean that your future truly is limitless."

"If it hadn't been for you, senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning, helping me enter the Black-White College so many years ago…I don't know where I would be right now," Roch said honestly.

Ning nodded. Roch didn't show the slightest bit of arrogance; it seemed as though of his six retainers, Roch was the only one who was particularly impressive.

"That's the other five. As for me…" Cloudship chortled. "Only after training for many years did I discover that I actually like the art of constructs."

Ning let out a sigh.

Six retainers.

Two died. One returned home. Cloudship was low-key, while the devilishly alluring Cloudjade was now a single mother. Only Roch, who had originally been the weakest of the six, had suddenly soared in status, becoming a formal disciple of the Black-White College.

Ji Ning had returned to the Black-White College. When he was strolling outside with Immortal Diancai, many disciples of the Black-White College saw him. News of this quickly spread, and the Heavenly Treasures Mountain naturally learned of this as well.

"The champion of the Conclave of Immortal Destiny, Ji Ning, has once more returned to the Black-White College after a thirty-year disappearance."

"Quick."

"Spread the word."

More than a thousand Immortal cultivators were sending out intelligence reports.

There were many, many people who were paying attention to Ji Ning in the Grand Xia world. Aside from the likes of Ninelotus, Princess Xiyue, and the Youngflame clan, there were also many hidden powers that had long ago turned their attention to Ji Ning, the champion of the Conclave who had so mysteriously vanished! After all…everyone knew how extraordinary that Conclave had been.

That was a Conclave where two participants had been chosen by Daofathers to become personal disciples! Ji Ning had been the champion of that Conclave, but he hadn't become a member of Daofather Crimsonbright's league; instead, he had vanished without a trace.

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Chapter 5 – The Number One Assassin's Guild of the Grand Xia

At the very peak of a grand mountain, there lay an ancient tower.

A gray-robed figure was advancing towards the toward at high speed, like a streak of light.

The entrance to the tower was guarded by a pair of black-armored guards. These two guards stretched out their arms, barring the entrance. One of them growled, "This is a restricted area. No access permitted."

"I've come per the orders of the clan leader. I have important news to report to the Patriarch." The gray-robed man respectfully handed forward a hidebound scroll.

"Mm." One of the guards accepted the scroll, then entered the tower. As for the gray-robed man, he respectfully, quietly departed.

The first floor of the tower. A tall, skinny elder with long, narrow eyes was seated silently in the lotus position; it was Celestial Immortal Arcanum of the Youngflame clan.

"Patriarch." The black-armored warrior entered, saluted respectfully, then offered the scroll with both hands.

Patriarch Arcanum opened his eyes. Waving his hand, he caused the hidebound scroll to fly to him, then calmly instructed, "Leave me."

"Yes." The black-armored guard hurriedly departed, once more taking up silent guard outside the entrance to the tower. He had been standing outside this tower for more than a hundred million years now; ever since he had been created, he had spent the majority of his life guarding this tower.

Whoosh. Patriarch Arcanum unfurled the scroll, calmly looking at its contents.

"Mm?" Patriarch Arcanum frowned. "That brat, Ji Ning, has returned? And not just him; even his spirit-beasts have returned, and both have actually reached the early Void level."

No one doubted that Ning had the ability to reach the Void level. After all, even before the Conclave had begun, Ning's Primaltwin, at the peak Primal Daoist level, had been able to kill a Loose Immortal. It was very normal for Ning to become an Earth Immortal after thirty years. But for both his spirit-beasts to reach the Void level and become Earth Immortals…this was very abnormal.

This was because humans had a much higher level of comprehension than monsters. For the two spirit-beasts to both become Void-level Earth Immortals clearly meant that they had already surpassed the level of comprehension necessary of Earth Immortals! Even though Whitewater Hounds and Azure Skysnakes were Godbeasts, logically speaking, they shouldn't be able to train at such a pace! Monsters were innately slow at training. For them to train so quickly…they must have encountered some sort of unique fortune!

"It seems that during his thirty-year disappearance, this Ji Ning must have had a stroke of luck." Cold light flashed through Patriarch Arcanum's long, narrow eyes.

"Everyone." Patriarch Arcanum suddenly called out, his voice passing through the void and entering another space.

"Everyone!"

"Everyone!"

"Everyone!"

His voice echoed within this other space.

Whoosh!

A black fog door appeared not too far away from Patriarch Arcanum. Four figures emerged from the black fog door. There was a handsome youth, an ancient elder, a big fellow who carried a large clock with one hand, and a wizened, white-haired elder whose eyes were shut.

The four walked over, then sat down in the lotus position.

"Arcanum, why have you called for us?" The handsome youth asked calmly.

"What important matter has occurred, for you to call the four of us over?" The man holding the golden clock said in a low voice.

The other two were silent.

All of them were Celestial Immortal Patriarchs; they were the true pillars of the Youngflame clan! Because of the dangerous undercurrents currently flowing within the world of the Grand Xia, even Celestial Immortals like them were being very cautious. All five of them, Patriarch Arcanum included, were stationed here and guarding this divine tower.

"Everyone, take a look." Patriarch Arcanum waved his hand, and the hidebound scroll flew out to levitate in midair.

The four Celestial Immortals all took a look, and the wizened elder with closed eyes swept it within his coresense as well.

"Ji Ning?"

"That Ji Ning is back?"

All of them frowned.

Naturally, they all knew Ji Ning's name. During the previous Conclave of Immortal Destiny, they weren't yet aware of how special it was, but after its conclusion…the Grand Xia world began to be filled with dangerous undercurrents. In fact, a storm was about to burst upon the entire Three Realms…and so they understood that a great tribulation was about to come to pass.

As they saw it, an enormous storm like this might be easily overcome by True Gods or Daofathers, but things would be dangerous for Celestial Immortals like them. During every single previous storm, large numbers of Celestial Immortals had perished.

"The Three Realms are in a turbulent state. That previous Conclave will most likely have given birth to future major powers of the Three Realms. Two competitors in that Conclave became disciples of Daofathers!" Patriarch Arcanum growled, "And this Ji Ning; he became the champion of that Conclave. He disappeared in a mysterious fashion for thirty years, but didn't become apprenticed to any of the Immortals or Fiends of the Crimsonbright League. And now, even his two spirit-beasts have both become Void-level Earth Immortals! Without question…during the past thirty years, this Ji Ning has had a tremendous stroke of luck!"

"Mm."

"Agreed."

"He probably became apprenticed to one of the major forces of the Three Realms."

The other four Patriarchs all nodded in agreement.

"He is a survivor of the Yuchi clan. Our Youngflame clan wiped out their entire lineage. His mother was named Yuchi Snow; all of Yuchi Snow's kinsmen died in the hands of our Youngflame clansmen. This Ji Ning hates our Youngflame clan, without question," Patriarch Arcanum said. "What's more, our Youngflame clan even sent a Loose Immortal Deathsworn to assassinate him. It is most likely going to be very hard to resolve this enmity between us!"

"I had originally thought that he would become apprenticed to a True Immortal or Empyrean God under the command of Daofather Crimsonbright, but unexpectedly he did not." Patriarch Arcanum said excitedly, "If he had become apprenticed to Sword Immortal Evergreen, then for the sake of giving the Sword Immortal face, it wouldn't be appropriate for us to act. Now, however, we have nothing to worry about. Even if he became apprenticed to an expert of the Three Realms…that expert is not a member of the Crimsonbright League! He has no authority over us!"

"Thus, I feel…that we need to eradicate him as soon as possible! While he is merely a Void-level Earth Immortal, we need to eradicate him!" Patriarch Arcanum was extremely forceful in his words.

"That's reasonable!"

"Agreed."

"A pity we don't know who his master is."

"Who cares who his master is? As long as he isn't of our Crimsonbright League, what have we to worry about?"

The various major powers of the Three Realms were like local hegemons that dominated a specific region. It was very sommon for the Fiends and Immortals under their command to fight against and slaught each other…and generally, the major powers wouldn't intervene, so long as other major powers also didn't intervene. The major powers would generally all be quite calm in watching those of the younger generation do battle.

Even when disciples died…the only thing that could be said was that their skills were insufficient.

Struggles and battles within the Three Realms were very common! Thus, as Patriarch Arcanum and the others saw it, Ning joining the Crimsonbright League would actually be much more troublesome; after all, that would mean they were all on the same side, and Ning's master would be able to easily deal with them.

Since Ning had not joined the Crimsonbright League…things had become much easier for Patriarch Arcanum and the others.

"We have nothing to worry about, but it's best to be cautious. I feel as though we need to figure out who his master is! The Three Realms have a number of madmen who are extremely protective of their disciples, and quite a few have even assaulted the Celestial Court in the past. One of them might just be willing to take revenge upon us for killing his disciple," the handsome youth said.

"Mmm."

"Sunfish's words are reasonable."

"Ji Ning's master dared to abscond with him, giving our Crimsonbright League no face. I imagine his master…truly is an extremely audacious fellow."

Patriarch Arcanum, hearing the words of his peers, couldn't help but frown. "What are you afraid of? First of all, there's very few madmen who would be truly willing to assault the territory of our Crimsonbright League; I refuse to believe that one of them just so happens to be his master. Secondly…even if one of them is, given the state of chaos the Three Realms are in, who would dare to act rashly in a time like this, even if they would do so normally?"

"Arcanum's words are reasonable, but as I see it, we should invite the Bloodcloud Hall to do it," said the wizened elder whose eyes remained closed this entire time.

Instantly, the room fell silent.

"Ask the Bloodcloud Hall?"

"That's going to cost quite a price."

"I imagine the Bloodcloud Hall will ask quite a bit."

Patriarch Arcanum, on the other hand, actually nodded. "Drywood's words are correct. Since everyone is worried about the mysterious master behind Ji Ning, then let us have the Bloodcloud Hall act instead. When they take on missions, they swear oaths to the Dao of the Heavens not to reveal anything; they won't let anyone know that it was us who asked them to do it. Spending a bit of treasure to buy some peace of mind…I feel that it is worth it!"

"Fine. I agree."

"Right. It's best to invite the Bloodcloud Hall; we can just consider it as us using some treasure to purchase Ji Ning's life."

"It's settled, then."

"Patriarch, you handle this matter."

Patriarch Arcanum nodded lightly. Naturally, he wouldn't decline. That very day, he quietly left this tower and headed to the Bloodcloud Hall.

Deep within an enormous mountain that stretched hundreds of thousands of kilometers.

Patriarch Arcanum arrived within a mountain gorge, holding an insignia. The mist within the gorge swirled everywhere, but deep within it, a large, tall teleportation tower could be seen.

"This way, please." There was a member of the Bloodcloud Hall standing there, looking at Patriarch Arcanum.

With a single step, Patriarch Arcanum entered the grand teleportation array. The teleportation tower then lit up, and swoosh! Patriarch Arcanum disappeared.

"Eh?" Patriarch Arcanum stood atop the clouds. Here, atop the clouds, there was another towering teleportation array.

Patriarch Arcanum stared into the distance. He saw a vast, endless sea of blood-colored clouds, and the faint outlines of a building hidden deep within it.

"That's the Bloodcloud Hall?" Patriarch Arcanum felt startled.

The Bloodcloud Hall…

This was an extremely mysterious power. It had suddenly appeared thirty years ago, and it had handed these insignias to all of the major powers of the Grand Xia world. Only supreme powers of the likes of the Northmont clan of Stillwater or the Youngflame clan were qualified to receive these insignias. As for powers on the level the Black-White College, they weren't even qualified to know about the Bloodcloud Hall's existence.

By relying on the insignia, one could go to some mysterious places, then be teleported to a completely different world. Bloodcloud Hall was within this mysterious world.

No one knew there the Bloodcloud Hall was actually located!

"As long as one is willing to pay the price, any Immortal or Fiend in the world of the Grand Xia aside from the Xia Emperor can be assassinated by our Bloodcloud Hall!" These were the bold words issued forth by the Bloodcloud Hall. And indeed, they truly did have tremendous, terrifying power; during the past thirty short years, they had already assassinated more than ten Celestial Immortal Patriarchs!

Bloodcloud Hall had thus become acknowledged by all the supreme powers as the 'numer one assassin's guild of the Grand Xia'.

Bloodcloud Hall also protected its customers' information, to the point of even swearing oaths to the Dao of the Heavens to not leak any of it at all.

Whoosh!

Patriarch Arcanum was quickly led to a quiet flower garden. Although he was led here, Patriarch Arcanum wasn't sure about the path he had taken. "This Bloodcloud Hall must be an enormous, powerful estate-type magic treasure. Space within it is in a state of flux, and so I cannot determine the true pattern within it."

Within theflower garden.

A silver-robed maiden was seated opposite of Patriarch Arcanum. Between the two of them lay a stone table, with a scroll placed atop it. The scroll was their contract.

"Kill Ji Ning?" The silver-robed maiden said softly, "He was the champion of the Conclave of Immortal Destiny. He disappeared for thirty years; he was most likely taken by a True Immortal or Empyrean God as a disciple. In fact, there's a sliver of a chance that it was a Daofather who took on a genius like him for a disciple. His Primaltwin was able to defeat a Loose Immortal all those years ago; I imagine his power must be much, much higher now. He might even be comparable to a Loose Immortal who has lived for a million years."

"Are you taking the mission or not?" Patriarch Arcanum growled.

"We are. Of course we are." The silver-robed woman laughed calmly. "As long as you are willing to pay the price."

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Chapter 6 – An Arrival From the Heaven Realm

"Price? What sort of price?" Patriarch Arcanum's long, slender eyes narrowed as he looked at the silver-robed maiden.

The silver-robed maiden responded with a calm smile, "For example…three top-grade Immortal-ranked magic items, or items of equivalent value."

The corners of Patriarch Arcanum's eyes instantly twitched.

"Top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasures? Three of them?" Patriarch Arcanum had heard that the Bloodcloud Hall charged a high price, but he was still stunned by what they requested.

"This Ji Ning has only trained for around seventy years!" Patriarch Arcanum couldn't help but growl, "Less than a century! He is currently at most comparable to a Loose Immortal who has lived for five hundred thousand years! The chances of him being comparable to a Loose Immortal who has lived for a million years is virtually negligible. To kill a young fellow like him, you want to charge me three top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasures?"

"Don't get angry. This is a business deal; both of us have to be willing to take part in it." The silver-robed maiden laughed. "Indeed, the chance that Ji Ning has the power of a Loose Immortal who has lived a million years is very low…but the main issue with this mission does not lie with Ji Ning himself; Bloodcloud Hall holds a young fellow like him in no regard at all. The main issue with this mission is the master who stands behind him! He was the champion of the Conclave. His thirty-year disappearance…no one knows who his master is! Perhaps as we assassinate him, he will shatter some sort of talisman and his master will suddenly appear! Bloodcloud Hall estimates his master to be a True Immortal or Empyrean God at the very least; once his master appears, the squad which we sent out will undoubtedly perish! Since we are taking on a major risk, we naturally are going to request a high price!"

A Pure Yang True Immortal or an Empyrean God; either would be considered an expert of the Three Realms. In the world of the Grand Xia, the Xia Emperor was the only Pure Yang True Immortal present!

If the assassins Bloodcloud Hall sent out were to run into True Immortals or Empyrean Gods, they would unquestionably perish.

"Hmph." Patriarch Arcanum shook his head. "Stop trying to fool me. When experts of the Three Realms train disciples, they all let them go out into the world to experience danger on their own. If their disciples are killed, those disciples can only blame themselves for being less skilled than their foes! How can experts and major powers of the Three Realms so casually intervene? That would be the same as abusing those of a lower status!"

The silver-robed maiden smiled. "Ji Ning's background is significant. Three top-grade Immortal-ranked magic items, or treasures of an equivalent value. This is what Bloodcloud Hall requires!"

"You…" Patriarch Arcanum gritted his teeth.

"If you are unwilling, then you can leave, Celestial Immortal Arcanum." The silver-robed maiden continued to smile at him.

"Fine!"

Patriarch Arcanum gritted his teeth, then pulled out some Immortal pills, spirit-ingredients, Immortal-ranked magic treasures, and an enormous amount of liquefied elemental essence. Although he had come prepared…top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasures were very important for Celestial Immortals, and the Youngflame clan wouldn't easily hand them out. They would rather use other treasures to make up for them.

"This should be enough." A savage light flashed through Patriarch Arcanum's eyes. His heart was bleeding at the cost.

"It is enough." The silver-robed maiden nodded. "Celestial Immortal Arcanum, don't worry; Bloodcloud Hall definitely won't inform others of this assignment. I can swear an oath to the Dao of the Heavens regarding this. As for Ji Ning…Bloodcloud Hall will make careful preparations, so as to ensure our success. Within a year's time, he will die."

"Good. I'll await the good word from you, then." Patriarch Arcanum nodded.

Three top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasures. This was a price that was neither high nor low. Celestial Immortals who had lived as long as he had would generally all have several top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasures on them. In fact, some truly supreme Celestial Immortal Patriarchs might even have Pure Yang treasures on them! Thus, for the Youngflame clan as a whole, producing three top-grade Immortal-ranked treasures would cause a bit of heartache but not bankrupt them. At a critical time like this, with the Three Realms in a state of turbulence, they were willing to pay this level of price in order to eliminate a threat.

The imperial capital of the Grand Xia.

Ning was standing atop a cloud, flying through the wide streets of the imperial capital. He had spent a day within the Black-White College of Stillwater, then had visited his good friend Northmont Baiwei before heading to the imperial capital of the Grand Xia. This was a time of turbulence in the Three Realms, after all; the sooner he could purchase materials for setting up formations, the better.

"King Yan's Estate." Ning saw a familiar estate from the distance. After having arrived, he was naturally going to first visit his cousin before going to the Heavenly Treasures Mountain.

Swoosh. Ning led the Whitewater Hound in flying to the estate, Little Qing wrapped around his arm as always.

"You are young master Ji Ning?" The estate guards recognized him right away, and they revealed looks of surprise on their faces. Thirty years was a fairly short period of time for Immortal cultivators; they had begun their services here well over thirty years ago, and so they naturally recognized him.

"I wish to see the princess," Ning said.

"Young master Ji Ning, please wait a moment. I'll go make the report right away." Instantly, a guard flew into the estate to make the report.

Soon, a group of people came out from the estate, the leader being his cousin, Princess Xiyue.

"Ji Ning." Princess Xiyue looked at Ning, an expression of excitement instantly covering her face. "I just heard last night from the Heavenly Treasures Mountain that you returned. I was planning to go find you after finishing some affairs here."

"It should be me who comes to visit you, Princesss." Ning noticed that next to her was a tall, handsome man with white skin who appeared to be rather close to her. He couldn't help but laugh. "This is…?"

"Oh." An awkward expression appeared on Princess Xiyue's face. She immediately said, "This is young master Feng Yungu from the Windlocked Isles of the Heaven Realm."

"I've long heard of your famous name, brother Ji Ning. Today, I see that you truly are extraordinary." The tall, handsome young master Yungu spoke in a modest manner.

Ning gave him a glance, then nodded in secret; this Feng Yunge acted quite modestly and put on no airs.

"Hurry on in. Why are you standing here in the doorway?" Princess Xiyue said hurriedly while sending a stealthy mental message to Ning. "Cousin, unless something unexpected happens, this young master Yungu will most likely become my husband."

"Ah?" Ning was mentally stunned. He hurriedly sent back, "Cousin, the two of you…?"

"He will marry into King Yan's Estate," Princess Xiyue sent to him. "In the future, I am going to resurrect the Yuchi clan; thus, I can't marry out into another clan. As for this young master Yungu…because the Grand Xia Dynasty is allied with the Windlocked Isles of the Heaven Realm, quite a few of the imperial Xia clansmen have become Dao-companions with the disciples of the Windlocked Isles. I could tell that he's not bad, and he's also quite obedient; he was even willing to marry into King Yan's Estate. That's why I decided to accept him as my Dao-companion."

Ning now understood.

The Windlocked Isles of the Heaven Realm?

The Grand Xia Dynasty?

"He's not only willing to marry into her family, he's also obedient to her wishes…and I can tell that he seems to be the humble sort." Ning nodded privately. His cousin was completely focused on vengeance; a husband like this would perhaps be good for her.

"Cousin, you don't need to pay too much attention to young master Yungu; his status in the Windlocked Isles of the Heaven Realm isn't very high, and his power is ordinary, but he's an extremely good-natured person," Princess Xiyue sent. "However…another disciple of the Windlocked Isles is currently present within King Yan's Estate. He, too, is pursuing me; he wants to marry me and take me back to the Windlocked Isles with him. His name is Feng Yunpeng; his status within the Windlocked Isles is extremely high! He is one of the two sons of the master of the Windlocked Isles, and the Grand Xia Emperor long ago instructed the imperial Xia clansmen are not to cause trouble with him. You need to be careful as well."

"Oh? Don't worry," Ning replied.

They entered the estate.

Yuchi Xiyue prepared a welcoming banquet for Ning. The three of them chatted quite happily with each other. Young master Yungu seemed to have a bit of an innately self-abasing character; in front of Ning, at least, he acted very modestly and self-deprecatingly.

"Hahaha, I heard that the champion of the Grand Xia's Conclave of Immortal Destiny, the peerless genius Ji Ning, had arrived here at King Yan's Estate. Xiyue, why didn't you inform me? You were wrong in not doing so." Accompanying a loud laughter, a youth dressed in gaudy golden Daoist robes came walking in. The youth's eyes twinkled like the stars, and his aura was quite extraordinary.

Behind him were two powerful servants. One had the aura of a Fiendgod; he was most likely a Void-level Fiendgod! The other was an extremely powerful Loose Immortal.

"Young master Yunpeng, I didn't want to disturb you," Princess Xiyue said with a laugh. "Please sit."

Feng Yungu hurriedly rose to give up his own seat, sitting down in a lower seat. As for young master Yunpeng, he sat down directly after Princess Xiyue, face to face with Ji Ning.

"Ji Ning, this is young master Yunpeng, a genius of the Windlocked Isles of the Heaven Realm. He, too, is an expert who is a Void-level Earth Immortal," Princess Xiyue said hurriedly.

"Greetings to you, young master Yunpeng," Ning said, clasping his hands slightly.

Young master Yunpeng gave Ning a clearly rather indifferent glance, but as he did, his face changed slightly. With a laugh, he said, "Oh, so you've become a Void-level Earth Immortal, Ji Ning."

"Just the early-stage Void-level. Compared to you, young master Yunpeng, I'm a bit lacking," Ning said modestly.

"Hahaha…" Young master Yunpeng laughed smugly. "I hear that you are on very good terms with Xiyue. You have to help me dissuade her! She's insisting on marrying that useless thing over there; isn't that an utter desecration of a heavenly treasure?" As he spoke, he gave the nearby Feng Yungu a disdainful look.

No matter how good of a temper Feng Yungu had, he couldn't prevent his face from changing…but immediately afterwards, he lowered his head slightly.

Young master Yunpeng's laughter became even more wanton. "Xiyue and I, by contrast, are a perfect match!" As he spoke, he reached his hand out to stroke Princess Xiyue's. Princess Xiyue moved away slightly, her face sinking. "Young master Yunpeng."

"Fine, fine, fine. I won't rush things." Young master Yunpeng laughed.

After all, Princess Xiyue had a Celestial Immortal, King Yan, behind her. Given that the Windlocked Isles were an ally of the Grand Xia Dynasty, he didn't want to cause any problems either.

"Young master Yunpeng." Ning felt an extreme distaste towards this person, but he still changed the subject. "I hear that you come from the Windlocked Isles of the Heaven Realm. I haven't been to the Heaven Realm yet; why don't you tell me about of the Heaven Realm and help broaden my horizons?"

Young master Yunpeng frowned. Introduce the Heaven Realm? Him? Who did Ji Ning think he was? Asking him to introduce the Heaven Realm to him?

Still…he gave Princess Xiyue a sidelong glance, then said with a calm snort, "The Heaven Realm is quite large. The eastern part of the Heaven Realm is managed by the Celestial Court, while the western side is managed by the Buddhists of Mount Ling 1. But of course, there are many asuras and devas who live throughout the Heaven Realm, and they have naturally joined together to form powers. Our Windlocked Isles can be considered one of those powers, I suppose."

"I heard that after you became the champion of the Conclave, Ji Ning, you decided not to take on Sword Immortal Evergreen as your master, and you also didn't take on any of the Immortals or Fiends of Daofather Crimsonbright's league as your master. Instead, you vanished…I wonder, where did you go, brother Ji Ning?" Young master Yunpeng's eyes lit up as he asked this question; clearly, he was quite curious about this.

"Naturally, I went to study with my master," Ning said calmly.

"Who?" Yunpeng asked. "Where did you study?"

"Master has ordered that I cannot tell others." Ning shook his head.

Young master Yunpeng couldn't help but frown.

Ning disliked this young master Yunpeng very much. He immediately said, "Princess Xiyue, I'm going to the Heavenly Treasures Mountain to buy some items. I'll leave now."

1. In Chinese mythology, Mount Ling is the place where the Buddha and his bodhisattvas reside.

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Chapter 7 – A Single Arrow

In truth, Princess Xiyue could tell that this young master Yunpeng wasn't a dcent person. Although Ji Ning had endured it for her sake, in his bones, he remained a proud person; if too much time passed, problems would most likely occur. She immediately agreed, "Alright, Ji Ning, you can go to the Heavenly Treasures Mountain. We'll meet some other time."

"The Heavenly Treasures Mountain?" Young master Yunpeng raised an eyebrow, glancing sideways at Ning, then immediately said, "Xiyue, it's been a long time since we've gone to the Heavenly Treasures Mountain. Since brother Ji Ning is going, let's go with him. Yungu, would you agree?"

Feng Yungu had been sitting there quietly this entire time. Upon hearing young master Yunpeng speak, he hurriedly nodded. "Sure, sure."

Ning, seeing this, couldn't help but frown. This person his cousin wanted to get married to was a bit too craven.

"Xiyue!" Young master Yunpeng looked towards Princess Xiyue, who could only nod. "Fine, let's go together then."

Ji Ning, Princess Xiyue, young master Yunpeng, and Feng Yungu were naturally accompanied by a host of servants. They all rode aboard an Immortal-ranked flying ship, and in an awe-inspiring manner, they flew out into the imperial capital of the Grand Xia.

"This high-grade Immortal-ranked treasure-vessel of mine has been infused with an 'Azure Polaris Spirit'; in terms of speed alone, it is comparable to a top-grade Immortal-ranked flying ship," young master Yunpeng said in an extremely smug manner.

Ning glanced sideways at him.

This young master Yunpeng really did have quite a few treasures; to buy an Immortal-ranked flying ship such as this, even five million kilograms would be far from sufficient.

"Little brother, just endure it for now," Princess Xiyue sent mentally to Ning. "Although this young master Yunpeng is quite talented in cultivation, he is innately arrogant and overbearing. Still…since his Windlocked Isles and our Grand Xia Dynasty are allied, he wouldn't dare cause too much trouble. Just ignore the crap he is spewing out, little brother."

"Cousin, given how arrogant and overbearing he is, why are you letting him remain within the King's estate?" Ning sent back and asked, "I trust that if King Yan asked him to leave, he definitely wouldn't stay."

"Although he's arrogant and overbearing, he's trying to woo me; naturally, he often buys some gifts for me," Princess Xiyue said. "In order to rebuild the Yuchi clan in the future, I naturally need to store up some treasures for it."

"Cousin, you…" Ning was flabbergasted.

"Are you starting to look down on me, cousin?" Princess Xiyue sent back calmly, "I don't care about these matters; I swore an oath long ago that I would definitely carry out my father's wishes. I will rebuild the Yuchi clan! For the sake of the Yuchi clan, I am willing to do anything…including give up my life! All I need to do right now is endure this young master Yunpeng's nonsense and give him a bit of hope, and he'll continue to often gift me with treasures."

Ning truly didn't know what to say.

"Don't worry. I won't let him take any advantage of me whatsoever; the best thing in the world is the thing you cannot get. If I let him take advantage of me, he wouldn't be pursuing me in such a fervent manner. His treasures? I'll take them. But him? In the end, he'll just slink away in disgrace!" Princess Xiyue sent back.

Ning could sense the determination within his cousin's heart. He couldn't help but say with worry, "That Feng Yungu…I feel as though the two of you…"

"You feel he isn't worth of me, right? It is precisely because he is an absolute good-for-nothing coward that I am willing to marry him. Otherwise…how could I be able to completely control him?" Princess Xiyue sent back. "Don't worry. I have Grandpa's help; I can take care of small matters like this."

"Cousin, if there's anything you need, arrange for a message to be sent to me. Don't forget that I, too, am of the Yuchi clan," Ning sent mentally.

"Right. I still have you, little brother," Princess Xiyue sent back.

The main headquarters of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain.

Within an extremely tall and luxuriously decorated banquet hall, a feast was in procession. The pillars outside this hall were so tall that someone standing atop the pillars could stare down at the entire imperial capital of the Grand Xia.

"Young master Yunpeng, you brought little sister Xiyue again. It seems as though our Heavenly Treasures Mountain is about to have even more business come our way," the white-robed Fairy Azurewillow said with a smile.

"Hahaha! It pleases me to do this for Xiyue!" Young master Yunpeng laughed loudly, giving Ning a sidelong glance.

On the way over, Ning and Yuchi Xiyue had constantly been sending mental messages to each other. Young master Yunpeng had noticed…that the relationship between them seemed to be clearly much closer than the relationship two ordinary friends would have! This caused him to feel rather displeased inside. "Hmph, he's merely the champion of the Grand Xia Dynasty's Conclave! Today, here at the Heavenly Treasures Mountain, I'm going to cause you to lose tremendous face!"

"Brother Ji Ning, what have you come to the Heavenly Treasures Mountain to purchase?" Young master Yunpeng said with a laugh.

Ning said calmly, "Just some materials and raw ingredients."

Right at this moment, the Whitewater Hound by Ning's side transformed into human form. Uncle White waved his hand and two hidebound scrolls flew from him to Ning. Uncle White sent mentally, "Ning, child, there's a list of items here for setting down layers formations that are capable of overawing even Celestial Immortals, making them afraid to trespass within."

"The second list consists of the items necessary to set down three supremely ferocious formations that I found at Mount Innerheart. In addition, these three supremely ferocious formations can even link with each other…they are so powerful that I imagine even True Immortals and Empyrean Gods would be wary of them. There is no way True Immortals and Empyrean Gods can force their way through these three formations; only True Immortals and Empyrean Gods who are experts at formations might be able to break them."

"They are that incredible?!" Ning was shocked.

"However…the treasures needed on the second list are quite precious, even though they aren't extremely rare," Uncle White sent. "If you don't have enough, then just buy the items on the first list; that will be enough."

Ning handed over the two hidebound scrolls to Fairy Azurewillow. "Fairy Azurewillow, take a look at the list of ingredients and materials on these two scrolls. Does your Heavenly Treasures Mountain have them?"

"This is the main headquarters of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain; even if Celestial Immortals came here to shop, we'd be able to accommodate them, much less just a few precious materials." Smiling, Fairy Azurewillow accepted the lists. Upon seeing the first one, however, her face instantly changed. She gave Ning a surprised glance, and then she looked at the second hidebound scroll.

This time, Fairy Azurewillow was truly stunned!

She was just a bit surprised upon seeing the first list, but the second list truly stunned her…because the items requested were simply too shocking!

"I'm not cleared to handle something like this. A moment, please," Fairy Azurewillow said.

"Fine." Ning nodded.

"Fairy Azurewillow, even you aren't cleared?" Young master Yunpeng, watching from the side, smirked. "It's just a few ingredients and raw materials, not Immortal-ranked magic treasures. Can it be that the items which brother Ji Ning have chosen are extremely strange and rare?"

Whoosh.

A silver-haired man appeared out of nowhere within the hall. The invisible pressure and presence he gave off…everyone present understood that he was a Celestial Immortal!

"Patriarch." Fairy Azurewillow handed the two hidebound scrolls to him. "These are the lists of ingredients which Ji Ning needs. There are two lists."

The silver-haired man nodded, accepted the lists, then looked at the first one. He said calmly, "The first list will require 4.3 million kilograms of liquefied elemental essence!"

Yuchi Xiyue, Feng Yungu, and the others all felt a sense of pressure.

More than four million kilograms?

"Pretty pricy," the nearby young master Yunpeng said in a nonchalant manner.

The silver-haired man then looked at the second hidebound scroll. When he did, even his face couldn't help but change. After staring for a long moment, he lifted his head to look at Ning, a complicated look in his eyes. "Young friend Ji Ning…are you sure you aren't playing a little joke on us?"

"Since I've written a list, I naturally wish to buy the items on it," Ning said calmly.

"How much liquefied elemental essence does the second list cost?" Young master Yunpeng asked. He felt that he was quite wealthy and magnanimous; he would be able to afford even a top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasure.

"Liquefied elemental essence?" The silver-haired man shook his head. "Treasures like this…no amount of liquefied elemental essence is enough for them."

Young master Yunpeng's face changed.

Fairy Azurewillow, Princess Xiyue, Feng Yungu, and the others were all stunned. They were all fairly experienced, and so they knew…liquefied elemental essence was fairly useful for those below the Celestial Immortal level, but was of increasingly little use to the true experts of the Three Realms. For example, Ning had to use Immortal pills in order to train in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art].

True Immortals and Daofathers absorbed prodigious amounts of natural elemental ki; thus, ordinary liquefied elemental essence was like water to them; it was extremely common.

True treasures could only be traded for using other treasures!

"How much at least?" Ning asked.

"At least ten top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasures," the silver-haired man said. "Or a low-grade Pure Yang treasure."

"Pure Yang treasure?"

Everyone present was shocked.

Ning, however, was quite calm. These materials were to be used to set up a series of formations so ferocious that they could block even True Immortals or Empyrean Gods, unless the True Immortals or Empyrean Gods were extremely skilled in the art of formations. To be able to set up formations of such power for the cost of merely a single low-grade Pure Yang magic treasure…that wasn't bad at all.

"At least ten top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasures? Not even ordinary Celestial Immortals have that much. All of my treasures combined would most likely be worth just three or four top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasures." Young master Yunpeng felt an enormous pressure bear down upon him. He was proud of how wealthy he was and how many treasures he had, but he was now completely stunned. "There's no way he can afford that. No way." He stared fixedly at Ning.

Everyone was staring at Ning.

"Will this treasure suffice?" Ning waved his hand, and instantly a faint tidal wave of fire burst forth it. Within Ning's palm there was a fiery arrow!

This arrow was the arrow which Ning had acquired from the gorge within the Riverfang Mountains. The most precious treasures the Fiendgod corpse had on it consisted of the high-grade Protocosmic 'Rahu Bow' and the two fiery arrows.

Truly powerful, divine archers all had custom-made arrows, and the price of each arrow was prodigious. Ning had chatted with the Rahu Bow before, and the Rahu Bow had said this: "This type of arrow is known as a 'Firetruth Arrow'; although they are vastly inferior to me in value, each of them are still comparable to a low-grade Pure Yang treasure in value."

Ning had sighed in amazement upon hearing this as well.

Every single arrow would cost him the equivalent of a low-grade Pure Yang treasure. How could he not feel heartache at the cost?

Rumble…with the appearance of the flaming arrow came a powerful aura of might.

"This is…?" The silver-haired man's face changed. He carefully inspected the arrow, even using his coresense on it.

"A single arrow?" Young master Yunpeng actually secretly shook his head.

"Can it be that a single arrow is comparable to ten top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasures?" Both Princess Xiyue and Fairy Azurewillow were puzzled. Although they were experienced, they knew very little about the truly powerful divine archers of the Three Realms.

After inspecting the arrow for a long time, the silver-haired man looked towards Ning. He said in a low voice, "It suffices!"

"I also need you to add an extra fifteen million kilograms of liquefied elemental essence into the deal!" Ning said calmly.

Princess Xiyue and the others were all stunned.

The silver-haired man hesitated a moment, then nodded seriously. "Fine. Our Heavenly Treasures Mountain can add another fifteen million kilograms into the mix!"

Young master Yunpeng's face changed. He couldn't help but swallow, his earlier arrogance, smugness, and brashness all evaporating. His greatest source of pride was in his wealth, but he suddenly realized that a single arrow from Ning had completely crushed him in this respect. As for backers? Given that Ning had vanished for thirty years, he at least had a True Immortal or Empyrean God as a backer; in this respect as well, Ning was definitely not inferior to him.

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Chapter 8 – Qi, the Primordial Divine Archer

Princess Xiyue, Fairy Azurewillow, Feng Yungu, and the others were watching in amazement. That arrow in Ji Ning's hand…it was actually worth such a precious amount of money! This was simply inconceivable.

However…Ning had always been a man of mysteries.

When he had first arrived at the imperial capital of the Grand Xia, he had purchased the elemental peacock plumes. Afterwards, he had seized the championship of the Conclave of Immortal Destiny…and then refused to accept Sword Immortal Evergreen as his master, instead disappearing for over thirty years. Upon his return, his power had increased greatly; for him to now produce an arrow of such great value wasn't too inconceivable, all things considered!

However, this arrow was simply too valuable; the likes of Princess Xiyue could only feel shock and awe, rather than jealousy.

"Damn. Damn!" Young master Yunpeng, however, felt extremely jealous right now. He was the unhappiest of the lot.

"How could the arrow which Ji Ning produced be worth this much?!" Young master Yunpeng knew that his personal strength was perhaps inferior to Ning's, but he had felt certain that he had far more treasures! This was his greatest source of self-confidence…but a single arrow from Ning had completely crushed him in this regard.

Young master Yunpeng felt unhappy. Deeply unhappy!

"Fine. Then I'll engage in this trade with the Heavenly Treasures Mountain," Ning said.

"I'll go make the arrangements." The silver-haired man nodded, then immediately began sending mental messages to make the arrangements.

Ning suddenly turned his head to glance at Princess Xiyue. Smiling, he said, "Princess, when I first entered the imperial capital of the Grand Xia, I was surrounded by danger, but you stretched out your hand to aid me. To this very day, I haven't had a chance to repay you…if there's anything you wish to buy today, Princess, then I, Ji Ning, will buy it for you as a gift."

"Eh?" Princess Xiyue was startled.

"This Ji Ning…" A hint of anger instantly flashed past young master Yunpeng's eyes. He had been wooing Princess Xiyue this entire time, and had been relying on his wealth to do so! For Ning to suddenly plan to give her gifts as well…if his gifts were more valuable, then that would be the same as crushing him underfoot.

The nearby Feng Yungu raised his head to give Ning a glance as well.

Fairy Azurewillow said, "Young master Ji Ning, Xiyue has been hoping for a mobile Immortal estate that she could carry on her person, but even the cheapest of such estates would cost at least five hundred thousand kilograms of liquefied elemental essence. Alas, young master Yunpeng wasn't quite willing to part with such a sum."

Young master Yunpeng's face instantly turned white.

Five hundred thousand kilograms wasn't a small figure; it was enough to purchase an ordinary low-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasure! If he were to casually toss out half a million kilograms just to chase after a girl…if this sort of gift-giving became habitual and he ended up failing, he would probably be out five million kilograms or more! Succeeding was one thing, but failure meant it would have all been for nothing! Although young master Yunpeng was the son of the master of the Windlocked Isles, he still had to calculate his expenditures. The most valuable gift he had given Princess Xiyue was worth merely a hundred or two hundred thousand kilograms or so; over the course of the past half year, all of his gifts combined were worth just barely half a million kilograms.

"Azurewillow." Princess Xiyue was rather unhappy.

"A mobile Immortal estate?" Ning suddenly laughed. "I was once lucky enough to acquire such an estate, but since I already had one, I've never used the second one. It's the perfect present for you, Princess."

Ning waved his hand, and a small, exquisitely designed Immortal estate appeared within his palm, glowing with golden light.

Everyone present turned to look at it.

"This Immortal estate…?" Everyone was curious. Even young master Yunpeng frowned as he looked at it; none of them could quite tell how valuable it was.

Ning laughed.

After he had successfully overcome the fifth level of the Wargod Hall, he had acquired a set of Heaven-ranked magic treasure, the Waterbreaker Godshark Swords. After becoming champion of the Conclave, he had arrived at Mount Innerheart, and during his thirty-plus years there Ning's [Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens] had broken through to the thirteenth stage. Since that represented an advance to the Primal Daoist level, he had been permitted to choose another Heaven-ranked magic treasure from the Treasure Hall.

By then, Ning already knew that Heaven-ranked magic treasures weren't going to be of much use to him in the future; what he needed was Immortal-ranked treasures.

However…Ning couldn't let this opportunity of choosing a treasure from the Treasure Hall to go to waste. Thus, Ning had chosen an item that was of fairly high value; simply put, he had chosen an item that he could use to sell for a great deal of liquefied elemental essence. Thus, he had chosen a mobile Immortal estate, a 'Goldlight Immortal Estate'. Ning had been planning to sell it here to trade for Immortal-ranked magic treasures, but he had risen in power more quickly than even he had expected, and had acquired the treasures left behind by that ancient Fiendgod ccorpse. By now, this Goldlight Immortal Estate was nothing to him.

Ning's set of Waterbreaker Godshark Swords were worth roughly one million kilograms of liquefied elemental essence! This Goldlight Immortal Estate, however, was on an even higher level of value!

"What generosity and magnanimity, young friend Ji Ning! Your gift to a beauty is actually an Immortal estate such as this." The silver-haired man laughed. "This Immortal estate is worth at least four million kilograms of liquefied elemental essence!"

"Four million kilograms!?" Fairy Azurewillow, who had intentionally been causing some trouble, was shocked as well.

"That much?" Princess Xiyue felt that this was far too much.

Young master Yunpeng's face became even more unsightly. "Four million kilograms…how can this Ji Ning be willing to give up an estate like this? How can he?!"

He hadn't even been willing to buy an Immortal estate that was worth half a million kilograms, but now Ning's very first gift was worth four million kilograms. How could the 'wealthy' young master Yunpeng not feel choked?

"It's too much. Too much." Princess Xiyue shook her head hurriedly.

"This is nothing to me," Ning laughed. "And I'm preparing to stay at King Yan's Estate for quite some time; how can I stay for so long without bringing a little gift?"

"Quite some time?"

Young master Yunpeng felt even more miserable now.

He was staying at King Yan's Estate. If Ning stayed here as well, they would repeatedly run into each other. In terms of reputation…Ning surpassed him, as he had become champion of the Conclave. In terms of background…Ning's backer was probably more formidable. In terms of personal strength…given that Ning's Primaltwin had been able to kill Loose Immortals when it had been merely at the Primal Daoist level, there was no need to even compare the two of them. And now in terms of wealth…young master Yunpeng's wealth had been his greatest source of confidence, but even in this regard, he had been crushed in an utterly dominating manner!

More importantly of all…

The princess didn't like him!

She would rather marry Feng Yungu than marry him. Previously, young master Yunpeng had felt that he was superior to Feng Yungu in every way, which was why he had felt so confident when staying at King Yan's Estate. But now…Ji Ning had appeared! Ji Ning crushed in him every aspect, and he appeared to be so close to the princess!

"Xiyue," Young master Yunpeng suddenly said.

"Hm?" Princess Xiyue looked towards him.

Young master Yunpeng smiled. "I've spent quite a bit of time here at the Grand Xia Dynasty. It's time to go back to the Heaven Realm. Help me convey my thanks to King Yan; I won't be going back to King Yan's Estate."

"Let's go!" Young master Yunpeng immediately led his two servants away.

Just like that…

Young master Yunpeng departed!

Princess Xiyue was startled for a moment, and then she looked towards Ning. She sent mentally, "Little brother, this was your plan all along, right? You wanted to force him to leave?"

"He's the son of the master of the Windlocked Isles; someone like him is naturally the proud sort. The reason why he was at King Yan's Estate was because he felt he was superior to Feng Yungu in every way," Ning sent back. "All I had to do was to make him feel as though he was inferior to me in every single way, as though he would feel miserable every time he saw me. Given that you don't like him, cousin…of course he would choose to leave on his own, rather than feel angry all the time here!"

"You…" Princess Xiyue sent resignedly, "Fine. Since you've chased off that little rich boy, you can put away your mobile Immortal estate. This is a critical point in time for you; you'll need many treasures for the upcoming storm."

"Cousin, I gave you this Immortal estate, which means it is yours! A few million kilograms is a minor sum to me now; compared to this arrow of mine, it is worth far, far less. In addition, I've received an extra fifteen million kilograms today; there's no need for you to refuse, cousin," Ning sent back.

Princess Xiyue looked towards Ning.

"And…I really don't want you to force yourself to suffer. Even if you are to choose a Dao-companion, you should choose someone you like. Don't casually choose someone like this Feng Yungu," Ning sent mentally. "Don't let yourself suffer any further."

Princess Xiyue suddenly felt an ache in her heart. She couldn't prevent the tears from coming to her eyes.

"Treasures, liquefied elemental essence…your little brother has them!"

"If enemies come…your little brother will help you kill them!"

"Take this Immortal estate, elder sister. In the future, when your little brother grows even stronger…forget about Immortal-ranked magic treasures, I'll even be able to casually gift you with a set of ten Pure Yang treasures," Ning sent solemnly.

Princess Xiyue looked at Ning. "Alright."

Ning smiled.

The resurrection of the Yuchi clan!

This wasn't just his cousin's wish; this was Ning's wish as well. Although his mother had never spoken to him of it, Ning could sense that his mother had always been thinking of her Yuchi clan. His mother's heart was not with the Ji clan; it had always been with her Yuchi clan.

For the sake of his mother…Ning, too, wished to resurrect the Yuchi clan!

Thus, this was a task for not just his cousin, but also himself!

"Xiyue, look at how excited you are. You are so excited that you are crying!" Fairy Azurewillow laughed, "But if someone were to give me a mobile Immortal estate, I'd be extremely excited as well. Young master Ji Ning…" As she spoke, she looked towards Ning.

"I found a Dao-companion long ago," Ning said hurriedly.

"Oh. I heard about this; the Rainbowflame Fairy, Yu Wei. She's Patriarch Lu's disciple." Fairy Azurewillow suddenly turned her head as a black-robed elder walked over, respectfully handing over a storage-type bracelet to the silver-haired man.

The silver-haired man handed it straight to Ning. "Young friend Ji Ning, take a look; are these the items from the list that you needed?"

"Uncle White, take a look," Ning said.

Uncle White nodded. He immediately bound the storage bracelet, then quickly began to scan through the many precious materials within it.

Someone without sufficient skill wouldn't be able to set up such peerlessly ferocious formations, even if they had all the necessary materials. Even Uncle White merely understood how to set up these three supreme formations; he didn't truly understand the mysteries within them. This was because they were simply far too complicated; that was why even True Immortals or Empyrean Gods would find it hard to break through them.

"Everything's correct." Uncle White nodded.

The nearby silver-haired man instantly smiled, then handed Ning a jade bottle. "There are fifteen million kilograms within."

"Then let this arrow go to the Heavenly Treasures Mountain." Ning handed it over to him.

"Precisely speaking…it goes to the Xia Emperor," the silver-haired man said with a laugh.

Ning was startled for a moment, but then he nodded.

Behind the Heavenly Treasures Mountain stood the Grand Xia Emperor.

"Now that this deal is concluded…young friend Ji Ning, if you acquire any other treasures, our Heavenly Treasures Mountain will always welcome you here to sell them. I, Skyfox, will personally come welcome you." Only now did the silver-haired man tell them his name.

"Skyfox?" Ning was secretly startled. "So it's him?"

The Grand Xia Emperor had two spirit-beasts who had become Celestial Immortals. One was a skyfox, and it was this skyfox who had established the Heavenly Treasures Mountain for the Grand Xia Emperor. He was in complete control of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain.

Within the darkness of space.

A blurred figured was seated in the lotus position. Suddenly, a silver-haired man appeared out of nowhere within the void.

"Master, here is the arrow which Ji Ning just traded to our Heavenly Treasures Mountain." The silver-haired man respectfully offered the arrow. The flaming arrow hovered there in space, emanating ripples of power.

"This arrow…this is a Firetruth Arrow. It is the most famous type of arrow which was created by Divine Archer 'Qi' 1 of the Primordial Era. Even I would perish under the power of a single one of these arrows," the black-robed Xia Emperor said in a low voice.

He was of the lineage of the Primordial Imperial Clan, and had lived through that period of time. Even in the Primordial World of Pangu, there were only a few extremely famous divine archers. All of them had their own specialties, and anyone could recognize their arrows at a single glance.

"When Pangu's World was shattered, the most powerful treasures were quickly seized away by the various major powers. Since Ji Ning has acquired one of these arrows…then he most likely has a connection to one of those major powers; otherwise, how could he have acquired a treasure like this?! In addition, Ji Ning didn't apprentice himself to anyone in Daofather Crimsonbright's league…but Master actually ordered me not to investigate this matter. Ji Ning must have a Daofather behind him."

"Keep a close eye on Ji Ning. The Three Realms are currently in a state of chaos; Ji Ning can become our friend, but he absolutely must not become our enemy." The black-robed Xia Emperor's voice echoed forth within the darkness of the void.

1. Qi was the son of Yu the Great, founding emperor of the the historical Xia Dynasty.

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Chapter 9 – Laying Down the Formations

"Cousin, no need to send me off."

Ji Ning was bidding Princess Xiyue farewell in midair.

"Didn't you say earlier that you were going to stay at King Yan's Estate for an extended period of time? Why are you leaving after shopping at the Heavenly Treasures Mountain?" Princess Xiyue truly didn't wish to part with him. Her grandfather, King Yan, had just recently become a Celestial Immortal; thus, he spent much of his time in secluded meditation, and rarely had time to accompany her. In addition, Ji Ning was of a similar age to her; there were many topics she could discuss with him but not her grandfather. Naturally, she wanted him to stay longer by her side.

"Given that the Grand Xia world is now filled with dangerous undercurrents, I need to go back as soon as possible and set up layers of formations around the Ji clan's Swallow Mountain region," Ning said. "I will permanently stay in the Swallow Mountain region. If you are free, you can come visit me there."

"Permanently?" Princess Xiyue was surprised.

"Right." Ning nodded.

He had acquired many techniques at Mount Innerheart, be it Ki Refining, Fiendgod Body Refining, or sword-arts manuals. All of them provided guidance towards the level of Daofather of the Great Firmament. He also had the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art, the [Starseizing Hand, [Houyi's Archery, and the [Torch Dragon's Eye, some of the most supreme divine abilities of the Three Realms. He needed to spend time on training these techniques.

Given that the Three Realms were about to be engulfed by a storm…Ning did indeed plan to permanently live at Serpentwing Lake as he awaited Yu Wei's return.

"That's good. I'll be able to find you there whenever I want. You need to be careful; my grandfather also told me that the world has been quite chaotic lately. Even multiple Celestial Immortals have perished," Princess Xiyue said.

"I know. Don't worry. Others might be able to kill Celestial Immortals, but killing me will be very difficult," Ning said.

"Oh?" Princess Xiyue revealed a look of surprise.

Ning laughed. "Don't forget that I just returned after studying with my master. Alright, enough talk; I need to go now."

And then, Ning led Little Qing and Uncle White in using a spatial teleportation to vanish from the air above the imperial capital of the Grand Xia.

"This little brother of mine…it seems as though these thirty-plus years have been extraordinary for him." Princess Xiyue let out a relieved sigh. The more powerful Ning became, the more relaxed she would be. "However…his words were a bit too much. 'Others might be able to kill Celestial Immortals, but killing him will be very difficult'? It's like he's implying he's more powerful than Celestial Immortals. I imagine that his master probably bestowed some sort of protective item upon him."

Swoosh.

Princess Xiyue charged downwards towards her residence, flying back into King Yan's Estate.

This time, Princess Xiyue's guess was wrong. In terms of power, Ning truly was on the level of a Celestial Immortal Patriarch by now. Most importantly of all, Ning had trained in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]; it would be extremely difficult for others to injure him. And through the 'Seventy-Two Transformations' the arcane art permitted…if he transformed into the Grand Xia Emperor, even King Yan probably wouldn't be able to tell any difference at all.

This was why, generally speaking, those who trained in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art] were incredibly talented in staying alive. Ning's training in the arcane art was the reason why Patriarch Subhuti had permitted Ning to depart from his tutelage.

"Master, Ji Ning suddenly left Stillwater City and headed towards the imperial capital."

"The imperial capital remains the most dangerous place in the Grand Xia world for us. That's not the place for the assassination. Continue to watch over him."

"Yes."

Swallow Mountain.

After using a spatial teleport to return here from the imperial capital of the Grand Xia, Ning immediately summoned the high-level Ji clansmen. The latest generation of Wanxiang Adepts and Zifu Disciples were all clustered together in one hall, including the likes of Ji Mo and the others who had been provided guidance by Ning. Now that the clan had a stable footing, all of their talents received good resources for cultivation; their situation was far better than the situation had been in the past for Ji Ninefire, Ji Truekeep, and the others. Thus Ji Mo, for example, had already become a Wanxiang Adept.

Only upon being summoned here did they learn that Ji Ning had returned! All of them were utterly overcome with joy. The younger generation of Ji clansmen had long ago begun to idolize Ning; after all, becoming the champion of the Conclave was something out of legends! That was an event where the geniuses of the entire world came together in a competition!

"I agree! Of course I agree. Stillwater Commandery is in a chaotic state right now; if Uncle Ji Ning plans to set down layers of mighty formations around Swallow Mountain, then that means that our Ji clan shall have a foundation that will flourish for countless generations!"

"Right. With these grand formations, we will no longer need to fear the Youngflame clan."

"I agree."

"I agree as well."

Not a single Ji clansmen was in opposition. Ning's words were like music to their ears! Ning had told them that once the formations were established, even Celestial Immortal Patriarchs could forget about barging through them. Only individuals who surpassed the power of Celestial Immortals had a chance of making it through!

It must be understood that in the entire world of the Grand Xia…even for the likes of ancient clans that had existed since the Fiendgod Era, such as the Northmont clan of Stillwater or the Youngflame clan, Celestial Immortals represented the height of their power.

With these grand formations protecting it, Swallow Mountain would become an absolutely secure location; the Ji clan could safely and stably flourish within this place!

A truly powerful clan had to have an extremely safe base. Some of them even hid their headquarters within unknown minor worlds! Naturally, the Ji clan wished for such a secure base as well.

And Ning wasn't lying when he had told them these things!

The three supremely ferocious formations also included a 'sealing' component; this sort of grand sealing formation couldn't be broken through technique, they had to be destroyed through raw force! Unless one had the power of a True Immortal or Empyrean God, there was no way whatsoever to break through.

A snowy white hound was standing in the sky. Behind him, a series of glistening, gem-like rocks appeared out of nowhere. There were a total of 108 such rocks.

The snowy white hound stared far away, towards the peak of a mountain.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Instantly, the stones hovering around him shot out like meteors, piercing deep into various parts of the mountain. Immediately afterwards…the mountain peak itself vanished, and circles of blurry light began to manifest around the mountain peak with the appearance of clouds.

"The final formation-base of the 'Eighteen Hypnotic Illusions' has been established." The snowy white hound let out a relieved sigh.

"Arise!"

As he activated the formation, every part of the Swallow Mountain region, including the mountain peaks, the rivers, the lakes, and the wildernesses all began to summon the elemental power of heaven and earth. At the same time, the various formation-bases began to resonate with each other, joining together into an enormous combination formation. Every single part of the formation came together in a marvelous, perfect manner.

Soon, the entire hundred thousand kilometer region of Swallow Mountain seemed to have been transformed into a truly hypnotic, illusory area. Unless one had a talisman issued by the Ji clan, anyone who entered would immediately become forever lost within.

Rumble…

Serpentwing Lake. Ordinary mosquitoes were flying about, and some would often fly into Brightheart Island.

In wild areas, mosquitoes were extremely common. However, these were very ordinary mosquitoes; they couldn't even be considered monsters. Even Ning's divine sense could find nothing strange about them at all. However…the core of this 'Eighteen Hypnotic Illusions' formation was Serpentwing Lake. After the formation was activated, although its core location of Serpentwing Lake appeared as ordinary as usual…there was now no way at all for these ordinary mosquitoes to fly towards Brightheart Island.

An ordinary commandery city of the Grand Xia. Within an estate.

Swoosh.

A skinny man whose eyes glowed with green light suddenly appeared within the courtyard. In the courtyard, there was a black-robed man who was leisurely sipping tea. The man had long, unbound black hair, and in his forehead there was a vertical slit.

"Master," the skinny man said respectfully.

"Mm?" The long-haired, black-robed man looked over. "What is it??"

"The entire Swallow Mountain region has become covered by a strange illusory formation. Even my little ones are completely unable to penetrate it; they have become completely lost within it, and they aren't even able to return." A hint of resentment was in the green, glowing eyes of the skinny man. Those mosquitoes were indeed extremely ordinary, but they were linked to his mind; this was no easy task!

"Oh?" The long-haired, black-robed man frowned. "An illusory formation? It seems as though Ji Ning has returned to Swallow Mountain to set down formations for it. It is fine; since the Ji clan wishes to establish Swallow Mountain as their foundation for flourishment, they will naturally need to maintain contact with the outside world. That means merchant caravans will be sent to and from it, and the Ji clan will guide them through the formations, ensuring them that they won't be lost. You no longer have to worry about this matter any further; I will arrange for others to go keep a watch on things. Rest and build up your strength; I imagine that you won't be able to recover your 'little ones'."

After all, even if someone else was sent into Swallow Mountain, they wouldn't be able to recognize which of the mosquitoes were 'special'.

"Alright," the skinny man assented in a low voice, and then he departed.

The long-haired, black-robed man quickly began to give instructions a different subordinate. This seemingly ordinary commandery city of the Grand Xia was, in reality, one of the important bases for Bloodcloud Hall.

Time flowed out.

Bloodcloud Hall used all sorts of tools to investigate. Mosquitoes, merchant caravans, scrying arts…even possession arts! They began to use every method they had to infiltrate Swallow Mountain!

But as each of the great formations of the Whitewater Hound began to be erected, especially in the Serpentwing Lake region, it became rare for even the Ji clansmen to encounter Ji Ning. Only Ji Truekeep, Granny Shadow, and a few others could go directly to see him. Even the likes of Ji Mo and the others had to first request a meeting. Thus, it became extremely hard for even Bloodcloud Hall to determine whether or not Ji Ning was actually staying at Serpentwing Lake.

"Master."

The same ordinary commandery city as before. A white-haired elder said in a lowered voice, "Swallow Mountain is now surrounded by layers of grand formations. One of my clones was accompanying a merchant caravan in investigating the place, and the number of formations that I've already uncovered is enough to cause even Celestial Immortals to become lost after entering it. One has to use a Greater Teleportation Dao-seal to flee the place. Now, it seems, Swallow Mountain is completely under Ji Ning's control. Within this region, Ning can use the formations to his advantage; killing him there is extremely unlikely. Just investigating the various formations, especially the dangerous ones, is essentially suicide. I imagine a large number of Loose Immortals would have to die in the process."

"Right." The long-haired, black-robed man nodded. "Since even you feel this way, Elder Chu, then it seems Swallow Mountain truly is not an appropriate place for assassination. Then…let us wait. Wait for Ji Ning to leave Swallow Mountain."

The very same day in which Elder Chu was making a report to Bloodcloud Hall. The skies above Brightheart Island was filled with plumes of snow.

"After tirelessly working day and night for forty-nine days, I've finally set up the first of the three supremely lethal formations." The white-robed Uncle White let out a laugh, but his gaze was filled with exhaustion. "I really didn't dare to be slightest bit careless. If I was even slightly careless, everything would've gone wrong, and most likely some of those ingredients would've been imploded and destroyed by elemental energy."

"Sorry for the trouble, Uncle White." Ning had an understanding of formations as well; he knew very well that even being able to merely set up these three supreme formations required one to have the ability of a grandmaster of formations. This was because even Ning felt his head grow dizzy when he simply looked at the arcane mysteries contained within the formations, to say nothing of actually laying them down.

"It wasn't so bad. I've already set up one of the three supreme formations; the entire Swallow Mountain region is already stabilized. I can take it a bit slower for the other two," Uncle White said with a smile.

As they were chatting.

"Ji Ning." A voice rang out from far away.

Ning immediately arose and turned around; it was the voice of the clan leader, Ji Truekeep.

"Ji Ning, Immortal Fivecraze of the Black-White College has arrived." Truekeep walked over, Immortal Fivecraze by his side.

"Big brother Fivecraze." Ning immediately went forward to welcome him. Because he was now a Void-level Earth Immortal, according to the rules of the Black-White College, the two of them had to refer to each other as they would equals of the same generation.

"Ji Ning, your master has left his secluded meditation. He is preparing to undergo his Celestial Tribulation in nine days!" Immortal Fivecraze said solemnly.

"Nine days?!" Ning was instantly stunned.

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Chapter 10 – The Celestial Tribulation

"This is your master's own decision," Immortal Fivecraze said.

Ji Ning immediately understood. The Celestial Tribulation was the most important event a cultivator would encounter in his life; generally speaking, they would choose to attempt it at a time whispered to them by their subconscious. Since his master had chosen to attempt it nine days hence, then that meant that his master would have the greatest chance of success nine days from now.

But even though that would be the 'greatest chance'…the chance was still comparatively slim. After all, the Grand Xia world had countless Void-level Earth Immortals, but often more than a million years would pass without a single Celestial immortal arising! Only in a time like this, when the Three Realms were in a state of upheaval, did the Grand Xia see multiple Earth Immortals overcome the tribulation during the past twenty, thirty years. But even then, only a few had succeeded. Spread out across 3600 commanderies and four seas…the chances were still extremely low!"

"Very few people know that your master is attempting the Celestial Tribulation nine days from now. You can't tell anyone," Immortal Fivecraze instructed.

"I understand." Ning looked at the nearby Ji Truekeep. Truekeep nodded. "Don't worry; I won't tell anyone. Right…the two of you can chat in private." Truekeep knew exactly how major a matter this was, and so he immediately departed.

Within the hall, only Ji Ning, Immortal Fivecraze, and the Whitewater Hound were left.

"Your master is going to attempt the Celestial Tribulation, but his chances are less than one in ten thousand. The tribulation is simply too hard. Thus…we need to ensure that no one disturbs him," Immortal Fivecraze said seriously. "That is why your master will definitely need protectors during his tribulation."

"Protectors?" Ning nodded. "I will naturally serve as a guardian for my master."

"I discussed this matter with your master already. This time, the only people protecting him shall be you and me; just the two of us," Immortal Fivecraze said.

"Two?" Ning was surprised.

"Your master has gained new insights after perusing the Dao-repositories you brought back to the Black-White College. His power has advanced exquisitely!" Immortal Fivecraze said. "I have gained insights as well, and my power is comparable to a Loose Immortal who has lived for six or seven hundred thousand years. The other Loose Immortals of the Black-White College, by comparison, are a bit weaker."

Ning nodded.

"Your Primaltwin was able to kill Loose Immortals all those years ago, when it was merely a peak Primal Daoist. Given your training speed, I imagine it must now be at the late Void-level; after thirty years, you are probably no weaker than me," Immortal Fivecraze said with a laugh. "There's no need to be modest at a time like this; the more powerful you are, the more confident your master will feel during his tribulation."

Ning nodded. "I should…be no weaker than Immortal Northwalker was in the past!"

Immortal Fivecraze was instantly startled. It must be understood that the Immortal path grew increasingly difficult as one progressed through it, and that the chances of becoming a Celestial Immortal were extremely low. The chances of becoming a True Immortal or Empyrean God? That was even rare, even if one's vision spanned the entirety of the Three Realms. Every single commandery had Loose Immortals at the five hundred thousand year power level, but there were very few in the entire Grand Xia Dynasty who were at the level of a million year old Loose Immortal. As for Loose Immortals who had lived for millions of years…it was rare for the entire Grand Xia Dynasty to have a single such person!

"You?" Immortal Fivecraze could hardly believe it.

"My child Ning has long ago mastered the full nine stances of the [Three-Foot Sword]. He's even improved on it," the nearby Whitewater Hound said.

"Excellent!" A look of wild joy appeared on Immortal Fivecraze's face. He said jubilantly, "Wonderful, wonderful, absolutely wonderful! Ji Ning, in terms of sword-arts alone, you are probably the most powerful figure our Black-White College has ever seen!"

Immortal Fivecraze sighed in absolute amazement.

This Ji Ning who stood before him…

He himself was like a sword! Swords were objects that were used to charge forward, to cut with incomparable sharpness! Ji Ning was like a sword who chopped through all the bushes and thorns that lay in his path. Years ago, as a youth, he had become the champion of the entire Conclave of Immortal Destiny! After the past thirty-plus years…he had mastered and even perfected the [Three-Foot Sword] of Immortal Northwalker, customizing it for his own use!

What sort of talent was this? After a few more decades or a century, how powerful would he become?

"The sword is my body."

"The sword is my life."

"The sword is my path."

Immortal Fivecraze nodded as he looked at Ning. "When every Sword Immortal embarks on the Dao of the Sword, they will understand their own sword-hearts and these principles. But understanding is easy; action is hard! There are very, very few who can truly reach this level, and in this vast world, countless Sword Immortals have fallen. I can sense, however, the towering sword-intent radiating from you, a sword-heart that is simply inconceivable. You truly were born to be a Sword Immortal."

In truth, many years ago, the likes of Lu Dongbin had already felt certain that Ning was born to be a peerless Sword Immortal.

The reason for his current success was partially because of his experiences from his past life, but also because of his parents in this life.

His father had given him a sword.

His mother had given him a heart.

After chatting for a short while, Ning asked, "Is master in a rush? If he isn't in a rush, I'll stay one more day here at Serpentwing Lake; I'll reunite with all of you at the Black-White College tomorrow."

"We are planning to leave the Black-White College in three days and head to the chosen tribulation area," Immortal Fivecraze said. "We have a day to spare. You can make your preparations here at Serpentwing Lake."

"What will be the tribulation area?" Ning couldn't help but ask.

"That is a secret for now," Immortal Fivecraze said. "Once your master's enemies learn of it, they will immediately head to that location to attempt to ruin your master's tribulation. Thus, the tribulation area is something which only your master knows at present. Even I don't know. After we head arrive there, we shall know."

Ning laughed. "That's for the best. If only master himself knows, there's no fear of it leaking."

"Alright. Make your preparations; I'm leaving now." Immortal Fivecraze left right away.

Within the hall.

Soon, Little Qing was called back by Ji Ning. Within the courtyard was Ji Ning, Uncle White, and Little Qing.

"Master is about to undergo his Celestial Tribulation. This matter is extremely important; we can't be reckless in preparing for it," Ning said with absolute solemnity. "That's why both I and Uncle White are leaving…and we'll leave Swallow Mountain in your hands, Little Qing."

The formations of Swallow Mountain were too numerous and too complicated.

Even those lower-class formations required experts who were at least at the Primal Daoist level to completely control them. But right now, aside from Ning, the most powerful members of the Ji clan were only at the Wanxiang stage! As for the supreme formations…just activating them would require the power of a Void-level Earth Immortal, but there was no way Ning would teach the secrets of these formations to the monsters of the Witchriver Immortal Estate.

"Actually, I really want to go as well. The Celestial Tribulation…I've never even…" Little Qing stopped midway through her words as Ning gave her a look.

"Master, I know what really matters," Little Qing hurriedly said with a laugh.

"Uncle White, Little Qing…both of you, hurry up and raise your power to the late Void-level today," Ning said. "These two jade bottles each contain 2.5 million kilograms of liquefied elemental essence."

Ning trained in the [Darknorth Sutra, which allowed one to train all the way to the Daofather level, and yet his Primaltwin had only needed 2.5 million kilograms to go from the peak Primal stage to the late Void-level. Uncle White and Little Qing had both already reached the early Void-level; 2.5 million kilograms of liquefied elemental essence would be more than enough to let them reach the late Void-level."

"Remember, don't train to the peak of the Void-level, no matter what," Ning warned.

"Don't worry. We aren't anywhere close to being prepared for the Celestial Tribulation."

While Uncle White and Little Qing trained, Ning's true body entered the Still Room of the underwater estate. For the sake of his master's tribulation, Ning was going to raise his power to the highest level possible as well! Fortunately, he had acquired 15 million kilograms at the main headquarters of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain; although he had spent some of it to purchase a few treasures, he still had more than ten million kilograms left!

The handsome, delicate-looking fur-clad youth seated himself atop the netherwater jade bed.

In front of him was a tiny jade bottle.

"Begin."

A torrent of liquefied elemental essence flooded out from the jade bottle, forming an awe-inspiring lake within the Still Room. Around Ning, a dark vortex appeared, and the limitless amount of essence began to disappear as it drew near the dark vortex, having been sucked into Ning's Zifu Region.

Within the Zifu Region.

His golden lotus, after absorbing an enormous amount of essence, began to shudder and grow out from within that scorching sea of Primal Fire. The golden lotus was constantly growing taller, and both its petals and its stem began to quickly increase in thickness. The elemental ki within the golden lotus grew increasingly pure as well, so pure that it would cause one's heart to tremble. At the same time, that adorable little lotus seedpod at the very top of the golden lotus began to slowly increase in size, and within the heart of the lotus seedpod, an unripe lotus seed took form.

"The late Void level!" Everything came to a halt.

The now-enormous golden lotus swayed within the Primal Fire that blazed atop the back of the continent-sized Turtle-Snake. This golden lotus was now the absolute most dazzling 'location' within the entire Zifu region.

Upon reaching the late Void level, the 'Goldlotus Primal' was already extremely powerful; it was just a hair away from complete perfection.

The next day.

Ning, Uncle White, and Little Qing gathered together for a meal. They had all increased in power to the late Void-level the previous night. After the meal, Little Qing was left behind to protect Serpentwing Lake, while Ning led Uncle White towards the Black-White College.

The Black-White College. Immortal Diancai's abode.

"Ji Ning, you came." The black-robed Immortal Diancai was seated in the lotus position atop a jade bed, a calm look on his face. "Sit."

Next to him was a prayer mat, seated atop which was Immortal Fivecraze.

Ning nodded, then sat down on another prayer mat while the Whitewater Hound lay down behind Ning.

"I heard senior apprentice-brother Fivecraze say that you've already mastered the complete nine stances of the [Three-Foot Sword, and that you have perfected it?" Immortal Diancai said with a laugh.

"Yes." Ning nodded.

Immortal Diancai smiled. "Good. With you having reached such a level in the sword…even if I fail my tribulation, I'll still feel satisfied."

"Master, how can you say such things?" Ning said frantically.

"I'm just making conversation. It seems you aren't even as calm about this as I am," Immortal Diancai said.

Ning was silent.

He was indeed nervous; after all, the chances of success were simply far, far too low. If his master were to fail…

Immortal Diancai, seeing this, simply laughed. He understood Ning's temperament very well; Ning was a passionate man who cared deeply about his feelings and his relationships! For the sake of his relationships, he could even give up his life! It was precisely because he had come to understand Ning's personality over their many years of knowing each other that Immortal Diancai felt so extremely fond of this disciple of his. That was why he treated him with such sincerity.

"This Whitewater Hound is coming as well?" Immortal Diancai asked.

Ning nodded. "Master, don't underestimate Uncle White. He is extremely talented in formations, and when I went to study from my master, Uncle White learned some extremely profound formations as well; he can be described as a grandmaster of formations. I wouldn't dare proclaim him as being the best in the entire Grand Xia Dynasty…but here within Stillwater Commandery at least, he would be one of the top two."

"Oh?" Both Immortal Diancai and Immortal Fivecraze revealed looks of delight.

Anyone who dared refer to himself as a grandmaster of formations would definitely be an extraordinary person.

Ning laughed confidently. In terms of the Dao of Formations, Uncle White was indeed a grandmaster. In addition, however, Uncle White knew how to set up some extremely rare and exceedingly powerful formations, and so even other grandmasters of formations would lose to him in a competition of formations! That supremely ferocious formation that he had set up around Swallow Mountain, for example; most likely, there were extremely few people in the entire Grand Xia Dynasty who could set up such a powerful formation.

But of course, the Grand Xia Dynasty definitely had individuals who were superior to Uncle White in formations; for example, that formation surrounding the imperial palace of the Grand Xia was something that only a truly major power could set up! It was several levels higher in power than the formations around Swallow Mountain.

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Chapter 11 – Four Great Tribulations

"Since you've arrived, Ji Ning, that means we are all present. Let's head out tonight to the tribulation area, then," Immortal Diancai said.

Ning and Immortal Fivecraze exchanged a glance, then both nodded. "Fine. We'll head out tonight."

This tribulation had to be kept top-secret. Ning and the others didn't dare be even the slightest bit careless. Even during a normal situation, one would have to be extremely careful in attempting the Celestial Tribulation, but given that the Three Realms were currently in a state of chaos…Ning and the others naturally had to be even more careful than normal.

Late night.

Immortal Diancai, Immortal Fivecraze, Ji Ning, and the Whiteweater Hound stealthily used a spatial teleport to depart from Stillwater City.

In the air above an awe-inspiringly vast sea, a spatial ripple suddenly appeared. Three human figures accompanied by a large, snowy white hound appeared from within the ripple.

"Where are we?" Ning looked at the surrounding area. Because it had been his master, Immortal Diancai, who had used the spatial teleport, not even Ning knew where they were exactly.

"The great Darknorth Sea," Immortal Diancai said. "The location that I've chosen for my tribulation is a minor world which I discovered by accident when I was adventuring through the Darknorth Sea as a child. This minor world was extremely well-hidden, and it is extremely well-suited for attempting the tribulation. Follow me!"

Clouds instantly appeared around them as Immortal Diancai used a technique to lead Ning, Immortal Fivecraze, and the Whitewater Hound in quickly flying forward. Soon, an island appeared in the distance. The island was scorchingly hot, as there was a live volcano atop it.

"The entrance to that minor world is within the volcano on that island." Immortal Diancai led the group to fly into the air above the island, then charged straight into the mouth of the volcano.

The region within the volcano was extremely strange. A large amount of lava was bubbling and frothing about.

Immortal Diancai quietly glanced at one corner of it, a complicated look in his eyes. He said softly, "In my youth, I was young and arrogant; I roamed the world in a fearless, untamed manner. And now, I am about to attempt my tribulation…life truly is a marvelous, strange thing."

Ning and Immortal Fivecraze could both sense that Immortal Diancai's mood seemed rather off.

"For this tribulation…if I fail, I shall die!" Immortal Diancai said softly. "If I die…then I'll reunite with you, junior apprentice-sister."

Deep within his memory…

There was a young, carefree, brilliant genius youth; Immortal Diancai, the number one peerless genius of his generation within the Black-White College.

With him was a reincarnated Immortal maiden who was known as Fairy Drizzlerain, and who had countless admirers and pursuers.

They adventured together, shoulder-to-shoulder, expericing life-and-death events together. They had roamed through countless places, entering mountain ranges and passing through seas. And then, one day, they had encountered an ancient Primal-level Fiendgod of fire. The ancient Fiendgod had emerged from within the lava…and their parting on that day truly became an eternal one. The flames of the Fiendgod caused his junior apprentice-sister's soul to be shattered…

"Master." Ning was shocked. His master was actually planning to die if he failed?

It must be understood that the Celestial Tribulation was extremely dangerous; even the Goldlotus Primal would be heavily wounded. Some would realize halfway through the tribulation that they wouldn't be able to succeed, and so they would give up, choosing to become a Loose Immortal. Because the amount of damage sustained by each person's Goldlotus Primal was different, the purity of the elemental ki would vary amongst Loose Immortals. Formidable ones were comparable to peak Void-level Earth Immortals, while weaker ones might only have elemental ki comparable to early-stage Void-level Earth Immortals.

Some Earth Immortals, however, would go welcome the tribulation with the intent of rather dying to it than giving up!

This did indeed give someone a significantly higher chance of overcoming the Celestial Tribulation. But at the very end, if they failed…then their souls would be shattered!

"You still haven't forgotten." Immortal Fivecraze shook his head.

"Forget? Why should I forget? How could I bear to forget?" Immortal Diancai replied softly.

Ning said, "Master, leave yourself a sliver of a chance, so that you can have a chance at reincarnation. If you fail in this life, you might succeed in the next one."

"No need to try and dissuade me." Immortal Diancai shook his head. "My decision is made. Let's go. Let's go inside."

Whoosh!

The lava below them suddenly parted as Immortal Diancai led them deeper downwards. At the very deepest part, a winding tunnel suddenly appeared. Immortal Diancai led them through the tunnel in an extremely familiar manner, and a dark cave soon appeared before them.

"Go in." Immortal Diancai led Ji Ning and the others to fly into the black cave.

This was a world that was filled with an infinite aura of death. Even the mountains had turned black, while the earth itself was a sickly yellow. Not a single hint of green could be seen, and no ordinary grass lived here. This world only had a strange type of vegetation that was pitch-black and covered by spikes.

Whoosh…

The side of a large mountain began to ripple and shake. Immortal Diancai, Immortal Fivecraze, Ji Ning, and the Whitewater Hound flew out from within it.

"Such a strong aura of death?" Immortal Fivecraze frowned as he stared at the surrounding area. "What happened to this minor world? Logically speaking, even if it suffered some sort of disaster, given the power of the Solar Star and the Lunar Star, it should have eventually recovered."

"This was a world where a Fiendgod of fire hid within," Immortal Diancai said. "The Fiendgod caused this minor world to become completely filled with lava, causing all the living creatures within it to perish. Although that Fiendgod is now dead, for this minor world to recover…a very long period of time will be needed."

Ning nodded.

It was easy to ruin a minor world, but in order for it to recover, a million years would be needed or perhaps even longer. Only then would new vegetation arise and new creatures and birds be born.

"This minor world is extremely well-hidden, and it has no living creatures; I don't have to worry about any ordinary life-forms being killed as collateral damage. It is very well-suited for my tribulation attempt," Immortal Diancai said. "In a normal situation…chances of being discovered while undergoing a tribulation in such a well-hidden place should be very low. However, now that the entire Grand Xia world is in a state of chaos…I've heard that quite a few Void-level Earth Immortals have suffered attacks during their tribulations of late."

"Right. All Void-level Earth Immortals choose extremely well-hidden places for their tribulations…but they were still discovered and assaulted," Immortal Fivecraze agreed somberly. "We have to be careful."

"Don't worry, Master. Leave everything to me and big brother Fivecraze," Ning promised solemnly.

"Alright." Immortal Diancai nodded, then began to fly far away. Ji Ning, Immortal Fivecraze, and Uncle White hurriedly flew after him.

After flying for a period of time.

Immortal Diancai descended upon a wide area that had been completely scorched black. He then sat down in the lotus position…and began to wait quietly.

"After eight days, the Celestial Tribulation shall descend. Everything will be up to your master, then." Immortal Fivecraze was worried.

"He will have to rely on himself." Ning was worried, too.

When the Celestial Tribulation descended, all outside sources of help were forbidden.

Even Daofathers of the Great Firmament wouldn't dare to intervene and assist others in their tribulations. If anyone tried to help someone else defeat a Celestial Tribulation…then the tribulation would instantly unleash a divine punishment upon the offender, even if the offender was a Daofather. If the Daofather immediately stopped, that was one thing, but if he tried to continue and resist…even the Daofather would be annihilated by the divine punishment!

Thus, from ancient days till now, no one ever dared to help someone else resist a Celestial Tribulation.

In addition…

Even setting up formations was considered 'outside help'. If Immortal Diancai himself had been the one to set up the formations, that wouldn't be as much of an issue! At most, the formation would be destroyed and the power of the Celestial Tribulation would be increased. But if someone else, such as Uncle White or Ji Ning, was in control of the formation…then the two of them would suffer divine punishment!

This was the reason why Ning hadn't invited his master to go to Swallow Mountain for the tribulation.

There were far too many places in the world with extremely formidable formations. The headquarters of powerful sects all contained exceedingly mighty formations; for example, the formation within the imperial citadel of the Grand Xia was something which a major power had set up. If a Void-level Earth Immortal could temporarily borrow the strength of a formation to fight the Celestial Tribulation, then overcoming it would become far too simple!

Thus…

All sources of outside help were completely forbidden! The Celestial Tribulation was the test which all Immortal cultivators faced on their Immortal path! Even experts in the Dao of Formations such as Uncle White would only be permitted to use magic treasure formations, such as the Fuxi Staff Formation. When the Celestial Tribulation truly descended, they would be allowed to use the Fuxi Staff Formation to defend against it.

The [Heavenraker] and the [Lesser Thousand Swords Formation] were all considered types of sword-formations.

However, formations that were locked onto one location and which were set up using precious ingredients were considered outside sources of help! [Heavenraker, the [Lesser Thousand Swords Formation, and the Fuxi Staff Formation, however, were all considered part of one's own strength.

"Master." Ning suddenly walked over.

"Yes?" Immortal Diancai raised his head to look towards Ji Ning.

"Master, I have five top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords. If you use them, your chances of overcoming the Celestial Tribulation shall be greater." Ning willed it, and five pitch-black Immortal swords suddenly appeared out of nowhere to hover next to him. These were the Heavenraker Immortal swords. Ning had already dispersed his elemental ki from within them; they had become ownerless items now.

Immortal Diancai was stunned. "Five top-grade Immortal ranked swords?"

"Top-grade Immortal-ranked…and five of them?" Immortal Fivecraze revealed a look of crazed joy as well. "Wonderful! Ji Ning, you truly have been hiding some incredible secrets."

Ning laughed.

Items at the level of a top-grade Immortal-ranked flying sword could no longer simply be purchased; they had to be traded for! Five such swords, and all from the same source…they were far more valuable than the combined value of all of the Immortal swords Ning had acquired from killing the monster kings and that vile Patriarch. These were items from the underwater estate's Treasure Hall; they were naturally exceptional!

"Take them," Immortal Fivecraze said with a chortle. "Your disciple is telling you to use them; are you going to be wishy-washy about it?"

"Fine." Immortal Diancai's aura instantly changed. "With these five top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords, my chances of overcoming the Celestial Tribulation shall be much greater…at least for the first three tribulations."

The Celestial Tribulation was divided into a total of four great tribulations.

They were the wind tribulation, the fire tribulation, the thunder tribulation, and the demonheart tribulation!

The first three could be blocked, but they would grow increasingly powerful and terrifying; the vast majority of Void-level Earth Immortals would perish over the course of the first three tribulations. The thunder tribulation in particular…bolts of divine lightning would crash down, completely disintegrating the bodies of many Void-level Earth Immortals. The Goldlotus Primal would be heavily injured by the slamming thunderbolts, and many were so terrified that they would give up and flee, becoming Loose Immortals. In the past, Immortal Juhua had also failed during the thunder tribulation…and it was because he didn't have any good Immortal-ranked magic treasures!

If he had top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasures, given Immortal Juhua's power and Dao-heart, he might've become a Celestial Immortal.

"Right. Your chances are now much greater…but you still need to be careful. The Celestial Tribulation…magic treasures are only one part of your power. When iron is being forged, it has to rely on its own innate hardness. The Celestial Tribulation primarily tests one's personal power," Immortal Fivecraze said seriously.

"I understand." Immortal Diancai nodded.

Even many disciples of True Immortals or Empyrean Gods would fail during their tribulation. Generally speaking, disciples of True Immortals or Empyrean Gods all had top-grade Immortal-ranked magic treasures, and yet many still failed. Clearly, the Celestial Tribulation was different for each person! The more monstrously talented someone was, the more powerful one was, the more ridiculously terrifying the Celestial Tribulation would be.

One day after another went by

Immortal Diancai familiarized himself with the Heavenraker swords, then began to wait quietly. Ji Ning, Immortal Fivecraze, and the Whitewater Hound also quietly stood to one side, standing guard for him.

And finally…

Whoosh…

Suddenly, a gentle wind began to blow, rustling Immortal Diancai's Daoist robes.

Immortal Diancai opened his eyes. "Senior apprentice-brother Fivecraze, Ji Ning, brother White…stand guard for me. My Celestial Tribulation has begun."

Ning and the others could sense that the nearby wind was beginning to slowly grow increasingly fierce. They couldn't help but nervously look towards the seated Immortal Diancai.

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Chapter 12 – Celestial Immortal Body

Whoosh…

The wild wind that had suddenly arose in this world of death came from every direction. All the winds surged towards Immortal Diancai's direction, and Ji Ning, Immortal Fivecraze, and the Whitewater Hound could all sense how powerful this wind was. However, they were able to resist it by using just a bit of elemental ki.

The closer the wind moved towards Immortal Diancai, the more powerful it became. The wind gathered from all corners of the world, slowly merging into an azure windblade. By the time this azure windblade actually flew towards Immortal Diancai, it had turned such a deep azure color that it could almost be described as a black windblade.

Just staring at it caused Ning and the others to feel shocked.

"Open."

The black-robed Immortal Diancai stood there, the five Heavenraker Immortal swords floating around him, swiveling. It was as though five rainbows were swirling around him. Although the terrifyingly powerful black windblades chopped repeatedly towards him, all the strikes were blocked.

"Junior apprentice-brother Diancai's sword-arts have already risen to such a level?" Immortal Fivecraze revealed a look of delight. "Ji Ning, I had an idea as to what level your master's sword-arts had reached…but he is even more powerful than I had expected! Long ago, I came to the conclusion that junior apprentice-brother Diancai had the highest chance amongst us of becoming a Celestial Immortal, and back then his sword-arts were already at an astonishing level. After adventuring for forty years, and after receiving your Dao-repository, his sword-arts…they are not one whit inferior to Immortal Northwalker's. He truly does have a chance to become a Celestial Immortal!"

"Right." Ning was filled with eagerness as well.

Everything else aside, the 'Five Elements Sword-Intent' which his master had just displayed was enough to let Ning know that his master's sword-arts were most likely on a level comparable to his own. His master truly lived up to his reputation as the peerless genius of the Black-White College with the highest chances of becoming a Celestial Immortal.

The savage black windblades hammered repeatedly against the five rainbows of light, causing even the surrounding space to crack and fracture.

Rumble…

All of the black windblades suddenly vanished. The world actually turned completely calm and tranquil again…but then yet another series of winds began to appear. The winds stabbed like sharp needles…and a series of needle-like spikes began to appear in midair. The thousands of spikes all gleamed with golden light as they stabbed towards the five Immortal swords which were in the form of five rainbows of light.

Savage. Insidious. Soft. Icy. Blazing…

All sorts of wind came in an unending flow. In fact, a total of twelve types of skywind appeared as well!

Suddenly, the surrounding area once more turned calm. For a long period of time, no further gusts of wind appeared.

"Not good." Immortal Fivecraze was startled. "The final part of the wind tribulation has begun."

Ning was nervous and restless as well. He looked anxiously towards his master, standing there in the distance.

The Celestial Tribulation consisted of four great tribulations; the wind tribulation, the fire tribulation, the thunder tribulation, and the demonheart tribulation. The wind tribulation…it first consisted of ordinary wind, then types of skywind of different power, and then finally the most terrifying of all, the Celestial Immortal Wind. This Celestial Immortal Wind was invisible and formless; it was hard to locate within the Three Realms, and would only appear during the Celestial Tribulation.

No magic treasures were capable of blocking the Celestial Immortal Wind; it would form directly in front of the tribulant's body, then surge in through the head. Nothing, not even Daoist robes, would be able to block the penetrating power of this wind in the slightest!

After surging in through the head, it would naturally disperse and tear through the vital organs.

What it tested was a person's Dao-heart. If one's Dao-heart was weak, then once the Celestial Immortal Wind surged in through the head, their body would most likely instantly melt and transform into dust, allowing only the Goldlotus Primal to survive and flee. More than 99% of Void-level Earth Immortals would be defeated by the Celestial Immortal Wind.

If one's Dao-heart was strong and stable enough, then the trial of the Celestial Immortal Wind would actually be a transformatative baptism, allowing the tribulant to slowly begin to develop a Celestial Immortal Body.

"Master, you have to hold on," Ning said, extremely worried.

"Hold on." Immortal Fivecraze stared at him as well.

Immortal Diancai stood there by himself, surrounded by those five pitch-black Immortal swords. He opened his eyes, revealing a smile as he looked towards Ning and Immortal Fivecraze. "The wind tribulation is over."

"Good." Immortal Fivecraze laughed loudly, "I just knew that your Dao-heart had to be strong, junior apprentice-brother! The wind tribulation was unable to do anything to you at all. Hurry up and replenish your elemental ki and prepare for the next tribulation, the fire tribulation!"

Ning let out a sigh of relief as well.

At least the first tribulation had been overcome.

In truth, given the Dao-heart which his master normally displayed, Ning should have felt quite confident in him. However, right before they entered this minor world, his master's emotions had been disturbed, and he had even spoken of reuniting with his deceased junior apprentice-sister. Ning had been very worried about the effects of this former relationship on his master's heart. Once one's Dao-heart became even slightly unstable, then one's body would quickly be transformed into dust.

The Celestial Tribulation was truly dangerous. One couldn't make a single error in it; a single error would represent a complete failure!

Ning, Immortal Fivecraze, and Uncle White kept their divine senses spread as they stood vigilant guard for Immortal Diancai, whom they continued to watch.

Roughly an hour after the wind tribulation ended.

Rumbling red clouds suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the skies; it was as though a cloud created from an enormous ball of flames had appeared.

"The fire tribulation has arrived." Ning and Immortal Fivecraze both watched nervously.

The fire tribulation wasn't as insidious as the wind tribulation, but it was even more savage and ferocious! The power of those flames…if a Void-level Earth Immortal slipped for a single instant, then his body would instantly be charred into ash.

The fiery clouds in the skies slowly descended. Instantly, the temperature of the surrounding area began to rise, and the air itself seemed to glow with a blurry red light.

Crackle crackle crackle…

The ground itself began to turn soft. It began to transform into lava and began to bubble and froth.

Immortal Diancai began to levitate into the air. "Go!" Immortal Diancai pointed with his finger, and one of the five Heavenraker swords actually flew out, transforming into a giant serpent of fire that flew through the skies, stabbing straight towards the enormous fiery cloud, slashing through it and causing it to grow chaotic and disordered. However, the Heavenraker sword was quickly knocked flying backwards.

Instantly, the fiery cloud began to drop at an even faster pace. Soon, it completely enveloped Immortal Diancai within it.

Hiss hiss hiss…

The temperature had risen to a terrifying level, and even the lava within the region had been completely incinerated and transformed into nothingness. Even the stones in the distant region where Ning and the others were watching had been transformed into lava. From this, one could tell how terrifying the temperature was.

Rumble…whoosh…crackle…

Streaks of skyfire could vaguely be seen blazing from within the fiery cloud. There was golden skyfire, black skyfire, green skyfire, and even skyfire that seemed to flash like the stars…

"The various types of skyfire have descended." Ning and Immortal Fivecraze both watched nervously.

Boom!

Suddenly…

The entire fiery cloud began to converge and coalesce around a single central point. Suddenly, a human-shaped figure appeared from within it, protected by five Immortal swords. The fiery cloud had transformed into a blazing light that was completely insubstantial. The light passed through the blocking Immortal swords, flying straight into the human-shaped figure's body.

For a moment, the entire world turned silent. The surrounding temperature began to drop at a rapid pace. Immortal Diancai, however, emanated a fiery light as he hovered there in the skies. Ning stared at his master; his master was emanating so much fiery light, he seemed to be made out of flames himself.

"The final type of fire within the fire tribulation…the Celestial Immortal Fire," Immortal Fivecraze said worriedly.

A Celestial Immortal Body had to be tempered by wind, fire, and lightning. Only afterwards could the Celestial Immortal Body be forged. Then, after undergoing the trial of the demonheart tribulation, the Celestial Immortal's Dao-heart would be formed.

Only after all tribulations were passed would one become a carefree, unbound Celestial Immortal!

"He overcame it." The distant Ning revealed a look of joy on his face. He saw that the distant Immortal Diancai's body was beginning to slowly turn a duller color as he slowly returned to normal.

Immortal Diancai landed. He immediately sat down in the lotus position, quietly adjusting his energy levels and recovering his elemental ki.

"The fire tribulation is over. Next comes the most dangerous tribulation, the thunder tribulation!" Immortal Fivecraze murmured softly.

"Right. The thunder tribulation." Ning's heart clenched as well.

Of the four great tribulations, the final demonheart tribulation was the strangest tribulation. But the thunder tribulation was the most terrifying one!

The thunder tribulation was the most brutal one of all. Layers of lightning bolts would descend, continuously rising in power. Even past figures like Immortal Juhua and Immortal Northwalker had eventually been destroyed by the power of the continuous, unending thunderbolts, resulting in their Goldlotus Primals being damaged and them fleeing to become Loose Immortals. The thunder tribulation was an absolute nightmare! The vast majority of peerless geniuses would end up perishing in the face of this tribulation. There were absolutely no tricks that could be used to block the thunderbolts; each time a bolt descended, you had to block it head-on. If you couldn't? You'd be finished!

Simple as that!

"I wonder how many bolts of thunder will fall." Immortal Fivecraze was worried.

"Master has an extremely high level in sword-arts. His talent is very high, and he has five top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords. I imagine there will be quite a few," Ning said worriedly as well.

The thunder tribulation…some Earth Immortals might only encounter nine bolts of thunder. Others, however, might meet with eighteen, twenty-seven, or thirty-six bolts…and according to the stories, the highest number possible was eighty-one bolts!

The power of the skythunder would be linked to many factors; in fact, it was also linked to karmic merit. Still, generally speaking, Ki Refiners would never suffer the legendary 'eighty-one bolt skythunder tribulation!' Generally speaking, only Fiendgod Body Refiners would encounter it while undergoing their tribulation. Many monstrously powerful Void-level Fiendgod Body Refiners would be hammered to death by the consecutive lightning bolts!

Ning knew very well that although he had already trained in the third stage of the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art, if he were to encounter the eighty-one bolts of lightning, he would definitely be crushed into nothingness by the power of those bolts!

"I hope he has less than 36 bolts," Immortal Fivecraze whispered.

"Right." Ning nodded gently as well.

Ki Refiners were innately weaker than Fiendgod Body Refiners when it came to withstanding skythunder. Generally speaking, it would be very hard for them to succeed if there were more than 36 bolts.

Another hour passed.

Two enormous stormclouds suddenly appeared out of nowhere from within the calm skies. These two stormclouds converged rapidly from different directions, completely blotting out the sun as they drew close to each other. Instantly, electric streaks of lightning began to crackle between the two massive clouds. The awe-inspiring power from within them caused Ning, Immortal Fivecraze, and the Whitewater Hound to all feel trepidation.

Slowly, the two massive stormclouds began to merge, and as they combined to form a single supermassive stormcloud, the supermassive stormcloud began to rotate. Soon, it the thunder tribulation stormcloud had transformed into a vortex of lightning and clouds.

"What an enormous thunder tribulation cloud." Immortal Fivecraze's face suddenly changed.

"What's wrong?" Ning asked, worried.

"When I faced my tribulation, it was this thunder tribulation which defeated me. But…the thunder tribulation cloud I faced wasn't this big," Immortal Fivecraze said worriedly.

"What?! How many bolts of thunder were you up against during your thunder tribulation?" Ning asked.

"I don't know. However, the twenty-fifth bolt of skythunder shattered my magic treasures and blew apart my body. I thus chose to give up and flee," Immortal Fivecraze said. "Junior apprentice-brother Diancai will definitely face far more bolts of skythunder than I did."

Just as his words came out…

BOOM!

Ning could hear a thunderous noise in his ears as an absolutely dazzling bolt of lightning suddenly streaked down from the lightning-cloud vortex in the skies, slamming directly downwards towards Immortal Diancai.

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Chapter 13 – My Master

Immortal Diancai stood there on the ground. His head raised, he stared at the lightning-cloud vortex, those five pitch-black Heavenraker swords swirling around him. When that first bolt of skythunder fell down from the skies…

"Go!" Immortal Diancai pointed. Instantly, one of the five Heavenraker swords shot out. It seemed to have transformed into an enormous mountain peak, carrying incomparable weight and power behind it as it went forth to welcome the bolt of lightning.

BOOM!

An enormous collision sound. The Heavenraker Immortal sword, as stable as a mountain, just trembled for a moment, whereas the bolt of skythunder was completely dispersed.

"The first bolt of skythunder is the weakest; even the most ordinary of Void-level Earth Immortals can withstand it. Given junior apprentice-brother Diancai's power and the fact that he has five top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords…he will probably only begin to find it taxing when he reaches the twenty-seventh bolt of skythunder," Immortal Fivecraze said.

"Mm." Ning nodded in agreement. Immortal Fivecraze had been defeated by the twenty-fifth bolt; if he had top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords back then, he probably would've been able to make it past the twenty-seventh as well.

Skythunder…every nine bolts represented a different level of power.

The first nine bolts were weak. Eighteen bolts were stronger. But twenty-seven bolts, thirty-six bolts…every nine bolts represented an increase in lethality. The legendary eighty-one bolts of skythunder…even the thought of them was enough to terrify.

BOOM! BOOM!

Skythunder exploded forth with wild fury. One bolt after another came crashing down. Immortal Diancai was able to use a single one of his top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords to block all of the first eighteen bolts, causing a hint of joy to appear on his face. Although he knew in theory how powerful theses swords were, only now did he truly understand how tremendously helpful these top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords were during the terrifying thunder tribulation!

BOOM! The nineteenth bolt of thunder was more savage than the last, and it came down even faster. It seemed to carry annihilating power within it; it was clearly on a higher level of power than the previous bolts.

That single Heavenraker sword once more flew up to greet it, still as stable and weighty as a mountain.

BANG!

The illusory mountain around the Heavenraker sword collapsed, and the sword itself was knocked downwards. The remaining force of the skythunder continued to crash down towards Immortal Diancai, but Immortal Diancai didn't panic in the slightest. He just let out a low growl, and instantly three of the four remaining Immortal swords around him flew upwards, glowing with golden light, watery light, and earthen light.

The three Heavenraker swords formed into a tripartite formation, effortlessly blocking the remaining power of the skythunder.

"Your master has only used his Tripartite Sword Formation," Immortal Fivecraze said. "Your master was exceedingly gifted, and many years ago he reached the Dao Realm level in three mastered Dao-Paths. He's also embarked on the path of a Sword Immortal. He originally only used three Immortal swords, and the technique he used the most often was this Tripartite Sword Formation. However, after training for so many more years, he's gained even more insights and has thus developed the Five Elements Sword."

Ning nodded slightly. Indeed. After his master switched to using three Immortal swords, his power seemed to increase dramatically. He was able to withstand one bolt of lightning after another, even overcoming the twenty-fifth bolt which had done in Immortal Fivecraze. He was able to persist all the way through the twenty-seventh bolt.

"It's time for another increase in power," Immortal Fivecraze said with concern.

Twenty-seven bolts…this represented the end of the first three nine-sets.

Thirty-six would represent the end of the fourth nine-set!

As the twenty-eighth bolt came crashing down, the Tripartite Sword Formation was suddenly pressed downwards…but it was still able to withstand the bolt. But then came the twenty-ninth, the thirtieth bolts…the power of the skythunder was slowly increasing, and the Tripatite Sword Formation was beginning to crumble. By the time of the thirty-sixth bolt of skythunder, Immortal Diancai let out a low growl. Instantly, all five of the Heavenraker swords flew upwards to welcome this bolt.

Rumble…

As the five Heavenraker swords flew upwards, they formed into the illusion of five massive mountains in the sky, each of a different color. The five Immortal swords combined their power, becoming incomparably weighty and solid as they effortless deflected the thirty-sixth bolt of skythunder as well.

"Fine treasures. A fine sword-art!" Immortal Fivecraze said excitedly.

"Even the thirty-sixth bolt was blocked." Ning revealed a look of excitement as well…but immediately afterwards, his face changed. This was because an even more terrifyingly powerful bolt of lightning was beginning to descend from the vortex of lightning.

"What?! Can it be that your master's tribulation involves forty-five bolts?!" Immortal Fivecraze felt shocked.

Ning's face turned solemn as well. Ki Refiners couldn't be the slightest bit overconfident in facing their tribulations…because even a tiny unblocked fraction of the thunderbolt would be enough to completely blow apart their bodies! Fiendgod Body Refiners, by contrast, would generally be able to use their bodies to withstand a small amount of remnant power from the thunderbolts.

Thus…for many, thirty-six thunderbolts represented a plateau, the conclusion of the fourth nine-set. Ki Refiners generally had a chance to survive the first four sets…but after that, chances would grow dim!

The thirty-seventh bolt of skythunder was clearly far more powerful than the previous bolt. Ning could sense the invisible pressure and power of the bolt just by looking nat it. The power of this bolt of skythunder was at the level of a Celestial Immortal already!

Rumble…

From within the five enormous illusory mountains, the five Immortal swords managed to block this bolt of skythunder, but they were pushed down strongly in the process.

"Such power." Immortal Diancai's face changed as well, but his expression remained cold and his gaze remained resolute.

He wasn't going to retreat or flee!

BOOM!

The thirty-eighth bolt of skythunder came crashing down, and Immortal Diancai once more used his five top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords to greet the attack, managing to force it aside once more. But this time, the five illusory mountains that represented the five swords were nearly destroyed.

"Not good." Watching from the distance, Immortal Fivecraze's face changed dramatically. "It's very hard to say as to whether or not your master will be able to overcome the forty-fifth bolt of skythunder."

Ning didn't say anything; he just watched closely. He could tell this as well!

Given that even the thirty-eighth bolt was already almost powerful enough to cause his master's sword-arts to crumble…it was very hard to say if his master would be able to make it all the way past the forty-fifth. In the past, Immortal Fivecraze had succumbed to the twenty-fifth bolt, rather than the twenty-seventh bolt.

BOOM!

The lightning-cloud vortex in the skies spat out the thirty-ninth bolt of skythunder, even more ferocious than the previous bolts.

"BLOCK!" Immortal Diancai let out a howl. The five Heavenraker swords were like fish that were swimming against the flow of the river. They carried those five illusory mountains to greet the bolt of skythunder, but when the skythunder came hammering down, all five swords were knocked downwards towards the ground. Still…the bolt of skythunder was almost consumed as well.

"Not enough!" Immortal Fivecraze said frantically.

"Master, Master!" Ning was panicking as well.

"I have to hold." Immortal Diancai's face suddenly turned a swollen red color, and his aura increased explosively in power as well. Clearly, he had just used a forbidden technique.

Immortal Fivecraze's eyes were filled with nervousness. "Your master has used a forbidden technique to compress and squeeze more power out of his Goldlotus Primal. I hope that this technique will be enough to help him withstand the tribulation. It has to be enough. Don't fail. You can't fail!" He had seen far too many of his fellow disciples fail during the Celestial Tribulation. He had failed. His master had failed. His brothers had failed…

One after another had been toppled by the Celestial Tribulation.

Immortal Diancai was the most promising one he had seen, and he even had the aid of five top-grade Immortal-ranked flying swords.

"You have to hold," Immortal Fivecraze murmured.

"Master…Master…" Ning's heart was tight as well. He felt even more nervous than when he himself was facing life-and-death. Although he had heard long ago that the Celestial Tribulation was truly frightening, upon seeing the actual bolts of increasingly powerful skythunder come crashing down from the skies, Ning became terrified that one of them would actually strike his master's body! A single strike…that would be it. He would be finished!

The fourtieth bolt. The forty-first bolt. The forty-second bolt…

After using the forbidden technique, the power of Immortal Diancai's five swords increased dramatically, and they took on multiple bolts in succession.

BOOM!

The forty-fourth bolt of skythunder!

Immortal Diancai's face was somewhat distorted now, and his eyes were filled with madness. The five Immortal swords once more flew upwards to greet the thunder, and the imposing illusion of the five mountains seemed mighty enough to suppress and seal away this entire minor world. But in the face of the all-annihilating bolt of skythunder…the five illusory mountains were dissipated, and all five Immortal swords were knocked flying backwards.

"He blocked it. Just the last one; the final bolt of skythunder," Immortal Fivecraze said worriedly.

"Master…" Ning was so frantic, he wanted to charge forward himself to help.

Blood was beginning to appear on the skin of Immortal Diancai's face. This forbidden technique was drawing out elemental ki in such a berserk, forcible way that even blood was being drawn out.

BOOM!

The forty-fifth bolt!

"Block it again!" Immortal Diancai seemed to have entered a berserk state, and all five Heavenraker swords frantically rose. It seemed as though, in this dire situation, he was able to unleash more power than he ever had before, and the five illusory mountains once more joined together, increasing their power by a little bit compared to the past.

BANG!!!

The bolt of skythunder, representing annihilation, came crashing downwards.

Slash…

The five Immortal swords were knocked backwards, and a small amount of remaining power from the skythunder came crashing down towards Immortal Diancai as well.

"NO!" Ning felt as though his heart was about to split apart. He was so frantic, his eyes turned completely red.

"NO!" Immortal Fivecraze was filled with terror as well.

But Immortal Diancai actually let out an utterly berserk howl as five more Immortal swords suddenly appeared above him. These were the five swords which Immortal Diancai himself had been previously using! He had often used these five swords…and he only had enough time to transform them into five streaks of rainbow light before the remaining power of the lightning crashed down into them.

BANG! The five flying swords were all knocked flying, with one of them actually stabbing through Immortal Diancai's chest, cutting out a bloody hole. However, the remaining power of the lightning had been completely dispersed.

"Hahaha, hahahaha…" Immortal Diancai began to laugh. Clutching the wound over his chest, he raised his head to the heavens and laughed.

Ning and Immortal Fivecraze were stunned for a moment…but in the next moment, they went berserk with joy.

"He blocked it!"

"Master blocked it!"

This sort of feeling, of victory snached from the jaws of defeat, caused both Ning and Immortal Fivecraze's emotions to go through a series of turbulent changes.

"But why…" Immortal Fivecraze raised his head, staring at the lightning-cloud vortex. His eyes suddenly became filled with despair and terror. "Why…why hasn't…"

"Why hasn't…hasn't it dispersed?" Ning could feel a cold feeling sweeping through him from head to toe.

The vortex of lightning in the skies was continuing to swivel…and it was gathering an even more terrifying amount of power.

Immortal Diancai, still clutching his chest, was suddenly stunned. He stared blankly at the lightning-cloud vortex in the skies, his eyes filled with rage and despair. He unleashed a savage roar from his soul: "Why, why, WHY ARE THERE STILL MORE?!"

"Six nine-sets…six nine-sets…" Immortal Fivecraze's eyes were filled with despair. "Six nine-sets of thunder. My junior apprentice-brother isn't the disciple of a Daofather; he's not even the disciple of a Celestial Immortal. Why would the sixth nine-set appear…why…"

"F*CK YOU, HEAVENS!" Ning raised his head as well, letting out a grief-stricken, enraged roar. Two streaks of tears began to fall from h is eyes. "Master, master…my master!!!!"

BOOM!

Another enormous bolt of lightning was born from within the lightning-cloud vortex…and it came crashing downwards.

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Chapter 14 – Extermination

Ji Ning felt as though his heart was being torn apart. This pain filled every part of his body. Ever since his parents had passed away, he truly had very few kinsmen. Although his master Diancai always had a strict look and a cold face, Ning could sense the love and caring his master felt for him from deep within his heart. His master had the exact same sort of disposition which Ning's own father, Ji Yichuan, had.

"No. No…" Ning's heart was filled with nothing but despair.

Nobody could rescue his master from the Celestial Tribulation! Even a Daofather of the Great Firmament would only be able to watch from one side…because upon interfering, heaven's punishment would be triggered, causing even a Daofather who tried to withstand it to perish.

Next…Ning suddenly felt a powerful desire enter his heart.

"I've had enough. ENOUGH!!!" Within his own mind, Ning let out a howl of utter despair. "I've had ENOUGH of this feeling of powerlessness. I don't want any more of my loved ones to leave me. I don't have it. I WON'T HAVE IT!"

His mother had passed away…

His father had passed away…

And now, even his master was going to pass away…

Ning's heart felt like it was being chopped apart by knives! An incomparably powerful desire filled him; the desire to not let him or his loved ones be toyed with by destiny. A desire to completely control his own destiny, his own fate.

"I need to grow powerful. More powerful. If I can become like Pangu, capable of establishing the heavens and forming the earth, or like Nuwa, capable of repairing the heavens or destroying them…then perhaps the so-called Celestial Tribulation would be nothing more than a joke in my eyes." For the first time in his life, Ning had the goal to truly stand at the absolute top of the Three Realms, the unquestioned top, beyond all other powers…

…to be at Pangu's level.

Pangu, he who had established the heavens and formed the earth, creating the Primordial World.

Nuwa, who had mastered 84,000 Daos, and had become heralded as Maiden Nuwa, the 'Supremely Benevolent, Supremely Holy Pangu-God'. She had reached Pangu's level, and had also become the undisputed number one figure of the Three Realms!

At their levels…

Even the heavens and the earth would have to submit, much less the Celestial Tribulation, which was nothing more than a mere part of the heavens and the earth!

"Master…" But no matter what Ning currently desired within his heart, he wasn't able to change anything. All he could do…was watch!

Although Ning and Immortal Fivecraze both felt pain and resentment…in this moment, it was the tribulant, Immortal Diancai, who truly felt utter despair.

Immortal Diancai clutched at his chest, head raised. When he saw that the vortex of lightning and clouds was not dispersing, and was instead nurturing an even more powerful bolt of lightning, Immortal Diancai felt despair. "Why are there more coming? Why are there more…"

Despair.

"Junior apprentice-sister, I'm coming." Immortal Diancai's face turned calm. He stared at the bolt of lightning forming within the skies, then pointed towards it. "Go!"

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

The five Heavenraker swords all soared into the heavens, preparing to welcome that bolt of lightning.

This time, Immortal Diancai used the most beautiful, magnificent, and most powerful sword-art he had ever used since he was born. The five Immortal swords swirled around each other, joining together as they went to welcome annihilation.

Back when Immortal Diancai had merely been a third-generation disciple of the Black-White College.

"Young fellow, you should be filled with the vigor and energy of youth. Why are you like this?"

"My junior apprentice-sister is dead. Life holds no meaning for me now. Life holds no meaning!"

"Life holds no meaning? Since you feel as though life has no meaning…this old man actually just so happens to want to kill someone today. Don't fight back. Just let me kill you."

Whoosh.

Five unranked flying swords flew together towards the numb, despairing youth…and invisible sword-intent instantly transmitted into the youth's brain.

One sword-stance after another was desmonstrated…and the sword-art became filled with increasing despair, the utmost despair.

"Five Elements Sword, stance eighteen: Minor Five Elements Extermination!"

Each stance was more complex and inconceivable than the last.

"Five Elements Sword, stance thirty-six: Major Five Elements, All Life!"

"Hahaha…"

"Destiny brought us together, and so I will teach you this set of sword techniques. Meditate well on them, young man. Your future path will be a long one!"

That voice had echoed within his mind.

By the time the young Diancai had woken up, he could no longer find that old man, no matter how hard he searched.

This stroke of karmic fortune caused Immortal Diancai to skyrocket in power in sword-arts. He was acknowledged by all the Loose Immortals of the Black-White College as having the highest chance of becoming a Celestial Immortal! After gaining the assistance of Ning's Dao-repository and being able to compare the techniques within to his own techniques, he gained new insights and made another breakthrough, reaching Immortal Northwalker's level. But even up till now, he had only reached the level of the seventeenth stance of the Five Elements Sword!

It must be understood that the first eighteen stances represented the first half of the technique. The next eighteen stances were far more mysterious and profound.

The old man definitely was a formidable figure of the Three Realms, given that he was able to transmit a technique such as this. Clearly, he was just wandering casually through the Three Realms, and happened upon Immortal Diancai by chance. Upon seeing that Immortal Diancai had potential, he had casually taught him this sword technique, then left. This didn't mean he had taken Diancai on as a disciple! If he had, he would've taught him Ki Refining techniques, secret arts, and more; in fact, he would often provide guidance to help Diancai work through anything he found confusing. The reality was, Immortal Diancai had to rely on himself and his own efforts in order to resolve any confusions he had regarding the Five Elements Sword!

"Huh?!"

Immortal Diancai suddenly understood.

It was like the golden light of the sun piercing through the darkness of the skies. The thunder tribulation had completely disrupted his emotions, causing him to rise to triumphant heights, then fall in an abyss of despair. Now that he was preparing to welcome death…his sword-arts broke through to a new level.

He finally comprehended what it truly meant to be reach the limits of despair…and what the true mysteries of the 'Minor Five Elements, Extermination' technique truly meant! 1

"Five Elements Sword, stance eighteen: Minor Five Elements, Extermination!" Immortal Diancai continued to clutch at his chest, but suddenly…he smiled.

The five black flying Immortal swords in the skies, joined into the illusion of five massive mountains, had previously each been glowing with a different color of light. The light had circulated from sword to sword, joining them together and supporting each other. But Immortal Diancai suddenly willed them to change…

Rumble…

Space itself seemed to shake.

The five illusory mountains suddenly merged into a single illusion, an enormous five-fingered mountain. The five mountains had become one! There were five peaks jutting out from the top of this mountain like five fingers; each peak was of a different color! The mountain carried with it a feeling of incomparably heavy despair and depression, as though its despair could smother and exterminate anything in the world!

This was the final stance of the first half of the Five Elements Sword, the sword-stance that represented mastery of the first half…Minor Five Elements Extermination!

Rumble…

The forty-sixth bolt of skythunder crashed against the five Heavenraker swords which appeared like a mountain with five fingers stretching out from its peak.

The entire mountain trembled slightly, and the bolt of skythunder was dispersed.

Rumble…

The forty-seventh bolt of lightning came crashing down!

Still holding his chest, Immortal Diancai just smiled as he stared upwards. The five Heavenraker swords went up to greet the lightning, and the mountain peak they formed was incomparably tall and massive, so much so that its peak seemed to encompass this entire minor world. Once more, it blocked the bolt of skythunder.

"This…" Immortal Fivecraze and Ning were both stunned. Both of them had been gripped by despair, but now they were stunned.

"Earlier, junior apprentice-brother used a forbidden technique to overcome the first five nine-sets of the thunder tribulation. Why is it that the sixth set has become so simple for him?" Immortal Fivecraze was completely flabbergasted. "A sudden breakthrough? But…but…a breakthrough during the Celestial Tribulation?"

Ning felt dazed as well. Generally speaking, one might make sudden breakthroughs in combat, but the crashing skythunder didn't carry within it any of the mysteries of the Dao; it was nothing more than raw, primalistic strikes of lightning. Could it be that somehow, it had taught his master something? How did his master's sword-arts suddenly become this powerful?

Although Ning didn't know how his master had made a sudden breakthrough, he still felt his heart become filled with the utmost of joy.

"Hahaha…keep blocking. Keep blocking!" Ning watched eagerly.

One thunderbolt after another continued to come crashing down. Each time, Immortal Diancai used the 'Minor Five Elements Extermination' to defend against the attack…but starting from the fifty-first bolt, he was clearly beginning to find it a bit difficult! The power of the fifty-second bolt caused his five Immortal swords to be smashed downwards by three hundred meters, and the fifty-third bolt caused the illusory mountain his swords had created to nearly be dispersed!

"The last one…the last one!" Ning and Immortal Fivecraze both stared intently.

BOOM!

The fifty-fourth bolt of skythunder came crashing down! This bolt of skythunder was tinged with a hint of violet light.

"Block!" Immortal Diancai's aura actually grew even more powerful; his Dao-heart had been baptized by despair and grown even more stronger. The five Heavenraker swords ferociously battled upwards, transforming into an enormous illusory mountain.

BANG!!!!

The skythunder and the mountain crashed against each other. The mountain was completely destroyed and the five Immortal swords were blasted away…but the skythunder was completely dispersed as well.

"HE BLOCKED IT!" Immortal Fivecraze let out an excited howl.

Ning raised his head, staring intently at the lightning-cloud vortex in the skies. Immortal Fivecraze immediately did the same as well. Both were worried that even more skythunder would be coming. However…this time, no more came. The vortex of lightning in the skies began to dissipate towards the four directions, and as they did, a single streak of electricity began to swirl around Immortal Diancai's body.

When this streak of lightning appeared and descended upon Immortal Diancai, his aura began to subtly change and grow profound; this was an aura that completely surpassed that of Void-level Earth Immortals and Loose Immortals.

"A Celestial Immortal Body." Ning and Immortal Fivecraze both revealed looks of delight.

"Congratulations, Master." After the final flickers of electricity disappeared, Ning immediately called out to his master in a loud voice.

"Junior apprentice-brother, that was a thunder tribulation of six nine-sets. It's utterly unfathomable that a Ki Refiner actually met with six nine-sets…I imagine that generally, only disciples of Daofathers and other legendary figures would be subjected to such a tribulation. But you actually overcame it! Ahaha, I'm in utter awe of you. Junior apprentice-brother, hurry up and rest up; soon, the demonheart tribulation will arrive. You've already overcome the most dangerous and most terrifying tribulation, the thunder tribulation; don't be felled by the demonheart tribulation," Immortal Fivecraze said.

"Right." Immortal Diancai nodded calmly, a smile on his face. He pointed a finger towards Ning, and all five Heavenraker swords immediately flew towards Ning. "I no longer need these five Immortal swords."

Ning nodded, immediately taking back the five Heavenraker swords.

"The demonheart tribulation will take a minimum of seven days," Immortal Fivecraze said solemly. "Ji Ning, when my junior apprentice-brother is undergoing his demonheart tribulation…we absolutely cannot allow anyone to disturb him. If there are any enemies preparing to attack, they will most likely do so during this final tribulation. You and I both need to be careful."

"Right. Understood. No one will be permitted to disturb my master," Ning said seriously as well.

His true body had trained in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]; it was extremely well-suited for close combat. He truly wasn't worried about anyone in terms of a head-on fight. As for his Primaltwin, it had the [Heavenraker] sword formation, which would be formed from nine Heavenraker Immortal swords. All by himself, he would be able to deal with two Celestial Immortals.

No one would be allowed to interfere! No one at all! Regardless of who they were or who their backer was…they would not be permitted to disturb his master's tribulation!

Within Stillwater Commandery. A ripple appeared in the darkness of the empty skies, and a white-robed female suddenly emerged from the ripple.

She had a slim, pretty face and a reserved aura, but she was on the level of an Earth Immortal or Loose Immortal. Her eyes, however, were filled with a natural arrogance, an arrogance that held all those before her in contempt.

"Mm?" The white-robed woman stared at the distant mountains. "Here we are!"

1. This is a wordplay; the word 'extermination' here is a two-part word, 'miejue' that when taken together means 'extermination/complete destruction', but when read separately can be interpreted as destroying despair.

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Chapter 15 – Enemy

The white-robed woman stood there in the void, staring at the mountain range. She immediately waved her hand, producing a bronze talisman within it. She filled the talisman with her elemental ki.

Rumble…the talisman became scorchingly hot.

This mountain range was, in reality, the headquarters for the Blood God Church; it was known as the Bloodlake Mountains. There were layers of formations protecting this mountain range, causing even the Northmont clan of Stillwater to be unable to do anything to it.

Within the mountains. A towering, large palace.

Above the palace, there was a jade bed that emanated with a hint of azure light. Seated atop the jade bed was a blood-robed man whose eyes glowed with a bloody light. He was the leader of the Blood God Church, the Scion of the Blood God!

"Eh?" The Scion frowned, then immediately waved his hand, producing a bronze talisman of his own. The talisman had become scorchingly hot.

The Scion was startled for a moment…then he immediately disappeared from atop the jade bed. Moments later, he appeared in the air above the mountains. Based on the resonance from the talismans, he turned to look towards the white-robed woman's direction, then took a single step and arrived before her. He bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Emissary!"

"Yet another Void-level Earth Immortal is undergoing a tribulation within your Stillwater Commandery," the white-robed woman said calmly. "It is Immortal Diancai of the Black-White College. Here is the detailed intelligence information about him." As she spoke, she tossed over a leatherbound scroll towards the Scion of the Blood God, who immediately accepted it in a respectful manner.

The white-robed woman gave the Scion a glance, then snorted and departed gracefully, quickly disappearing into the distant horizons.

The Scion stood there in the air, scroll in hand. He watched in a cold, sinister manner as the woman left. "A mere Emissary dares to put on such airs before me? If it wasn't for the power behind you, I would've annihilated you with a wave of my hand."

Whoosh. The Scion opened the scroll, which had detailed information regarding Immortal Diancai's tribulation, as well as a map and directions.

"He's actually in a minor world, with the entrance being in the Darknorth Sea?" The Scion couldn't help but feel a chill as he read the information. "This mysterious power…they are a bit too all-knowing…how can they even know about such a well-hidden tribulation location?"

He had only interacted with this mysterious power for roughly thirty years…but the more he interacted with them, the more terrifying he found them to be!

They had given him just a slight bit of help, but that had been already enough to make his Blood God Church strong enough to tussel against the Northmont clan of Stillwater. Although their roots weren't as powerful and as deep as the Northmont clan's…there was no way for the Northmont clan to wipe out the Blood God Church now.

"They've already given me two intelligence reports regarding Earth Immortals undergoing a tribulation. This is the third one." The Scion frowned. "How on earth did they find out?"

A traitor or a spy?

The Scion of the Blood God didn't believe it!

Earth Immortals were extremely cautious when undergoing their tribulations; they would only invite protectors that they had absolute faith in! In addition, they would usually personally use a spatial teleport to go to the tribulation location; not even the protectors would know exactly where the tribulation would be attempted. Indeed, Ji Ning and Immortal Fivecraze weren't told in advance, and they didn't know exactly where in the Darknorth Sea the island they had been taken to was located!

"How did they find out? This is too incredible. I've heard from others that due to the fact that the Three Realms are filled with dangerous undercurrents, fate and destiny have been thrown into a state of chaos, making it virtually impossible for someone to Foretell where a tribulation will occur," the Scion mused puzzledly. Normally, powerful experts of the Three Realms might be able to Foretell through augury some rather well-hidden mysteries…but fate itself had been thrown into a state of flux. There was no way to do so now!

"No wonder they hold the Grand Xia Dynasty with no regard. No wonder they dare to act against the entire Dynasty," the Scion mused privately. "Doesn't matter. I'm not going to make enemies with them; all I need to do is borrow from their strength to strengthen myself. As long as they can strengthen my Blood God Church, that's all that matters."

"Right. This Immortal Diancai is of the Black-White College; the Black-White College is one of the strongest supporters of the Northmont clan of Stillwater. They are one of their most loyal dogs! I need to seize this chance to wound them," the Scion nodded to himself.

Although the white-robed Emissary had delivered the intelligence report, she hadn't ordered the Scion to do anything.

To kill or not? This was up to the Scion himself. If he chose not to attack, the mysterious power wouldn't care.

Whoosh.

The Scion of the Blood God returned to his palace.

"Have the seven Law Protectors come see me right away," the Scion instructed from atop his jade bed.

"Yes," an attendant said respectfully.

Soon, seven black-robed Law Protectors hurried over.

"Greetings, sect leader," the seven black-robed Law Protectors said respectfully.

"Immortal Diancai of the Black-White College is currently undergoing his tribulation. The Black-White College is one of the most loyal dogs of the Northmont clan; we need to seize this chance to eradicate Immortal Diancai," the Scion said calmly. "The other Immortals of the Black-White College are all within their College; it is very likely that the only guardians with him right now are his disciple Ji Ning as well as Immortal Fivecraze, the most powerful member of the Black-White College."

"Make a trip with me. Let us eradicate these three members of the Black-White College," the Scion of the Blood God said. "With these three gone, the Black-White College will be badly wounded; this is akin to breaking one of the Northmont clan's legs."

"Sect leader, just the seven of us and yourself? Will it be enough? I heard that this Ji Ning had gone missing for thirty-plus years; he must have taken on an expert of the Three Realms as his master."

"The Black-White College isn't easy to deal with; even if the seven of us go along with you, we will still probably suffer some losses even if we win."

The seven Law Protectors were all hesitating.

The Scion said calmly, "Don't worry. I have complete confidence; do you think I would let the seven of you take on any serious danger?"

The seven Law Protectors raised their heads to stare at the Sion of the Blood God.

"Hmph." The Scion let out a cold snort, then waved his hand. A small black ship had appeared within his palm.

"This is…" The eyes of the seven Law Protectors lit up.

"With this treasure in my hands…I trust you are all convinced now?" The Scion said.

"We shall naturally obey your orders, sect leader." The seven Law Protectors no longer hesitated.

The Scion immediately sent a further mental order: "Three Elders, the seven Law Protectors and I are going out on a trip. The affairs within the Church shall temporarily be managed by you three."

"Don't worry, sect leader. Leave it to us," the three Elders replied.

"Let's go!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

With the Scion in front and the seven Law Protectors behind, the eight flew high into the sky, moving like streaks of light. And then, they quickly used a spatial teleport to disappear.

The distant Darknorth Sea. The air above the island with a volcano.

The blood-robed Scion of the Blood God along with the seven black-robed Law Protectors were all standing in the air above the island.

"The entrance to the minor world is there, within that volcano," the Scion said calmly. "Based on our intelligence report, Immortal Diancai should have spent two days undergoing the tribulation by now. If he failed in overcoming the fire, wind, or thunder tribulations, then he is most likely either dead or a Loose Immortal by now. Even if he survived…he should currently be undergoing the demonheart tribulation."

"Later, do as I instructed to you previously." The Scion swept the seven Law Protectors with his gaze.

"Yes, sect leader," the seven black-robed Law Protectors said respectfully.

"Go in."

The Scion of the Blood God gave the order. Swoosh swoosh swoosh!!! Eight streaks of light instantly streaked across the sky, entering the mouth of the volcano.

Soon after they disappeared, there was yet another a ripple in space near the entrance to the volcano. Twelve white-robed figures emerged, the leader a figure with a bloody scar on the arm.

"The forces of the Blood God Church of Stillwater Commandery have entered," a white-robed youth said with a chortle. "Captain, you truly predicted everything in a godlike manner; you knew that they would definitely go."

"The Black-White College is located right in Stillwater Commandery; over the course of countless ages, they have always walked in lockstep with the Northmont clan of Stillwater! The Northmont clan, in turn, has always protected the Black-White College. Of the eight great powers, the Black-White College is the most loyal one; naturally, the Blood God Church will seize this chance to annihilate Immortal Diancai during his Celestial Tribulation." The leader, a white-robed man, continued calmly, "By borrowing from their strength, our own assassination attempt will become easier."

"Is there a need for us to be so cautious in dealing with Ji Ning?"

"Right. Even our superiors simply instructed us to be careful of the school behind Ji Ning; he himself isn't worthy of such concern. We've killed even Celestial Immortals; how powerful can a young fellow who has trained for less than a century possibly, even if he is a Daofather's disciple?"

They all spoke out. The leader, the scarred white-robed man, laughed. "Ji Ning naturally isn't worthy of concern, but I'm afraid that if something unexpected happens, his school might intervene. That's why this assassination must be a quick one! We need to avoid anything unexpected."

"Right." Everyone nodded. They were all mainly worried about Ning's school, worried that a True Immortal or Empyrean God might to suddenly appear and massacre them!

No one knew where Ning had disappeared to during the past thirty-plus years. However, the intelligence reports which the Bloodcloud Hall had received indicated that his disappearance…was almost assuredly linked to an extraordinary twist of fate!

"Execute our assassination plan," the scarred, white-robed man said solemnly.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh!!!

The twelve figures instantly disappeared as they too entered the mouth of the volcano.

Within the charred minor world that was filled with an aura of death.

Immortal Diancai was seated in the lotus position. Three thousand meters away from him, an enormous restrictive formation had been set up, and the surface of the formation glowed with light.

Within the formation were only two figures; Immortal Diancai and the Whitewater Hound.

Ji Ning and Immortal Fivecraze were both outside this grand sealing formation!

Earlier, during the wind, fire, and thunder tribulations, Ning's group hadn't dared to set down any formations…they didn't wish to disturb the Celestial Tribulation and incur divine punishment. They would've been finished! But now that they were at the final tribulation, the demonheart tribulation, setting up a grand restrictive formation no longer made any difference whatsoever. Ning and Immortal Fivecraze were both worried about enemies would sneak close through using some technique to avoid divine sense scans, and so they had set up this grand sealing formation.

With it present, one would have to either break the formation or use a Greater Teleportation technique in order to reach Immortal Diancai!

"This is master's second day undergoing the demonheart tribulation." Ning turned to glance at Immortal Diancai, seated calmly in the lotus position at the center of the grand sealing formation. No one knew what Immortal Diancai's demonheart tribulation was like; generally speaking, wayward thoughts were easily to withstand, but if one had to withstand them for an extremely long period of time…

It must be understood that at least seven days of time in the real world had to pass, but within the world of the demonheart tribulation, ten thousand years or more might pass. Some would even forget what reality was, and they would be completely submerged within the illusory world until finally they perished!

"Eh?" Ning was suddenly startled as a terrifying premonition of danger swept out from within his subconscious.

"Danger!" Ning sent frantically, "Old brother Fivecraze, Uncle White, be careful. I can sense danger drawing near!" Immortal practitioners generally had extremely accurate subconscious premonitions. However, Ning was quite astonished at the fact that he had such a powerful premonition of danger…because he had already trained in the [Eight-Nine Arcane Art]! Logically speaking, there should be very few things in the world capable of threatening him.

"Even if enemies came to attack Master…can it be that the amount of power they prepared is enough to threaten me as well?" Ning could barely believe it. "If that's the case, then we are in for huge trouble."

Ning's eyes suddenly lit up with torch-light.

[Torch Dragon's Eye]!

He immediately scanned in every direction with both his divine sense as well as the [Torch Dragon's Eye].

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