Chapter 12 The Trump Card ‘Ji Ning’

The enormous scales on the dragon’s tail were incredibly distinct, and Ji Ning sat inside the tail, surrounded by the scales.

“Hmm?” Ji Ning heard a rumbling sound and angry shouts.

“Form the formation!” “Deploy the formation!” came panicked cries from afar. Ji Ning’s ears twitched, and he smiled. “They’ve already struck.”

According to the plan, among the few experts of the Ji clan, Ji Ning was the strongest. He would only act at the critical moment… for now, he didn’t need to make a move.

A short while later.

“Whoosh!”

A figure flew over, it was Ji Yichuan, dressed in white beast-hide clothes.

“Father.” Ji Ning rose.

“Here!” Ji Yichuan’s hand produced six flying swords out of thin air, all hovering. “These were obtained after Liuzhen killed four Zifu Disciples. One of them controlled multiple flying swords, and we got five from him alone. In total, these six flying swords came from the four men’s treasures.”

Ji Ning didn’t hesitate and immediately took them.

“Perfect timing.” Ji Ning was extremely excited. They had already exchanged some treasures earlier; some were useless to him but urgently needed by others. At this life-or-death moment, no one was reluctant, and they acted decisively. For instance, Ji Ning had given the poisonous insects he got from Bei Zishan to Ji Jiuhuo, and Ji Jiuhuo and the others had known from last time that Ji Ning urgently needed ranked flying swords, but they had only managed to gather five.

Adding the two left by Bei Zishan, that made only seven flying swords—not enough for even one formation base of the Small Thousand Swords Formation. But with these six more, it would be sufficient.

“These six flying swords are all ranked.” Ji Yichuan said.

“Mm.” Ji Ning nodded. “With these six ranked flying swords, my strength will increase significantly. Then I’ll definitely kill those Snowdragon Mountain Zifu Disciples properly!”

Ji Yichuan’s face rarely showed joy. “This was truly satisfying. It was all thanks to the Netherdragon Lockheaven Formation you provided! A single ambush killed four Zifu Disciples. Without the formation’s support, we might have died in every sneak attack.”

“Mm.” Ji Ning nodded.

The Netherdragon Lockheaven Formation was something he had obtained from the Water Mansion; naturally, it was very powerful.

“Get ready. Once you’re needed, the clan leader will send you a message immediately.” Ji Yichuan instructed, then turned into a streak of light and quickly left.

Ji Ning immediately began to infuse his elemental energy into the flying swords, hastening to refine them. Although, according to the Water Mansion’s spirit, it would be better if the core flying swords came from the same source and were of higher grade, he was in no position to pick and choose now. Getting enough ranked flying swords was already good enough.

…

Black fog spread everywhere.

Nong Zidao, Tong Yu, and the others advanced cautiously through the black fog. The immortal crane and the earth dragon had returned to their original forms, following Nong Zidao and Tong Yu.

“This black fog illusion formation is nothing.” Nong Zidao finally spoke. “I’ve fully probed its mysteries. I can also sense the positions of Dong Zikai and the others. Now, do as I say… we’ll soon reunite with them.”

“We’ll follow Senior Apprentice Brother Zidao.”

“Senior Apprentice Brother Zidao is truly formidable.” The Zifu Disciples around him, who had looked grim, finally showed a hint of joy.

Earlier, as soon as they entered the formation and called out, Dong Zikai and the other eight Zifu Disciples in the distance responded… After a loud exchange, Tong Yu and Nong Zidao learned that four of their fellow disciples had died instantly! This made Tong Yu and Nong Zidao extremely angry and vigilant.

Nong Zidao called out clearly, “Junior Apprentice Brother Zikai, we’re coming over now. We’ll be there soon.”

“Boom!”

“Kill!”

“Kill the old bastards of the Ji clan.”

A burst of angry shouts and battle cries came from afar, startling Tong Yu, Nong Zidao, and the others. Soon, the sounds of fighting subsided.

Tong Yu frowned and shouted, “Dong Zikai, are you all alright?”

“We’re fine.” A voice came from afar. “The eight of us have been maintaining the formation without a moment’s slack. Suddenly, a huge dragon claw attacked… it was even fiercer than the first strike. We suffered a bit, but with the eight of us defending together, we’re strong enough that no one died.”

“Good, we’ll be there immediately.” Tong Yu said.

“Let’s hurry over.” Tong Yu looked at Nong Zidao beside him. “First a dragon head attack, now a dragon claw attack. This tiny Ji clan actually has such means.”

Nong Zidao said solemnly, “It seems the Ji clan obtained this formation by chance over the past few thousand years. It looks quite powerful. Let’s join up quickly.”

Just then—

Whoosh!

The surrounding black fog suddenly thickened, and there was even a bone-chilling coldness.

“Go forward, stop, turn left… stop.” Nong Zidao guided them easily, then his expression changed. “Hmm?”

“What’s wrong?” Everyone looked at him, waiting for his orders.

“It’s changed.”

Nong Zidao’s face turned ugly. “It’s a multi-layered formation, a formation within a formation. We’ve been trapped by another, more powerful maze formation.”

“Can’t you break it?” Tong Yu looked at him.

“Very difficult.” Nong Zidao examined the surroundings, gently waving his hand to feel the bone-chilling cold.

“How long to break it?” Tong Yu pressed.

“I don’t know.” Nong Zidao shook his head. “At least half an hour, at most a day or two.”

The Zifu Disciples around him all changed expression, and Tong Yu said in shock, “That long?”

…

Ji Ning sat cross-legged inside the enormous Netherdragon’s tail. Around him floated over seven hundred flying sword treasures, among which nine flying swords were the most dazzling, their white light much denser. A hazy white glow continuously transmitted, rapidly gathering in front of Ji Ning into a strand of sword light.

“Mm, nine ranked flying swords form one formation base, becoming the core of the entire Small Thousand Swords Formation of over seven hundred flying swords. The power has clearly increased greatly.” Ji Ning showed joy. “But the ranked flying swords put much more pressure on my soul.”

Unranked flying swords forming the Small Thousand Swords Formation

and using human-ranked flying swords to form the Small Thousand Swords Formation… are completely different. The difficulty of control skyrockets, and so does the power!

“Right now, I’ve only added nine ranked flying swords. After comprehending the Sword Domain, my soul has also strengthened considerably. I can still execute the ninth level of the Small Thousand Swords Formation.” Ji Ning felt that if he added dozens or even hundreds of ranked flying swords, the number he could control would sharply decrease!

“Ji Ning!” A deep voice came.

“Clan leader.” Ji Ning showed joy.

“Now we have big trouble.” Ji Jiuhuo’s voice came.

“What trouble?” Ji Ning grew worried.

“Among this group of Snowdragon Mountain Zifu Disciples, especially the second batch that just entered the formation, there’s one named Nong Zidao. I’ve heard of him. Nong Zidao is extremely skilled in formations. He could easily break the black fog illusion formation, so I was forced to use the Netherdragon Lockheaven Formation’s own maze formation to trap him.” Ji Jiuhuo transmitted.

Ji Ning’s expression changed.

The Netherdragon Lockheaven Formation… also had a maze effect, far superior to the Ji clan’s own maze formation.

“There’s also one named Tong Yu. I haven’t heard of him, but he’s very powerful.” Ji Jiuhuo transmitted. “Among our six Ji clan members, you rank first in strength, and second is the old servant A Xing. Just now, A Xing attacked Dong Zikai’s group of eight, but they maintained their combined formation at all times, so A Xing couldn’t do anything. However, I noticed that Tong Yu, Nong Zidao, and the others weren’t in a combined formation, so I thought we had an opportunity and sent A Xing to attack. But unexpectedly, Tong Yu blocked the Netherdragon’s claw attack alone!”

“Blocked it alone?” Ji Ning was shocked.

“He’s very strong. Old servant A Xing made a surprise attack and then immediately withdrew.” Ji Jiuhuo said. “Now there are two batches in the formation, and the second batch is far stronger than the first. So we need to eliminate the first batch as soon as possible, or once they join up, we’ll be helpless.”

Ji Ning nodded.

“You’re the strongest among us. Go now and attack Dong Zikai’s group. I’ll guide you, then follow my orders.” Ji Jiuhuo said.

At the same time, the black fog in front of Ji Ning quickly parted, revealing a path.

“Good, I’ve been waiting!” Ji Ning stood up abruptly and shot along the path.

…

Dong Zikai and the other seven were cautious, maintaining their combined formation at all times. A white light Bagua array enveloped the eight.

“Junior Apprentice Brother Zikai, be careful! This is the Netherdragon Lockheaven Formation!” Nong Zidao’s anxious voice came from afar.

“Netherdragon Lockheaven Formation?” Dong Zikai and the others exchanged glances, all showing confusion.

From afar, Nong Zidao shouted anxiously, “We were just attacked by a dragon claw, and Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu repelled it. I recognized it at once as the Netherdragon Lockheaven Formation. This formation is an ancient one! There are complex versions and simplified versions. Legend has it that the Marquis of Anchi’s manor has a Heaven-ranked ‘Netherdragon Lockheaven Formation’. Since the Ji clan can use it, it must be a simplified human-ranked formation. Even at the human rank, its power is astonishing. This time we’re truly in danger. We must go all out, or we risk death.”

“Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu and I will do our best to break the formation. We can’t afford distractions, so we can’t look after you for now. The eight of you, take care of yourselves.” Nong Zidao’s voice echoed.

Dong Zikai and the others looked at each other, their faces grim.

Clearly, this formation had forced Nong Zidao and Tong Yu to give their all… showing its threat.

“What Netherdragon Lockheaven Formation? I’ve never heard of it. Senior Apprentice Brother Nong Zidao only knows it because he’s studied countless formation texts in the sect. How does the Ji clan have such a powerful formation?”

“Netherdragon Lockheaven Formation?”

Dong Zikai and the others all looked grim.

“We must give our all.” Dong Zikai looked at the seven fellow disciples around him. “This is a life-or-death battle. Either the Ji clan dies, or we die! Don’t hold back any life-saving tricks.”

Their mindsets had all changed.

Initially, they had come with a sightseeing mood. The instant death of four fellow disciples shocked them, but they believed that once Senior Apprentice Brother Tong Yu and Nong Zidao joined them, all danger would vanish. But now, even Nong Zidao said they really had to fight for their lives.

“If I’d known we’d have to fight to the death, I wouldn’t have come to Yanshan.” Though bitter inside, faced with life and death, each prepared to fight to the death.

A hundred zhang away.

The tip of a huge dragon tail was there, and Ji Ning was inside it, with over seven hundred flying swords floating around him, ready for slaughter.

“Ji Ning, attack!” Clan leader Ji Jiuhuo’s transmission sounded in his ear.

“Kill!”

A fierce light flashed in Ji Ning’s eyes.

Whoosh!

Instantly, the enormous Netherdragon made a tail-sweeping motion, directly striking at the eight vigilant Zifu Disciples.

…