Chapter 19 The Last Gatekeeper

As one of the overseers of this disciple recruitment, Fairy Hua Yun naturally knew the difficulty of the final trial. Her junior 'Hua Chong' had no chance of success at all.

"The eight of you, follow me," said the black-haired middle-aged man.

Immediately, the six Primal Daoists walked ahead, while Ji Ning and the other seven followed behind.

Ji Ning glanced at the black-clad youth beside him. The black-clad youth's eyes held unwillingness and madness. Aunt Fairy Hua Yun... held a very high status in the Hua clan. Although there was an Immortal in the Hua clan, Fairy Hua Yun was a Primal Daoist of the Black-White College, with combat power comparable to an ordinary Immortal.

He generally had to obey Fairy Hua Yun's words. But... he had to enter the Black-White College. He wanted to enter the Black-White College just like his aunt!

"I must enter."

"The Heavenly Dao always leaves a sliver of hope." The black-clad youth gritted his teeth.

...

After walking along the deep cave for a while, they came to a fork with nine passages ahead.

"Stop," said the black-haired middle-aged man.

Ji Ning and the other seven all stopped.

"These nine passages are each guarded by a Zifu Disciple of our Black-White College," the black-haired middle-aged man said, his gaze sweeping over Ji Ning and the others. "Each of you eight, choose one passage."

Ji Ning and the other seven all changed expression.

What?

Guarded by official Zifu Disciples of the Black-White College? Those were disciples who had cultivated some top-tier techniques and methods! And all of them here were only at the early Zifu stage in Qi Refining.

"After you enter your respective passages and encounter the guarding disciple, as long as you can break through their obstruction and rush out of the cave, you will become disciples of our Black-White College," the black-haired middle-aged man said with a smile on his face. "Don't worry, the guarding Zifu Disciples are only allowed to use one technique. But you can go all out... and you don't need to defeat the guarding disciple; you just need to rush out of the cave to succeed. Afterward, we will gather at the mountaintop."

"Yes."

Ji Ning and the other seven all replied.

"Alright, go ahead," the black-haired middle-aged man instructed.

Soon, each person casually chose a passage. Ji Ning pondered briefly and also chose one. Only the black-clad youth hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and entered a passage as well.

Everyone entered their respective passages.

"Wu Xiu," the short, fat, bald man said with a smile, "You've been overseeing this recruitment from start to finish. How many of these eight do you think will become disciples of our Black-White College?"

"If you ask me..." The black-haired middle-aged man hesitated. "Among the eight, Ji Ning is definitely going to make it!"

"Mm."

"Right, he'll definitely make it."

"Everyone knows Ji Ning will make it. Old Daoist Wu Xiu, who among the other seven do you favor?"

They all spoke with smiles.

The black-haired middle-aged man thought for a moment and said, "Among these eight, only Ji Ning is certain. The other seven are all in danger. If I have to say... the fourteen-year-old Mu Zishuo, who controlled the azure dragon puppet, might also make it."

"Mm."

"Right, besides Ji Ning, the others are all in danger, especially Fairy Hua Yun's clansman. He barely got through the lightning puppet formation by taking a shortcut. He definitely won't pass this last trial."

"Everyone knows that, you're so smart," the white-robed woman said, glaring at the long-bearded middle-aged man.

...

While those Primal Daoists were discussing, they also released their divine sense to observe everything happening in the various caves.

"It's Yinxue Wenjian."

"The passage Ji Ning chose is guarded by that kid from the Yinxue clan. Yinxue Wenjian is very proud; he definitely won't let Ji Ning pass easily." The Primal Daoists leisurely observed what was happening in the eight passages.

Inside the passage Ji Ning had chosen.

About thirty zhang from the cave entrance stood a young man in white robes, with three drops of blood on his chest. The white robe with three drops of blood on the chest was only worn by talented disciples recognized by the Yinxue clan.

The Yinxue clan... was a top-tier major tribe outside Anchan Commandery.

"Let me guard?" The white-robed youth, Yinxue Wenjian, stood there with a flying sword floating before him. He gently raised his finger and flicked it. Hummm~ The sound of the sword's hum echoed through the cave, making him close his eyes with an expression of enjoyment. "No matter how talented you are, if you choose the passage I guard, you won't succeed."

Yinxue Wenjian's pride would not allow him to let a junior at the early Zifu stage in Qi Refining succeed.

"One sword..."

"I'm only allowed to use this one sword, but that's enough." The white-robed youth flicked the sword again, listening to its hum as if the sword was coquettishly撒娇 with him. He smiled.

From the day he was born, he slept holding a wooden sword.

His parents named him 'Wenjian' (Questioning the Sword). After thirty years of cultivation, his achievements were all in the sword. He felt as if he were the sword, and the sword was himself. Although he possessed the secret arts of the Yinxue clan, the clan had specially sent him to the Black-White College in Anchan Commandery, and he had lived up to expectations by entering the college.

"Here he comes." The white-robed youth sensed a fluctuation.

Suddenly, a helpless voice came from outside: "Nine passages, eight challengers. My passage has no one choosing it... Fellow apprentices, don't let those juniors get through."

"Don't worry, Senior Apprentice Brother Niu."

"Junior Apprentice Brother Niu, you're really pitiful."

"You've been waiting in vain for so long."

"Senior Apprentice Brother Niu, although I can only use this one magic treasure, those juniors definitely won't get through on my side."

Voices sounded one after another.

Yinxue Wenjian shouted, "Junior Apprentice Brother Niu, wait a moment. Let me defeat that kid, and we'll go back together."

Footsteps sounded.

Yinxue Wenjian immediately looked carefully. He saw a figure emerge from deep within the cave—a handsome young man in animal skins, holding a sword in each hand, walking toward him with a smile.

"Junior," Yinxue Wenjian gently flicked the flying sword before him, and the sword hummed. He said calmly, "Remember clearly, the one blocking you from entering the Black-White College is me, Yinxue Wenjian."

"I am..." Ji Ning was about to speak.

"No need to say," Yinxue Wenjian said calmly. "We won't meet again, so you don't need to state your name."

Ji Ning frowned.

Arrogant enough.

In that case... let's win decisively.

"Leize Descends!" Yinxue Wenjian chanted softly. As soon as the words left his mouth, the flying sword before him emitted a rumbling thunder sound. Lightning appeared all around, countless bolts of lightning swirling around the flying sword, which shot toward Ji Ning with a roar. The momentum was astonishing.

The power of this single sword strike far exceeded that of Xu Li the Daoist and the rhinoceros demon.

The sword seemed to transform into endless lightning, striking with incredible speed.

"Lotus Blossom," Ji Ning said with a slight smile. Instantly, a water-fire lotus bloomed around him, layer upon layer, with six layers of petals.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle~

The lightning sword pierced through six layers of lotus petals in succession, but its speed was noticeably reduced. Ji Ning's Northsong sword, with a seemingly simple twist, deflected the fierce sword strike aside.

"Quite powerful," Ji Ning frowned slightly. Although he had seemingly blocked the strike easily, it had cracked his tiger's mouth.

"You do have some strength, but it's useless!" Yinxue Wenjian suddenly shouted, "Prison of the Thunder God!"

The flying sword hovered in the air, and around it appeared electric serpents tinged with purple light. These purple electric serpents gradually formed a cage-like shape. A powerful pressure filled the entire cave.

"Being defeated by this move of mine is something you can be proud of," Yinxue Wenjian said coldly. "Go."

Boom!

The lightning prison rapidly enveloped Ji Ning.

"As expected of a Black-White College disciple. Even with just one flying sword, you can draw on the power of heaven and earth to unleash such might." Ji Ning praised, then suddenly seven hundred and twenty-nine flying swords appeared around him.

"A sword formation!" Yinxue Wenjian's expression changed instantly.

Anything involving 'formations' was not to be underestimated. Moreover, the more flying swords, if all their power could be perfectly merged, the power would increase geometrically. As a Black-White College disciple, Yinxue Wenjian naturally also had sword formation techniques, but for this trial, he could only use one sword.

Seven hundred and twenty-nine flying swords hovered.

Among them, eighty-one were Mortal-rank flying swords: the nine swords from the 'Nine Yang Sword Formation' Ji Ning had obtained in the Water Mansion, and the seventy-two swords he had obtained after killing Xu Li the Daoist. Although he had other Mortal-rank flying swords, they were insufficient in number and of mixed types, so Ji Ning did not use them.

The nine swords of the Nine Yang Sword Formation served as the core of the formation. The other seventy-two Mortal-rank flying swords, all from the same source, surrounded them, forming an eighty-one-sword grand formation.

These eighty-one flying swords led the other six hundred-plus unranked flying swords.

"Hum~"

Ji Ning's elemental energy was transformed through the flying swords. His soul, which had reached the level of divine sense, could fully control these seven hundred-plus flying swords. Soon, a strand of sword-light of astonishing power condensed before his chest.

The power was terrifying.

The main reason for such power was the nine rare flying swords obtained from the Water Mansion. Each of them was no less than an Earth-rank magic treasure, and they all came from the same source, making them even more precious.

"Kill!"

Ji Ning moved his mind.

Whoosh!

The sword-light, fully condensed into the shape of a flying sword, shot through the air and forcefully struck the incoming lightning prison. Bang~ The lightning prison held for a moment before exploding.

"Go, go, go." Ji Ning condensed three strands of sword-light in succession, all of which shot forward.

"Not good."

Yinxue Wenjian's expression changed drastically.

After all, he was only at the Zifu Completion stage, while Ji Ning, with the sword-light transformed by the Lesser Thousand Swords Formation, had a purity comparable to that of a Wanxiang Adept. In terms of sword techniques, Yinxue Wenjian, who had absorbed the essence of both the Yinxue clan and the Black-White College, was superior. But in terms of realm, Ji Ning was a notch higher. So when Ji Ning used the Lesser Thousand Swords Formation, Yinxue Wenjian found himself at a disadvantage.

"Big Dipper." Yinxue Wenjian had no choice. Instantly, seven flying swords glowing with lightning appeared around him, forming a circle. Huge stars emerged around him, exactly like the Big Dipper.

"Suppress!" Yinxue Wenjian growled.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Ji Ning's three strands of sword-light were all dispersed by the slowly rotating Big Dipper.

"Hmph." Yinxue Wenjian turned around, withdrew his flying swords, and flew away as a streak of light. According to the rules, he was only allowed to use one flying sword. Since he had been forced to use his other magic treasures, he had lost.

"Truly formidable," Ji Ning watched the Black-White College disciple named 'Yinxue Wenjian' leave and couldn't help but marvel. "It must be because of the college's restriction that he could only use one flying sword. Once he used his real methods, he could instantly suppress my Lesser Thousand Swords Formation. After all, he is at the Zifu Completion stage, and I am at the early Zifu stage... The gap in elemental power becomes very apparent when facing another equally talented genius."

But Ji Ning didn't know...

In truth, he only needed to fly out of the cave entrance, yet he had forced the gatekeeper to use his real methods.

"Black-White College." Ji Ning strolled out of the cave, stepped onto a small boat, and looked around at the endless mountain scenery. From this moment on, he had truly become a member of the Black-White College.