Chapter 20: Ji Ning, Disciple of the Black-White College

The six Primordial Daoists in the forked cave passage burst into laughter.

"Hahaha... This Ji Ning is truly formidable, no wonder he's comprehended the Dao Domain. That sword formation technique... though I've never heard of it, it's clearly an extremely complex and powerful sword formation. Controlling over seven hundred flying swords demands extremely high requirements for the soul and for Dao insights." The short, fat old man shook his head. "With merely Zifu Initial stage Yuan power, he forced Blood-drinker Asking Sword, who's at Zifu Completion, to use a sword formation to defend. It made Blood-drinker Asking Sword too ashamed to stay and he left immediately."

"Mm, formidable."

"He could have rushed out of the cave, but he insisted on a one-on-one fight, forcing the defending disciple to retreat voluntarily."

These Primordial Daoists were full of admiration.

They naturally liked such an outstanding disciple, as it meant the Black-White College had gained another source of strength. In a few hundred years, the Black-White College would likely have another powerful Immortal.

"We must train and teach him well. Ji Ning has the potential to become an Immortal," said the black-haired middle-aged man.

The woman in white nodded: "Indeed, we must teach him seriously, not spoil him. It would be a pity to ruin this uncut jade."

Teaching is an art.

The inherent 'pride' of geniuses, the three calamities and nine tribulations on the path of immortality, the battles and killings in growth, unavoidable enmities... all these can cause a genius to fall!

...

Ji Ning piloted his boat and went directly to the summit of this mountain.

"Eight people went to challenge. I wonder how many will pass," Ji Ning waited. "I wonder if Mu Zishuo made it." Among the others, Ji Ning had only exchanged a few words with Mu Zishuo and had a good impression of him.

Whoosh!

A streak of light flew past in the distance, followed by another.

"Eh? Someone passed?"

"Which senior brother's cave entrance was breached?"

Ji Ning watched from afar, vaguely recognizing the appearances of those Black-White College disciples. They glanced curiously at Ji Ning a few times and then left.

After waiting a while.

Whoosh.

A streak of light flew over from afar, and it was a person stepping on a cyan dragon puppet.

"Mu Zishuo." Ji Ning was surprised, then cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations, congratulations."

"Congratulations to you too, congratulations to you too." The white-robed youth Mu Zishuo landed, put away his puppet, and said with a face full of joy, "Brother Ji Ning is truly formidable. I almost failed, but I finally managed to rush out of the cave. Brother Ji Ning is even more formidable, finishing so quickly."

Ji Ning could feel the joy in Mu Zishuo before him.

"I made it! I'm finally a disciple of the Black-White College!" The white-robed youth's eyes were full of excitement. "Mother will be very happy when she finds out."

"Yes," Ji Ning nodded, his gaze distant.

If his own mother knew that he had become a disciple of the Black-White College, she would surely be proud too.

Father, Mother...

Watch me. I, Ji Ning, will surely become renowned across this endless land and become one of its peak existences. I will! And I will definitely slay all those Snowdragon Mountain disciples who harmed you!

"Hahaha." Accompanied by laughter, six figures arced through the air and instantly arrived at the mountaintop. It was the six Primordial Daoists.

The short, fat bald man smiled: "This year, the Black-White College has taken in quite a few disciples—two."

"This is only the first day. There are still two days left," said the black-haired middle-aged man.

"Hmph, those who can join our Black-White College are all true peerless geniuses. These peerless geniuses are very confident. When they want to join a sect, their first choice will be our Black-White College. So they'll arrive on the first day," said the short, fat bald man. "Over the years, how many have become disciples of our Black-White College on the second or third day? Only those who were delayed by other matters."

The black-haired middle-aged man then looked at Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo: "Ji Ning, Mu Zishuo, from today onward, you are disciples of our Black-White College."

Joy rose in the hearts of both Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo.

"The apprenticeship ceremony will be held after the recruitment of disciples ends in the next day or two." The black-haired middle-aged man flipped his hand, and two tokens appeared. One side of the token was black, the other white. "These are the tokens of our Black-White College disciples. Refine them, and you will be able to freely enter and exit many places in the Black-White College without being attacked by the various prohibitive formations within."

"Yes."

Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo each took a token.

They naturally refined it easily. Once refined, Ji Ning immediately sensed the massive formation that existed faintly throughout the Black-White College. He felt it—an extremely terrifying formation that enveloped the entire Black-White College. And at this moment, he had gained the recognition of the Black-White College.

Ji Ning felt that this token was very similar to the token of the Water Mansion.

"Black-White College disciple." Ji Ning looked at the token.

How many people desired this token!

That black-clothed youth 'Hua Chong', who had also cultivated the 'Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens' to the seventh level, had ultimately failed. And several other peerless geniuses even more outstanding than Hua Chong had also been eliminated. Only he and Mu Zishuo had succeeded in becoming Black-White College disciples.

...

"Wu Xiu, we'll leave the arrangement of their lodgings to you. We'll be going back now," said the long-bearded middle-aged man with a smile.

"Let's go."

One by one, the Primordial Daoists broke through the air and quickly departed.

The black-haired middle-aged man Wu Xiu waved his hand, summoning clouds and mist that lifted the three of them.

"Let's go." The black-haired middle-aged man Wu Xiu immediately took Ji Ning and the others flying swiftly into the distance.

"The entire Black-White College is divided into many areas, and there are many rules." Wu Xiu flipped his hand, producing two booklets, which he tossed directly to Ji Ning and the other. "These contain the sect rules of our Black-White College and other things you need to know. Everything is recorded in these booklets."

Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo both took the booklets.

Looking down, they saw two characters on the cover—'Black-White'!

...

On a small mountain peak stood an elegant courtyard, surrounded by many pavilions. But on this mountain peak, there was only Ji Ning alone.

"From this moment on, I am the master of this mountain peak." Ji Ning stood in midair, overlooking the peak. Because formal disciples of the Black-White College were very few, they could freely choose a mountain peak as their personal cave. Ji Ning had chosen this peak and named it Northmont Peak.

Northmont... was the name of his sword, signifying his intention to forge his own path.

Northmont was also the place where his parents met and fell in love, a memorial to them.

"Father, Mother..." Ji Ning pondered silently for a long time, then turned around and stepped onto his boat, breaking through the air.

...

Soon, he flew to the main entrance of the Black-White College. His Uncle Bai had been waiting here all along.

Ji Ning saw at a glance the huge snow-white dog silently waiting by the lakeshore. The Whitewater Hound stood there waiting.

"Uncle Bai." Ji Ning immediately swooped down.

The Whitewater Hound looked up, a questioning look in his eyes.

"I made it." Ji Ning landed and nodded. "I am now a disciple of the Black-White College."

"If Brother Yichuan knew, he would be very happy." The Whitewater Hound's eyes were also full of joy and excitement. The Black-White College! What a sect this was! A formal disciple of the Black-White College held a far higher status than a Wanxiang Adept of an ordinary sect.

Just then—

"Hahaha, Brother Ji Ning, your eyes are only on your spirit beast; you didn't even notice me." A voice came.

Ji Ning turned his head. The carriage was still parked at the main entrance, and Beishan Baicui was walking down from it.

"Brother Baicui." Ji Ning went to greet him.

"I guessed you would definitely become a Black-White College disciple, so I figured I'd come around evening time," said Beishan Baicui.

"I've kept you waiting, Brother Baicui," said Ji Ning.

"Not long at all. You have no idea how happy I was waiting." Beishan Baicui's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Especially at the end, several peerless geniuses like Hua Chong, Liushui Lian... they were all famous far and wide, but in the end, they were all eliminated one by one."

Ji Ning nodded slightly: "Those you mentioned, Hua Chong and the others, should have been eliminated in the final screening."

He had a deep impression of Hua Chong, who had also cultivated the 'Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens' to the seventh level and had an aunt who was a Primordial Daoist in the college.

"Regardless, they all left in disgrace," said Beishan Baicui. "After all, sects like the Rending Heaven Sword Sect and the Hundred Flowers Immortal Realm take in many disciples. With their talent, they could easily enter. Only the Black-White College... accepts only peerless geniuses, and even peerless geniuses have to be carefully selected. With their pride, of course they all came. What a pity, what a pity."

But there was no trace of pity on Beishan Baicui's face; instead, there was schadenfreude.

"By the way, how many disciples did the Black-White College take this time?" Beishan Baicui asked quickly.

"Today is the first day. They took two disciples—me and another named Mu Zishuo," said Ji Ning.

Beishan Baicui nodded slightly: "Mu Zishuo? I've never heard that name before. It seems that remote places occasionally produce some peerless geniuses. When you have time, bring Mu Zishuo out, and we'll go out together... get to know each other."

"No problem," Ji Ning nodded.

"I came today, first to congratulate you on becoming a Black-White College disciple, and second to ask for your help with something," said Beishan Baicui.

Ji Ning smiled: "As long as I can help, I will."

"It's like this. You should know that formal disciples of the Black-White College... have ten servant slots, right?" Beishan Baicui looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning nodded.

Ten servants...

These ten servant slots were even more attractive than being a formal disciple of an ordinary sect. Because this was within the Black-White College! Even if it was very, very difficult to obtain techniques, the techniques obtained would be truly top-tier.

"Lend me three slots," said Beishan Baicui. "You know, I have many friends and relatives, and many I can't refuse."

Ji Ning laughed: "Why be so polite? You can take nine of the ten servant slots. Just leave one for me!"

There was one more...

Ji Ning thought of Meng Yan, whom he had met on the way to Anchan City. He had probably damaged his foundation by using a forbidden technique and would likely have difficulty joining a sect.

...