Chapter Twenty-Nine: Ji Ning's First Enlightenment of the Sword

The Dao Discussion Hall stood majestic atop the peak, faintly visible with many figures within.

The Dao Discussion Hall... had always been the favorite gathering place for the disciples of the Black-White College. These naturally proud genius disciples often sparred here.

Swoosh!

A streak of light flew out from the hall's entrance, and soon a blue-clad girl followed closely behind.

"Junior apprentice-brother Shuangmu, Junior apprentice-brother Shuangmu." The blue-clad girl stepped on a giant flower basket, chasing after him swiftly.

"Senior apprentice-sister Donglin, why are you still chasing after me?" Mu Zishuo, standing on the azure dragon puppet, had a shy face but showed anger. "Wasn't this a deliberate trap you set? Hmph!"

The blue-clad girl Donglin shook her head. "Junior apprentice-brother Shuangmu, you can't really blame the other senior apprentice-brothers and sisters. In our Black-White College... over these endless years, it has become a tradition to give newly admitted disciples a harsh lesson in the Dao Discussion Hall. Although there is no college rule, it has been passed down through generations."

"A harsh lesson for newly admitted disciples?" Mu Zishuo glared. "If it was really a lesson, why pretend to be evenly matched with me at first?"

"Only then will the lesson be deep, and you won't forget it," Donglin said. "It also makes you understand that there are heavens beyond heavens and people beyond people. Actually, I also suffered a loss when I first entered. Every generation goes through this, letting the new junior apprentice-brothers and sisters learn a lesson, to polish away their arrogance. The senior masters also tacitly approve."

Although Mu Zishuo understood this reasoning, he was only fourteen, and the two Dao discussions had cost him two hundred Black-White pellets and twenty catties of primal liquid. Though it was a small stake, it already pained him greatly.

Mu Zishuo cupped his hands. "Senior apprentice-sister, you hinted at it earlier, and I was reckless. But there's no need for further advice."

Swoosh!

Mu Zishuo immediately rode the azure dragon puppet away.

"Alas." Donglin watched Mu Zishuo leave and shook her head. Although she had invited him earlier, their brief interaction had made her fond of this junior apprentice-brother. But since it was a tradition, she couldn't stop it in the Dao Discussion Hall; at most, she could hint. Fortunately, he only lost two matches before stopping.

If he had continued losing, he might have lost even more.

...

"There are heavens beyond heavens, and people beyond people!" On the roof of a pavilion in his residence, Mu Zishuo sat holding a jade wine flask.

He tilted his head back and drank.

"Cough, cough." Mu Zishuo drank too fiercely and started coughing.

"I mustn't be careless in the future." Mu Zishuo gradually sobered up. Having been admitted to the Black-White College at fourteen, he had never met an opponent at his level since childhood. This pride... led him to spar with those senior apprentice-brothers and sisters. Even knowing they were strong, he still thought himself outstanding.

...

In the quiet room of Northmoon Peak, Ji Ning was completely absorbed in the "Little Five Elements Sword Record."

The "Little Five Elements Sword Record" was divided into nine major sections: "Metal Chapter," "Wood Chapter," "Water Chapter," "Fire Chapter," "Earth Chapter," "Two Extremes Chapter," "Three Powers Chapter," "Four Symbols Chapter," and "Five Elements Chapter."

Each chapter progressed from shallow to deep.

The shallow parts... were inferior to his own creation, "Silk Rain Forming Threads."

The profound parts were sword techniques at the Celestial Immortal level!

Ji Ning carefully studied the "Water Chapter," "Fire Chapter," and "Wood Chapter." He had considerable achievements in these three paths; wind belonged to the Wood element. As for Metal and Earth... he lacked much, so naturally he wouldn't waste effort on them.

"Drizzling Rain Scatters!"

Ji Ning softly shouted, and his right hand formed a sword finger, pointing out. In midair, raindrops appeared, like meteorites, crashing forward. They struck the wall of the quiet room, which emitted a layer of rippling light with intricate runes.

"Done." Ji Ning showed joy. "This move is even stronger than my Silk Rain Forming Threads."

Creating moves can only produce moves at one's own level.

But learning allows one to learn moves slightly above one's level.

"From the Water, Fire, and Wood chapters, I've learned seven sword forms in total. They are much better than my self-created moves, but the improvement in strength is still not obvious." Ji Ning immediately opened the book before him to the "Two Extremes Chapter." "Only by combining insights from different 'Daos' can the power multiply and surge."

The Two Extremes Chapter contained a total of eighty-nine sword forms!

For example, the Two Extremes sword form combining Wood and Fire,

the Two Extremes sword form combining Earth and Fire,

the Two Extremes sword form combining Metal and Earth,

In short, sword moves formed by combining the mysteries of two different Daos were all included in the "Two Extremes Chapter."

The combination of different Daos indeed multiplies power, elevating one's strength by a full level. This is swordsmanship! Some Qi Refining cultivators... could use powerful flying sword formations and swordsmanship to kill divine-body-refining cultivators of the same level who possessed divine abilities.

Swordsmanship at its peak is no less than divine abilities!

A full half hour later.

"Swish!"

Ji Ning waved his right hand in a sword finger, and a cyan flame sword light streaked through the air, seemingly tearing space, striking the stone wall and causing the layered runes on the ripples to reappear.

"I've mastered it, the Two Extremes Azure Fire Sword!" Ji Ning showed joy.

The Two Extremes Azure Fire Sword combined the essence of Water with the essence of Fire into one strike.

The power of this strike far surpassed Ji Ning's previous strongest move, "Drizzling Rain Scatters," let alone the Silk Rain Forming Threads he created in Swallow Mountain. This was the power formed by combining the essences of two different Daos! The reason he could learn so quickly was that his previous insights into the 'Dao' were already high, his foundation solid, and having studied the 'Black-White Diagram,' he already had some understanding of combining Daos. Naturally, half an hour of study sufficed.

This was called 'when conditions are ripe, success comes naturally'!

...

Ji Ning turned to a new section: "Three Powers Chapter!"

The Three Powers Chapter also contained ninety-two sword forms.

There were Three Powers sword forms combining Earth, Metal, and Fire,

Three Powers sword forms combining Wood, Metal, and Earth,

And Ji Ning could only study one subcategory: the Three Powers sword forms combining Wood, Water, and Fire. There were only eight such forms.

...

It was already dark when Ji Ning walked out of the quiet room, feeling exhilarated.

"In Swallow Mountain for over ten years, and even in the Starsea Hall of the Water Mansion, I gained insights... but I never obtained powerful swordsmanship. Now, with the 'Little Five Elements Sword Record,' it's like a tiger gaining wings." Ji Ning laughed heartily. What a pleasure, truly a pleasure, learning one powerful sword technique after another!

"Now, from the Two Extremes Chapter, I've learned two sword forms."

"From the Three Powers Chapter, I've also learned one sword form."

Ji Ning smiled.

The Three Powers Chapter combined the essences of three Daos, and the power multiplication was geometric. Fortunately, during his earlier contemplation of the Black-White Millstone Diagram, Ji Ning's use of 'Water-Fire Lotus' had reached a bottleneck. With this foundation, he comprehended a powerful sword form from the Three Powers Chapter in just two hours—the Three Powers Lotus Sword!

The Three Powers Lotus Sword had a similar effect to Ji Ning's 'Water-Fire Lotus' but was more profound and sharp!

Because they were interconnected, Ji Ning was able to comprehend it.

"Now, my swordsmanship is unlikely to improve much in the short term." Ji Ning understood this. After all, he only had insights into three of the five elements, so he could at most study the Three Powers Chapter. He couldn't comprehend the Four Symbols or Five Elements chapters.

...

In just one day, his Qi Refining had advanced from Zifu early stage to Zifu perfection. His swordsmanship had climbed two or three levels, mastering the powerful 'Three Powers Lotus Sword' from the 'Little Five Elements Sword Record,' reaching his current limit. This naturally filled Ji Ning with immense joy.

"Ning'er." In the distance, the Whitewater Hound leaped over and transmitted mentally, "A formal disciple of the Black-White College is outside the residence, waiting to see you. He's been waiting for a long time."

"A formal disciple? To see me?" Ji Ning was surprised.

Ji Ning quickly walked toward the gate, not wanting to neglect a fellow disciple.

Soon, at the gate, he saw a green-clad man standing with his hands behind his back, leisurely gazing at the waning moon in the sky. Seeming to sense footsteps, he turned and smiled. "Junior apprentice-brother Northmoon."

"May I ask who you are, senior apprentice-brother?" Ji Ning recognized him as a fellow disciple, having seen him in the Grandmaster Hall.

"My name is Bu Ying," said the green-clad, long-haired man with a smile. "My Dao title is Fishhawk."

"Senior apprentice-brother Bu, what brings you here?" Ji Ning inquired.

The green-clad man laughed heartily. "In the Grandmaster Hall, I witnessed Junior apprentice-brother Northmoon's brilliance and saw Immortal Diancai take you as a disciple... Surely you must be extraordinary. So some fellow disciples are eager to spar with you."

"Spar?" Ji Ning's expression shifted. "Is it a spar in the Dao Discussion Hall?"

"Yes, the Dao Discussion Hall," the green-clad man said with a smile. "Discussing Dao in the Dao Discussion Hall is a refined affair."

Ji Ning's mind stirred.

The Black-White book naturally recorded the Dao Discussion Hall. Sparring there carried no life-threatening danger, and it was a favorite among Black-White College disciples.

However... having read the intelligence compilation given by Beishan Baiwei, Ji Ning knew that in the Black-White College, there was a tradition where newly promoted disciples would be taught a lesson in the Dao Discussion Hall. The older disciples enjoyed this, partly to sober up the newcomers and partly because they had gone through the same experience.

"Alright." Ji Ning's eyes lit up. "I also want to spar with the senior apprentice-brothers."

"Haha," Bu Ying laughed. "Let's go to the Dao Discussion Hall."

Immediately, the two mounted their magic treasures and soared into the air, heading toward the Dao Discussion Hall.

...

Ji Ning and Bu Ying flew through the night sky when suddenly a streak of light shot up from below.

"Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning." A white-robed youth stepped on an azure dragon puppet and approached.

"Junior apprentice-brother Shuo?" Ji Ning was surprised. The Mu Zishuo before him reeked of alcohol. He didn't know that Mu Zishuo had been drinking on the roof and spotted Ji Ning and Bu Ying flying in the air.

Mu Zishuo said urgently, "Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning, were you invited to the Dao Discussion Hall..."

"Junior apprentice-brother Shuangmu," the green-clad man Bu Ying frowned.

"Don't trust them," Mu Zishuo said anxiously. "They deliberately trick you into going, making you lose Black-White pellets and primal liquid. I lost to them. Don't be fooled." Mu Zishuo was clearly worried, afraid Ji Ning would follow the same path.

The green-clad man Bu Ying shouted, "Junior apprentice-brother Shuangmu, sparring in the Dao Discussion Hall usually involves some stakes. There are winners and losers. If everyone wanted to win, they might as well not go to the Dao Discussion Hall."

"Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning." Mu Zishuo was extremely anxious.

"Junior apprentice-brother Shuo." Ji Ning stopped him. "No need to say more. I know what I'm doing. If I lose, it's only because I'm not as good. But I have some confidence."

"Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning!" Mu Zishuo was frantic.

"Let's go."

Having obtained the intelligence compilation long ago, Ji Ning was clear-headed and knew everything.

"I'll go with you," Mu Zishuo said quickly, thinking that by staying close, he could advise Ji Ning and prevent him from losing too badly.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

The three flew swiftly toward the Dao Discussion Hall. Soon, the majestic hall atop the peak appeared in sight. Ji Ning and the others dove down toward it.

...