Chapter 30: The Battle in the Dao Discussion Hall

Ji Ning and the other two landed at the entrance of the Dao Discussion Hall. Peering inside, though it was night, the hall was brightly lit, and sounds of laughter and conversation could be heard.

"Senior apprentice-sister Jiulian, I'll take these one hundred black-and-white pellets and ten catties of primal liquid," said a figure dressed in white, with bloodstains on his robes—'Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question.' Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question now wore a hint of joy on his face, clearly delighted to have bested a fellow disciple in debate.

A woman in a water-blue Daoist robe with long hair, who had been sitting cross-legged on a stone pillar opposite, drifted over lightly and landed to one side, shaking her head: "Three years ago I could still barely edge out Sword-Question Junior Apprentice-Brother, but now I've lost to him."

"Junior apprentice-brother only barely managed to win through utmost effort," said Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question, usually proud but now quite humble.

"Senior apprentice-sister Jiulian, sparring is all about seeking a sliver of victory. You and Sword-Question Junior Apprentice-Brother are evenly matched; it's just that his attacks are sharper."

"Senior apprentice-sister Jiulian..."

Several men and women were chatting and laughing.

Just then, Ji Ning, Mu Zishuo, and Bu Ying entered the Dao Discussion Hall. The men and women turned to look.

"Jiulian?" Ji Ning's gaze instantly fell upon the woman addressed as 'Jiulian.' She wore a simple, casual water-blue Daoist robe and had long black hair. Her face, though beautiful, was slightly inferior to that of Meng Xin, whom he knew. Yet this Senior Apprentice-Sister Jiulian possessed an extraordinary aura.

Like a celestial lotus, she drew the attention of the surrounding senior and junior apprentice-brothers.

"With such an aura, she must come from an extraordinary background," Ji Ning thought to himself.

"Junior apprentice-sister Jiulian," Bu Ying said, his voice rising as he smiled, "These two are the new junior apprentice-brothers who joined our Black-White College this year. This is Mu Zishuo, and this is Ji Ning."

Jiulian's gaze fell upon them, a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth: "I heard that during the day, Junior Apprentice-Brother Mu Zishuo lost two bouts in the Dao Discussion Hall and left in a huff."

Mu Zishuo, thin-skinned, immediately looked embarrassed.

"It's just that he's new to the sect and has never faced such setbacks before," Ji Ning spoke up.

Jiulian looked at Ji Ning: "You are Ji Ning, whom Grandmaster Diancai took as his personal disciple."

"Yes," Ji Ning nodded.

Bu Ying quickly added, "Junior apprentice-brother Beiming, you are the disciple of Immortal Diancai. And Junior Apprentice-Sister Jiulian is the disciple of 'Immortal Wufeng.'"

"Disciple of Immortal Wufeng?" Ji Ning was surprised.

"I just returned to the college this evening, so I missed your induction ceremony, Junior Apprentice-Brother," Jiulian said softly. "Now that you're here, are you here to debate?"

Ji Ning smiled and nodded: "I would very much like to spar with senior and junior apprentice-brothers and sisters."

"Then you'd better be careful—I just lost a match," Jiulian said with a smile.

"Junior apprentice-brother Ji Ning!"

A cold voice rang out.

Ji Ning turned his head and saw that it was Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question, dressed in a white robe. Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question had come precisely to defeat Ji Ning and rid himself of the resentment in his heart. Unexpectedly, he had run into Senior Apprentice-Sister Jiulian, whom he had long admired. He had gone all out to defeat her, hoping to leave an impression in her heart. But now this Ji Ning arrived and was chatting so intently with his Jiulian...

"Senior apprentice-brother Sword-Question," Ji Ning said with a smile.

"Do you still remember that battle in the cave?" Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question said coldly.

"I remember," Ji Ning nodded. "At that time, I wanted to state my name, but Senior Apprentice-Brother Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question wouldn't let me, saying we would never meet again."

Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question's expression changed.

"Junior apprentice-brother hadn't said it then, but now you already know my name," Ji Ning said with a smile. "May I ask why Senior Apprentice-Brother called me?"

Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question's eyes flashed with cold light: "Do you dare to debate with me on stage?"

"Debate on stage?" Ji Ning turned to look at the vast hall of the Dao Discussion Hall. The hall was like a large venue from his previous life, with seats on the sides and a huge battlefield in the center. On both sides stood towering stone pillars, where debaters could sit and fight using puppets!

Jiulian spoke up beside him: "Be careful, Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning. I just lost to Sword-Question Junior Apprentice-Brother."

Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question's jealousy burned hotter, and the cold light in his eyes intensified: "Do you dare or not?"

"I came here precisely to spar with senior apprentice-brothers. Why wouldn't I dare?" Ji Ning shook his head with a smile. "It's just a hundred black-and-white pellets and ten catties of primal liquid."

"Haha, a hundred black-and-white pellets and ten catties of primal liquid is just the smallest stake," Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question said coldly. "Black-and-white pellets are rewards from the college, very rare. As for primal liquid, let's bet a hundred catties of primal liquid. Do you dare?"

Ji Ning frowned.

Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question said coldly: "Right, you've just joined the college, and they only gave you a hundred catties of primal liquid. You probably can't come up with a hundred catties." He flipped his hand, and a token appeared. "This is a primal token from Heavenly Treasure Mountain, worth a thousand taels of primal liquid, which is a hundred catties. With this token, you can directly exchange it for a hundred catties of primal liquid at Heavenly Treasure Mountain!"

"Do you dare to bet?" Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question looked at Ji Ning.

...

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense. The other senior and junior apprentice-brothers immediately sensed that something was off between Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question and Ji Ning. When dealing with Mu Zishuo earlier, they had only used the smallest stakes. After all, no one wanted to breed resentment in the future. But Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question raising the stakes was clearly bullying.

A newcomer, having to come up with a hundred catties of primal liquid—wasn't that depriving him of the resources to cultivate?

Little did they know...

Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question had initially intended to fight Ji Ning but not so ruthlessly. However, when he saw Senior Apprentice-Sister Jiulian talking so intently with Ji Ning—usually she only spoke to him perfunctorily with a word or two, but with Ji Ning she initiated the conversation—it made Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question very unhappy.

"How am I inferior to this Ji Ning? Why does Senior Apprentice-Sister Jiulian look at him with such favor the first time she meets him? Whether in terms of treasures, strength, or family background, this Ji Ning is no match for me!" The coldness in Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question's eyes grew more intense.

"Junior apprentice-brother Ji Ning," Senior Apprentice-Sister Jiulian said, "You've just joined the college. I can lend you a hundred catties of primal liquid."

At these words, Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question's aura became even more fearsome.

But Ji Ning laughed: "No need. Since Senior Apprentice-Brother Sword-Question wants to bet a hundred catties of primal liquid, I'll accept." Ji Ning flipped his hand, and several talisman tokens appeared in his palm. "These are primal tokens from Heavenly Treasure Mountain, also worth a thousand taels of primal liquid."

"Hmm?"

"Primal tokens from Heavenly Treasure Mountain?"

Everyone stared at the tokens in Ji Ning's hand.

Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question had been in the sect for a long time, traveling and adventuring, so it was normal for him to obtain treasures and exchange them for primal tokens at Heavenly Treasure Mountain. But Ji Ning had just joined the college and casually produced a token worth a thousand taels—that was extraordinary. They didn't know that Ji Ning had won these in the battles at Carefree Cave.

Though the battles at Carefree Cave had spread, very few disciples of the Black-White College knew about them. Even among the Primal Daoists, only 'Wu Xiu' was well-informed.

...

"A hundred black-and-white pellets and a hundred catties of primal liquid," an old voice rang out. A white-haired old man standing at the edge of the Dao Discussion Hall spoke, "Since both parties agree, these are the stakes."

"Now, please select your puppets," the white-haired old man continued.

This white-haired old man was also a puppet, responsible for minor affairs in the Dao Discussion Hall.

Ji Ning and Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question immediately walked toward a side door. Inside the hall beyond the side door were rows of puppets.

Entering another small hall.

The white-haired old man pointed to the puppets—hundreds of them, black as if carved from rock. "These puppets all have the same primal force core. They release the same level of power, equivalent to early Wanxiang primal force. This way, the influence of divine sense from reincarnated immortals in the college is minimized."

Ji Ning nodded.

Divine sense was slightly stronger than Zifu perfection but far from early Wanxiang. Even when applied to weapons, its impact on battle was minimal.

"These puppets come with built-in weapons," the old man said. "There are flying swords, flying needles, silk ribbons, giant hammers—in short, almost all types of magic treasures. You can choose any puppet based on your expertise."

Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question chose quickly. He walked straight to a puppet, placed his hand on it, and began refining it.

"I'll go out first. Take your time choosing," Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question said, glancing at Ji Ning before walking out. The puppet turned into a blur and shot out.

Ji Ning glanced at him, then slowly and carefully examined the puppets.

...

In the Dao Discussion Hall, the watching disciples—including Mu Zishuo, Senior Apprentice-Sister Jiulian, and others—numbered eight in total.

"The stakes are so high. A hundred black-and-white pellets is one thing, but a hundred catties of primal liquid! Sword-Question Junior Apprentice-Brother is going too far. Bullying a new junior apprentice-brother like this is too much."

"It is excessive."

The fellow disciples talked among themselves.

At that moment, Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question emerged from the side door. He leaped, crossing a hundred zhang in a single bound, and landed on one of the dozen-zhang-tall stone pillars, sitting cross-legged.

Whoosh! The puppet also leaped, landing in the arena below, standing silently in wait.

"He chose the Big Dipper puppet."

"Senior Apprentice-Brother Sword-Question is ruthless—he picked the Big Dipper puppet, which he's best at."

"I wonder what puppet Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning will choose."

The puppets had no difference in strength, only in suitability. If Ji Ning chose a puppet that controlled a giant hammer, he naturally wouldn't be able to use his full strength.

"He's out."

"Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning is out." Everyone looked. Mu Zishuo's eyes showed worry, while Senior Apprentice-Sister Jiulian watched Ji Ning carefully, curiosity in her eyes.

Ji Ning walked out, followed by a puppet.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Ji Ning and the puppet leaped one after the other. Ji Ning landed on one of the stone pillars and sat cross-legged. The puppet landed on the arena floor, causing the ground to tremble.

Two stone pillars, facing each other from afar.

Ji Ning and Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question sat facing each other, about a hundred zhang apart.

The two puppets below were also a hundred zhang apart.

"Begin!" the white-haired old man shouted.

Rumble~~~

Immediately, ripples like clear water appeared, forming a huge barrier-like seal that completely enclosed the arena. Mu Zishuo and the others were outside the barrier, while Ji Ning and Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question were inside.

"Thousand Swords puppet!" Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question, sitting cross-legged on the stone pillar, glanced over and snorted coldly. "Overestimating yourself."

"Please enlighten me, Senior Apprentice-Brother," Ji Ning said loudly.

"Go ahead," Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question shouted.

The other fellow disciples held their breath, watching. Who would be stronger—Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning, newly taken as a disciple by Immortal Diancai, or Senior Apprentice-Brother Blood-Drinker's Sword-Question, who had been in the sect for years?

...