Chapter 32: Once It Strikes, It Startles Everyone (Part 2)

"Lost, lost, how could this be..." Yinxue Wenjian sat on the stone pillar, his face pale, unable to believe it.

In battles between cultivators, life and death hang by a thread.

One failed move, and death follows.

"He used a puppet, and I used one too," Yinxue Wenjian couldn't accept it. "The cores of both puppets are the same, so the elemental power is naturally the same. It was perfectly fair. It came down to the realm of the Dao and techniques like swordsmanship. Is his swordsmanship really better than mine?"

How could he know that Ji Ning had long reached the 'Realm of the Dao' level?

The Realm of the Dao was normally the level of Primal Daoists. Of course, in the Black-White College, everyone was a peerless genius, so many Wanxiang Adept disciples had reached the Realm of the Dao. But Yinxue Wenjian was still a bit short of that realm.

He only barely touched the Realm of the Dao through his sword techniques.

Just like when Ji Ning studied the 'Dripping Water Sutra' as a child—he hadn't reached the Unity of Heaven and Man, but with the help of his sword techniques, he could unleash the power of that unity. That was the benefit of sword techniques!

In terms of realm, Ji Ning was superior.

In terms of swordsmanship, after the dual tempering of the underwater estate's Starry Hall and the Black-White Diagram, and then studying the 'Lesser Five Elements Sword Scripture', Ji Ning's swordsmanship had reached its current peak.

In terms of divine soul, Ji Ning had reached the level of divine sense. Even among the Wanxiang Adept disciples of the Black-White College, only a few reincarnated immortals could match him.

No matter which aspect they compared, he was inferior.

How could he not lose?

"Senior apprentice-brother Wenjian, I was fortunate to win by a move," Ji Ning stood up and said with a smile. The sealing formation beside him had already been lifted. Ji Ning tapped his foot and flew directly out of the arena, landing in the distance.

Yinxue Wenjian's face darkened, and he also flew out of the battlefield.

He walked straight toward Ji Ning, flipped his hand to produce two jade bottles, and tossed them to Ji Ning: "A hundred black-and-white pellets, a hundred catties of elemental liquid. Take them."

Ji Ning naturally reached out and caught them.

"Hmph, Ji Ning." Yinxue Wenjian stared at Ji Ning, his eyes full of fighting spirit. "No wonder the immortal Diancai took you as his disciple. I have nothing to say about my loss. But next time... I will challenge you again."

"I'll be waiting." Ji Ning smiled. When someone offered black-and-white pellets and elemental liquid, how could he be modest?

"Hmph." Yinxue Wenjian immediately walked over to Bu Ying. "Senior apprentice-brother Bu Ying!"

The green-robed man Bu Ying glanced at him: "Don't worry, leave it to me."

This time, the plan to teach the new disciples a lesson was organized by Bu Ying, and he had personally invited Yinxue Wenjian... Obviously, since Yinxue Wenjian had lost, Bu Ying couldn't just let Ji Ning leave victorious.

Bu Ying's gaze swept over the other senior apprentice-brothers and sisters beside him.

"Impressive."

"Junior apprentice-brother Beiming's strength cannot be underestimated." These genius disciples were cautious. From Ji Ning's earlier display, they all realized that his strength was no less than theirs. Without a certain degree of confidence, none of them wanted to step forward.

"Senior apprentice-brother Bu."

"Senior apprentice-brother Bu, only you have a chance."

"Yes, Senior apprentice-brother Bu, you also practice the 'Lesser Five Elements Sword Scripture' and have studied it longer than him. Your chances of winning are greater." The others said.

Bu Ying cursed inwardly. Did longer study time matter? Practicing swordsmanship depended not on time but on one's own comprehension of the Dao. If an immortal studied the 'Lesser Five Elements Sword Scripture' for the first time, they could reach a very high level in just half a day.

But Bu Ying also knew...

This matter was initiated by him, and no matter what, he had to step up. One must take responsibility for one's actions.

...

Ji Ning's victory excited Mu Zishuo immensely: "A great win! Let those old disciples know that we new disciples aren't so easy to bully."

Ji Ning smiled.

Winning was indeed exhilarating. Moreover, he had obtained a hundred black-and-white pellets and a hundred catties of elemental liquid just like that. Previously, from the early Zifu stage to the perfect Zifu stage, he had only consumed eighty catties of elemental liquid.

"Junior apprentice-brother Beiming." Bu Ying walked over from the group of old disciples.

"Senior apprentice-brother Bu." Ji Ning responded.

"Junior apprentice-brother Beiming's strength is truly remarkable. And to think that in such a short time since joining the college, you've already attained such mastery of the 'Lesser Five Elements Sword Scripture'. It seems your comprehension of the Dao is very high." Bu Ying said.

Ji Ning understood that the other party wanted to extract some information, so he immediately said with a smile: "I've only just begun to study it; I still need to practice more."

Bu Ying laughed heartily: "Junior apprentice-brother is too modest. I also practice the 'Lesser Five Elements Sword Scripture'. Seeing your swordsmanship... I can't help but feel eager. How about we spar?"

"Oh? I was thinking the same thing!" Ji Ning quickly replied.

How could he refuse something handed to him on a silver platter?

According to his calculations, especially with his divine soul being so strong and giving him such a great advantage... among the Zifu disciple, few could match him. Unless a reincarnated immortal appeared.

"What about the stakes?" Ji Ning asked.

"Naturally, a hundred black-and-white pellets and ten catties of elemental liquid." Bu Ying smiled. "Any more would harm our friendship."

"Agreed." Ji Ning nodded.

...

A moment later.

Ji Ning and Bu Ying each sat cross-legged on stone pillars.

"Begin." The white-haired elder shouted, and the sealing formation appeared again.

"The puppet I've chosen is called the Six Harmonies Puppet." Bu Ying announced. "Junior apprentice-brother, be careful."

"Senior apprentice-brother, please." Ji Ning also announced.

The two sat on the stone pillars, facing each other from afar.

The two puppets below also faced each other from a distance.

"Kill!" Bu Ying had been smiling before, but then his expression turned serious. With a low shout, the Six Harmonies Puppet below suddenly sent thirty-six flying swords out from its back. Each sword bore special runes. It was named the Six Harmonies Puppet because it could execute the 'Six Harmonies Mystic Formation'.

Seeing this, Ji Ning frowned: "Go!"

The Thousand Swords Puppet behind him immediately sent twelve flying swords shooting out. The twelve swords flew through the air, drawing countless raindrops in midair, each drop carrying immense power.

"Buzz buzz buzz~~~"

The thirty-six flying swords spun, every six forming a formation base, creating the Six Harmonies Mystic Formation.

The entire formation transformed into a giant wind wheel.

"Rumble~~~" It crushed forward.

Bang bang bang~~~

Countless raindrops slammed fiercely into the giant wind wheel, but the thirty-six spinning swords easily deflected the impact.

"Can't block it. This Bu Ying is indeed much stronger than Yinxue Wenjian. Fortunately, I was prepared." Ji Ning's expression changed, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

The twelve flying swords he controlled suddenly split into two groups, spinning in the air and crossing paths.

Whoosh!

The twelve swords intertwined and transformed into a giant cyan flame sword.

Bang!

The giant cyan flame sword stabbed directly into the wind wheel, which collapsed after a brief resistance.

"Two Forms Azure Fire Sword!" Bu Ying, sitting cross-legged, turned pale. He sighed and didn't even resist, letting Ji Ning's cyan flame sword pierce through his puppet's protective layer.

"Ji Ning wins!" The white-haired elder announced again.

...

The Dao Discussion Hall erupted in uproar. Bu Ying was definitely one of the top Zifu disciples of the Black-White College, a prominent figure. He was much stronger than Yinxue Wenjian, yet he too had lost to this new disciple who had just entered the college.

"They are peerless geniuses, but this Ji Ning is a monster." Jiu Lotus watched from afar, thinking silently. "Only sixteen and already at the Realm of the Dao? His divine soul is suspected to have reached the level of divine sense... He's practically a reincarnated immortal-level monster!"

"Losing to a monster, they have no reason to complain."

...