Chapter 40: That Slash

In the Dao Discussion Hall, the senior fellow apprentices began to fix their gazes on certain individuals, because 'Senior Brother Poison Blood' was already considered formidable among the Wanxiang Adepts in the discussions, yet Ji Ning had defeated him. So to deal with Ji Ning... one had to be even more powerful. That meant only a few people.

The more than ten relatively powerful disciples among those who had reached the Multiple Dao Domain level.

"In that case, let me experience Junior Brother Ji Ning's strength." A white-robed man standing beside Senior Brother Fire Saint smiled faintly and stepped forward.

"Beishan Xuantang?"

"Senior Brother Xuantang is making his move. His 'Five Qis Great Grasp' is astonishingly powerful, far stronger than Senior Brother Poison Blood."

"With Senior Brother Xuantang making his move, he should be able to win."

For a moment, discussions buzzed.

Beishan Xuantang was also an outstanding figure among the Wanxiang Adept disciples of the Black-White College. Of course, in actual life-and-death battles, disciples who trained in divine bodies were generally stronger. People like 'Senior Brother Bloodshadow' were all immensely powerful in combat. In battle, the divine body training path inherently held a huge advantage.

Beishan Xuantang was, after all, a qi refiner. But if it was merely a comparison of the Dao's realm, he was definitely among the top of the Multiple Dao Domain level, far surpassing Senior Brother Poison Blood and others.

"Beishan Xuantang?" Ji Ning recognized him at a glance. When he had first come to the Black-White College to look around, he had encountered this Beishan Xuantang. At that time, Beishan Xuantang had not taken him seriously. "Brother Baiwei once said that this Beishan Xuantang was a venomous snake in sheep's clothing. Now it seems, at least I can see through the sheep's clothing."

Beishan Xuantang wore a faint smile, elegant and graceful, dressed in white robes, drifting over.

He indeed had a certain bearing and seemed to be quite popular.

Soon.

Beishan Xuantang selected a puppet from the side hall, lightly tapped his foot, and flew directly onto a stone pillar. His puppet also leaped down into the arena below.

"Junior Brother Ji Ning." Beishan Xuantang stood on the stone pillar, looking into the distance, and laughed, "When we met before, I never imagined that today I would be discussing the Dao with you in the Dao Discussion Hall... The changes in the world are truly wondrous."

"To be able to spar with you, Senior Brother, I also feel that the world's changes are endless." Ji Ning responded.

Beishan Xuantang nodded lightly, but the fighting spirit in his eyes was evident. Because he came from a remote branch of the Beishan clan of Anchi, he had always looked down on those direct-line disciples who relied on their parents' protection. He had long classified Ji Ning as being on 'Beishan Baiwei's' side. Ji Ning's successive victories had only made him more displeased.

"His talent is remarkable, but winning this many times is enough." Beishan Xuantang thought to himself.

Suddenly—

Among the many senior and junior fellow apprentices standing by the side of the Dao Discussion Hall, a white-robed, white-haired man spoke: "Junior Brother Ji Ning."

Ji Ning turned to look, and upon seeing him, immediately cupped his hands and said, "Senior Brother Bloodshadow."

Senior Brother Bloodshadow, though weaker in Dao discussions, was among the top in direct combat among the third-generation disciples.

"Junior Brother, you first defeated three Zifu Disciple junior brothers in a row, then defeated me, White Snow, and Poison Blood. Now you are about to fight Beishan Xuantang... I can't help but admire you. Junior Brother Xuantang has a high level of Dao comprehension, while you, Junior Brother Ji Ning, have extraordinary talent. The outcome of this battle is hard to predict. I am willing to offer a treasure to add some spice to this battle. If Junior Brother Ji Ning defeats Junior Brother Xuantang, I will give this treasure to you."

As soon as these words were spoken,

There was an immediate uproar. Senior Brother Bloodshadow's words somewhat 'undermined' Beishan Xuantang's face, and it was clear he was trying to get close to Ji Ning.

"Hmph." Beishan Xuantang was somewhat angry inside, but this Senior Brother Bloodshadow was one of the most troublesome third-generation disciples. On the surface, he still maintained a faint, composed smile.

"How can this be?" Ji Ning quickly said.

"No need to be modest." Senior Brother Bloodshadow said, "This treasure is a Mortal-ranked magic treasure, of little use to me. It is a set of flying swords I stumbled upon when I accidentally entered an immortal's mansion during an Yinglong Guard mission. I saw that you are skilled at controlling flying swords and can even manipulate multiple flying swords... This flying sword formation I obtained is a set of 'Heaven and Earth Sword Formation,' comprising one hundred and eight flying swords. It is useless to me, but it will certainly be of great use to you, Junior Brother. However, to obtain it, you must rely on your strength in this battle."

Senior Brother Bloodshadow, with white robes and white hair, wore a smile. He indeed thought highly of Ji Ning.

He was the first among the Wanxiang Adept disciples to make a move, but it was actually just a way to break the ice. Especially since he often engaged in life-and-death battles, Bloodshadow's instincts were very sharp. He vaguely felt that the distant Ji Ning was like a sword at this moment, and he understood that this junior brother had boundless potential.

Bringing out this set of flying swords...

He said he would only give it if Ji Ning won, but even if Ji Ning lost, Bloodshadow could find an excuse to give it to him. In this way, the relationship between them would naturally grow closer.

"I will do my utmost, Senior Brother." Ji Ning said.

How could this Mortal-ranked flying sword formation be useless to Senior Brother Bloodshadow? He could exchange it for many elemental stones at the Heavenly Treasures Mountain. This was clearly the senior brother trying to get close to him.

...

"That Bloodshadow kid is the first disciple to get close to your disciple." The short old man, holding a wine gourd, said leisurely while drinking.

Palace Immortal Diancai nodded lightly: "Bloodshadow is also an outstanding talent among the third-generation disciples."

"Just because he's on your disciple's side, he's outstanding?" The short old man glared, then curled his lips and said, "But to be honest, although Bloodshadow is a bit slow in Dao comprehension, he is steady. Especially, he is very willing to endure hardship. The 'Bloodshadow Indestructible Body' in the divine body training technique is considered one of the most painful cultivation methods, but once cultivated, it is extremely bizarre and immensely powerful. Moreover, Bloodshadow often undertakes dangerous missions in the Yinglong Guard. With the peculiarity of the Bloodshadow Indestructible Body, he repeatedly walks the line between life and death. His strength is increasing faster and faster. His divine abilities are also becoming more powerful... When he first entered the sect, he was unremarkable. Now, he is among the top in strength among the third-generation disciples. I suspect that in a few hundred years, he might even become one of the strongest in our Black-White College."

"You think so highly of him?" Palace Immortal Diancai was startled.

"Although Dao comprehension is important, the Dao-heart is even more important." The short old man sighed softly, "You'll understand after seeing more."

"Mm." Palace Immortal Diancai took a deep look at Bloodshadow.

"The battle is starting." The short old man's eyes lit up as he looked at the distant battlefield. Ji Ning and Beishan Xuantang had already begun to control their puppets in combat. "Palace Immortal Diancai, who do you think will win? In my opinion, although your disciple has comprehended the first stance of the 'Three-Foot Sword,' this stance is about understanding the Sword Heart!"

"No one knows what his Sword Heart is like, and it's hard to say how powerful the stance he comprehended is. But this Beishan Xuantang's Five Qis Great Grasp is far stronger than that kid called Poison Blood." The short old man looked at Palace Immortal Diancai, expecting to see worry on his face.

But Palace Immortal Diancai remained as solemn as ever: "We'll see what his Sword Heart is like when we watch."

"Oh." The short old man responded, shaking his head and sighing, "Ah, your disciple is at a disadvantage. Looks like he's in danger."

...

Those watching outside the sealing formation held their breath.

"I wonder if Junior Brother Ji Ning can create another miracle." Senior Brother Fire Saint squinted.

...

"The power of his sword light doesn't seem to be increasing anymore. Has his sword comprehension stopped?" The slovenly true man, a chubby youth, frowned as he watched. "If it has stopped, this battle is hard to predict."

...

"Senior Sister, can Junior Brother Ji Ning win?" Nine Lotus asked beside her.

The black-clad girl, Fire Rainbow Immortal Yu Wei, just watched silently without speaking.

...

"Win, win, win." Mu Zishuo and Senior Sister Dong Lin stood in a corner. He clenched his fists, his eyes wide open.

...

Inside the sealing formation.

Ji Ning, sitting cross-legged on the stone pillar, was at an absolute disadvantage, but the nine 'Three Talents Lotus Swords' were still struggling desperately against the enormous 'Five Qis Great Grasp.' However, judging by the situation, after a few more exchanges, the Three Talents Lotus Swords would likely collapse.

Ji Ning was very calm.

Without any panic, which made Beishan Xuantang sneer inwardly: "Almost there, you should lose."

But he did not know that Ji Ning was gathering momentum, with waves of enlightenment about the sword surging in his heart.

"Great freedom! Great ease!"

"Even fate must retreat!"

Ji Ning's eyes suddenly burst forth with a terrifying sword intent, and his entire being erupted with a shocking sword intent.

"First stance of the Three-Foot Sword—Sword Heart Unobstructed!" Ji Ning's gaze focused, and instantly, whoosh whoosh whoosh~~~ all the flying swords behind the Thousand Sword Puppet flew out, including the previous ones. A total of over a thousand flying swords, densely packed, left all the onlookers stunned. So many flying swords? What for?

Over a thousand flying swords, all pointing at the Five Qis Great Grasp ahead.

"Slash!"

Ji Ning suddenly let out a loud shout!

The thousand flying swords instantly bloomed with lotuses and simultaneously slashed forward... In an instant, the thousand flying swords transformed into a massive sword light, carrying an irresistible momentum, slashing forward!

That slash!

Contained the irresistible will of Ji Ning's Sword Heart!

In his previous life, Ji Ning had experienced the information explosion on Earth. Entering the mundane world and leaving it—the distracting thoughts generated by that information explosion were even more astonishing than the trials and tribulations of the Desolate Era.

The experiences of this life, the separations of life and death, the warmth of family—all these gradually made Ji Ning's heart become unobstructed.

A person living in a paradise might also maintain a pure and unobstructed heart. But such a pure and unobstructed heart is very fragile. Once faced with temptation or setbacks, it might collapse.

But Ji Ning, having seen too much in the information explosion of his previous life, watching others run freely, study, and fall in love while suffering from illness—such distortion was extremely painful.

This heart, once sullied by the mundane world, gradually became unobstructed under the warmth of family in this life, and became even more indestructible!

Standing atop a mountain, pure and white, is indeed commendable, but emerging unstained from the mud is even more precious!

"This is my first stance of the 'Three-Foot Sword'!"

"Slash!"

"Slash!"

"Slash!"

Ji Ning shouted the word 'slash' three times in a row, and the sword light in his eyes was even visible to the naked eye. The powerful sword intent, the irresistible will, moved even the two immortals in the distance.

Boom!!!

A thousand flying swords, slashing in unison! The massive sword light they formed slashed forward!

The immensely powerful Five Qis Great Grasp ahead, though it held on for a moment, soon shattered into pieces...

...