Chapter 4: Laying a Solid Foundation

Meng Yan was completely stunned.

Ji Ning?

Of course he knew Ji Ning—the man who had saved his life. Back in Wuyou Cave, he had even seen Ji Ning and another youth being welcomed in with great fanfare.

"May I ask, is your master the Ji Ning I know?" Meng Yan hesitated. Was it the same Brother Ji Ning he knew?

"My master is a formal disciple of the Black-White College," the tall, thin youth in white robes, Yunzhou, said with a smile. "Moreover, upon first entering the Black-White College, he defeated many senior brothers and sisters, even Wanxiang-level cultivators fell one after another under my master's hand. Brother Meng Yan, my master invites you. Will you go?"

"Go, of course I'll go," the bald middle-aged man beside him urged hurriedly, while also sending a mental message to Meng Yan: "Stone, your luck has come! That Ji Ning is a heaven-defying genius who has successfully entered the Black-White College as a formal disciple. Formal disciples have ten servant slots. It seems this young man is one of those servants. Ji Ning inviting you over... he might give you one of those ten slots."

Meng Yan was startled by the mental message.

Ten servants of a formal disciple?

The Black-White College—what kind of place was that? It was the strongest sect in the entire Anchan Commandery, a gathering place for peerless geniuses! Even the servants of these geniuses, as long as they diligently served the college, had a chance to learn some top-tier Qi Refining techniques. It was far better than becoming a disciple of the Thousand Rivers Sect.

One must know that in those ultra-large sects, there were multiple classifications: outer disciples, inner disciples, true disciples, and even core disciples.

But the Black-White College only had two categories: formal disciples and servants.

Even the servant positions were coveted by all sides.

"I can enter the Black-White College too?" Meng Yan's mind raced with thoughts.

"Brother Meng Yan?" Yunzhou urged.

"Ah!" Meng Yan quickly nodded. "I'll go, of course I'll go."

...

Black-White College.

Yunzhou and Meng Yan both transformed into streaks of light, flying through the sky.

"Look, that's Northmyth Peak, where my master Ji Ning resides." Yunzhou pointed into the distance at an elegant mountain peak.

Since entering the main gate of the Black-White College, Meng Yan's thoughts had been wandering. He, he had actually entered the Black-White College too? And this Yunzhou was indeed one of the ten servants.

Whoosh.

The two dove down from the sky and soon landed outside the mansion gate. The two young guards at the entrance bowed respectfully.

"Such dense natural energy." Stepping into the mansion, Meng Yan felt an incredibly rich concentration of natural energy. "The natural energy in Anchan City was already dense enough, but inside this mansion there's actually a spirit-gathering formation, and it's constantly active."

Meng Yan felt somewhat constrained.

Led by Yunzhou, he walked along a corridor, soon passing through a gate and seeing a spacious courtyard. In the courtyard sat a youth in animal skins, with a stunningly beautiful woman beside him awaiting orders.

It was almost completely dark now, and the silhouette of the youth in animal skins appeared blurry.

"Brother Ji Ning!" Meng Yan blurted out upon seeing the youth in animal skins.

"Stone!" Ji Ning stood up and walked over.

Meng Yan felt constrained and nervous inside.

This was no longer the Ji Ning who had come to apply for the sect with them; he was now a formal disciple of the Black-White College, the number one sect in Anchan Commandery. And from what Yunzhou said... it seemed Ji Ning was quite outstanding even within the Black-White College.

"Don't be nervous." Ji Ning smiled and asked, "What about Meng Xin and Meng Jun?"

"They both joined sects," Meng Yan quickly replied. "They were both at the early Zifu stage, so it was easy for them to join a sect. They both entered the Thousand Rivers Sect."

Speaking of this, Meng Yan felt a pang of pain.

Back then, how he had wished to join the same sect as Meng Xin! Unfortunately, his foundation was damaged, and no sect wanted him.

"The Thousand Rivers Sect?" Ji Ning nodded lightly. "After becoming a formal disciple of the Black-White College, I have ten servant slots. Would you be willing to become one of my servants?"

Meng Yan's eyes instantly lit up, and his body trembled slightly.

"Willing!" Meng Yan quickly replied.

"It's only a nominal servant. You and I will still treat each other as brothers," Ji Ning said with a smile. "By the way, if you have any questions, ask Uncle Bai... The Black-White College has quite a few rules."

"Mm." Meng Yan nodded heavily.

What he feared was a lack of hope. Now that he had entered the Black-White College, a broad path of immortal cultivation lay before him. He would certainly keep striving, growing stronger, and climbing higher on the path of cultivation. Thinking of this, he silently said to himself, "Xiao Xin, wait for me."

Meng Yan looked at Ji Ning, his eyes reddening. With a thud, he knelt on both knees and kowtowed.

"Stone!" Ji Ning quickly moved to help him up.

"Brother Ji Ning, you saved my life and gave me a path to immortality. I, Meng Yan, have no way to repay you. If you give the order, I'll charge through fire and water without hesitation." Meng Yan looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning smiled: "Get up."

Yunzhou, standing nearby, thought to himself: "With Brother Ji Ning's strength and talent, how could he ever need your help?"

"Yun Lu." Ji Ning looked at Yun Lu beside him and instructed, "Go arrange a meal. Stone and I will have a good chat." Compared to the other three servants, Ji Ning felt more favorably toward Meng Yan.

"Yes." Yun Lu responded and withdrew. As she left, she felt a bit annoyed: "Another blockhead!" This Meng Yan had only glanced at her once upon entering, which made her doubt her own allure.

...

The morning sun rose, casting myriad beams of auspicious light over the entire Black-White College, making everything seem dreamlike.

Ji Ning stepped onto a boat-shaped vessel, transforming into a streak of light as he flew out of Northmyth Peak. Soon, he arrived above the peak where his master, Immortal Diancai, resided.

"Master." Ji Ning landed before the mansion gate and said respectfully.

"Come in." Immortal Diancai's voice came through.

Ji Ning entered directly; the servants at the gate naturally did not stop him.

Inside the hall.

Immortal Diancai, robed in black with black hair, sat cross-legged on a cloud bed, looking at Ji Ning with increasing satisfaction. Teaching a highly gifted disciple was very fulfilling. Immortal Diancai said gently, "Ji Ning, how has your comprehension been over these three days?"

"Disciple has made some progress!" Ji Ning replied respectfully.

"Mm." Immortal Diancai nodded slightly, squinting as he said, "Earlier, the College Lord Bihai told you about the Grand Dao of 'Sword.'"

Ji Ning nodded: "Yes."

"The sword," Immortal Diancai said slowly, "is a killing tool, and also the reliance of us cultivators as we climb to the peak, cutting down all obstacles."

"The Sword Dao is a path of attack and killing."

"Sword immortals are also the cultivators most skilled in attack." Immortal Diancai smiled at Ji Ning. "Do you know... what is the Sword Dao?"

Ji Ning was taken aback.

Then he shook his head in confusion. He had only just entered the threshold of the Sword Dao and hadn't even figured out much yet. How could he answer such a question as 'What is the Sword Dao?'

"Some Daos are about the mysteries of heaven and earth. For example, your Rainwater Dao, Ice Dao, Profound Ice Dao, and so on! They all interpret the mysteries of heaven and earth."

Ji Ning nodded.

These were all mysteries of heaven and earth. The way one applied the insights from these Daos was called 'technique.'

"'Technique' is the skill of application. Generally, what you use the sword to perform is 'sword technique.' When sword technique reaches such a high level that it enters the Dao... that is the Sword Dao!" Immortal Diancai looked at Ji Ning. "Thus, the Sword Dao is actually a Dao of technique, a Dao of applied skill."

Ji Ning was speechless.

"Not only the Sword Dao, but also the Taiji Dao. Taiji is also a skill of application."

"Taiji is also one of the Grand Daos."

"For example, if you have insights into water and fire, you can use the 'Taiji' Dao to manifest them, and their power will instantly skyrocket." Immortal Diancai looked at Ji Ning. "Since you walk the Sword Dao, you need to manifest some insights through the 'Sword Dao.'"

Ji Ning nodded in understanding.

Taiji? Sword Dao?

Daos of application?

"Whether it's Taiji or the Sword Dao, both are extremely profound and inconceivable 'Grand Daos.' Extremely difficult to comprehend." Immortal Diancai sighed. "For example, the Sword Dao requires realizing the Sword Heart. The Taiji Dao also requires realizing the Taiji Heart. Both are very difficult. But once you set foot on such a Grand Dao, your future is considered boundless."

Ji Ning nodded.

"Remember!" Immortal Diancai looked at Ji Ning with a solemn expression. "As a sword immortal, you must have a sincere heart! Be sincere to the sword, be sincere to the heart, understand?"

Ji Ning nodded gravely.

"You must often reflect, polish the Sword Heart, and not let it gather dust. Know that sincerity leads to clarity!" Immortal Diancai looked at Ji Ning. "You must firmly remember these words of mine."

"Yes, disciple will remember and never dare to forget." Ji Ning replied.

"Mm."

Immortal Diancai flipped his hand and produced a beastskin scroll, directly handing it to Ji Ning. Ji Ning took it with slight confusion.

"Over these three days... I carefully considered your performance in the Debate Hall battle and finally selected thirty-six sword technique manuals for you." Immortal Diancai said. "Go to the Scripture Depository later and exchange for the thirty-six books listed on this beastskin scroll."

"Thirty-six?" Ji Ning was startled. "Disciple has to exchange for them?"

Although he had received two thousand Black-White pellets for stepping into the Sword Dao, thirty-six sword technique manuals...

"Don't worry, these are just Earth-grade and Heaven-grade sword techniques. And I've only asked you to exchange for the upper volumes and such. Exchanging for all of them will only cost six hundred Black-White pellets." Immortal Diancai said.

Ji Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

Six hundred Black-White pellets was indeed no pressure.

"Although they are only Earth-grade and Heaven-grade sword techniques, and only upper volumes, they should be sufficient for your Zifu and Wanxiang levels." Immortal Diancai said. "These are various types of sword techniques. If placed in some small sects, they would be considered sect-protecting sword techniques. You need to carefully experience each type."

"Broadly studying various sword technique manuals will, on one hand, enhance your insights into the Sword Dao." Immortal Diancai smiled. "On the other hand, reading and learning widely is a form of accumulation. When you go out and engage in life-and-death battles in the future, you will progress faster and be able to unleash that accumulated knowledge."

"Yes." Ji Ning replied.

"Go, head to the Scripture Depository. From now on, on the first day of each month, you can come to me with any doubts about your cultivation." Immortal Diancai said. "When I feel your foundation is truly solid, you can leave the Black-White College to train and temper yourself in the outside world. Sheltered by elders, one cannot become a true immortal. Only through wind and rain, life-and-death trials, can a powerful immortal who fears neither the Three Calamities nor the Nine Tribulations be born."

Ji Ning nodded: "Yes."

...