Chapter 7 Master and Disciple Before Parting

"Not good." Even in his previous bout with his master, he had never seen this move. Facing the thousands of sword beams, each like a star, converging upon him, Ji Ning knew that his own 'Three Talents Millstone Sword' could not withstand them.

Ji Ning's sword intent was fully restrained to its utmost.

"Stab!"

Ji Ning's sword moved.

It was as if endless obstacles surrounded and bound him, like countless ropes entangling him, making this sword strike seem to struggle with all its might, striving to pierce through something, appearing incomparably slow. Though it seemed slow and deliberate, it was actually a spiritual illusion; the sword itself had reached its limit of speed.

Swish!

A single sword strike, like a meteor!

It tore through the endless darkness, tore through all obstacles, and also shredded the thousands of sword beams that had been closing in. As part of them were torn apart, all the sword beams vanished without a trace.

Ji Ning's figure, like an illusion, charged toward his master. His right hand had just pierced through the thousands of sword beams, and his left hand, wielding the same technique, was already stabbing directly at his master, Immortal Diancai.

"Break!" Immortal Diancai smiled and shouted.

A formless sword qi instantly collided with Ji Ning's Northsong sword. The powerful and endlessly lingering force sent Ji Ning stumbling back several zhang before he could steady himself.

Immortal Diancai, seated cross-legged on the jade bed, nodded gently: "Thorns Abound—you have finally comprehended this technique."

The move Ji Ning had just executed was the second stance of the 'Three-Foot Sword'—Thorns Abound. This stance also represented the pinnacle of Ji Ning's achievements in comprehending the Dao of the Sword over the past three-plus years.

"Thanks to my master's teachings, your disciple is dull-witted and only comprehended it today," Ji Ning said respectfully.

"Haha, it took you just over three years to comprehend the second stance of the 'Three-Foot Sword.' If you are dull-witted, then I, your master, must be stupid," Immortal Diancai said with a laugh. "When I first comprehended the first stance, it took me a full ten years to grasp the second. Your talent far surpasses mine."

Ji Ning said respectfully: "My talent is merely on par with that of reincarnated immortals. Our Black-White College has always had reincarnated immortals entering its gates—for instance, there are quite a few reincarnated immortals in our college now. Although you are not a reincarnated immortal, you surpass them and are widely recognized as the most promising to become a Celestial Immortal. And Senior Fellow Apprentice Lata is also the undisputed number one among the third-generation disciples."

Immortal Diancai nodded approvingly: "It is good that you can remain vigilant at all times."

"You... may now leave the sect and venture forth," Immortal Diancai said with a smile, finally uttering these words.

"I can go out and explore?" Ji Ning felt a surge of excitement inside.

Every time he had made a breakthrough, he thought he would gain his master's approval... but he was disappointed time and again. For instance, when he reached the 'Dao Domain' of the 'Blazing Fire Dao,' or when he comprehended even more powerful sword techniques and even improved the 'Three Talents Millstone Sword' to suit himself perfectly, he had been filled with pride.

But his master never nodded.

Until today!

With the second stance of the 'Three-Foot Sword,' he had finally gained his master's approval. At last, he could truly venture into that vast land full of dangers and opportunities.

"Ji Ning." Immortal Diancai looked at him.

"Master." Ji Ning suppressed his excitement.

"Keep these two protective items." Two objects appeared in Immortal Diancai's hand. One was a pendant with intricate carvings, beautiful like an immortal palace. The other was a fiery red jade bottle. "This pendant was made by me personally. After you refine it and carry it with you, you can activate the sword qi within to protect your body with a single thought. Once the sword qi protects you... even against a Sanxian or Earth Immortal, you can hold out for one breath's time."

"As for this jade bottle, you must be even more careful. Inside is a 'Two Extremes Magnetic Light Thunderfire Pearl,' which has immense power. Once thrown, it does not distinguish friend from foe, turning everything within ten zhang to dust. Even Earth Immortals and Sanxians would likely be severely injured, while Wanxiang Adepts would almost certainly die."

"These two items—one for defense, one for attack."

"But each can only be used once, so think carefully before using them." Immortal Diancai looked at Ji Ning, his eyes filled with hope and solemnity.

When a child travels a thousand li, the mother worries.

When a disciple travels far, the master also worries.

He had only this one disciple, and now the disciple was about to venture far away... As a master, how could Immortal Diancai not worry? After all, no matter how brilliant a genius, if they have not yet grown, they are still no match for some old hands. For instance, encountering a Wanxiang Adept would leave them utterly defenseless.

"Remember, act cautiously in all matters, think thrice before acting, but also have a decisive heart." Immortal Diancai looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning suddenly felt a pang in his heart.

Such a look...

Back when he left West Prefecture City to take risks, his father and mother had looked at him with the same eyes. They too were worried yet full of expectation. Although his master was powerful, he could not take risks in his disciple's place; the disciple needed true tempering... to become a talent.

"Master, rest assured, your disciple will be careful," Ji Ning quickly said.

"What your master can give you are just these two protective items," Immortal Diancai said, looking at Ji Ning. "The rest depends on your own efforts."

"Yes." Ji Ning respectfully accepted them.

Both items were invaluable, even surpassing the gifts given by Bei Shan Black Tiger back then.

The protective pendant could withstand attacks from Sanxians and Earth Immortals for a full breath's time. In life-and-death battles, sometimes the difference is a mere instant, let alone a full breath. For cultivators, in one breath's time, they could fly who knows how many li.

The Two Extremes Magnetic Light Thunderfire Pearl could even injure immortals, and Wanxiang Adepts would almost certainly die—a true trump card.

"Come see me when you return to the college. Go now." Immortal Diancai waved his hand and closed his eyes.

"Yes." Ji Ning bowed, then withdrew.

...

Leaving his master's place, riding a boat flying high in the sky, Ji Ning felt a sourness in his heart. He could sense his master's worry. His master's worry was not unfounded, for the path of cultivation was a path against heaven, full of hardships. Even heaven would intentionally or unintentionally cast dangers upon cultivators.

Too many disciples of the Black-White College had died outside.

Note...

Most of those genius disciples of the Black-White College, if they did not fall, would become Wanxiang Adepts. Yet among the hundreds of third-generation disciples, there were only about thirty Wanxiang Adepts among the second generation. Why?

The answer was... they died!

They died during various ventures and temperings. As the saying goes, jade must be carved to become a vessel, but during carving, countless rough stones are shattered. 'Tempering,' this 'carving knife,' is too harsh. Setting foot on the path of cultivation means embarking on an extremely rugged and dangerous road.

"Master, I will return alive." Ji Ning silently vowed, then steered his boat toward the peak of his junior fellow apprentice, Mu Zishuo.

...

Twin Wood Peak.

Ji Ning flew to the sky above and called out directly: "Junior Apprentice Brother Shuo."

His voice rolled down to the mansion below. Soon a figure walked into the courtyard and called out: "Senior Apprentice Brother Ji Ning, please come in quickly."

Ji Ning descended.

Just like three years ago, Mu Zishuo still looked like a young boy, but both in strength and Dao-heart, he had grown a lot. After all, he had entered the Black-White College at only fourteen and had meditated before the Black-White Diagram for so long... his talent was extremely high.

The reason he lost in the Dao Debate Hall back then was that he was too young and had not experienced the Water Mansion's opportunities like Ji Ning.

"Senior Apprentice Brother Ji Ning, what brings you here?" Mu Zishuo said with a smile. "You rarely come to see me."

"I just gained my master's approval, and he has allowed me to go out and explore," Ji Ning said with a smile.

"Really? Great!" Mu Zishuo immediately cheered. "I've been waiting for this day for over a year. I got my master's approval to go out two years after entering the college, but you, Senior Apprentice Brother, are so strong, yet it took you over three years. Immortal Diancai's requirements for you are really strict."

Ji Ning smiled.

When Junior Apprentice Brother Mu Zishuo had gained his master Qionghua Daoist's approval, he had come to find Ji Ning, but Ji Ning couldn't leave yet. So Mu Zishuo held back, not wanting to venture out alone. Having a fellow apprentice to explore with would at least alleviate the loneliness.

And so he waited until today.

"Ah, I'll go to my master and tell him," Mu Zishuo quickly said.

"Go ahead. Your master dotes on you, so you should talk to him properly," Ji Ning said.

Mu Zishuo's master, Qionghua Daoist, indeed doted on him greatly. For one, those specializing in the puppet Dao were rare in the Black-White College, and it was hard to find such a good disciple. For another, Qionghua Daoist had been stuck as a Wanxiang Adept for many years, and under the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, he found it increasingly difficult to endure; his end was near. A dying man, having taken on a genius disciple at the last moment, and with Mu Zishuo being so young... Qionghua Daoist naturally doted on this disciple.

After entering the college, Qionghua Daoist gave Mu Zishuo a full thousand catties of liquid elemental essence.

With this, Mu Zishuo cultivated straight to the 'Wanxiang Middle Stage.'

This was rare in the Black-White College!

The Black-White College had an unspoken rule: masters would not directly bestow many treasures upon disciples but would guide them. The college would place 'cultivation methods,' 'divine abilities,' and 'techniques' all in one place. When a disciple's strength improved—for instance, reaching the 'Dao Domain'—they could then learn more methods and techniques.

Mountains of gold and silver are placed underground; you have to dig to get them.

Techniques and divine abilities are all there; you have to cultivate diligently and make progress to obtain them.

If you don't cultivate seriously and make no progress, yet want everything handed to you, that would be raising a spoiled child.

So the unspoken rule was...

A master could help, guide, and support. But the disciple needed to strive and work hard. Qionghua Daoist directly giving his disciple a thousand catties of liquid elemental essence was rare, but his doting on Mu Zishuo stopped there; in other aspects, like Black-White pills, he did not give them away freely.

"Mm." Mu Zishuo nodded. "Senior Apprentice Brother, go back first. I'll see my master and prepare... then I'll find you tomorrow. We'll set off early tomorrow morning and leave the Black-White College."

"Good." Ji Ning nodded.

A green dragon appeared beneath Mu Zishuo's feet; stepping on the green dragon puppet, he quickly broke through the air and departed.

"Junior Apprentice Brother Shuo has gone to see his master." Ji Ning stepped onto his boat and soared into the sky. He glanced in the direction of Immortal Diancai's residence. "Master, your disciple will not let you down."

...