Chapter 9: The Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Eliminating Talisman

The prefecture lord Ji Youyang spoke: "Second brother, listen to me!"

"Elder brother." Ji Lie closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them wide and growled, "No need to say more. From today on, Ji Ning is my successor as prefecture lord of the Ji clan, and I, Ji Lie, will surely follow his orders, pledge my loyalty to him, and fight for our Ji clan's Western Prefecture without any disobedience. I am convinced by Ji Ning, but as for you, I am simply not convinced!"

Ji Lie rose abruptly and turned to leave.

"Father." Ji Wuyu, who was at his side, called out and quickly followed.

Ji Youyang silently watched Ji Lie leave, but a smile appeared on his face. He knew well that his second brother Ji Lie had a fiery temper, was warlike at heart, respected the strong, and disdained the weak. From youth to now, in terms of strength, he, Ji Youyang, had never been a match for his second brother, so of course Ji Lie would not be convinced. But Ji Lie had once said... if Ji Yichuan became prefecture lord, he would have no objections.

Now Ji Ning was even more monstrous than his father Ji Yichuan, and had crushed seven opponents to win the golden sword. Naturally, Ji Lie was equally convinced.

Convinced is convinced!

Not convinced is not convinced!

He, Ji Lie, would never in his life be convinced by his elder brother Ji Youyang.

...

In the evening.

A grand feast was being held in the Drifting Snow Hall of the Ji clan's Western Prefecture. The heir to the prefecture lord had finally been decided—a matter of great importance to the Western Prefecture. When Ji Youyang stepped down and Ji Ning took over, Ji Ning would also hold the position of executor. As a Xiantian lifeform and the former prefecture lord, Ji Youyang would likewise serve as an executor.

The Western Prefecture had ten executors in total. Major decisions affecting the prefecture's fate were made jointly by these ten. Once Ji Ning took over, the weakest among the current ten executors would have to step down. The power structure would also shift, and it was easy to imagine that the direct lineage would become even stronger.

"Wusa, wusa ya!"

In the center of the hall, over thirty barefoot, nearly half-naked girls in animal skins were dancing.

At the rear on both sides of the hall, musicians were playing instruments such as stone chimes, bells, and ocarinas, their sounds either deep or ethereal, echoing through the hall. Inside the hall, the group holding the highest power in the Western Prefecture toasted and laughed heartily.

As the heir to the prefecture lord, Ji Ning also had a separate seat with a low table before him piled high with delicious food.

"Hua hua hua~~" A girl in animal skins carrying a large wine jar stood nearby. Seeing Ji Ning's beast-head wine cup empty, she promptly refilled it. The jar weighed dozens of jin, but the girl poured without spilling a drop.

"This really has a unique charm." Ji Ning watched, shaking his head.

At the seat next to Ji Ning's, more than one person sat.

Ji Yichuan naturally knelt at the center of the low table, with Yuchi Xue beside him. A large snow-white dog—the divine beast Whitewater Marsh—lay nearby.

Only those of the highest status in the Western Prefecture could have a separate low table in the Drifting Snow Hall. Even his mother Yuchi Xue had to be brought in as Ji Yichuan's wife and was not qualified for a separate seat.

...

The Xiantian lifeforms arrived one by one, some with their families, some with their tamed spirit beasts.

Soon night fell. The musicians and dancers withdrew one after another, and even the serving maids were dismissed. It was time to discuss important matters. For extremely secret topics, even some of the family members and spirit beasts present would have to leave.

"Everyone." Prefecture lord Ji Youyang said with a smile, "The Golden Sword Ceremony has just concluded. Ji Ning, at the age of ten, defeated seven opponents single-handedly to win the golden sword and has naturally become the heir to the prefecture lord. However, Ji Ning is still young. Let him grow a bit more and gain more experience before taking over the prefecture. I suggest we wait until he is twenty. What do you all think?"

"Good."

"Good."

"Ji Ning's talent is no less than Yichuan's; he is the most suitable candidate for prefecture lord." The other executors nodded in agreement, including Ji Lie, who raised no objection.

Ji Yichuan, sitting nearby, also showed a rare smile and spoke: "Prefecture lord."

"Yichuan, what is it?" Ji Youyang looked over.

"I request an item for my son." Ji Yichuan said.

Ji Youyang asked in confusion: "What item?"

"The Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Eliminating Talisman!" Ji Yichuan said solemnly. As soon as the words left his mouth, the entire hall fell silent. Many Xiantian lifeforms exchanged glances, their faces full of surprise.

"Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Eliminating Talisman?" Ji Youyang frowned and looked at Ji Ning. "Ji Ning, do you want this talisman?"

Ji Ning, holding a beast-head wine cup, was startled. He glanced at his father and then nodded: "Yes."

Ji Yichuan said, "Ji Ning is the next prefecture lord. He should be allowed to have the Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Eliminating Talisman, shouldn't he?"

"He can." Ji Youyang nodded, then took a deep breath and flipped his hand, revealing a strange jade talisman glowing with jade light. The talisman bore complex patterns like celestial script, and a strange fluctuation emanated from it, seeming to distort the surrounding void. Ji Youyang tossed it directly to Ji Yichuan. "Yichuan, this Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Eliminating Talisman is the treasure of our Western Prefecture. Do not use it lightly."

Ji Yichuan nodded: "I understand."

...

Late at night, on the way back from Drifting Snow Hall, Ji Ning walked with his parents and Whitewater Marsh.

"Father, mother." Ji Ning asked in confusion, "What is the Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Eliminating Talisman? Why do you need it, Father?"

Yuchi Xue smiled at her son: "This is why your father made you participate in the Golden Sword Ceremony and win the golden sword before allowing you to go out. Only by winning the golden sword and becoming the undisputed next prefecture lord can you obtain the prefecture's treasure, the 'Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Eliminating Talisman.'"

Ji Yichuan said coldly, "The Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Eliminating Talisman is an extremely precious talisman. Three hundred years ago, an ancestor of our Western Prefecture obtained it by chance. He originally had three such talismans, but two were used... leaving only this last one, which became the prefecture's treasure."

"What does it do?" Ji Ning asked.

Ji Yichuan smiled: "Once you use the Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Eliminating Talisman, you can instantly reach any place within ten thousand miles."

"What!" Ji Ning was shocked. Instantly reach any place within ten thousand miles?

"This kind of talisman cannot be bought even if you wanted to. Our ancestor obtained it only by luck," Ji Yichuan sighed. "For our Ji clan, obtaining a treasure of this level is a stroke of great fortune. As the next prefecture lord, I could claim this talisman in your name without anyone opposing it."

With that, Ji Yichuan flipped his hand and produced a blood-red jade sword, which he handed to Ji Ning. "This jade sword has been soaked in my blood for a long time to refine it. No matter how far away you are, I can sense its location. Keep it close when you go out to explore. Remember, if you encounter danger, break the jade sword immediately. As soon as you break it, I will know, and I will use the Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Eliminating Talisman to reach you instantly and save your life."

"Ah." Ji Ning suddenly understood why his father needed the talisman.

Ji Yichuan barked, "When you go out, you must not stray too far from our Western Prefecture city. The talisman can only reach up to ten thousand miles. I can sense the jade sword's position and know how far you've gone. If I sense you've left the Western Prefecture city beyond ten thousand miles, I will immediately go and bring you back and lock you in the dungeon for three years!"

Ji Ning blinked. Locked in the dungeon? That dark, sunless prison was where the Western Prefecture held death row inmates and serious criminals.

"Your son will remember." Ji Ning quickly replied.

Ten thousand miles?

That was enough. After all, the Western Prefecture's jurisdiction spanned only a few thousand miles. Beyond that to the west lay the territories of other hegemons.

"Ning'er." Yuchi Xue asked with concern, "When do you plan to set out?"

"I'll prepare a bit." Ji Ning nodded. "Three days from now."

...

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Early morning, just before dawn, in Ji Ning's room.

"Ning'er, take these with you." Yuchi Xue waved her hand, and two large piles of animal-skin clothes and other odds and ends appeared on the bed.

"Mother." Ji Ning couldn't help saying, "I've already prepared everything myself—clothes, food, supplies."

Ji Yichuan snapped coldly, "If your mother tells you to take them, take them. These were all sewn by your mother's own hands, stitch by stitch."

Ji Ning's heart trembled. He couldn't help but look at his mother. Yuchi Xue's gaze was fixed on her son. Ji Ning could feel the boundless love in her eyes... Since childhood, his mother had cared for him in every possible way. He was like her whole world. This time he was going out to explore; she must be very worried.

A mother's heart follows her son on a thousand-mile journey. And he was going out to take risks.

"Father." Ji Ning felt the weight and quickly changed the subject. "This time I go out, will Ji Lie secretly..."

"No." Ji Yichuan said coldly, "Our Ji clan has survived on this land until now because of unity. Internal conflict is absolutely forbidden; violators are hunted down by the five prefectures of the Ji clan. Besides, I know Ji Lie's character well. He only refuses to accept Prefecture Lord Ji Youyang. In his heart, he still acts for the clan. And he is proud at heart; he would disdain such deeds."

Ji Ning nodded thoughtfully.

"Don't worry about Ji Lie," Ji Yichuan barked. "You should worry more about the great demons. Great demons have different talents and methods. Even Xiantian lifeforms of our Western Prefecture often die, let alone you, who have not yet become Xiantian!"

"Stop it." Yuchi Xue quickly said, "Our son is about to go on an adventure, and you can't say something nice. Ning'er, your mother has something else for you." With that, a golden book appeared in her hand. The pages were like gold foil, and on the cover were four ancient characters—"Wind Wing Evasion Art."

"This is a movement technique, the most precious set of immortal demon secret arts your mother possesses. Look at it only after you become a Xiantian lifeform." Yuchi Xue instructed. "Also, you must not teach it to anyone in the Ji clan."

"Yes." Ji Ning nodded.

The "Wind Shadow Steps" his mother had taught him were known only to her. The Ji clan did not have this footwork, and his mother had instructed him not to pass it on to others. This "Wind Wing Evasion Art" was also something his mother possessed and forbidden to teach to the Ji clan.

"Alright, you can set off now." Ji Yichuan said. "If you're going, go. Be decisive."

"Father, mother, I'm leaving." Ji Ning looked at his parents.

Then he turned and walked out. Outside, Mo Wu and the maid Qiuye were already waiting.