Chapter 11 The Big Deal

Within the residence of the Shaoyan clan in the capital of the Great Xia dynasty.

"Clan leader." A middle-aged man in blue flew into the study and knelt down, unable to hide his joy. "We've found Ji Ning."

The Feather Divine Duke, who had been sitting at his desk flipping through books, was startled, then exclaimed in surprise, "Found Ji Ning?"

Over a year had passed.

The current Feather Divine Duke, under orders from Patriarch Xuanji, had been tracking Ji Ning's whereabouts, but Ji Ning had vanished without a trace. The Feather Divine Duke even thought Ji Ning might have hidden in other minor worlds or major worlds. He even believed it might take ten or twenty years to find Ji Ning. Ji Ning had killed the heir of the Shaoyan clan and still roamed free—a disgrace to the Shaoyan clan. But what could the Shaoyan clan do if they couldn't find him?

And now they had found him!

"Where?" the Feather Divine Duke asked urgently.

"Ji Ning has arrived in the capital of the Great Xia. Our people are tracking him," the middle-aged man in blue said quickly.

"The capital of the Great Xia? He's come to the capital?" The Feather Divine Duke frowned.

The capital was heavily guarded, and the true absolute power within it belonged to the 'Great Xia Imperial Clan.' Ji Ning's arrival in the capital made things difficult.

"He's come to the capital, where fighting is forbidden. How do we deal with Ji Ning?" The Feather Divine Duke was troubled. In other commandery cities, the Shaoyan clan had strong influence, but in the capital, there were several clans more powerful than the Shaoyan, and the Great Xia Imperial Clan 'Xiamang' held absolute dominance.

Even powerful tribes like the Shaoyan, Zhuanshui, and Tiannong had to tread carefully before the imperial clan 'Xiamang.'

"We must keep track of Ji Ning and determine his movements," the Feather Divine Duke ordered. "Do nothing else for now. Wait for my orders."

"Yes." The middle-aged man in blue acknowledged.

Although Patriarch Xuanji had once ordered that Ji Ning be killed on sight.

But this was the capital of the Great Xia. Killing someone in the capital was a provocation to the Great Xia Imperial Clan! They could only send expendable agents—those who, even if captured, would not reveal the 'Shaoyan clan.'

"The entire capital is heavily guarded. Once a fight breaks out, the 'Great Xia Imperial Guard' will arrive within a single breath," the Feather Divine Duke mused. "To kill Ji Ning within a single breath, and with expendable agents... where can I find such agents? Ji Ning has obtained many treasures from Shaoyan Nong."

Ji Ning was strong himself, and with protective treasures, even a loose immortal would find it hard to kill him quickly.

Such expendable agents were hard to find.

"I'll go see the Patriarch." The Feather Divine Duke did not hesitate.

Soon, nine flood dragons pulled an immortal carriage. The Feather Divine Duke sat inside, and with a whoosh, they left the capital, flying into the azure void.

...

Ji Ning, driven by curiosity, took a look at the 'Imperial City' and also glimpsed the Tianmang Hall from afar. But with the four divine demons guarding the city gates, how could someone of Ji Ning's status enter the Imperial City? He then left in his black flood dragon carriage.

"Master, there are three people following us now," Xiaoqing said, glancing back.

Ji Ning sat in the carriage and glanced behind.

Behind them was a long shuttle carrying three people, including a white-robed old man. Earlier, only the white-robed old man had been tracking them. Now there were three.

"One of them is a Soul Refining Daoist." Ji Ning sensed the divine sense probing from behind and immediately crushed it with his own.

Boom.

Soulshaker Art! The collision of divine senses made the tall, gaunt man in blue change expression slightly. "This Ji Ning's divine sense is so powerful."

After the clash of divine senses, the three followers became much more docile and stopped provoking Ji Ning.

"Ning'er, where are we going?" Whitewater exchanged mentally.

"To the Treasure Hill of the Heavens," Ji Ning replied mentally. "I've obtained a huge amount of treasures, including an astonishing number of magic treasures. I'll go to the Treasure Hill of the Heavens to exchange them for primal liquid and some treasures I need."

What Ji Ning urgently needed now were treasures containing the essence of the Five Elements to practice the second rotation of the 'Six Cycles of the Star Picker.'

Whoosh.

The black flood dragon carriage flew at an astonishing speed along the wide streets.

The streets of the capital were very wide. The main thoroughfares were paved with clouds, magnificent and extraordinary. The ordinary streets were paved with rare and unusual stones.

"Truly worthy of being the headquarters of the Treasure Hill of the Heavens." Ji Ning's eyes lit up as he looked into the distance. The Treasure Hills in other commandery cities were just branches; the one in the capital was the core, housing many rare and exotic items. Many immortals came to the capital specifically to buy treasures from the headquarters that couldn't be found elsewhere.

"It's huge," Xiaoqing said, her eyes full of excitement.

Whitewater also looked up; he had never seen such a magnificent place.

The Treasure Hill of the Heavens before them looked like a giant qilin lying there, nearly ten thousand miles long. That meant the headquarters was comparable in size to 'Anchan City.'

Whoosh.

The black flood dragon carriage flew directly into the Treasure Hill of the Heavens.

"Let's eat first, then sell the treasures." Ji Ning was in a good mood, ignoring the followers behind. The black flood dragon carriage flew in, and a servant guided them.

...

At the headquarters of the Treasure Hill of the Heavens, huge water mirror spells formed countless mirrors floating everywhere, covering the sky for dozens of miles.

Beneath the countless water mirrors, many cultivators gathered.

Swish.

The moment Ji Ning, Whitewater, and Xiaoqing entered the headquarters in the black flood dragon carriage, one of the water mirrors quickly locked onto them.

"Black flood dragon carriage, the mount of young master 'Shaoyan Nong' of the Shaoyan clan. Shaoyan Nong was killed by Ji Ning."

"The rider wears a beast-hide robe, matching Ji Ning's appearance."

"Accompanied by the divine beasts Azure Skysnake and Whitewater."

"The youth is ninety-nine percent likely Ji Ning himself."

This piece of intelligence was quickly compiled and sent along with thousands of others. This was the surveillance area of the Treasure Hill of the Heavens headquarters. Every day, all kinds of people came to the headquarters, even beings from other major worlds, the Heavenly Court, and the underworld.

All sorts of intelligence, both trivial and significant, were discovered. Ji Ning's information was unremarkable among the many reports, too ordinary.

"Ji Ning has appeared, right here at our headquarters. Five parties have long-term subscriptions for news about Ji Ning. Now immediately send them the information." With the calm order of a woman in black robes, five subordinates soon left the headquarters, carrying the intelligence to five locations in the capital.

As soon as Ji Ning was discovered, they had to notify immediately. Five parties had long-term subscriptions for this information.

...

"That's the black flood dragon carriage?" At the headquarters, a man in purple watched from afar as Ji Ning's carriage entered a small courtyard. The black flood dragon carriage stopped in the courtyard, and Ji Ning, along with Xiaoqing and Uncle Bai, entered a two-story building beside the courtyard to enjoy delicacies from various parts of the Great Xia dynasty and even other worlds.

"A beast-hide-clad youth? Azure Skysnake? Whitewater?" The man in purple murmured to himself. "Could he be the Ji Ning who killed Shaoyan Nong? How reckless, daring to be so arrogant. The intelligence department has probably already spotted him, and the Shaoyan clan will soon know. But that has nothing to do with me."

"Shaoyan Nong was a wealthy man. Ji Ning killed him and must have obtained many treasures."

"It seems my opportunity has come."

The man in purple's eyes lit up. He then leisurely walked over and soon arrived outside the small courtyard. He stood outside the gate, waiting silently, not entering.

After a long while—

"Who is outside the courtyard?" Ji Ning's voice came out.

"Yu Qi of the Treasure Hill of the Heavens," the man in purple said with a smile.

"Come in," Ji Ning said.

The man in purple obediently entered and soon reached the second floor of the building. Ji Ning, the girl in blue, and the man in white were sitting there, nearly finished with their meal.

"You waited outside for a long time. What is it?" Ji Ning leisurely held a wine cup, his eyes scrutinizing the man named Yu Qi. Based on Ji Ning's estimation, Yu Qi's strength was at the Wanxiang level.

"I am responsible for some treasure trades at the headquarters," Yu Qi said humbly. "For example, if someone wants to sell treasures or buy something, I can help. Of course, because the trade goes through me, the headquarters gives me some rewards."

Ji Ning nodded slightly. "You recognized me?"

Yu Qi smiled. "I saw your carriage at a glance. This carriage is called the 'Black Flood Dragon Carriage,' once owned by Shaoyan Nong. He often came to the headquarters in it, so many know it. Seeing the carriage, along with your Azure Skysnake and Whitewater, and your appearance and attire, I guessed you were the legendary Ji Ning."

"It seems I'm quite famous, even known in the capital," Ji Ning couldn't help but laugh.

"Daoist Ji Ning, you may not know, but your fame is indeed great now," Yu Qi laughed. "Shaoyan Nong was one of the Four Young Masters of the capital. 'Four Young Masters' doesn't mean they were the strongest among the younger generation, but that they were high in status and extremely extravagant, fond of pleasure. Shaoyan Nong's unexpected death naturally became known to those who cared. Although the Shaoyan clan didn't make it public, a little investigation reveals the killer is Ji Ning. So your information has been dug up: you have the spirit beasts Whitewater and Azure Skysnake, you like wearing beast-hide robes, you practice the 'Redmoon Diagram of Nine Heavens,' you're extremely skilled with the sword, and you look like a handsome youth..."

Yu Qi spoke fluently.

Ji Ning exchanged glances with Xiaoqing and Uncle Bai.

Killing Shaoyan Nong had made him quite famous even in the capital.

"And I guess that Daoist Ji Ning came here to sell some treasures," Yu Qi said with a smile. "And at the Treasure Hill of the Heavens, I specialize in such matters."

...