Chapter 22: Ji Ning and the Knife Slave

Ji Ning, Yu Wei, the Slacker True Man, and Yuchi Xiyue were all whispering, discussing every opponent among the top twenty-four.

"Mu Chuan True Man always defends passively, meeting the enemy's attack with his own, yet he still wins," Yuchi Xiyue marveled. "He gives me the feeling that he hasn't even shown his full strength."

"That Jiusi True Man, his body is like a magic treasure; his enemies simply can't do anything to him..."

"Jinwu True Man is also exceptionally fierce."

"And that Daonu True Man is equally terrifying."

"Ji Ning, the Xia Emperor won't arrange for you to fight the Slacker True Man, will he?"

"The Xia Emperor wouldn't go that far, unless both Senior Apprentice Brother and I can make it into the top three."

In the end,

none of them were easy to deal with. After all, those who could fight their way into the top twenty-four were almost all targets of the Xia Emperor's attention. Although Ji Ning, Jiusi True Man, Heishi True Man, Xiamang Zishan, and a few others seemed the most dazzling, the others weren't far behind. They might be hiding some ultimate technique, or perhaps they would have a breakthrough in the midst of battle.

At this critical juncture, anything was possible.

"You twenty-four," the Xia Emperor suddenly spoke.

The entire main hall of Xiamang Palace immediately fell silent. Everyone listened intently. The closer they got to the end, the more cautious the Celestial Immortals present became, for this Immortal Destiny Convention had already produced a disciple of the Xuanwu Emperor, and among the final three, one would surely be a disciple of the Chi Ming Dao Ancestor.

"In this third round of one-on-one duels, each of the twelve winners will receive ten million catties of primal liquid," the Xia Emperor said calmly. "I hope you will all give your utmost. At this point, don't let your efforts go to waste."

Ji Ning and the other twenty-three all held their breath, waiting.

"The first match of the third round: Ji Ning of the Black-White College versus the rogue cultivator Daonu True Man," the Xia Emperor announced.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

A flurry of gazes fell upon them, all looking at Ji Ning and Daonu True Man.

Yuchi Xiyue and Yu Wei's expressions changed. Both of them looked at Ji Ning. To them, Ji Ning was the most important person, and although they had great faith in him, Daonu True Man had indeed been too terrifying before. It felt as if they hadn't yet seen his limits.

Ji Ning and Daonu, however, both walked toward the sealing formation outside the hall.

...

"Them?"

The people gathered in the imperial city square from the three thousand six hundred commanderies and the Four Seas were all full of energy. In the past year, they sometimes had leisure to eat and drink, but now, as the final ninety-six were being decided, the Immortal Destiny Convention had reached its most exciting moment.

Especially now that only the top twenty-four remained—each one an astonishingly brilliant genius. Moreover, this Immortal Destiny Convention was far more dazzling than those of the past. Those ranked in the top twenty-four this time would generally have been in the top three in previous conventions.

Most of them, like the Slacker True Man, Daonu, Jinwu True Man, and Jiusi True Man, hadn't originally planned to come. It was an inexplicable premonition that had drawn these monstrous talents together!

"That Daonu True Man earlier killed the Blood Demon True Man as easily as chopping vegetables. His strength is terrifying."

"Ji Ning is also one of the most dazzling figures in the Brightmoon Diagram World, and his strength is formidable. When these two fight... it's really hard to say who will win."

Everyone couldn't help but hold their breath.

The loose immortals and disciples of the Black-White College, a faction that had risen to fame in this Immortal Destiny Convention, were also nervous. The one fighting above was their fellow disciple, Ji Ning!

"Master," Xiaoqing stared intently.

"Ji Ning." Beishan Baiwei also watched his friend. When he first met Ji Ning, Ji Ning was just a youth from Mount Yan. Now, he had become the focus of the entire Grand Xia Dynasty.

...

Inside the sealing formation.

Standing on the clouds, Ji Ning and Daonu faced each other from afar.

Ji Ning carefully observed Daonu. The black-robed man holding a cleaver was extremely calm, like still water, his aura concealed to the utmost. It was indeed easy to overlook him.

"At this point, he can still be so calm. His eyes are as placid as the sea. For someone to reach such a state of mind, if he doesn't erupt, fine, but once he does, he's absolutely terrifying. I didn't even notice him before his eruption." Ji Ning was cautious and alert.

Daonu True Man also observed Ji Ning. The youth in animal skins, with a clean appearance, seemed like a native boy from the boundless wild lands—ordinary, without any aggression. But Daonu True Man had seen the previous two rounds and knew well how terrifying this clean youth could be once he erupted.

Moreover, his eyes... deep as an endless pool, yet with a faint sharpness like a sword piercing straight into one's soul.

This was a very fearsome youth.

And according to the intelligence he had purchased, this youth had only been cultivating for a little over thirty years—truly monstrous.

"I must go all out," Daonu True Man said silently. He often fought above his level, having killed many Primal Daoists, but he had never encountered a Wanxiang Adept as terrifying as this.

"Go all out," Ji Ning also thought secretly.

Boom! Boom!

The two of them almost simultaneously shook their bodies, transforming into eighteen-zhang and twenty-zhang giants respectively. Clearly, Ji Ning had spent relatively less time on the Heaven Earth Manifestation technique and was slightly lacking.

Then they both executed the Three Heads, Six Arms technique!

Heaven Earth Manifestation and Three Heads, Six Arms... these were two divine abilities widely spread throughout the Three Realms, and almost every true expert in divine body cultivation had to learn them.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

The two, like divine demons, charged at each other. Ji Ning wielded six flying swords, while Daonu True Man wielded six cleavers.

The moment they closed in, they both unleashed their respective powerful divine abilities. Ji Ning naturally didn't hold back and activated the Star Picking Hand.

Clang! Clang! Clang!...

A rapid succession of sword and cleaver clashes rang out, each sound crisp and clear, even echoing outward.

A total of twelve exchanges.

The six flying swords and six cleavers had each clashed twice.

"Whoosh." Daonu True Man retreated explosively, turning into a black light and pulling back to the edge of the sealing formation. Flames seemed to boil all over his body. His eyes were cold and dark as he stared at Ji Ning. The tiger's mouths of all six hands were split open, blood dripping down.

Daonu True Man looked at Ji Ning, his pupils contracting: "This Ji Ning has terrifying strength and swordplay. The cleaver, with a single-edged blade and a thick back, is more advantageous for exerting force in chopping. In a contest of weapons, even if two people have equal strength, the one using a cleaver usually has the advantage. Yet I am at a disadvantage."

Cultivators of the sword path are called sword immortals—elegant, free, and agile.

Cultivators of the saber path are called saber demons—fierce, brutal, insidious, and swift.

These were two completely different styles!

Yet in a head-on clash, Daonu True Man was at a disadvantage.

"I've cultivated the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens to the twelfth level, my divine body is incomparably powerful, and I have the Star Picking Hand. In terms of pure strength, I am definitely number one in this Immortal Destiny Convention! My sword technique is on par with his saber technique. In a direct confrontation, how can he match me?" Ji Ning was full of confidence.

Although he looked like a youth, in terms of strength, he was indeed number one in the Immortal Destiny Convention! His Star Picking Hand was itself a divine ability that instantly burst forth the power of the palms, and it was one of the top ten divine abilities since the creation of the world.

Ji Ning didn't believe that in this Immortal Destiny Convention, there would be another divine ability ranked in the top ten of the Three Realms—that would be too incredible.

"You are the strongest Wanxiang Adept I've ever encountered, but life-and-death combat isn't just about head-on clashes," Daonu True Man said in a low voice.

"In terms of agility, the sword path is inherently stronger than the saber path," Ji Ning said calmly.

As soon as Ji Ning finished speaking,

Swish!

Daonu True Man, like a ghost, was already in front of Ji Ning. His six arms swung the cleavers simultaneously, all extremely bizarre, like a series of phantoms, silent. Some chopped, some slashed, some thrust.

Ji Ning also activated the Windwing Evasion technique, his six hands executing sword techniques. Sword light like silk danced and fluttered around him, beautiful and magnificent.

Strangely, there was no sound of collision.

Their sword light and saber light howled past each other time and again, even separating just as they were about to touch.

Daonu True Man's saber was unpredictable.

Ji Ning's sword was agile and mysterious.

Moreover, Ji Ning had the upper hand! After all, the sword path was indeed more adept at agility than the saber path.

"The saber is my life!" Suddenly a hoarse voice rang out.

Daonu True Man's eyes faintly glowed with fire. His six cleavers suddenly became incredibly fast! Slash after slash... they howled toward Ji Ning. The six blades were like a wheel of knives, endless saber light raining down on Ji Ning. Daonu True Man's fiery eyes were filled with fervent madness.

At this moment, he forgot himself; there was only the saber!

The world of the saber...

Fast! Fast! Faster!

"Clang, clang, clang!!!" Ji Ning also fought back. Their figures appeared everywhere in the sealing formation. The saber light and sword light were terrifyingly fast. The saber, being single-edged, was naturally good at chopping; in terms of pure speed, the saber had an advantage over the sword.

"Break! Break! Break!"

Ji Ning, suppressed by the endless flaming fast sabers, finally erupted. He had previously intended to temper himself, but now he couldn't afford that. His six flying swords became unpredictable—some were ferocious and unmatched, some were agile like a fairy threading a needle, and some were purely for support.

"You can't stop me!" Daonu True Man was completely berserk. A fire dragon appeared around him, circling him and repeatedly attacking Ji Ning to disrupt him.

Around Ji Ning, a huge water-fire lotus appeared, blooming, its petals rotating.

Sizzle! Sizzle!

Blood splattered as the two fought wildly.

Daonu True Man was all about one word—speed!

Ji Ning, however, embodied the brilliance of the sword path.

"Clang!" A cleaver suddenly flew into the air, a severed hand still gripping its handle.

"I concede." A hoarse voice sounded.

The two separated with a swoosh.

Daonu True Man was covered in wounds, especially a gash on his abdomen that had torn open most of his belly. A hideous scar ran across his face. One of his hands was severed, and the cleaver had flown away.

Ji Ning was relatively better off, with only a hideous wound on his chest and a few wounds that were nearly fully healed.

"You weren't at your last gasp," Ji Ning said, looking at Daonu True Man.

"With six blades, I lost one hand. Now with five blades... I'm afraid you'll cut me down before long." Daonu True Man shook his head lightly, then retrieved the flying cleaver and walked out of the sealing formation. Ji Ning also walked out.

The other Wanxiang Adepts in the hall all wore solemn expressions.

The fight between Ji Ning and Daonu True Man had been too intense. The two had unleashed almost all their means, displaying the two 'Great Daos' of sword and saber, both adept at offense, making the others feel a tightness in their hearts. If they had faced Daonu True Man, many would likely have lost.

Fortunately, it was Ji Ning, a generation's sword immortal, who suppressed that saber demon!

But Daonu True Man lost, leaving behind an even more fearsome Ji Ning!

...