Chapter 24: The Slovenly True Man Battles the Nine-Death True Man

When Ji Ning and the other eleven were in secluded cultivation within the Moonwater Diagram world, at the imperial square.

Those twelve names were repeatedly mentioned and discussed by the people—Xiamang Zishan, Cangwu Jiu, Ji Ning, the Slovenly True Man, Shaoyan Xuan, Mu Chuan True Man, Blackstone True Man, Nine-Death True Man, White Dragon True Man, Qian Yi True Man, Guiyuan True Man, and Golden Crow True Man.

The top twelve have been completely decided.

My Nanhai has Mu Chuan True Man.

My Beihai has Golden Crow True Man.

My Quchang Commandery has White Dragon True Man.

What are you worth? Our Anchan Commandery has two—Ji Ning and the Slovenly True Man.

Of the three thousand six hundred commanderies under heaven, there are only twelve in total, and Anchan Commandery alone has two, both from the Black-White College!

The Mad Immortal Wu Feng was grinning from ear to ear, holding his gourd and drinking wine leisurely, occasionally transmitting his voice: “Oh, Beastmaster Sect Leader? Haha, yes, I’m Wu Feng. Yes, Ji Ning and Little Slovenly are both disciples of my Black-White College. Speaking of which, our Black-White College disciple Yu Wei also would have entered the top ninety-six if not for the poison, and might even have made the top twelve! What? You want to exchange ideas with our Black-White College disciples? Want to come and observe our Black-White College’s ‘Black-White Diagram’? Fine, no problem. Our Black-White College disciples will also visit your Beastmaster Sect to see the ‘Ten Thousand Beasts’?”

“Xiangtian clan? Your Xiangtian clan wants to send disciples to our Black-White College? This, this… our Black-White College is after all within Anchan City, with a small footprint. Disciples should not be too many! So every time we accept disciples, we are very strict. What? Your Xiangtian clan wants to send an envoy delegation to our Black-White College? Good, our Black-White College will certainly receive them well.”

Many sought out the Mad Immortal Wu Feng.

Note that major powers like the Xiangtian clan and the Beastmaster Sect had learned from their Celestial Immortal ancestors that ‘the Slovenly True Man is a disciple of the Black Tortoise Grand Emperor.’ Coupled with Ji Ning’s current brilliance,

these major powers found it very strange.

“It’s one thing for a small sect like this to suddenly produce a peerless prodigy; that could be just luck. But the Black-White College has produced two at once, and the entire Grand Xia Dynasty only has twelve. Moreover, one of them is a disciple of the Black Tortoise Grand Emperor. This Black-White College is probably one of the gathering points of fortune in our Grand Xia Dynasty.”

“It must be a gathering point of fortune.”

Many major powers made such inferences.

Fortune is invisible and intangible, but some places have greater fortune! Even the site of the Grand Xia capital was personally chosen by the Grand Xia Emperor, who invited a great power to select a place where fortune gathers, and laid down a grand formation to stabilize the entire major world.

“We must send disciples from our tribe into it. In this gathering point of fortune, perhaps our tribe’s disciples may also be blessed with fortune.”

“Hmm, we should also visit the Black-White College more often to observe the Black-White Diagram.”

…

…

In the main hall of the Tianmang Hall, an hour had passed.

The Grand Xia Emperor sat high on his throne. With a flip of his hand, a scroll appeared—the Pure Yang treasure ‘Moonwater Diagram.’ The scroll unfurled, and immediately twelve streams of light flew out, landing on the ground. They were Ji Ning, the Slovenly True Man, and the other ten.

“We pay our respects to Your Majesty.” Ji Ning and the others all knelt.

“Mm.”

The Grand Xia Emperor looked and nodded with satisfaction. He could vaguely sense that after three days of secluded cultivation, each of the twelve had made some progress, and some had made considerable progress.

“The Immortal Fortune Conference has now reached a crucial juncture. Among you twelve, three will ultimately be decided… and among these three, one will surely be chosen as my master’s disciple,” the Xia Emperor announced. “Without further delay, let the first match of the fourth round begin. It will be between the Black-White College’s Slovenly True Man and the rogue cultivator Nine-Death True Man. The rest of you, rest and watch for now, and prepare for your upcoming matches.”

Ji Ning, Xiamang Zishan, and the others were all astonished.

The Slovenly True Man against the Nine-Death True Man?

The Nine-Death True Man was extremely formidable, having never gone all out until now. And the Slovenly True Man was also highly praised by the Celestial Immortal ancestors. Xiamang Zishan and the others had long heard the Celestial Immortal ancestors praise the Slovenly True Man, warning them all to be careful of him. It seemed the Slovenly True Man was the strongest.

Influenced by the Celestial Immortal ancestors’ warnings, they were all very cautious of the Slovenly True Man.

Slovenly against Nine-Death?

So soon?

But the Slovenly True Man and the Nine-Death True Man exchanged a distant glance, then both walked toward the sealed grand formation outside the hall.

…

In the main hall of the Tianmang Hall, the nine Pure Yang True Immortals began to argue.

“Xiamang, have you lost your mind?” Red Extreme True Monarch frowned. “This is only the fourth round, to determine the top six. Why pit the Nine-Death True Man against the Slovenly True Man? The Nine-Death True Man has long mastered five complete Daos, and her divine abilities and cultivation methods are also extremely powerful. She is very strong, should rank in the top few, and definitely has a chance at first place. The Slovenly True Man is a disciple of the Black Tortoise Grand Emperor, also among the top few, and also has a chance at first place. For them to meet now means one must be eliminated?”

“Indeed, it’s too early. They are not suitable to compete so soon,” Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva said slowly.

“Do you think I don’t know the Nine-Death True Man’s strength?” The Xia Emperor shook his head.

“Xiamang has his difficulties,” Lu Dongbin shook his head. “Actually, at this point, I have eight people I favor. Among these twelve, six must be eliminated! So no matter how we pair them, at least two of my favored eight will be eliminated.”

The Xia Emperor nodded: “Yes, at this moment, among these twelve, I favor seven: my clan’s Xiamang Zishan, Ji Ning, Golden Crow True Man, Mu Chuan True Man, Blackstone True Man, Slovenly True Man, and Nine-Death True Man. No matter how we pair them, two of these seven must compete. After much thought… the Slovenly True Man is a disciple of the Black Tortoise Grand Emperor, and my master certainly won’t take him as a disciple. The Nine-Death True Man is the only woman among the seven. So I didn’t want to think too much and just let the Slovenly True Man and the Nine-Death True Man face off; whoever wins stays.”

“You’re quite straightforward.”

“You pitted the Nine-Death True Man against the Slovenly True Man just because she’s a woman?” The Pure Yang True Immortals couldn’t help but laugh.

…

Ji Ning, Yu Wei, and Wei Chi Yueyue stood behind King Yan, watching from afar the sealed grand formation outside the hall. Inside the formation were two people: the slovenly fat youth and an equally dirty girl.

“Both are slovenly, so they make a good match,” Wei Chi Yueyue whispered.

“But both are very strong,” Yu Wei praised.

“Indeed, they are strong. The Nine-Death True Man wears those silver gloves, and I’ve never been able to gauge her true strength. Although I’ve fought her, she didn’t use any magic treasures that time,” Ji Ning stared intently. “Senior apprentice-brother is also unfathomable. This battle is hard to predict.”

Everyone watched the battle outside, and the Pure Yang True Immortals also paid close attention.

The Slovenly True Man? Disciple of the Black Tortoise Grand Emperor.

The Nine-Death True Man? One of the first two they discovered who had comprehended five complete Daos, and she possessed a magic-treasure-like body.

“They’ve started,” Wei Chi Yueyue stared.

Ji Ning’s pupils suddenly contracted: “Finally showing her hand. The Nine-Death True Man is truly terrifying.” This Nine-Death True Man had never gone all out before. When she fought him, she mainly entangled and guided him. But this time, in her match against the Slovenly True Man, she launched a fierce attack from the start!

Wearing gloves, the Nine-Death True Man’s six arms became the most terrifying weapons!

Kill!

Sometimes like a blade, sharp and unmatched.

Sometimes like water, gentle and enveloping.

The Nine-Death True Man attacked the Slovenly True Man wildly. Both had activated divine abilities, transforming into three-headed, six-armed giants.

“What kind of Dao is this?” Ji Ning frowned. The Nine-Death True Man’s attack methods were very strange, giving a suffocating and frustrating feeling. The completely opposite attack styles constantly shifted, unpredictable. “It shouldn’t be a very famous one; at least I’ve never seen this kind of Dao.”

…

“The Dao of Life and Death! This little girl has quite the ambition. The Dao of Life and Death… among the many Daos, it is one of the most supreme, extremely difficult. Yet she dares to walk this path,” Lu Dongbin shook his head and sighed. “But if one reaches a certain level on this path, transcending the tribulation to become a Celestial Immortal is relatively easier.”

Daos like Taiji, Sword Dao, and Blade Dao are all Daos of technique and skill!

The Dao of Life and Death, however, contains endless mysteries of life and death, as well as the techniques of life-death transformation.

It is a Dao that combines many Dao mysteries and application techniques! Very difficult to cultivate, even harder than Sword Dao and Blade Dao.

“Interesting.”

“This little girl is indeed formidable.”

…

The Nine-Death True Man attacked wildly, sometimes fierce like the call of death, sometimes gentle like a mother’s touch. The transformation of life and death momentarily suppressed the Slovenly True Man.

But…

The Slovenly True Man was truly too steady. While using the Black Tortoise Grand Divine Ability, he also employed his Taiji Dao!

For a time, the Slovenly True Man was like a spinning tortoise shell, defensively flawless. The Black Tortoise Grand Divine Ability was inherently excellent at defense, and the Taiji Dao was also extremely good at defense.

“Damn it,” the Nine-Death True Man shouted angrily, growing even more frenzied.

The Slovenly True Man remained leisurely, his six arms forming a huge wheel-like barrier, blocking all attacks.

“Pfft!”

Like a snake spitting its tongue.

The Slovenly True Man, who had been completely focused on defense like an impenetrable tortoise shell, suddenly and abruptly thrust out one hand! His hand formed a snake shape and shot out fiercely, precisely striking the Nine-Death True Man’s flaw during her frenzied attack, directly piercing and tearing through her shoulder socket, sending an arm flying.

“Rip~~~” After striking, the Slovenly True Man suddenly became狂暴, like a suppressed volcano erupting. His six hands were all like venomous snakes, ferocious and terrifying.

His defense was impenetrable.

His attack was even more venomous and fearsome.

“Good, I was afraid you’d keep hiding inside!” The Nine-Death True Man was not alarmed but delighted. If he had kept defending, he might have drained her divine power, and losing that way would be too unjust. The Nine-Death True Man directly engaged in offense, while her severed arm quickly regrew.

Both indeed had the strength to contend for first place!

…