Chapter 26: Ji Ning Battles Shaoyin Xuan

Second match.

Cangwu Jiu versus White Dragon True Immortal!

By now, every contestant in the Immortal Fortune Assembly was a peerless prodigy. Almost all had tacitly abandoned spells and divine-mental attacks, for secret arts wielded through elemental energy could not threaten their opponents. They all relied on divine abilities to fight, and Ji Ning had likewise given up on the Small Thousand Sword Formation!

Boom! Whoosh!

Cangwu Jiu and White Dragon True Immortal fought with such frenzy. Both manifested the divine abilities of Heaven-Earth Avatar and Three Heads, Six Arms, then unleashed their other divine abilities.

White Dragon True Immortal transformed entirely into a snow-white divine dragon, while Cangwu Jiu’s speed erupted to a terrifying degree. Only a howling gale could be seen, with lightning flashing within the wind. In the lightning-ridden gale, a blurry figure of Cangwu Jiu flickered again and again at an astonishing speed… for a moment, it seemed as if a flock of Cangwu Jiu were battling a single snow-white divine dragon!

Such terrifying speed.

Such incredible movement technique.

Everyone was secretly stunned.

Ji Ning, Xiamang Zishan, the Ragged True Immortal, and all the others felt their hearts sink. In terms of speed, Cangwu Jiu had always been ranked first in the Immortal Fortune Assembly! With his recent breakthrough, his speed and movement technique had reached an inconceivable level.

In close-quarters combat, speed and agility are actually even more important than strength!

“What a terrifying Cangwu Vulture.”

“With one trick mastered, you can conquer the world. Relying on his absolutely dominant agility and speed, he is already the most fearsome opponent.”

…

Without a doubt.

In the battle between two powerful divine-body cultivators, the Cangwu Vulture could attack when he wanted and retreat when he wanted; the situation was completely under his control! Although White Dragon True Immortal was powerful, he had no countermeasure against the Cangwu Vulture's agility and speed, and ultimately could only lose.

The second candidate among the top six of this Immortal Destiny Convention was decided—the Cangwu Vulture!

“Good, good, good.” The long-browed celestial immortal ancestor of the Cangwu clan was especially excited, his eyes shining. As a celestial immortal ancestor, he could naturally see that at this stage of the Immortal Destiny Convention, the strengths of the participants should not differ greatly, yet the Cangwu Vulture, relying on his agility and speed, left his opponent helpless. If this continued, a top-three spot would be within reach.

…

The Grand Xia Emperor spoke again: “The third match of the fourth round: Ji Ning of the Black-White College versus Shaoyin Xuan of the Shaoyin clan!”

The voice resounded everywhere.

Ji Ning, seated behind King Yan, narrowed his eyes. Shaoyan Xuan? The Shaoyan clan? The enmity between himself and the Shaoyan clan had long since spread. And now his opponent was actually Shaoyan Xuan?

“Ji Ning.” Yu Wei held Ji Ning’s hand, looking at him. “Be careful.”

“Mm.” Ji Ning nodded.

At this point, no opponent could be underestimated.

Elsewhere.

Ancestor Xuanji’s expression also shifted slightly. Ji Ning? He had long thought of finding an opportunity to eliminate Ji Ning, but compared to the chance of ‘becoming a disciple of Patriarch Chi Ming,’ the importance of eliminating Ji Ning was far lower. He had already put it out of his mind. Now he only wanted ‘Shaoyan Xuan’ to make it into the top three.

“Xuan’er.” Ancestor Xuanji looked at Shaoyan Xuan beside him and transmitted a message, “This Ji Ning is a sword immortal, most skilled in killing. You don’t have to clash head-on with him… Besides, what you’re best at isn’t head-on confrontation either. Use your strengths against his weaknesses, and you can definitely win.”

Shaoyan Xuan also nodded lightly.

This battle…

Its importance even surpassed life and death!

“Hua.” Shaoyan Xuan immediately walked out, heading outside the great hall.

…

“Xia Mang, you’ve set Ji Ning and Shaoyan Xuan against each other. I feel the atmosphere in the Tianmang Hall is off. The Celestial Immortals’ gazes toward Ji Ning and Shaoyan Xuan seem strange?” Lu Dongbin asked in confusion.

The other several Pure Yang True Immortals also noticed this.

The Xia Emperor laughed heartily: “You all don’t know this, but Ji Ning and the Shaoyan clan actually have a grudge. It’s quite a legendary story.”

“Legendary?” Lu Dongbin and the others began to listen attentively.

These Pure Yang True Immortals had only arrived after the Immortal Destiny Convention began. They didn’t understand the Wanxiang Adepts of the Great Xia Dynasty, so naturally they didn’t know about the matter between Ji Ning and the Shaoyan clan. Even the Great Xia Emperor had only learned of it after gathering intelligence on all the geniuses.

“The Shaoyan clan had a disciple named Shaoyan Nong, the next tribal chief…”

“In the end, the death warriors arranged by the Shaoyan clan were instead killed by Ji Ning’s second true body.” The Xia Emperor laughed heartily. “Now you understand the grudge between the Shaoyan clan and Ji Ning, right?”

The other eight Pure Yang True Immortals all suddenly understood.

“Xia Mang, you’re up to no good. Knowing they have such a grudge, you deliberately put them together. But with such a grudge, they’ll definitely fight ferociously.”

“Mm, this battle will certainly be very exciting.”

……

Two of the top six had already been decided.

Only one of Ji Ning and Shaoyan Xuan could enter the top six! As long as one entered the top six... then the top three would be very close, just a step away.

"The disciple of Patriarch Crimsonbright should be me." Shaoyan Xuan's eyes were icy cold. He was very low-key; among the younger generation of the Shaoyan clan, the most famous was Shaoyan Nong, while he, Shaoyan Xuan, had been quietly cultivating in seclusion. His goal had always been to overcome the tribulation and become a carefree, immortal Celestial Immortal!

He had never taken a playboy like Shaoyan Nong seriously. Relying on the patriarch's favor, he could only be arrogant for a time.

"The opportunity to become a disciple of a Patriarch is indeed one that is hard to encounter even after ten thousand reincarnations. I must seize it." Shaoyan Xuan walked into the sealing formation and looked at Ji Ning in the distance.

"The Three Realms are mysterious and unfathomable. If I become a disciple of Patriarch Crimsonbright and receive his guidance, I can walk more steadily and quickly!" Ji Ning understood clearly that one's own hard work and comprehension were one aspect, but opportunity was another. Just like himself—without the 'Contemplation Art, Nuwa Painting,' under the guidance of his father Ji Yichuan, he might have surpassed his father through hard work from a young age, and after a few hundred years of cultivation, he might have become a prominent figure in Anchan Commandery.

But with the Nuwa Painting, Ji Ning's rise was more than ten times faster!

If not for the Nuwa Painting... when he first entered the Water Mansion, he would have faced certain death. Strictly speaking, without the Nuwa Painting, if Ji Ning's talent were not high enough, he wouldn't even have been teleported into the Water Mansion.

One step ahead! Every step ahead!

To go further, higher, and stronger, even to become a mighty figure in the Three Realms, one must seize every opportunity!

"I must enter the top three, and even take first place!" Ji Ning looked at Shaoyan Xuan. "This Shaoyan Xuan... is a key stumbling block on my path of immortal cultivation. I must eliminate him."

Their eyes met from afar.

It was as if their gazes collided; everyone could feel the decisive momentum between them. It was either him or me, either me or him!

"Boom!" "Boom!"

Both of them shook their bodies simultaneously, transforming into three-headed, six-armed giants!

Ji Ning's six hands held six immortal swords, while Shaoyan Xuan's six hands held six black whips.

"Ji Ning, although your sword technique is formidable, I happen to counter you. You are doomed to lose." Shaoyan Xuan's voice echoed in his chest. His six arms swung, and the six black whips danced, each twisting and lashing like a winding black serpent. The whips were covered with rows of sharp barbs and densely inscribed with runes, from which powerful fluctuations emanated.

"Shaoyan Xuan, once I get close to you, you will surely lose." Ji Ning's voice was also deep and powerful.

Both of them made some sense with their words, but in truth, they were trying to unsettle each other's Dao-heart.

At their level, if the Dao-heart wavered even slightly, their strength might be compromised. If it wavered at a critical moment, they might be defeated.

Ji Ning was also thinking: "Shaoyan Xuan is a master of whips. Once I am trapped by his whip, the other whips will also come down on me. Then I'll be in big trouble, and I might even lose! So I absolutely cannot give him that chance. I can't be reckless... This battle should focus on agility."

Different opponents call for different battle strategies.

Suddenly—

The two, who had been speaking, sensed each other's aura and charged at the same time. The battle began instantly!

Swish! Swish!

Ji Ning was surrounded by a lotus of water and fire, standing on the stamen at its center. The lotus could affect the opponent's whips... even if only slightly, it was a great help in battle.

"Rumble!" "Rumble!" "Rumble!"

Three black whips lashed out simultaneously, making sounds like thunder, like three black flood dragons, their momentum overbearing! The other three black whips, silent as venomous snakes, also coiled toward Ji Ning.

Ji Ning brandished his immortal swords while striving to close in on his opponent.

The closer he got, the greater his advantage! Whips... need space to be effective; the smaller the distance, the less threatening the whips become.

"Sssss~~~" Sword light like silk threads danced in the air, constantly touching the whips.

The dancing threads were extremely resilient, continuous and unbroken.

"Such great strength." As soon as they clashed, Shaoyan Xuan felt Ji Ning's terror. Ji Ning did not meet force with force but used his water-like sword technique to guide the whips aside time and again. Each collision between sword light and whip produced a shocking vibrational force!

Shaoyan Xuan felt his six hands go numb! Each time he wielded his whips, they were knocked aside.

With the Star Picking Hand technique, Ji Ning indeed had an absolute advantage in strength.

……

The Five Crabs Immortal of the Black-White College, Uncle Bai, Little Qing, as well as Yu Wei and Yu Chi Xiyue, all watched nervously.

Mysterious Sovereign was also extremely tense.

As soon as Ji Ning and Shaoyan Xuan clashed, both seemed very cautious, familiarizing themselves with each other's techniques, not giving the other an opportunity.

"Kill him, kill him." Mysterious Sovereign's narrow eyes flickered with cold light as he muttered silently.

Suddenly—

In the distant sealing formation, Shaoyan Xuan's six arms changed simultaneously. The surface of his arms appeared covered in large black scales, looking like snakes at first glance. His arms became soft and boneless, and the previously fierce whips... instantly turned even more supple, frantically entangling and binding toward Ji Ning.

……