Chapter 27: The Top Six

"This Shaoyan Xuan is doomed." When the Emperor of Xia saw Shaoyan Xuan display his divine ability, his whip becoming even more sinister and elusive, he shook his head and uttered these words.

"Indeed, Shaoyan Xuan has lost his composure and made such a mistake." Lü Dongbin shook his head indifferently. "Ji Ning was very cautious at first and did not recklessly attack... So Shaoyan Xuan's whip seemed to have the upper hand, but in fact, Ji Ning is the strongest among these twelve in offense! His not showing his fangs doesn't mean he is weak; it's just that he is cautious against weapons like the whip. Who would have thought that Shaoyan Xuan, eager for success, would immediately use this divine ability after gaining the upper hand, trying to bind Ji Ning with his whip? That is actually seeking death!"

The Pure Yang True Immortals had exceptionally keen eyesight.

As soon as Shaoyan Xuan used that unknown divine ability, they realized it only made his arms as soft as boneless, making his whip technique more sinister and elusive, but his strength actually decreased.

In the battle between Ji Ning and Shaoyan Xuan,

Shaoyan Xuan was already at a disadvantage in strength! Now, with a hot head, he used this divine ability, reducing his strength further—wasn't that seeking death?

...

Ji Ning was very cautious at first. His six immortal swords flowed like water, leaving no gaps. Seeing this, Shaoyan Xuan used his divine ability, his arms becoming as soft as boneless, his whip even more sinister and elusive: "Although my strength has dropped slightly, my whip is more elusive and unpredictable. As long as I bind him, I will surely win."

At this moment, Shaoyan Xuan was completely frenzied. Facing the opportunity to become a disciple of the Dao Ancestor, even he, usually calm, now had a hot head.

"Hmm?" Ji Ning was astonished.

"I haven't even gone all out yet. I was just being cautious, not seeking merit but avoiding mistakes, to carefully observe the mysteries of his whip technique. Why did Shaoyan Xuan suddenly reduce his own strength?" Ji Ning was overjoyed when he noticed the whip becoming more sinister. "He is seeking his own doom!"

He cultivated the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens!

His divine ability was the Star Picking Hand!

He had an absolute advantage in strength! He was only being cautious, yet his opponent reduced his own strength, eager for success...

"An opportunity handed to me." Ji Ning erupted.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Six dazzling sword lights streaked across the sky, each fierce and domineering!

The power of the Star Picking Hand and the divine body of the Fiendgod both exploded!

Bang!

The black whip, swept by Ji Ning's sword light, was sent flying. The gap in strength was too great; the whip was shaken away... Although Shaoyan Xuan still held the whip, the tiger's mouth of his palm was split, blood spurting out.

The six sword lights, ferocious and extraordinary, directly swept, chopped, or shook, sending all the whips flying back.

Whoosh. Ji Ning instantly rushed to Shaoyan Xuan's side.

Shaoyan Xuan was greatly alarmed, his face turning pale. He realized he had been too hasty and had underestimated Ji Ning. Watching from the sidelines was one thing, but now he knew how fierce Ji Ning's attacks were. Earlier, when Ji Ning was cautious and hadn't erupted, his palms were already numbed.

In close combat, he understood Ji Ning's terror, but it was too late; Ji Ning was already before him.

"I concede!" Shaoyan Xuan shouted, his face pale, as his six hands waved the whips, trying to form a wall of whips before him.

Sizzle, whoosh!

Ji Ning's six immortal swords flashed and swept past. Only then did Shaoyan Xuan's voice truly ring out. As soon as he spoke, Ji Ning naturally stopped immediately. This was the rule of the contest; whoever violated it would be killed by the Grand Xia Emperor.

Even though Ji Ning stopped, Shaoyan Xuan had been cut into several pieces, but his body quickly reconnected.

"I lost." Shaoyan Xuan stood up, self-mockery in his eyes. "I always thought I was a very calm person, but I didn't expect... This time, I lost because I wasn't calm enough. The temptation of becoming a disciple of the Dao Ancestor, and your strength, Ji Ning, put too much pressure on me. I wanted to win too badly."

Ji Ning also felt that this victory came too easily.

In the battle with Knife Slave, he had gone all out, but against Shaoyan Xuan, he won easily. Earlier, he had been very cautious, worried about the unpredictability of the whip.

In fact, among the top twelve, whether it was the Emperor of Xia, Lü Dongbin, or other Pure Yang True Immortals, they favored Slacker, Ji Ning, Xiamang Zishan, Blackstone, Mu Chuan, Cangwu Jiu, and Jinwu. As for Shaoyan Xuan... he was not favored. But even so, he was still one of the top twelve; theoretically, he shouldn't have lost so badly.

If he hadn't been so eager, but instead made his whip more powerful to offset some of the strength disadvantage, Ji Ning would have had to familiarize himself with the mysteries of the whip technique to win.

"Waste!" Ancestor Xuanji glanced at Shaoyan Xuan, his eyes icy. "Knowing his attack is strong, yet you reduce your own strength... Truly a waste."

Shaoyan Xuan silently sat cross-legged.

Ancestor Xuanji was full of anger... but he forgot that his earlier words had also disturbed Shaoyan Xuan's peace of mind.

"Calm down. Even in the face of great opportunities, one must stay calm."

"I fell hard this time. Ancestor Xuanji directly called me a waste. Back in the tribe, other high-ranking members will probably be angry and unwilling too." Shaoyan Xuan made up his mind. "Since I have to endure gossip in the tribe, after this Immortal Gathering, I will leave the tribe and go out to wander."

He was originally a very calm person. This one time, his head got hot, and he lost a great opportunity.

This loss was too great.

A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit. He became even calmer, thinking about the path he should take...

...

The Emperor of Xia had originally favored seven people and had to make a difficult decision to have Slacker and Nine Deaths fight. Unexpectedly, Cangwu Jiu broke through, and the number of favored people rose to eight.

These eight included Slacker and Nine Deaths, who had already fought. But how to arrange the rest?

...

Fourth match: Mu Chuan vs. Guiyuan.

Mu Chuan was like a human tree, extremely tough, even more troublesome than Slacker, a very formidable defensive enemy. Guiyuan was worn down until his divine power was exhausted and forced to concede.

...

Fifth match: Blackstone vs. Qianyi.

The barefoot, bald youth Blackstone was indeed very powerful. He used the Fuxi Staff Formation, using the formation to ambush and disappear, tormenting Qianyi until he was forced to concede.

...

Sixth match: Xiamang Zishan vs. Jinwu.

...

The most brutal fight was the sixth match between Xiamang Zishan and Jinwu. Both were favored by the Pure Yang True Immortals. According to the Emperor of Xia's original plan, Xiamang Zishan was to face White Dragon, and Jinwu was to face Cangwu Jiu. But Cangwu Jiu's sudden breakthrough made him a formidable opponent.

Helplessly, the second match was Cangwu Jiu vs. White Dragon.

The sixth match became Xiamang Zishan vs. Jinwu.

"Jinwu is very powerful, a good test for Zishan. If he can't even defeat Jinwu, how can he become the master's disciple?" The Emperor of Xia was harsh on his own clan members.

This battle was exceptionally brutal!

Xiamang Zishan was even stronger than when he fought Ji Ning. His staff technique was more restrained and domineering. Jinwu's speed and movement were second only to Cangwu Jiu, and his attacks were fiercer and more vicious.

The two fought until blood flowed, crazed.

In the end, Jinwu, with heavier injuries and exhausted divine power, had to concede!

This match, Xiamang Zishan won!

...

Thus, the top six of the Immortal Gathering were finally determined.

They were Slacker, Cangwu Jiu, Ji Ning, Mu Chuan, Blackstone, and Xiamang Zishan!

...

"Two of the top six are from the Black-White College of Anchan Commandery."

"This, this, this... What kind of place is the Black-White College? Two of the six peerless prodigies are from their sect?"

"I heard that the Black-White College is just a small sect occupying a small area in Anchan City, with only a few hundred disciples."

"What? Only a few hundred disciples? Our sect has nearly a million disciples! It's a top sect in the entire Grand Xia Dynasty, yet not one of ours made it into the top ninety-six. They have two in the top six!"

Among the top six,

Two were from major tribes: Xiamang Zishan and Cangwu Jiu.

Two were loose cultivators: Blackstone and Mu Chuan.

Two were sect disciples, both from the same sect, the Black-White College: Ji Ning and Slacker.

Just looking at the origins of these six... it was no wonder that in the Imperial City Square, people from the three thousand six hundred commanderies and the four seas were all talking about the Black-White College.

"Haha, hahaha..." The Mad Immortal laughed so hard his mouth was crooked, extremely delighted. "Haha, old drunkard me, before I die, I can still enjoy such glory. Even if I die now, it's worth it. Ji Ning, Little Slacker, good, very good, haha! If Yu Wei had also made it into the top six, that would be even better."

"Grandmaster, Yu Wei making it into the top six... isn't that a bit too ambitious?" Mu Zishuo beside him twitched his eyes.

"Is that ambition? No... I'm even thinking, if both Little Slacker and Ji Ning can make it into the top three, that would be even better. Haha, the top three of the Grand Xia Dynasty's Immortal Gathering, two from my Black-White College. I would laugh in my dreams, and even in the underworld, I could boast to the judges." The Mad Immortal was indeed overjoyed.

...

While the Imperial City Square was bustling, the atmosphere in the main hall of Tianmang Hall was somewhat frozen.

Because the top six were decided!

The next step was the top three! Among these three, one would surely become a disciple of the Dao Ancestor.

"Top three..." Xiamang Zishan's eyes seemed to flash with lightning.

"Top three..." Cangwu Jiu sat with his head down, muttering silently.

Ji Ning, Slacker, Mu Chuan, and Blackstone were also silent.

None of them spoke to others. Invisible pressure had completely enveloped the six of them, because just one battle would determine whether they could enter the top three.

Six people, three decisive battles.

Three eliminated, three stay!

Who is eliminated? Who stays?

...