Chapter 30: Wanting to Take a Disciple

Ji Ning and Xiamang Zishan both walked out of the great hall.

At this moment, in the main hall of the Tianmang Hall, nine Pure Yang True Immortals and nearly a thousand Celestial Immortals were all watching these two young men. Two of the top three spots had already been decided: Woodchild and Blackstone. Now only the final candidate remained...

“Which of them will win?” Lü Dongbin said softly.

The Xia Emperor and the others were all silent.

After a moment, Lord Chi Ji slowly spoke: “The two are evenly matched, and both are extremely skilled in close combat. In this battle, the final outcome will likely be that one side’s divine power is exhausted and they concede.”

“Mm.” Lü Dongbin nodded gently.

“Zishan has a greater chance,” the Xia Emperor said.

...

Yu Wei silently watched Ji Ning. She knew very well that Ji Ning wanted to seize this opportunity to join a Dao Ancestor’s sect and soar to greatness. She hoped Ji Ning would succeed, but she also hoped he would be safe.

“Ji Ning, be careful,” Yu Wei watched anxiously.

...

“Only one step away from the top three.” Jiulian sat behind Patriarch Dongyan. At this moment, she silently wished, “Ji Ning, I hope you can succeed.”

Although they had parted ways, in her heart he would always be that unparalleled genius. She did not want to see Ji Ning fall into failure.

...

“Master.” Xiaoqing looked up at the scene in the huge water mirror high in the sky.

“Ning’er...” Baishui Ze was even more anxious.

“Senior apprentice-brother, you must win!” Muzi Shuo shouted loudly.

...

Within the sealed formation on the clouds.

Ji Ning and Xiamang Zishan looked at each other from afar, both standing seemingly calm. But behind this calmness was a surging conviction—they must win! Both of them desperately longed to enter the top three, and to do so, they had to defeat the opponent before them.

One was a young man in purple robes, the other a youth in animal skins.

Their temperaments were also completely different. The purple-robed youth had a natural domineering aura and the noble air cultivated in the imperial clan.

Ji Ning, due to his experiences in his past and present lives, was like the most simple native youth. However, influenced by his peaceful past life, he was neither humble nor arrogant.

“We meet again,” Xiamang Zishan said in a deep voice. “Last time, you lost to me, and this time you will lose again.”

“I have been cultivating for only a little over thirty years,” Ji Ning said calmly. “I have truly been a Zifu Disciple for only a little over ten years. In just over ten years, I have reached this level. The countless battles in the Brightmoon Diagram of Mountains and Rivers over the past year are worth more than ten years of bitter training. Half a year has passed since our last battle... In that half year, my strength has far surpassed your imagination.”

Xiamang Zishan’s pupils contracted.

Indeed.

The brief time Ji Ning had spent cultivating was truly alarming.

“You have improved in the past half year, but so have I,” Xiamang Zishan said with an angry laugh, driven by his innate pride. “Use whatever techniques you have, or you’ll be unconvinced when you lose.”

“Come,” Ji Ning said calmly, looking at Xiamang Zishan.

This calmness concealed an even more frenzied battle intent.

Xiamang Zishan immediately shook his body, transforming into a thirty-zhang-tall giant, and also grew three heads and six arms.

Ji Ning did the same, transforming into an eighteen-zhang-tall giant, also with three heads and six arms.

In terms of the ‘Heavenly Transformation’ technique, Ji Ning had indeed comprehended less than Xiamang Zishan, who had cultivated for centuries. However, in the early stages of cultivation, the Heavenly Transformation technique actually increased strength far less than other divine abilities. For example, abilities like ‘Ten Thousand Venom Stings’ were better than Heavenly Transformation in the early stages.

But in the later stages, especially after becoming a Celestial, the Heavenly Transformation technique became truly formidable and terrifying.

As for now?

When Ji Ning used the second cycle of the Star Picking Hand, the Heavenly Transformation technique added no strength to his hands at all.

“Take my staff!” Xiamang Zishan roared, charging forward with wild abandon.

Three black iron staffs simultaneously swept through the air, striking directly at Ji Ning with an irresistible momentum.

The staff is a heavy weapon.

Only those with truly immense strength can fully exploit the advantages of a staff. Compared to swords and sabers, the staff is less agile. Compared to a spear—a long weapon with a sharp tip—the staff is inferior in piercing power.

But the staff has one great advantage.

It can be used to ‘smash’ freely! In the Three Realms, especially among Celestials known for their strength, many use long staves. The power of a single staff strike—thrusting, it can pierce the heavens; smashing, it can shatter the earth!

Two people with the same strength, realm, and divine abilities.

Those who used staves were naturally far more overbearing and domineering than those who used swords. This was the peculiarity of weapon types. Choosing the weapon that suited oneself best was paramount. Clearly, Xiamang Zishan was most suited to using a staff.

"Boom~~~"

As the staff struck, heaven and earth changed color.

Ji Ning held six flying swords. Although it was not ideal to use flying swords to forcefully clash head-on, Ji Ning, relying on his divine ability, attempted to do so and directly block the attack!

Three torrents of staff strikes!

Six dazzling sword beams!

They collided directly, causing the surroundings to tremble, the power terrifyingly immense. In the head-on clash, the two were actually evenly matched!

"Almost the same." Ji Ning was startled. "Last time I was at an absolute disadvantage, but I broke through repeatedly. However, this Xiamang Zishan has also broken through somewhat. It seems there's no hope of defeating him in a direct confrontation. Moreover, my 'Star Picking Hand' divine ability consumes an astonishing amount of divine power; I simply cannot sustain a prolonged battle!"

Ji Ning was well aware of his weakness.

He was very strong in the 'Dao of the Sword,' but among ordinary Daos, he had only mastered two.

Xiamang Zishan's 'Dao of Lightning' was slightly weaker than his own Dao of the Sword, but he had mastered a full four ordinary Daos! And over the past six months, as he continuously integrated them, his staff technique had grown increasingly powerful.

Ji Ning's divine ability was stronger, compensating for his weakness.

But a powerful divine ability also consumed more divine power... if the battle dragged on, he would likely exhaust his divine power first.

"I am a sword immortal; why must I clash head-on with him?" Ji Ning's sword technique changed.

The six dazzling sword beams, which had been straightforward, instantly transformed. Ji Ning's sword beams became like an unending stream of water, repeatedly surging toward Xiamang Zishan. Xiamang Zishan, however, remained true to his style; his staff technique was bold and unrestrained, sometimes wildly chopping, sometimes whipping, sometimes thrusting fiercely.

Ji Ning's sword technique was like water, continuous and unbroken, and all of Xiamang Zishan's staff strikes were repelled without success. Yet Ji Ning also failed to leave a single wound on Xiamang Zishan.

"No opportunity at all. It seems I'll have to use that immature sword technique." Ji Ning thought to himself.

Whoosh!

Ji Ning's sword technique changed again.

Now, Ji Ning's six flying swords... some were violent as fire, also carrying the sharpness of the Dao of the Sword! Some were lingering as water, repeatedly affecting and entangling the opponent! Some were ethereal and elusive, swift and fast!

Ji Ning simultaneously executed sword techniques of different styles, which placed a heavy burden on his mind.

This method of combat was an idea Ji Ning had after watching 'the Slacker True Person's practical application of the Wave叠加秘术.' The Wave叠加秘术 involved defending with four hands and attacking with two, forming a superimposed cycle... Although Ji Ning hadn't fully understood it, the Slacker True Person's combat style had inspired him.

"A sword can be used like a spear, but lacks the spear's penetrating power. It can be used like a saber, but lacks the saber's ferocity. It can be used like a staff, but lacks the staff's weight... The sword has two edges and is extremely flexible, with diverse combat styles. If I use the Three Heads, Six Arms divine ability and have all six arms execute different styles... they might interfere with each other and reduce my strength, but they might also, like the Slacker True Person, complement each other and greatly enhance my power."

Ji Ning had been continuously deducing this in his mind.

He had remained silent while watching the battle earlier, partly because he was distracted by his thoughts. Having once trained in the 'Minor Five Elements Sword Manual' at the Black-White College, which included some techniques for combining the five elements, Ji Ning pondered carefully and formed a rough idea, which he now put into practice.

"Swish, swish, swish~~~"

Some sword beams were like water, some like fire, some ethereal and elusive.

Ji Ning himself was ethereal, advancing and retreating at will, his sword technique equally unpredictable, with countless sword beams whistling through the air. For a moment, the various sword beams Ji Ning wielded in battle... were like a piece of music, sometimes soft, sometimes passionate, sometimes flowing unceasingly, sometimes surging forth mightily...

Water, fire, wind, space, and the 'Dao of the Sword.'

All his insights were integrated into the Dao of the Sword, everything came naturally. Ji Ning felt a wonderful sensation, as if the various sword techniques complemented each other, everything happening spontaneously, without needing to deliberately decide what sword technique to use. He simply followed this wonderful feeling.

Don't break this feeling; follow it and unleash freely!

"Beautiful."

"Truly beautiful."

"Sword techniques can be executed so beautifully!" The nearly a thousand Celestial Immortal patriarchs in the main hall of the Heavenly Tribute Palace watched with delight. Ji Ning's three heads and six arms executing different sword techniques was like a beautiful ink wash painting, splashing ink with breathtaking beauty.

At this moment, Ji Ning's figure was like the wind, his six flying swords ethereal, fully displaying the essence of sword technique.

The sword, by nature, was extremely complex.

The basic sword stances alone numbered thirteen, far more complex than staves, spears, sabers, and the like. This complexity... if one was a true master, it was like having more ingredients to create a supreme delicacy. If one was weak, the complexity only led to failure.

...

"A genius!" Lu Dongbin in the main hall of the Heavenly Tribute Palace couldn't help but exclaim. "To enter such a profound state in such a crucial battle. If I'm not mistaken, he is now in a state of no thought, everything following his heart... In this state, the sword techniques he unleashes naturally exceed his normal level. And these extraordinary sword techniques, he will firmly remember. After this battle, his level in the 'Dao' and his sword techniques will greatly improve."

"He is indeed a rare genius in the Dao of the Sword." Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva couldn't help but say. "Our Buddhist sect is willing to accept such a genius."

"He has only comprehended two other Daos. But his mastery of the Dao of the Sword is absolutely the highest among sword immortals in the Immortal Destiny Convention." Lu Dongbin couldn't help but say. "He is indeed a born sword immortal, with unimaginable talent in the Dao of the Sword. Xiamang... this Ji Ning, if you don't take him, how about I accept him as my disciple?"

"Donghua, are you also tempted?"

"The Buddhist sect is tempted; why can't I be?" Lu Dongbin looked at the Xia Emperor.

The Xia Emperor shook his head. "For the top six of this Immortal Destiny Convention, they must first be selected by the many fellow disciples under my master's command! If no one chooses Ji Ning, then let Lu Dongbin be his master, how about that?"

"Nonsense. Such a born peerless sword immortal prodigy—you won't choose him?" Lu Dongbin immediately shook his head.

...