Chapter 32, First

In terms of appearance, Ji Ning and the other two at first glance looked like youths. However, even the youngest, Ji Ning, had already lived for over thirty years in this life, and the other two had been cultivating for over a hundred years.

"What is this?" Blackstone and Woodchild simultaneously turned their heads to look at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning was sitting cross-legged, and suddenly gusts of wind began to swirl around him, accompanied by the descent of the ripples of the Dao.

"What, a breakthrough?" Blackstone and Woodchild were both startled.

They could tell that Ji Ning had likely comprehended a complete 'Wind-type' Dao.

"He actually comprehended another Dao at this critical moment. Ji Ning was already formidable—in close combat, Blade Servant and Xiamang Zishan were both very strong, yet they were defeated by him. Now with another breakthrough... his close combat prowess might even surpass mine." Blackstone calculated briefly and felt a bit anxious.

In the Brightmoon Diagram of Mountains and Rivers, he had an advantage.

Because in the Brightmoon Diagram, what mattered was survival; having enough talismans was sufficient! His attainments in formations could be fully utilized. But now, in a one-on-one duel where a victor had to be decided, he was at a disadvantage. His formation mastery was not as helpful.

"But the Dao Ancestor selects disciples not necessarily based on being first," Blackstone thought to himself. "When the time comes for the competition, I will display all my insights into formations, letting the Dao Ancestor see my formation prowess... I believe the Dao Ancestor will choose me."

His close combat was also very strong, nearly on par with Xiamang Zishan.

But he was even more confident in formations! He had devoted far too much effort to formations.

...

Ji Ning felt the ripples of the Dao around him, opened his eyes, and revealed a faint smile.

The Wind Dao was finally comprehended!

In fact, back when he had fully comprehended the 'Rainwater Dao,' the Blazing Fire Dao and the Wind Dao were already nearly complete. They were just lacking a bit. However, the repeated battles and tempering over the past year had been particularly helpful, allowing him to finally master both the 'Blazing Fire Dao' and the 'Wind Dao.'

"Three Daos—Rainwater, Blazing Fire, and Wind—all mastered." Ji Ning understood.

His insights mainly revolved around these three Daos, which had progressed in tandem. It was not surprising that he had mastered them consecutively during the Immortal Fortune Convention.

"My Sword Dao has also improved considerably." Ji Ning was delighted.

After his battle with Xiamang Zishan, his insights into the Sword Dao had indeed advanced greatly.

However, the seventh, eighth, and ninth stances of the 'Three-Foot Sword' represented a significant leap.

After all, the eighth stance was comparable to an ordinary Celestial Immortal's level. The ninth stance allowed the Northern Traveler Immortal, as a loose immortal, to exert the combat power of a Celestial Immortal!

Ji Ning's current Sword Dao insights lay between the seventh and eighth stances, far from being able to execute the eighth stance. But the progress was actually substantial, at least his combat power had surged significantly.

"His Imperial Majesty gave us one month."

"In this month, I will try to integrate the three Daos of Rainwater, Blazing Fire, and Wind into my Sword Dao as much as possible, to enhance the power of my swordsmanship." Ji Ning thought to himself, then calmed his mind and began to ponder.

...

Main Hall of the Skylight Palace.

Everyone was waiting for the three duels an hour later, which would be recorded by the Watermark Art for 'Redbright Dao Ancestor' to watch.

"Ji Ning's previous battle with Xiamang Zishan led him into a state of no thought, and he must have made considerable progress. After they emerge from seclusion, Ji Ning's strength will have increased further. In terms of offense, he is likely the absolute first in this Immortal Fortune Convention. As for Woodchild, he should be the absolute first in defense. Blackstone is at a disadvantage—if it were a free-for-all outside, as a formation grandmaster, it would be hard for others to kill him. But in this convention, it's one-on-one, and they must fight each other." Redextremity True Immortal said calmly. "By my reckoning, the first place should be either Ji Ning or Woodchild."

"Mm."

"Right."

"Blackstone is indeed at a disadvantage."

Lü Dongbin and the others nodded in agreement.

The Xia Emperor nodded as well: "Ji Ning comprehended another Dao while in seclusion in the Brightmoon Diagram world. This should be the result of the insights gained from his battle with Zishan."

"An improvement after the state of no thought is to be expected." The Pure Yang True Immortals were very calm.

...

Relatively speaking, the importance of victory or defeat in these final three matches was somewhat diminished. Because being first did not guarantee being chosen by Redbright Dao Ancestor.

But without a doubt...

Being first certainly increased the likelihood of being chosen. After all, throughout history, success and failure often determined heroes.

In the blink of an eye, an hour passed.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three figures flew out from the scroll and landed in the great hall.

"Your Majesty." Ji Ning and the other two said respectfully.

"For these three matches, the first is between Ji Ning and Blackstone." The Grand Xia Emperor instructed. "After the three matches, I will arrange for you to go to the treasury of the Grand Xia Dynasty to choose a divine ability. But compared to becoming a disciple of the Dao Ancestor, choosing a divine ability is a minor matter."

Ji Ning and the other two listened silently.

"Begin." The Grand Xia Emperor commanded.

"Yes."

Ji Ning and Blackstone exchanged glances, then walked out of the great hall.

...

At this stage of the competition, Ji Ning and the other two had no more hidden cards; everything had been revealed. Thus, Lü Dongbin and the other Pure Yang True Immortals had judged very accurately!

Blackstone was clearly skilled in many formations, but Ji Ning stood still, merely manifesting a Water-Fire Lotus around himself for protection. If Blackstone revealed himself, they would fight. If not, Ji Ning wouldn't run around.

Thus...

Blackstone began a full 'performance,' displaying his abilities as a formation grandmaster one by one. With his seemingly simple Fuxi Staff Formation, he set up one great formation after another—illusion formations, killing formations, sealing formations. He even overlapped formations, creating endless illusions and deadly traps.

But Ji Ning didn't need to break the formations; he only needed to wait for Blackstone to fight him.

After 'performing' some impressive formations, Blackstone finally engaged Ji Ning in combat.

Indeed...

In close combat, Ji Ning, whose strength had greatly increased, ultimately defeated Blackstone!

First match, Ji Ning wins!

...

In the second match, Woodchild fought Blackstone. Woodchild was even more shameless than Ji Ning!

Although Ji Ning stood still, he at least fought fiercely with Blackstone.

Woodchild, on the other hand, fully embodied his 'Immovable as a Mountain' and 'Humanoid Giant Tree' style. No matter how Blackstone attacked, Woodchild could withstand it and even counterattack. In the end, Blackstone's divine power was exhausted, and he had to concede!

Second match, Woodchild wins!

...

The third match was between Ji Ning and Woodchild.

This battle was clearly more exciting than the previous two. In the first two, Ji Ning and Woodchild dared not move recklessly within Blackstone's formations. But Ji Ning and Woodchild clashed head-on!

Ji Ning was the strongest attacker in the Immortal Fortune Convention: twelve layers of the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens, extremely high Sword Dao, three complete Daos, and the divine ability 'Star Picking Hand'!

Woodchild was the strongest defender: his divine demon body was no less, complemented by the two great Daos of 'Greenwood Dao' and 'Sourcewater Dao'!

In this battle...

Ji Ning unleashed his swordsmanship to the fullest, pouring out all his offensive means.

At first, Woodchild tried to counterattack, but soon Ji Ning forced him to defend almost ninety percent of the time, only occasionally retaliating. Because Ji Ning was different from the Slovenly Adept, whose style was an overwhelming torrent. Ji Ning's techniques were extremely flexible—his swordsmanship could be fierce, savage, swift, or gentle like water...

As the saying goes, prolonged defense leads to loss.

In a fight, one who always defends will certainly suffer. The Slovenly Adept's 'Stacking Waves Secret Art' would eventually collapse. But Ji Ning's swordsmanship would never collapse; his continuous, unbroken sword techniques caused Woodchild to start getting injured, and with injuries, his condition worsened.

In the end, Woodchild had to concede!

"I consumed seventy percent of my divine power, attacking so fiercely for so long, and he only just lost." Ji Ning broke out in a cold sweat. His Star Picking Hand consumed divine power too quickly. If Woodchild had held on a bit longer, his divine power might have been exhausted.

...

Three matches.

Ji Ning won two! Woodchild won one! Blackstone lost!

"We won!"

"Haha, won, won, won!!!" From the Anchan commandery's group in the imperial city square came extremely excited cheers, shouts, and laughter that spread far and wide.

Among the over a million people from three thousand six hundred commanderies and the Four Seas gathered in the imperial city square, only a handful knew about the 'Dao Ancestor taking disciples.' To them, winning first place in the Immortal Fortune Convention was the greatest glory.

"First, first." Mu Zishuo was so excited his face was flushed. "My senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning is first!"

Cangjiang Adept sighed with emotion: "I remember when I saw Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning slay Shaoyin Nong, it was still vivid before my eyes. I never imagined that Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning, having cultivated for such a short time, could win first place in this Immortal Fortune Convention. Truly... truly miraculous, miraculous!"

"First!"

Wufeng Immortal was so excited that he smashed his gourd of wine to the ground, as if mad, shouting ecstatically, "Haha, a disciple of our Black-White College has won first place in the Immortal Fortune Convention! Never in the history of our Black-White College has this happened, never! Haha, first place in the Immortal Fortune Convention belongs to a disciple of our Black-White College! Haha, exhilarating, exhilarating, exhilarating!"

"Ji Ning is truly remarkable." Beishan Baiwei's breathing quickened; he was too excited. "To actually win first place in the Immortal Fortune Convention—I never even dared to think Ji Ning could be first. It's truly incredible."

"Master is so amazing." Xiaoqing's eyes sparkled.

"Big brother..." The Whitewater Hound recalled the scenes of Ji Yichuan and Yuchi Xue teaching Ji Ning swordplay. "Did you see? You taught him body techniques and sword techniques back then. Now, relying on his sword, he has become first in the Immortal Fortune Convention across the endless lands of the Grand Xia Dynasty! Did you see? Did you see?"

Tears streamed down the Whitewater Hound's face, overwhelmed with emotion.