Chapter 37: The Evergreen Sword Immortal

Lü Dongbin made no attempt to conceal himself; his voice resounded throughout the main hall of Tianmang Palace. For a moment, the nearly a thousand Celestial Immortals and numerous Myriad Manifestations True Immortals present were all astonished.

The Upper Immortal Donghua wants to take that little girl from the Black and White School as his disciple?

Why would Lü Dongbin accept such a little girl?

Lü Dongbin's standards are so high—he wouldn't even pay attention to us when we wanted to become his disciple! But today...

Many of the celestial immortals present felt a twinge of jealousy.

Becoming a disciple under the Dao Ancestor required immense fortune; they could not even dream of it, so they usually settled for becoming disciples under true immortals or celestial gods.

Among true immortals and celestial gods, Lü Dongbin was at the very top, with a powerful background, and he was also skilled at teaching disciples. Moreover, Lü Dongbin was a man of passion; once he chose someone as a disciple, he would devote himself wholeheartedly. In contrast, some other true immortals and celestial gods were focused solely on 'cultivating the Dao' and cared little for their disciples.

"Lü Dongbin?"

"Is that the legendary Lü Dongbin?" The myriad-phase true men, such as Jiusi Zhenren, Cangwujiu, Xiang Tianxiao, Shaoyan Xuan, and others, all grew envious.

They had fought their way into the top ninety-six, and some even into the top twelve or top six!

The name of Lü Dongbin—even among common mortals... many had likely heard of it, for in certain legends, tales of Hou Yi, Kuafu, the Eight Immortals of the Upper Cave, and others were indeed numerous. Lü Dongbin was the foremost of the Eight Immortals of the Upper Cave!

...

Though envious and jealous, the Celestial Immortals also knew that Lü Dongbin was just that kind of person.

“Are you willing?” Lü Dongbin asked once more.

Yu Wei was stunned, bewildered by this sudden joy. Of course she was willing! To become a disciple of Lü Dongbin—who wouldn't be willing? This was probably second only to becoming a disciple of the Dao Ancestor.

But she and Ji Ning had just become Dao companions. Would they have to part now?

Yu Wei turned her head to look at Ji Ning in the distance.

Ji Ning understood Yu Wei's thoughts. Though reluctant, he also knew that Yu Wei was wholeheartedly devoted to the Dao, so he gently nodded.

“Don't be reluctant to part with your little lover,” Lü Dongbin said, seeing Yu Wei turn to look at Ji Ning. “Your little lover is certain to become a disciple of a True Immortal or Heavenly God, and will surely be taken by that True Immortal or Heavenly God for personal guidance for a time. So even if you don't take me as your master, before long, Ji Ning will leave this Grand Xia world as well.”

Yu Wei understood. She glanced at Ji Ning, who repeatedly signaled her with his eyes while nodding.

"May I ask how long it will be?" Yu Wei asked nervously.

"At least several decades, at most a century," Lü Dongbin said with a smile. "Don't worry. Once I learn that Ji Ning has returned to the Grand Xia world, I'll release you soon so you can reunite with your young lover."

Yu Wei said eagerly, "Could you also take Ji Ning as your disciple, Senior?" She knew Lü Dongbin was a peerless sword immortal, well-suited to teach Ji Ning.

"I'd like to," Lü Dongbin shook his head with a sigh. "Unfortunately, your Grand Xia Emperor absolutely refuses." As he spoke, he glanced at the Xia Emperor.

The Xia Emperor sat nearby, merely smiling without saying a word.

Clearly... there was no room for discussion!

Yu Wei nodded. Without further hesitation, she knelt directly and said respectfully, "Disciple pays respects to Master."

"Hahaha..." Lü Dongbin laughed heartily. "Good, good, good. Being able to take you as my disciple makes this Immortal Fortune Convention worthwhile. Yu Wei, go spend some more time with your young lover. Once the convention ends, we'll leave the Grand Xia world."

"Yes, Master." Yu Wei immediately returned to Ji Ning's side.

...

"Yu Wei, congratulations," Wei Chi Xiyue said, happy for her. It was a great joy that her cousin's Dao companion could become Lü Dongbin's disciple.

"Ji Ning, once this Immortal Fortune Convention ends and the true immortals and celestial gods leave, my master will take me away from the Grand Xia world," Yu Wei said, her eyes full of reluctance.

Ji Ning gently held Yu Wei's hand. "We both are single-mindedly devoted to the Dao. How could we miss such a rare opportunity? Besides, I will also become a disciple of a true immortal or celestial god and will then follow my master for a long time, likewise leaving the Grand Xia world."

Although he couldn't become a disciple of a Dao Ancestor...

Becoming a disciple of a true immortal or celestial god still provided a patron! And he could learn more about the overall situation of the Three Realms. Ji Ning had decided to follow a true immortal or celestial god and devote himself to cultivation for a period.

Yu Wei nodded. "My master also said he'd take me away for at least decades, at most a century. Once you return to the Grand Xia world, Ji Ning, my master will know and release me soon."

"Let's work hard together," Ji Ning said softly. "We both must transcend the tribulation and become celestial immortals, truly accompanying each other for eternity."

"Accompanying each other for eternity." Yu Wei nodded, her eyes slightly red.

How wonderful it would be to accompany one's beloved for eternity.

"But can I truly live forever by Ji Ning's side?" Yu Wei recalled her past life, and a surge of fear rose in her heart. "No matter what, I would rather be annihilated than harm Ji Ning in the slightest. Before I die, at least everything will be beautiful."

……

One of the countless minor worlds in the Three Realms.

This was a beautiful world of singing birds and fragrant flowers, with simple folk customs. Though it was divided into three kingdoms at war, it was mostly a war of words. Occasionally, cultivators would compete to decide the interests of their respective countries, and truly large-scale wars were rare.

"Whoosh."

Space was torn open directly.

The White-clothed Xia Emperor came from the void, arriving in this minor world. He soon reached a mountain, atop which stood a Daoist temple named 'Evergreen Temple'. This Evergreen Temple was ordinary, with little fame in this minor world; only a few towns around the temple knew of it.

The people of this minor world had no idea that the 'Evergreen Temple' housed a truly exalted, peerless sword immortal.

"Junior apprentice-brother Evergreen, you just bring three or five acolytes and cultivate in this rundown temple?" The White-clothed Xia Emperor came to the back of the temple, where there were a few plots of farmland. A young man was watering the plants.

"You have to govern your major world; I have no attachments, so why should I trouble myself?" the young man said indifferently.

"What about your disciples?" The White-clothed Xia Emperor shook his head. "Since you're in this temple, why not bring your disciples here and teach them properly?"

"The master leads you in, but cultivation depends on the individual. I guided them for ten years and taught them all I should; that's enough. As for how far they can cultivate and whether they can become Celestial Immortals... I can't help with that." The young man casually sat down, picked up a gourd ladle, scooped water from the bucket, took a drink, and smacked his lips in admiration. "The water is really sweet."

The White-clothed Xia Emperor was helpless.

Those who could become True Immortals or Heavenly Gods were all powerhouses of the Three Realms, treated with courtesy even by the Heavenly Emperor. Their temperaments varied, and he could not persuade this junior apprentice-brother.

"I came this time on the orders of our master," the White-clothed Xia Emperor said.

"Master?" The young man immediately became serious.

The White-clothed Xia Emperor nodded. "You also know that more than thirty years ago, the Six Paths of Reincarnation was attacked and collapsed... Now, undercurrents are surging in the Three Realms, and a great upheaval is probably unavoidable. And the more turbulent and chaotic the times, the easier it is for heroes to emerge in the Three Realms."

The young man nodded.

"My Grand Xia world is at the peak of its fortune. This time, the Immortal Destiny Convention was held, and even our master chose a disciple from the top three, named Mu Chuan the True Person. There was even a disciple of the Black Tortoise Grand Emperor in this convention." The White-clothed Xia Emperor said.

"Oh?" The young man was surprised. "Two Dao Ancestor disciples from one Immortal Destiny Convention?"

"According to our master's instructions, the top three of this Immortal Destiny Convention are all to be taken into our Chiming lineage. Our master chose Mu Chuan the True Person. The other two are Heishi the True Person and Ji Ning. That Ji Ning is a peerless sword immortal胚子, having cultivated for only a little over thirty years. Even Lü Dongbin wanted to take him as a disciple, but I didn't allow it... Moreover, his birth date is not far from the collapse of the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Perhaps he is truly a man blessed with great fortune." The White-clothed Xia Emperor tempted him.

"You don't need to tempt me." The young man shook his head. "Whether Lü Dongbin takes disciples has nothing to do with me. With his temperament, he would even take a mortal as a disciple. As for this Ji Ning cultivating for over thirty years and his birth being close to the collapse of the Six Paths of Reincarnation—that's even more ridiculous!"

"The reason why the turmoil of the Three Realms produces peerless heroes is that during the turmoil, there are great battles, even the fall of other powerhouses, and their fortune scatters and gathers on others..." the young man said. "Every time the Three Realms are in turmoil, old powerhouses fall and new ones rise. Even Dao Ancestors die and new Dao Ancestors appear. Overall, the number of powerhouses in the Three Realms is limited."

"Whether one can become a powerhouse depends on seizing the opportunities during the turmoil of the Three Realms!"

"As for birth, you can fool others with that."

The young man was not swayed at all.

The White-clothed Xia Emperor could only smile apologetically.

Even Dao Ancestors could build reincarnation! Everyone understood the mysteries of reincarnation. A person's fate was not determined at birth; it depended on future opportunities! No one was born destined to be a Dao Ancestor! There was no such good fortune. At most, due to blessings from a past life, one might be reborn into a good family.

"And, elder apprentice-brother, don't take this the wrong way," the young man said. "What does the turmoil of the Three Realms matter? Taking disciples or not is irrelevant; what matters is oneself!"

"The only thing we can trust and control is ourselves!"

"Disciples may betray, subordinates may betray, even friends may stab you in the back... Only one's own strength is the foundation." the young man said. "For me, the turmoil of the Three Realms is an opportunity for Evergreen to break through to 'Dao Ancestor of the Great Luo'. As for disciples? Even if a disciple cultivates to become a Dao Ancestor, what does that have to do with me!"

The White-clothed Xia Emperor said no more. He and the Evergreen Sword Immortal walked different paths; he was born into the ancient imperial clan, so his thoughts were naturally different. He immediately took out a scroll: "Take a look. This contains scenes from Ji Ning's competition."

The scroll unrolled.

Scenes of battles appeared one after another.

"Sword immortal?" The young man nodded and handed the White-clothed Xia Emperor a small green sword. "This kid is indeed exceptionally talented. Since our master instructed it, I will take Ji Ning as my disciple. This is my token. Arrange for someone to give it to Ji Ning. If Ji Ning is willing to become my disciple, let him crush the token within ten days, and I will come to him. After ten days, the token will automatically dissipate."

Even if a master was willing to take a disciple, it depended on whether the disciple was willing to be accepted.

Lü Dongbin also needed to ask Yu Wei if she was willing.

The same went for Evergreen the Sword Immortal. If Ji Ning was unwilling, with the pride of a Pure Yang True Immortal, he would naturally not beg Ji Ning to become his disciple.

"Good." The White-clothed Xia Emperor took the small green sword and said with a smile, "Junior apprentice-brother, I won't disturb your leisurely days as the master of this temple."

With that, he vanished.

……