Chapter 28: Returning to Mount Fangcun

Is there someone else here?

Ji Ning was startled and quickly retreated several zhang. The thunderbolts striking at him also lessened, and he took the chance to look carefully.

Hmm? Ji Ning frowned. Through the gaps between the bolts of lightning, he could see a black-robed youth standing at the entrance of the distant gorge.

Whoosh.

Ji Ning immediately burst backward, quickly retreating out of the lightning domain.

All the thunderbolts vanished. Without their obstruction, Ji Ning clearly saw the figure at the gorge entrance. The black-robed youth was about the same height as his junior apprentice-brother Mu Zishuo, and even thinner and shorter. Yet Ji Ning vaguely felt that this black-robed youth had lived for a very, very long time.

The black-robed youth's gaze was also terrifyingly sharp, and his expression was cold—the kind of person naturally born aloof.

Who are you? Ji Ning asked.

Me? The black-robed youth's voice was shrill, and he looked at Ji Ning thoughtfully. Even if I told you, you little brat wouldn't know. Judging by your appearance, you're probably only at the early Void stage, yet you managed to break through the first forbidden zone and even advanced a hundred zhang into this second lightning forbidden zone. Your strength can barely be considered at the Celestial Immortal level. For an early Void cultivator to have such power, which sect are you from? Who is your master?

Ji Ning was secretly alarmed.

Celestial Immortal?

Since the black-robed youth had already reached the gorge entrance, he must have crossed the lightning domain. His strength was far greater than Ji Ning's. Even with his second true body erupting, Ji Ning could barely match a mid-level Celestial Immortal. But some formidable Celestial Immortals, even monstrously talented ones, were still extremely powerful.

My master's name is not something you need to know, Ji Ning said.

Could it be a True Immortal or a Heavenly God? The black-robed youth chuckled softly, carefully observing Ji Ning's expression.

Ji Ning remained calm.

The black-robed youth then shook his head. Go on, leave quickly. Even I haven't managed to get the treasure yet. With your strength, even if you were ten or a hundred times stronger, it wouldn't be enough.

Ten or a hundred times stronger? Ji Ning frowned in disbelief.

You don't believe me? Let me tell you, this treasure site has three forbidden zones. The first is just some striking force—the safest. The second is the lightning domain, a hundred and eighty zhang wide. The third seals the treasure. Even I can't break through it.

The black-robed youth looked disdainfully at Ji Ning. You? You haven't even crossed the tribulation. Though you're a monstrous genius, you only advanced a hundred zhang into the lightning domain and couldn't go further. Know that each step forward in the lightning domain brings stronger lightning. You'd need at least ten times your current strength to hope to break through this second forbidden zone. And that's just the second; the third is the most terrifying—probably few Celestial Immortals can break it.

What is the third forbidden zone? Ji Ning couldn't help asking.

You don't need to know that, the black-robed youth said.

Then why don't you leave? Ji Ning asked.

I am a Celestial Immortal with endless lifespan. Since the treasure is here, I'll stay and cultivate slowly. Maybe a turn of events will occur, and I'll get the treasure, the black-robed youth said.

Ji Ning grew troubled at heart.

He could sense the faint fluctuations from the gorge—very ancient and powerful. Even the Thousand Bull Sword, nearly a Pure Yang magic treasure, was far from such intensity. That treasure must be an extremely powerful relic left from the ancient Pangu world.

But with three forbidden zones, I can't even get through the second. What to do?

Ji Ning stood by the stream outside the lightning domain, silent and hesitant for a moment, then gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

Whoosh.

Ji Ning quickly entered the endless pressure zone and struggled to rush out.

He left? The black-robed youth shook his head. A little fellow, too weak. With his talent, maybe he could succeed after becoming a Celestial Immortal.

Then the black-robed youth walked back into the gorge.

...

Immortal Northmoon, why are you returning? On the way back, he met the Golden-Furred Bear Demon King again, who was advancing but had only moved about a li from where they last met.

Not strong enough, so I'm returning.

Ji Ning, with three heads and six arms wielding six immortal-ranked swords, slashed through the pressure and kept rushing outward.

Not strong enough? The Golden-Furred Bear Demon King muttered inwardly. Could it be that this Northmoon has already gotten the treasure? But his expression doesn't seem fake.

Though he muttered, the Golden-Furred Bear Demon King had no confidence to seize the treasure from Ji Ning.

...

Out of the Quya Mountains.

Ji Ning turned to look back at the mountains, perpetually shrouded in mist, and murmured to himself, Once I cultivate the divine art, I'll come explore again.

Whoosh.

Ripples of space stirred around him, and Ji Ning vanished. In the void beneath the floating mountain 'Mount Fangcun,' Ji Ning reappeared, with clouds under his feet.

Out. Ji Ning willed, and a white-robed girl appeared beside him—his disciple Qingya Xiaoyu.

Master. Qingya Xiaoyu stood on the clouds, looking around. Where is this?

Ji Ning looked at his disciple, then raised his head to gaze at the floating Mount Fangcun above. It had only been a little over a month since he took a disciple and killed ten great sinners. His disciple Qingya Xiaoyu's golden light of merit was a full three hundred zhang, while he himself had transformed from the clear qi of merit into the golden light of merit!

But under his divine sense, the golden light of merit emitted from his body was only three chi long.

In fact, after taking a disciple and killing the demon king, his clear qi of merit had become very dense. Only after killing that evil old ancestor did it suddenly transform into golden light of merit.

Three chi of golden merit light, but my disciple has three hundred zhang. Ji Ning smiled, then took his disciple Qingya Xiaoyu's hand and flew upward.

Xiaoyu, above is Mount Fangcun, the sect of your master. Ji Ning said with a smile.

Qingya Xiaoyu stared in shock at the floating mountain above, then looked down at the vast world below.

Master's sect? Qingya Xiaoyu was dazed.

Flying into Mount Fangcun, they followed the mountain path and soon reached the mountain gate. Since Qingya Xiaoyu was only his personally accepted disciple, Ji Ning didn't take her to see his senior apprentice-brother.

At the mountain gate stood two green-robed acolytes.

Seeing Ji Ning, the two acolytes immediately became extremely respectful and bowed: Grandmaster.

Mm. Ji Ning nodded.

Qingya Xiaoyu, dazed, was led by Ji Ning by the hand inside. After entering the mountain gate, she came to her senses and whispered, Master, those two acolytes at the gate seem very powerful?

They are both Void-stage Earth Immortals. Ji Ning said casually.

As Ji Ning finished speaking, two ancient Void-stage Fiendgods walked over. Both bowed with extreme respect: Grandmaster?

These two ancient Fiendgods made Qingya Xiaoyu tremble. She felt they were even more terrifying than demon kings!

And they called her master 'Grandmaster'?

As they walked through the Slanting Moon Three-Star Cave, everyone they passed—humans, demons, even Fiendgods—all had powerful auras, some even more terrifying than demon kings. Yet they all showed utmost respect to Ji Ning, calling him Grandmaster or Uncle-Master.

It seems my master holds a high position in this sect. Along the way, he seems to have the highest seniority. I haven't even seen any of his fellow disciples. Qingya Xiaoyu thought secretly.

Ahead is the Immortal Palace. Ji Ning said.

Immortal Palace? Qingya Xiaoyu looked curiously at the nine-story Immortal Palace. Outside, a large number of disciples from Mount Fangcun's lineage gathered, all respectfully greeting Ji Ning as Uncle-Master or Grandmaster. Among them, Little Qing and Uncle Bai had already come forward to greet him; they could sense his presence through their mental connection.

Master.

Ning'er. Little Qing and Uncle Bai came over.

At that moment, a handsome white-robed man walked out of the Immortal Palace—naturally the manager, Senior Apprentice-Brother Silvermoon. Silvermoon smiled and approached: I heard you went down the mountain to take a disciple and subdue demons. This must be the disciple you took. What a fine young girl.

Finally, I see one of Master's fellow disciples. He seems friendly, with no terrifying aura. Qingya Xiaoyu thought.

Xiaoyu, pay respects to your uncle-master. Ji Ning instructed.

Greetings, Uncle-Master. Qingya Xiaoyu quickly bowed respectfully.

Calling me uncle-master means I have to prepare a gift. Silvermoon shook his head with a smile. You're a little one, hard to use any treasures. Well, this little trinket—wear it, and even if a Celestial Immortal wants to kill you, it can hold for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

He handed a jade pendant to Qingya Xiaoyu.

Qingya Xiaoyu was stunned.

A Celestial Immortal wanting to kill her could be held off for the time of a cup of tea? Just this little jade pendant? Even the treasures her master gave her weren't this powerful.

This, this... Qingya Xiaoyu felt it was too precious.

Put it away properly. Ji Ning said with a smile. This jade pendant is nothing to your uncle-master. He kills Celestial Immortals like killing chickens.

Junior apprentice-brother, you flatter me. Well, that jade pendant was indeed casually refined by me. I'll also give you a Greater Teleportation Talisman. I can't refine that; I traded treasures for it. Silvermoon handed over another talisman.

Ji Ning's smile grew even brighter.

Senior apprentice-brother is a Heavenly God. A Greater Teleportation Talisman is a treasure to me, but to him it's nothing. If I don't squeeze him a bit, heaven won't allow it.

Qingya Xiaoyu blinked.

Two treasures? Given casually?

Kills Celestial Immortals like killing chickens?

What kind of sect is her master's sect?

Little Qing, take Xiaoyu around the Slanting Moon Three-Star Cave and let her get familiar. Also tell her about it; she still doesn't know what sect the Slanting Moon Three-Star Cave is. Ji Ning smiled.

Yes, Master. Little Qing said excitedly.

Ji Ning then said, Senior apprentice-brother, I'll go to the Three Realms Palace now.

Go ahead, go ahead. Silvermoon nodded with a smile. It seems you're not far from graduating.

...

Three Realms Palace.

Second senior apprentice-brother Jidian was already waiting for Ji Ning with a smile.

Senior apprentice-brother. Ji Ning bowed.

Master also told me you passed the trial. This is the complete text of the *Eight-Nine Arcane Art*. Junior apprentice-brother, you may study it. Jidian held a fan in one hand and handed over a rolled-up bamboo slip with the other.

Ji Ning's eyes lit up.

Eight-Nine Arcane Art? Once I achieve some success in it, my body will be like an immortal-ranked magic treasure. Then I'll definitely go to the Quya Mountains again.

Thank you, senior apprentice-brother. Ji Ning took the bamboo slip, and as his divine sense penetrated it, vast and mysterious information flooded into his soul.

...