Chapter 10: Lying in Wait

"Mm." The purple-grass maid nodded gently.

Xuanji Patriarch secretly observed the envoy girl before him. The golden robe she wore was embroidered with conspicuous purple flowers and grass, clearly out of the ordinary. The Celestial Immortals behind her all wore ordinary golden robes... which also reflected the difference in status.

"Xuanji of Shaoyan Clan, do you know why I have come to see you?" the purple-grass maid asked with a smile.

"I cannot guess the envoy's intentions," Xuanji Patriarch said, maintaining a low posture.

The purple-grass maid laughed: "Hahaha... Over the years, our No-Gate Sect has helped your Shaoyan Clan several times. I believe you can feel our sincerity. As for our strength... though we have only revealed a fraction, you should still sense our power. Our No-Gate Sect roams freely throughout the Great Xia Dynasty. What can the imperial Xia Clan do? They can only watch helplessly."

"Indeed," Xuanji Patriarch responded.

The No-Gate Sect, with such strength, surely knew of the Great Xia imperial clan's power, yet they still dared to act so boldly. Without confidence, would they dare? The many Celestial Immortals under their command could not be fools. The Great Xia imperial clan's reaction also indirectly showed the No-Gate Sect's true might.

"I can tell you that throughout Great Xia, many forces have already defected to our No-Gate Sect," the purple-grass maid said with emotion. "Their clan's power has grown severalfold. I can assure you that if your Shaoyan Clan is willing to submit to our No-Gate Sect, your strength can be multiplied immediately."

Xuanji Patriarch still smiled.

Nonsense.

Those who had defected so far were generally small forces, like Eastwood Sect or Blood God Cult. It was likely that very few feudal lords had defected. After all, defecting meant becoming an enemy of the Great Xia imperial clan. Behind the Xia Emperor stood Patriarch Yinglong and Patriarch Chiming! They were not to be trifled with; a flip of the hand could annihilate them.

"My personal visit should show you our No-Gate Sect's sincerity," the purple-grass maid said, looking at Xuanji.

"I am truly grateful that the envoy came in person. However, this matter concerns the life and death of our clan. I dare not decide on my own. I will return and inform the other clan members for careful deliberation," Xuanji Patriarch said.

The purple-grass maid shook her head: "To express our sincerity, I will tell you one more thing."

"Please speak," Xuanji Patriarch said, his eyes brightening. The No-Gate Sect had indeed helped the Shaoyan Clan several times.

"I heard that your Shaoyan Clan is currently troubled by a person... named Ji Ning," the purple-grass maid said.

"Yes," Xuanji Patriarch admitted directly, his eyes lighting up. "Could it be that the envoy is willing to eliminate Ji Ning for our Shaoyan Clan? If so, our clan would be extremely grateful."

"Eliminate Ji Ning? It's not impossible. If your Shaoyan Clan submits to our No-Gate Sect, within a day, no matter who stands behind him, our sect can take his life." The purple-grass maid was absolutely confident, then added with a half-smile, "If your clan does not submit, our No-Gate Sect cannot act for you."

Xuanji Patriarch sneered inwardly.

Submit?

Ji Ning was a scourge.

But submission carried the risk of clan annihilation.

"Ji Ning has several very important relatives and friends," the purple-grass maid said calmly. "If you want to act, just keep watch on his relatives and friends, and you will naturally see Ji Ning."

"But Master Diancai is already a Celestial Immortal," Xuanji Patriarch frowned. "And he is in Anchan City. As for the few clan members important to Ji Ning, they are in Swallow Mountain. Our Shaoyan Clan has no opportunity."

"No, he has a junior apprentice-brother named Mu Zishuo," the purple-grass maid said. "He and his junior brother share a life-and-death bond."

"But Mu Zishuo has been missing for over twenty years," Xuanji Patriarch shook his head.

The purple-grass maid smiled: "Ji Ning has already rescued him."

Xuanji Patriarch was startled.

The Shaoyan Clan had investigated Ji Ning's intelligence very thoroughly, including Mu Zishuo and Master Diancai. They had long known that Diancai had become a Celestial Immortal, but they had not discovered that Mu Zishuo had returned. This showed that the No-Gate Sect far surpassed them in intelligence gathering.

"Moreover, Mu Zishuo is not in Swallow Mountain, nor in Anchan City." The purple-grass maid flipped her hand, producing a beast-hide scroll, and tossed it directly to Xuanji Patriarch.

Xuanji Patriarch caught it.

"Mu Zishuo's location is marked on the map," the purple-grass maid said. "Just keep watch on Mu Zishuo, and before long, Ji Ning will likely come to visit him. If you are in a hurry, you can capture Mu Zishuo and force Ji Ning to show himself. The choice is entirely up to your Shaoyan Clan."

"Thank you, envoy," Xuanji Patriarch said, overjoyed as he looked at the scroll.

"Our No-Gate Sect has helped your Shaoyan Clan once again," the purple-grass maid said calmly. "Our sect has patience, but it is limited. If you continue to refuse submission... we will have to consider you staunch loyalists of the Great Xia imperial clan. When we deal with the Great Xia imperial clan in the future, we may have to make an example of your Shaoyan Clan first."

Xuanji Patriarch's face changed, and he quickly said, "Rest assured, envoy. I can feel the No-Gate Sect's sincerity. There are differing opinions within our Shaoyan Clan, but one thing is certain: we are by no means staunch loyalists of the Great Xia imperial clan. Absolutely not."

"Well said." The purple-grass maid waved her hand. "Go."

Xuanji Patriarch then withdrew.

Soon, only the purple-grass maid and the ten Celestial Immortals remained on the lonely, cold peak.

"Milady, letting the Shaoyan Clan deal with Ji Ning—are they strong enough? Ji Ning knows the Eight-Nine Arcane Art," a golden-robed Celestial Immortal said in a low voice.

"Don't underestimate the Shaoyan Clan," the purple-grass maid shook her head. "The Shaoyan Clan survived from the ancient Primordial World and later migrated to the Great Xia World. Such ancient clans... possess some extremely formidable means. Remember, when Zhuanshui Clan contended with the Xia Clan for the throne of Great Xia, the Zhuanshui Clan was a branch of a major clan from the ancient Primordial World, backed by a group of True Immortals and Heavenly Gods. The Zhuanshui Clan and Shaoyan Clan have fought for so many years; although the Shaoyan Clan has suffered losses, they have never been destroyed and remain prosperous. How can the Shaoyan Clan be underestimated?"

"Mm," the Celestial Immortals nodded slightly.

"Just watch," the purple-grass maid said calmly. "Let the Shaoyan Clan fight first. We can secretly investigate and learn more about Ji Ning's abilities. If the Shaoyan Clan is so incompetent that they cannot even eliminate a single Ji Ning, after we obtain detailed intelligence on his strength, we can calmly arrange a thunderous strike to annihilate him in one fell swoop."

"If I am not mistaken, the Shaoyan Clan, daring to contend with the Zhuanshui Clan to such an extent, must have astonishing hidden resources. As long as the Dao Ancestor behind Ji Ning does not intervene, I believe killing Ji Ning will not be difficult," the purple-grass maid smiled.

...

The Shaoyan Clan discussed in secret and, based on the intelligence, formulated multiple plans to 'kill Ji Ning.'

"This time, Xuanji, Kumu, Jinzhong, and I, Chixin, will join forces," the weathered old man said, sweeping his gaze. "The three of you, follow my orders."

"Alright," Xuanji Patriarch nodded.

"Chixin, we trust you," said the man holding the large bell with one hand.

"Mm," the white-haired, withered old man also nodded.

Chixin Patriarch was a weathered old man with a hint of sorrow in his eyes, but his strength was extremely formidable. 'Chixin Celestial Immortal' had some renown throughout the Three Realms, belonging to the truly top tier among Celestial Immortals.

"Jingyu, the tower is entrusted to your protection," Chixin Patriarch instructed.

"Alright," Jingyu Patriarch nodded.

"Let's go," Chixin Patriarch said.

Immediately, Xuanji Patriarch, Kumu Patriarch, and Jinzhong Patriarch followed him and left.

...

Under cover of night, these four Celestial Immortal Patriarchs quietly headed for Anchan Commandery. In terms of strength, all four were very powerful. Chixin Patriarch ranked first; Kumu Patriarch was skilled in spells, and Jinzhong Patriarch in magic treasures, their strength roughly equal. Xuanji Patriarch, though last, was still at a decent level among Celestial Immortals.

Within Anchan Commandery, on a wilderness, four figures silently appeared above a lake.

"Look, there," Xuanji Patriarch pointed into the distance. By the lakeside stood a wooden house. Outside the house, a white-robed youth with a few white hairs sat on the porch, looking up at the moon, holding a jade orb in his hands: "Xiao Xia, today is the sixteenth, right? The moon is even rounder than yesterday."

"It is so round. Legend says that on the Lunar Star beyond the Three Realms, there is the Moon Palace and Chang'e," the woman in the jade orb said enviously.

"Mm, when I become strong in the future, I'll take Xiao Xia to the Lunar Star to see. To see if there really is a Moon Palace and Chang'e," the white-robed youth nodded.

"Alright, you said it."

The four Celestial Immortal Patriarchs in the distance had long concealed themselves.

"It is indeed Mu Zishuo."

"The No-Gate Sect's intelligence is accurate."

"Now begin setting up the formation. Prepare everything, but do not activate it yet. Activate it when Ji Ning arrives," Chixin Patriarch began issuing orders.

"Why bother with a formation? My great bell can take his life as soon as it goes over," said the man holding the bell confidently.

"Your Golden Bell is a clan-guarding Pure Yang supreme treasure, brought by our Shaoyan Clan when we migrated from the ancient Primordial World to Great Xia. Its power is naturally formidable. But Ji Ning managed to escape an assassination by the Bloodcloud Hall; we cannot be careless. We must prepare all our heavy means," Chixin Patriarch instructed.

...

The four Celestial Immortal Patriarchs lurked by the lake. With their abilities, Mu Zishuo naturally could not detect them.

Celestial Immortals have extremely long lifespans, and their patience is equally great.

...

Great Xia Imperial Capital, Yan Estate.

On the second day of Ji Ning's stay at Yan Estate, he was strolling through the estate with his cousin Yuchi Xiyue.

"Leaving so soon?" Yuchi Xiyue said reluctantly. "Your Swallow Mountain is said to be heavily fortified with formations, as solid as gold. Isn't it very safe?"

"I want to visit my junior apprentice-brother. I'm worried," Ji Ning said.

"Worried about what?"

A voice sounded.

A tall, sturdy man in a loose dragon robe walked out from a corner of a gravel path in the distance.

"Greetings, Yan King," Ji Ning quickly said.

"You come to my place but don't even see me before leaving?" Yan King said with a smile. "Come, walk with me. Let's have a good chat."

Ji Ning and Yuchi Xiyue accompanied Yan King as they walked, discussing various major events in Great Xia. Ji Ning suddenly asked, "Senior Yan King, I heard that Patriarch Chiming established a small reincarnation cycle for some of the major worlds under his command. Does senior know about this?" Ji Ning had always wanted to know about his parents' reincarnation.

Yan King, being a member of the imperial clan, should know something about the small reincarnation cycle.

"Of course I know," Yan King nodded, then said with a grin, "Have you forgotten my nickname?"

"Nickname?" Ji Ning was taken aback.

Yan King was known as 'King Yan.'

"When the Dao Ancestor reestablished reincarnation, it covered dozens of major worlds and countless minor worlds," Yan King laughed. "Among them are the Ten Kings of Hell, and I am one of the Ten Kings of Hell in this small reincarnation cycle."

...