Chapter 21: Master?

Within the majestic hall.

The three leaders of the No-Gate Gate, Ten Thousand Demon Cave, and Blood Cloud Tower, along with the Immortal of Floating Splendor, the Heavenly God of Abandoned Beasts, the Heavenly God of Three Suns, the Fairy of Withered Grass, the Celestial of Dark Clouds, and the Immortal of Poison and Ugliness were all gathered. This time, the ones who went to deal with Ji Ning were merely their avatars or incarnations, yet they still watched nervously.

Because they all carried powerful treasures, divine puppets, and even innate spirit treasures.

“They’ve reached Mount Yan.”

“Lucky, a great teleportation brought them to Brightheart Island just in time to run into Ji Ning.”

“Kill Ji Ning quickly.”

They all stared at the water mirror in midair, which showed what was happening on Brightheart Island. The Fairy of Withered Grass occasionally added a few words.

“What’s going on!”

Whoosh!

The green-robed woman and the others all stood up abruptly, staring intently at the old craftsman who had risen from his slumber, holding a large pair of iron shears.

“Who is this?”

“Our avatars and incarnations can’t move at all, not even our magic power.”

“Too terrifying. He must be a Dao Ancestor; otherwise, he couldn’t be this strong.” The Immortal of Floating Splendor, the Heavenly God of Abandoned Beasts, and the others all had grim expressions.

“How could Brightheart Island have a Dao Ancestor!” the green-robed woman said angrily.

Soon.

As the old craftsman and Ji Ning talked, his identity was revealed.

“Source Elder of the Four Ancestors of Source River?” The green-robed woman’s face turned pale, and everyone else was stunned.

“It’s over. My fly whisk is gone.” The Immortal of Floating Splendor looked pained. Although it wasn’t his favorite or most commonly used treasure, losing a Pure Yang supreme-grade treasure still hurt.

“Don’t mention it. The biggest loss is Dark Cloud’s.”

They all looked at the Celestial of Dark Clouds.

The Celestial of Dark Clouds had lost an innate spirit treasure.

“Damn it.” The Celestial of Dark Clouds ground his teeth. “Letting Ji Ning escape this time.” Compared to losing the innate spirit treasure, he was even more furious that he hadn’t killed Ji Ning!

“He’s made his move.” The Immortal of Poison and Ugliness watched the scene in the water mirror where the large iron shears chopped them all up, and said hatefully, “This Source Elder shows no mercy at all.”

“If Source Elder wants to kill you, what can you do?” The man in the fiery red robe shook his head with a sneer. “Not to mention your avatars and incarnations; even your true bodies would be killed without exception.”

Boom~~~

After the group in the water mirror was all chopped up by the large iron shears, the shears also snipped at the void, and the images in the water mirror dissipated completely, no longer able to be probed.

“Source Elder doesn’t want us to watch anymore,” the green-robed woman said. “With Source Elder’s methods, he naturally knew we were spying on the scene there. He let us see him make his move earlier, also to let the great powers behind our No-Gate Gate know this. It seems he intends to protect this Ji Ning.”

“Source Elder isn’t on our side either. So what if he protects him?” the Celestial of Dark Clouds said darkly. “Right now, we’re trying to win him over. But when the great calamity truly erupts, no one can escape; he must make a choice. This Ji Ning already has a Dao Ancestor master, and one on the enemy’s side. If Source Elder chooses our side, then Source Elder and Ji Ning’s master will be enemies. I don’t believe he’ll still protect Ji Ning then. If he doesn’t join our side, then we can kill Ji Ning without caring about him.”

The others present nodded.

“But the great calamity hasn’t truly erupted yet,” the green-robed woman shook her head. “Source Elder is still watching from the sidelines and hasn’t chosen a side. It’s not good for us to offend Source Elder.”

“You’re overthinking it,” the Celestial of Dark Clouds sneered. “Is that your concern?”

The green-robed woman’s face darkened.

This Dark Cloud was too presumptuous. With so many people present, he dared to use that tone.

Unfortunately, this Celestial of Dark Clouds wasn’t under her command, and she couldn’t see through his true strength. The mere fact that he had so many treasures was suspicious. This time, his avatar had gone to the Grand Xia world carrying two major treasures: a Pure Yang supreme-grade treasure, the Yin-Yang Mysterious Qi Vase, and an innate spirit treasure, the Nine-Petal Snow Lotus.

“This is something for the great powers like the God King above to consider,” the Celestial of Dark Clouds said coldly. “Whether to kill Ji Ning or not, I believe the God King and the others will give orders soon. Don’t meddle unnecessarily.”

“Hmph.” The green-robed woman said nothing, her face dark.

The Celestial of Dark Clouds glanced at the green-robed woman, a trace of mockery in his eyes, then turned and left. He deeply loathed this No-Gate Gate leader, Green Fox, because Purple Grass had died on her orders. As for the No-Gate Gate leader’s anger? He didn’t care at all.

…

Grand Xia world, Serpentwing Lake, Brightheart Island.

Ji Ning had no time to worry about the No-Gate Gate’s reaction. Facing Source Elder now, he was quite troubled.

Take him as a master?

He could see that Source Elder had come personally to observe him, clearly recognizing him as a promising talent. First, he asked whether Ji Ning would kill the No-Gate Gate people. When Ji Ning said “they deserve to die,” he immediately killed them, which pleased Ji Ning. Obviously, Source Elder was trying to increase Ji Ning’s goodwill toward him.

Then he even gave away the many treasures left by the No-Gate Gate side, making Ji Ning even more grateful.

Later, he mentioned that the heartforce could be used on the legs and even the whole body. This indeed sparked Ji Ning’s desire, and then he asked Ji Ning to become his disciple.

“He’s put a lot of thought into this,” Ji Ning understood. “It seems this Source Elder truly wants to take me as his disciple.”

“Things in the world are really like this. When I desperately wanted to become a disciple of a powerful Dao Ancestor, I couldn’t. When I wanted to become a disciple of Redbright Dao Ancestor, he looked down on me. Even my master, Bodhi, only took me in because I was passable and because I was the sole inheritor of the Three-Life Daoist’s Picking Star Art. At that time, although I was considered a genius, I clearly wasn’t attractive enough in the eyes of a Dao Ancestor. Now that my strength has greatly increased, and my combat power at the Void-level has entered the threshold of a Heavenly God or True Immortal, without me seeking anyone, the top Dao Ancestors of the Three Realms have come to me on their own.”

If one’s potential is truly astonishing, Dao Ancestors will come to you.

Ji Ning now had that qualification.

He was a stunning piece of uncut jade!

But…

“What should I do? What should I do?” Ji Ning hesitated.

“Is he a friend or foe of my master, Bodhi, or are they just acquaintances?” Ji Ning worried about this now. “This Source Elder killed people from the No-Gate Gate, and the No-Gate Gate didn’t even squeak. The great powers behind them showed no reaction at all. The No-Gate Gate, which is stirring up the great calamity across the Three Realms, surely has great powers behind it that aren’t afraid of Source Elder. So obviously, Source Elder’s relationship with the No-Gate Gate is probably decent. But my master Bodhi is hostile to the No-Gate Gate.”

“If Master Bodhi and Source Elder are also enemies!”

“Then, without Master Bodhi’s consent, if I become Source Elder’s disciple, how will I conduct myself in the future? How will I face my master?” This was what Ji Ning worried about.

The Dao is not lightly taught.

A master is one who transmits the Dao. A master is also called a “teacher-father.” Why? Because a master is like a father. For example, Bodhi taught Ji Ning the complete divine body cultivation method, the qi cultivation method, numerous sword technique scriptures, and even top-tier great divine abilities like the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, Houyi’s Archery, and the Candle Dragon’s Eye.

He also painstakingly created the divine ability “Nine Heavens Annihilating Wind” and the top-tier sword formation “Great Thousand Sword Formation” for Ji Ning.

When Ji Ning was banished to the Realm of Silence, his master went to find him.

The grace of transmitting the Dao, the grace of saving his life… no matter what, if he wanted to take a master, he had to obtain Master Bodhi’s approval.

For example, when Ji Ning participated in the Immortal Fate Convention, wanting to become a disciple of a True Immortal or even a Dao Ancestor, Palace Immortal Diancai absolutely agreed. He naturally hoped Ji Ning would achieve greater success. When Ji Ning became Bodhi’s disciple, he also asked the Yellow-haired Big Bear and learned that Three-Life Daoist and Bodhi were friends, so Ji Ning accepted. If Bodhi and Three-Life Daoist had been enemies, it would have been very troublesome.

“Why are you hesitating and dithering like this?” Source Elder frowned.

“Senior…” Ji Ning said, “This matter requires my master’s consent.”

“Your master?”

Source Elder suddenly thought of something and smiled. He waved his hand.

Whoosh.

A person appeared out of thin air beside them: Palace Immortal Diancai, holding a wine cup, his face full of surprise. He had been sitting on a mountain peak that morning, watching the sunrise and drinking immortal fruit wine, when he was directly teleported here.

“Disciple?” Palace Immortal Diancai saw Ji Ning, then also saw Source Elder beside him. Source Elder’s face had changed, and his figure had also changed, becoming thinner.

“Master!” Palace Immortal Diancai was immediately excited and even knelt down, saying emotionally, “Master, I finally see you again.”

“Hey, hey, hey… don’t claim kinship.” Source Elder quickly said, “Back then, I saw you crying and begging for death, and your talent was passable, so I took pity on you and casually taught you a set of sword techniques. I have plenty of such sword techniques and spells; they’re nothing. And you, kid, have too low aptitude and too poor comprehension. How could you be qualified to be my disciple? That would be a disgrace to my old face.”

First he said Palace Immortal Diancai’s talent was passable, then he said it was poor.

But everyone understood.

Clearly, among the countless cultivators of the Three Realms, Palace Immortal Diancai’s talent was considered decent, but to be Source Elder’s disciple, he fell far short.

The words were harsh, but Palace Immortal Diancai wasn’t annoyed. He knelt and said emotionally, “The grace of transmitting the Dao, how could Diancai forget? I know my aptitude is low and I’m not qualified to enter your tutelage. But in my heart, I have always regarded you as my master.”

“Think whatever you want. Anyway, this Ji Ning has a close relationship with you. Now this old man wants to take him as a disciple. Help me persuade him,” Source Elder said.

“Take him as a disciple?” Palace Immortal Diancai was overjoyed and immediately looked at Ji Ning. “This senior’s power is immense. Even after I became a Celestial Immortal, that set of sword techniques remains profoundly mysterious, and I’ve only grasped the edge. He must be at the Dao Ancestor level. Taking a master is fine; many in the Three Realms have several masters.”

“Right, right, right. I am a Dao Ancestor.” Source Elder looked at Ji Ning and glared. “I want to take you as a disciple. Why don’t you kneel down happily?”

“Senior, if you take me as a disciple, I am of course delighted,” Ji Ning quickly said. “But I have already taken a Dao Ancestor as my master, and many know of it. Without my master’s approval, I really cannot take you as my master.”

“You really respect your Dao Ancestor master, huh.” Source Elder smiled. “I also guessed that your master must be a Dao Ancestor, probably not weak. Who is your master? Tell me, and I’ll go talk to him. It’s just taking his disciple, and it’s not asking you to betray your sect. A small matter. Quickly, what is your Dao Ancestor master’s name?”

The God King behind the No-Gate Gate knew, but Source Elder did not. After all, in terms of intelligence, the No-Gate Gate was indeed formidable.

“My master’s name, I dare not speak,” Ji Ning said honestly. Bodhi had long ordered him not to reveal his name outside.

“You blockhead! You can’t even say your master’s name? Who is your master, so awesome? Is it Nuwa?” Source Elder glared.

“His master is me.”

A calm voice sounded.

The world’s energy gathered beside them, and a thin, white-haired old man in a Daoist robe appeared out of thin air.