Chapter 27: Becoming an Immortal

Ji Ning closed his eyes.

Kill?

Then let it be killing.

This was the Heartfiend World. Killing himself could not change his Dao-heart in the slightest. Moreover, Ji Ning had a feeling—having spent over thirty thousand years in the Heartfiend World, especially after rising again from gradual sinking and strengthening his Dao-heart—that this sudden appearance of the 'new master of the Zhaixing Mansion' was likely the final move of the Heartfiend Tribulation.

"Boom!" The enormous hand suddenly stopped above Ji Ning, mere inches away. Ji Ning looked up and could see the lines on the vast palm.

"Why stop?" Ji Ning said calmly. "New master of the Zhaixing Mansion."

In the Heartfiend World, after he failed the Divine Tribulation, the Zhaixing Mansion had left him to seek a new master. The powerful being before him was the new master after him—of course, only within the Heartfiend World. In reality, he had yet to undergo the Divine Tribulation.

"Aren't you afraid of death?" the towering figure said, slowly withdrawing the sky-covering giant hand.

"Kill if you must," Ji Ning said coldly.

"Killing the previous master of the Zhaixing Mansion, I thought it would be interesting. But you don't resist at all—how boring." The towering figure spoke, and Ji Ning strained to see the new master's face but could not make it out.

The towering figure waved a hand.

Whoosh.

In midair, figures appeared: the white-robed immortal couple Ji Yichuan and Yuchi Xue, a white-haired man in white radiating a calming aura, a green-clad girl, the mature Qiuye and the young Chuncao, his Dao-companions Yu Wei and Jiu Lian, and three children.

"Ning'er, you've grown stronger?"

"Why have you brought us here?" Yuchi Xue and the others looked up at the towering figure in confusion, not even glancing at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning's expression changed.

"Ji Ning, you understand now. Yes, as you guessed, I used the Seventy-Two Transformations to take your form," the towering figure said. "They think I'm you! Under my magic power, they can't see or hear you."

"What do you want?" Ji Ning shouted.

"Bang."

The towering figure suddenly extended a finger and flicked it, striking the white-haired man in white. The man's eyes filled with disbelief before he burst into ash with a bang.

"Uncle Bai!" Ji Ning cried out, feeling a pang in his heart.

There were feelings from reality and feelings from thirty thousand years in the Heartfiend World. Seeing Uncle Bai killed, Ji Ning immediately felt pain in his heart, a pain that even affected his Dao-heart.

"There's still a group. Don't rush," the towering figure said.

"What are you doing?" Ji Ning knew these were illusions in the Heartfiend World, but thirty thousand years of feelings could not be easily erased.

"I'll kill them one by one," the towering figure said. "Of course, if you pledge allegiance to me as your master, I'll let them go."

"Dream on," Ji Ning gritted his teeth.

Ji Ning was not foolish.

The Heartfiend Tribulation was still part of the 'Dao of Heaven.' Swearing a vow in the Heartfiend World, his submission would mean eternal sinking.

"Then I'll continue killing." The towering figure flicked his finger again.

"Ning'er, what are you doing?"

"Ning'er, stop!"

"Master, you want to kill me?"

"Father!!!"

The voices of his loved ones tore at Ji Ning's heart, but he gritted his teeth and watched them die one by one.

"Ning'er, I know you have your reasons," Yuchi Xue said, closing her eyes and dying peacefully.

"Ji Ning! What are you doing!" Ji Yichuan's eyes were bloodshot.

"Father, Father!" The three children who adored Ji Ning wept.

The slaughter continued.

Jiu Lian died! Yu Wei died! Xiaoqing died! One by one, all his loved ones died. The thirty-thousand-year feelings, like chains, had long bound Ji Ning. As they were killed, these chains seemed to snap, unleashing the strongest dragging force to pull him down into sinking.

"Ji Ning, how cruel you are!" the towering figure roared. The words pierced Ji Ning's heart, as if all his loved ones were pointing at him: "How cruel you are."

Ji Ning closed his eyes.

Even if accused by thousands, he could not bear their accusations.

Thirty thousand years...

In the end, it was but illusion.

Just illusion!

"Bang!" The surrounding world shattered completely, everything shattered, even the towering figure shattered.

...

Outside, in reality.

Ji Ning has been undergoing the Heartfiend Tribulation for three whole months now. This, this is—I've never heard of it," Palace Master Diancai said anxiously, watching the black-robed Ji Ning sitting in the distance. "Three months of Heartfiend Tribulation—I don't know if Ji Ning can withstand it." His own Heartfiend Tribulation had been much shorter.

"My master's Heartfiend Tribulation back then lasted three months," Yu Wei said, stroking her belly, worry in her eyes. She remembered Lü Dongbin's words: "At that time, I was just a hair's breadth from truly sinking. Even now, I don't want to experience that Heartfiend Tribulation again."

"Still not awake," Mu Zishuo said, anxious and worried.

They all knew: the longer the Heartfiend Tribulation lasted, the more terrifying it became.

Ji Ning's Heartfiend Tribulation lasting three months was simply appalling.

"The second true body's Heartfiend Tribulation lasts this long? Because of the karmic fire?" The distant Daoist-robed elder watched silently. All he could do was watch; waking from the Heartfiend Tribulation depended on Ji Ning alone.

Suddenly—

Everyone's gaze focused on Ji Ning.

The black-robed Ji Ning opened his eyes.

"He's awake!" Uncle Bai exclaimed joyfully.

"Master succeeded! Haha, he's transcended and become a Celestial Immortal!" Xiaoqing was ecstatic, almost mad.

"Junior apprentice-brother!" Yu Wei was thrilled.

Everyone was excited.

But the black-robed Ji Ning sat there, his thoughts slowly returning from the Heartfiend World. He then realized his face was already covered in tears.

Everything in the Heartfiend World was so cherished. Everyone he cared about was alive. It was all like a dream, but this dream lasted over thirty thousand years, hundreds of times longer than his real life. He wanted to forget, but how could he?

"I'm sorry," Ji Ning said silently.

Knowing those loved ones were illusions, Ji Ning still said it silently.

"No wonder Master shed tears when he succeeded in the tribulation," Ji Ning thought. "This Heartfiend Tribulation is truly..."

Now that he had left the Heartfiend World, Ji Ning understood how terrifying it was. The countless times of gradual sinking had brought him to the edge of 'sinking,' especially when he accepted the feelings of Yu Wei and Jiu Lian—that was even more dangerous! Because accepting feelings meant more attachments.

But fortune and misfortune depend on each other. Accepting feelings indeed made him sink deeper.

Yet precisely because of sinking, once he broke free from the Heartfiend's bonds and mastered himself, Ji Ning's Dao-heart gained even more.

Without sinking, there is no gain.

But sinking too deep could mean death.

Fortunately, his heartforce had reached the 'Dominion' level and was perfected; otherwise, he could not have withstood this Heartfiend Tribulation.

...

Celestial music sounded, auspicious clouds descended from the sky, and golden lotuses sprang from the earth.

A terrifying pressure descended, and surging power of heaven and earth gathered, converging on Ji Ning. Heaven and earth spontaneously began to transform his second true body.

"This is?"

The black-robed Ji Ning clearly sensed that, with the aid of the external power of heaven and earth and the invisible Dao of Heaven, all the power within him began to converge. The soul and the Golden Lotus Primordial Spirit completely merged, and even the entire Zifu Space began to merge with the Golden Lotus Primordial Spirit, even the One Yuan Water Pearl began to merge.

"Pop!"

On the lotus seed pod of that golden lotus, a golden lotus seed sprouted—the most important thing for Celestial Immortals, True Immortals, and even Daofathers: the Golden Core!

As this golden core rose.

The Zifu Space, the One Yuan Water Pearl, and everything else completely disappeared. Even the black-robed Ji Ning's body transformed... into a Celestial Immortal body, composed of Celestial Immortal magic power.

"Golden core?" The black-robed Ji Ning sighed.

The core of his entire life was this golden core.

This golden core possessed incredible power. It had perfectly merged all power into a golden, perfect golden core. Even the true spirit and soul were perfectly fused, no longer separate! Moreover, the golden core contained space, with vast amounts of Celestial Immortal magic power within. It absorbed natural energy and could even store magic treasures.

"Breathe in, breathe out." Ji Ning felt a sense of transcendence. With each breath, immortal magic power spread through his body.

"Ji Ning."

"Junior apprentice-brother."

Palace Master Diancai and the others flew over, and the black-robed Ji Ning smiled to greet them.

"Ji Ning, congratulations on your second true body's tribulation. The Nine-Nine Thunder Tribulation, the three-month Heartfiend Tribulation—I never imagined such things," Palace Master Diancai said, looking at Ji Ning. "To have a disciple like you, I have no regrets, no regrets."

"Master, you're amazing. I admire you to death," Xiaoqing said, turning into a small green snake and wrapping around Ji Ning's arm affectionately.

"I'm still troubled," Ji Ning laughed. "If the second true body's Heavenly Tribulation was this terrifying, I can't imagine my true body's tribulation."

"The true body's tribulation? Nothing Senior Apprentice-Brother can't do," Mu Zishuo said. "Back when Senior Apprentice-Brother went to the Immortal Feast, many advised against it, saying you trained too short and would suffer. But not only did you not suffer, you won first place. Since then, you've become more and more remarkable. This time, you passed the Nine-Nine Thunder Tribulation and a three-month Heartfiend Tribulation. I believe nothing can stop you."

"I believe it too."

Yu Wei held Ji Ning's hand, smiling.

Everyone present had watched Ji Ning grow. In their eyes, Ji Ning was too monstrous; he only ever shocked them. So they believed Ji Ning could do it—after all, they had just witnessed the Nine-Nine Thunder Tribulation and the incredibly long Heartfiend Tribulation.

"Disciple." A voice sounded.

The flow of time around them suddenly changed.

Yu Wei, Palace Master Diancai, and the others remained there, maintaining their expressions, but Ji Ning felt unaffected. The distant Daoist-robed elder walked over.

"Master," Ji Ning said respectfully.

"I have something to tell you," the Daoist-robed elder said. "Now that your second true body has succeeded in the tribulation, you must have noticed that your Heavenly Tribulation was astonishingly powerful."

"Yes," Ji Ning nodded.

His second true body's tribulation should have been much easier, yet it pushed him to such a difficult position.

"Your true body's tribulation will be extremely shocking. There will be variables, many times greater than this tribulation," Bodhi said. "So I command you: you must achieve mastery in the Dao of the Sword, master the technique of using heartforce to control the soul, and reach the sixth stage of the Seventy-Two Transformations before you undergo the tribulation."

"Disciple understands," Ji Ning said respectfully. "I will do my utmost to prepare as fully as possible."

"Good that you understand," Bodhi nodded.

"By the way, once you achieve mastery in the Dao of the Sword," Bodhi said, "since you can already condense the Five Energies in your chest, you should be able to do it in one go and become a Pure Yang True Immortal."

Ji Ning nodded.

"Next, the war between your Great Xia and the Seamless Gate is about to begin. You can't avoid it. The Seamless Gate will surely try to kill you," Bodhi said. "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. It's best if you hide your strength. Never let the enemy know everything about you. Once they do, you'll be in danger."

"Disciple understands," Ji Ning quickly said.

"You don't understand," Bodhi shook his head. "I command you: you must not reveal your true strength to a second person, including me, including your Dao-companion."

Ji Ning was puzzled: "Not even Master, not even Yu Wei?"

"No," Bodhi shook his head. "The Seamless Gate's intelligence methods are beyond your imagination. If you keep everything buried in your heart, known only to you, the Seamless Gate won't know. But once you tell someone—if a second person knows, it might leak. So for secrecy, you must not tell a second person."

Ji Ning was somewhat shocked.

No wonder...

No wonder the Seamless Gate's intelligence was so terrifying. Even telling a second person could lead to leaks. It was too incredible.

"For example, the day you become a Pure Yang True Immortal, you must not tell anyone," Bodhi instructed. "Becoming a Pure Yang True Immortal doesn't cause much commotion. If you don't make it public, no one will know."

Ji Ning nodded.

Unlike the transition from Returning to Void to Celestial Immortal, which involved a Heavenly Tribulation, the transition from Celestial Immortal to Pure Yang True Immortal indeed caused little commotion.

"Once I become a Pure Yang True Immortal, the Pure Yang magic power can't be hidden," Ji Ning said.

"Here is a technique to conceal your aura. If you don't act, others won't know your true level," Bodhi said, handing over a bamboo slip.

Ji Ning immediately took it.

"The tribulation of the Three Realms is coming," Bodhi sighed softly. "The more the enemy knows about your background, the faster you die. In your Great Xia World... there are actually several who have broken through to Pure Yang True Immortal, but they have kept it hidden, some for billions of years. And the Seamless Gate's methods—there's so much you don't know."

Ji Ning was startled.

So Great Xia had hidden several Pure Yang True Immortals? That made sense; Great Xia publicly only had one Pure Yang True Immortal, Emperor Xia, which was indeed too few.

"Do not forget my instructions today. In the tribulation, I cannot protect you at all times. Even the Seven Celestial Guardians by your side sometimes cannot come from the Zhaixing Great World in time to save you," Bodhi looked at Ji Ning. "To survive, you must rely on yourself."

"If my guess is correct,"

Bodhi looked up, "the war between Great Xia and the Seamless Gate has already begun secret preparations. It should erupt within a month. You must be careful."

With that, Bodhi turned and walked away, drifting off.

"Disciple will remember," Ji Ning said respectfully.

"What's wrong, Ji Ning?"

"Junior apprentice-brother?"

Palace Master Diancai and the others around him recovered. Their flow of time had changed; although Ji Ning had spoken with Patriarch Bodhi, the time experienced by Palace Master Diancai and the others was less than an instant. They hadn't seen Patriarch Bodhi and naturally didn't know what had just happened.

"Nothing. My master was protecting me and has left," Ji Ning smiled. "Let's go. Back to Mingxin Island."

"Mm." They all followed Ji Ning flying toward Mingxin Island.

Flying high in the sky.

Watching a Golden Crow rise.

"The storm is coming," Ji Ning thought silently. "Within a month?"