Chapter 37: The Blood Lotus Blooms

Some true gods and true immortals were far weaker than Ji Ning, merely at the level of ordinary Dao Ancestors. Ji Ning easily defeated them, gaining little in the process, and would spend at most half a day in contemplation.

But when facing powerful true gods or true immortals, or those with peculiar techniques, Ji Ning would carefully ponder for seven or eight days after battle.

…

In the twelfth month of Ji Ning's sweep, within a region shrouded in dark mist where a true immortal was imprisoned, a fierce battle erupted. The mist roiled and trembled with each clash.

Within the mist.

"Go!" The violet-eyed woman, wild-eyed, pointed at Ji Ning as countless black rays shot toward him.

Ji Ning held his twin swords, treading through the void as he strolled forward.

He was in no hurry to close in; instead, he walked step by step through the void, giving her ample time to attack. Though gathering treasures to restore the Violetjade Sword was important, his own strength was paramount. He had to fight every true god and true immortal seriously.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…" Ji Ning's sword-light flickered unpredictably. Even as he executed the offensive 'Shadowless Style,' he effortlessly blocked all attacks, a testament to his sword arts, which had grown transcendent and far surpassed his opponent's.

"Is this your ultimate technique?" Ji Ning remarked as he walked.

The violet-eyed woman paled and shouted, "Withdraw!"

With a whoosh, countless black rays flew back into her body, restoring some color to her cheeks.

"You are far stronger than me. I submit," she said readily.

"One hundred and ninety-two," Ji Ning murmured to himself.

The violet-eyed woman was startled. What did this jailer mean by muttering that number?

"Hmm," Ji Ning mused. "I've swept through most of the true gods and true immortals in this world-prison, one hundred and ninety-two in total. With so many treasures, I should be able to repair the surface of the Violetjade Sword."

Previously, using all the treasures of the celestials and earth immortals, along with a few from true gods and true immortals, he had restored one-fifth of the Violetjade Sword.

Now he had gathered many more treasures, enough, he estimated.

"Let's give it a try," Ji Ning decided. He would temporarily halt his sweep and attempt to repair the Violetjade Sword.

Of course, before heading off to repair the sword, he had to finish what needed to be done.

Ji Ning extended his hand and placed it on the violet-eyed woman's head. He never missed a chance to examine the memories of every true god or true immortal, as any of them might provide useful information.

…

By a beautiful lake.

The white-robed youth Ji Ning descended. With a wave of his hand, a jade-green divine hall appeared on the lakeside grass, along with massive sword-inscribed stone tablets. Then, three thousand six hundred enormous Zhutian Star-Gold Pearls descended, encircling the area.

Ji Ning then entered the jade-green hall, sat on a cushion, and began his meditation.

After every battle, he would carefully reflect on each moment of the fight.

Though he had decided to repair the Violetjade Sword after this battle, Ji Ning calmly began by contemplating the previous fight.

Time flowed on…

Ji Ning sat cross-legged in meditation. A little over a day passed before he opened his eyes and rose to leave.

He was in good spirits. Over the past year, his sword arts had subtly improved, and he had gathered enough treasures to likely restore the Violetjade Sword. With it, his strength might reach the leader level. Even if he fell short of those who had long reached that level, he would not be far behind.

"The Ninefold Chaos Seals." Ji Ning's gaze fell on a nearby Zhutian Star-Gold Pearl, about three zhang tall. Its surface shimmered with complex divine runes, the Ninefold Chaos Seals endlessly transforming without repetition.

Ji Ning smiled, watching with a light heart.

"Eh?"

Suddenly…

Ji Ning's mind trembled. He stared intently at the ever-changing divine runes, watching for a full half-hour before sitting cross-legged on the grass and closing his eyes.

After meditating on the grass for nearly a day, he opened his eyes.

"Rise." With a thought from Ji Ning.

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom… The dense array of three thousand six hundred Zhutian Star-Gold Pearls all rose, hovering above like a sky full of stars. As Ji Ning's vast divine power surged into each pearl, guided by his will, they rapidly began to refine. The aura of the pearls grew stronger, escalating sharply until each pearl's aura surpassed that of an ordinary top-grade innate treasure.

"I've finally comprehended and refined the third layer of the Chaos Seals," Ji Ning murmured.

"Hmm?"

In the boundless distance, an existence infinitely far from Ji Ning, beyond the scope of space and time, had never been sensed by him before. But after refining the third layer of the Chaos Seals, with his powerful heartforce and the aid of the seals, he faintly perceived it.

"Kill."

"Kill."

"Kill."

An endless, surging aura of slaughter permeated that place. Even through immense barriers, a mere brush of sensation made Ji Ning's heart tremble. This aura stirred the killing intent deep within him—his hatred for the Undying Sect and his murderous intent toward their Godking.

Battered by the endless killing aura, Ji Ning's eyes turned red, veins bulged across his body, and he trembled. Even with his heartforce, it took a long time to calm down.

Yet he did not know…

Different people, upon refining the third layer of the Chaos Seals, would sense different things. Just as when Ji Ning walked the mortal world, refining the second layer had allowed him to sense fate more clearly. Now, because his heart was filled with killing intent and his heartforce was strong enough, he faintly sensed 'slaughter.'

"Inhale, exhale." Ji Ning gradually calmed, even more serene than before.

He looked at the three thousand six hundred Star-Gold Pearls hovering above. Now, each had transformed into a budding blood lotus.

The three thousand six hundred blood lotuses floating high above were breathtakingly beautiful.

"Condense." Ji Ning willed it.

Instantly, the three thousand six hundred blood lotuses merged rapidly, forming thirty-six enormous blood lotus buds.

"Bloom." Ji Ning spoke.

The thirty-six beautiful blood lotuses slowly opened. They had been exquisite before, but as they bloomed, an endless aura of slaughter spread in all directions.

"The blood lotus blooms for slaughter alone." Ji Ning understood the power of the Zhutian Star-Gold Pearls in their 'blood lotus' form. Now, the pearls had three optimal forms: the original spherical form, the most ordinary; the mirror form, adept at defense; and the blood lotus form, best suited for slaughter.

The slaughter of the blood lotus differed from that of ordinary weapons.

"The Zhutian Star-Gold Pearls are made from precious materials—the crystallized cores of fallen stars. But the Ninefold Chaos Seals inscribed on them are the true treasure," Ji Ning realized. It was these seals that allowed him to sense fate more keenly and even perceive the endless slaughter.

"Lord Lao Zi's Immortal-Slaying Formation was derived from the seventh layer of the Chaos Seals. No wonder it's the number one killing formation in the Three Realms."

Ji Ning gazed at the blood lotuses. Deep within, his fury and killing intent roared like an endless tide, yet he felt eerily calm, more so than ever before.

"Eh?"

Immersed in the unique state of mind from controlling the blood lotuses, Ji Ning suddenly sensed something unusual within his divine body. His body was flawless, every cell perfectly complete. Yet now, he faintly felt every part of his body yearning, craving intensely.

As if starving.

The sensation was vague, but Ji Ning barely grasped it. Then, understanding dawned. He whispered, "The 'World of Desolation God' says: 'Seek the spark of divinity within endless desolation. Find it, and you shall attain the true god realm.'"

"It seems my divine body has long been waiting, long been hungry. I just never noticed before, never knew what to do."

"Now, I have found it."

"I have found that spark."

Ji Ning murmured to himself.

(End of this volume)