Chapter 27: Ji Ning and the Fire Fairy

This karma was truly profound and mysterious.

Ji Ning drew closer to the great ship as he tracked it, silently marveling. When he had first entered the ancient ruins, the Heavenly Nan Ancestor had thrown his weight around and tried to kill him for his treasures. Ji Ning had no complaints—since he had stepped into the world of cultivators, he had to follow certain unwritten rules. Slaughter was common in the ancient ruins. If he had been killed, he could only blame his own inferior skill.

Back then, he had fled.

After traversing the Reverse Wind Hundred Streams, he had gained a Dao weapon and, by merging the nine layers of Chaos Seals into the Greenflower Mark, his strength had grown immensely. Now, just as he emerged, he encountered the Heavenly Nan Ancestor again. If there had been no enmity between them, Ji Ning would have simply left. But because of their past grudge, he pursued without hesitation.

Such is karma!

"The Dao of Fate is unfathomable and mysterious." Ji Ning sensed the surging waves of the vast River of Fate in the infinite depths.

He could see through the fate of mortals at a glance, discerning the ups and downs of their lives.

But truly formidable cultivators...

Ji Ning found it hard to see through them.

Fate, though mysterious, at its most basic level is nothing but the entanglement of countless karmic threads. For instance, it was because of the enmity between Source Elder and Ji Ning that Ji Ning joined the Fog Rock Star lineage and was stationed in the Reverse Wind Chaos World. Of course, the mysteries of fate are billions of times more complex than this fundamental karma.

Moreover, Ji Ning understood one truth: the past is hard to change, but the future is uncertain.

Take mortals—even though Ji Ning could see through their entire lives at a glance, because the future has not yet happened, changing their fate is simple. A powerful cultivator's sudden intervention could easily alter a mortal's destiny.

Just as the Book of Life and Death sets a mortal's life, yet merit can still change their fate.

Ji Ning even speculated—

There might be some inconceivable beings capable of reversing what has already happened! For example, reviving a cultivator whose true spirit has been extinguished... This was also Ji Ning's greatest desire on this path of cultivation, for he wished to bring his most beloved wife back to life.

...

Ji Ning tracked the great ship, drawing closer and closer, his mind wandering as he pondered karma and fate. He did not regard the Heavenly Nan Ancestor as a formidable opponent.

A hundred Ancestors united by the Ancestral God Formation were indeed powerful, capable of tangling with a World-level cultivator for a while. But with surprise on his side, Ji Ning would not give the Heavenly Nan Ancestor any chance to resist.

...

The great ship hugged the mountain range, drifting slowly.

The Heavenly Nan Ancestor sat on the ship, leisurely gazing ahead. Before him was a low table laden with fine food and wine, attended by two maidservants. Six Ancestor-level servants stood nearby, ever vigilant.

Ahead of the great ship, a fiery red figure was fleeing—a woman in red robes surrounded by hundreds of flaming blades.

"Fire Fairy," the Heavenly Nan Ancestor said with a chuckle, "you've been running for so long. Surely you realize you can't escape. If I were ruthless, I could catch you at any moment. But I haven't... I can't bear to see a peerless celestial maiden die silently in these ancient ruins."

"I only ask you to be my follower. What's the harm?" The Heavenly Nan Ancestor took a sip, draining his cup, and a maidservant giggled as she refilled it.

"Just a follower?" Su Youji, fleeing ahead, transmitted coldly.

"Even when angry, you're so beautiful. Fire Fairy, your 'Great Freedom如意 Method' is truly alluring," the Heavenly Nan Ancestor sighed. "My request isn't excessive—just be my follower, serve me well, and also act as my joyful Dao companion. What is the purpose of a life of cultivation? Growing ever further on the path brings inner joy. But at my level, I no longer crave cultivation; I seek excitement and pleasure. Isn't that so?"

"I cultivate the 'Great Freedom如意 Method,' so I cannot be your joyful Dao companion," Su Youji transmitted.

The Great Freedom如意 Method forbids the breaking of one's virginity.

Su Youji had derived this method from studying a fragmentary ancient technique, and it suited her perfectly. Her progress in this method was astonishing; she had cultivated for less than a million years yet was already a Celestial Immortal on par with a peak Ancestor. However, as a Qi refiner, she was slightly weaker in combat than a divine body cultivator.

"The harder to get, the more I desire," the Heavenly Nan Ancestor murmured, his voice echoing in Su Youji's ears. "For me, even female Celestial Immortals can be bought as slaves, but someone as alluring as you is rare. I advise you to stop running. If you keep this up, you might trigger some formation or restriction."

The Heavenly Nan Ancestor was utterly at ease.

Ever since he discovered the Fire Fairy Su Youji, his eyes had burned with desire, and he had immediately tried to force her to become his follower. Su Youji knew she was outmatched and was willing to yield, but the life oath he demanded was too harsh—she would be a plaything, not a follower. Known as the 'Fire Fairy,' she was fiery at heart and refused to bow.

She had cultivated for less than a million years and was only a Qi refiner, yet she rivaled a peak Ancestor. In truth, her insights were profound, and she had every hope of reaching the World level. How could someone like her agree to be a plaything?

The Heavenly Nan Ancestor was patient; he pursued slowly.

Earlier, he had sent his men to chase her frantically, but Su Youji had fled wildly. He quickly recalled them, fearing she might trigger a formation. He didn't want the Fire Fairy to die.

Slow pursuit...

First, Su Youji's flight was relatively safer.

Second, with her fleeing ahead and him following slowly, she acted as a scout, revealing dangers ahead. Where else could he find such a free scout? He also needed time to wear down her pride.

Taming such a peerless celestial maiden was difficult and required time, but once tamed, the sense of achievement would make the Heavenly Nan Ancestor tremble with excitement.

"Who!" The Heavenly Nan Ancestor suddenly withdrew his great ship and looked behind him.

His two maidservants jumped in fright, but the six Ancestor-level servants also turned warily.

Behind them, a white-robed youth was flying along the mountain range, following the path of the great ship, surrounded by spinning Zhutian Star Gold beads.

"Master, be careful," the six servants exclaimed in alarm. They recognized Ji Ning. Earlier, their two most powerful Celestial Immortals had used treasures surpassing the limits of the Great Dao, only to have them shattered by Ji Ning in one blow, allowing him to escape easily.

"Patrolman?" The Heavenly Nan Ancestor grinned.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! A large group of Ancestors appeared around him—the hundred Ancestors he kept in his portable cave, his strongest force. In the ancient ruins, the Heavenly Nan Ancestor deliberately acted weak, only summoning this horde when encountering other Ancestors.

"Kill him! Let's see if he dares to fly recklessly in a dangerous area!" The Heavenly Nan Ancestor pointed at Ji Ning.

He wasn't stupid.

From their brief clash earlier, he knew this patrolman was a formidable expert beyond peak Ancestor. So he sent the hundred Ancestors first. Last time in the swamp, Ji Ning had escaped; this time, in a dangerous area, he shouldn't be able to flee so freely.

"Kill."

"Kill." The hundred Ancestors charged at Ji Ning.

...

"It's him?" The fleeing Fire Fairy Su Youji had been watching the rear. She saw the Heavenly Nan Ancestor stop to deal with a white-robed youth.

She recognized him.

A few years ago, the white-robed youth had flown past her. They had merely exchanged glances and said nothing.

"He's in danger." Su Youji's heart was firmly on Ji Ning's side; she was filled with hatred and anger toward the Heavenly Nan Ancestor.

...

Facing the hundred Ancestors charging at him, Ji Ning produced a slender sword—the soft sword, which could be soft or hard, sharp and slender, ideal for intricate, elusive sword techniques.

Whoosh.

Ji Ning did not flee; instead, he charged straight at the hundred Ancestors.

"He's not running?"

"Courting death."

The hundred Ancestors were all confident. Below the World level, they feared no one in a direct fight. Prodigies who could match World-level cultivators were rare; they weren't so easy to encounter.

"Die." "Die." Blades and axes howled.

Swoosh.

Ji Ning's speed suddenly surged, instantly surpassing the limits of the Great Dao. He traced an arc, bypassing the hundred Ancestors. They tried to strike with their weapons, but their speed didn't exceed the limits of the Great Dao; they couldn't even touch his clothes. Ji Ning easily slipped past them.

"Swoosh." Ji Ning lunged straight at the Heavenly Nan Ancestor.

"Impossible?" The Heavenly Nan Ancestor was truly terrified. Speed surpassing the limits of the Great Dao was extremely rare, usually a World-level ability. The 'Ten Thousand Demon Lord' had been incredibly fast, and even the newly ascended World-level Nuwa had failed to catch him.

"Block him!" The Heavenly Nan Ancestor ordered his six Ancestor-level servants.

"Quick, come back!" He also commanded the hundred Ancestors.

Whoosh.

Ji Ning had arrived.

The six personal guards, Ancestors and Celestial Immortals, either wielded treasures or weapons, desperately trying to surround Ji Ning. "Hold on, just hold on a moment, and the hundred Ancestors will be here." The Heavenly Nan Ancestor himself manifested three heads and six arms, wielding six hooked spears, ready to defend.

The white-robed youth was upon them.

Sword light flickered.

The six Ancestors and Celestial Immortals felt their attacks hit nothing; they fought with all their might but couldn't even touch his clothes.

"Pfft." The sword pierced the Heavenly Nan Ancestor's throat. Though his armor blocked the blade, the terrifying force within Ji Ning's sword reduced his body to dust.

"You—" The Heavenly Nan Ancestor stared in disbelief at the white-robed youth. How was this possible? Even last time, the patrolman's speed had only been at the limits of the Great Dao, and his sword wasn't this fast! How was he so terrifying now? He didn't know that with the power of the Greenflower Mist, Ji Ning's strength and speed had increased. Even sheer force could push his sword beyond the limits of the Great Dao, and his sword technique was already superb, making his sword much faster than before.

Whoosh...

His body turned to ash. A World-level strike was beyond his ability to withstand.

The six Ancestor-level servants, the two maidservants, and the hundred Ancestor slaves all instantly dimmed, their life force fading. As slaves, they had been bound by restrictions: if the master died, the servants died. This also made them fight harder to protect their master, for if he died, none would escape.

"You actually had a chance to live," Ji Ning said, looking at the treasures left by the Heavenly Nan Ancestor. "If the hundred Ancestors had been protecting you, I couldn't have struck."

World-level cultivators could all exceed the limits of the Great Dao in speed.

With a hundred Ancestors, how could they block a World-level cultivator? Any other tricks would be suicidal; the only option was to stay put.

If the Heavenly Nan Ancestor had kept the hundred Ancestors around him, Ji Ning could never have breached that 'turtle shell.' But confident in his superiority below the World level, he had ordered the hundred Ancestors to attack, leaving himself too weakly defended. Any World-level cultivator could easily bypass the Ancestral God Formation and kill him.

It wasn't the Heavenly Nan Ancestor's fault; how could he have imagined Ji Ning was so powerful?

"This, this..." Su Youji, watching from afar, was utterly stunned. "Flight speed beyond the limits of the Great Dao, sword speed beyond the limits, and the power to shatter a divine body even through armor. Seven Ancestors and Celestial Immortals couldn't even touch his sword... What level is this?"