Chapter 28: The First Follower

"The limits of the Heavenly Dao are before him, easily broken."

"The Tiannan Ancestral God and his several servants, several of whom were peak ancestral gods in combat power, couldn't even touch the hem of his robe when facing him... it was like a child facing a giant." Su Youji was truly shocked. Before the ninefold prohibition merged into the green flower mark, even with the divine sword Ziguang Qiong in hand, Ji Ning had to parry and deflect those weapons.

But this time, after the green mist power possessed his body, his overall abilities had improved greatly, and he was much faster in every aspect. Relying purely on his speed, his sword speed, and his profound swordsmanship, he made it so the opponent couldn't even touch him.

"A World-level cultivator?"

"But he's clearly an ancestral god; the aura of an ancestral god is very obvious. A few years ago, I saw him, and he was an ancestral god then. There's absolutely no mistake." Su Youji's heart trembled.

She thought of something.

Among normal ancestral gods and ancestral immortals, ordinary ancestral gods and top-tier ancestral gods are relatively easy to reach.

Peak ancestral gods are considered experts.

Surpassing peak ancestral god is truly remarkable. The several generals in the Wuyan Army were like this; with divine weapons and some bursts of power, they could even touch the threshold of the World level. When Ji Ning first went to Wuyan Star, with the divine sword Ziguang Qiong, he barely reached the threshold of the World level, but if he had fought a full-force battle with a World-level cultivator, he would probably have lost in one move.

And according to legend...

There are also some prodigies!

When they are ancestral gods or ancestral immortals, they can match true World-level cultivators, and some terrifying ones can even kill World-level cultivators while still at the ancestral god or ancestral immortal stage. Such prodigies are hard to find even one in a million ancestral gods or ancestral immortals.

"I've actually encountered such a prodigy." Su Youji was excited.

Such a prodigy, at the ancestral god or ancestral immortal stage, can match or even kill a World-level cultivator.

Once they become World-level, they will be among the top of the World-level.

"If I miss this opportunity, I'll regret it for the rest of my life." Su Youji made her decision instantly.

...

The mental activity seemed lengthy, but in reality, it was only an instant.

After Ji Ning killed the Tiannan Ancestral God, he waved his hand and collected the corpses of the surrounding ancestral gods and ancestral immortals, along with their treasures: "I'll bury these corpses in a cemetery within the cave heaven." These fallen immortals and gods had fallen on the path of cultivation. Ji Ning buried them not only to prevent them from being exposed in the wilderness but also to build a cemetery for countless immortals and gods, to remind himself... how careful one must be on this path of cultivation.

"This fellow Daoist." The woman in fiery red robes immediately flew over.

Ji Ning turned his head and recognized the woman at a glance. He had encountered her when he first entered the dangerous area. He nodded slightly: "You and I are fated to meet."

"Yes." Su Youji quickly replied, then asked curiously, "Don't you recognize me?"

"You are?" Ji Ning looked at her.

Ji Ning had only bought a star map, which mainly introduced the major powers of the Damo Territory, focusing on World-level cultivators and occasionally mentioning some powerful ancestral gods and ancestral immortals. As for many ancestral gods and ancestral immortals who wandered and adventured outside for long periods, they were rarely mentioned. So Ji Ning didn't recognize many, like the Tiannan Ancestral God.

On the other hand, he recognized Yu Jian Shen, who belonged to a certain power but occasionally ventured out.

"My name is Su Youji, but most people call me Fire Fairy." Su Youji said.

"You can call me Xuri." Ji Ning said.

"Oh..."

Su Youji looked at Ji Ning, her eyes shining, and quickly said, "Fellow Daoist Xuri, may I become your follower?"

"Follower?" Ji Ning was startled, then understood. This Fire Fairy must have seen him kill the Tiannan Ancestral God earlier. He had heard that some extremely powerful ancestral gods or ancestral immortals would have some ancestral gods willing to follow them, but it was rare for someone to voluntarily offer to become a follower.

"I am a qi refiner, but I can match a peak ancestral god." Su Youji quickly said, "I have been cultivating for less than a million years, and I have a good chance of becoming a World-level cultivator."

Having a chance to become a World-level cultivator and having no chance are two different concepts.

"Oh?" Ji Ning carefully looked at Su Youji.

He indeed wanted to find some followers. If he didn't have enough followers, he would buy some slaves. Although his strength was now high, even World-level cultivators wanted to build an army. A formation of a thousand ancestral gods and ancestral immortals... could even besiege and kill a World-level cultivator. Most importantly, combined with formations and immortal mansions, it could resist external dangers.

Advance, and they can attack.

Retreat, and they can withstand danger.

Such an army, who wouldn't want it? But a formation of a thousand ancestral gods and ancestral immortals wasn't easy to obtain, and even if obtained, it required commanders with high cultivation realms.

"Qi refiner?" Ji Ning looked at Su Youji. "Attack me with your most powerful technique. If you're good enough, you can become my follower."

"Alright." Su Youji's eyes lit up. "Be careful."

"Go."

Su Youji pointed her fair finger at Ji Ning from afar, and a red light flashed in her pupils.

"Boom!!!" Nine fiery red streams shot out from beside her simultaneously. On closer inspection, each stream was a collection of numerous blades. These nine streams merged in midair, forming a beautiful bird with nine tails, its body covered in flames, charging straight at Ji Ning.

The momentum was fierce and overbearing.

"Just an ancestral immortal, yet the momentum is so strong. And I feel this technique... still has some lingering intent." Ji Ning instantly understood that this Fire Fairy Su Youji hadn't lied. Her realm was indeed very high, probably not inferior to many who surpassed peak ancestral gods. But because she was a qi refiner without powerful divine abilities, her combat power only matched a peak ancestral god.

Ji Ning extended his right hand. His arm grew long, and his palm was crystal clear like jade, expanding to dozens of feet.

Bang!

The nine-tailed flame bird directly crashed into Ji Ning's palm. Countless sparks and blade lights appeared on the surface of his palm, but eventually, the bird dissipated. Ji Ning's palm was completely unharmed.

"Can't even shake him." Su Youji was secretly shocked. "His strength is this great too."

Earlier, when killing the Tiannan Ancestral God, Ji Ning had displayed speed and swordsmanship.

Now he displayed terrifying strength.

"Mm." Ji Ning looked at Su Youji and nodded. "Alright, I'll accept you as my follower. This is an Oathstone; take a look."

There were two types of followers.

One type, like the relationship between Cixiu Great Demon and Daoist Blade, where their status was almost equal. The follower would make a life-bound oath, and the master would also make an oath, so both could trust each other. Of course, the master's oath would be very lenient.

The second type, like Daoist Sushui and his World Gods. Those World Gods had been willing to follow him in hopes of receiving guidance, so their status was much lower. The World Gods made life-bound oaths, but Daoist Sushui would not make such an oath. When he was happy, he would occasionally give some guidance, which was enough to excite those World Gods.

Ji Ning and Su Youji's relationship belonged to the first type.

Su Youji wasn't afraid of anything except Ji Ning forcing himself on her. Her "Great Freedom如意 Method" required her to remain chaste until she became a World-level cultivator. With Ji Ning's strength, she couldn't resist if he forced her.

Ji Ning was speechless at Su Youji's request but still smiled and made the oath.

"Youji greets master." After both had made the oath, the relationship was naturally different. Su Youji smiled and bowed, her smile enchanting.

Ji Ning nodded and also smiled: "You are the first follower I've taken."

"Master will surely have more and more followers in the future." Su Youji's eyes sparkled. "But I will always be the first."

"Let's go. We'll leave the ancient ruins." Ji Ning said. "By the way, my Daoist name is actually Beiming; Xuri is just a temporary one."

"I'll follow master's orders." Su Youji followed beside Ji Ning, silently chanting in her heart, "Beiming, Beiming?"

The two traveled along the mountain range for over ten thousand li until they saw a patch of clouds in the sky.

"Let's go."

Swoosh, swoosh.

The two immediately shot up into the sky, flew into the clouds, and then vanished.

...

The Sushui Cave Mansion ruins were shrouded in endless clouds. As long as one saw clouds in the sky in the dangerous area or the swamp region, flying into them would allow one to leave. This was common knowledge about the Sushui Ancient Ruins.

Dongning Mountain Range, Xuri Small Courtyard. Two streaks of light descended from the sky and landed in the small courtyard.

"This is my residence." Ji Ning said.

"Master lives in the Sushui Chaos World?" Su Youji was surprised.

"Yes, I am a patrol officer of Wuyan Star." Ji Ning said, also feeling emotional. He had been in the ancient ruins for several years, yet the stationed army, Ancestral God Shishan, and the others hadn't summoned him. Ji Ning had long ordered that if the Black Lotus God Emperor's side attacked, they should immediately crush the token, and Ji Ning would know and return from the ancient ruins.

But it made sense. He had cultivated for over a hundred years without being attacked, and only a few years had passed.

"Find a place to stay." Ji Ning instructed.

"Yes, master." Su Youji turned to look at a nearby house and pointed, "I'll stay there."

Ji Ning nodded, then went to his meditation room to inspect the treasures he had obtained in the ancient ruins. There were many treasures, and he hadn't carefully examined some of the storage artifacts yet.