Chapter 8 Ji Ning and the Three-Step Dao Lord

"Courting death." The silver-robed Dao Lord sneered. "Truly overestimating yourself."

As he spoke, he extended his right hand, casually tracing a line in the void. His sleeves billowed, and black gales flew out from them, instantly sweeping across a million li of void. The endless black wind surged directly toward the flying boat that was speeding toward him. Aboard the boat, Su Youji and Dan Bao's expressions turned solemn, while Dong Mu grew even more anxious. The couple Kan Que and his wife could only watch from the side; at this level of combat, the power of a Patriarch was not even qualified to intervene.

Ji Ning, however, let out a cold snort.

"Boom~~~" Thunder rumbled, divine water surged.

In an instant, golden lightning and emerald divine water rampaged freely through the void, and these lightning and water seemed to alternate like yin and yang. Almost immediately, they transformed into sword light! Countless streams of sword light surged and merged, forming the Yin-Yang Sword Intent Domain. Ji Ning's Yin-Yang Sword Intent Domain was now even more violent, even faster, even more terrifying.

The Yin-Yang Sword Intent Domain, executed with Fourth Cycle Divine Thunder and Fourth Cycle Divine Water, was enough to slay a Two-Step Dao Lord.

Although the gap in strength between a Two-Step Dao Lord and a Three-Step Dao Lord was considerable, it was still difficult to casually annihilate a Two-Step Dao Lord. 'Dao Lord Hufeng,' who was skilled in the Dao of Wind, could easily kill a Two-Step Dao Lord in close combat, but merely using some secret arts to try to kill a Two-Step Dao Lord was insufficient.

After all, he, Dao Lord Hufeng, was merely a Dao Lord of the Clear Wind Hall, and did not possess any exceptionally heaven-defying secret arts.

Ji Ning's Thunder-Water Sword Intent Domain could slay a Two-Step Dao Lord, but the black gale could not. When these two forces clashed—

"Ssshhh~~~"

The surging Thunder-Water Sword Intent Domain forcibly tore the black gale to shreds and continued its fierce advance toward Dao Lord Hufeng.

"What!" Dao Lord Hufeng's expression changed drastically. "Impossible! How could my secret art be broken by a World-level cultivator's secret art?"

This was simply a joke!

"This, this..." Dao Lord Hufeng's two World-level disciples were stunned speechless.

...

On the flying boat, Dong Mu and the couple Kan Que, who had been trembling with tension, were also dumbfounded. A Three-Step Dao Lord's secret art had been forcibly broken just like that?

Dan Bao and Fire Fairy Su Youji looked at Ji Ning with admiration and reverence. That was a Three-Step Dao Lord! In a contest of secret arts, their master had actually won?

"It seems you have some encounters. This talisman of yours, though powerful, cannot harm me." The silver-robed Dao Lord Hufeng quickly regained his composure. He immediately concluded that Ji Ning had used a talisman to unleash this power; he simply could not believe that a World-level cultivator could possess such a heaven-defying secret art.

In truth, the Thunder-Water Sword Intent Domain

was a combination of the secret art created by Dao Lord Wanshen, the 'Dan Leaf Seven Chapters' passed down by the Dan Venerable, and the power of the 'Blue Flower Mist Force.' Only through this combination did it become so formidable.

"Then die by my blade." Dao Lord Hufeng produced two enormous longblades, one in each hand.

Whoosh.

His silver robe fluttering, wielding a longblade in each hand, Dao Lord Hufeng instantly streaked across the void. Although Ji Ning's Thunder-Water Sword Intent Domain frenziedly tore at him, the Dao Lord Hufeng was fiercely valiant, his divine power surging mightily as he completely withstood the domain. Clearly, the Sword Intent Domain was far too weak against a Three-Step Dao Lord; at best, it could provide some slight restraint.

"Swish." Shuttling through the Thunder-Water Sword Intent Domain, Dao Lord Hufeng was cold and murderous.

Ji Ning sighed inwardly.

The Yin-Yang Sword Intent Domain was currently his strongest killing move, slightly surpassing his close combat ability, yet it still could not harm his opponent. After all, he was merely a World-level cultivator; facing a Three-Step Dao Lord head-on was still insufficient. He could only rely on external forces.

"Die." Dao Lord Hufeng's blade light was like a biting wind, tearing through all obstacles as it struck toward the flying boat.

"Whoosh."

Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of the flying boat—a white-haired, indifferent man holding an ordinary-looking longsword.

"Swordsman, capture him." Ji Ning said.

"Mm." The white-haired man nodded, still calm. Among the four puppets Ji Ning had obtained from Emperor Xuejian, the Swordsman was the strongest! To ensure greater certainty, Ji Ning had the Swordsman act.

"A puppet?"

Dao Lord Hufeng charged over, his gaze falling on the white-haired man. He immediately recognized it as a puppet, and a glint of greed flashed in his eyes. "He has a powerful Thunder-Water talisman and a puppet that seems quite strong. This World-level cultivator named Beiming must have had great opportunities. He must have many treasures, perhaps even more than I do."

"Haha, puppet, you should acknowledge me as your master." Dao Lord Hufeng's aura grew even more imposing. He did not believe he would encounter a puppet with the strength of a Four-Step Dao Lord; such puppets were too precious. Thus, facing the puppet, he had no concerns.

"Hmph." The Swordsman also charged forward.

Rumble~~~

Space tore apart, and the Thunder-Water Sword Intent Domain was repeatedly shattered as Dao Lord Hufeng and the Swordsman clashed, their might shaking heaven and earth.

The Swordsman possessed peak Three-Step Dao Lord strength, excelling in both the Weird Flow and Assassination Flow. His swordsmanship was entirely based on Emperor Xuejian's 'Heart-Seal Sword Art.'

Dao Lord Hufeng was indeed formidable in close combat, though not exceptionally monstrous. He also had peak Three-Step Dao Lord strength, but in melee, he was clearly at a disadvantage against the sword-wielding Swordsman. Still, relying on some secret arts, he managed to hold on.

"Such a powerful puppet! How can it be this strong? It feels even stronger than me." Dao Lord Hufeng was shocked to find himself at a disadvantage. "But it only barely suppresses me. This puppet's combat consumes internal crystals; once they're depleted, it will lose."

"Hmm?" Ji Ning frowned from the distant flying boat. "The Swordsman is the strongest of the four puppets, yet he can't subdue Dao Lord Hufeng. It seems I'll need the Fisherman and the Emperor to act as well."

Just then, Fire Fairy Su Youji, standing beside Ji Ning, gritted her teeth. Her face flushed slightly, and a faint red light flickered in her eyes. An invisible wave swept across the void, enveloping the distant Dao Lord Hufeng.

In the distance, Dao Lord Hufeng, locked in combat with the Swordsman, suddenly slowed slightly, as if dazed for a moment.

"Swish." The Swordsman, already holding the upper hand, now sent his longsword winding like silk, entangling Dao Lord Hufeng. Dao Lord Hufeng struggled furiously, but once bound, how could he break free?

"Collect." The Swordsman produced a gourd with his other hand. The gourd's mouth emitted a suction force, and Dao Lord Hufeng was directly sucked into it.

The Swordsman turned to look at Ji Ning, then was put away by Ji Ning into the Snowscape Diagram cave heaven.

"No!"

"Master!"

The two World-level disciples inside the silver shuttle were stunned. Around them, the vast Thunder-Water Sword Intent Domain raged. Knowing full well its power, they dared not resist and were also taken in by Ji Ning.

"We won." Dong Mu was incredulous.

"Too, too..." The couple Kan Que was also shaken. They felt that this Senior Uncle Beiming was simply too formidable—a World-level cultivator with two Dao Lords as followers, and now capturing a Three-Step Dao Lord. They had never heard of such a thing.

Ji Ning laughed. "It's only thanks to the puppet's power. By myself, I couldn't match that Three-Step Dao Lord."

"Puppets are also strength." Dong Mu said.

Ji Ning glanced at Fire Fairy Su Youji beside him. Su Youji winked smugly. Dong Mu and the others probably hadn't noticed Su Youji's intervention, but Ji Ning, controlling the Thunder-Water Sword Intent Domain, had sensed that invisible force.

"Impressive." Ji Ning praised via telepathy. "Able to affect a Three-Step Dao Lord."

"I just used the 'Nine Feathered Immortal Art.' I'm confident I can affect a Two-Step Dao Lord, but a Three-Step? It depends on their heart and willpower. If they have a strong heart, I can't do anything. It seems this Dao Lord Hufeng's heart isn't that formidable." Su Youji replied telepathically.

Ji Ning sighed inwardly.

The legacy of the Feixian Saint Lord was indeed formidable. Against an opponent of equal strength, one could forcibly control them. Even against a stronger opponent, one could still influence them. Of course, those with heaven-defying hearts were immune. For example, Feng Yixin, even when he was at the World level, was far more resistant to such secret arts than Dao Lord Hufeng.

...

After capturing Dao Lord Hufeng, Ji Ning and his group continued their journey. Half a month later, they arrived at the Tiancang Eternal Realm.

"That's the Tiancang Palace." Dong Mu pointed into the distance, where a range of palaces appeared and disappeared among the clouds atop a mountain range.

"Tiancang Palace?"

Ji Ning gazed at the distant Tiancang Palace. His breathing became unsteady, and a hint of tears glistened in his eyes. From the day he left the Three Realms, he had yearned to reach Tiancang Palace. Now, he had finally arrived! His second true body could finally return to the Three Realms and search the River of Fate for his parents.

Father, Mother...

Ji Ning's mind was no longer on Tiancang Palace. His thoughts and cares were entirely with his parents.

...