Chapter 21: Viewing the Stone Carvings by Night

"Just keep one?" Bei Shan Baiwei shook his head repeatedly. "How can that be? Although your Ji clan isn't large, there are still some who have broken through to become Zifu cultivators. Among them, surely some wish to become servants of formal disciples of the Black-White College. Moreover, you might encounter formidable figures in the future who ask for your help. So let me take five servant slots without shame. Keep the remaining five for yourself. If these five slots prove insufficient in the future, tell me... I can find ways to get some Zifu cultivators into certain sects, though these Zifu cultivators must all be early Zifu stage."

Ji Ning smiled and nodded: "Alright."

In truth, he really only needed one slot.

For a servant to enter the Black-White College and learn top-tier Qi Refining techniques, it was best if the servant was at the early Zifu stage. Those at the middle or late Zifu stage were already set in their ways, with no turning back! The current Zifu cultivators of the Ji clan were only Patriarch Ji Jiuhuo, Granny Ying, the old servant A Xing, and Ji Liuzhen.

The Patriarch and the others were all at Zifu Perfection, and Ji Liuzhen was at middle Zifu—all already fixed. As for future generations of the Ji clan? It would likely take years before another Zifu cultivator emerged.

"Even if new Zifu cultivators appear in my Ji clan in the future, they can rely on their own strength to join other sects," Ji Ning thought to himself. "If they truly need my help, in a few years my power and status will likely be higher." Deep down, Ji Ning wanted the younger generation of the Ji clan to forge their own paths.

At most, he would occasionally give them opportunities! Only those who carved out their own way would not fear storms.

"Good," Bei Shan Baiwei nodded. "In a couple of days, after the Black-White College finishes accepting disciples, I'll arrange for five early Zifu cultivators to come. I'll also bring some ordinary people."

"Ordinary people?" Ji Ning was startled.

"Formal disciples of the Black-White College are so few that each occupies a mountain peak," Bei Shan Baiwei smiled. "Although those early Zifu cultivators are servants, they still need to cultivate. They can't be expected to boil water, fetch water, and clean up. They'll handle important matters, while ordinary people take care of trivial chores."

Ji Ning understood.

"Then I won't linger. Take your time exploring the Black-White College," Bei Shan Baiwei smiled. "The 'Black-White Diagram' of the Black-White College has long been coveted by all sides. Even the Grand Xia Emperor sends people to plead for a glimpse of it. Only you formal disciples can view it at any time."

With that, Bei Shan Baiwei smiled and departed in his chariot.

Ji Ning looked at the Whitewater Hound beside him: "Uncle Bai, let's go."

"Mm." The Whitewater Hound followed.

Whoosh!

Man and snow-white hound boarded a leaf boat, which swiftly flew high into the sky. Night had fallen, and the Black-White College under the starry sky was profoundly serene.

"Uncle Bai," Ji Ning said with a smile, "Don't rush to cultivate at the early Zifu stage. I'll soon obtain a top-tier technique from the college for you."

"Thank you for your trouble, Ning'er," the Whitewater Hound said, looking at Ji Ning. The child who once rode him through the forests shooting arrows had now grown up, becoming even stronger than his elder brother 'Ji Yichuan'. "Yichuan, I will watch over Ning'er, watch him become a true hero and champion on this land."

Ji Ning, unaware of Uncle Bai's thoughts, instructed: "Uncle Bai, in the college, you'll stay here as my spirit beast. You can accompany me to listen to some Primordial Daoists and even Immortals give lectures. Under my lead, you can visit some parts of the Black-White College. But if you act alone, you can only go to these places."

Ji Ning flipped his hand and took out the black-and-white booklet, turning to a page.

"This is a map of the Black-White College. The areas marked in red are where Uncle Bai can go freely," Ji Ning said.

The Whitewater Hound glanced at it and quickly memorized it: "Ning'er, I trouble you."

"No trouble at all." Ji Ning smiled.

Looking at Uncle Bai, he felt as if he were back in the days with Uncle Bai, his father, and his mother... His parents were gone, and Uncle Bai was now his closest companion.

...

Spirit beasts and servants were different.

Servants seeking top-tier techniques had to strive on their own, earning recognition from the Black-White College before they could arduously obtain a small portion of a top-tier Qi Refining technique. Everything depended on the servant's own efforts; formal disciples bringing them into the college was already an act of utmost kindness.

If Uncle Bai lived in the Black-White College as a servant, he would have to work hard on his own, which would be very difficult.

But as a spirit beast, he couldn't obtain top-tier techniques himself. However, Ji Ning could, at some cost, procure a Qi Refining technique. The difficulty for a formal disciple to obtain a top-tier technique was a thousand or ten thousand times easier than for a servant.

Yet the Black-White College had strict demands on formal disciples. They were busy learning techniques and spells; how many would sacrifice their own interests for a spirit beast?

"Whoosh."

The leaf boat flew over Northdark Peak.

"This is Northdark Peak," Ji Ning said, pointing at the mountain below. "From today on, this peak belongs to me, Ji Ning."

"Uncle Bai, now only you and I are on Northdark Peak. You go rest first; I plan to visit the forbidden area of the 'Black-White Diagram'," Ji Ning said. "The Black-White Diagram is in the core forbidden area of the Black-White College, accessible only to formal disciples. Servants and spirit beasts are not allowed."

"Go ahead." The Whitewater Hound smiled, then leaped from the height, turning into a streak of light that landed on Northdark Peak below.

Ji Ning nodded.

Whoosh.

He turned the leaf boat and flew off.

...

Ji Ning descended from the sky onto a vast open ground, the true core of the Black-White College, the forbidden area within forbidden areas. Even powerful forces from other parts of the Grand Xia Dynasty had to go through great efforts and pull strings to come and view the 'Black-White Diagram'. Servants and spirit beasts were naturally not allowed.

"The Black-White Diagram?" Ji Ning saw the towering stone wall standing in the open ground.

The stone wall, made of some unknown material, emitted a black, glossy sheen. Black and white lines densely interwove across it. The two colors intertwined, ingeniously forming a huge circular millstone.

One black, one white.

Like night and day.

Like yin and yang.

Like water and fire.

Like darkness and light...

Since Pangu created the world, all things had 'black' and 'white' aspects. As Ji Ning saw the interwoven lines, he felt an overwhelming grandeur, and for a moment, his soul began to ache.

"Not good." Ji Ning quickly turned away.

"This Black-White Diagram actually blends so many Daos together," Ji Ning thought in alarm. The Starry Hall in his water mansion completely separated each 'Dao' so one could comprehend a single Dao individually. But the Black-White Diagram mixed many Daos, some even incomplete.

It took only parts of those 'Daos' and blended them with others.

Ultimately forming this 'Black-White Millstone'!

"Though the Black-White Diagram is inferior to the Starry Hall of the water mansion for comprehending Daos, it excels in the mutual integration of Daos," Ji Ning understood. The Starry Hall of the water mansion was far more precious.

As the saying goes, the Dao is the foundation.

The sword techniques, spells, and so on are external manifestations.

Ji Ning's improvement in realm, such as reaching the 'Dao Domain', was an elevation in the Dao!

Techniques like the 'Waterfire Lotus' were methods formed by blending the true meanings of different Daos, relating to application.

The Dao is the foundation.

Techniques are applications.

The Starry Hall... separated each Dao for comprehension, its value immeasurable. That was why the immortal Juhua had lived for millions of years as a loose immortal, and even princes of the Grand Xia Dynasty longed to become his disciple but failed.

The Black-White Diagram, likely formed naturally, mixed many things, easily inspiring insights and leading to techniques like the 'Waterfire Lotus'.

...

"Senior brother Ji Ning." A figure descended from the sky on a green dragon puppet, it was Mu Zishuo. "I didn't expect senior brother Ji Ning to arrive earlier."

"Junior brother Shuo." Ji Ning smiled, then quickly warned, "Don't stare directly at the entire Black-White Diagram. The Daos it contains are too profound for us to bear. Instead, look at small parts of it."

Alas, it was too late.

As soon as he landed, Mu Zishuo couldn't help but glance at the Black-White Diagram—naturally, a distant overall view—and immediately felt the world spin. He stumbled and fell off the green dragon puppet. Clearly, his soul was far inferior to Ji Ning's, so his endurance was weaker.

Hearing Ji Ning's words, Mu Zishuo quickly nodded: "Right, we can't stare directly at the entire Black-White Diagram."

"Come, let's take it slowly."

Ji Ning walked toward the stone wall. Beside the Black-White Diagram wall, there were two other stone walls, also made of special material, emitting a faint white light. Ji Ning clearly sensed that all three stone walls were covered with terrifying formations; likely the immortals of the Black-White College kept watch here.

After all, the Black-White College had risen after obtaining the 'Black-White Diagram'; it was their lifeline.

Generations of immortals had frantically reinforced the formations and restrictions, making this place extremely dangerous. Once triggered, the accumulated power of countless predecessors' formations and restrictions would erupt, likely making it hard even for Celestial Immortals to survive.

"Three stone walls: one is the Black-White Diagram, the other two bear the writings of past immortals," Ji Ning observed. All three walls were over a hundred zhang wide, covered with dense inscriptions of tens of thousands of words, indicating how many immortals the Black-White College had produced in its history.

Ji Ning's gaze soon settled on a corner of the Black-White Diagram, focusing on that small part.

Black lines, white lines...

Completely opposite yet perfectly fitting, the natural mystery immersed Ji Ning. Beside him, Mu Zishuo was also absorbed in the Black-White Diagram.

...