Chapter 33: Two Camps

With a thought, Ji Ning released his refinement of the Thousand Sword Puppet, then leaped over a hundred zhang to land outside the combat arena. He sighed inwardly: "Although I have reached the Dao Domain and my soul is at the level of divine sense, if I hadn't previously comprehended the 'Minor Five Elements Sword Record' and greatly improved my swordsmanship, it would have been hard to say whether I could have won against Bu Ying."

His foundation was extremely solid, on par with that of a reincarnated immortal. But before entering the Black-White College, his swordsmanship was poor; only after studying the 'Minor Five Elements Sword Record' did he make up for this shortcoming.

If he hadn't studied the 'Minor Five Elements Sword Record', Ji Ning could only rely on his powerful soul to control more flying swords and fight with numbers to win.

"Swoosh." Bu Ying also leaped and landed beside Ji Ning.

"Senior apprentice-brother Bu," Ji Ning said humbly.

"No wonder Immortal Diancai accepted you, Junior Apprentice-Brother Beiming, as his disciple. I admit defeat wholeheartedly," Bu Ying sighed. "Junior apprentice-brother, you were able to simultaneously execute the 'Drizzling Rain' technique with twelve flying swords. Your realm and soul strength are both admirable. And you could even use the Dual Polarity Azure Fire Sword... I have no excuses for losing."

"Here are a hundred black-and-white pellets and ten jin of primal liquid." Bu Ying tossed two jade bottles to Ji Ning.

Ji Ning took them.

"But junior apprentice-brother, you won against Yinxue Wenjian and then against me." Bu Ying looked at Ji Ning. "Prepare well; this matter won't end here." With that, Bu Ying walked away.

"Won't end here?" Ji Ning frowned and followed him out.

"Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning! Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning!" Mu Zishuo ran over excitedly, as if Ji Ning's victory made him happier than his own. "How satisfying! Those old disciples wanted to teach us new disciples a lesson. Hahaha, now they've lost two matches in a row. They must be really embarrassed this time."

Ji Ning smiled: "It's just a spar."

"But it's about face," Mu Zishuo said quickly. "This year, there are only two of us new disciples. Since you won, I also gain face."

The two walked out while talking.

Bu Ying, Dong Lin, Yinxue Wenjian, and a few other old disciples didn't come to say anything to Ji Ning, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward. Only Senior Apprentice-Sister Jiulian approached.

"Senior apprentice-sister." Ji Ning's heart tightened.

Senior Apprentice-Sister Jiulian indeed had a natural allure. In terms of appearance, she was extremely beautiful, second only to Meng Xin among the beauties Ji Ning had seen. But in terms of temperament, she was unquestionably number one.

"Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning." Jiulian's voice was gentle. "You must be careful. You've won two matches in a row, and the old disciples won't let it go. Regardless, the tradition of our Black-White College... won't change because of you. Go back and prepare well."

Ji Ning's pupils contracted slightly. "Sparring with senior apprentice-brothers and sisters is something I've been looking forward to."

Jiulian nodded and turned to leave.

Ji Ning glanced at the other old disciples, but since even Bu Ying had lost, none of them were confident enough to speak up.

"Let's go." Ji Ning led Mu Zishuo and left the Dao Discussion Hall.

"Swoosh!"

The two quickly shot through the night sky.

...

Watching Ji Ning and the others leave, the old disciples in the Dao Discussion Hall finally burst into uproar.

"We actually lost two matches in a row!" a tall, thin youth said hoarsely. "Old disciples teaching new disciples the lesson that there is always a sky above a sky, a person beyond a person—this is the eternal tradition of the Black-White College! We old disciples have been here for years. No matter what, we absolutely cannot just admit defeat!"

"Yes, if we admit defeat, that means all old disciples acknowledge that we are inferior to this new disciple." Dong Lin nodded.

One by one, the old disciples nodded.

This was tradition.

Old disciples teach new disciples a lesson. For the old disciples, they had been here for years. Even if occasionally a weaker one lost to a new disciple, some of the stronger old disciples had to win back. If they couldn't win back... wouldn't that mean that every one of them was inferior to the new disciple?

"From ancient times to the present, no one has ever made the old disciples admit defeat, not even a reincarnated immortal!" Bu Ying nodded solemnly. "I'll go and invite Junior Apprentice-Brother Qinghe."

With that, Bu Ying left the Dao Discussion Hall.

"Let's go!" One by one, the old disciples left the Dao Discussion Hall, turning into streaks of light and shooting away.

...

The disciples of the Black-White College were divided into three generations. The third-generation disciples were at the Zifu and Wanxiang levels. Among the Zifu disciples, the most dazzling and strongest was 'Qinghe'.

Qinghe had been in the college for eighteen years and had also reached the 'Dao Domain'. With his realm, he could certainly step into the Wanxiang level, but he needed to lay a solid foundation. Only with a solid foundation, when the Zifu lake inside him truly accumulated and expanded to its limit, could his future prospects be broader.

Late at night.

"Junior Apprentice-Brother Qinghe! Junior Apprentice-Brother Qinghe!" Bu Ying swooped down to hover above a mountain peak mansion and called out, his voice echoing throughout the mansion.

The Zifu servants and mortals inside the mansion stirred.

"Senior Apprentice-Brother Bu Ying, what brings you here so late?" A figure walked into the courtyard and looked up at Bu Ying in midair. Bu Ying immediately landed in the courtyard.

"Coming so late, I have something to tell you." Bu Ying shook his head and sighed. "It's embarrassing to say, but every year, the new disciples of our Black-White College are taught a lesson by us old disciples in the Dao Discussion Hall. We all went through it back then."

Qinghe smiled and nodded: "Yes, the old disciples have been here for years, so naturally they can win."

"But we lost."

Bu Ying shook his head. "Just now, a few of us old disciples were in the Dao Discussion Hall, sparring with the new disciples Mu Zishuo and Ji Ning. We defeated Mu Zishuo twice... but when we fought Ji Ning, he defeated us twice in a row. Even I lost to Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning."

"What!" Qinghe was shocked. "You lost too, senior apprentice-brother?"

"Yes, that's why I'm asking for your help." Bu Ying said. "You are the strongest among us Zifu disciples, so..."

Qinghe nodded: "Senior apprentice-brother, rest assured. I naturally won't shirk this responsibility."

...

"Senior apprentice-sister! Senior apprentice-sister!"

Jiulian stood in midair, looking down at an elegant mansion.

"Little sister is here?" A clear, cold voice sounded. "Come in."

Jiulian immediately descended.

Under the moonlight, a black-clad girl sat there, with a finely carved wine pot and cups on the low table before her.

The girl's face was stunningly beautiful, surpassing Jiulian's... and her cold, ethereal temperament made her seem like a banished immortal. In fact, this black-clad girl was indeed a reincarnated immortal, the famous Fire Rainbow Immortal Yu Wei of the Black-White College! As one of the few reincarnated immortals, though she was only at the Wanxiang Completion stage, her status was comparable to that of Primal Daoists.

"Senior apprentice-sister." Jiulian sat down. "Do you know that among the new disciples, there is one suspected to be a reincarnated immortal?"

"You mean Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning?" The black-clad girl sat there, gently nodding. "I heard that Immortal Diancai accepted him as a disciple."

Jiulian quickly said: "Senior apprentice-sister, you don't know. Ji Ning had already reached the 'Dao Domain' before entering the college, and even his soul is suspected to be at the 'divine sense' level."

"His soul is suspected to be at the divine sense level?" The black-clad girl was somewhat surprised.

"My master told me," Jiulian said.

"Immortal Wufeng?"

The black-clad girl nodded gently. "Interesting. I didn't expect such a figure among the new disciples."

"And just now, Ji Ning defeated two old disciples in a row in the Dao Discussion Hall." Jiulian said. "I believe once this news spreads, the old disciples won't let it go. No matter what, they will win back."

"Yes, winning back is certain." The black-clad girl nodded and smiled. "But if he really is a reincarnated immortal, with his current realm, he might have some fragmented memories from his past life. If he's not careful, his strength could increase greatly. Defeating a reincarnated immortal is not easy."

Jiulian glanced at Senior Apprentice-Sister Fire Rainbow Immortal Yu Wei.

Reincarnated immortals were naturally terrifying, each with astonishing talent and a smooth path of cultivation.

"Ji Ning is only sixteen years old," Jiulian said.

"If his past life memories haven't awakened at all, defeating him shouldn't be hard." The black-clad girl smiled. "When you challenge him, I'll come watch."

"It should be tomorrow during the day," Jiulian said.

"Good, I'll definitely come." Yu Wei nodded.

...

Wanxiang disciple Beishan Xuantang frowned: "Ji Ning?"

"Yes, Ji Ning. He defeated two old disciples in a row in the Dao Discussion Hall, even Bu Ying lost to him." A black-robed youth sat leisurely and said.

Beishan Xuantang smiled: "I didn't expect that this Ji Ning, whom Beishan Baiwei befriended, could be so strong. I misjudged him back then. Since they'll challenge him tomorrow, I'll definitely come to watch."

...

"Ji Ning? I heard that in the Carefree Cave, he once displayed the Rainwater Sword Domain, clearly having reached the Dao Domain?"

"What? Dao Domain? No wonder he's so strong."

...

"The new Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning defeated two old disciples? That won't do. No matter what, we have to win back."

...

Word spread from one to ten, from ten to a hundred.

There were only so many disciples in the Black-White College, and many had known each other for years and had good relationships. News spread among them... By the next morning, the news had spread throughout the entire Black-White College. Even well-informed major powers like the Anchan Beishan clan had learned of it.

For a time, all other disciples were determined: no matter what, they had to win back.

The disciples of the Black-White College naturally split into two camps.

One was the new disciple camp, consisting only of Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo.

The other was the old disciple camp, comprising all other disciples.

"Senior apprentice-brother said that my disciple won against two old disciples?" The black-robed, black-haired Immortal Diancai had a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Yes, almost all of those third-generation disciples will go to the Dao Discussion Hall. They definitely want to win back." The short, old man in beggar's clothes said excitedly. "Hahaha, it's been a long time since our Black-White College had such an interesting event. I just passed my nine-hundred-year tribulation and encountered this. Interesting, interesting. I'll definitely go watch. Are you coming?"

Immortal Diancai nodded gently and smiled: "Since senior apprentice-brother is going, I'll accompany you."

"Hahaha, good, good, good. Interesting, interesting." The short old man Wufeng suddenly waved his hand. "Hurry up and bring out your Hundred Herb Immortal Wine. Let me have a taste."

"Hundred Herb Immortal Wine? This was brewed in a minor world..." Immortal Diancai's face even turned green.

The short old man glared: "I probably only have nine hundred years left to live. You can't bear to give me a drink? If you don't give me the wine, I'll secretly sabotage Ji Ning's match with the old disciples!"

Immortal Diancai sighed helplessly: "Fine, here you go!"

...