Chapter 10 The Yinglong Guard's Immortal

Ji Ning looked around. Over the past month or so, the various cultivators had all been meditating in their stone or wooden huts. For them, meditating for over a month was a trivial matter. Thus, in that time, he had truly seen very few cultivators!

"A hundred people!" Ji Ning swept his gaze and found that the figures totaled exactly one hundred.

Ji Ning then turned his gaze forward.

Ahead stood three figures, watching the hundred or so cultivators who wished to join the Yinglong Guard.

Among these three, the leader was an old man with silver hair and a black robe, exuding a killing aura. As his gaze swept over them, even Ji Ning felt an invisible pressure. It was as if a black dragon was looking down on a colony of ants.

"An Immortal!" Ji Ning thought to himself.

Wherever the silver-haired, black-robed old man's gaze fell, it was as if blades flashed, causing everyone's hearts to tremble. He then spoke coldly: "You hundred cultivators have all gathered, and can now head to Yushan Great Wasteland."

Ji Ning and the other hundred all listened attentively.

"You are not yet Yinglong Guards," the silver-haired, black-robed old man continued coldly. "That is why you were housed in such desolate places. Once you truly become Yinglong Guards, you will naturally be allowed into the heart of the Red Dragon Mountains."

As he spoke, the silver-haired old man pointed into the distance, toward the other peaks of the Red Dragon Mountains.

"That is where true Yinglong Guards reside. Our Red Dragon Mountains are not a place of pleasure; they lack the bustle and excitement of Anchan City. All there is is endless tranquility," the silver-haired old man said calmly. "Those who cultivate in peace generally occupy a cave dwelling on a peak of the Red Dragon Mountains and devote themselves to cultivation. Within our Red Dragon Mountains, there are currently over twenty Immortals cultivating!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Ning and the other hundred cultivators all felt their hearts clench.

The Yinglong Guard truly lived up to being one of the two giants of Anchan Commandery!

Over twenty Immortals?

Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo came from the Black-White College, which ranked third, yet they still felt the immense gap in strength. Although the college had several Immortals, the Yinglong Guard alone had over twenty cultivating there, not to mention the Immortals who could be summoned from all over the Grand Xia Dynasty at any time.

"Occasionally, even Celestial Immortals come from the imperial capital to give lectures to the Yinglong Guards," the silver-haired old man said, sweeping his gaze. "In terms of strength, our Yinglong Guard branch is enough to rival the Anchan Northmont clan. In terms of heritage, our Yinglong Guard far surpasses them."

"As long as you enter the Yinglong Guard, divine abilities, secret arts, and even the chance to go to the imperial capital—the core of the Grand Xia Dynasty—to train at our Yinglong Guard headquarters are all possible."

"All of this..."

"Requires you to first become a Yinglong Guard!"

The silver-haired, black-robed old man stood there, straight as a mountain, his voice equally resonant, shaking every heart. "And now, each of you will tell me your background and strength. To join the Yinglong Guard, you must meet our minimum requirements. If you cannot even meet those, there is no need to go to Yushan Great Wasteland; you can just go back."

Whoosh!

A bronze mirror instantly floated up, hovering high in the air.

"State your origins and strength. If you dare to lie, you will be killed without mercy. You." The silver-haired elder pointed at a black-bearded youth at the edge, and the bronze mirror began to shine on him.

The black-bearded youth immediately said, "Rift Heaven Sword Sect, Qi Refining, Wanxiang Middle Stage, Bu Ziyang."

"Mm." The silver-haired elder nodded. "Next."

"Donghe Clan, Qi Refining, Wanxiang Late Stage, Donghe Feiyun."

...

One by one, the cultivators began to state their origins. To join the Yinglong Guard, the Guard naturally needed to know the most basic information about the recruits. With their intelligence network, knowing the origin and name made it easy to obtain detailed information.

No one dared to speak falsely.

Lying before an Immortal of the Yinglong Guard was suicide.

"You." The silver-haired elder pointed at Mu Zishuo.

Mu Zishuo also said, "Black-White College, Qi Refining, Wanxiang Middle Stage, Mu Zishuo."

"Black-White College?"

"A disciple from Black-White College has come."

Immediately, the group of cultivators took notice of Mu Zishuo. Although many among them came from top-tier sects or even super clans on par with Black-White College, those clans and sects had numerous disciples. Only Black-White College produced disciples who were invariably peerless geniuses, each formidable.

"You." The silver-haired elder pointed at Ji Ning.

"Black-White College, dual cultivation of body and Qi, Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens, Ninth Cycle, Ji Ning." Ji Ning said directly.

The silver-haired elder looked at Ji Ning with surprise.

Even an Immortal was surprised, let alone the other cultivators. They were all extremely astonished. To join the Yinglong Guard, one generally needed to be at least a Wanxiang Adept to meet the minimum threshold. However, if one cultivated the legendary number one divine body refining technique, the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens, an exception could be made—even at the Zifu level, one could qualify.

Still, such cases were rare. They hadn't expected to see someone who had cultivated the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens to the Ninth Cycle today.

"The Ninth Cycle of the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens is equivalent to the Wanxiang Early Stage of an ordinary divine body refiner. Once he uses divine abilities, his strength won't be weak either. After all, he's from Black-White College."

"Too reckless. At best, he's equivalent to Wanxiang Early Stage. Since he didn't mention his Qi Refining, it hasn't reached the Wanxiang level. His Qi Refining is weak, and his body refining is barely acceptable... but if he's surrounded, enemies can kill him from a distance." The cultivators thought to themselves.

Those who dared to join the Yinglong Guard were all quite confident, and could be considered elites.

……

"Hmm..." The silver-haired, black-robed old man activated the bronze mirror above to shine on Ji Ning, then slowly nodded. "Indeed, the ninth level."

"Next." The silver-haired, black-robed old man looked at another person.

Just then.

A voice suddenly sounded in Ji Ning's mind: "Your name is Ji Ning? The 'Redmoon Nine Heavens Diagram' has been the first公认 method since the era of the Fiendgods, and it has many special aspects. Only after you enter the Yinglong Guard will you learn how to unleash the combat power of your Fiendgod body. You must return alive from the Yushan Great Wasteland... Actually, it would be best if you wait until you reach the tenth or eleventh level before going to the Yushan Great Wasteland; that would be completely safe."

The silver-haired, black-robed old man also glanced at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning understood... it was this Yinglong Guard immortal who was transmitting to him. Ji Ning smiled at the Yinglong Guard immortal, but showed no hesitation. Clearly, his resolve was firm.

"Special?" Ji Ning pondered secretly. "Back in the water mansion, the yellow-furred bear also said my Fiendgod body is perfect. I can cultivate the divine ability 'Star Picking Hand' left by the Three Lives Daoist. And this 'Redmoon Nine Heavens Diagram' has been公认 first since the Fiendgod era, and it's so widely spread and easy to obtain. Even my Ji clan has the entire first volume, the first nine levels of cultivation!"

Ji Ning felt...

There should be a very large force promoting the 'Redmoon Nine Heavens Diagram'. This method was公认 long ago, and the Grand Xia Dynasty was only established at the end of the Fiendgod era. This method existed before the Grand Xia Dynasty... yet it was actively promoted by the Grand Xia Dynasty.

"There must be some reason," Ji Ning thought. "But without a doubt, even the yellow-furred bear praised this method. The method itself is fine. Since the method itself is fine... as a small fry, I can't do anything about the other reasons now."

"This Yinglong Guard immortal said there are some special aspects, and only after entering the Yinglong Guard can I know how to unleash the combat power of my divine body?" Ji Ning suddenly felt expectant.

The Yinglong Guard was the strongest military force directly under the Grand Xia Dynasty.

It was normal for them to have special secret arts.

In terms of heritage...

The Yinglong Guard naturally surpassed the Black-White College by countless times, and even Marquis Anchan could not compare to the entire Yinglong Guard.

……

"You." The silver-haired old man asked the last cultivator.

This cultivator, wearing a luxurious golden robe, said respectfully: "Snowdragon Mountain, Qi Refining, Wanxiang Complete, Dong Yi!"

Ji Ning's ears perked up, and he turned to look.

That cultivator happened to look at Ji Ning at the same time.

Their eyes met.

"He knows me." Ji Ning understood in that instant of eye contact.

The cultivator named Dong Yi showed a smile on his face and even nodded to Ji Ning, but Ji Ning only glanced at him coldly, without any smile. His parents and uncle had died because of Snowdragon Mountain disciples. How could Ji Ning smile at a Snowdragon Mountain disciple?

Ji Ning thought to himself: "Why has this Snowdragon Mountain Wanxiang Adept come? Did he run into me by chance, or did he deliberately follow?"

He had been in Anchan City before, and Snowdragon Mountain had no chance to retaliate.

As soon as he came out, Snowdragon Mountain followed?

"Their intelligence shouldn't be that fast," Ji Ning thought. "Besides, I'm a disciple of the Black-White College and a personal disciple of an immortal. Snowdragon Mountain shouldn't be so bold. It might just be a coincidence."

……

Soon everyone had stated their background and strength.

The silver-haired, black-robed old man waved his hand, and streams of light flew out, heading straight for each person.

Ji Ning reached out and caught one—it was a token.

"This is a token," the silver-haired, black-robed old man said. "Only after you refine the token can you enter the heartland of my Red Dragon Mountains. The teleportation array leading to the 'Yushan Great Wasteland' is inside the heartland. Without refining the token, the protective formation of my Red Dragon Mountains will not let you in."

Ji Ning and the others did not hesitate; they all refined the token.

"Let's go." The silver-haired, black-robed old man summoned a large amount of mist around him, which also carried Ji Ning and the others.

However, the large demonic beasts and spirit beasts brought by the cultivators were all left in place.

"The test to enter the Yinglong Guard requires you alone. These spirit beasts are not allowed into the Yushan Great Wasteland," the silver-haired, black-robed old man said. "Let them stay here for now. If you return alive, you can come find them."

Ji Ning stood on the mist and looked back at the Whitewater Hound below.

"Uncle White, wait for me," Ji Ning transmitted mentally.

"Be careful," the Whitewater Hound looked up at Ji Ning.

Then the silver-haired, black-robed old man led the group of cultivators on the mist, quickly flying into the distance, soon entering the deep heartland of the Red Dragon Mountains.

……