Chapter 17: Ambushing the Disciples of the Black-White College

A young man with disheveled hair said in a low voice, "We must kill them, that's certain. But don't forget, the six of us once joined forces against that pair of siblings from the Donghe clan... and in the end, we let Donghe Feiyun escape! These two from the Black-White College, though one is at the middle Wanxiang stage and the other is a Wanxiang early-stage Fiendgod Body Refiner, are still disciples of the Black-White College. They might even carry some protective treasures. If we aren't thorough in our planning... we might end up letting them escape. Then we won't have killed them, and we'll have made enemies instead."

"Siji is right," nodded the golden-robed Dong Yi. "I have some grudges with Ji Ning, and I know him well. That man is a monstrous talent, his cultivation speed astonishing. If he escapes, he'll indeed become another enemy."

That was what he said.

But the six Wanxiang True Immortals present were not afraid of making enemies. Since they had embarked on this path of immortality, they were fighting for a chance at becoming immortals!

"Let's be more thorough," said the only woman among the six.

"When we strike, we must use lethal force in the first instant, killing them before they can react."

"In my opinion..."

The six cultivators discussed quietly among themselves. Dealing with a Wanxiang great demon would be easy. But facing disciples from the Black-White College, even if only one was at the middle Wanxiang stage and the other a Wanxiang early-stage Fiendgod Body Refiner (the ninth level of the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens being equivalent to this level), they dared not be careless. Disciples of the Black-White College could not be judged by ordinary standards. If these two disciples were both at the complete Wanxiang stage... they probably wouldn't have chosen to act at all.

"At least we have a much higher foundation than them, and we're working together. I don't believe we can't kill them." This was also why the six cultivators decided to act.

...

Ji Ning, however, sensed nothing amiss and was still discussing the matter of the human slaves with his junior brother.

Just then.

"Hmm?" Ji Ning turned his head and saw, through the ship's railing, a warship flying in the distance. "That warship... when the hundred or so cultivators dispersed earlier, it seemed that Bei Hezhou from the Rift Sword Sect was piloting that puppet warship."

A cultivator's memory was astonishing. Ji Ning clearly remembered every word and name spoken by the hundred people back then.

"Senior apprentice-brother, that's the warship of Bei Hezhou from the Rift Sword Sect," Mu Zishuo said softly.

"Mm," Ji Ning nodded, watching from afar.

That warship was approaching them. What was the purpose?

"Hahaha..." A graceful man in white stood at the bow of that warship, looking over and laughing, "I didn't expect to run into two fellow Daoists from the Black-White College here. Bei Hezhou greets you."

"Quite a coincidence," Ji Ning replied with a smile. "It seems Brother Bei Hezhou has already obtained the corpse of the Wanxiang great demon."

When others greeted him with a smile, as long as there was no enmity or ill will, Ji Ning would not respond coldly.

"Luck," Bei Hezhou said warmly. "Meeting here is fate. Why not come into my cabin and share some wine?"

"Share some wine?" Ji Ning's heart stirred.

If it were just a few polite words, that would be fine.

But inviting him onto his warship... Ji Ning became alert. After all, that was the other's territory. He immediately sent out his powerful divine sense, covering the entire warship. Once he probed clearly, Ji Ning was shocked.

There were actually five more people hidden inside that warship.

"Everyone be careful. Once Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo board the warship, we'll immediately activate the grand formation. We must kill them as soon as possible."

"Mm, delays lead to changes. We must be quick."

"Once they're on the warship, they're dead."

They whispered to each other. Since it was a puppet warship, it contained some restrictions, so internal whispers could not be heard from outside. Only Ji Ning, through his divine sense, discovered all this.

"Ambush!"

The word immediately surfaced in Ji Ning's mind. "I didn't expect to encounter an ambush as soon as we arrived at Yushan Great Swamp."

"Senior apprentice-brother, should we go over?" Mu Zishuo looked at Ji Ning. He was still thin-skinned and felt it would be impolite to refuse such a warm invitation.

"Junior apprentice-brother," Ji Ning sent a mental message, "be careful and don't show any flaws. On that warship... there are five other Wanxiang True Immortals hiding, also those who want to join the Yinglong Guard. Counting Bei Hezhou, that makes six in total: four at the complete Wanxiang stage and two at the late Wanxiang stage."

"What!" Thanks to Ji Ning's advance warning, Mu Zishuo managed to keep a calm exterior, but he was shocked inside. He sent back, "Senior apprentice-brother, six cultivators? Why aren't the other five showing themselves? Are they planning to..."

"Yes, ambush us," Ji Ning replied.

"They dare to target us?" Mu Zishuo grew angry. "Let's kill them instead."

"Be careful," Ji Ning sent. "Don't underestimate them. They're not those Wanxiang great demons. They come from top sects and tribes, so their methods are extraordinary. And with six of them working together... if we're not careful, we might fall here today."

Ji Ning was quite confident in himself. Thanks to his Fiendgod Body Refining, his vitality was extremely strong.

With his trump card, the 'Star Picking Hand' technique, Ji Ning was very confident. But his junior brother Mu Zishuo was only at the middle Wanxiang stage... his elemental energy was far inferior to theirs. Moreover, his junior brother was only eighteen. In a chaotic battle, Ji Ning might not be able to protect him. If his junior brother died here, Ji Ning would never forgive himself.

"Understood," Mu Zishuo's vigilance rose to the utmost.

"Stay close to me," Ji Ning sent. "Don't rush around. Follow my orders."

"Alright," Mu Zishuo replied.

...

After the two brothers secretly communicated and made their plans, Bei Hezhou on the opposite side was still waiting for an answer with a warm smile. He added, "I've always admired the disciples of the Black-White College. Meeting you two fellow Daoists today is my good fortune."

"I'm flattered," Ji Ning said apologetically. "We still have matters to attend to, so we won't go over. After we both pass the assessment and join the Yinglong Guard, we'll have a good drink then."

"Oh."

Bei Hezhou cursed inwardly, but on the surface he showed understanding. "I see. Then let's meet again after we join the Yinglong Guard."

"Attack!" Bei Hezhou sent a mental command instantly.

The five cultivators in the cabin heard the command, exchanged glances, nodded, and were about to rush out!

But—

Ji Ning was faster!

As soon as Ji Ning's divine sense detected the five cultivators exchanging glances and nodding, about to rush out, he immediately willed it, and seven hundred and twenty-nine mortal-grade flying swords appeared around him. "Junior apprentice-brother, attack!"

Around Mu Zishuo appeared two black swimming serpents. Their surfaces flickered, and spikes began to emerge on their skins, covered with numerous runes. The serpents' aura became狂暴 and frenzied.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Five figures shot out like lightning, their bodies covered in a hazy gray light. The space-locking grand formation had begun to take shape. The six cultivators served as the formation's foundation... the area they covered was the range of the space-locking formation. The maximum range could only extend a hundred miles.

"What's going on?" Bei Hezhou, Dong Yi, and the others were astonished to find that Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo had already begun to deploy their techniques.

"Kill."

"They've discovered us."

"Don't hold back."

Bei Hezhou and the other six reacted quickly, immediately unleashing their powerful techniques. Through the grand formation, they shared elemental power, greatly boosting their might.

"Freeze Ten Thousand Miles." The golden-robed Dong Yi pointed from afar.

Whoosh!

Visible white icy baleful aura surged toward Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo. The two stood atop the dragon-headed warship, which was completely sealed off from the outside... clearly, they didn't want to harm the human slaves. In fact, if not for the human slaves, they could have used the minor teleportation talisman to escape.

But first, there were the human slaves.

Second, having just left their sect, both Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo were proud and unwilling to flee without a fight.

Thus, the two brothers never even mentioned escape. There was only one word—fight!

"It's cold baleful aura! This Dong Yi from Snowdragon Mountain has actually nurtured cold baleful aura within his body," Ji Ning was startled. The Zifu was mysterious and could nurture cold baleful aura, earthly fire, wind baleful aura, and so on... these were terrifying natural forces that, after nurturing, became immensely powerful.

However, to nurture cold baleful aura, one first had to find a treasure site containing natural cold baleful aura, then absorb it into the body.

Such treasure sites were rare and hard to come by.

Having such a breath of cold baleful aura was almost as good as having a divine ability.

"Wind!" The black-robed Xu Manquan also pointed at Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo. Instantly, nine flying wheels spun at high speed in the air, turning into huge cyclones that tore through the air and crushed toward them.

"Selfless, Swordless!" The leading Bei Hezhou had nine flying swords suspended before him, which shot across the sky, leaving nine rivers of sword light that enveloped Ji Ning.

"Nirvana!" Siji pressed his palms together, and gray mist appeared around him, spreading toward Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo.

"Die." Nongsan True Immortal smiled coldly and waved his hand. His whisk immediately turned into three thousand white threads, covering the sky and earth.

"Heh!" The only woman, Meng Liuqing, held a talisman and let out a cold shout.

Boom!

Bolts of lightning appeared in the air, striking down at Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo.

...

In an instant, the six Wanxiang True Immortals each unleashed their deadly techniques. They were not rogue cultivators ignorant of secret arts, but powerful True Immortals with ancient secret transmissions.

"Water-Fire Lotus!"

"Three-Foot Sword: Thorns Everywhere!"

A huge, vivid lotus bloomed, enveloping Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo completely. Ji Ning held the Northmoon Sword in his hand as a precaution, and at the same time, the ninth level of the Lesser Thousand Swords Formation directly executed his current strongest sword technique, the second stance of the Three-Foot Sword.

"Serpent Swallows the Sky." Mu Zishuo controlled from afar. Two enormous, ferocious black swimming serpents, each biting the other's tail, formed a huge circle, bringing with them an immense devouring and twisting force as they swept forward.

...