Chapter 28: Taken Away

"Bring Xiaoyun back!" An ancient ancestor of the Dongyan clan who had been in seclusion for endless years personally ordered.

"Yes, Ancestor."

The loose immortal 'Beiqu Immortal' respectfully accepted the order and that very day led a group of cultivators, grand and imposing, as they left the Dongyan Mountains in Shangshui Commandery.

......

Spring warmth brought flowers into bloom, and she was more beautiful than the blossoms.

A small boat drifted on Yishe Lake, with only Ji Ning and Jiulian aboard. In the past, they had not broken through that thin barrier, but now that both had recognized the other as their Dao companion, and had resolved to have each other's company on the long path of cultivation ahead... their hearts naturally drew closer.

The two sat cross-legged facing each other, with a low table before them bearing fine immortal wine. Such wine was naturally prepared by Jiulian, who came from an extraordinary background; the utensils and fine liquors she carried were things Ji Ning did not possess.

"What wine is this?" Ji Ning held the exquisite jade cup, took a light sip, and immediately felt a wave of comfort from within, as if his heart itself trembled.

"This is called Dongxian Wine," said Jiulian, also holding her cup. "This wine has a story. In another major world, as vast and magnificent as the one ruled by our Great Xia Dynasty, a celestial maiden from the heavens descended to the mortal realm and happened upon an ordinary cultivator named Dong You. They developed a secret love and wished to spend their lives together. But the celestial maiden held a noble status in the heavens, and her elders absolutely would not allow a celestial immortal to become the Dao companion of an ordinary mortal cultivator. So they forcibly separated them."

Ji Ning sighed.

A celestial maiden from the heavens? A mortal cultivator?

"Later, Dong You swore an oath: he would ascend to the heavens and take back his Dao companion," Jiulian said softly. "A mortal cultivator vowing to go to the heavens to reclaim his Dao companion—how incredible! Yet Dong You endured countless tribulations, passed the heavenly tribulation, became a carefree celestial immortal, and even rose to become the leader of that major world. He led the many immortals of that world in a direct assault on the heavens. In the end... the faction behind the celestial maiden bowed their heads. He won her back, and this legend spread throughout the Three Realms."

Ji Ning was astonished.

Becoming a celestial immortal, leading the immortals of a major world to attack the heavens?

"This Dong You, also known as 'Dongyou the Immortal,' is a mighty figure renowned throughout the Three Realms. Even as a child, I heard his story," Jiulian said with emotion. "And this immortal wine was created by Dongyou the Immortal. It is beloved by immortals in many major worlds. Our Dongyan clan obtained some, and I brought three flasks with me, never using them." She glanced at Ji Ning as she spoke.

There was one thing she did not say: she had kept them precisely because she intended to share them with her Dao companion. For Dongxian Wine was also a symbol of faithful love. Among the noble daughters of great clans like the Great Xia royal family and the Dongyan clan, it was common to treasure this wine and enjoy it with their Dao companions.

Ji Ning sensed Jiulian's feelings and took another small sip of the immortal wine.

That trembling sensation in the heart was truly like seeing the beloved woman.

"Hm?" Ji Ning frowned and looked up.

Jiulian also looked up.

In the cloudless sky, a massive dark war vessel appeared. It was broad, with banners fluttering in the wind bearing the characters 'Dongyan.' The entire vessel emanated an aura that made heaven and earth tremble. Along the railings stood rows of cultivators in standard Dao-soldier armor, their gazes cold and domineering. Each was a Wanxiang Adept, and they were well-disciplined.

The war vessel, parting the air with its momentum, advanced directly toward Yishe Lake. The invisible pressure stirred up huge waves on the distant lake surface, and the small boat carrying Ji Ning and Jiulian was tossed about.

"Retract." Ji Ning immediately put away the boat.

He and Jiulian stood directly on the water of Yishe Lake. The water around them calmed instantly; though the surroundings were turbulent, near them the water was still.

"What's going on?" Ji Ning sent a mental message to Jiulian. "Senior apprentice-sister, this is your Dongyan clan's war vessel, but it seems hostile."

"They must have learned of our relationship. But very few know about it. Luo Qing knew nearly a year ago, and if she had told the clan, they would have come long ago... Coming only today, it must be Chen Jin who spoke." Jiulian's face showed worry. "I feared this day, but it has come."

Ji Ning looked at Jiulian.

"Senior apprentice-sister," Ji Ning said softly.

"I am the next leader of the Dongyan clan. I refuse to believe I don't even have the right to choose my own Dao companion," Jiulian said, looking at Ji Ning. "Don't worry."

But Ji Ning felt the invisible pressure.

At that moment, Ji Ning suddenly understood why Jiulian had prepared the Dongxian Wine: "Senior apprentice-sister also wants me to be steadfast."

......

The massive war vessel slowly descended, landing on Yishe Lake, stopping right in front of Ji Ning and Jiulian. Before this vessel, over a thousand zhang in length, the two seemed tiny.

"Whoosh!"

The bow of the vessel split open, and a wide ramp automatically lowered, extending flat onto the lake surface.

A man in a golden Daoist robe walked forward first, followed by nine Yuan Shen Daoists with overwhelming auras, and behind them a group of Wanxiang Adepts in armor. As this group of cultivators advanced... it was as if heaven and earth trembled. Such military force could easily annihilate a sect like the Snowdragon Mountain.

"The leader is our Dongyan clan's Beiqu Immortal. Behind him are his nine Yuan Shen Daoist disciples, and behind them are our Dongyan clan's Xuanming Guards, all at the Wanxiang Adept level," Jiulian sent mentally. She also noticed that Ji Ning's face had paled. "Ji Ning, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Ji Ning said in a low voice.

Waves of terrifying divine sense were pressing down on him.

Beiqu Immortal and the nine Yuan Shen Daoists behind him were simultaneously unleashing divine sense attacks. Even Ji Ning found it extremely difficult; in his sea of consciousness, he silently visualized the 'Nüwa Diagram,' and an image of Nüwa appeared, radiating boundless light, stabilizing his soul and allowing him to withstand the repeated assaults.

"Hm?" Beiqu Immortal, in his golden robe, frowned slightly. He had brought this group to intimidate the young man from a native tribe, and the divine sense assault was meant to leave a deep impression. Yet this young man named Ji Ning, barely over twenty, had actually withstood the divine sense attacks from him and his nine disciples.

"Master, this Ji Ning has a very strong soul. Could he be a reincarnated immortal?"

"Even if he is a reincarnated immortal, what use is that to our Dongyan clan?" Beiqu Immortal sent mentally, indifferent.

Even the Black-White College had several reincarnated immortals.

What were reincarnated immortals? They were those who, as Earth Immortals or loose immortals, saw no hope and chose to reincarnate! After reincarnation, they could relatively easily cultivate back to the Earth Immortal stage, but if they failed in their previous life, could they succeed in this life and pass the tribulation to become a celestial immortal?

......

Ji Ning withstood the divine sense assault, and the divine sense withdrew. Ji Ning understood: they came with ill intent!

"Xiaoyun." Beiqu Immortal did not look at Ji Ning at all, but addressed Jiulian. "It's time to go back."

"Wasn't I supposed to return only after becoming a Yuan Shen Daoist?" Jiulian frowned. "Why call me back so early? Who ordered it?"

Her status within the clan was extremely high; even an immortal had no right to command her casually.

"The Ancestor personally ordered me to bring you back," Beiqu Immortal said solemnly.

"The Ancestor?" Jiulian was stunned.

In some clans, occasionally a powerful being held a status higher than the clan leader. For instance, Ji Ning's position in the Ji clan was like that: his status surpassed the clan leader's; though not the chief, he was the true leader.

In the Dongyan clan...

The Dongyan Ancestor was the true leader of the Dongyan clan, an ancient being who had lived for who knows how long. The time he had existed was measured in 'hundreds of millions of years.' To live that long, he could not be a loose immortal! The high-ranking members of the Dongyan clan all believed the Ancestor was a celestial immortal, though the Ancestor himself neither admitted nor publicly confirmed it.

His strength had always been a mystery, but in the few times he had acted, so-called loose immortals had no right to resist before him.

No one could defy his words. He had been in seclusion for a long time, rarely interfering in clan affairs, but once he spoke, everyone obeyed. Deposing a clan leader was merely a word from the Dongyan Ancestor—such was his status!

"The Ancestor? I, I..." Jiulian gritted her teeth. She had been designated the next leader partly because of the Ancestor's influence; he was very fond of her and doted on her.

"I'll go back with you," Jiulian replied.

Beiqu Immortal nodded slightly. He had never doubted that Jiulian would resist; in the Dongyan clan, no one dared to defy the Ancestor! Unless they truly intended to betray the clan.

Jiulian looked at Ji Ning beside her and sent a mental message: "Wait for me."

"Mm." Ji Ning nodded gently.

"Let's go," Beiqu Immortal urged.

Jiulian walked toward Beiqu Immortal. The nine Yuan Shen Daoists and the group of Dongyan Xuanming Guards surrounded Jiulian as they headed onto the war vessel.

Beiqu Immortal turned his head and glanced at Ji Ning, sending a direct mental message: "You're called Ji Ning? I think you should wake up and see clearly... Xiaoyun is not an ordinary clan member. If she were an ordinary woman of our Dongyan clan, becoming Dao companions would be fine. But she is destined to be the next leader of our Dongyan clan. And you... are not worthy."

With that, he cast a cold look at Ji Ning, then surrounded Jiulian and boarded the war vessel.

From the vessel, Jiulian looked down.

On the lake, Ji Ning looked up.

Their gazes intertwined.

"Boom~~~" The surrounding space rippled, and the entire massive war vessel vanished into thin air.

Ji Ning watched as Jiulian disappeared with the vessel, feeling a sudden emptiness.

"Not worthy?" Ji Ning murmured to himself, but his gaze grew even more resolute.

"Young master."

"Ning'er."

In the distance, a leaf-shaped flying treasure approached, carrying Qiuye, the Whitewater Hound, and Qingqing. They had witnessed the scene earlier. Though too far to hear the conversation, they clearly saw Jiulian being taken away.

"Young master, are you alright?" Qiuye was extremely worried.

"It's nothing. Senior apprentice-sister's clan elders missed her and wanted to see her," Ji Ning said.