Chapter 33: The Primordial Spirit Daoist and Ji Ning

Within the Yan Mountains.

That ancient immortal warship was pressing through the air, flying toward the Viper Snake Lake.

"Greetings, Grandmaster."

Xu Fang and the other four Zifu Disciples were kneeling trembling, not daring to raise their heads. To them, four Zifu Disciples, a Primordial Spirit Daoist was far too distant, and they had never imagined that merely crushing a talisman would bring Xue Yu, one of the three patriarchs of Snowdragon Mountain, rushing here.

"Tell me everything in detail." The feathered-robed Xue Yu glanced down at them, then closed his eyes and ordered calmly.

"Yes." Xu Fang, the leader, swallowed and said nervously, "Just yesterday, the envoy from the Ji clan came to our Snowdragon City and threw Ji Ning's letter to us to read. As soon as we looked at it... the terrifying sword-intent contained in the characters of that letter made us all tremble and our legs go weak."

"Made you tremble and your legs go weak?" Xue Yu's eyes suddenly opened wide, staring at the kneeling Xu Fang.

"Yes, Grandmaster. You can ask the other three." Xu Fang quickly said. The other three Zifu Disciples kneeling beside him also nodded repeatedly: "We were indeed trembling and weak. The sword-intent in the characters of that letter was astonishing. We have never seen such terrifying sword-intent. The sword-intent contained in the characters alone made us terrified."

"We dare not lie. Such sword-intent we have never even heard of."

"This was written personally by Ji Ning of Viper Snake Lake."

They all spoke in succession.

This made Xue Yu frown. He barked, "Bring me that letter to see."

Xu Fang quickly said, "That letter had a prohibition. When we opened it and finished reading, it burned up on its own."

Xue Yu's expression darkened.

This made Xu Fang and the other three panic, afraid of angering this patriarch.

"What did his letter say?" Xue Yu demanded.

"What he wrote was just a passage: 'Yan Mountain branch of the Xu clan, I give you ten days to get out of the Yan Mountains. If you haven't moved by then, do not blame me for being merciless with my sword.'" Xu Fang, being a cultivator, had an excellent memory and recited the contents of Ji Ning's letter exactly.

After hearing this, Xue Yu laughed: "Quite arrogant. He truly doesn't take Snowdragon Mountain seriously."

"You may withdraw." Xue Yu waved his hand.

Xu Fang and the other three quickly retreated from the cabin, leaving only Xue Yu and his two disciples inside.

"Master." Ke Ke and the gray-robed man both looked at their master, awaiting orders.

"Sword-intent in characters that can make Zifu Disciples tremble and go weak... such sword-intent has never been achieved by anyone in Snowdragon Mountain." Xue Yu nodded slightly. "I've heard that Ji Ning is skilled with the sword. It seems he is indeed extraordinary. But no matter what, he is merely a Wanxiang Adept. At best, the treasures he uses are Earth-ranked top-grade."

Xue Yu had absolute confidence.

The Primordial Spirit Daoists defeated by Wanxiang Adepts were mostly early or mid-stage Primordial Spirit.

But he was at the Primordial Spirit perfection stage!

Having cultivated for over a thousand years, as one of the three patriarchs of his sect, the treasures he used were top-tier Heaven-ranked treasures... Setting aside other aspects, just in terms of basic elemental energy and treasures, he could suppress Ji Ning. Not to mention the 'Primordial Fire' naturally born within him, or the 'Heavenly Water' he had nurtured, which was a level higher than Cold Aether...

"Let's go see this sword genius." Xue Yu smiled calmly. "I'm really curious how he dares to bully my Snowdragon Mountain like this. Does he think that being a disciple of the Black-White College gives him the right to run rampant?"

...

On Brightheart Island in Viper Snake Lake.

In the study.

Ji Ning was doing something he did almost every day—writing calligraphy! Autumn Leaf was grinding ink beside him. Ji Ning held the brush, writing stroke by stroke. Writing was a pleasure for him, a way to temper his heart and comprehend the sword.

"Boom~~~"

A crushing divine sense swept across the entire Viper Snake Lake in an instant, also sweeping over Brightheart Island.

Bang!!!

Ji Ning's soul was like a reef; the crushing divine sense collided and scattered upon impact.

"Which fellow Daoist is this?" Ji Ning communicated directly via divine sense.

"Divine sense? It seems the outside world has underestimated you, Ji Ning. To possess divine sense at such a young age, you must be an immortal reincarnated." Another divine sense, realizing it had no advantage in soul power, also began conversing with Ji Ning.

Ji Ning's divine sense struck back.

Soulshaker Art!

A surging wave of divine sense rolled forward, crashing into Xue Yu's soul above Viper Snake Lake!

Bang!!!

Although Xue Yu had cultivated for over a thousand years, Ji Ning had reached the level of divine sense more than a decade ago. In those ten-plus years, he had never slackened in visualizing the 'Nuwa Painting,' and his soul had progressed immensely. Now, Ji Ning's divine sense could spread nearly a thousand li, a level that most Primordial Spirit Daoists could not reach.

At least Xue Yu was inferior in soul power; his divine sense could only spread six hundred li!

"Autumn Leaf, clean up. I'll go out and take a look." Ji Ning said.

"Yes, young master." Autumn Leaf nodded in acknowledgment.

...

Above Viper Snake Lake, an ancient immortal warship hovered. On the ship, many cultivators surrounded a feathered-robed Primordial Spirit Daoist—Xue Yu. Xue Yu's expression changed slightly; he had been somewhat unsettled by Ji Ning's Soulshaker Art. However, the gap in their soul power was not large, so the impact was minor.

"What a Ji Ning!" Xue Yu, having suffered a slight loss, said in a low voice, "No wonder he's so monstrous. He truly is an immortal reincarnated!"

"So what if he's an immortal reincarnated? The Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations will be even harder to withstand." Xue Yu sneered.

A calamity descends every three hundred years.

It is usually accompanied by a Heart Demon Tribulation... The more one knows, the more terrifying the Heart Demon Tribulation. The Heart Demon Tribulation for reincarnated immortals is far greater than that for ordinary cultivators. Thus, while reincarnated immortals advance rapidly at first, they struggle more and more later on.

Reincarnated immortals who survive the Heavenly Tribulation and become Celestial Immortals are almost nonexistent. Their probability is far lower than that of normal cultivators.

"Reincarnated immortal?" Ke Ke and the gray-robed man exchanged glances, secretly shocked.

"The Ji clan is truly fortunate to have a reincarnated immortal born into their tribe," Ke Ke thought. "My brother Xu Li died miserably, killed by a reincarnated immortal."

Xue Yu said calmly, "Don't be intimidated by his reputation. So what if he's a reincarnated immortal? Many reincarnated immortals die on the path of cultivation before reaching their previous achievements. This is very common."

This was true.

Slovenly Adept, Fire Saint, and many others all had the foundation to become immortals! But cultivation is a path against heaven... Heaven naturally sends down invisible trials, causing many geniuses to fall midway. Even reincarnated immortals can fall at the Wanxiang or Primordial Spirit stage.

"Is that Xue Yu of Snowdragon Mountain?" A voice came from afar, resounding through heaven and earth.

Xue Yu walked to the railing and looked into the distance.

In the distance, a youth dressed in animal skins, like an ordinary youth from a primitive tribe, stood in the air with a green-clad maiden and a large white dog behind him, all looking toward this side.

...

"Master, these people from Snowdragon Mountain have ill intentions," Xiao Qing communicated mentally.

"Of course they have ill intentions. But I wanted to expel their Yan Mountain branch, and I didn't expect it to bring a Primordial Spirit Daoist here in person." Ji Ning looked at the distant warship.

On the immortal warship, Xue Yu, with an immortal air, laughed loudly: "Indeed. I heard that Ji Ning, a disciple of the Black-White College, has astonishing talent and formidable strength. Seeing you now, you truly live up to your reputation."

"You flatter me," Ji Ning said. "May I ask why Xue Yu has come to my Viper Snake Lake?"

Xue Yu on the warship replied directly, "I came because of some matters between your Ji clan and the Yan Mountain branch of Snowdragon Mountain. Your Ji clan is expanding in the Yan Mountains... My Snowdragon Mountain's Yan Mountain branch will not obstruct you, but I heard you issued an ultimatum, ordering my branch to move within ten days?"

"That's right," Ji Ning nodded.

"Don't you think that's too arrogant?" Xue Yu looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning shook his head: "As far as I know, Snowdragon Mountain's main sect occupies over a hundred thousand li, and you have branches in many places throughout Anchan Commandery. You are constantly infiltrating and expanding everywhere. Is it permissible for Snowdragon Mountain to expand wildly, but not for my Ji clan to expand even in just the Yan Mountains?"

The strong naturally expand.

"How can your Ji clan compare to my Snowdragon Mountain!" Xue Yu frowned.

"In the past, when my Ji clan was weak, your Yan Mountain branch kept infiltrating and encroaching, becoming the strongest force in the Yan Mountains from an outsider. You even tried to forcibly seize the elemental ore vein!" Ji Ning looked at Xue Yu. "Now that my Ji clan is strong, is it wrong to expel one of your branches? Is it only permissible for you to bully others, but not for my Ji clan to expand?"

Xue Yu's face showed anger: "Are you truly determined to expel the Yan Mountain branch?"

"Yes," Ji Ning nodded.

"You have no regard for Snowdragon Mountain!" Xue Yu roared angrily.

"Think what you will. Expelling the Yan Mountain branch is something I must do." Ji Ning looked at Xue Yu.

Their eyes met.

Xue Yu instantly understood that Ji Ning would not back down.

"Do you think the name of a Black-White College disciple can intimidate me?" Xue Yu's face darkened, and his voice thundered across heaven and earth. "I advise you to know your limits. Otherwise, today I will personally teach you a lesson and make you understand... that you can only speak as loudly as your strength allows."

Ji Ning looked at Xue Yu from afar, grinning. His voice also boomed across heaven and earth: "Speak as loudly as your strength allows—that makes sense! I too would like to test your skills, Xue Yu, and see your brilliant techniques!"

Xue Yu was enraged.

"Overestimating yourself." Xue Yu roared like a thunder god, the surrounding sky and earth beginning to change color. "I shall grant your wish."

"Please!" Ji Ning said coldly.