Chapter 3: The Immortal Mansion of Wu Jiang

Shaoyan Nong said, 'This time it's also a small test for me from the tribe, to explore an ancient immortal mansion. As for whom I can invite to help, the tribe won't interfere! I won't hide it from you either—this mansion is the residence of a Celestial Immortal. Although the Celestial Immortal died long ago, it must be fraught with dangers. Some demon beasts trapped inside have been breeding endlessly, and I fear many great demons have gathered there. There are also other unknown perils. So I need some people to help me. If you help me, I will naturally remember this debt of gratitude.'

As soon as he spoke, Ji Ning, Mu Zishuo, Jiu Lian, Yu Wei, and Cangjiang Zhenren all changed expression.

A Celestial Immortal's mansion?

Although there were many immortal mansions on this endless land, most were built by loose immortals or Earth Immortals. Such mansions might hold great appeal for ordinary Zifu cultivators, but for Ji Ning and his companions, the attraction was much less, as they could interact with many living loose immortals and Earth Immortals—for instance, Ji Ning's master was the Immortal Diancai!

But a Celestial Immortal's mansion? That was completely different!

'What do you all think?' Cangjiang Zhenren transmitted.

Jiu Lian transmitted, 'Shaoyan Nong is one of the Four Young Masters of the Xia Dynasty's capital. With his status, if he says he'll remember our favor, he definitely will. Just for this favor... I think it's worth helping him once. Once he becomes the next Yunshen Gong, even a little help from him would bring us endless benefits.'

'Hold on. The servant beside him gives me a very dangerous feeling,' Ji Ning transmitted. He had long sensed a vague threat, which came from that servant. 'With such a formidable servant, he still needs our help. Let's not rush to agree; think it over carefully.'

'Mm, reasonable,' Cangjiang Zhenren responded.

'I'll follow senior apprentice-brother,' Mu Zishuo said simply.

'Let's see what he says,' Yu Wei also said.

Although Jiu Lian was inclined to agree, it was clear that among these fellow disciples, Ji Ning had more influence.

Mainly, when a group of geniuses gather, they generally value strength more. Among them, the strongest were Ji Ning, Yu Wei, and Cangjiang.

...

Seeing the expressions of Ji Ning and the other four, Shaoyan Nong knew they were not yet tempted, so he added, 'This Celestial Immortal is called Immortal Wu Jiang! He was a great water demon who attained the Dao and became a Celestial Immortal. In his time, he was widely renowned... Later, he perished in battle with other immortals in the Three Realms. The key to this Celestial Immortal's mansion was obtained by my Shaoyan clan. But my clan hasn't been in a hurry to explore it, so I can be sure that since Immortal Wu Jiang's death, no one has entered.'

'An immortal mansion is an immortal's lair. For example, there are surely many spirit medicine gardens, precious treasures, elixirs, and rare materials. There might even be Immortal-ranked treasures!'

Hearing this,

Yu Wei and Cangjiang Zhenren's eyes lit up, and Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo were also tempted.

Immortal-ranked treasures?

Indeed, most loose immortals and Earth Immortals didn't have Immortal-ranked treasures, but Celestial Immortals certainly did, and often more than one! It was possible that such treasures were left in their lairs.

'My goal this time is to take control of this mansion. As for all the treasures inside—if you obtain them, they are yours. I will never take them by force. Even if I truly want something, I will propose terms that satisfy you and will never coerce you,' Shaoyan Nong said, looking at Ji Ning and the others. 'This is my promise, and the promise of the Shaoyan clan.'

Ji Ning and the others exchanged glances and transmitted secretly.

'We can go take a look,' Cangjiang Zhenren transmitted. 'Entering a Celestial Immortal's mansion is a rare opportunity. As this young master Shaoyan said, without the mansion key, there's no way in. We can go in with him—a rare chance.'

'He is a young master of the Shaoyan clan, and he made a promise on behalf of the clan. It's trustworthy,' Yu Wei also transmitted.

'I'll follow senior apprentice-brother,' Mu Zishuo said again.

'Ji Ning?' Jiu Lian also looked at him.

Ji Ning was also tempted.

Seeing their expressions, Shaoyan Nong added, 'As far as I know, although Immortal Wu Jiang was a great demon, he was a demon sword immortal, with considerable achievements in the way of the sword. I imagine that in his lair, his sword techniques have been passed down.'

Ji Ning's eyes lit up.

'It seems Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning is tempted,' Cangjiang Zhenren transmitted with a laugh. 'Let's all speak up. I think it's worth going.'

'Worth going,' Yu Wei also said. 'Though it will be dangerous, since the Shaoyan clan dares to let their young master enter, the danger shouldn't be too extreme.'

'Go,' Jiu Lian also transmitted.

Mu Zishuo looked at Ji Ning.

'Let's go and have a good look,' Ji Ning nodded.

'Good, I'll go too,' Mu Zishuo also smiled.

...

Cangjiang Zhenren, as the eldest among them, spoke up: 'Young Master Shaoyan, the five of us are willing to accompany you to the Wu Jiang Immortal Mansion.'

'Haha, excellent!' Shaoyan Nong's eyes lit up. He clapped his hands and said cheerfully, 'With the five of you helping, we will surely succeed!'

'If you need to prepare anything, please do so quickly,' Shaoyan Nong said hurriedly. 'We must set off for the Wu Jiang Immortal Mansion as soon as possible.'

'We have nothing to prepare,' Cangjiang Zhenren said with a smile. 'I'm afraid Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning needs to make some arrangements.'

'Senior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning, go make your arrangements. We'll wait for you here,' Mu Zishuo also said with a smile.

As guests, they could leave at any time.

Ji Ning, however, needed to arrange matters for his tribe.

'Please wait a moment, everyone,' Ji Ning said, then turned into a streak of light and flew directly toward Brightheart Island.

On Brightheart Island.

Qiuye, Xiaoqing, and the Whitewater Hound were already waiting.

'What's wrong? Who was that person?' Xiaoqing asked.

Ji Ning looked at Qiuye: 'Qiuye, the one who came on the warship is a young master of the ancient Shaoyan clan, of extremely high status. He invited me and my senior apprentice-siblings to help him with something... I need to leave for a while. Everything on Brightheart Island is in your hands. As for the Ji clan, please pass the message that I'll be back soon.'

'Mm,' Qiuye nodded obediently.

Whatever Ji Ning wanted to do, Qiuye would only silently support.

'Let's go, Xiaoqing, Uncle Bai,' Ji Ning said with a smile.

'Let's go!' Xiaoqing immediately turned into a mist, instantly wrapping around Ji Ning's arm and becoming a small snake.

The Whitewater Hound silently followed at Ji Ning's side.

When going on an adventure, one naturally brought spirit beasts.

'Let's see just how remarkable this Celestial Immortal's mansion is,' Ji Ning thought with anticipation. Suddenly, he had an idea. 'To be cautious, I'll carry this treasure on me. I've heard that in some places, treasures can't be taken out of storage treasures.' A black armlet appeared in Ji Ning's hand, and he slipped it onto his arm.

The beastskin robe quickly covered it, hiding it.

This black armlet was one of two strange items Ji Ning had obtained from the underwater estate.

This time, heading to the Celestial Immortal's mansion, Ji Ning felt quite confident, because when he had passed the fourth floor of the Water Mansion's War God Hall and when his divine body training reached the Wanxiang level, he had chosen treasures twice. Both times, he had not chosen Earth-ranked treasures, but protective strange items!

As the yellow-furred bear had said: 'Be careful. That Lei Zhan died during the Wanxiang stage. Wanxiang cultivators are neither weak nor strong on the path of immortality—it's the stage where one is most likely to die. These protective strange items can only be used once, but their power is extraordinary, enough to save your life.'

When Ji Ning chose for the third time, the yellow-furred bear even said: 'This protective strange item is most suitable for you. It was personally made by Sanxiao Daoren on a whim.'

Apart from the first choice, the 'Cold Abyss Sword Formation,' Ji Ning's second and third choices were both protective strange items!

It must be noted that even a single set of the Cold Abyss Sword Formation was extremely valuable.

It was at least more valuable than the protective treasures Immortal Diancai had given Ji Ning. The protective treasures Immortal Diancai had given him back then were now somewhat inadequate for Ji Ning. But the two protective strange items he chose this time were each worth no less than the Cold Abyss Sword Formation, and being products of the Water Mansion, they were naturally extraordinary.

'With these two protective strange items, I should be able to handle any sudden dangers,' Ji Ning thought to himself.

'Let's go.'

With the green snake coiled around his arm and the Whitewater Hound following behind, Ji Ning flew into the sky.

...

'Ji Ning, you have a spirit beast too?' Shaoyan Nong, waiting on the warship, smiled when he saw the green snake on Ji Ning's arm. 'I have one too. Come, Redfire.'

Immediately, a red snake head emerged from the skin of Shaoyan Nong's arm.

This red snake head had a single horn.

Its eyes were also tinged with gold.

'A Redscale Qilong?' Ji Ning and the others were secretly astonished.

Divine beasts all had divine bloodlines, but there were grades. Normal divine beasts, like the Whitewater Hound and the Azure Serpent, could take human form at the Zifu stage. But legendary, truly powerful divine beasts might only take human form after becoming Celestial Immortals—those were truly fearsome.

The Redscale Qilong was very famous; it could only take human form at the Yuanshen stage. It was far nobler than the Azure Serpent or the Whitewater Hound.

'Chi chi.' The Redscale Qilong glanced at the Azure Serpent and the Whitewater Hound, then burrowed back into the skin.

'Haha, Redfire hasn't taken human form yet, so he's quite bored,' Shaoyan Nong said, sitting in the main seat of the highest hall on the great warship. Ji Ning and the others also sat down separately. 'Come, let's drink some fine wine together. Once we enter the Wu Jiang Immortal Mansion, we won't have such freedom.'

'To Young Master Shaoyan.'

Cangjiang Zhenren, Ji Ning, Mu Zishuo, Yu Wei, and Jiu Lian all raised their cups. Xue Hongyi and Bu You Zhenren, sitting at the lowest seats, also raised theirs.

'Hahaha...' Shaoyan Nong laughed heartily, clearly in a great mood.

And why wouldn't he be?

Although Xue Hongyi and Bu You Zhenren were two-clawed Yinglong Guards, compared to the top genius of the Black-White College, Ji Ning, and the two reincarnated immortals, Yu Wei and Cangjiang Zhenren, they were still a step behind.

On his way to Yanshan's Yishe Lake, he had unexpectedly invited five helpers!

And each was extraordinary. Even Mu Zishuo, who was slightly weaker, was a genius in the art of puppetry, and those who walked the path of puppetry were skilled at fighting above their level. Jiu Lian was the next leader of the Dongyan clan—how could she lack powerful means of self-protection?

...

They drank and enjoyed themselves along the way, with Ji Ning and the others accompanying. In just two days, they arrived at the hidden location of the Wu Jiang Immortal Mansion.

'The Wu Jiang Immortal Mansion is in the distant Tianyou Mountains,' Shaoyan Nong said, standing by the railing and pointing at the majestic mountain range in the distance, full of vigor.

Ji Ning and the others looked into the distance, also filled with anticipation.