Chapter 1 The Murderer Is Ji Ning

The old man looked at the golden-robed man, his voice somewhat shrill, and there was grief in his eyes: "Nong'er is dead?"

"Reporting to the Patriarch, Shaoyan Nong's life tablet in the ancestral hall has shattered." The golden-robed man was respectful, not daring to be the least bit negligent.

"Lishui, I have failed you." Xuanji Patriarch closed his eyes, tears glistening at the corners. Lishui the Immortal was Xuanji Patriarch's most beloved female disciple; their temperaments matched, and Xuanji Patriarch regarded her almost as his own daughter. Unfortunately, Lishui the Immortal had been too reckless during her tribulation and had ultimately perished, body and soul!

The tribulation was an unprecedented great calamity. If one passed through it, one would become a carefree Celestial Immortal. If one failed, with luck one could become a Sanxian; if unlucky, one would immediately perish, body and soul.

Lishui the Immortal had been too proud; at the final moment, she did not choose to give up but instead continued to resist stubbornly! Thus, she died!

Xuanji Patriarch grieved and suffered for a long time. Fortunately, Lishui the Immortal had a son named Shaoyan Nong. Xuanji Patriarch had cared for him since childhood, wanting to make up for his debt to Lishui the Immortal through Shaoyan Nong. He had even supported him all the way, forcefully pushing him toward the throne of Yunshen Gong.

But Shaoyan Nong was dead! He had died at the Wanxiang stage!

"I arranged for a Fiendgod to protect him, one that could even block a top-tier Sanxian. How could he die? How is it possible? Who killed him?" A terrifying ferocity suddenly burst from Xuanji Patriarch's eyes. "He also had a Greater Teleportation Dao-seal I bestowed upon him, which could teleport him back even from another space."

The golden-robed man quickly said, "Patriarch, Shaoyan Nong should have died within the Wujiang Immortal Estate."

"Wujiang Immortal Estate?" Xuanji Patriarch was instantly enraged. "A trial, just a trial! It was only for the position of Yunshen Gong."

Though angry, Xuanji Patriarch knew that this was a clan law that could not be easily changed.

"Where is the Wujiang Immortal Estate?" Xuanji Patriarch asked.

"Within the borders of Anchan Commandery. I will lead the way for the Patriarch." The golden-robed man said respectfully.

"Good, let's go." Xuanji Patriarch ordered.

Soon, on the immortal carriage pulled by nine flood dragons, Xuanji Patriarch sat, while the golden-robed man sat in front, in the place usually reserved for servants, grooms, and guards.

Whoosh!

The immortal carriage tore through the air, leaving the volcano behind.

…

The Celestial Immortal's residence was hidden in another small space, with only one connection point to the world of the Grand Xia Dynasty. If one did not know this connection point, even other Celestial Immortals, unable to find the exact location, would naturally be unable to enter that small space.

Since the Shaoyan clan had allowed 'Shaoyan Nong' to undergo the trial, naturally a clan elder had long ago used the Immortal Estate key to investigate. They had briefly examined it and determined that this 'Wujiang Immortal Estate' would be somewhat difficult for Shaoyan Nong, but absolutely not life-threatening. Thus, they bestowed the Immortal Estate key upon Shaoyan Nong and sent him there.

Thus, within the Shaoyan clan, there was also an accurate record of the location of the Wujiang Immortal Mansion.

"Whoosh."

Above the Tianyou Mountain Range, an immortal carriage pulled by nine flood dragons appeared.

A man in a golden robe on the carriage held an unrolled scroll and said, "This scroll shows the Tianyou Mountain Range and also marks the connection point between the Wujiang Immortal Mansion and the Tianyou Mountain Range. It's just ahead."

After a careful comparison,

the carriage soon arrived at the gorge.

"It's on the rock wall of this gorge," said the man in the golden robe.

Ancestor Xuanji sat in the carriage with a gloomy expression and shouted, "This rock wall is so vast; which point is the connection? The Wujiang Immortal Mansion is in another realm. Without finding this point, we simply cannot enter."

"Please wait a moment, Ancestor," said the man in the golden robe. He immediately performed a secret technique, and a golden light talisman appeared in his palm.

Hum.

A golden light talisman also emerged on a spot on the rock wall ahead.

"That's it. That's the connection point between the Wujiang Immortal Mansion and our Great Xia Dynasty world," said the man in the golden robe, pointing. "The clan's ancestors left a secret mark here long ago to designate this spot."

"Open for me!" Ancestor Xuanji's gaze suddenly sharpened. He mobilized his magical power, exerting all his strength—breaking through the barrier of an immortal mansion was no easy task. Starry lights began to appear around him, countless stars dreamlike and illusory. At the same time, two enormous starry hands coalesced, fiercely grabbing that point and tearing it apart to both sides.

Whoosh.

Space was torn open directly, creating a passage through which the immortal mansion world on the other side could faintly be seen.

If this were not the connection point, tearing open space would generally only result in a void.

"Wujiang Immortal Mansion? It really is here," Ancestor Xuanji said coldly. "You stay here."

"Yes," the man in the golden robe replied respectfully.

Whoosh. Ancestor Xuanji rose and took a step, then entered the immortal mansion world directly through the torn passage.

…

The immortal mansion world was empty and desolate.

With a thought, Ancestor Xuanji observed the entire immortal mansion world, every detail revealed with perfect clarity.

"Not a single living creature?" Mystic Ancestor was startled.

How could he know that when Ji Ning fled, he had told those demons that immortals might arrive soon and that delay would lead to变故. So frightened, the demon soldiers frantically grabbed other demons onto their warships, using violent methods and their own cultivation techniques to evacuate in batches. In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the entire demon tribe had fled.

"But on the demon mountains and in the lakes, the mansions and their furnishings—even wine and fruit are still laid out, as if they just left." Mystic Ancestor's gaze fell on a golden pillar of light in the distant sky. "The Wujiang Immortal Mansion has five sub-palaces. When Nong'er came, he must have entered these five sub-palaces. The place where he died is likely in one of them!"

With a single step,

Mystic Ancestor arrived before the Dao Treasury Hall. He then raised a finger and pointed into the distance: "Time Rewind!"

The Time Rewind technique was an immensely powerful spell. Only loose immortals and earth immortals with profound insights into the 'Dao of Time' could施展 it. If one's comprehension of the Dao of Time was insufficient, they had to become a celestial immortal, transcending the Three Realms, before they could use this spell.

"Whoosh~~~" The scene in the midair around him shifted, time rapidly flowing backward.

It rewound until Shaoyan Nong, using the Desolate Heart and the Scroll of Stillness, barely managed to enter the Dao Treasury Hall from the demon soldiers. Then the scene began to play forward normally. Soon, Shaoyan Nong led Ji Ning and the others out of the Dao Treasury Hall.

"Nong'er entered this sub-palace and left it. He didn't die here." Mystic Ancestor followed Shaoyan Nong's warship.

The past replayed again.

Shaoyan Nong, Xue Hongyi, Ji Ning, and the others rode the warship toward the fifth sub-palace, the Wujiang Hall. The demons were also on high alert.

Mystic Ancestor followed behind, flying.

Then, Shaoyan Nong used a black-and-white disc and directly entered this fifth sub-palace.

"All the demons gathered here, not scattered in other sub-palaces. And Nong'er spared no expense to enter this one. It seems this is the last sub-palace he entered." Mystic Ancestor's figure blurred, and in a moment he was inside the fifth sub-palace, Wujiang Hall.

Inside Wujiang Hall.

Mystic Ancestor again used the Time Rewind technique, turning time back to when Shaoyan Nong and the others first entered Wujiang Hall. Everything replayed...

Breaking the illusion array, entering the main hall, holding a victory feast, even making Ji Ning dance, angering Ji Ning, a swarm of puppets attacking, Ji Ning using the Windwing Evasion... scene after scene, dialogue after dialogue replayed...

"Hmm?" Mystic Ancestor suddenly frowned. "Windwing Evasion!"

Having personally soul-scanned some Yuchi clan members to complete this divine ability, Mystic Ancestor was very familiar with the Windwing Evasion. He recognized at a glance that Ji Ning was using it.

Soon the scene continued to unfold.

Shaoyan Nong pressured Ji Ning, forcing him to lock on the Soulchain. Xue Hongyi suddenly shouted that Ji Ning's mother was 'Yuchi Xue'. Then a great battle began!

Xiangliu Fang alone held off Mu Zishuo, Jiujie, Yu Wei, and Cangjiang Zhenren.

Xue Hongyi went to deal with Ji Ning.

But... Ji Ning's power erupted instantly. The entire hall was filled with endless sword qi. A dazzling sword light flashed, and Xue Hongyi was slain with one strike.

"Domain of the Dao?" Mystic Ancestor continued watching, his mana rapidly depleting, for the Time Rewind technique was no ordinary spell. "This kid named Ji Ning, who knows the Windwing Evasion, is only at the Wanxiang level. Even if he comprehends the Domain of the Dao, he's far from a match for Nong's divine demon guards."

Indeed, Ji Ning was defeated by Xiangliu Fang with one hand.

But at that moment, a black ring flew out.

The souls of Shaoyan Nong, Xiangliu Fang, and the Redscale Flood Dragon were all sucked in and annihilated.

"This, this, this is..." Mystic Ancestor's eyes flashed with shock and anger. "The Soulslayer Ring? How could such a treasure fall into this kid's hands? Could it be that during the great chaos of the Primordial Era, some powerful figure died and this ring was lost somewhere, and this kid found it?"

Luck is hard to explain.

A native kid might, by good fortune, obtain a heaven-defying treasure. Or he might, by luck, give a bowl of water to an old man, who might turn out to be some great power in the Three Realms.

"Nong'er's luck wasn't bad, yet he died at the hands of this Black-White College disciple Ji Ning. This Ji Ning can obtain such a treasure; it seems he has great luck upon him... But no matter how great his luck, it cannot match divine abilities and spells." Mystic Ancestor's eyes were filled with cold light. "The living ones named Yu Wei, Mu Zishuo, Cangjiang, and Jiujie are all Black-White College disciples."

"Black-White College."

Mystic Ancestor immediately turned and tore open another spatial passage, connecting to the outside world of the Grand Xia Dynasty.

Whoosh!

In the Tianyou Mountains, the golden-robed man had been waiting. Mystic Ancestor stepped out of the torn spatial passage.

"Ancestor." The golden-robed man said.

"The murderer is the Black-White College disciple Ji Ning." Mystic Ancestor looked at him. "Do you know this Ji Ning?"

The golden-robed man, as the Yufei Duke, knew nothing of a genius from Anchan Commandery. He shook his head: "No."

"Then set out for Anchan City. First go to Tianbao Mountain to investigate all information on Ji Ning. Then go to Black-White College! Those disciples are probably at the college right now." Mystic Ancestor said coldly.

"Yes." The golden-robed man immediately took control of the celestial carriage.

The nine flood dragons pulled the celestial carriage, swiftly leaving the Tianyou Mountains, directly teleporting through void space toward Anchan City.

...