Chapter 31: Making a Name in One Battle

Zhuanshui Xiaolou, Tiannong Quge, and the others all held their breath, stunned.

"Xiaolou, who is this friend?" The leader of the thirty-six loose immortals, a burly man with a thick beard, spoke.

"Uncle Fan, this is Ji Ning, whom I invited. Who would have thought he'd encounter an assassination by loose immortal death warriors," said Zhuanshui Xiaolou.

"Ji Ning?" The burly 'Uncle Fan' instantly guessed Ji Ning's identity, and most of the loose immortals behind him also guessed it. Although the death of Shaoyan Nong was not known to everyone, these loose immortals stationed at the Watercloud Pavilion mostly knew of it.

They immediately deduced that Shaoyan Clan had sent loose immortal death warriors, which made the loose immortals of Zhuanshui Clan somewhat gloating—their clan and Shaoyan Clan had been mortal enemies for eons.

"Young friend Ji Ning." Zhuanshui Sanfan looked at Ji Ning in his black Daoist robe and laughed heartily, "Truly remarkable. If I'm not mistaken, this loose immortal should be Floating Cloud Immortal, a loose immortal who lived over a hundred thousand years, yet he died by your hand. And your second soul should still be at the perfected Soul stage, right?"

"At the perfected Soul stage, you can kill a top loose immortal. Your elemental energy is clearly a notch lower, and you've only been cultivating for a little over thirty years. Impressive, impressive."

"That lotus spell also opened our eyes, and that sword formation technique was quite remarkable."

The group of loose immortals from Zhuanshui Clan all praised with smiles.

The reason for their praise was not only that Ji Ning had truly amazed them, but more importantly, Ji Ning had also formed a great enmity with the Shaoyan Clan. Their Zhuanshui Clan and Shaoyan Clan were mortal enemies, so the more they looked at Ji Ning, the more they liked him. The more formidable Ji Ning was, the greater the threat to Shaoyan Clan, and the happier they were.

"You flatter me." Ji Ning in his black Daoist robe shook his head, "It was because the combined might of you seniors was too strong, causing the Blood Disk Heaven-Sealing Formation to be on the verge of collapse. Floating Cloud Immortal knew he had no time left, so he gave up voluntarily, allowing me to kill him."

In terms of strength, compared to Floating Cloud Immortal, this second soul of his was actually only about equal.

If it were a simple one-on-one fight, neither would be able to kill the other.

But this was not a simple fight; it was an assassination! An assassination in the Watercloud Pavilion of the Grand Xia capital, so it had to be resolved quickly. As a death warrior assassin, Floating Cloud Immortal had pushed himself to the brink from the start. After failing to do anything to Ji Ning in a short time, he could only despairingly embrace death.

"Whoosh."

"Whoosh."

By this time, Whitewater Marsh and Little Qing had also rushed to Ji Ning's side, who was clad in black Daoist robes. The two of them had been eating and drinking elsewhere nearby alongside the golden-armored guards. When Ji Ning was attacked, even the golden-armored guards were too late to protect him, let alone Little Qing and Whitewater Marsh.

They were anxious, uneasy, and nearly driven mad. They didn't even dare to use 'telepathic communication,' fearing it might distract Ji Ning. After all, during a life-and-death struggle, a moment's distraction could lead to irreversible regret.

Fortunately!

Fortunately, Ji Ning survived.

"It was you who killed him, you who killed him," Zhuanxu Sanfan shook his head and laughed. "Your second true body's 'Primordial Soul Perfection' is an entire major realm lower than that of the Floating Cloud Immortal. In the end, the Floating Cloud Immortal could do nothing to you; he lost without any excuse, and you won cleanly and decisively."

Just then, a powerful aura suddenly spread from above.

It caused all the loose immortals present, Ji Ning, Zhuanxu Xiaolou, Tiannong Quge, and the others to look up. They saw a group of figures flying down from the top of the building, which had already been opened. The leader of the group wore black armor, while those behind him wore silver armor. They were the imperial guards of the Grand Xia Dynasty!

The young man in black armor at the lead grinned, appearing carefree and at ease, while the silver-armored soldiers behind him followed casually.

"Xiaolou, what happened at your Watercloud Tower?" the black-armored youth asked with a smile. "Earlier, when the imperial camp was monitoring the entire royal capital, we detected thirty-six loose immortals above your Watercloud Tower. Moreover, those thirty-six loose immortals actually formed a 'Zhuanxu Divine Serpent' and flew into this building. What major incident occurred?"

The imperial guards monitored the entire royal capital. In places like streets, squares, and even many immortal estates, once powerful combat fluctuations appeared, the guards would rush over at top speed.

However, in places like Treasurehill Mountain and Watercloud Tower, there were often gambling battles and fights. These commercial establishments had applied to the Grand Xia Dynasty and received its approval to allow 'conditional' fights. So-called 'conditional' fights referred to things like gambling battles.

Assassinations, on the other hand, were absolutely forbidden.

Earlier, when the imperial guards first detected powerful fluctuations at Watercloud Tower, they thought it was a relatively intense gambling battle. Only later, when they discovered the thirty-six loose immortals forming the 'Zhuanxu Divine Serpent,' did they realize something was wrong. However, since Watercloud Tower had powerful experts stationed there, the guards were not in a hurry. Thus, a deputy commander casually led some men and leisurely came over.

...

"It was an assassination," Zhuanxu Xiaolou said with a smile. "The assassin loose immortal was likely the Floating Cloud Immortal of the Shaoyin clan. Brother Hong, when I say 'Floating Cloud Immortal,' it's just a guess."

"The Floating Cloud Immortal of the Shaoyin clan? Who was the target of the assassination?" the black-armored youth, Xiamang Hong, asked in surprise.

Zhuanxu Xiaolou pointed at Ji Ning. "Look, it's him."

Xiamang Hong also looked at Ji Ning.

“Him?” Xiamang Hong looked at Ji Ning with curiosity. “The Shaoyan clan sent an assassin to kill you, and you’re still alive?”

Ji Ning was speechless.

This Xiamang Hong had no sense of propriety, directly asking the victim, “You’re still alive?” How was Ji Ning supposed to answer that?

“Ji Ning, let me introduce you,” Zhuan Shui Xiaolou said. “This is Deputy Commander of the Grand Xia Imperial Guard, Xiamang Hong, and also a good friend of mine.”

Ji Ning understood now. Xiamang Hong? He must be a member of the Grand Xia imperial clan, likely highly favored, or Zhuan Shui Xiaolou wouldn’t be so courteous.

“Brother Hong, this Ji Ning is a good friend of mine. He was just ambushed by the Cloudfloat Immortal, who sealed the battlefield with the Blood Coil Heaven-Sealing Formation, leaving my Watercloud Tower immortals no time to save him. Fortunately, Ji Ning had his second true body. That second true body should be only at the Primal Daoist level, yet it managed to slay the Cloudfloat Immortal. Impressive, isn’t it?” Zhuan Shui Xiaolou said.

“That impressive?” Xiamang Hong’s eyes lit up. “Ji Ning? I know you—you’re the Wanxiang Adept who killed Shaoyan Nong. I didn’t expect you to have a second true body. If I recall, you’ve only been cultivating for thirty years. In just thirty years, your second true body crossed an entire major realm to kill the Cloudfloat Immortal? Admirable, admirable! I, Xiamang Hong, respect those with true strength. You must be shaken after today’s assassination. In a few days, I’ll send someone to invite you. I’ll host a feast, and we’ll have a good talk. You must give me face!”

“If Commander Xiamang invites me, I will certainly come,” the black-robed Ji Ning said.

“Brother Ji Ning, you really scared me this time,” Zhuan Shui Xiaolou said, looking at Ji Ning. “It was a real rollercoaster. I thought you wouldn’t escape this calamity.”

“Brother Ji Ning’s strength is truly remarkable. At this Immortal Fortune Convention, Brother Ji Ning will surely shine brilliantly,” Tiannong Quge nodded in praise. Just the fact that Ji Ning’s true body had survived the “Bone-Exterminating Immortal Needles” made Tiannong Quge certain that Ji Ning’s true body was also extremely powerful.

“I also greatly admire Brother Ji Ning,” Boyan Fairy said with a smile, then glanced at Xiao Lang beside her. “But just now, someone repeatedly provoked Brother Ji Ning, wanting to spar with him, and even looked down on him, saying Ji Ning shouldn’t embarrass himself at the Immortal Fortune Convention and should go home to cultivate for another three hundred years… Such impressive words.”

Xiao Lang’s face turned pale, then red.

Earlier, he had been the one provoking Ji Ning, even speaking dismissively about Ji Ning’s abilities. After defeating Boyan Fairy, he had been overly cocky and said many unpleasant things.

Now, it all seemed ridiculous.

“Looked down on Ji Ning? Told him not to embarrass himself at the Immortal Fortune Convention and to go home and cultivate for three hundred years?” Xiamang Hong, though he already knew, pretended to ask curiously, “Who said that?”

“Who else but this dashing young gentleman, ‘Xiao Lang the True Man,’” Boyan Fairy said, pointing at Xiao Lang.

Xiao Lang had just embarrassed her, and women hold grudges.

“Xiao Lang? You look down on Ji Ning?” Xiamang Hong, clearly a playboy himself, stared at Xiao Lang.

Xiao Lang gritted his teeth, his face pale.

“Hmph.” With an angry snort, Xiao Lang turned and left, pulling open the door and walking away down the long corridor outside.

“He left?” Xiamang Hong shook his head. “How boring.”

Zhuan Shui Xiaolou then looked at Ji Ning and said, “Brother Ji Ning, you were assassinated here at my Watercloud Tower, and we couldn’t even rescue you in time. It is our fault…”

“Don’t blame Watercloud Tower. This is a grudge I brought upon myself,” Ji Ning said.

“Since my Zhuan Shui clan opened Watercloud Tower, we must protect our guests. That goes without saying. This time, my Zhuan Shui clan fell short. I recently acquired a treasure, and seeing that Brother Ji Ning’s lotus spells are quite formidable, this treasure might inspire you.” Zhuan Shui Xiaolou’s hand suddenly produced a slender bottle with a lotus flower on it.

“This Lotus Dharma Vase contains some mysteries of the lotus. I gift it to Brother Ji Ning as an apology,” Zhuan Shui Xiaolou said, handing it to Ji Ning. “Brother Ji Ning, do not refuse. If you refuse, you make things difficult for me.”

Ji Ning hesitated for a moment, then accepted it.

The Lotus Dharma Vase—Ji Ning had noticed its extraordinary nature at first glance. As a treasure, it wasn’t particularly powerful, but the ‘lotus’ on it contained many runes, definitely worth studying. It might inspire him and help perfect his ‘Lotus Swordworld’.

After chatting for a while, Ji Ning took his leave.

After all, having just survived an assassination, the feast naturally couldn’t continue.

In front of Watercloud Tower.

Zhuan Shui Xiaolou and Tiannong Quge watched Ji Ning’s large ship fly away, crushing the air, and fell silent for a moment.

“Xiamang Hong came with a group of imperial guards earlier and learned about this battle. Soon, the entire imperial guard will know, and then the whole Grand Xia imperial capital will know,” Zhuan Shui Xiaolou sighed. “This battle… will spread quickly through the capital. Ji Ning will truly become famous.”

Before, when Ji Ning bought the Peacock Plume, people only said he was lucky.

But this time, he proved his strength in battle, and he would earn the respect of many.

“Indeed. In just thirty years of cultivation, he developed a second true body, and that second true body can slay a top-tier loose immortal. Such a genius… rare even in the Grand Xia imperial capital. The Shaoyan clan has such an enemy. In a few thousand or ten thousand years, Ji Ning and the Shaoyan clan will likely have many more conflicts,” Tiannong Quge said with a smile.

…