Chapter 13 Immortals and Gods

"Oh." Ji Ning quickly said, "I used up a lot of divine power in the previous battle, so I'll rest now."

Saying this, Ji Ning got up and walked deep into the cave. With a wave of his hand, the stone floor was cut smooth and level. Ji Ning lay down, pillowed his head on his hands, closed his eyes, and began to rest.

Though he appeared calm, Ji Ning's heart was somewhat unsettled.

"Why did I ask Senior Apprentice Sister if she had a Dao companion?" Ji Ning's thoughts were troubled. He was a clever man, a cultivator who had long understood his own heart, and soon realized the problem: "Could it be that I... toward Senior Apprentice Sister..."

"No, a Dao companion cannot be so casually decided."

"Is my heart ready?"

"Not yet! I'm not ready yet..."

Ji Ning turned over, suppressing everything deep in his heart.

Recalling the past six months of day-and-night companionship, life-and-death struggles, and the first time he met Senior Apprentice Sister until now, Ji Ning admitted that at first he had only normal feelings of fondness for her. Because Senior Apprentice Sister Yu Wei was different from Jiu Lian; many of Jiu Lian's ideas clashed with his own, as if they were from different worlds. But Senior Apprentice Sister Yu Wei shared many of his thoughts and had a very similar personality!

Background...

Fortunes...

Talent...

Senior Apprentice Sister and he were very alike. Senior Apprentice Sister was even more intelligent than he. Over these six months of constant companionship, it felt comfortable. The warmth she exuded silently had seeped into his heart. Especially just now, when Yu Wei was playing the flute, the sound truly penetrated his soul. Ji Ning could even feel her joy, pain, and sorrow...

That feeling of touching Senior Apprentice Sister's soul made Ji Ning sense her fragility, and he even wanted to embrace her.

That was why he couldn't help asking about Dao companions.

"A Dao companion is not a light matter." Ji Ning sighed silently in his heart.

...

Yu Wei watched Ji Ning lying deep in the cave, then got up and walked to the cave entrance. She sat at the entrance, looking out at the endless forested world. An illusion array at the entrance prevented outsiders from seeing inside.

Moonlight spilled over the cave entrance.

Yu Wei held her flute, hugging her knees and sitting silently.

"I can feel Ji Ning's heart."

"I held back before, wanting everything to just pass."

"But on the sixth day in the Brightmoon Diagram of the Mountains and Waters world, when I was in dire straits—the Diagram world was so vast—and Junior Apprentice Brother happened to arrive. Could fate be telling me that I should be with him?"

"But can I have a Dao companion? Can I still hope for one?"

Yu Wei looked at the bright moon in the high sky and silently asked, "Heaven, what should I do?"

Yu Wei understood that she had come to a crossroads.

If she was determined to be with Ji Ning, then the two of them might have a chance.

If she truly did not want to be together, then after leaving the Brightmoon Diagram world, she should leave Ji Ning and break it off cleanly.

...

As months passed, the number of Wanxiang Adepts in the Brightmoon Diagram world sharply decreased. Those still remaining were almost all prodigies whose explosive power could rival ordinary Earth Immortals.

On the imperial city square.

"Haha, now there are only a little over a thousand people in the Brightmoon Diagram, but our Black-White College accounts for three!" The Mad Immortal was very pleased. Other forces in Anchan Commandery, including the Anchan Northmont clan, could not compare with the Black-White College. The three disciples sent by the Black-White College were all too stunning.

"Even the Marquis of Anchan talked with me for so long, and other marquises, even the most顶尖 major tribes and sects, also came to speak with me." The Mad Immortal frowned. "But strange—although Ji Ning is also very impressive, when people came to talk to me, they mentioned Slacker the most."

He could sense that those major tribes and sects were showing goodwill to the Black-White College, and most eager to befriend Slacker. It seemed Ji Ning and Yu Wei were far inferior to "Slacker" in comparison.

"Strange, strange. Ji Ning is also very strong, and he's been cultivating for a shorter time." The Mad Immortal was puzzled.

...

"How strange." Lu Dongbin, who had woken up after sleeping for three months in the main hall of the Heavenly Fiend Palace, stared wide-eyed. "I slept for three months, and this girl named Yu Wei still hasn't formed a Dao companionship with Ji Ning?"

"A Dao companion is not a light matter!" The Pure Yang True Immortal, wearing a black Daoist robe with a blood-colored Taiji diagram, shook his head.

"Matters of love cannot be delayed!" Lu Dongbin shook his head. "From my experience traveling through three thousand major worlds and countless minor worlds, matters of love should be settled at the most critical moment! If delayed, the longer it goes, the harder it becomes to form a Dao companionship. I dare bet! This pair, Yu Wei and Ji Ning, if they are to become Dao companions, it will be within the Brightmoon Diagram. If they don't become Dao companions, once they leave the Brightmoon Diagram... without the day-and-night companionship and life-and-death struggles, it's even less likely!"

"Do you dare to bet?" Lu Dongbin looked around.

"Lu Dongbin, you great lover, spouting one principle after another—why don't you have a Dao companion yourself?" said the True Immortal with the blood-colored Taiji diagram.

"The onlooker sees clearly; the participant is confused." Lu Dongbin said lightly and then fell silent.

...

In a secluded valley, a maze formation was set up around it.

Ji Ning was sitting cross-legged on the grass.

Streams of water and flames swirled around him, and streams of lunar and solar power were absorbed into his body. Even though he was in the Brightmoon Diagram world, he could still cultivate the "Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens."

"Boom, boom, boom~~~"

A series of loud sounds came from within Ji Ning's body—the clash of bones and sinews, the roar of flesh and skin rapidly transforming.

At his current level, Ji Ning's physical body was already extremely powerful, not far from that of the Primordial-level divine demon Xiangliu Fang. Even a single exhaled breath could form a hurricane sweeping a thousand miles.

Gradually, everything calmed.

Ji Ning opened his eyes and revealed a smile.

"Junior Apprentice Brother?" Yu Wei, who had been guarding him, looked at Ji Ning expectantly.

"Mm, I've broken through." Ji Ning sighed with emotion. "It took several years in total to finally reach the twelfth level of the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens. But it's indeed different. The twelfth level... can rival the early Primordial stage of general divine body refiners. My divine body has even completely merged with my soul; I can feel my soul rapidly strengthening."

Divine body refinement and qi refinement are two paths.

When a divine demon reaches the Primordial level, they can directly split off a clone!

When reaching the Void level, pulling out a single hair can transform into a clone!

Now that Ji Ning had cultivated to the twelfth level, his body was very similar to the "Tortoise-Snake Primordial Spirit," both having the marvelous effect of nurturing the soul. It could also harmonize with the soul! The soul could merge into every part of the body—that is, Ji Ning's flesh and blood were no longer just flesh and blood; they also contained part of the soul. Hence, it could become an active "clone."

"The soul is rapidly strengthening?" Yu Wei quickly asked. "I've heard that the souls of divine demons are even stronger than those of ordinary Primordial Daoists."

"Right," Ji Ning nodded. "The nurturing effect of my divine body on the soul is even more astonishing than that of the Tortoise-Snake Primordial Spirit... Based on my previous experience cultivating a second soul, I estimate that my current divine demon body nurtures the soul five to six times faster than the Tortoise-Snake Primordial Spirit."

"No wonder divine body refinement is so powerful. It's said that the further one goes, the stronger it becomes, especially after passing the tribulation and becoming a Celestial Deity. A Celestial Deity has strength comparable to a Pure Yang True Immortal." Yu Wei sighed.

"Senior Apprentice Sister, you know about Celestial Deities and Pure Yang True Immortals?" Ji Ning was surprised.

"Don't forget, I'm a reincarnated immortal." Yu Wei nodded. "As far as I know, cultivation goes: Zifu Disciple, Wanxiang Adept, Primordial Daoist, Void Return Earth Immortal. After crossing the tribulation, one becomes a Celestial Immortal! Beyond Celestial Immortal is True Immortal, also called 'Pure Yang True Immortal.' Above Pure Yang True Immortal is Grand Supreme Golden Immortal, also called Grand Supreme Dao Ancestor, or simply Dao Ancestor! Dao Ancestors are the most顶尖 great powers in the Three Realms, absolute overlords, even higher in status than the Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Court!"

Ji Ning's eyes lit up.

These were things he didn't know. He had only been cultivating for a little over thirty years, and compared to Yu Wei, who had awakened her past life memories, his understanding of the Three Realms was indeed lacking.

"Grand Supreme Golden Immortal, also called Grand Supreme Dao Ancestor, Dao Ancestor?" Ji Ning murmured to himself.

"Mastering a Dao is one prerequisite for becoming a Celestial Immortal. Mastering a Grand Dao is one prerequisite for becoming a Pure Yang True Immortal. And mastering a Heavenly Dao is one prerequisite for becoming a Grand Supreme Dao Ancestor." Yu Wei said.

Ji Ning's heart trembled. Mastering a Heavenly Dao?

Even when the Black-White College's leader,碧海 Daoist, had spoken to him, he hadn't been this detailed. It seemed Senior Apprentice Sister Yu Wei's past life was not ordinary; at least she knew much more than碧海 Daoist.

"Since Pangu split Heaven and Earth, there have been ten Heavenly Daos in the universe! This is common knowledge among Celestial Immortals, and it was told to me by a Celestial Immortal." Yu Wei said.

"Ten Heavenly Daos?" Ji Ning quickly pressed, "Which ten?"

"They are: the Heavenly Dao of Metal, the Heavenly Dao of Wood, the Heavenly Dao of Water, the Heavenly Dao of Fire, the Heavenly Dao of Earth, the Heavenly Dao of Life, the Heavenly Dao of Destruction, the Heavenly Dao of Yin, the Heavenly Dao of Yang, and the Heavenly Dao of Chaos." Yu Wei said.

Ji Ning immediately memorized them.

Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Yin, Yang, Life, Destruction, Chaos!

"All things in heaven and earth are born from Chaos; all things are divided into Yin and Yang. The Three Realms are even more fundamentally based on the Five Elements." Yu Wei said. "For example, the Dao of Rainwater you comprehended actually belongs to the 'Grand Dao of Dripping Water.' And the Grand Dao of Dripping Water is subsumed under the Heavenly Dao of Water."

Ji Ning nodded.

Dao, Grand Dao, Heavenly Dao.

The Five Elements are the foundation of the Three Realms' operation, all being Heavenly Daos, which was within expectations.

"Mastering a Grand Dao is already extremely difficult." Yu Wei said. "As for mastering the legendary Heavenly Dao, only then is one qualified to be honored as 'Dao Ancestor.' After all, the Heavenly Dao is the source of all Daos; one who masters a Heavenly Dao can be called Dao Ancestor!"

Ji Ning understood.

The Three-Life Daoist was born mastering a Grand Dao, then comprehended many Grand Daos, but never mastered a Heavenly Dao.

"Grand Supreme Dao Ancestors stand high above, possessing inconceivable power, and are the overlords of the Three Realms." Yu Wei said. "Pure Yang True Immortals are the strong ones in the Three Realms! Dao Ancestors rarely act personally, so in the Three Realms, the most dazzling figures are actually the various Pure Yang True Immortals. As for Celestial Immortals, they are carefree and at ease, immortal, enough to guard a region. After all, Pure Yang True Immortals are very rare throughout the Three Realms, so Celestial Immortals still hold a high status."

Ji Ning nodded.

Only today did he learn... the various checkpoints on the path of cultivation.

"What about the path of divine demons?" Ji Ning quickly asked.

"When a divine demon crosses the tribulation, they become a Celestial Deity! A Celestial Deity is comparable to a Pure Yang True Immortal. Every Celestial Deity is a strong figure in the Three Realms." Yu Wei said. "Above Celestial Deities are True Gods! True Gods are generally true divine demons; they comprehend their own divine abilities, fight heaven and earth, and possess extremely terrifying power, fully comparable to Grand Supreme Golden Immortal Dao Ancestors!"

"True Gods are the highest level of divine demons... It is said that before the creation of heaven and earth, some divine demons were born in Chaos. The weak ones were Chaos Celestial Deities; the strong ones were Chaos True Gods! These were born standing at the apex of the Three Realms, terrifying existences without needing to cultivate."

...