Chapter 29: Ji Ning Takes the Stage

"It's hard to say who will win or lose." Lü Dongbin watched, speaking softly. "Those two really are alike... their fighting styles are both grand and imposing, crushing opponents with absolute power."

"Mm." The Xia Emperor and the others nodded.

Mu Chuan the True Man and Slovenly the True Man were very similar.

Both were extremely skilled at defense!

And offense? Slovenly the True Man fought bare-handed, while Mu Chuan the True Man was slightly better, using six great hammers. But the hammers were essentially 'oversized fists'! It was just that Mu Chuan the True Man lacked the 'Black Tortoise Great Divine Power,' so he naturally dared not fight bare-handed. Slovenly the True Man's bare hands were absolutely no less formidable than those hammer treasures.

"Boom, boom, boom~~~"

The two clashed head-on.

Slovenly the True Man was like a tidal wave, each wave more fierce and terrifying than the last.

Mu Chuan the True Man, however, was full of tenacity, his six arms wielding six great hammers as he counterattacked again and again.

Hammers and fists clashed with booming sounds!

"So similar." Ji Ning, standing behind King Yan, couldn't help murmuring. "Senior apprentice-brother and this Mu Chuan the True Man both have such grand and imposing offensive methods... but it's precisely this grandness that makes them harder to resist."

Both were absolutely strong in defense, then they clashed head-on!

When other peerless geniuses encountered them, they would likely have their divine power exhausted and be forced to concede!

"Senior apprentice-brother is like a Black Tortoise divine beast."

"Mu Chuan the True Man is like a moving towering tree."

Just as Ji Ning was absorbing experience and pondering, suddenly—

Slovenly the True Man, whose momentum had been growing increasingly狂暴, abruptly paused. The wave-like offensive instantly halted. Mu Chuan the True Man immediately spotted this flaw and drove a hammer straight into Slovenly the True Man's chest.

"Boom!!!" That hammer strike was immensely heavy. The tortoise-shell patterns on Slovenly the True Man's body surface cracked, and blood sprayed from his mouth.

Boom, boom, boom!

Mu Chuan the True Man swung his hammers in succession, pressing his advantage relentlessly. Slovenly the True Man was struck several times in an instant and was severely wounded. He struggled to defend himself while shouting, "I concede!"

Whoosh!

Mu Chuan the True Man immediately withdrew, his hammers disappearing, and he returned to normal size.

Slovenly the True Man also returned to normal size. He looked at Mu Chuan the True Man with a hint of helplessness: "I lost, but I am convinced."

"You were clearly putting me on the defensive with your attacks. Why did you suddenly stop?" Mu Chuan the True Man asked in confusion. "Your offensive was growing fiercer... if it had continued, I might have lost."

"If this Stacking Waves secret art could endlessly叠加 and erupt, wouldn't it be invincible?" Slovenly the True Man shook his head.

Mu Chuan the True Man understood.

Indeed.

This was a secret art that叠加 like waves; if it kept叠加, how could that be?

"Being able to sustain this secret art for so long is the longest I've ever managed in all these years." Slovenly the True Man shook his head and laughed. "Regardless, this Immortal Destiny Assembly has been a great tempering for me, and my Stacking Waves secret art has improved greatly."

Mu Chuan the True Man immediately felt admiration for Slovenly the True Man.

The top three—that was a chance to be taken as a disciple by a Dao Ancestor. Missing such a supreme opportunity dealt a heavy blow to one's confidence. Yet Slovenly the True Man could recover instantly and even laugh. This alone earned him Mu Chuan the True Man's deep respect.

Moreover, during their fight, Mu Chuan the True Man had realized that their temperaments and paths were very similar!

The path of immortal cultivation was so arduous; finding another formidable person so similar to oneself was like finding a kindred spirit. Mu Chuan the True Man also felt a mutual admiration.

"Congratulations, Daoist Mu Chuan." Slovenly the True Man smiled.

"This battle with you, Daoist Slovenly, has truly been a joy. On the path of cultivation, it's rare to meet a kindred spirit. You are like a kindred spirit to me... If you have time, you must visit the Southern Sea. I will sometimes visit the Black-White College in Anchan Commandery." Mu Chuan the True Man said.

"Certainly." Slovenly the True Man nodded. After this battle, he too had greatly increased his fondness for Mu Chuan the True Man.

Some people, even if never met before,

can become kindred spirits upon first contact!

Slovenly the True Man and Mu Chuan the True Man were such people—their Dao-hearts, their convictions, their thoughts were so alike. A kindred spirit is hard to find!

...

The Xia Emperor, Lü Dongbin, and the other Pure Yang True Immortals nodded silently. Earlier, when Mu Chuan the True Man suddenly displayed another Grand Dao, they had already found it hard to judge the outcome.

Mu Chuan the True Man's victory was also within reason.

"The Stacking Waves secret art has its limits; once it reaches a certain level, it collapses and becomes uncontrollable." Lü Dongbin nodded. "Even when the Black Tortoise Great Emperor himself uses it, though it doesn't collapse, it can't increase further once it reaches its limit. For Slovenly the True Man to sustain the Stacking Waves secret art for so long is quite remarkable."

"This Mu Chuan the True Man is also remarkable, able to defeat the Black Tortoise Great Emperor's disciple." Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva spoke, his gaze falling on Mu Chuan the True Man with evident favor.

"It's normal for Slovenly the True Man to be defeated." The Xia Emperor said, "When Slovenly the True Man first entered the Black-White College in Anchan Commandery, he was just an ordinary disciple. But later, he grew increasingly powerful. He is the type who shines brighter the further he cultivates, with extremely fierce momentum. In terms of cultivation time, Slovenly the True Man is much shorter than Mu Chuan the True Man. Losing by a narrow margin is not surprising. I suspect that if they were given another hundred years of cultivation, Slovenly the True Man would be able to defeat Mu Chuan the True Man."

"Mm."

"Great potential."

One by one, they nodded.

Shining brilliantly in the earliest stages of cultivation is very common in the Three Realms.

What is truly rare is someone who not only shines early but can also cultivate all the way to the Yuan Shen, Return to Void Earth Immortal, and even Celestial Immortal and True Immortal stages—someone whose 'potential' grows stronger as they progress. Such a person is a true uncut jade; the more they are carved, the more they shine. Clearly, Slovenly the True Man is such a person.

In his youth, he was very unremarkable. Later, when he entered the Black-White College, he was merely an ordinary disciple. Later still, he became the number one disciple of the third generation. Now, at the Immortal Destiny Assembly, he shines so brightly!

Such a surge is clearly terrifying.

"Most importantly... the Dao-heart!" Lü Dongbin sighed. "I can see that Slovenly the True Man does not know that the Black Tortoise Great Emperor has taken a liking to him. He has been striving with all his might to break into the top three and become a disciple of Lord Redbright. But losing that battle just now should have been a huge blow. Yet he recovered his composure in an instant and could even laugh. Such a Dao-heart is extraordinary."

"Mm." Everyone nodded.

The more this group of Pure Yang True Immortals observed, the more they discovered Slovenly the True Man's merits, which explained why he was taken as a disciple by the Black Tortoise Great Emperor.

...

The first battle determined the first candidate for the top three—Mu Chuan the True Man!

This left the group from the Black-White College—Madman Five Immortal, Mu Zishuo, Cangjiang the True Man, and many others—deeply regretful. Ji Ning also shook his head and sighed. There was nothing to say about this loss; the two had clashed head-on, and in the end, Slovenly the True Man lost.

...

The second battle began!

Blackstone the True Man versus Cangwu Jiu!

"Slovenly." Wei Chi Xiyue chatted with Slovenly the True Man. "You have good judgment. Can you tell who will win between Blackstone the True Man and Cangwu Jiu?"

At that moment, outside, the two were already fighting within the sealing formation.

"Let me watch first." Slovenly the True Man appeared casual, but he watched intently. After just one breath of time, he nodded lightly. "Blackstone the True Man has the advantage and is more likely to win."

"Oh?" Wei Chi Xiyue was puzzled. "Cangwu Jiu seems very fierce and incredibly fast. Why do you say Blackstone the True Man is more likely to win?"

Wei Chi Xiyue actually wanted to ask Ji Ning.

But since this was the second battle and the next would be Ji Ning's turn, she naturally dared not disturb him.

Slovenly the True Man laughed: "Blackstone the True Man is skilled in the Fuxi Staff Formation. With his formation, he has already rendered Cangwu Jiu's speed almost useless. Blackstone the True Man can hide within the formation, and Cangwu Jiu has no way to find him. The entire battle situation is completely controlled by Blackstone the True Man. He can attack when he wants and retreat when he wants!"

"If that's the case, with his formation, wouldn't Blackstone the True Man be invincible?" Wei Chi Xiyue was puzzled.

"No." Slovenly the True Man shook his head. "This battle must determine a victor. Although Cangwu Jiu is trapped in the formation, if Blackstone the True Man does not attack, Cangwu Jiu can leisurely wait in the formation. His divine power and elemental energy are not consumed at all, while Blackstone the True Man must maintain the powerful formation, which naturally consumes elemental energy. Moreover, if the delay drags on, the Emperor might order Blackstone the True Man to attack. Otherwise, how long would this stalemate last?"

Wei Chi Xiyue nodded lightly.

"So the final outcome still depends on Blackstone the True Man's close combat! Of course, he can use the formation's advantages..."

"From their close combat earlier, Blackstone the True Man is not inferior to Cangwu Jiu!"

"With close combat being even, and the formation controlling the situation, Cangwu Jiu's speed cannot be utilized. In this battle... Cangwu Jiu is completely countered and should lose."

Just as Slovenly the True Man finished speaking,

Cangwu Jiu, trapped in the formation like an eagle in a cage, was wounded again and again. Finally, Blackstone the True Man seized an opportunity and severely injured him, forcing Cangwu Jiu to utter the most unwilling words: "I concede!"

Thus, the second candidate for the top three was determined—Blackstone the True Man!

"Xiamang, you didn't want Cangwu Jiu to enter the top three, did you? If he had faced Ji Ning, Xiamang Zishan, Slovenly the True Man, or Mu Chuan the True Man, he could have used his speed and movement techniques. Only against Blackstone the True Man, who is skilled in the Fuxi Staff Formation, is he at a disadvantage." Lü Dongbin teased.

"The Cangwu clan's ambitions are a bit too great." The Xia Emperor said calmly.

He was suppressing them!

Those great tribes all had profound foundations; given an opportunity, they could soar to the heavens. He had Ji Ning fight Shaoyan Xuan and Blackstone the True Man fight Cangwu Jiu—all were calculated suppressions.

As for Ji Ning, Mu Chuan the True Man, and the others, none came from great tribes.

...

The third battle was about to begin.

"Ji Ning, be careful." Yu Wei held Ji Ning's hand and said softly.

Ji Ning nodded lightly, then rose and walked toward the sealing formation outside the great hall!

...