Chapter 39: The Most Mysterious Dao Ancestor

The white-robed, long-haired youth laughed heartily. "Young friend Ji Ning, you're far too tense. You don't even know who I am, yet you ask what I'm here for—isn't that a bit hasty?"

Ji Ning muttered inwardly.

Tense?

With a Pure Yang True Immortal sitting right in front of him, how could he not be tense? After the Immortal Fortune Convention, Ji Ning understood that True Immortals and Celestial Gods, unless they truly took a liking to someone, wouldn't care about so-called geniuses. After all, no matter how many geniuses there were, how many could survive the tribulation and become Celestial Immortals? Let alone become Pure Yang True Immortals.

"May I ask your name, senior?" Ji Ning asked.

"I am a carefree wanderer in the Three Realms, born in the primordial world and attained the Dao there. My name is Jiang Jun," the white-robed, long-haired youth sighed. "I rarely travel outside, and even when I do, I seldom use my real name. So very few know of me."

Then he winked at Ji Ning. "I've told you my real name."

Ji Ning relaxed a little—it seemed this person meant him no harm.

"Also, don't call me 'senior'; just call me Brother Jiang," the white-robed Jiang Jun said.

Ji Ning was startled.

Brother Jiang? A Pure Yang True Immortal asking him to call him 'Brother Jiang'? Ji Ning wasn't a fool; he understood the implications.

"It seems if I don't make my purpose clear, you won't be able to calm down, young fellow," the white-robed Jiang Jun said, glancing at the nearby Little Qing and the Whitewater Hound. "Have your two spirit beasts withdraw."

"Alright," Ji Ning immediately agreed, letting Uncle White and Little Qing leave first. With a Pure Yang True Immortal's strength, he could easily crush Ji Ning, so Ji Ning naturally obeyed.

...

In the pavilion, only Ji Ning and the white-robed Jiang Jun sat facing each other.

"I'm sure you've guessed by now. Today, I came on my master's orders to fetch you," the white-robed Jiang Jun laughed. "In other words, my master wants to take you as a disciple, and you'll become my junior apprentice-brother."

Ji Ning held his breath and couldn't help asking, "Then who is Brother Jiang's master?"

"Naturally, one of the most supreme powers in the Three Realms, a figure at the level of a Dao Ancestor," the white-robed Jiang Jun said.

Ji Ning's eyes lit up.

Indeed, when the other had asked him to call him 'Brother Jiang,' he had some expectations. But facing it now, he still found it unbelievable.

A Dao Ancestor!

He had fought tooth and nail to win first place in the Immortal Fortune Convention, yet even the Redbright Dao Ancestor hadn't chosen him as a disciple. The Ragged Daoist had been chosen by the Black Tortoise Grand Emperor. Helpless, Ji Ning had already prepared to settle for being a disciple of a Pure Yang True Immortal. Now, suddenly, a Pure Yang True Immortal named Jiang Jun appeared, claiming to come on his master's behalf!

"Ji Ning." The voice of the yellow-furred bear suddenly rang in Ji Ning's mind. "This Jiang Jun says he was born in the primordial era and attained the Dao there. But I've never heard of him, and he says his master is a Dao Ancestor... We must find out which Dao Ancestor. Among the Dao Ancestors of the Three Realms, some were good friends with my master, Three-Life Daoist, while others were mortal enemies. Don't end up taking refuge with an enemy of Three-Life Daoist. With a Dao Ancestor's insight, if you study the Dao under him for long, you'll inevitably reveal clues and expose your connection to Three-Life Daoist. If you become a disciple of Three-Life Daoist's enemy, you'd be walking right into a trap."

Ji Ning was jolted awake.

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.

"May I ask which Dao Ancestor?" Ji Ning asked.

The white-robed Jiang Jun's eyes were filled with reverence as he said:

"My master came from Chaos and was a good friend of Pangu and Nuwa."

"He rose to fame in the primordial era and once slew several Fiendgod Dao Ancestors."

"His name is known in the Three Realms, yet few have ever seen him."

"He is versed in both Buddhism and Daoism, and knows all affairs of the Three Realms in a single dream."

"He has many disciples, but the world knows none of them."

"If you ask who is the most mysterious in the Three Realms, it is my master!"

The white-robed Jiang Jun shook his head and recited.

Ji Ning was stunned. "Who exactly is it?"

"The Bodhi Dao Ancestor of the Diagonal Moon Cave at Mount Fangcun!" The white-robed Jiang Jun's eyes lit up as he looked at Ji Ning with a smile.

"It's him, it's him, the Diagonal Moon Cave... the most mysterious Dao Ancestor! Ji Ning, you've hit the jackpot! Haha... you've really hit the jackpot! The Bodhi Dao Ancestor knows of you! He knows of your existence! How did he find out?" The yellow-furred bear's voice rang excitedly in Ji Ning's mind.

"Is it necessary to be so excited?" Ji Ning asked inwardly.

"Of course it is! You have no idea of his reputation! Ji Ning, let me tell you this—when it comes to teaching disciples, the Bodhi Dao Ancestor is absolutely the best in the Three Realms. What Jiang Jun said is true: the Bodhi Dao Ancestor has indeed taught many powerful disciples. But the Bodhi Dao Ancestor has a rule: after his disciples complete their training, without his permission, they are forbidden from revealing that they are his disciples. So many powerful rogue cultivators in the primordial era were actually disciples of the Bodhi Dao Ancestor!"

"Ordinary people might not know, but my master, Three-Life Daoist, understood and knew the Bodhi Dao Ancestor's power." The yellow-furred bear said excitedly.

"Oh," Ji Ning responded. "Why is he the most mysterious?"

"Yes, he is indeed the most mysterious Dao Ancestor!" The yellow-furred bear affirmed. "In the Three Realms, even Pangu and Nuwa are not as mysterious as him. To this day, no one knows where his cave-dwelling is. Unless he allows it, no one can find his cave-dwelling."

"The cave-dwellings of other great powers in the Three Realms can be found, after all, great powers must interact with the outside world and even invite friends to their caves."

"The Bodhi Dao Ancestor has taken many disciples and even invited friends to his cave. But whether it's his disciples or his friends, once they leave that cave, they can never find it again. You must know that his friends are at the level of True Gods and Dao Ancestors—they have personally entered that cave, yet after leaving, they can't find it. Isn't that strange? Isn't that mysterious?"

"So mysterious?" Ji Ning was astonished.

A Dao Ancestor was a great power of the Three Realms, one who grasped the Heavenly Dao.

Having personally been to a place, and then unable to find it upon leaving?

Strange indeed.

"No one knows where his cave-dwelling is. Even his many disciples, who have cultivated in that cave for years, still can't find it. Unless the Bodhi Dao Ancestor nods, his disciples can't return," the yellow-furred bear sighed. "Back then, my master Three-Life Daoist once said... among the many great powers of the primordial world, in terms of survival and self-preservation, Goddess Nuwa ranked first, followed closely by this mysteriously renowned Patriarch Bodhi."

"Patriarch Bodhi is unfathomably mysterious. Other great powers can't even find his cave-dwelling—you can imagine how powerful his self-preservation abilities are," the yellow-furred bear sighed. "If my master had such self-preservation abilities, he would surely have lived to this day."

Ji Ning was dumbfounded.

This was truly an anomaly among the great powers of the Three Realms—no one could find his cave, and in terms of self-preservation, he was second only to Goddess Nuwa.

"Patriarch Bodhi cultivates both Buddhism and Daoism, knows the Three Realms in a single dream, and his strength is unfathomable. Jiang Jun said that Patriarch Bodhi once slew Fiendgod Dao Ancestors. I'm not entirely sure, but it should be correct—there should be True Gods and Dao Ancestors who died at his hands, and more than one." The yellow-furred bear said.

"What a formidable existence," Ji Ning thought, deeply shaken.

"Most importantly, your master Three-Life Daoist and the Bodhi Dao Ancestor were close friends!" The yellow-furred bear said excitedly. "True close friends. My master Three-Life Daoist's relationship with him was even closer than with the Redbright Dao Ancestor. Back when my master forged this Water Mansion, he even invited Patriarch Bodhi to help!"

"Ah." Ji Ning understood how good the relationship between Three-Life Daoist and Patriarch Bodhi was.

"Given Patriarch Bodhi's status, he would certainly not harm you, nor would he deign to do so," the yellow-furred bear said.

...

As Ji Ning conversed inwardly with the yellow-furred bear, his face couldn't help but show shock.

The white-robed Jiang Jun across from him laughed. "My master knows the Three Realms in a single dream. Your Great Xia's Immortal Fortune Convention... my master discovered it in a dream, as if he were there in person. At the convention, my master didn't fancy anyone else—only you."

"As if he were there in person?" Ji Ning suddenly understood.

True Immortals and Celestial Gods might find it hard to detect the Star Picking Hand.

But great powers could detect it, especially one who was a close friend of Three-Life Daoist.

"Also, my master told me to bring a message: 'How is the little yellow bear doing lately?'" The white-robed Jiang Jun said. "He said that as long as I brought this message, you would come with me."

Ji Ning's heart raced.

Little yellow bear? That must refer to the spirit of the Water Mansion!

"Ji Ning, the Bodhi Dao Ancestor knows the Three Realms in a single dream. He must have discovered your Star Picking Hand and guessed that you are Three-Life Daoist's successor. So he personally sent someone to take you away," the yellow-furred bear's voice was full of excitement. "Go quickly, go quickly! Once you reach Patriarch Bodhi's place, you'll find out how my master is now."

The spirit of the Water Mansion was eager to know whether its master was alive or dead.

...

While Ji Ning was conversing with the white-robed Jiang Jun, the Prince of Qi had arrived at the Prince of Yan's manor.

"The Immortal Fortune Convention has just ended—why have you come to see me?" The Prince of Yan laughed.

"Of course it's about Ji Ning," the Prince of Qi laughed. "His Majesty personally went to see Senior Uncle Changqing. You know Senior Uncle Changqing's temperament—he doesn't like teaching disciples and is very reclusive. But this time, it was a decree from the Dao Ancestor... so Senior Uncle Changqing nodded and decided to take Ji Ning as a disciple."

"Oh, Senior Uncle Changqing is a sword immortal, and Ji Ning is a natural sword immortal prodigy. He is indeed suitable to teach Ji Ning. But I'm worried about Senior Uncle Changqing's..." The Prince of Yan said with concern.

"That's not for us to worry about," the Prince of Qi shook his head. "I am here on His Majesty's orders to deliver Senior Uncle Changqing's token to Ji Ning."

"It seems Ji Ning will become a disciple of Senior Uncle Changqing," the Prince of Yan said.

Because of his granddaughter, the Prince of Yan also hoped that Ji Ning could take a good teacher. But among the Pure Yang True Immortal-level sword immortals of the Redbright Dao Ancestor's lineage, there was only the Evergreen Sword Immortal.

As the two chatted and laughed, they had already reached the gate of Ji Ning's immortal mansion.

"Ji Ning." The Prince of Yan called out.

...