Chapter 4: The Palace of Immortals, the Palace of the Three Realms

Ji Ning walked out of the Daoist temple, where outside, the white-robed Jiang Jun, Xiaoqing, and Uncle Bai were all waiting.

"Master." Xiaoqing had already transformed into a green-clad maiden and called out joyfully.

The white-robed Jiang Jun also smiled at Ji Ning. "Now I should call you junior apprentice-brother."

"Senior apprentice-brother." Ji Ning replied.

The two temple boys showed surprise. The white-robed Jiang Jun laughed, "Qingshui, Baihe, the master has just accepted Ji Ning as a disciple. You two must remember this."

"Greetings, uncle-master." The two temple boys quickly addressed Ji Ning.

"Junior apprentice-brother Ji Ning." The white-robed Jiang Jun smiled. "Qingshui and Baihe are two innate spirit treasures incarnate, always attending to the master. Even I must announce myself and receive the master's permission to see him, but they serve him constantly, seeing him far more often than we disciples do."

Ji Ning, the Whitewater Hound, and Xiaoqing were all astonished.

Innate spirit treasures?

"Two junior apprentice-nephews." Ji Ning naturally did not put on airs.

"Uncle-master need not be polite. We are merely innate spirit treasures; cultivation is extremely difficult for us. How could we compare to the two uncles? Your cultivation speed far surpasses ours." The temple boy Qingshui said with a smile.

…

Innate gods and demons were those born from heaven and earth after Pangu split the heavens and earth.

Innate spirit treasures were treasures born from heaven and earth after Pangu split the heavens and earth.

Immortal cultivators generally refined mortal-grade, earth-grade, heaven-grade, immortal-grade, and even pure yang treasures! Even great powers could only refine pure yang treasures at most, which was the limit of deliberate refinement. However, pure yang treasures had spirits and could absorb the power of heaven and earth, comprehend the mysteries of heaven and earth, and with a very small chance, advance to the level of 'innate spirit treasures.'

"Junior apprentice-brother, this place has beautiful scenery and is quite secluded. It can serve as your residence on Mount Fangcun. You can place your portable cave estate here directly." The white-robed Jiang Jun led Ji Ning to a quiet spot. Not far away, a mountain stream flowed, red spirit fruits hung from branches, and occasionally immortal cranes flew by.

Ji Ning nodded. "Good, right here."

Coming to the Slanted Moon Three Stars Cave to learn the Dao, he didn't need to be picky about lodging. Besides, the place Senior Apprentice-Brother Jiang Jun had helped find was truly a fairyland.

"Whoosh."

The immortal estate descended directly, landing on the grassy ground.

"Mount Fangcun has spirit fruits and spring water. You can eat as you please." The white-robed Jiang Jun said. "There are many demon beasts on the mountain; remember, you must not kill them. You can kill and roast ordinary wild beasts that are only at the Houtian level."

"Mm." Ji Ning nodded.

"Only ordinary wild beasts?" Xiaoqing muttered beside him.

"Senior apprentice-brother, the master told me earlier that there are two Dao palaces on Mount Fangcun, encompassing everything." Ji Ning spoke.

"Right." The white-robed Jiang Jun nodded. "I'll take you there."

…

The place on the Slanted Moon Three Stars Cave that gathered the most gods, demons, and monsters was the 'Palace of Immortals.'

"That is the Palace of Immortals, one of the two Dao palaces." The white-robed Jiang Jun pointed at the nine-story palace in the distance. "The Palace of Immortals has nine levels, each encompassing everything: formations, puppets, the sword Dao, escape arts, thunder methods, magnetic light... all kinds of techniques, divine abilities, and secret arts are available. The higher the level, the more profound. The ninth level is naturally the most profound."

"The Palace of Immortals welcomes all. Any living being on Mount Fangcun can enter and study. However, the Dao is not lightly transmitted. Each technique and secret art has a simple trial; only by passing the trial can one learn it." The white-robed Jiang Jun said.

Ji Ning quickly asked, "Then can my two spirit beasts also study?"

"Of course." The white-robed Jiang Jun nodded. "Although the techniques and secret arts in the Palace of Immortals are not the most profound of our Slanted Moon Three Stars Cave, they far surpass the secret treasures of your Great Xia world."

"Are there techniques and secret arts of the Grand Dao of Space?" Xiaoqing asked with surprise and anticipation.

"Do you have many formations?" The Whitewater Hound was also excited.

"Far more than all of your Great Xia world combined." The white-robed Jiang Jun said confidently. "Even under the tutelage of Daoist Redbright, the number of techniques alone is less than that of my master. You can learn Qi Refining and Body Refining methods, formations, the Grand Dao of Space, the Grand Dao of Taiji... all of them, as long as you pass the simple trials."

Xiaoqing and the Whitewater Hound immediately understood that their opportunity had come.

In fact, anyone who could enter Mount Fangcun had some connection to Patriarch Bodhi. They might be Patriarch Bodhi's disciples or disciples' disciples, or servants or spirit beasts of some disciple. In short, they generally belonged to Patriarch Bodhi's command, so it was natural to allow all living beings on Mount Fangcun to enter and study.

"There are so many people, and many demons and gods." Ji Ning looked around. On the open ground outside the Palace of Immortals were countless figures, including flying birds, walking beasts, some great demons, and some strange-looking gods and demons.

"Senior apprentice-brother, what about the other Dao palace?" Ji Ning asked.

"There are two Dao palaces: one is the Palace of Immortals, and the other is the Palace of the Three Realms. The Palace of Immortals is open to all living beings on Mount Fangcun, but the Palace of the Three Realms can only be entered by the patriarch's direct disciples or those with the patriarch's permission!" Jiang Jun said. "Junior apprentice-brother, because your strength is weak, you are only a nominal disciple. However, the master treats you like a direct disciple, so you can also enter the Palace of the Three Realms. Your two spirit beasts cannot."

Ji Ning nodded in understanding.

"The Palace of the Three Realms houses the true great divine abilities and some terrifying secret arts of the Three Realms. They cannot be learned lightly. Even direct disciples, after learning a few, will be forbidden by the master from learning more." Jiang Jun said. "Being able to learn a few is already a great opportunity. Normally, an ordinary celestial immortal or god who learns one such technique is enough to roam the Three Realms unchallenged."

Ji Ning's heart burned with excitement.

These were all great abilities that could dominate the Three Realms!

"And generally, when you graduate, the master will bestow upon you the divine ability or secret art that best suits you." Jiang Jun smiled.

Ji Ning also remembered...

The master had said that upon graduation, he would give him two great benefits.

"The Palace of Immortals and the Palace of the Three Realms." Jiang Jun sighed. "Junior apprentice-brother, remember: you must obtain a technique or secret art from the ninth level of the Palace of Immortals before you can go to the Palace of the Three Realms."

"If you can't even get a technique from the ninth level, you naturally have no qualification to learn the methods in the Palace of the Three Realms." Jiang Jun said. "As for other living beings on Mount Fangcun, they are generally sent down the mountain after learning the abilities of the ninth level of the Palace of Immortals."

Ji Ning nodded.

This was the privilege of direct disciples! Although he was a nominal disciple, all his treatment was that of a direct disciple.

"The Palace of the Three Realms." Ji Ning's heart itched.

"Junior apprentice-brother, take your time looking around. If you need anything, you can come find me. I'm on the mountain; just ask anyone and you'll know." Jiang Jun said.

"Thank you, senior apprentice-brother." Ji Ning expressed his gratitude.

"It's nothing." Jiang Jun then drifted away. He had long passed the stage of learning arts and had reached the level of a Pure Yang True Immortal. He stayed on Mount Fangcun partly because he liked its tranquility and peace, and partly to occasionally listen to Patriarch Bodhi's lectures. After all, at his level, his aspiration was to become a Dao Ancestor.

Dao Ancestors were the most supreme existences in the Three Realms!

…

"The Palace of the Three Realms is really small." Xiaoqing muttered. "It's so unremarkable. At least, since it houses the most supreme great divine abilities and terrifying secret arts of the Three Realms, this Dao palace should be built with some grandeur, or at least a bit more immortal aura."

Ji Ning also blinked.

The distant 'Palace of the Three Realms' was just an ordinary pavilion, only a few zhang high. Outside the pavilion, a lean old man was lying there sleeping, with a fan on his chest. His snoring was loud, and Ji Ning could hear it clearly even from afar.

…

The Palace of Immortals.

Ji Ning, Xiaoqing, and the Whitewater Hound arrived at the Palace of Immortals. On the open ground outside, many humans, great demons, and gods looked at the three of them curiously.

"Who are these three? I've never seen them before."

"Me neither. They might have just come up the mountain."

"I saw Ancestral Teacher Jiang leading them earlier. Maybe the fur-clad youth is a disciple taken by Ancestral Teacher Jiang."

"Their auras are very weak. All three seem to be at the Wanxiang level."

"Mm, very weak."

This group of humans, demons, and gods discussed among themselves, clearly unaware of who Ji Ning and the others were.

At the main entrance of the Palace of Immortals stood a handsome man in a white robe, holding a white feather fan. He said calmly, "Silence."

Immediately, silence fell. All the humans, great demons, and gods on the open ground quieted down. This handsome man was the administrator of the Palace of Immortals; how could they dare to disrespect him? Moreover, this handsome man was a very terrifying ancient divine beast, with strength far surpassing each of them.

"Junior apprentice-brother Ji Ning." The handsome man smiled and nodded at Ji Ning. "My name is Silvermoon. You can call me Senior Apprentice-Brother Silvermoon. I already know about your matter."

"Ji Ning greets senior apprentice-brother." Ji Ning sensed an extremely terrifying aura from this handsome man, similar to that of 'Heaven-Covering Deity.'

Whoosh—

Those humans, great demons, and gods were all stunned.

Junior apprentice-brother? Old Demon Silvermoon actually called this fur-clad youth junior apprentice-brother? That meant... this fur-clad youth was a disciple of Patriarch Bodhi! Being accepted as a disciple by Patriarch Bodhi at only the Wanxiang level clearly showed such high regard that once he became a celestial immortal, he would certainly become a direct disciple.

"Mm."

The white-robed handsome man holding the feather fan looked at the nearby crowd of humans, great demons, and gods and said calmly, "Listen clearly. This Ji Ning is a newly accepted disciple of the patriarch. All of you must treat him with respect. Those who should call him uncle-master, call him uncle-master; those who should call him ancestral master, call him ancestral master."

"Greetings, uncle-master."

"Greetings, ancestral master."

One by one, the powerful humans, demons, and gods called out respectfully.

Ji Ning looked at these beings before him, all at the Yuan Shen or even Return to Void level. There were even several Return to Void gods and divine beasts. These Return to Void gods... were all at the level of that god from Yushan Great Wasteland back then. Yet they obediently called him uncle-master or ancestral master. Ji Ning felt a strange wonder.

"Junior apprentice-brother, come in." The white-robed handsome man said.

Ji Ning turned his head and looked at the first level of the Palace of Immortals. At the nearest spot, there was a row of tall bookshelves filled with countless books. On the bookshelf was a line of large characters: "Sweep the mountain path of Mount Fangcun once, and you may choose any one technique."

…