Chapter 33: The Rahu Bow

Ji Ning's body shifted, and he instantly transformed into a three-headed, six-armed form, holding six top-grade immortal flying swords: the Thousand Bull Sword, the Plowshare Sword, and others.

Facing this third forbidden zone, Ji Ning dared not be careless. After preparing, he stepped inside, immediately reducing the distance to the divine demon corpse to within ten zhang, entering the range of the 'third forbidden zone'.

Boom~~~

Ning'er, eat a bit more.

In that achingly familiar hall, arm-thick candles sputtered and burned. The child Ji Ning sat before a low table, with a water jug and a basin of flatbread before him.

This... The child Ji Ning looked across.

Across from him sat a woman, her gaze full of maternal love, watching him: 'What are you staring at? Eat.'

Ji Ning turned his head to look at the seat of honor.

Sure enough, the handsome young man 'Ji Yichuan' sat there, frowning at Ji Ning as he coldly barked: 'What are you looking at? Don't get distracted while eating.'

'Yes, Father.' The child Ji Ning suddenly shed tears, lowered his head, grabbed a flatbread, and took large bites.

...

In a mountain valley.

A black-robed youth sat cross-legged in a crevice of the cliff wall, watching from afar as Ji Ning entered within ten zhang of the divine demon corpse. He shook his head: 'This third forbidden zone is not so easy to breach. It tests the softest part of the heart. No matter how strong your body, how mighty your divine power, or how high your sword arts, it's useless.'

...

The days when the child Ji Ning was with his parents were very happy.

Day after day passed, and the child Ji Ning also learned footwork and sword arts.

One night.

The child Ji Ning came to the door of his parents' room. Outside, a maidservant was dozing. Seeing the child Ji Ning approach, she was surprised but did not stop him. Ji Ning knocked on the door.

Creak. The door opened.

Ji Yichuan, clad in animal skins, opened the door. Seeing his son, he frowned coldly: 'It's so late, why aren't you asleep? What are you doing here?' At that moment, his mother Yuchi Xue also got up and came over, smiling as she patted the child Ji Ning's head: 'Go to sleep, it's already late at night.'

'Father, Mother.' The child Ji Ning suddenly spoke.

'Hmm?' Ji Yichuan and Yuchi Xue both looked at their son.

'I want to hug you both.' The child Ji Ning said.

Ji Yichuan was puzzled, but Yuchi Xue laughed: 'You child.' She immediately picked Ji Ning up.

Held by his mother, Ji Ning reached out to hug her, and with his other hand, he also hugged his father.

'Father.' The child Ji Ning looked at his father.

'You really...' Ji Yichuan gently shook his head but still moved closer, letting Ji Ning hug him.

With one hand hugging his father and the other hugging his mother.

Ji Ning leaned against his parents, smelling their scent, closed his eyes, tears streaming, and whispered: 'I really wish this could go on forever, but my memories are already growing fainter.'

'Ning'er?' Yuchi Xue looked at Ji Ning, and Ji Yichuan looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning looked up, tears blurring his eyes, and gazed at his parents like this.

'Wake up.'

'Wake up.'

'Wake up!' The entire illusion world echoed with Ji Ning's unwilling roar, which resounded through the illusion world, shattering it into pieces as everything began to disappear.

...

One illusion world after another—greed, attachment, delusion, demon—each stirred the softest depths of the heart.

'How is this possible?' The black-robed youth in the corner of the valley stared in astonishment at the scene before him. Ji Ning had lingered for over half an hour at the first step into the third forbidden zone, but later each step took less than the time for a cup of tea. Step by step, he advanced, one illusion per step, until finally all illusions dissipated.

The black-robed youth smiled and sighed softly: 'So it's him.' Then he vanished into thin air.

...

Ji Ning walked to the side of the divine demon corpse and fully awakened.

He looked at the massive, ancient divine demon corpse before him, at the damaged armor still on its body, the large black bow with a broken string, and the two scattered arrows.

'Master, thank you.'

Ji Ning's gaze drifted, and he murmured softly: 'Though the time in that illusion world was brief, it was the happiest days since I left Mount Yan. This makes me happier than any treasure left by this divine demon.'

Ji Ning understood.

These three forbidden zones were left by Patriarch Subhuti. When the ancient Pangu World shattered, the fragments were moved by Patriarch Subhuti into his Slanting Moon Great World, and the seals were naturally set by Patriarch Subhuti himself. As for which disciples would obtain the treasures left from the ancient world, it was all a matter of fate.

'Little one.' Suddenly, the figure of the black-robed youth appeared on the large black bow, saying smugly, 'Didn't expect that, did you?'

'You are...' Ji Ning was surprised. 'A treasure spirit?'

'Of course! When I said I was a Celestial Immortal, I was just teasing you. I never thought you'd actually pass the third forbidden zone. According to what Patriarch Subhuti said back then, anyone who can break through this third forbidden zone must have an extremely formidable Dao-heart.' The black-robed youth sighed. 'Though you haven't yet overcome the tribulation to become a Celestial Immortal, you're not bad at all.'

Ji Ning smiled lightly.

'You don't seem very excited?' The black-robed youth sat cross-legged on the large black bow, startled. 'Do you not know who I am? Let me tell you, I am one of the top ten divine bows of the ancient Pangu World, a top-grade先天 spirit-treasure!'

'A先天 spirit-treasure? Impressive.' Ji Ning smiled and praised.

'But I don't feel you're excited.' The black-robed youth frowned.

'Because I've already obtained something more precious.' Ji Ning smiled. 'Why don't you introduce yourself and this ancient divine demon?'

The black-robed youth nodded: 'In the ancient Pangu World, mighty figures slew an extremely fearsome existence named 'Rahu,' then used some materials from Rahu's corpse, added countless precious materials, and finally refined a pure yang top-grade spirit-treasure—that is me, named 'Rahu Bow.' After I was refined, over long ages, my spirituality gradually grew stronger, and I eventually transformed into a先天 spirit-treasure. As soon as I broke through, I became a top-grade先天 spirit-treasure.'

'Oh.' Ji Ning nodded.

'Oh what? I am one of the top ten divine bows of the ancient era. Only the 'Houyi Bow,' ranked first, is absolutely number one; others like the Qiankun Bow, Xuanming Bow, and so on are on par with me.' The black-robed youth said proudly. 'Even during that great calamity, all of my master's pure yang treasures were damaged, and their treasure spirits were extinguished. Only I remained with my spirituality intact.'

Ji Ning said with a smile: 'But your bowstring is broken.'

'The bowstring is broken; you can just get me a new one, can't you?' The black-robed youth shook his head. 'You see, for a 'divine bow' like me, the most important part is the bow body, which can be imbued with many powers. Of course, the bowstring is also important. I'll guide you later on what kind of bowstring to choose and how to refine one.'

'Mm.' Ji Ning asked, 'How do I refine you?'

'Just refine me with your elemental power, and I'll help you.' The black-robed youth said. 'I've been trapped here for endless ages; I'm bored to death.'

'Alright.'

Ji Ning immediately began the refinement.

Generally, for man-made treasures of the mortal, earth, heaven, immortal, and pure yang levels, there are requirements for elemental power. For example, immortal-level treasures require at least the Void Realm to refine, and pure yang treasures require at least a Celestial Immortal.

But先天 spirit-treasures, which seize the wonders of heaven and earth, are mysterious and extraordinary. If a先天 spirit-treasure is willing, even a mortal can use it!

If unwilling, even a Celestial Immortal cannot refine it. A Pure Yang True Immortal might be able to 'forcefully refine' it, but if the先天 spirit-treasure actively resists, the refinement becomes very difficult and must be completed in one go. If interrupted midway, all progress is lost, and one must start over.

Thus, refining a '先天 spirit-treasure' is quite troublesome. Fortunately, the 'Rahu Bow' had a good impression of Ji Ning, as he had broken through the three forbidden zones and earned its recognition.

...

After a short while, the refinement succeeded.

Holding the Rahu Bow, Ji Ning felt an endless, profound power emanating from within—a power both sinister and carrying the fluctuation of water, deep and mighty.

'Collect.' Ji Ning waved his hand, and the divine demon corpse beside him was directly stored away.

Instantly, the ancient formations and restrictions in the Quya Mountains began to dissipate on their own. Where divine sense had been blocked, it could now probe freely.

Ji Ning swept his divine sense and discovered the Golden-Furred Bear Demon King and the Boundless Celestial Immortal outside the valley.

'Time to go back.' Ji Ning shot into the sky, and once high above, he performed a spatial teleportation, disappearing with a ripple of space.

'Divine sense?'

The Golden-Furred Bear Demon King and Boundless Celestial Immortal were both startled. In this treasure ground, divine sense could not be used, but they had just sensed it.

'The restrictions are gone.'

'The lightning forbidden zone is gone too.' They soon discovered that the terrifying fluctuations that had made their hearts pound were also gone. When they rushed into the valley, it was already empty.

The entire Quya Mountains had become ordinary mountains, though still with some peculiarities, but nothing significant.

'The treasure... was obtained by Uncle-Master Northmont.' Boundless Patriarch understood.

...

Ji Ning returned to Mount Innerheart.

He rested for a day, then went to the forests of Mount Innerheart, where a purple great bow appeared in his hand—a heaven-grade treasure.

'The trial of Houyi's Archery is not easy.'

Thinking of the trial content recorded in the Houyi Archery manual, Ji Ning felt a headache.

It was too difficult.

It was the hardest trial in the Three Realms Palace.

'Little junior apprentice-brother.' Suddenly a voice sounded.

Ji Ning turned to look. A dark-skinned man carrying an axe, wearing straw sandals and a straw hat, was walking by in the distance, calling out with a smile.

'Senior apprentice-brother.' Ji Ning quickly responded. Mount Innerheart was vast, and he had come out of the Slanting Moon Three-Star Cave into the forest to practice archery, needing space. It was rare to run into Senior Apprentice-Brother.

'What brings you here?' the woodcutter called out.

'I want to practice archery.' Ji Ning replied.

'Oh?' The woodcutter looked at the great bow in Ji Ning's hand and asked, 'Houyi's Archery?'

'Mm.' Ji Ning nodded. 'Just the trial of Houyi's Archery.'

'That's not easy. Practice well.' The woodcutter smiled and nodded, then carried his axe and ambled away.

...