Chapter 1 Ji Ning Is Still Alive

Within the Black-White College, there were numerous peaks, and the mansions of formal disciples were generally located on a single peak. On the mountain path of an unnamed peak in the Black-White College.

A curved moon hung high in the sky, its hazy moonlight falling like a gauze garment on Ji Ning and Yu Wei. Ji Ning and Yu Wei were holding hands, walking along the mountain path like mortals.

"How wonderful." Yu Wei said softly.

"Hm?" Ji Ning looked at Yu Wei.

Yu Wei glanced at Ji Ning with a smile. Yu Wei was already like a fairy descended to the mortal world, a true peerless beauty. At this moment, this smile from the depths of her heart made Ji Ning momentarily lose his composure. Yu Wei said, "All these years, I have not had a single moment of peace in my heart, always feeling flustered. Holding Junior Apprentice Brother's hand, I feel incomparably at ease, not flustered at all."

"It was my recklessness." Ji Ning said shamefully. Last time, when dealing with the Shaoyin clan, he had indeed been arrogant.

"Don't blame yourself, Junior Apprentice Brother. Who could have imagined there would be a 'World-Boundary Tower' such a先天 spiritual treasure? After all, it is extremely rare for a Celestial Immortal to possess a先天 spiritual treasure. Even if one possesses one, one that can tear through space and teleport is even rarer." Yu Wei said.

Ji Ning smiled: "Let's not talk about that. Senior Apprentice Sister, I haven't yet congratulated you on becoming a Celestial Immortal! You are even faster than me."

"Having become a Celestial Immortal, I am still in a mess." Yu Wei lightly kicked a pebble on the mountain path. The pebble flew up, hit a distant tree, and shook some snow off the tree.

"What's wrong?" Ji Ning asked.

"You have been away for over eighteen years, and Anchan Commandery has changed greatly." Yu Wei said, "For example, the current Marquis of Anchan is no longer Beishan Yin, but Beishan Blacktiger."

"Eh?" Ji Ning was puzzled, "Beishan Blacktiger?"

Back then, Beishan Blacktiger and Beishan Yin competed for the marquis position, and ultimately Beishan Yin won.

Even after Ji Ning returned from Mount Square Inch and formed an alliance with Celestial Immortal Tonghe and Celestial Immortal Tuoshan, the Anchan Beishan clan did not change Beishan Yin's position. How could it be that after he disappeared for eighteen years, Beishan Blacktiger had taken the position?

"Beishan Yin is dead." Yu Wei said.

"What? Has Anchan Commandery become so chaotic that even the Marquis of Anchan was assassinated?" Ji Ning was shocked.

"It's more chaotic than you think." Yu Wei said, "Beishan Yin was not assassinated, but killed by Celestial Immortal Tonghe. The reason he was killed was that more than half of the high-level members of the Anchan Beishan clan had defected to the Abyss Gate. When they proposed to Celestial Immortal Tonghe that they should defect to the Abyss Gate, all those who had already defected, including the secretly instigating Beishan Yin, were killed, not one left."

Ji Ning was truly shocked: "How could this happen?"

"It all starts with Celestial Immortal Tuoshan being captured alive." Yu Wei began to narrate, starting from when she and Celestial Immortal Tuoshan were ambushed... and even spoke of many situations in the entire Great Xia.

At the mountaintop.

Ji Ning and Yu Wei both sat on the cliff top, looking at the night scene.

"I didn't expect the Abyss Gate to be so arrogant." Ji Ning frowned, "Before, the Abyss Gate and the Great Xia dynasty were still somewhat restrained. But now... they have assassinated so many Celestial Immortals. Are they about to start a war?"

"I don't know." Yu Wei shook her head.

Eighteen years ago, the Great Xia dynasty still maintained a surface calm, with very few Celestial Immortals dying.

Now, conflicts occur one after another, and Celestial Immortals die one by one. Even 'capturing Tuoshan alive to force Celestial Immortal Tonghe to defect'... such things are done, showing how arrogant they are!

"Didn't you inform the Xia Emperor?" Ji Ning asked, "Since the Abyss Gate values Celestial Immortal Tonghe so much, I'm afraid the Xia Emperor would not easily abandon Celestial Immortal Tonghe."

"Of course, we reported to the Xia Emperor." Yu Wei said, "Just today, we received news from the Xia Emperor. He sent someone to inform us that throughout the Great Xia dynasty... many Celestial Immortals have been threatened and given ultimatums. Too many have asked him for help, so he told us Celestial Immortals to help each other."

"Is the Xia Emperor letting all this happen?" Ji Ning frowned.

"But Senior Tonghe is extremely powerful. Previously, the thirty-six Celestial Immortals sent by the Abyss Gate were defeated by him even when they joined forces." Yu Wei said, "Killing Celestial Immortal Tonghe is not easy. On the other hand, our Black-White College... we are not as strong as Senior Tonghe, so we are likely to suffer losses."

Ji Ning understood Yu Wei's concern.

The Black-White College was on the same side as Celestial Immortal Tonghe. If the Abyss Gate wanted to deal with Celestial Immortal Tonghe, they would probably also target the Black-White College, since the Black-White College had two Celestial Immortals.

Killing Celestial Immortal Tonghe was difficult.

But killing the Celestial Immortals of the Black-White College was relatively easier. Yu Wei and Immortal Diancai were extraordinary, but they had only recently passed the tribulation and were far from comparable to Celestial Immortal Tonghe.

"Haven't I returned?" Ji Ning smiled.

"Junior Apprentice Brother, you haven't passed the tribulation yet." Yu Wei shook her head, "The Abyss Gate's strength is too great; we must be careful."

...

That night.

In the mansion of Immortal Diancai.

"Master." Ji Ning looked at Immortal Diancai.

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." Immortal Diancai looked at Ji Ning and let out a long sigh of relief. Then he smiled and said, "You unruly disciple, you come back but don't first come see your master, only caring about your Dao companion."

Yu Wei also smiled beside him.

"Master, don't blame me. Disciple was wrong." Ji Ning quickly smiled.

"Sit down first. Senior Tonghe will arrive soon." Immortal Diancai said.

Not long after.

A gray-robed youth with disheveled hair walked in. Ji Ning, Immortal Diancai, and Yu Wei all stood up.

"Ji Ning is back." The gray-robed youth smiled and nodded, "I heard before that you killed two Celestial Immortals of the Shaoyin clan. How satisfying! To be able to resist the karmic fire and return alive, I'm afraid no one who knows about it doesn't admire you."

"Senior flatters me. It was just a bit of luck; otherwise, I wouldn't have returned." Ji Ning said.

"Everyone, sit." Celestial Immortal Tonghe said.

The four of them then sat down separately.

Celestial Immortal Tonghe looked at Ji Ning: "I assume Ji Ning now knows the situation."

"I just heard. I didn't expect that after being away for eighteen years, the Great Xia dynasty has become like this. The Abyss Gate has begun to tear off the mask." Ji Ning shook his head, "Celestial Immortal Tuoshan was captured alive. Alas..."

"When the calamity comes, who can avoid it?" Celestial Immortal Tonghe looked at Ji Ning, "The Abyss Gate issued an ultimatum, and I naturally made preparations long ago. The entire Anchan City is where our Beishan clan has lived for generations. Over generations, we have set up numerous formations and restrictions. I would like to ask your Black-White College to help me control the formations of Anchan City, so I can focus on fighting a great battle with the Abyss Gate. Your Black-White College does not need to leave the formations."

"Today, the Xia Emperor sent someone to tell me that many have been threatened with ultimatums and he cannot help me. That's when I made this decision. I originally planned to tell Yu Wei and Diancai tomorrow. Since Ji Ning has returned, I'll say it all tonight." Celestial Immortal Tonghe said.

Ji Ning, Yu Wei, and Immortal Diancai exchanged glances.

"Since Senior Tonghe says so, our Black-White College will certainly not disappoint you." Ji Ning spoke.

Celestial Immortal Tonghe could also see...

Among the three strong figures of the Black-White College, Yu Wei and Ji Ning were Dao companions. Immortal Diancai and Ji Ning were master and disciple, and Ji Ning had fought fiercely to protect his master during the tribulation. Immortal Diancai, even when he was still a Returning Void cultivator, had been willing to fall out with the Shaoyin clan for Ji Ning. Their master-disciple bond was also excellent. Clearly, whether it was Yu Wei or Immortal Diancai... Ji Ning could influence them. Ji Ning was the leader of the Black-White College side.

After chatting for a short while, Celestial Immortal Tonghe left.

Ji Ning, Yu Wei, and Immortal Diancai, the three strong figures of the Black-White College, were discussing.

"Whether compared to Celestial Immortal Tonghe or the Abyss Gate, our Black-White College is the weakest." Immortal Diancai said, "Senior Tonghe knows our difficulties. This is good; we will stay within the formations and assist from the side. If even the formations cannot hold, we will use Greater Teleportation to leave."

"Mm."

Ji Ning and Yu Wei both nodded.

Ji Ning did not say much. Although eighteen years of countless battles had made him much stronger than before, and in terms of strength, even Celestial Immortal Tonghe might not be his match, the Abyss Gate was a major force daring to clash with the Great Xia dynasty. If he was too arrogant, he might attract a True Immortal or a God to deal with him.

"Ji Ning, the Treasure Hill has been sending people to our Black-White College." Immortal Diancai said, "They have been waiting for news from you. Now that you're back, should we inform the people from the Treasure Hill?"

"What?" Ji Ning was surprised.

The Treasure Hill had actually sent people to stay here long-term, waiting for news from him?

It seemed the Xia Emperor truly valued him greatly.

"Inform them." Ji Ning said.

His master, Patriarch Subhuti, was also a good friend of Daolord Chi Ming. The Xia Emperor had treated him well, so there was no need to hide it.

"Mm." Immortal Diancai nodded.

...

The Heavenly Mang Hall in the Great Xia imperial capital's palace.

The black-robed Xia Emperor and a white-haired old man were sitting opposite each other, playing chess.

"Slap!" The Xia Emperor frowned.

"Xia Mang, if your edge is too sharp, you will suffer losses." The white-haired old man smiled and gently pushed a piece forward, "Better to take a step back and find a wider world."

But the Xia Emperor ignored him.

Slap! Slap! Slap! The sound of chess pieces echoed in the hall.

"You lost." The white-haired old man stood up, "Xia Mang, think it over carefully. Of course, you are a member of my ancient imperial clan, so you cannot be bullied casually. If you retreat, retreat gracefully; if you fight, fight beautifully. If you need help, come to me."

"Thank you, Uncle." The Xia Emperor stood up.

The white-haired old man smiled and vanished into the air, disappearing.

The Xia Emperor frowned deeply.

After just a moment, a streak of light flew in—it was the Celestial Fox.

"Master." Celestial Fox Immortal walked over.

"What is it?" The Xia Emperor asked.

"Ji Ning is back." Celestial Fox Immortal said in a low voice.

The Xia Emperor was startled: "He returned alive?"

"Yes, last night. We only got the news this morning." Celestial Fox Immortal said.

"He actually managed to return alive. I even went to ask Du Chou, and Du Chou said... Ji Ning was banished to the Realm of Extinction." The Xia Emperor frowned, "The Realm of Extinction in the ancient ruins is truly boundless. Moreover, the void tides there are extremely powerful. To go against the void tides and come out, one would need at least the strength of a True God or Daolord. It was probably his mysterious Daolord master who acted. This Daolord really values his disciple, actually going to the Realm of Extinction to search for him."

"Then what about Anchan Commandery..." Celestial Fox Immortal said in a low voice.

......