Chapter 30: The Dao Ancestor Descends

The Xia Emperor introduced them one by one. Some of these Celestial Immortals and True Immortals Ji Ning had heard of but never met, others he had never even heard of. After all, not everyone was as famous as Lü Dongbin, but strength could not be judged by fame; a reclusive Celestial Immortal or True Immortal might possess power comparable to Patriarch Lü.

"This is Junior Apprentice-Brother Evergreen," the black-robed Xia Emperor said with a smile, looking at Ji Ning.

Evergreen Sword Immortal?

Ji Ning was startled. He carefully observed the Evergreen Sword Immortal before him—a young man with a peculiar countenance and an innate transcendent aura. He thought to himself, "So this is the Evergreen Sword Immortal? Back then, the Xia Emperor asked him to take me as a disciple, and he even sent me a token, agreeing to accept me. But at that time... I went to Mount Fangcun and didn't become his disciple." Ji Ning still felt some guilt toward the Evergreen Sword Immortal. After all, he had left without a word to go to Mount Fangcun. Although according to the Evergreen Sword Immortal's instructions, if he didn't crush the token within ten days, it would be considered a renunciation, he had been worried about trouble from the Xia Emperor's side and had slipped away quietly. It was indeed not entirely straightforward.

"Ji Ning was once very close to becoming a disciple of Junior Apprentice-Brother Evergreen," the Xia Emperor said with a laugh. "Speaking of which, there is quite some affinity between you."

"Greetings, Senior Evergreen," Ji Ning said quickly. "Back then, I failed to live up to your kind intentions..."

"I never really wanted to take you as a disciple in the first place."

The Evergreen Sword Immortal said calmly, "It was only because my master instructed me that I agreed to accept you as a disciple. I am not good at teaching disciples. If you had followed me, you probably wouldn't have achieved what you have now. It's good that you have now become a disciple of a Dao Ancestor."

His words carried a natural pride.

As if to say, I never thought much of you; I only agreed to take you because my master ordered it. You're lucky now to have become a disciple of a Dao Ancestor. These words were like a sharp sword, leaving Ji Ning momentarily stunned.

He had been polite; if the other had responded with a smile and a few pleasant words, wouldn't that have been harmonious?

"This Evergreen Sword Immortal is truly aloof," thought the Flying Rain Immortal.

"If I were Ji Ning, with that attitude of his, I wouldn't bother talking to him anymore," thought the Tonghe Celestial Immortal.

The Xia Emperor said with a smile, "Ji Ning, my Junior Apprentice-Brother Evergreen has long been in seclusion and is a sword immortal, inherently proud at heart. Although his words are harsh, he means no harm."

"Yes, my words are indeed harsh. I say whatever I want," the Evergreen Sword Immortal said, looking at Ji Ning.

"Senior is true to himself," Ji Ning said with a smile, then said no more.

When words are disagreeable, half a sentence is too much.

He had originally felt a trace of apology, but after this brief encounter, Ji Ning felt it was better to keep his distance.

...

The Xia Emperor specially held a lavish banquet. Although the Evergreen Sword Immortal was cold and aloof, there were many Celestial Immortals and True Immortals present. With so many people, it naturally became lively, and the celestial banquet was enjoyable and unrestrained.

...

While the Xia Emperor's side was carefree, the White Extreme True Immortal of the Voidgate Sect was unlucky.

A vast, dark world.

The White Extreme True Immortal and the Green Fox Sect Leader, a pair of fellow disciples, knelt prostrate, while the towering figure on the ten-thousand-foot throne in the distance, shrouded in a black robe, made their hearts tremble.

"Forgive us, God King," the White Extreme True Immortal said fearfully.

Although he was a disciple, he generally addressed him as God King.

The God King's heart was cold. When he gave orders, he usually only looked at the results. This 'sneak attack' had been stillborn before it even began. Although the White Extreme True Immortal was quite wronged, in the God King's heart... his regard for the White Extreme True Immortal had naturally dropped significantly.

"For this realm war, the Ink Bamboo Dao Ancestor will descend upon Great Xia to oversee everything," the God King said.

"A Dao Ancestor descending?" The White Extreme True Immortal and the Green Fox Sect Leader were both stunned.

The Ink Bamboo Dao Ancestor was one of the founding elders when the Voidgate Sect was first established. He had also experienced the ancient cataclysm and survived. Of course, because the God King held a special status as the sole disciple of that sleeping existence, the Ink Bamboo Dao Ancestor also assisted the God King.

"White Extreme, you have disappointed me greatly. I cannot let you continue to oversee the realm war," the God King said. "I will have the Ink Bamboo Dao Ancestor personally take charge. Of course, the Ink Bamboo Dao Ancestor cannot make a move. If a Dao Ancestor acts, it might even trigger the final battle prematurely."

If the Ink Bamboo Dao Ancestor dared to act, the Nüwa camp would certainly respond.

Other Dao Ancestors on the Voidgate Sect's side would also help Ink Bamboo...

This could easily escalate, even triggering the final battle completely.

Neither side wanted to advance it, because if a full-scale decisive battle broke out now, the outcome would be disastrous. Even if one side won, it would be a pyrrhic victory.

"We understand," White Extreme and Green Fox said respectfully.

"I will send waves of immortal armies to support you... Since we can no longer launch a sneak attack, first gather strength. Once ready, then make your move," the God King commanded.

"Yes," White Extreme and Green Fox knelt prostrate.

In a normal realm war, Celestial Immortals and True Immortals were important, but the vast numbers of Celestial Immortals and Loose Immortals were also crucial.

With enough numbers, they could still kill Celestial Immortals and True Immortals!

Earlier, because they planned a sneak attack, they had only sent sixty-six Celestial Immortals and True Immortals without mobilizing the armies of Celestial Immortals and Loose Immortals. Once they mobilized the immortal armies, the commotion would be too great to conceal.

...

Days passed one by one.

The Eight Dragons Cloudcity and the Voidgate City both hovered in midair, facing each other from afar. Neither side called for battle again. They both fell into a calm... but this calm made every immortal and demon on both sides feel an urgent pressure, like a storm about to break. Because what was about to erupt was a truly terrifying realm war!

"Your Majesty." Ji Ning met with the Xia Emperor alone.

"Ji Ning?" The Xia Emperor was sitting there, flipping through a book. He smiled and said, "Sit."

Ji Ning sat down and couldn't help asking, "Your Majesty, the countless immortals of our six formations of the Punishment God are all uneasy. When will we go to war with the Voidgate Sect, or will there be a long truce? It would be best to make it clear so everyone can be at ease."

The hardest thing to bear was the unknown.

"Oh, that's my fault," the Xia Emperor realized. "My incarnation has been at my master's Dao-field, helping to dispatch and arrange the armies, and I forgot about the many immortals in the Eight Dragons Cloudcity."

Ji Ning looked at the Xia Emperor.

"For this realm war, the earlier twenty-six Celestial Immortals and True Immortals all had no attachments, so they arrived first as the first wave. More Celestial Immortals and True Immortals are coming, and most importantly, a large number of immortals. The Celestial Immortals gathered so far already number over three hundred thousand," the Xia Emperor said.

"Over three hundred thousand Celestial Immortals?" Ji Ning exclaimed.

Heavens.

"What's so surprising? Great Xia alone has over ten thousand Celestial Immortals," the Xia Emperor said. "My master rules over dozens of major worlds and countless minor worlds. Many major worlds are constantly war-torn, which actually makes it easier to produce Celestial Immortals. Especially the 'Chiming Major World' that my master personally created, which has an especially large number of Celestial Immortals. All the Celestial Immortals under my master's command, when added together, probably number in the millions."

"A million Celestial Immortals?" Ji Ning held his breath.

"But that was in the past. Under the instigation and seduction of the Voidgate Sect, even in Great Xia, three thousand Celestial Immortals defected. I'm afraid across the entire Chiming Realm, at least over a hundred thousand Celestial Immortals have defected to the Voidgate Sect. The total number of Celestial Immortals under my master's command now is probably less than a million," the Xia Emperor said.

Ji Ning agreed.

In the past, when the Voidgate Sect hadn't emerged, figures like the Shaoyin clan and the White Extreme True Immortal were all ostensibly under the Chiming Dao Ancestor.

Now that the great calamity had come, many had switched sides.

The Chiming Dao Ancestor's forces had indeed weakened.

"Because many major worlds need to stabilize themselves, mobilizing over three hundred thousand Celestial Immortals is already no small feat," the Xia Emperor said. "If we pushed further, we could mobilize another two hundred thousand Celestial Immortals. But that would put too much pressure on the other major worlds of the Chiming Realm."

"I understand," Ji Ning nodded.

"Over three hundred thousand Celestial Immortals, and tens of millions of Loose Immortals," the Xia Emperor said. "Moreover, my elder brother, the Yinglong Dao Ancestor, has also sent some support. According to what our Dao Ancestors have learned, the Voidgate Sect's side will be personally led by the Ink Bamboo Dao Ancestor this time. So my master will also descend upon Great Xia with the army of over three hundred thousand Celestial Immortals to personally oversee."

Ji Ning's heart tightened.

Terrifying.

Was this what immortal warfare was like?

Both sides had Dao Ancestors as commanders, with several dozen Celestial Immortals and True Immortals, over three hundred thousand Celestial Immortals, and tens of millions of Loose Immortals.

"This is a realm war!" the Xia Emperor said, looking at Ji Ning. "Both sides are frantically deploying troops and gathering forces, trying to prepare as thoroughly as possible. Neither will easily start a war. Once war begins... who knows how many immortals will die. During this preparation period, you should also cultivate diligently, striving to become a Pure Yang True Immortal as soon as possible. That way, when you command the Celestial Immortals and Loose Immortals, you will pose a much greater threat to the Voidgate Sect."

Ji Ning nodded gently.

He indeed had to train hard.

Although he had already become a Pure Yang True Immortal, his heartforce and soul technique had not yet reached minor success. He gained some insights every day from the heartforce and soul technique. As long as he had enough time, his strength would keep improving, until one day the heartforce and soul technique was fully mastered. But when he reached that point, Ji Ning couldn't even imagine the power he would wield commanding the Punishment God. What was certain was that by then, the power of heaven and earth absorbed by a thousand Celestial Immortals and a hundred thousand Loose Immortals would not be enough for him; he would need even more Celestial Immortals and Loose Immortals.

"Enjoy this last period of peace before the war," the Xia Emperor said, looking at Ji Ning. "Once both sides are ready, when that battle comes... even I don't know if I will survive. If half of the Celestial Immortals and True Immortals make it through alive, that would be considered good."

"Mm," Ji Ning nodded.

...

In the days that followed, Ji Ning spent time with his wife while also focusing on comprehending the heartforce and soul technique. He devoted all his energy—both his second incarnation and his true body—to studying this 'heartforce and soul technique'. Because this technique offered the fastest improvement to his strength in the great calamity.

The immortals of the Eight Dragons Cloudcity also knew that this was the last peaceful period before the realm war, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

In this heaviness...

Celestial Immortals and True Immortals often descended upon the Eight Dragons Cloudcity.

Finally, one day—

"Boom!"

The entire Great Xia world seemed to tremble.

Ji Ning, who had been sitting cross-legged with eyes closed, meditating on the heartforce and soul technique, rushed out and flew high into the sky. In the distance, above the dark Voidgate City, a massive passage had appeared. A tall, thin man radiating endless dark light stepped out of the spatial passage and manifested in the Great Xia world.

He seemed ordinary, but the endless dark light he emitted and the towering, swaying bamboo that appeared behind him, ten thousand feet tall, all made Ji Ning and the others feel a sense of oppression.

Ji Ning, a Pure Yang True Immortal, felt oppressed, while the Tonghe Celestial Immortal and the others were all filled with inexplicable fear.

"A Dao Ancestor!" Ji Ning immediately understood the other's identity.