Chapter 10 Descending the Mountain

"Good treasures." Ji Ning looked at the thirty-six Star Gold Pearls floating around him. After three thousand six hundred had been refined into thirty-six, each one possessed immense power and contained a world of its own, comparable in size to the Great Xia world! However, these thirty-six worlds could only exist temporarily.

Only when all three thousand six hundred Star Gold Pearls were fully fused would they transform into the thirty-six worlds.

Once Ji Ning withdrew his mind, the thirty-six worlds would disperse again, reverting to the original Star Gold Pearls.

"Each of the thirty-six worlds rivals a major world. Even if used to smash enemies, their power is boundless. But controlling them is quite strenuous, almost as taxing as controlling the Punishment Celestial." Ji Ning realized how difficult it was to maintain the strongest 'thirty-six worlds' form. Only because his heartforce was strong and he possessed heartforce-soul techniques could he manage it; few Heavenly Gods or True Immortals could do so.

"Transform."

Ji Ning moved his mind.

The originally floating thirty-six worlds changed from the shape of pearls into thirty-six flying swords, then into thirty-six war banners, and then into thirty-six rings.

"Master, the Star Gold Pearls can change in countless ways by nature." The delicate child spoke.

"Oh?" Ji Ning stopped, looked at the delicate child, and said with a faint smile, "Did I hear wrong? You just called me master?"

The palm-sized delicate child stood solemnly in midair and said, "Master was able to refine the first layer of the Ninefold Chaos Seal and also fuse three thousand six hundred Star Gold Pearls into thirty-six worlds. Throughout the Three Realms, I'm afraid few Heavenly Gods or True Immortals can match Master. To follow Master is also my fortune."

"Eh?" The old man on the wooden boat widened his eyes.

"He was fierce before, now he's this obedient?" The bald little monk muttered.

"Master is so powerful." The delicate child swept his gaze over them and said coldly, "To follow Master is also your fortune. We should wholeheartedly follow Master, and perhaps in the future we may encounter some opportunities."

The delicate child looked at Ji Ning with fervent eyes: "In the past, Lord Three Purities had his disciples try, but none of those several powerful disciples could directly refine the thirty-six worlds. Lord Three Purities even said that only a True God or Dao Ancestor could do it. But Master, you did it!"

This little fellow was really good at flattery.

"Let me ask you." Ji Ning said directly, "What is this treasure called?"

"The Star Gold Pearls of the Worlds." The delicate child said, "Since I was born, before the Ninefold Chaos Seal was attached to me, I could already transform into the thirty-six worlds! But it is very difficult. Once achieved, transforming into the thirty-six worlds is like wielding the power of thirty-six major worlds to attack the enemy! Of course, how much power can be unleashed depends on Master's methods."

"Star Gold Pearls of the Worlds?" Ji Ning nodded. "Refining them into thirty-six worlds is the limit? But I have a faint feeling that there is still more to come."

"Master noticed too?" The delicate child was surprised.

Ji Ning looked at him.

"Lord Three Purities and Nuwa also noticed." The delicate child quickly said, "My Star Gold Pearls of the Worlds have three thousand six hundred pieces as the most basic layer. Refining them into three hundred sixty pieces to form the number of the heavens is the second layer. Refining them into thirty-six pieces to form the thirty-six worlds is the third layer. This should be the limit. But Lord Three Purities and Nuwa both felt that the three thousand six hundred pieces should be able to fuse into one. At that time, they might even evolve into stars, like the Lunar Star or the Solar Star. However, Nuwa and Lord Three Purities have not yet figured out how to achieve unity."

Ji Ning understood. Complete fusion into one? It seemed his feeling was correct, but since Nuwa and Lord Three Purities hadn't done it, this path was clearly very difficult.

As for what the result of complete fusion would be—evolving into stars like the Solar Star—was merely Nuwa's and their speculation.

"This treasure is extremely difficult to control, unsuitable for others, but very suitable for me. Throughout the Three Realms, among Heavenly Gods and True Immortals, I am foremost in control." Ji Ning was very pleased. Although his divine abilities were remarkable and his heartforce powerful, that only made him strong in close combat. Using heartforce directly in combat consumed heartforce at an astonishing rate.

Like a divine archer, after shooting a dozen arrows, his heartforce would be exhausted.

Thus, long-range attack treasures were very important. Especially when he used heartforce to command his soul and mobilize his magic power, it only consumed magic power, not heartforce.

...

After refining three ultimate innate spirit-treasures, Ji Ning finally walked out of that room. In the main hall of the Water Mansion, Red Snow and the others had long been waiting anxiously.

"Wow."

"Impressive."

Ji Ning only revealed the Void Boat and the Star Gold Pearls of the Worlds, keeping the Nine Life Tower secret. The more secret the Nine Life Tower was, the better. The other two he would use frequently, so there was no need to hide them.

"I have obtained all the powerful Pure Yang treasures left by my master, Three-Life." Ji Ning said, "My master also left a message, entrusting me to treat well the Heavenly Gods and True Immortals who remain in the Star-Picking Tower. If you need any treasures, just say so. All the Pure Yang treasures are recorded in this book."

Ji Ning directly took out the book that the yellow-furred bear had given him earlier.

"Take a look." Ji Ning urged. These Pure Yang treasures were of little help to him, and his loved ones—Qiuye, Uncle Bai, Mu Zishuo, including his daughter Mingyue—none had become Celestial Immortals. The only one was his master, the Immortal Diancai, for whom Ji Ning had already chosen a suitable treasure.

After all, Immortal Diancai was only a Celestial Immortal. If he obtained a too-rebellious treasure like the 'Eight Fire Universe Realm,' it might bring disaster rather than fortune.

"Let me see." Red Snow was the first to look.

"I'll take a look too." Yuan Guang also craned his neck to look.

"Good treasures."

"These pure yang treasures left by the Divine King are all excellent." They looked at them one by one, praising.

Red Snow Heavenly God said to Ji Ning: "Ji Ning, Lieyang and Xuan Yue had always been close attendants to the Divine King, so the Divine King had long ago given them suitable treasures. Yuan Guang is the Divine King's son, needless to say. As for me and Snow Scorpion... we were also commanders back then, and the Divine King had bestowed treasures upon us long ago. These items hold little appeal for us. But Jiuse Heavenly God likely needs one, and so does Jiuyah Heavenly God, who was originally a Returning Void Demon and only later broke through."

Jiuse Heavenly God and Jiuyah Heavenly God hesitated, but eventually nodded.

Jiuse Heavenly God chose the pure yang treasure 'Yin-Yang Dual Pole Plate,' which was only mid-grade among the many pure yang treasures in Ji Ning's possession. However, Red Snow and the others nodded in approval, clearly indicating that the Yin-Yang Dual Pole Plate suited Jiuse Heavenly God well. The strongest treasure is not always the best; what matters more is suitability.

Back when Jiuse Heavenly God served under the Divine King, he was not among the most favored.

Because Jiuse Heavenly God was a highly venomous divine beast, seemingly gentle but in truth fierce and cruel, his temperament did not sit well with Sanshou! Sanshou preferred those who were open and aboveboard. Even if one was sinister and ruthless, it had to be done openly.

Jiuyah Heavenly God, on the other hand, chose a set of extremely powerful pure yang top-grade treasures, the 'Myriad Heavens Blood Shadow Formation.'

Jiuyah Heavenly God's true form was actually a bat.

The Myriad Heavens Blood Shadow Formation indeed suited Jiuyah well, but this set of treasures was among the most top-tier in Ji Ning's possession. Jiuyah Heavenly God was still hesitant, and only took them after Red Snow and the others urged him. This made Jiuyah Heavenly God feel deeply grateful to Ji Ning and even more loyal, for although Ji Ning said it was on Sanshou's behest, Sanshou was already dead, and whether to give them was entirely Ji Ning's decision.

...

Ji Ning himself did not care.

With so many pure yang treasures lying idle in his possession, giving them to the Heavenly Gods under his command would enhance their strength, which was a good thing.

...

"Master." Having arranged everything, Ji Ning went to see Patriarch Subhuti alone.

"Hmm?" The Daoist-robed Patriarch, sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes.

Ji Ning said respectfully, "Disciple intends to descend the mountain and leave the Crescent Moon Great World."

"Have you made all necessary arrangements?" Subhuti inquired.

"All arranged," Ji Ning replied respectfully. "My second true body will stay in the Crescent Moon Great World with Mingyue, as well as Uncle Bai, Xiaoqing, Qingya Xiaoyu, and my junior brothers. The Crescent Moon Great World is now one of the rare paradises in the Three Realms. I do not wish to put Mingyue in danger, so I will have my second true body accompany her as she travels through the Crescent Moon Great World, allowing her to gain more experience and grow better."

Subhuti nodded: "By the way, regarding the immortal army in your Picking Stars Great World, what formation have you decided on? The Xingtian Formation—Xingtian True God has also agreed to let you teach it. However, I also have some formations here, comparable in power to the Xingtian Formation. Would you like to switch?"

"No need." Ji Ning shook his head. "I am already familiar with the Xingtian disciples. Disciple has one more matter to ask of Master."

"Speak." Puti looked at Ji Ning.

"Disciple intends to deal with the Undermoon Sect, but hopes to deal with Shaoyan Chou and Changqing as soon as possible." Ji Ning said respectfully.

"Those two? Good. Once there is an opportunity, I will inform you." Puti nodded. "After you leave the Crescent World, be careful in all things. Once I find an opportunity, I will notify you."

"Yes." Ji Ning said respectfully, then asked, "Should Disciple leave Hongxue behind?"

"No need. What needed to be taught has been taught; what needed to be learned has been learned. Now he must comprehend on his own." Puti said.

Ji Ning nodded.

This time when he left, he would take the entire Plucking Star Great World with him, and the seven great gods would also follow him, for he was after all the master of Plucking Star Mansion.

"Then I will gather Hongxue and the others, and ask Master to send us off. Disciple takes his leave." Ji Ning said respectfully.

"Go." Puti closed his eyes.

Ji Ning respectfully withdrew.

"Be careful in all things." Puti's voice sounded in Ji Ning's ear.

"Yes." Ji Ning was startled, then replied, and left.

......

The black-robed Ji Ning, with his daughter Mingyue, Qiuye, Uncle Bai, Xiaoqing, Mu Zishuo, Qingya Xiaoyu, and others, began to roam the Crescent World.

"Daughter has gone down the mountain." Ji Ning and Hongxue stood on Square Inch Mountain, gazing into the distance.

Whoosh~~~

Before Ji Ning and the others, above the grassy ground, a twisted void vortex appeared, the vortex passage leading to an unknown place.

"Time to go." Ji Ning said.

Then Ji Ning, leading the seven great gods, stepped directly into the vortex passage. On this side of the passage was a paradise; on the other side, blood and storms.