Chapter 1 The Moonlit Pool

Did you win?

Ji Ning's heart surged with excitement. The plan to force the Escapes to back down through relentless slaughter had been mad from the start—even Ji Ning himself knew it was extremely dangerous, with a vanishingly small chance of success. But back then, he had no other choice; this was the only path left. Fortunately, through the World Prison, he had obtained the divine art of the Nine-Angled Electric Snake Evasion, which truly left the Escapes helpless.

“Release my wife.” The demonic Ji Ning stared at the black-robed Godking.

“Don’t rush.”

The black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning. “Let’s talk first.”

“Talk?” The demonic Ji Ning said coldly, “No need to talk. You will release my wife, and I will withdraw immediately. Otherwise, I will continue killing…”

“Oh?” The black-robed Godking’s voice turned cold. “You want your wife back without paying any price? That’s a pipe dream. If I release Yu Wei, do you think you’ll stop opposing my Escapes?”

The demonic Ji Ning said, “At least I won’t ambush you like this anymore.”

“Ha, easy to say. Once Yu Wei returns, my Escapes can no longer threaten you. But you’re still on the side of Nuwa’s camp. In a life-and-death war between two camps, anything goes. By then, your master Bodhi and other top powers will use you against my Escapes again—would you refuse?” The black-robed Godking sneered. “You’re formidable now, so I say you’ve won the chance to negotiate. Back then, I asked you to join my Escapes before reuniting you with Yu Wei. Now I won’t force you to join, but you expect to pay nothing? Hahaha… if Yu Wei returns to you and you ambush us again, wouldn’t my Escapes become a laughingstock?”

“I can swear an oath,” Ji Ning said darkly.

“An oath?” The black-robed Godking scoffed. “True Gods and Dao Ancestors can ignore Heavenly Dao oaths. With your strength now, as long as your master helps you, you can withstand the punishment of the Heavenly Dao oath. Oaths are useless.”

Ji Ning fell silent.

Indeed.

Heavenly Dao oaths were useless against True Gods and Dao Ancestors; the power of divine punishment was limited, not infinite.

“Either you pay a price and reunite with your wife, or we keep fighting. At worst, I’ll withdraw all my Celestial Immortals and True Immortals and infiltrate the Three Realms through another method.” The black-robed Godking sneered. “Though building those outposts cost much effort, my Escapes can afford the sacrifice.”

“Choose,” the black-robed Godking said coldly.

Ji Ning looked at the black-robed Godking before him, silent.

“It seems you’re unwilling to pay any price. Very well.” The black-robed Godking’s voice grew even colder.

“Speak,” Ji Ning finally said.

The black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning and smiled. “That’s right. Everything must be fair. That you can make my Escapes negotiate with you is something to be proud of. Expecting to pay nothing is too delusional. Our demand is simple: that evasion art you’re using is extraordinary. We only ask for one thing—hand over that divine art, and ensure that at least one of our great powers can cultivate it successfully.”

“Impossible.” Ji Ning sneered. “You’re dreaming.”

Ridiculous.

On Nuwa’s side, even Bodhi was thrilled by this evasion art and six bottles of Chaos Liquid, showing it was a game-changer—more important than birthing one or two True Gods or Dao Ancestors. This black-robed Godking was truly greedy, directly demanding such a divine art. And he knew that such a heaven-defying art would have many cultivation thresholds, yet he still wanted Ji Ning to guarantee at least one great power could cultivate it.

“Our demand is simple, yet you refuse…” The black-robed Godking shook his head.

“It’s not that I refuse, but I’m incapable of agreeing.” Ji Ning shook his head angrily. “This art was discovered by my master, who bestowed it upon me and forbade me from passing it on. I cannot defy my master’s orders. If I do, my master will surely kill me—how is that different from joining your Escapes?”

“Don’t even think about it. This art is a supreme technique of Nuwa’s camp, extremely difficult to cultivate. Even my master obtained it but couldn’t master it; now I’m the only one who has.” Ji Ning sneered. “Don’t bother. Even if you got it, you couldn’t cultivate it. Besides, there’s no way to obtain it.”

“Only you have cultivated it?” The black-robed Godking pressed.

“Yes,” Ji Ning nodded.

Earlier, after giving the six bottles of Chaos Liquid to Suirenshi, Bodhi had again instructed Ji Ning: Suirenshi’s cultivation of the Nine-Angled Electric Snake Evasion was a great secret that must never be exposed. Given Suirenshi’s strength, he would only act in the final battle, and suddenly revealing the Nine-Angled Electric Snake Evasion would catch the Escapes off guard. Though the Escapes would then discover Ji Ning’s lie, it would be too late.

He said the same to the Escapes.

He would also say the same to other great powers of Nuwa’s camp. Only Bodhi, Sanqing Daoren, Shennongshi, and a few other top figures truly knew that Suirenshi was cultivating the Nine-Angled Electric Snake Evasion.

…

The black-robed Godking was somewhat suspicious. Could it really be that only Ji Ning had cultivated it? But he also knew that such an evasion art would be extremely hard to cultivate; perhaps only a handful in the Three Realms could succeed, and Ji Ning might be telling the truth. Still, the Godking harbored some doubt, and he also knew that obtaining the method from Nuwa’s camp was probably hopeless.

In truth, demanding the Nine-Angled Electric Snake Evasion was a wild overreach; the black-robed Godking hadn’t expected to succeed.

“Fine, I won’t force the evasion art.” The black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning. “Now I need three treasures.”

“Speak,” Ji Ning said, looking at him.

“The first treasure is called ‘Seven Treasures Azure Yang Fiend.’ I don’t need much—just ten jin. The second treasure is called ‘Blood Flower Marrow.’ I also need only ten jin.” The black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning listened silently.

Three treasures?

The first two, though rare and precious, were available in Nuwa’s camp; he could trade for them with other treasures. Ten jin of Seven Treasures Azure Yang Fiend and ten jin of Blood Flower Marrow were quite valuable, but not a heavy burden for Ji Ning. However, knowing the Escapes’ Godking, it wouldn’t be this easy.

“The third treasure: one Ice Heart Spirit Leaf.” The black-robed Godking stared at Ji Ning.

“Ice Heart Spirit Leaf?” The demonic Ji Ning said darkly. “You mean the Ice Heart Spirit Leaf from the Moonlit Pool?”

“Yes,” the black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning.

“Are you sending me to my death?” The demonic Ji Ning roared.

The endless Chaos held many unknown wonders.

In the peaceful days of old, great powers loved to roam the Chaos, discovering Chaos treasures and various curiosities. There were also dangerous places and perils. For instance, Dao Ancestor Fuju died silently in the Chaos; Sanqing Daoren discovered the Ninefold Chaos Seal in the Chaos. In short, the Chaos held great opportunities and great dangers.

The ‘Moonlit Pool’ was an extremely dangerous place.

The Moonlit Pool was a deep pool in the Chaos, adjacent to a giant star. The pool water reflected the star like a moonlit shadow, beautiful and enchanting. But the Moonlit Pool was mysterious and unfathomable; only Celestial Immortals could enter. In ancient times, many Celestial Immortals entered, believing there were great opportunities inside. For the sake of opportunity, they were willing to take risks—but none who entered ever came out.

In the Three Realms era, a Celestial Immortal named ‘Venerable Jueming’ emerged alive. He had entered in ancient times and only came out during the Three Realms era.

After emerging, Venerable Jueming said that inside there were great dangers and many Chaos treasures. He brought back three treasures, including the Ice Heart Spirit Leaf. His strength was astonishing; after returning, he had already reached the pinnacle of Celestial Immortals and True Immortals. Now, after long cultivation, he had broken through to become a Buddha in the Buddhist school.

“I only need one Ice Heart Spirit Leaf.” The black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning. “Back then, Venerable Jueming brought back twelve.”

“But in all these ages, only Buddha Jueming returned alive.” Ji Ning fumed. “How many Celestial Immortals entered? Your Escapes also sent many Celestial Immortals in, but who came out? If I die inside, you’ll be delighted. If I’m trapped for ages and come out, this calamity will likely be over—right?”

“Right.”

The black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning. “You’re clever. I know you have a second avatar. Send your true body in, while your second avatar remains in the Three Realms… you won’t die. And in the Moonlit Pool, you still have hope of emerging alive. After all, in strength, you far surpass Venerable Jueming back then.”

“Just send your true body in, with hope of coming out, in exchange for Yu Wei’s return. You should be satisfied.” The black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning. “We of the Escapes insist on these three treasures.”

Ji Ning looked at the black-robed Godking.

But inwardly, he sneered.

The Escapes had indeed calculated well. With his true body in the Moonlit Pool, they no longer had to worry about Ji Ning ambushing them. But they didn’t know that Ji Ning’s true body actually consisted of eighteen clones!

“The Buddhist school’s twelve Ice Heart Spirit Leaves were used up long ago.” The black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning. “They exist only in the Moonlit Pool. As soon as you agree, I’ll have Yu Wei released from the Endless Hell and even let you meet her. Once you bring the three treasures, you can take your wife Yu Wei away.”

Ji Ning was silent for a moment. “Fine.”

The black-robed Godking smiled.

He knew that, given Ji Ning’s feelings for Yu Wei, he would agree. After all, this only required Ji Ning to take a risk himself, not to defect. When Ji Ning was weak, he had risked ambushes; clearly, for Yu Wei, he was willing to take risks.

The Escapes urgently needed these three treasures, and this would also trap Ji Ning in the Moonlit Pool, tying him down.

“Hahaha… I’ll arrange for you to see your wife immediately.” The black-robed Godking laughed.

…