Chapter 11 The Follower

White-robed Ji Ning and black-robed Ji Ning stood side by side, gazing into the distance at the black-haired elder in the midst of the wilderness.

Killing intent filled the air.

Since they couldn't reach an agreement, there was nothing left but to fight!

"Appear!" The black-robed Ji Ning gave a cold shout, and instantly countless Star Gold Beads densely appeared around him. Soon these Zhutian Star Gold Beads rapidly merged, transforming into the Thirty-Six Heavens. Driven by surging ancestral divine power, each heaven became a beautiful ice lotus. These ice lotuses seemed to be the core of the world, the source of the world. As soon as the thirty-six ice lotuses manifested, the surrounding heavens and earth revealed streams of cold air, and the nearby wilderness immediately froze with a crackling sound, as if space itself had solidified.

"Go."

The black-robed Ji Ning pointed into the distance, and the thirty-six ice lotuses transformed into streaks of light, flying to encircle the black-haired elder, with endless icy cold air swirling around him.

Having spent nearly twenty thousand years, Ji Ning's realm of the Dao and his sword arts had greatly increased! He also often studied the Nine Chaos Seals for diversion. Because his realm was so high, he had now comprehended six of the Nine Chaos Seals. The sixth seal allowed Ji Ning to sense the distant 'Water Source' more clearly, enabling him to condense these 'ice lotuses', which could emit endless cold air to bind enemies.

Having activated six Chaos Seals, the power of the Thirty-Six Heavens was now comparable to an ordinary 'Chaos treasure', but unfortunately they were only used to bind and hinder enemies!

"Bind?" The black-haired elder sneered, "I am an Immortal cultivator, not a Fiendgod. I don't need to engage in close combat. What can your binding do to me?"

"If you won't fight me up close, then I'll fight you up close." The white-robed Ji Ning's divine body shook, and he manifested three heads and six arms, holding five Northmoon swords and the divine sword Violetjade.

Whoosh.

The white-robed Ji Ning immediately dashed forward like a streak of light, charging toward the black-haired elder.

"Oh?" The black-haired elder's expression changed. Qi Refiners were most afraid of close combat. He gave a cold snort, and two streams of air shot out from his nostrils, condensing into two divine swords that seemed formed of ice crystals.

"Only two swords? Bring out all three of your divine swords." Ji Ning growled as he closed in.

"You?" The black-haired elder sneered, "Two swords are enough."

The two ice-crystal divine swords streaked through the air like flowing light, carrying endless coldness as they directly attacked the charging white-robed Ji Ning.

"Clang."

They collided.

The white-robed Ji Ning was knocked backward, his expression changing slightly: "Damn." As soon as they clashed, he realized that this Ancestral Immortal definitely possessed the strength of a 'top-tier Ancestral God'! He was even more troublesome than the Great Demon Ashu of the past. Fortunately, Ji Ning had cultivated the Sixth Cycle of the Fingerstealer Art, or else he would have had a hard time dealing with him today.

"With such little strength, you can't even get close to me." The black-haired elder sneered.

"Is that so?" The white-robed Ji Ning charged again, swinging his six divine swords. This time, all six palms executed the Sixth Cycle of the Fingerstealer Art! In an instant, his divine power erupted fully. Six sword lights, like six heavenly moats hanging in the void, swept away all obstacles ahead.

The Heavenrend Style of the Brightmoon Swordmaster!

The two ice-crystal divine swords, with overwhelming momentum, directly attacked Ji Ning and were instantly struck.

Boom~~~

The two ice-crystal divine swords tumbled backward, while Ji Ning's most dazzling blood-colored divine sword, 'Violetjade', stretched a thousand li long and slashed directly at the distant black-haired elder.

"Your divine ability is quite powerful." The black-haired elder frowned slightly. Then a small golden sword flew out from between his brows. After emerging, the small golden sword rapidly grew into a hundred-zhang-long golden divine sword, surging forward with a supreme yang and rigid intent, colliding with Ji Ning's Violetjade.

"Boom~~~"

Ji Ning felt his palm go numb. Violetjade was knocked flying backward, while the golden divine sword also tumbled backward.

"Again." Ji Ning wielded his six arms, charging wildly.

"Damn." The black-haired elder frowned, glancing at the ice lotuses around him. The streams of air released by those lotuses, like ropes, frantically entangled and bound him. Although he didn't engage in close combat, his three divine swords were still somewhat affected.

"Three Absolute Swords, First Form!" The black-haired elder's eyes flashed coldly.

The two ice-crystal divine swords and the golden divine sword formed a triangular formation in midair, with divine runes flowing faintly on their surfaces, complementing each other. Soon they naturally merged into a single dazzling divine sword of gold and white, exuding astonishing sharpness that instantly shredded the surrounding air currents.

Ji Ning's expression changed drastically: "So powerful! This is indeed a complete set of Chaos divine swords. These three Chaos divine swords... are at least high-grade Chaos treasures, possibly even top-grade Chaos divine swords. Driven by the seals within, they merge into one, instantly unleashing power close to that of my Violetjade."

The Three Purities in the Three Realms were like this.

With four Chaos divine swords and the Immortal-Slaying Sword Diagram enabling perfect integration, Ji Ning estimated it was also close to his Violetjade. This was the level of power achieved when a 'set' of Chaos divine swords was perfectly utilized.

"Smash!" The distant black-robed Ji Ning roared angrily.

Swish, swish, swish... The thirty-six Zhutian ice lotuses, each like a star, smashed toward the gold-white divine sword. Each ice lotus's trajectory was bizarre and swift, completely surpassing the limits of the Heavenly Daos. Although it was just a simple smash, it executed the 'Shadowless Style' of the Brightmoon Sword Art.

"Clang, clang, clang." The Zhutian ice lotuses did their best to smash.

"Kill!" The three-headed, six-armed white-robed Ji Ning, holding six divine swords, engaged in close combat.

The gold-white divine sword was unstoppable. The Zhutian ice lotuses were mainly used to release cold air to bind enemies, somewhat like the 'Water-Fire World-Destroying Formation'. If used for smashing, they were probably only at the level of top-grade innate treasures. The treasures were too weak, while the gold-white divine sword's power approached that of Violetjade, surpassing the category of Chaos treasures when combined as a set.

"Boom."

Violetjade, transformed into a black hole vortex, first blocked the attack, followed by the other five divine swords.

The sword-light black hole completely blocked the gold-white divine sword.

"What!" The black-haired elder's expression changed drastically. "This sword art..." He also used swords and immediately sensed the terror of the sword-light black hole.

The sword-light black hole seemed eternal, uncreated and undying, cycling endlessly.

Ji Ning sneered inwardly.

The first form of the nameless sword art, 'Heartsword Style', was too profound, and Ji Ning hadn't fully comprehended it. However, the ninety-eight sword technique steles left by Northrest World God mainly taught the meaning of 'concealed sharpness'. The 'Heartsword Style' also vaguely represented a profound offensive and defensive technique. Contemplating the Heartsword Style, combined with the meaning of concealed sharpness, made Ji Ning feel it was very close to his own 'Mind-Heart Style'. Thus, he integrated some insights into the Mind-Heart Style, making its realm the highest among the five styles.

"Kill."

While defending, Ji Ning continued to charge.

"Three Absolute Swords, Second Form!" The black-haired elder's expression turned ugly. He had only comprehended the second form of the sword art.

"Hummm~~~"

The gold-white divine sword began to spin.

Ji Ning's sword-light black hole immediately trembled, held for a moment, then collapsed. The gold-white divine sword stabbed directly into Ji Ning's chest, causing him to step back. But only a white spot was left on his skin.

"A protective divine ability?" The black-haired elder was shocked.

Fiendgod close combat was a headache for Qi Refiners.

If the protective divine ability was also heaven-defying, it was even more troublesome.

"Go." The ice lotuses in the sky suddenly smashed toward the black-haired elder. A black chain flew out from the elder's body surface, circling around him to block the ice lotuses' impacts.

"Kill." The white-robed Ji Ning charged again, and the black-haired elder's expression turned grim.

...

After a moment.

"I lose." The black-haired elder gave up.

The white-robed Ji Ning's upper garment was full of holes, but it quickly repaired itself.

"If I weren't imprisoned here, forced to passively take beatings... how could you have dealt with me?" The black-haired elder stared coldly at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning admitted it.

Relying on his protective divine ability and superb sword art, although the black-haired elder tried his best to keep his distance, Ji Ning eventually caught up. When he did, the black-haired elder was defeated.

"I can give you the Three Absolute Swords." The black-haired elder looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning stood before the black-haired elder, his killing intent enveloping the other: "Earlier, I asked you to hand over the Three Absolute Swords. Now your life is in my hands. It's better to submit to me obediently."

"Submit?" The black-haired elder's expression changed, then he sneered, "Even if I'm willing to submit and become your follower, I can't go out to fight with you unless you can release me from this world prison."

"I can't release you, at least not now." Ji Ning said.

"Then what's the point of talking about submission?" The black-haired elder shook his head disdainfully.

"I need to examine your memories." Ji Ning said.

An Ancestral Immortal would certainly know a lot, and might provide information helpful for this calamity.

"Impossible." The black-haired elder's expression changed, and he roared angrily, "I'm willing to submit to you, become your follower, and fight for you through life and death! But don't insult me. I'd rather die than let you examine my memories."

Ji Ning sighed inwardly.

It was indeed difficult.

After receiving Northrest World God's teachings, Ji Ning knew that in the endless Chaos, there was a custom of 'followers'. Some powerful cultivators would have other cultivators follow them. However, True Gods and True Immortals were weak in the endless Chaos and had little status; being captured as slaves was common. Among the six servants under the Great Demon Ashu, five were slaves!

Some followers, like 'Bladesovereign', followed out of gratitude! Though called servants, they were not slaves.

The dark elder was also willing to become Ji Ning's follower but absolutely refused to have his soul searched.

At the level of Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals... in the endless Chaos, they generally had dignity.

"Then there's no way." Ji Ning looked at the black-haired elder, killing intent flickering in his eyes, trying to pressure him further.

"I can compromise." The black-haired elder gritted his teeth. "I can make a lifeblood oath to you that I will never lie. You can ask me anything. As long as it doesn't involve private matters difficult to speak of, I will tell you."

"Lifeblood oath?" Ji Ning's eyes lit up. "Do you have an 'Oathstone'?"

Lifeblood oaths could generally only be made directly by World Gods and Chaos Immortals. Ancestral Gods, Ancestral Immortals, and weaker True Gods, True Immortals, Celestial Gods, and Celestial Immortals... almost all needed an 'Oathstone' to make a lifeblood oath.

"I was planning to establish a sect in the future, so of course I prepared an 'Oathstone' long ago." The black-haired elder flipped his hand and produced a jade-green crystal ball with divine runes flowing on its surface. "This Oathstone was personally refined by a Chaos Immortal. I spent ninety-nine drops of Chaos spiritual liquid to acquire it back then."

Hearing 'Chaos spiritual liquid', Ji Ning's heart stirred.

Being an Ancestral Immortal was different; his status in the endless Chaos was much higher, and he possessed many more treasures. It was only because the other was imprisoned here, unable to leave a thousand-li range, that Ji Ning could force him to submit! If they were outside, the other would have easily escaped with his strength.

"Now it is ownerless. You can refine it." The black-haired elder held out the jade-green crystal ball.

"Oathstone." Ji Ning beckoned, and the jade-green crystal ball flew into his hand. He then began to refine it and inscribed a lifeblood oath within.

"Make the lifeblood oath." Ji Ning looked at the black-haired elder.

The black-haired elder sighed lightly. Follow? This jailer's strength, at best, was on par with his own. If they were outside, such strength wasn't worth following! But forced by life and death, he had to bow his head.

The black-haired elder reached out, placed his hand on the Oathstone, and sensed the lifeblood oath within. He didn't resist and, guided by the Oathstone's power, his soul began to swear: "I, by my life, swear that I will forever follow... until... I will..."

Ji Ning, as the owner of the Oathstone, could sense the lifeblood oath the other had made.