Chapter 17: The Trial of the Scrolls

By the lake of Chaos Liquid, after the initial shock, Ji Ning calmed down. External forces were ultimately external; on the path of cultivation, one must rely on oneself.

"Mm, it's time to try the Snow Appraisal Scrolls," Ji Ning murmured to himself.

The Snow Appraisal Scrolls could only be entered by World-level cultivators, and only World-level cultivators; even Life Death Dao Lords could not enter.

"I wonder what trials the Snow Appraisal Emperor left behind. Let's give it a try." Since returning to the Da Mo分院, Ji Ning had spent the past two months or so. It took him only a day to master the Nine Source Divine Thunder; the rest of the time he mainly spent pondering the Dao of the Sword. After his battle with A Luoyi, Ji Ning had gained considerable insights.

…

The first scroll was obtained from the Crocodile Dragon Insect Beast in the 'Giant Stone Forest' of the Ten Thousand Gods Residence.

On the sandy beach of the island, Ji Ning admired the scroll in his hand. The scroll depicted a magnificent palace, but the painting was truly ordinary.

"Enter." Ji Ning had long since refined this first Snow Appraisal Scroll. He infused it with his magic power, and his World-level magic power immediately activated the grotto within.

Whoosh.

Ji Ning entered the scroll's grotto.

"Hm?" Ji Ning looked around. Moments ago he was on the island beach; now he was inside a majestic palace. The palace was adorned with carved railings and jade steps, and golden pillars coiled with carvings of strange beasts.

Far ahead of Ji Ning, steps led up to a golden throne. On the throne, a figure began to coalesce—a tall man in a golden robe. He sat on the throne, looking down like an emperor.

"After so many years, finally a World-level cultivator has entered," the golden-robed emperor spoke. "Young one, I am here by the Emperor's command. Defeat me, and you pass the trial of this grotto. The four scrolls, four grottos—pass all trials, and you will truly become the Emperor's personal disciple."

"Defeat you?" Ji Ning looked at the golden-robed emperor. "May I ask, can I use any means?"

"No magic power, no divine power, only physical strength. I will use the same strength as you, and then we will duel in swordsmanship—pure swordsmanship, without any divine abilities, secret arts, or other means," said the golden-robed emperor. "Defeat me, and you win."

Ji Ning understood. This was a test of swordsmanship. The four scrolls meant four trials. That disciple of the Su Feng Dao Lord had spent so long without passing the third scroll's trial, so these trials must be very difficult.

"Come." A cold ice sword appeared in Ji Ning's hand.

"Good." The golden-robed emperor rose. A broad golden greatsword appeared in his hand. He stepped down from the throne, his aura growing stronger, as if he were the sole emperor of heaven and earth, before whom all must bow.

Ji Ning's expression changed slightly. Such terrifying swordsmanship! Even before a move was made, the spreading sword intent already made Ji Ning feel threatened.

"Luo Heaven Style!"

Ji Ning moved.

As the cold ice sword in his hand was unleashed, the entire hall was plunged into a hazy sword light. Endless sword light enveloped the hall. Although the 'Luo Heaven Style' was the third stance of the Nameless Sword Art, it represented a sword world. As Ji Ning's swordsmanship improved, his sword world became increasingly terrifying.

The boundless sword world, like a prison, completely enveloped the golden-robed emperor.

"Huang!!!"

A sword cry resounded through the hall. A golden sword light tore through the endless sword world, like the first ray of sunlight at dawn illuminating the earth. Ji Ning's swordsmanship shattered.

Ji Ning barely managed to block with his sword, but he was sent flying backward. With a thunderous crash, he slammed into the closed palace door, which boomed loudly.

"Such a domineering sword technique," Ji Ning marveled.

In terms of dominance, it was no less than A Luoyi's saber technique! Ji Ning had easily defeated A Luoyi mainly due to the support of the Green Lotus Mist's power. Without the enhanced physical strength and speed from his divine body, relying solely on swordsmanship, he could not have overcome A Luoyi's saber technique.

"Slash!"

The golden-robed emperor stepped forward again, swinging his massive sword. The sword light was dazzling, unstoppable.

"Whoosh." Ji Ning's cold ice sword turned, forming a black hole vortex, trying to twist the opponent's sword and break the move. But Ji Ning felt the opponent's sword was so domineering and brutal that he could not disrupt it. Instead, his 'Mind-Only Style' collapsed, and he was sent flying again.

…

Every move was countered.

Ji Ning's swordsmanship had not even reached the World-level perfection. Even with the Nameless Sword Art and the Source Sword Intent, he was barely on par with the Misty Rock Star Lord. Compared to the trial left by the Snow Appraisal Emperor, he fell far short.

Only the truly extraordinary could qualify to become the Snow Appraisal Emperor's personal disciple.

…

The 'golden-robed emperor' in the first grotto had extremely high swordsmanship. Even A Luoyi's saber technique seemed somewhat immature in comparison. A Luoyi had broken through on the millstone of life and death not long ago, while the golden-robed emperor's swordsmanship was more perfect, flawless, reaching an extremely perfect level.

"Wonderful, wonderful." Ji Ning emerged from the first grotto, his face full of joy.

In that battle, he had crashed into the hall's walls, pillars, doors, and steps over sixty times, but Ji Ning was overjoyed. Because during his three thousand years of meditation in the Five Thousand Sword Dao Hall, what he lacked most was actual combat! No matter how much one meditates, without practical testing, there will always be flaws.

Now, the Snow Appraisal Scrolls had placed before him an opponent whose swordsmanship was nearly the highest among World-level cultivators. Such battles allowed Ji Ning to see clearly the many flaws in his own swordsmanship.

"Even if I don't become the Snow Appraisal Emperor's disciple, having such a swordsmanship master available for me to challenge at any time is invaluable." Ji Ning was delighted.

"Let's check the third grotto." Ji Ning took out the landscape scroll he had obtained from the Su Feng ruins.

…

A beautiful mountain, a waterfall cascading as if from the nine heavens. Where Ji Ning stood, a stream meandered.

Ji Ning immediately saw a gray-robed fisherman in the distance, sitting and fishing.

"Finally, a World-level cultivator has come." The fisherman stood up leisurely and said calmly, "I am here by the Emperor's command. No magic power, divine power, divine abilities, or secret arts may be used. I will use the same strength as you, and we will duel in swordsmanship."

"Understood." Ji Ning nodded.

"Come." The fisherman's fishing rod shortened to three feet, pointing at Ji Ning.

…

Brutally dominated!

The fisherman in the third grotto had swordsmanship like the clouds in the sky—ethereal and unpredictable, with waves of power that were endless. Ji Ning thought his sword defense was formidable, but before this fisherman, he could not hold his ground. His face was even whipped several times by the fishing rod, sending him tumbling to the ground.

Against the golden-robed emperor's sword, Ji Ning was sent flying repeatedly, but at least he blocked with his sword.

But against the fisherman's sword, Ji Ning could not even block!

Ji Ning understood that the fisherman and the golden-robed emperor represented two different styles of swordsmanship, but at the same level. The golden-robed emperor's sword was like an emperor—upright and powerful. The fisherman's sword was more elusive and unpredictable.

"Good, good, good. Strong practitioners of different sword schools help me understand the flaws in my own swordsmanship." Ji Ning was still overjoyed despite being dominated.

…

From then on, Ji Ning became even more obsessed with studying swordsmanship. Each battle with the two sword masters revealed many flaws in his swordsmanship and areas for improvement.

The vast insights Ji Ning had gained from the Five Thousand Sword Dao Hall began to transform into true strength. Through repeated actual combat, his swordsmanship was constantly corrected and improved.

Meditation and actual combat—both were indispensable.

…

In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed since Ji Ning returned to the Da Mo分院. The Boundless World God also returned from the Ten Thousand Gods Residence. The first thing he did upon returning was to see Ji Ning.

"Brother Ji Ning, in the Ten Thousand Gods Residence, I sensed the surge of Chaos Force and guessed that you had broken through." The Boundless World God was overjoyed to see Ji Ning.

The two gathered. Ji Ning had gained insights in the Ten Thousand Gods Residence, and the Boundless World God had also made considerable progress, vaguely glimpsing the path to the Life Death realm. But merely glimpsing it... truly walking one's own path and becoming a Life Death Dao Lord was extremely difficult.

Still, it was progress. If one couldn't even see the path, there was no hope of walking it.

Another six years passed.

Sixteen years after Ji Ning returned to the Da Mo分院, a 'Life Death Dao Lord' finally arrived at the Da Mo分院.