Chapter 17: A Party of Eight

After leaving the Immortal Spirit Realm continent, Ji Ning and his companions fled for over three years. Feeling they had fled far enough, they began to divide the treasures.

In the void of the Ancient Domain, a flying boat drifted.

Ji Ning and the other five were inside the flying boat, tallying the treasures.

"That weak Daoist actually had quite a few treasures—hidden away were two Thousand-Petal Colored Rainbow Flowers, plus the one we picked, making three in total. There's also an Ancient Domain Token, and some magical artifacts..." Feng Yi Xin Jun laid out all the treasures on the deck of the flying boat.

"So many."

"Tsk, tsk, a weak Daoist with so many treasures." Ji Ning and the others were overjoyed. Little did they know that the green-robed, hunched Daoist had been doing menial labor—tormenting mortal cultivators and diligently tending the Thousand-Petal Colored Rainbow Flowers. Cultivating those flowers was extremely hard work; once a flower matured, he would pick it. Although it was temporarily kept with him, when it came time to leave the Immortal Spirit Realm, the black-robed Daoist would surely take it back.

"How do we divide them?" Tianhuo Mangya asked eagerly.

"You, a prince, still competing with us," Huo Jin teased deliberately.

"How about this: the three Thousand-Petal Colored Rainbow Flowers count as three shares, the Ancient Domain Token as one share, and the other magical artifacts and oddities as one share. That's five shares, one for each of us, and we can choose freely," Feng Yi Xin Jun said.

Ji Ning and the others nodded.

The hunched green-robed old man indeed had many magical artifacts and oddities, even some Space Fire Dark Ore ore on him. Though the quantity was small, the total value was close to a million cubes.

"I'll take this Ancient Domain Token," Prince Qinghuan spoke up.

"I..." Ji Ning started to speak, then paused. He also wanted the Ancient Domain Token! Before receiving the Flying Immortal Saint's inheritance, Su Youji had already reached World-level perfection. The Flying Immortal Saint was an extremely heaven-defying Daoist, and his teachings suited Su Youji well. Now Su Youji's strength was at the World-level peak. The opportunities in the Ancient Domain were rare and not to be missed!

If Su Youji could obtain an Ancient Domain Token and enter with them, she might improve further, perhaps even break through to become a Lifeline Daoist! A Lifeline Daoist with some secret arts from the Flying Immortal Saint would be a powerful ally, and Su Youji's talent was, strictly speaking, very high.

Back then, she had created her own technique and reached the limit of Ancestral Immortal, just one step away from the World level. Later, after following Ji Ning, she gained some opportunities in the Ten Thousand Gods Residence and broke through to the World level! Her progress, though not as fast as Ji Ning's, was still remarkable. Ji Ning was naturally willing to nurture her.

"Brother Beiming, you want it too?" Prince Qinghuan was startled.

"You two are really willing to part with it. An Ancient Domain Token is valued at a million cubes." Huo Jin laughed and reached for a Thousand-Petal Colored Rainbow Flower. "I'll take this one."

"I have no followers, so I'll take a Thousand-Petal Colored Rainbow Flower too." Tianhuo Mangya also chose one.

"Beiming, if you also want an Ancient Domain Token, it's simple: give me your share of the treasures, and I'll give you one," Feng Yi said with a smile. "After that black-robed Daoist died, I found two Ancient Domain Tokens on him."

The black-robed Daoist had one himself and carried an extra in his storage artifact.

"Alright."

Ji Ning nodded. "Thanks."

"What's there to thank? I sold you this Ancient Domain Token for a million cubes," Feng Yi said. "Though I have many followers, only one is worth such cultivation."

Ji Ning, Feng Yi, and Qinghuan all had followers. Huo Jin also had some, but he felt none were worth such heavy investment. As for Prince Tianhuo Mangya, he had been wandering alone before being captured by the Mangya Kingdom, and still remained solitary, with no followers.

...

After dividing the treasures, Ji Ning and the others continued their journey.

Inside Ji Ning's cave-world.

Su Youji, Danbao World God, and other World-level servants were sparring with each other.

"Whoosh~~~"

Fiery red wings appeared behind Su Youji, resplendent and dazzling. Light flickered in her eyes. The burly World God opposite her grew dazed, then struggled, and after a while regained clarity.

"Fire Fairy's path of charm is becoming more and more impressive. I, Qiyang, admire it," the burly World God said quickly.

"Being dazed that long is enough to be killed a hundred times."

"Fire Fairy is truly formidable."

These World-level servants were the ones Ji Ning had captured from the Huilan Sect branch. They all knew that Fire Fairy Su Youji had received the inheritance of the 'Flying Immortal Saint.' Since receiving it, Su Youji had grown more beautiful, and even her ordinary charm was breathtaking. Some weaker World-level cultivators could be completely charmed and lose control of themselves. Even the stronger ones would be dazed for a while.

In a life-and-death battle, a moment of daze at a critical time could cost one's life.

Among Ji Ning's World-level subordinates at the same peak World-level strength, none could compare to Su Youji. Such was the power of a fearsome inheritance, and also because Su Youji's Dao resonated well with that of the Flying Immortal Saint, allowing her to learn quickly.

Because her charm was astonishing.

These World-level cultivators couldn't help but gather around Su Youji, some even secretly fantasizing about becoming her Dao companion. Unfortunately, Su Youji would never look twice at them.

"Youji."

A voice sounded.

"Master." Fire Fairy Su Youji turned her head in surprise. In the distance, Ji Ning appeared in white robes—it was his divine power incarnation.

"Master." The surrounding World-level servants all spoke respectfully, even with awe, having witnessed Ji Ning's power, which was on an entirely different level from theirs.

"Come with me," Ji Ning instructed.

"Yes." Fire Fairy Su Youji quickly followed Ji Ning, step by step. Soon they arrived in a forest.

"There is a great opportunity now," Ji Ning said, looking at Su Youji. "If you seize it, you might become a Lifeline Daoist."

"Become a Lifeline Daoist?" Su Youji was shocked.

Though she was progressing quickly in charm, illusion, and control, she had no hope of becoming a Daoist anytime soon.

"This opportunity is rare and not to be missed." Ji Ning flipped his hand and produced a dark red circular token. "This is called an Ancient Domain Token. Refine it and carry it with you. Without it, you cannot leave this cave-world; once outside, you'll be crushed by the power of the Ancient Domain."

"Ancient Domain Token?" Fire Fairy Su Youji was puzzled, but trusting Ji Ning absolutely, she obediently refined the token and carried it with her. Little did she know how great this opportunity was.

Even in other universes, those prodigies who could become Daoists at any moment craved an Ancient Domain Token.

"Alright, come out with me," Ji Ning instructed.

...

Originally, Ji Ning's party had five members; now it was eight! Ji Ning, Qinghuan, and Feng Yi each arranged for a follower to join: Fire Fairy Su Youji, Tianlang World God, and Yanhui Immortal.

Tianlang World God was Prince Qinghuan's follower. Though her Dao name was 'Tianlang,' she was a rather cold woman with a beautiful face but a heavy killing intent.

Yanhui Immortal was Feng Yi's follower, appearing like a child.

Tianlang World God and Yanhui Immortal were both at a high level, able to become Daoists at any time! They had also entered the Twelve Palaces, and though they hadn't been acknowledged by the ancient pagoda, they were extraordinary individuals.

Su Youji was the weakest, but like Ji Ning, she had cultivated for a very short time. Moreover, as a direct disciple of the Flying Immortal Saint, she had extremely high potential.

After joining the team, the three of them also made a life-bound oath not to reveal any information about their home universe.

...

In the Snow Appraisal Scroll cave-world.

Ji Ning's divine power incarnation descended, looking at the sturdy puppet.

The puppet's flame-like eyes fixed on Ji Ning, and it said in a low voice, "You killed my master?"

The black-robed Daoist was its master. Once the Daoist died, the puppet regained its freedom, naturally aware that its master was dead.

"Yes," Ji Ning nodded. "Now, are you willing to submit?"

The sturdy puppet gritted its teeth, then knelt respectfully and said, "Mosha pays respects to the new master. Please do not annihilate me."

Previously, it had refused to submit because it believed its original master, the black-robed Daoist, could defeat Ji Ning and his group. Now that its original master was dead, and the white-robed youth before it was a peerless prodigy who could easily become a Daoist, he could forcibly refine it with Daoist power. If Ji Ning grew angry, he might even erase its sentience.

Every being with intelligence and sentience, even puppets and artifacts, does not wish for its sentience to be extinguished.

"Good." Ji Ning smiled. He had gained an obedient three-step Daoist puppet.

...