The Fifth Master

“The fifth master?” Ji Ning was astonished. “Me?”

The black ox’s eyes held a hint of amusement as it ambled closer. Its figure was faintly ethereal, for it was not a physical being but an artifact spirit.

“Of course it’s you,” said the black ox.

“That’s not what I meant. I mean… am I only the fifth master?” Ji Ning asked quickly. “Wasn’t Celestial Immortal Juhua the first?”

From the divine banyan bark letter he had found, he had inferred that after Celestial Immortal Juhua’s death, the aquatic palace had never been passed to anyone else.

“Celestial Immortal Juhua was the third master of this aquatic palace,” said the black ox.

“Who was the fourth?” Ji Ning pressed.

A flicker of remembrance passed through the black ox’s eyes. “Back in his day, Celestial Immortal Juhua was famed far and wide, a figure at the very pinnacle of the Grand Xia Dynasty. For a Loose Immortal to survive for millions of years was nothing short of a miracle. The Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations faced by cultivators only grow more severe with each passing cycle. He lived for so long that his tribulations had reached an utterly terrifying level—even a Celestial Immortal might not have been able to endure them. The longer he lived, the more the Grand Xia Dynasty understood his fearsome power.”

“Celestial Immortal Juhua knew his time was running out. He wished to take on a disciple, and so he spread the news… that only Fiendgod Body Refiners were eligible, at least Xiantian lifeforms but at most Zifu Disciples. At that time, every major tribe in the Grand Xia that was well-informed enough would send their youths to challenge the corridor.”

“There were two corridors—one for Xiantian lifeforms, one for Zifu Disciples.”

“One young man after another died. Finally, a Zifu Disciple named ‘Lei Zhan’ managed to pass the three trials of the corridor. Lei Zhan became the fourth master of this aquatic palace.”

Ji Ning nodded.

Celestial Immortal Juhua was the third.

Lei Zhan was the fourth.

“A pity,” said the black ox, shaking its head. “Under the endless onslaught of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, Celestial Immortal Juhua finally perished. Not long after Celestial Immortal Juhua died… Lei Zhan, who was merely at the Wanxiang Adept stage at the time, also died. How he died, where he died—it is unclear. Since Lei Zhan’s death, this aquatic palace has never had another master.”

Ji Ning nodded, then asked in confusion, “Did Lei Zhan not carry the aquatic palace with him?”

“Carry it with him?” The black ox’s voice turned低沉. “He couldn’t even fully refine it. How could he carry it?”

“He was a Wanxiang Adept, and he couldn’t refine it?” Ji Ning pressed.

“Little child, don’t underestimate this aquatic palace,” said the black ox. “Its origins are extraordinary, and refining it is exceptionally difficult. You should know, the more powerful a treasure, the harder it is to refine. This aquatic palace is a type of cave- mansion treasure… only by reaching the Primal Daoist stage can one barely refine it enough to carry it.”

“Even a Primal Daoist can only barely refine it. They still cannot fully control the aquatic palace, and many of its hidden areas remain inaccessible. Only when one becomes an Earth Immortal or Loose Immortal can one truly take command of this palace.”

Ji Ning understood. It made sense—a treasure capable of teleporting people through space would certainly not be easy to refine.

“Do you now grasp the extraordinary nature of this aquatic palace, little child?” asked the black ox, slight pride in its tone.

“Senior, you may call me Ji Ning,” said Ji Ning.

“Ji Ning, little child.” The black ox stepped onto the enormous prayer mats covering the floor. “Take a look at these mats. Each one is a hundred zhang across. What does that suggest to you?”

Ji Ning pondered. “Senior, when I first arrived in this hall, I was also very puzzled. Even an immortal’s residence wouldn’t use prayer mats this large. I suspected at the time… that this aquatic palace was once occupied by a race of giants, or some other alien tribe.”

“Although Celestial Immortal Juhua was only a Loose Immortal, he endured for millions of years before falling,” said the black ox, its voice filled with emotion. “Of all the Loose Immortals I know, he was the only one who lived this long. Why was he so formidable? Why could he hold on for so long before dying? It was because of this—this aquatic palace!”

“This aquatic palace has existed for an incalculable time. According to Juhua’s conjecture, its earliest master was likely a powerful Fiendgod. That’s why it was built on such a colossal scale—the prayer mats, the beds, the corridors, everything was made enormous.” The black ox continued, “When Celestial Immortal Juhua was young, he passed the three trials and became the third master here.”

“Celestial Immortal Juhua also went through the three trials?” Ji Ning was shocked.

“The three trials were established by the aquatic palace’s first master,” said the black ox. “That first master was presumably an extremely powerful Fiendgod. Judging by the arrangement of the prayer mats, this Fiendgod sat at the head to lecture, and below him were many Fiendgods listening. Hah, these are all things of the past. The Fiendgod Era has long since passed.”

…

The black ox and Ji Ning talked for a long time.

Finally, Ji Ning could not help asking, “Now that I am the fifth master of this aquatic palace, what benefits do I receive?”

The black ox blinked.

“Celestial Immortal Juhua was a Loose Immortal who lived for millions of years. He must have left something behind,” Ji Ning pressed.

The black ox remained silent.

“You…”

“Ah!” The black ox finally let out a sigh. “Both the third master and the fourth master died a long, long time ago. Celestial Immortal Juhua did give Lei Zhan some treasures, but Lei Zhan died outside. Countless ages have passed since then; you cannot obtain whatever he had. Celestial Immortal Juhua did leave some magic treasures and other items within the aquatic palace… but you cannot get them now.”

“Why can’t I get them?” Ji Ning asked. “Am I not the master of this palace?”

The black ox shook its head. “You are the master of a storage-type treasure, but if you cannot refine it, can you obtain what’s inside? This aquatic palace is a cave-mansion type treasure. If you don’t refine it, many areas will remain inaccessible to you. Right now, you are confined to this main hall. You cannot enter any other part of the palace.”

“Only this main hall?” Ji Ning was taken aback.

“You should have noticed by now. You could only move about in the main hall; you couldn’t go anywhere else inside the palace,” said the black ox. “Once you become a Zifu Disciple, you can refine a token talisman. Once you refine it, you will gain many more benefits. You will be able to enter many parts of the aquatic palace, and you will also be able to enter the palace on your own initiative from the outside world—for example, you can enter it from Serpentwing Lake whenever you wish.”

With a smack, a dark-grey talisman plaque materialized in the air and fell onto the prayer mat with a clatter.

“This is the token talisman,” said the black ox. “Only successive masters can obtain it. Put it away quickly. Once you become a Zifu Disciple, you can refine it. When you have done so, come back to the aquatic palace. For now, you cannot enter any area or obtain any benefits.”

Ji Ning picked up the talisman.

It was rough and bore a single ancient, complex character: ‘Right.’ Although Ji Ning had never learned this script, he understood it the moment he laid eyes on it.

“A token talisman?” Ji Ning stored it in his own storage treasure.

“Alright. You have received the token, and I have told you everything you need to know. You may leave now,” said the black ox. “I will send you off, teleporting you back to the island on Serpentwing Lake.”

“Stop!” Ji Ning called out.

The black ox looked at him. “Is there something else?”

“You’re… just letting me go like this?” Ji Ning couldn’t help saying. “I went through life-and-death peril to get in, and I leave with just a token talisman?”

The black ox blinked twice. “What can I do? The previous masters have all died. If they were still alive, they might be able to guide and help you. But I am only an artifact spirit… I don’t have any treasures or rare items. You already have your own cultivation method. The Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens is the number one Fiendgod Body Refining technique—better even than Celestial Immortal Juhua’s own method. What else can I give you? Mm… You probably don’t have a visualization technique!”

“A visualization technique?” Ji Ning was startled.

What Lord Cui had imparted to him back then was the visualization technique, the Nuwa Diagram!

“A visualization technique is a method for condensing and strengthening the soul,” the black ox said hurriedly. “Only the topmost major tribes possess them. I happen to remember one. I’ll pass it on to you.”

“Pass it on?” Ji Ning was curious.

“Get me brush and ink,” said the black ox, urging him.

Ji Ning produced a writing brush, an ink stick, and a large piece of animal hide, then began grinding the ink.

The black ox’s gaze fell upon the brush. With a thought, the brush floated into the air. “I am an artifact spirit who has cultivated for endless ages, but I fear my divine sense is not even as strong as yours. Still, controlling a brush is not difficult.” It manipulated the brush, dipping it into the ink, and began to draw on the smooth surface of the animal skin. Soon, a Buddha with a compassionate, sorrowful expression appeared on the paper.

Behind this Buddha, the sun and moon hung high, radiating boundless light.

Ji Ning felt a subtle resonance just from looking at it.

“What do you think?” The black ox casually tossed the brush aside, looking pleased with itself. “This is an authentic image of a Buddha—the Sun-Moon Buddha of Light. ‘Inner View of the Sun-Moon Buddha of Light’ was Celestial Immortal Juhua’s personal visualization technique. I watched him paint the original Buddha image every day, so naturally I remembered it. Although my painting is not as perfect as the original, if you constantly meditate on this Buddha image, you will surely be able to condense your soul.”

Ji Ning was puzzled. “Inner view of a Buddha?”

“Those who have attained the Great Dao have bodies that are filled with the mysteries of the Dao,” said the black ox.

Ji Ning could only feel helpless. Compared to the Nuwa Diagram… the difference was immeasurable. His Nuwa Diagram had been transmitted directly into his soul by Lord Cui, making it far more vivid and precise. This old ox’s painting, however, was merely drawn from memory.

“Do you already have a visualization technique?” The black ox noticed that Ji Ning wasn’t excited. “That makes sense. Your soul is so strong—you must have one. Mm…”

The black ox fell into deep thought.

Ji Ning waited.

This old ox was a powerful artifact spirit who had followed Celestial Immortal Juhua for endless years. He should know a great deal.

“Ah, I recall now. Earlier, you were controlling several thousand magic treasures, weren’t you? I have a sword formation technique here that should suit you.” The black ox suddenly remembered something. “Back then, Celestial Immortal Juhua slew a mighty enemy. That enemy used a large number of flying swords to set up a grand formation to fight his foes. Celestial Immortal Juhua obtained that sword formation technique and studied it carefully. Although I only saw it once, I memorized it all. I’ll transcribe it for you.”

Ji Ning quickly produced a large amount of animal hide.

The black ox then began to write furiously with the brush.

At the very top of the animal skin, four large characters appeared—Lesser Thousand Sword Formation.