The Hidden Senior and the Yinglong Guard’s Offer

A green-robed man whose long hair was swept back by the wind descended before Ji Ning, landing lightly. He was smiling. “My surname is Mu, and my given name is Xiao. I am known as the ‘Real Person Mu.’”

“Greetings, Real Person Mu.” Ji Ning felt a wave of relief. This Real Person, a complete stranger to him, was willing to reveal his own name; it was a clear sign that he held Ji Ning in some regard.

“Thank you for intervening, Real Person Mu. If that Beizi Shan had escaped, it would surely have led to disaster later on.” Ji Ning quickly expressed his gratitude.

Real Person Mu Xiao smiled and shook his head. “On the contrary, I should be thanking you. I came here specifically to kill Beizi Shan. I spent several months tracking him down to this hiding spot, but unfortunately he had set up a grand formation all around. Although I am a Wanxiang Adept, I had no confidence in breaking that formation through sheer force. So I waited nearby, planning to kill him the moment he left the formation. Instead, I witnessed a spectacular show.”

Ji Ning was startled.

What?

So Real Person Mu Xiao had been hiding nearby the entire time, watching everything unfold?

“Then you broke the grand formation.” Real Person Mu Xiao sighed in admiration. “That was how I learned it was you. For a mere youth to be able to break that formation—truly impressive. And I never imagined you would be the one to handle so many Dao-Soldiers, Xiantian lifeforms, and even Beizi Shan himself. Haha, it saved me the trouble.”

“If I had known you were here, Real Person Mu, I would not have been so reckless.” Ji Ning said hurriedly.

Real Person Mu Xiao looked at Ji Ning with keen curiosity. “Ji Ning, tell me—are you a Zifu Disciple? Or a Xiantian lifeform?”

A person’s true strength could not be discerned from their appearance alone.

But Real Person Mu Xiao had observed from afar for a long time, especially the slaughter after Ji Ning broke the formation. As the saying goes, the bystander sees clearly… and he had noticed certain things that made him suspect Ji Ning was not a Zifu Disciple.

“I have not yet opened my Zifu.” Ji Ning did not hide the truth.

Real Person Mu Xiao’s face immediately showed astonishment. “I knew it! I could tell your sword-art was profound, that you had already reached the level of the ‘True Meaning of the Dao.’ If you were a Zifu Disciple, using your elemental ki to execute such a profound sword-art, you could have easily driven back that black-furred zombie, and that battle would have been far easier. Yet you were clearly struggling. That made me suspect you were not a Zifu Disciple. But if you are not a Zifu Disciple, then those flying swords… you must have been controlling them with your divine sense. For a mere Xiantian lifeform to have such a powerful soul… that is truly extraordinary, truly rare.”

Ji Ning nodded.

He did not deny it. According to some of the records he had read, there were indeed monstrously talented individuals born in every age.

“I was born with an exceptionally strong soul,” Ji Ning said. “Ever since I was a child, I could divide my mind. Later, when I comprehended the True Meaning of the Dao, I gave birth to my divine sense.”

…

Faced with a Wanxiang Adept, someone who could easily destroy him, Ji Ning knew better than to play petty tricks. Since he was an incomparably monstrous genius, he might as well display it. Perhaps it would even bring him some benefit.

“Let me ask you something else.” Real Person Mu Xiao looked at Ji Ning as though he were gazing upon a rough gem. “Are you training in the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens?”

“I am.” Ji Ning nodded.

“Hahaha…” Real Person Mu Xiao nodded in satisfaction. “Do you know who I am, and why I was hunting down this Beizi Shan?”

Ji Ning looked at Real Person Mu Xiao and shook his head. He had never seen this man before; how could he possibly know who he was?

Real Person Mu Xiao spoke directly. “I am a member of the Yinglong Guard of the Grand Xia Dynasty. I accepted a mission to hunt down Beizi Shan.”

“The Yinglong Guard?” Ji Ning was shocked.

After he had slain the great demon Winged Serpent, his parents had given him a general overview of the entire Anchan Commandery. Among the forces they had mentioned, there was one great power that was absolutely not to be offended—the Yinglong Guard! The Yinglong Guard was the most elite corps of the Grand Xia Dynasty, composed entirely of Immortal cultivators. Legend said that one had to be at least a Wanxiang Adept to join.

The Yinglong Guard answered directly to the Grand Xia Dynasty, and their status was extremely special!

Among the countless powers of the vast, boundless lands of the Anchan Commandery, the two highest-ranking were the Marquis of Anchan and the Yinglong Guard! The Marquis of Anchan was the master of this region, with deep roots. The Yinglong Guard, however, answered directly to the Grand Xia Dynasty. They themselves were filled with experts, and behind them stood the entire Grand Xia Dynasty as their backbone.

“Ji Ning.” Real Person Mu Xiao looked at him. “The Yinglong Guard of the Grand Xia Dynasty is the single most powerful force in these endless lands. No tribe, no sect, no religion can compare to my Yinglong Guard!”

Ji Ning nodded in acknowledgment.

“The Yinglong Guard enjoys great freedom. There are few restrictions. Once you become a member of the Yinglong Guard, your tribe will benefit as well. A territory of ten thousand li can be set aside from your tribe’s lands, and this territory will receive the protection of the Yinglong Guard! Even if you die, the Yinglong Guard will protect that territory for a thousand years. No power would dare to invade it, for to do so would be to challenge the Yinglong Guard. My Yinglong Guard would simply annihilate that power!” Real Person Mu Xiao said.

Ji Ning had heard his parents speak of this as well. The Yinglong Guard was indeed held in the highest esteem, and even one’s tribe would benefit from a member’s status.

“You’ve said so much, but it’s not as if I can become a member of the Yinglong Guard.” Ji Ning chuckled.

Real Person Mu Xiao stared at him. “I am asking you: would you be willing to join the Yinglong Guard?”

“Me!” Ji Ning’s eyes went wide. “I… I am merely a Xiantian lifeform! Even if I wanted to, my strength is far from sufficient.”

Real Person Mu Xiao shook his head. “It doesn’t matter if your strength is lacking for now. You cannot join the Yinglong Guard directly, but the Yinglong Guard also has a reserve corps! In the same way that some sects, religions, and tribes deliberately attract talented youths, the reserve corps of our Yinglong Guard also attracts geniuses, taking them in and teaching them.”

“Once you join the reserve corps, you will have access to all manner of cultivation methods, even divine abilities.” Real Person Mu Xiao sighed. “If you treat the Yinglong Guard as a single sect, it is the most powerful sect there is. Among our members, there are many Immortals. Celestial Immortals themselves have even appeared among us.”

“Of course, the threshold for joining the reserve corps is very high. Not just anyone can enter. Fortunately, you practice the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens—the number one Fiendgod Body Refining method in the Three Realms.” Real Person Mu Xiao looked at Ji Ning. “Any cultivator who breaks through to the Xiantian level by relying on the Crimsonbright Diagram can enter the reserve corps directly, without needing to pass any other assessments.”

“The Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens is too difficult. Those who can use it to break through to the Xiantian level are all monstrously talented geniuses.” Real Person Mu Xiao sighed. Ji Ning felt a resonance with those words. Indeed, he had only broken through to Xiantian after comprehending the mysteries of water and fire in harmony while sitting by the pond. For anyone else to break through, they too would need to grasp the profound secret of blending water and fire.

“Immortal cultivators who train in the Crimsonbright Diagram are all extraordinary.” Real Person Mu Xiao said. “For an ordinary cultivator, one must reach the Wanxiang Adept level to have a chance at joining the Yinglong Guard.”

“But for a practitioner of the Crimsonbright Diagram, once they reach the Zifu Disciple level and learn a single divine ability, their combat power can already match that of a Wanxiang Adept. At that point, there is a certain possibility of joining the Yinglong Guard. Of course, that only means you have a chance. Whether you actually succeed depends on your strength.” Real Person Mu Xiao said. “I myself only joined the Yinglong Guard when I was at the late Wanxiang Adept stage.”

Ji Ning blinked a few times.

Late Wanxiang Adept?

The Yinglong Guard was truly difficult to enter!

…

At this moment, the several thousand surviving Dao-Soldiers in the distance were staring in terror at the scene before them. Meanwhile, two figures descended from midair, one having transformed from a Greenflame Bird and the other from a massive black serpent. Both of them looked toward Ji Ning.

“Go and rescue Master Mengyu and the others first. I still have some words to exchange with this senior.” Ji Ning quickly gave the order.

“Understood.” The Greenflame Bird and the black serpent both acknowledged. Having witnessed the earlier battle between Ji Ning and Beizi Shan, they could not help but feel a new sense of reverence for him.

Although Ji Ning was burning with anxiety about his mother’s condition, he naturally could not afford to neglect this Wanxiang Adept. In truth, he was even hoping to invite this Real Person to the Western Prefecture city.

“Once you enter the reserve corps, your future will be limitless.” Real Person Mu Xiao said. “Becoming a full member of the Yinglong Guard will be a natural progression. At the very least, your opportunities will be far greater than if you remain in your tribe. Think it over carefully. If you are willing to join the reserve corps, go home and bid farewell to your parents. I can take you directly to Anchan City!”

Anchan City?

Ji Ning was stunned.

“Real Person Mu.” Ji Ning quickly said. “The reserve corps has all these benefits, but I imagine there must be a price to pay as well?”

“Naturally.” Real Person Mu Xiao nodded. “Once you enter the reserve corps, you will never be allowed to descend from the mountain until you have reached the Zifu level.”

“Never descend from the mountain?” Ji Ning was puzzled.

Real Person Mu Xiao explained. “The encampment of my Yinglong Guard is located on a towering, majestic mountain. The reserve corps is there as well. If you cannot even reach the Zifu level, you will simply grow old and die on that mountain. Once you become a Zifu Disciple, you will be able to leave frequently, but you will still live on the mountain permanently, only able to leave when ordered. It is only when you become a full member of the Yinglong Guard that you will truly be free.”

Ji Ning nodded.

He understood. The reserve corps was essentially like a sect. One could not descend the mountain without reaching the Zifu level. Even after reaching Zifu, one had to live on the mountain and could only leave when ordered.

I have the aquatic palace, Ji Ning thought to himself. Celestial Immortal Juhua relied on that ancient aquatic palace to survive for millions of years as a Loose Immortal, with combat power rivaling that of a Celestial Immortal… The aquatic palace holds many secrets waiting for me to uncover. Once I become a Zifu Disciple, I can refine the token talisman and enter it. Why would I rush to join the reserve corps?

Real Person Mu Xiao spoke again. “Ji Ning, who can teach you in the Yan Mountains? With talent like yours, you need to go to a broader world.”

“Thank you, Real Person.” Ji Ning pondered for a moment, then shook his head. “As you must have heard, Real Person, my mother is critically ill. For now, I don’t wish to go anywhere.”

Real Person Mu Xiao nodded upon hearing this. “Very well. I won’t force you. This is my Yinglong Guard token. In the future, when you travel to Anchan City and find yourself in danger, you can show this token. It may prove useful.” As he spoke, a black, square token appeared in his hand. On the token was carved the image of a Yinglong, a winged dragon.

“Thank you, Real Person.” Ji Ning accepted the token. Then he spoke again. “Real Person Mu, I have a favor to ask of you.”

Real Person Mu Xiao smiled. “You helped me eliminate Beizi Shan of the Snowdragon Mountain. I had intended to repay you by sending you to Anchan City and into the Yinglong Guard reserve corps. Since you do not wish to go, I’ve been wondering how to repay this debt. Just tell me what it is. If I can help, I certainly will.” (To be continued…)