A Genius's Strategy: Forging a Reputation with the Beishan Clan

The night was deep. The light of a waning crescent moon cast its radiance down upon this ancient, massive city.

The nine-star immortal carriage, wreathed in flames, had entered the Beishan Blacktiger Estate.

“Young master.”

The soldiers on night watch all called out in respect. Beishan Baiwei, accompanied by Ji Ning, the Whitewater Hound, and the maidservants, descended from the carriage. The nine-star immortal carriage, with no one controlling it, directly entered the depths of the estate on its own.

“Let’s go.” Beishan Baiwei smiled as he led the way.

Ji Ning observed carefully. The gate they had entered through was a side gate.

“It really is huge.” As they walked, the scenery shifted constantly, with pavilions and towers dotting the landscape. It was truly breathtaking. “An estate ten li in radius is roughly the size of a small county town back on Earth.”

“This entire garden is where guests reside.” Beishan Baiwei walked atop a path of lotus leaves that formed a bridge across the water. All around them, colorful fish swam, occasionally leaping out of the surface. At the bottom of the pool, luminous pearls illuminated the water, making it seem like a celestial jade pool.

They arrived at one of the quiet, elegant courtyards.

“Brother Ji Ning, you can rest here for a few days. Generally, the time for joining sects is the twelfth month of the year.” Beishan Baiwei smiled. “Tomorrow, I’ll bring you a record of the various major powers in the Anchan Commandery. Take your time choosing. You can also go out and explore, listen to the local gossip. After that, you can decide which sect to join.”

Ji Ning nodded and smiled.

“Alright. It’s late, so I won’t disturb you any further.” Beishan Baiwei said. “If you need anything, just direct the servants. I’ll be going now.”

…

This courtyard was clearly for entertaining honored guests. It was extremely spacious, containing five separate inner courtyards. A full twelve servants were on standby at all times within the courtyard, all of them beautiful maidservants.

“Young master.” The twelve maidservants all bowed. The tall woman leading them was actually a Xiantian lifeform.

“Prepare a bath for me,” Ji Ning instructed. “I do not wish to be disturbed while bathing.”

“Understood.” The tall woman acknowledged.

Immortal cultivators generally possessed extremely strong self-control. Even those who indulged in sensual pleasures treated it as mere entertainment. Take Beishan Hu, for example—he had sent that white witch to her death without a second thought.

Moments later.

Inside the room, a massive, smooth stone bath was filled with rising steam. Ji Ning lay naked in the bath, his head resting on a pillow. A plate of fruit and some fruit wine were placed within arm’s reach on the edge.

“Ning, my child.” The Whitewater Hound, lying by the edge of the pool, looked at Ji Ning. “You made a huge splash today, and it was at the Wuyou Caverns, one of the most famous places of entertainment in the entire Anchan Commandery. News will spread fast. Are you doing this on purpose?”

“Yes, I wanted to make a big splash.” Ji Ning said. “My only real enemy is Snowdragon Mountain. I have no enmity with any of the other forces. A monstrous young genius with no grudges against them, who has just reached the early Zifu stage and is looking to join a sect… they’ll only try to recruit me or befriend me.”

“As for my sole enemy, Snowdragon Mountain, I don’t even know if they’re still watching me. Even if they are… I’m now inside the Beishan Blacktiger Estate. They can’t touch me here.” Ji Ning said.

“Mm.” The Whitewater Hound nodded.

“If things go well, perhaps tomorrow, Baiwei’s father, Beishan Blacktiger, will personally meet with me.” Ji Ning said solemnly.

Ji Ning’s divine sense was incredibly acute. With a brief sweep, he confirmed there were no surveillance or eavesdropping formations nearby. This was a courtyard for honored guests; if the guests discovered they were being watched, it would backfire. Beishan Blacktiger would naturally not do such a thing.

Within a dark, secluded space.

A tall, sturdy, bald man clad in black robes sat cross-legged atop a boulder of fiery red rock.

“Whoosh~~~” A massive black serpent, over a hundred zhang long, coiled and slithered through the surrounding space. At first glance, it appeared to be a serpent… but upon closer inspection, one would realize it was entirely composed of black flames—its scales, its whiskers, its venomous fangs, all formed from countless black fires.

The black flame serpent coiled around the space, its head drawing close to the bald man.

“Hmm?” The black-robed, bald man frowned, opening his eyes. His gaze was like contained lightning, enough to terrify anyone who saw it.

“Huff!” He opened his mouth.

Instantly, the surrounding black flame serpent dissolved into countless black flames that surged frantically into his mouth. In a single breath… all of the endless black flames had been swallowed into his stomach.

“Baiwei, come in.” The black-robed, bald man said directly.

Rumble!

A door directly appeared in this dark space, and Beishan Baiwei walked in, saying respectfully, “Father, there is a matter I wish to report.”

This man was none other than ‘Beishan Blacktiger’, a candidate for the next Marquis of Anchan. He was a figure of truly immense power.

“Speak.” Beishan Blacktiger looked down at his son with an imperious air.

Beishan Baiwei immediately recounted everything that had happened in the Wuyou Caverns that day with perfect clarity.

Beishan Blacktiger listened, frowning.

“The reincarnation of some mighty figure?” Beishan Blacktiger murmured to himself. “If he were a reincarnated one, his friends from his past life would have come to receive him long ago. Why would he need to join a sect?”

Beishan Baiwei waited silently by the side.

“Baiwei.” Beishan Blacktiger gave a slight nod. “To be able to make a friend like this is a good thing. Tomorrow, I will go see him. It’s late; go get some rest.”

“Understood.” Beishan Baiwei acknowledged, then left the dark space.

Within the dark space, Beishan Blacktiger’s eyes held a thoughtful look. “The various schools, sects, tribes, and even Fiendgods… I haven’t heard of anyone reincarnating in the last twenty years. Still, for a young man to reach such a level at his age, even if he isn’t a reincarnated mighty figure, he has definitely encountered an incredible stroke of fortune.”

“Whoosh.” Beishan Blacktiger set the matter aside for now. He opened his mouth, and countless flames surged out, once again forming the massive black flame serpent that coiled around him, seeming quite comfortable in the dark space.

…

The next morning. The Golden Crow was already high in the sky, its light covering the entire Anchan City.

Within a detached courtyard of the Beishan Blacktiger Estate in Anchan City, Ji Ning was seated in a pavilion. A low table before him held fruit and fine wine. Ji Ning, however, extended his index finger. Floating just above his fingertip was a Water-Fire Lotus, the size of an open palm, rotating continuously.

“Water, fire, and wind.” Ji Ning murmured to himself. “The Water-Fire Lotus can only be manifested by condensing the True Meaning of the Dao behind water, fire, and wind alike.”

“Right now, I’ve already comprehended the ‘Rain Sword Domain’ for water. My understanding of fire and wind is comparatively weaker.”

Ji Ning gazed at the rotating Water-Fire Lotus on his fingertip, feeling its mysteries, gradually deepening his insight. At his current level, a single thought was enough to brush against the ‘Dao’ itself.

Suddenly, a maidservant from a distance ran over swiftly.

“Hmm?” The Water-Fire Lotus on Ji Ning’s fingertip vanished into thin air.

“Young master, Young Master Baiwei sends word. He and the Estate Lord will be coming to see you shortly.” The maidservant looked nervous and anxious.

The Estate Lord?

Ji Ning frowned slightly, then immediately rose. “Alright. I understand. You may leave.”

“Understood.” The maidservant withdrew.

“The Estate Lord? Beishan Blacktiger? He really did come.” Even with Ji Ning’s unshakeable Dao Heart, facing a candidate for the next Marquis of Anchan, he felt a faint, suppressed pressure.

The Whitewater Hound, who had been lying nearby, also rose to his feet.

“Let’s go. We’ll go greet him.” Ji Ning said, leading the Whitewater Hound toward the entrance.

Just as they reached the gate, they saw three figures approaching from afar.

Walking in the center was a powerfully built, bald man in black robes. His eyes were like deep pools. As he strolled over, the surrounding heavens and earth seemed to merge with him. An invisible, overwhelming aura surged directly toward Ji Ning. Ji Ning even felt as though he couldn’t breathe.

“Danger. Danger. Danger!” Ji Ning looked at this man, feeling a strange premonition within his heart. It was an incredibly intense sensation of threat.

Ji Ning could also tell that this wasn’t some calamity approaching. It was simply that this person before him posed such an enormous threat that he could probably kill him in an instant, with Ji Ning having no chance to resist at all.

“So this is Beishan Blacktiger? Why is his aura so fierce and oppressive?” Ji Ning was secretly shocked.

Beishan Baiwei was an elegant, refined young master.

But his father, Beishan Blacktiger, was like an ancient Fiendgod that had lain dormant for unknown ages, radiating boundless savagery and dominance. His gaze, his footsteps… all carried the essence of ‘savagery’. As he approached, it was as if a primordial, ferocious beast was drawing near.

Temperament is cultivated over a long period. The father and son had such vastly different temperaments that Ji Ning found it quite strange.

“The two people beside him…” Ji Ning noticed. On one side of Beishan Blacktiger walked his son, Beishan Baiwei. On the other side was an elderly man with a pale, beardless face, who had triangular eyes. Even when he smiled, he gave off a chill. Once Ji Ning noticed him, he immediately perceived the old man’s terror.

If Beishan Blacktiger was like an ancient, ferocious beast.

Then this old man was a cold, venomous serpent. If one wasn’t paying attention, they might not even notice his presence. But if one focused on him, they would sense his profound danger.

“Dangerous!” Ji Ning felt the same sense of danger from this old man.

Beishan Blacktiger and the triangular-eyed old man.

The sense of threat these two gave Ji Ning was so intense… that even Xue Hongyi, whom he had once seen, seemed like nothing more than a weak ant before them.

“So strong.”

“Incredibly powerful. This is indeed someone who might become the next Marquis of Anchan.” Ji Ning’s heart was filled with awe.

Of course, Ji Ning’s divine soul was powerful, so he was still able to maintain a calm appearance.

“Hahaha…” Beishan Blacktiger laughed heartily, his voice so powerful it seemed to shake the surrounding space. “When Baiwei praised his good friend Ji Ning to the skies, I didn’t believe him. Now that I see you for myself… you really are extraordinary! A Zifu Disciple who can remain completely calm before me can be counted on one hand.”

“I came here to size you up. Not bad. Not bad at all.” Beishan Blacktiger laughed. “I have matters to attend to today, so I won’t stay long. After you’ve joined a sect, be sure to visit my estate often. It is Baiwei’s fortune to have a friend like you.”

“Meeting Brother Baiwei is also my fortune, Ji Ning’s.” Ji Ning appeared humble and respectful.

Beishan Blacktiger laughed heartily, then immediately turned and left with the triangular-eyed old man. The old man had also observed Ji Ning carefully for some time, giving a slight nod.

Once they had left.

“Whoosh.” Beishan Baiwei let out a long sigh of relief. He glanced outside, confirming his father was completely gone, and only then did he fully relax. “All these years, and I still get nervous around my father.”