The Black-White Diagram Unveiled

"Leave only one?" Beishan Baiwei shook his head repeatedly. "How can that be? Your Ji clan isn't considered large, but there are still some who have broken through to become Zifu Disciples. Some of them might want to become retainers of a formal Black-White College disciple. Besides, you might encounter formidable figures in the future who ask for your help. Let me put it this way—I'll shamelessly take five retainer slots. The remaining five are yours to control. If in the future those five aren't enough, tell me, and I'll find a way to let some Zifu Disciples enter some sects. Of course, these have to be early Zifu Disciples."

Ji Ning nodded with a smile. "That works."

In truth, he only needed one slot.

Retainers entering the Black-White College could learn top-tier Ki Refining techniques, but they should ideally be at the early Zifu stage. Those at the mid or late Zifu stage had already solidified their path and could not turn back. Ji Ning's clan currently had only four Zifu cultivators: Patriarch Ji Jiuhuo, Granny Shadow, the old servant A Xing, and Ji Liuzhen. The patriarch and the others were all at Zifu Perfection, and Ji Liuzhen was at mid Zifu. They were already set. As for future generations of the Ji clan, it would probably be years before another Zifu Disciple emerged.

"Even if a new Zifu Disciple appears in the Ji clan in the future, they can rely on their own strength to join another sect," Ji Ning mused. "If they truly need my help, by then my status and power might be higher." Deep down, Ji Ning wanted the younger generation of the Ji clan to struggle on their own. At most, he might occasionally give them opportunities. Only those who carved their own path would not fear the storms ahead.

"Alright." Beishan Baiwei nodded. "In a couple of days, after the Black-White College finishes accepting disciples, I'll send over five early Zifu cultivators. I'll also bring some ordinary people."

"Ordinary people?" Ji Ning was startled.

"The formal disciples of the Black-White College are extremely few; each one occupies a mountain peak," Beishan Baiwei smiled. "Although those early Zifu cultivators are retainers, they still need to cultivate. They can't be the ones boiling water, fetching water, and cleaning. I'll entrust them with important tasks, while the trivial chores will be done by ordinary people."

Ji Ning understood.

"Then I won't linger. Take a good look around the Black-White College." Beishan Baiwei smiled. "The 'Black-White Diagram' of the Black-White College has long made many parties envious. Even the Grand Xia Imperial Capital sends people to plead for a chance to see it. Only you formal disciples can view it anytime."

Having said this, Beishan Baiwei laughed and rode his carriage away.

Ji Ning looked at the Whitewater Hound beside him. "Uncle White, let's go."

"Mm." The Whitewater Hound followed.

Whoosh.

Man and snow-white hound boarded a leaf boat, which quickly rose high into the sky. Night had fallen, and the Black-White College beneath the starry sky was incomparably serene.

"Uncle White," Ji Ning said, "Don't rush to cultivate at the early Zifu stage. I will soon request a top-tier technique from the college for you."

"I'm troubling you, Ning'er." The Whitewater Hound looked at Ji Ning. The child who had once ridden him through the forests shooting arrows had now grown up, becoming even stronger than his elder brother, Ji Yichuan. "Yichuan, I will watch over Ning'er, watching him become a true hero on this land."

Ji Ning did not know Uncle White's thoughts. He then instructed, "Uncle White, in the college, you will reside here as my spirit beast. You can accompany me to listen to lectures by Primal Daoists and even Celestial Immortals. Under my guidance, you can go to certain areas of the Black-White College. But if you act alone, you can only go to these places."

Ji Ning flipped his hand and took out the black-and-white book, opening it to a certain page.

"This is a map of the Black-White College. The areas marked in red are where Uncle White can go freely," Ji Ning said.

The Whitewater Hound glanced at it and quickly memorized it. "Ning'er, I'm troubling you."

"No trouble." Ji Ning smiled.

Looking at Uncle White, it was as if he had returned to the days when Uncle White, his father, and his mother were all together. His parents were gone, and Uncle White was now his closest companion.

...

Spirit beasts were different from retainers.

Retainers who wanted top-tier techniques had to work hard and gain the recognition of the Black-White College before they could painstakingly obtain a small portion of the top-tier Ki Refining techniques. Everything depended on the retainer's own effort. For a formal disciple to bring them into the Black-White College was already a great kindness.

If Uncle White lived in the Black-White College as a retainer, he could also do so, but he would have to rely on his own efforts and it would be very difficult.

However, existing as a spirit beast, he himself could not obtain top-tier techniques. But Ji Ning, at a certain cost, could request Ki Refining techniques. The difficulty for a formal disciple to obtain a top-tier technique was a thousand times easier than for a retainer.

But in reality, the Black-White College had strict requirements on formal disciples. They were busy enough learning techniques and spells; how many would be willing to sacrifice their own interests for their spirit beasts?

"Hoo."

The leaf boat flew above Northdark Peak.

"This is Northdark Peak." Ji Ning pointed at the mountain below. "From today, this peak belongs to me, Ji Ning."

"Uncle White, now it's just you and me on Northdark Peak. Go and rest first. I plan to go to the forbidden area, the 'Black-White Diagram', to take a look." Ji Ning said. "The Black-White Diagram is located at the core forbidden area of the Black-White College. Only formal disciples can view it. Retainers and spirit beasts are not allowed."

"You go ahead." The Whitewater Hound smiled, then leaped from the high sky, turning into a streak of light that fell into Northdark Peak below.

Ji Ning nodded.

Whoosh.

He turned the leaf boat and flew off.

...

Ji Ning descended from the sky. This was a vast open ground, the true core of the Black-White College, a forbidden area amongst forbidden areas. Even beings from other superpowers within the Grand Xia Dynasty had to work hard and pull strings just to come here and view the 'Black-White Diagram' once. Retainers and spirit beasts naturally could not be allowed.

"Black-White Diagram?" Ji Ning saw the towering stone wall standing in the open ground.

The stone wall, made of unknown material, emitted a black, glossy sheen. Black lines and white lines densely interwove across it. The two colors intersected, ingeniously forming a huge circular millstone.

One black, one white.

Like night and day.

Like yin and yang.

Like water and fire.

Like darkness and light.

Since Pangu split Heaven and Earth, all things in the world possessed the dual aspects of 'black' and 'white'. When Ji Ning saw the interweaving lines, he felt an overwhelming aura rushing toward him, and in an instant, even his soul began to ache.

"No." Ji Ning quickly turned away.

"This Black-White Diagram actually mixes so many Daos together," Ji Ning thought in shock. The Star Palace in his water mansion had completely separated and isolated each 'Dao' so that one could perceive a single Dao individually. But the Black-White Diagram mixed many Daos together, some even incomplete. It took only parts of those 'Daos' and fused them with others.

Ultimately, it formed this 'Black-White Millstone'!

"Although the Black-White Diagram is inferior to the Star Palace for perceiving Daos," Ji Ning understood, "in terms of the combination of different Daos, the Black-White Diagram is superior." The water mansion's Star Palace was far more precious.

As the saying goes, the Dao is the foundation.

The sword techniques, spells, and so on that one employs are external manifestations.

Ji Ning's improvement in realm, such as reaching the 'Domain of the Dao', was an elevation in the Dao itself.

Techniques like the 'Water-Fire Lotus' were methods formed by fusing parts of the True Meaning of different Daos. This involved application.

Dao is the root.

Technique is the application.

The Star Palace separated Daos individually, allowing one to comprehend them, and was invaluable. That was why Celestial Immortal Juhua had lived as a Loose Immortal for millions of years, and even imperial princes of the Grand Xia longed to become his disciple but could not. The Black-White Diagram was naturally formed, a mixture of many Daos, easily inspiring insights and leading to the creation of techniques like the 'Water-Fire Lotus'.

...

"Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning." A figure descended from the sky riding a blue dragon puppet. It was Mu Northson. "I didn't expect Senior Apprentice-brother Ji Ning to arrive earlier."

"Junior apprentice-brother Northson." Ji Ning smiled, then quickly cautioned, "Don't stare directly at the entire Black-White Diagram. The Daos contained in the whole diagram are too profound for us to bear. Instead, look at small sections of it."

Unfortunately, he was too late.

As soon as he landed, Mu Northson involuntarily glanced at the Black-White Diagram, naturally taking in the whole view from a distance. Immediately, he felt the world spin, stumbled, and fell off his blue dragon puppet. His soul was far inferior to Ji Ning's, so his endurance was worse.

Hearing Ji Ning's words, Mu Northson nodded quickly. "Right, I can't stare at the entire diagram directly."

"Come, let's look slowly."

Ji Ning walked toward the stone wall. Beside the Black-White Diagram stone wall, there were actually another two stone walls, made of similarly special materials, faintly emitting white light. Ji Ning clearly sensed that all three stone walls were enhanced with terrifying formations. Probably the Celestial Immortals of the Black-White College were also monitoring this place.

After all, the Black-White College had risen to prominence only after obtaining the 'Black-White Diagram'. This was their lifeline.

Generations of Celestial Immortals had frantically added arrays and restrictions, making this place extremely dangerous. Once triggered, the combined power of formations laid down by countless predecessors would likely make it hard even for a Celestial Immortal to survive.

"Three stone walls. One is the Black-White Diagram, and the other two are left by past Celestial Immortals." Ji Ning glanced at them. All three stone walls were over a hundred zhang wide. The messages on them were densely packed, probably over ten thousand words. From this, one could infer how many Celestial Immortals the Black-White College had produced in its history.

Ji Ning's gaze soon settled on a corner of the Black-White Diagram, staring at that small section.

Black lines, white lines...

Opposite and yet mutually compatible. The natural, profound mystery immersed Ji Ning. Beside him, Mu Northson was also absorbed in the Black-White Diagram.