Two Factions

Ji Ning willed it, and the binding on the Thousand Sword Puppet was released. With a single leap, he crossed a hundred zhang to land outside the combat arena, sighing inwardly. I’ve reached the Domain of the Dao, and even my soul is at the ‘divine sense’ level. And yet… if I hadn’t meditated on the Lesser Five Elements Sword Manual earlier and greatly improved my sword technique, it would have been difficult to say whether I could have won against that Bu Ying.

He had a very solid foundation—one comparable to a ‘Reincarnated Immortal’. But before entering the Black-White College, his sword technique had been lacking. Studying the Lesser Five Elements Sword Manual had filled that gap.

If he hadn’t studied it, Ji Ning would have had to rely solely on his powerful soul to control more flying swords, winning through sheer numbers.

“Swoosh.” Bu Ying also leaped to Ji Ning’s side.

“Senior apprentice-brother Bu,” Ji Ning said humbly.

Chapter 33: Two Factions

“No wonder the Diancai Immortal accepted you as his disciple, junior apprentice-brother Northmont. I admit defeat without reservation.” Bu Ying sighed in admiration. “Junior apprentice-brother, you were able to simultaneously control twelve flying swords, all executing the ‘Drizzling Rain’ stance. Your level of insight and your soul’s power are both impressive. And you were even able to execute the ‘Two-Flames Azurefire Sword’… I have no excuses for losing.”

“Here are a hundred Black-White Pearls and ten catties of Primordial Liquid.” Bu Ying tossed two jade bottles to Ji Ning.

Ji Ning caught them.

“But junior apprentice-brother, you’ve won against Yinyue Wenjian, and now against me.” Bu Ying looked at Ji Ning. “Prepare yourself well. This matter won’t end so simply.” With that, Bu Ying turned and walked away.

“Won’t end so simply?” Ji Ning frowned, following him out.

“Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning! Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning!” Mu Northson ran over, excited and thrilled. Ji Ning’s victory seemed to make him even happier than his own win. “That was so satisfying! Those senior disciples wanted to teach us new disciples a lesson, didn’t they? Hahaha! Now they’ve lost two matches in a row. Those senior disciples must be really embarrassed this time.”

Ji Ning smiled. “It was just a spar.”

“It’s a matter of face,” Mu Northson insisted. “We’re the only two new disciples this year. Since you won, I, your junior apprentice-brother, gain face too.”

The two of them walked out together.

Bu Ying, Dong Lin, Yinyue Wenjian, and a few other senior disciples didn’t come over to talk to Ji Ning. The atmosphere was somewhat awkward. Only Senior Apprentice-Sister Nine Lotus approached.

“Senior apprentice-sister,” Ji Ning said, his heart tightening.

Nine Lotus indeed possessed a natural allure. In terms of appearance, she was outstanding—among the beauties Ji Ning had seen, she was second only to Meng Xin. But when it came to aura, she was unrivalled as number one.

“Junior apprentice-brother Ji Ning,” Nine Lotus said softly. “You must be careful. You’ve won two matches in a row; the senior disciples won’t let this go easily. Regardless… the tradition of our Black-White College won’t change just because of you. You should prepare well when you return.”

Ji Ning’s pupils constricted slightly. “Sparring with senior apprentice-brothers and sisters is something I’ve been looking forward to.”

Nine Lotus nodded and turned away.

Ji Ning glanced at the other senior disciples. But now that even Bu Ying had lost, none of them were confident enough to speak up.

“Let’s go.” Ji Ning led Mu Northson away from the Dao Debate Hall.

Swoosh!

The two of them soared through the night sky.

…

Watching Ji Ning and his companion leave, the senior disciples inside the Dao Debate Hall finally burst into discussion.

“We’ve lost two in a row!” a tall, thin youth said hoarsely. “It’s the tradition of the Black-White College, since ancient times, that senior disciples teach newcomers so they understand that there are always stronger people out there. We’ve been here for years. There’s no way we can just accept this!”

“Yes. If we accept it, it means all the senior disciples admit we’re inferior to a new disciple.” Dong Lin nodded.

One by one, the senior disciples nodded.

This was a tradition.

For the senior disciples, they had been students for years. Even if some of the weaker ones occasionally lost to new disciples, the stronger ones among them had to win it back. If they couldn’t win it back, wasn’t that saying that every single one of them was inferior to the new disciple?

“In the history of the Black-White College, no one has ever made the senior disciples admit defeat—not even a Reincarnated Immortal!” Bu Ying said solemnly. “I’ll go invite Junior Apprentice-Brother Qinghe.”

With that, Bu Ying left the Dao Debate Hall.

“Let’s go!” One by one, the senior disciples left the hall, transforming into streaks of light as they soared through the night sky.

…

The disciples of the Black-White College were divided into three generations. The third-generation disciples were at the Zifu Disciple and Wanxiang Adept levels. Among the Zifu Disciple students, the most dazzling and strongest was ‘Qinghe’.

Qinghe had been a student for eighteen years and had also reached the Domain of the Dao. With his level of insight, he could certainly step into the Wanxiang Adept realm, but he needed to lay a solid foundation. Only by allowing his Zifu lake to accumulate and expand to its limit would his future prospects be greater.

Late at night.

“Junior apprentice-brother Qinghe! Junior apprentice-brother Qinghe!” Bu Ying dove down, hovering above a mountain peak estate and shouting. His voice echoed throughout the residence.

The Zifu Disciple servants and mortals within the residence stirred.

“Senior apprentice-brother Bu Ying, why are you here so late?” A figure walked into the courtyard and looked up at Bu Ying hovering in mid-air. Bu Ying immediately landed in the courtyard.

“Coming at this hour, I have something to tell you, junior apprentice-brother,” Bu Ying said with a sigh. “I’m ashamed to say this. Every year, when new disciples arrive at our Black-White College, we senior disciples teach them a lesson in the Dao Debate Hall. We all went through it ourselves back then.”

Qinghe smiled and nodded. “Yes, senior disciples have been here for years, so naturally they can win.”

“But we lost.”

Bu Ying shook his head. “Just now, a few of us senior disciples were in the Dao Debate Hall, sparring with the new disciples Mu Northson and Ji Ning. We defeated Mu Northson twice… but when it came to Ji Ning, we lost twice in a row. Even I lost to Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning.”

“What!” Qinghe was shocked. “You lost too, senior apprentice-brother?”

“That’s why I’m asking you for help,” Bu Ying said. “You’re among the most outstanding Zifu Disciple students in terms of strength. So.”

Qinghe nodded. “Senior apprentice-brother, rest assured. This matter, I naturally won’t shirk my responsibility…”

…

Senior Apprentice-Sister Nine Lotus stood in the sky, looking down at an elegant estate below.

“Has little sister come?” A clear, cold voice rang out. “Come in.”

Nine Lotus descended.

Under the moonlight, a black-robed young woman sat there. On the table before her rested an exquisitely carved wine flask and cups.

The young woman was stunningly beautiful, surpassing even Nine Lotus. The cool, detached aura she exuded made her seem like a banished immortal. In truth, she was exactly that—a Reincarnated Immortal with great renown within the Black-White College: Fire Fairy Yu Wei! As one of the rare Reincarnated Immortals, although she was currently only at the Wanxiang Adept stage, her status was comparable to that of a Primal Daoist.

“Senior apprentice-sister,” Nine Lotus said, also sitting down. “Did you know that among the new disciples, there’s one suspected to be a Reincarnated Immortal?”

“You mean Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning?” The black-robed young woman nodded gently. “I heard he was accepted as a disciple by the Diancai Immortal.”

Nine Lotus quickly added, “Senior apprentice-sister, you don’t know. This Ji Ning reached the Domain of the Dao even before entering the college, and his soul is suspected to be at the ‘divine sense’ level.”

“Suspected to be at the divine sense level?” The black-robed young woman was somewhat surprised.

“My master told me,” Nine Lotus said.

“Madman Five?”

The black-robed young woman nodded lightly. “Interesting. I didn’t expect a new disciple to be such a figure.”

“And just now, this Ji Ning defeated two senior disciples in a row in the Dao Debate Hall,” Nine Lotus said. “Once this news spreads, the senior disciples certainly won’t let it go. No matter what, they’ll have to win it back.”

“Yes. Winning it back is a must.” The black-robed young woman smiled faintly. “But if he really is a Reincarnated Immortal, with his current level of insight, he might have some fragmented memories from his past life. If he’s careless, his strength could skyrocket. It won’t be easy to defeat a Reincarnated Immortal.”

Nine Lotus glanced at Fire Fairy Yu Wei.

Reincarnated Immortals were fearsome, naturally gifted prodigies for whom the path of cultivation was smooth sailing.

“This Ji Ning is only sixteen years old,” Nine Lotus said.

“If his past life memories haven’t awakened at all, defeating him shouldn’t be hard,” the black-robed young woman said with a smile. “When are you challenging him? I want to go watch.”

“It should be tomorrow morning,” Nine Lotus said.

“Good. I’ll definitely be there.” Yu Wei nodded.

…

The Wanxiang Adept disciple Beishan Xuantang frowned. “Ji Ning?”

“Yes, Ji Ning. He defeated two senior disciples in a row in the Dao Debate Hall, even Bu Ying,” a black-robed youth said casually.

Beishan Xuantang smiled. “So this Ji Ning, whom Beishan Baiwei befriended, is that strong? I misjudged him. Since we’re challenging him tomorrow, I’ll definitely come take a good look… Ji Ning? I heard that in the Wuyou Caverns, he once displayed his Rainwater Sword Domain, meaning he had already reached the Domain of the Dao?”

“What? The Domain of the Dao? No wonder he’s so strong… The new junior apprentice-brother Ji Ning has beaten two senior disciples? That can’t be. No matter what, we have to win back!”

…

Word spread. The Black-White College didn’t have that many disciples, and many of them had known each other for years and were close. News traveled fast, and by the time morning arrived, it had spread throughout the entire college. Even major powers like the Beishan clan of Anchan were informed.

All the other disciples reached the same conclusion: no matter what, they had to win back.

The disciples of the Black-White College naturally split into two factions.

One faction was the new disciples—just Ji Ning and Mu Northson.

The other faction was the senior disciples—everyone else.

“My disciple won two matches in a row against senior disciples?” The Diancai Immortal, dressed in black robes and with black hair, had a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

“That’s right. Almost all those third-generation disciples will go to the Dao Debate Hall. They’ll definitely want to win it back,” the short, tattered-robed old man said excitedly. “Hahaha! It’s been a long time since our Black-White College has had such interesting events. I, Madman Five, just survived the Nine Tribulations, and I run into this. Interesting, interesting! I’ll definitely go watch. Will you?”

The Diancai Immortal nodded gently, smiling. “Since you want to go, senior apprentice-brother, I’ll naturally accompany you.”

“Hahaha, good! Good! Good! Interesting! Interesting!” Madman Five suddenly waved his hand. “Hurry up and bring out your Hundred-Grass Immortal Wine. Let me taste it.”

“Hundred-Grass Immortal Wine? But this was prepared in my minor world…” The Diancai Immortal’s face turned green.

Madman Five glared. “I’ll probably only live another nine hundred years. You can’t even spare me some wine? If you don’t give it to me, I’ll secretly mess things up when Ji Ning and the senior disciples fight!”

The Diancai Immortal sighed helplessly. “Fine, I’ll give it to you!”