The Dao Debate Palace

The winter wind was crisp and refreshing. Standing on his boat as it flew through the air, Ji Ning's mind was still replaying the scenes of his master, the Diancai Immortal, demonstrating his sword-arts.

"Master's sword-arts have truly reached an inconceivable realm," Ji Ning mused to himself.

Known as 'the second Immortal Beixing' and considered the Black-White College's best hope of producing a Celestial Immortal, the Diancai Immortal's sword-arts were naturally far beyond what Ji Ning could currently comprehend.

"Hm? Someone's here?" As the boat flew over Northmount Peak, Ji Ning saw two figures standing outside the gates.

It was Mu Northson, dressed in white, and Senior Apprentice-Sister Donglin, also in white.

"Swoosh."

Ji Ning dived down.

"Master." The mortal attendant at the gate immediately bowed.

"Junior Disciple-Brother Northson, Senior Apprentice-Sister Donglin, what brings you here?" Ji Ning asked as he landed.

Donglin let out a long sigh of relief. "Junior Disciple-Brother Northbright, do you really not know what's happening today?"

Ji Ning knew, of course. "Are you referring to the challenge at the Dao Debate Palace?"

"Exactly." Donglin nodded. "Many of our fellow disciples have already gone. Even some senior apprentice-brothers and sisters who weren't at the College have returned after hearing the news. I came specifically to invite you, Junior Disciple-Brother Northbright, to the Dao Debate Palace."

Ji Ning nodded.

"Let's hurry. I'm afraid many of our fellow disciples are getting impatient," Donglin said.

"Alright." Ji Ning glanced at Mu Northson beside him. "Junior Disciple-Brother Northson, why didn't you go to the Dao Debate Palace? What are you doing here?"

"Do I even need to say it?" Mu Northson stared, eyes wide. "Of all the new disciples in the Black-White College, it's just you and me. We're on the same side. If I went to the Dao Debate Palace alone, surrounded by nothing but senior apprentice-brothers and sisters, I'd just be a fool on display, wouldn't I?"

Ji Ning laughed. "Let's go."

There was no backing down now. If he retreated, he'd only be looked down upon. It was better to meet the challenge openly.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

All three of them mounted their artifact puppets and shot into the air, three streaks of light flying toward the Dao Debate Palace.

The Dao Debate Palace was unusually crowded, filled with fellow disciples. Every disciple present was a true elite.

"Why hasn't Junior Disciple-Brother Ji Ning arrived yet?"

"Could it be that our little junior disciple-brother Ji Ning is afraid?"

The senior apprentice-brothers and sisters chatted in small groups as they waited. But it was already noon. Those who had come early had been waiting for nearly two hours. Naturally, some were growing impatient.

Suddenly——

Three figures flew in from afar and landed at the entrance of the Dao Debate Palace, instantly drawing the attention of all the disciples.

"He's here."

"Junior Disciple-Brother Ji Ning is here."

"It's Junior Disciple-Brother Ji Ning and Junior Disciple-Brother Mu Northson. Next to them is Junior Disciple-Sister Donglin." Most of those present recognized the pair from the entrance ceremony.

Flamesaint, sitting in the distance, watched from afar and said softly, "The one in the fur cloak is Ji Ning?"

"Yes, that's Ji Ning." Beishan Xuantang quickly replied.

"Looking at his eyes, I can tell his Dao-heart is firm," Flamesaint said quietly.

"If Junior Disciple-Brother Ji Ning knew you praised him, he'd surely be delighted," Beishan Xuantang said.

After entering the Dao Debate Palace, Ji Ning went straight to a side hall, selected the Thousand-Sword Puppet he had used before, and brought it back to the main hall.

Standing in the hall, Ji Ning swept his gaze across the room.

He recognized figures like Senior Apprentice-Sister Nine Lotus. There were also a few figures he didn't recognize, surrounded and fawning over by other senior apprentice-brothers and sisters—clearly individuals of high status within the sect. There was the bald young man in red robes. The black-clad young woman. The slovenly fat youth. The tall, burly, fair-skinned young man adorned with numerous glittering treasures...

"Those surrounded by the others are probably the top-tier third-generation disciples. They've either comprehended an entire Dao or are reincarnated Immortals," Ji Ning guessed.

Swoosh!

Ji Ning leaped, transforming into a streak of light that landed on a towering stone pillar a hundred zhang away. He looked around and called out, "Senior apprentice-brothers and sisters."

Instantly, the Dao Debate Palace fell silent.

"Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to defeat two senior apprentice-brothers," Ji Ning announced loudly. "So I've come again today. Any senior apprentice-brother or sister who wishes to debate the Dao with me may step forward. As for the wager... as a new disciple, I can't afford much, so I'll set the minimum: one hundred Black-White Pearls and ten jin of Primordial Liquid. I'll wait here. Anyone who wishes to debate the Dao with me is welcome."

As soon as the words fell, the entire Dao Debate Palace was quiet for a moment.

The slovenly fat youth, surrounded by a few fellow disciples, was beaming with joy. He looked at Ji Ning standing on the stone pillar in the distance and said, "This Junior Disciple-Brother Ji Ning is truly refreshing. I like him."

This slovenly fat youth...

Was none other than the recognized number-one third-generation disciple of the Black-White College, known to outsiders as the 'Slovenly Daoist,' with the Dao-title 'Sanpang.' Although not a reincarnated Immortal, this Sanpang Daoist had suppressed the other three reincarnated Immortals to become the foremost third-generation disciple. His strength was evident.

"Did you hear? Little Slob also likes this Ji Ning." In a corner of the Dao Debate Palace, an equally slovenly short old man chuckled. Beside him, the black-robed Diancai Immortal said helplessly, "Senior Apprentice-Brother Wufeng, why must we come to the Dao Debate Palace? We could just use a Watermirror Technique from our own residences to watch everything happening here. The College Lord and the others are surely watching via Watermirror in their own residences."

The short old man glanced at the Diancai Immortal. "Watching here lets me hear all the chatter from these third-generation disciples. Much more interesting! That little slob of mine truly is my worthy disciple—even his thoughts match mine. Don't worry. We're watching in secret. Those third-generation disciples won't discover us."

"Tch." The Diancai Immortal shook his head helplessly.

The old one was a madman.

The younger one was even more extreme, even giving himself the Dao-title 'Sanpang'! And both were horribly slovenly. The Diancai Immortal, being a serious man, naturally found it hard to stomach. But there was no help for it... the old madman was the longest-lived Loose Immortal of the Black-White College, and the young madman was the most outstanding disciple of the College today.

"I hope I live long enough to see Little Slob become an Earth Immortal. If I could see him become a Celestial Immortal, I'd die without regrets." The short old man suddenly grew solemn.

"Senior Apprentice-Brother?" The Diancai Immortal was startled.

The short old man stared at the slovenly fat youth surrounded by disciples ahead. "Just watch. Little Slob will definitely surpass me."

The Diancai Immortal turned his gaze to Ji Ning on the stone pillar in the distance. This was his only disciple.

"Someone's stepping down." The short old man's eyes lit up. "That one called Qinghe."

So many third-generation disciples had gathered in the Dao Debate Palace. The first to step forward was Qinghe, the recognized strongest among the third-generation Zifu Disciple disciples.

Swoosh!

A figure in green clothes transformed into a blur, flying directly to a stone pillar on the opposite side and standing there. The puppet he controlled also leaped into the combat area below.

"Junior Disciple-Brother Ji Ning." The green-clad figure looked at Ji Ning from afar. "I am Qinghe. I entered the College a few years before you. Let me debate the Dao with you."

"Alright." Ji Ning nodded.

"Begin!" The white-haired elder let out a loud shout.

Rumble~~~ The sealing formation enveloped the entire combat area. Ji Ning sat down cross-legged calmly. Senior Apprentice-Brother Qinghe also sat down cross-legged.

"Be careful, Junior Disciple-Brother. The secret art I am about to use is a needle-controlling technique I discovered at the ruins of a senior expert I encountered during my travels. It is not recorded in the sect's archives." Qinghe spoke from afar.

"Please, Senior Apprentice-Brother, go ahead." Ji Ning replied loudly.

The lands under the rule of the Grand Xia Dynasty were simply too vast. Over endless ages, there were countless Fiendgod ruins and remains of powerful cultivators, not to mention the remains of ordinary cultivators... they were truly numberless. But these ruins were also extremely dangerous. Without sufficient means, one didn't dare to recklessly barge in.

"Watch carefully." Qinghe was straightforward. Then his gaze focused.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

From the puppet below him, countless flying needles shot out. The dense mass of emerald-green needles spun in midair, drawn to each other, forming a massive emerald scorpion. The scorpion's eyes gleamed with ferocity.

Ji Ning felt a pang of alarm. "Not to be taken lightly." He had originally planned to use the 'Two-Flame Azure Sword'; he immediately decided to use his current strongest sword-art, the 'New Three Talents Lotus Sword.'

What he didn't know...

Qinghe, as the strongest Zifu Disciple disciple, had a Dao-comprehension comparable to an ordinary Wanxiang Adept. He had also reached the 'Domain of the Dao.' In terms of insight, he was definitely not inferior to Ji Ning, and he had spent years mastering the 'Emerald Scorpion Divine Needle' art. If Ji Ning didn't go all out, he would likely lose.

"Whoosh!"

Three flying swords lit up.

One transformed into water-light, one into fire-light, and one into azure light. The three swords formed a tri-pattern, and during flight, they transformed into a massive lotus. The sword-light within the lotus was exceptionally sharp.

"He'll win." In a corner of the Dao Debate Palace, the short old man sighed. "This sword-art is derived from the 'Three Talents Lotus Sword,' leaning more toward the Water element of the Five Elements. But its power is truly remarkable. For a newcomer to have mastered such a powerful sword-art, it's comparable to an ordinary Wanxiang Adept disciple. A sword-immortal is renowned for their killing prowess. With a sword-immortal's heart and such sword-art, although their insights are equal, victory is certain."

As the short old man spoke, the lotus-formed sword-light clashed with the massive emerald scorpion in midair several times.

Each time, some flying needles scattered.

At the sixth clash, the massive emerald scorpion completely collapsed, scattering into countless needles.

"Chi!" The protective layer of the divine-needle puppet was also nicked by a trace of sword-light.

The entire Dao Debate Palace fell silent.

Lost?

The strongest among the Zifu Disciple disciples, Qinghe, had lost? If even he lost, would the Wanxiang Adept senior apprentice-brothers have to step forward? For a newly joined disciple, to have a Wanxiang Adept senior apprentice-brother step forward?

"Ji Ning wins!" The white-haired elder's voice echoed through the Dao Debate Palace.

(To be continued. If you like this work, please support it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)