The Sincere Sword Heart

Meng Yan was completely stunned.

Ji Ning?

Of course he knew Ji Ning—the man had saved his life. Back at the Wuyou Caverns, he had even seen Ji Ning and another young man being received in a most ceremonious fashion.

“Might I ask, which Ji Ning is your master?” Meng Yan asked hesitantly. Was it the same Brother Ji Ning he knew?

“My master is a formal disciple of the Black-White College,” the white-robed, tall, thin young man Yunzhou said with a smile. “Moreover, he just entered the College, yet he has already defeated numerous senior fellow disciples, including Wanxiang Adepts. Brother Meng Yan, my master invites you to come. Will you go?”

“Go, of course I’ll go,” the bald middle-aged man beside him urged, then sent a mental transmission to Meng Yan. “Stone, your luck has come! That Ji Ning is a heaven-defying genius who has successfully entered the Black-White College as a formal disciple. Formal disciples have ten retainer slots. It seems this young man is one of them, and Ji Ning is inviting you… likely to give you one of those ten spots.”

Meng Yan was startled by the transmission.

Ten retainers for a formal disciple?

The Black-White College was the supreme sect of the entire Anchan Commandery, a gathering of unparalleled geniuses! Even the retainers of these geniuses, if they served the College diligently, had the opportunity to learn some top-tier Ki Refining techniques. This was far superior to being a disciple of the Thousand Streams Sect.

After all, those ultra-large sects had outer disciples, inner disciples, true disciples, core disciples, and so on.

But the Black-White College only had formal disciples and retainers.

Even being a retainer was a position many coveted.

“I can enter the Black-White College?” Meng Yan’s mind began to race with possibilities.

“Brother Meng Yan?” Yunzhou urged.

“Ah!” Meng Yan quickly nodded. “I’ll go. Of course I’ll go.”

Within the Black-White College.

Yunzhou and Meng Yan flew through the sky as streaks of light.

“Look, that’s Northmont Peak, where my master, Ji Ning, resides.” Yunzhou pointed into the distance at an elegant mountain peak.

Ever since passing through the main gate of the Black-White College, Meng Yan’s thoughts had been in a daze. He—he had actually entered the Black-White College? This Yunzhou beside him was truly one of the ten retainers.

Whoosh.

The two dove down from the sky, landing before the entrance of a manor. The two young guards at the gate bowed respectfully.

“Such dense natural energy.” Stepping into the manor, Meng Yan felt the incredibly thick ambient ki. “The natural energy in Anchan City was already dense, but within this manor there is actually a formation to gather energy, and it’s running all the time.”

Meng Yan was a bit nervous.

Under Yunzhou’s lead, they followed a corridor and soon passed through a gate, revealing a wide courtyard. In the courtyard sat a youth in beastskin, with a stunningly beautiful woman standing by, awaiting orders.

It was nearly completely dark now, and the silhouette of the beastskin-clad youth was indistinct.

“Brother Ji Ning!” Meng Yan blurted out upon seeing him.

“Stone!” Ji Ning rose and walked over.

Meng Yan was nervous, his heart tight.

This was no longer the Ji Ning who had come with them to apply to sects. He was a formal disciple of the Black-White College, the number-one sect of the Anchan Commandery, and from what Yunzhou said… Ji Ning was already shining within that College.

“Relax,” Ji Ning said with a smile. “What about Meng Xin and Meng Jun?”

“They’ve both joined sects,” Meng Yan said quickly. “They were both at the early Zifu stage, so it was easy to find a sect. They both joined the Thousand Streams Sect.”

Speaking of this, there was pain in Meng Yan’s heart.

How he had wished to join the same sect as Meng Xin! But alas, his foundation had been damaged, and no sect would accept him.

“The Thousand Streams Sect?” Ji Ning nodded slightly. “Now that I’m a formal disciple of the Black-White College, I have ten retainer slots. Would you be willing to serve as one of my retainers?”

Meng Yan’s eyes instantly lit up, and his entire body trembled slightly.

“Yes!” Meng Yan said hastily.

“It’s a retainer in name only. You and I are still brothers,” Ji Ning said with a laugh. “If you have any questions, ask Uncle Bai… The Black-White College has many rules.”

“Mn.” Meng Yan nodded heavily.

What he had feared was a lack of hope. Now that he had entered the Black-White College, a broad path of immortal cultivation lay before him. He would naturally keep working hard, growing stronger, climbing higher on the path of cultivation. And in his heart, he silently vowed, “Xin, wait for me.”

“I…” Meng Yan looked at Ji Ning, his eyes reddening. With a thud, he fell to both knees and kowtowed.

“Stone!” Ji Ning moved to help him up.

“Brother Ji Ning, you saved my life, and now you’ve given me a path on the Immortal road. I, Meng Yan, have no way to repay you. Just say the word, and I will go through fire and water for you.” Meng Yan looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning smiled. “Rise.”

Yunzhou grumbled inwardly, “Given Brother Ji Ning’s strength and talent, when would he ever need your help?”

“Yun Lu.” Ji Ning looked at the waiting woman. “Prepare a feast. Stone and I will talk properly.” Compared to his other three retainers, Ji Ning felt a greater affinity for Meng Yan.

“Yes.” Yun Lu acknowledged, then withdrew. As she left, she felt a surge of displeasure. “Another block of wood!” This Meng Yan had only glanced at her once upon entering, which made her question her own allure.

The sun rose, its auspicious rays casting a dreamlike glow over the entire Black-White College.

Ji Ning stepped onto a boat-shaped magic treasure and flew out from Northmont Peak. Soon, he arrived at the peak where his master, the Diancai Immortal, resided.

“Master.” Ji Ning landed before the manor gate and spoke respectfully.

“Enter.” The Diancai Immortal’s voice carried out.

Ji Ning walked in directly; the servants at the gate naturally did not block him.

Inside the hall.

The black-robed, black-haired Diancai Immortal sat cross-legged on a cloud-bed, looking at Ji Ning with increasing satisfaction. Teaching a disciple of exceptional talent was a great source of fulfillment. The Diancai Immortal spoke in a calm voice, “Ji Ning, how has your understanding progressed over these three days?”

“Your disciple has made some progress,” Ji Ning replied respectfully.

“Mn.” The Diancai Immortal nodded slightly, then narrowed his eyes. “The College Lord Bihai has already told you about the exalted Grand Dao, the ‘Dao of the Sword’.”

Ji Ning nodded. “Yes.”

“The sword,” the Diancai Immortal said slowly, his voice soft, “is a killing instrument, and also the reliance we cultivators use to ascend the peak, slaying all obstacles in our path.”

“The Dao of the Sword is a Dao of attack and slaughter.”

“Sword Immortals are the immortal cultivators most skilled in attack.” The Diancai Immortal smiled at Ji Ning. “Do you know… what the Dao of the Sword is?”

Ji Ning was stunned.

He shook his head in confusion. He had only just stepped through the threshold of this Grand Dao. He still didn’t understand much; how could he answer a question like ‘what is the Dao of the Sword’?

“Some Daos are Daos of the mysteries of Heaven and Earth, such as your Rainwater Dao, your Ice Dao, your Profound Ice Dao, and so on. They elucidate the mysteries of the universe.”

Ji Ning nodded.

These were all mysteries of Heaven and Earth. The method of applying the insights from these Daos was called a ‘technique’.

“A technique is the art of application. In general, what you use the sword to execute is called ‘sword technique’. When sword technique reaches an incredibly high level and enters the Dao… that is the Dao of the Sword!” The Diancai Immortal looked at Ji Ning. “Thus, the Dao of the Sword is actually a Dao of application, a Dao of technical skill.”

Ji Ning was speechless.

“It’s not just the Dao of the Sword. The Dao of the Taiji is also a Dao of application.”

“The Taiji is also one of the Grand Daos.” The Diancai Immortal looked at Ji Ning. “For example, if you have insights into Water and Fire, you can use the Dao of the Taiji to execute those insights, and the power will instantly increase explosively.”

Ji Ning nodded in understanding.

The Taiji? The Dao of the Sword?

Daos of application?

“Whether it’s the Taiji or the Dao of the Sword, they are both incredibly profound and unfathomable Grand Daos, extremely difficult to comprehend,” the Diancai Immortal said with emotion. “For instance, with the Dao of the Sword, one must comprehend the Sword Heart. With the Dao of the Taiji, one must comprehend the Taiji Heart. Both are very hard. But once one sets foot on such a Grand Dao, their future is truly limitless.”

Ji Ning nodded.

“Remember this,” the Diancai Immortal said, his expression turning solemn as he looked at Ji Ning. “As a Sword Immortal, you must possess a heart of utmost sincerity. Be sincere to your sword, and be sincere to your heart. Do you understand?”

Ji Ning nodded gravely.

“You must often examine yourself, polishing your Sword Heart, never letting it gather dust. Know this: utmost sincerity leads to illumination!” The Diancai Immortal looked at Ji Ning. “You must keep these words firmly in mind.”

“Yes, your disciple will remember and will never dare to forget,” Ji Ning replied.

“Mn.”

The Diancai Immortal flipped his hand, producing a beastskin scroll and handing it directly to Ji Ning. Ji Ning took it with slight confusion.

“I spent the last three days carefully considering the results of your battle at the Dao Debate Hall,” the Diancai Immortal said. “In the end, I selected thirty-six sword technique manuals for you. Go to the Dao Treasury Hall later and exchange for the thirty-six books listed on this beastskin scroll.”

“Thirty-six?” Ji Ning was taken aback. “Your disciple must exchange for them?”

Although he had received two thousand Black-White Pearls for entering the Dao of the Sword, thirty-six sword technique manuals…

“Don’t worry. These are only Earth-grade and Heaven-grade sword techniques, and I’ve had you exchange for the upper volumes only. To get all of them, it will cost six hundred Black-White Pearls at most,” the Diancai Immortal said.

Ji Ning let out a sigh of relief.

Six hundred Black-White Pearls was indeed no pressure.

“Although they are only Earth-grade and Heaven-grade techniques, and only the upper volumes at that, they will generally be sufficient for the Zifu and Wanxiang levels,” the Diancai Immortal said. “These are various types of sword techniques. If they were placed in a small sect, they would be considered legacy techniques. You must carefully experience each one.”

“Browsing widely through sword technique manuals will, for one, enhance your insights into the Dao of the Sword,” the Diancai Immortal explained with a smile. “And secondly, the more you read and learn, the thicker your accumulation. When you go out into the world for life-and-death battles in the future, you will progress faster and be able to release that accumulation.”

“Yes.” Ji Ning acknowledged.

“Go on, then. Head to the Dao Treasury Hall. From now on, on the first day of every month, you may come to ask me about any difficulties you have in your cultivation or comprehension.” The Diancai Immortal said, “When I feel your foundation is truly solid, you may leave the Black-White College to temper yourself out in the world. A true Immortal cannot be raised under the shelter of elders; only through wind and rain, through life-and-death trials, can a powerful Immortal who dares to face the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations be born.”

Ji Ning nodded. “Yes.”