The Disciple's Graduation

“Not good.” Even in his previous sparring with his master, Ji Ning had never seen this technique. Facing the assault of over a thousand sword-light beams, each like a blazing star, Ji Ning knew that his own ‘Three Talents Millstone Sword’ could not block it.

All of Ji Ning’s sword-intent was condensed to its utmost limit.

“Stab!”

Ji Ning’s sword moved.

It was as if an endless host of invisible obstacles were binding him, as if countless ropes were coiled around him, causing this single stab to struggle mightily, to pierce through something with all its effort. It appeared incomparably slow. Yet this slowness was but an illusion of the mind; the sword itself had already reached its absolute speed limit.

Whoosh!

A single sword-beam, like a shooting star!

It ripped through the endless shroud of darkness, tore through every obstruction, and shredded the thousand sword-light beams that had been descending upon him. As part of the beams were torn apart, all of the sword-light vanished into nothingness.

Ji Ning’s figure was like a phantom as he charged towards his master. His right hand had just executed the stab that shattered a thousand sword-light beams, and his left hand, wielding the same technique, was already thrusting directly at his master, the Diancai Immortal.

“Break!” The Diancai Immortal revealed a smile and let out a light shout.

A single strand of formless sword-qi instantly slammed into Ji Ning’s Northsea sword. The impact was powerful, and its energy possessed an endless, layered after-effect that forced Ji Ning back several zhang before he could steady himself.

The Diancai Immortal, seated cross-legged on his jade bed, nodded gently. “Thorns Everywhere. You have finally comprehended this stance.”

The technique Ji Ning had just executed was the second stance of the ‘Three-Foot Sword’, Thorns Everywhere. This stance represented the pinnacle of Ji Ning’s accomplishments in the Dao of the Sword over the past three-plus years.

“I have been muddled and dull-witted, Master. It is only today that I have managed to comprehend it,” Ji Ning said respectfully.

“Haha, it took you merely a little over three years to comprehend the second stance of the ‘Three-Foot Sword’. If you are dull-witted, then your master here would have to be considered a fool,” the Diancai Immortal said with a laugh. “When I first comprehended the first stance, it took me a full ten years to comprehend the second. Your natural talent far surpasses my own.”

Ji Ning said respectfully, “My talent is merely on par with that of a reincarnated Immortal. The Black-White College has always had reincarnated Immortals join its ranks… for instance, there are quite a few reincarnated Immortals in the College right now. Although you are not a reincarnated Immortal, Master, you have suppressed all the other reincarnated Immortals and are widely acknowledged as the one with the greatest hope of becoming a Celestial Immortal. And senior apprentice-brother Wu-Feng is the undisputed number one amongst the third-generation disciples.”

The Diancai Immortal nodded in satisfaction. “It is a good thing that you can remain alert at all times.”

He looked at Ji Ning.

“You… may now leave the sect and go out to explore the world.” The Diancai Immortal smiled at Ji Ning, finally uttering these words.

“I can go out and explore now?” A surge of excitement rose in Ji Ning’s heart.

Every time he had made a breakthrough in the past, he had believed he had earned his master’s recognition. But… he was disappointed time and time again. When he had first reached the ‘Domain of the Dao’ in the Dao of Blazing Fire, and when he had comprehended an even more powerful sword technique, even creating the ‘Three Talents Millstone Sword’ which was perfectly suited for him, he had felt a surge of pride and ambition.

But each time, his master had not nodded in agreement.

It was only today!

By mastering the second stance of the ‘Three-Foot Sword’, he had finally earned his master’s approval. He could finally truly explore that vast land, so full of both danger and opportunity.

“Ji Ning.” The Diancai Immortal looked at him.

“Master.” Ji Ning suppressed his excitement.

“Take these two protective items,” the Diancai Immortal said. A pendant and a fiery red jade bottle appeared in his hand. The pendant was exquisitely carved, beautiful as if from an Immortal’s palace. “This pendant was personally crafted by me. Refine it and keep it on your person. With a single thought, you can activate the sword-qi within it to protect your body. Once the sword-qi shields you… even against a Loose Immortal or an Earth Immortal, you will be able to hold on for a single breath’s time.”

“And this jade bottle must be handled with even greater care. Inside is a ‘Two Polaris Magnetic Light Thunderfire Pearl’. Its power is tremendous. Once thrown, it will indiscriminately attack everything, turning everything within ten zhang into powder. Even an Earth Immortal or Loose Immortal would likely be heavily injured. A Primal Daoist would almost certainly die without a chance of survival.”

“These two items, one for defense and one for offense.”

“But both can only be used once. So, you must think carefully before using them.” The Diancai Immortal looked at Ji Ning, his eyes filled with hope and gravity.

When a child travels a thousand miles, the mother worries. Now that his only disciple was about to venture out into the world, how could the Diancai Immortal not worry? Even the most brilliant of peerless geniuses, if they never grew up, could still be defeated by some old monsters. If he encountered a Primal Daoist, for instance, he would naturally have no chance to fight back.

“You must remember: act cautiously in all matters, think three times before acting, but also possess a decisive heart,” the Diancai Immortal said, looking at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning suddenly felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

He had seen that look before.

When he had left the West Prefecture City to go on adventures, his father and mother had looked at him with the very same eyes. It was the same look of worry and anticipation. Although his master was powerful, he could not take his disciple’s place in taking risks. A disciple needed true tempering… to grow into a useful talent.

“Rest assured, Master. Your disciple will be careful,” Ji Ning quickly said.

“These two protective items are all your master can give you,” the Diancai Immortal said, looking at him. “Everything else will rely on your own efforts.”

“Yes.” Ji Ning accepted them respectfully.

These two items were both invaluable, even surpassing the gifts that Beishan Blacktiger had given him back then.

The protective pendant could resist the attacks of a Loose Immortal or Earth Immortal for a full breath’s time. In a life-and-death battle, sometimes the difference was a mere instant, let alone a full breath… a cultivator could fly countless li in a single breath.

The Two Polaris Magnetic Light Thunderfire Pearl could injure even Immortals, and a Primal Daoist would almost certainly die from it. It was a true trump card.

“Come see me the next time you return to the College. Go now.” The Diancai Immortal waved his hand, then closed his eyes.

“Yes.” Ji Ning bowed, then withdrew.

Leaving his master’s quarters, Ji Ning rode his boat through the skies, his heart aching. He could feel the worry in his master’s heart. His master’s concern was not unfounded, for the path of cultivation was a path of defying the heavens, a perilous road where the heavens themselves would unintentionally cast countless dangers upon cultivators.

Too many Black-White College disciples had died outside the sect.

Most of those peerless genius disciples of the Black-White College, so long as they did not fall, could become Primal Daoists. But out of several hundred third-generation disciples, the second-generation Primal Daoist disciples numbered only a little over thirty. Why?

The answer was… death!

They died in various trials and temperings. As the saying goes, “Jade must be carved to become a vessel,” but in the process of carving, countless pieces of raw jade were ground to dust. ‘Tempering’, that ‘carving knife’, was simply too cruel. The path of cultivation… was a path of endless peril.

“Master, I will definitely return alive,” Ji Ning silently vowed. His boat then flew directly towards the peak of his junior disciple-brother, Mu Northson.

Twinwood Peak.

Ji Ning flew to its peak and called out directly, “Junior disciple-brother Northson!”

His voice rumbled downwards. A figure quickly walked out into the courtyard of the mansion below, calling back, “Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning! Please, come in quickly!”

Ji Ning descended.

Just like over three years ago, Mu Northson still looked like a young, tender youth. However, both his strength and Dao-heart had grown a great deal. After all, he had joined the Black-White College at the tender age of fourteen, and he had meditated for so long in front of the Black-White Diagram. His natural talent was extremely high.

The reason he had lost in the Dao Debate Palace back then was that he was too young and had never encountered opportunities like Ji Ning’s aquatic palace inheritance.

“What brings senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning to my place?” Mu Northson asked with a grin. “You rarely come to visit.”

“I have just earned my master’s recognition. He has permitted me to go out and explore,” Ji Ning said with a smile.

“Really? That’s wonderful!” Mu Northson immediately cheered. “I’ve been waiting for this day for over a year! I got my master’s approval to leave just two years after joining the sect, but you, senior apprentice-brother, are so strong, and it still took you over three years. The Diancai Immortal’s requirements for you were truly demanding.”

Ji Ning chuckled.

Junior disciple-brother Northson had come to find Ji Ning after earning his master, Qionghua Daoist’s, approval, but back then Ji Ning hadn’t been able to leave. So Mu Northson had held back. He didn’t want to wander alone outside; he wanted a companion. Two disciple-brothers traveling together would at least alleviate some of the loneliness.

And so, he had waited until today.

“Ah, I need to go tell my master about this!” Mu Northson said hurriedly.

“Go on, go on. Your master dotes on you so much, you should tell him properly,” Ji Ning said.

Mu Northson’s master, ‘Qionghua Daoist’, was indeed very fond of him. For one thing, the number of cultivators in the Black-White College who specialized in the Dao of Puppets was extremely rare, so it was hard to find such a good disciple. For another, Qionghua Daoist had been stuck at the Primal Daoist level for many years. Under the pressure of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to endure, and his end was near. A dying man, having taken on a genius disciple at the very end, naturally doted on the exceedingly young Mu Northson.

After joining the sect, Qionghua Daoist had given Mu Northson a full one thousand jin of Primordial Liquid.

Relying on this, Mu Northson had cultivated straight to the Wanxiang Adept (mid) stage.

This was quite rare within the Black-White College!

The Black-White College had an unwritten rule: a master would not directly bestow treasures upon his disciple, but would instead guide him. The College placed all ‘Cultivation Techniques’ and ‘Divine Abilities and Techniques’ in one place for the disciples. When a disciple’s strength improved, for instance, when they reached the ‘Domain of the Dao’, they could then learn certain techniques or methods.

It was like a mountain of gold and silver sitting right in front of you—you still had to dig to get it.

The techniques and divine abilities were right there, but you had to cultivate hard and make progress to obtain them.

If someone didn’t cultivate seriously and made no progress at all, yet still wanted everything handed to them on a silver platter… that would simply be raising a spoiled brat.

Thus, the hidden rule was…

A master could help, guide, and provide a leg up. However, the disciple still needed to struggle and work hard. Qionghua Daoist directly giving his disciple a thousand jin of Primordial Liquid was considered rare. But even his doting on Mu Northson had its limits; in other matters, like Black-White Pearls, he would not recklessly give gifts.

“Alright.” Mu Northson nodded. “Senior apprentice-brother, you go back. I’ll see my master and then prepare. I’ll come find you tomorrow. We’ll set off together from the Black-White College first thing in the morning.”

“Good.” Ji Ning nodded.

Mu Northson produced a cyan dragon puppet beneath his feet and shot into the sky, quickly disappearing.

“Junior disciple-brother Northson has gone to see his master.”

Ji Ning stepped onto his boat and soared into the sky. He glanced back in the direction of the Diancai Immortal’s residence. “Master, your disciple will not disappoint you.”