The Spoils of War and the Threshold of Wanxiang

Ji Ning and the other continuously refined the storage treasures, examining the valuables left behind by the four Wanxiang Adepts they had slain. For cultivators… important treasures were always carried on their persons! Only by one’s own side was the safest place. Of course, if one died, the treasures were meaningless to them, so cultivators still carried many treasures with them.

“We’ve finished refining them all.” Mu Northson let out a sigh of relief.

“Truly, each one is fat,” Ji Ning said with a laugh. “Killing a cultivator is far better than killing those Wanxiang greater demons.”

Although the Wanxiang greater demons occasionally killed cultivators with the help of formations and allied partners, the magical treasures they obtained after killing cultivators would be exchanged for Primordial Liquid and other needed oddities. After Ji Ning and the other killed the three Wanxiang greater demons, the spoils they obtained were very meager.

“Beihe Zhou, Xu Manquan, Nong San, Ji He.” Mu Northson sighed with emotion. “Many of them possessed powerful formation treasures. Beihe Zhou’s nine Earth-ranked flying swords… they are probably high-grade Earth-ranked.”

“Mm.” Ji Ning nodded. “These few can be considered formidable among Wanxiang Adepts, and their treasures are indeed extraordinary.”

Compared to the first Wanxiang Adept he had killed—Xu Li—the Earth-ranked treasures he carried were very ordinary. Xu Li was merely mediocre among Wanxiang Adepts, while Beihe Zhou and the others were top-tier.

“In total, thirty-two Earth-ranked treasures. Human-ranked treasures don’t even need to be counted. These treasures alone are probably worth two to three thousand jin of Primordial Liquid.” Mu Northson was extremely excited. “There are also many Lesser Teleportation Dao talismans and other talismans, some formations, and spirit pills… Especially the Primordial Liquid. The four Wanxiang Adepts’ Primordial Liquid adds up to a full eighteen hundred jin! Senior apprentice-brother, you’re still at Zifu perfection. This Primordial Liquid should go to you. With these, senior apprentice-brother can surely break through to the early Wanxiang stage. Then your strength will greatly increase.”

Ji Ning said, “No rush. Junior apprentice-brother, you also need to increase your strength.”

“Even if you gave me the eighteen hundred jin of Primordial Liquid, whether I could break through to late Wanxiang is hard to say,” Mu Northson shook his head helplessly.

Ji Ning was startled. He nodded slightly.

Yes.

It was hard to say.

Every time a cultivator broke through to a higher major realm, their ability to absorb the natural energy of heaven and earth increased tenfold or a hundredfold… Similarly, at the Zifu stage, perhaps one thousand jin of Primordial Liquid could allow one to directly train to early Wanxiang. But from early Wanxiang, one would probably need tens of thousands of jin of Primordial Liquid to reach the early Primal stage!

From early Primal, one would probably need a million jin of Primordial Liquid to reach the early Earth Immortal stage!

Tens of thousands of jin, a million jin of Primordial Liquid? How exaggerated?

Thus, even in large sects and great clans, outstanding disciples could still lavishly use Primordial Liquid for cultivation at the Zifu stage. But after becoming a Wanxiang Adept or Primal Daoist… one had to train slowly. Even some monstrously talented geniuses would at most receive heavy support from their clan, willing to provide tens of thousands of jin of Primordial Liquid, which was already considered tremendous.

A million jin of Primordial Liquid?

Even Immortals couldn’t produce that!

“Senior apprentice-brother, you should break through quickly,” Mu Northson said. “Once you break through to early Wanxiang, even your speed of refining the natural energy of heaven and earth will increase dozens of times. Then one year of training will probably be equivalent to several hundred or even a thousand jin of Primordial Liquid.”

“Alright.” Ji Ning nodded. “I’ll take this Primordial Liquid. But all the magical treasures go to you, junior apprentice-brother.”

Mu Northson was delighted. “Alright, alright, I won’t refuse.”

The two made a simple division.

All magical treasures went to junior apprentice-brother Mu Northson.

All Primordial Liquid went to Ji Ning.

As for the talismans, spirit pills, and other items, the two split them evenly.

On the surface, it seemed that junior apprentice-brother Mu Northson was getting the better deal in terms of value. But after all, they were still in Mount Yujue Wasteland; these treasures would have to be exchanged for Primordial Liquid only after returning to the Crimson Dragon Mountains. So, relatively speaking, Ji Ning was still getting a slight advantage. Ji Ning understood this in his heart and naturally kept it in mind.

“The Yinglong Guard’s stationed outpost is up ahead.” Ji Ning walked to the side of the ship and gazed downward through the thin mist. “After we deliver these enslaved humans to the outpost, we’ll find a place where I can peacefully refine the Primordial Liquid.”

“Alright.” Mu Northson nodded.

…

The Yinglong Guard stationed outpost in Mount Yujue Wasteland. The mountain peak stood proudly aloft, covered in caves and mansions, where many Yinglong Guards were stationed.

The Dragon-Head Warship hovered in midair, approaching the mountain peak.

“Leave at once.” A black-robed old man stepped through the void, appearing directly in front of the Dragon-Head Warship. He bellowed angrily, “You two are candidates attempting to join the Yinglong Guard this time. You are not allowed to enter the outpost. If you enter, you will be considered to have failed the trial.”

Ji Ning and Mu Northson immediately bowed respectfully.

Both could sense the aura of this black-robed old man… It felt very similar to some Primal Daoists at the Black-White College.

“Ji Ning (Mu Northson) pays respects to the senior,” both said respectfully.

“It’s useless no matter how respectful you are. Leave,” the black-robed old man waved his hand.

Ji Ning then said, “Senior, we are not trying to enter the outpost. Rather, when my fellow disciple and I went to deal with a Wanxiang greater demon this time, on the demon’s mountain lair… we discovered many pitiful humans who had been raised there. So I brought them here, hoping the Yinglong Guard could properly settle them.”

The black-robed old man was taken aback, then an angry look appeared in his eyes. “These monsters never learn.”

The black-robed old man’s gaze toward Ji Ning and the other softened a bit. “Release those enslaved humans and let me have a look.”

“Yes.” Ji Ning and Mu Northson responded.

Immediately, the side cabin door opened, and those enslaved humans who had been eating and drinking in the warm cabin peered out fearfully.

Looking at these humans, who were only covered in tree bark and leaves, their eyes filled with panic, the black-robed old man’s expression grew even uglier. He let out a soft sigh. “There is no hope for the adults among these enslaved humans. The children still have some hope. These humans, used as food by the monsters… generation after generation, their tragedy is extreme. Now that they have escaped this calamity, it is only right that the Yinglong Guard takes good care of them. Leave them to me. The two of you should continue to Mount Yujue Wasteland. Wait until the three-month period is up, then come back.”

“Yes.” Ji Ning and Mu Northson were overjoyed.

They had been worried that the Yinglong Guard might not take care of them. Now it seemed the Yinglong Guard was very merciful toward these enslaved humans raised by monsters.

Soon.

That black-robed Primal Daoist old man took all the enslaved humans away. The child called ‘Iron Boy,’ who had become most familiar with Ji Ning and Mu Northson among them, kept looking at the two, as if trying to engrave their images into his memory.

“I wonder what will become of them in the future,” Mu Northson said softly, his expression complex.

“Everyone has their own lot,” Ji Ning said. “Let’s go.”

“Mm.” Mu Northson nodded.

The two brothers immediately rode the Dragon-Head Warship again, quickly leaving the outpost area and heading deeper into Mount Yujue Wasteland.

…

Half a day later, it was completely dark.

Ji Ning and the other chose a desolate mountain with no monsters at all. Ji Ning used his divine sense to scan the entire mountain. After confirming there were no monsters, they entered a deep, secluded cave within the mountain.

Inside the cave, an underground river flowed.

The two set up a large formation around the perimeter for warning. Mu Northson also set up some puppets and personally stood guard.

“Senior apprentice-brother, go ahead and train. Leave everything to me. Not even an ant will crawl in,” Mu Northson said with a grin.

“I’ll trouble you, junior apprentice-brother.” Ji Ning smiled.

Then, without further thought, he sat cross-legged on a rock that had been smoothed flat by Northsea swords. In front of him was a jade bottle containing the Primordial Liquid from the four Wanxiang Adepts—a full eighteen hundred jin.

“Whoosh!”

Ji Ning opened his mouth, and the Primordial Liquid like fine wine flew directly into his mouth.

Within his body, the Zifu space began a frenzied refinement. The entire Zifu Sea… was slowly rotating, because from the source at the bottom of the entire Zifu Sea, a vast amount of pure Yuan power was continuously gushing out. The Zifu Sea… ceaselessly expanded outward in all directions, encroaching on region after region of void.

One hundred jin of Primordial Liquid, three hundred jin, five hundred jin… six hundred jin.

Ji Ning refined continuously.

“Mm? Back at the Black-White College, I had already refined eight hundred and eighty jin of Primordial Liquid. Then after over three years of training, that training probably amounted to another hundred or two hundred jin of Primordial Liquid. That means the Yuan power within my body was roughly equivalent to one thousand jin of Primordial Liquid.” Ji Ning pondered. “Now, after refining another six hundred jin, I still haven’t reached my limit.”

“Let’s see.”

“I want to see just how far my Zifu Sea can expand.” Ji Ning didn’t hesitate at all. He continued to refine the Primordial Liquid endlessly, causing his Zifu Sea to continuously expand, encroaching on the surrounding void. The area grew larger and larger, and the entire Zifu space became more and more solid.

Seven hundred jin, eight hundred jin, nine hundred jin…

“Back then, Master guessed that I would need between sixteen hundred and two thousand jin of Primordial Liquid. But now… ah, two thousand jin already.” Ji Ning counted the original one thousand jin of Yuan power in his body as part of the Primordial Liquid’s effect. Now he had refined another one thousand jin. But he still hadn’t felt the limit.

“Come on.”

“Continue.”

Gradually, the expansion of the Zifu Sea began to slow down. It seemed to become difficult. The surrounding void started to generate tremendous resistance, preventing the Zifu Sea from expanding further.

Rumble~~~

With a vibration throughout the entire Zifu space, the Zifu Sea could no longer expand at all. The entire Zifu space had become extremely solid.

Ji Ning understood that his Zifu Sea had finally reached its limit.

Counting his previous accumulation plus this round of refinement… it was a full two thousand five hundred jin of Primordial Liquid!

“No matter what, my Zifu perfection is truly complete.” Ji Ning said to himself. “Now I can break through to early Wanxiang.” In fact, he could have broken through three years ago, but that would have left an insufficient foundation. Ji Ning was very ambitious, so he had insisted on waiting until now.

The techniques for breaking through to the Wanxiang realm from the Water Source Manual flashed through Ji Ning’s mind…

With a thought.

The entire Zifu Sea began a drastic transformation…