Nine Lotos Chooses a Dao-Companion

Luo Qing truly knew Nine Lotos very well. They had been close for many years, and she had never seen such an expression on Nine Lotos's face before. In her memory, her senior apprentice-sister Nine Lotos had always been extremely composed. Moreover, with her astonishing background, she had long been designated as the successor of the Eastwoods clan. As the future leader of the Eastwoods, Nine Lotos had naturally been groomed since childhood. To make her appear flustered or embarrassed… was nearly impossible.

“You, you…” Luo Qing's eyes were wide, her mouth agape as she pointed at Nine Lotos. “Are you serious?”

“Is it really that surprising?” Nine Lotos quickly regained her composure.

“Surprising? Senior apprentice-sister, back when you were still in the Eastwoods clan, countless people pursued you. Even here at the Black-White College, many fellow disciples don't know your background, yet the number of your pursuers is still enormous. You’ve never taken a liking to anyone!” Luo Qing said in astonishment. “How could you have taken a fancy to him? He’s from a small, weak tribe. He can't be of much help to you when you one day take control of the Eastwoods clan.”

Nine Lotos’s brow furrowed, a look of displeasure appearing on her face.

“I don’t mean anything bad by it, it’s just…” Luo Qing shook her head.

“Although Ji Ning’s birth tribe is very weak, his personal potential is astonishing,” Nine Lotos said. “You have to understand that there are some people for whom it doesn't matter which tribe they come from, because their individual strength is greater than that of entire powerful tribes.”

A glimmer of anticipation shone in Nine Lotos's eyes. “And besides… choosing a Dao-companion should follow the feelings of the heart. The feeling he gives me is very good.”

“Are you really choosing him as your Dao-companion?” Luo Qing stared at Nine Lotos.

“There’s no hurry,” Nine Lotos said, shaking her head. “Immortal cultivators have long lifespans. A Dao-companion is a matter that influences one’s entire life. Naturally, I need to observe more and feel more. He and I have only known each other for a little over three months. It’s still far too early to talk about Dao-companions.”

When mortals fell in love, they would spend one or two years before marrying.

As for immortal cultivators…

There were those who tangled with each other for centuries before finally becoming Dao-companions!

“If this gets out, and people learn that the future female leader of the Eastwoods has chosen her Dao-companion…” Luo Qing sighed. “It will cause a huge uproar!”

“I choose my own Dao-companion. Who can control that?” Nine Lotos said calmly.

Luo Qing could feel Nine Lotos's determination. She said immediately, “Senior apprentice-sister, since you’ve decided, I won’t try to dissuade you. You can stay here and train in your Lotus techniques, and also observe your future Dao-companion. As for me, I’m completely useless here… I’ve decided to leave tomorrow. I’ll go out and adventure for a year or so before returning to the Black-White College.”

Nine Lotos showed a look of shame. She took Luo Qing's hand and said, “Qingqing, I promised we’d go out exploring together. This is my fault.”

“It’s fine, senior apprentice-sister. Choosing a Dao-companion, your junior sister should naturally support you,” Luo Qing said with a smile.

The next day, Luo Qing bid farewell to Ji Ning and the others and departed.

As for Ji Ning and Nine Lotos, they continued as before, living a very peaceful life on Brightheart Island, occasionally discussing the Dao.

“Hm?”

Late one night.

Ji Ning, who had been sitting cross-legged in quiet meditation, felt a stir in his heart and a look of joy appeared on his face. “It seems that these five-plus months of Dao-discussion with senior apprentice-sister Nine Lotos have greatly improved my understanding of the mutual generation and overcoming of ‘water and fire.’ I’ve finally comprehended the last bit of blockage. I can now break through to the tenth stage of the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens.”

“Enter.” With a thought, the phantom head of a bear and panther suddenly appeared in the room, opening its massive maw and swallowing Ji Ning, who was sitting on the bed.

Ji Ning had vanished just like that.

Within the main hall of the aquatic manor.

On the giant meditation mats below the main dais, Ji Ning appeared and casually chose one of the mats, sitting down cross-legged.

“Ji Ning, lad, why are you back so soon?” the black ox asked, looking at Ji Ning.

“He is about to break through,” the Yellow-Maned Bear said, also appearing out of nowhere. “If he broke through in his own room, it would probably destroy it entirely. And to be cautious… the safest place is naturally here, in my grotto.”

Ji Ning sat cross-legged, his Dharma robe retracted into his body, completely naked.

“Let us begin.”

Having comprehended the key, Ji Ning directly activated the technique of the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Taiyin divine pattern and the Sunstar divine pattern on Ji Ning’s bare back flared up brilliantly, blazing with immense light. Instantly, they resonated with the two supreme stars—the Taiyin Star and the Sunstar—which lay deep in the void, separated by countless spatial barriers. The Taiyin Star and the Sunstar immediately transmitted a stream of Solar True Fire and Lunar True Water.

The leap from the ninth stage to the tenth stage was a major realm breakthrough.

Every major realm breakthrough was accompanied by the assistance of the Taiyin Star and the Sunstar, causing the divine body to undergo another transformation.

“A major realm breakthrough in the Crimsonbright Diagram truly is extraordinary,” the Yellow-Maned Bear said, watching the lotus leaves and petals condensing around Ji Ning. A lifelike lotus flower was born, beginning to wrap around Ji Ning. “Each time has the assistance of Lunar True Water and Solar True Fire. Such a divine body definitely has the potential to one day control Lunar True Water and Solar True Fire.”

“From earthly fire and cold-sha, one first rises to heavenly fire and heavenly water, then breaks through to Solar True Fire and Lunar True Water,” the black ox said, shaking his head. “That is far too distant. Usually, only Celestial Immortals and Empyrean Gods have any hope of controlling Solar True Fire and Lunar True Water, and even then, it’s only a possibility.”

An Immortal cultivator must first nurture an earthly fire.

Then, step by step, they would continuously improve, undergoing countless hardships, before having a hope of controlling Solar True Fire when they became a Celestial Immortal!

“It’s about to succeed,” the Yellow-Maned Bear said.

Indeed.

The water-fire lotus that had encased Ji Ning was gradually becoming translucent. Evidently, the true water and true fire within had been completely absorbed by Ji Ning’s body. Following this, the translucent water-fire lotus slowly bloomed, revealing the naked Ji Ning within. Every inch of Ji Ning’s body was flawless—this was a Fiendgod’s body!

Ji Ning opened his eyes. A beast-hide robe appeared on his body, still in the style his mother had made for him long ago.

“I broke through.” A smile appeared on Ji Ning’s face.

A surge of vast divine power.

An overwhelming, surging force filled his body!

When he was at the ninth stage, his physical body was only comparable to a Wanxiang-level early-stage Fiendgod Body Refiner. But now, at the tenth stage, he was comparable to a Wanxiang-level late-stage Fiendgod Body Refiner! The important thing was… every three stages represented a major realm, and crossing a major realm was always the hardest. Small realm breakthroughs were far easier, requiring only enough absorbed Taiyin and Sunstar power to break through.

Thus, from the tenth stage to the twelfth stage, he would encounter no bottlenecks.

“With my Fiendgod body at the late Wanxiang stage, having also comprehended the third stance of the ‘Three-Foot Sword’,” Ji Ning thought to himself, “and possessing the divine ability, the Starseizing Hand… my current strength is far greater than it was in the Mount Yujue Wasteland. If I were to face a Primal-stage Dragon Whale great demon head-on now, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Compared to Senior Apprentice-Brother Bloodshadow, I’m probably not far off.” Ji Ning was overjoyed.

In terms of Fiendgod Body Refining, Senior Apprentice-Brother Bloodshadow was at the Wanxiang stage perfection, while he himself was comparable to the late Wanxiang stage, so he was slightly inferior.

But divine abilities! His were far stronger.

Add in his sword arts…

“With strength like this, I can definitely contend with a Primal Daoist. Even if I can’t win, I should be able to escape safely.” Ji Ning considered silently.

“Ji Ning,” the Yellow-Maned Bear spoke.

“Senior,” Ji Ning looked over.

“Your foundation has improved, so your overall strength has naturally risen,” the Yellow-Maned Bear said. “If you were to challenge the third level of the War God Hall now, even without using your bow, you would have a one hundred percent chance of victory in close combat.”

Ji Ning smiled. “Then what about the fourth level? Could I possibly pass it now?”

“The chance of passing is less than ten percent,” the Yellow-Maned Bear said. “If your Fiendgod Body Refining reaches the eleventh stage, you should have a thirty to forty percent chance. If your sword arts improve a bit more, your chances would be even greater. To pass the fourth level of the War God Hall… you generally need to have the strength to defeat a Primal Daoist.”

Hearing this, Ji Ning sighed to himself.

Daoist Threelives.

The threshold he had set for the later masters of this grotto was far too high. Even he himself, such a monstrous genius, found it difficult. Celestial Immortal Juhua back then must have had an even harder time. He was forced to become a Loose Immortal and spent many years before finally passing the seventh level and selecting a very powerful Immortal-ranked treasure. What a pity… it was far too late.

“No rush. I’ll go challenge the fourth level of the War God Hall next time,” Ji Ning said with a smile. “My Fiendgod Body Refining has broken through this time. I should be considered to have reached the Wanxiang level, right?”

The Yellow-Maned Bear nodded. “Yes.”

“Then I can go to the Treasure Hall to choose another treasure,” Ji Ning said, his eyes burning with desire.

“Of course. But you can only choose treasures at most three times. Each time you choose, you must be cautious. Once you’ve chosen, there’s no going back,” the Yellow-Maned Bear said. “Come on. Let’s go to the Treasure Hall and take our time picking.”

Half an hour later, having chosen another treasure and greatly increased his strength, Ji Ning quietly returned to Serpentwing Lake. No one knew that Ji Ning had left Serpentwing Lake for a short hour during that time, nor did anyone know that his strength had already skyrocketed.

Time flowed on.

In the blink of an eye, Nine Lotos had already been at Serpentwing Lake for a full year.

In the distant Anchan City, at the Black-White College.

“Junior apprentice-sister Qingqing! Junior apprentice-sister Qingqing!” Above a mountain peak, a young man dressed in black and ornate robes called out loudly.

The tall, silver-robed young woman Luo Qing walked into her courtyard, looked up, and smiled. “Elder apprentice-brother Liuyun is a rare visitor to this junior sister’s residence.”

The black-robed young man in the air immediately descended and landed in the courtyard.

“Elder apprentice-brother Liuyun, please, sit,” Luo Qing said.

The black-robed young man sat down as well and said with a smile, “I heard little sister Qingqing had returned from her adventures, so I came to pay a visit… I recall you and junior apprentice-sister Nine Lotos left together. It’s been a year. You’ve returned, but junior apprentice-sister Nine Lotos has not. Why is that?”

Luo Qing hesitated for a moment, then said, “Chen Jin!”

The young man in black was momentarily stunned. Chen Jin was his real name, but this little sister Qingqing usually called him ‘Elder apprentice-brother Liuyun.’ Now that she was calling him by his true name… this must be something important.

“You, me, and senior apprentice-sister Nine Lotos. We all came to Anchan City together,” Luo Qing said in a low voice. “You and I both know Nine Lotos’s background.”

Chen Jin nodded. “Of course.”

“Back when senior apprentice-sister Nine Lotos was still in the Eastwoods clan, you were always pursuing her. When she brought me to the Black-White College in Anchan City, you also joined… I know you’ve never given up hope,” Luo Qing said.

Chen Jin smiled. “Although Nine Lotos has never agreed, I can wait. I can wait ten years, or a hundred years. I’ll wait slowly.”

“There is something…” Luo Qing gritted her teeth. “I think I have to tell you.”

“What is it?” Chen Jin smiled. Seeing Luo Qing so hesitant, could it be that she wanted to pursue him?

Luo Qing took a deep breath. “Senior apprentice-sister Nine Lotos has chosen her Dao-companion.”

Chen Jin was stunned.

“Unfortunately, it’s not you,” Luo Qing said, looking at him.

Like a bolt from the blue, Chen Jin was completely dazed.