The Rival’s Challenge

Ji Ning and Nine Lotos had grown up together. She had followed him from the Upper River Commandery to the Anchan Commandery, and together they had entered the Black-White College. For so many years, he had pursued her… and now, suddenly, he saw this scene before him. How could Chen Jin not be enraged?

“Liuyun.” Beside him, the fiery-robed man, Flamesaint, grabbed Chen Jin’s arm, stopping him from charging down.

“Uncle Fire.” Chen Jin turned his head.

“Calm yourself.” Flamesaint looked at him, his gaze deep and tranquil.

Chen Jin said in pain, “How can I be calm? I have to ask her clearly. What is Nine Lotos thinking? How could she fall for this kid, Ji Ning?” Although they were fellow disciples of the same sect, in his heart Chen Jin was now filled with endless disgust toward Ji Ning.

“Only if you are calm will you have a chance.” Flamesaint looked at him.

Chen Jin was not a fool; he had simply been provoked by what he had just witnessed. He quickly suppressed his rage and nodded. “Uncle Fire, don’t worry. I won’t do anything rash.”

“Mm. No matter what, you are still fellow disciples. You cannot commit fratricide,” Flamesaint instructed. “Let’s go. Let’s go down and meet Junior Apprentice-Brother Northmont and Junior Apprentice-Sister Nine Lotos.”

Chen Jin obediently followed.

The two of them flew down together…

On the small boat.

The surging wave of power in the air caused Nine Lotos to look up. The fluctuation also woke Ji Ning, who had been dozing.

“That is…” Ji Ning immediately recognized the barefoot, bald, handsome youth in the red robe. On his forehead was the sacred ‘卐’ mark. Ji Ning’s face showed surprise. “Senior Apprentice-Brother Flamesaint? Why would he suddenly come here to my place on Swallow Mountain’s Serpentwing Lake? Very few people should know that I am here.”

Flamesaint was a figure who had mastered a complete ‘Dao.’ He had long ago reached perfection in his Fiendgod Body Refining at the Wanxiang stage, and had even defeated a Primal Daoist before.

He was the true leader among the third-generation disciples of the Black-White College!

“Senior Apprentice-Brother Flamesaint, Senior Apprentice-Brother Liuyun.” Nine Lotos’s face suddenly changed. “He came too… It must be Qingqing who told him. This is trouble.”

The moment she saw these two, Nine Lotos guessed the situation.

“Ji Ning.” Nine Lotos quickly sent a mental transmission. “The one beside Senior Apprentice-Brother Flamesaint is Senior Apprentice-Brother Liuyun. You must be careful of him.”

“Be careful of him? He is a fellow disciple, right? I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard his name. He is extremely strong. Why should I be careful of him?” Ji Ning was puzzled. He had never met this ‘Liuyun’ before, and had no grudge against him.

“Just be careful,” Nine Lotos said, biting her lip.

Just then, Flamesaint and Chen Jin flew down from the sky, landing directly on the surface of the lake. They walked across the water as if it were solid ground.

“Senior Apprentice-Brother Flamesaint, Senior Apprentice-Brother Liuyun.” Ji Ning smiled. “What brings the two of you to my Swallow Mountain?”

“I happened to learn of your whereabouts,” Flamesaint said with a slight smile.

Chen Jin only gave a cold grunt in response, saying nothing. Ji Ning’s heart skipped a beat… He hadn’t provoked this man, so why was he being given the cold shoulder? Earlier, Nine Lotos had warned him to be careful of Senior Apprentice-Brother Liuyun. It seemed there was indeed some secret here. Many thoughts flashed through Ji Ning’s mind in an instant.

“Since the two of you have come to visit your junior apprentice-brother, I must fulfill my duties as host. Please,” Ji Ning said warmly.

“No need.” Chen Jin, dressed in a black robe, said coldly.

Ji Ning’s brow furrowed. Even if he was good-natured, he wouldn’t continue to be friendly with someone who was so cold to him. “Oh? Then, Senior Apprentice-Brother Liuyun, what is the purpose of your visit?”

Flamesaint gave a slight shake of his head but said nothing.

Chen Jin, however, simply stared at Nine Lotos, fixing his eyes on hers.

A surge of anger rose in Ji Ning’s heart. After a year together, Ji Ning could feel Nine Lotos’s intentions. The two of them had already developed an unspoken understanding; they just hadn’t made it official yet. But this Chen Jin was glaring so intently at his Nine Lotos… it was infuriating.

“Senior Apprentice-Brother Liuyun,” Ji Ning shouted.

“Shut up,” Chen Jin snapped, shooting him a furious glance.

Ji Ning’s gaze instantly sharpened. Although he had been angry before, he had at least maintained proper etiquette. But this Senior Apprentice-Brother Liuyun had directly told him to ‘shut up.’ He was clearly showing no respect. Since that was the case, Ji Ning no longer had to give him any face. He immediately barked, “Liuyun, this is my territory. You cannot run wild here. Get the hell out of Serpentwing Lake!”

Chen Jin was momentarily stunned by Ji Ning’s shout, then flew into a rage. “Just you, wanting to drive me away? You overestimate yourself.”

Flamesaint simply watched silently from the side.

Nine Lotos could no longer hold back.

“Chen Jin!” Nine Lotos shouted angrily.

There was pain in Chen Jin’s eyes as he looked at her.

“Nine Lotos, leave this to me,” Ji Ning said. Although Chen Jin had a fearsome reputation, Ji Ning truly did not put him in his eyes. Among the Wanxiang Adepts of the present day, only the very top figures, like Senior Apprentice-Brother Flamesaint, made him cautious.

“Let me handle it.” Nine Lotos shook her head, then looked at Chen Jin.

Chen Jin continued to look at her with agonized eyes. “Xiaoyun… have you truly decided?”

Nine Lotos let out a soft sigh. After all, she had grown up with Chen Jin. “Chen Jin, you don’t have to persist anymore. Give up.”

Give up?

Those two words echoed in Chen Jin’s mind, shattering the final fragment of hope he had been clinging to. His face changed color, turning red. He pointed furiously at Ji Ning and roared, “Because of him?”

“Chen Jin!” Nine Lotos said urgently.

But Chen Jin said in pain, “Xiaoyun, we grew up together. When we were young, didn’t you like being with me? For you, I even left the Upper River Commandery and came with you to Anchan City to join the Black-White College! You know that leaving the Upper River Commandery had a huge impact on my status in my tribe. But for you, I didn’t hesitate. I sacrificed so much! For so many years, I have never had eyes for anyone else, and you… you repay me like this?”

Ji Ning finally understood.

So they had known each other since childhood. But so what? Did knowing each other since childhood mean they had to become Dao-companions?

“Chen Jin.” Nine Lotos shook her head. “After all these years, I have never once agreed to it. Don’t you understand?”

“Understand what?” Chen Jin laughed coldly. “You’ve simply changed your heart!”

Nine Lotos was stunned.

A cold light flickered in Chen Jin’s eyes. All the years of pursuit had led to this. The final hope was broken. The jealousy in Chen Jin’s heart had completely transformed into rage. He was furious that all the years of his efforts had been wasted like water flowing east. He was furious that Nine Lotos had actually fallen for this brat from a small tribe!

“Enough.” Chen Jin glanced at Nine Lotos. “Dongyan Yun, I will no longer pester you from now on. But your taste is truly poor, to fall for a kid like him! After all, we have known each other for many years, so let me do you a favor. I will let you see just how utterly fragile and pathetic this kid you’ve set your eyes on truly is!”

“Ji Ning!”

Chen Jin let out a great shout.

BOOM!

Suddenly, the sky above Serpentwing Lake exploded with a thunderous noise. Thick clouds of mist began to condense, causing heaven and earth to change color. A hundred and eight round golden plates materialized around Chen Jin, who was dressed in his black robes. These golden plates flew up into the sky, spreading out in all directions.

Massive amounts of mist crazily flew toward the hundred and eight golden plates. Soon, the countless clouds in the sky had transformed into a hundred and eight massive cloud formations.

Each cloud was different. Some were in the shape of lions, some in the shape of chariots, some in the shape of divine dragons.

A hundred and eight clouds surrounded the entire area.

Chen Jin stood in midair, staring at Ji Ning from afar as he shouted, “Ji Ning, if you have any guts at all, come and fight me! I will let Nine Lotos see just how pitifully weak you really are! But if you don’t have the balls, if you’re scared, then get the hell away from Nine Lotos’s side immediately. You are not worthy of her!”

“Chen Jin!” Nine Lotos was enraged as well.

Ji Ning reached out and blocked her, causing her to look at him.

“Leave this to me,” Ji Ning said, only these three words. Nine Lotos’s heart trembled. She could feel Ji Ning’s determination.

When heaven and earth had changed color around Serpentwing Lake and the hundred and eight massive clouds had appeared, it caused a great commotion on Brightheart Island. Many people rushed out, including the clan chieftain Ji Jiuhuo, Granny Shadow, and the old servant A Xing.

“What’s happening?”

“What’s going on? Who is causing trouble at Serpentwing Lake?”

Everyone was panicked and confused.

Ji Jiuhuo, Granny Shadow, and Qiuye all looked at the Whitewater Hound and the Skygreen Serpent.

“The red-robed man is called Flamesaint. He is the leader of the third-generation disciples of the Black-White College and is incredibly powerful. It is said he has even defeated a Primal Daoist,” the Whitewater Hound said. “The one beside Flamesaint is also a Black-White College disciple. His name is Liuyun.”

“They are both Black-White College disciples… so why are they fighting?” Qiuye asked worriedly. “Is the young master alright?”

“The young master has sent me a mental message. You can rest easy,” the Whitewater Hound said.

Even so, even the Whitewater Hound was very worried. He had spent a long time in the Black-White College and had heard of Senior Apprentice-Brother Liuyun’s fame. Moreover, just the power Liuyun was displaying now… was enough to tell that this man’s strength was far, far beyond that of Beihe Zhou or Dong Yi.

This was a true elite of the Black-White College!

“Young master, be careful,” the Whitewater Hound sent mentally. Ji Ning’s soul was powerful, and his divine sense could cover a vast area, allowing for telepathic communication with his bonded beasts.

Nine Lotos looked at Ji Ning, worry in her eyes. Although she knew Ji Ning was an absurdly talented monster, it had only been five years since he had joined the Black-White College, while Senior Apprentice-Brother Liuyun, Chen Jin, was also incredibly talented, had been cultivating for far longer, and his strength was terrifying. She was very afraid that the two of them would fight with reckless abandon.

“Hmph.” Chen Jin looked down at Nine Lotos’s worried expression and let out a cold snort. “Ji Ning, do you dare or not? If you don’t, then get back to your little tribe.”

“Chen Jin.” Ji Ning stepped through the air, walking higher and higher as he said calmly, “It seems you have become enraged from embarrassment. Becoming Dao-companions is a matter between two people. Does Nine Lotos have to agree to you just because you pursued her bitterly? You truly think too highly of yourself. As for you wanting to let Nine Lotos see how utterly weak I am… I’m afraid you are still thinking too highly of yourself.”

“Enough talk! Do you dare to fight me or not?” Chen Jin stared at Ji Ning from afar.

Ji Ning walked across the void and soon reached midair. The two of them faced each other from a distance. A pair of Northsea swords appeared in Ji Ning’s hands.

The clear shriek of a sword rang out over Serpentwing Lake.

“Come,” Ji Ning said coldly.