The Immortal Gathering

The gray-robed man was not particularly handsome, but he had a truly transcendent aura. As a reincarnated Immortal who had already grasped a complete ‘Dao’ at a young age, he had naturally awakened many memories of his past life, which influenced his temperament and made him appear extraordinary.

“Junior apprentice-brother Darknorth.” Celestial Immortal Cangjiang smiled as he looked at Ji Ning. “I’ve long heard of your fame, but I’ve been roaming outside and never had the chance to meet you. No sooner do I return than I hear you’ve repelled that Snowfeather Daoist… truly remarkable, truly remarkable. Among the third-generation disciples of our Black-White College, in terms of cultivation speed, only Junior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei can match you.”

“I cannot compare to Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning.” Yu Wei replied hastily.

“You’re too modest, Junior Apprentice-Sister. You grasped the complete ‘Grand Dao of Ice’ three years ago. Compared to the two of you, Gan Xie and I are truly ashamed.” Celestial Immortal Cangjiang said.

“Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei, you comprehended a complete Dao so quickly. Only Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning can match you.” The nearby Bloodshadow Senior Apprentice-Brother also laughed.

Ji Ning, however, was astonished.

From the sound of it…

Quite a few people knew that Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei had comprehended a complete Dao. At the very least, Senior Apprentice-Brother Cangjiang and Bloodshadow knew.

Impressive! Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei was not actually that old; she was probably only about ten years older than him! And yet she had already comprehended a complete Dao, and not just any Dao—the ‘Grand Dao of Ice.’ He remembered that when she defeated him at the Dao Debate Palace, she had used fire techniques.

“Aren’t you called the Fire Rainbow Immortal, Senior Apprentice-Sister? I thought you specialized in fire?” Ji Ning asked in surprise.

“I am skilled in both ice and fire.” Celestial Immortal Cangjiang sighed. “Although all are reincarnated Immortals, there are differences. Some were merely ordinary Earth Immortals or Loose Immortals, while others might have been Loose Immortals who cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years… the past life of Junior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei must have been a truly remarkable Loose Immortal.”

Yu Wei looked helpless. “We came here to congratulate Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning. Why do you keep talking about me? Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning, shall we just chat here in midair? Don’t you even have a cup of wine for us?”

“Of course, of course I do.” Ji Ning immediately led the way.

The throng of Black-White College disciples chatted and laughed as they headed toward Brightheart Island. On the island, Qiuye had long since arranged for the servants to make preparations. They could not afford to be negligent with so many Black-White College disciples present.

The fellow disciples stayed for two days before some began to head back.

Junior Apprentice-Brother Mu Northson, Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei, Senior Apprentice-Brother Cangjiang, and Beishan Baiwei all decided to stay for a few more days.

One day, under a clear, cloudless sky.

A group of them was on a large boat on Winged Serpent Lake, sitting scattered around, drinking Immortal wine and eating spirit-fruits.

“Junior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei.” Celestial Immortal Cangjiang, sitting opposite, spoke up. “The Immortal Gathering is still three years away. What are your plans for these three years?”

“Whatever I feel like.” The black-robed maiden, Yu Wei, sat there, looking around at the scenery. “I’ll wander as my heart desires. When the time comes, I’ll go directly to the Grand Xia imperial capital.”

“Then let us wish the Fire Rainbow Immortal a name that shakes the entire world!” Beishan Baiwei also laughed.

Mu Northson’s eyes widened. “Wait, what are you all talking about? What Immortal Gathering? What Grand Xia imperial capital? A name that shakes the world? Senior Apprentice-Brother… do you know what they’re talking about?”

Ji Ning shook his head in confusion. “What are you all talking about? I’ve never heard of it.”

Beishan Baiwei explained, “The Immortal Gathering is a grand meeting established by the founding emperor of our Grand Xia Dynasty. Any cultivator below the Primal Daoist level can participate. It is the ultimate battle of peerless geniuses. Our Grand Xia rules over this major world, with over three thousand six hundred commanderies, as well as many overseas territories… I don’t know how many monstrous geniuses and reincarnated Immortals will attend this gathering.”

“A battle of geniuses?” Ji Ning was surprised.

“Yes. Although it’s called an Immortal Gathering, it’s essentially a battle of geniuses.” Beishan Baiwei sighed. “Since participants must be below the Primal Daoist level, most are Wanxiang Adepts at perfection. Wanxiang Adepts from every commandery and overseas regions will come to fight… The thought is chilling. Generally speaking, anyone who dares to participate will at the very least be capable of matching a Primal Daoist!”

Ji Ning’s expression turned serious.

He understood now.

If it was truly a gathering of geniuses from the entire major world… just the Anchan Commandery’s Black-White College had several people like Slovenly Trulyreal, Flamesaint, Cangjiang, and Yu Wei. The Anchan Commandery also had other sects, schools, and great tribes that would also have cultivated some heaven-defying geniuses.

A single commandery might have dozens.

But the Grand Xia Dynasty had over three thousand six hundred commanderies, plus all the overseas territories!

That meant that the number of geniuses at the level of Flamesaint or Cangjiang across the entire Grand Xia Dynasty would likely exceed a hundred thousand.

“If you don’t have enough strength, going to the Immortal Gathering would be suicide.” Beishan Baiwei said. “The reason you hadn’t heard of it before is that your strength wasn’t sufficient, so the Black-White College didn’t inform you. After all, your defeat of Snowfeather Daoist just happened.”

Ji Ning nodded.

“Are you thinking of going?” Beishan Baiwei looked at Ji Ning.

“No rush.” Ji Ning said.

“I think there’s no need for you to go now, either. You’ve only been cultivating for thirty years. That’s far too short.” Beishan Baiwei said. “You could simply stay at the Wanxiang level and cultivate for another three hundred years, then wait for the next Immortal Gathering. If you go then… I believe you’ll definitely shock the world. I know of some monstrous geniuses who deliberately held back for three hundred years before going, some of whom had even comprehended several complete Daos!”

Ji Ning was secretly stunned.

Comprehending several complete Daos?

“With such profound insights, why don’t they become Primal Daoists or Earth Immortals? Why hold back at the Wanxiang stage?” Ji Ning asked.

Mu Northson also chimed in, “Right! Why hold back for so long? What’s so great about this Immortal Gathering that it has such a huge appeal?”

“You just don’t understand,” Cangjiang spoke up.

Beishan Baiwei, Yu Wei, and the others all looked at Ji Ning and Mu Northson as Cangjiang continued, “Those who rank in the top three of the Immortal Gathering will each receive an Immortal-ranked magic treasure.”

“An Immortal-ranked magic treasure?” Mu Northson exclaimed.

“Just an Immortal-ranked treasure alone wouldn’t be that attractive, right?” Ji Ning frowned. For a true monstrous genius who could comprehend several complete Daos in three hundred years, once they became an Earth Immortal, obtaining an Immortal-ranked treasure shouldn’t be too difficult.

“That’s just the reward,” the black-robed maiden, Yu Wei, spoke up. “The Immortal Gathering is a chance to rise in a single step. It allows the entire Grand Xia Dynasty to take notice of you. If you rank in the top ten, many great tribes will send gifts of ten thousand jin of Primordial Liquid or more just to forge a good connection. One tribe might not be much, but when the gifts from many powers are combined… the amount of Primordial Liquid you’ll receive will make your hands sore from counting.”

“But these are all secondary.”

“What’s important is the ‘Immortal opportunity.’” The black-robed maiden looked at Ji Ning. “Those who rank in the top ten of the Immortal Gathering might be accepted as disciples by some truly mighty figures. Once you become a disciple of such a mighty figure, your chances of becoming a Celestial Immortal will increase dramatically.”

“Mighty figures?” Ji Ning asked hurriedly. “What mighty figures?”

Celestial Immortal Cangjiang said in a low voice, “Perhaps they are the most supreme beings truly hidden within this major world, or perhaps they are powerful beings from beyond this major world. In any case, they definitely surpass Celestial Immortals! Let me tell you two something else… Over eighty percent of known Celestial Immortals first made their mark at the Immortal Gathering and were accepted as disciples by these mighty figures.”

“It is an opportunity for you to display your talent, a chance for some great figures in the Three Realms to see your aptitude.” Celestial Immortal Cangjiang looked at Ji Ning and Mu Northson. “Do you understand now? Do you understand why some geniuses deliberately hold back at the Wanxiang level for three hundred years, just to shine at the Immortal Gathering?”

Yu Wei also sighed, “What are we reincarnated Immortals? Earth Immortals, Loose Immortals… we’re nothing. Becoming a Celestial Immortal is true freedom and true ease! But how difficult is it to become a Celestial Immortal? In the entire history of the Black-White College, only one person has succeeded. The Immortal Gathering… is a true ‘opportunity.’ We must seize it.”

Ji Ning and Mu Northson fully understood.

It was difficult to become a Celestial Immortal!

But it would be much easier if a mighty figure from the Three Realms guided you. For example, if Daoist Threelives himself were to personally instruct Ji Ning, his path of cultivation would naturally become much faster.

The Immortal Gathering… was a chance for the eyes of some mighty beings in the Three Realms to fall upon you.

“Surpassing Celestial Immortals?” Mu Northson couldn’t help but ask. “I only know that Celestial Immortals are carefree Immortals who have leaped out of the Three Realms. What are those above Celestial Immortals called?”

Yu Wei and Cangjiang exchanged a glance.

Yu Wei said slowly, “True Immortals! Pure Yang True Immortals!”

“True Immortals?” Mu Northson murmured to himself.

“Comprehending a complete Dao is a prerequisite for becoming a Celestial Immortal,” Yu Wei said. “Comprehending a complete Grand Dao is a prerequisite for becoming a True Immortal.”

Mu Northson nodded softly.

Ji Ning also nodded.

Both of them knew what a Grand Dao was. Ji Ning’s Dao of the Sword was one of the Grand Daos, and Mu Northson’s Dao of Puppetry was also one of the Grand Daos. However, to fully master the Dao of Puppetry was even rarer and more difficult than swordplay. There were legends of Immortals skilled in creating puppets, but there were no records of anyone who truly dared to claim they had completely mastered the Dao of Puppetry.

“It’s just a prerequisite. It doesn’t mean that grasping a Grand Dao guarantees you’ll become a Pure Yang True Immortal.” Yu Wei sighed. “Just as someone who has comprehended three or five complete Daos can still fail their tribulation and become a Loose Immortal. Even if you grasp a Grand Dao, you still have to endure countless tribulations to become a True Immortal.”

“You two understand now. How incredibly powerful are beings who surpass Celestial Immortals? Any one of them is an extremely important figure in the entire Three Realms. Even if you are accepted as a disciple at the Immortal Gathering, it’s usually just as a nominal disciple. But don’t look down on being a nominal disciple. Even if you were to become a gate-cleansing boy for such a mighty figure, you would be more honored than a prince of the Grand Xia royal clan.” Celestial Immortal Cangjiang also said.

Ji Ning and Mu Northson both nodded in agreement.

Such beings were already true mighty figures of the Three Realms.

Ji Ning suddenly thought of the master of the aquatic palace, Daoist Threelives… He was a Chaos Fiendgod, born with innate knowledge from the chaos itself, directly grasping a Grand Dao. Later, he had comprehended many Grand Daos and even created the [Starseizing Hand], which ranked among the top ten divine abilities since Pangu split Heaven and Earth.

“My master said that only when I become an Empyrean God can I be considered his true disciple. I wonder how my master’s power compares to that of a True Immortal.” Ji Ning mused to himself.