The Celestial Immortal’s Estate

The young master of the ShaoYan clan, ShaoYan Nong, spoke. “This is a small test for me from my tribe—an expedition to an ancient Immortal’s estate. My tribe will not interfere with whom I choose to invite as help. I won’t hide the truth from you: this estate is the dwelling of a Celestial Immortal. Though that Celestial Immortal died long ago, the estate is surely filled with dangers. Demonic beasts trapped within have been breeding for countless years, and I suspect quite a few great demons have made it their lair. There are also other, unknown perils. That is why I need your assistance. If you help me, I will naturally remember this debt of gratitude.”

As soon as these words left his mouth, the expressions on Ji Ning, Mu Northson, Nine Lotos, Yu Wei, and Cangjiang Realperson all shifted.

A Celestial Immortal’s estate?

Although there were many Immortal estates scattered across this endless land, most were built by Loose Immortals or Earth Immortals. Such dwellings might hold great appeal for ordinary Zifu Disciples, but they held far less attraction for Ji Ning and his companions—after all, they had access to many living Loose Immortals and Earth Immortals. Ji Ning’s own master was the Diancai Immortal!

But a Celestial Immortal’s estate? That was an entirely different matter!

“What do you all think?” Cangjiang Realperson transmitted mentally.

Nine Lotos transmitted back, “ShaoYan Nong is one of the Four Young Masters of the Grand Xia Imperial Capital. With a status like his, saying he will remember our debt carries weight. Just for that favor… I think it might be worth helping him. If he becomes the next Feather God Duke, even a little help from him would bring us endless benefits.”

“Don’t be hasty. The servant at his side gives me a very dangerous feeling,” Ji Ning transmitted. He had long sensed a faint threat emanating from that very attendant. “If he has such a powerful servant and still needs our help, we should think carefully before agreeing.”

“Mm, that makes sense,” Cangjiang Realperson replied.

“I’ll follow senior apprentice-brother’s lead,” Mu Northson said simply.

“Let’s hear what else he has to say,” Yu Wei added.

Although Nine Lotos was somewhat inclined to agree, it was clear that among these fellow disciples, Ji Ning carried more influence.

This was only natural. Among a group of geniuses, strength was the ultimate measure, and of their number, Ji Ning, Yu Wei, and Cangjiang were the strongest.

ShaoYan Nong saw the expressions on Ji Ning and the other five and knew they were not yet sold. He continued, “This Celestial Immortal is named Immortal Wujiang, a great demon of the water tribes who attained the Dao and became a Celestial Immortal. He was quite famous back in his day… He died in battle during the Three Realms’ conflicts. The key to his Celestial Immortal estate fell into the hands of my ShaoYan clan. We have not been in a rush to explore it, so I can assure you that no one has entered since Immortal Wujiang’s death.”

“An Immortal’s estate is their lair. There are sure to be medicine gardens, precious treasures, spirit pills, and rare materials. Perhaps even Immortal-ranked treasures!”

Hearing this, Yu Wei and Cangjiang Realperson’s eyes lit up. Ji Ning and Mu Northson could not help but feel tempted as well.

Immortal-ranked treasures?

Yes. Most Loose Immortals and Earth Immortals did not possess Immortal-ranked treasures, but a Celestial Immortal certainly would—and likely more than one! It was entirely possible that some were left behind in their lair.

“My goal this time is to seize control of the estate. As for any treasures within, whatever you obtain is yours. I will not take them by force. Even if I truly desire something, I will propose a trade that satisfies you. I will never coerce you.” ShaoYan Nong looked at Ji Ning and the others. “This is my promise, and the promise of the ShaoYan clan.”

Ji Ning and the others exchanged glances, silently transmitting to one another.

“It’s worth a look,” Cangjiang Realperson transmitted. “Entering a Celestial Immortal’s estate is already a rare opportunity. As the young master said, without the estate key, entry is impossible. We can go in together—this is a rare chance.”

“He is a young master of the ShaoYan clan, and he has given us the clan’s word. That is trustworthy,” Yu Wei transmitted.

“I’ll follow my senior apprentice-brother,” Mu Northson repeated.

“Ji Ning?” Nine Lotos looked at him.

Ji Ning was tempted as well.

ShaoYan Nong, seeing their expressions, added one more line. “From what I know, although Immortal Wujiang was a great demon by birth, he was also a demon sword-immortal, with considerable attainments in the Dao of the Sword. I imagine his lair holds records of his sword arts.”

Ji Ning’s eyes lit up.

“It seems junior apprentice-brother Ji Ning is moved,” Cangjiang Realperson transmitted with a chuckle. “Let’s all speak our minds. I think it’s worth going.”

“It’s worth going,” Yu Wei agreed. “There will be danger, but if the ShaoYan clan is willing to send their young master inside, the danger can’t be too extreme.”

“I’m going,” Nine Lotos transmitted.

Mu Northson looked at Ji Ning.

“Let’s go. It’s worth a proper look,” Ji Ning nodded.

“Alright, I’m going too.” Mu Northson broke into a smile.

Cangjiang Realperson, being the eldest of the group, spoke up. “Young Master ShaoYan, the five of us are willing to accompany you to the Wujiang Immortal Estate.”

“Excellent!” ShaoYan Nong’s eyes blazed with joy. He clapped his hands together. “With your help, this mission is sure to succeed!”

“If there is anything you need to prepare, do so quickly,” ShaoYan Nong said hurriedly. “We must set out for the Wujiang Immortal Estate as soon as possible.”

“We have nothing much to prepare,” Cangjiang Realperson said with a smile. “I suspect Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning may need to make some arrangements.”

“Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning, go ahead and take care of things. We’ll wait for you here.” Mu Northson smiled as well.

As guests, they could leave at any time.

Ji Ning, however, had to arrange matters for his tribe.

“Please wait a moment, everyone.” Ji Ning transformed into a streak of light and flew directly toward Brightheart Island.

On Brightheart Island, Qiuye, Qingqing, and Whitewater Hound were already waiting.

“What happened? Who was that?” Qingqing asked.

Ji Ning turned to Qiuye. “Qiuye, the man who arrived on the war-galley was a young master of an ancient, powerful tribe—the ShaoYan clan. His status is extremely noble. He has invited me and my senior fellow disciples to assist him with something. I will be away for some time. Brightheart Island is in your hands. As for the Ji clan, pass word that I will return before long.”

“Mm.” Qiuye nodded obediently.

Whatever Ji Ning needed to do, Qiuye would only silently support.

“Let’s go, Qingqing, Uncle White.” Ji Ning smiled.

“Let’s go!” Qingqing immediately transformed into a puff of mist, curling around Ji Ning’s arm to become a small serpent.

Whitewater Hound silently followed at Ji Ning’s side.

Naturally, one brought their spirit-beasts along on adventures.

“Let’s see just how impressive this Celestial Immortal estate really is.” Anticipation filled Ji Ning’s heart. Suddenly, he had an idea. “To be safe, I’d better bring this treasure along. I’ve heard that in some places, treasures cannot be taken out from storage artifacts.” A black armband appeared in Ji Ning’s hand, which he then slipped onto his arm. His beast-hide robe quickly covered it.

This black armband was one of two strange items Ji Ning had obtained from the aquatic palace.

Heading into a Celestial Immortal’s estate, Ji Ning felt a fair degree of confidence. He had cleared the fourth level of the War God Hall at the aquatic palace and reached the Wanxiang stage in Fiendgod Body Refining. He had chosen his rewards on both occasions—and neither time had he chosen Earth-ranked treasures. He had chosen protective strange items instead.

As the yellow-furred bear had said: “Be careful. That Lei Zhan died during his time as a Wanxiang Adept. Wanxiang Adepts occupy a middle ground on the Immortal path—not weak, not strong, and it is the phase where death is most likely. Though these protective strange items can only be used once, their power is extraordinary, easily worth a life.”

When Ji Ning had chosen for a third time, the yellow-furred bear had even said: “This protective strange item is most suited to you. It was made by Daoist Threelives himself in a moment of whim.”

Of Ji Ning’s three selections, only the first had been the ‘Coldvein Sword Formation’. The second and third had both been protective strange items!

A single set of the Coldvein Sword Formation was already extraordinarily valuable—certainly surpassing the protective treasures the Diancai Immortal had bestowed upon Ji Ning. In fact, those gifts had become somewhat lacking for Ji Ning at his current level. The two protective strange items he had chosen this time were each worth no less than the Coldvein Sword Formation, and coming from the aquatic palace, their quality was naturally exceptional.

“With these two protective strange items, I should be able to handle any sudden dangers.” Ji Ning thought to himself.

“Let’s go.”

With the small green serpent coiled around his arm and Whitewater Hound following behind him, Ji Ning flew into the sky.

“You have a spirit-beast too, Ji Ning?” ShaoYan Nong, who had been waiting on the war-galley, laughed as soon as he saw the small green serpent on Ji Ning’s arm. “I have one too. Come, Redfire!”

A fiery red serpent’s head emerged from the surface of ShaoYan Nong’s arm.

The serpent had a single horn and eyes of gleaming gold.

“A Redscale Flood Dragon?” Ji Ning and the others were secretly shocked.

All godbeasts possessed Fiendgod bloodlines, but there were hierarchies among them. Most godbeasts, like Whitewater Hound and Skygreen Serpent, took human form at the Zifu stage. But legend held that some truly powerful godbeasts could not take human form until they became Celestial Immortals—and those were truly terrifying.

The Redscale Flood Dragon was one of the most famous, only able to take human form at the Primal stage. It was far nobler than the Skygreen Serpent or Whitewater Hound.

“Chi, chi.” The Redscale Flood Dragon glanced at the Skygreen Serpent and Whitewater Hound, then burrowed back into ShaoYan Nong’s skin.

“Haha, Redfire hasn’t taken human form yet, so he gets a bit bored,” ShaoYan Nong said, taking his seat at the head of the grand hall atop the war-galley. Ji Ning and the others sat as well. “Come, come, let us drink some fine wine together. Once we enter the Wujiang Immortal Estate, we won’t have such leisure.”

“To Young Master ShaoYan.”

Cangjiang Realperson, Ji Ning, Mu Northson, Yu Wei, and Nine Lotos all raised their cups. Xue Hongyi and Buyou Realperson, seated at the far end, followed suit.

“Hahaha…” ShaoYan Nong laughed heartily, clearly in excellent spirits.

And why not? Xue Hongyi and Buyou Realperson were second-class Yinglong Guards, but compared to Black-White College’s most outstanding genius Ji Ning and the two reincarnated immortals, Yu Wei and Cangjiang Realperson, they were still inferior. Having made a detour to Swallow Mountain’s Winged Serpent Lake, he had managed to recruit five helpers at once—and each was extraordinary. Even Mu Northson, the weakest of the group, was a genius in the art of puppetry, and those who walked the path of puppetry were skilled at fighting above their level. Nine Lotos was the next leader of the Dongyan clan—how could she lack fearsome methods of self-protection?

They drank and made merry along the way. Ji Ning and the others kept him company, and in just two days’ time, they reached the hidden location of the Wujiang Immortal Estate.

“The Wujiang Immortal Estate is deep within the Tianyou Mountains ahead.” ShaoYan Nong stood by the railing, pointing at the majestic mountain range in the distance, his spirits high.

Ji Ning and the others gazed into the distance, filled with anticipation as well.