The South Sea Monster

Heavenly Treasures Mountain. Clouds drifted lazily around the nine peaks of Duobao Peak. Standing atop these clouds were formidable figures from every corner of the world; it was a true convergence of dragons and snakes.

“Brother Ji Ning.” Yu Qi, clad in purple robes, arrived at Ji Ning’s cloud.

“Oh?” Ji Ning glanced at Yu Qi. He was quite pleased with his haul from the earlier sale—over two million jin of Primordial Liquid for that batch of treasures. Smiling, he said, “Brother Yu Qi, come, let us share a few cups of wine.”

“No need for wine.” Yu Qi chuckled softly. “I’m here to tell you that the Shaoyan clan has arrived.”

“The Shaoyan clan is here?” Ji Ning’s eyes lit up. “Where?”

“Yes, where?” Qingqing’s eyes also gleamed.

Yu Qi was startled.

This human and this serpent… why did they look like they were eyeing prey upon hearing the name ‘Shaoyan’?

“Over there.” Yu Qi gestured with his eyes toward a distant peak. “See that group just flying out from the peak? Including servants, nine people in total.”

Ji Ning followed Yu Qi’s gaze. He immediately spotted the group flying out. At the lead was a middle-aged man with an imposing air and flowing hair, accompanied by two youths. The rest were guards, attendants, and maids.

“Shaoyan Xiushui?” Ji Ning’s pupils contracted.

After selling his treasures, Ji Ning had purchased a great deal of intelligence—detailed information on the Shaoyan clan, the various powers in the Grand Xia imperial capital, and so on. He had memorized the notable figures of the Shaoyan clan that were recorded in the intelligence files.

Shaoyan Xiushui was a returned-to-vacuity Earth Immortal! The Shaoyan clan was grooming him, and he had a real hope of becoming a Celestial Immortal. His status was comparable to the Plume Duke’s. Within a clan, those with genuine potential to become Celestial Immortals were generally not burdened with trivial administrative affairs. Being a ‘duke’ required handling too many distractions, after all.

“You recognized him?” Yu Qi lowered his voice. “This time, Shaoyan Xiushui is hosting a banquet for ‘Daolord Muchuan’ from the South Sea, together with his son, Shaoyan Jun.”

“Hosting a banquet for Daolord Muchuan?” Ji Ning was puzzled. “Shaoyan Xiushui has a high status. Why would he personally host a mere Wanxiang Adept, and one from the South Sea at that?”

Yu Qi laughed. “Brother Ji Ning, you’re not aware of the situation. The South Sea is vast and nearly lawless. Cultivators there are even more brutal and chaotic. But such chaotic lands can also give birth to true prodigies. Daolord Muchuan is acknowledged as one of the most顶尖 Wanxiang Adepts out there.”

“Most顶尖?” Ji Ning was shocked.

The South Sea… a boundless ocean with countless islands and countless cultivators, its size rivaling several commanderies. To be called ‘most顶尖’ among Wanxiang Adepts… that was incredibly arrogant.

“Daolord Muchuan is one of the top candidates expected to win first place in this upcoming Immortal Fortunes Assembly,” Yu Qi said, lowering his voice. “Three hundred years ago, he had already performed the feat of slaying a Primal Daoist.”

“Slaying a Primal Daoist three hundred years ago?” Ji Ning was astonished.

“This Muchuan… he’s been forcibly staying at the Wanxiang stage for three hundred years just for the Immortal Fortunes Assembly?” Qingqing exclaimed. “I’ve heard there are freaks like that, but I never thought I’d actually see one.”

Thankfully, each cloud was protected by a sound-proofing formation.

Ji Ning’s heart tightened. Having slain a Primal Daoist three hundred years ago… just how strong was he now?

“Daolord Muchuan is extremely famous,” Yu Qi continued. “Over two hundred years ago, he even trained his Primaltwin.”

“Primaltwin…” Ji Ning silently noted this.

“Just a few decades ago, his Primaltwin broke through to the returned-to-vacuity Earth Immortal stage!” Yu Qi said. “He occupies a large island in the South Sea, where he often gives lectures on the Dao, open to both humans and demons alike. This long-standing practice of lecturing has only increased his fame. And it is known that over six Loose Immortals and Earth Immortals have died by his hand!”

Ji Ning, Uncle White, and Qingqing were all deeply shocked.

“A madman! His true body is at the Wanxiang stage, yet he dares to let his Primaltwin break through to Earth Immortal?” Qingqing exclaimed. “He’s been holding on for three hundred years—isn’t he afraid of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations?”

“To be so reckless… he must be either insane or a freak of nature,” Ji Ning said.

Having one’s true body at the Wanxiang stage while the Primaltwin reaches Earth Immortal was extremely dangerous.

The Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations had their power scale according to one’s strength. The ‘Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations’ for an Earth Immortal were terrifyingly powerful. Such tribulations would descend upon both the true body and the Primaltwin simultaneously. If the Primaltwin could endure, the true body, being far weaker, would likely be unable to survive.

“Daolord Muchuan’s Primaltwin broke through to Earth Immortal just a few decades ago,” Yu Qi said with a smile. “He may have already passed the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations by then. I refuse to believe his Wanxiang true body could survive an Earth Immortal’s Three Calamities.”

“Mm.” Ji Ning nodded.

That was likely the case.

“But Daolord Muchuan is indeed extremely accomplished in the Dao,” Yu Qi sighed in admiration. “He dares to lecture publicly, and it is known that over six Loose Immortals and Earth Immortals have died at his hands. In the Grand Xia imperial capital, he’s already recognized as one of the favorites to take first place. And with his strength now, if his true body can be accepted as a disciple by a major power of the Three Realms, learning higher techniques and even stronger divine abilities and secret arts, his true body will eventually become far stronger than his Primaltwin.”

“Brother Yu Qi,” Ji Ning immediately said, “there should be a compiled intelligence report on the notable figures in this Immortal Fortunes Assembly, right?”

“Yes,” Yu Qi nodded. “But it only covers the most famous ones. The Grand Xia Dynasty is too vast; no one knows what other freak geniuses might be hiding. Take you, Brother Ji Ning, for example. Before you killed Shaoyan Nong, almost no one in the entire imperial capital had heard your name.”

“The Grand Xia Dynasty hides dragons and tigers. Daolord Muchuan is just one of the most promising ones. No one can say for sure if an even more terrifying genius will suddenly appear.” Yu Qi sighed.

Ji Ning also nodded. “I need all the intelligence on the Immortal Fortunes Assembly—information on the formidable Wanxiang Adepts.”

“I’ll send it over shortly,” Yu Qi said with a smile before taking his leave.

Yu Qi left.

On the cloud, Ji Ning, Uncle White, and Qingqing all felt a newfound sense of how difficult the ‘Immortal Fortunes Assembly’ was going to be.

“His Primaltwin is already an Earth Immortal, yet his true body shamelessly remains at the Wanxiang stage,” Qingqing said resentfully.

“He wants to become a disciple of a true major power of the Three Realms,” Ji Ning said with a smile. “It’s perfectly normal.”

The saying goes, the master leads you through the door; cultivation is up to the individual.

Cultivation was indeed a personal journey, but one needed a ‘master’ to lead them through that door in the first place. A good master made all the difference. Although Ji Ning had never personally met Daoist Threelives, Threelives had arranged the ‘Divine Ability Hall,’ ‘War God Hall,’ and ‘Stellar Hall’ for him, as if personally guiding and teaching him.

Elsewhere.

“We parted ways in the South Sea over a hundred years ago. For you to come to the Grand Xia capital now… haha…” Shaoyan Xiushui, his long hair flowing, sighed with feeling. “When I think of you displaying your divine might at the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, perhaps even catching the eye of some major power of the Three Realms and being accepted as their disciple… I can’t help but feel jealous. I too should have stayed at the Wanxiang stage for a few more years.”

Daolord Muchuan still had the appearance of a youth. He looked simple and honest.

But this simple-looking youth was famous across the South Sea. He had roamed alone, building a great reputation, even lecturing openly on the Dao, respected by countless cultivators and demons.

“Brother Xiushui, you don’t know how uncomfortable it is to be stuck at the Wanxiang stage.” Daolord Muchuan sighed. “My true body’s foundation is far stronger than my Primaltwin’s. My Primaltwin only practices Ki Refining, but my true body primarily cultivates the Fiendgod Body Refining path. I endured the urge to break through, but the longer I endured… the more it became a heart demon of mine. During the most recent Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, my Primaltwin was at the ‘Primordial Daoist’ stage, and the inner demons were especially powerful. The temptation nearly killed me.”

Shaoyan Xiushui nodded. “Others only see your glory, see you about to shine at the Immortal Fortunes Assembly. They don’t see the three hundred years of endurance, nor the terrifying heart demons that resulted from that forced suppression.”

“Father.” The handsome youth beside him called out.

Shaoyan Xiushui looked at his son.

“Should I endure for three hundred years too?” the youth asked.

“You? Even if you endured for three hundred years, there would be no hope. Just cultivate quietly. If you can become a returned-to-vacuity Earth Immortal, you should thank the heavens.” Shaoyan Xiushui shook his head helplessly. His son’s level wasn’t even close to the Immortal Fortunes Assembly. Even he himself had chosen to give up back then. Countless freaks had been holding back for this very opportunity, waiting to soar to the heavens.

The handsome youth pouted.

While his father spoke with Muchuan, he, despite being at the Wanxiang stage himself, was clearly of a lower generation. Bored, he looked around. Suddenly, his gaze landed on a distant cloud. Sitting on that cloud was a youth in animal skins, a snow-white hound, and a green-robed girl. The beast-pelt youth was even holding a book, reading it.

“He is…?” The youth’s eyes went wide. “Ji Ning?”

“Father, Father! Look quickly!” the youth called out.

Shaoyan Xiushui frowned at his son. He was displeased by the interruption.

“Look quickly! It’s Ji Ning! The one who killed Shaoyan Nong!” the youth pointed.

Shaoyan Xiushui and Daolord Muchuan both looked over.

They immediately saw the distant youth in beast pelts.

“His appearance, his attire… and the Whitewater Hound and a green-clad girl by his side… Could it really be Ji Ning?” Shaoyan Xiushui frowned. The Shaoyan clan had been hunting Ji Ning, but such matters didn’t concern ‘Shaoyan Xiushui.’ Still, he felt a deep pride in his clan and naturally could not tolerate anyone who dared to provoke it.

“Is it really him?” Shaoyan Xiushui murmured. “Coming to the Grand Xia capital… what does this Ji Ning intend to do? Provoke my Shaoyan clan?”

Daolord Muchuan looked as well, and he smiled. “I’ve heard this ‘Ji Ning’ is quite formidable. Could he be here for the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, just like me?”