A Mad Dog and a Sparring Match

Ji Ning, Xishui Xiaolou, Tiannong Quge, and the others all held their wine cups, watching the life-and-death battle taking place in the central arena.

Within the grand sealing formation, a golden-haired giant and a lion-man charged out of their cages, both raising their heads in thunderous roars. Although the roars were completely blocked by the sealing formation and couldn't be heard, the air could still be seen exploding from their force.

“Their physiques are quite sturdy. They should be using a crude, low-grade Fiendgod Body Refining technique.” The wave of a smile from the fairy Boyan was enough to stir a hundred kinds of desires, causing even the golden-haired giant and lion-man to stare blankly at that seductive woman outside the formation.

“Even these alien races can't resist the fairy Boyan's allure,” Xishui Xiaolou said with a laugh.

Soon, both the golden-haired giant and the lion-man regained their clarity.

They glared at each other, their opponent. Ever since they had been captured and brought to this Watercloud Manor, the people of the manor had already told them: “In every fight, one of you must die. If you manage to survive nine consecutive battles, you will be permitted to leave this place and become a soldier of our Xishui clan.”

In their small home world, the golden-haired giant and the lion-man had been top-tier experts, surrounded by servants and followers.

But then, a group of terrifyingly powerful cultivators had come to their world and quickly conquered it. They had been reduced to slaves… and when they were sold to this tribe called the 'Xishui clan', they were shocked to discover that almost every servant in the Xishui clan was stronger than they were!

They were in despair. They no longer harbored any hope of escape. All they could do was obey.

They had only one desire—survive nine battles and then become soldiers of the Xishui clan!

“Goldenhair, prepare to die!” The lion-man roared, then with a powerful kick of all four legs, he transformed into a gust of wind, charging straight at the golden-haired giant.

“You die!” The golden-haired giant bent low and charged forward as well.

Boom!

The two clashed head-on. One of the lion-man's claws left a wound across the golden-haired giant's chest, while the golden-haired giant's fist smashed heavily into the lion-man's head, sending blood flying everywhere.

Both of their wounds closed up with astonishing speed as they continued to fight.

“They are indeed Fiendgod Body Refiners,” Ji Ning nodded.

“The cultivation techniques of that small world are all focused on Fiendgod Body Refining,” Xishui Xiaolou said. “But they are the crudest, most inferior Fiendgod techniques. Supposedly, the strongest beings in that world are merely three Fiendgod Body Refiners at the Primal level. Their comprehension of the Dao is far too weak. In our Grand Xia Dynasty, we could casually dispatch a single Primal Daoist with magic treasures who could easily take care of all three of the strongest experts from that world!”

Ji Ning nodded.

Ki Refining required a very high level of attainment in the 'Dao' in order to control one's elemental ki.

Fiendgod Body Refining, in comparison, had relatively looser requirements regarding the 'Dao'. Of course, the supreme technique, the [Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens], still had absurdly high demands when it came to the Dao. But some of the weaker Fiendgod Body Refining techniques—you could even call them base-level techniques—placed almost no demands on the Dao at all. However, with such a poor foundation, it was naturally very difficult to reach a truly profound level. Training to the Wanxiang stage was about the limit. For an inferior Fiendgod Body Refiner to reach the 'Primal level' would be a stroke of incredible luck.

“The close-combat skill of these two has reached the Unity of Man and Heaven level,” Tiannong Quge laughed.

“They'll be deciding it soon,” Xishui Xiaolou said.

The lion-man was roaring madly, charging forward again and again, stamping and trampling, trying to grab hold of his enemy with his hands.

But the golden-haired giant was clearly more agile. He darted left, then right, leaving one massive wound after another on the lion-man's body, steadily draining the divine power within the lion-man's frame.

“Whoosh!” The golden-haired giant brushed past a stomping hoof, and at the same time his hand, sharp as a blade, plunged directly into the lion-man's chest.

Riiip!

The chest was torn open. Blood sprayed everywhere.

“Bang.” The lion-man swung both arms violently. The golden-haired giant barely managed to block, but was sent flying backward.

“Hahaha…” The golden-haired giant laughed maniacally, continuing to circle the lion-man like a flash of lightning, leaving huge wounds on him again and again. Finally, the lion-man's divine power was exhausted. His wounds could no longer close, and his speed began to slow.

“Crack.”

The golden-haired giant moved like a bolt of golden lightning, shooting past and grabbing the lion-man's head, twisting it sharply.

He wrenched the head clean off.

Holding the head high in a single hand, the golden-haired giant raised it like a victorious general. The lion-man's body crashed to the ground, blood pooling everywhere.

“Hua.” The sealing formation was dispelled, and the servants of Watercloud Manor immediately came forward, quickly cleaning the floor and removing the lion-man's corpse. Soon, the central arena was spotless once more.

“Reporting to the young master.” A Watercloud Manor steward standing in the central arena said respectfully, “This golden-haired giant has won nine consecutive battles. According to the rules, he is now a soldier of the Xishui clan.”

The golden-haired giant stood respectfully beside the Watercloud Manor steward.

“Oh?” Xishui Xiaolun, seated high above, smiled. “Quite a coincidence, him winning exactly nine in a row. I'll grant you a jug of immortal wine. Serve the Xishui clan well, and you will not be treated poorly.”

“Thank you, Immortal.” The golden-haired giant knelt on one knee, his voice booming. Although his accent was strange, he was speaking the human language. After all, he was an alien creature comparable to a Wanxiang Adept. His intelligence was high, and learning a language came quickly.

Soon, the golden-haired giant withdrew.

A group of seductive dancing girls appeared on the central arena, beginning to dance gracefully as music played.

“In the Grand Xia imperial capital, it's these alien races killing each other. When I first arrived in Anchan City, those gambling battles… me fighting against demon beasts, and against other humans. Those demon beasts and humans had no power to resist; they had to obey orders and fight. The weak don't even have the right to choose. Only by becoming strong can you have the right to choose. And only after you have the right to choose can you begin to control your own destiny.” Ji Ning pondered. Only by frequently engaging in self-reflection and examining his own heart could he make his Dao heart grow ever stronger.

“The Immortal Fortunes Assembly will be my chance to be reborn, to be tempered into something stronger.”

Various performances continued in the central arena.

Ji Ning and the others drank and watched. The recluse Xiao Lang, who had been feeling displeased and out of sorts, grew even more irritated seeing Xishui Xiaolou and Tiannong Quge treating Ji Ning so politely.

“Everyone.” Xiao Lang suddenly spoke.

Ji Ning and the other three all looked over. Xiao Lang rarely spoke, so since he had opened his mouth, they all turned to listen.

“These killing performances are not very satisfying. In my opinion, would Brother Ji Ning and I have a sparring match?” Xiao Lang's eyes burned with fighting spirit and supreme confidence. “I've heard that Brother Ji Ning is incredibly powerful, even capable of killing Shaoyan Nong, and especially that you killed that Primal-level Fiendgod under his command. That has made my heart itch. Today, we'll only spar. If either of us feels we can't hold on, we can immediately concede. We absolutely won't damage our friendship. What do you think, Brother Ji Ning?”

Ji Ning was startled.

Why did he suddenly want to spar with me?

Although I did kill the Fiendgod Xiangliu, that was a Primal-level Fiendgod with top-tier Loose Immortal combat power. Anyone with a bit of sense would understand that Ji Ning must have used some special method to kill that Fiendgod. There was no way he could have done it with his true strength alone, right?

Xishui Xiaolou, Tiannong Quge, and the fairy Boyan all watched, waiting for Ji Ning's response.

“No need,” Ji Ning shook his head.

Xiao Lang heard this and became even more convinced that Ji Ning was weak and lacked confidence—after all, he had only been training for thirty years.

“It's just a spar, not a life-and-death battle,” Xiao Lang said, dissatisfied. “Brother Ji Ning, you have a fearsome reputation. You even killed a Primal-level Fiendgod. Surely you're not afraid to spar with me?”

“Killing that Primal Fiendgod was a fluke, not my true strength,” Ji Ning said.

Xiao Lang sneered inwardly.

Everyone knew it wasn't his true strength! But today, if they sparred, he would definitely make Ji Ning look like a complete fool.

“We're all going to participate in the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, where it'll be life-and-death battles one after another. Today's just a friendly spar. If you don't even dare to spar, how can you possibly participate in the Immortal Fortunes Assembly?” Xiao Lang deliberately put on an angry, disdainful expression. “Could it be that Brother Ji Ning is afraid?”

Ji Ning frowned. Why was this Xiao Lang so aggressive?

“I don't want to spar,” Ji Ning shook his head. “If Brother Xiao Lang truly wishes to fight me, there will be time when the Immortal Fortunes Assembly begins.”

“The Immortal Fortunes Assembly? That's over a year away! That assembly is a life-or-death battle. If you won't even spar…” Xiao Lang's sneer and contempt were plain on his face.

“Enough.” Xishui Xiaolou frowned and spoke.

Xiao Lang nodded. “I won't force Brother Ji Ning. Since Brother Ji Ning doesn't want to spar, so be it. Brother Boyan, how about you and I have a spar? It'll liven things up a bit.”

The fairy Boyan furrowed her brow slightly, then smiled. “Please go easy on me, Brother Xiao Lang.”

“Don't worry, I won't hurt you,” Xiao Lang said. “I'll stop once I've knocked your magic treasures flying.”

This caused a flash of anger in the fairy Boyan's heart.

This Xiao Lang truly was as twisted as the rumors said, speaking so arrogantly.

“Fine, then come,” the fairy Boyan said, flying into the central arena.

“Good.” Xiao Lang's figure flickered, and he also appeared in the central arena. The dancing girls who had been performing there were all dismissed.

Ji Ning sat watching Xiao Lang and the fairy Boyan in the central arena, frowning inwardly. “This Xiao Lang really thinks he's invincible. Now that I've just arrived in the Grand Xia imperial capital, the Shaoyin clan will be trying to deal with me by any means necessary. I need to be cautious in everything. Maybe this Xiao Lang was sent by the Shaoyin clan. Perhaps he's carrying some terrifying treasures, like a 'Seal Scroll' or something similar. I could end up badly吃亏. Although I have my Primaltwin, my true body is still more important.”

At the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, the use of Dao talismans and other external treasures was forbidden; only true strength was allowed, so that the most supreme geniuses could be sifted out.

But this spar at Watercloud Manor was different. If Xiao Lang had been secretly sent by the Shaoyin clan and suddenly used some terrifyingly powerful treasure… if his true body was destroyed, it would be an unjust death.

“Xishui Xiaolou was actually able to take a person with this kind of personality into his own manor…” Ji Ning glanced at Xishui Xiaolou, who was still watching the central arena with a smile.

Xishui Xiaolou was well aware that Xiao Lang had a strange temper and a twisted personality. But even if he was a mad dog, as long as the dog listened to him, a mad dog could still be very useful.

Sometimes, there were things that he himself couldn't do, but a mad dog could.