The Observers’ Gaze

Yu Wei rested her chin on her hand, simply watching Ji Ning. An unconscious smile even crept onto her face.

Quietly.

Under the hazy moonlight, nothing existed but herself and her junior fellow-apprentice. She could just sit here and watch him like this… everything was so beautiful.

In the imperial palace square.

“What’s going on?” Mu Northson’s eyes widened as he stared at the enormous Moon-Moon Water-Mountain projection, where Yu Wei sat cross-legged, chin in hand, gazing fixedly at Ji Ning. “Is Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei falling for Senior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning? My heavens!”

Little Qing, resting on Mu Northson’s arm, was also staring intently.

Unless one was a fool, just seeing Yu Wei like this… one could guess that she had feelings for Ji Ning.

“Little Yu Wei and that kid, Ji Ning?” Wufeng the Immortal revealed a smile. In his eyes, the two were both peerless geniuses of the Black-White College, a perfectly matched pair.

“Look, look at that little girl’s expression. I told you, I told you so, I said that girl must like that Ji Ning fellow.” Lu Dongbin pointed at the enormous Moon-Moon Water-Mountain projection, speaking to Xia Huang, Emperor Hao, and the others beside him. “I wanted to bet earlier, but none of you took me up on it.”

“You’re a love god, a matchmaker… who would dare bet with you?” A True Immortal in a black robe embroidered with a blood-red Taiji Diagram laughed.

“Perfected Lord, I’m no love god; I haven’t even a single Dao-companion. I’m even less a matchmaker; Heaven has a specific Old Man Under the Moon for that.” Lu Dongbin quickly retorted.

Joking around, shamelessly begging, pretending to be a sage…

In short, wherever Lu Dongbin went, there was joy.

That was why he had so many friends throughout the Three Realms. With a good temper, a massive background, and immense strength, how could he lack friends?

Seated behind Patriarch Dongyan, Nine Lotos clenched her robes tightly, gripping them as she stared at the enormous Moon-Moon Water-Mountain projection. She bit her lip, her eyes filled with complex emotions. “Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei, you also… to Ji Ning…”

Previously, she had only worried. Even when, during the past few months, Ji Ning and Yu Wei had grown close while journeying together, Nine Lotos had thought it was merely because they were fellow disciples. But seeing this scene now… she could no longer deceive herself.

“I made my choice.”

“I don’t regret it.” Nine Lotos bit her lip, exhorting herself inwardly.

Yu Wei simply watched Ji Ning, immersed in her own inner world, even forgetting the outside.

Neither knew how much time passed.

A single spark appeared around Ji Ning, which then transformed into a lotus. It began to grow larger and larger… from a fire lotus the size of a fist, it quickly expanded into a colossal flaming lotus dozens of zhang in diameter. Ji Ning floated cross-legged at the very center of the lotus’s stamens, and the ripple of the Dao descended upon him.

“Mm?” Yu Wei was jolted back to awareness.

“Not good,” she thought with a start. “Scenes inside the Mingyue Water-Mountain Diagram can be viewed by spectators outside! Someone might have noticed!”

Seeing him immersed in enlightenment, she had let her emotions slip without restraint, forgetting that the outside world could see everything.

Yu Wei felt inwardly mortified.

“Senior Apprentice-Sister.” Ji Ning opened his eyes at that moment, speaking with a smile. “I’ve broken through the bottleneck. I’ve finally fully comprehended this Dao of Fire.”

Yu Wei quickly composed herself, her joy genuine as she said, “That’s wonderful, Junior Apprentice-Brother. You had already comprehended the Dao of Rainwater, and now you have the Dao of Fire… combining water and fire, merging them into your sword-art, your strength will surely skyrocket.”

“Mm.” Ji Ning nodded, filled with anticipation.

Two complete Daos, and the fact that his sword-dao had now reached the ‘Domain of the Grand Dao’ level… it gave him greater confidence. Although among the hundred thousand-plus participants in the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, some top-tier talents had generally stepped through the ‘Grand Dao’ threshold, even if all had entered that threshold, some had only just awakened their true heart, some had only a slight understanding. Those who, like Ji Ning, had reached the ‘Domain of the Grand Dao’ were still in the minority.

“Junior Apprentice-Brother, you also need to hurry up and train in your Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens,” Yu Wei continued. “You’re only at the eleventh layer now. Among the participants in this Immortal Fortunes Assembly, there are many who cultivate the Crimsonbright Diagram, and it’s common to see those at the twelfth layer.”

“I understand.” Ji Ning nodded.

This was indeed one of his weak points.

In the Yan Mountains, cultivators succeeding in the Crimsonbright Diagram were incredibly rare. But in Anchan Commandery, even in the Black-White College, there were several. As for the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, cultivators of the Crimsonbright Diagram were everywhere. His own eleventh layer was indeed somewhat lacking.

Still, with his powerful soul, his status as a Sword Immortal, and his divine ability, the ‘Starseizing Hand,’ he was not afraid of any opponent.

Half a month after Ji Ning comprehended the Dao of Fire, one day—

A burly, purple-robed youth and a wild-looking young man walked side by side through a mountain forest. From time to time, their divine sense swept across the surrounding ten li.

“Cangwu Jiu, how many faith-tokens do you have?” Xiamang Zishan asked.

“Just over a thousand. What about you?” Cangwu Jiu asked.

“You’re already over a thousand? I’ve killed more people than you, and I only have nine hundred and eighty-nine!” Xiamang Zishan’s eyes widened.

“That’s because you’re an idiot. Killing more people doesn’t mean you get more faith-tokens. Some people carry a lot, some carry very few. It takes a discerning eye. Clearly, your eye is far inferior to mine.” Cangwu Jiu said disdainfully.

Xiamang Zishan shook his head. “You’re not that far ahead of me. Look at how cocky you are! It’s been six months inside the Mingyue Water-Mountain Diagram. Half the year is up. We need to pick up the pace and get at least thirteen hundred tokens!”

A total of one hundred nine thousand, three hundred and sixty-two people had entered the Mingyue Water-Mountain Diagram.

Once the one-year deadline was up, the eighty people with the most faith-tokens would pass this trial. So, with thirteen hundred and seventy tokens, one was guaranteed to pass. Considering that some people had many tokens and others had few, even thirteen hundred tokens would be a secure pass.

“I’m aiming for fourteen hundred. That’ll be safe!” Cangwu Jiu said.

They chatted as they walked, their divine senses scouring the ten li around them.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The two transformed into streaks of light, instantly covering several li. On the waist of a mountain peak a few li away, a pair of black-clothed figures stood—it was Ji Ning and Yu Wei.

Ji Ning and Yu Wei both had powerful souls; the moment the other pair’s divine sense swept over them, they detected it. A moment later, two figures flashed into view.

“It’s them?” Both Ji Ning and Yu Wei were startled.

They immediately recognized the two. Their reputations were simply too great. More importantly, their attire and appearance matched their intelligence reports exactly.

“Xiamang Zishan? Cangwu Jiu?” Ji Ning’s heart tightened.

According to the intelligence from Heavenly Treasures Mountain about the peerless geniuses of this Immortal Fortunes Assembly, the one ranked number one was Xiamang Zishan, and the one ranked number two was Cangwu Jiu!

Xiamang Zishan cultivated the ‘Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens’ and had also mastered many formidable divine abilities secretly kept within the imperial Xiamang clan. His talent was supreme… and he was greatly favored by the Grand Xia Emperor himself. It was said that the Emperor had long since introduced him as a disciple to a mighty figure of the Three Realms. His strength was unfathomable.

Cangwu Jiu was a peerless genius rarely produced by the ‘Cangwu clan.’ He was the same age as Xiamang Zishan, and the two had grown up together as little prodigies in the Grand Xia imperial capital, honing their skills to the present day.

Because Xiamang Zishan was of the imperial clan, he was ranked first, forcing Cangwu Jiu to second place.

In short…

These two were the most famous participants in this entire Immortal Fortunes Assembly!

“With their reputations, their real strength must be genuine. How did these two most famous ones end up teaming up?” Ji Ning was cautious. If he encountered one of them alone, he would absolutely dare to fight. But he had his Senior Apprentice-Sister with him. She was a Ki Refiner, and although she had comprehended two complete Daos, her battle prowess was still far inferior to that of someone on the level of Xiamang Zishan or Cangwu Jiu.

“Lu Dongbin, you’ve been keeping an eye on that little girl. It seems she and Ji Ning have run into a real problem.” The Northern Earth Immortal chuckled.

Lu Dongbin watched, worried. “It looks very troublesome. Those two are called Xiamang Zishan and Cangwu Jiu, right? Their strength is at the very top tier among the hundred thousand-odd participants. Even if they were to meet that Slovenly Daoist, I’m afraid they wouldn’t be far off. No one would know who’s stronger until they fought. But this Ji Ning and that girl… they’re a bit weaker.”

“Zishan is the best of the younger generation of my Xiamang clan. He has a good chance of taking a top-three spot.” Xia Huang laughed heartily. He rarely valued a junior so highly, but Xiamang Zishan was one he liked very much.

“Senior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning…” Nine Lotos watched nervously. She also knew the terror of Xiamang Zishan and Cangwu Jiu. She had been anxious when she saw the two of them heading toward Ji Ning and Yu Wei, and now her worst fears had come true.

“Don’t let anything happen,” Nine Lotos worried frantically.

Inside the Mingyue Water-Mountain Diagram.

His friends and family outside were worried for him, but there was nothing they could do. Ji Ning and Yu Wei were both on high alert.

“Are you… Ji Ning?” Cangwu Jiu’s hawk-like eyes locked onto Ji Ning, recognizing him instantly.

“He’s Ji Ning? I thought Ji Ning wore animal skins?” Xiamang Zishan interjected.

“I told you, you’re an idiot. Can’t his dharma robe change its appearance?” Cangwu Jiu shook his head. “I specially gathered multiple portraits of Ji Ning. I collected portraits of all the geniuses, but it’s hard to identify a real person from just one portrait. You need to look at a lot of them.”

“I looked at well over a hundred different portraits of Ji Ning, so I can recognize him instantly.” Cangwu Jiu was confident.

Ji Ning and Yu Wei exchanged a glance.

The duo across from them were calmly talking, brimming with confidence.

“Senior Apprentice-Sister, don’t fight them head-on. You use the Phoenix technique to hold them off. I’ll buy you time. You escape first, and I’ll follow right after,” Ji Ning sent via secret transmission. Yu Wei nodded. She knew that without her here, Ji Ning would find it easier to escape on his own. With her, although their offensive power was stronger, fleeing became more complicated.

Just as Ji Ning and Yu Wei were communicating through secret transmissions—

“Hand over your faith-tokens, and we’ll spare your lives!” Cangwu Jiu’s voice suddenly turned sharp. As the divine-sound transmission echoed in Ji Ning and Yu Wei’s sea of consciousness, Cangwu Jiu himself shot forward. In mid-air, a massive black vulture, a hundred zhang in size, materialized. This black vulture’s feathers were glossy and its eyes were piercingly bright, as it howled and pounced directly at the two of them.