The Serpent’s Coils and the Sword’s Heart

The Second Match: Cangwu Vulture versus White Dragon True Immortal.

The Immortal Fortunes Assembly had reached a stage where every remaining participant was a monstrous genius. Almost unanimously, they had abandoned法术 techniques and divine sense attacks! Because magic treasure techniques executed through Yuan power simply couldn’t threaten their opponents. Everyone was now battling purely through divine abilities. Ji Ning had also given up on his Lesser Thousand Sword Formation!

“Boom!” “Whoosh!”

Cangwu Vulture and White Dragon True Immortal were locked in a mad, frenzied battle. Both had already manifested their Heavenly Transformation and Three Heads, Six Arms divine abilities, and now they began to activate their other secret arts.

White Dragon True Immortal’s entire body transformed into a pure white divine dragon. Cangwu Vulture, by contrast, erupted with a terrifying burst of speed, becoming nothing more than a blur of howling wind. Within that great gale, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. A vague, shadowy Cangwu Vulture form flickered within the lightning-wreathed hurricane, blinking about with such unbelievable speed… it seemed as if an entire flock of Cangwu Vultures were attacking a single snowy-white divine dragon!

“Such terrifying speed.”

“What incredible movement technique.”

Everyone was secretly shocked.

Ji Ning, Xiamang Zishan, the Slovenly Daoist… their hearts all sank. In terms of raw speed, Cangwu Vulture had always been ranked first in the entire Immortal Fortunes Assembly! With his recent breakthrough, his speed and movement technique had reached an even more inconceivable realm.

In close combat, speed and movement were actually more important than raw strength!

“This Cangwu Vulture is terrifying.”

“With a single advantage, you can dominate the world. Just relying on his absolutely superior speed and movement, he’s already the most dangerous opponent here.”

There was no doubt about it.

Between two powerful Fiendgod Body Refiners locked in battle, Cangwu Vulture could attack whenever he wished and retreat whenever he wished. He had complete control of the situation. Although White Dragon True Immortal was powerful, faced with Cangwu Vulture’s speed and movement technique, he had no counter-strategy at all, and ultimately had to concede defeat.

The second of the top six candidates for the Immortal Fortunes Assembly had been decided… Cangwu Vulture!

“Excellent, excellent, excellent!” The long-browed Celestial Immortal ancestor of the Cangwu clan was beside himself with excitement, his eyes blazing. As a Celestial Immortal ancestor, he could naturally see clearly that, at this stage of the Assembly, theoretically, no one’s strength should differ too greatly. But Cangwu Vulture, relying solely on his speed and movement, had left his opponent completely helpless. If this continued, a spot in the top three was already assured.

The Grand Xia Emperor spoke out once more: “The third match of the fourth round. Black-White College’s Ji Ning versus Shaoyin clan’s Shaoyin Xuan!”

The voice resounded throughout the hall.

Ji Ning, who was seated behind King Yan, narrowed his eyes. Shaoyin clan? His enmity with the Shaoyin clan had long since spread far and wide. And now, his opponent was going to be Shaoyin Xuan?

“Ji Ning.” Yu Wei held his hand, looking at him. “Be careful.”

“Mm.” Ji Ning nodded.

At this point, no opponent could be taken lightly.

Elsewhere.

Ancestor Xuanji also changed his expression slightly. Ji Ning? He had long since been looking for an opportunity to eliminate Ji Ning. But compared to the chance of ‘becoming a disciple of Daofather Crimsonbright’, Ji Ning’s elimination was of much lower priority, and he had already put it out of his mind. Right now, he only wanted ‘Shaoyin Xuan’ to charge into the top three.

“Xuan’er.” Ancestor Xuanji looked at Shaoyin Xuan, who was at his side, and sent a mental transmission. “This Ji Ning is a Sword Immortal, supremely skilled in offense. You don’t have to clash head-on with him. Besides, what you’re best at isn’t head-on collisions anyway. Use your strengths against his weaknesses, and you can definitely win.”

Shaoyin Xuan gently nodded.

This battle… its importance even transcended that of life and death!

“Swoosh.” Shaoyin Xuan immediately walked out, heading outside the grand hall.

“Xiamang, for you to put Ji Ning and Shaoyin Xuan in a battle together… I feel like the atmosphere inside the Tianmang Hall is a bit strange. The looks those Celestial Immortals are giving Ji Ning and Shaoyin Xuan seem weird?” Lü Dongbin said, puzzled.

The other Pure Yang True Immortals had also noticed this.

The Grand Xia Emperor laughed. “You all don’t know this, but there’s actually a history between Ji Ning and the Shaoyin clan. And it’s rather legendary.”

“Legendary?” Lü Dongbin and the others all began to listen closely.

These Pure Yang True Immortals had only arrived after the Immortal Fortunes Assembly had begun. They weren’t familiar with the Wanxiang Adept geniuses of the Grand Xia Dynasty, and thus naturally knew nothing of the matter between Ji Ning and the Shaoyin clan. Even the Grand Xia Emperor had only learned of the enmity between Ji Ning and the Shaoyin clan after gathering intelligence on all the geniuses.

“There was a Shaoyin clan disciple named Shaoyin Nong, who was the next chieftain in line…”

“In the end, the death squads arranged by the Shaoyin clan were killed by this Ji Ning’s Primaltwin.” The Grand Xia Emperor laughed heartily. “Now you all understand the enmity between the Shaoyin clan and Ji Ning, right?”

The other eight Pure Yang True Immortals all had looks of sudden realization.

“Xiamang, you’re being mischievous. Knowing they have this kind of grudge, you deliberately put them together. But since they do have this enmity, they’ll definitely fight like mad.”

“Mm, this battle will definitely be very exciting.”

Two of the top six spots had already been decided.

Of Ji Ning and Shaoyin Xuan, only one could enter the top six! Once they entered the top six… then being just a step away from the top three was a very real possibility.

“The disciple of Daofather Crimsonbright should be me.”

Shaoyin Xuan’s gaze was icy cold. He was a very low-key person. Within the Shaoyin clan, the one with the greatest fame among the younger generation was Shaoyin Nong. He, Shaoyin Xuan, had always remained low-key, focusing on silent cultivation. His goal had always been to survive the Heavenly Tribulation and become a carefree, immortal Celestial Immortal ancestor!

He had never placed a spoiled dandy like Shaoyin Nong in his eyes.

“The chance to become a disciple of a Daofather is one that may not come again even after millions of reincarnations. I have to seize it.” Shaoyin Xuan walked into the sealing formation, looking at Ji Ning in the distance.

“The Three Realms are unfathomably mysterious. If I become a disciple of Daofather Crimsonbright, with a Daofather’s guidance, I can walk my path more steadily and quickly!” Ji Ning understood very well that one’s own hard work and comprehension were one aspect, but opportunity was another. Without the visualization technique of the ‘Nuwa Diagram’, and under his father Ji Yichuan’s guidance since childhood, he might have surpassed his father, maybe becoming a famous figure in Anchan Commandery after a few hundred years of training.

But with the Nuwa Diagram, Ji Ning’s rate of rise had accelerated by more than tenfold!

If not for the Nuwa Diagram… when he first entered the aquatic mansion, he would likely have faced a life-and-death situation. Strictly speaking, without the Nuwa Diagram, if Ji Ning’s talent hadn’t been high enough, he might not even have been teleported into the aquatic mansion.

A single step ahead! Every step was ahead!

If he wanted to travel farther, climb higher, and become even stronger, even to the point of becoming a major power of the Three Realms, he had to seize every opportunity!

“I have to enter the top three, and even take first place!” Ji Ning looked at Shaoyin Xuan. “This Shaoyin Xuan… is a blocking tiger on the path of my Immortal cultivation. I must slay him.”

The two men’s gazes locked from afar.

It was as if their very gazes were clashing. Anyone could feel the absolute, unwavering determination between them. It was either him or me; there could be no other outcome!

“Boom!” “Boom!”

Both of them shook their bodies simultaneously, transforming into three-headed, six-armed giants!

Ji Ning’s six hands were gripping six Immortal-ranked flying swords, while Shaoyin Xuan’s six hands were gripping six black, long whips.

“Ji Ning, your sword arts are impressive, but I happen to be your natural counter. You’ve already lost.” Shaoyin Xuan’s voice echoed with a resonance in his chest. His six arms all began to move, whirling the six black long whips. Each whip twisted and lashed out like a sinuous black serpent, covered in sharp, serrated barbs and densely inscribed with runic patterns. A powerful, rippling aura spread across them.

“Shaoyin Xuan. Once I close in on you, you’ve definitely lost.” Ji Ning’s voice was equally deep and powerful.

The two of them both had a point with their words, but they were also both trying to unsettle the other’s Dao-heart.

At their level, even the slightest wavering of the Dao-heart could mean a slight reduction in the strength they could exert. A slight reduction at a critical moment could very well lead to defeat.

Ji Ning was also pondering. “Shaoyin Xuan is an expert with whips. Once I get trapped by his whips, the other whips will come crashing down in succession. If that happens, I’ll be in big trouble, and I might even lose! So, I absolutely cannot give him that chance. I can’t just barge in… for this battle, I should prioritize agility.”

Different opponents required different battle strategies.

Suddenly

The two of them, who had still been talking, sensed the shift in the other’s aura and charged towards each other simultaneously. The battle had begun!

Swish! Swish!

A Water-Fire Lotus bloomed around Ji Ning. He stood on the stamen at the very center of the lotus. This Water-Fire Lotus could influence the movements of the opponent’s whips. Even though the influence was only marginal, it was still an enormous help in battle.

“Boom!” “Boom!” “Boom!”

Three black long whips came lashing out simultaneously, each one carrying a sound like rolling thunder, as ferocious and domineering as three black flood dragons! The other three black long whips snaked towards Ji Ning as silently as venomous vipers, also aiming to envelop him.

Ji Ning brandished his Immortal-ranked flying swords, frantically trying to close the distance.

The closer he got, the greater his advantage! Whips needed space to be used effectively. The smaller the distance, the more their threat would decrease.

“Ssss…” Sword-light was like silk threads, countless strands dancing in the air, constantly touching those whips.

The dancing silk threads carried an endless tenacity, an unbroken chain.

“What terrifying strength.” As soon as they clashed, Shaoyin Xuan felt Ji Ning’s fearsomeness. Although Ji Ning wasn’t smashing head-on, he used his water-like sword technique to constantly deflect and guide the whips aside. Every collision between the sword-light and the whips produced a shocking, vibrating force!

Shaoyin Xuan felt his six hands go slightly numb! Each time he used his whips, they would be bounced away.

With the Starseizing Hand active, Ji Ning’s strength held an absolute advantage.

The Black-White College’s Wufeng Immortal, Uncle White, Qingqing, Yu Wei, and Yuchi Xiyue all watched nervously.

Ancestor Xuanji was also incredibly tense.

The moment the battle had started, Ji Ning and Shaoyin Xuan seemed very cautious, both familiarizing themselves with the other’s methods, refusing to give the other an inch.

“Kill him. Kill him.” Ancestor Xuanji’s narrow eyes flashed with a cold light, his thoughts a silent mantra.

Suddenly…

In the distant sealing formation, Shaoyin Xuan’s six arms all began to change. The surface of his arms was suddenly covered in large amounts of black scales, making them look like snakes. His arms suddenly became as flexible as if they had no bones. The whips, which had been so fierce before, instantly became even more yin and soft, madly coiling and binding towards Ji Ning.