The Top Three

The Xia Emperor laughed and said no more. Ji Ning and the others were, after all, born from within the Grand Xia Dynasty’s world. The saying ‘water that fertilizes one’s own fields should not be diverted to others’ rang true; figures who might one day become powers of the Three Realms should naturally be kept on one’s own side. How could they be allowed to slip away?

“You old fellow.” Lü Dongbin curled his lip. “You’re smiling all pleased with yourself. Haven’t you noticed that Ji Ning’s strength is rising, while your opponent Xia Mang Zishan is at a disadvantage? He is, after all, a member of your own Xia Mang clan.”

“Indeed, Zishan will lose this battle.” The Xia Emperor was very calm. “If he loses to Ji Ning, I have no complaints. Besides, Zishan’s temperament… is far too arrogant. The proverb says ‘what is too rigid is easily broken.’ Given Master’s personality, even if he had to choose between Zishan and Ji Ning, I suspect he would pick Ji Ning.”

“This Xia Mang…”

The other Pure Yang True Immortals all shook their heads.

Still, since the Xia Emperor had spoken thus, they had no choice but to abandon their designs on Ji Ning. In truth, the currents of the Three Realms were now stirring with hidden undercurrents. The Grand Xia Dynasty’s world was one of great destiny and abundant qi, and there was a very real chance that future powers of the Three Realms would be born from it.

But they could not be certain of the scale of the coming calamity.

The greater the upheaval, the more likely it was to birth great figures. Even ‘Daofather’-level existences—several of them, perhaps—might arise. However, scattered across the Three Thousand Major Worlds and the trillions of Minor Worlds, it was impossible to say exactly what kind of experts the Grand Xia Dynasty’s world would ultimately produce.

“Slovenly Truly Lord is a disciple of Lord of the Mystic Tortoise, and a bearer of great destiny.”

“One of the top three will also be selected by Daofather Crimsonbright, another bearer of great destiny. For this Immortal Fortunes Assembly to produce two or three major figures in the future would already be extraordinary.”

With such thoughts in mind, their desire for Ji Ning was not overwhelming. After all, he was merely a Wanxiang Adept now; no one could say how far he would walk in the future.

…

Within the Sealing Formation.

Xia Mang Zishan fought with increasing shock. Ji Ning’s six flying swords were like a beautiful symphony, an elegant dance—his sword-art was pure enjoyment! But this ‘enjoyment’ was something Xia Mang Zishan could not afford. He only felt more and more suffocated. No matter how he struggled, he remained on the back foot!

Ji Ning’s swords were utterly inconceivable.

Sometimes wild, sometimes gentle; sometimes swift, sometimes slow… Xia Mang Zishan was thrown into chaos, wounds appearing on his body again and again, blood splattering. His divine body would recover, over and over.

“No.”

“I refuse to accept this. I want to win. I must win.” Lightning and thunder flashed in Xia Mang Zishan’s eyes as he grew even more frenzied.

If his earlier overbearingness had been a magnanimous dominance that impressed people…

His current frenzy was a hysterical madness—the madness of utter despair.

He struggled with all his might!

Fortunately, he held on, and Ji Ning was able to remain immersed in that wondrous state for even longer. This state of ‘no thought, no intention’ was not truly about having no thoughts. Rather, everything followed instinct, following a formless guidance of the Heavenly Dao. Simply put, it was ‘as if guided by the gods.’ A rare peak state.

Some poets, suddenly blessed by the gods, could produce verses that would be remembered for a thousand years. But they might only produce one or two such poems in a lifetime.

Ji Ning was currently caught in just such a wondrous state.

“I concede!” A reluctant voice suddenly rang out.

Ji Ning was jolted awake.

Whoosh.

Ji Ning halted. His surroundings were drenched in blood, and half of Xia Mang Zishan’s body lay in the distance. His form rapidly flew back together, beginning to heal, but his blood-stained eyes were filled with unwillingness.

“A pity it ended so soon.” Ji Ning understood just how rare that state had been. If only Xia Mang Zishan could have held on a bit longer… Still, his divine power was already more than half-depleted. This battle had lasted long enough.

Then, a surge of ecstasy welled up in Ji Ning’s heart: “I won!”

“I won.”

“I did it.”

“The top three. The Xia Emperor will send the recording of my battle to Daofather Crimsonbright. Perhaps Daofather Crimsonbright will choose me as his disciple.” Ji Ning was full of eager hope. “But it would be best if I could take first place in this Immortal Fortunes Assembly. That way, my chances of being chosen by Daofather Crimsonbright would be even greater.”

“He won.”

Among the contingents of the three thousand six hundred commanderies on the Imperial City plaza, many members of the Anchan Commandery contingent erupted into cheers. Though they came from all the various powers of Anchan Commandery, at this moment they were all people of Anchan Commandery. They had been disappointed by Slovenly Truly Lord’s defeat, but now that Ji Ning had broken into the top three, each of them felt an incomparable pride.

“Senior apprentice-brother, senior apprentice-brother, I knew you could do it! Haha, that Xia Mang Zishan—Heavenly Treasures Mountain had him ranked first, but my senior apprentice-brother still beat him!” Mu Northson was so excited he roared, “First place! Take first place in the Immortal Fortunes Assembly and win it all!”

“Win first!” Xiao Qing also let out an excited cry in human speech.

The Whitewater Hound laughed as well.

The plaza was filled with laughter and cheers.

…

Yu Wei watched Ji Ning from afar as he emerged from the Sealing Formation. At this moment, within the Heavenly Mang Hall, all the Celestial Immortal Patriarchs were looking at Ji Ning. He was the most dazzling, the most eye-catching existence.

Yu Wei felt a surge of excitement, too—excitement for Ji Ning.

“Mm.” Yu Wei was thrilled. “He made the top three! Perhaps Ji Ning might become a Daofather’s disciple.”

…

Nine Lotos watched from afar, a faint smile spreading across her face. At this moment, her heart was suddenly calm. There was still jealousy toward Ji Ning and Yu Wei. But when it came to Ji Ning alone… all she had were blessings for him.

From this point, the top three positions of the Immortal Fortunes Assembly had been decided. The three of them stood shoulder to shoulder in the main hall of Heavenly Mang Hall, awaiting the Great Xia Emperor’s command.

The gazes of those Celestial Immortal Patriarchs all held a trace of envy.

“One of these three will surely become a Daofather’s disciple.”

“Such an opportunity is something we could never touch.”

“Perhaps one of them, in the future, will become someone we too must look up to with respect.” The Celestial Immortal Patriarchs sighed with emotion, one after another.

But…

Only one of the three would become a disciple of Daofather Crimsonbright.

The other two would be far inferior by comparison. If they were lucky, they might be accepted as disciples by a Pure Yang True Immortal. But the difference between being a Pure Yang True Immortal’s disciple and being a Daofather’s disciple was vast.

Once one became a Daofather’s disciple, becoming a Celestial Immortal was virtually assured.

As for being a Pure Yang True Immortal’s disciple, there were far too many who failed their tribulations. It could only be said that, compared to ordinary cultivators, their chances of successfully overcoming the tribulation were much higher. Among ordinary cultivators, perhaps not one in a hundred thousand Void Return Earth Immortals would become a Celestial Immortal. For a Pure Yang True Immortal’s disciples, perhaps one in ten might succeed in becoming a Celestial Immortal.

It also depended on the person.

Some were skilled at teaching disciples; others were not.

For example, when it came to teaching, Lü Dongbin was clearly far better than the Xia Emperor and the others. Among Lü Dongbin’s disciples, there was even a Pure Yang True Immortal. This was a much-told tale throughout the Three Realms.

…

The Xia Emperor looked down at the three young men below, a smile appearing on his face. “I must congratulate you. This is a great joy. In the far future, you will all understand just how special this Immortal Fortunes Assembly was for you! This is the crucial turning point of your fate. Clearly, all three of you are about to soar to the heavens. But just how high each of you will fly… that is hard to say.”

Ji Ning, Woodboy Truly Lord, and Blackstone Truly Lord all listened obediently.

“One of you three will definitely become a Daofather’s disciple,” the Xia Emperor declared. “As for the other two, I can promise you this: you will also be accepted as disciples by a Pure Yang True Immortal.”

Boom.

The nearly one thousand Celestial Immortals below were all shocked.

What?

That a Daofather would take a disciple was one thing, but the other two of the top three would also become Pure Yang True Immortals’ disciples? Pure Yang True Immortals did not accept disciples lightly either. Why would they take two at once?

“It seems this Immortal Fortunes Assembly is truly extraordinary. First a Daofather selects a disciple, and now Pure Yang True Immortals are selecting disciples as well.” These Celestial Immortals also realized the uniqueness of the event. In truth, it was because their status was not high enough; they were merely reacting after the fact.

The great powers and experts of the Three Realms had long since sensed that a period of upheaval was approaching.

This turmoil in the Three Realms would likely be no small affair.

Naturally, they had made their preparations early!

“A Daofather’s disciple.” Ji Ning, Woodboy Truly Lord, and Blackstone Truly Lord all yearned to become a Daofather’s disciple.

A Pure Yang True Immortal’s disciple?

The difference between a Daofather’s disciple and a Pure Yang True Immortal’s disciple was like the difference between a hundred times and a thousand times! Especially for Ji Ning, who already had the legacy of Daoist Threelives, and within the Star Palace, countless ‘Daos’ and even ‘Grand Daos’ to guide him. A Pure Yang True Immortal held little appeal to him. He longed greatly to become a Daofather’s disciple.

“Of course, you will all very much want to become a Daofather’s disciple. And so, the final battles are of great importance.” The Xia Emperor said, “One hour from now, the three of you will engage in the final battles against each other, divided into three matches.”

Ji Ning would battle Blackstone Truly Lord.

Woodboy Truly Lord would battle Ji Ning.

Blackstone Truly Lord would battle Woodboy Truly Lord.

Three matches… each person would duel the other two.

“I will record these three matches with a Water-Seal Art and send them to my Master. Master will observe your three matches and decide which of you to accept as his disciple,” the Xia Emperor said. “In these three fights, you should focus on displaying your abilities to the fullest. After all, even if you take first place in the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, it does not guarantee you will become the Daofather’s disciple. It depends on the Daofather’s choice. Of course… taking first place would increase your chances of becoming the Daofather’s disciple.”

The three of them waited silently.

“Now, the three of you will enter the ‘Brightmoon Mountains and Waters Painting.’ One hour outside will be one month inside. You may quietly meditate and absorb the experiences from this Immortal Fortunes Assembly, preparing for the final matches.” The Xia Emperor waved his hand, and a scroll unfurled. The ‘Brightmoon Mountains and Waters Painting’ hovered in the air, directly sucking Ji Ning, Woodboy Truly Lord, and Blackstone Truly Lord inside with a series of whooshing sounds.

…

Within the Brightmoon Mountains and Waters Painting, moonlight shone down. At the mountain’s peak, Ji Ning sat cross-legged. In two other corners, Blackstone Truly Lord and Woodboy Truly Lord sat cross-legged as well.

At this moment, the three of them were each other’s greatest rivals.

Only one of them… would become a Daofather’s disciple.

“Mm.” Ji Ning sat cross-legged, beginning to recall the insights he had gained from his battle with Xia Mang Zishan. A flood of realizations surged into his mind…