A New Beginning
2,064 words
The Immortal Fortunes Assembly had come to an end.
Within the Celestial Tribute Hall, the True Immortals and Empyrean Gods began to take their leave.
"It's rare to get out, and now I have to go back." The Fuhai God opened his mouth wide, and all the delicacies on the table in front of him flew directly into his mouth. Only then did he rub his belly, looking completely satisfied. "Xiamang, Donghua, everyone, I'll be taking my little junior apprentice-brother on ahead."
With that, he grabbed hold of the Ragged Daoist.
Whoosh!
They mounted a cloud and flew directly towards the depths of the void, disappearing from sight.
"Disciple, it's time to go." Lu Dongbin looked towards Yu Wei, who was still together with Ji Ning in the distance.
Yu Wei was in the middle of speaking with Ji Ning. Hearing Lu Dongbin's urging, she felt even more reluctant. She immediately hugged Ji Ning tightly.
Ji Ning embraced Yu Wei as well.
He could sense her heart. She was a woman with a cold exterior but a fiery interior. Now that they had become Dao-companions, he could feel the burning passion within her.
"Wait for me," Yu Wei said softly.
Ji Ning pressed his face against hers, feeling her skin and warmth, and whispered back, "I will wait for you. I swear it."
"You don't need to swear." Yu Wei released him. Her eyes were glistening with tears. "I trust you."
With that, she turned and ran towards Lu Dongbin.
"I have kept my master waiting," she said hurriedly.
"Foolish child. Foolish child." Lu Dongbin shook his head with a sigh. Then, a cloud formed beneath their feet, and they swiftly ascended into the void above.
Ji Ning looked up, watching.
Yu Wei, on the cloud, looked down at him as well.
They gazed at each other. But soon, the cloud vanished from sight.
This separation... when would they meet again?
"Ning, and Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei... they are the ones truly meant for each other." Nine Lotos saw the look in their eyes as they parted, a look filled with deep, lingering reluctance. "Their feelings run deeper than what I had with Ji Ning. Our hearts... were never this close."
"Let's go."
"We should be going too."
Mahasthamaprapta, the Northern Earth Immortal Elder, and the others all drifted away one after another.
"Mu Chuan, come with me to see my master." The Xia Emperor took Mu Chuan with him and also departed.
Immediately, the nearly thousand Celestial Immortals present began to leave with their own retinues. Ji Ning, along with Yuchi Xiyue and King Yan, also departed. Nine Lotos left with the Dongyan Ancestor.
With Prince Qi's order, the formations of the three thousand six hundred commanderies and the four seas on the imperial city square began to file out in an orderly fashion.
Ji Ning specifically flew back to the Anchan Commandery's formation.
"Ji Ning!"
"Ji Ning! Number one at the Immortal Fortunes Assembly!"
"Darknorth Realperson!" The members of the Anchan Commandery formation spotted Ji Ning descending from the sky and erupted in cheers.
They didn't know about the Daofather accepting disciples. All they knew was that Ji Ning had won first place at the Immortal Fortunes Assembly! This was supreme glory, the pride of the entire Anchan Commandery.
"Master." Little Qing transformed into a streak of light, flying directly towards Ji Ning and coiling around his arm.
"Ning, my child." The Whitewater Hound also flew to Ji Ning's side.
"Little Qing, Uncle White." Ji Ning's heart, which had been somewhat heavy due to his temporary separation from Yu Wei, immediately warmed up considerably. At least Little Qing and Uncle White were still with him.
"Senior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning, you're incredible!" Mu Zishuo shouted excitedly. "First place at the Immortal Fortunes Assembly! First place! The entire Grand Xia world has three thousand six hundred commanderies and countless islands in the four seas... You've only been cultivating for a little over thirty years and you snatched the top spot! You're too strong! You're the one I admire the most right now!"
"Congratulations, Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning." Cangjiang Realperson and others also came over.
"Ji Ning." Beishan Baiwei also walked over, his face beaming. He gave Ji Ning a light punch on the chest. "You sly dog. When you said you wanted to join the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, I tried to stop you. Looks like I underestimated you. You're not just strong; you actually won first place. You're a true celebrity of Anchan Commandery now, and your name will definitely spread throughout the entire Grand Xia Dynasty."
Ji Ning just smiled.
If this assembly had been an ordinary one, he would indeed have reason to be happy.
But the most important thing about this assembly was the Daofather accepting disciples. As for the empty title of 'First Place at the Immortal Fortunes Assembly,' it wasn't that important. Unfortunately, he hadn't been taken in as a disciple by a Daofather.
"Ji Ning, our Black-White College has gained tremendous face today." Wufeng the Immortal said, gratified. "Both you and Little Raggedy made it into the top six, and you even became first place, haha... Our Black-White College must properly record this event. Even a million years, even a billion years from now, as long as the Black-White College exists, we will make sure later generations know of this. This is the pride of our Black-White College."
"What about the senior apprentice-brother?"
"Where's the Raggedy senior apprentice-brother?"
"And Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei, where is she?" Everyone asked.
Ji Ning sent a mental transmission to Wufeng: "The senior apprentice-brother was accepted as a disciple by the Daofather 'Black Tortoise Grand Emperor.' Yu Wei was also accepted as a disciple by the Pure Yang True Immortal, Lu Dongbin. They've both been taken away from this major world."
"What?" Wufeng was shocked.
As the longest-living Loose Immortal of the Black-White College, he had some contact with Celestial Immortals and a vague understanding of the Three Realms. He knew what it meant to be a 'Daofather's disciple.' Lu Dongbin taking Yu Wei as his disciple was also a monumental event for the Black-White College.
"I understand. You absolutely must not spread this," Wufeng transmitted.
"Mm." Ji Ning nodded.
"What about you?" Wufeng transmitted.
"I should be taken as a disciple by a Pure Yang True Immortal," Ji Ning replied. "The Xia Emperor told me to wait in the Grand Xia capital for three days for news."
After the Immortal Fortunes Assembly ended and all the True Immortals and Empyrean Gods had departed, a long time passed.
Whoosh.
High in the void above the Grand Xia capital, a spatial passage was torn open.
A white-robed young man with loose hair leisurely strolled out of the passage. He looked down, his gaze passing through space to see the vast Grand Xia capital.
"Grand Xia?" The white-robed youth nodded faintly. Soon after, he traversed the void and descended into the Grand Xia capital.
He strolled leisurely.
Before long, he arrived outside the King Yan's estate.
"Junior Apprentice-Brother." Outside the main gate of the King Yan's estate, Ji Ning was embracing Mu Zishuo. He let go and said solemnly, "You and Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei will both be taken as disciples by Pure Yang True Immortals. Once the Xia Emperor comes to inform me, I'll likely be leaving the Grand Xia world soon to follow a Pure Yang True Immortal. This journey may take decades or a century. We brothers will have to meet again many years from now."
Among his fellow disciples, Ji Ning felt the deepest bond with Mu Zishuo.
They were true brothers through life and death.
"Senior Apprentice-Brother, you're following a Pure Yang True Immortal to pursue the path of transcending tribulation and becoming a Celestial Immortal. This is a good thing." Mu Zishuo's eyes were a bit red. "But I really hate to see you go, Senior Apprentice-Brother."
"Haha, we brothers will meet again," Ji Ning said.
"Even though you're following a Pure Yang True Immortal, don't get too cocky. I, Mu Zishuo, will also cultivate seriously. Don't let it happen that in the future, you, the number one of the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, end up inferior to me, Mu Zishuo! Haha, that would be a huge joke," Mu Zishuo laughed.
Ji Ning laughed as well.
"Alright, I'll see you off here! When you come back to the Grand Xia world, make sure to find me," Mu Zishuo said.
"I will. I definitely will come find you," Ji Ning nodded.
"Mm." Mu Zishuo turned around and, mounting a cyan dragon, shot into the sky. The other fellow disciples of the Black-White College had already said their goodbyes to Ji Ning outside the imperial city. Only Mu Zishuo, with the deepest bond, had accompanied him all the way to the entrance of the King Yan's estate.
Watching his junior apprentice-brother depart on the cyan dragon, Ji Ning stared for a long time. Only then did he turn and enter the King Yan's estate with Little Qing and the Whitewater Hound.
"Whew!"
The white-robed, long-haired youth, who had been silently watching from afar, shook his head. "Seems this Ji Ning is a man of deep loyalty. Not bad, not bad."
With that, he ambled towards the King Yan's estate.
Guards were stationed at the main gate, but when the white-robed, long-haired youth leisurely walked into the estate, it was as if they hadn't seen him at all.
"The formations and restrictions of this estate have a bit of skill to them. This King Yan, who just became a Celestial Immortal... his strength isn't bad, huh." The white-robed, long-haired youth walked on, passing maids and guards, yet no one paid him any attention.
It was as if he was a void, as if he didn't exist.
The estate was heavily guarded, with hidden formations and restrictions that rivaled those of some major sects. Logically, the moment an outsider entered, the estate's master, King Yan, would immediately notice.
But the white-robed, long-haired youth simply walked straight in, and no one detected him!
Beside a murmuring river was an immortal estate.
This was Ji Ning's residence.
"This Ji Ning is just a Wanxiang Adept, but he's living pretty well." The white-robed, long-haired youth reached the estate's gate and entered. None of the estate's restrictions were triggered at all.
Inside the estate, Ji Ning had just returned and was sitting silently in a pavilion. Yu Wei leaving with her master Lu Dongbin left him with many worries and attachments in his heart.
"Ji Ning, someone has come. They've entered your immortal estate." The Yellow Bear's voice rang out in Ji Ning's mind.
"Entered the estate? I'm the master; why don't I know?" Ji Ning's expression changed.
"He's very strong. I can only faintly sense him; I don't dare to truly probe him at all," the Yellow Bear said hurriedly. "This person's strength is formidable; he should be on the level of a True Immortal or Empyrean God. Your estate is just an ordinary cave-treasure, and its gates are wide open. How could it detect such an existence?"
Ji Ning was startled.
A True Immortal or Empyrean God? That was on par with the Grand Xia Emperor. Such beings were scarce even in the Three Realms, true powerhouses.
"You won first place at the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, but you're not celebrating with friends. Instead, you're here drinking alone in melancholy. Strange, very strange." A frivolous voice sounded, and a white-robed, long-haired youth walked into the spacious courtyard.
Ji Ning, who was in the pavilion, immediately stood up.
"Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?" The white-robed, long-haired youth smiled. "Young friend Ji Ning, I made a long, hard journey to get here to see you. Won't you offer me a cup of wine?"
"Senior, please."
Ji Ning waved his hand, and a table with immortal wine and spiritual fruits appeared before him.
"Though this wine and fruit are a bit subpar, they're barely passable." The white-robed, long-haired youth took a single step and was already inside the pavilion, sitting across from Ji Ning. He picked up the wine jug and took a few direct gulps.
"Senior has come to see this junior. May I ask what business you have?" Ji Ning asked, his heart filled with apprehension.