Leaving the Grand Xia

At the entrance of the immortal estate.

Ji Ning went to the front entrance to welcome them. Upon seeing the two figures at the door, he immediately said with respect, “I pay my respects to King Yan and King Qi.”

“Ji Ning, good fortune has come your way.” King Yan laughed heartily.

“Oh?” Ji Ning was startled. Good fortune? Could it be that the Grand Xia Emperor had found him a Pure Yang True Immortal as a teacher?

King Qi, standing beside him, chuckled. “His Imperial Majesty went to visit his junior apprentice-brother, ‘Celestial Immortal Evergreen.’ The Celestial Immortal Evergreen is a Pure Yang True Immortal of tremendous power; he has fully comprehended the ‘Dao of the Sword,’ one of the Grand Daos. He is a Sword Immortal of considerable renown throughout the Three Realms… and he is well suited to teach you.”

Ji Ning nodded slightly.

Celestial Immortal Evergreen, was it?

“Ji Ning.” King Yan lowered his voice. “This Celestial Immortal Evergreen is a bit of a recluse. When you spend time with him, you must act with care and prudence, and show respect to your teacher.”

Ji Ning’s heart stirred. Showing respect to a teacher was only proper; it went without saying. But King Yan, a Celestial Immortal himself, was calling the Pure Yang True Immortal ‘Evergreen’ a recluse, and had added that he should respect his teacher. It seemed that the Celestial Immortal Evergreen was more than just a little withdrawn. Fortunately, he would not actually need to take him as a master.

“Speak less,” King Qi said, frowning.

King Yan laughed but said nothing more.

“Ji Ning.” King Qi produced a small azure sword in his hand. “This is Celestial Immortal Evergreen’s token. I am handing it over to you now. All you need to do is crush this token, and Celestial Immortal Evergreen will come find you and take you away. Remember, you must crush it within ten days. After ten days, the token will dissolve into nothingness. Given Celestial Immortal Evergreen’s temperament, he will probably refuse to accept you as a disciple then.”

Ji Ning accepted the token. “I understand.”

“The token is now in your hands. I will take my leave.” King Qi gave Ji Ning a faint smile, then turned and departed.

“The Celestial Immortal Evergreen has a rather poor temper. Remember that, remember it well.” King Yan instructed in a low voice. “Also, before you leave with your teacher, say goodbye to Xiyue. There’s no need to speak further with me. I wish you well on your journey, that you may truly learn something, and that you will one day transcend the tribulation and become a carefree Immortal.”

Ji Ning felt King Yan’s concern. “Thank you, King Yan. I will remember.”

“Mm.” King Yan then left as well.

In but a moment.

Yuchi Xiyue arrived at Ji Ning’s immortal estate.

“Cousin.” Ji Ning was also reluctant to part.

He truly was about to leave. Though not following Celestial Immortal Evergreen, he was going to meet the most mysterious great power in the Three Realms—Patriarch Subhuti. This journey would likely last several decades, or even a century.

“Dear younger cousin.” Yuchi Xiyue sat down and took his hand. Her eyes held faint, joyful tears. “We, brother and sister, have been together for only two or three years, and now we must part again. But don’t be sad, little brother. This is your chance—a chance to soar to new heights. Even if you were not accepted by a Daofather, taking a Pure Yang True Immortal as a master is still quite good.”

Ji Ning wanted very much to tell his cousin that he was actually taking Patriarch Subhuti as his master.

But…

When he had gone out to welcome King Yan and King Qi earlier, the Whiteclad Immortal Jun had instructed him: ‘Remember, you absolutely must not speak of this. If Xiamang Xun finds out and tries to obstruct you, even dragging out the Daofather Crimsonbright behind him, it will cause great trouble.’

“Cousin, after I leave the Grand Xia World, you must take good care of yourself as well,” Ji Ning said. “Don’t let your hatred for the Shaoyin clan cause you to suffer. Once I transcend the tribulation and become a Celestial Immortal, dealing with the Shaoyin clan will be far easier.”

“Mm, mm.” Yuchi Xiyue nodded. “I understand. I understand.”

The two siblings spoke for a long time. The sky had already turned completely dark before Yuchi Xiyue finally departed.

Inside the immortal estate.

“Brother Jiang, what should we do with this Celestial Immortal Evergreen’s token?” Ji Ning held the small azure sword. “If I crush it, Celestial Immortal Evergreen will come to take me away. If I don’t crush it, it will dissipate in ten days.”

“Leave it to me.” The Whiteclad Immortal Jun smiled. With a wave of his hand, the azure sword flew into his grasp.

“After all, the Grand Xia World is Daofather Crimsonbright’s territory,” the Whiteclad Immortal Jun said with a smile. “So we cannot act forcefully. Fortunately, even a Pure Yang True Immortal taking a disciple must respect the disciple’s wishes. If you don’t crush it within ten days, Celestial Immortal Evergreen will only assume you are unwilling to become his disciple. And since you are now Patriarch Subhuti’s disciple, they will not know it. They will probably think you are simply wandering outside… Even much later, when you have grown powerful and some clues leak out, so that people learn you are Patriarch Subhuti’s disciple—so what? In the Three Realms, my master still has some face.”

Ji Ning nodded. “And my two spirit-beasts?”

“You may bring them to the Tristar Crescent Abode as well,” the Whiteclad Immortal Jun said. “But they cannot become master’s disciples.”

“It’s enough that I can bring them.” Ji Ning was pleasantly surprised.

“If there’s nothing else, we should be on our way,” the Whiteclad Immortal Jun said.

“Mm.” Ji Ning nodded, then immediately called out, “Uncle White, Little Qing.”

Little Qing shot over from a distance and coiled around Ji Ning’s arm. Uncle White also came to his side.

“Uncle White, Little Qing, we’re about to leave the Grand Xia World,” Ji Ning said.

“Leave the Grand Xia World?” Both Little Qing and Uncle White were stunned.

To leave a major world?

“Where are we going?” Little Qing asked.

Ji Ning turned his head. “Brother Jiang, where exactly is the Tristar Crescent Abode?”

“The Tristar Crescent Abode—a crescent hook and three starry dots. What character does that describe?” The Whiteclad Immortal Jun laughed.

“A crescent hook and three starry dots… the character ‘heart’?” Ji Ning immediately understood.

“Correct. It is the character ‘heart.’ The Tristar Crescent Abode is our master’s cave-dwelling. The vast Three Realms stretch on endlessly, and yet no one can find master’s dwelling.” The Whiteclad Immortal Jun said, “One can only find it in the heart… search for it in the heart.”

Ji Ning found this profoundly mysterious.

The crescent moon and three stars… indeed, it formed the character ‘heart.’ The name Patriarch Subhuti had chosen for his own dwelling was quite intriguing.

“Patriarch Subhuti… the Tristar Crescent Abode…” Ji Ning recalled a mythological novel written by an ancient on Earth, Journey to the West. That novel also contained Pangu, Nuwa, Patriarch Subhuti, and others, but it did not speak of three thousand major worlds and countless minor worlds.

Ji Ning had visited the Netherworld Kingdom and undergone reincarnation. He now understood a little about the Three Realms.

He realized.

Every world had its own legends. Figures like Pangu, Nuwa, Houyi, Kuafu, and others had long been discussed by countless beings throughout the Three Realms. Novels like Journey to the West were themselves influenced by even earlier mythological tales. The stories of Pangu splitting heaven and earth and Nuwa creating humanity were not original to Journey to the West.

In fact, within the Grand Xia World itself, there were many immortal-demon tales. Some even recorded divine abilities such as the ‘Heavenly Transformation’ and the ‘Candle Dragon’s Eyes,’ weaving them into various stories.

Some of these tales were true, some false. Some even got the names wrong!

Perhaps in ancient times on Earth, there had been cultivators—or even reincarnated Immortals who had awakened their memories—who left behind legends for later generations.

“There are countless legends in the Three Realms, countless fabricated novels. But the true mysteries of the Three Realms…” Ji Ning sighed to himself. “Even though I am now capable of killing Loose Immortals, even though I have received the inheritance of a great power like Daoist Threelives, I still feel utterly confused about the Three Realms. The ancient Primordial World—why did it shatter into three thousand major worlds and countless minor worlds? What is it attacking the Six Paths of Reincarnation?”

Mysterious!

“The Tristar Crescent Abode is the most mysterious of all the cave-dwellings of the great powers of the Three Realms. Though I have lived there all along, I myself do not know where it is. Only by master’s guidance can I return.” The Whiteclad Immortal Jun sighed. “Come. Take in your immortal estate.”

“Mm.” Ji Ning willed it.

Swish.

The immortal estate was put away. Ji Ning stood on the grassy bank of a river. Little Qing coiled around his arm, and the Whitewater Hound stood by his side. The Whiteclad Immortal Jun said, “This journey will take decades. Is there anything you still must do?”

Ji Ning gently shook his head.

No.

When he had left Anchan Commandery, it was because of the Shaoyin clan’s persecution. He had already told Qiuye and the Ji Clan’s patriarch that he would be gone a long time. Yu Wei had gone to learn from Lü Dongbin. He had already said goodbye to his cousin Yuchi Xiyue, and to his fellow disciples of the Black-White College.

“Then let’s go.” The Whiteclad Immortal Jun willed it, and clouds appeared beneath their feet.

The clouds carried the Whiteclad Immortal Jun, Ji Ning, and the Whitewater Hound, swiftly soaring into the sky. They passed through all the formations and barriers with ease, soon reaching the high heavens.

Soon they arrived at the highest reaches of the void.

“Rend.” The Whiteclad Immortal Jun waved his hand.

The gray, distorted void above was torn open, revealing a passage. Inside the passage, one could faintly see twisting, colorful light.

“Go.” The Whiteclad Immortal Jun casually tossed the small azure sword out. It fell from thousands of li in the sky, tumbling downward.

Then, the Whiteclad Immortal Jun brought Ji Ning, Little Qing, and the Whitewater Hound into the passage.

“Whoosh…”

The void passage soon sealed itself, returning to normal.

Within the Grand Xia World, Ji Ning could no longer be found.

Twelve days after the Immortal Fortunes Assembly.

The Grand Xia Emperor was sitting cross-legged in a side hall of the Heavenly Apex Hall, meditating with his eyes closed.

“Mm?” The Grand Xia Emperor suddenly opened his eyes, a look of confusion on his face. “What is my junior apprentice-brother Evergreen doing here?”

Soon, a young man walked into the side hall. The servants and guards did not seem to notice him at all.

“Big brother.” Celestial Immortal Evergreen spoke.

“Junior apprentice-brother, what brings you to my place?” the Grand Xia Emperor asked, puzzled.

“It’s been twelve days now. The token I gave you long ago dissolved into nothingness.” Celestial Immortal Evergreen shook his head. “I didn’t want to come, really. Since Ji Ning didn’t crush the token, I had no interest in taking him as a disciple. But since our master issued the instruction, I came to the Grand Xia World anyway. If Ji Ning is still willing, I’ll give him another chance and accept him as my disciple.”

“What did you say?!” The Grand Xia Emperor was shocked. “Ji Ning didn’t crush the token?”

“No. He did not crush it,” Celestial Immortal Evergreen confirmed.

“But Ji Ning left the Yan King’s estate long ago. I thought you had taken him away, and that you, junior apprentice-brother, with your proud temperament, simply hadn’t bothered to tell me.” The Grand Xia Emperor was stunned. “I even checked once before—he is no longer in the Grand Xia imperial capital. Lü Dongbin… Mahasthamaprapta… they wouldn’t offend a Daofather over a little brat, would they? Could it be that Ji Ning is too young, and having won first place in the Immortal Fortunes Assembly only to fail to become a Daofather’s disciple, he flew into a rage, refused to take a Pure Yang True Immortal as his master, and left on his own?”

Celestial Immortal Evergreen snorted coldly. “Oh? You’re saying he left the Grand Xia imperial capital long ago? Then, big brother, I have done my part. This matter has nothing to do with me.”

Having said this, Celestial Immortal Evergreen turned and walked away, soon leaving the Grand Xia World.

He could not care less about some Ji Ning. The only reason he had come at all was because his master had instructed him to.

(The volume ends)

(Tomorrow starts Volume 13!)

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