The Fortress of Yan Mountain

“Cousin-brother, there’s no need to see me off.”

Ji Ning and Commandery Princess Xiyue parted ways in midair.

“Didn’t you say earlier that you would stay a few more days at my Yan Prince’s estate? Why are you leaving right after buying things at the Heavenly Treasures Mountain?” Xiyue was reluctant to let him go. Her maternal grandfather, Prince Yan, had only recently become a Celestial Immortal, and thus spent most of his time in secluded meditation, rarely accompanying her. Moreover, her cousin-brother was of the same generation; there were many things she simply could not discuss with her grandfather.

She had so much to say to Ji Ning alone. Naturally, she wanted him to stay longer.

“The Grand Xia world is currently seething with hidden currents. I need to return as soon as possible and set up a grand formation array around my Ji Clan’s Yan Mountain,” Ji Ning said. “From now on, I will live permanently at Serpentwing Lake in Yan Mountain. If you have nothing to do, cousin-brother, you can come find me in Yan Mountain.”

“Live permanently?” Xiyue was shocked.

“Mm.” Ji Ning nodded.

He had obtained numerous techniques at Mount Innerheart. Whether they were Ki Refining, Fiendgod Body Refining, or sword-art tomes, they all pointed directly to ‘Daolord’. Furthermore, he had techniques like the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, the Starseizing Hand, Houyi’s Archery, and Zhulong’s Eye—all top-tier divine abilities within the Three Realms. These required dedicated, long-term cultivation.

Besides, with the Three Realms in turmoil, Ji Ning truly intended to take up residence at Serpentwing Lake while waiting for Yu Wei to return.

“Living permanently is good! That way, I can find you whenever I want. But you must be careful. My grandfather also told me that chaos is spreading everywhere. Even several Celestial Immortal Patriarchs have died recently,” Xiyue said.

“I know. Don’t worry. Others might be able to kill a Celestial Immortal Patriarch, but it is difficult for them to kill me,” Ji Ning said.

“Oh?” Xiyue’s eyes widened in surprise.

Ji Ning smiled. “Don’t forget, I’ve just returned from studying under a master. Enough chit-chat. I’ll be off.”

With that, Ji Ning took Little Qing and Uncle White with him and executed a spatial teleportation, disappearing above the Grand Xia imperial capital.

“This cousin-brother of mine… his thirty-plus years away seem to have been anything but ordinary.” Xiyue let out a relieved breath. The stronger Ji Ning was, the easier she felt. “Still, that was quite a boast. He says it’s harder to kill him than a Celestial Immortal Patriarch? As if he’s even more powerful than one. I’d guess his master gifted him some life-saving treasure.”

Whoosh.

Xiyue dove downward, flying toward Prince Yan’s estate below.

But her guess was wrong. In terms of raw strength, Ji Ning had already reached the Celestial Immortal Patriarch level. Most importantly, he had the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, which made it extremely difficult for anyone to harm him at all. And with the Seventy-Two Transformations, he could even take on the form of the Grand Xia Emperor himself, and not even Prince Yan would be able to see through a single flaw if he stared at him.

This was the reason Pu Ti had allowed Ji Ning to graduate. Those who cultivated the Eight-Nine Arcane Art possessed unrivaled life-preservation abilities.

“Master, Ji Ning suddenly left Anchan City and appeared in the Grand Xia imperial capital.”

“The imperial capital is the most dangerous place in this major world. Not a suitable assassination spot. Continue investigating.”

“Understood.”

……

“Master, Ji Ning has left the Grand Xia imperial capital and returned to his hometown, Yan Mountain.”

“Good. Yan Mountain is a desolate, barbaric region—quite suitable for an assassination. Make sure you track his movements. Order the ‘Earth-Nine’ unit to prepare a detailed assassination plan. Begin operations. Your task is simply to find out exactly where this Ji Ning is.”

“Understood.”

……

Yan Mountain.

After returning from the Grand Xia imperial capital via Greater Teleportation, Ji Ning immediately summoned the senior members of the Ji Clan. All of the younger generation’s Wanxiang Adepts and Zifu Disciples were gathered together. Those like Ji Mo, who had once been personally guided by Ji Ning in his youth, were among them. Thanks to the clan’s improved conditions, these youths had received far better training than Ji Jiuhuo or Ji Liuzhen had in their day. Ji Mo, for example, had already reached the Wanxiang Adept level.

This was the first time they had heard that Ji Ning had returned, and they were overjoyed. The younger generation of the Ji Clan had long worshipped Ji Ning with fervor. After all, winning first place in the Immortal Fortunes Assembly was nothing short of miraculous! That was a competition gathering the geniuses of the entire boundless world.

“I agree, of course I agree. The Anchan Commandery is in chaos right now. If Uncle Ji Ning sets up a grand formation over Yan Mountain, our clan will have a foundation for eternal prosperity!”

“Right. With this formation, we won’t have to fear the Shaoyin clan anymore.”

“I agree.”

“I agree as well.”

Not a single clansman objected.

Because Ji Ning’s words were simply too enticing. Once the formation was complete, he said, no Celestial Immortal Patriarch would be able to break through. Only an existence surpassing a Celestial Immortal Patriarch could possibly force an entry. And in the entire Grand Xia world—even clans as ancient as Anchan’s Beishan or the Shaoyin, which had existed since the Primordial Fiendgod Era—the ultimate peak of power was nothing more than a Celestial Immortal Patriarch.

With this formation, Yan Mountain would become a place of absolute safety. The Ji Clan could flourish and multiply in peace.

True great clans all had certain places of absolute safety. Some were hidden within secret minor worlds. The Ji Clan naturally craved such a place.

And Ji Ning had not lied.

Among the Three Great Lethal Formations, there existed a ‘Sealing’ category. A Sealing-type formation could not be bypassed through cleverness; one had to rely on raw power to break it. Without the strength of a True Immortal or an Empyrean God, the formation could not be destroyed.

……

A massive snow-white dog stood in midair. Before him, one hundred and eight glowing stones of many colors appeared.

The snow-white dog gazed into the distance at a mountain peak.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

The stones floating before him shot out like shooting stars, all flying into that distant mountain peak. The next moment, the peak vanished from sight, and a series of hazy, swirling lights began to appear in its place, like misty clouds.

“The final node of the ‘Mind-Mazing Eighteen Illusion Formation’ is finally in place.” The snow-white dog let out a breath of relief.

“Rise!”

With his activation, the entire Yan Mountain region—peaks, lakes, wildernesses, every single node—began to draw upon the power of Heaven and Earth. Some nodes resonated with each other, forming larger combined formations, and these combined formations in turn interconnected with exquisite precision.

In mere moments, the entire ten-thousand-li region of Yan Mountain had become a true realm of illusion and confusion. Without a signal-talisman issued by the Ji Clan, anyone who entered would be forever lost within.

“Buzzzzz…”

Around Serpentwing Lake, ordinary mosquitoes were flying about. Some even ventured toward Brightheart Island.

In a desolate region like this, mosquitoes were utterly common. Even with Ji Ning’s divine sense, he only perceived ordinary insects, not even ‘demonic’ beasts. But as the core of the ‘Mind-Mazing Eighteen Illusion Formation’ was at Serpentwing Lake, once the formation was activated, this core area still appeared ordinary on the surface, yet no matter how the mosquitoes flew, they simply could not reach Brightheart Island.

……

Inside a city of the Grand Xia, within a mansion.

Swoosh.

A gaunt man with green-glowing eyes appeared in the courtyard. Seated within the courtyard, leisurely sipping tea, was a black-robed man with long, unbound hair and a vertical scar on his brow.

“Master.” The gaunt man spoke respectfully.

“Hm?” The black-robed man let out a hum. “What is it?”

“The entire Yan Mountain region has suddenly become shrouded in a strange illusion formation. My little children can no longer investigate. They are completely lost within. They cannot even return,” the gaunt man said, a glint of unwillingness flashing in his greenish eyes. Those mosquitoes were indeed ordinary, but they were linked to his heart-connection. It had not been easy to raise them.

“Oh?” The black-robed man frowned. “An illusion formation? So this Ji Ning is setting up defenses for Yan Mountain. Not a problem. If the Ji Clan wants to make ‘Yan Mountain’ their clan’s breeding ground, they will have to interact with the outside world. They will send out merchant caravans, and the Ji Clan will naturally have to guide them in to prevent them from getting lost. You don’t need to worry. I will send someone else to investigate. Rest well. Your little children… I’m afraid they are lost for good.”

After all, even if he sent someone else, they would not be able to recognize the peculiar nature of those mosquitoes.

“Yes.” The gaunt man acknowledged softly, then withdrew.

The black-robed man quickly gave orders to another subordinate. This seemingly ordinary Grand Xia city was actually a major outpost of the Bloodcloud Hall.

……

Time flowed on.

The Bloodcloud Hall employed all sorts of investigative methods. They used mosquitoes, merchant caravans, bewitching techniques, and even possession arts. Wave after wave of infiltration was launched against Yan Mountain.

But as the Whitewater Hound set up formation after formation, especially the dense layers of prohibitions around Serpentwing Lake, even members of the Ji Clan themselves found it difficult to see Ji Ning. Only a few, like Ji Liuzhen and Granny Shadow, could visit directly. Even Ji Mo and the others needed to first request an audience before they were qualified.

Thus, the Bloodcloud Hall found it extremely difficult to even confirm whether Ji Ning was at Serpentwing Lake.

“Master.” In that same ordinary city mansion, a white-haired old man said in a low voice, “The formations around Yan Mountain are now layered thick. I observed with a manifestation accompanying a merchant caravan. Even the formations I detected are enough to confuse a Celestial Immortal. They would require a Greater Teleportation Talisman just to escape. It seems Yan Mountain has become this Ji Ning’s own territory. Within Yan Mountain, Ji Ning can fully utilize these formations. Killing him there is nearly impossible. Simply trying to chart all of Yan Mountain’s formations, especially the dangerous ones, will require throwing lives at them. It would likely cost a number of Loose Immortals just to get a clear picture.”

“Mm.” The black-robed man nodded. “Since even you, Elder Chu, say so, it seems Yan Mountain is not suitable for assassination. Then we wait. We wait until Ji Ning leaves Yan Mountain’s Serpentwing Lake.”

On the same day Elder Chu delivered his report, heavy snow was falling on Brightheart Island at Serpentwing Lake.

“After forty-nine days without rest, I have finally set up the first of the Three Great Lethal Formations.” Uncle White, dressed in white robes, smiled, his eyes filled with exhaustion. “I could not afford a single moment of carelessness. One mistake, and everything would have been chaotic. Some materials might even have been shattered by the power of Heaven and Earth.”

“I have troubled you, Uncle White.” Ji Ning was himself somewhat knowledgeable in formations, and he understood that simply arranging a peerless lethal formation required the skill of a ‘Formation Grandmaster’. The intricacies were enough to make even Ji Ning dizzy just looking at them, let alone actually setting them up.

“Fortunately, with one of the Three Great Lethal Formations now in place, Yan Mountain is already secure. The other two can be done slowly.” Uncle White smiled.

Just as they were speaking…

“Ji Ning.” A voice came from afar.

Ji Ning immediately rose. It was the voice of the clan chieftain, Ji Liuzhen.

“Ji Ning, the Immortal Wufeng of the Black-White College has arrived.” Ji Liuzhen walked over, with the Immortal Wufeng beside him.

“Brother Wufeng.” Ji Ning went to greet him. Because he himself was now a returned-to-vacuity Earth Immortal, the Black-White College’s rules dictated that they address each other as peers.

“Ji Ning, your master has emerged from seclusion. He plans to undergo his tribulation in nine days!” the Immortal Wufeng said gravely.

“In nine days? He is going to undergo his tribulation?” Ji Ning was greatly shocked.