The Return of the Chess Piece

The Xia Emperor shook his head. “The entire Grand Xia Dynasty is hanging by a thread. Of the three thousand six hundred commanderies, over sixty percent have sent me pleas for help! As powerful as the Seamless Gate is, there’s no way they can deal with so many feudal lords and tribes simultaneously. Furthermore, based on the intelligence I’ve gathered, some of those who are begging me for aid have already defected to the Seamless Gate.”

The Seamless Gate’s power was immense. The fact that they could corrupt over half the high-ranking members of the Anchan Northmont clan was a testament to their formidable methods. Indeed, many tribal lords within the Grand Xia Dynasty had already sworn allegiance to the Seamless Gate.

“They’ve joined the Seamless Gate, and yet they still come begging for my help.”

The Xia Emperor’s brow was deeply furrowed. “Right now, I can’t see clearly at all. Of these more than sixty percent of feudal lords begging for my aid, which ones are genuine, and which ones are false?”

“Take the Anchan Northmont clan. They claim that Xuantian Celestial Immortal was captured alive… but captured alive, nothing more. Who’s to say it wasn’t a deliberate trap?” the Xia Emperor said.

“Understood,” the Celestial Fox Immortal replied respectfully.

“For now, although there are some skirmishes, the rule over the entire Grand Xia remains stable,” the Xia Emperor said softly. “It’s not yet time for true war. We must remain steady and not throw our own ranks into chaos. Since the Seamless Gate has begun to move, let it move. The more it moves, the more I can see clearly. A blade must not be drawn lightly… but when it is drawn, it must strike the enemy’s vital point. The Seamless Gate wants to seize my Grand Xia World… Hmph, it still needs my consent.”

The Celestial Fox Immortal nodded.

“Before even undergoing his tribulation, he slew two Celestial Immortals. With less than a hundred years of cultivation, he was able to withstand Karmic Hellfire. Ji Ning’s potential is enormous. I expect he’ll undergo his tribulation soon. He’s a very important chess piece,” the Xia Emperor said. “Moreover, as my master has said, Ji Ning is absolutely on our side.”

The Xia Emperor placed great importance on Ji Ning.

After all, Ji Ning’s previous feats were monstrous. At the Void stage, he had slain two Celestial Immortals and stood firm against Karmic Hellfire. If a prodigy like that succeeded in his tribulation and became a Celestial Immortal, he would likely instantly become one of the most powerful Celestial Immortals. He might even approach the combat power of a Pure Yang True Immortal! Most importantly, Ji Ning had a formidable background. Winning him over was almost equivalent to winning over a mysterious Daofather. How could the Xia Emperor not take this seriously?

“Right. Go and inform Yan King that Ji Ning has returned,” the Xia Emperor instructed.

“Yes,” the Celestial Fox Immortal said respectfully.

…

The imperial capital, Yan King’s estate.

Yan King walked into the garden and gazed into the distance at Yuchi Xiyue, who was seated inside a pavilion. He couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly. Before Ji Ning had set out against the Shaoyin clan, he had informed Yuchi Xiyue of his plans. She had been filled with anticipation and had also urged Ji Ning to be careful. But in the end, Ji Ning had been engulfed by Karmic Hellfire and banished from the Grand Xia World. Yuchi Xiyue had been constantly following news of Ji Ning, waiting in vain for word of his return. Only later, when she questioned Yan King, did she learn everything.

Knowing that Ji Ning’s chances of survival were slim, Yuchi Xiyue had lost her smile ever since.

“Little brother…” Yuchi Xiyue always felt as if something was missing from her heart. It kept her from smiling.

“Xiyue.” A voice rang out.

Yuchi Xiyue turned her head and rose to greet the newcomer. “Grandfather.”

“I have some good news for you,” Yan King said with a smile.

“Good news?” Yuchi Xiyue was puzzled.

“Ji Ning… is back,” Yan King said, still smiling.

Yuchi Xiyue was startled, then her face lit up with wild joy. She grabbed Yan King’s arm. “Grandfather, is it true? Has my little brother really returned from that death-trap? You’re not lying to me, are you?”

“Mm. The Xia Emperor told me himself. Ji Ning is right now at the Black-White College in Anchan City,” Yan King said.

“At the Black-White College?” Yuchi Xiyue was suddenly brimming with energy. “I’m going to Anchan City right now!”

“I’ll go with you. I want to see Ji Ning as well,” Yan King said.

“Alright, let’s go now.” Yuchi Xiyue couldn’t wait a single moment. She had to see Ji Ning with her own eyes before she would believe it.

The Xia Emperor had only just learned of Ji Ning’s return, but the ubiquitous Seamless Gate had already learned of this matter even before the Xia Emperor.

“Hooooo…”

A cold wind howled. Atop a mountain peak, a golden-robed Celestial Immortal stood. This golden-robed Celestial Immortal was burly, almost fat, with stubble on his face and eyes like brass bells. The golden robe he wore looked at first glance like golden armor. He stood atop the peak in boredom, waiting.

Swoosh! A streak of light flew in from afar, landing on the peak and revealing its form. It was Xuanji Celestial Immortal.

“Xuanji,” the golden-robed envoy said calmly.

“Special Envoy.” Xuanji Celestial Immortal quickly put on a fawning smile, completely lacking his usual arrogance, terrified of offending this special envoy. “May I ask what business the Special Envoy has with my Shaoyin clan?”

“My Seamless Gate has never harbored any ill will toward your Shaoyin clan. We’ve been helping you all along. Now, I’ve come to help you again.” The golden-robed envoy smiled, but his fierce, ugly face was still frightening even when he smiled. “You were engaged in a fierce struggle with that Ji Ning fellow before, even losing two Celestial Immortals. You even used the Realm-Suppression Tower to banish that Ji Ning to the ancient ruins of the Realm of Annihilation, didn’t you?”

“Yes, yes, that’s correct.” Xuanji Celestial Immortal quickly acknowledged.

Even as a smile plastered his face, Xuanji Celestial Immortal was cursing inwardly.

How had this information leaked?

At the time, very few people knew that the Shaoyin clan had used the Realm-Suppression Tower against Ji Ning. Only Ji Ning’s camp and the Xia Emperor knew about it. Neither side should have told the Seamless Gate. And yet, the Seamless Gate had found out and had specifically come to inquire. Only then had the Shaoyin clan admitted to banishing Ji Ning to the ‘ancient ruins of the Realm of Annihilation.’

The Shaoyin clan wasn’t afraid of this becoming public knowledge, after all, the Realm of Annihilation was far too vast. Even if an Elder God or Daofather went searching, who knew how many years it would take to explore it all? Moreover, Elder Gods and Daofathers generally weren’t willing to stay there for long. After all, if you often walk by the river, your shoes are bound to get wet; staying in the Realm of Annihilation for too long could easily result in running into some powerful enemies that came out of the ancient ruins.

“This Seamless Gate… they seem to have informants everywhere,” Xuanji Celestial Immortal thought to himself. “Even the Xia Emperor’s Heavenly Treasures Mountain is far inferior to the Seamless Gate in terms of intelligence.”

“I’ve come to tell your Shaoyin clan… that your great enemy, Ji Ning, is still alive and has already returned.” The golden-robed envoy looked at Xuanji Celestial Immortal with a smile.

Xuanji Celestial Immortal’s expression instantly changed drastically.

“Impossible!” Xuanji Celestial Immortal couldn’t help but blurt out.

“Impossible?” The golden-robed envoy raised an eyebrow.

“That was the ancient ruins of the Realm of Annihilation! Even a Celestial Immortal or True God can’t escape from there. Only an Elder God or Daofather would have the power to hope to do so! Even if a lofty Elder God or Daofather went searching, in the vast, boundless Realm of Annihilation, how could he have just happened to find Ji Ning within just eighteen years?” Xuanji Celestial Immortal shook his head. “Even if he became a disciple of an Elder God or Daofather, I don’t believe a Daofather would be willing to take the trouble to search for him and find him so quickly. Ji Ning’s luck… couldn’t possibly be that good.”

“Yes, I find it hard to believe too.” The golden-robed envoy shook his head and sighed. “Unfortunately, Ji Ning is right now in Anchan City, at the Black-White College, getting cozy with his Dao-companion, Yu Wei.”

“In Anchan City?” Xuanji Celestial Immortal was stunned.

“Yes.” The golden-robed envoy nodded.

Xuanji Celestial Immortal’s face turned ugly. His heart was in chaos.

If Ji Ning had returned alive… the implications were completely different.

First of all, the fact that he could come back meant that there was no doubt Ji Ning had an Elder God or Daofather backing him! When the Shaoyin clan had been fighting with Ji Ning earlier, although they had worried that Ji Ning might have become a disciple of a Daofather, they had assumed that a Daofather was of such lofty status that Ji Ning couldn’t possibly be that lucky. The possibility should have been very small.

But now, this possibility had become reality. Ji Ning really had become the disciple of a true Elder God or Daofather!

Second!

The Shaoyin clan was very clear about Ji Ning’s strength. A youngster who had not even undergone his tribulation could slay two Celestial Immortals and fight evenly against eight Celestial Immortals without being at a disadvantage. With such terrifying strength, once he underwent his tribulation and became a Celestial Immortal… that would be a disaster for the Shaoyin clan.

And with such a monstrous talent, backed by an Elder God or Daofather…

It was simply a nightmare!

“He truly has a Daofather as his master, and he’s returned.” Xuanji Celestial Immortal’s heart was panicked. He understood that this was a great calamity for the Shaoyin clan! And this great calamity… the Shaoyin clan had no way to eliminate it!

“If your Shaoyin clan swears allegiance to my Seamless Gate, my Seamless Gate will help you deal with Ji Ning.” The golden-robed envoy smiled. “You’re afraid of the Daofather behind him, but my Seamless Gate is not. Alright, your Shaoyin clan should think this over carefully.”

Hua.

Spatial ripples swirled around the golden-robed envoy, and then he vanished into thin air.

Xuanji Celestial Immortal stood atop the mountain peak with an ugly expression. He then directly tore through the void and disappeared, returning to report to the Shaoyin ancestor, Du Chou Immortal.

Black-White College, Anchan City.

Ji Ning had no idea that as soon as he had returned, the Seamless Gate and the Shaoyin clan had both learned of his return. Or perhaps, even if he did know, Ji Ning wouldn’t have been afraid. Dealing with him now… was not as easy as it had been eighteen years ago.

“Ji Ning, Yan King and Xiyue Commandery Princess are here to visit you,” Bihai Immortal sent a mental message.

“Xiyue Commandery Princess? Yan King?” Ji Ning, who had been sharing fruit wine with Yu Wei, immediately stood up. He had been with Yu Wei all night, whispering to each other and sharing many things. Yu Wei also knew about Ji Ning’s relationship with Yuchi Xiyue.

“Let’s go greet them.” Ji Ning quickly said. “Before my battle with the Shaoyin clan, I went to see my cousin-sister. I was full of confidence, believing everything was within my calculations. Who would have thought that man proposes, Heaven disposes? In the end, I was banished for eighteen years. For those eighteen years, my cousin-sister must have been constantly worried.”

“The moment your cousin-sister learned you were back, she came immediately. It’s clear she cares deeply about you,” Yu Wei said as well.

The two of them flew up side by side into the air.

From a distance, they could see Yan King and Yuchi Xiyue being led by Bihai Immortal. When Yuchi Xiyue saw Ji Ning from afar, her eyes immediately lit up. It was true. Her little brother had truly returned.

“Senior Brother Bihai, I’ll receive Yan King and the Commandery Princess,” Ji Ning said.

Bihai Immortal also knew that these two had come specifically to see Ji Ning. He nodded and then took his leave.

Yan King and Yuchi Xiyue, under the guidance of Ji Ning and Yu Wei, descended into Yu Wei’s manor. There were no servants in Yu Wei’s manor at the moment; they had all been sent to Northmont Peak. It was clear that Ji Ning and Yu Wei had wanted some time alone, undisturbed.

As soon as they landed, Yuchi Xiyue could no longer hold back. “Little brother, you really scared me to death. If you had died, the Yuchi clan would truly only have me left.”

“I have a hard life,” Ji Ning said with a chuckle.

Immediately, the cousin-sister pair began to talk, occasionally joined by Yu Wei, while Yan King hardly spoke.

After they had talked to their heart’s content, Yan King finally spoke. “Ji Ning, do you remember the matter you entrusted to me before?”

Ji Ning’s face flushed slightly. “Do you mean you’ve found all the information regarding my parents’ reincarnation?”