The Thirty-Thousand-Year Heartforge

Ji Ning closed his eyes.

Kill?

Then let it be.

This was the world of the Heartforge Tribulation. Killing himself would not change his Dao-heart in the slightest. Moreover, Ji Ning had a feeling—having spent over thirty thousand years in this Heartforge world, especially having risen again after gradually sinking into depravity, his Dao-heart had grown even stronger. This sudden appearance of the ‘new master of the Starseizing Manor’ was most likely the final trial of the Heartforge Tribulation.

“Boom!” The enormous hand suddenly stopped above Ji Ning, a mere hair’s breadth away. Looking up, Ji Ning could even see the lines on the surface of that vast, colossal palm.

“Why did you stop?” Ji Ning said calmly, “New master of the Starseizing Manor.”

In the Heartforge world, he had failed his Empyrean Tribulation, and the Starseizing Manor had left to seek a new master. This being before him was the new master who had succeeded him. Of course… this was only within the Heartforge world. In reality, he had not yet faced the Empyrean Tribulation.

“Aren’t you afraid of death?” the towering figure asked, slowly withdrawing his sky-covering hand.

“If you want to kill, then kill,” Ji Ning said coldly.

“I thought killing the previous master of the Starseizing Manor would be interesting. But you don’t resist at all… how boring.” As the towering figure spoke, Ji Ning tried his utmost to see his face, but it remained veiled, impossible to discern.

The towering figure waved his hand.

Whoosh.

Figures appeared in midair. There were the white-robed, immortal couple, Ji Yichuan and Yuchi Snow. There was a white-robed, white-haired man who exuded a calming presence. A young girl in green. A mature Autumn Leaf and a youthful Chuncao. His Dao-companions, Yu Wei and Nine Lotos. And three children.

“Ning’er, you’ve grown stronger?”

“Why have you brought us here?” Yuchi Snow and the others all looked up, confused, at the towering figure, but none of them looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning’s expression changed dramatically.

“Ji Ning, you understand now. Yes, just as you guessed, I used a divine art to take your form,” the towering figure said. “They think I am you! And under my power… they cannot see you. They cannot hear you either.”

“What exactly are you trying to do?” Ji Ning shouted.

“Boom!”

The towering figure extended a finger and flicked it. The finger struck the white-robed, white-haired man, who looked on in disbelief before exploding into dust with a bang.

“Uncle White!” Ji Ning cried out, feeling a stab of pain in his heart.

There was the affection of reality, and there was also the bond formed over thirty thousand years in the Heartforge world. Seeing Uncle White killed, Ji Ning immediately felt the pain in his heart, a pain that even affected his Dao-heart.

“There are more. Don’t rush,” the towering figure said.

“What are you trying to do?” Ji Ning knew that all of this was an illusion within the Heartforge world. But the feelings of thirty thousand years could not be erased so easily.

“I’ll kill them one by one,” the towering figure said. “Of course, if you acknowledge me as your master, I will spare them.”

“Dream on,” Ji Ning ground his teeth.

Ji Ning was not foolish.

The Heartforge Tribulation was still a part of the Heavenly Dao. If he made a Heavenly Oath within the Heartforge world and submitted, he would be forever lost.

“Then I’ll continue killing.” The towering figure flicked his finger again.

“Ning’er, what are you doing?”

“Ning’er, stop!”

“Master, you want to kill me?”

“Father!!!”

The voices of his loved ones tore at Ji Ning’s heart, but he still gritted his teeth and watched as, one by one, they died.

“Ning’er, I know you have your reasons.” Yuchi Snow closed her eyes and died peacefully.

“Ji Ning! What the hell are you doing!” Ji Yichuan shouted, his eyes nearly splitting with rage.

“Father, father.” The three children who worshipped him wept.

The slaughter continued.

Nine Lotos died! Yu Wei died! Little Qing died! One by one… all of his loved ones perished. The bonds formed over thirty thousand years, like chains that had bound him, now strained to their breaking point as they were severed one after another, unleashing a final, intense force to drag him down, to drag him into depravity.

“Ji Ning, your heart is so cruel.” The towering figure roared, the words piercing straight into Ji Ning’s heart, as if all his loved ones were pointing at him: “Your heart is so cruel.”

Ji Ning closed his eyes.

Even if accused by a thousand, even by a million, he wished he were not accused by them.

Thirty thousand years…

In the end, it was just an illusion.

Just an illusion!

“Boom!” The world around him shattered completely. Everything broke apart, even the towering figure.

…

Outside, in the real world.

“Ji Ning has been enduring the Heartforge Tribulation for three full months now. This… I have never heard of such a thing!” The Diancai Immortal anxiously looked at the distant Ji Ning in his black Daoist robe. “A three-month-long Heartforge Tribulation… I don’t know if Ji Ning can hold on.” His own Heartforge Tribulation had been much shorter.

“My master’s Heartforge Tribulation back then also lasted three months.” Yu Wei, stroking her belly, had a look of worry in her eyes. She still remembered what Lu Dongbin had said: “Back then, I was a hair’s breadth away from truly falling. Even now, I would not wish to experience that Heartforge Tribulation again.”

“Still not awake…” Mu Zishuo was frantic and anxious.

They all knew clearly: the longer the Heartforge Tribulation dragged on, the more terrifying it became.

That Ji Ning’s Heartforge Tribulation had lasted three full months was simply appalling.

“Even his Primaltwin’s Heartforge Tribulation lasted this long? Because of the karmic hellfire?” In the distance, the Daoist-robed old man watched silently. All he could do was watch. To wake from the Heartforge Tribulation could only be done by Ji Ning himself.

Suddenly—

Everyone’s eyes focused on Ji Ning.

They saw the black-robed Ji Ning open his eyes.

“He’s awake!” Uncle White exclaimed in joy.

“Master succeeded! Haha, he’s transcended the tribulation and become a Celestial Immortal!” Little Qing was half-crazed with ecstatic joy.

“Junior apprentice-brother!” Yu Wei was overcome with emotion.

Everyone was thrilled.

The black-robed Ji Ning sat there, his thoughts slowly returning from the Heartforge world. It was only then that he realized… his face was already streaked with tears.

How alluring was everything in that Heartforge world! Everyone he cared about was alive. Everything was like a dream. Except this dream had lasted over thirty thousand years, already hundreds of times longer than his real life. He wanted to forget, but… how could he?

“I’m sorry,” Ji Ning murmured.

Even knowing those loved ones were merely illusions, Ji Ning still murmured the words.

“No wonder Master also shed tears when he successfully transcended his tribulation,” Ji Ning thought silently. “This Heartforge Tribulation truly is…”

Now that he had left the Heartforge world, Ji Ning understood how terrifying it was. In truth, the many times he had gradually sunk into depravity… he had been on the very edge of ‘falling’. In particular, accepting the affections of Yu Wei and Nine Lotos had been the most dangerous! Because accepting those affections had created more tethers to bind him.

But fortune and misfortune were intertwined! Accepting those affections had indeed made him sink deeper.

Yet precisely because of that sinking… once he broke free from the Heartforge’s shackles and took control of himself, Ji Ning’s gains in Dao-heart were even greater.

Without sinking, there could be no gain.

But if the sinking went too deep, it meant death.

Fortunately, his Heartforce had been elevated to the perfected ‘Sovereign’ level. Otherwise, he would not have been able to withstand this Heartforge Tribulation.

…

Divine music sounded. Auspicious clouds descended from the heavens, and golden lotuses burst forth from the earth.

A terrifying pressure descended. Surging forces of Heaven and Earth converged, gathering upon Ji Ning. The very world began to spontaneously transform this Primaltwin of Ji Ning.

“This is?”

The black-robed Ji Ning could clearly sense that, with the invisible assistance of the Heavenly Dao from the outside world’s natural forces, all the power within his body began to converge. His divine soul completely merged with the Golden Lotus Nuwa. Even his entire Violet Palace space began to merge with the Golden Lotus Nuwa. Even the Single-Origin Waterdrop began to fuse.

“Pop!”

A single golden lotus seed was nurtured on the lotus seedpod of that golden lotus. It was also the most important thing for Celestial Immortals, True Immortals, and even Daolords of the Three Realms—the Golden Core!

As this Golden Core rose up.

The Violet Palace space, the Single-Origin Waterdrop, and everything else completely vanished. Even the black-robed Ji Ning’s body had transformed… transformed into a Celestial Immortal’s body, a body formed from Celestial Immortal法力.

“A Golden Core…” the black-robed Ji Ning sighed emotionally.

The core of his entire life was now this single Golden Core.

This Golden Core possessed inconceivable power. It had perfectly fused all power, a perfect, golden core that flawlessly integrated even the Truesoul and the divine soul, no longer distinguishing between them! The Golden Core even contained space within itself, vast amounts of Celestial Immortal法力 surging within. Natural energy would be drawn into it, and even magic treasures could be stored inside.

“Breathe in, breathe out.” Ji Ning felt a sense of transcendence. With every breath, immortal法力 suffused his entire body.

“Ji Ning.”

“Junior apprentice-brother.”

The Diancai Immortal and the others all flew over, and the black-robed Ji Ning smiled as he welcomed them.

“Ji Ning, congratulations to your Primaltwin on successfully transcending the tribulation. The Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, a three-month-long Heartforge Tribulation… I never could have imagined any of this,” the Diancai Immortal said, looking at Ji Ning. “For my Black-White College to have a disciple like you… haha, I have no regrets, no regrets at all.”

“Master, you’re too incredible. I absolutely admire you,” Little Qing said, transforming into a small green snake that coiled affectionately around Ji Ning’s arm.

“I’m still worried,” Ji Ning said with a laugh. “My Primaltwin’s Heavenly Tribulation was already this terrifying. I can’t even imagine what my true body’s tribulation will be like.”

“Isn’t that just the true body’s tribulation? There’s nothing my senior apprentice-brother can’t do,” Mu Zishuo said. “Back when Senior Apprentice-Brother went to the Immortal Fortunes Assembly, quite a few people advised him against it, thinking he was too inexperienced and would suffer. But not only did he not suffer, he won first place. Since then, he’s only become more and more remarkable. This time, Senior Apprentice-Brother has weathered the Nine-Nine Tribulation and a three-month Heartforge Tribulation. I believe absolutely nothing can stop you.”

“I believe it too.”

Yu Wei took Ji Ning’s hand and smiled.

Everyone present had watched Ji Ning grow. In their eyes, Ji Ning was a monstrous prodigy. He only ever shocked them again and again. So they believed he could do it! After all, just moments ago, they had witnessed with their own eyes the Nine-Nine Tribulation and a Heartforge Tribulation of ludicrous length.

“Disciple.” A voice sounded.

The flow of time around them suddenly changed.

Yu Wei, the Diancai Immortal, and the others all remained where they were, their expressions frozen. But Ji Ning felt himself completely unaffected. In the distance, the Daoist-robed old man walked over.

“Master,” Ji Ning said respectfully.

“I have something to discuss with you,” the Daoist-robed old man said. “Now that your Primaltwin has successfully transcended the tribulation, I’m sure you’ve noticed that the power of your tribulation was shockingly great.”

“Yes,” Ji Ning nodded.

His Primaltwin’s tribulation should have been much easier, yet it had pushed him to such an extreme.

“Your true body’s tribulation will be astonishing. There will be variables, and it will be many times more dangerous than this one,” Bodhi said. “Therefore, I command you: you must achieve mastery of the Grand Dao of the Sword, master the method of using Heartforce to control your divine soul, and your Eight-Nine Arcane Art must reach the sixth cycle before you are permitted to face the tribulation.”

“Your disciple understands,” Ji Ning said respectfully. “Your disciple will naturally do everything in his power to prepare as thoroughly as possible.”

“Good.” Bodhi nodded.

“Also,” Bodhi continued, “once you have mastered the Grand Dao of the Sword, since you have long been able to condense the Five Energies Converging at the Origin, I believe you can do it in one smooth flow and directly achieve the Pure Yang True Immortal stage.”

Ji Ning nodded.

“The war between your Grand Xia and the Seamless Gate is about to begin. You cannot avoid it. The Seamless Gate will certainly try to kill you,” Bodhi said. “Know the enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated. You must do your best to conceal your true strength. Under no circumstances should you let the enemy know everything about you. Once they do, you will be in danger.”

“Your disciple understands,” Ji Ning quickly said.

“No, you don’t,” Bodhi shook his head. “I am commanding you: you must not tell a second person about your true strength. Not even me. Not even that Dao-companion of yours.”

Ji Ning was confused. “Not even you, Master? Not even Yu Wei?”

“No,” Bodhi said, shaking his head. “The Seamless Gate’s intelligence methods are beyond your imagination. If you keep everything buried deep in your heart, with only you knowing, the Seamless Gate will not find out. But if you speak of it… as long as a second person knows, it may leak. Therefore, for the sake of secrecy, you must not tell a second person.”

Ji Ning was somewhat shocked in his heart.

No wonder…

No wonder the Seamless Gate’s intelligence was so terrifying. Even if he told a second person, the information could still leak. It was truly inconceivable.

“For instance, the day you become a Pure Yang True Immortal, you must not tell a single soul,” Bodhi instructed. “Becoming a Pure Yang True Immortal does not create a great commotion. If you do not make it public, no one will know.”

Ji Ning nodded.

Unlike the transition from the Void to Celestial Immortal, which was marked by a Heavenly Tribulation, the transition from Celestial Immortal to Pure Yang True Immortal indeed caused no great stir.

“But once I become a Pure Yang True Immortal, I won’t be able to hide my Pure Yang法力,” Ji Ning said.

“This is a technique that can conceal your aura. Unless you act, no one will know your true depth.” Bodhi handed over a bamboo slip.

Ji Ning immediately accepted it.

“The Great Tribulation of the Three Realms is upon us,” Bodhi said softly with a sigh. “The more the enemy knows about your cards, the faster you will die. In your Grand Xia world, for example… there are actually several who have broken through to the Pure Yang True Immortal stage, but they have kept it hidden. Some have been hidden for billions of years. There are far, far too many methods the Seamless Gate has that you know nothing about.”

Ji Ning was startled.

So the Grand Xia was actually hiding several Pure Yang True Immortals? That made sense. The Grand Xia only publicly acknowledged the Xia Emperor as a Pure Yang True Immortal, which was indeed pathetically few.

“Do not ever forget what I have told you today. I cannot protect you every moment during the Great Tribulation. Even the seven Empyrean Gods by your side will sometimes be unable to rush from the Starseizing Major World in time to save you,” Bodhi said, looking at Ji Ning. “To survive, you must rely on yourself.”

“If my guess is correct,” Bodhi looked up, “the war between the Grand Xia and the Seamless Gate has already begun its secret preparations. It will likely erupt within a month. You must be careful.”

With that, Bodhi turned and walked away, drifting off into the distance.

“Your disciple will keep this firmly in mind,” Ji Ning said respectfully.

“What’s wrong, Ji Ning?”

“Junior apprentice-brother?”

The Diancai Immortal and the others around him all recovered. Although Ji Ning had spoken with Patriarch Bodhi for some time, the time flow for the Diancai Immortal and the others had not even lasted a moment, so they naturally had not seen Patriarch Bodhi and had no idea what had just happened.

“It’s nothing. My master was protecting me from the shadows, and he’s left now.” Ji Ning smiled. “Let’s go. Let’s return to Brightheart Island.”

“Alright.” They all followed Ji Ning, flying towards Brightheart Island.

Flying high in the sky, Ji Ning watched as a Golden Crow rose over the horizon.

“The storm is coming,” Ji Ning murmured to himself. “Within a month?”