The Unbreakable Will of Jinhuang

Under the guidance of the Fuyu Empyrean God, Ji Ning came before this ancient being of the human race, ‘Daofather Youshou.’ Although Daofather Youshou was as ancient a being as Suiren and of equally high status, he was far more low-key. In the Three Realms, the fame of the ancient Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of the human race was more widespread; many Celestial Immortals had never even heard of Daofather Youshou.

“Daofather, Ji Ning has arrived.” Fuyu Empyrean God said respectfully.

“Ji Ning pays his respects to the Daofather.” Ji Ning also spoke with reverence.

This was a vast, ancient hall.

A stalwart elder was sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat. He was dressed in simple beast-hide clothes, and his hair and beard bristled like steel needles. Judging by his appearance, one would assume he had a fiery temper. But when he opened his eyes, the infinite eternity contained within them, and the ancient, far-flung aura that washed over Ji Ning, caused the youth to involuntarily calm down.

Daofather Youshou was looking at Ji Ning, and his eyes held a natural affection.

“Good.” Daofather Youshou said with a smile.

Mother Nuwa had created the human race, and he had been one of those created. He had walked the arduous path from the human race’s most feeble beginnings, step by painful step. Towards any extraordinary junior of his race, his heart naturally overflowed with love and care.

Although this was his first time meeting Daofather Youshou, Ji Ning could not help but feel a sense of deep respect.

“Fuxi spoke to me about this. It is a small matter, and I have already made the arrangements.” Daofather Youshou looked at Ji Ning, still smiling. “Our human race rarely produces someone with such accomplishments in Heartforce. You have trained for less than a hundred years and have already reached the fourth stage of Heartforce. You must strive to break through to the fifth stage before the final battle. Let the myriad races of the Three Realms witness that our human race can produce a Heartforce cultivator of the fifth stage.”

“Ji Ning shall do his utmost.” Ji Ning said, the words leaving him involuntarily.

“Good. That’s the spirit. There is no shame in defeat. The only shame is in lacking the courage to fight.” Daofather Youshou nodded, still smiling. “Focus on your training. If you can become a True God or Daofather before the final battle, you will add slightly more strength to our side.”

“Yes.” Ji Ning showed no false modesty. In his heart, he yearned to become a True God or Daofather.

There were far too many Empyrean Gods and True Immortals in the Three Realms.

One must understand…

In the primordial era, the chaos had birthed ten Elder Gods, eighty-one True Gods, and 108,000 Empyrean Gods! 108,000! Although many had died in the long, ancient slaughters, and a great number had perished in the Primordial War, new cultivators had later arisen to reach the Empyrean God and True Immortal levels. Adding to that the vast number of Empyrean Gods and True Immortals from the Seamless Gate camp,

The total number of Empyrean Gods and True Immortals in the Three Realms was vast. Having one more Ji Ning would have little impact on the overall situation.

The power of a single individual was utterly insignificant before a grand army.

Only by becoming a True God or Daofather could one influence the outcome of the final war.

“Master.” A stocky, powerfully built man carrying a giant axe on his back walked in from outside.

“Luozou.” Daofather Youshou said, “Give it to Ji Ning.”

The stocky man looked at Ji Ning, then a miniature city the size of a palm appeared in his hand. He handed this tiny city to Ji Ning. “Darknorth, I have heard that you are skilled at commanding armies. Do not disappoint these Immortals.”

“Rest assured, Empyrean God Luozou.” Ji Ning said.

In the ancient era, the human race had risen from obscurity. At that time, cultivation techniques were imperfect, and many were learned from the Fiendgods. Thus, in the earliest days of humanity, many walked the Fiendgod path. It was only later, when Ki Refining techniques were perfected, that Celestial Immortals and True Immortals gradually became more numerous.

“Go on.” Daofather Youshou looked at Ji Ning, his eyes full of expectation.

Ji Ning bowed respectfully, then withdrew.

…

That tiny city contained a full 100,000 Celestial Immortals and ten million Loose Immortals! Ji Ning sent all of these Immortals to his own Starseizing Major World and made appropriate arrangements. He also passed down the basic techniques of the ‘Luohu Formation’. He estimated that the Celestial Immortals and Loose Immortals would only need half a year to learn it and be able to set up the formation.

The Sword Immortal Realm, Mount Wubao.

Five towering peaks pierced through the clouds and mist. Ji Ning was riding a cloud, studying the third chapter of the Five Treasures Sword Art on the cliff face of the third peak. In the previous fifty-one years of cultivation, Ji Ning’s Sword Force had long since reached the third stage, and he had completely mastered the second chapter of the Five Treasures Sword Art.

This visit to Daofather Youshou had placed a heavy, crushing weight of pressure upon Ji Ning.

“In the final war, our side can only win, not lose. If we lose, the Nuwa camp will be annihilated, and our human race will be annihilated as well.” Ji Ning dared not even think of the outcome of defeat. He stopped his train of thought and focused his attention on the third chapter of the Five Treasures Sword Art.

The Five Treasures Sword Art was profoundly mysterious.

The third chapter…

Caused Ji Ning to gasp in wonder. Involuntarily, he began to integrate some of the essences of the third chapter into his own Brightmoon Sword-Art.

In the vast, dark world.

On the ten-thousand-zhang throne, the Godking gently tapped the armrest with his left hand. The dull, rhythmic thump… thump… echoed through this dark world.

“I didn’t expect Ji Ning to cause another stir. He actually offered up a technique from a chaos alien race, and Fuxi even created a formation specifically for him, giving him an army of a hundred thousand Celestial Immortals and ten million Loose Immortals.” The Godking mused to himself. “What exactly is this technique? What formation did Fuxi create…?”

Although his intelligence network was formidable,

They were utterly unable to obtain any detailed information about these techniques. Even the formation created by Fuxi was beyond their ability to investigate.

“It seems Ji Ning has created his own sword art.”

“Hmm… Darklight Sword Ancestor’s evaluation is that it is quite impressive. A third stage Sword Force? For Ji Ning to be able to reach the third stage of Sword Force just by sparring with a few weaklings… how ridiculous.” The Godking shook his head. He himself had little research into the Dao of the Sword, but the Darklight Sword Ancestor was an extremely terrifying existence in the Seamless Gate camp. Back when the Seamless Chaosworld had existed, the Darklight Sword Ancestor had been the absolute strongest figure in the Dao of the Sword.

However, after the Seamless Chaosworld and the Pangu Chaosworld were destroyed and the Three Realms were born,

The Darklight Sword Ancestor was now slightly inferior to Daofather Fuju!

“This Ji Ning is formidable in Heartforce, and it seems he is also formidable in Sword Force. But he is only at the third stage. It is nothing to worry about.” The Godking shook his head. “He poses no threat.”

With that, the Godking put Ji Ning’s matters out of his mind and turned his attention to other affairs.

He had to manage the entire Seamless Gate. To him, Ji Ning was truly just a minor character.

…

The Stelar Realm, the World Prison.

Ji Ning had two clones within the World Prison. One was contending against a True God, while the other was dealing with a female True Immortal.

“Oh?”

Ji Ning, who had been focusing his mind on comprehending his sword art, opened his eyes and looked down.

Around him, treasures like bottles, gourds, and bracelets were continuously releasing water, fire, and fierce winds, assaulting the area below him. At this moment, the opposing magic treasure was faintly trembling, its resistance weakening.

“Fifty-six years. She has finally reached her limit.” Ji Ning’s heart was filled with anticipation. From this female True Immortal, he might obtain techniques or treasures that could greatly assist him.

Ji Ning willed it.

Whoosh!

Instantly, the water, fire, and fierce winds all flew back into the bottles, gourds, and other treasures, restoring calm. Ji Ning had no intention of accidentally burning her to ash.

“Submit.” Ji Ning looked at the female True Immortal.

The female True Immortal also put away her magic treasure. She gave Ji Ning an icy glare.

Ji Ning could sense her determination and could not help but sigh. “Why must you be like this? You have already been imprisoned here for endless ages. What does submitting to me mean? All I need are some treasures and to obtain some techniques from your memories. It will have no effect on your own power whatsoever. In the future, you might even have a chance to leave.”

“Stop dreaming.” The female True Immortal stared at Ji Ning, her voice like ice. “Do not think that a weakling worm like you can make me, Shuijin, submit.”

“Jinhuang?” Ji Ning was startled.

Ji Ning had searched the memories of True Immortal Dongjun, and he naturally recognized the famous True Gods and True Immortals of the Nine Directions Chaosworld. Because she was so emaciated, skin and bones, and because he could not identify her soul aura, he had only now learned her identity when she announced it herself. She was an utterly domineering True Immortal, even stronger than True Immortal Dongjun, and was titled ‘Jinhuang’.

“Jinhuang…” The female True Immortal’s eyes held a look of reminiscence. “All in the past… all in the past. The Nine Directions Chaosworld has fallen. It is all over.”

“To make me, Shuijin, submit? Submit to such a weakling like you? Hahaha… hahaha…” The female True Immortal began to laugh wildly, a laughter laced with a hint of mournful bitterness.

Whoosh.

The female True Immortal simply vanished into thin air, her soul scattering into nothingness.

Only her shrill, bitter laughter echoed in the air.

Ji Ning let out a sigh upon witnessing this. Knowing that she was ‘Jinhuang’, he understood that her submission was extremely unlikely. In truth, those who could become first-rate True Immortals were all immensely proud. It was only after being imprisoned for several chaos cycles and tortured that their spirit might be broken enough to submit. Even so, there were still those who would rather die than submit!

Even so, Ji Ning would not hesitate.

He needed to gather enough strength from the World Prison. He wanted to survive the final calamity. He wanted to save his wife. He wanted his daughter, Brightmoon, to be able to live happily and safely. He also wanted his master and the others to survive. Thus, he offered these chaos aliens a path to life: submission. If they chose not to take that path… then they would die.