The Triple Absolute Swords

The white-robed Ji Ning and the black-robed Daoist-robed Ji Ning stood side by side, staring into the distance at the old man in the center of the desolate wilderness.

Killing intent filled the air.

Since they could not come to an agreement, there was only battle!

“Manifest!” The black-robed Ji Ning let out a cold shout. Instantly, countless Stargold Beads materialized densely around him, and they rapidly merged to form the Thirty-Six Heavens. As the surging ancestral divine power was channeled into them, each of the Thirty-Six Heavens transformed into a beautiful Ice Lotus. Each lotus was like the core of a world, the spring of a world. As the thirty-six Ice Lotuses appeared, the surrounding heaven and earth were filled with freezing air currents, and the desolate wilderness around them began to sizzle as it was instantly frozen solid. Space itself seemed to congeal.

“Go.”

The black-robed Ji Ning pointed into the distance. The thirty-six Ice Lotuses transformed into streaks of flowing light, flying to surround the black-haired elder, endless streams of freezing air swirling around him.

After nearly twenty thousand years of cultivation, Ji Ning’s level of the Dao and his sword-art level had greatly increased! He also studied the Ninefold Chaos Seal to provide variety. Because his cultivation base was so high, he had now comprehended the sixth layer of the Ninefold Chaos Seal. By triggering the sixth layer, he gained an even clearer resonance with the distant ‘Source of Water,’ allowing him to condense these ‘Ice Lotuses,’ which could release endless frigid air currents to bind his enemies.

Because he had already unleashed the power of the sixth seal, the Thirty-Six Heavens now possessed power comparable to that of an ordinary Chaos treasure, though it could only be used to bind and influence the enemy!

“Bind me?” The black-haired elder laughed coldly. “I am a Ki Refiner, not a Fiendgod. I don’t need to engage in close combat with you. What can your binding do to me?”

“If you won’t come to me, then I’ll go to you.” The white-robed Ji Ning’s divine body flickered, and he manifested three heads and six arms, holding five Northsea swords and the divine sword Violetlight Qiong.

Whoosh.

The white-robed Ji Ning transformed into a streak of light, charging straight at the black-haired elder.

“Oh?” The black-haired elder’s expression changed slightly. Ki Refiners hated being closed in on. He let out a cold snort, and two streams of energy shot out from his nostrils, condensing into two divine swords that seemed to be formed of crystallized ice.

“Only two? Bring out all three of your divine swords,” Ji Ning growled as he closed in for the kill.

“Against you?” The black-haired elder sneered. “Two is more than enough.”

The two ice-crystal divine swords streaked through the air like flowing lights, their sword-light carrying boundless cold as they flew directly at the charging white-robed Ji Ning.

“Clang!”

They clashed.

The white-robed Ji Ning was knocked backwards, his expression shifting slightly. “Damn.” From the first exchange, he could tell that this Ancestral Immortal possessed at least the combat power of a top-tier Elder God! He was even more troublesome than the Great Demon God Cixiu had been. Fortunately, he had trained the Starseizing Hand to the sixth cycle; otherwise, it would have been very difficult to handle him today.

“With this little bit of strength, you can’t even get close to me,” the black-haired elder sneered.

“Is that so?” The white-robed Ji Ning charged forward once more, whirling his six divine swords. This time, every one of his six palms executed the power of the sixth cycle of the Starseizing Hand! The vast divine power exploded out in a single instant, and the six streaks of sword-light seemed to form six heavenly chasms hanging in the void, sweeping away all obstacles before them.

The Heavenbreaker Stance of the Brightmoon Sword-Art!

The two ice-crystal divine swords shot out with overwhelming momentum, directly meeting Ji Ning’s attack.

Boom!!!

The two ice-crystal divine swords were sent tumbling backwards. Ji Ning’s most dazzling sword, the blood-colored Violetlight Qiong, had extended to a full thousand kilometers in length, swinging down directly toward the distant black-haired elder.

“Your divine ability has some real power.” The black-haired elder frowned slightly. A small golden sword then flew out from between his brows. As it emerged, it rapidly expanded into a divine sword a hundred meters long, surging forward with crushing power, carrying the aura of supreme, pure Yang. It collided with Ji Ning’s Violetlight Qiong.

Boom!

Ji Ning’s palm went numb. The Violetlight Qiong was sent flying back, while the golden divine sword was also knocked tumbling in the air.

“Again!” Ji Ning charged forward once more with his six arms, unleashing a mad assault.

“Damn it.” The black-haired elder glanced angrily at the Ice Lotuses surrounding him. The streams of energy released by the lotuses were like ropes, madly wrapping around and binding him. Although he wasn’t engaging in close combat, his three divine swords were still being affected.

“Triple-Sword Style, First Form!” A cold light flickered in the black-haired elder’s eyes.

The two ice-crystal divine swords and the single golden divine sword arranged themselves in a triangular formation in midair. Mysterious runes flickered across their surfaces, resonating with each other. They quickly and naturally merged into a single, terrifyingly sharp sword of mixed gold and white light. The moment this sword appeared, boundless sharp aura sliced through the surrounding air currents.

Ji Ning’s expression changed dramatically. “So strong! This is a complete set of Chaos divine swords. These three Chaos divine swords… are at least of the Chaos high-grade, and might even be Chaos supreme-grade. With their internal seals fully activated, they can merge into one body, instantly erupting with power that almost matches my Violetlight Qiong.”

This was exactly what Daoist Three Purities in the Three Realms had done. He had four Chaos divine swords, and with the Immortal-Slaying Sword Diagram, they could perfectly merge, reaching a power level close to Ji Ning’s Violetlight Qiong. This was the level of power a complete set of Chaos divine swords could achieve when perfectly executed.

“Strike!” The distant black-robed Ji Ning let out a furious shout.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The thirty-six Ice Lotuses that had been floating in the air now shot forward like falling stars, smashing into the mixed gold-white divine sword. Each Ice Lotus moved with an utterly bizarre and incredibly fast trajectory, completely surpassing the limits of the Heavenly Dao. Although it was just a simple smash, he was executing the Shadowless Stance of the Brightmoon Sword-Art.

“Clang! Clang! Clang!” The Ice Lotuses did their best to smash and intercept.

“Kill!” The three-headed, six-armed white-robed Ji Ning charged in with his six divine swords.

The gold-white divine sword was unstoppable. The Ice Lotuses were primarily meant to release freezing air currents to bind the enemy—somewhat similar to the function of the Water-Fire Annihilation Formation. If used as blunt weapons to smash into things, they were barely on the level of top-grade innate treasures. They were far too weak, while the power of the gold-white divine sword was approaching that of the Violetlight Qiong. Under the combined effect of the set, it had nearly surpassed the category of a Chaos treasure.

“Boom.”

The Violetlight Qiong transformed into a black-hole vortex, taking the brunt of the attack first, followed by the other five divine swords.

The black hole of sword-light actually completely blocked the gold-white divine sword!

“What?!” The black-haired elder’s expression changed drastically. “This sword-art…” He was a swordsman himself, and he could immediately sense how terrifying Ji Ning’s sword-light was.

The golden-black hole seemed eternal, uncreated and indestructible, cycling endlessly without end.

Ji Ning laughed coldly to himself.

The first stance of that nameless sword-art, the ‘Heart-Sword Stance,’ was far too profound; he hadn’t been able to fully comprehend it. However, the ninety-eight sword-art stone steles left behind by World God Northrest had primarily taught the meaning of ‘concealing the edge.’ Contemplating the Heart-Sword Stance, combined with the meaning of hidden sharpness… it felt to Ji Ning very close to his own ‘Soleheart Stance.’ Thus, he was able to incorporate some insights into it. As a result, the Soleheart Stance was the highest in level among his five stances.

“Kill.”

While defending, Ji Ning continued his charge.

“Triple-Sword Style, Second Form!” The black-haired elder’s face was ugly. He had only comprehended the second form of this technique so far.

“Huum, huum, huum…”

The gold-white divine sword suddenly began to rotate.

Ji Ning’s black-hole sword-light immediately began to tremble, persisting for a moment before collapsing. The gold-white divine sword stabbed directly into Ji Ning’s chest, causing him to stumble back a step. However, a single white mark was the only thing left on his skin.

“A body-protection technique?” The black-haired elder was shocked.

A Fiendgod Body Refiner engaging in close combat was always a headache for Ki Refiners.

If their body-protection technique was also heaven-defying, then it was an even bigger headache.

“Go!” The Ice Lotuses in the high air suddenly smashed down toward the black-haired elder. A black chain flew out from the elder’s body surface, coiling around him, blocking all the crashing Ice Lotuses.

“Kill!” The white-robed Ji Ning charged forward once more. The black-haired elder’s expression instantly turned ugly.

A moment later.

“I admit defeat.” The black-haired elder gave up.

The upper half of the white-robed Ji Ning’s robe was full of holes, but it quickly repaired itself.

“If I weren’t imprisoned here, forced to just take a beating… you would never have been able to handle me,” the black-haired elder said coldly, staring at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning admitted it.

Relying on his body-protection technique and his superb sword-art, although the black-haired elder had tried his best to keep his distance, in the end, Ji Ning had caught up to him. And when he did, the black-haired elder’s defeat was sealed.

“The Triple Absolute divine swords… I can give them to you,” the black-haired elder said, looking at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning stood before the black-haired elder, his killing intent enveloping his opponent. “A moment ago, I asked you to hand over the Triple Absolute divine swords. Now your life is in my hands. It would be best for you to submit to me.”

“Submit?” The black-haired elder’s expression changed, then he sneered. “Even if I were willing to submit and become your retainer, I wouldn’t be able to go out and fight for you. Not unless you could release me from this World Prison.”

“I can’t release you. Not right now, anyway,” Ji Ning said.

“Then what point is there in talking about submission?” The black-haired elder shook his head disdainfully.

“I need to examine your memories,” Ji Ning said.

An Ancestral Immortal was bound to know a great deal. Perhaps he could obtain some information that would be helpful in the coming great calamity.

“Impossible.” The black-haired elder’s expression changed drastically. He roared angrily, “I’m willing to submit to you, become your retainer, and risk my life for you! But do not insult me. I would rather die than let you examine my memories.”

Ji Ning sighed to himself.

It was just as he had thought.

Having received the teachings of World God Northrest, Ji Ning knew very well that there was a custom of ‘followers’ in the endless primordial chaos. Some powerful cultivators would have other cultivators follow them. However, True Gods and True Immortals were considered weak in the endless chaos, with very little status. Being captured and turned into slaves was quite normal. Of the six servants under the Great Demon God Cixiu, five had been slaves!

There were also followers like the ‘Saberlord,’ who had chosen to follow him to repay a debt of gratitude. They were called servants, but they were not slaves.

The dark-haired elder was also willing to become Ji Ning’s follower, but he absolutely refused to let Ji Ning soul-search him.

Elder Gods and Ancestral Immortals… in the endless chaos, they generally had their own dignity.

“Then there’s no other way.” Ji Ning looked at the black-haired elder, killing intent flickering in his eyes. He was trying to pressure him further.

“I can make a concession.” The black-haired elder gritted his teeth. “I can swear a Life Oath to you, that I will never lie to you.

You can ask me whatever you want. As long as it doesn’t involve private matters too shameful to speak of, I will tell you everything.”

“A Life Oath?” Ji Ning’s eyes lit up. “Do you have an Oathstone?”

A Life Oath was an oath that generally only World Gods and Chaos Immortals could swear directly. Weaker cultivators, like Elder Gods and Ancestral Immortals, or even True Gods and True Immortals, and Empyrean Gods and Celestial Immortals… almost all of them needed to rely on an ‘Oathstone’ to swear a Life Oath.

“I was planning on establishing a sect in the future, so of course I prepared an Oathstone a long time ago.” The black-haired elder waved his hand, producing a green jade crystal ball covered in rippling runic patterns. “This is an Oathstone personally refined by a Chaos Immortal. Back then, I spent ninety-nine drops of Chaos Nectar to acquire it.”

When he heard ‘Chaos Nectar,’ Ji Ning’s heart stirred.

As an Ancestral Immortal, he was truly different. His status in the endless chaos was much higher, and he possessed far more treasures. This time, it was only because the other party was imprisoned here, unable to leave a radius of a thousand kilometers, that Ji Ning had been able to force him to lower his head! If they had been outside, the elder could have easily fled long ago.

“It is now masterless. You can refine it.” The black-haired elder held out the green jade crystal ball.

“An Oathstone.” Ji Ning waved his hand, and the green jade crystal ball flew into his grasp. He immediately began to refine it, establishing a Life Oath within it.

“Swear the Life Oath,” Ji Ning said, looking at the black-haired elder.

The black-haired elder sighed lightly. Follower? To put it bluntly, the power of his current jailer was, at best, equal to his own. If they had been outside, this level of strength would not be worth following! But forced by life and death, he could only bow his head.

The black-haired elder reached out and placed his hand on the Oathstone. He immediately sensed the Life Oath within it. He did not resist, and following the power of the Oathstone, his soul began to swear the oath: “I swear by my own life, that I shall forever follow… until… I shall…”

As the owner of the Oathstone, Ji Ning could sense the Life Oath his opponent was making.