Four Ancestors of the River Source

Story context

This chapter is a masterclass in Xianxia political negotiation disguised as a failed apprenticeship. Old Man Yuan, a mysterious and wealthy ancient power, desperately wants to take Ji Ning as his disciple, offering mountains of divine abilities and treasure. But Patriarch Subhuti, Ji Ning’s current master, blocks the deal with a single, immovable condition: choose a side in the coming war. What follows is an explosive, hour-long argument between two primordial brothers that cracks open the secret behind the Three Realms’ brewing storm. Ji Ning doesn’t get a second master, but he walks away with a priceless consolation prize—a chaotic but brilliant pile of Heartforce application techniques that promise to fix his biggest tactical weakness. The chapter shifts from tense debate to cerebral treasure-hunt as Ji Ning processes his new inheritance.

Why it matters

Buckle up for a chapter that’s 90% two old gods arguing in a possessed craftsman’s body—and it’s absolutely riveting. The payoff here is twofold. First, you get a masterclass in faction politics: Bodhi’s refusal is cold, principled, and terrifyingly rational. He’s not just being stubborn; he’s protecting Ji Ning from a future execution scenario. Second, the *Heart Sutra* is a genius writer’s tool for upgrading the protagonist without making him instantly overpowered. Ji Ning gets a toolbox, not a finished weapon—and because the techniques are unsystematic, *he* has to do the work to turn them into coherent power. That’s the kind of progression that keeps a Xianxia satisfying for another thousand chapters.

Quick facts

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Source novel

Desolate Era