"We... are going to that Black Mountain?"
Yu Wei of the Black-White Academy was stunned by Qiheng's actions. "That has to be the most dangerous place. If we go there..."
"Xiang Liufang tried to pilot the flying vessel out of this place just now, but he simply couldn't leave."
Ji Ning turned to explain to Yu Wei. "This place is very strange. We can't retreat. If we want to get out, the only way is to press onward and look for an opportunity to leave within Black Mountain."
"Ji Ning!"
At that moment, Jiu Lian quietly moved closer to Ji Ning, tugged on his sleeve, and transmitted her voice to him. "Ji Ning, your chance has come! Young Master Shaoyan is in trouble now. As long as you save him, you'll become his benefactor. With Young Master Shaoyan supporting you, you'll rise to prominence in the future..."
"Don't say another word!"
Jiu Lian's words stirred a surge of anger in Ji Ning's heart. "Currying favor and flattering others are not in my nature. I will carve out my own future with my own hands. I have no need to cling to the powerful!"
"You're too naive! In this world, if you don't attach yourself to someone important, you'll never get ahead! I'm trying to help you..."
"Shut up!"
Ji Ning snorted. "Jiu Lian, cultivation is the cultivation of the heart. My heart is upright; I cannot do such things. Don't bring this up again."
"I'm doing this for your own good!"
A glimmer of tears flashed through Jiu Lian's eyes.
She simply could not understand him. Ji Ning's pretentious loftiness was utterly unreasonable! For one's own benefit, for the sake of rising to prominence, attaching oneself to the powerful was the best course. What did a tiny sacrifice amount to?