At this moment, as Zhou Yu listened to Ji Ning recount what had happened, he gradually understood everything.
A few days earlier, a young master from the Shaoyan Clan, "Shaoyan Nong," had arrived in Anchan Commandery and sought out talented cultivators such as Ji Ning to help him enter the Wujiang Immortal Mansion.
After succeeding, Shaoyan Nong had personally escorted Ji Ning and the others out of the Wujiang Immortal Mansion, then held a celebration banquet here to commemorate their success.
Yet for some unknown reason, a powerful Loose Immortal had suddenly appeared and immediately tried to take Ji Ning's life.
"Senior Ganyu, given Fellow Daoist Ji Ning's strength, I fear he could not have provoked such an enemy. Could it be that you have some foe who has taken their anger out on Fellow Daoist Ji Ning?" A voice suddenly rang out.
The speaker was a youth dressed in splendid brocade robes. Zhou Yu glanced at him and understood that this was Shaoyan Nong.
"Perhaps."
Zhou Yu said calmly, "I will get to the bottom of this matter."
"Ji Ning, come back with me first." Zhou Yu spoke to Ji Ning, then turned to the others.
"Disciples of the Black-White Academy, come with me."
"Yes."
Everyone nodded. They quickly rose and gathered around Zhou Yu. With a wave of his hand, they all vanished from the spot.
"Young Master." Behind Shaoyan Nong, a Godfiend Realm cultivator with a perfected Primordial Spirit said gravely, "That Loose Immortal just now was..."
"Say no more. We'll return first."
Shaoyan Nong spoke without hesitation.
At this moment, Zhou Yu and Ji Ning stood in the air above the mountain peak.
Zhou Yu had merely sent the Black-White Academy disciples back. He and Ji Ning had not returned.
"Ji Ning, who do you think wanted to kill you?" Zhou Yu asked.
"Master, I truly have never offended a Loose Immortal of that level." Ji Ning had calmed down as well. He said:
"But this matter cannot be explained merely as an enemy of yours, Master. That Loose Immortal clearly knew I was here long ago. The instant he arrived, he attacked without hesitation. I suspect that one of the cultivators here must have tipped him off."
"Who do you think it was?" Zhou Yu asked again.
"...Shaoyan Nong?" Ji Ning was uncertain now.
Shaoyan Nong had treated him very well all along. Ji Ning understood that this was probably because of his master, but no matter what, Shaoyan Nong had no reason to kill him.
Besides, he had helped Shaoyan Nong complete the trial mission. Setting aside gratitude, why would the man want to kill him?
Yet after thinking it over, Ji Ning still arrived at this seemingly impossible answer.
The greatest point of suspicion surrounding Shaoyan Nong was why he had not held the celebration banquet inside the Wujiang Immortal Mansion, but had instead enthusiastically insisted that they stay after leaving it.
Ji Ning had reason to suspect that Shaoyan Nong had done this to keep him there.
"Correct. It seems you were not misled by Shaoyan Nong's words. Your experiences over these years have borne fruit." Zhou Yu nodded in satisfaction.
"Master, are you saying that he truly is the culprit?" Ji Ning asked in surprise.
"I'm ninety percent certain. But whether it's really him or not, we'll know once we ask." Zhou Yu smiled. Looking at the Shaoyan Clan group that had just departed aboard a Flying Boat, he brought Ji Ning with him and directly used Great Teleportation.
Whoosh!
The two instantly appeared inside a room aboard the Flying Boat. Shaoyan Nong was seated cross-legged there, with the Godfiend Realm Xiangliu behind him.
"Immortal Ganyu."
The Godfiend Realm Xiangliu was shocked upon seeing Zhou Yu. He immediately tried to shield Shaoyan Nong, but Zhou Yu pointed a finger, and Xiangliu was instantly frozen in place.
Shaoyan Nong tried to use a lifesaving treasure, but he too was instantly immobilized.
"Immortal Ganyu, what are you trying to do? I am the next Duke of Feather God. If you dare act recklessly, my Shaoyan Clan will never let you go!" Shaoyan Nong discovered that he could still speak and hurriedly threatened him.
In truth, he was deeply wary of Zhou Yu.
A Loose Immortal who had lived for three million years was not comparable to an ordinary Million-Year Loose Immortal. Shaoyan Nong's high status in the Shaoyan Clan was because a true Celestial Immortal stood behind him—Celestial Immortal Xuanji.
Shaoyan Nong understood that Zhou Yu's strength might not be beneath that of his backer, Celestial Immortal Xuanji.
That was a terrifying prospect. Ordinary Million-Year Loose Immortals merely possessed strength at the threshold of a Celestial Immortal. Very few Celestial Immortals were that weak.
But an Immortal Ganyu who could truly rival a Celestial Immortal was extremely frightening.
That was why, although he wanted to kill Ji Ning, he had not acted directly. Instead, he had secretly contacted his clan and had it send an expert.
That was in the Shaoyan Clan's interests.
Shaoyan Nong had discovered that Ji Ning was actually a descendant of the Yuchi Clan, which the Shaoyan Clan had exterminated. Once they found such a talented individual with a blood feud against the Shaoyan Clan, the Shaoyan Clan's principles dictated that they could not allow him to live.
Not to mention that Ji Ning had become Immortal Ganyu's disciple and possessed an impressive background. If allowed to grow, he would very likely threaten the Shaoyan Clan in the future.
Thus, the Shaoyan Clan had immediately dispatched an exceptionally powerful Loose Immortal. Though not a Million-Year Loose Immortal, his strength was comparable to that of a Loose Immortal who had lived seven or eight hundred thousand years.
They simply had not expected that even with such a powerful Loose Immortal taking action, the assassination would still fail.
"The Shaoyan Clan?"
Zhou Yu smiled but said nothing more. He looked at Ji Ning and said, "Ji Ning, ask whatever you wish. He cannot lie before me."
"Alright." Ji Ning nodded. He immediately fixed his gaze on Shaoyan Nong and asked, "Shaoyan Nong, was this assassin connected to you?"
"The assassin was sent by the Shaoyan Clan." Shaoyan Nong spoke, terror flooding his heart. He could not control himself and had instinctively spoken the truth.
"Why? I don't believe I have ever offended you." Ji Ning frowned.
"Because you used the Wind Wing Evasion Technique. Xue Hongyi told me that your mother was named 'Yuchi Xue.' You are a remnant of the Yuchi Clan, which makes you an enemy of my Shaoyan Clan."
As Shaoyan Nong spoke, Ji Ning finally understood. So that was it. So that was it!
The Yuchi Clan had actually been destroyed by the Shaoyan Clan. His mother's grave injuries, and even her eventual death, might well have been partly due to the Shaoyan Clan's "contributions."
Seeing Ji Ning's reddened eyes, Shaoyan Nong felt a chill in his heart and quickly said, "Ji Ning, don't be foolish. I can give you whatever compensation you want, but if you kill me, not only will you have no place to stand in the Great Xia Dynasty, your master will not escape blame either. My Shaoyan Clan has followed His Majesty the Xia Emperor since the age of Godfiends. We have more than one Celestial Immortal."
"If I don't kill you, will your Shaoyan Clan let me go?" Ji Ning asked coldly.
"At the very least, we will not pursue you at any cost. And Immortal Ganyu will not be implicated either," Shaoyan Nong hurriedly said.
Hearing this, Ji Ning felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.
That was right. It would be one thing if only he were affected, but if he implicated his master because of this, would he still be worthy of cultivating immortality?
"Haha, implicate me?" Zhou Yu looked at Shaoyan Nong. The next moment, invisible power suddenly erupted.
Sss! Sss!
Without a sound, Shaoyan Nong and the Godfiend Realm Xiangliu were reduced to nothingness.
After their deaths, some Origin Energy was absorbed by Zhou Yu. Though it was scant, he did not mind gathering it little by little.
Meanwhile, Ji Ning was stunned.
"Master, how can my disciple's vendetta implicate you?" Ji Ning hurriedly said.
"Haha, the Shaoyan Clan may be strong, but it cannot cover the sky with one hand. Having lived this long, do you think I do not know the consequences? It is only a Shaoyan Nong. Killing him is no great matter." Zhou Yu said:
"On the contrary, it is no longer safe for you to remain in Anchan Commandery. I order you to immediately head to the Great Xia Capital and participate in the upcoming Immortal Fate Assembly."
"The Immortal Fate Assembly?" Ji Ning was startled. He had heard of it before, but he had originally intended to accumulate experience for another three hundred years before participating in the next Immortal Fate Assembly.
But now that his identity had been exposed to the Shaoyan Clan, participating in the Immortal Fate Assembly was not necessarily a bad choice.
As long as I achieve good results there, the Shaoyan Clan will no longer be an opponent I cannot contend with. With that thought, Ji Ning understood that his master had pointed out a clear path for him.
"I understand."
Ji Ning nodded. He knew that he could not help with anything right now. Following his master's instructions and participating in the Immortal Fate Assembly was the best choice.
"You should have use for Shaoyan Nong's treasures. Take them with you as well." Zhou Yu waved his hand and sent Shaoyan Nong's storage treasure to Ji Ning.
"Master... I will definitely return!"
Ji Ning gave a deep bow. When that Loose Immortal had attacked him earlier, he had survived only by relying on his master's treasure. Now, his master had taken the risk of directly killing Shaoyan Nong. Ji Ning was naturally deeply moved and secretly swore that he would grow stronger and return.
"Go. Make your way through the world." Zhou Yu said no more.
He did not tell Ji Ning that he did not care about the Shaoyan Clan at all, because he wanted to give Ji Ning some pressure. Only pressure would allow him to grow faster.
Because the clan possessed a life tablet for him, the instant Shaoyan Nong died, the Shaoyan Clan learned of it.
Shaoyan Nong's shattered life tablet was quickly brought before Celestial Immortal Xuanji. At that moment, Celestial Immortal Xuanji was more furious than ever before.
Shaoyan Nong was the son of his most beloved female disciple, and someone he had always valued. Yet he had actually died in Anchan Commandery?
Without the slightest hesitation, Celestial Immortal Xuanji immediately left his secluded residence and headed straight for Anchan Commandery.
After arriving in Anchan Commandery, he used a secret art and quickly located the place where Shaoyan Nong had fallen through his life tablet.
"This is the place."
Celestial Immortal Xuanji sat in an immortal carriage drawn by nine flood dragons. After confirming the location, he rose directly from the carriage and took a step into the void ahead.
Celestial Immortal Xuanji did not hesitate to cast the Time Reversal spell.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Time reversed, and scenes from the past unfolded before Celestial Immortal Xuanji.
But soon, the reversing time stopped. Even as Celestial Immortal Xuanji desperately channeled his immortal power, he could not make time reverse even the slightest bit further.
"What?" Celestial Immortal Xuanji could not believe it.
There were only two possibilities for this: either a terrifyingly powerful expert had appeared here at some point in the past, or someone with an extremely profound comprehension of the Path of Time—perhaps even someone who had completely mastered it—had deliberately used some method to prevent time from being reversed here.
"How could Nong'er have provoked such an existence?" Celestial Immortal Xuanji instinctively found it impossible to believe.
Suddenly, Celestial Immortal Xuanji looked into the distance. A figure had appeared there at some unknown moment.
In Celestial Immortal Xuanji's senses, this figure had no aura at all, as if he did not exist.
Could he be the killer?
The thought instinctively flashed through Celestial Immortal Xuanji's mind. At that moment, the figure moved, extending a single finger.
Whoosh!
Space and time seemed to shorten instantly, and that finger, containing terrifying power over space and time, arrived before Celestial Immortal Xuanji.
"What?"
Celestial Immortal Xuanji frantically circulated his immortal power and activated his treasures, trying to block the finger. But though the finger appeared slow, his movements could not keep up with its speed at all.
The finger lightly touched Celestial Immortal Xuanji's forehead.
Sss!
Without a sound, a Celestial Immortal was reduced to dust.
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