Goodbye Ji Ning

Great Xia World.

Across the vast, desolate wilderness, an endless, suffocating Sha Qi permeated the air.

Over the past decade or so, the Xia Emperor had led tens of thousands of Celestial Immortals, millions of Loose Immortals, and countless Gods and Devils into a decisive war against the Seamless Gate.

The slaughter of so many immortals and demons had long since rendered this battlefield terrifying; the concentrated resentment and Sha Qi were so potent that any ordinary cultivator who dared approach would likely see their Dao heart collapse and perish in an instant.

On either side of the battlefield, the Seamless Gate's Wujian City and the Xia Emperor's Eight-Dragon Cloud City—a supreme-grade treasure—hovered in a tense standoff.

Both sides had entered a period of truce, each adjusting their forces and waiting for an opening.

Suddenly, a massive spatial rift tore open above Eight-Dragon Cloud City. From behind the rift, a series of powerful figures emerged—they were Celestial Gods and True Immortals.

This was the first wave of reinforcements sent by Crimson Bright Dao Ancestor to support the Great Xia World.

"So many Celestial Gods and True Immortals?"

Below, in Eight-Dragon Cloud City, many figures flew out, among them Ji Ning, clad in white robes.

Many Celestial Immortals were stunned. In the previous decisive battles of the Great Xia World, the total number of Celestial Gods and True Immortals involved on both sides hadn't even reached ten, yet now, dozens had appeared all at once.

"Hmm?"

Ji Ning suddenly froze. Among these Celestial Gods and True Immortals, he spotted a familiar figure.

Master? Ji Ning felt a mix of shock and joy.

After studying at Mount Fangcun and returning to the Great Xia World, his greatest regret had been the disappearance of Zhou Yu.

Although he had later learned from the Xia Emperor that Zhou Yu was a "reincarnated powerhouse" who had been taken away by a True God, he still felt a deep sense of loss.

Ji Ning hadn't expected Zhou Yu to appear now, and judging by his aura, he had clearly become a Empyrean God.

At that moment, Zhou Yu also noticed Ji Ning.

Swish.

With a single step, Zhou Yu entered Eight-Dragon Cloud City below.

"Master." Ji Ning flew over rapidly.

"Ji Ning." Zhou Yu looked at him, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"In these years, you've grown enough to hold your own in the war between immortals and demons," Zhou Yu remarked with emotion.

The Xia Emperor's second Primordial Spirit had already informed him that after Ji Ning returned to Great Xia thirty years after leaving, he had stirred up quite a storm.

In particular, after Shaoyan Chou went missing, the Seamless Gate had tried to win over the Shaoyan Clan by goading Ji Ning—who held an old grudge against them—into attacking. Ji Ning had inadvertently fallen into a trap, triggering the descent of karmic fire, but fortunately, he had endured it and soared to new heights ever since.

"It was your guidance back then, Master, that led me to participate in the Immortal Fate Assembly, which gave me my later opportunities," Ji Ning said with deep feeling. He then asked with curiosity:

"I heard from the Xia Emperor that you are a reincarnated powerhouse. How did you come to the Great Xia World with so many Celestial Gods and True Immortals?"

"They are all Celestial Gods and True Immortals from the Crimson Bright Realm. As for me, I am here to help," Zhou Yu said. "The Realm War of the Crimson Bright Realm is about to erupt here in the Great Xia World."

"A Realm War?" Ji Ning asked, puzzled.

"A realm usually encompasses dozens of great worlds. When the powerhouses from many great worlds gather to fight a decisive battle, it is called a Realm War," Zhou Yu explained, leaving Ji Ning stunned.

Dozens of great worlds, with all their powerhouses gathered together?

What kind of terrifying war would that be?

"Fellow Daoist Ganyu, Beiming, you two can catch up later. Let us first discuss how to deal with the Seamless Gate," the Xia Emperor called out from afar.

"Go on ahead. We shall talk later," Zhou Yu said to Ji Ning, who nodded in response.

That day, after the Xia Emperor explained the current situation to the many Celestial Immortals, Ji Ning invited Zhou Yu to his barracks.

Having not seen each other for so long, Ji Ning had much to say, especially now that he knew Zhou Yu was a reincarnated powerhouse.

With his current level of insight, Ji Ning guessed that Zhou Yu must have already awakened his past-life memories when he first took him as a disciple; the proof was the terrifying life-saving item Zhou Yu had gifted him.

He hadn't understood it before, but now he realized it must have been a power of a very high order.

After Zhou Yu followed Ji Ning into his camp, a young woman in black robes walked out.

"Uncle-Master Ganyu, it has been a long time," Yu Wei said with a bow.

"Master, about Senior Sister and me..." Ji Ning started, intending to explain.

"The child in Yu Wei's womb is yours, isn't it? It is notoriously difficult for immortals and demons to conceive; this is a joyous occasion," Zhou Yu said with a smile. The moment he saw Yu Wei, he had sensed the rich vitality within her and naturally understood she was pregnant.

"It was also you, Uncle-Master, who told me to participate in the Immortal Fate Assembly, which led me to Junior Brother," Yu Wei laughed. "I have always wanted to find a chance to thank you."

"No need to thank me. It was your own destiny," Zhou Yu said, looking at Yu Wei while lost in thought.

Back then, he had chosen to tell Yu Wei of Ji Ning's whereabouts, letting Ji Ning make his own choice, and in the end, the two had indeed come together.

Now that Yu Wei had become a Celestial Immortal, there was no doubt she must have awakened her past-life memories; she was now a spy for the Seamless Gate.

If he left Yu Wei be, her situation would serve as a trial for Ji Ning.

But to pretend ignorance and intentionally let Ji Ning suffer that pain—Zhou Yu felt a pang of guilt in his heart.

After some thought, Zhou Yu still chose to employ his Mind Power, quietly leaving behind a few suggestive imprints within Yu Wei's heart.

This was a simplified application of Mind Power Soul Control; it lacked the heaven-defying enslavement effects of the full technique, but it could still influence Yu Wei's thoughts to a certain degree.

God King Buxiu of the Seamless Gate excelled in the path of Heart Demons. In the Wujian Chaos World, this path was one of the Heavenly Daos, and having mastered it, he was naturally adept at manipulating the hearts of men.

While Buxiu used the path of Heart Demons to manipulate minds, Zhou Yu used his Mind Power to interfere.

As for whether he could completely reverse Yu Wei's mindset, Zhou Yu could not be certain; after all, his current Mind Power was only at the fourth level.

If it were at the fifth level, he could easily shatter God King Buxiu's influence.

Of course, it was also because Zhou Yu did not truly wish to compromise Yu Wei's intellect; otherwise, given the terror of Mind Power Soul Control, God King Buxiu's meager methods of manipulation would be nothing at all.

At this moment, Yu Wei naturally sensed nothing amiss, and she joined Ji Ning in warmly inviting Zhou Yu into the barracks.

After Zhou Yu and the others arrived in the Great Xia World, the Seamless Gate soon dropped all pretenses. Dao Ancestor Mozhu descended with great fanfare, using the vast pressure of a Dao Ancestor to give the people of the Great Xia World a stern warning.

Fortunately, it was not long before Crimson Bright Dao Ancestor also arrived with reinforcements.

Endless Loose Immortals and Gods and Devils, along with a million Celestial Immortals, gathered together; their combined aura alone was earth-shattering.

A war of this scale is exactly what I need. Standing within Eight-Dragon Cloud City and watching the armies of both sides converge, Zhou Yu felt a surge of excitement in his heart.

The origin energy required for his simulations was increasing, and only through such slaughter could he quickly accumulate enough for his next simulation.

However, the war must be fought slowly. I should reveal my many trump cards gradually so that I can kill more. Zhou Yu pondered to himself.

To Zhou Yu, the intensity of the Realm War at this moment was actually quite low. It would not be difficult for him to help Crimson Bright Dao Ancestor win this war, but he also had to consider his own interests; killing enough was what he truly desired.