[A Xiantian Spirit Treasure!?]
Xia Manggan looked at Tuoshan Heavenly Immortal in shock.
Even the vast majority of Heavenly Immortals did not possess a treasure like this, did they?
Was the Beishan Clan really so faithful to their agreement?
They had said they would return it to its rightful owner, and they had sent it over just like that?
After all,
the Hunyuan Heavenly Immortal inheritance he had received had not even mentioned this "Wuji Ring"!
"Don't think this old man is a good person."
Little Fatty Spirit snorted coldly. "He tried to refine me on the way here, but his strength was too weak. Hmph. If I don't want to acknowledge a master, even a Pure Yang True Immortal can forget about refining me easily."
Tuoshan Heavenly Immortal looked embarrassed and explained, "It was also my first time seeing a Xiantian Spirit Treasure. I was simply curious and wanted to see what was so extraordinary about it."
"I understand, Senior." Xia Manggan smiled. "Everyone is curious by nature, especially when facing a Xiantian Spirit Treasure. For Senior Tuoshan to hand this spirit treasure over to me... I will remember the Beishan Clan's kindness in my heart."
"It is good that you understand, young friend." Tuoshan Heavenly Immortal let out a breath.
This had originally been a good opportunity to forge a friendly bond. If his momentary "impulse" ruined it, all his efforts would have been wasted, and the loss would have been tremendous.
At that moment, Little Fatty Spirit stomped atop the Ancient Stone Ring. "Hurry up and send a thread of Origin Force into me so I can acknowledge you as my master first. I've spent so many years in this mortal world with its depleted spiritual energy, and no master has supplied me with Origin Force. I'm practically starving to death."
"Alright."
Xia Manggan immediately poured a stream of Origin Force into the Ancient Stone Ring in his hand.
At once, a satisfied expression appeared on Little Fatty Spirit's face before it sank back into the Ancient Stone Ring.
Afterward, Xia Manggan discovered that a faint connection had formed between himself and the Ancient Stone Ring.
With a thought,
he stored the Ancient Stone Ring within his Purple Mansion space.
"..." Tuoshan Heavenly Immortal watched everything with envy.
For ordinary magic treasures forged by people—whether Human Rank, Earth Rank, Heaven Rank, Immortal Rank, or even Pure Yang rank—there were requirements for Origin Force.
For example, an Immortal Rank magic treasure required at least an Earth Immortal of the Return to Void realm to refine it.
Likewise, a Pure Yang Magic Treasure required at least a Heavenly Immortal to refine it.
But Xiantian Spirit Treasures seized the creation of Heaven and Earth and were born in accordance with fate. They naturally contained the Dao of Heaven and Earth.
If a Xiantian Spirit Treasure was willing, even a mortal could use it.
Xia Manggan, for instance, had gained the recognition of the Xiantian Spirit Treasure's spirit. It had voluntarily absorbed his Origin Force and acknowledged him as its master.
Otherwise, even a Heavenly Immortal would be unable to refine it.
A Pure Yang True Immortal might be able to "forcibly refine" it, but if the Xiantian Spirit Treasure deliberately resisted, refining it would still be extremely difficult.
No wonder my elder brother said we had no fate with this spirit treasure. Even if we had truly kept it for ourselves, no one in my Beishan Clan could refine it!
Tuoshan Heavenly Immortal felt somewhat dejected. Coupled with Little Fatty Spirit having "exposed" him earlier, he no longer saw any point in staying.
"Young friend Xia Mang, now that the spirit treasure has been returned, this old man will head back to the Anchan Marquis Mansion first," Tuoshan Heavenly Immortal said. "If anything comes up in the future, you may come directly to find me. The guards at the gate will not stop you."
"Thank you, Senior Tuoshan." Xia Manggan bowed respectfully.
After watching Tuoshan Heavenly Immortal leave, he was about to communicate with the Wuji Ring and ask what abilities it possessed.
Then he heard voices from nearby.
"Wonderful. That was truly wonderful."
"This Black-White Diagram is incredibly helpful for cultivation!"
It was Mu Zishuo, who had completely awakened from his deep immersion in comprehending the Black-White Diagram.
"Hm?" Mu Zishuo looked around. "Senior Brother Xia Mang, why are only the two of us left? Where is Senior Brother Ji Ning?"
"Ji Ning must have gained something else," Xia Manggan said with a soft laugh, then looked toward the horizon.
The Sun Star had revealed a faint outline.
Eastern District of the Black-White Academy.
A wooden boat flew through the air toward Beiming Peak.
"One should act like Senior Beixing, wielding the Three-Foot Sword in hand and slaying every injustice under heaven!"
Ji Ning stood at the prow, recalling the deeds of Immortal Beixing that he had learned from Headmaster Jade Sea Daoist. His heart surged with emotion, and he could not calm down for a long while.
Suddenly—
"Senior Brother Ji Ning."
In the distance,
an Azure Dragon Puppet flew over, carrying Xia Manggan and Mu Zishuo.
"Senior Brother Ji Ning, when Senior Brother Xia Mang and I woke up, we didn't see you. You were..."
As he spoke, Mu Zishuo realized something.
According to the Black-White Academy disciple handbook, the longer one's first comprehension of the Black-White Diagram lasted, the greater the gains.
He had awakened at dawn.
Xia Manggan had awakened slightly before him, though probably not by much.
But Ji Ning—there was no telling when he had left.
Clearly, Ji Ning had gained less from comprehending the Black-White Diagram than the two of them, which was why he had left early.
Now that they had met, he had bluntly asked about it...
Once Mu Zishuo realized this, he felt rather awkward.
"I had some matters to deal with, so I left early."
Ji Ning saw through Mu Zishuo's thoughts and merely smiled, completely unconcerned.
How could you possibly know that I obtained Senior Beixing's complete Three-Foot Sword inheritance?
Compared to the unparalleled sword art inheritance of a million-year Loose Immortal who could rival a Heavenly Immortal,
the little bit he had gained from comprehending the Black-White Diagram was not worth mentioning in Ji Ning's eyes.
"I'm somewhat tired after comprehending it through the night. Junior Brothers, I'll return to my residence first," Xia Manggan said.
Although the Wuji Ring had acknowledged him as its master,
if he wanted to truly wield it as easily as an arm and unleash all of its power,
he still needed to refine the Xiantian Restriction contained within it.
Moreover, he still had the Hunyuan Heavenly Immortal's cross-generational inheritance, the "Hunyuan Infinite Wheel," in his mind. He needed to study and comprehend it in peace so that it could perfectly merge with the "Wheel of Life and Death of the Heavens."
Thus, he truly had no interest in chatting idly with them here.
"Senior Brother Xia Mang, go back and rest well."
"See you at the initiation ceremony two days from now."
Mu Zishuo and Ji Ning spoke in turn.
"Mm, see you in two days."
Xia Manggan nodded, flew from the Azure Dragon Puppet, and descended toward Di Ta Peak.
"Junior Brother Shuo, I'll return to my residence as well." After watching Xia Manggan leave, Ji Ning also bade Mu Zishuo farewell.
He needed to seize every moment to comprehend the first stance of the Three-Foot Sword, then execute it.
He believed
that with the Three-Foot Sword, a sword art ranked among the very finest of the Black-White Academy's many inheritances,
the gap between himself and Xia Manggan would surely be erased quickly.
In the blink of an eye, two days passed.
Early morning.
Xia Manggan emerged from the quiet room.
"Young Master."
Beishan Hu, who had long been waiting, hurried forward. "No one else has passed the Black-White Academy's entrance examination over the past two days. This year, the only new Formal Disciples are you, Ji Ning, and Mu Zishuo."
"Mm." Xia Manggan was not surprised in the least.
If there were young cultivators confident in passing the examination, they would have come on the first day rather than waiting until the next two days to take it.
"Young Master, are you going to the Headmaster Hall to attend the initiation ceremony?" Beishan Hu asked.
"No rush. Prepare something to eat first," Xia Manggan instructed.
Although he had yet to refine the first layer of the Wuji Ring's Xiantian Restriction, Xiantian Restrictions were nurtured by Heaven and Earth and contained the natural Dao of Heaven and Earth.
This made the refinement process no less effective than directly using Divine Sense to perceive a fully formed "Dao."
After refining it continuously for two days, the speed at which his Dao Comprehension Realm improved was practically like being in a constant state of enlightenment.
That exhilarating feeling of sensing his own progress every moment put him in an excellent mood.
And when one was in a good mood, one naturally wanted to eat something delicious.
The initiation ceremony would not begin until sunrise at the hour of Mao anyway, so going now would only mean waiting around.
Thus, Xia Manggan ate with complete peace of mind.
But what he did not know was
that an undercurrent caused by him was spreading among the Black-White Academy's Formal Disciples.
Weekend bonus chapter. A new week, and a new day! Gentlemen, vote, vote!!
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