The next day.
Near evening, Xia Manggan finally emerged from his meditation chamber.
"Young Master."
Beishan Hu seemed to have just returned from outside as well.
Seeing Xia Manggan, he hurried forward. "Young Master, my father has entrusted the search for a vessel for your Second Primordial Spirit to the Three Heavenly Fox Immortals of the Cave of Carefree. Heavenly Treasure Mountain has also been notified..."
As he spoke, Beishan Hu faintly sensed that something was off about Xia Manggan's aura. He hurriedly examined it more closely, then exclaimed in shock, "Young Master, your Qi Refining realm has broken through to the Wanxiang Realm? Why do I feel—"
"Like a Primordial Spirit Daoist?" Xia Manggan smiled.
When others broke through from the Purple Mansion to the Wanxiang Realm, even if they cultivated the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Map and possessed a perfect divine body, together with an immortal-grade Qi Refining technique, at most they could absorb two thousand jin of Essence Liquid before reaching the limit of Origin Force their Purple Mansion could bear. They would then have no choice but to break through to the Wanxiang Realm.
But from the very beginning of his Qi Refining cultivation, Xia Manggan had practiced the Yin Yang Two Caves Scripture, which was at least of Pure Yang Grade.
From Xiantian to opening his Purple Mansion, he had used nearly a hundred jin of Essence Liquid. Stabilizing his Early Purple Mansion Stage had consumed another eight hundred jin or so.
By the time he reached the absolute limit of Purple Mansion Perfection, he had absorbed more than twenty-six thousand jin of Essence Liquid.
That amount of Essence Liquid was twelve or thirteen times greater than what even the most monstrously talented geniuses with the deepest foundations possessed, yet only then had he successfully broken through into the Wanxiang Daoist realm.
And upon breaking through, the three great phenomena of the most perfect Wanxiang Realm—'Starry Sky,' 'Moon Rising Over the Sea,' and 'Rising Morning Sun'—naturally appeared at the same time.
Not only that, but the sun, moon, and stars within his Purple Mansion were so vast, real, and profound that it was as though one stood upon the ground and looked directly up at the sun, moon, and starry sky.
After he absorbed the remaining seventy-three thousand jin or so of Essence Liquid, the sea of Origin Force in his Purple Mansion became so deep and abundant that even ordinary Primordial Spirit Daoists could not compare to him.
After all, nearly a hundred thousand jin of Essence Liquid was enough for a Purple Mansion cultivator to continuously advance all the way to the Middle Original Spirit Realm, or even the later stages.
Yet Xia Manggan had merely stabilized his Early Wanxiang Stage and had only barely reached something like the Middle Wanxiang Stage.
Hearing Xia Manggan ask whether his aura resembled that of a Primordial Spirit Daoist, Beishan Hu examined him carefully.
He even used that exotic treasure to inspect Xia Manggan. In the end, he nodded somewhat uncertainly. "Yes. Young Master gives me the feeling that I am facing a Primordial Spirit Daoist."
"Judging solely by the depth of my Origin Force, I am no different from a Primordial Spirit Daoist." Xia Manggan stroked the Wuji Ring, which had transformed into a ring on his index finger. "Did your father say when he could find a vessel for the Second Primordial Spirit?"
"No." Beishan Hu shook his head. "A vessel for the Second Primordial Spirit is unlike an ordinary magic treasure that can be bought simply by spending Essence Liquid. Most of the time, one must rely on luck. But with both the Cave of Carefree and Heavenly Treasure Mountain searching, there should be results within a few months at most."
"I am not in a hurry for now."
Xia Manggan nodded lightly, thinking, That works out perfectly. I'll have time to earn some Essence Liquid, so that when the vessel arrives, I won't be unable to pay for it.
Of course, he could simply accept it.
But this was different from relying on the status and influence of Beishan Hu and Beishan Yin. That merely made things more convenient, and could be considered a small favor owed.
The karmic debt of accepting benefits from others for no reason had to be repaid sooner or later.
And often, it had to be repaid severalfold, even tenfold.
Thus, Xia Manggan would not casually accept such a great favor.
Moreover, in his view, with his strength, earning some Essence Liquid would not be difficult.
"Oh, right, Young Master."
Beishan Hu smiled. "After you entered seclusion, from last night until today, the entire Black-White Academy has been extremely lively because of the sparring in the Dao Discussion Hall. Many of the foremost leaders among the third-generation disciples rushed back to the Academy. They have all gathered in the Dao Discussion Hall to watch Ji Ning..."
The Dao Discussion Hall plotline has already begun?
Xia Manggan immediately extended his divine sense toward the western side of the Black-White Academy.
At once, he saw that, just as in the original story, the Puppet controlled by Beishan Xuantang had been shattered by a single strike from Ji Ning's Thousand Sword Puppet.
"Confined as punishment, yet you still came out to make a fool of yourself." Xia Manggan used his divine sense to observe Beishan Xuantang from afar. The man's face was pale, and his eyes were filled with disbelief. Xia Manggan was full of contempt.
Born lowly, Beishan Xuantang had relied on his own hard work and talent to successfully enter the Black-White Academy. He should have been an inspiring example.
Yet his personality was twisted. He could not stand those of higher status than himself, nor could he stand those more talented than himself. His heart was vicious and hypocritical, and he did not even dare to openly make enemies of others.
In the end, it was still the inferiority deep in his bones at work.
Suddenly.
Another stream of divine sense came into contact with the divine sense Xia Manggan had extended. Then an aged but vigorous voice rang out beside his ear:
"Xia Mang, what fun is there in hiding in your estate and watching the show? The highest-ranked third-generation disciples are all here now. Why not come play as well?"
"Alright."
Dao Discussion Hall.
The enormous hall resembled a large arena on Blue Star.
Tier upon tier of spectator seats rose around its edges, while the center held a vast Battle Arena where Puppets fought and clashed.
In one corner of the hall.
The five Immortals of the Black-White Academy had gathered there.
However, they had placed an immortal-art barrier around themselves, so no one else could see them.
"Sword Heart Clarity! What incredible Sword Heart Clarity!" Black Crown Immortal's eyes gleamed as he stared at the top of a stone pillar beside the Battle Arena.
There, Ji Ning stood proudly, his entire person resembling a peerless sword that had just been sharpened.
"Such a powerful Sword Heart, such an unwavering Sword Heart..." Immortal Leichuan also sighed. "Our Black-White Academy has truly received a treasure this time."
"We have indeed received a treasure." Immortal Diancai stared at Ji Ning in the distance as well, his gaze blazing.
"That little girl can no longer resist making a move." Immortal Hanshan looked toward the spectator seats occupied by the older third-generation disciples. A black-clad young woman was rising from her seat there.
"It is Yu Wei." Black Crown Immortal smiled. "That girl should be the strongest among the third-generation disciples in terms of having multiple Domain of Dao. It seems Ji Ning will lose."
"Victory or defeat does not matter." Immortal Diancai shook his head. "My disciple has cultivated for only a little over ten years. To have come this far and entered the gates of the Sword Dao—even if he loses, he has already won."
"Yes. Though defeated, he will still be honored." Immortal Leichuan nodded slightly, then looked at the person beside him in confusion.
Normally, Senior Brother Five Madmen was the most playful and talkative, yet this time he had not said a word. What was he thinking about?
"There is going to be a good show." Feeling Immortal Leichuan's gaze, Immortal Wufeng chuckled. "That little monster has emerged from seclusion."
"Xia Manggan?"
"Has Mysterious Yellow emerged from seclusion?"
The Immortals hurriedly used their divine sense to investigate. Sure enough, they saw a gray-robed figure already standing outside the Dao Discussion Hall.
"Hm?"
"This Origin Force fluctuation?"
"That little monster has broken through!"
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