The next day.
It was nearly evening when Xia Manggan finally emerged from his quiet room.
"Young master."
Beishan Hu seemed to have just returned from outside as well.
Upon seeing Xia Manggan, he hurried over. "Young master, my father has entrusted the Three Heavenly Fox Immortals of Cave of Carefree with the search for a Second Primordial Spirit Vessel. Heavenly Treasure Mountain has also been notified..."
As he spoke, Beishan Hu vaguely sensed that Xia Manggan's aura was different. He hurriedly examined it more closely, then said in astonishment, "Young master, your Qi Refining cultivation 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, along with an Immortal Rank Qi Refining technique, they could at most absorb two thousand jin of Essence Liquid before reaching the limit of Origin Force their Purple Mansion could contain. 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 the Pure Yang Grade.
Opening his Purple Mansion from the Xiantian stage had used nearly a hundred jin of Essence Liquid. Stabilizing his Early Purple Mansion Stage had consumed another eight hundred-plus jin.
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 already twelve or thirteen times greater than what even the most monstrously talented geniuses with the strongest foundations possessed, yet only then had he successfully broken through to become a Wanxiang Daoist.
And the instant he broke through, the three great phenomena representing the most perfect foundation of the 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, so real, and so profound that it was as though one stood upon the ground and gazed directly up at the sun, moon, and starry sky.
After he absorbed the remaining seventy-three thousand-plus jin of Essence Liquid, the ocean of Origin Force within his Purple Mansion became so immense that even ordinary Primordial Spirit Daoists could not compare.
After all, nearly a hundred thousand jin of Essence Liquid was enough for a Purple Mansion cultivator to keep advancing all the way to the Middle Original Spirit Realm, or even the later stages.
Yet Xia Manggan had only just stabilized his Early Wanxiang Stage, barely reaching something akin to the Middle Wanxiang Stage.
Hearing Xia Manggan ask whether his aura resembled that of a Primordial Spirit Daoist, Beishan Hu carefully sensed it.
He even used that extraordinary treasure to inspect Xia Manggan. At last, he nodded somewhat uncertainly. "Yes. Young master, you give me the feeling that I am facing a Primordial Spirit Daoist."
"Judging only by the density of my Origin Force, I am no different from a Primordial Spirit Daoist." Xia Manggan touched the Wuji Ring, which had transformed into a ring on his index finger, and asked, "Did your father say when he might 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 simply be bought with Essence Liquid. Most of the time, it depends on luck. But with both 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 and thought, Good. That gives me time to earn some Essence Liquid, so that when the vessel arrives, I will not be unable to pay for it.
Of course, he could simply accept it.
But that was unlike relying on the identities and influence of Beishan Hu and Beishan Yin. That merely made things more convenient and counted as a small favor.
The karmic debt of receiving benefits for no reason would have to be repaid sooner or later.
And often, it had to be repaid severalfold or even tenfold.
Therefore, Xia Manggan would not casually accept such a great favor.
Besides, in his view, earning some Essence Liquid with his own strength was not difficult.
"Oh, right, young master."
Beishan Hu smiled. "After you entered seclusion, the entire Black-White Academy has been buzzing since last night because of the sparring at the Dao Discussion Hall. Many of the most outstanding leaders among the third-generation disciples hurried back to the Academy. They are all gathered at the Dao Discussion Hall now, watching Ji Ning..."
Has the Dao Discussion Hall plot begun already?
Xia Manggan's Divine Sense immediately extended 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 was cleaved apart by a single strike from Ji Ning's Thousand Sword Puppet.
"You were confined, yet you still came out to make a fool of yourself." Xia Manggan watched from afar with his Divine Sense as Beishan Xuantang's face turned pale and his eyes filled with disbelief, his heart full of contempt.
Born humble, Beishan Xuantang had relied on his own efforts 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 with higher status than himself, nor could he stand those more talented than himself. He was vicious and hypocritical by nature, not even daring to openly make enemies of others.
In the end, it was still the inferiority buried deep in his bones at work.
Suddenly.
Another strand of Divine Sense came into contact with Xia Manggan's extended Divine Sense. Then an aged yet vigorous voice rang out beside his ear:
"Xia Mang brat, what is the fun in hiding in your estate and watching the show? The highest-ranked among the third-generation disciples are all here now. Why not come play as well?"
"Alright."
Dao Discussion Hall.
The massive hall resembled a large arena on Blue Star.
Around it were tiered spectator stands, while at the center lay the vast Battle Arena where Puppets fought and slaughtered one another.
In one corner of the hall.
The five Immortals of the Black-White Academy had gathered there.
However, they had cast 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 shone as he stared at the top of a stone pillar beside the Battle Arena.
There, Ji Ning stood proudly, his entire body like a peerless sword that had just been sharpened.
"Such a powerful sword heart, such an unwavering sword heart..." Immortal Leichuan sighed as well. "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 eyes burning.
"That little girl can no longer resist making a move." Immortal Hanshan looked toward the spectator stands occupied by the senior third-generation disciples, where a black-clad young woman was rising to step forward.
"It is Yu Wei." Black Crown Immortal smiled. "That girl should be the strongest among the third-generation disciples in terms of multiple Domain of Dao realms. It seems Ji Ning is going to lose."
"Winning and losing do 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."
"Mm. Though defeated, he will still be honored." Immortal Leichuan nodded slightly, then looked at the person beside him in puzzlement.
Five Madmen, normally the most teasing and talkative among them, had not spoken at all this time. What was he thinking about?
"There is going to be a good show." Sensing 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 doors of the Dao Discussion Hall.
"Hm?"
"This Origin Force fluctuation?"
"That little monster has broken through!"
The first update is here. The next update will be in two minutes.
Before you continue