"Junior apprentice brother Ji Ning."
A black-clad young woman of peerless beauty and an ethereal temperament, like an immortal descended from the heavens, stood atop a stone pillar and gazed at Ji Ning in the distance.
"Among the disciples who have comprehended multiple Domains of Dao, I should be the strongest. If you defeat me, Senior Brother Fire Saint and the others will naturally come challenge you."
"Senior Apprentice Sister, please." Ji Ning answered solemnly.
Fairy Fire Rainbow Yu Wei?
At the entrance to the Dao Discussion Hall.
Xia Manggan watched the scene before him with great interest.
This should have been the first encounter between the original novel's male and female leads.
"Good thing I wasn't too late."
Xia Manggan swept his gaze around, spotted Mu Zishuo standing alone before a spectator seat, and walked over.
After this short while, he had already grown accustomed to the dense fluctuations of his newly advanced Origin Force.
Now that he had concealed his aura, others would no longer be able to easily sense the difference between him and an ordinary Wanxiang Daoist.
"Win, win, win..."
Mu Zishuo clenched his fists tightly and stared fixedly at the Puppet battle arena.
At this moment, the two Thousand Sword Puppets controlled by Yu Wei and Ji Ning had already taken positions on opposite sides, poised for battle.
"Hm?"
Suddenly sensing someone beside him, Mu Zishuo turned curiously to look.
The instant he saw Xia Manggan, he was overjoyed. "Senior Brother Xia Mang, why did you only just arrive? Senior Brother Ji Ning defeated five veteran disciples in a row earlier. It was amazing!"
The third-generation disciples in the Dao Discussion Hall were now divided into two camps: new disciples and veteran disciples.
Before Xia Manggan had arrived.
He had been the only person in the new disciple camp cheering for and supporting Ji Ning.
He had not even had anyone to share his excitement and joy with, and it had nearly stifled him.
"I saw it." Xia Manggan smiled as he spoke, his gaze sweeping toward two figures surrounded by a crowd of veteran disciples.
One was a bald young man in a flaming-red robe, with a strange swastika-shaped Divine Pattern between his brows.
Even sitting there casually, the bald youth seemed like a dormant volcano, quiet on the surface but capable of erupting at any moment.
His body seemed to contain endless fiery energy.
This bald young man was Fire Saint!
He had cultivated for over two hundred years and had already comprehended one complete Dao.
He could become a Primordial Spirit Daoist of the Black-White Academy at any moment.
Though he was not a reincarnated Immortal, even the other two reincarnated Immortals who had likewise comprehended a complete Dao were at most his equals. He was an absolute leader among the third-generation disciples.
The other was a fat youth dressed in greasy, shabby clothes, and he looked utterly ordinary.
Yet even Fire Saint had failed to sense Xia Manggan's gaze just now, while this fat youth noticed it immediately and even turned to smile at him.
True Person Sloppy, Daoist name San Pang.
He had likewise cultivated for over two hundred years and was acknowledged as the strongest among the Black-White Academy's third-generation disciples, including even leader-level disciples such as Fire Saint...
He was also the opponent Xia Manggan most wanted to discuss the Dao and spar with.
"Is that junior apprentice brother Xia Mang?"
True Person Sloppy withdrew his gaze, glanced at Fire Saint, and muttered, "With Fire Saint here, I probably won't need to act. Otherwise, although I promised the old man, I've cultivated for so many years that even the Academy's Primordial Spirit Daoists can barely defeat me in Dao discussions. Going to deal with a newly admitted junior apprentice brother... no matter how I think about it, it feels a little like bullying the weak."
In ordinary Dao Discussion Hall sparring between new and veteran disciples, no matter how monstrous a new disciple was, top disciples like them, who had comprehended complete Daos, would not make a move.
But this time.
From the third-generation disciples to the first-generation Immortal patriarchs, people were stirring things up behind the scenes.
As a result, this year's conflict between new and veteran disciples was destined to become unprecedented in the entire history of the Black-White Academy.
At this moment.
On the Puppet battle arena.
After releasing one thousand flying swords, the Thousand Sword Puppet controlled by Yu Wei immediately transformed them all into towering flames of sword light.
The scorching, razor-sharp flaming sword lights collided head-on and crushed the sword lights controlled by Ji Ning with overwhelming force.
That irresistible might seemed capable of sweeping across all Heaven and Earth.
"Yu Wei wins!"
The White-haired Elder Puppet responsible for judging the spar loudly announced the result.
The veteran disciples in the Dao Discussion Hall all breathed a sigh of relief.
They had finally won.
If even Fairy Fire Rainbow Yu Wei, a reincarnated Immortal, had lost as well, would they not have been mocked to death by that junior apprentice brother Mu Zishuo?
Quite a few veteran disciples could not help looking toward Mu Zishuo.
At this glance—
The entire Dao Discussion Hall immediately erupted in an uproar.
"It's Xia Manggan."
"When did he arrive?"
"No idea. We were too nervous just now and only watched the battle arena."
"Perfect. Fairy Fire Rainbow defeated junior apprentice brother Ji Ning, and her momentum is at its peak. We can settle the real target too!"
Truthfully speaking, the reason so many Formal Disciples had gathered in the Dao Discussion Hall today.
And why even the strongest third-generation disciple, True Person Sloppy, and leader-level disciples like Fire Saint had appeared, was at least seventy percent because of Xia Manggan.
Now, because Ji Ning, one of the newly admitted disciples, had won repeatedly on the stage.
And because another new disciple, Mu Zishuo, had kept cheering loudly below, along with...
This had caused the relationship between new and veteran disciples to evolve from the original "fine tradition" of veteran disciples looking after new disciples into a contest of pride between the two camps.
Yu Wei understood this as well.
Thus, after defeating Ji Ning, she did not fly down from the stone pillar. Instead, she remained atop it and looked coolly at Xia Manggan.
"Junior apprentice brother Xia Mang?"
Yu Wei said coldly, "Among the newly admitted disciples, you are now the only one who has yet to spar. How about I personally experience your skills?"
"I came to the Dao Discussion Hall precisely to spar with my senior brothers and sisters. Since Fairy Fire Rainbow has invited me—" Xia Manggan smiled and took a step forward.
Whoosh!
A ripple spread through space.
Under the shocked gazes of the Dao Discussion Hall's veteran disciples, when Xia Manggan appeared again, he was already standing atop the stone pillar where Ji Ning had stood moments ago.
The vast hall of the Dao Discussion Hall suddenly fell silent.
Only after several breaths did a doubtful voice finally sound.
"Th-that was Void Transference?"
"It really was Void Transference!?"
"Heavens! Within the Academy, I've only seen second-generation uncles and aunts, as well as Slovenly Senior Brother and Senior Brother Fire Saint, use it. A newly admitted disciple..."
"Could he have already comprehended a complete Dao?"
"No way!"
An entry into the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth?
Fire Saint, the bald youth seated in the middle of the front row of the stands, looked at Xia Manggan from afar, and a trace of solemnity appeared in his eyes.
Only after he had comprehended a complete Dao did he use the descent of Dao power to control a region of Heaven and Earth and comprehend the universe. It had taken him more than thirty years to successfully comprehend a trace of Qiankun Dao True Meaning and become able to use Void Transference.
Yet Xia Manggan could use it the moment he entered the Academy, meaning he had already entered the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth...
Such talent was simply monstrous.
"No wonder he declared that he wanted to discuss the Dao and spar with me," Fire Saint said softly. "Junior apprentice brother Xia Mang is qualified."
"He has only cultivated for a few years. How could he possibly be Senior Brother Fire Saint's match? At most, he barely qualifies," Beishan Xuantang quickly said from beside him. "Using Void Transference over such a short distance... is he showing off and provoking us?"
Fire Saint frowned slightly, glanced at Beishan Xuantang, and said nothing.
Junior apprentice brother Xia Mang was clearly using his actions to respond to the veteran disciples' earlier claims that he was arrogant and conceited.
He was also letting Fire Saint know that he was qualified to discuss the Dao and spar with him.
So that Fire Saint would not refrain from acting because of his status.
How had it become showing off and provoking them in Beishan Xuantang's mouth?
Recalling what Beishan Xuantang had said about the entrance examination, Fire Saint immediately understood that there was probably something suspicious going on.
Yu Wei looked at Xia Manggan, who had suddenly teleported onto the stone pillar opposite her, and her expression immediately turned serious.
"Rise!"
Following the loud shout of the White-haired Elder Puppet overseeing the battle arena.
Whoosh~~~
The Sealing Array instantly enveloped the entire battle arena.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A full thousand flying swords flew from the Thousand Sword Puppet controlled by Yu Wei and transformed in midair into a thousand scorching flames of sword light.
The entire battle arena immediately seemed to sink into an endless sea of fire.
Even the disciples in the stands beyond the Sealing Array could feel the temperature soaring sharply.
"Senior Brother Ji Ning." Mu Zishuo stared nervously at the battle arena. "Senior Apprentice Sister Yu Wei's sword light seems even stronger than before! Can Senior Brother Xia Mang withstand it?"
"We'll know if we keep watching."
Ji Ning, who had just left the battle arena, stared unblinkingly at Xia Manggan and the Puppet he controlled.
Perhaps deliberately trying to win back face for him, Xia Manggan was also using a Thousand Sword Puppet.
It was even the one Ji Ning had used earlier, the one that had lost to Yu Wei.
Now it was facing the flaming sword lights that had completely suppressed him...
How would he respond?
Would he use Sword Escape through Void Transference, avoiding the strong and attacking the weak?
"Three Domains of Dao from the Fire Path?"
Xia Manggan looked at the flaming sword lights in the air, and a trace of admiration flashed through his eyes.
The reason the Black-White Academy had established the Dao Discussion Hall and encouraged disciples to discuss the Dao and spar with one another.
Was because an Immortal cultivator's strength did not depend solely on one's Dao Realm.
What mattered even more was whether one could transform one's Dao Realm into true combat strength!
Though the flaming sword lights wielded by Yu Wei contained only the mysteries of three Domains of Dao.
Their coordination was exquisite, their fusion perfect, and they mutually enhanced one another, allowing their power to stack and multiply.
With such sword-light control, against ordinary opponents, even if they had comprehended far more Domains of Dao, as long as their coordination was not as perfect as hers, they would only be crushed by her overwhelming force.
Screech~ Screech~~ Screech~~~
Of the thousand flaming sword lights, five hundred split off to protect the Puppet's body.
The other five hundred streaked through the sky and slashed toward the Puppet controlled by Xia Manggan.
"Quite cautious."
Xia Manggan sat cross-legged atop the stone pillar. "Then let's make it five hundred against five hundred."
Clang!
Five hundred of the small swords embedded in the back of his Thousand Sword Puppet immediately flew out, transforming in midair into three-foot longswords.
Then, Heaven and Earth energy surged around the five hundred longswords. In an instant, flowing water and blazing flames appeared around them.
"Using only two Domains of Dao, and only five hundred flying swords... who are you looking down on!"
Yu Wei's pretty face turned cold, and she immediately shouted:
"Slash!"
The momentum of those five hundred flaming sword lights surged once more. Carrying endless killing intent, they furiously slashed toward Xia Manggan's flying swords surrounded by Water and Fire.
Clang~ Clang~~ Clang~~~
Boom~ Boom~~ Boom~~~
Flying swords collided head-on with flying swords, while flames and Water and Fire surged and steamed!
Yu Wei, who had been brimming with confidence, suddenly changed expression.
The flames on her five hundred flying swords had held the absolute upper hand at the instant of contact, yet in the blink of an eye, they were suppressed by the Water and Fire surrounding Xia Manggan's flying swords.
Moreover, the Water and Fire on the other party's flying swords no longer seemed like the Water and Fire Paths that restrained each other within the Five Elements Dao. Instead, they seemed like the Five Elements generating one another, capable of transforming into each other at will.
First, the flames absorbed and assimilated the fiery light on her flying swords, then immediately transformed it into power for the flowing water, which went on to extinguish and weaken the flames on her swords...
In just one or two breaths, the firelight on the five hundred flying swords controlled by Yu Wei had weakened completely. They were then trapped by one hundred of Xia Manggan's Water-Fire flying swords.
The other four hundred Water-Fire flying swords swept through the void and slashed directly toward her Thousand Sword Puppet.
"She lost." Fire Saint sighed.
He did not sigh because of Yu Wei's defeat.
He sighed for himself.
He had cultivated for over two hundred years and, within the Academy, interacted with the second-generation Primordial Spirit Daoists as peers.
Outside the Academy, he had even slain several Primordial Spirit Daoists.
Yet he had been forced to make a move by a newly inducted junior apprentice brother.
"Xia Manggan wins!" the White-haired Elder announced loudly.
The entire Dao Discussion Hall was as silent as if no one were there.
All the senior disciples turned their eyes toward the Fire Saint.
Only when they saw Senior Brother Fire Saint rise from his seat in the stands, living up to their expectations, did the senior disciples rally again.
"If Senior Brother Fire Saint makes a move, he should be able to win."
"Mm, he should be able to win. Senior Brother Fire Saint has fully comprehended an entire complete 'Dao.' Normally, he discusses the Dao and spars with Martial Uncles and Martial Uncles..."
As he spoke, the senior disciple suddenly froze.
I actually said, 'he should be able to win'...
Could it be that even with Senior Brother Fire Saint personally stepping in, I still can't feel completely at ease?
The second update is here. I'll continue tomorrow morning at 11:45. Esteemed readers, please vote, give the characters some hearts, and remember to follow along. Suifeng offers his thanks!
Before you continue