Jiu Lian's Resolve!

March 17.

Although summer had already begun, Di Ta Peak was still cool in the early morning.

Xia Manggan, having just stepped out of his meditation chamber, could not help taking a deep breath. He immediately felt refreshed inside and out.

"Young Master."

Beishan Hu, who had long been waiting outside the meditation chamber, stepped forward respectfully. "Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo have arrived."

"Didn't I tell them there was no need to see me off?"

Xia Manggan strode toward the courtyard.

More than three months had passed since the battle in the Dao Discussion Hall.

Today was the day he had chosen to leave the Black-White Academy and head to the Red Dragon Mountain Range—the Anchan Branch of the Yinglong Guard—to take part in its assessment.

When he had gone to bid Immortal Hanshan farewell yesterday, he happened to run into Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo on the way, so he casually mentioned it to them.

He had not expected the two of them to come specially so early this morning.

"Senior Brother Xia Mang."

"Senior Brother Xia Mang."

Seeing Xia Manggan striding over, Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo both rose and bowed.

Three months was not a long time.

Yet compared to when they had first entered the Academy, much of the youthful immaturity had faded from their faces. Their auras and Origin Force fluctuations had also grown considerably stronger.

"Junior Brothers, I'm only leaving briefly this time. At most, I'll be gone for a little over three months and return once I've completed the Yinglong Guard assessment." Xia Manggan smiled and shook his head. "There's no need for such formality."

"Senior Brother is the first among us newly initiated disciples to earn Master's approval and be allowed to venture outside." Mu Zishuo smiled. "Ji Ning and I still cannot leave the Academy for now. So the hope of slaughtering enemies in every direction after going out and spreading the Black-White Academy's prestige far and wide can only rest with Senior Brother Xia Mang first."

Ji Ning, standing beside him, also smiled and nodded, his gaze carefully studying Xia Manggan.

Over these past three months.

Since their mountain cave estates were adjacent, he often saw Xia Manggan practicing the great divine abilities of 'Law of Heaven and Earth' and 'Three Heads and Six Arms.'

Occasionally, he would also come to spar with Xia Manggan, exchanging techniques for close-quarters combat and killing in Fiendgod Body Refining.

Thus, he was quite familiar with Xia Manggan's aura and the changes in his divine body.

But for some reason, he felt that Xia Manggan's divine body was different today.

It was as though a human-tier magic treasure had suddenly risen another rank and become an earth-tier magic treasure.

The treasure light that had once leaked outward had all been withdrawn, becoming even more restrained, as though—

Its radiance concealed within, the treasure hid its own brilliance?

Ji Ning secretly shook his head, thinking that he must be overthinking it.

"All right. We'll talk again when I return."

After chatting with the two for a while, Xia Manggan saw that the Sun Star had already risen and got up to depart.

Suddenly—

"Young Master Xia Mang."

A gentle voice drifted over from the distant sky.

Xia Manggan looked up.

A sailing ship flew over, and two graceful figures descended from it.

They were Jiu Lian and Luo Qing, whom he had met once three months ago.

"Why are you two here as well?" Xia Manggan asked, puzzled.

He had not planned to be away for long this time, so apart from telling his master, Immortal Hanshan, and his two neighboring junior brothers, he had not informed anyone else in the Academy.

But seeing the two women dressed as though they were setting out on a long journey, could it be...

"Last time, we heard that Young Master Xia Mang was going to join the Yinglong Guard. Qingqing and I had also long wanted to take the assessment."

Jiu Lian said softly, "So we asked Young Master Hu that if Young Master Xia Mang..."

Xia Manggan glanced sideways at Beishan Hu.

Beishan Hu hurriedly explained through divine sense, "I was thinking that the Yinglong Guard assessment would take three months. Since Young Master would not let me follow, bringing along two beautiful fellow disciples pleasing to the eye could at least relieve some boredom. And Jiu Lian's background is extraordinary. Even if Young Master wished to take her in, it would..."

"This is the first time, and the last time."

Xia Manggan's gaze was icy as he spoke directly before them all. "If you dare make decisions for me again, get back to the Anchan Marquis Mansion."

"Yes. Young Master, I know I was wrong."

Beishan Hu's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.

Whoosh.

Ripples spread through space.

Xia Manggan vanished directly from the courtyard.

"Senior Sister?" Luo Qing looked at Jiu Lian.

But Jiu Lian first said to Beishan Hu, "Young Master Hu, Jiu Lian failed to consider things thoroughly this time and caused you to suffer reprimand."

"It is not Immortal Jiu Lian's fault. I was the one who acted too presumptuously. I should have sought Young Master's instructions first."

Beishan Hu shook his head with a bitter smile. "Everyone, with my Young Master gone, I too must return home. I will not keep you any longer."

He needed to hurry home and discuss matters with his father, to see how he could remedy the situation.

Inside the sailing ship magic treasure.

"Senior Sister, are we still going to the Red Dragon Mountain Range?"

Luo Qing recalled Xia Manggan's cold gaze just now. Though it had not been directed at her, her heart still tightened in waves.

At that moment.

In her eyes, Xia Manggan had seemed like a True Dragon, coldly looking down upon a swarm of ants.

"We're going." Jiu Lian answered firmly.

"He ignored us completely and just Teleported away..." Luo Qing's eyes widened. "We're still going?"

"That is precisely why. As long as we appear before him again, he will have no reason..."

As Jiu Lian spoke, she noticed Luo Qing scrutinizing her from head to toe and could not help frowning. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Senior Sister," Luo Qing asked directly, "do you want Young Master Xia Mang to become your Dao companion?"

Jiu Lian was first startled, then calmly said, "Among the female disciples of the Academy's third generation... aside from Senior Sister Yu Wei, who has not stated her position, who does not want him as a Dao companion? Don't you want that too, Qingqing?"

"I..."

Luo Qing wanted to say she did not.

But he was powerful, monstrously talented, and had an astonishing background...

Every condition a female Immortal cultivator could dream of in a Dao companion was gathered in one man. How could she possibly not want him?

Only—

"Senior Sister, I know my place. Young Master Xia Mang is too far beyond my reach." Luo Qing shook her head. "But you, Senior Sister, are the next leader of the Dongyan Clan and equally of noble birth. You also possess the Immortal Lotus Dao Body, Yin Essence..."

"Qingqing! What nonsense are you spouting? Had I known this, I never would have told you the secret of my Dao Body."

Even the usually composed Jiu Lian could not help showing a trace of embarrassment and anger. "Besides, choosing a Dao companion should follow the feelings of one's heart more than anything else. I... Forget it. If you are unwilling to accompany me, I will go alone."

"I'll go, I'll go." Luo Qing hurriedly took Jiu Lian's hand. "How could I let Senior Sister risk danger alone? Even if Young Master Xia Mang gives us more cold looks, let me bear them all."

...Boom!

The sailing ship magic treasure tore through the airwaves and sped out of the Black-White Academy.

Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo stood atop Di Ta Peak, watching from afar.

"Senior Sister Jiu Lian... I heard that many senior brothers are pursuing her and want her as their Dao companion." Mu Zishuo said enviously. "Now Senior Brother Xia Mang is ignoring them, yet they are still chasing after him to the Red Dragon Mountain Range. How devoted."

"How do you know Senior Sister Jiu Lian is still going to the Red Dragon Mountain Range? Maybe they're merely going out to gain experience." Ji Ning glanced at Mu Zishuo. "And how old are you? You're not even fifteen yet. You're just a little brat. What do you know about devotion, Dao companions, and all that?"

After saying this, without waiting for Mu Zishuo to reply, he tossed out, "I'm going back to cultivate."

Then he transformed into a streak of sword light and headed for Beiming Peak.

Mu Zishuo chased after him indignantly, shouting, "Senior Brother Ji Ning, you're only two years older than me..."

Their youthful voices echoed between the three mountain peaks.

Only after a long while did they gradually fade away, and tranquility returned.

Red Dragon Mountain Range.

A massive, winding mountain range shaped like a dragon.

The entire mountain range was covered in a layer of fiery red.

From afar, it looked like a crimson divine dragon soaring above the boundless wilderness.

Whoosh.

A massive black ship dove down and landed directly on Welcome Guest Peak, located at the dragon head of the Red Dragon Mountain Range.

The black ship then vanished, leaving Xia Manggan standing where it had been.

In the distance, two Purple Mansion cultivators clad in fiery red armor strode over. With cold expressions, they barked, "Why have you come to the Red Dragon Mountain Range?"

"To find someone." Xia Manggan replied indifferently. "Call Lianshan over."

"Lianshan?" The two Purple Mansion cultivators were puzzled. Was there such a person in the Yinglong Guard?

Suddenly—

"Haha, Young Master, I guessed you would come."

Immortal Lianshan appeared out of thin air and came before Xia Manggan.

"Oh? How did you guess?"

Xia Manggan was curious.

"Two young ladies just arrived earlier. I had seen them outside Young Master's Di Ta Peak." Immortal Lianshan smiled as he asked, "Hadn't they arranged to meet Young Master?"

"..." Xia Manggan shook his head.

He had merely made a trip to Heavenly Treasure Mountain, yet the two had already arrived before him.

...They truly were determined.

The second update is here. It will continue tomorrow morning at 11:45. It's a new week, so please vote and support!