The Legend of the Great Desolation: I Am the Fortress

"Disciple? To be... a senior's disciple?" Ji Ning was taken aback.

These two seniors are very mysterious, whether it's their sudden appearance or their methods of isolating themselves from the outside world.

But as soon as he appears, they want to take him as their disciple?

"Yes." Lei Zhan nodded slightly. "Would you be willing to become my disciple?"

Looking at Ji Ning, Lei Zhan was filled with emotion. Having both trained in the Northern Sea of ​​the Great Xia World, he seemed to see his younger self when he was just starting out.

Even I myself went through many hardships back then, and it was only after my master, Patriarch Bodhi, kept a close watch on me that I was finally able to become his disciple.

“I am naturally delighted to be valued by you, senior. However, I have already studied under a master since I entered the Black and White Academy.” Ji Ning pondered for a moment before speaking.

"If I were to become a disciple of a senior again... I would need my master, the Heavenly Immortal, to give his approval."

The so-called truth is not easily passed on.

Master is someone who imparts knowledge and teachings. There is another way to say master: 'Shifu'.

Why?

It was because his master was like a father to him, personally teaching and guiding him like a celestial being, and passing on many secret techniques and sword skills...

Regardless, if he wants to become an apprentice, he must obtain the approval of his master, the Celestial Immortal.

"Master? He's quite the respectful young man." Hou Yi, standing to the side, turned his head with a smile.

“Junior brother, it seems you’ve been away from the Three Realms for too long and have been keeping a low profile. If you don’t reveal your identity, this kid will probably hesitate.”

"Leave the Three Realms?" Ji Ning's heart stirred upon hearing this.

He had heard his master, the immortal Diancai, tell some interesting stories. Legend has it that those who can leave the Three Realms and go to the endless chaos are legendary great beings!
In terms of strength, they are at least ancient and powerful beings at the level of Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals! Could the two before us be those legendary beings?

“Diancai Tianxian… He is your master. Now that I want to take you as my disciple, I naturally need his consent.” Lei Zhan revealed a smile and immediately waved his hand.

Wow.

Suddenly——

A figure appeared out of thin air high in the sky—a black-robed immortal holding a wine cup, his face filled with astonishment. It was none other than the Celestial Immortal Diancai.

The Celestial Immortal Diancai was sitting on a mountain peak watching the sunrise and drinking celestial fruit wine when he was unexpectedly teleported here.

"Disciple?" Diancai Tianxian saw Ji Ning, and then also saw Lei Zhan and Hou Yi beside him.

At this moment, Lei Zhan and Hou Yi still looked very ordinary, without any sense of oppression, but the unique aura around them made Diancai Tianxian feel extraordinary.

After all, being able to directly extract him from the Black and White Academy, which is riddled with arrays and restrictions, is truly a testament to extraordinary skill!

It should be noted that after countless years of accumulation, the great formation within the Black and White Academy has become extremely formidable.

Even true gods and immortals would lose half their lives if they tried to break into the academy!

Not to mention, they could use their methods silently to teleport him out.

"Master?" Ji Ning was also quite surprised. His master had come all this way.
"This... two seniors. May I ask what business you two seniors need me to do? I am only a Void Returner..." Although Diancai Tianxian was a little confused, he instinctively looked at Lei Zhan and Hou Yi with utmost respect.

But when the Celestial Immortal took a closer look, he was immediately shocked.

"Hmm? Senior..."

"Your Highness pays respects to the Lord of the Guiyi Sect!"

boom!
"The Dao Lord? The Dao Lord of Guiyi?" Ji Ning was also shocked, and his heart was filled with turmoil.

The Dao Master? The legendary Dao Master who established the Guiyi Dao Palace and brought back a vast number of Dharma techniques and secret arts to the Three Realms?

That's someone who can be compared to the legendary goddess Nuwa!

Now, this legendary powerful being wants to take me as his disciple?
As for whether the Immortal of the Palace had mistaken the person... Ji Ning firmly believed it.

After all, if someone were to impersonate such a person, they would have to bear the consequences!

Moreover, Ji Ning knew that his master had once entered the Guiyi Dao Palace, the foremost Daoist temple in the Three Realms.

"Oh?" Lei Zhan laughed. "It's easier to talk if you recognize me."

“When I was undergoing my Heavenly Tribulation, I cultivated the Second-Grade Golden Core Method. After becoming a Celestial Immortal, I was fortunate enough to see the watermark portrait left by the Dao Master in the Dao Palace,” said Celestial Immortal Diancai respectfully. “Not only that, I also received guidance from the Sword Immortal Juhua.”

"Yeah." Leizhan nodded slightly.

He had just glanced at this Celestial Immortal and immediately understood the cause and effect on him, so he naturally knew all of this.

"I wonder what command you have summoned me for?" the Immortal Diancai asked respectfully.

"You and Ji Ning are master and disciple. I now wish to take Ji Ning under my wing. Are you willing to let him join my sect?" Lei Zhan asked directly.

"Taking on a disciple? The Daoist wants to take Ji Ning as his disciple?" Immortal Diancai was overjoyed upon hearing this and exclaimed:

"The Dao Lord possesses overwhelming power and unfathomable abilities, making him the most powerful being. Countless beings in the Three Realms yearn to join the Guiyi Dao Palace or the Zhaixing Mansion, yet none can gain entry, let alone have the Dao Lord personally accept a disciple. Ji Ning is willing, and so am I, his disciple!"

Since the Lord of Guiyi Dao left behind the Guiyi Dao Palace and passed down his teachings, the Guiyi Dao Palace has become the most powerful force in the entire Three Realms! Following closely are the Zhaixing Mansion, the ancient human race, and the Buddhist and Taoist sects, among others…

Even true gods and immortals would vie to join such a powerful force. Someone like him, a second-rank celestial immortal, wouldn't even qualify as a nominal disciple.

"Ji Ning." The Celestial Immortal looked at Ji Ning and said, "If the Daoist wishes to accept you as a disciple, why don't you kneel down and perform the ceremony of becoming a disciple?"

Lei Zhan also looked at Ji Ning, his gaze still gentle, "Now that your master has agreed, are you still willing?"

"Disciple is willing."

If not now, when?

Without hesitation, Ji Ning knelt down and respectfully kowtowed, saying, "Disciple Ji Ning greets Master."

"Hmm." Lei Zhan nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction on his face.

“I have never accepted any disciples before; you are the first.”

"Once you join the sect, you will first become my nominal disciple. Once you break through to the World Realm, you will become my personal disciple."

"Yes." Ji Ning nodded respectfully.

“I don’t have many rules for my disciples, just two,” Lei Zhan said.

"One, do not disobey."

"Second, you are not allowed to tell others that I am your master without my permission."

"If you disobey, at best I will kill you and leave you with a clouded memory for your next reincarnation. At worst I will annihilate your soul, and at the very worst... I will subject your soul to the eternal torment of being burned by true fire."

Ji Ning respectfully replied, "This disciple understands."

"When can this disciple be said to be Master's disciple?" Ji Ning asked.

“When the opportunity comes, you can speak freely.” Lei Zhan smiled slightly, as if he had thought of something. “Of course, if your strength is comparable to that of the Dao Lord of Life and Death, you can speak freely outside.”

Not allowing Ji Ning to speak freely is both a form of training and protection. The disciples Lei Zhan needs are fellow cultivators who can accompany him on his journey, not flowers that prefer to hide in a greenhouse. This naturally carries profound meaning.

"His strength is comparable to that of the Dao Lord of Life and Death?" Ji Ning clicked his tongue in amazement.

The World Realm and the Dao Lord of Life and Death—what ancient beings are they?

"Only those who break through to the World Realm can become personal disciples, and only those with the strength of a Dao Lord of Life and Death can speak freely outside. Just what kind of strength does my newly adopted master possess?"

Ji Ning thought to himself, "This master is truly amazing! No wonder he's comparable to the Goddess Nuwa! I'm afraid even the Goddess Nuwa's strength is inferior to my master's!"

Ji Ning gazed at the stunningly beautiful woman in feathered robes within his sea of ​​consciousness; Nuwa held a very special place in his heart.

Whether it was when Lord Cui bestowed the Nuwa painting upon them, or when they were born into the Ji family of Yanshan, it was upon seeing the Nuwa painting that they awakened their memories of their past lives...

"Legend has it that Nuwa was the first goddess in the Three Realms to break through to the Pangu level, which is the World Realm level. Then came my master..." This thought flashed through Ji Ning's mind, and he looked forward to the future with increasing anticipation.

"Ji Ning," Lei Zhan said with a smile, "Do you have any doubts?"

"Whether it's the World Realm or the Dao Lord of Life and Death, they are all too far away from my current level," Ji Ning shook his head.

"This disciple has no doubts for now."

“In that case, come forward,” Lei said.

"Yes." Ji Ning obediently stepped forward.

"call."

Lei Zhan extended his finger and placed his index finger on Ji Ning's forehead.

Instantly, a divine thought was separated and transmitted directly into Ji Ning's sea of ​​consciousness.

It should be known that the Dao passed down by Lei Zhan is so vast. Even the sword Dao he comprehended by studying the Heart Sword Technique and observing the countless methods in the Blue Flower Cave was still incredibly vast.

After all, Ji Ning has not yet broken through to become a Celestial God or Celestial Immortal. Even though his true form is a combination of divine and demonic body refinement and qi cultivation, he cannot withstand the memories that Lei Zhan wants to pass on.

Therefore, Lei Zhan directly took out a wisp of his divine thought and separated it, leaving it within Ji Ning's sea of ​​consciousness.

This divine thought contains a complete cultivation method, as well as unparalleled swordsmanship that Lei Zhan has comprehended.

This swordsmanship can also be divided into five major swordsmanship techniques, each corresponding to one of the five strongest paths of swordsmanship. This is sufficient to lay the most solid foundation for Ji Ning.

As for whether he will be able to comprehend the ultimate truth in the future...

The ultimate path cannot be taught. You must fight hard and hone your skills yourself to reach it.

However, with such divine thoughts in Ji Ning's sea of ​​consciousness, as Ji Ning's strength increases, he will naturally receive more and more information. When his divine soul reaches a sufficient level, he will be able to fully accept the Dao passed down by Lei Zhan.

At that point, with just a little guidance from Lei Zhan, Ji Ning's chances of embarking on the ultimate path would be far greater than if he tried to comprehend it on his own!
Looking at Ji Ning, who was still somewhat drowsy and receiving a massive amount of information, Lei Zhan glanced at the Immortal of the Palace.

“Your Excellency is truly talented.”

"This junior is here." Diancai Tianxian's eyes held longing, but seeing his only disciple become a disciple of a powerful figure, he felt only joy.

“Your Highness, our meeting is fate. I will grant you this opportunity,” Lei Zhan said, pointing into the distance.

Suddenly, a faint light flew by and entered the space between the immortal's eyebrows.

An opportunity was casually bestowed, but the journey turned into a complete reversal.

"Brother, let's go!"

"Alright." Hou Yi looked at the beast-skin boy sitting cross-legged ten thousand feet in the sky, then at the Heavenly Immortal Diancai who was also engrossed in enlightenment, and then withdrew his gaze.

In an instant, as if they had never existed in this Great Xia world, in this Northern Sea, they vanished without a trace. The two of them disappeared as well.

……

"Junior brother, the disciple you just accepted has already left?" Hou Yi asked curiously in a magnificent palace.

Although his junior brother had never taken on any disciples, he was still the head of a powerful force. It would be far too casual for him to accept a disciple so easily.

“Senior brother, you are unaware of this.” Lei Zhan looked at Hou Yi and smiled, “Although I am not skilled in swordsmanship, I have studied it for some years. The divine thought I just passed down contained some secret techniques and a sword technique that I specially tailored for my disciple.”

Lei Zhan's eyes held a strange thought, "That sword technique is all-encompassing, yet it can be divided into five different branches. Each branch is the strongest path. Even if one comprehends this sword technique, it can guide my disciple to easily comprehend multiple strongest paths."

"Oh?" Hou Yi was taken aback. "Five strongest paths? Junior Brother's paths..."

It should be understood that an ordinary Dao Lord comprehends one of the strongest Daos, and with this one Dao, they have the opportunity to break through and become a Heaven-Defying Dao Lord. If one combines multiple Daos like he has, reaching the fourth step level would make one the most heaven-defying peak Dao Lord in the endless territory.

But his junior brother is skilled in the art of time and space, so when did he become so knowledgeable about swordsmanship?
“My path… is different from yours.” Lei Zhan’s gaze was deep, but he didn’t say anything more.

The ultimate path is something that cultivators who haven't embarked on it cannot grasp, no matter how many times it's explained. It's like trying to catch the moon's reflection in water.

"Let's drink, let's drink." Hou Yi immediately understood and didn't ask any more questions. With a smile and a wave of his hand, two long tables appeared in the hall.

"I didn't get to drink my fill of wine earlier because of your disciple. Keep going, keep going!"

……

"What happened to me...?" Ji Ning seemed to wake up from a long dream.

When he woke up, he seemed to see the tall man in black robes, who looked like a woodcutter, leaving.

“Disciple, your strength is still too weak. You can only withstand the methods and sword techniques cultivated to the 'Ancestral God' and 'Ancestral Immortal' stages. As your strength increases, you will naturally be unaffected.”

"I'm afraid I won't be returning to the Three Realms for some time after this departure. If we meet again in the endless chaos, I hope you will have already reached the World Realm..."

The voice of the black-robed youth still seemed to echo within his sea of ​​consciousness, but how could the figure of the Lord of Guiyi still be seen above the entire Northern Sea?
Ji Ning gathered his myriad thoughts, but was completely immersed in the memories within his sea of ​​consciousness.

The sheer volume of information and the powerful techniques filled Ji Ning's mind with immense shock.

"This, this, this... these techniques, these sword skills..." Ji Ning was secretly shocked.

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, a vast amount of information emerged, including not only powerful cultivation methods that led all the way to the World Realm, but also a mysterious Ninefold Chaos Restriction.

There was even a peerless sword technique, one that Ji Ning had never seen before.

All that I learned before is nothing compared to this swordsmanship!
Of course, Ji Ning was also well aware of this.

What he has in his mind is only a part; when his soul becomes stronger, he will naturally be able to receive more inheritance.

His memories were also sealed off, and these profound methods could not be passed on to outsiders.

"master……"

“A master of such great power, his actions are truly…” Ji Ning shook his head and smiled bitterly, but his gaze became more and more determined.

Ji Ning understood.

From that day on, he was different.

"To become a World Realm expert, to become a Dao Lord of Life and Death? At that time, I will be able to say with my own voice that I am my master's disciple!"

...(End of chapter)