Chapter 79

A man in a green robe, with his long hair flowing, landed in front of Ji Ning, and said with a smile, "My surname is Mu, and my given name is Xiao. I am known as True Man Mu Xiao."

"Nice to meet you, True Man Mu Xiao," Ji Ning felt a sense of relief. The fact that this unknown True Man of Myriad Phenomena had revealed his name to him clearly indicated that he held him in high regard.

"Thank you, True Man Mu Xiao, for your help. Otherwise, if Bo Zishan had escaped, it would have been a disaster in the future," Ji Ning expressed his gratitude.

True Man Mu Xiao smiled and shook his head, "Actually, I should be the one to thank you. I came here specifically to kill Bo Zishan. It took me several months to track him down to this place. Unfortunately, Bo Zishan had set up a great array around him. Although I am a True Man of Myriad Phenomena, I had no confidence in breaking through it by force. So, I waited on the side, hoping to wait for him to leave the array and then eliminate him. I didn't expect to witness such a good show."

Ji Ning was taken aback.

What?

It turned out that True Man Mu Xiao had been hiding nearby all along, and had seen everything.

"Later, you broke the great array," True Man Mu Xiao sighed, "I then knew it was you. For a young man to break the array, that's impressive. And I didn't expect you to handle so many Dao soldiers, innate spirits, and even Bo Zishan all by yourself. Hahaha, I was quite relaxed."

"If I had known True Man Mu Xiao was here, I wouldn't have tried so hard," Ji Ning said.

True Man Mu Xiao looked at Ji Ning curiously, "Ji Ning, I want to ask, are you a Purple Mansion cultivator or an innate spirit?"

One's strength cannot be judged by appearance.

However, True Man Mu Xiao had observed for a long time, especially after Ji Ning broke the array. He had watched Ji Ning's battle closely. As the saying goes, an onlooker sees clearly... True Man Mu Xiao noticed some issues and felt that Ji Ning was not a Purple Mansion cultivator.

"I have not opened the Purple Mansion," Ji Ning did not hide it.

True Man Mu Xiao immediately showed a surprised look, "Indeed! I saw your sword techniques were profound, reaching the realm of the Dao's true meaning. If you were a Purple Mansion cultivator, using primordial energy to perform such profound sword techniques... you could easily repel that black-haired zombie, and that battle should have been much easier. But you were quite in a bind just now, so I guessed you were not a Purple Mansion cultivator. If you are not a Purple Mansion cultivator, then the floating sword artifacts and treasures must be controlled by your divine consciousness. For a mere innate spirit to have such a powerful divine soul, that's truly remarkable."

Ji Ning nodded.

He did not deny it, as according to some books he had read, there were indeed some exceptionally talented individuals.

"I was born with a powerful soul," Ji Ning said, "I could multitask from a young age. Later, after comprehending the Dao's true meaning, I developed divine consciousness."

...

Facing a True Man of Myriad Phenomena, who had the power to easily kill him, Ji Ning naturally understood that he should not play any tricks. Since he was an exceptionally talented genius, he might as well show it, as it could bring benefits.

"I have one more question," True Man Mu Xiao looked at Ji Ning as if he were a piece of unpolished jade, "Are you cultivating the Nine Heavens of Crimson Brightness?"

"Indeed," Ji Ning nodded.

"Ha ha ha..." True Man Mu Xiao laughed contentedly, "Do you know who I am? Why am I pursuing Bo Zishan?"

Ji Ning shook his head, having never met him before, how could he know who he was?

True Man Mu Xiao said directly, "I am a member of the Yinglong Guard of the Great Xia Dynasty, and I received orders to pursue and kill Bo Zishan."

"Yinglong Guard?" Ji Ning was surprised.

After killing the great demon winged snake, when his parents saw him, they gave him a general overview of the entire Anpan County, including a major force that must never be provoked or offended—the Yinglong Guard! The Yinglong Guard is the most powerful team of the Great Xia Dynasty, entirely composed of cultivators, and it is said that at least True Men of Myriad Phenomena can join.

The Yinglong Guard, directly under the Great Xia Dynasty, has a very special status!

Among the many forces in the vast land of Anpan County, the top two are the Anpan Marquis and the Yinglong Guard! The Anpan Marquis is the master of this land, with deep roots. The Yinglong Guard, however, is directly under the Great Xia Dynasty, with many powerful individuals and the entire Great Xia Dynasty as its backing.

"Ji Ning," True Man Mu Xiao looked at Ji Ning, "The Yinglong Guard is the most powerful force in this vast land. No tribe, sect, or religion can compare to our Yinglong Guard!"

Ji Ning nodded in agreement.

"The Yinglong Guard is very free and unconstrained. Once you become a member, you can bring blessings to your tribe. A territory of ten thousand miles can be designated within the tribe's land, and this territory will be protected by the Yinglong Guard! Even if you die, the Yinglong Guard will protect this territory for a thousand years, and no force will dare to invade, otherwise it would be a provocation to the Yinglong Guard, and we will directly eliminate that force!" True Man Mu Xiao said.

Ji Ning had also heard from his parents that the Yinglong Guard was highly esteemed, and even the tribe benefited from it.

"True Man, even if you say so much, I can't become a member of the Yinglong Guard," Ji Ning smiled.

True Man Mu Xiao looked at Ji Ning, "I ask you, are you willing to become a member of the Yinglong Guard?"

"Me!" Ji Ning widened his eyes, "I, I am just an innate spirit? Even if I wanted to, my strength is far from enough."

True Man Mu Xiao immediately shook his head, "Strength is not a problem. You can't directly join the Yinglong Guard now, but we have a reserve force! Just like some sects, religions, and tribes deliberately attract talented individuals to join. Our reserve force also attracts talented individuals and then trains them."

"Once you join the reserve force, you will have access to various cultivation methods and even divine abilities," True Man Mu Xiao sighed, "If the Yinglong Guard were considered a sect, it would be the most powerful sect, with many immortals and even celestial immortals appearing."

"Of course, the threshold for the reserve force is very high, not everyone can join. Fortunately, you are cultivating the Nine Heavens of Crimson Brightness, which is the best method for body cultivation," True Man Mu Xiao looked at Ji Ning, "As long as you become an innate spirit through the Nine Heavens of Crimson Brightness, you can directly join the reserve force without going through multiple assessments."

"The Nine Heavens of Crimson Brightness is very difficult. Those who can become innate spirits through it are all exceptionally talented," True Man Mu Xiao sighed, and Ji Ning felt a sense of resonance. Yes, he had comprehended the way to merge water and fire to break through to the innate level by the pool. Others would also need to comprehend the secrets of merging water and fire to break through.

"Cultivators of the Nine Heavens of Crimson Brightness are all extraordinary," True Man Mu Xiao said, "For ordinary cultivators, only True Men of Myriad Phenomena have the chance to join the Yinglong Guard."

"But cultivators of the Nine Heavens of Crimson Brightness, once they reach the Purple Mansion level and learn a divine ability, their combat power can rival that of True Men of Myriad Phenomena. At that point, they have a good chance of joining the Yinglong Guard, though it still depends on their strength," True Man Mu Xiao said, "I joined the Yinglong Guard at the late stage of True Man of Myriad Phenomena."

Ji Ning blinked.

Late stage of True Man of Myriad Phenomena?

The Yinglong Guard is really hard to join!

...

At this moment, the thousands of surviving Dao soldiers in the distance looked at them in fear, and two figures descended from the sky, the Green Flame Bird and the Black Snake, both looking at Ji Ning.

"Go save Master Mengyu and the others first. I have some things to discuss with the senior," Ji Ning instructed.

"Yes," the Green Flame Bird and the Black Snake responded, having seen Ji Ning's battle with Bo Zishan, they felt a sense of respect.

Although Ji Ning was anxious and worried about his mother, he could not be impolite to the True Man of Myriad Phenomena in front of him. He also had the intention of inviting this True Man to Xifu City.

"Once you join the reserve force, your future is limitless," True Man Mu Xiao said, "Becoming a member of the Yinglong Guard will be a natural progression. At least, it will give you more opportunities than staying in your tribe. Think carefully, if you are willing to join the reserve force, go say goodbye to your parents, and I can take you directly to Anpan City!"

Go to Anpan City?

Ji Ning was taken aback.

"True Man Mu Xiao," Ji Ning said, "The reserve force has many benefits, but it must also require some sacrifices, right?"

"Of course," True Man Mu Xiao nodded, "Once you join the reserve force, you will not leave the mountain until you reach the Purple Mansion level."

"Never leave the mountain?" Ji Ning was puzzled.

True Man Mu Xiao explained, "Our Yinglong Guard's camp is on a towering mountain, and the reserve force is also there! If you cannot even reach the Purple Mansion level, you will die on the mountain. Once you reach the Purple Mansion level, you can go out more often, but you still need to live on the mountain most of the time and can only leave on orders. Once you become a member of the Yinglong Guard, you will be free."

Ji Ning nodded.

He understood that the reserve force was like a sect, where one cannot leave the mountain until reaching the Purple Mansion level, and even then, one must often stay on the mountain and can only leave on orders.

"I have a Water Mansion," Ji Ning thought, "Juhua Immortal, with that ancient Water Mansion, became a wandering immortal and lived for millions of years, with strength comparable to a celestial immortal... This Water Mansion has many secrets for me to explore. Once I become a Purple Mansion cultivator, I can refine the talisman and enter. Why should I rush to join the reserve force?"

True Man Mu Xiao spoke, "Ji Ning, who taught you in Yanshan? With your talent, you need to go to a broader world."

"Thank you, True Man