This time, Ning spent an entire day meditating on the Dao. When he once more awoke, he subconsciously raised his sword, then stabbed it towards the empty space in front of him. Chi!
Chi!
Chi! Wisps of icy blue light appeared on the blade of the sword, and an invisible surge of frigid energy spread out. Even Ao Wuxu, who was meditating in the lotus position, couldn't help but be slightly affected, and he opened his eyes.
Swish!
Sword-light slashed through the air, stabbing towards the foggy Tree of Dao Enlightenment. Wisps of frigid energy spread out, as though trying to freeze the tree.
Boom!
Unfortunately, Ning's cultivation was still too weak. Although he had mastered the profound mysteries of ice within the Laws of Water, he was unable to fully unleash them. The gray mist around the Tree of Dao Enlightenment transformed into a long gray whip, and with a single whip, Ning was sent flying.
Cough!
This whip strike was not light at all. Even though Ning had trained in the [Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens], he still felt a heart-wrenching pain. Only after a long period of time did he recover.
"You've mastered the power of ice. It seems you have a natural affinity with the Grand Dao of Water." Cheng Hao didn't mind Ning's sorry state at all. As long as he didn't die, it wasn't a big deal.
"Alright. I've taught you the technique and the divine ability. You can leave now!" Feeling that he had more or less explained everything, Cheng Hao waved his hand, indicating for the two to leave.
"Master, send me back to the Atlas of Ten Thousand Beasts. I'm more used to training there!" Ao Wuxu rose to his feet and requested.
Cheng Hao nodded. With a wave of his sleeve, Ao Wuxu's body disappeared, entering the Atlas of Ten Thousand Beasts.
As for Ning, he couldn't help but scratch his head, an awkward look on his face.
"Master, um … where should I go to train?"
"The Haotian major world. You can choose any estate you wish. Even in the Celestial Court, there are many empty estates. As long as no one is around, you can live there." Cheng Hao laughed, then continued, "Right. You are still too weak right now. You can have Taibai Jinxing take you to the Dao Palace and choose a few suitable divine abilities and secret arts. The Dao Palace has some supportive secret arts that are quite good!"
.....
After leaving the little fenced courtyard and walking out of the imperial gardens, Ning encountered Taibai Jinxing, who had been waiting at the entrance to the gardens for quite some time.
"Your Second Highness, where is the First Highness?" Upon seeing Ning come out, Taibai Jinxing hurriedly bowed. Previously, he had referred to the two of them as' Exalts', but now that he understood how Cheng Hao viewed these two disciples, he immediately began to refer to them as' Your Highnesses'.
The disciple of the Great Emperor was indeed worthy of being called Your Highness!
"Eldest apprentice-brother is in secluded meditation. Master asked you to take me to the Dao Palace to choose a few secret arts, milord. Do you have the time, milord?" Ning's attitude was quite humble. He had just arrived, and so he didn't dare to act impudently.
"I have time, I naturally have time. Presently, the three dimensions are completely peaceful, and people like me who've reached the end of their cultivation have the most time!"
Upon hearing that Ning was heading to the Dao Palace, Taibai Jinxing immediately led the way in a very friendly manner. On the way, he explained quite a few things about the Celestial Court, and as the two chatted, they arrived at a completely azure, nine-floored palace.
"Your Highness, this is the Dao Palace!"
Taibai Jinxing pointed at the Dao Palace in a rather arrogant manner, then began to introduce it to Ning. "Our Celestial Court once ruled over the Three Realms. Although we've now retreated behind the scenes, we still have all sorts of techniques, divine abilities, secret arts, formations, constructs, the Dao of the Sword, evasive arts, lightning arts, magnetism … we have all sorts of divine abilities and secret arts. The higher you go, the more profound they become. The ninth floor is naturally the most profound, and the Great Emperor even has several divine abilities within it. It is the place that all the Gods of the Celestial Court yearn for! "
"The first eight floors of the Dao Palace have no restrictions. Anyone who is a member of the Celestial Court can go there and study at any time. As for how much you can learn, that'll depend on your own luck." Taibai Jinxing gave Ning a rather envious glance. "Take me, for example. Although I've followed His Imperial Majesty for countless years, my talent is limited and my comprehension abilities are lacking. I've stopped at the Celestial Immortal level. No matter how many divine abilities and techniques are placed before me, all I can do is gaze at them and sigh."
"Um … I have two spirit-beasts. Are they allowed to study secret arts and techniques within the Dao Palace?" Ning chuckled. With but a thought, a man and a woman appeared by his side.
"Of course they are. So long as they don't cause any trouble within the Celestial Court, no one will care. Your Highness, take a look at the plaza in front of the Dao Palace. Aren't there many Immortals and Direbeasts? Most of them are spirit-beasts or servants of True Immortals or Empyrean Gods. The Haotian major world has countless Direbeasts and cultivators who desire to join the Celestial Court every single day. They would even be willing to become servants or spirit-beasts, all because of the existence of this Dao Palace! "
Ning nodded in understanding. He glanced outwards and saw that the plaza in front of the Dao Palace was indeed filled with many figures. There were even some Diremonsters such as birds and beasts, as well as some strange-looking Fiendgods.
"As for the ninth floor of the Dao Palace, His Imperial Majesty left behind divine abilities and techniques, as well as some secrets of the Three Realms. It is not open to the public, and supposedly, it was prepared for the next Emperor of the Celestial Court. Not even you, your Highness, unless you are appointed by the Emperor as the next ruler of the Celestial Court, will be able to enter."
"However … although the Dao Palace does not forbid living creatures from entering and learning, you, your Imperial Majesty, have yet to become an Immortal. It would be best for you to choose a few divine abilities and secret arts that are suitable for you to focus on. Don't bite off more than you can chew. After all, no matter how many secret arts you have, if you aren't able to master them, they won't be of much use!"
.....
In front of the Dao Palace. Taibai Jinxing led Ning to his destination, then left.
Ning led his spirit-beast in humanoid form, leisurely passing through the plaza in front of the Dao Palace and arriving at the main gates of the Dao Palace.
"Look at those three. They seem to be here for the first time. Do you know them?"
"A human, a Whitewater Hound, and an azure serpent. They don't seem all that strong. They should be the servants of some Great Immortal, right?"
"Shh, don't talk nonsense. I saw that the three of them were led here by Taibai Jinxing. If I'm not mistaken, that white-robed youth with a longsword on his back is most likely the disciple His Imperial Majesty has accepted!"
"It really is possible. Supposedly, His Imperial Majesty accepted the champion of this Conclave of Immortal Destiny. Supposedly, that little fellow is a sword cultivator. It seems he is the one!"
"Ugh, what a lucky kid. Why can't something as good as this happen to me?!"
Perhaps it was because they were used to being free, or perhaps it was because the rules of the Celestial Court weren't that strict, but even though they knew that Ning was most likely the disciple of an Emperor, these cultivators and Direbeasts didn't feel much respect for him at all. After all, a kid who wasn't even a Celestial Immortal … there was no reason for them to feel respect for him!
"Silence! Anyone who dares to make a ruckus will be expelled from the Celestial Court! "
Suddenly, a barefoot youth with a red ribbon tied around his body walked out from the gates of the Dao Palace. He didn't look very old, but his aura wasn't weak at all. As soon as he spoke out, the plaza instantly fell silent.
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