The banquet at Snowfall Palace lasted late into the night. Under the starry sky, Ji Yichuan and his wife were heading back with their newborn baby.
"Waaah!" Ji Ning groggily opened his blurry eyes, catching sight of the star-filled sky.
Ah! I fell asleep! I actually fell asleep halfway through! The performance was so captivating—musicians in the grand hall played instruments like pan flutes, bells, and ocarinas, while barefoot girls in animal hides danced freely. The style was entirely different from anything on Earth, and it was fascinating. But alas, as a baby, I just couldn't stay awake and dozed off halfway through.
"Yichuan," Yuchi Xue said as they walked, her voice carrying anger, "You said at the banquet that our son should compete for the Gold Sword? Don't you know how difficult that is?"
"I managed it in my youth," Ji Yichuan frowned.
"You were the strongest of the Ji family's Western Estate back then. Yes, you could do it, but the Ji family's Western Estate has been around for a thousand years—how many others have been like you?" Yuchi Xue was furious. Normally, she was gentle, but when it came to her son, she couldn't remain calm. "Besides, today the Lord of the Estate suggested making our child the next Estate Lord. Five of the ten stewards already agreed, only one more is needed. If we convince one more, our son can easily take the position of Estate Lord. Why must he compete for the Gold Sword?"
The Gold Sword was incredibly difficult to win.
Ji Yichuan sighed and shook his head. "You don't understand."
"How do I not understand?" Yuchi Xue retorted angrily.
"You've just joined our Ji family's Western Estate, so you don't know the intricacies," Ji Yichuan explained. "The ten stewards are divided into three factions: the Lord of the Estate's faction, Ji Lie's faction, and the neutrals. To pull one more steward to our side would come at a great cost."
"So what? Even if the cost is high?" Yuchi Xue was unsatisfied.
"Yes, paying the price would allow our son to become the Estate Lord," Ji Yichuan said sternly, "but if our son proves to be incompetent, putting him on that seat will only bring him endless suffering. It would be a life of hardship!"
Yuchi Xue paused, stunned.
"I don't want our son to suffer," Ji Yichuan said softly. "That's why I suggested competing for the Gold Sword."
"If our son is exceptionally talented and grows rapidly, he can win the Gold Sword and take the Estate Lord's position without any opposition," Ji Yichuan continued. "But if he can't win the Gold Sword, then let him live a peaceful life. I, Ji Yichuan, will protect him for the rest of his life, ensuring he lives without worries."
Yuchi Xue contemplated this.
She understood now.
Being the Estate Lord wouldn't necessarily mean an easy life. If one was strong, they could hold the position securely. But if they were weak, forcing them into the role would only cause endless suffering.
"Yichuan, I misjudged you," Yuchi Xue said gently.
Ji Yichuan merely looked down and stroked his son's little face. "Those big eyes—this little one's been awake for a while."
"By the way, Yichuan, what name should we give him?" Yuchi Xue asked quickly. "I asked you during my pregnancy, but you weren't satisfied with any suggestions. Now that he's born, we need to decide on a fitting name."
"A name follows one throughout their life," Ji Yichuan said thoughtfully. "I've been thinking carefully. Just now, a name came to mind… Let's name him Ning. Whether he lives a life of calm or turbulence, whether he's weak or strong, he should always maintain a peaceful heart."
"Ning?" Yuchi Xue repeated, "Ji Ning... Ji Ning..."
Ji Ning?
The baby in his mother's arms widened his eyes. Could it be that the name written for him in the underworld's records by Judge Cui had followed him into this life? Or was this just an incredible coincidence?
Was I really named Ji Ning in this life, too?
...
The strongest in the Ji family's Western Estate was 'Drizzle Sword' Ji Yichuan.
The second strongest was 'Fire God' Ji Lie.
Inside Ji Lie's mansion:
"Congratulations, Father! That arrogant fool, Ji Yichuan, actually wants his son to compete for the Gold Sword. Our Ji family's Western Estate has been around for over a thousand years, and no one has ever become the Estate Lord by winning the Gold Sword," a middle-aged man with numerous braids said eagerly.
The old man with fiery red hair and a small crimson snake coiled around his ear slammed his armrest. "When I was young, I should have been the Estate Lord! Back then, I was too arrogant and was defeated by my elder brother, Ji Youyang. He sat in the Estate Lord's position for eighty years!"
"Eighty years!" Ji Lie seethed. "I've been waiting, enduring every single day. But that damned Ji Yichuan—so dazzling, so extraordinary! Thankfully, he's focused on cultivating immortality and has no interest in being the Estate Lord. But this time, his arrogance will be his downfall, making his son compete for the Gold Sword."
"Heaven is on our side," the middle-aged man said excitedly.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Ji Lie cautioned. "The mistake I made when I was young taught me—until we truly succeed, we can't celebrate prematurely. We need to make some preparations."
"What do you mean?" asked the middle-aged man.
Ji Lie fell into deep thought.
Time slowly passed, and the middle-aged man sat silently, not daring to disturb him.
After a while, Ji Lie spoke in a low voice, "Let's do this."
The middle-aged man looked at his father expectantly. "Father, what's your plan?"
"To win the Gold Sword, one must defeat all the tribe children and Ji family scions," Ji Lie said gravely. "Ji family scions are few but well-endowed with treasures and secret manuals. The tribe children are numerous but lack resources. Even so, the Gold Sword competition is usually won by a tribe child once every five or six competitions."
The middle-aged man nodded. "Though the tribe children are numerous, the Ji family doesn't teach them our true secrets. They only receive second-rate teachings. Even if they perform well in the Gold Sword competition, in the long run, the Ji family still produces the strongest warriors."
"My plan is…" Ji Lie said darkly, "to pick out the most outstanding tribe children and lavish them with resources. Without my support, those tribe prodigies are already strong. With my resources, they'll soar to new heights! I don't believe Ji Yichuan's son can sweep aside all opponents to win the Gold Sword."
"Yes, yes," the middle-aged man nodded eagerly.
Normally, the Ji family treated the tribe children and Ji scions very differently. Ji family scions received the best treatment, while the tribe children were both recruited and controlled. But this time, they would go all out to cultivate the best of the tribe.
"Father, this way, Ji Yichuan's son is sure to lose," the middle-aged man said confidently.
"Ha ha ha..." Ji Lie laughed. "Remember, plant spies in Ji Yichuan's household. I want to know his son's progress. Know your enemy, and you will always win."
"Yes!" The middle-aged man's eyes gleamed with excitement.
...
On a warm little bed, Yuchi Xue gently laid her son down.
"Ning'er, sleep tight," Yuchi Xue gently kissed her son's cheek before lying down beside him.
Ji Ning sighed inwardly.
He smacked his lips. After just drinking milk, everything felt so strange.
The past 24 hours had been an incredible, surreal experience. First, he crossed the Bridge of Helplessness, and just before drinking the waters of Lethe, the underworld suddenly descended into chaos, as if the heavens were collapsing. Luckily, he reacted quickly and jumped into the realm of reincarnation, ending up in this new world.
A huge white dog—his Uncle Bai?
A massive black snake over 100 meters long, with a head the size of a house, capable of transforming into a middle-aged man—his Uncle Hei?
And now, he was expected to compete for a Gold Sword and become the Estate Lord?
Did anyone ask for my opinion?
"Sigh, babies really have no rights," Ji Ning licked the milk from his lips and refocused his thoughts. There was a hint of excitement in his eyes. "It's time to start cultivating!"
On his first day in this world, Ji Ning already sensed the immense power of his family. They ruled over countless tribes—how could they be anything less than powerful? But the Estate Lord position clearly attracted a lot of envy, and that old man with the crimson snake around his ear had a considerable faction, openly challenging the Estate Lord and Ji Ning's father.
But who cares!
I'm just a baby; no need to worry about all that. The most important thing right now is cultivation—specifically, cultivating the visualization technique, *The Nuwa Diagram*.
According to Judge Cui, even if I were reincarnated into the Heavenly Realm, I could use this visualization technique to distinguish myself among the celestial soldiers and generals. And here in the human world? This must surely be one of the most supreme visualization methods. Such a precious technique,