novelraw Chapter 1016: Battle of Dao Images
Chapter 1016: Battle of Dao Images
After a simple check, the Spirit Beast Carriage was allowed to pass and enter the Hundred Flowers Territory.
Behind the carriage, a dozen or so Yellow Turban Warriors, riding strange beasts, followed closely, as if to monitor, clearly not intending to let Ning Fan’s group move freely within the Hundred Flowers Peak Domain.
Within a thousand miles of Hundred Flowers Peak, every few miles there were patrolling and checking masters, the strict defense making one believe that the martial law at Hundred Flowers Peak was not child’s play.
Ning Fan did not intend to cause trouble here but instead followed the path towards the main peak of Hundred Flowers Peak. If his perception was correct, Ouyang Nuan and Burying Moon should be on the main peak.
Among the Five Emperors of the Central Continent, the Baihua Great Emperor is the Immortal Emperor who least likes to get involved in mundane affairs. A thousand years ago, when this Emperor entered the tenth-grade fierce domain to search for medicine, he was besieged and seriously injured by several Immortal Emperor-level Corpse Demons. He has been recovering in seclusion to this day, causing the Hundred Flowers Peak territory to remain under martial law year-round, prohibiting outside masters from entering.
If it weren’t for Duolan accompanying him, Ning Fan might have faced some difficulties trying to enter the martial law-bound Hundred Flowers Peak.
Ning Fan had heard some rumors about the Baihua Great Emperor; at this moment, recalling the messages from Burying Moon and others, he couldn’t help but speculate: it seems that Burying Moon is trying to take Ouyang Nuan to save an old friend. Given her Immortal Emperor status, her friend couldn’t possibly be an ordinary person... Perhaps, Burying Moon’s old friend is indeed this Baihua Great Emperor...
If so, then Hundred Flowers Peak wouldn’t be an adversary, but a friend.
However, the attitude of these Hundred Flowers cultivators, the atmosphere was overly charged. Along the way, Ning Fan encountered many Hundred Flowers cultivators, each looking at him with undisguised hostility.
It’s not hostility towards Ning Fan’s identity as an external cultivator; so far, the identity as an external cultivator hasn’t been exposed. The hostility actually comes from transferred anger.
The true target of hostility for these Hundred Flowers people is Duolan! And Ning Fan, having been assumed to be Duolan’s driver, naturally wouldn’t receive a friendly reception...
"This driver is quite formidable, my spirit sense couldn’t even get within three feet of him before being bounced back!"
"Humph! So what if he is formidable, isn’t he still a lapdog for Duolan, the lowly maid!"
"...I exhausted my Heart Spirit to see through this driver’s cultivations with secret technique, yet couldn’t discern its depth. This person is at least a Shedding Void Stage master, possibly even higher!"
"What of the Shedding Void Stage! Worthless! To think that this lowly maid dared to bring just a Shedding Void servant to my Hundred Flowers Peak, truly daring, must give her a piece of my mind!"
Some Hundred Flowers cultivators along the way discussed, and some were eager to make a move against Duolan, yet hesitated, considering carefully, and finally gave up, clenching their teeth.
Duolan was very anxious. Being cursed was one thing, but Ning Fan, being a devil of devils, being cursed as a driver lapdog, should certainly not get angry.
She dared not truly treat Ning Fan like a driver. So she sat with Ning Fan outside the carriage, maintaining an aloof appearance as if she were the owner of this vehicle, yet carefully observing Ning Fan’s expression. Seeing Ning Fan’s brows furrowing deeper, her heart sank, worried that Senior Ning might truly be enraged and wants to fight these Hundred Flowers cultivators...
Anxious, anxious, anxious...
After all, this is an Immortal Emperor’s territory, acting rashly here would lead to considerable losses...
"Do you have a feud with Hundred Flowers Peak?" Ning Fan suddenly asked via voice transmission.
"There’s some past conflict. My father, the former Chu Lie Emperor, forcibly barged into Hundred Flowers Peak and caused a bloodbath..." Duolan replied, cautiously surprised.
"A bloodbath..." Ning Fan slightly tensed, one could imagine the unimaginable massacre and the overwhelming bloodiness from this simple sentence.
The former Chu Lie Emperor bloodbathed Hundred Flowers Peak! No wonder these Hundred Flowers cultivators are so hostile to Duolan...
"With this causal relationship, entering Hundred Flowers Peak poses considerable risk for you. Had I known earlier, I would have left you outside." Ning Fan frowned.
"Is Senior worried about me? It truly makes this junior feel honored."
Duolan’s uneasy mood inexplicably improved, a slight smile appeared at the corner of her eye. "Actually, I didn’t want to come to this place either, but without me accompanying, it wouldn’t be easy for Senior to enter Hundred Flowers Peak during martial law. Rest assured, my safety isn’t an issue. Being the Chulie Lineage Holy Maiden, even if they resent me, they wouldn’t dare publicly harm my life. After all, killing the Holy Mountain Saintess is a severe crime; they would at most cause some trouble."
Since her father’s death, the hardships and grievances she endured as a solitary girl were not few, some trouble was only bearable, her heart long since made unbreakable. If she could help Senior, facing some trouble is nothing. For some reason, her fear towards Ning Fan has increasingly lessened, vaguely hoping to assist Ning Fan...
Ning Fan was slightly silent, after a long while he said.
"Even if you don’t help me, I am confident I can enter here. In saying this, I am neither your benefactor nor your enemy, you have no reason to go this far for me."
With his experience, how could he not feel that during these days of interaction, Duolan’s feelings towards him had slightly changed? No longer as fearful of him, even having a bit of closeness, though not quite affection, but the seeds had begun to sprout.
But this feeling is actually just a misunderstanding. No grace, only enmity—there’s no more succinct expression to describe his relationship with Duolan.
He killed Duolan’s senior brother, Pi Xiong, and he forced Duolan to become a Soul-Locked Slave—this is the truth. Just because he had casually saved Duolan twice, offered her some kindness, and occasionally showed her a gentle demeanor, Duolan was overjoyed, which led to a budding affection. Yet this affection is wrong.
"No grace, only enmity..." The brightness in Duolan’s eyes gradually dimmed. She bit her lip slightly, her delicate face turning somewhat pale. How could she have forgotten that Ning Fan is her enemy?
Though her affection for Senior Brother Pi Xiong is scant, Pi Xiong was after all also a disciple of Chulie, yet he died at Senior Ning’s hands. Senior Ning is Chulie’s foe; she should not feel affection for Senior Ning. What’s more, Senior Ning is an external cultivator and a madman who has kidnapped the Holy Mountain Saintess...
Only those with a weak heart would feel affection and dependence on small favors from an enemy... Has she become too reliant on Ning Fan’s protection? Is she still her, or the fallen Saintess who has walked alone until today?
How can she feel affection for the villain who kidnapped her? Haha, Senior’s teachings are right, this is wrong, it’s wrong...
"Actually, even if not to help Senior, I wanted to choose a time to visit Baihua Peak again. The last time was with my father, and it’s been many years now... Senior need not feel indebted to me for this matter. Should any trouble arise at Baihua Peak due to me, Senior need not worry. I will find a way to deal with Baihua Peak’s difficulties, and will absolutely not trouble Senior." Duolan’s voice became even more respectful, respectful to the point of alienation, as if forcibly extinguishing any budding affection she had for Ning Fan.
Yet it seemed like at this moment, her state of mind and cultivation had clearly improved, and her Dao heart became more steadfast.
However, the originally harmonious traveling atmosphere inevitably fell into silence.
Ning Fan understood that Duolan realized his intentions and would no longer show him closeness. She had forcibly aligned their identities from within her heart.
Master and Soul-Locked Slave, external cultivator and the Great Humble Ones’ cultivator, enemy and enemy—nothing beyond this... No grace, only enmity, indeed, no grace, only enmity.
Purposely causing the Soul-Locked Slave to distance herself from him... Ning Fan sighed quietly. Was this considered doing a good deed? He didn’t want this girl to sink further down the wrong path, nor for her to lose herself due to some small favors, truly adopting the mentality of a slave, humbly catering to her master... This was why Ning Fan intentionally created distance between them.
This girl wanted to help him enter Baihua Peak out of goodwill, and he appreciated that, so he reciprocated by offering guidance.
Though this guidance was somewhat harsh and ungrateful, it indeed made Duolan see clearly within herself and brought about an improvement in her state of mind, which could be considered returning her kindness.
No more words were exchanged along the way.
In Baihua Peak’s territory, the stone peaks are numerous but mostly low in height, leaving only the main peak towering and imposing. From a distance, the peaks resemble a finger pointing to the sky, awe-inspiring.
On each stone peak, there are countless exotic flowers and weeds that indeed match the name of Baihua (Hundred Flowers). Many are unique to the Great Humble Ones, ones Ning Fan has never encountered.
With a flicker of Ning Fan’s spirit sense, Baihua Peak’s territory suddenly experienced a faint drizzle that silently nourished everything. Light rain in late spring is quite ordinary, and thus no one noticed anything peculiar about this rain. Yet they were unaware that Ning Fan’s spirit sense had silently followed the rain, infiltrating various stone peaks and even the strong cultivators’ caves atop these peaks.
In Baihua Peak’s territory, there is but one main peak, where the Baihua Great Emperor’s cave residence is located. The main peak is shrouded in mountain mist that felt extraordinarily strange to Ning Fan, much like a bewildering Heavenly Dao that his rain sense could not penetrate. Once entered, control is lost, gradually becoming disoriented until the thoughts collapse and disperse into the mist...
This must be the handiwork of Baihua Great Emperor. Ning Fan did not forcibly probe the main peak, as being discovered doing so would be a highly disrespectful provocation towards Baihua Great Emperor who sits upon the main peak.
There are seven auxiliary peaks, each presided over by Immortal Kings and Immortal Venerables, outstanding disciples of Baihua Great Emperor’s sect. Ning Fan similarly did not investigate further, merely withdrew his spirit sense after a cursory glance, unnoticed by anyone.
As the Spirit Beast Carriage inched closer to the main peak, the fragrance of flowers in the air grew stronger. Until the foot of the main peak, a few youths suddenly descended from the mountain trail, blocking Ning Fan and his group’s path. These youths each possessed handsome appearances, roughly with the cultivation of Mortal Immortals, yet their backs had peculiar fleshy wings that could slightly ignore the Central State’s forbidden power, momentarily allowing them to fly dozens of yards above the ground, an impressive feat.
"Step aside, the Great Emperor has ordered us to escort the Chulie Holy Maiden up the mountain," said a few fleshy-winged youths with expressionless faces.
Rather than expressionless faces, it seemed that these youths had rigid faces incapable of making expressions...
Ning Fan’s gaze narrowed slightly, detecting extremely concealed corpses’ Qi within the youths’ bodies, immediately understanding. They were Corpse Demons.
Yellow Turban Warriors trailing Ning Fan appeared extremely afraid of these youths, hurriedly paying respects then fleeing quickly. Ning Fan and Duolan alighted from the Spirit Beast Carriage, handing over the carriage to the guards stationed at the mountain’s base. The youths motioned for Duolan and Ning Fan to "Follow," leading them up the mountain path.
Ning Fan’s eyes flickered as he gradually followed.
"These youths were once the cauldron furnaces of Baihua Great Emperor. Baihua Great Emperor prefers handsome, intelligent youths and often practices Dual Cultivation with them. Every year, countless youths are toyed with until death by her. The most beautiful among them are further refined into Corpse Demons through secret techniques by Baihua Great Emperor, aiming to preserve their physical bodies eternally, loving them as before, and engaging in pleasures with all the Corpse Demons. Youths transformed into Corpse Demons retain a bit of spirit awareness and hold an aloof status at Baihua Peak; even Immortal Venerables and Kings of the auxiliary peaks dare not casually provoke them because they have received Baihua Great Emperor’s favor."
"Senior’s appearance is also considered exceptionally handsome, and coming to Baihua Peak, if not meeting Baihua Great Emperor then it’s fine, but if meeting her... there is the possibility Baihua Great Emperor might take a liking to Senior. These youths being dispatched by Baihua Great Emperor to fetch us up the mountain suggests we may inevitably have to face the host of this place... Senior must be cautious." Duolan spoke with great respect, carefully choosing her words to remind him via sound transmission.
Careful not to catch Baihua Great Emperor’s eye? Careful not to be taken for Dual Cultivation? Ning Fan’s mind filled with black lines as he glanced at Duolan, seeing her extremely serious expression without the slightest sign of joking.
Could there really be a risk of being taken by the Baihua Great Emperor? He came looking for Burying Moon and Ouyang Nuan, and according to Ning Fan’s assessment, the two women likely arrived at Baihua Main Peak to heal Baihua Great Emperor. In that case, he should be considered a guest of Baihua Peak... But it seems there are other possibilities, as well as risks involved...
"If it doesn’t work, then I’ll go up the mountain alone to meet the Baihua Great Emperor. Senior may stay at the foot of the mountain. For Baihua Cultivators, if they only regard you as a junior’s servant, they won’t mind even if you don’t ascend the mountain." Duolan transmitted this message again.
"I appreciate your kindness, but the people I’m looking for are on this peak, so I still have to make a trip up." Ning Fan replied.
"Since that’s the case, I won’t say much more. On the way up the mountain, if anyone gives me trouble, you can just stand aside without worrying about my safety..."
"I understand."
He understood, but he didn’t say if he would help, remaining very calm.
Duolan’s supposedly indestructible inner heart felt slightly bitter. What was she hoping for? For Ning Fan to domineeringly shield her behind his back and protect her unwaveringly? Impossible, that’s not possible. The advice Ning Fan gave earlier was to draw a line between them, to cut off her foolish delusions. She should recognize her identity, recognize reality... There’s no possibility between her and Ning Fan, and Ning Fan certainly wouldn’t cause trouble for a Soul-Locked Slave like her by opposing Baihua Peak...
The journey remained silent.
The Corpse Demon Youngsters were silent, and there was no further communication between Duolan and Ning Fan. After walking along the mountain path for two hours, several Corpse Demon Youngsters suddenly ordered Ning Fan and Duolan to wait here and not leave. Then, spreading their meat wings, they flew further up the mountain, quickly disappearing from sight.
No choice, the masters had commanded, so Ning Fan could only wait here halfway up the mountain, though his heart harbored a trace of caution. He keenly sensed that after the meat-winged youths left, the mountain’s shape subtly changed.
This change was almost imperceptible, and even some grandmasters who had studied the grand momentum for years would hardly notice, but it could not escape Ning Fan’s ears and eyes, trained in the Momentum Character Secret.
Time slowly passed, and the mist that originally permeated the main peak suddenly grew denser, making the atmosphere feel slightly off. Gradually, the mist’s density exceeded the cultivators’ vision, and objects ten steps away began to blur. With a white mist obscuring the view, the mountain path became indistinct. Ning Fan frowned slightly. If he was not mistaken, the thickening mist was indeed intentional...
"Be careful, senior. This is the Bewildering Heart Formation on Baihua Peak! Someone is manipulating this formation to target us!" Duolan tensed slightly.
The Bewildering Heart Formation is the protective mountain formation of Baihua Main Peak. Without Baihua Great Emperor’s permission, it is rarely activated. Could it be that Baihua Great Emperor ordered it to give her some trouble...
As expected, with her grudge against Baihua Peak, ascending the mountain smoothly was impossible.
Duolan was no incompetent; she was, after all, a Shekong Cultivator. Now aware that the formation was attacking her, she promptly displayed her divine skills, the power of the medicine soul protecting her entire body. It seemed she was using some kind of Spirit Medicine Secret Art. Duolan’s long hair was originally bound with Flood Dragon’s Tendon, but the tendon suddenly unbound itself and began to float and soar three feet above Duolan’s head, evidently a defensive magical treasure. As the treasure ascended, wind moved around Duolan’s body, her long hair, red as flames, danced with the wind, strikingly beautiful and somewhat dazzling.
"Flaming Dragon Tendon of the Vacant Dragon? Didn’t expect you to possess such an item and refine it into a protective treasure... Vacant Dragon is good at illusions, naturally effective against illusion formations. Using this treasure to counter the Bewildering Heart Formation makes sense, but unfortunately, your cultivation is ultimately insufficient. This item in your hands is useless!" Suddenly a voice of scorn from an old man echoed from within the thick fog, full of a mid-phased Shattered Thought aura.
It was indeed a mid-phased Shattered Thought Cultivator, manipulating the Bewildering Heart Formation of the main peak to deal with Duolan!
"We’ll see whether it works!" Duolan urged the power of the medicine soul, cleverly resonating with the swirling Flood Dragon’s Tendon. Clearly, it was a unique magical treasure activated by the medicine soul.
The Flood Dragon’s Tendon vibrated, suddenly sweeping out massive white haze, pushing the surrounding mist back twenty feet.
"An insignificant trick!" The old man’s voice from within the fog scoffed, suddenly shouting powerfully, causing a giant shadow to appear in the mist.
The shadow was extremely ethereal, seemingly a gigantic snake formed from the mist, towering above. It was nothing else but the power of Dao Image!
It was indeed the Fragmented Thought Elders from the shadows, revealing his Dao Image!
This Dao Image, named Rising Serpent Riding the Mist, had merged into his Dao Thought Technique entirely. For Shattered Thought cultivators, during duels, they could not only utilize Dao Thought Technique but also display Dao Image to augment divine skills.
The Dao Image of Rising Serpent Riding the Mist could reach Earth-Grade sixty-fourth rank, greatly enhancing illusory arts and illusion formation power.
As this Dao Image appeared, the power of the mist formation was immediately augmented, with the mist originally pushed back by the white haze once again engulfing Duolan.
Duolan’s floral countenance startled, attempting to urge the Flood Dragon’s Tendon to counter the mist once more. But the old man lurking in the shadows didn’t give her the chance, showing divine skills that directly seized the Flood Dragon’s Treasured item!
In this way, Duolan lost her support, receiving the mist’s sudden intrusion within her body, shouting inwardly at the imminent danger. Trying to expel the mist from within her body, it was already too late.
As soon as it entered, the mist flowed directly with the blood, rushing towards her Tian Ling, accompanied by severe pain forcibly tearing open Duolan’s divine sense and invading it. In an instant, Duolan’s expression showed confusion and daze, with scenes of illusions appearing before her eyes, drowning her in the illusion formation.
"Lan’er, these seven coordinates, you must keep them well. When your cultivation is sufficient, with the secret treasures of seven Stone Thrones, you shall revive my Chulie glory! Never forget, never forget!"
Oh, it was what her father said to her before he died.
In a daze, Duolan saw her father’s weak smile, saw the guilt in his eyes, as he gently patted her head, his spirit burning to ashes bit by bit, yet it felt like a trace of liberation...
Father, don’t leave Lan’er... Lan’er doesn’t want to restore Chulie, Lan’er just wants to be with father...
"I don’t need a fallen Saintess as a Dao companion. The marriage alliance between my Spirit Sect Lineage and your Chulie Lineage is hereby annulled!" Oh, it was the illusion of that scene where she was publicly rejected.
Spirit Sect Saint Heir, do you think you’re so impressive? Yet you don’t know that if it weren’t for the lifeline of Chulie, I, Chulie Duolan, wouldn’t care to marry you either.
Only that day on the Holy Mountain, the humiliation was unforgettable, etched into my soul... Because from that day on, I was no longer the exalted Saintess, my pride was trampled beneath others’ feet, and more and more people wanted to step on me...
"Your mother is a bitch, and so are you!" Oh, it was the mocking voices of the other branch Saintesses.
That day, those other Saintesses soaking in the mother-daughter pool, mocked her, humiliated her. She could endure the humiliation, but her mother could not, so she impulsively struck first, and as a result, was surrounded and attacked by those Saintesses, leaving her seriously injured, even ruining her Saintess tattoo...
In the end, it was she, the victim, who was punished by the Holy Mountain, truly unfair.
"Lan’er, I’m sorry, I can’t watch you grow up..." Oh, it was her mother’s voice when she self-immolated her spirit.
Very faint, very faint, she must have been very young then, so young that she couldn’t remember her mother’s face and voice, but this voice remained in her memory, in her bones, impossible to forget...
What kind of person was my mother...
I never met my mother, I so wish to see her just once...
I never met my mother, I never received my father’s love. I have no master, no senior, no friends, all affection is false, only the humiliation is real, only the scheming is real, only those people’s greed for the Stone Throne Coordinates is real...
So tired, so tired... I don’t want to restore the Chulie Lineage anymore, I don’t want to struggle bitterly anymore, I want to die with my father, and my mother whom I never met...
To be freed together...
No longer be anyone’s soul-locked slave.
No longer be ridiculed by anyone.
No longer... struggle bitterly...
The illusions in front of her increased, and the divine sense continued to bring severe pain, vaguely on the verge of collapse. But Duolan couldn’t sense the collapse of her divine sense, she was bewitched by the illusions, unstoppable. Her heart was numb, in pain, weary, and ready to give up.
Letting those mists collapse her divine sense, she no longer wanted to stop, nor could she stop...
"Go easy, destroy half of her divine sense and leave a crack in her spirit sense, that’s enough to teach this girl a lesson. If something really happens to her, it won’t be easy to explain to the Holy Mountain..." In the depths of the mist, suddenly another voice of a Fragmented Thought Elder echoed, a middle-aged man’s voice.
The Fragmented Thought Elder snorted coldly, just about to decrease the power of the mist formation, suddenly his eyes shook.
It was in that mist, that a series of collapsing sounds emerged, showing signs of instability in the formation.
"Impossible! Who is breaking the Bewildering Heart Formation!"
"It’s that driver! How could he achieve this!"
"This is a formation laid down by the Great Emperor, although we are the ones operating it, it’s not something anyone can break from the front, this person, this person..."
In the depths of the mist, exclamations suddenly erupted, clearly the ambushers hiding in the dark were not just one person.
Duolan was bewildered, pained, and so sad she could barely breathe, when suddenly a warmth spread from her palm into her body, causing Duolan’s divine sense to explode like thunder, restoring clarity. Only then did she realize that she already had injuries in her divine sense, with tears on her face...
"You cried?" Ning Fan frowned, it was he who woke Duolan from the side.
"Thank you, senior, for your rescue." Duolan wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, not mentioning her tears, just gently biting her lip until it bled, forcibly calming her mind.
"It was just a small effort." Ning Fan frowned and casually pulled Duolan’s hand, suddenly stepping forward with a strange step.
This step seemed slow, but it was obviously incredibly fast. Where it landed, a golden flame footprint was fiercely burning on the ground.
The formation’s great momentum here has been disrupted by this step! The sound of formations collapsing began to echo.
Duolan had just entered the illusory formation, not fully aware, and was pulled by Ning Fan. She only realized later, feeling her ears burning; why was she being led by the senior, how could she be led by the senior, she was just a Soul-Locked Slave...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ning Fan stepped forward, leaving golden flame footprints on the ground. The mist here continued to collapse, dissipating wildly in all directions. Even the Dao Image of the Rising Serpent Riding the Mist faded along with the formation’s collapse. The entire Baihua Peak trembled, causing a commotion, birds scattered in flight, and numerous masters exiting their seclusion with indescribable shock.
What happened! Was the Bewildering Heart Formation broken? Which Immortal Emperor attacked Baihua Peak?
The clear sky reappeared above Ning Fan’s head.
"What did this man do to tear apart the formation of the Bewildering Heart Great Formation?"
"What is this step technique? These golden flame footprints seem familiar, I’ve heard of them somewhere before..."
"The Ancestral Art of the Eastern Heaven! It’s the untransmitted secret art of that outsider’s Ancestral Emperor! I’ve read about it in ancient texts!"
"No, this man is not the driver; he’s an outsider, an outsider who knows the Ancestral Arts of Eastern Heaven!"
Powerful figures emerged at the other end of the mountain path, appearing halfway up the mountain. They were the Baihua Cultivators who ambushed Duolan, all with looks of astonishment.
Duolan then realized again, what did Senior Ning do? He broke through the mountain-protecting formation set by an Immortal Emperor head-on with his restrained cultivation?
The depth of Senior Ning’s formation mastery had reached such a level!
Ning Fan suddenly let go, Duolan felt a chill in her palm, feeling inexplicably disappointed.
"You are an outsider!"
Among the Baihua Cultivators opposite, a long-bearded old monk asked with a rather gloomy expression. He was the one who previously propelled the Dao Image, never expecting that the illusory formation he strengthened with the power of the Dao Image would still be so easily broken by Ning Fan. Given Ning Fan’s cultivation, it wasn’t particularly high either; it should have been suppressed by the Punishing Ring...
"Indeed, I am an outsider." Ning Fan said calmly, unfazed by his outsider identity.
Immediately, the Baihua Cultivators showed disdain.
If Ning Fan were Duolan’s driver, though detested by the cultivators, he would be somewhat respected; after all, a driver of the Saintess would be considered a Holy Mountain Cultivator, a guardian of the Holy Mountain, not to be underestimated.
But if Ning Fan were merely an outsider... haha, therein lies the habitual racial prejudice of the Great Humble Ones.
"You, an outsider, who allowed you to enter Baihua Peak! And who allowed you to interfere in our matters with the Chulie Saintess!" a middle-aged cultivator sneered, possessing mid-phase Shattered Thought cultivation.
Ning Fan’s brow furrowed deeper; he didn’t want to become hostile with the Great Humble Ones, especially not with the Zhongzhou Immortal Emperor’s forces, but his principles remained unchangeable.
Duolan was his servant; he could treat her coldly, neglect her, but others attempting to harm her was unacceptable!
"I came to Baihua Peak searching for someone; Chulie Saintess is guiding me, so I cannot sit idly by her troubles," Ning Fan responded calmly.
"Is that so? It seems you’re determined to meddle. Very well, then let this old man see what other means besides formation mastery you have to justify meddling in the affairs of Baihua Peak!" scoffed the long-bearded old monk as he stepped forward. As his divine skills unfolded, white mist immediately spread behind him, and within the mist, a giant serpent’s shadow gradually emerged.
As soon as the giant serpent’s shadow appeared, it opened its bloody mouth, attacking Ning Fan head-on. Ning Fan’s eyes turned cold; the long-bearded old monk had actually used a Dao Image attack against him.
The Dao Image attack was malicious...
In general, during battles among Shattered Thought Masters, even with the power of a Dao Image enhancement, direct Dao Image attacks were seldom used. Dao Image battles were extremely dangerous for True Immortals, and damage to a Dao Image could lead to a fall in realms or even Dao collapse and death!
Furthermore, Dao Images couldn’t easily harm others unless the opponent also used a Dao Image to counter. Otherwise, Dao Images didn’t possess direct harm capabilities. Before casting this spell, the long-bearded old monk belittled Ning Fan with words, forbade him from using that strange step method, and had already used a Dao Image skill first. If Ning Fan were afraid and didn’t counter with Dao Image power, it would be a tacit admission that he had no right to interfere in these affairs.
Either evade or confront with a Dao Image; no third option was given to Ning Fan!
Ning Fan recognized this Rising Serpent Riding the Mist Dao Image; it was evident the long-bearded old monk was the one controlling the formation earlier.
Did he mind that he easily broke the formation array, and thus resorted to harsh measures? Does he really want to force him to use the Dao Image to decide the victor?
At worst, it would destroy his cultivation; at best, it would cause his path to collapse and die... This long-bearded old monk had calculated well!
Ning Fan laughed.
He entered the Great Humble Ones, always seeking compromise to avoid trouble, but that did not mean he feared confrontation.
If he feared confrontation, he would not have forcibly broken the mountain’s divine ability and swallowed the Ancestral Emperor Lou Tuo’s innate Fire Spirit. He dared to offend an Emperor like Lou Tuo, so what fear could he possibly have for a mere Mid-Phase Shattered Thought cultivator!
"Scram!"
Ning Fan suddenly let out a cold shout, and a repressive yet powerful aura of the Dao Image instantly emanated subtly from his person. An invisible force directly shook the giant serpent Dao Image into retreating with a wretched cry, showing fear in its eyes. It trembled unusually, as if sensing a higher tier Dao Image suppression from Ning Fan.
"How is this possible!" The long-bearded old monk was greatly astonished, and after the shock came shame and anger.
His greatest pride lay in his Dao Image cultivation, which at Earth-Grade Rank Sixty-Four was already outstanding among Mid-Phase Shattered Thought cultivators, and rare for having cultivated it to minor achievement.
In a confrontation of equals in magical skills, he wouldn’t dare claim to be a strong Mid-Phase Shattered Thought cultivator, but in terms of a Dao Image duel, not even a Late-Phase Shattered Thought cultivator could easily defeat him. His initial thought was to provoke Ning Fan into a Dao Image duel with words, and then rely on the strength of his Dao Image to easily eliminate Ning Fan.
Unexpectedly, the Dao Image he was so proud of was defeated in a direct confrontation by this foreign cultivator right before his eyes!
How disgraceful! To be defeated by a foreign cultivator in the field he excelled in the most!
"Devour again!"
The long-bearded old monk used some secret technique that increased the aura of the giant serpent Dao Image a bit as it once again opened its mouth to swallow Ning Fan.
However, the serpent’s eyes clearly showed fear towards Ning Fan. In their brief encounter, it had sensed the terror of Ning Fan’s Dao Image, even if its master still remained unaware of this...
"The first strike, I held back, out of respect for Baihua Peak. The second strike, I will still hold back, but if you remain persistent after this, I will show no mercy!"
Ning Fan didn’t summon his complete Dao Image but rather just a flash of dark light around his body that seemed to push forward like boundless darkness. Not only did this strike the giant serpent into the air, but also pulled back, tearing off a piece of its illusory bloody flesh.
The long-bearded old monk groaned, coughed blood, and showed an expression full of disbelief; because the damage to his Dao Image actually inflicted significant injuries upon him, even causing a slight fall in cultivation, although, very fortunately, he did not drop out of the Mid-Phase Shattered Thought realm.
The opponent’s Dao Image was indeed strong, he had to admit that much, and the opponent had indeed shown mercy, as he had to acknowledge; otherwise, his Dao Image would surely have suffered more damage, potentially causing a drop in realm, and yet his realm remained intact, proving the opponent’s mercy!
Nevertheless, the opponent had torn a piece of bloody flesh from his Dao Image—this, he could not accept!
This mere foreign cultivator, so insolent, boasting so arrogantly—this was something his pride as a Baihua Peak cultivator could not tolerate!
Holding back? Did he need the mercy of a foreign cultivator? Ants! To be shown mercy by a foreign cultivator was utterly disgraceful!
He must kill him to reclaim his honor!
"Devouring Dao Technique!"
The long-bearded old monk’s fingers danced to form mystical incantations, abruptly unleashing a powerful secret technique.
The giant serpent Dao Image, initially fearful of Ning Fan, suddenly had blood-red eyes filled with ferocity, as if having lost its reason, with no hint of fear left. Despite its wounded form, it opened its mouth to swallow Ning Fan for the third time.
All around, there were sounds of sharp intakes of breath, clearly recognizing the Devouring Dao Technique.
The Devouring Dao Technique, an extremely dangerous Forbidden Technique within the Shattered Thought Grade, could devour another’s Dao Image to repair one’s own and even enhance the power and divine skills of one’s own Dao Image.
Many evil cultivators loved to hunt and devour others’ Dao Images to quickly enhance their own through this technique. But can Dao Images be devoured randomly? A Dao Image is the manifestation of a cultivator’s own Dao, devouring another’s Dao Image essentially means swallowing their Dao. To one’s own Dao, others’ Dao is a contaminant. Although the Devouring Dao Technique can quickly boost one’s own Dao Image, it comes with a significant side effect: it causes impurity in one’s own Dao and damages the Dao foundation, impacting future cultivation prospects.
Even evil cultivators must think carefully before using the Devouring Dao Technique and be prepared to bear its side effects.
At this moment, the long-bearded old monk wished only to devour a piece of Ning Fan’s Dao Image to repair his own, disregarding any issues of impurity, and no longer sought to win a Dao Image duel against Ning Fan.
It was undeniable; Ning Fan’s Dao Image was exceedingly powerful. If he could devour even a small part of it, it would be enough to completely repair his own and possibly even benefit in other ways!
The long-bearded old monk was filled with greed, certain that Ning Fan’s Dao Image must be of a higher grade, surpassing the Earth Grade Fifty-Three Rank; otherwise, it couldn’t have caused such a crushing defeat in a single encounter.
If he could swallow a bit of the opponent’s high-level Dao Image, even if it added some impurities to his own Dao, it would be worth it. Those impurities could be painstakingly removed later, but the chance to consume a high-level Dao Image was extremely rare!
This was an opportunity! The long-bearded old monk didn’t intend to let it slip, also figuring that Ning Fan would restrain himself since this place was the Hundred Flowers Territory, and thus reassured.
Ning Fan slightly closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, he revealed a cold smile.
It was a smile filled with demonic thoughts, giving off a sense of callousness that was chilling to behold!
He had left plenty of face for Hundred Flowers Peak, but if the opponent remained stubbornly ignorant, he wouldn’t back down either. His tenacity had been set since the beginning of his cultivation journey. If he went mad, any concerns or schemes would be cast aside!
"Capture!"
A great black radiance surged around Ning Fan, and as he clenched his five fingers, the black glow immediately condensed into a black light hand, comparable in size to a giant serpent, capturing the giant serpent into the large hand.
"He dares not fully present his Dao Image; indeed, this person has many concerns and dares not exert himself fully!" The long-bearded old monk underestimated Ning Fan even more, pushing his luck, wanting the giant serpent to break free and take another bite of Ning Fan’s Dao Image.
However, after trying, the long-bearded old monk was horrified to find that his already somewhat successful Dao Image serpent couldn’t break free from Ning Fan’s Dao Image hand!
The opponent didn’t even use a complete Dao Image, yet could easily confine his Dao Image—impossible!
A chilling realization suddenly hit the long-bearded old monk as he realized, cold sweat pouring, that the opponent didn’t withhold his full Dao Image out of concern, but because it wasn’t necessary!
The opponent’s Dao Image was so powerful that only a slight display was enough to completely suppress his own Dao Image!
This person’s Dao Image... was unbelievably strong! Competing with their Dao Image was a mistake—a grave mistake!
"I won’t hold back a third time!"
Ning Fan sneered slightly, clenching his five fingers, and the giant black light hand thus exerted a huge force, directly crushing the giant serpent!
Easily obliterating the long-bearded old monk’s Dao Image!
A cry of disbelief echoed, and the long-bearded monk screamed miserably, suddenly bleeding from seven orifices, falling to the ground dead, the blood flames of evil Qi dyeing the sky red!
Exclamations erupted!
The long-bearded old monk’s Dao Image was renowned throughout Hundred Flowers Peak for its strength; excluding Baihua Great Emperor, those able to destroy his Dao Image in one encounter were fewer than five! This foreigner’s Dao Image was formidable, possibly surpassing the ordinary Immortal Venerable! What was this foreigner’s true cultivation!
Moreover, this person dared commit murder at Hundred Flowers Peak as an outsider; wasn’t he afraid things would end badly!
Madman!
Lunatic!
Audacious beyond measure!
"If Baihua Great Emperor truly is a friend of Burying Moon, she could see through the long-bearded old monk’s malicious intent, knowing the fault lies with him! I have already shown leniency twice, granting enough face to Hundred Flowers Peak. If she discerns justice, she wouldn’t pursue this matter. If she doesn’t, why should I reason with all the cultivators of Hundred Flowers!"
Ning Fan’s expression remained indifferent as he casually took the long-bearded old monk’s storage pouch, grabbing Duolan, and headed up the mountain.
His movements were swift as a phantom, leaving the nearby cultivators far behind with just a few steps, disappearing from view altogether. Though he couldn’t completely ignore the Central State’s forbidden sky power, his speed still surpassed the ordinary Shattered Thought cultivators thanks to the Vertical Golden Light divine skill.
"Capture him! He dares to commit murder at our Hundred Flowers Peak; we can’t let him go!"
The group of cultivators immediately chased up the mountain, but they couldn’t catch up to Ning Fan at maximum speed.
On the mountain path, the two fleeting shadows of a man and a woman surged toward the mountain’s summit; it was naturally Ning Fan and Duolan.
Duolan smiled wryly, thinking that Ning Fan was indeed a lawless person, daring to cause trouble at Hundred Flowers Peak. Unusually, she didn’t fear or despise Ning Fan’s act of killing, but rather felt a touch of warmth.
Ning Fan engaged in conflict with the Baihua cultivators for her sake.
"I’m sorry, Duolan has caused trouble for Senior. With this, I’m afraid Senior’s purpose of coming to Baihua Peak might not be achieved..." Duolan felt extremely apologetic yet very joyful, and worried for Ning Fan. She couldn’t explain her feelings; the plan to distance herself from Ning Fan had long been abandoned. In her mind, it seemed there was only the thought of being led by Ning Fan and running swiftly down the mountain path.
Once again, she was led by Senior...
"It’s just a small matter. I won’t let my people be bullied; that’s my principle. You don’t need to mind this, nor feel grateful for it."
Ning Fan’s tone remained indifferent, but Duolan found it extremely sweet, secretly smiling foolishly.
Ning Fan was helpless, was this woman foolish? Hadn’t he warned her before? How did she still walk this wrong path, developing fondness for an enemy...
However, Duolan’s concern wasn’t unfounded. At Baihua Peak, there was a strong possibility of information regarding the Jiuli Ritual Vessel. Zangyue came to rescue Baihua Emperor because of this, which meant the whereabouts of the Jiuli Ritual Vessel were likely controlled by Baihua Emperor...
Having offended Baihua Peak, getting information about the vessel’s whereabouts from Baihua Emperor would be difficult.
But this wasn’t a big issue. If the orthodox way couldn’t attain the vessel’s information, then he would take it forcefully through the way of demonic cultivation. He had the Flame Ancestor’s Golden Palm Command, a formidable weapon, which gave him the confidence to act recklessly here!
The Flame Ancestor’s Golden Palm Command could kill a Sixth Calamity Immortal Emperor! It was said that Baihua Emperor had Sixth Calamity cultivation and was severely injured and close to death... Facing such an Immortal Emperor, the Golden Palm Command should be effective with one strike.
Of course, if Baihua Emperor truly was Zangyue’s old friend, Ning Fan wouldn’t go too far, even to the point of breaking off with Baihua Peak. He would always leave Baihua Emperor some leeway, only intending to intimidate the Baihua cultivators with the Golden Palm Command, rather than actually committing regicide.
First, he would ascend to the summit of Baihua Peak to see Baihua Emperor’s attitude. Zangyue and Ouyang Nuan were there, very close now. Hmm? The dark fortune soaring into the sky at the peak was Wu Laoba, indeed they were all here.
"Fellow Daoist, killing on my Baihua Peak, even if the Changran Master was at fault first, is no reason for such a vicious hand, is it? Fellow Daoist truly does not put my Baihua Peak in your eyes!"
A cold voice suddenly came from ahead.
Ning Fan felt a warning in his heart, halted his form, and narrowly darted backward, dodging a sudden cold light from ahead, which slashed into empty air.
"Oh? Your speed isn’t slow, but unfortunately your cultivation is limited. If you were to engage in a direct duel with this old monk, how much confidence do you have in surviving?"
An elder with crimson eyebrows, holding a flying sword, slowly revealed his form. A hint of surprise appeared in his eyes, seemingly astonished by Ning Fan’s speed.
"First Calamity Immortal Sovereign!"
Ning Fan’s expression slightly tensed. At full strength, he could kill a First Calamity Immortal Sovereign, but now he was not at his peak, naturally wary of this formidable Immortal Sovereign.
"I am the Sixth Auxiliary Peak Immortal Venerable, with the dharma name Mingfeng. Since you could dodge one of my swords, I shall not rely on my cultivation to bully you. After all, it was Changran’s fault first; that one sword is enough to settle the cause and effect. But you killed on my Baihua Peak, damaging our Baihua reputation; this I cannot turn a blind eye to. You seem very proud of your Dao Image, well then, I shall spar with you using my Dao Image!"
Also a battle of Dao Images, the intention of this Mingfeng Immortal Venerable wasn’t to gravely injure Ning Fan, but to offer him a fair duel.
Ning Fan possessed the strength of an Immortal Venerable, but his cultivation was restricted, whereas his Dao Image was not.
Mingfeng Immortal Venerable, not using his cultivation to overpower Ning Fan but choosing a duel of equal Immortal Venerable level Dao Image, was already presenting Ning Fan with fairness. Even if he died in fairness, Ning Fan would likely die without grievance, so thought the Mingfeng Immortal Venerable.
Ning Fan’s gaze softened; this person was not as malicious as the long-bearded elder, so he did not plan to kill with too heavy a hand.
However, this person erred in attempting to block him with a Dao Image! The strength of his Dao Image was beyond what this Mingfeng Immortal Venerable could imagine! Just how strong it was, Ning Fan had never truly tested, having seldom encountered a Dao Image duel; today he would try to see the extreme limits of his Dao Image!
"This old man’s Dao Image is named ’Ancient Buddha Feeding Eagle,’ ranked fifty-third among the earth-grade formidable Dao Images, possessing both Buddha Law power and the ability of a curse art, can you handle this?" Mingfeng’s character seemed to be bright and honest, even going so far as to inform Ning Fan of his Dao Image’s divine powers, unwilling to gain any advantage.
This act similarly displayed Mingfeng’s conceit. Unlike the long-bearded old monk, the opponent was merely a fragmented thought cultivator, with a minor Dao Image accomplishment, whereas Mingfeng achieved great success in Dao Image cultivation!
With great success in a Dao Image, one could establish a Dao Technique!
Not every Eternal Immortal Venerable could cultivate a Dao Image to great success, and Mingfeng did not believe Ning Fan had reached such a level. Even if he had, Mingfeng did not believe Ning Fan’s Dao Image rank could surpass his fifty-third earth-grade rank.
In his bones, there was still some racial pride, and a lingering contempt for foreign cultivators.
As Mingfeng unfolded his Dao Image, a golden Buddha Light shot into the sky, and an image of a sitting Buddha gradually emerged within that Buddha Light...