novelraw Chapter 1020: Bai Lu’s Shamelessness
Chapter 1020: Bai Lu’s Shamelessness
The Seven Aids and Forty-Nine Peaks sent over more than thirty invitations, inviting Ning Fan to visit, taste spiritual fruits, and discuss the Dao.
Those who dared to send invitations at least had Fragmented Thought Cultivation, as Shekong Cultivators lacked the confidence to invite Ning Fan, the Eternal Immortal Venerable.
Even those Fragmented Thought Cultivators lacked absolute confidence to truly invite Ning Fan to their abode. Therefore, apart from the six auxiliary peak masters who sincerely invited Ning Fan, the rest of the invitations from Fragmented Thought Cultivators were more of a symbolic gesture of goodwill.
However, Ning Fan actually fulfilled his promises and visited these Fragmented Thought Cultivators one by one, leaving them utterly flattered and surprised.
The structure of Baihua Peak consists of a main peak, seven auxiliary peaks, and forty-nine mountain ranges.
The master of the forty-seventh mountain range, who had Fragmented Thought Early Stage cultivation, was brewing tea and reading scriptures in his cave abode when suddenly informed by the sramanera that a cultivator named Ning was visiting.
Startled, he couldn’t even hold his teacup steady, which fell to the ground!
Overwhelmed by shock, he hastened to invite Ning Fan in, eagerly taking out various treasures to warmly entertain Ning Fan.
"Who would have thought Senior Ning would grace my humble abode, I’m truly honored beyond words. The spiritual fruits and teas here are quite crude; I hope you won’t find them disdainful!"
"Haha, the peak master is too courteous. If I’m not mistaken, these spiritual fruits and teas are quite beneficial for mana enhancement. If Fragmented Thought Cultivators drink them often, they will accumulate considerable benefits over time."
"If Senior enjoys them, please feel free to have more! To be honest, the quality of the spiritual fruits and teas I possess is not high, perhaps beneficial to Fragmented Thought Cultivators, but to a venerable like you, they may not amount to much. Unfortunately, my cultivation is limited, and I can’t offer anything of higher grade, I hope you understanding."
"There’s no need for such formalities, peak master. Spiritual fruits and teas are merely external objects. If you don’t mind, how about we exchange cultivation insights?"
"Senior is willing to guide me!"
Thus, the master of the forty-seventh mountain range, even more excited, brought out more treasures to host Ning Fan and discussed his cultivation doubts during their conversation.
Though Ning Fan hadn’t experienced these Fragmented Thought cultivation issues, with his Second Realm of Tianren Dao Enlightenment, offering guidance was effortless, often pointing straight to the core issue with just a few words, clearing the other’s doubts. Therefore, it was guidance without much time consumption.
Listening to the cultivation queries of a Fragmented Thought Cultivator might unexpectedly benefit Ning Fan’s future cultivation as well. One day he would reach the Shattered Thought Realm.
Moreover, these spiritual fruits and teas were not as crude as the peak master claimed. They were considered rough only concerning an Eternal Immortal Venerable, but they were treasures to Fragmented Thought Cultivators and exceptionally uplifting to Shekong Cultivators.
Even with few spiritual fruits and teas, Ning Fan’s archaic god and demon Shekong mana advanced substantially. These spiritual fruits and teas also had peculiar effects in consolidating realms, gradually stabilizing Ning Fan’s freshly broken through and unstable ancient god and demon realm.
In the brief conversation, Ning Fan also subtly inquired about intelligence regarding the second round of the graveyard battle.
The peak master, aware that Ning Fan sought some intelligence, appreciated his guidance and directly engraved known information into a jade scroll using spirit sense, handing it to Ning Fan.
Ning Fan only stayed at this peak for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before bidding farewell, leaving the peak master quite regretful.
However, the peak master understood that for someone of Ning Fan’s status as an Immortal Venerable, even sitting for a cup of tea was already a great honor. Therefore, there was no complaint.
Ning Fan also mentioned that if he had time in the future, he would visit again, hoping the peak master wouldn’t find it bothersome... This left the peak master eagerly anticipating Ning Fan’s future visits, welcoming him with open arms.
The short visits were mutually delightful.
Such delightful scenes also occurred at the forty-third mountain range, forty-first mountain range, thirty-ninth mountain range...
In half a day, Ning Fan visited the cave abodes of over twenty Fragmented Thought Cultivators, endearing himself to them and consuming quite a lot of spiritual fruits and teas.
Much intelligence was gathered...
The cultivation of the archaic god and demon was also completely stabilized, with evident progress toward the late stage of Shekong...
Regarding Fragmented Thought cultivation, Ning Fan gained considerable experience.
In the future, if time permits, he wouldn’t mind engaging in such mutually beneficial visits.
Afterward, it would be time to visit the eternal peak masters of various auxiliary peaks.
By etiquette, he should visit the more esteemed auxiliary peak masters first and then the mountain range peak masters.
Ning Fan, however, did the contrary, not out of intent, but because the eternal peak masters inviting Ning Fan appeared more solemn, each avoiding concurrent times, as if each wanted to host Ning Fan for a full day rather than just for a cup of tea.
The seventh auxiliary peak master invited Ning Fan to visit the next day.
The sixth auxiliary peak master, Mingfeng Immortal Venerable, also sent an invitation two days later, wishing to thank Ning Fan for his mercy.
The fifth auxiliary peak master invited Ning Fan for three days later.
The subsequent peak masters staggered their invitations, seeming as though they had planned it beforehand.
Initially, Ning Fan’s visit to the auxiliary peak masters was merely a response to the etiquette. But the benefits received at the mountain ranges made him somewhat anticipate visiting the Eternal Old Freaks.
These Eternal Old Freaks were, after all, serious in their demeanor, likely offering more than mere ordinary fruits and teas.
The Dabei Clan seemed quite abundant in spiritual fruits and teas. Considering the benefits of Fragmented Thought spiritual fruits and teas, those of eternal grade must offer even greater benefits.
"It feels a bit like being a freeloader, but visits are, after all, a matter of mutual consent, not solely to my benefit..."
Since the seventh auxiliary peak’s invitation was for the next day, Ning Fan didn’t visit anyone else but returned to the main peak. Once reaching the gate of the Hundred Flowers Emperor Cave Mansion, the boy with flesh wings, who was waiting, led him inside, through a maze of formations, back to the guest chamber.
It was quite a courteous reception...
In fact, Ning Fan had stayed in the Hundred Flowers Emperor’s cave mansion for four days, having already gained insight into the mansion’s formations. If he wished, he could enter and exit without guidance.
However, the Baihua Emperor would likely not appreciate knowing this, as no one likes their cave mansion’s restrictions completely understood by others. Therefore, Ning Fan didn’t reveal his understanding of the formations, avoiding unnecessary troubles.
He still let the boy with flesh wings guide him.
Returning to the guest chamber, Ning Fan began consolidating the day’s insights and refining the remaining medicinal effects of the spiritual fruits and teas. The day swiftly passed.
On the fifth day, Ning Fan, as planned, visited the seventh auxiliary peak master.
This was an Immortal Venerable of the Eternal First Calamity, offering numerous precious spiritual fruits to entertain Ning Fan, substantially refining Ning Fan’s archaic god and demon cultivation.
The increase in mana from these fruits alone was several times that of yesterday, illustrating that visiting Eternal Immortal Venerables was of greater benefit than Fragmented Thought Cultivators.
The visit lasted an entire day, after which Ning Fan departed. They exchanged substantial cultivation experience; with Ning Fan’s Dao enlightenment, he conversed smoothly, leaving them both delighted.
On the sixth day, Ning Fan visited the sixth auxiliary peak, meeting with Mingfeng Immortal Venerable.
Mingfeng Immortal Venerable had severe injuries but knew that Ning Fan had shown mercy, holding no grudges against him.
Especially later, when Mingfeng learned of Ning Fan’s remarkable feat of defeating the Baihua Emperor, he became even more convinced that Ning Fan had held back significantly during their Dao Image confrontation...
Thus, towards Ning Fan, he felt genuine gratitude.
Due to severe injuries, Mingfeng Immortal Venerable did not retain Ning Fan for long. They only chatted briefly before Mingfeng Immortal Venerable, using tea in place of wine, punished himself with three cups, and had no choice but to retire to his room to heal.
Ning Fan naturally did not blame Mingfeng Immortal Venerable for neglecting his guest.
Because although Mingfeng Immortal Venerable did not converse long with him, he gifted Ning Fan many rare Spirit Fruits.
The quantity was almost ten times what Ning Fan had eaten on the Seventh Auxiliary Peak!
For an Eternal Immortal Venerable, these Spirit Fruits were quite valuable. This gesture clearly showed that Mingfeng Immortal Venerable’s gratitude towards Ning Fan was not just verbal but genuine.
With so many Spirit Fruits, Ning Fan couldn’t consume them all in one day, so he decided to save them for gradual enjoyment.
On the seventh, eighth, and ninth days, Ning Fan successively visited the Peak Masters of the Fifth, Fourth, and Third Auxiliary Peaks, and all were delighted.
On the tenth day, when Ning Fan visited the Immortal King Peak Master of the Second Auxiliary Peak, as he left that evening, the Immortal King Peak Master held Ning Fan’s hand, lamenting that they hadn’t met sooner.
"In my life, I have been arrogant and rarely met someone among same-rank Immortal Kings who could earn my respect. Eternal Immortal Venerables who could do so are even fewer! Your Dao Enlightenment is profound, the deepest I’ve ever seen! I believe, in less than a million years, you will surely reach the Immortal King Realm, Daoist!"
"Daoist, you overestimate me. Advancing to the Immortal King within a million years is too difficult, too difficult..." Ning Fan politely replied, but inwardly he held some confidence.
This Immortal King Peak Master spoke without malice, rather with high regard for Ning Fan. After all, for ordinary people, not to mention a million years, even with tens of millions of years of hard cultivation, they might not reach the Immortal King Realm. Many Shedding Void and Fragmented Thought Elders have practiced for millions of years, and the pace of post-True Immortal cultivation is understandably slow.
But Ning Fan was no ordinary person; considering the time elapsed outside, he had cultivated for less than a thousand years and reached such high, profound cultivation.
Calculating his bone age, it was only over forty thousand years, due to his usage of many Towers of Time and Years.
The Third Step, Ning Fan dared not be certain, for in the Era of Decline, the Third Step’s legacy had long been severed. But the Second Step... Ning Fan had the confidence that he would reach its peak in this life!
Then... pursue the Third, Fourth Step!
On the eleventh day, Ning Fan was finally going to visit the Peak Master of the First Auxiliary Peak—True Person Bailu.
This was a Pinnacle Immortal King, even close to becoming a Quasi-Emperor. Although not as formidable as War King Luo Hou, he wasn’t much weaker.
That day, just as Ning Fan was about to visit True Person Bailu, Duolan suddenly came to him.
In fact, Duolan’s room wasn’t far from Ning Fan’s, but knowing Ning Fan was busy befriending Baihua cultivators, she hadn’t disturbed him much, only occasionally coming by to greet and inquire.
Today, however, she had a request.
"I heard Senior is going to the First Auxiliary Peak to visit True Person Bailu, may I accompany you, junior?"
"Oh? You want to see True Person Bailu? Do you have some ties with this person?" Ning Fan asked, surprised.
"No, junior goes to the First Auxiliary Peak not to see True Person Bailu, but to worship my mother..."
"Worship your mother?" Ning Fan was surprised.
The day after the Baihua Emperor was defeated, there was mention of Duolan and allowances for worship or matters of the sort, but Ning Fan hadn’t given it much thought. Now it seemed there might be more to it.
Could it be that Duolan’s mother was buried on the First Auxiliary Peak?
If so, there must be deep ties with Baihua Peak.
Recalling the former Chu Lie Emperor’s bloodbath at Baihua Peak, Ning Fan had a slight realization that in this world, everything has cause and effect. The so-called bloodbath must have its reasons...
"Yes, junior’s mother is buried on the First Auxiliary Peak. My father said that my mother was once the former Peak Master of the First Auxiliary Peak..."
Duolan’s eyes were very calm. Regarding her mother’s death, she didn’t feel deep, heart-wrenching pain, as her mother had passed when Duolan was very young, memories of childhood are long blurred.
But occasionally she would dream of her mother’s vague face, with eyes of remorse and reluctance.
Whenever she dreamed of that, she’d feel a vague frustration, like a fine needle pricking her heart, with minor pain, lingering and unsoothable...
What kind of person was her mother...
She would never see her again in this life, but oh how she wished to pay homage...
"Why don’t you go yourself? The Baihua Emperor seemingly ordered that you can move freely here and pay homage to your mother." Ning Fan asked.
"I’ve gone once a few **** days ago, and yesterday too, but you weren’t aware. Though the people of the First Auxiliary Peak have not acted against me or made any difficulties, with my cultivation, I can’t break through the mist barriers of the First Auxiliary Peak, I keep coming and going, unable to ascend the mountain..." Duolan admitted with some embarrassment.
No one stopped her from climbing.
She simply lacked the cultivation to go up.
The Seven Auxiliary Peaks have natural mist barriers; if one’s cultivation is insufficient and there isn’t an Auxiliary Peak cultivator familiar with the mist leading the way, it’s hard to pass through the barriers to climb the mountain. Ning Fan had understood this during his previous visits to a few Auxiliary Peaks.
Clearly, the cultivators of the First Auxiliary Peak did not welcome Duolan.
They didn’t stop her, nor did they appoint anyone to guide her up.
For them to not act against Duolan despite the Baihua Emperor’s stern order was commendable...
"If I take you along, might it cause some trouble..." Ning Fan slightly frowned.
Hearing this, Duolan lowered her head in disappointment.
But Ning Fan’s tone changed, "Well, you can come with me. I’ll take you up the mountain; there might not really be any trouble."
"Thank you, Senior!" Duolan exclaimed joyfully.
Ning Fan nodded, summoned the winged boy to lead the way out of the cave mansion. Duolan naturally followed closely, all the way to the First Auxiliary Peak.
He didn’t like involving himself in troubles but had always admired familial devotion. If it were for other matters, Ning Fan might not help Duolan, but for the memorial to her mother, he didn’t mind lending a hand.
He figured True Person Bailu, who was eager to befriend him, wouldn’t truly end their relationship over such a trivial matter.
At the foot of the First Auxiliary Peak, a designated person had long been waiting, ready to greet Ning Fan. Seeing him arrive with Duolan, they were momentarily stunned, hesitated slightly, but after a moment, they returned to normal, respectfully leading Ning Fan and Duolan up the mountain.
There were no ripples stirred.
Interestingly, Ning Fan covertly used the Mind Reading Technique on some of the female cultivators leading the way to gather intelligence.
He actually saw thoughts like these in some of the female cultivators’ minds.
’The Peak Master guessed correctly. Indeed, Lord Ning has arrived together with the Chulie Holy Maiden. Fortunately, the Peak Master had already given instructions; otherwise, we would have been too flustered...’
’There was an order from the Peak Master beforehand. If Lord Ning comes with the Chulie Holy Maiden, there should be no negligence towards the Holy Maiden. Though I’m unwilling, I mustn’t be neglectful of the Chulie Holy Maiden...’
The Mind Reading Technique is indeed useful.
On the way up the mountain, just as they reached the outside of True Person Bailu’s cave mansion, he walked out at just the right moment, as if he already knew everything. His gaze shifted meaningfully between Ning Fan and Duolan, and after a moment, he ordered the others to take Duolan to the back mountain for her mother’s memorial, without any negligence, while he personally welcomed Ning Fan into the cave mansion to enjoy Spirit Fruit and Spiritual Tea, as they sat and discussed the Dao.
The insights True Person Bailu had into the Dao were indeed profound. In exchanging Daoist thoughts with him, Ning Fan gained quite a bit.
However, as time went by, unknowingly, True Person Bailu’s topics began to veer off.
It seemed like he was hinting at something indirectly...
Occasionally mentioning other Saintess from different factions of the Holy Mountain.
Then again, mentioning how some quasi-emperors among them were nearing emperorhood, seemingly because they had gained some kind of fortune.
Given Ning Fan’s intelligence, he was aware that inviting him to discuss the Dao was just one part of True Person Bailu’s intentions; there was likely something more.
Since True Person Bailu didn’t bring it up directly, Ning Fan chose not to expose it, merely smiling softly and sipping his tea calmly.
Gradually, True Person Bailu stopped speaking, but he continued to watch Ning Fan with significant intent, somewhat surprised.
After a long while, he praised, "Upon first meeting, I thought you were an anomaly within the demon path, with control over your monster heart almost to an expert level. Today, seeing you again, I realize I still underestimated you back then. Your composure and stability far exceed my expectations."
"Whatever you wish to say, feel free to say it," Ning Fan said with a gentle smile, putting down his teacup.
"With your intelligence, you must have known that my inviting you here was with another purpose."
"I can see that much, but I don’t know what you want? As an outsider cultivator, I don’t think there’s much I can offer you."
"Please don’t misunderstand, I have no intention of scheming against you. I merely wish to share some benefits with you."
"Oh, what kind of benefits? Please go ahead and tell me," Ning Fan remained unmoved.
"A tremendous benefit, one that could increase the chance of becoming an Emperor!"
True Person Bailu observed Ning Fan’s expression and, seeing that he showed no reaction to the topic of increasing the chances of becoming an Emperor, was somewhat surprised.
It’s important to know that if other Eternal Old Freaks heard of benefits that increased the chance of becoming an Emperor, they would likely be slightly taken aback and intrigued. Achieving emperorhood is the ultimate pursuit of every Eternal Cultivator, yet breaking through to Immortal Emperor is no small feat, and there is seldom anything that can enhance that likelihood. Even someone like him, who is already half a step into the Immortal Emperor Realm, finds it challenging to predict how many years he might remain at the Quasi-Emperor level if lacking fortune.
The difficulty of becoming an Emperor is evident.
In True Person Bailu’s eyes, Ning Fan naturally couldn’t be indifferent to becoming an Emperor, yet he appeared unmoved, which was unexpected.
It seemed this man’s depth of mind exceeded expectations...
Ning Fan wasn’t untouched by the notion of greater chances of emperorhood; rather, he had little concept and deep understanding of the difficulty involved.
Honestly speaking, the matter of emperorhood was still too distant for him: his Ancient God’s Ancient Demon Cultivation was only at the Shekong stage; his Ancient Demon Cultivation had only reached the Nine Nirvanas of the Heavenly Demon; his Calamity Blood Cultivation, albeit formidable, lacked an orthodox method for practice, and achieving his current cultivation was a result of fortune, making it extremely challenging to advance to higher realms, a difficulty surpassing that of improving Divine Demon Cultivation.
Discussing emperorhood chances now seemed somewhat premature...
"If I’m not mistaken, you should be quite adept at Dual Cultivation, yes?" True Person Bailu paused briefly before continuing.
"I wouldn’t say adept, just somewhat familiar. If I’m right, sir, you also seem proficient in Dual Cultivation, perhaps practicing Buddhist Joyful Zen?"
"Keen-eyed, indeed, I do practice Joyful Zen," True Person Bailu’s eyes narrowed, slightly surprised at Ning Fan’s discernment.
Buddha cultivators emphasize the void of the four elements and the purification of the six senses, seldom indulging in female companionship, as overindulgence can harm the foundation of Buddhist Law. Thus, most Buddha cultivators are individuals who cultivate physical discipline.
Some highly advanced Buddha cultivators even preserve their state of a child’s body for life, sometimes even cultivating the Buddhist Xiang Ma Yin Zang technique, directly sealing their male root within their body.
However, there are also Buddha cultivators who practice Joyful Zen, advancing their cultivation through Dual Cultivation, such as the Baihua Great Emperor, who was a practitioner of such.
True Person Bailu unexpectedly was among those pursuing this path as well.
Joyful Zen, as long as both parties are willing, is not inherently immoral. Ning Fan refrained from commenting on Baihua Great Emperor, but the True Person Bailu before him, who bore hardly any Evil Qi, evidently had caused little harm in his life and wasn’t one to oppress women or take lives unjustly.
Yet bringing up Saintess first, then mention of emperorhood, and finally Dual Cultivation...
From Ning Fan’s intelligent and deep disposition, he could already faintly guess True Person Bailu’s supposed method to increase the chance of emperorhood.
"Do you have any intentions regarding the Chulie Holy Maiden?" True Person Bailu, after circling around the topic, finally touched on the main point.
Ning Fan knew True Person Bailu wasn’t asking if there was any romantic involvement, but rather... whether Ning Fan intended to absorb Duolan, to obtain the Yin energy within her!
That was something only a Saintess, who had been immersed in the Zimu Pond since childhood, could possess!
There are few things in the world that can increase the chances of becoming an Emperor, but this particular energy definitely counted as one of them!
Ning Fan couldn’t help but recall when he first captured Duolan, and her desperate resolve against dying.
’I can let you cast the Three Yin Soul Locking Technique on me, but I will never comply with that matter. If you force me, I’d rather die here! If I die, when the sepulcher period lapses, you will have attracted major trouble! I know your purpose in coming to Dabei is significant, so you won’t want unnecessary trouble. If you force the matter upon me, you will regret it! I, Duolan, swear on my life!’
That day, the little girl tried to protect not her body’s purity, but the Yin energy within her...
"What’s the difference if I do or don’t have intentions?" Ning Fan showed an indifferent stance as if to see what True Person Bailu would say next.
"If you have no intentions, so be it. But if you do have intentions, being an outsider cultivator, possessing the Holy Mountain Saintess is as difficult as ascending to the heavens! The many Emperors of the Holy Mountain would absolutely never allow this! Unless... you can gain the support of some of the mighty ones from the Holy Mountain!"
Ning Fan’s eyes slightly narrowed, and after a long pause, he asked, "What should I do, pray tell?"
"Hehe, so you indeed have the intention, that makes things much better! I knew your every act of protecting that Chulie Holy Maiden could not possibly be as simple as worldly affairs of men and women being rumored outside. As expected, your purpose is far greater, aiming for the Saintess’s Yin energy. Hehe, even someone like me at the Quasi-Emperor stage wouldn’t dare partake in such a scheme recklessly. Yet with your strength, there might just be a chance..."
True Person Bailu gazed at Ning Fan with the look of a kindred spirit before proceeding,
"Among the factions within the Holy Mountain, I have connections with an Immortal King in the Spirit Sect Lineage, and I know some things. The Saint Son of Spirit Sect Lineage has long been collecting rare Medicine Soul-bearing women as concubines, using the Joyful Zen method to absorb and Dual Cultivate. Should anyone offer rare Medicine Soul-bearing women, they will be heavily rewarded. If a woman offered possesses a Medicine Soul so rare as the Five-Color Medicine Soul, then even raising an over-the-top demand to possess the Chulie Holy Maiden might find some support from the Spirit Sect Lineage. However, you, being merely an outsider cultivator, cannot fully claim the Yin energy within Duolan, at most two to three-tenths, while the remaining seven to eight-tenths would still belong to the old monsters of the Holy Mountain. As for the two to three-tenths you might gain, you would have to share a portion with me, given that this information was shared with you by me, after all..."
Ning Fan’s expression instantly turned cold.
True Person Bailu implied that Ning Fan should offer Ouyang Nuan for the Spirit Sect Saint Son to absorb!
Selling his wife for glory!
And even after offering her, he could only absorb two to three-tenths of Duolan’s Yin energy, while Duolan’s remaining Yin energy would be absorbed by other old monsters of the Holy Mountain.
This True Person Bai Lu also wants to gain benefits, invading Duolan’s body, extracting some Yin energy to increase his confidence in breaking through to the Immortal Emperor!
How shameless!
It seems that although this person does not kill much and lacks heavy Evil Qi, he has certainly not refrained from shameless deeds!
"Daoist, why are you so angry? Is it possible that I’ve said something wrong?" True Person Bai Lu was greatly surprised, and his expression also became somewhat cold.
"As for selling my wife, Ning Fan will never do such a thing. As for the Yin energy within the Chulie Holy Maiden, Ning Fan has no desire for it either. You’ve come to me with the wrong intentions!" Ning Fan abruptly stood up, ready to leave with a flick of his sleeve.
True Person Bai Lu was taken aback, biting his teeth. This was an excellent opportunity to gain the Holy Maiden’s Yin energy alongside, how could he let it slip? So he couldn’t help but try to persuade Ning Fan to stay.
"Daoist, is it because you cannot bear to part with Ouyang Nuan’s beauty? This matter is a huge mistake! A true man does not fear being without a wife. As long as you can become an Emperor, why worry about not enjoying beauties? Offering your wife to the Spirit Sect lineage would be greatly beneficial to the matter of becoming an Emperor. Moreover, as long as I speak on your behalf, the Spirit Sect Saint Son, after absorbing Ouyang Nuan, would most likely be willing to return her..."
Before True Person Bai Lu could say more, his expression suddenly changed as he saw Ning Fan suddenly turn around. A surge of overwhelming killing intent erupted, causing his Quasi-Emperor cultivation to quiver intensely!
He could smell a sensation of lethal danger emanating from Ning Fan!
"We’re not on the same path, our paths do not align! But if you continue to desecrate my wife, Ning Fan is not afraid to kill a Quasi-Emperor atop this auxiliary peak! You better watch your mouth!"
Each word carried an overwhelming demon might, and it wasn’t merely bluster; rather, it genuinely gave True Person Bai Lu a sense of being on the brink of life and death!
That was the crisis brought by the Flame Ancestor’s Golden Palm Command to True Person Bai Lu.
At this moment, Ning Fan had the golden palm command hidden in his sleeve, unseen by True Person Bai Lu, yet he was indeed shaken by that lethal crisis.
Inwardly, True Person Bai Lu was overwhelmed.
He initially thought Ning Fan was merely a normal Immortal Venerable with strong Dao image and sealed cultivation. Now it seemed this person clearly possessed a terrifying reliance capable of striking down a Quasi-Emperor, not someone to provoke!
But after all, he had good intentions. Even if this person disagreed with the matter, he shouldn’t be so angry! How rude!
As expected! Demon cultivators in this world are all arrogant and impudent, not worth associating with!
Just like the former Chulie, who became enraged for a woman, incurred the wrath of an entire realm, mistakenly entered the path of evil cultivators, and eventually met his demise alongside his clan, becoming a laughingstock under the heavens!
Such a person cannot be considered a true great man!
Among those who invited Ning Fan, True Person Bai Lu was the only one who looked down on him.
He despised Ning Fan, thinking that a man who cannot even discard a woman how could he accomplish anything great! Though he despised him, he was truly frightened by Ning Fan’s undisguised killing intent, which completely weakened his aura as a Quasi-Emperor, and he no longer dared to utter any blasphemous words about Ouyang Nuan in Ning Fan’s presence.
This young man dares to challenge an Immortal Emperor!
If he really angered this madman, he might actually face a life-threatening situation!
A true man does not need to engage with brutes! If this young man wants to leave, just let him go. After all, he’s just a child and not worth plotting with!
Seeing True Person Bai Lu obediently shut his mouth, Ning Fan turned around and walked out of the cave mansion, his fury only slightly subsiding as he walked all the way to the back mountain.
He despised people like True Person Bai Lu.
But such people exist, even... in many corners of the cultivation world.
He couldn’t say that True Person Bai Lu’s actions were necessarily wrong; they were just different paths, and as such, Ning Fan found even the slightest conversation with him annoying.
"To think that a visit full of joy would result in such an outcome here. I fear I shall not wish to step foot here again..."
Ning Fan walked all the way to the back mountain, where in a secluded place, he found Duolan.
Duolan knelt alone in front of a small grave, her face not showing much sorrow.
But though she had no sorrow, for some reason, she did not want to rise, nor did she want to leave...
What kind of person was her mother...
Everyone cursed her mother as a woman of loose morals, but Duolan didn’t think her mother was lowly at all.
In her heart, her mother must be the most beautiful, the most pure woman in the world. Although she had never seen her mother, she firmly believed in this.
Her hand traced the weathered old tombstone, and for some reason, Duolan thought of the time when her father brought her as a child to fight their way up Baihua Peak.
That day, her father’s eyes were blood-red, like an enraged lion, so frightening, so crazy.
Ultimately, he fought his way to the First Auxiliary Peak, to her mother’s tombstone, touching the tombstone, eyes filled with sorrow, shedding tears of blood.
Duolan had heard from some Chulie elders that her appearance inherited her mother’s beauty and was very similar to her mother’s, especially that glaring red hair.
Duolan had secretly guessed that since she was very young, her father had distanced himself, not seeing her much, not because he didn’t like her, but because he was afraid to see her face.
A face similar to her mother’s...
So she never blamed her father.
She always believed that the mother of whom she could hardly remember the appearance loved her.
And that the father who always treated her coldly also loved her.
This had been her faith for so many years, supporting her to the present.
"It’s time to go..." Ning Fan’s voice suddenly came from behind her.
Duolan’s face reddened slightly, standing up, and what she saw was Ning Fan turning and descending the mountain.
No words of care, but the senior coming here to find me is an act of care itself.
He really is quite like my cold, silent father...
Duolan patted the dust off her knees, and jogged after Ning Fan, heading towards the fog-filled mountain path below.
Farewell, mother...
Once I fulfill father’s last wish and revive the Chulie lineage, I will come back to see you.
No matter how difficult, I will do it, I must do it.
Because I am your and father’s daughter...