Grasping the Evil

Chapter 1058: Ancestral Thunder Sparrow

Ancient Kingdom...

Again, Ancient Kingdom...

[Ancient Kingdom’s God-Destroying Shield] was the first time Ning Fan heard this prefix, [Ancient Jiuyou Well-Controlling Formation Diagram] was the second, and this time, it was the third time...

The term Ancient Kingdom might truly have some specific meaning rather than being a vague reference.

Looking again at the pile of gold and silver in the storage pouch, an inexplicable expression appeared in Ning Fan’s eyes. His previous speculation seemed correct. Wu Laoba was indeed keen on the gold and silver of the Dabei Clan for a reason.

He originally intended to find a time to interrogate Wu Laoba to see what mystery these gold and silver held, but unexpectedly, Wu Laoba would voluntarily explain everything...

"Tell me specifically, what is the Ancient Kingdom Trade Array all about."

"Master, don’t be anxious. Listen to Little Ba explain slowly."

Wu Laoba organized his thoughts and continued,

"My mentor, Ancestor Heiyun, had a lifelong passion for collecting treasures of the world, was well-acquainted with both ancient and modern treasures, and had considerable research into ancient and modern history. When my mentor was alive, he once told me this: the world is an egg, when the egg breaks into three pieces, it creates the Three Great Realms. The Primordial Chaos outside the eggshell is where countless dreamlands exist, creatures within are imaginary. However, before the birth of the egg that is the Three Realms, earlier in the history of the Three Great Realms, the multitude of heavenly worlds didn’t actually have a distinction between true and imaginary, and the heaven and earth weren’t separated into clarity and turbidity as they are now. If the current cultivation era is called the [Three Realms Era], then before the Three Realms Era, there was another era, belonging to the Ancient Kingdom, belonging to the Ancient Deity..."

"The mentor only told me this, and wouldn’t divulge other great secrets of heaven and earth, saying that knowing too much isn’t necessarily good. When I asked him what the Ancient Kingdom was and what the Ancient Deity was, he suddenly became angry, and severely punished me, strictly prohibiting me from seeking those great secrets of heaven and earth..."

Ning Fan’s gaze flickered slightly. The world is an egg... another era before the Three Realms Era...

Ning Fan originally wanted to ask more, but then thought about it, Wu Laoba’s mentor didn’t tell him much, so this guy probably doesn’t know the specifics either, and gave up.

"...Later, my mentor accidentally obtained some peculiar gold and silver, and was so delighted that he set up an unusual Formation in my presence, and made an unimaginable transaction with that Formation. He bought an Innate Lower Grade Treasure with three taels of Heavenly Dao Gold from the Formation!"

"After the transaction was completed, my mentor handed me a jade scroll, which recorded the method of setting up the Ancient Kingdom Trade Array, and made me remember it."

"I looked at the jade scroll, on the jade scroll was not only the detailed array map of the Ancient Kingdom Trade Array, but also a brief introduction of the Ancient Kingdom Trade Array. It is said that within today’s real realms, there is an Ancient Holy Sect known as Tongtian Sect. This sect is different from other sects, hidden from the world for years, and even the location of this Tongtian Sect is rarely known in the Three Great Realms. This Tongtian Sect doesn’t care about mundane affairs, and when its disciples occasionally wander the world, they often claim to be descendants of the Ancient Kingdom. This sect truly lives up to its name, possessing the ability to reach the heavens and the earth, can with an array, transact with worlds of heaven. Whether the cultivators of the Three Great Realms or the cultivators of Dreamland Realm, as long as they possess Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver and set up the Ancient Kingdom Trade Array, they can transcend realms and trade with the Tongtian Sect... Of course, cultivators from different realms can also use this array to trade across realms, but if not trading directly with Tongtian Sect, then additional costs are required, and there is a significant chance of failed transactions..."

Speaking at this point, Wu Laoba flipped his hand, took out a jade scroll, and handed it to Ning Fan.

Ning Fan broke the seal on the jade scroll with his spirit sense and examined the contents of the jade scroll, this examination lasted half an hour, only then did he retract his spirit sense, his gaze containing a peculiar expression.

Ancient Kingdom Trade Array!

There is actually such an unusual Formation in the world, capable of traversing realms to trade with others!

Wu Laoba’s mentor even used three taels of gold to buy an Innate Lower Grade Treasure!

"In your storage pouch, there’s surely more than a hundred thousand taels of gold, with silver also exceeding a million taels. This money surely can’t all be what you said as Heavenly Dao Gold, Heavenly Dao Silver, right? I don’t know the gold and silver exchange ratio of the Ancient Kingdom trade, not considering silver, just looking at this gold. If these more than ten thousand taels of gold are all Heavenly Dao Gold, then according to the ratio of three taels of gold to one Innate Treasure, wouldn’t it mean you could purchase over ten thousand Innate Treasures from the worlds of heaven?"

Over ten thousand Innate Treasures...

The restriction of the Punishing Ring has been removed! With Ning Fan’s strength comparable to the Second Calamity of Eons, if he held over ten thousand Innate Treasures, even encountering Da Bi Celestial Emperor, he wouldn’t need to use Divine Skills, just directly detonating tens of Innate Treasures should be enough to blow the opponent to death or injury...

"Master is joking, naturally this gold and silver couldn’t be true Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver, only containing a miniscule trace of Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver components, if refined properly, from the hundred thousand taels of gold, one could probably refine only one or two taels of Heavenly Dao Gold, the Heavenly Dao Silver, similar proportion..."

So this Dabei Gold and Silver here can only extract one or two taels of Heavenly Dao Gold, ten or twenty taels of Heavenly Dao Silver at most?

And Wu Laoba also mentioned the words ’refined properly’, meaning if the refining technique isn’t perfect, there would be losses, the true yield of Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver may not meet expectations...

But well...

"I have three questions."

"Master, please ask, it is Little Ba’s utmost honor to alleviate master’s doubts!"

"First question, does all Dabei gold and silver contain components of Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver?"

"According to Little Ba’s investigation, all gold and silver of the Dabei Clan contain components of Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver."

"Second question, do you think the strong ones of the Dabei Clan know that the currency circulating in the clan contains components of Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver?"

"Ordinary people certainly don’t know, the stronger ones above eons are uncertain. After all, the Great Humble Ones are descendants of real realm saints, people of the clan knowing about the existence of Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver is quite natural. But since those people allow currency with Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver to circulate freely, there’s only one possibility. Either, they don’t understand the refining technique for Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver, or, they don’t understand the array method for the Ancient Kingdom Trade Array. My mentor once said, the refining of Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver requires setting up a specific [Ancient Kingdom Refining Formation], whether refining formation or trade formation, they are absolute secrets of heaven and earth. Since cultivators of this clan allow Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver to circulate in the hands of ordinary people, they definitely lack either the refining formation or the trade formation, or perhaps both..."

Wu Laoba’s analysis aligns quite well with Ning Fan’s speculation, after a brief silence, he continued.

"Third question, do you have the formation diagram of the Ancient Kingdom’s Refining Formation?"

"I do have the diagram, but with Little Ba’s ability, setting up this formation would be challenging, and controlling it even more so. If Master wishes to refine these gold and silver, it would be best to do it yourself. If Little Ba were to handle it, due to improper technique, much of the Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver might be lost."

Wu Laoba took out another jade scroll, handing it to Ning Fan, which recorded the Ancient Kingdom’s Refining Formation.

Now with both the Refining Formation and the Trading Formation in hand, Ning Fan could use his own power to extract the components of Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver from Dabei Gold and Silver.

"You have given me two formation diagrams and a large quantity of Dabei Gold and Silver, which may be of great use to me. I accept this gift. We may have had grudges in the past, but from today onwards, they are wiped clean. As retribution, I can agree to one condition as a reward. As long as it doesn’t exceed my limits, any reward is acceptable, even removing the restriction in your body and granting you freedom! I have matters that require me to leave the valley for a few days, so stay here, and do not leave the valley without reason. As for the reward, you can take your time to consider."

Ning Fan stored the pouch filled with gold and silver and swiftly flew out of the valley.

Those demon beasts under his illusory art tried to forcibly break free from the illusion in their divine sense after he left, but the illusion was too strong. Even the four Immortal Sovereign demon beasts here couldn’t break free from the constraints of the illusion, remaining under Ning Fan’s control.

Wu Laoba was overjoyed beyond measure.

He couldn’t have imagined that his momentary soft-heartedness in offering treasures to Ning Fan would lead Ning Fan to generously give him a reward, even promising the lifting of his servitude ban and restoring his freedom!

Ah, freedom, such a cherished thing, isn’t it what he has always wanted to reclaim? It’s unexpected good fortune!

But... once freedom is regained, he will no longer be Ning Fan’s footman, and he won’t be able to stay near Ning Fan. Heh heh, Ning Fan is his destiny’s lucky star, and turning point of his misfortune. Leaving Ning Fan will no doubt invite bad luck back, making his cultivation path arduous and difficult, with breakthrough to the Second Calamity of the Eternals out of reach!

Wu Laoba’s peculiar laugh rang out; he was reluctant to admit but had to face the truth that he seemed somewhat masochistic, even wanting to remain Ning Fan’s servant.

All for the benefits of following Ning Fan!

Such a strong figure like Ning Fan, he couldn’t bear to let go; clinging tightly to Ning Fan, he could hope to cultivate all the way to the Immortal Emperor Realm and become a generation’s Black Fortune Great Emperor!

In this way, he certainly wouldn’t foolishly seek freedom as a reward. Hmm, better to contemplate wisely, and instead request another reward from Ning Fan. Oh yes, why not ask Ning Fan to help him gather other parts of the Imperial Jade Fortune Set...

Wu Laoba secretly plotted, more firmly determined than ever in his heart that being loyal to Ning Fan was absolutely the right choice.

See, just this rare moment of loyalty had already won him a reward, hadn’t it?

...

Ning Fan flew away from the valley, his spirit sense turning into fine rain, dispersing across one Fiendish Domain Continent after another, eventually settling on the most desolate of continents and speeding towards it.

Burying Moon and others had their own revenge to pursue, whereas Ning Fan had his own plans.

He left Burying Moon and others in the valley of the demon beast’s nest, shielded by formations that prevent karma probing. Leaving them there would be secure, while he had to venture alone into this Supreme Pill Sacred Domain for his own adventure.

During this time, he may face Immortal Emperor-level powerhouses in conflict—such perilous circumstances surely couldn’t allow him to keep them by his side.

Betrayed and the Punishing Ring destroyed, Ning Fan couldn’t publicly reveal himself within the Dabei Clan; otherwise, it could attract large-scale pursuit again.

"The Dabei Celestial Emperor senses the karmic severance and likely believes I’ve left the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain. Alas, I’ve not departed. Jiuli Ritual Vessel, I must find! Lacking Innate Soul-Nourishing Spiritual Medicine, I must search for it! The physical body Burying Moon requires, I will find it! And half a year later, I will certainly attend the Emperor Butcher’s execution!"

"This realm’s position restricts me greatly, but forcibly opening the Mysterious Yin World still possibly has a way..."

"The offerings Wu Laoba provided are very useful; with the Ancient Kingdom Trade Array’s aid, my previous plans undeniably become more convenient, allowing for easy acquisition of numerous materials..."

With a hiss, Ning Fan descended upon a barren continent, and upon landing, several demon beasts nestling in this area attacked. Regrettably, these beasts were weak, holding only Abandon-Void Cultivation Level. As Ning Fan’s left eye flashed with Demon Light, the beasts’ gazes became lost, dazed, then invaded by the illusory art, retreating cautiously several miles away with utmost respect, voluntarily assisting Ning Fan by patrolling and protecting the surrounding area.

Ning Fan landed atop a barren peak, lifting his gaze to look at the Dabei Clan’s sky, with seriousness.

Next, he intended to undertake something crazily extreme.

He intended to defy this realm’s position force, forcibly opening the Mysterious Yin World!

The process could create considerable commotion, hence he chose to act in this location; he wasn’t certain if he could succeed, but half a year wasn’t sufficient! To save the Emperor Butcher, whatever the plan, more time would be needed for preparation!

The Mysterious Yin World must be opened!

He must enter the Mysterious Yin World to utilize the Tower of Years inside!

If this realm’s position force obstructs his efforts, then he wouldn’t hesitate to become its enemy alongside the entire realm!

Ning Fan parted his lips, exhaling a stream of light that slowly manifested before him as a magical treasure resembling a jade locket, the Yin Yang Locket. His black hair waved in the wind despite there being none; raising his hand to press forward upon the jade locket with a shout,

"Mysterious Yin World, open!"

With this shout, his figure began to gradually fade, slowly being absorbed into the Yin Yang Locket’s Mysterious Yin World. Unfortunately, just as he attempted to forcibly enter the Mysterious Yin World, the sky suddenly flickered with billions of lightning flashes, and a Grand Dao wave emerged, accompanied by a formidable force of restraint falling from the heavens, forcibly closing the half-opened Mysterious Yin World.

Opening failed!

"Since this realm’s Dao obstructs me, do not blame me for slaying this world’s Heavenly Dao Soul!"

With a wave of his hand, the Reverse Sea Sword appeared in his grasp, bearing the weight of the Seven Stars, further gathering the sword light of Yin Yang Five Swords Dao Slaying Sword, slashing towards the countless Grand Dao waves in the sky.

Countless Grand Dao waves shattered in response, yet in the next instant, they restored themselves.

Moreover, countless bursts of lightning converged into an ancient giant beast’s eye, slowly opening at the top of the sky, coldly observing Ning Fan below!

That was the stare of this realm’s Heavenly Dao Soul!

The Heavenly Dao has a soul, thus allowing Masters, who have cultivated the Divine Skill to extract the soul of Heavenly Dao, to borrow strength from within the Heavenly Dao. Because there is a soul, the Grand Dao of a realm can operate normally.

Currently, the soul governing the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain’s Heavenly Dao opened its ancient gaze due to Ning Fan’s resistance, looking down at his insignificant, humble figure.

"Foreign Cultivator..."

The ancient voice of the Dao echoed in the sky.

"So it is... guilty of defying heavenly will... kill!"

An ancient murderous intent descended from the heavens, followed by thousands of raging thunders, crashing down from above, intending to obliterate Ning Fan into dust.

"So the power wielded by this realm’s Heavenly Dao Soul is indeed thunder..."

Ning Fan seemed to confirm a suspicion in his heart, gaining more confidence in resisting the Heavenly Dao Soul. He raised his finger towards the sky, instantly revealing a colossal blood-red lightning diagram, though riddled with cracks and fractures, preventing its full power from being unleashed. However, as Ning Fan willed it, it slowly expanded.

Thousands of heavenly thunders fell from above, bearing a might sufficient to crush an ordinary First Calamity Immortal Sovereign, yet the lightning diagram merely absorbed them, rendering the Heavenly Dao’s annihilation attempt futile.

"Is the surrounding region’s lightning power... not enough to kill you... then... Double Continent Lightning Fall!"

With a command from the ancient voice, the falling heavenly thunder doubled in intensity, greatly increasing in might!

Initially, only the lightning power from one Fiendish Domain Continent was gathered at Ning Fan’s location, but now, the power from another surrounding continent was amassed!

The lightning power from two continents still failed to kill Ning Fan; every thunder that fell was forcibly absorbed by the Tai Su Lightning Diagram and used by Ning Fan.

"Three Continent Lightning Fall!"

The summoning of lightning from a third Fiendish Domain Continent was attempted, but it was still futile!

"Four Continent Lightning Fall!"

Still ineffective!

"Nine Continent Lightning Combine Kill!"

The thunderous killing calamity that could crush a Second Calamity Immortal Lord could not breach the lightning diagram’s defense!

"Fifteen Continent Lightning Combine Kill!"

"Twenty-two Continent Lightning Combine Kill!"

"Thirty-three Continent Lightning Cloud Suppression!"

When the thunder power amassed to the total of thirty-three Fiendish Domain Continents’ lightning power, Ning Fan finally began to struggle.

The lightning calamity summoned by the Heavenly Dao Soul at this moment would severely injure even a Triple Calamity Immortal King involved. The Tai Su Lightning Diagram’s capabilities were starting to be overwhelmed.

"It seems that resorting to the God-Extinguishing Shield for defense might be necessary after all..."

This thought was born but was quickly extinguished by Ning Fan.

For two reasons.

Firstly, Ning Fan noticed that during the continued devouring of the heavenly tribulation’s lightning, some previous cracks in his Tai Su Lightning Diagram were spontaneously repairing themselves due to the nourishment of the absorbed lightning power.

Most of those cracks were caused during the protection of Xian Luoli, who was injured by the thunderstorm. Now, however, they were being repaired by consuming the lightning power of this realm; it was an unexpected discovery, one that Ning Fan did not intend to interrupt so quickly.

Secondly, Ning Fan discovered that every time the Tai Su Lightning Diagram devoured some heavenly lightning, the thunder energy throughout the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain’s entire realm decreased slightly. That decrease was so subtle that an ordinary Immortal Emperor might not even notice it, but Ning Fan, with his perceptive senses, naturally detected the reduction in the thunder energy between heaven and earth.

This, too... seemed to be an unexpected discovery!

According to the intelligence he obtained, Bright Buddha ordered the Dabei Clan’s three thousand tribes to offer up storm lightning. The lightning reserves of each tribe had almost all been sacrificed, yet still fell short of Bright Buddha’s demands.

So each tribe had to send its own thunder cultivators, artificially aggregating the thunder power between heaven and earth, creating thunder. If the thunder energy between heaven and earth decreased due to Ning Fan’s thunder-consuming movements, it would likely impact the thunder creation efforts of those thunder cultivators, undoubtedly slowing down the lightning manufacturing process quite a bit...

"My resistance against the Heavenly Dao was initially to forcibly open the Mysterious Yin World, but if I can incidentally devour some Heavenly tribulation thunder, causing the concentration of thunder energy in the entire Supreme Pill Sacred Domain to decrease, that would be excellent!"

"If that’s the case, there’s no need to hastily use the God-Extinguishing Shield; I should first use the lightning diagram to absorb the thunder power of the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain!"

Ning Fan understood well that with his current cultivation, struggling against the combined thunder power of thirty-three continents was challenging, but if he were to utilize the power of Jiuli...

"Black Evil Sect, fuse with me!"

"By master’s command, Black Evil dares not defy!"

With a command, the long-unused Jiuli was finally summoned once more!

Originally, Ning Fan’s cultivation had greatly increased under Ancient Demon Blood Wine, elevating his overall cultivation level to rival that of the Eternally Unsurpassed Immortal King. Now, with the fusion of Jiuli Dao Soul’s power, Ning Fan’s aura surged rapidly, ascending to the might of The Eternally Unsurpassed Immortal King!

Is this... the power of an Immortal King!

Ning Fan’s own cultivation hadn’t yet reached the level of an Immortal King, but at this moment, aided by Black Evil, he forcibly reached this height!

As his aura strengthened, the power of the lightning diagram surged dramatically, and after Ning Fan borrowed Black Evil’s power, the formerly indifferent, emotionless giant beast’s eye above the dome suddenly displayed fear, followed by a trace of hatred.

This realm’s Heavenly Dao Soul recognized the Jiuli aura on Black Evil!

It seemed to have a towering enmity with the Jiuli Clan. Now, upon suddenly encountering a Jiuli, its killing intent dramatically escalated to unprecedented heights!

"Hundred-Continent Lightning Blitz!"

Shockingly, in an instant, the thunder power from one hundred surrounding Fiendish Domain Continents was gathered into a single point, increasing the calamitous lightning’s strength to a level capable of crushing a Five Tribulations Immortal King!

This collective thunder power was overwhelming in scale, further condensing an ancient aura lightning bird upon the celestial dome.

In the next moment, the lightning bird, enveloped by the combined thunder power from one hundred Fiendish Domain Continents, dove head-on toward the Tai Su Lightning Diagram.

The surging thunder power instantly exceeded the Tai Su Lightning Diagram’s critical threshold, causing cracks to appear once more with shattering sounds.

"So this is the power of this realm’s Heavenly Dao Soul; indeed, incomparable to the Rain Immortal World or the primitive wild..."

The Heavenly Dao Soul of the Rain Immortal World was Li Xiaoxiao, once fiercely bullied by Ning Fan.

The Heavenly Dao Soul of the primitive and wild was the black cat Jiuli, which directly submitted under Ning Fan’s identity as the Tenth Generation Barbarian God, effortlessly succumbing.

Through various experiences, Ning Fan held a slight underestimation of the Heavenly Dao Souls, but seeing now the might of the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain’s Heavenly Dao Soul, Ning Fan had to admit his acts of defying this realm’s Heavenly Dao and forcibly opening the Mysterious Yin World were somewhat arrogant.

Yet arrogant or not, he must open the Mysterious Yin World!

If the Tai Su Lightning Diagram could not handle this location’s Heavenly Dao Soul, he would not hesitate to use the ultimate posture of the God-Extinguishing Shield to confront this vast Heavenly Dao!

"Return!"

Just as Ning Fan was about to retract the lightning diagram, Black Evil’s voice suddenly rang in his mind.

"Master, do not retract this lightning diagram!"

"Black Evil does not mishear; this lightning bird has the aura of the Ancestral Thunder Sparrow! The Ancestral Thunder Sparrow is as delicious as the Dao Carp... mere ants!"

"Please, master, use the lightning diagram to restrain that ancestral Thunder Sparrow’s thunder incarnation, allowing Black Evil to... ambush this sparrow! Capture it and make it serve as the spirit of master’s lightning diagram!"