novelraw Chapter 1072: Mountain Range Invasion!
Chapter 1072: Mountain Range Invasion!
After annihilating the Hex Family, Ning Fan left and sought out a secluded location, then slipped into the Xuan Yin World.
Unlike the battle with Bai Lu, this time Ning Fan’s spoils far exceeded those from last time.
After all, it was the entire foundation of an Immortal Emperor’s power. Various grades of expensive pills and magical treasures were piled up like mountains within the Xuan Yin World. The lower-grade ones, Ning Fan distributed entirely for use by the cauldron furnaces of the Xuan Yin World; the higher-grade items, which the many cauldron furnaces couldn’t use due to their cultivation levels, Ning Fan kept for himself.
There were over two thousand bottles of expensive pills that could aid in enhancing Fragmented Thought Cultivation!
In addition, he acquired dozens of bottles of expensive pills helpful for boosting the ’Eternal Ages’ Cultivation Level.
Since the Hex Family was indeed a major clan in Muyan Alchemy, Ning Fan also seized many rare expensive pills and dan refinement recipes from the Hex Family, including numerous recipes for Ninth Revolution Golden Pill and Emperor Pill.
The array of rare medicinal ingredients was uncountable.
He even obtained a significant amount of Dao Crystal.
Unlike the prairie cultivators who adored gold, silver taels, and stone currency, the Three Flames cultivators seemed more practical, circulating currency like Dao Crystal just as cultivators outside did.
As for the corpses accumulated by the Hex Family over the ages, Ning Fan moved them all. Ning Fan even found a suitable flesh for Burying Moon to seize.
Originally, he intended to seize just any female corpse at any calamity cultivation level from the Hex Family, but unexpectedly, he acquired a corpse at the First Order Quasi-Saint level.
This far exceeded his expectations!
Given the foundation of the Hex Family, it was impossible to collect a female corpse of such a level; it must have originated from Saint Nan Yao’s legacy.
When Ning Fan presented this corpse to Burying Moon, at first, Burying Moon was incredulous, then excitedly embraced Ning Fan.
This empress, who sometimes loses her head, seemed genuinely eager to have a physical defense again...
"Haha, truly deserving of being the little lecher I fancy, actually obtained a body for me, and such a high-quality one at that!" When did you fancy me, I’m unaware...
"Rest assured! Once I successfully seize this body, I will properly repay your kindness!" How will you repay, by offering your body, huh, that’s indeed a nice proposal...
"However, the seizing requires much time, someone like me, seizing a flesh body is not difficult, the challenge lies in perfectly melding the Spirit with the flesh body. This process requires at least hundreds of thousands to millions of years. Before perfect melding, even if I possess a body, my cultivation level can only utilize one-tenth of my peak power. Additionally, using too much cultivation before perfect melding might cause some problems between the Spirit and flesh body..."
Burying Moon furrowed her brows, recently in full integration, it seems challenging for her to provide Ning Fan with assistance using her peak cultivation. Moreover, commencing the seizing means requiring numerous preparations, tackling various troubles...
After calming down a bit, Burying Moon blushed, belatedly realizing that in her excitement, she had impulsively embraced Ning Fan.
Suddenly, her heart pounded erratically, she promptly pushed Ning Fan away, glared at him fiercely, yet remained silent, unsure of what to say.
Ning Fan was speechless, it was she who wanted to throw herself into his arms, blame him?
It’s not like he would get angry just over a random glare from Burying Moon.
On their journey together, he and Burying Moon had gone through many deadly trials, although their relationship was still somewhat contentious, they had formed a certain bond.
Now able to help Burying Moon truly restore her physical defense, Ning Fan was quite pleased.
"You need not worry about taking too much time to meld with this body. When I sought out a body for you, I just happened upon some expensive pills which aid cultivators in accelerating seizing. The other party seemed quite keen on seizing, hence they had quite a collection of such pills. Moreover, I have surplus South Sea Spring Water, suitable for you to use."
"South Sea Spring Water is indeed good, but the pills... what grade are those pills?"
"There are all grades, from lead, silver, gold, and even... Emperor Grade."
"Wonderful! There’s actually Emperor Grade pills! With one such pill, perfect melding with this flesh body can at least save hundreds of thousands of years of effort!"
"Not just one... approximately fifteen or sixteen of them."
"What! How can there be so many Nine-Turn Emperor Elixirs! What have you gone through while finding a body for me! And your body... actually..."
Burying Moon belatedly realized, Ning Fan seemed to have quite a severe injury internally, furthermore, he appeared poisoned, that poison, even she found somewhat perilous...
The little lecher seemed to have grown stronger again, unbeknownst to her.
Also, during her ignorance, he encountered life-and-death crises for her... likely poisoned by an Immortal Emperor...
"It’s just a minor issue. The pills, body, and other materials needed for seizing, I left all to you, you may attempt the seizing in the Xuan Yin World. If you’re quick, perhaps in just a few months, you can perfectly meld with this body and assist me a little."
Under Burying Moon’s complex gaze, Ning Fan smiled indifferently, turned, and left, then went to find Ouyang Nuan.
The Hex Family, being a major alchemy clan, had a fair share of items exclusive to Alchemists, Ning Fan divided out some items useful to Ouyang Nuan and left them all to her.
Then, Ning Fan entered an ancient Ten-thousand-year Age Tower.
This battle seemed glorious, even successfully extinguishing an Immortal Emperor, yet the injuries he sustained were equally severe.
Firstly, there’s the Three Waters backlash from the Water-Flooding Realm Bottle, even the mighty Hex Family Ancestor had to swallow despair, Ning Fan himself also felt miserable. The cost of wielding the Three Waters Power directly resulted in severe internal injuries, even the Divine Spirit Wasted Body was nearly half collapsed under such a backlash...
Secondly, there’s the fierce poison inflicted by the Hex Family Ancestor. Ning Fan was poisoned by the Hex Family Ancestor, the three drops of Primordial Poison Marrow deeply rooted as if a carrion worm couldn’t be eradicated. Even though he took some Detoxification Pills at the Golden Pill and Emperor Pill level, they couldn’t alleviate this poison at all, this was the truly tricky part.
In this battle, Ning Fan once again confirmed his own combat power.
If he uses the force of Three Waters at all costs, he becomes terrifyingly strong. As long as the strategy is right, not to mention if the opponent is just one Immortal Emperor of Six Tribulations, even if there are several, he is confident to kill them all!
However, the Flooding Bottle can’t be used often, at least until Ning Fan’s strength in all areas advances to another level, it shouldn’t be overused.
Just from using it once in this battle, Ning Fan’s internal organs, flesh and blood, meridians, Spirit, divine sense were nearly half destroyed, requiring a long period of recovery to heal, a heavy price indeed.
But without using the force of the Flooding Bottle, Ning Fan would actually be slightly weaker against a true Immortal Emperor, and winning would be almost impossible. After all, his own cultivation is far from that of an Immortal Emperor.
Even if he uses the force of Three Waters and could kill the opposing Immortal Emperor, Ning Fan can’t guarantee not being bitten back. The fierce poison he is now afflicted with serves as proof.
"The poison in my body is really quite troublesome. This is poison strength close to Control Position, and even Emperor Grade Detoxification Pills cannot remove this poison..."
Ning Fan frowned, introspecting his own body.
At this moment, inside his body, three drops of Primordial Poison Marrow rampaged like living creatures, causing destruction. They were the three strongest poison droplets refined by Hex Zu over his lifetime, where all his Taoist skills reside. Once poisoned by them, it cannot be easily removed.
Even Ning Fan’s Divine Spirit Wasted Body strength has been continuously burdened with injuries under this poison. Without removing this poison, hoping for recovery is completely impossible.
After considering for a long while, Ning Fan finally made a decision, with a palm gesture, there suddenly appeared a ghostly green poisonous flower emitting poison gas.
This was precisely the Three Wasteland Poison Immortal he obtained from Baihua Treasure Vault the other day!
The poison of this flower, one drop can kill an Immortal Venerable, the entire plant can kill an Immortal King, it’s a top-tier poison! If consumed, it can greatly enhance a cultivator’s poison resistance!
Previously, Ning Fan was aware of his own limitations and dared not rashly consume this flower, but now his Divine Spirit Wasted Body is immensely powerful, and he no longer fears this flower’s toxin.
"Just relying on this single plant of Three Wasteland Poison Immortal seems somewhat insufficient..."
Ning Fan made another gesture, and not far ahead emerged a massive corpse of a hundred-zhang toad, which was Hex Zu’s Eternal True Body, containing Hex Zu’s entire powerful poison.
Moreover, there were hundreds of thousands of ancient corpses, extracted by Ning Fan one by one, ranging from Fate Immortal corpses to Immortal Emperor corpses, all loot plundered from the Hex Family!
With another gesture, hundreds of thousands of toxic items were brought out by Ning Fan, all spoils from the destruction of Hex Family.
Then, there were countless toxic pills stored by Hex Family, from Eighth Revolution pills to Nine-Turn Emperor Elixirs, amounting to hundreds of thousands in total!
And also over a thousand scrolls of toxic techniques from the Hex Family, taken out by Ning Fan.
"If ordinary means can’t remove Hex Zu’s poison, then there’s no need to remove it, simply refine these three drops of poison liquid directly!"
"Hex Zu’s poison is refined from countless ancient corpses’ corpse poison. By classification, it falls under the category of corpse poison. For me, corpse poison isn’t an unfamiliar power. In the First Step of cultivation, I also practiced the way of Corpse, and can further condense some weak toxins using Ancient Devil Dao essence!"
"Hex Zu is a Buddha cultivator, and the refined corpse poison shares the source with Buddhist Law. If I reverse and swallow it, and refine it with Ancient Devil Dao, concocting a Poisonous Yin-Yang, how would it be!"
"If I cultivate this Poisonous Yin-Yang, I must not be like Hex Zu, only cultivating corpse poison. His inability to truly step into Control Position stems from his poison being too singular, if I were to cultivate it..."
Ning Fan’s eyes flashed intensely.
Then, began the long cultivation spanning ten-thousand years.
The external time still halted at the moment before Ning Fan entered the tower.
But as Ning Fan stepped out of the Ten-thousand-year Age Tower, his face bore the wind and dust of ten-thousand years.
Bone age, one hundred thirty thousand.
Injuries, healed!
Body toxins still present, but no longer harm Ning Fan’s body, instead became part of Ning Fan’s cultivation!
Ancient Devil Second Yin-Yang... Poisonous Yin-Yang successfully cultivated!
Dao Scripture gained Chapters on Poisonous Yin-Yang!
The strokes of Symbol of Devil Raising didn’t increase due to unchanged Ancient Demon Bloodline, but the diagram of the symbol underwent some modifications.
Previously there were only numerous trees, now few unnecessary big branches were omitted, surplus strokes formed a Three Wasteland Poison Immortal beneath the trees.
This symbol simultaneously held the power of wood and poison!
After cultivating Poisonous Yin-Yang, Ning Fan possessed the seventh Dao Trajectories power. Unlike Wood Yin-Yang accelerating mana recovery, the benefits of Poisonous Yin-Yang elevated Ning Fan’s poison resistance to an inconceivable degree, and additionally imbued his Divine Skills and spells with toxic attacks. The path of poison, unlike the dominance of fire and thunder, sometimes when used properly, can be more stealthy and hard to defend against than fire and thunder Dao Trajectories.
If he battles Hex Zu again, Ning Fan has great confidence that he can completely immunize against the poison attack of Hex Zu’s level!
After cultivating Poisonous Yin-Yang, Ning Fan’s Ancient Demon cultivation surged one realm from Heavenly Demon Ten-Nirvana to Heavenly Demon Eleven Nirvana.
As for Ancient Deity and ancient demons cultivation, during this ten-thousand-year practice, they absorbed a large amount of dan force, successively breaking through to the Shattered Thought Later Stage.
Destroying the Hex Family no doubt brought immense benefits, after all, the Hex Family was a formidable Immortal Emperor’s power!
Unfortunately, this kind of business can’t be done continually. On the surface, Ning Fan extinguished the Hex Family effortlessly, but in reality, the risks weren’t low. If not for his resolute intention to find a physical body for Burying Moon, he actually wouldn’t have wished to directly vie life and death with the Hex Family Immortal Emperor.
Fortunately, he won...
If his strategy with the Water-Flooding Realm Bottle had gone slightly awry, failing to kill Hex Zu, and instead being killed by Hex Zu?
What if, after he exterminated Hex Zu, he was intercepted and killed by another Muyan Immortal Emperor while in a weakened state?
Unless necessary, such risks should not be taken.
Of course, if Burying Moon successfully captured and perfectly melded with the Quasi-Saint female corpse, then it would be different... Then, perhaps plundering some Immortal Emperor’s power, Ning Fan might have some confidence...
"Unnecessary confrontations with the Immortal Emperor are naturally best avoided from afar, but unfortunately, some clashes cannot be avoided..."
Ning Fan sighed slightly.
After leaving the Mysterious Yin World, he began gathering information for another target of this journey—the intelligence on Jiuli Innate Ritual Implement.
However, according to the gathered intelligence, it appeared that the ritual implement he was searching for was in a very troublesome location.
Several days later, after much traveling through the Wood Flame Continent, Ning Fan infiltrated Death Emperor’s territory—Vacant Flame Continent. Along the way, he even encountered attacks from some immortal emperor-level demonic creatures, mostly probative exchanges, swiftly retreating from the battlefield.
During this time, Ning Fan had two encounters with immortal emperor-level corpse monsters without intelligence.
And one encounter with an intelligent Immortal Emperor corpse monster.
On his way, he made contact with Three Flames Great Clan Immortal Emperors four times.
And engaged in battle with Immortal Emperor-level demon beasts thrice.
Due to his destruction of Hex Family’s matter, seemingly now the strong Three Flames are reemerging, and what’s more concerning is the thorough investigations on unidentified escape light, leading to Ning Fan’s frequent encounters and clashes with Three Flames experts.
Among the demon beasts, Ning Fan also coincidentally had a major fight with an Immortal Emperor Nightmare Dragon.
Just as he was about to enter the Vacant Flame boundary!
With the strength of Ning Fan’s Divine Spirit Wasted Body, during the battle against the Nightmare Dragon with Six Calamities cultivation, although he couldn’t win, he wasn’t defeated upon the first exchange.
One person and one dragon were in fierce battle, when suddenly the Immortal Emperor Nightmare Dragon sensed a trace of Nightmare Dragon Claw aura on Ning Fan’s body and, amidst a moment of hesitation, directly abandoned the intention to attack Ning Fan, transforming into human form, and began conversing with Ning Fan in a very friendly manner.
"I didn’t expect you to also be a Nightmare Dragon, old fool, to strike at a kindred spirit; these Innate Spiritual Medicines are what I’ve gathered for nearly ten thousand years, consider them compensation," A monocular Nightmare Dragon elder sheepishly scratched his head.
"...I am not a Nightmare Dragon." Ning Fan was somewhat speechless, explaining briefly, yet silently accepting the spirit medicine freely given by the old Nightmare Dragon.
Old monster’s magic path: Not taking advantage from the enemy would’ve been a waste...
"Haha, I understand, I understand, the Nightmare Dragon clan holds an awkward position within Three Flames, often targeted by other Three Flames Immortal Emperors due to the extremely suitable claw, scalings, and horns for refining treasures. Your intention to hide your identity, I fully comprehend, but alas, your sharp claws, haha, can’t escape these discerning eyes of mine..." The monocular elder, with a ’I know’ expression, smiled kindly at Ning Fan.
"...No, you don’t understand. This Nightmare Dragon Claw is a piece of spirit equipment, in a way, I hold your kin’s corpse spirit equipment, which should make me your greatest adversary. This fight should indeed continue." Ning Fan...
"Haha, you love joking, don’t you? The common strong of Three Flames possessing the Nightmare Dragon corpse’s spirit equipment, indeed impossible to invoke such a special dragon claw aura. Without a doubt, this essence includes a trace of Ancient Devil Dao, within the essence, there’s a hint of ancient demon spiritual power, precisely the unique aura of our Nightmare Dragons! Our Nightmare Dragon’s progenitor was a crossbreed of ancient demons and ancient chaos fiendgods; while successors can’t advance into the ancient demons fiendgods, this unique aura persists. Such an aura, isn’t something cultivators of the Cultivation Realm of Decline can mimic. The so-called spirit equipment excuse must be your camouflage! I understand, I totally understand..." the monocular elder earnestly analyzed.
"...So I’m essentially cultivating both ancient demons and fiendgods, that’s why using the Nightmare Dragon Claw, can evoke an aura akin to the Nightmare Dragon brethren..." Ning Fan...
"I understand, I truly understand... You indeed wish to conceal your identity, I totally comprehend. To speak frankly, this old is also not a Nightmare Dragon... this old’s a lizard, a lizard that grew into dragon form..."
No, you are truly a Nightmare Dragon...
"And you carry the unique natural aura of our Nightmare Dragon, haha, which is the embodiment of our Nightmare Dragon clan’s nature loving trait."
As mentioned, I am a divine of creation symbolizing nature... You’ve mistaken me, good sir.
"Forget it, too lazy to explain..."
Ning Fan came to Vacant Flame with a real task at hand, naturally uninterested in lingering further with this monocular Nightmare Dragon.
But since the other chose not to impede his advance, he continued his journey.
"Wait, young friend please stay! As a senior of the same tribe, I should extend the host’s courtesy. Hey! Your direction seems headed towards Vacant Flame Corpse Bone Mountain! Great, precisely great! This old has some old scores to settle with Vacant Flame Dead Emperor, come, we’ll go together! You definitely have some part taken by that Vacant Flame Dead Emperor too! Hey, this old merely lost one eye, you have lost all body parts top to bottom, leaving only a left claw... poor you, truly the world’s most pitiful Nightmare Dragon."
As mentioned... I’m not a hunted-down Nightmare Dragon left with merely a left claw, rather, I am a master donning a Nightmare Dragon left claw spirit equipment...
Ning Fan had a headache, intending to venture alone into Vacant Flame Corpse Bone Mountain, but didn’t expect such a clingy old Nightmare Dragon tagging along.
This intelligence-starved old claimed him a kin Nightmare Dragon!
Further, he... relentlessly tailed him, accompanying him to the Corpse Bone Mountain!
Strangely enough... within this Three Flames territory, Ning Fan traveling through, passing some Immortal Emperor demon beast territory, invariably faced attacks from those beasts.
But with this peculiar oldie tailing, no beast attacks ever again...
"Don’t regard this old merely possessing Six Calamities cultivation, but when invoking my Nightmare Dragon clan’s gifted abilities, one can surpass a level to kill, even Death Emperor fears me, common Immortal Emperor beasts even more frightened of me like a tiger. Rest assured, this old will escort you through the Corpse Bone Mountain, ensuring your round-trip safety!"
So this old worries he’ll die in Corpse Bone Mountain, thus claiming settling old scores there, to accompany him?
"...However, the fact that you chose this moment to head to the Bone Mountain Range is quite fortunate. I heard the Death Emperor just left the Bone Mountain Range due to some unforeseen events. Now, the ones overseeing the Bone Mountain Range are the Stone Master and Wood Master. Haha! Those two old geezers aren’t as formidable as the Death Emperor. Our trip to the Bone Mountain Range will undoubtedly be much safer!"
The Death Emperor is not present? That’s indeed good news; at least we won’t have to confront Ancestor Flame, who has possessed the Death Emperor. After all, he’s one of the Five Great Lowly Honored Ones.
"...I heard the Death Emperor is out capturing a ghost-faced fugitive who annihilated the entire Hex Family. Haha! Such boldness, such a fiery personality—I like it! I’ve long detested those little creatures of the Hex Family, always scheming the Medicine Slaves. In the end, they were wiped out. By the way, young friend, you also have the silver-haired style of the Ghost Face, don’t you? You quite resemble that infamous fugitive from the stories! Coincidence, surely a coincidence; there’s no way the person the Death Emperor is searching for could just happen to be encountered by me..."
Uh, old man, could there really be such a coincidence...
"Ah, you truly are a quiet Nightmare Dragon, just like so many of your kin. Boring, truly boring. Oh by the way, I haven’t asked why you’re heading to the Bone Mountain Range in the first place?"
"Searching for something."
"What exactly! Haha! I’ve always loved treasure hunting the most—known as the ’First Source Master of the Three Flames’, the treasure hunting expert is none other than me. Eh? You’ve never heard of that title... Have you heard of my name, Long Sanchui! It’s a scholarly name I paid for with a piece of dragon scale when I first transformed... What, never heard of it either? Haha! You’re quite a stubborn kid, not admitting you’ve long admired the great Long Sanchui. Fine, fine... Why don’t you give me the details of what you’re looking for, and I’ll see if I can provide some information."
"...I’m looking for a ritual vessel. According to the information I have, it’s located in the Vacant Flame Bone Mountain Range."
"Haha! Since you mentioned a ritual vessel, you’ve asked the right person. I’m thoroughly familiar with the internal arrangement of ritual vessels within the Bone Mountain Range. But ah, fellow traveler, it’s said those ritual vessels shouldn’t be disturbed, as it may trigger disaster. Of course, I’m merely recounting rumors, never having witnessed such a calamity myself. Those who’ve witnessed it have all died... due to the White Bone Lady of the Bone Mountain Range!"
"The White Bone Lady?"
"Haha! Finally, something that piques your interest. Fine, I’ve always loved telling stories and people call me the ’First Storyteller of the Three Flames’. Let me tell you a few tales of the White Bone Lady, it’s said that she..."
"...Now, let’s move to the one hundred and sixty-sixth tale..."
"...the six hundred and eighty-first tale..."
"...the one thousand one hundred forty-second..."
"Stop... we’ve arrived."
Several days later, Ning Fan appeared relieved as he arrived at the boundary of the Bone Mountain Range.
To his annoyance, the incessant chatter of the old man wore on Ning Fan. If not for the old man’s claim of thorough familiarity with the Bone Mountain Range, which might prove helpful, Ning Fan likely would’ve activated Wuxian Cloud to ditch the annoying old man.
The Bone Mountain Range, home to Vacant Flame’s greatest forbidden ground.
Legend says within this Bone Mountain Range dwells a great menace known as the White Bone Lady.
Only a select few among the Three Flames Immortal Emperor knew that the so-called White Bone Lady had another terrifying identity.
The slumbering first of the Five Great Lowly Honored Ones!
The old man named Long Sanchui, boasting so many ’first’ titles, seems to lean on boasting.
But the White Bone Lady’s title is truly deserving, proven to be the strongest by countless bloodshed of Three Flames beings!
And the Jiuli Ritual Vessel that Ning Fan seeks appears to lie within these deep mountain forests of the Bone Mountain Range...
When Ning Fan and Long Sanchui arrived at the Bone Mountain Range, the mountain, under the highest alert, instantly detected their intrusion.
Countless armored men began rushing toward the site!
Some signal fires blazed heavenward!
"Oh? The Death Emperor has been away for a few days, and yet again, some fool dares to intrude upon Bone Mountain Range? What wave of intruders is this today?" Within a palace at the boundary of the Bone Mountain Range, the Wood Master, Thousand Hands Emperor, hums disdain.
"Shall I take action, or shall you?"
"They’re merely a bunch of fools unable to even breach the mountain’s barrier, so I shall not bother. Stone Master, endure the trouble this time."
"It’s no trouble; the intruders seem to be two with ’Eternal Ages’ Cultivation Level, one of whom is an Immortal Emperor. My Spirit Mountain Flame Seal requires such strong blood and flesh for its ritual refining..."
Whoosh!
The Stone Master’s form flickered, transforming into a streak of brown flame light, shooting out from the palace, heading straight toward the site of intense signal fires.
Yet upon his arrival, he found no trace of Ning Fan or Long Sanchui.
All that remained were scenes of chaotic and gaping holes within the barrier Yin Array!
"Impossible! The mountain barrier, capable of defending against Seven Tribulations Immortal Emperor’s invasions, was breached in such a short time by two unknown ’Eternal Ages’ intruders!"
The Stone Master was taken aback.
This barrier, even with his own Eight Tribulations Cultivation, could not be quickly broken!
"Insane! Follow me into the Bone Mountain Range! A heavy reward of ten Nine-Turn Emperor Elixirs for anyone who captures the intruders!"
"Acknowledged!"
Immediately, close to a thousand mountain guards above True Immortal level roared skyward!