novelraw Chapter 1078: Execution Moved Up!
Chapter 1078: Execution Moved Up!
As soon as these words fell, the Heaven Capital Emperor felt the world spinning, forcibly drawn by Ning Fan with the Stone Figure Eye into the Palatial Void.
"The cause of that day leads to today’s consequence. Two choices: become my Incense Slave or die."
Within the void, Ning Fan seemed the absolute emperor, overlooking Heaven Capital from above.
Unlike Bone Spirit, Baihua, and Foqi, the Heaven Capital Emperor was not shattered by the Blood Martial Master, but was wounded to his foundation, his cultivation fell from the Immortal Emperor Realm, becoming a genuine Immortal King.
He seemed fortunate to preserve his physical body compared to other emperors of the Middle State; however, it was even more unfortunate, as the difficulty to regain the Immortal Emperor Realm in this life was nearly ten times that of initial ascension.
The Heaven Capital Emperor’s expression fluctuated between gloom and brightness; initially enshrouded in random thoughts regarding this somewhat familiar Palatial Void, he calmed down upon hearing Ning Fan’s words.
Then he directed a mocking smile at Ning Fan.
"I, Heaven Capital, have dominated this world, can be killed but not humiliated, will never be enslaved by anyone! Of course, if possible, I don’t wish to die either. Daoist, would you spare me, as long as it doesn’t exceed my bottom line? Even if it cost me all my life’s accumulation, if you propose some other demands, I am open to negotiation!"
Indeed, it is incredibly difficult to turn an Immortal Emperor into a slave.
Ning Fan remained momentarily silent, then suddenly asked, "If I spare you, do you still harbor hatred towards the Blood Martial Master who destroyed your body and harmed your spirit?"
Heaven Capital slightly frowned, but disdainfully refused to lie, "Of course I hate!"
"Will you seek revenge?"
"I will!"
"In that case, I cannot let you go, as I owe the Blood Martial Master a life-saving favor; I must clear away any enemies who harbor animosity against her. Daoist Heaven Capital, you have courage, like Bone Spirit and Foqi, earning my admiration. Though I cannot spare you out of appreciation, I can let you die with understanding, revealing my true face to send you to death."
Ning Fan wiped his palm, removed the Ghost Mask.
Upon seeing Ning Fan’s true face, Heaven Capital was instantly stunned and lost his voice.
"Ning...Ning Fan! It’s actually you, this insignificant foreign cultivator! Impossible, how could the world-renowned Ghost Faced Cultivator be someone like you! Wait...just now you said, I’m like Bone Spirit and Foqi? Could it be, could it be..."
Removing the Ghost Mask, Ning Fan’s terrifying evil qi from his overnight assassination of two emperors transformed the dark Palatial Void into a blood-red domain, accompanied by countless ghostly wails echoing through the heavens, chilling the bones.
It was as though the previously empty void became hell on earth.
Within the hellish realm, countless ghostly shadows all harbored grievances against Ning Fan, roaring, crying, a fierce blaze soaring to the sky!
"Ten Thousand Ghosts’ Audience! Above True Immortal, those who can manifest the blood flame phenomenon through evil qi are extremely rare, and those who can form the phenomenon of Ten Thousand Ghosts’ Audience must have killed an Immortal Emperor, not just one or two, but many!"
Heaven Capital was now terrified.
He no longer doubted the truth of Ning Fan’s words!
This one presumably wasn’t lying; after killing Hex Zu and Meng Zu in Sanyan, he silently exterminated Bone Spirit and Foqi in Dabei!
If he hadn’t accumulated four Immortal Emperor lives, the phenomenon of Ten Thousand Ghosts’ Audience could not have occurred!
"Daoist, how did you evade Bright Buddha’s pursuit!"
"No comment."
"Rumor has it, after Daoist killed Wood Flame Hex Zu, you stormed the Vacant Flame Corpse Bone Mountain, could it be...have you already received the third step Sword Dao inheritance of Corpse Bone Mountain?! Otherwise, how could you have become so powerful in such a short time!"
"No comment."
"...In this case, Daoist must have deduced my intention to plot against you on the day I ventured to Corpse Bone Mountain for sword enlightenment."
"Yes."
"Ha-ha, had I known Daoist was so formidable, I’d have never plotted against or pursued you. Now, regretting is too late...too late now!"
Heaven Capital smiled bitterly, seemingly regretting, but suddenly the bitter smile turned into a hint of cruelty; from behind Ning Fan, three golden shadows with Quasi-Emperor auras suddenly shot out, metal fists striking towards Ning Fan!
Ning Fan’s gaze revealed mockery; with his intellect, how could he not see through the Heaven Capital Emperor’s series of dialogues meant for a stealth attack.
Regret? Ha-ha, having cultivated Communication with All Things, he hadn’t detected a trace of regret from Heaven Capital’s inner heart, only...sinister calculation!
Ning Fan aptly opened the God-Slaying Giant defense, blocking the attack from the three golden shadows behind him.
Unscathed.
After their surprise attack failed, the three golden shadows again hid within the void, elusive in position.
Yet in their hurried strike, Ning Fan managed to identify the aura of these three golden shadows.
Interesting...
These three golden shadows are demon pills, crafted from special secret techniques.
The fact they achieved Quasi-Emperor cultivation indicates the original pills of these demon creatures are extremely high-ranked.
Demon pills are so rare, even within the alchemy sanctuary of Dabei Clan, Ning Fan encountered a demon pill for the first time. Seems these three Quasi-Emperor demon pills are perhaps one of Heaven Capital’s trump cards.
In that case...
"Black Evil Sect, Hei Xiaolian, Que Gu, you three, go have some fun with these three Quasi-Emperor demon pills."
Ning Fan waved his hand, releasing the T-Tai Su Lightning Diagram, from which a primordial thunder sparrow flew out, with an Emperor Grade Fifth Step Dao-Soul Cultivation, comparable to a Five Tribulations Immortal King.
Then released a little lotus person, who expanded in the wind, transforming into a red-lipped, white-toothed little girl, a Quasi-Emperor puppet.
Another black shadow flew out from within, transforming into a neko-eared black skirt young girl, a three-no spirit, a Nine-Tailed Fox cat, Hei Xiaolian.
Hei Xiaolian, is the name of the Quasi-Emperor puppet, given by Black Evil Sect.
Such a feminine name left Ning Fan speechless, considering that he had originally crafted this puppet based on a burly male template.
Perhaps it was because the puppet was stored daily in the Xuan Yin Treasure, absorbing a lot of Yin energy from the Cauldron Furnace, the puppet began to change its appearance bit by bit.
Initially made without gender using the Creation Golden Lotus Root,
after absorbing the Yin energy from Xuan Yin Treasure, the Emperor Puppet, which resembled a burly man, began to feminize. Though still bear-like in stature, its features gradually transformed into those of a pretty girl, resembling a little girl with broad shoulders and a strong build, creating a very discordant appearance.
As it absorbed more Yin energy, even its bear-like shape changed, and it fully took on the appearance of a petite girl.
Moreover, due to absorbing so much Yin energy, it finally gained a gender.
Gender: Female.
Name: None.
Initially without a name, upon seeing this puppet, the Black Evil Sect saw it like a queen, and directly took in the puppet as a little sister, naming her Hei Xiaolian.
Aside from these details, Ning Fan at this moment released three powerful minions, who immediately engaged in battle with three Quasi-Emperor Demon Pills hidden in the void.
Among the three minions, the now matured Black Evil Sect, possessing the strongest capabilities and the most techniques, surprisingly dominated over a similar Quasi-Emperor opponent, pressing them back in the battle. When she used an Innate Inferior Grade Jiuli Ritual Vessel—the [Ancient Flame Moon]—her combat power nearly matched some weaker Immortal Emperors, quickly inflicting multiple blood wounds on the opponent.
Hei Xiaolian was next, able to hold a stalemate with her Quasi-Emperor opponent, of course, still gaining a slight advantage. When she utilized an Innate Ceremony Artifact from an unknown race, she also managed to suppress her opponent. It was an ancient clock-like Innate Ceremony Artifact. Ning Fan, reading with his heart, discerned its true name: [Eastern Sea Chime Bells].
Que Gu was the weakest, after all, his own cultivation was only comparable to a regular Five Tribulations Immortal King, making it challenging when facing a Quasi-Emperor opponent. Fortunately, he had long mastered the Heavenly Dao, making his command of the Power of Dao Laws meticulous, surpassing some Quasi-Emperors in comprehension and application. With strong support, though slightly at a disadvantage, he could still narrowly hold a stalemate with his Quasi-Emperor opponent.
Upon using an Innate Ceremony Artifact bestowed by Ning Fan, Que Gu also held his ground against the Quasi-Emperor opponent.
The item Que Gu used was a relic of the Ancestral Thunder Sparrow Clan, called the [Burning Thunder Incense Burner].
Since becoming a slave of Ning Fan, Que Gu had been somewhat dispirited, but after being awarded an Ancestral Thunder Sparrow Ritual Vessel, for the first time, he felt that becoming Ning Fan’s Dao servant seemed...quite promising...
Following Ning Fan’s lead, maybe one day, utilizing this clan’s Ritual Vessel, he might cultivate to become an Immortal Emperor...
While carrying out a major undertaking on Corpse Bone Mountain that day, Ning Fan gained four Innate Ceremony Artifacts. After distributing them to everyone, including Long Sanchui, he didn’t keep any for himself.
He wasn’t lacking in Innate Treasures, slaying Immortal Emperors all along, his collection of Innate Treasures kept growing, and his sights gradually set on the middle-ranked Innate category.
For one as affluent as him, casual rewards immediately doubled his subordinates’ strength, making their combat capabilities soar, serving an even greater purpose.
"Your Demon Pills seem inferior to my subordinates." Ning Fan said expressionlessly.
"Humph! If my subordinates are not as good as yours, then let’s see how my own ability compares to you! You excel in defense, coincidentally, so do I. Let’s compare my [Black Mountain Bear Ancestor Kasaya] with your Golden Body Defense, to see which is stronger!"
The Heaven Capital wielded a wisp of black mist. Myriads of obsidian-golden aura descended from the heavens, transforming into a Kasaya thin as a cicada’s wing, draped over his body.
Once again activating a divine skill, unbelievably, his body transformed into a colossal figure, resembling a hundred-foot-tall black bear clad in a Kasaya.
Non-human Eternal True Body!
Ning Fan didn’t expect that even after being severely injured and dropping in cultivation, the Heaven Capital could still utilize the Eternal True Body, making it trickier to deal with than the previous Meng Ancestor, Spirit Bone, and Emperor Foqi.
The Heaven Capital, at the pinnacle of the Immortal King, once the Eternal True Body was activated, his combat strength could almost equal that of some weaker Sixth Tribulation Immortal Emperors.
Yet, being gravely injured, even with the activation of the Eternal True Body, he couldn’t match the Eternal True Body of a being like Hex Zu.
"Your injuries are too severe. This Eternal True Body likely won’t last long..."
The God-Slaying Giant showed no emotion, waving a large hand. The Reverse Sea Sword, Seven Treasures Marvelous Tree, Five Poisons Banner, and various other treasures launched towards the Heaven Capital.
He refrained from unleashing the Three Waters Might of the Water-Flooding Realm Bottle. Such an attack could indeed resolve the battle instantly, but the backlash was immense, and Ning Fan wasn’t yet prepared to retreat for healing.
Under such circumstances... relying instead on the number and invincibility of Innate Treasures, through the God-Extinguishing Shield’s defense, he planned to exhaust and defeat the injured Heaven Capital Emperor...
...
Two hours later, Ning Fan concluded the battle, using the Heaven Capital Emperor’s Formation Array General Compass to seal off the entire Heaven Capital Peak, then discreetly captured many Heaven Capital disciples to serve him, sparing those who had no deep ties to the Heaven Capital Emperor.
The Immortal Emperor Treasure Vault of the Heaven Capital Peak was emptied by Ning Fan.
Additionally taken were the Heaven Capital Emperor’s Black Mountain Bear Ancestor Kasaya and a furnace of two hundred and sixty Blood of Ten Thousand Spirits.
This battle took slightly longer than the ones with Spirit Bone and Emperor Foqi due to the use of the Eternal True Body by the Heaven Capital.
Unfortunately, the severely injured Heaven Capital, having fallen from its peak, was far less formidable than Hex Zu at full strength, ultimately unable to rival Ning Fan...
Daybreak had begun, and the night was about to turn a page.
Ning Fan left the Heaven Capital Peak, journeying to the Baihua Peak, visiting a familiar place, and was no longer the timid foreign cultivator he once was.
He had emerged from the Punishing Ring’s cage like a fierce tiger!
He had come to collect the debts of cause and effect as a fearsome specter!
"Baihua, being the empress and gravely injured, what can she possibly do against me..."
With the Chaos World Purple Rosy Light activated, Ning Fan chaoticized the local formation forces, silently infiltrating the Baihua Main Peak.
Within her sleeping quarters, struggling to suppress her injuries, Baihua suddenly startled. Her Primordial Spirit’s tiny face filled with horror as she gazed at the silhouette slowly emerging from behind the screen.
Then, in a sweeping disorientation, she was directly thrown into the Palatial Void of the Stone Figure Eye’s Control Positions.
A burst of Purple Rosy Light swept over her, rendering her Primordial Spirit numb, sealing seventy percent of her remaining strength with the light!
Already reduced to the equivalent of a Five Tribulations Immortal King due to successive injuries, with her cultivation now sealed, she was barely comparable to a Triple Calamity Immortal King.
"Ghost... Ghost Faced Cultivator! What do you intend to do with me! Isn’t it enough that you’ve killed Bai Lu, must you kill me too!"
Baihua was so frightened that her soul almost left her body. Ever since Bai Lu’s demise, she had felt impending doom, and indeed, her disaster was indeed tied to the Ghost Faced Cultivator.
She sensed impending doom upon hearing the Ghost Faced Cultivator had slain Bai Lu.
And when she learned the Ghost Faced Cultivator not only possessed the power to slay pinnacle Immortal Kings but also killed two Immortal Emperors consecutively, Baihua was nearly scared to sleeplessness.
With her repeatedly injured body, she stood no chance against that ghost-faced cultivator!
She had a premonition that the ghost-faced cultivator would definitely come to kill her, and she had to do something!
Therefore, she continuously reinforced the great formations of Baihua Main Peak, nearly exhausting all the formation materials in the treasure vault!
She sought help from friends in all directions, but even when she was seriously injured and needed South Sea Spring Water, no one helped her. Now, she might be killed by the ghost-faced cultivator. Who would dare to get involved in this mess?
No one responded to the Baihua Emperor’s plea for help.
In the world of cultivation, it was always about choosing paths where your fellow Daoist might die but you wouldn’t. No one was willing to take on this karma for the Baihua Emperor.
Thus, the Baihua Emperor could only live in constant anxiety, each day feeling like a year, treading carefully and never setting foot outside the main formation of Baihua Main Peak.
But unfortunately... at the close of this night, the ghost-faced cultivator still invaded her presence unnoticed and captured her into a palatial void.
In just a single encounter, he used a bewitching technique to seal all her sparse cultivation!
"This person’s bewitching technique is truly defying the heavens. Unless my cultivation surpasses his, as a woman, I cannot ignore the influence of such a level of charm! Especially when severely injured, it’s even more impossible to resist!"
The Baihua Emperor did not plan to resist Ning Fan at all.
Gritting her teeth, she transformed into a flash of flying flowers and escaped the palatial void!
Even though the power of Dao laws in this palatial void had been shattered by Ning Fan, those equally injured like Tiandu were unable to escape.
Yet, Baihua managed to escape, though under deep enchantment, she seemed extremely skilled at running away.
No wonder she once escaped unscathed from the siege of several Three Flames Immortal Emperors.
Fortunately, Baihua was the last Great Emperor of Zhongzhou. Even if she caused a commotion now by escaping the palatial void, it wouldn’t matter.
Ning Fan flickered and chased her out of the palatial void.
At this moment, countless main and auxiliary peaks on Baihua Peak were brightly lit, evidently awakened by the Baihua Emperor.
Countless strong practitioners gathered towards Baihua Main Peak, yet the Baihua Emperor herself was nowhere to be seen.
With a thought, Ning Fan spread a gentle rain from Baihua Main Peak, extending over a vast distance.
In an instant, he found the direction in which the Baihua Emperor fled.
Heh, cowardly Baihua, to abandon Baihua Peak and flee alone, unworthy of an Immortal Emperor.
Ning Fan did not immediately chase but instead soared into the sky, forcefully activating the Momentum Character Secret to take over the boundary array of Baihua Peak.
Without the Baihua Emperor to control this array, with Ning Fan’s strong spirit sense, he could easily snatch control of such an array. Of course, this caused quite a commotion and consumed great spirit sense, which was why he hadn’t done it previously.
But now, he no longer cared.
After sealing off all exits for Baihua Peak’s cultivators with the formation, Ning Fan removed the ghost mask, revealing his true face and suppressing his evil qi. No one could see that he was the ghost-faced cultivator.
When the few remaining Eternal Peak Masters of Baihua Peak arrived, what they saw was Ning Fan with a half-smile.
"Everyone, long time no see."
The visitors were all shocked.
Apparently, they hadn’t expected that the commotion on Baihua Peak tonight was caused by Ning Fan!
"It’s that foreign cultivator! How did he invade the main peak without anyone noticing!"
"Where did the honorable one go! She doesn’t seem to be here!"
"Damn! The honorable one is critically injured, could she have been killed by this foreign cultivator?"
"Of course not! The honorable one is an Immortal Emperor. This foreign Immortal Venerable could be slain, and the honorable one’s soul plates are unbroken."
"Hmph! Let’s not worry about anything else. This foreign cultivator is already a criminal for destroying the Punishing Ring. Our Baihua Peak’s situation is already precarious. If we capture this cultivator, it would be a significant achievement and earn the praise of the Bright Buddha!"
"But we once shared a relationship with this young man, how can we bear to..."
"Hmph! Anyone who doesn’t want this achievement, step back. Those who want to earn merits, come with me to attack this youth!"
Amidst the commotion, the vast majority of Baihua Peak’s cultivators chose to attack Ning Fan.
Only a few did not make this choice, mostly from the Sixth Auxiliary Peak, under the command of Mingfeng Immortal Venerable.
Mingfeng watched the impending siege of Ning Fan with complexity and slowly closed his eyes.
When Ning Fan came to Baihua Peak that day, he was ordered to intercept Ning Fan ascending the mountain. After a bout, he lost and was supposed to die, but Ning Fan spared his life.
He owed Ning Fan his life!
Even if they were on opposing sides now, he couldn’t bring himself to join the siege on Ning Fan, only suppressing his subordinates, preventing them from attacking Ning Fan.
Ning Fan’s lips curled into a faint smile.
It seems not all Baihua Peak cultivators have forgotten past favors.
If that’s the case, then he’ll only capture those who seek to earn achievements through him.
Sss!
Ning Fan’s figure flickered, transforming into a red glow and vanishing without a trace.
Almost simultaneously, one by one, the strong practitioners of Baihua Peak were attacked by the red glow and fell softly to the ground.
One by one, they were swiftly imposed with restrictions by Ning Fan and tossed into the Realm of Incense Offering, without him wasting words.
In just the time of one incense stick, every cultivator who participated in the siege of Ning Fan was captured without exception.
Immortal Venerable Mingfeng and countless cultivators of the Sixth Auxiliary Peak stared in extreme shock at the scene before them.
They could not believe that Ning Fan, who was merely average in combat strength a few months ago, could now grow so powerful. In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he had captured tens of thousands of experts from Baihua Peak!
Among those captured, there were even several Immortal Venerable Immortal Kings!
It must be known that capturing is harder than killing, it must be known...
"Daoist, are you going to use those people as incense slaves?" Immortal Venerable Mingfeng was overwhelmed with shock, his scalp tingling, as he guessed.
"Yes," Ning Fan said with a smile.
"Daoist, are you going to capture us too..." Mingfeng laughed bitterly.
With the power Ning Fan displayed, even if all the cultivators of the Sixth Auxiliary Peak charged at him, they would be easily dealt with in just a few moves.
They are not opponents at all...
"No, if you see me as an old friend, then I have no reason to act against you."
"Aren’t you here to destroy all of Baihua Peak? Aren’t you here to seek revenge against our esteemed lord?"
"I am only here to settle cause and effect... Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you, but I will erase your memories of tonight. I do not want anyone to know that the Ghost Faced Cultivator is me."
Ning Fan brushed his hand across his face, revealing a Silver Ghost Mask. Under the remains of the night, amidst the mountain wind, his silver hair flew.
Mingfeng and the others were all taken aback, completely unprepared for Ning Fan to be the notorious Ghost Faced Cultivator, causing everyone to be speechless.
But then, Ning Fan’s invincible spirit sense invaded their divine senses, and with the Reverse Spirit Technique wiped away part of their memories. Of course, since it was the Reverse Spirit Technique, the damage to their divine senses was minimal.
One by one, they fainted to the ground.
"Forget it. After all, our friendship was but a shallow one, with the end of this night, the cause and effect are settled."
Ning Fan’s figure blurred, transforming into a streak of red light, disappearing, heading straight to Baihua Peak’s treasure vaults.
Before long, he emerged from the vault, and no one knew what he had done inside.
After that, Ning Fan summoned the Wuxian Cloud and leisurely pursued the Baihua Emperor.
Not at all worried about not catching up to the Baihua Emperor.
The Baihua Emperor’s speed might be formidable among the Five Emperors of Zhongzhou, but compared to the Death Emperor and Bright Buddha, it was completely different leagues.
And Ning Fan, at the extreme speed of the Wuxian Cloud, could even shake off the Death Emperor’s pursuit! Even if the Baihua Emperor had already fled for some time, it was not a problem!
Two incense sticks later.
In the gradually brightening eastern sky, the Baihua Emperor continuously consumed Primordial Spirit Essence Blood, activating her speed to the maximum, desperately rushing towards Zhongzhou’s Liuli City.
She had no resistance against Ning Fan, this she had already confirmed.
She wanted to evade Ning Fan’s chase, and there was only one place she could possibly escape to!
Only if she fled to Liuli City could she have a chance!
Besides fleeing to the Holy Mountain, she had no confidence that she could avoid being killed by Ning Fan. After all, the Holy Mountain was akin to the Sanyan Continent, and Sanyan was a place Ning Fan could freely move!
"For many years I’ve been searching for an answer, that answer lies in Liuli City. I might not be real but a product of illusory art, if this is false, then forget it, but if it is true... According to my ethereal intuition, the creator who made me is in this direction!"
"Someone capable of creating me through illusory art must be unimaginably powerful. I need to find her; she can definitely protect me, evading the pursuit of the Ghost Faced Cultivator!"
Unfortunately, the Baihua Emperor had no chance to escape to Liuli City.
In the white belly of the sky ahead, suddenly, a white-clothed figure emerged eerily like a soul-reaper, seeming to tear the heavens and earth, arriving instantly!
The white-clad person fluttered his clothes, silver hair flying, incomparable in grace even beneath the Ghost Mask. He stood in the sky, lightly waved his hand, severing the firmament, blocking her advance!
Then he pointed a finger, directly pinning her severely weakened Primordial Spirit in midair.
Then hundreds of Purple Cloud Silk Ribbons were released, easily binding her spirit into a package.
With a swift movement, both the person and spirit were transported to the Xuan Yin Treasure.
Then the Ghost Mask was removed, revealing his true appearance.
"It’s...it’s you! The Foreign Cultivator Ning Fan! How can it be you!" The Baihua Emperor’s beautiful little spirit face contorted with terror.
"Be quiet, don’t be afraid. I do not intend to kill you until I figure out the secrets within you. How to say, for something without life, inherently non-existent, using the word ’kill’ is inappropriate. I am only here to settle cause and effect with you." Ning Fan said expressionlessly.
"Cause and effect! What cause and effect! Is it because of me breaking the alliance and chasing you in Liuli City? Or is it the Cold Dew Calculation against you? Or that I betrayed an old friend, taking action against your Blossom Moon little lover in Liuli City! Or is it my hatred towards the Blood Martial Master, the real reason you want to kill me?" The Baihua Emperor screamed wildly.
Suddenly recalling something, the Baihua Emperor suppressed her inner fear, shifting to a seductive smile towards Ning Fan.
"I know the whereabouts of the Offering Vessel, just somewhere within the Vacant Flame! Release me, and I’ll lead you to find it!"
"Haven’t you heard I already visited Vacant Flame Corpse Bone Mountain? Apparently, you know the Offering Vessel is in Vacant Flame but not exactly where. Even if I extract information from you, I’d still likely have to rely on my own power to locate it..."
"Could it be, you’ve already found the Offering Vessel!"
Startled, Baihua thought this chip was now useless and had to find another chip.
Her seductive smile deepened, with countless charms, and said,
"Let’s do this, I’m a dignified Immortal Emperor, I’ll let you harvest half my cultivation, how about it! Just spare me, I’ll let you harvest freely! If half is insufficient, we can negotiate, sixty percent, surely sixty percent will do..."
"I think I’ve already said, keep quiet and don’t waste my time! Harvest you? I’m not interested."
"Hehe, is Ning Lee disdainful of my lacking Yin energy! So, Ning Lee is this shallow. Know that although I’m no virgin, my skills in bedseekers are great, sure to please Ning Lee!" The Baihua Emperor, in self-preservation, displayed utmost seduction.
Yet it naturally failed to confuse Ning Fan in the slightest.
Ning Fan didn’t care whether this woman was a virgin or not. If he could truly gain substantial cultivation by replenishing himself with an Empress, even if the other party was a pig demon, Ning Fan would have the courage to try...
Did you not see that one of his subordinates in Seven Apricot City had the courage to replenish themselves with a pig demon? As the master, he probably, perhaps... also doesn’t lack such courage.
However, the reason he was too lazy to replenish himself with Baihua was not because of this reason.
At this moment, while observing the Primordial Spirit of Baihua Great Emperor up close, Ning Fan’s eyes were filled with Azure Spike, finally discovering some clues.
Indeed, indeed... the feeling from that day was not wrong.
Baihua Great Emperor is not a living person; she’s a puppet created by Illusory Art.
There is no such person in the world; this person is fake.
It’s impossible to replenish oneself using an Illusory Art puppet, impossible to refine the Blood of Ten Thousand Spirits from an Illusory Art puppet... this person has no purpose at all! Killing her wouldn’t even increase his Evil Qi!
"Giggle, does the lord want to see this lady’s performance..."
Seeing Ning Fan unmoved, Baihua secretly harbored a trace of resentment in her eyes, secretly urging a bewitching technique to begin her performance.
Under the heavy seal of Purple Cloud Silk Ribbons, Baihua couldn’t exert a hint of cultivation, not even able to self-destruct. Yet due to the failure of Heaven Sealing Art, she was still able to feel weak and unable to move.
Little hands gradually untied the small clothes of her Primordial Spirit.
Then, she stretched her legs, her hands recklessly clawing, beginning an extremely lewd performance.
Ning Fan’s gaze instantly turned cold, "Trying to use a bewitching technique to catch me off guard and kill me, are you? Unfortunately, when it comes to bewitching techniques, you’re still too inexperienced. I initially wanted to spare you for a few more days; it seems unnecessary now!"
"How do you know! How is it possible..."
Ah!
A scream rang out.
Ning Fan was too lazy to deal with Baihua Great Emperor, who was plotting even in her dying moments, directly throwing her Primordial Spirit into the Refining God Cauldron for alchemy.
Unfortunately, even after refining Baihua to death, there was not a single drop of Blood of Ten Thousand Spirits.
Instead, a phantom light in the shape of a bee’s sting shot out from Baihua’s Primordial Spirit’s ashes, then dissipated into the sky, perishing.
"Lou Tuo mentioned that under the schemes of Ten Bees Supreme, many beings in Dabei Clan are merely Illusory Art creations, seemingly possessing cultivations, yet not even considered people... it seems there’s some truth to this."
"Previously, I entered Baihua Treasure Vault to investigate the blood bees inside. Those blood bees were also illusions, disappearing into a phantom needle upon death..."
"Even some incense slaves captured into the Realm of Incense Offering are merely Illusory Art creations rather than real people... Illusory Art beings not only exist in Baihua Peak but also in the Sanyan, and one by one in the Dabei Grassland..."
"Ten Bees Supreme, dignified Quasi-Saint, what is the purpose of such elaborate creation of Illusory Art puppets... without scheming, I absolutely wouldn’t believe it."
Ning Fan was momentarily silent, flipping his hand to take out Emperor Butcher’s left eye.
That day, Emperor Butcher traded with him, entering Jiuyou Yellow Spring seeking answers.
The past Emperor Butcher sought was entirely imprinted in Emperor Butcher’s left eye; during the tedious moments of seclusion at the Tower of Years, he would often take out Emperor Butcher’s left eye, carefully observing Emperor Butcher’s past.
He deeply understood the cultivation experiences of this woman throughout her life.
He saw how this woman, from an ordinary shepherd girl, arose from obscurity step by step, becoming the Blood Martial Master with a glorious history.
Emperor Butcher’s life experiences had no issues.
The problem lies in the time before Emperor Butcher’s birth...
The well water of the Well of Worries reflected Emperor Butcher’s true past, during which was the scene of her mother giving birth before Emperor Butcher was born.
On the day Emperor Butcher was born, a woman resembling Sword Ancestor with an umbrella used Illusory Art to transform into a midwife and assisted Emperor Butcher’s mother in birth.
Ning Fan’s spirit sense entered Emperor Butcher’s left eye, murmuring in awe, watching that past once more.
Closing his eyes, the scene began to flow through his mind.
It was the day Emperor Butcher was born.
In an inconspicuous small grassland above Middle State, a nondescript small tent, a chorus of cries.
Inside the tent, a beautiful woman of the grassland who had just given birth was holding the corpse of her prematurely deceased daughter, sobbing in grief.
She is the mother of the baby girl.
A few women resembling sister-in-laws helping inside the tent also showed sadness.
It was an immature baby girl, her body smaller than a normal baby, her face swollen purple was suffocated within the womb.
Outside the tent, a black-faced middle-aged man, with a scene of him drawing on tobacco deeply. He is the father of the baby girl.
Not crying with the women, but his mood was equally sorrowful.
Only one person did not cry, but rather smiled.
Smiled at the sorrows and joys of the human world.
That was a midwife, the midwife transformed by Ten Bees Supreme.
"A life born, a life died, all beings are bitter. A death born, a life died, may the awakened pass. Would you need me to pass?"
With the midwife’s words, she suddenly revealed herself, no longer resembling an old woman, transforming into a brilliant Buddha.
The Buddha transformed was extremely beautiful, contrasting starkly with the umbrella-carrying form resembling Sword Ancestor.
"Buddha! The manifestation of the Buddha is here! Merciful Buddha, please save my child. If you are willing to save her, I am willing to give up anything! I am willing to trade my life for her!"
It was the scene of the baby’s mother kneeling and kowtowing.
"I have forty million divine images, this being one of them, to save those in distress. When living beings encounter hardships, I will aid them. This is the reward for devout followers of the Black Buddha Sect."
"I wish to universally deliver all beings; will you follow me...?"
"I desire to save all the world’s suffering; will you follow me...?"
"As long as I exist, I won’t let beings perish before me; will you follow me...?"
With a melodic recitation, Ten Bees Supreme gently accepted the baby girl’s corpse, and with a soft smile, they exploded the body with a snap of their slender fingertips.
In the terrified gaze of those surrounding, Ten Bees Supreme used Illusory Art to create a new infant.
A likeness almost identical to the previous baby girl.
But it was not a living being, merely an Illusory Art mannequin.
That mannequin was Emperor Butcher!
"Sleep, when you awaken, you’ll forget the child’s untimely death. This baby girl will be your new daughter."
"You’ll name her... Ji Qingling."
Ten Bees Supreme smiled with purity, wielding Illusory Art to cause those around to collapse softly to the ground...
...
Ning Fan frowned sharply.
Emperor Butcher was not a real person, only an Illusory Art mannequin by Ten Bees Supreme, devoid of true life.
Was that remarkable woman of many years in Dabei false...?
Was the woman whose every move gave him a peculiar feeling false...?
The woman who sacrificed herself to save him, getting captured... was she false...?
To save those in distress, what an act of goodwill! Ha.
With the cultivation level of a Quasi-Saint, reviving a recently deceased mortal infant shouldn’t be difficult, right?
What absurdity is this salvation.
Why not revive the baby directly?
Why destroy the corpse only to recreate a new infant?
Is it fear of causality that Quasi-Saints dread like tigers, fearing entanglement with worldly karma if defying heaven to alter the fate for an unknown infant?
Merely creating an Illusory Art mannequin avoids causality without altering the deceased infant’s life trajectory.
Is this a consideration?
Or perhaps Ten Bees Supreme did it intentionally, with another calculation, and even the infant’s premature death was part of their scheme.
To achieve an unspeakable goal...?
Therefore, sacrificing an innocent infant becomes necessary?
Indeed, he disliked Dabei and this place full of schemes.
"Even if Emperor Butcher is a false Illusory Art, I will save him! Even if saving him is part of Ten Bees Supreme’s countless schemes, I will save him!"
"Whether real or fake, these things don’t matter!"
"How can a false Illusory Art mannequin be lesser than those hypocritical pretenders!"
What is false!
Ning Fan suddenly lifts his head, his eyes bursting with two azure divine lights, seemingly piercing all illusions in the world.
What is true!
That azure light grows increasingly, nearly exceeding the boundary of the Second Realm of Tianren, reaching closer to the Third Realm.
The more cultivation, the less Ning Fan understands what truth is.
The deeper his insight into reincarnation, the less he comprehends what reincarnation is.
Then let it be uncomprehensible.
Then let it be unwise.
Then let it be without awakening.
Then let it be unexplained.
I follow only my Dao!
I seek only my truth!
I know only my will!
I dive only into my descent!
What is Dao!
Ning Fan’s eyes burst forth with even greater divine light, seeming to pierce through the entire Xuan Yin Treasure. At this moment, he poses his third question to his heart!
This inquiry is his confusion since beginning cultivation, from gradual understanding to growing bewilderment.
This inquiry is his unwillingness to accept all existing definitions of Dao, seeking an understanding of his own heart’s thoughts.
At this moment, because of the matter of the Emperor Butcher, Ning Fan’s Dao heart unexpectedly advanced a little. Along with this, he vaguely saw his path to the third realm of Tianren, yet it remained elusive, unable to be truly perceived. Looking closer, it seemed the path ahead was a dead end, incapable of traversing to the third realm of Tianren.
No path ahead, unable to see the road to the third realm of Tianren!
So, is the road behind?
The first realm of Tianren is the understanding of a Master cultivating throughout their life, traveling a long road alone.
The second realm of Tianren is the crystallization of a lifetime of seeking the Dao without regrets.
Then the third realm, is it about turning back...
Turning back, how to turn...
Traveling once more the path already walked...
Or... denying all past paths...
Ning Fan suddenly coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, exiting from the strange state.
Because of the matter of the Emperor Butcher, he actually gained a slight understanding for cultivation to the third realm of Tianren!
But this understanding far exceeded his current cultivation level, forcing him to look and think, only to recoil and unable to deeply contemplate or touch it.
"The second realm of Tianren is rare in the world; the third realm, what kind of marvelous realm it is..."
"Throughout this journey, I relied on the Tianren Eye Technique countless times to peer through enemies’ schemes, comprehend the wonders of the world. If I can take another step forward on the Tianren path, I would reach the peak of Unity of Heaven and Man... It’s rumored that the third realm of Tianren can peek into the secrets of reincarnation across ancient and present eras, past and future, truly a forbidden power that I cannot easily touch!"
Ning Fan wiped off the bloodstains at his mouth corner and took expensive pills to recuperate.
After a long time, the injuries healed.
He put away the Emperor Butcher’s left eye and did not look again.
He hesitated, considering whether to let the Emperor Butcher see the past within the left eye after rescuing her.
The Emperor Butcher should have some awareness about her identity as an illusion puppet...
Indeed, this matter should let her have confirmation...
[Little butterfly, I won’t abandon you...]
[Sorry, I spoke words even I couldn’t understand. Butterflies and such, I don’t understand at all. Next, you don’t need to intervene, I’ll handle this alone, I’m very angry, a mere Seventh Tribulation Immortal Emperor dared to plot against my people, to destroy his Punishing Ring? Mobilizing the entire Dabei Clan’s power to hunt him down? What a ridiculous scheme. Too late, it’s all too late! This time, even if it breaks my promise, it doesn’t matter anymore! Even if heaven flips and earth overturns, I won’t tolerate this anymore! No one will stop me from killing! No one will... harm my little butterfly!]
Why does the Emperor Butcher keep saying such peculiar things...
[I leave, what will you do? My Punishing Ring is inexplicably destroyed, becoming a criminal for unclear reasons, you standing with a criminal against the Dabei Clan, is that really alright?]
[Don’t worry, the Five Supremes do not interfere with worldly matters, the strongest in this realm is just the Death Emperor and Bright Buddha. Your charge of Punishing Ring, at most, will only elicit the intervention of Bright Buddha. That old bald-bandit cannot do anything to me!]
[But your injuries... and your left eye...]
[Nagging endlessly! Leave quickly. I suddenly feel annoyed with you, don’t wish to see you anymore!]
Why does her words always make him inexplicably sad...
[...Ever since I started dreaming of the Real Realms, I often talk nonsense, sometimes suddenly experiencing indescribable sadness, inexplicably feeling heartbroken, inexplicably shedding tears, inexplicably longing for someone I don’t know... Actually, many things, I have already mentally prepared for. My existence is very likely manipulated by someone’s Illusory Art. I am not real, I am illusionary. Not just me, in this Dabei Clan, many existences are just illusions, like Baihua Great Emperor, like... These are things I want to confirm, but not everything. I more want to find the reason for tears, the source of sadness... find that little fellow...I always feel like I’m waiting for it, waited long, not just one lifetime, but lifetime after lifetime... I want to know who he is... When you return the left eye to me, maybe I can find the answer in past memories, or perhaps... not...]
Unfortunately, the past you seek does not have the answer you search for.
Ning Fan sighed, for he did not find within the Emperor Butcher’s left eye’s past the person she has been waiting for lifetime after lifetime.
But somehow, at this moment, when recalling the Emperor Butcher, his mind involuntarily brought up the scene of Corpse Bone Mountain, the shadow of the sword ancestor.
The sword ancestor’s hand that wanted to touch him, but ultimately lowered, left a lasting impression.
The sword ancestor’s scene of inevitable dispersal, with no corpse or bones left, left a deep regret.
[Little butterfly, don’t sleep, wake up.]
[Little butterfly, don’t sleep, don’t sleep.]
[Sleep again, you won’t catch the once-in-a-decade Chao Yue event of Primeval Mountain...]
Only the sword ancestor would have such a gentle call...
[... Initially, I didn’t understand why I couldn’t find you, when I truly realized it, I couldn’t coexist with you in the same world. In the future, you might always be unable to find me, unable to find in any cycle of reincarnation... When found, perhaps already missed...]
Not sure what, missed what...
[... On Primeval Mountain, Chao Yue only reaches fullness once every ten years... In Nether Dust Sea, the tides rise only once a hundred years... On Vast Expanse Path, the fog only retreats once a millennium... The Immortal Peaches of the Heavenly Court only fruit once every ten thousand years... The Bell Orchid of Sky Desolate Ancient Realm only blooms once every hundred thousand years... As for me, I am only allowed a smile once every few million years...]
[I waited very long, I left you... many things...]
[How I wish to watch a Chao Yue together, even if... only once in ten years...]
The shadow of the sword ancestor inexplicably overlaps with the Emperor Butcher in Ning Fan’s heart...
Clearly different in appearance.
But why... there is such a sense of identity.
Ning Fan does not understand what this overlap represents.
His heart surged with countless speculations, but none could be confirmed.
He wondered if in his past life, he had immense karmic ties with either the Emperor Butcher or the sword ancestor.
Otherwise, why do these two women always evoke eerie feelings, different from any other women he has encountered.
Unrelated to romantic feelings.
It’s unrelated to feelings.
Yet it can make his heart ache like being twisted, with sorrow like rain.
With guidance from Emperor Lou Tuo, he saw clearly the truth of the Dabei Clan’s four supremes calculating heaven and earth.
But there are still some confusions that cannot be unraveled.
Like the Sword Ancestor, like the Emperor Butcher...
For a long, long time.
Ning Fan suppressed the various thoughts in his mind and sorted through the many spoils of Baihua Great Emperor, having killed Baihua Great Emperor without acquiring any Innate Treasure; it seems her Innate Treasure had already been broken by the Emperor Butcher.
Afterward, Ning Fan escaped the Xuan Yin Treasure realm, his figure flickered, and it was unclear where he went in Middle State.
The sky was completely bright.
But this day, destined to be a day that the entire Dabei cannot find peace!
Bone Spirit Peak, Crying Laughing Peak, Tiandu Peak, Baihua Peak, four great emperor peaks, overnight, countless disciples of the Immortal Emperor were captured without a trace, and soul plates remained strangely unbroken!
Emperor Bone Spirit, Great Emperor Foqi, Great Emperor Tiandu, Baihua Great Emperor, all had shattered soul plates, and four great emperors fell overnight!
Rumor has it that the first three emperor peaks were silently and soundlessly destroyed, and there are hardly any signs of dueling fluctuations at the scene!
Baihua Peak seemed to have caused quite a stir, but the surviving Masters’ memories were all erased, making them completely unable to recall who the assailant was.
However, many strong beings of Dabei could guess even with their toes who the perpetrator was!
Such a reckless and wild individual, who would dare to slay four out of the Central Continent’s Five Emperors, could only be that one person!
That madman!
That peerless demon!
That... Ghost Faced Cultivator!
The Bright Buddha was finally enraged!
In the past when Ghost Faced Cultivator made a move against Three Flames, he wasn’t angry, as at that time Three Flames merely lost two Immortal Emperors, and even the Death Emperor suffered losses, while his Holy Mountain faction only lost one rather important Pinnacle Immortal King. Overall, he was still gloating over Three Flames’ losses.
At this moment, it is different!
With four consecutive Great Emperors of Middle State falling, it is a glaring slap to his face, putting the dignity of Holy Mountain in jeopardy!
Baihua did not matter, just an Illusory Art puppet, but the other three were indeed reliable subordinates of Holy Mountain!
"Had it not been for this old monk being busy with refining the Lightning Whip, to strip away the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection from Ji Qingling’s body, how could I have allowed such a crazy man to create havoc on this grassland!" In the empty hall, the Bright Buddha looked at the intelligence in his hands and spoke out in anger.
"Namo Amitabha, then you should quickly end Ji Qingling’s execution and go capture the person yourself. Haha, daring to cause trouble under my Holy Mountain’s rule, truly seeking death." Inside Bright Buddha’s body, a gentle voice spoke slowly, emitting an aura that reached the level of Second-Grade Quasi-Saint.
Weak by a fraction compared to Ancestor Flame, yet far superior to Niu Gui!
"Does the Medicine Master mean to execute ahead of time? But if that’s the case, where will the lightning power come from?"
"Did you forget, don’t you still have the Thunder Sound Lineage atop Holy Mountain!"
"Haha, Medicine Master truly calculates well, it turns out the day you instructed me to secretly promote this matter, having Thunder Sound Lineage send Lei Cang to his death, you had already begun plotting for the Primordial Thunder Cauldron of Thunder Sound Lineage. The Primordial Thunder Cauldron, ranked first among the nine major medicine cauldrons of Old Man Nan Yao, crafted using the spiritual material of the Four Sects Marine Regions, containing the ’Eastern Mountain Thunder’! If the Eastern Mountain Thunder is used, it would be hardly necessary to go through refining the Lightning Whip to easily strip away the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection, right? Just a bit troublesome, the Primordial Thunder Cauldron isn’t something just anyone can use..."
"You forgot again, those foreign cultivators attached to Thunder Sound Lineage can be useful?"
"Are you referring to those people from Dark Clan, and those messengers from various Eastern Heaven powers? If they exert themselves, the matter is feasible, but the cost is quite expensive. Hmph, last time when I went to greet those foreign cultivators, each of them demanded sky-high prices..."
"Just agree to their terms, an expensive price is fine, after all, it is Eastern Mountain Thunder, worth the price. Even if they ask for Eastern Mountain Thunder, it can be negotiated, and some portions can be divided to fool them. Compared to the price, the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection is more important. Haha, Old Ancestor Flame imprisoned the Sword Ancestor’s skeleton for a lifetime, yet did not know that within those barren bones there was no genuine essence of the Third Step Sword Dao! Sword Ancestor cultivates the heartless sword, yet the strongest heartless is not heartless, but utmost affection... Have you heard, the mere Sword Ancestor, a slight Emperor, once injured the clothing of a Fourth Step Immortal Emperor with the Ultimate Affection sword! That piece of utmost affection, is the essence of his Sword Dao legacy, Ancestor Flame aimed wrongly, I, am the right one!"
"The Medicine Master’s wisdom is as clear as fire, having inherited the great wisdom of Nan Yao Saint, cannot compare with Ancestor Flame who merely inherited brute strength."
"No need to flatter me like that. Go do the serious work."
"Understood, I’ll proceed to the Thunder Sound Lineage, then... execute ahead!"
...
A day later, Ning Fan disguised using Illusory Art, heard the conversation of cultivators as he passed by a city in Middle State.
"Have you heard! The extremely sinful Blood Martial Master is about to be executed ahead of schedule, anyone is allowed to go to Holy Mountain to witness!"
"Of course I’ve heard, my information is even more updated than yours, the execution is in three days, we are not far from Holy Mountain, with a better Spirit Beast Carriage, it will not take three days to get to Holy Mountain for the ceremony. Those cultivators living farther away may regret, fearing they cannot make it to Holy Mountain to witness this grand event."
"That’s unavoidable, who made Bright Buddha suddenly decide to execute ahead of time?"
"But the lightning power for refining the execution Lightning Whip hasn’t been fully gathered, why did Bright Buddha advance the execution deadline..."
"It is said that Thunder Sound Lineage stood up righteously to assist Bright Buddha with the Primordial Thunder Cauldron, this allowed the reason in advancing the execution date."
"I heard, Bright Buddha advanced the execution date to quickly finish the matter, thereby focusing on pursuing the recent criminal in the grasslands, Ghost Faced Cultivator."
"First killed Two Emperors of Three Flames, now Four Emperors of Middle State, huh! That Ghost Faced Cultivator is too rampant, simply ought to be chopped to pieces!"
"I’ve also heard..."
Ning Fan no longer listened, his gaze was ice-cold.
The Emperor Butcher is indeed executing ahead!
If only three days remain, afraid it leaves no more time to continue increasing power...
Emperor Butcher... Ji Qingling... Sword Ancestor...