Grasping the Evil

Chapter 552: Heaven Controlling City, The First Stage!

After it was hit by Ning Fan’s finger, the snow-white beast shadow let out a miserable shrill and stopped charging at Ning Fan. It tried to escape by turning around and transforming into a ray of snow-white light.

Naturally, it was impossible for Ning Fan to let it flee. He pointed a finger at it and used the Heaven Sealing Technique to restrict the beast shadow’s movement.

Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he pulled it into his hand and studied it carefully. It was the shadow of a white tiger which was only the size of his palm.

The white tiger shadow was not a living creature but was formed from the ferocious baleful qi within the spiritual equipment.

After Ning Fan caught it, the little white tiger was still baring its fangs while swinging its claws with a fearsome look on its face.

Ning Fan harnessed some magic power from the center of his palm to destroy the shadow of the white tiger. Then, a brilliant light flashed. An ancient dark silver vambrace appeared in his hand.

The length of this piece of armor could fit the front part of Ning Fan’s arm just right. It felt cold and it seemed to contain a sharp killing qi.

There were carvings of mountains and seas and patterns of mythical beasts on this vambrace. It was quite well-made.

It had extreme toughness. The materials that had been used to forge this vambrace were undoubtedly uncommon...

The vambrace not only had amazing defensive power. What impressed Ning Fan was the killing qi that it contained.

If he refines this vambrace, the power of his fists would probably experience a terrifying improvement.

"My master said that this spiritual equipment was forged by a spiritual equipment master from the Heaven Immortal World. Its raw material was an ominous tooth that an immortal white tiger had shed. White tigers are bloodthirsty creatures. Immortal white tigers, on the other hand, are even more vicious creatures that would kill countless, accumulating thick and heavy baleful qi... Even my master can’t suppress the baleful qi of this spiritual equipment. However, I had a hunch that you should be able to suppress it... It’s because you’re so competent..." Yu Chong Er said with reddened cheeks.

"You really think highly of me... A vambrace that is made out of a white tiger’s tooth, huh... Thank you for giving me this gift. I like it a lot."

Ning Fan put his finger on the vambrace, commanding it to turn into a ray of white light and fly back to the brocade box. Then, he kept the box in his storage pouch.

"It’s good that you like it... I’ll be taking my leave. My master is going to scold me again since he couldn’t find me for the past month..."

Riding on her five-marked cloud, Yu Chong Er stuck out her tongue at Ning Fan and reluctantly left.

Logically, she had already finished repaying Ning Fan all of the favors she had owed him by giving him the Heaven Deceiving Cloak, the Insect Sovereign’s Blood and the White Tiger Vambrace...

However, why would she remain slightly unwilling to leave Ning Fan, as if the fibers are still clinging together even after the lotus root has been severed.

"Damn it... Yu Chong Er, you must really be sick. That’s why you aren’t willing to leave the Scarlet Heaven Palace..." Yu Chong Er muttered to herself.

"Miss Yu, please stay for a bit." Ning Fan suddenly called.

"I-Is there anything else...?" Yu Chong Er shyly turned back.

"These body refinement pills are pills of the devil race. They can raise the cultivation level of a Jade Life Body Refinement Realm cultivator. I concocted them in the past and the Rain Palace should not have any of it. If you don’t mind, please take these pills. I think they will be greatly beneficial to you in breaking through to the Second Level of the Jade Life Body Refinement Realm."

Ning Fan smiled gently and took out an exquisite storage pouch. With a flick of his finger, he sent a pouch to Yu Chong Er.

Since she had given him a gift, he naturally needed to give her something in return. Even though these pills were not as precious as the Profound Divinity Grade spiritual equipment, it showed his appreciation to her.

"T-This..." When Yu Chong Er caught Ning Fan’s storage pouch, her face had become as red as a tomato.

She never expected that Ning Fan would give her something in return and was not mentally prepared for this at all. Thus, she did not know how she should reply to him.

Her heart was fluttering wildly. She kept the pouch and hurriedly left like a startled hare.

This time, she was very certain that she really was sick...

She actually did not dare to speak a word to Ning Fan. It was too embarrassing...

...

Right after Yu Chong Er had left, Ning Fan received a golden message-transmitting flying sword. The Rain Sovereign had personally sent this message to him.

"Ten days later, head to the Temple of Rain."

The Temple of Rain was the main palace of the Rain Palace. It was located at the tenth realm of the Heavenly Cloud Country and the Rain Sovereign was personally overseeing it.

After hesitating for a while, he returned to the inner part of the cloud mountain for some seclusion again.

Ten days later, he would be going to the Temple of Rain to see the Rain Sovereign.

Before that, he planned to refine the White Tiger Vambrace.

This piece of armor had immense baleful qi. Even common Void Fragmentation Realm experts would not be able to restrain the baleful qi and refine this spiritual equipment.

With Ning Fan’s baleful qi and the aura force from his Fu Li Ancestral Blood, however, it was an easy task for him to subdue it.

As for this spiritual equipment’s effect, its defense power was in fact secondary. Its main effect was improving the power of one’s body techniques.

In just three days, Ning Fan successfully refined the spiritual equipment into his right arm. For the remaining days, he sat below the rain stele to comprehend the rain intent.

On the seventh day, another message-transmitting flying sword flew into the Scarlet Heaven Realm from the Profound Heaven Realm. It was a message from Yun Bushu.

There was only a single sentence in that message.

"Hide your sovereign qi properly and beware of Revered Sage."

After receiving Yun Bushu’s reminder, Ning Fan’s expression turned grim and started to suspect that Yun Bushu was probing him.

However, he shook his head after that and denied that idea as he thought that Yun Bushu might have really noticed that he possessed the sovereign qi.

He still recalled that after he condensed his sovereign qi, he was once tracked by a gigantic eye in the Profound Yin World.

Revered Sage was the Rain Sovereign’s trusted subordinate and that large eye was his heavenly eye.

When Ning Fan condensed his sovereign qi from that year, the phenomenon that signified that birth of a sovereign had shaken the entire Rain World. Countless people were searching for the second sovereign in the Rain World... Even the Rain Sovereign was frantically looking for those who shared a resemblance with that person’s back view and murdered every last one of them. He would rather kill the wrong person than let his target run loose.

What made the Rain Sovereign afraid of Ning Fan today was just his innate talent in cultivation. To the mysterious person who condensed the sovereign qi, however, the Rain Sovereign had an absolute determination to wipe out his existence.

No one knew that Ning Fan was that person, including Revered Sage.

Ning Fan had been hiding his sovereign qi very deeply. Even though he had met several Void Fragmentation Realm experts such as Chu Chang An, Yun Tianjue, Yun Jinghong and Yun Daoku, none of them could notice that Ning Fan possessed the sovereign qi.

Yun Bushu was the only one who managed to see through the sovereign qi in him and reminded him to hide it...

This Yun Bushu really has some capability.

"If Yun Bushu truly noticed that I possess the sovereign qi, the Rain Sovereign must also be able to notice it... I’ll be seeing the Rain Sovereign in another three days. I should completely conceal it just in case..."

Ning Fan stored his sovereign qi into his Yin Yang Locket. The locket was an immortal emperor’s treasure that could shield everything inside from other’s senses. No matter how capable the Rain Sovereign is, it would be impossible for him to sense the sovereign qi.

He did not reply to Yun Bushu’s message. If he gives a response, it would be the same as admitting the fact that he does indeed possess the sovereign qi.

Deep inside, he believed that Yun Bushu had been through thick and thin with his father and he was someone trustworthy.

Deep within his bones, however, he still kept some distance from him...

After all, completely trusting a person was not something that can be achieved overnight.

On the tenth day, a group of revered elders from the Temple of Rain came to lead Ning Fan to see the Rain Sovereign.

All of the revered elders emanated Divine Transformation Realm qi. However, their expressions looked sluggish and lifeless. When he studied them carefully, he found out that each and every one of them was actually a puppet that was made out of a devil cultivator.

Ning Fan followed these puppets to the tenth realm of the Heavenly Cloud Country. Along the way, he was deep in thought.

The Rain Sovereign deliberately sent these puppets which were originally devil cultivators to receive Ning Fan. Was he trying to show Ning Fan his authority...?

Was the Rain Sovereign trying to tell him that if he goes against the Rain Palace, he would end up like these puppets...?

"If one doesn’t let me down, I won’t let them down... This display of power is useless to me."

The tenth realm of the Heavenly Cloud Country – Heaven Controlling Realm!

The Heaven Controlling Realm was located at the center of the Heavenly Cloud Country with the other nine realms surrounding it in a circle.

Along the way, endless rays of travelling light could be seen dashing toward the tenth realm. All of them were trying to watch the upcoming spectacle.

While Ning Fan was in his seclusion in the past half year, news of him defeating the eight palace lords and becoming the strongest lord of the nine palaces spread throughout the entire Rain World.

Ning Fan had now truly become a mighty figure in the Rain World. Among the cultivators below the Void Fragmentation Realm, there was barely anyone who would dare to approach him and make him their enemy.

Even those Absolute Void Stage experts who had achieved yuan magic power would also need to show some respect to him.

There were several hundred cultivation cities at the center of the Heaven Controlling Realm. The one that was located at the center was called Heaven Controlling City.

Heaven Controlling City was built ninety thousand zhang* (3.33m per zhang) above the sea of clouds. The space of one million li* (500m per li) around it was being guarded by the divine messengers of the Rain Palace.

Upon reaching this place, those Divine Transformation Realm puppets that had guided him here had accomplished their mission and all silently retreated.

Ning Fan left them behind and flew ninety thousand zhang* (3.33m per zhang) above the sky by himself and descended outside the Heaven Controlling City.

The moment he arrived, a group of cultivators with sharp and fearsome aura forces immediately stood before him, blocking his path. They were the guards of the city.

Even though the group only consisted of nine individuals, eight of them were at the Half-Step Void Refinement Realm while the leader of the group was a Void Glimpse Stage cultivator!

As soon as they saw Ning Fan’s appearance, they instantly changed their behavior and said with a respectful tone.

"The Rain Sovereign has informed us that if the White-Robed Marquis arrives, he can enter the Heaven Controlling City to see him."

"I understand."

Ning Fan walked into the city all by himself. It was a huge city that had the shape of a turtle. Few cultivators were garrisoned within the city. And each of the patrolling guards were at the Divine Transformation Realm.

After entering the city, Ning Fan could vaguely feel a massive demon qi from the cloud floor that he was stepping on.

There was the soul of a demon turtle which was at the First Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm residing in the entire Heaven Controlling City!

The demon turtle probably existed here as a guardian for the Heaven Controlling City...

The Rain Sovereign really invested a lot in this place to actually get a Void Fragmentation Realm demon turtle to guard this city...

There was a gigantic door at the central region of the Heaven Controlling City that was carved with three words – Heaven Controlling Gate.

The guardian of the gate was an old man in brocade garments who possessed a cultivation base at the Absolute Void Stage. He sat on the cloud tree located beside the gate with his eyes closed. His expression looked extremely proud and arrogant.

When he sensed Ning Fan’s arrival, he immediately stood up and said with a forced smile.

"I am Han Songzi, the lord of the Temple of Rain. Greetings to the White-Robed Marquis. Please wait for a moment. I will now be opening the Heaven Controlling Gate... The Rain Sovereign and the Four Great Void Fragmentation Realm experts have already been waiting for you for quite some time."

"Do I still need to get through this huge gate in order to enter the Temple of Rain...?"

Ning Fan scanned the huge gate with his eyes. After taking a quick look at it, he noticed that it was an entrance to a small chiliocosm.

The defense of the ten realms in the Heavenly Cloud Country could be said to be impenetrable. The Heaven Controlling City was so heavily guarded. Even so, the Rain Sovereign still hid the Temple of Rain within a small chiliocosm. It was evident how cautious and oversensitive the Rain Sovereign was.

Upon hearing Ning Fan’s question, Han Songzi merely gave him a smile without giving him an answer. He activated a golden token and the huge gate rumbled and opened.

It was a vast and boundless world of void on the other side of the gate.

A large majestic palace shining in dazzling golden light was floating in the void space. It was none other than the Temple of Rain!

"White-Robed Marquis, please follow me."

Han Songzi took the lead and went inside the huge gate.

After hesitating for a while, Ning Fan’s eyes glistened with determination and he also crossed the gate. Right after that, the huge gate closed behind them.

With a pensive look, Ning Fan stared at the crack of the door that was gradually vanishing in the void space and secretly marked down its location.

If something goes wrong, he should be able to tear the door in the void space apart using his Wind Mist Finger and leave with ease.

Along the way, he had been thinking about every possible scenario that might happen when he finally meets the Rain Sovereign.

Even though he was certain that he was still useful to the Rain Sovereign and would not be in immediate danger, nothing in the world was absolute and staying cautious would never go wrong.

If he really faces danger, he could still hide inside the Yuan Yao World and nobody would be able to capture him.

The void space in front of him was filled with a repulsive force that made it difficult for cultivators to move across the space.

Han Songzi chuckled and took out the golden token. When he waved it with his hand, a golden bridge suddenly appeared in the void space which directly led to the main entrance of the Temple of Rain.

When they set foot on the golden bridge, there was no longer any repulsive force preventing them from advancing.

Without saying a single word, Ning Fan followed Han Songzi to cross the golden bridge and entered the temple.

Inside the main hall of the temple, an old man in silver dragon robes was sitting on the throne with a cold expression.

Below him, there were the Four Great Void Fragmentation Realm experts, a few princes, the lord and vice lord of the eight strongest palaces and the masters of all the prestigious and righteous sects in the Central State!

Those who did not have a significant identity would not have the chance to come to the Temple of Rain at all!

The moment Ning Fan entered the temple, countless traces of spirit sense immediately shifted toward him, probing him from top to bottom. They wanted to see how capable the White-Robed Marquis whose name shook the entire Rain World was.

Ning Fan smiled gently. He did not stop them nor reveal his aura force.

Other than discovering his cultivation base was at the Void Inquiry Stage, everyone in the hall could not sense anything else. Each of them then showed a look of surprise.

"The White-Robed Marquis’ qi is very well-reserved! He can actually conceal it from our senses!"

Ning Fan’s eyes scanned across the masters of the prestigious sects in the Central State. When he noticed that there were no Absolute Void Stage experts among them, he no longer paid them attention.

Then, he indifferently shifted his gaze to the lords of the eight palaces. The way the eight of them looked at Ning Fan was mostly filled with respect and awe.

Ning Fan then averted his eyes and turned to look at the several Void Fragmentation Realm princes.

Yun Tianjue was not among them.

As the seventh prince, Yun Jinghong, looked at Ning Fan, his eyes contained a hint of fear that came straight from the depth of his heart.

The sixth prince, Yun Youmu, on the other hand, was still keeping his eyes narrowed in slits while wearing an inscrutable smile.

When the fifth prince, Yun Zhongyan, saw Ning Fan arrive, he just let out a faint snort.

The second prince, Yun Xiaoxiang, however, slightly frowned with eyes that were as deep as the ocean. No one knew what he was thinking.

Only the third prince, Yun Bushu, grinned at him and gave him a meaningful look. When he saw that there was no longer a hint of sovereign qi in Ning Fan when he came, he felt less worried.

Secretly, he passed a message to Ning Fan via telepathy.

"Be careful of Revered Sage."

"Thank you."

Ning Fan replied to Yun Bushu and moved his eyes to the Four Great Void Fragmentation Realm experts.

Among the four of them, the way Yun Daoku looked at him was filled with worry and fear.

The lord of the Dragon Determining Valley, Chu Chang An, had his brows tightly drawn together. His face was filled with doubts as he stared at Ning Fan. No one knew what he was pondering in his mind.

The Pill Sovereign who had returned from his travels was also here. He released a little of his medicine soul upon Ning Fan’s arrival. When he sensed his Mid Sixth Revolution medicine soul, he put on a satisfied smile.

The last person was Yu Chong Er’s master, the master of the Thousand Fantasies Sect –Yun Qingge.

This woman’s magic power was at the First Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm. At the same time, she also possessed the First Heavenly Layer of the Nirvana Body Refinement Realm.

She wore a large cloak which tightly enveloped her body. The cloak was green and it had the patterns of cloud and mist.

After taking a single glance at the cloak, Ning Fan was extremely sure that the cloak was a Profound Divinity Grade spiritual equipment that was similar to the Heaven Deceiving Cloak.

With the cloak enveloping her body, it was impossible for one to see Yun Qingge’s attire.

Her hair was tied backward and fastened with a green jade hairpin. She was gorgeous and had a presence that was as light and ethereal as cloud and mist.

However, when she looked at Ning Fan, her eyes contained an unusual hostility.

"Have I messed with this woman before...?" Ning Fan pondered inwardly.

However, even though he had reviewed all of his past memories, he still could not remember anything involving Yun Qingge.

The enmity she had for him seemed to be rather odd and baffling.

Ning Fan’s eyes eventually fell upon the Rain Sovereign.

The Rain Sovereign wore a set of silver dragon robes that were embroidered with cloud patterns. His white hair was bound on the top of his head and decorated with a crown that made him look rather majestic.

Before Ning Fan’s arrival, the Rain Sovereign’s face was as cold as ice. Now, however, his face was adorned with a smile and filled with gentleness while he was looking at Ning Fan.

The way he looked at him was as benevolent as when he was looking at his own descendant.

A grim-looking old man in black robes was standing behind the Rain Sovereign.

His cultivation base was only at the Divine Transformation Realm. However, his presence exuded a strong power of heavenly secret. Obviously, he was extremely proficient in the Dao of Divination.

His left eye was gloomy and vicious like that of a serpent. His right eye, however, was blind and the eye socket was eerily empty.

He was none other than the person who once used the Heavenly Eye Technique to track Ning Fan down – Revered Sage...

"Hehe. So you are Ning Fan, huh? Excellent. Truly excellent. Despite being just 900 years old, you’ve already attained this level. In the future, you’ll certainly be able to break through to the Void Fragmentation Realm and become a pillar of my Rain Palace!"

The Rain Sovereign’s smile looked so sincere that there was nothing one could pick at.

Even so, Ning Fan remained unmoved. Following Han Songzi’s actions, he cupped his fists and politely said, "Scarlet Heaven Palace Lord, Ning Fan, greets the Rain Sovereign!"

"Hehe. There’s no need for such formalities. To cultivators like us, these acts of courtesy are meaningless..."

The Rain Sovereign suddenly changed the topic and asked.

"According to what I know, you were born in a low-grade cultivation country called Yue Country. May I know who your master is?"

"Black Devil!"

Ning Fan’s eyes turned solemn and indifferently uttered two words.

All of a sudden, only the sound of gasps of surprise could be heard within the entire hall.

"I originally didn’t believe Revered Snow’s report... It turns out that this kid really is that person’s disciple!!!"

"Even though that person was grievously injured and came to the Lower Realm to live in seclusion, he is still the lord of the Black Devil regardless. In the Upper Realm, he is also one of the most powerful figures... If the White-Robed Marquis really is that man’s disciple, who would dare to mess with him...?"

"Black Devil... Black Devil... *Sigh*... It’s beyond our power to mess with him..."

Ning Fan observed the expressions on everyone’s faces within the hall and let out a gentle sigh.

It was very difficult to hide the fact that he was Old Devil’s disciple. Many cultivators in Yue Country knew about it. However, only a handful of people knew about Old Devil’s background.

To the Rain Sovereign, finding out Ning Fan’s identity and background was not a difficult task.

Thus, it would be pointless for Ning Fan to lie. Besides, he also did not have any reason to lie.

Be it to the cultivators in the Central State or the Rain Sovereign, this identity had an extremely good intimidating effect...

No matter how much the Rain Sovereign hated Ning Fan, he would certainly fear him after knowing his identity.

Even when the Rain Sovereign planned to get rid of Ning Fan in the future, he certainly would not let anyone know it. Thus, he would most probably assassinate him in the dark...

The Rain Sovereign tightly clenched his fists. His heart was extremely restless.

During the ten years where Ning Fan went into seclusion to achieve a breakthrough to the Void Inquiry Stage, the Rain Sovereign had already sent someone to Yue Country to dig up any information about Ning Fan’s background.

The result of their discovery made the Rain Sovereign dare not to disregard it.

Ning Fan was Old Devil Han’s disciple. Moreover, he was a disciple that Old Devil Han regarded like his own son!

With this identity, even the Rain Sovereign would also not dare to take Ning Fan lightly...

After the Rain Sovereign ended his seclusion, Yun Xiaoxiang reported to him about the incident of Ning Fan defeating the lords of the eight palaces. The Rain Sovereign merely nodded his head with a cold expression to express his acknowledgement of the incident.

Even though he was not a magnanimous man, he was still a person who knew how to differentiate what was best for him.

Even though Old Devil was severely injured, he was not someone the Rain Sovereign could mess with even if his identity as the lord of the Black Devil was just nominal.

"Unless I have proof that this kid is the person who will prevent me from becoming an immortal, I can’t rashly take action against him..."

This was what the Rain Sovereign’s thought at this moment!

Now, it all depends on Revered Sage’s investigation... If Revered Sage discovers the slightest trace of sovereign qi in Ning Fan’s body...

The Rain Sovereign’s expression turned frosty. In that case, no matter how great or powerful Ning Fan’s background was, he would still secretly get rid of him!

No one could stop him from becoming an immortal!

The Rain Sovereign waved his hands to stop the commotion in the hall. Then, he said to Ning Fan with a courteous smile.

"I was just asking you casually and I harbor no other intentions. Your master has a unique identity. Our earlier conversation will become a confidential information of our Rain Palace. Rest assured White-Robed Marquis, it won’t be leaked."

"The reason why I summoned you today is naturally because I want to request your help on something. I plan to put your Indestructible Fire Body to use. However, before that, I want you to pass four tests. This is the tradition of my Rain Palace. The Four Great Void Fragmentation Realm experts will personally conduct your tests. Are you ready?"

After determining Ning Fan’s master, the Rain Sovereign began to address him using his honorific title. Clearly, he dreaded Old Devil a lot.

"Mm. I’m ready." Ning Fan replied indifferently. He had no worries about the Heaven, Earth, Black and Yellow Tests.

When he had declared his identity, the enmity that the Rain Sovereign had for him had significantly reduced.

The tests were merely a superfluous formality.

However, the Rain Sovereign seemed to attach great importance to the tests this time. Could it be that there is another objective behind the four tests?

Ning Fan’s eyes drifted to Revered Sage behind the Rain Sovereign. When he noticed the latter secretly holding a square compass underneath his sleeves, his heart suddenly turned cold.

Ning Fan had already learned about the tests beforehand. The Heaven, Earth, Black and Yellow Tests would be held in four different heavenly dwelling spaces. People in the outside world would not know the exact process of the tests.

As for the compass in Revered Sage’s hands, it was labelled with four words – Heaven, Earth, Black, Yellow. It seemed like that compass could monitor the entire process of the tests...

When Ning Fan thought of Yun Bushu’s repeated reminders, he suddenly understood something.

The Rain Sovereign’s true intention was not to let Ning Fan go through the tests but to allow Revered Sage to find out whether there was sovereign qi in his body!

There must be a lot of danger in those four tests to force him to use all of his means, including his sovereign qi...

Unfortunately, I’ve already concealed my sovereign qi. Your efforts are bound to be fruitless!

Ning Fan took a step forward. Meanwhile, Chu Chang An also moved one step forward.

"The first test is the Heaven Stage and I will be conducting it personally!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Chang An’s Void Fragmentation Realm aura force spread across the hall. When he lifted his finger and pointed at the area in front of him, the space before him dispersed, revealing a portal.

"The Instant Creation of Heavenly Dwelling Space!" The eyes of countless Void Refinement Realm experts had fiery gazes. It was a rare opportunity for them to personally witness a Void Fragmentation Realm old monster displaying this technique.

"White-Robed Marquis, please follow me to the Heavenly Dwelling Space and take your first test!"

Translated by Tommy, edited by Roel