Grasping the Evil

Chapter 559: Journey of the Tree World

In the Scarlet Heaven Realm, Ning Fan sat alone at the belly of the Cloud Mountain in silence for a long time.

He never expected that the Rain Emperor would let him take on such a mission...

In the message-transmitting jade slip, the Rain Sovereign generally explained the reason why he needed Ning Fan’s Inextinguishable Flame Body.

The Immortal Burning Valley of the Western Flame Kingdom was the former site of the Shedding Orchid Sect. In the deepest part of the valley, there was a forbidden area with burning immortal flames. It was called the Fallen Abyss. Even Void Fragmentation Realm fire cultivators were unable to enter that place.

The Rain Sovereign had tried exploring the Fallen Abyss. He tried to enter the place several times but all his attempts failed. However, he sensed an incredibly concentrated medicinal qi of some pills emanating from within that place.

According to his investigation, there was an Eighth Revolution pill sealed within the Fallen Abyss. Moreover, that pill was the ultimate treasure of the Shedding Orchid Sect!

It was a Low-Grade Eight Revolution pill - Ascension Pill!

Any Void Fragmentation Realm cultivator who consumes it would have a small chance of directly ascending to immortality!

If a Peak Void Fragmentation Realm cultivator were to consume it, they would have at least a thirty percent chance of directly becoming immortal!

The Rain Sovereign was a cultivator at the Fifth Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm. If he consumed the pill, the probability of him directly becoming immortal was not high. However. even if he fails. he could still at least improve his cultivation base to the Sixth Heavenly Layer. Moreover, the pill would set up a foundation for immortality within the Rain Sovereign’s body. If he advances to the Peak Stage of the Void Fragmentation Realm in the future, his chances of ascending to immortality would still be thirty percent higher than ordinary cultivators!

The reason why the Rain Sovereign had been planning to get inside the Fallen Abyss with great effort was none other than obtaining that Eight Revolution Ascension Pill!

This message was a secret. Even the princes didn’t know what was sealed in the Fallen Abyss.

The Rain Sovereign did not reveal anything about the Ascension Pill to anyone. If the discovery about the pill was known to others, all the Void Fragmentation Realm experts in the Nine Worlds would probably be drawn to it and come up with all possible ways to seize the Ascension Pill...

Especially those Void Fragmentation Realm rogue cultivators who were unable to advance to the immortal stage would most likely not hesitate to massacre the entire Rain World for the sake of this pill.

The Rain Sovereign had only told Ning Fan alone about the Ascension Pill.

It couldn’t be helped. If he did not let Ning Fan about this, Ning Fan wouldn’t be able to help him complete the mission...

"This matter is of great importance. You must not let anyone else know it. The immortal flames in the Fallen Abyss are extremely powerful. There are still three years before the sea of flames will weaken. When the flames are at their weakest three years later, it will be the best time for you to get inside the Immortal Burning Valley. Before that, however, I want you to go to the Tree World in secret!"

"In the Fire Tree Clan of the Tree World, there is a divine spring called the Zhu Rong Spring*. It will open once every one hundred years. If a Void Refinement Realm cultivator soaks themselves in this spring, not only would they be able to increase their cultivation base, but their durability against fire would also be greatly enhanced... The Fire Tree Clan will be unsealing the Zhu Rong Spring in one more year and they only open up a certain number of slots for cultivators to enter the spring. I hope that you can head to the Fire Tree Clan and seize a slot to enter the Zhu Rong Spring for cultivation. This will increase your chances of obtaining the Ascension Pill " (*In Chinese mythology, Zhu Rong is a god of fire in the southern region.)

After the Rain Sovereign’s message was delivered, the golden message-transmitting flying sword immediately turned into dust and dissipated.

Ning Fan was in silence. He did not expect that the Rain Sovereign would ask him to go to the Tree World.

A while later, the lord of the Rain Divine Palace, Han Songzi personally visited Ning Fan and handed him a golden storage pouch. It was a bag of rewards from the Rain Sovereign.

Apart from ten billion immortal jade, there were also five Void Refinement Realm Dao Fruits, ten bottles of Sixth Revolution Pills, three Low-Grade Seventh Revolution pills, five Peak Mortal Void Realm magic treasures as well as two golden jade slips.

The jade slips contained a terrifying magic technique called the ’Rain Gate Technique’. They were left behind by a Peak Void Fragmentation Realm Divine Sovereign of the Rain Palace. They could be used to open a rain portal and allow a cultivator to directly descend upon the other Nine Worlds!

When one’s cultivation base reaches the Rain Sovereign’s level, they more or less would know secret techniques that allow them to go into other worlds. However, they usually would not use them. Even if they do, they would do it in secret.

Going into another world openly like how Sovereign Moksha descended upon the Rain World in the past would be an extremely arrogant method.

The Rain Sovereign only had four of these jade slips left. After giving two to Ning Fan, he only had two left.

Of the two jade slips in Ning Fan’s hands, one was marked to a location in the Tree World while the other one was marked to the Central State of the Rain World.

If Ning Fan breaks the jade slip marking the location in the Tree World, he could then summon a world portal and sneak into the Tree World...

When he completes his mission, he could then use the other jade slip and return to the Rain World in secret.

The Rain Sovereign really risked a great deal this time in order to let Ning Fan take a trip to the Fire Tree Clan as he even gave the latter two of the Rain Gate jade slips.

The Rain Sovereign was not afraid that Ning Fan would betray him. In his opinion, Ning Fan was a shrewd person. Since all of his relatives and friends were in the Rain World, it would be impossible for him to flee to the Tree World on his own and never return.

After going through all the items given by the Rain Sovereign, Ning Fan pondered for a while.

As of now, he and the Rain Sovereign had not turned against each other yet. Hence, since the Rain Sovereign wanted him to go to the Tree World, he still was willing to go.

In fact, Ning Fan had heard of the Zhu Rong Spring of the Fire Tree Clan in the Tree World before. It was said that a Void Glimpse Stage cultivator had once bathed himself in it. When he left three years later, he instantly advanced to the Void Inquiry Stage... Not only could that spring increase one’s cultivation base but also one’s durability to fire.

Ning Fan did not have any objection to taking a trip to the Zhu Rong Spring for self-cultivation.

"The best time to enter the Fallen Abyss is three years later. In other words, I can only stay in the Tree World for three years at most... Three years are enough for me to go to the Fire Tree Clan and enter the Zhu Rong Spring to cultivate ..."

"I can’t afford to make any mistakes in the trip to the Tree World. I need to make thorough preparations before I go. To me, going to the Tree World is also an opportunity. With my current magic power and cultivation base, I might be able to break through to the Void Pierce Stage after I enter the Tree World."

"The grade of my rain intent needs to be improved. It’s better to improve it to the first grade as soon as possible. If it reaches the first grade, I will probably be capable of finding my mother using the Rain Ancestor’s technique."

"Yun Tianjue has yet to return. I’m afraid I can’t return this Blood Wine Gourd to him for the time being... Even though he’s my father, I don’t seem to know how to confront him ..."

Ning Fan let out a sigh. With a flash, he directly left the Cloud MOuntain and flew towards the Ruling Sky City.

After defeating the eight palaces and completing the three trials, Ning Fan’s name was already well-known in the Rain World.

Ning Fan flew at full speed. Whenever the cultivators along the way saw his traveling light, they would immediately stop on the clouds in awe and salute him respectfully.

The lord of the Scarlet Heaven Palace. The Marquis White Robe. The strongest devil in the Rain World. The pill refinement master at the Mid Grade Sixth Revolution. Blessed with these titles, no one dared to underestimate Ning Fan at all.

The reason why he rushed all the way to the Ruling Sky City was to spend the thirty billion merit points he earned.

The Rain Sovereign had given him a mission that was beneficial to him. Thus, he decided to go to the Tree World and complete it.

Before he leaves, he naturally needed to make thorough preparations.

He directly flew to the center of the Ruling Sky City. Han Songzi seemed to be expecting his arrival. He had already received the Rain Sovereign’s order to receive him well.

"This old man greets Marquis White Robe. May I know if Marquis White Robe has come to the Ruling Sky City to use the merit points?"

"Precisely."

"In that case, please follow me to the Merit Tower of the Ruling Sky City!"

The Merit Tower of the Ruling Sky City had a total of six floors. The first four floors were open to experts at the Void Glimpse Stage, the Void Inquiry Stage, the Void Pierce Stage and the Absolute Void Stage respectively.

The fifth floor of the Merit Tower was only open to Sixth Revolution Pill Refinement Masters and old monsters at the Primordial Void Stage.

As for the sixth floor of the Merit Tower, only the Void Fragmentation Realm old monsters like the Rain Sovereign were allowed to enter to exchange for items with their merit points.

Han Songzi received a secret instruction from the Rain Sovereign. If Ning Fan needs it, he could allow him to enter the sixth floor.

This made Han Songzi inexplicably shocked. He could not imagine that Ning Fan’s importance in the Rain Sovereign’s heart was actually comparable to that of the Void Fragmentation Realm cultivators of the Rain World. Therefore, he treated Ning Fan with even more respect and did not dare to show any neglect at all.

Ning Fan followed Han Songzi all the way to the Merit Tower. It was a silver-colored pagoda. There were layers of formation seals outside the pagoda as well as a giant tortoise stone statue and two rain lion stone statues.

Inside the giant tortoise stone statue was the soul of a turtle demon at the First Heavenly Layer Void Fragmentation Realm. Doubtlessly, it was none other than the turtle demon who was guarding the Ruling Sky City.

The two Rain Lion stone statues were rooted in the Merit Tower and could not be moved. Each of the Rain Lion stone statues emitted the aura force of the First Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm.

The two Rain Lion stone statues were immobile. However, if anyone tries to steal the treasures in the Merit Hall, they would launch an attack comparable to that of a Void Fragmentation Realm expert at once to destroy the intruder!

With the turtle demon and the two Rain Lion stone statues guarding the place coupled with many restrictive spells which densely covered the place, the defense of the Merit Tower was impenetrable.

Ning Fan’s eyes flashed. He only darted a glance at the tortoise and lion stone statues without saying a single word. After all, he did not harbor the intention to steal the treasures here.

He was not arrogant and bold enough to steal things under the Rain Sovereign’s nose. He believed that the hypervigilant Rain Sovereign must be keeping a watchful eye on him somewhere in the hidden corner now.

"The Rain Sovereign has given an order. If Marquis White Robe wants to enter the Merit Tower, there will be no restriction to the number of floors you wish to enter. May I know which floor Marquis White Robe is interested to go?" Han Songzi asked respectfully.

"On which floor the divine intent stone is?" Ning Fan suddenly asked.

"The first floor. With Marquis White Robe’s current cultivation base, do you still need the divine intent stone? "Han Songzi asked in surprise.

To Nascent Soul Realm and Divine Transformation Realm cultivators, the divine intent stone was a supreme treasure as it could help them comprehend and improve their divine intent.

However, to Void Refinement Realm cultivators, the effect of the divine intent stone was greatly reduced. Therefore, very few Void Refinement Realm cultivators would come to the Ruling Sky City to look for the divine intent stone.

That was why he found it very strange. Why would Ning Fan ask about the divine intent stone that was not worth mentioning instead of the many other treasures in the Merit Hall as soon as he arrived?

"Of course, I have my own reason to get this item. Fellow Daoist, please lead the way. I want to exchange merit points for all of the divine intent stone in this Merit Tower!"

Since Ning Fan was unwilling to disclose much, Han Songzi stopped asking questions and led him to the first floor of the Merit Tower.

The pills, cultivation methods, magic treasures and spiritual items on this floor were valuable enough to hook the interest of many Void Glimpse Stage old monsters. However, Ning Fan did not stay around there for long. He went straight to the second floor after exchanging his merit points for all the divine intent stones available.

One divine intent stone was worth five million merit points. The price was the same as a Nascent Soul Realm Dao Fruit.

There were a total of one thousand plus divine intent stones in the Merit Tower. To get all of them, Ning Fan spent a sum of five billion merit points.

These divine intent stones were already the entire stock of the Rain Palace. Ning Fan pondered inwardly.

I wonder if my Fifth Grade rain intent will advance to the Fourth Grade after absorbing the power of al these divine intent stones...

There is still a long way to go before my rain intent can attain the First Grade. When I go to the Tree World, I must pay attention to looking for a way to enhance my rain intent.

All the treasures on the second floor of the Merit Tower were prepared for Void Inquiry Stage cultivators.

Since Ning Fan’s current cultivation base was at the Void Inquiry Stage, a number of items on this second could be of use to him.

He used his merit points on many pills, pill recipes and fifty thousand years old spiritual herbs. The lot cost him two billion merit points. After that, he continued to the third floor.

On the third floor, Ning Fan spent two and a half billion merit points to exchange for pill recipes, pills and spiritual herbs.

On the fourth floor, he spent three and a half billion merit points.

The fifth floor of the Merit Tower was a floor that only Sixth Revolution pill refinement masters and Primordial Void Stage cultivators could enter.

There were a fair amount of excellent items on this floor. There were even more than ten types of Primordial Void Stage Magic Arts!

Ning Fan glanced through the floor. Among these Primordial Void magic arts, there were divine arts, devil arts, demon arts and even the magic arts left behind by the Rain Ancestor.

Due to some lucky encounters, the Rain Ancestor possessed the power of the three races at the same time. Thus, his Primordial Void Stage magic arts was very unique. Cultivators of all three races could practice and use it.

After contemplating for a while, Ning Fan decided to use his merit points on the Primordial Void Stage magic art of the Rain Ancestor as well as a few other types of magic art. In total, he spent five billion merit points.

Very soon, the thirty billion merit points that Ning Fan originally had was down to only twelve billion.

Ning Fan did not spend his merit points recklessly anymore. He only went for a few Sixth Revolution pill recipes and began browsing around the fifth floor.

He wanted to get a High-Grade Seventh Revolution healing pill for the little sable to aid her recovery. He also wanted to exchange for a high-grade sword seal to control the five sword spirits for his own use.

However, the healing pill of the highest grade on the fifth floor was only at the Peak Grade Sixth Revolution. As for the best sword seal there, it was only strong enough to control flying sword spirits at the Peak Mortal Void Realm.

"Let’s go to the sixth floor."

Under Han Songzi’s lead, both of them entered the sixth floor.

The sixth floor was relatively small. There were only thirteen jade racks and the items were only a handful. However, each item displayed on the rack could make a Void Fragmentation Realm cultivator’s eyes burn with zeal.

On this floor, there were not only some Seventh Revolution Pills but also tens of tufts of one hundred thousand years old spiritual herbs.

A tuft of one hundred thousand years old spiritual herb cost five hundred million merit points. It was extremely expensive.

Ning Fan shook his head. He was not going to spend his remaining merit points on spiritual herbs that he would not be able to use for the time being.

His eyes scanned across each of the jade racks and the Seventh Revolution Pills.

There were Seventh Revolution healing pills here. However, the healing pill of the highest grade was only at the Mid Grade Seventh Revolution and it cost ten billion merit points each...

In order to let the small sable recover her power to the Third Heavenly Layer of Void Fragmentation Realm, he would need at least a High-Grade Seventh Revolution healing pill.

This pill might not be able to fully heal the small sable’s injuries. However, it should be able to relieve her condition.

Ning Fan let out a sigh and used ten billion merit points to exchange for this pill.

With only two billion merit points left, Ning Fan skipped over the cultivation methods, secret techniques and the Seventh Revolution pill recipe. Then, his eyes lit up. He noticed an ancient jade slip at a corner.

The price of that jade slip was one and a half billion merit points. It contained a style of sword seal that could control sword spirits.

This sword seal was called ’Life and Death Seal’. According to hearsay, it was created by one of the renowned sword sovereigns of the Sword World a million years ago - Sovereign Xia.

Sovereign Xia was one of the great figures in the past. Rumor has it that during his era, he was unrivaled in the Sword World.

In his prime, he even dared to go to the other worlds on his own with his sword to challenge experts there.

Unfortunately, he vanished strangely one day with his well-known name left behind. His disappearance made countless cultivators of the Sword World mourn with sadness.

Despite his swordsmanship, the Life and Death Seal which he invented was incredibly powerful. He could even control the Immortal Sword Realm sword spirits with it.

Ning Fan pondered inwardly.

If I use the Life and Death Seal on the five sword spirits, I guess it should be enough to subdue them.

Both of his spiritual puppets had been destroyed now. If he goes to the Tree World and gets targeted by some Void Fragmentation Realm experts there, he could only rely on Luo You.

The five sword spirits of the Immortal Sword Realm sword spirits possessed astonishing abilities. If he could subdue them, they would more or less be of use to him.

If he encounters a sword cultivator at the First Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm, he could handle them easily with only the five sword spirits.

Determination flashed across his eyes. He did not have many merit points left after spending the remaining on the jade slip and left the Merit Tower with Han Songzi.

After that, Ning Fan went to bid farewell to the Pill Sovereign, Yun Bushu, Yu Chong ’er and the rest. Then, he quietly left the Heavenly Cloud Kingdom with his well-known left behind the Rain World.

One month later, Ning Fan returned to Seven Apricot City.

He told the ladies about his intention to leave the Rain World temporarily. Coincidentally, the side-effect of Feng Xueyan’s Evil Luo Blood reoccurred. Thus, Ning Fan used the power of the ancestral talisman to help her completely absorb the blood.

As she assimilated the Evil Luo Blood, her condition began to improve. Gradually, she no longer stuttered and her cultivation base was also improving at a terrifying rate day after day...

Ning Fan left behind a lot of pills for them. He also left behind the Mid-Grade Seventh Revolution pill for the little sable.

Then, he headed to the barren mountain a thousand Ii * (500m per Li) away from Seven Apricot City to meet the Min Luo Treant who lived in seclusion.

"I’m going to the Tree World. I’m afraid I won’t be able to return for some time. I’ll have to trouble Senior to protect Yue Kingdom when I’m not around!"

"You want to go to the Tree World?" The treant’s face instantly revealed a mixed expression.

"I will take good care of Yue Kingdom for you. Even if that Rain Sovereign comes here personally, he definitely won’t be able to harm a single plant in the kingdom. You may worry less! However, since you’re going to the Tree World, l have a request. It may be presumptuous, but I hope you can agree to it."

"I can’t thank Senior enough for protecting Yue Kingdom for me. Since Senior has a request, I will certainly do my best to help! May I know what Senior wants me to help with?"

"... Countless years ago, l was once the Tree Sovereign of the Ming Luo Tree Clan in the Tree World... However, l was trapped in the Dark Sparrow Grave of the Rain World later on and my clan was on the decline ever since... Currently, the Ming Luo Tree Clan no longer exists among the three sovereign forces of the Tree World... Sigh, if you go to the Tree World, can you help me check if my clan still exists or if it has been wiped out long ago..."

"If the clan is still surviving by luck, please help me take care of them. My main body is trapped in the Dark Sparrow Grave and my clone can’t leave Yue Kingdom either. I’m afraid I won’t be able to return to my hometown in the Tree World for the rest of my life.... Can you agree to this request of mine? If you agree, you can take this token with you..."

The treant let out a long sigh and took out a black wooden token from his storage pouch.

Half a month later, in a hidden forest in the Cloud Cliff Kingdom of the Tree World, a portal of rain and mist appeared out of nowhere.

A white-robed young man slowly walked out of the portal. Behind him were five little girls who were as agile as elves. Each of them was only the size of a thumb.

"So... This is the Tree World ..." The young man muttered to himself. Suddenly, he raised his head with vigilance.

Not far away, the sound of an intense battle could be vaguely heard.