novelraw Chapter 576: Entwined Divine Senses
Chapter 576: Entwined Divine Senses
Ning Fan arrived at the end of the Land of Demons, where there was a Purple Mang Teleportation Array.
Stepping into the teleportation array, the scene before him changed abruptly. After a few breaths, a flash of purple light appeared above a tree sea in the Eastern Tree Ocean Dragon Confinement Kingdom, revealing Ning Fan’s figure.
Not far away, atop the peak of a tree mountain, Qingdai was waiting for Ning Fan.
Upon seeing Ning Fan arrive, she immediately approached.
"Brother Lu, are you alright? Did something happen inside the Land of Demons..." Qingdai’s way of addressing him changed again, and she asked with some concern.
In the days they spent together, her relationship with Ning Fan had grown much closer, no longer as distant as at the beginning. This caring greeting was also from the heart.
"Just some small matters, which have been resolved."
Ning Fan gave Qingdai a reassuring look and took out the map of the Eastern Tree Sea from his storage pouch, infusing it with spirit sense.
He knew that this place was the Dragon Confinement Kingdom, which had a Dragon Confinement Realm Gate connected to the Tang Gu Realm Gate.
Starting from the Dragon Confinement Kingdom, heading northeast and passing through 42 cultivation kingdoms, they would reach the Hancang Kingdom, where the Ming Luo Tree Clan resided, a Void Ranked cultivation country.
In the past, the strongest tree clan in Hancang Kingdom was the Ming Luo Clan, but now, the Ming Luo Clan can only be counted among the second-tier forces...
"In the old days, when our Ming Luo Clan was strong, we dominated the Hancang Kingdom, ruled the Tree World, befriended powerful figures worldwide, and also made enemies of many tree clans... Now that the clan has declined, old friends ignore us, and other cultivators often come to bully us... When our clan was prosperous, no cultivator in the world could compete with us, but now in decline, we can’t even protect the ancestors’ remains..." Qingdai’s bright eyes dimmed, somewhat saddened.
"Don’t worry, with me here, the Ming Luo Clan will no longer be bullied by petty scoundrels."
Ning Fan tapped his storage pouch and took out a palm-sized cyan boat.
With a wave to the sky, the little boat grew larger in the wind, quickly transforming into a huge cyan voyage ship.
This boat was named Tian Qing Boat, made of Tianqing Wood, a mid-grade Mortal Void Realm treasure that, when activated with formation and immortal jade, could reach a maximum escape speed approaching the Void Pierce Stage.
On the Tian Qing Boat were also twelve ’Void Spirit Cannons’, which, by consuming immortal jade, each could fire a Void Inquiry Stage attack.
Firing all 12 cannons simultaneously, even a Void Pierce Stage expert would have to retreat.
The ship was equipped with a peak Mortal Void level formation light, capable of blocking some attacks from Void Refinement Realm experts if fully activated...
"I stole this boat from Vast Frost City. Today, I give it to you; you shall pilot it to take me to Hancang Kingdom. My Spirit is injured, and I shouldn’t show myself on the way, as I need to heal."
"Give it to me?" Qingdai’s pretty face turned red, clearly not expecting Ning Fan to gift her such a valuable treasure.
This Tian Qing Boat, integrating offense, defense, and escape, was an extremely valuable treasure, priced at 5 billion immortal jade when sold in Vast Frost City...
She had also been to Vast Frost City and saw this Tian Qing Boat. At that time, she was very tempted to buy it, but had to give up seeing the price... Even if she spent all her savings, she couldn’t afford it...
Unexpectedly, Ning Fan casually gave her such a precious Tian Qing Boat...
"Here’s the immortal jade for you. Along the way, whenever you pass through a kingdom, go to its largest trading city and buy all the Tree Spirit Fruits, as I have great use for them. If you encounter the puppet materials recorded on this jade scroll, purchase them as well."
Ning Fan took out a storage pouch filled with immortal jade and a jade scroll containing puppet materials, handing them to Qingdai.
Qingdai knew that on this journey to Hancang Kingdom, Ning Fan would be busy healing and wouldn’t show up.
Ning Fan asked her to buy Tree Spirit Fruits and puppet materials. Such small matters, she naturally wouldn’t refuse.
She scanned the jade scroll with spirit sense and carefully reviewed the recorded puppet materials, her eyes gradually filled with shock.
Her puppet techniques were quite advanced, so she naturally saw that these materials were extremely rare, mostly used for repairing high-grade puppets.
Especially the last twelve most precious materials, which weren’t for repairing Void Refinement Realm puppets...
They were precious materials used only for repairing Void Fragmentation Realm puppets! Each was worth a fortune!
"Is Brother Lu planning to repair a Void Fragmentation Realm puppet?!" She was shocked but didn’t ask more.
She scanned the storage pouch Ning Fan gave her with spirit sense and was immediately shocked at the amount of immortal jade inside.
"So...so much immortal jade!"
The storage pouch contained 120 billion immortal jade!
Part of it was obtained by Ning Fan from the Rain Palace, part as a task reward, and part from searching Teng Xianrou’s storage pouch.
And the largest portion, of course, came from looting ten thousand cultivation shops in Vast Frost City.
Vast Frost City was a trading city jointly managed by over ten Void Refinement forces in the Northern Forest Sea, and looting the city naturally yielded massive rewards.
"So much immortal jade, I... I can’t take it..." Qingdai gently bit her lip, having never seen so much immortal jade in her life.
Even the old monsters of the Void Fragmentation realm might not have that much immortal jade...
"This immortal jade is not a gift for you, so why are you nervous? You will help me purchase the Tree Spirit Fruits and puppet materials, which will definitely cost a lot. Although there’s a lot of immortal jade here, it might not even be enough... Alright, let’s set out."
Ning Fan’s figure blurred as he flew to the Tian Qing Boat, entering the palace inside to meditate.
Qingdai put away the storage pouch and jade scroll, her thoughts slightly complicated, indescribable.
Ning Fan giving her so much money is a sign of trust...
She flashed her escape light, ascending to the Tianqing Boat, placed enough immortal jade in the flying escape formation, then with a simple gesture, activated the Tianqing Boat, heading towards the Hancang Kingdom.
Of course, following Ning Fan’s instructions, she must first fly to the largest trade city of the Dragon Confinement Kingdom to purchase items Ning Fan needs.
The escape light of the Tianqing Boat, like ink strokes in the sky, painted the vast sky into a sky-blue color. As it flew, the boat emitted a gentle rain intent, and along the path it flew, a light rain actually began to fall.
Sky-blue awaits the misty rain... A very beautiful escape light.
...
Ning Fan entered the cabin’s palace, took some expensive pills to regulate his breath.
By his estimate, if the Tianqing Boat’s escape light is fully unleashed, it could at most take 7 days to cross through 42 cultivation kingdoms, reaching the Hancang Kingdom.
Including the time Qindai stops the boat along the way to buy things, it would only take up to half a month to reach Hancang.
Under normal circumstances, half a month is not enough for a Spirit’s wound to fully heal.
But now Ning Fan possesses a Shattered Void Cauldron, making the healing of his wounds not difficult.
"With my current cultivation, absorbing the cauldron furnace of someone in the First Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm poses no problems. If I fully absorb Teng Xianrou’s cultivation, I would not only heal my Spirit but also increase my magic power by a million units."
"A million units of magic power... Currently, I am only 800,000 units away from the Void Pierce Stage. If I gain this million units, I might directly face the Void Pierce Stage heavenly tribulation... With the puppet unrepaired, I’m not ready to face the tribulation yet... It is somewhat troublesome."
Ning Fan’s eyes revealed a contemplative expression. Half an hour later, with his body filled with mana, he shook himself and entered the Cauldron Ring.
Thanks to the diligent efforts of the female guards, a well-equipped giant city was built within the Cauldron Ring.
Some female guards were meditating as a formation, while others were learning alchemy and artifact refinement... They had grown accustomed to the peaceful life within the Cauldron Ring, with no disputes, calmly cultivating.
Upon Ning Fan’s arrival, the Bing Ling sisters immediately welcomed him, following Ning Fan’s instructions, leading him to the repentance palaces.
It was a massive palace made of white jade, covered in bewitching technique formations on the outside, filled with red mist inside. This red mist was identical to that of the Cauldron Ring’s Immortal Abode’s Magical Treasure’s space from before.
The Bing Ling sisters waited outside the palace while Ning Fan entered the repentance palace alone.
This palace only contained the cauldron furnaces difficult to tame, such as the Old Ancestor Bi Tong of the Giant Devil Sect, the red-haired woman of the flower devil clan, and the hard-to-control Void Fragmentation cultivator Teng Xianrou.
Ning Fan stepped into the third red mist palace, where Teng Xianrou, dressed in pink, lay in slumber on a jade couch.
Her body flowed with the power of the Yin Plucking Finger, while bound by the Yin Imprisoning Rope, breathing in the red mist of the palace, unable to awaken.
Walking slowly towards the jade couch, Ning Fan carefully observed Teng Xianrou’s sleeping face.
Teng Xianrou wore a pink flowing gown, her three thousand strands of silky black hair styled in a coiled bun, adorned with a sideways pink lotus hairpin.
Her sleeping face was serene, with delicate eyebrows and long lashes, though her complexion was slightly pale, likely due to unresolved injuries from the battle at the Land of Demons.
Even so, she remained an incomparable beauty.
While she slept quietly, no one would associate her with the murderous Purple Vine Palace Master.
Ning Fan’s eyes deepened, pondering in silence.
Truth be told, he held no animosity towards this woman. If she hadn’t pursued him, he wouldn’t have captured her.
Since they were enemies, after capturing her, she became his cauldron furnace; there was no doubt about that.
Ning Fan wanted to use this woman to heal his wounds, but didn’t wish to absorb her energy yet, fearing the million units of magic power would prematurely trigger the Void Pierce Stage heavenly tribulation.
Thus, a compromise was needed...
Ning Fan raised his hand, lightly touching Teng Xianrou’s Tian Ling, as he wanted to confirm something.
Only by confirming this matter could he use a method that benefits both parties.
After a detailed investigation, satisfaction appeared in his eyes as he calmly stated.
"This woman’s divine sense is also sword-shaped; she possesses sword sense. Thus, I can engage in sea of consciousness dual cultivation with her."
Sea of consciousness dual cultivation is a profound absorption technique recorded in the Yin Yang Transformation. The prerequisite for this technique is that both the absorber and the absorbee must have similarly unusual divine senses.
If a unique divine sense hadn’t been cultivated, this technique cannot be performed.
If the divine senses of the two in dual cultivation differ, this technique cannot be employed.
Ning Fan cultivates sword sense, and Teng Xianrou, being a pure sword cultivator, also cultivates sword sense.
With this prerequisite, Ning Fan could engage in sea of consciousness dual cultivation, absorbing Teng Xianrou’s sword sense!
This absorption technique doesn’t require absorbing magic power, thus naturally avoiding the triggering of the Void Pierce Stage heavenly tribulation.
Teng Xianrou being a Void Fragmentation cultivator, if engaging in sea of consciousness dual cultivation with her, Ning Fan’s spirit sense would certainly surge.
For him who possesses a Soul Incarnation Chant, an improvement in spirit sense equates to a significant boost in strength!
And if only spirit sense is absorbed, without absorbing cultivation, Teng Xianrou would still remain a Void Fragmentation cultivator.
If I subdue her, Ning Fan will have another Void Fragmentation henchman by his side!
Now that the puppet is not yet repaired, having an additional Void Fragmentation henchman is always a good thing.
Considering all factors, dual cultivation with the spirit sense is naturally more beneficial than direct plundering.
Ning Fan’s gaze was resolute as he pointed a finger at the slumbering Teng Xianrou.
He did not undo the Yin Imprisoning Rope, only slightly dispersed some Yin Plucking Finger power.
Teng Xianrou softly murmured, gradually awakening, still somewhat dazed from her slumber.
The first thing she saw upon waking was Ning Fan by the jade couch. In an instant, it was as if a bucket of cold water was poured over her head, waking her up completely.
Her eyes swept across the intimate jade couch, her pretty face blushed with anger, and there was a hint of panic.
"Lu Bei! You... what do you intend to do with me!"
"You are my cauldron furnace. Tell me, what do you think I will do with you?" Ning Fan said with a half-smile.
"You cannot plunder me!" Teng Xianrou was somewhat frightened.
In her memory, Ning Fan’s sword technique of words was too formidable, far beyond what she could contend with.
And now she was under a bewitching technique, too strong to allow her to summon any demonic power.
At this moment, she was as weak as a mortal, unable to resist Ning Fan. If Ning Fan were to plunder her, she could not fight back, and she would naturally be drained of her Void Fragmentation realm...
That was the cultivation she had painstakingly attained over many years, how could she bear to lose it...
From Ning Fan’s standpoint, plundering her was justified. She was the one who had initially pursued Ning Fan. Since they were enemies, there was no need for mercy.
She suddenly regretted her decision... If she hadn’t participated in hunting down Ning Fan, she wouldn’t have fallen into this dire situation.
Her regret and panic were visible in Ning Fan’s eyes, causing his gaze to deepen further. He suddenly spoke.
"I can give you two choices. You might want to consider them."
"What... choices..." Teng Xianrou was taken aback.
"The first choice, I will drain your cultivation completely..."
Before Ning Fan finished his sentence, Teng Xianrou showed a pleading expression and said softly, "Don’t plunder me!"
Ning Fan ignored her and continued,
"The second choice, I possess a special plundering technique that can be completed through entangling with your divine sense, achieving dual cultivation. This method will not tarnish your purity or destroy your Yin energy. What I will plunder is your sword sense. This technique requires your cooperation to succeed; once the plundering succeeds, your sword sense will collapse, your special divine sense will vanish, but my spirit sense will grow immensely. Which of these two choices do you choose?"
Having finished speaking, Ning Fan said no more, leisurely waiting for Teng Xianrou’s answer.
Teng Xianrou’s eyes showed signs of struggle. If she chose the first option, her cultivation would be completely drained by Ning Fan, and she would certainly fall from the Void Fragmentation realm... If she chose the second option, her painstakingly cultivated sword sense would collapse, and she would lose her special divine sense...
Both choices would cause her harm, but weighing the options, losing her sword sense was naturally less costly than losing her Void Fragmentation realm cultivation.
If she lost her Void Fragmentation cultivation, she would be considered finished in this lifetime.
If she lost her sword sense, she would still be a Void Fragmentation cultivator.
"I choose... the second option!" Teng Xianrou said through gritted teeth.
"The second option, hmm, very well. Since you have chosen thus, you must accept another condition of mine... I want to plant a restriction in you, control your life and death, enslave you. From now on, you will accompany me in battles, and I will preserve your Void Fragmentation cultivation. This demand isn’t excessive, is it?"
"What! You want to plant a restriction in me, make me your slave!!!"
Teng Xianrou was furious, but she gritted her teeth and forcibly suppressed her anger.
She, a dignified Void Fragmentation old monster, roaming the Tree World with revered status, how could she willingly let Ning Fan control her life and death!
If Ning Fan plants a restriction in her, from this day forth, she would become Ning Fan’s servant, his henchman, unable to defy any of Ning Fan’s commands...
But if she doesn’t accept Ning Fan’s terms, there will absolutely be no good outcome.
Man is but a knife, and I am the fish; she couldn’t resist Ning Fan’s command...
She hesitated, she wavered, in an instant, she even preferred death over becoming Ning Fan’s slave.
Teng Xianrou’s expression fell into Ning Fan’s eyes; Ning Fan secretly thought that this woman had some backbone and couldn’t be pushed too hard...
In reality, Ning Fan had long decided to undergo dual cultivation with Teng Xianrou’s divine sense and make her his henchman.
The reason why he gave Teng Xianrou two choices, why he added a condition after she chose the second option, was essentially a step-by-step psychological strategy.
To win over her mind, besides coercion, there must also be inducements. Ning Fan couldn’t only rely on coercion with Teng Xianrou.
"Five hundred years. You will serve me for five hundred years. After five hundred years, I will return your freedom."
"Are you serious! After five hundred years, you’ll really return my freedom?!"
Teng Xianrou was astonished. She never thought that falling into Ning Fan’s hands would leave hope of regaining freedom.
She naturally didn’t want to be Ning Fan’s slave, but if it’s only for five hundred years, she could still consider it.
Enduring five hundred years of humiliation in exchange for freedom, compared to suicide, was obviously much more worthwhile.
Teng Xianrou weighed the options in her heart repeatedly and felt increasingly swayed.
To lose Sword Sense, to lose five hundred years of freedom... yet afterward, she could gain a new life...
"If what you say is true, I am willing to let you plant the restriction and be your slave for five hundred years!" Teng Xianrou finally made her decision.
She knew that once she made this decision, her life and death would be tied to Ning Fan.
From today onward, she would no longer be the Purple Vine Palace Master.
From today onward, she would break with the Vine Emperor and might even resist him together with Ning Fan.
Yet she had no other choice but to accept Ning Fan’s terms...
"However, you must swear a Restrictive Spell, promising my freedom after five hundred years. Otherwise, I can’t trust you!" Teng Xianrou added.
"I don’t have the habit of making vows; you can choose not to trust me." Ning Fan’s tone carried a hint of teasing.
"You!" Teng Xianrou gritted her teeth, her situation being inferior, she had no leverage to force Ning Fan to swear.
Thinking it over, she still could only choose to trust Ning Fan.
She could only pray that Ning Fan would return her freedom after five hundred years; if he broke his promise, she would have to accept her fate...
"Fine, whatever you say... plant the restriction then!" Teng Xianrou bit her lips, closed her eyes, wearing an expression of resigned fate.
Ning Fan nodded slightly, raised a finger to Teng Xianrou’s Tian Ling, implanting the Demon Seal upon her.
This was Ning Fan’s most powerful restriction, immensely controlling over someone like Teng Xianrou, a demon cultivator.
Teng Xianrou felt the terrifying demon seal within her divine sense, utterly shocked.
Never had she seen anyone’s demon seal so formidable...
"What kind of demon race is this Lu Bei? What level is his Demon Bloodline? Why is his demon seal so formidable?"
After planting the demon seal, Ning Fan waved away the Yin Imprisoning Rope binding Teng Xianrou and dispersed the Yin Plucking Finger within her body.
Teng Xianrou’s demonic power gradually restored, she propped herself up, sitting upon the jade pillow, arranging her disordered hair.
Then, with a gentle sigh, she closed her eyes, activating her demonic power to erase the Vine Seed within her body.
By erasing the Vine Seed, the Vine Emperor could no longer detect her whereabouts.
This meant that from this moment onward, she had formally betrayed the Vine Emperor, with no way back.
"Alright, let’s proceed with your divine sense dual cultivation; I will try to cooperate with you." Teng Xianrou closed her eyes, raised her elegant neck, wearing a sacrificial expression.
She had never heard of a cultivation method like divine sense dual cultivation. Judging by Ning Fan’s words, it seemed to involve only divine sense contact, without physical entanglement. Though understanding this, she was still a bit anxious...
Inside, she clearly despised the idea of dual cultivation, but she dared not show it, fearing Ning Fan’s displeasure.
Ning Fan joined her upon the jade pillow, sitting cross-legged opposite her, holding her delicate hands.
Her cold, smooth touch felt not at all like those of a Sword Cultivator, but akin to those of a sheltered attic maiden...
"Your hands... are well cared for." Ning Fan teased.
"You!" Teng Xianrou opened her eyes, glaring at Ning Fan in shame and anger, wishing she could swallow him whole.
Yet, being held by Ning Fan, a tingling sensation rose within her heart, like ants crawling, immediately causing her mind to become chaotic.
In her two thousand years of cultivation, it was her first time having her palm held by a man...
The anger slightly faded, and for the first time, she meticulously examined Ning Fan’s appearance.
She never cared about men’s looks before; yet now, she took interest in Ning Fan’s appearance.
"This Lu Bei... his looks aren’t bad..." she mused internally, following Ning Fan’s guidance, slowly closing her beautiful eyes, releasing her spirit sense.
Their Sword Sense intertwined like two entangled water snakes, tightly wrapping around each other.
An unprecedented sense of pleasure, comfort, and shame rose within Teng Xianrou’s heart.
In their mind-world, she and Ning Fan were naked, embracing each other, entangled in life and death...
This was the visualization of their divine sense dual cultivation...
Teng Xianrou felt the urge to cry but with no tears; her body had not been violated, yet her mind had been utterly defiled, hadn’t it!
How was this different from being directly violated!
Just like that, so rashly... for the first time in her life... she dual cultivated with a man! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to vote your recommendation and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)