novelraw Chapter 578: Bloodbath at Ming Luo Fruit
Chapter 578: Bloodbath at Ming Luo Fruit
Ning Fan cast a sidelong glance, meeting the astonished gaze of Ao Chen, the Cedar Clan Young Chieftain.
At this moment, Ning Fan’s gaze contained not the slightest trace of murderous intent; instead, it was as calm as water, filled with the azure color of Rain Intent.
Yet that tranquil gaze caused Ao Chen’s Demon Soul intense pain, as if all his cultivations were about to melt within that single look!
Ao Chen did not know who Ning Fan was, as the Vine Emperor’s warrant had not reached the Eastern Tree Ocean.
But he truly sensed that Ning Fan’s combat strength was terrifying, absolutely not someone he could defeat!
He was at the Void Inquiry Stage, and so was Ning Fan, but their strengths were worlds apart!
Even when facing the three Taixu Laozu of his clan, Ao Chen had never felt such a strong sense of crisis!
He instinctively feared Ning Fan and almost wanted to flee for his life.
But the pride of the Cedar Clan made him unwilling to run!
He, Ao Chen, was the dignified Young Chieftain of the Cedar Clan, while Ning Fan was just a henchman invited by the declining Ming Luo Tree Clan.
He did not believe Ning Fan dared to kill him!
"Your abilities are extraordinary, but having killed two elders of the Cedar Clan, you must give the Cedar Clan an explanation! Otherwise, our clan’s three Taixu Laozu will definitely all appear, and even if you hide to the ends of the earth, you will surely die!"
Ao Chen forcibly calmed his mind, standing at the bow of the voyage ship in the drizzle, arrogantly threatening the distant Tian Qing Boat.
Qin Shuangzi, who was guarding the Lock Realm Grand Formation, sighed inwardly, thinking to himself that Ning Fan had effortlessly killed the two Cedar elders without any hesitation, not asking about any background, clearly a rogue Evil Sect, scared of no threat, no background.
This Ao Chen, having already fallen out with Ning Fan, didn’t quickly escape but instead spoke harshly here, truly too foolish.
If Ning Fan killed Ao Chen, fled thousands of miles, and randomly hid in a remote corner of the Eastern Tree Ocean, could the Cedar Clan with its three Taixu Laozu really find Ning Fan among the vast masses?
"This Ao Chen has decent talent, but his mindset is too poor. Not escaping now, he might never get another chance, and will perish here..."
"Where did this person come from, such a ruthless Evil Sect, possessing a third-grade Intent. Even if only at the Void Inquiry Stage, he is absolutely not a nobody in the Eastern Tree Ocean, so why has this old man never heard of him?" Qin Shuangzi pondered.
As Qin Shuangzi expected, Ning Fan completely ignored Ao Chen’s threat.
His gaze, full of Rain Intent, swept across the three Cedar Clan voyage ships, then he suddenly took a step forward.
Enveloped in the cool, moist third-grade Rain Intent, his figure leaped and vanished into the drizzle...
The light rain suddenly swept toward the Cedar Clan’s three voyage ships, and the azure Rain Intent spread across the sky, like subtle ink.
Though incredibly beautiful, the Rain Intent fell upon the Cedar Masters on the three voyage ships, appearing as if they’d seen something horrifying.
The two voyage ships helmed by the Fourth Elder and Fifth Elder emitted countless cries of fright, only to instantly dissolve into the azure Rain Intent, and thousands of masters aboard each ship entirely turned to blood water, no one escaping!
Ao Chen hastily activated the ship’s protective grand formation, temporarily blocking the melting rain. Staring at the azure third-grade Rain Intent, he felt his scalp tingle.
He was terrified, unable to believe Ning Fan dared disregard the Cedar Clan’s prestige and openly attack him, the Young Chieftain, truly an audacious Evil Sect!
If not for the risky activation of the protective formation light, he would have necessarily shared the same fate as the two Void Inquiry Elders, dying amidst the Rain Intent!
Does this person not fear being hunted by three Taixu Laozu!
Does this person not fear offending the Hancang Twelve Clans!
Even if Ao Chen was foolish, he knew he had to flee now.
"Quickly set sail, I must immediately return to Cedar Valley, and request our three Taixu Laozu to act and kill this person!"
In reality, there was no need for Ao Chen to command; the Cedar masters aboard the voyage ship, having witnessed the complete annihilation of the other two ships, were terrified to their core of Ning Fan.
They dared not remain here a moment longer, directly activating the voyage ship, setting cultivation speed to maximum, seeking to exceed the isolation grand formation, quickly escaping back to Cedar Valley in Hancang Kingdom...
For all his faults, Ao Chen now knew to escape, proving he’s not utterly beyond saving.
It’s just a pity that he thought of fleeing too late.
Outside the isolation grand formation, amidst the fine rain and gentle breeze, Ning Fan slowly appeared, surrounded by azure Rain Intent.
His gaze was indifferent as he blocked the voyage ship’s path, giving no opportunity for escaping.
He raised a finger, and the vast azure Rain Intent swept toward the voyage ship, like a paintbrush wielded in the vast sky.
The formation light of the last Cedar voyage ship immediately dissolved under the Rain Intent.
The ship began to melt into water, with each low-level Cedar master successively dissolving into blood water.
The azure Rain Intent transformed into a giant hand, slamming down upon Ao Chen.
Faced with the Rain Intent, Ao Chen felt his demonic power entirely dissipate within it, unable to summon even a trace of power!
He wanted to fly away to avoid the Rain Intent’s strike but couldn’t muster any strength to move, helplessly struck by the Rain Intent’s palm.
In that moment of contact, his entire body instantly transformed into a pool of blood water, dissolved by the Rain Intent’s third-grade strike!
Thus, the three Cedar voyage ships had not entered Hancang Kingdom before Ning Fan annihilated them all single-handedly!
Ning Fan swept his sleeve, retracting the Rain Intent, scattering the fine rain, allowing the sky to clear and a magnificent rainbow to appear.
However, the Qinnan Clan cultivators guarding the protective formation had no mood to admire the rainbow, all feeling a heavy burden in their hearts!
Except for Qin Shuangzi, all the formation guardian cultivators involuntarily trembled all over.
However, even Qin Shuangzi himself felt a sense of apprehension towards Ning Fan, with a faint trace of fear, though he had not yet realized it.
Ning Fan swiftly returned to the Tian Qing Boat; the three preceding voyage ships waiting to enter had been annihilated, so naturally, it was the Tian Qing Boat’s turn to enter the realm.
Qin Shuangzi was surprised that Ning Fan dared to enter the realm after killing people, seemingly unafraid of retaliation from the Cedar Clan.
He steadied his mind and, leading several Divinity Transformation Masters of the Qinnan Clan, flew and descended onto the Tian Qing Boat, respectfully clasping hands towards Ning Fan and the others.
The Qinnan Clan held no enmity with the Ming Luo Race, so Qin Shuangzi was not afraid Ning Fan would strike him down.
In Qin Shuangzi’s eyes, although Ning Fan was formidable, he was merely a Void Inquiry Master. While his Third-grade Rain Intent was indeed powerful, it was only enough to kill a Void Inquiry Master. Against a Void Pierce Stage expert, there would be means to withstand the attacks of the Third-grade Rain Intent.
In Qin Shuangzi’s view, Ning Fan, with his Third-grade Rain Intent, might be able to contend against a Void Pierce Stage expert.
He was unaware of how terrifying Ning Fan’s full strength could be, able to battle even a Return to Origin Grand Void Realm...
"I am the Great Elder of the Qinnan Clan, Qin Shuangzi, responsible for guarding the isolation grand formation here. Any Masters entering the Hancang Kingdom must be examined by me. I wish to inquire the names and origins of several Daoists here."
Qin Shuangzi made no mention of the Cedar Clan Masters’ demise, as if he hadn’t seen such matters at all.
Ning Fan secretly guessed that the Qinnan Clan held no grudges with the Ming Luo Race, as Qin Shuangzi had been standing by throughout, showing no intent to involve in the disputes between the Ming Luo and Cedar Clans.
"I am Qingdai, the High Priest of the Ming Luo Race. These two are friends of the Ming Luo Race."
Qingdai returned a salute to Qin Shuangzi, her words courteous yet she did not mention the names or origins of Ning Fan or Teng Xianrou, only stating they were friends of the Ming Luo Race.
Since Ning Fan was wanted by the Vine Emperor, Qingdai did not wish to reveal Ning Fan’s identity to avoid causing him more trouble.
Seeing Qingdai not mentioning the details of Ning Fan and others, Qin Shuangzi did not inquire further, asking a few other questions before permitting the Tian Qing Boat to enter.
From beginning to end, Qin Shuangzi maintained his stance as an outsider, providing no aid to either the Ming Luo Race or the Cedar Clan.
However, as the Tian Qing Boat entered the borders of the Hancang Kingdom, Qin Shuangzi discreetly transmitted a message to Ning Fan with a few pointers.
"You have killed three Void Refinement Masters of the Cedar Clan today, thoroughly offending them. Although you are a Void Inquiry, your Divine Skills are not weak, but you are absolutely not the match for the three Taixu of the Cedar Clan. Among the Hancang Twelve Clans, Weizi Clan holds no enmity with the Ming Luo Race, whereas they do bear a grudge against the Cedar Clan... If you face difficulties, you might seek help from the Weizi Clan to resist the Cedar Clan. Considering your feat of slaying three Cedar Void Refinement Masters, the Weizi Clan would likely be eager to befriend you..."
Qin Shuangzi’s few pointers were evidently showing goodwill towards Ning Fan.
It was just a suggestion with no cost, yet potentially offering Ning Fan considerable assistance.
Without exerting a price, Qin Shuangzi was naturally very willing to establish a goodwill relationship.
On the Tian Qing Boat, Ning Fan heard Qin Shuangzi’s transmission, slightly surprised, but did not speak much.
The Ming Luo Race was located in the eastern region of the Hancang Kingdom, and the Tian Qing Boat swiftly flew towards the Ming Luo Race.
Qingdai returned the remaining 30 billion immortal jade to Ning Fan, as during the three days Ning Fan comprehended Rain Intent, she had not procured the remaining twelve kinds of Void Fragmentation puppet materials.
Her expression was somewhat complex, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Looking at Ning Fan, remembering the grace of Ning Fan saving her in Tang Gu, she grit her teeth slightly and suddenly said, "Brother Lu, are these puppet materials urgently needed?"
"Indeed they are urgently needed. You know I am currently being pursued by the Vine Emperor, and these materials are used for repairing puppets. If the puppets are repaired, I will have a bit more self-protection... Hmm? Why are you asking this?"
"Perhaps... I have a way to acquire these twelve kinds of Void Fragmentation materials, but please do not ask how I will obtain them..."
Qingdai lightly bit her lip, as she owed Ning Fan a life-saving grace, she felt the necessity to repay it, otherwise she would feel uneasy.
The puppet materials Ning Fan needed were extremely rare, and even searching the entire Eastern Tree Ocean might not suffice in acquiring them.
Yet Qingdai knew there was a place where she could perhaps find materials to repair the Void Fragmentation puppet...
She had a master; although the puppet techniques she cultivated were all secret techniques of the Ming Luo Tree Clan, without her master’s guidance and advice, she would not have comprehended such profound puppet techniques on her own.
Her puppet techniques ranked among the top three in the Eastern Tree Ocean, but were far inferior compared to her master.
Perhaps her master would have the twelve kinds of materials to repair the Void Fragmentation puppet...
No, he certainly does! She had once secretly seen a treasure trove where her master stored innumerable extremely rare puppet materials...
However, her master had a quirky personality and never allowed her to disclose any information about him.
Thus, she decided to secretly seek her master and request the Void Fragmentation puppet materials for Ning Fan, yet dared not disclose her master’s existence for fear of angering him...
"Brother Lu has rendered me a life-saving grace, and has helped me recover the corpses of the ten Void Refinement ancestors of the Ming Luo Race... Regardless, this kindness must be repaid!"
Qingdai was unaware that all her inner thoughts had been exposed by Ning Fan’s Mind Reading Technique.
"This little girl has an eccentric master? No wonder, without guidance from an expert, she surely wouldn’t have mastered such profound puppet techniques..."
"Since Qingdai is confident in helping me find the puppet materials, it shouldn’t be long before the two puppets, Zhi Huo and Purple Lightning, are fully restored. Once they are repaired, I can proceed with my True Immortal Tribulation to break through to the Void Pierce Stage!"
Ning Fan’s lips curled slightly upwards, the Void Pierce Stage was now within reach!
...
In the north domain of the Hancang Kingdom, within the Cedar Valley at the Cedar Clan’s grand hall.
The three Taixu Laozu of the Cedar Clan, their eyes were blood-red, gritted their teeth as they stared at the intelligence on the jade scroll in their hands.
"How bold of the Ming Luo Race, finding two Void Inquiry helpers from unknown origins to dare kill our Cedar Clan men, it’s a death wish!"
"Quickly inform the Stone Tree Clan, Thunder Cypress Clan, and Shenqiao Clan’s patriarchs: the Ming Luo Race has grown tired of living, even that figure cannot continue to protect them!"
"Our four clans will mobilize all clansmen and utterly cleanse the Ming Luo Race in blood!" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)