Grasping the Evil

Chapter 617: The Rain Has Not Betrayed Me, Nor Have I Betrayed the Rain

The Snow Orchid Painting, also known as the Thousand Mountains Orchid Snow Painting, is the treasured artifact left by the first Sect Master of the Lanling Sect, Qianshanzi.

This artifact may not be of high grade, but its origins are significant; it is an imitation painting of one of the renowned ancient Four Paintings... The Immemorial Fisherman’s Raincoat Painting!

Within this imitation artwork, two meanings of life and death are contained. Once this painting is released, Lanling Sect Masters throughout history have been able to sweep across cultivators of the Void Fragmentation realm of the same level.

When King Lanling wields this painting, even ordinary old monsters of the Second Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation realm can be severely wounded!

Throughout the sky, swan-like heavy snowflakes fall, shocking even the Rain Emperor and Pill Emperor, as well as all the Void Fragmentation cultivators of the Rain World.

At the same time, the Rain Emperor, Pill Emperor, Chu Changan, Yun Qingge, and Yun Daoku, along with other Void Fragmentation cultivators of the Rain Palace, all rose into the sky, channeling their mana to form a barrier above the jade platform to block the snow and prevent it from harming anyone.

"Seal!"

Layers upon layers of blue light barriers spread over the jade platform, narrowly blocking the wind and snow.

From within the ocean of clouds above the barrier, the snow grew heavier, and a biting chill suddenly spread, reaching the entire Heavenly Cloud Country.

In an instant, the world fell into darkness, transforming into a descending night.

The north wind howled, and countless cultivators in the Heavenly Cloud Country felt a chilling cold at the same moment.

This cold seemed to penetrate to the depths of their souls, as though it could instantly freeze and kill millions of cultivators in the Heavenly Cloud Country!

With their level of cultivation, they couldn’t begin to fathom why they felt this way.

One by one, low-level cultivators emerged from their abodes, looking up and gasping in shock.

In the night sky, white snow mingled with the darkness, forming a mysterious and unfathomable power that tore open enormous silver-white rifts in the sky.

The paths of those rifts formed strange and arcane tracks.

The silver-white rifts intertwined, resembling countless entwined silver snakes.

Terrifying white snow-dao lines poured out from the rifts, carrying the might of the Great Dao, weighing down on the low-level cultivators until they could hardly breathe.

Those white snow-dao lines, astonishingly, were lines of life, carrying boundless dao force.

At this moment, all the cultivators sensed an immense crisis from the Great Dao rifts.

"This is... ’Dao Tracks’! I’ve seen it in Si Cang’s memory!"

Bright Sparrow’s small face was astonished, having had immense confidence in Ning Fan to defeat King Lanling. But upon witnessing these phenomena, she began to worry about Ning Fan’s safety.

Dao Tracks are the crack paths torn from the Great Dao by Second Step Immortals. Immortals pursue the Dao path, enduring daily hardships, all to comprehend the three thousand Great Dao.

The Great Dao is shapeless, yet exceptional cultivators can sketch out its tracks and borrow its force from opened Dao Tracks to attack enemies.

The Immortals capable of tearing open Dao Tracks are undoubtedly figures of immense skill.

The magical treasures capable of tearing open Dao Tracks are indeed treasures of immense power.

Although the Snow Orchid Painting is merely an imitation treasure, its ability to tear open Dao Tracks is absolutely extraordinary in power.

"This treasure can tear open Dao Tracks!!!"

Meichen’s face paled, unable to believe that despite the Snow Orchid Painting’s low grade, it could tear open Dao Tracks. Even Meichen did not have the confidence to withstand its attack unscathed.

If even she feared its power, how could Ning Fan, who hadn’t yet reached the Void Fragmentation realm, withstand its attack?

In Meichen’s demonic eyes, layer upon layer of Netherworld Qi gradually accumulated, as she resolved to intervene and save him the moment Ning Fan faced danger!

The black pupils of the cloaked woman also held a trace of worry as she murmured.

"This treasure is indeed formidable, but as the inheritor of Ancient Chaos, you should be able to withstand its attack... Can you do it... Do you have the credentials to entangle me for a lifetime..."

Yun Zhongyan’s entire body stiffened as he gazed at the silver-white Dao Tracks ripped open in the ocean of clouds, his eyes widening in shock.

"Dao Tracks, it’s Dao Tracks! This Snow Orchid Painting can actually tear open Dao Tracks; this treasure is too terrifying!"

"With this treasure in Lanling’s hands, he’s unmatched within the First Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation realm, capable of challenging even Second Heavenly Layer cultivators!"

Yun Jinghong raised his head to look at King Lanling with eyes filled with deep fear and astonishment.

Gradually, the fear and astonishment in his eyes vanished, replaced by an undisguised expression of joy.

"With this treasure in his hands, Ning Fan is destined to perish!"

Yun Jinghong had long held animosity towards Ning Fan; should King Lanling kill Ning Fan, Yun Jinghong would naturally celebrate gleefully.

Ning Fan stood amidst the swirling snow, his figure elusive, dodging the falling snowflakes.

With his level of cultivation, he sensed a significant threat from the snowflakes, and naturally kept them at a distance.

Though each snowflake seemed as light as a goose feather, they weighed as heavily as a thousand catties.

Amidst the snowfall, King Lanling’s undisguised murderous intent was more deeply embedded.

Most terrifying was the chilling Dao force gushing from the silver-white Dao Tracks which froze Ning Fan’s body, solidifying his blood into countless icy threads and shards.

Moreover, lines of life hurtled toward Ning Fan, forcing him to dodge left and right.

"A treasure capable of tearing open Dao Tracks... I never expected King Lanling to possess such a treasure, I must no longer underestimate him."

"Having produced this treasure and displayed its power, his intention to kill me is evident. Thus, I need not hold back!"

Ning Fan halted his steps, the wind and snow immediately rushing at him, along with unending lines of life approaching.

Each life line, sharper than the Immortal Void flying swords, was enough to pierce through all of Ning Fan’s defenses, skewering him like a porcupine.

The attack from these numerous life and death lines could severely wound an old monster of the Second Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation realm.

Without words, Ning Fan transformed into a black-clad figure with a single step, his aura rising steeply, nearly rivaling that of an old monster of the Second Heavenly Layer, growing ever more concentrated and undisclosed to others.

He slapped his sword pouch, immediately clutching a golden light, which transformed into a long slender golden sword.

Emperor Xia’s Sword!

With this sword in hand, Ning Fan’s aura rapidly shifted, sovereign qi encircled him like a dragon, and strands of golden Sword Intent soared.

"Indeed, sovereign qi, hmph!" Rain Emperor’s face turned livid.

Before any life line could pierce within three zhang of Ning Fan, they were shredded by the protective golden Sword Intent.

Snowflakes approaching Ning Fan were instantly sliced in half by the golden Sword Intent.

"What a powerful Sword Intent from the White Marquis! Just the Sword Intent alone can serve as protection, this Sword Intent is in no way weaker than that of the Sword God wearing a white robe!"

At first, all the old monsters of the Rain World were awed by King Lanling’s Snow Orchid Painting, but after Ning Fan took out Emperor Xia’s Sword, their focus shifted back to Ning Fan.

"A trick! Snow Orchid, unleash!"

King Lanling initially thought that after producing the Snow Orchid Painting, he could kill Ning Fan in one strike.

Now seeing Ning Fan defending against the painting’s attack with merely Sword Intent, his eyes darkened, and he vigorously shook the Snow Orchid Painting.

The painting glimmered, and suddenly, a massive orchid bloomed.

The orchid, vibrant as blood, withered upon contact with air, turning black.

Within the black orchid, intense death qi was contained.

As the orchid appeared, the sky suddenly cracked, revealing crisscrossing black Dao Tracks, from which numerous black lines shot forth.

The black orchid suddenly began to spin violently; as its rotation intensified, millions of black death lines thrust toward Ning Fan.

"Die!"

At this moment, King Lanling unabashedly expressed his intent to kill Ning Fan.

He shook the Snow Orchid Painting once again, intensifying the wind and snow, as millions of life lines thrust out from the silver-white Dao Tracks.

White lines wove into massive fishing nets, descending upon Ning Fan with no way to escape.

Black lines transformed into countless fish lines with hooks; anything caught in them would have its vitality severed.

"Fishing Net of Creation, Immemorial Fishing Lines..."

Watching the nets and lines covering the sky, Ning Fan raised the golden sword in his hand, pointing at the fishnets and lines.

This simple gesture of sword light flashed in an instant, scattering infinite golden sword radiance, shredding all the fishnets and lines.

As if this sword alone could pierce through the heavens and earth, as if it could eradicate all celestial fiends!

The Snow Orchid Painting, indeed formidable, could tear open Dao Tracks, yet ultimately was just an imitation magical treasure.

Compared to Emperor Xia’s Sword, it’s still much weaker.

It’s just because Emperor Xia’s Sword is not only a powerful magical treasure, but the Sword Intent contained within is even more terrifying.

"How is it possible!"

King Lan Ling was shocked. He had already pushed the attack of the Snow Orchid Painting to its extreme, yet it was broken by Ning Fan’s single strike.

He initially thought that once his true self broke through to the Void Fragmentation realm, he could easily crush Ning Fan. But unexpectedly, Ning Fan’s strength was even higher than his.

He initially thought that by presenting the sect’s treasure, the Snow Orchid Painting, he could easily kill Ning Fan. Yet unexpectedly, the golden sword in Ning Fan’s hand was more powerful than the Snow Orchid Painting.

At this moment, Ning Fan’s combat power was fully unleashed, wielding Emperor Xia’s Sword, which gave King Lan Ling a stronger sense of oppression than the old monsters of the three traces.

King Lan Ling’s back was already drenched in cold sweat. If he had known earlier that Ning Fan possessed such strength and had such formidable treasures, he would have never confidently engaged in a duel to the death with Ning Fan.

Fortunately, the Rain World had already ordered this battle not to be fought to the death. King Lan Ling questioned himself for not being a match for Ning Fan, yet he didn’t think Ning Fan would dare to defy the Rain World’s command and kill him.

"I thought the Rain World stopped this duel to favor Ning Fan. Now it seems the Rain World intended to protect me."

King Lan Ling retreated step by step, avoiding the golden sword shrouds in the sky while using the Snow Orchid Painting for protection, with no more will for battle.

On the other side, Ning Fan was closing in step by step, holding a three-foot golden sword, his aura radiant as a heavenly deity, intimidating people from looking directly at him.

Each step brewed the momentum of the sword.

Each step seemed to step on King Lan Ling’s spirit sense, causing him to shiver with fear.

Only then did King Lan Ling realize that Ning Fan had no intention of stopping. Since he harbored the intent to kill Ning Fan, Ning Fan also harbored the intent to kill him!

"Not good, this child intends to kill me! Rain World, save me!"

King Lan Ling wanted to call for help, but it was too late; before speaking, Ning Fan had already brandished his sword light.

After nine steps, Ning Fan’s sword momentum reached its peak!

At this moment, Ning Fan heard silence in his ears, clearly heard his heartbeat.

In his eyes, there was a flash of golden Sword Intent.

The voice of an icy, proud woman echoed repeatedly in his heart:

If I break the sword, there would be no martial arts in the world...

Slash!

Ning Fan suddenly swung his sword, the sword secret formed a horizontal slash!

As this sword was slashed, golden light flashed, and the sword light directly crossed countless distances, slashing before King Lan Ling.

This sword light was too fast, so fast that even the Rain World couldn’t save King Lan Ling in time.

"Spare him!" The Rain World suddenly stood up, shouting.

But his words were still slow; before he spoke, King Lan Ling was already severed in two by the golden sword light!

His Spirit was directly killed within the Dantian, without any chance of escape!

After slashing King Lan Ling, this horizontal slash of golden sword light continued towards the distance.

The long sky was sliced open by golden sword light, collapsing towards the distance.

In just a moment, millions of miles of sky were all shattered by Ning Fan’s single sword slash!

"Im...possible..." King Lan Ling’s corpse had eyes wide open, unable to believe he was killed by Ning Fan.

His storage pouch was taken by Ning Fan with a wave of hand.

His remains fell from high above, over the boundary, landing in the center of the jade platform, with a loud bang, flesh and blood splattered everywhere.

A shocking and earth-shattering Evil Qi spread from King Lan Ling’s corpse, unable for cultivations below Void Fragmentation to maintain rationality amidst this Evil Qi!

This is the Evil Qi formed from the fall of a Void Fragmentation cultivator; ordinary cultivations cannot resist!

"Dead... Ning Fan actually killed King Lan Ling!"

Cold sweat broke out on Yun Jinghong’s back, while Yun Zhongyan was already petrified.

Their strength was far inferior to King Lan Ling, and since even King Lan Ling was no match for Ning Fan, they were even less of a match for Ning Fan!

This time, King Lan Ling challenged Ning Fan under the instigation of these two. Now with King Lan Ling dead, the two feared Ning Fan would pursue this matter.

These two used to regard Ning Fan as an ant, now they regarded Ning Fan as a fierce tiger.

One after another, the old monsters of the Rain Immortal World watched Ning Fan in terror. To them, the Void Fragmentation cultivators were supreme beings.

But these supreme Void Fragmentation cultivators were slain by Ning Fan right before their eyes.

This shock was enough to haunt them for a lifetime.

"Ning Fan, you are presumptuous! I have already said this battle cannot be fought to the death, why did you defy my command and slay King Lan Ling!"

The Rain World suddenly stood up, furiously gazing at Ning Fan.

Ning Fan received the Snow Orchid Painting, descended from the jade platform without defending himself, only his eyes filled with formidable Evil Qi returned a similarly cold gaze to the Rain World.

In just one gaze, it held countless Void Fragmentation Evil Qi of those who died at his hands.

From the Bone Emperor, to the Vine Emperor, Void Inquiry Stage, and Mo Emperor, Tri-Realm Sect Master.

Void Fragmentation of Tree World fallen and innumerable Void Fragmentation fallen across the Land of Demons...

Among these people, some were killed by Nieli, some by rogue devils, and some killed by Ning Fan himself.

No matter who killed whom, Ning Fan had more or less stained with extremely heavy Evil Qi.

This is the sin of murder, the causal ties, the unavoidable guilt.

This gaze contained a blood sea so vast that the Rain World, who guarded the Rain Immortal World, could never imagine.

Facing Ning Fan’s gaze, cold sweat suddenly broke out on the Rain World’s back, his aura disrupted. Only after retreating several steps did his aura stabilize somewhat.

Terrifying, the Evil Qi in Ning Fan’s eyes was too terrifying!

The fall of King Lan Ling was beyond the Rain World’s expectations, causing the Rain World to impulsively utter words accusing Ning Fan of being presumptuous.

Gazed upon by Ning Fan, the Rain World recalled how dangerous a character Ning Fan was, and immediately fell silent.

Ning Fan harbors crushed five Nieli, Ning Fan dared to kill the Vine Emperor, and can kill... He, the Rain World, cannot afford to provoke Ning Fan now!

"King Lan Ling attacked me decisively, so I killed him!" This sentence sounded like an explanation and like a warning.

Ning Fan’s gaze coldly swept over the audience, his grand Evil Qi swept forth, dispersing darkness, dyeing the ocean of clouds red.

His reason for killing King Lan Ling was not just to get rid of this person, but also to serve as a warning to the Rain World.

One after another, the self-important old monsters of the Rain Immortal World, whenever they met Ning Fan’s gaze, felt pain in their divine sense, their aura disrupted, quickly lowered their gaze, not daring to meet Ning Fan’s look directly.

The Rain World’s heart gradually calmed down, hearing the warning intent in Ning Fan’s words.

If he opposed Ning Fan, then King Lan Ling would be his fate.

If allied, Ning Fan would not attack the Rain Palace.

The Rain World looked gloomy, knowing he must carefully ponder his future attitude towards Ning Fan.

Either dispel the enmity between them or... completely eliminate this person!

Slash!

Ning Fan suddenly raised Emperor Xia’s Sword, the sword light aimed at a gigantic cloud mountain thousands of miles away.

Twixt his wrist, the sword light inscribed eight large characters on that cloud mountain from afar.

Rain does not betray me, I do not betray rain!

Others did not understand Ning Fan’s actions, but the Rain World looked on with secret shock.

He knew these eight characters were both a warning and Ning Fan’s bottom line.

If he insists on being Ning Fan’s enemy, then Ning Fan will take action to annihilate the Rain Palace...

"In the first trial of Heaven Controlling City, I received some benefits from the rain ancestors, owed the Rain Palace a favor. For past pursuits of me, I can overlook. But remember, there should be no next time!"

Ning Fan sent a transmission to the Rain World. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)