novelraw Chapter 649: One Step to Slay Cheng Huang
Chapter 649: One Step to Slay Cheng Huang
Being tightly embraced by Ning Fan around her waist, Tan Zixin’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
Only then did she see that the Taigong Fishing Rod, which had transformed into an Artifact Spirit, had taken the form of a demon, and even wanted to kill her!
Knowing that Ning Fan was saving her, Tan Zixin did not break free from his embrace, nor did she blame Ning Fan for being forward; instead, she was deeply grateful for his righteous intervention.
If it weren’t for Ning Fan’s rescue, she would likely have died under the surprise attack of the Taigong Fishing Rod.
Ning Fan’s steps retreated, but the Zijin Yuanchi formed from the Taigong Fishing Rod spread its wings and gave chase, its speed not inferior to Ning Fan’s, even slightly faster.
In a sliver of time, it seemed like Ning Fan would be caught by the giant claws of the Zijin Yuanchi.
Ning Fan suddenly stopped in his tracks, and a vast demonic presence rose in his left eye.
"Mere vile creature, unaware of retreat, seeking death! Illude!"
The divine skill of the second demon star in his left eye activated on its own, instantly conjuring illusion techniques that bewildered the Zijin Yuanchi.
Illusion techniques are almost useless against a cultivator with a steadfast spirit, but for the low spirit-aware Artifact Spirit before him, they worked like a charm.
The Zijin Yuanchi made eye contact with Ning Fan and immediately fell into a web of illusions, its massive body crashing down from the air, eyes full of panic.
In the illusion, it saw countless ferocious demons, comparable to Fate Immortals and True Immortals, chasing it down.
It had no idea how to break free from the illusion; its spirit awareness was too low. It was just an Artifact Spirit...
"Show your true form!"
Holding Tan Zixin, Ning Fan vaulted into the sky, and with one foot stomped down from above.
An attack comparable to the First Heavenly Layer of the Nirvana Body Refinement Realm directly shattered the spiritual body of the Zijin Yuanchi, forcing it back into the form of its original magical treasure, reverting to a fishing rod two zhang and four chi long.
Ning Fan landed on the ground, took the fishing rod in hand, and said coldly, "From today onward, I am your master. If you dare to turn on your master, I will shatter your treasure and scatter your spirit! Seal!"
Not giving the Taigong Fishing Rod a chance to refuse, Ning Fan released Tan Zixin and directly bit his finger, dripping a drop of blood to form a sigil, which he planted within the rod, completing the ritual to claim it as his life-bound magical treasure.
Mixed within this treasure was also some Immemorial Star Iron, making it barely a two-star divine weapon, and it inherently possessed the power to subdue dragons.
As a life-bound magical treasure, it was nothing less than formidable.
"Tha... thank you, Senior, for your rescue..."
Tan Zixin expressed her gratitude, her pretty face flushed.
Ning Fan’s decisive actions, pacifying the Artifact Spirit of the Taigong Fishing Rod in merely a few breaths, left Tan Zixin impressed.
This being the spirit of a mid-grade Immortal Void Spirit Flame magical treasure, even Broken Five Old Monsters found it hard to subdue.
The soft waist that Ning Fan had touched seemed to still carry the residual warmth of his arm.
Recalling the recent scene, Tan Zixin’s heart raced and she momentarily fell into a trance; it was the first time she had been held by a man...
"It was a trifling matter, no need for thanks. Now that this treasure has been subdued, the major concern of mine heart has been settled. Let us proceed to meet the Old Yuan Emperor with Miss Zixin immediately."
"..." In a dazed state, Tan Zixin stood like a puppet, not hearing Ning Fan’s words.
"Uh..." Ning Fan sighed silently, activating the Mind Reading Technique to probe Tan Zixin’s thoughts.
He discovered that her mind was caught up in the embrace incident, her heart already in turmoil, temporarily lost in thought.
A moment later, Tan Zixin snapped out of her enchantment, her face flushing even more.
"What did Senior just say..." she asked, puzzled.
"We should meet the Old Yuan Emperor now."
"Alright!"
"Will you walk by yourself, or should I carry you?" Ning Fan teased.
"I, I... I’ll walk by myself... Senior, please follow me," she replied, her face even redder, as she activated her escape light and led Ning Fan away from the Yunling Pool, flying toward the main hall of Yuan Palace.
For the rest of the journey to Yuan Temple, Tan Zixin’s expression gradually calmed down, burying the blushing and heart-racing memories deep within.
She reminded herself that healing her grandfather’s injuries was the priority and she shouldn’t be so distracted.
Ning Fan slowed his flight, trailing behind Tan Zixin, calmly and collectedly.
The fleeting charm of the moment had long been cast aside by Ning Fan.
What occupied his thoughts was the injury of Tan Tianyan.
The poison that severely wounded Tan Tianyan must be quite formidable; he wondered whether he could neutralize the poison and successfully assist in his healing...
"Subordinate greets Miss! Uh... Greetings, Ancestor Baimu!"
The cultivator guarding the door to Yuan Palace caught sight of Tan Zixin from afar and stepped forward, cupping his hands in salute.
Seeing Ning Fan accompanying her, everyone was surprised.
Wasn’t the lady known for never giving face to any man? Why was she accompanying Ancestor Baimu now?
Moreover, today within Yuan Palace, an important person had arrived... The lady accompanying a man like this seemed inappropriate.
That person was here to propose marriage to the lady... for the third time...
If that person sees Miss walking with Ancestor Baimu, he will surely be furious!
Although Ancestor Baimu is formidable, that person has an even more powerful background...
"No need for formalities. I wish to see Grandfather. Is he in the hall?" Tan Zixin descended to the ground and asked the guard calmly.
"In response to Miss, the Old Yuan Emperor has not gone out. He is meditating in the Yangxin Hall..."
"Alright, I understand. You may withdraw. I want to take Senior Baimu to meet Grandfather. Inform the entire hall that no one is to disturb the Yangxin Hall."
"Yes... Miss, please wait! There is one more matter I have not reported..."
"What matter?"
"The upper demon has come again to propose marriage... He is waiting for Miss in the Rongtian Hall, hoping for a meeting." The guard said somewhat apprehensively.
"Why has he come again? I won’t see him!"
Tan Zixin frowned slightly.
The one proposing marriage is an upper demon with the cultivation of the Third Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm, a cultivator from the Land of Demons of the Four Heavens, from a branch of the True Dragon Clan—the Huanglong Clan.
Two hundred years ago, when he descended to the Demon World, he had seen Tan Zixin once.
This person normally wouldn’t have paid attention to Tan Zixin, but upon seeing a trace of Yin Yang power within her, he immediately took notice.
In two hundred years, he proposed marriage twice, both times rejected by Tan Zixin.
Back then, Tan Zixin regretted the injury of the Old Yuan Emperor and asked this person if he could treat him.
If this person were willing to help, she might consider the marriage.
But he said the Old Yuan Emperor’s injuries were too severe, requiring the use of a High Grade Eighth Revolution Fusion Pill from the Huanglong Clan to heal.
The cost was too great; he wouldn’t spend such a precious pill for a mere lower realm rogue devil.
"He actually called my Grandfather a ’mere lower realm rogue devil’. I’d rather die than marry him!" Tan Zixin’s eyes showed disgust.
She rarely disliked anyone, but this upper realm demon cultivator was particularly annoying.
"A demon cultivator from the Huanglong Clan in the upper realms?"
Ning Fan slightly employed the Mind Reading Technique, having now seen through the thoughts of Tan Zixin completely.
Although he understood her thoughts, he did not inquire further.
To Ning Fan, Tan Zixin’s marriage carried little significance, nor did he have the standing to interfere.
The two entered the Earth Yuan Palace directly heading towards the Yangxin Hall.
The cultivators they encountered along the way cast surprised glances at Tan Zixin and Ning Fan walking together.
"Miss Zixin really doesn’t like ’Senior Cheng Huang’, does she? Could it be Ancestor Baimu whom she favors?"
Not until they reached the Golden Lotus Pond outside the Yangxin Hall did the rumors cease.
Because this Golden Lotus Pond was very close to the Yangxin Hall, and with Tan Zixin’s prior instructions, everyone had already left the area.
A formation seal was even set up here, covering several courtyards around the Yangxin Hall, so outsiders couldn’t detect anything occurring here.
The ongoing whispers along the way could not escape the ears of Tan Zixin and Ning Fan, either.
Ning Fan’s expression remained unchanged, but Tan Zixin’s cheeks had begun to redden slightly as she somewhat awkwardly explained to Ning Fan,
"My Yuan Hall cultivators have spoken out of turn about a senior. Please forgive them, Senior."
"Who is Cheng Huang?" Ning Fan deliberately asked with a smile.
"He... is someone who overestimated himself, not worthy to be compared with you, Senior. You are a good person; he is not..." Tan Zixin’s expression turned a bit unnatural.
For some reason, she didn’t want Ning Fan to know that she had been proposed to.
Perhaps she feared Ning Fan would become angry and ignore her because of it...
"I am not any kind of good person..."
Ning Fan chuckled, about to say more when suddenly his eyes narrowed, and he stopped in his tracks.
Tan Zixin also halted because a figure clad in yellow had emerged from the other end of the Golden Lotus Pond.
"What does Miss Zixin mean by this? In what way is this ant-like Broken One Realm individual better than this dragon son?"
A yellow-clad young man with a handsome face and the cultivation of the Third Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm.
However, it seemed he had just recently broken through, and his cultivation was not yet stable.
This person wore a cold smile, his gaze sharp and brooding like an eagle’s.
His name was Cheng Huang. He hailed from the Huanglong Clan, one of the twelve dragon sons of this generation of the Huanglong Clan!
The Huanglong Clan was the last branch of the True Dragon Myriad Clans, whose strongest member was merely a Fate Immortal of the Human Profound Realm.
In the Land of Demons in the upper realms, the Huanglong Clan was insignificant.
Yet in the lower realms, the Huanglong Clan was a colossal force.
He fancied Tan Zixin, valuing the trace of Yin Yang power in her, not the woman herself.
Within the Huanglong Clan, there was a secret technique that required co-cultivation with a woman imbued with Yin Yang to master.
Once mastered, you will be on the verge of becoming an Immortal in this lifetime, and there will also be a slight chance to cross the True Bridge and become a True Immortal!
Although he had been rejected twice by Tan Zixin, he was not discouraged.
This time, he came for the third marriage proposal, carrying a High Grade Seventh Revolution pill.
This pill is not enough to heal the Old Yuan Emperor completely, but it can alleviate his injuries, allowing him to live an extra hundred years.
He figured out that his previous failures were because he didn’t understand Tan Zixin’s thoughts.
Tan Zixin respects her grandfather the most, but he spoke disrespectfully, naturally angering the lady.
This time, he wised up; although he was reluctant to use the clan’s precious pills to save a rogue devil from the lower realms, he still showed some sincerity, hoping to win Tan Zixin’s heart.
Little did he know that upon arriving at the Yuan Hall, he first received a cold shoulder from the Old Yuan Emperor, and then saw Tan Zixin accompanied by another man.
"Ungrateful woman!" Cheng Huang’s heart grew a bit cold.
If it weren’t for Tan Zixin having a hint of Yin Yang power, why would he lower his status to pursue a female cultivator who hasn’t even reached Void Refinement?
"You have nothing that is inferior to him... at this moment, I have important matters to attend to, and I need to take a distinguished guest to see Grandpa, so I won’t entertain Senior Cheng Huang."
Tan Zixin winked at Ning Fan, signaling him to ignore Cheng Huang and go directly to the Yangxin Hall to meet the Old Yuan Emperor.
The two were about to bypass Cheng Huang when he suddenly stepped forward to block their path.
"Is he your Yuan Hall’s distinguished guest? Bai Mu, is it? I recognize you and have heard of your name. So? Did you come out this time without bringing that useless Tan Longzi?" Cheng Huang sneered disdainfully.
Tan Longzi carried the Yellow Dragon bloodline and was considered a member of the Huanglong Clan.
But Tan Longzi lacked the pride of the Huanglong Clan and instead acknowledged Ning Fan as his master, which made Cheng Huang look down on him.
Ning Fan’s gaze turned slightly cold. When had the time come for outsiders to mock his footmen?
"Yes, he is Senior Baimu, a distinguished guest of my grandpa. Please step aside!" Tan Zixin’s pretty face grew slightly cold.
"Is he really Baimu!" Cheng Huang suddenly let out a cold laugh, looking at Ning Fan with a hint of mockery.
Thousands of years ago, he had taken in a demon servant with the Green Sun Physique. With his help, that person had relied on the Seven Suns Physique to break through to the Second Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm.
That person told him that the Baimu before him was a fake!
That person also told him that on Baimu, there was a Star Stone belonging to the Baiyu Clan!
Ning Fan’s gaze darkened once more.
This Cheng Huang seemed to be very certain that he was not Baimu.
"Baimu, you have Tan Longzi as a servant and the Yuan Hall backing you. People fear you, but I, the Dragon Prince, do not fear you at all. Do you know that you have offended me in two areas? If you can accomplish two tasks, I can let bygones be bygones! Otherwise, today you will spill your blood here, and die in the Golden Lotus Pond!"
"Two tasks?" Ning Fan sneered.
"First, stay away from Tan Zixin! Second, hand over the Star Stone of the Baiyu Clan! If you manage these two tasks, I, the Prince, can spare you from guilt! Otherwise, today you must die!"
"Cheng Huang, you are really pushing your luck! Whether he stays away from me or not is none of your business; what right do you have to interfere! The Star Stone of the Baiyu Clan rightfully belongs to him; what right do you have to take someone else’s possession!" Tan Zixin interceded for Ning Fan.
"Why! Because he is not Baimu, because he is just a lower realm ant! Because he cannot offend me!" Cheng Huang said with a cold laugh.
Ning Fan did not say much, the cold light in his eyes slowly disappearing. Although the cold light vanished, the murderous intent became even more terrifying!
"Cheng Huang, you should know, you have also offended me in two areas."
"First, my servants are not for you to insult."
"Second, my treasures are not for you to covet."
"I’ll give you three breaths to leave now, and you may escape death..."
Ning Fan’s dark eyes were like a bottomless Devil Pool, looking at Cheng Huang as if looking at a dead man.
"Haha, with your cultivation at the First Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm, you’re actually daring to threaten me, the Dragon Prince; interesting, interesting indeed. Rumors outside say that you swept through the Second Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm with your own power and even defeated Old Monster Donglin of the Third Heavenly Layer, but unfortunately, such lies I, the Dragon Prince, do not believe at all!"
"One."
"I do not believe your cultivation is profound, nor do I believe you dare to kill me. My Huanglong Clan is a distinguished family in the upper realm, not someone you can offend."
"Two."
"Baimu, no, fake Baimu, why are you putting on airs here; you don’t dare to kill me at all. Sensibly, hand over the Star Stone and stay away from Tan Zixin. If you are insensible, I, the Dragon Prince, will surely kill you like a dog!"
"Three!"
Before Cheng Huang could finish his words, Ning Fan’s killing intent had already moved!
At this moment, a bright red light appeared in his eyes, and a horrifying Evil Qi suddenly enveloped the entire Golden Lotus Pond!
This Evil Qi avoided Tan Zixin but did not avoid Cheng Huang!
As soon as Cheng Huang sensed this Evil Qi, his expression changed dramatically!
"Such powerful Evil Qi, this Evil Qi even contains the Evil Qi formed from the fall of Fragmentation Seven and Fragmentation Eight Cultivators! How is this possible! You’ve killed Fragmentation Seven and Fragmentation Eight Cultivators! Utterly ridiculous!"
Ning Fan said nothing more, just took a step forward and flicked his finger, breaking through the void, extracting the void’s soul from this place.
His aura climbed steadily higher, rising to the height of the Third Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm with just one step, and his presence was two notches stronger than ordinary Fragmentation Three Cultivators!
This was the benefit brought by the advancement of spirit sense. As spirit sense improved, the power of the Soul Incarnation Chant increased dramatically, which in turn, enhanced Ning Fan’s combat strength!
The black-clad Ning Fan seemed to transform into a domineering and cold-blooded demon lord.
If the Huanglong Clan were a bit stronger, Ning Fan might be slightly apprehensive.
Unfortunately, in the upper realms, the Huanglong Clan is nothing but a tiny faction, not worth fearing at all!
The threat they pose is far less than the Evil Sect or the Qiongdao Sect behind Hex Shixiu!
Ning Fan wasted no words, taking a direct step forward, transforming into a dark shadow spreading around.
At the moment this magical ability was unleashed, a sense of imminent death surged in Cheng Huang’s heart, prompting him to retreat without hesitation and summon deep yellow dragon scales to protect himself.
In the next instant, the shadows like knives and swords suddenly appeared all around him, twisting and slashing towards him!
"This... what kind of divine ability is this, not good! My dragon scales are not enough to fend off this technique!"
Just as this thought arose in his mind, the dragon scales on his body surface had already crumbled to dust and vanished.
His physical body was unreservedly subject to the assault of the Black Turbulent Separation Art!
Cheng Huang had just broken through to the Shattered Three Realm; his realm was unstable, and his strength was far inferior to Old Monster Donglin.
Ning Fan, on the other hand, had greatly increased his spirit sense and power, much stronger than when he previously defeated Old Monster Donglin!
Amidst the dense shadows, Cheng Huang suddenly let out a miserable scream, his physical form continually being shredded into chunks of flesh by the shadows.
He was terrified, petrified!
He never imagined that in the Land of Demons in the lower realms, an ant would dare to strike at him! Dare to offend the Huanglong Clan!
"Baimu, stop quickly! If you dare kill me, there will be no place for you in the Demon World!" Cheng Huang threatened, trembling with fear.
His threats meant nothing to Ning Fan, for Ning Fan had no need to find a place for himself in the Demon World.
"Annihilate!"
The shadows condensed again, and Ning Fan appeared, while Cheng Huang let out one final scream, turning into a pool of flesh, staining the picturesque Golden Lotus Pond.
Ning Fan collected Cheng Huang’s storage pouch, glanced inside slightly, and frowned; there was nothing inside that could capture his interest.
Dispersing his black-clad form and retracting the Soul Extraction Technique, Ning Fan spoke calmly to Tan Zixin, "Let’s go, meet Old Yuan Emperor."
Ning Fan had killed countless individuals in his journey; Cheng Huang was just a trivial one among them.
"You... you killed him, it’s going to cause trouble! There is an order from the upper realm; Fate Immortals cannot come down. The Huanglong Ancestor cannot descend, but there are a few rogue devils from the Huanglong Clan who could come to the Demon World to avenge him..."
At that moment, Tan Zixin was more concerned about Ning Fan’s safety than Cheng Huang’s death. This fact, she hadn’t even realized herself.
"I know, that’s why I killed him. Rogue devils of the Huanglong Clan, you forgot, you made me the Taigong Fishing Rod, which is the supreme Dragon Subduing treasure. However many rogue devils come, I’ll kill that many."
"You, you..." Tan Zixin was speechless. In the lower realms, besides Ning Fan, no one dared to so blatantly disregard the great clans of the upper realms.
The fishing rod she made for Ning Fan seemed to be on the verge of becoming the deadly weapon against the Huanglong Clan...
"Have someone clean the Golden Lotus Pond... Senior Tan?"
Ning Fan suddenly spoke to a desolate place nearby.
Tan Tianyan was startled and slowly revealed himself; he had in fact long been there in the Golden Lotus Pond.
Tan Tianyan had always detested those self-important upper realm great clans and had intended to help Ning Fan in his peril, to block Cheng Huang’s attack.
He hadn’t anticipated that Ning Fan would take Cheng Huang’s life in a single encounter...
"I’ll have someone clean this place. As for the matter of you killing Cheng Huang, I will find a way to cover for you... But do you know, the Huanglong Clan has a secret technique. If a member of the Huanglong Clan is slain, as long as they could recite the name of the murderer upon their fall, that name would be sent back to their clan... At this moment, the Huanglong Clan probably knows that someone named Baimu in the lower realms killed one of their twelve dragon scions. Maybe soon, there will be fragmentation cultivators, or even rogue devils descending to apprehend you. Did Cheng Huang call out your name upon his fall?"
Old Yuan Emperor showed a trace of concern.
"If he called, he called. It doesn’t matter," Ning Fan said indifferently.
Even if Cheng Huang called out something, it was likely just "Baimu."
His true name hadn’t been exposed, and who in the Huanglong Clan could know that the killer was the Rain World’s Heavenly King?
"Thank you, Senior, for the jade. The enlightenment I gained from the Ascension Tower was significant. Today I came to check on your injury, seeking a way to resolve it, to repay your kindness for the jade."
Ning Fan patted the storage pouch, took out the Yuan Emperor Jade, and returned it to Old Yuan Emperor.
He glanced over Old Yuan Emperor’s body and slightly frowned.
Old Yuan Emperor’s injury was far more severe than he had anticipated...
...
Upper realms, in the Land of Demons, the Huanglong Clan.
Within the clan’s temple, a soul plate of the twelve dragon scions suddenly shattered!
The shattered soul plate belonged to Cheng Huang!
"How did Cheng Huang die! Who can tell me what happened!"
A rogue devil Huanglong guarding the temple was furious!
Cheng Huang was his junior! Who was so bold as to dare kill his junior!
Baimu! Who on earth is this Baimu bastard? He will find this person and tear them to pieces! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to recommend votes and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)