novelraw Chapter 707: Arrival of the Immortal Venerable!
Chapter 707: Arrival of the Immortal Venerable!
Ning Fan quietly watched Ouyang Nuan.
Once thinking of Ning Fan only as a friend, Ouyang Nuan now felt flustered under Ning Fan’s gaze.
"Does this IOU trouble you?"
Ning Fan could see through Ouyang Nuan’s complex change of expression.
Embarrassment, pleading, frustration, helplessness...
With Ning Fan’s intellect, he could naturally guess that this IOU was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.
"..." Ouyang Nuan did not answer, she just nodded with a flushed face.
"I’ll give you a hundred billion Dao Crystals, if you give me the IOU... please..." she pleaded softly.
Ning Fan said nothing, but he was certain of one thing, the IOU indeed troubled Ouyang Nuan.
After learning that the debtor was the Sect Master of the Medicine Sect, Ning Fan had a vague feeling that the old monster had given him the IOU with deep intentions.
There might be something behind this IOU that Ning Fan did not know.
Of course, the old monster’s original intention was to help Ning Fan find a backing in Eastern Heaven.
Perhaps he wanted to bind Ning Fan and the Medicine Sect together, so that Ning Fan would have a safe journey...
Ning Fan understood the old monster’s concern.
As for this debt, Ning Fan did not intend to help the old monster with it.
Tear!
Casually, Ning Fan tore the IOU into countless pieces, and with a wave of his hand, the scattered paper fell to the ground, then was reduced to ashes by a black magic fire. With a gust of wind, it became dust, completely disappearing.
"Why... why did you destroy the IOU..." Ouyang Nuan was stunned, uncertain why Ning Fan had destroyed it...
"It was an eyesore."
Ning Fan remained expressionless as he sipped his spiritual tea, not shameless enough to use a mere IOU to trouble his benefactor.
Ten billion Dao Crystals, a hundred billion Dao Crystals would not make him change his principles.
"Thank you." Ouyang Nuan quickly regained her composure, smiling warmly as usual.
"It’s nothing. Well, has your Maoqiu already achieved Harmonious Spirit? It has only been a year, yet its cultivation has grown considerably."
Ning Fan patted the Maoqiu in Ouyang Nuan’s arms. Maoqiu was originally a True Blood Spirit Select, inherently proud and would not let anyone other than Ouyang Nuan touch it.
However, Ning Fan was a demon ancestor, and Maoqiu instinctively feared him. When Ning Fan patted it, Maoqiu didn’t resist and even showed a well-behaved expression.
"Call him Daddy," Ouyang Nuan playfully ordered.
"Awuu, awuu..." Was Maoqiu really calling Ning Fan ’Daddy’?
Ning Fan looked at Ouyang Nuan speechlessly, withdrew his hand, and shook his head, closing his eyes to rest.
Seeing Ning Fan at a loss, Ouyang Nuan’s mood suddenly lifted, playing with Maoqiu even more happily.
The distress from Wei Qi’s disappearance faded significantly.
Time passed second by second, and gradually, the third floor of the auction house was filled with people.
On the auction stage below, Master Yun lightly cleared his throat, and in an instant, the entire hall fell silent.
"Our auction on Shaoze Star is held once every ten years. Many Daoists present are regulars, but some are first-timers, so I still need to state the rules," he said.
"At the auction, no fighting or injury is allowed. On Shaoze Star, no one is allowed to kill or snatch treasures. All auction items go to the highest bidder. If any Daoist present lacks enough Dao Crystals, they may use items to offset the price. If you win an item and can’t pay, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"
Master Yun’s gaze swept coldly across the room, causing many old monsters of the Void Fragmentation realm to tremble, not daring to meet his eyes.
"Alright, those are the rules. Now, let the auction begin!"
As soon as Master Yun finished speaking, two female Daoists brought a treasure onto the stage.
It was a Dragon Ball, a Dragon Ball of a Fate Immortal Demon Dragon!
Ning Fan’s eyes subtly narrowed, thinking that as expected, auctions at a sky-grade trading city could not possibly auction off ordinary items.
"This is a Dragon Ball of a Demon Dragon at the Human Profound Middle Stage. Void Fragmentation cultivators can refine it to increase their yuan magic power by ten thousand. The starting bid is one million Dao Crystals."
On hearing this price, many old monsters of the Void Fragmentation realm gasped. For some Void Fragmentation cultivators, 1 million Dao Crystals was a significant sum.
However, the bidding soon began, rising in waves.
"1.5 million!"
"2 million!"
"2.2 million!"
"3 million!"
"5 million!"
"10 million!"
The high price of 10 million was called by an elderly Fate Immortal on the third floor.
Many old monsters of the Void Fragmentation realm inwardly complained, wondering why a senior Fate Immortal would compete with juniors for a mere 10 thousand yuan magic power.
As if understanding the crowd’s confusion, the Fate Immortal elder smiled and said, "I once found an ancient dan refinement scroll, and this Fate Immortal Dragon Ball is one of its main ingredients."
Well then! The elder Fate Immortal was evidently determined to get this Dragon Ball, so who dared to compete with him?
Ning Fan was also quite tempted by the Dragon Ball. If 10 million could increase his yuan magic power by 10 thousand, he would need only a few billion Dao Crystals to cultivate to the Fracture ninth peak.
Currently, Ning Fan needs 3.2 million Dao Crystals to increase his yuan magic power by 1 thousand.
In terms of cost-effectiveness, of course, the Dragon Ball was more valuable.
However, since a Fate Immortal had involved themselves in the auction, Ning Fan did not wish to compete.
His financial resources were not as substantial as those of a Fate Immortal. In the end, the Dragon Ball would still go to the Fate Immortal if he competed, merely driving up the price and needlessly making an enemy.
"Does Maoqiu’s dad want that Dragon Ball?" Ouyang Nuan asked with a smile.
Ning Fan nearly choked on his spiritual tea.
Maoqiu’s dad? He had gained yet another new title...
"Not particularly..."
Before Ning Fan could finish his sentence, Ouyang Nuan had already softly bid, "11 million."
Upon hearing that someone was challenging the Fate Immortal, everyone looked in the direction of Ouyang Nuan.
Even the Fate Immortal was glaring with anger.
However, upon seeing that the bidder was Ouyang Nuan, everyone fell silent, and the Fate Immortal elder displayed an embarrassed expression, offering Ouyang Nuan an apologetic smile.
"Since little friend needs this item, the old man will begrudgingly part with it."
"Thank you!"
Ouyang Nuan stood up and cupped her fist towards the Fate Immortal elder, displaying a heroic demeanor.
The Fate Immortal elder instantly bloomed like a chrysanthemum, repeatedly saying ’no thanks needed,’ ’no thanks needed.’
How could he dare compete with the disciple of the Sect Master of the Medicine Sect...
To give up a Dragon Pearl and receive a thank you from Ouyang Nuan made him feel that relinquishing the Dragon Pearl was a wise decision.
Ouyang Nuan lightly leaped down from the third floor, like a gracefully dancing butterfly, landing nimbly on the jade platform below.
After paying and receiving the Dragon Pearl, Ouyang Nuan returned to Ning Fan’s side, presenting the Dragon Pearl to him with a sweet smile.
"For you."
"This..."
"If you consider me a friend, don’t be so formal with me. When you tore the IOU, you weren’t so hesitant."
"Why didn’t you keep the Dragon Pearl for yourself... With your wealth, it should be easy to purchase the treasure required to break through your cultivation?" Ning Fan asked.
"My physical condition is very complicated, and raising my cultivation isn’t that easy..." Ouyang Nuan smiled faintly, saying no more.
Ning Fan sighed, storing the jade box containing the Dragon Pearl into his storage pouch.
In an instant, he felt a piercing cold gaze from behind, and turning his eyes, he saw an enemy young man in black clothes sneering at him.
The black-clothed young man was holding a piece of intelligence jade slip.
The previously departing Fate Immortal had returned after collecting intelligence.
"Qianqiuzi, huh? My name is Qiu Lu; I hope you remember this name for the rest of your life!" After transmitting his voice, the young man in black crushed the jade slip, and as his Human Profound Initial Stage cultivation flickered, he stood up and swept his sleeves, leaving.
But before leaving, he looked at Ouyang Nuan with profound meaning, saying, "You will regret it."
"Human Profound Initial Stage!" Ouyang Nuan was slightly surprised.
Ning Fan was also slightly startled, but seeing this person’s seventy thousand-year bone age, he showed a peculiar expression.
Turns out he’s a seventy-thousand-year-old monster; he initially thought it’s another unparalleled youthful genius...
Based on Ouyang Nuan’s surprise, it didn’t seem long since this person had broken through to the Fate Immortal realm.
Did he spend seventy thousand years to become immortal...
"I seem to have implicated you... that guy is very vengeful." Ouyang Nuan bit her lip and said.
"You’re only noticing now that you’ve implicated me?" Ning Fan was half amused, half helpless; was this woman slow to understand matters between men and women?
"He was a partner chosen by my master to enter the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain with, but I don’t want to go with you. His intentions aren’t pure... I can feel it... By the way, would you accompany me to the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain? In another hundred years, the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain will open, and it’s a paradise for alchemists in the Eastern Heaven..."
Ouyang Nuan looked at Ning Fan expectantly, but Ning Fan just smiled and shook his head.
"In a hundred years, I might not even be in the Eastern Heaven Immortal World..."
"What if you’re still around!" Ouyang Nuan smiled warmly, "If you’re still around, would you accompany me then?"
"We’ll see..."
"Alright, think it over and let me know. If you wish to go, I will ask my master to give you that spot!" Ouyang Nuan didn’t dwell on the matter and continued watching the auction, holding Maoqiu.
The next auction items included Immortal Treasures, Immortal Techniques, and various ancient Fiendgod cultivation methods.
Only now did Ning Fan learn that ancient Fiendgod cultivation methods were graded by star levels.
Up to nine stars, just short of one star.
It’s said that the Godly Void Pavilion has a Divine Tomb, which often releases Fiendgod cultivation methods, but unfortunately, most that emerge are one-star or two-star methods.
Seeing Ning Fan’s ignorance of the grades of Fiendgod cultivation methods, Ouyang Nuan explained what she knew to Ning Fan.
The Black Evil Law is a five-star magic technique, while the Corpse Devil Record is a four-star magic technique, and the Nirvana Sutra is a six-star technique.
As for the Yin Yang Transformation, Ouyang Nuan hadn’t mentioned it.
"How many stars is the Yin Yang Transformation..." Ning Fan hesitantly asked.
So many people looked down on Yin Yang Transformation, probably because the method’s star level isn’t very high.
"Half a star..."
"Cough cough cough..." Ning Fan choked on his tea again.
The Yin Yang Transformation he painstakingly cultivated couldn’t even be rated as a one-star; could it really be that low level?
Thinking about it, without the Yin Yang Locket, the Yin Yang Transformation is indeed quite weak.
Without the Yin Yang Locket, it would be hard for Ning Fan to perform so many heaven-defying techniques that counter women, merge ice and fire, unify Yin and Yang, or control the Xuan Yin Treasure and the Stele of Sun and Moon.
But with the Yin Yang Locket, this cultivation method becomes extraordinary, or rather, terrifyingly heaven-defying.
"You... are not cultivating the Yin Yang Transformation, are you?" Ouyang Nuan looked at Ning Fan in disbelief.
Such a low-level and lewd magic technique—Ning Fan actually cultivates it.
"Yes, for certain reasons, the first magic technique I practiced was the Yin Yang Transformation." Ning Fan did not deny it but gave a slight explanation.
"Oh..."
Ouyang Nuan seemed a bit low-spirited, as if she could imagine Ning Fan’s image of harvesting a Cauldron Furnace...
Ning Fan sighed softly, not elaborating further.
The facts were as they were, and he disdained to deny them.
The auction continued, a whole day passed, and only a third of the items were auctioned.
The next auction item was the Feather Ascension Pill, which Ning Fan valued greatly.
Earlier, Ning Fan’s financial resources were insufficient, and he lacked confidence in acquiring this pill.
Now, however, he was very confident he could win the bid for this pill.
"The Feather Ascension Pill, no need for the old man to elaborate on its effects, starting bid, thirty million Dao Crystals!"
As soon as Master Yun finished speaking, a tide of competitive bidding erupted.
"Thirty-one million!"
"Thirty-two million!"
"Thirty-three million!"
...
The price of the Feather Ascension Pill rapidly soared to sixty-nine million Dao Crystals.
Those competing for this pill were all Fragmentation Eight Cultivators!
They knew that as long as they obtained this pill, they could directly break through to the Fragmentation Nine Realm and even have a chance to become a Fate Immortal!
"One hundred million Dao Crystals."
Ning Fan quietly called out the price.
He could tell that there were three Fate Immortals here who were hesitating, considering whether to bid for this pill for the younger generation.
But when Ning Fan raised the price to one hundred million, the three Fate Immortals immediately shook their heads in lament and had no further thought of competing for the pill.
It’s not that they couldn’t produce such a sum of Dao Crystals, but spending such a huge amount for outsiders would not be worth it.
With this amount of Dao Crystals, they could greatly enhance their own cultivation.
The Fragmentation Cultivators saw Ning Fan call out this price and also saw him sitting with people from the Medicine Sect; neither did they have the ability nor the courage to continue bidding.
Ning Fan left the jade platform, paid for the pill, and then returned to the third level.
Ouyang Nuan looked deeply troubled, and upon seeing Ning Fan return after successfully winning the Feather Ascension Pill, she bit her lip and said to Ning Fan,
"Yin Yang Transformation really isn’t a good Cultivation Technique, come to the Medicine Sect. I’ll have my master teach you a Five-Star Technique and refine the Feather Ascension Pill for you, okay?"
Ning Fan suddenly paused, how familiar this tone was.
Didn’t Bei Yao (Yuan Yao) say this back then, saying she’d give him the most powerful Cultivation Technique?
He suddenly realized that there was a hint of affection in Ouyang Nuan’s eyes...
"I appreciate your kindness, but you have your path, I have mine, you don’t need to help me with anything."
"We’re friends, as friends, I just want to help you..."
"Is my Cultivation Technique really that bad?" Ning Fan asked with a smile.
"Well, others will say about you... they’ll say..."
"They’ll say I’m shameless, won’t they?"
"..." Ouyang Nuan bit her lip, not knowing how to respond.
"Do you think I’m shameless?" Ning Fan asked with a smile.
"No, your heart is pure and gentle, though empty, it’s full of sunshine... I sensed that from the first time we met."
"As long as you know, it doesn’t matter what others say."
Ning Fan quietly drank his Spiritual Tea, his expression as calm as water.
Ouyang Nuan seemed to have figured something out, let out a long breath, and started teasing the little Maoqiu again, apologetically saying to Ning Fan, "You must have your reasons."
Ning Fan did not answer, just watched the auction house below.
Item after item of exquisite auction lots were continuously sold, and eventually, even the Fate Immortal Dao Fruit was auctioned off.
The one who won the Fate Immortal Dao Fruit was an old Fate Immortal covered in knife scars.
The transaction price was two billion Dao Crystals.
His cultivation was at the peak of the Human Profound!
He acquired this Dao Fruit to break into the Ghost Profound Realm and surely wouldn’t tolerate anyone taking it from him.
Even Ouyang Nuan did not try to compete for the Fate Immortal Dao Fruit, although she knew Ning Fan actually wanted it.
"That old monster is from the Dan Sect, he won’t care about the Medicine Sect’s reputation, provoke him and both you and I will die..." Ouyang Nuan transmitted her voice.
"Dan Sect..."
Ning Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly, he truly had crossed paths with the Dan Sect.
Unfortunately, Ning Fan didn’t have the power to stop this person, otherwise, he wouldn’t mind seeing a Fate Immortal from the Dan Sect fall.
On the third day, Master Yun finally began auctioning the Upper Starfield’s Inlaid Star Compass.
Those who would buy an Upper Inlaid Star Compass were mostly Fate Immortals.
Ning Fan acquired the Inlaid Star Compass of the Ancient Chen Star Domain for eighty million Dao Crystals.
Much less than expected.
"You’re going to the Ancient Chen Star Domain?" Ouyang Nuan asked with concern.
"Yes, I have to go."
"It’s a dangerous place..."
"I have no choice but to go." Ning Fan smiled slightly, these four words expressed his determination.
Ouyang Nuan was slightly startled, then chuckled softly, gently playing with the little Maoqiu in her arms, speaking seemingly casually,
"Father of Maoqiu, be cautious everywhere if you go to the Ancient Chen Star Domain. If you really encounter difficulties, you can seek out an old janitor at the Youhai Star Hundred Medicine Sect, his surname is Qian and given name Kaiyan, he’s an Eighth Revolution Pill Refinement Master..."
"Qian Kaiyan..." Ning Fan silently noted the name.
The name seemed a bit awkward, every time he thought of the name, he had a vision of a shifty old man whose eyes lit up at the sight of money.
Ning Fan suddenly recalled he had three semi-finished Feather Ascension Pills on him; perhaps he could ask Qian Kaiyan to refine them into a finished product.
Just thinking about asking this person to work may mean being blackmailed for a lot of money.
"Take this hairpin; if he doesn’t help you, show him this and he will."
Ouyang Nuan took out a Warm Jade Hairpin and offered it to Ning Fan.
Her expression was very calm, but Ning Fan still noticed her slightly flushed ears.
This Warm Jade Hairpin must be something close to her...
"Thank you."
"Don’t mention it, you’ve agreed to help me search for Uncle Wei, I’m helping you as well. We’re square, don’t you think, father of Maoqiu?"
Ouyang Nuan gently patted Maoqiu’s back, and Maoqiu immediately looked at Ning Fan, whimpering and calling him Dad.
Ning Fan felt a bit helpless, shifting his gaze away to look at the auction house instead.
He had already acquired what he needed and wasn’t much interested in the auction itself anymore.
However, he was still very curious about the last item up for auction.
He was very eager to know what the final centerpiece would be.
On the fourth day, the auction reached its end, and the final showcase item finally appeared.
It was a pattern the size of a palm, lying quietly in a jade box, heavily sealed by layers of formation light.
"This item was found by a fellow Daoist in the divine tomb... a formation pattern of the Immortal Emperor! A corner of the pattern can kill any cultivator below the True Immortal, but it can only be used once. Starting bid, a hundred billion Dao Crystals!"
Several hidden Fate Immortals suddenly became breathless.
They came here solely for this corner of the Immortal Emperor’s formation pattern!
They were purchasing this pattern for the Fate Immortal families behind them. As long as this pattern was in their possession, even True Immortals would have to think twice...
At the moment he saw the corner of the pattern, Ning Fan’s Yin Yang Locket suddenly stirred.
His eyes widened; there was an unexpectedly familiar aura in this corner of the pattern.
The aura of the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor!
However, the divine skill contained in this corner of the pattern was not just the power of Yin Yang Transformation; there was also the power of another cultivation technique.
The Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor was a lifetime master of two techniques: one was the Yin Yang Transformation, and the other was the Chaos Ring Art.
The former was referred to as the Yin Yang Inheritance by later generations; without the Yin Yang Locket, the Yin Yang Transformation would be worthless.
The latter was called the Ancient Chaos Inheritance by later generations and was the most powerful attack skill of the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor!
The Chaos Ring disrupts the cycles of Heaven!
The Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor’s most astonishing battle was the simultaneous appearance of stars in his left eye, right eye, and brow, with twenty-seven stars transforming into moons, and with one finger, he executed 27 Immortal Emperors...
That divine skill with one finger was the attack skill of the Chaos Ring Art.
Ning Fan took a deep breath...
No doubt, this corner of the pattern contains the power of Yin Yang and Chaos Ring...
This corner of the pattern was personally laid by the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor, without a doubt!
"This pattern was found within the divine tomb... it is said countless ancient legacies of Fiendgods are passed down within the tomb... I wonder if there’s an Ancient Chaos Inheritance within... As the inheritor of the Ancient Chaos, it would be a huge loss if I didn’t learn the Chaos Ring Art..."
"Come to think of it, this corner of the pattern is also very useful to me... If I have this corner of the pattern, I’d naturally have another life-saving skill..."
Just as Ning Fan was thinking this, the Yin Yang Locket seemed to come alive, suddenly emitting a faint light.
And the corner of the heavily sealed Immortal Emperor’s formation pattern flickered and disappeared without a trace.
The pattern appeared within the Xuan Yin Treasure...
"150 billion!"
"160 billion!"
"170 billion!"
Several mysterious Fate Immortals were fiercely bidding when suddenly everyone was dumbfounded and stopped bidding.
Master Yun was trying to raise the price a little more. According to his estimation, this corner of the Imperial Formation could at least fetch 200 billion.
Unexpectedly, the price only reached 170 billion, and no one was bidding any further.
Moreover, everyone’s expressions were as if they had seen something inconceivable.
Following everyone’s gaze, Master Yun turned around and looked at the empty jade box amidst the heavy formation light seals.
In an instant, he was equally dumbfounded.
"Who! Who stole that corner of the Imperial Formation! Who!"
Master Yun was both shocked and furious, yet mostly terrified.
Someone who could take away the corner of the Imperial Formation in full view must have a cultivation far beyond all the Fate Immortals present.
It wouldn’t be a Shattered Thought Realm True Immortal, nor would it be a Shedding Void Realm True Immortal; even a Shattered Thought Realm True Immortal couldn’t achieve this...
Standing beside the Imperial Formation, Master Yun was completely oblivious as the pattern vanished without a trace...
"An Immortal Venerable! It must be an Immortal Venerable who is interested in this pattern, so..."
Some old monster of the Void Fragmentation realm murmured a sentence, and the room fell into a dead silence.
Terrifying, truly terrifying!
First, there was a True Immortal hidden in Shaoze Star, practicing the art of fortune.
Then there was an Immortal Venerable hidden in the auction house, silently taking away a corner of the Immortal Emperor’s formation pattern...
Immortal Venerable, Immortal Venerable...
That level of existence could destroy Shaoze Star with a single finger!
If they want to take something from here, who would dare say a word of complaint!
Master Yun lamented endlessly...
The pattern was actually consigned to auction here by a Fate Immortal in the Ghost Profound Realm.
Now that a mysterious Immortal Venerable had taken the pattern, he dared not pursue the responsibility of the Immortal Venerable.
However, with the loss of the pattern, he must compensate that Ghost Profound Fate Immortal with Dao Crystals.
At least a hundred billion Dao Crystals must be compensated...
Sigh...
"Truly terrifying, an Immortal Venerable took the Imperial Formation pattern..." Ouyang Nuan showed a nervous expression, holding Little Maoqiu’s lotus-like arms even tighter.
"Indeed, it’s so terrifying..."
Ning Fan chuckled ruefully, knowing that if the Fate Immortals here realized he had taken the pattern, the consequences would indeed be terrifying.
He wondered if they’d gang up on him to death...
(1/2) Happy Qixi Festival! (To be continued. If you like 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 go to m.qidian.com to read.)