novelraw Chapter 739: Twelve Pavilions
Chapter 739: Twelve Pavilions
A hoarse, gloomy laugh suddenly came from outside the house, cold and sinister; it was Fei He.
Ning Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and then he stood up without showing any emotion.
At the same time, Fei He pushed the door open and walked in.
"Disciple Ning Fan, pays respects to Elder Fei."
Ning Fan did not like Fei He, but he did not show any emotion on his face. He clasped his fists in a respectful salute, extremely courteous in demeanor.
"I felt an instant connection with you, young friend, no need for such formalities."
Fei He waved his hand, found a chair, and sat down, then smiled.
"Young friend, you are truly impressive, sweeping across your peers with a Void Fragmentation peak cultivation and taking first place in this slaughter contest, remarkable!"
"Thank you for the elder’s praise," Ning Fan said respectfully.
"Hmm. I have seen countless people, and such an outstanding junior as yourself is truly rare. I see that your ascension to immortality is imminent, but your understanding of life and death is still lacking. I wish to give you a hand, hehe, what do you think?"
Kindness without cause is either deceit or theft!
Ning Fan’s heart tightened, his vigilance grew, but his face showed no trace of it, and he asked respectfully, "How dare the junior refuse the senior’s kindness, but I wonder how the senior plans to help me?"
"Hehe, I see that your corpse refining talent is considerable, seems like you have completed the third corpse transformation... do you know that the Slaughter Emperor possesses an ancient Eighth Revolution dan refinement called the ’Corpse Dissolution Pill’? It is said that once taken by a cultivator who has undergone the third corpse transformation, it can greatly enhance their understanding of life and death, and the chance of achieving immortality is increased by a full ten percent! Additionally, the time needed to solidify his foundation after achieving immortality can be greatly reduced! This pill is something quite invaluable for you! Hehe, I happen to have some matters and want to enter the Blood Realm to meet the Slaughter Emperor, so how about it, young friend? Why don’t you join me in entering the Blood Realm to meet the Slaughter Emperor and personally seek the dan refinement for the Corpse Dissolution Pill, hmm? Given your outstanding talents, the Slaughter Emperor will most likely be willing to grant you the dan refinement."
Having said that, Fei He looked at Ning Fan with a sinister smile. He had already decided to bring Ning Fan into the Blood Realm, regardless of Ning Fan’s consent; there was no possibility of refusal!
The Corpse Dissolution Pill’s dan refinement was crucial to his plan, and he had to obtain it no matter what!
"Senior wishes for the junior to accompany you to the Slaughter Blood Realm, to meet the Slaughter Emperor?" Ning Fan’s face remained unchanged, but he was secretly overjoyed; it was as if a pillow arrived just when he wanted to sleep!
He was contemplating how to enter the Blood Realm to meet the Slaughter Emperor, and Fei He just came to ’help’ him.
"What, you don’t wish to enter the Blood Realm with me?" Fei He’s gaze turned cold.
Ning Fan was silent for a moment, appearing as if hesitant, but inside he had already agreed to enter the Blood Realm.
After a long while, Ning Fan feigned a bitter smile, "Everything is at the arrangement of the senior."
"Hehe, very well then." Fei He nodded in satisfaction, a hint of disdain in his eyes as he looked at Ning Fan.
Thinking, so what if this boy’s talents are high? He hasn’t fully matured yet, still just a Void Fragmentation cultivator, thinking he could defy my orders and escape my plan.
The first step was to help Ning Fan become immortal, continually enhancing Ning Fan’s power.
The second step was to use Ning Fan as a vessel to target Yao Qingyun, then merge and devour him!
The premise of this plan is that Ning Fan must have at least Fate Immortal cultivation, and the higher his power, the greater the benefits Fei He could reap.
That is why Fei He went to great lengths to assist Ning Fan in becoming immortal. To kill and eat chickens, one must first fatten the chicks step by step, right?
"Since you have agreed to this matter, in three days, I will come to find you to enter the Blood Realm!" Fei He said with a sinister smile, stood up, and was about to leave.
Ning Fan’s eyes moved slightly, and he asked, "The junior is willing to follow the senior into the Blood Realm to meet the Slaughter Emperor, but I am somewhat concerned that the round trip might make it difficult to attend the blood pool baptism in three months."
"Hehe, there’s no need to worry about that; two months’ time will be enough for us to return from the Blood Realm, I would never let you miss the blood pool baptism! How could I bear to see your chance of immortality diminish?"
Fei He let out a sinister laugh, licking his lips, and then instructed,
"The Four Rounds of the Great Competition must have exhausted you, so take a good rest, and in three days, I will come to find you and take you into the Blood Realm. During these three days, you may wander about the Slaughter Pavilion and see if there is anything that could increase your power; try to buy as many power-enhancing items as possible, don’t hesitate to spend your Slaughter Value. Here are a trillion Dao Crystals that I am giving you; consider it a token of my regard. If you find that your Slaughter Value is insufficient, use these Dao Crystals to purchase what you need. Hehe, feel free to buy whatever you want, don’t be stingy; remember, only the money you spend is truly yours, because when one dies, all possessions will eventually change hands."
Having said that, Fei He again let out a sinister laugh. His figure flickered and then vanished into a faint blood shadow.
After Fei He left, Ning Fan stared at the storage pouch on the table, silent for a long time.
His brows gradually furrowed.
"Fei He is really generous, willing to take out a trillion Dao Crystals to give me, and even going to such lengths to bring me into the Blood Realm just to acquire the Corpse Dissolution Pill and assist me in becoming immortal... If anyone were to say this person has goodwill towards me, I fear no one would believe it."
"What exactly does he have planned for me? Initially, I thought he just wanted to use me to get rid of Yao Qingyun. But now, it seems the situation is nothing like I imagined. This person has been eyeing not only Yao Qingyun but also me... Moreover, I always feel his gaze upon me is like..."
Like a mortal looking at a beast within a pen!
Waiting for the beast to grow just a bit more before... slaughtering it!
"Ning Fan, Fei He has ill intentions. You should avoid going to the Slaughter Blood Realm. I’m afraid you will gradually fall into his trap..." Ouyang Nuan expressed her concern in the Yuan Yao World.
"Why are you talking nonsense? It was hard enough to enter the Slaughter Hall and gain a chance to meet the Slaughter Emperor in the Blood Realm, how could I miss it? Rest assured, you’ve seen the Innate Ghost Mask that I’ve refined, right? With this treasure in hand, even if Fei He truly wants to kill me, I’m confident I can retreat safely."
"Furthermore, I can see that although Fei He bears ill will towards me, he will never make a move against me before I achieve immortality. His plot seems to require me to attain the Fate Immortal realm before proceeding. Before I become immortal, I can use him and leverage his power to gain considerable benefits."
Fei He is a wolf, a tiger. Ning Fan’s actions undoubtedly mean dancing with wolves and trading skins with tigers.
Even though he understands that confronting Fei He is exceedingly dangerous, Ning Fan has no way to avoid this battle.
From the moment Fei He first approached him, there was no retreating; he had to follow Fei He’s plan and at the crucial moment, make Fei He’s efforts come to nothing!
"Nuan’er, the Eternal Jade is almost within reach..." Ning Fan smiled.
"Oh." Ouyang Nuan’s heart was still burdened with worry.
The Eternal Jade was indeed just a step away, but that step was the most perilous of all.
This step required Ning Fan to face the Slaughter Emperor and request the jade from him.
Whether the jade would be granted was entirely up to the Slaughter Emperor, not Ning Fan.
Though Ning Fan held the Death-Exemption Token, ensuring he wouldn’t die in the worst case, Ouyang Nuan was still concerned for his safety.
"Do you still remember our wager?" Ning Fan suddenly changed the subject.
"Ah..." In the Yuan Yao World, Ouyang Nuan seemed to remember something and her ears grew hot, her face flushed like fire.
"A moment of spring!" Ning Fan teased.
"Despicable!" Ouyang Nuan retorted crossly.
Here she was, worried to death, while he was thinking about all sorts of absurd things.
Indeed, his head is full of nonsense!
After the four rounds of the competition, Ning Fan was indeed exhausted. After teasing Ouyang Nuan to a playful anger, he sat cross-legged on the bed alone and began to meditate.
Having entered the Slaughter Hall, Ning Fan naturally dared not sleep soundly in the disciple quarters; that would be seeking death.
For him, meditation counted as decent rest.
On the first day, there were numerous disciples of the Slaughter Hall coming to visit, all were turned away by Ning Fan.
On the second day, Ning Fan was refreshed, stepped out, exchanged a few pleasantries with the visiting fellow disciples, and then headed to the main pavilion of the Slaughter Hall in Slaughter City.
The Slaughter Hall was different from typical Eastern Heaven sects; it imposed very few restrictions on its disciples. As a disciple of the Slaughter Hall, one could freely leave the sect, even for hundreds or thousands of years, without issue.
The Slaughter Hall cultivators, all assassins by nature, rarely had fixed duties. Apart from elder orders or mandates from the Slaughter Emperor, no tasks would be imposed.
Every assassin in the Slaughter Hall carried a Slaughter Jade, which recorded their respective Slaughter Value.
There are three sources of Slaughter Value: spending Dao Crystals to purchase them; completing tasks to earn them; killing fellow disciples of the hall and seizing their Slaughter Value.
If buying Slaughter Value with Dao Crystals, one must spend ten thousand Dao Crystals to purchase one Slaughter Value.
If completing tasks, there are two types to choose from.
One is the task of sitting in the Slaughter Hall; with countless pavilions in Eastern Heaven, this task is quite leisurely, yielding little Slaughter Value but suitable for those busy with enlightenment and retreat.
The other is the Red Suspended task, which includes assassination as well as occasional treasure-seeking missions. Completing these tasks not only offers Dao Crystals but also Slaughter Value equivalent to the Dao Crystals.
Being a cultivator of the Slaughter Hall, completing Red Suspended tasks would not incur a two-tenths broker fee deduction.
Killing fellow disciples can also earn Slaughter Value; the slain’s Slaughter Value transfers automatically to the killer’s Slaughter Jade.
The Slaughter Hall doesn’t force disciples and followers to undertake tasks; it has its ways to make these assassins willingly complete them.
Slaughter Value serves two purposes: one, to exchange for necessities within the General Pavilion of Slaughter; and second, for self-preservation.
Slaughter Value is the life of Slaughter Hall masters!
If one’s Slaughter Value is depleted, they will be hunted by the masked assassins of Slaughter Hall until they accumulate Slaughter Value again, at which point the pursuit halts!
Every year, the Slaughter Hall deducts a fixed Slaughter Value from the disciples based on different standards.
Void Fragmentation disciples lose 5 points of Slaughter Value annually, equating to 50,000 Dao Crystals.
Fate Immortal cultivators lose 100 points annually, equating to 1 million Dao Crystals.
True Immortal cultivators lose 5,000 points annually, worth 50 million Dao Crystals.
Upon reaching the Second Step, a single meditation can last years, decades, or even centuries; one can only imagine how much Slaughter Value they’d lose.
Slaughter Hall does not mandate its disciples to protect themselves; fail to protect yourself, and you may fall to attacks by fellow sect members.
Slaughter Hall does not compel disciples to take on tasks; refuse to complete tasks, and run out of Slaughter Value, all that’s left is awaiting death.
Ning Fan appreciates the freedom and unrestrained nature of Slaughter Hall but dislikes its callous atmosphere.
Between the disciples, there is scarce camaraderie; there is no bond between the sect and its disciples.
And yet, this aloof sect safeguards the Slaughter Blood Realm behind...
Ning Fan still remembers the sorrow he felt standing atop the Blood Realm.
He could sense that the existence of Slaughter Hall, Blood Sea Star, and even the Blood Sea Star Realm was solely for the Slaughter Blood Realm.
Clearing his mind of distractions, Ning Fan stands before a grand bloody pavilion, his gaze flickering.
Upon this bloody pavilion is inscribed grand and overwhelming formation patterns, shimmering crystal light, ominous with Evil Qi.
This is the General Pavilion of the Slaughter Hall!
"Greetings, Junior Brother Ning!"
On the long street outside the pavilion, a group of masters with the Human Profound Level cultivation, patrolling there, all respectfully clasp their fists toward Ning Fan, expressions filled with awe.
Within Slaughter Hall now, who doesn’t recognize Ning Fan.
Below the Ghost Immortal Realm, which cultivator would underestimate Ning Fan.
Ning Fan, without relying on the Blast God Technique, ascended to the sixty-fifth floor of the Tower of Heaven, revealing strength that even made some Ghost Profound cultivators revere.
Moreover, Ning Fan now holds the Blast God Technique as a trump card, sufficient to instantly kill a Mid Stage Enlightenment master.
With the Death-Exemption Token in hand, no cultivator of Slaughter Hall dares to make a move against him.
These masters treat Ning Fan with considerable reverence, unable to exhibit any negligence.
"Ning Fan greets all senior brothers and sisters."
Ning Fan slightly clasps his fists in return to the patrolling masters then strides toward the main pavilion.
Outside the luminous door of the main pavilion, guarding are two Ghost-faced elders, both possessing Initial Stage Crossing Truth realm cultivation.
With True Immortal realm cultivation, they wouldn’t show deference even facing a Fate Immortal.
Yet upon seeing Ning Fan, they manage to squeeze out a few smiles, offering cordial smiles.
Ning Fan likewise squeezes out a few smiles, responding with smiles to them.
Entering the luminous door, inside it turns out to be a realm within a realm, its own world!
Not vast, seemingly incomplete, though its level prevents even a Shattered Thought Realm True Immortal from forcefully trespassing!
In this realm within a realm, seven enormous silver stars are inlaid in the sky, linked as Northern Dipper, illuminating the entire space.
On the ground, twelve massive pavilions are built: Divine Soldiers Pavilion, Immortal Arts Pavilion, Pill-Grade Pavilion, Immortal Talisman Pavilion, Puppet Pavilion, Immortal Array Pavilion, Cauldron Pavilion, Red Suspended Pavilion, Spirit Beast Pavilion, Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Transmission Skills Pavilion, Transmission Pavilion.
The Divine Soldiers Pavilion sells a dazzling array of magical treasures and spirit equipment, as well as various spirit ores for crafting them.
The Immortal Arts Pavilion sells divine skills and cultivation techniques of all levels.
The Pill-Grade Pavilion sells expensive pills, dan refinement, and Spiritual Medicine of all levels.
The Immortal Talisman Pavilion, Puppet Pavilion, Immortal Array Pavilion, Spirit Beast Pavilion offer various Immortal Talismans, puppets, Array Plates, and demon pets.
The Red Suspended Pavilion allows task exchanges, hiring bodyguards, and purchasing Slaughter Value with Dao Crystals. The Cauldron Pavilion has male and female cauldron furnaces, and the Hundred Treasures Pavilion sells various spirits and items, like Inlaid Star Compass and Immortal Flames.
In the Transmission Skills Pavilion, one may request seniors to guide in cultivation techniques and training, though, of course, it costs money.
In the Transmission Pavilion, there are countless star realm Teleportation Formations, some near, spanning several realms, others reaching distances hundreds, thousands of realms away.
Shopping here requires Dao Crystals or Slaughter Value.
If there are finished expensive pills, magical treasures, etc., they can also be sold to the Twelve Pavilions to exchange for a certain Slaughter Value.
Each pavilion of the Twelve Pavilions is guarded by a Shedding Void Stage old monster.
The Twelve Pavilion Masters hold immense respect within the Slaughter Hall.
Above them is the Slaughter Emperor, beneath are the twenty-four outer elders, then the Twelve Pavilion Masters, followed by the eight hundred masked ones.
Below the masked ones, are ordinary Slaughter Hall cultivators, who all share brotherhood identities.
In this realm within a realm, many Slaughter Hall cultivators come and go; seeing Ning Fan here, most greet him with smiles.
Whether those smiles are genuine or not, is impossible to discern.
Ning Fan also feigns smiles in replying to various senior brothers and sisters’ greetings, his gaze wandering among the Twelve Pavilions.
He possesses a total of 27,270,000 Slaughter Value and 120 billion Dao Crystals; with these assets, he rivals Shedding Void Stage, undoubtedly capable of purchasing many good things from the Twelve Pavilions.
Previously, Ning Fan would likely spend most of the money on self-preservation methods.
Nowadays, having refined the Innate Ghost Mask, greatly boosting self-preservation, he can spend most of his money on advancing his cultivation and strengthening his power.
Ning Fan has not yet visited the Red Suspended Pavilion, first heading to the Divine Soldiers Pavilion.
This pavilion sells quite a few formidable magical treasures, even methods for refining Dao Weapons and the materials needed.
Ning Fan has little interest in magical treasures, yet shows much interest in Dao Weapon refining methods, spending only 10,000 Slaughter Values to buy a jade scroll about sword-shaped Dao Weapon refining, which includes thousands of sword-shaped Dao Weapon refining methods.
He purchases this jade scroll simply to first familiarize himself with Dao Weapon refining methods.
As an unascended Immortal now, he’s yet to decide on the refining path for the Memory Severing Dao Sword, thus naturally, won’t rush to purchase needed spirit ores.
Stowing away the Dao Weapon scroll, Ning Fan browses spirit equipment.
For healing, he has the Black Star Technique; for defense, the Three Flowers Art; for concealing, the Innate Ghost Mask; Ning Fan currently lacks only cultivation speed.
His intention is to purchase a speed-enhancing spirit equipment, similar to Wu Chen’s Blood Lotus Spiritual Outfit, which promises impressive cultivation speed, comparable to Crossing Truth, and flying consumes no Mana.
A Blood Lotus Spiritual Outfit costs 4 million Slaughter Value, its cultivation speed matching the Initial Stage Crossing Truth level.
A White Lotus Spiritual Outfit costs 40 million Slaughter Value, its cultivation speed matching the Shedding Void Stage level.
A Black Lotus Spiritual Outfit lists a price of 400 million Slaughter Value, cultivation speed matching the Shattered Thought Early Stage level.
Ning Fan gazes at the White and Black Lotus, tremendously tempted; buying either would allow him to escape using them, making even Shedding Void Stage old monsters like Fei He struggle to catch him.
Regrettably, both the White and Black Lotus are too expensive for him to afford.
"Really unfortunate... Money is never enough." Ning Fan sighs.
(1/2) (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast votes for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)