novelraw Chapter 740: Fiendgods’ Temporal Cave
Chapter 740: Fiendgods’ Temporal Cave
Unable to afford the Blacklotus Nail or White Lotus, Ning Fan could only settle for buying the relatively cheaper Blood Lotus Spiritual Outfit.
The payment method was quite simple: just flash the Slaughter Jade at the counter holding the Blood Lotus Spiritual Outfit, and the formation light on the counter would disappear, allowing the buyer to take the item.
The Slaughter Value in the Slaughter Jade would automatically deduct four million.
Remaining Slaughter Value: 23.26 million.
With the Blood Lotus in hand, in the future when confronting Masters below True Immortal, Ning Fan, even if outnumbered, could easily escape.
Moreover, with the concealment divine skill of the Ghost-Faced Spirit Attire, Ning Fan thought there was no need to spend money on purchasing attack jade scrolls or attack Immortal Talismans for the time being.
The jade scrolls and Immortal Talismans with Enlightenment Strike cost about a million Slaughter Values, equivalent to a hundred billion Dao Crystals.
Since there were means to save one’s life, there was no need to buy attack jade scrolls as a last resort; the money could be spent elsewhere.
In the Puppet Pavilion, a Human Profound Puppet costs around fifty thousand Slaughter Values, while a Ghost Profound Puppet costs around a million.
The Enlightenment Puppet was more expensive, with a puppet at the initial cultivation stage costing twenty million, equal to two trillion Dao Crystals.
Ning Fan thought about it but still decided against buying the Enlightenment Puppet.
The initial stage Enlightenment Puppet offered too little help, and the price was terrifyingly high.
The price of one Enlightenment Puppet was enough for Ning Fan to hire a Shedding Void Stage assassin from the Red Suspended Pavilion for two tries.
Not worth it.
The price of Demonic Mounts is slightly higher than puppets of the same level.
The price of a Fate Immortal Pet is generally above fifty thousand Slaughter Values, equivalent to fifty billion Dao Crystals.
Ning Fan couldn’t help but recall the past events on Shaoze Star, where he cut out multiple Fate Immortal Pets from fairies’ treasuries and sold them all off for a billion...
Seemed to have lost quite a bit...
Without purchasing demon pets, after all, Ning Fan already had Zili. To Ning Fan, none could be found more loyal and protective than Zili.
Except for Little Black...
In the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, there were many Five Elements Spiritual Objects; if Ning Fan had enough funds, he could buy enough Five Elements Spiritual Objects to refine his Grand Five Elements Body to its peak.
Unfortunately, an eighth-level low-grade Immortal Fire Seed alone costs a hundred thousand Slaughter Values, equivalent to ten billion Dao Crystals.
To refine the Grand Five Elements Body to Five Elements’ perfection, at least five trillion Dao Crystals are needed.
Ning Fan temporarily lacked the funds to invest in the Grand Five Elements Body.
In the Cauldron Pavilion, there were countless Cauldron Furnaces; a Human Profound Furnace cost a hundred thousand Slaughter Values, and a Ghost Profound Furnace two hundred thousand.
There were also Crossing True Cauldrons, costing five million Slaughter Values each, with just six in the entire Cauldron Pavilion, two men and four women.
As for Shedding Void Stage Furnaces, there were none.
With his mana still at its limit, Cauldron Furnaces were temporarily useless, despite being tempting, so he didn’t purchase any.
After advancing to Fate Immortal, it would be a good time to buy Cauldron Furnaces for cultivation.
Passing by the Transmission Skills Pavilion, Ning Fan suddenly halted his steps.
The pavilion leader was holding a seminar, discussing the True Void doctrine today!
Entering the pavilion required a payment of ten thousand Slaughter Values, which wasn’t expensive.
Ning Fan’s eyes flickered slightly; he paid the Slaughter Values and stepped into the Transmission Skills Pavilion.
He was quite interested in the True Void doctrine, though for him, it was a bit early to be listening about it.
What met his eyes was a vacant mountain-water Peach Blossom Land, with a gold-robed Shekong seated on a high platform, and over a hundred Slaughter Hall Masters below, all Fate Immortals.
The gold-robed Shekong sat expressionless, speaking calmly about the Cultivation Technique.
Around him was an aura of eons and ancient sadness.
This aura was clearly unique to those in the Eternity Realm, yet it appeared on a Shekong Cultivator.
Arriving late, Ning Fan stood at the back behind a Bodhi Tree, quietly listening to the doctrine.
"May I ask the Pavilion Master, what is void, and what is reality?" a middle-aged Fate Immortal asked respectfully.
"What is void? What is reality? A first step cultivator stretches out their palm; what can be touched is reality, what cannot be touched is void."
"May I ask the Pavilion Master, what is void, and what is truth?" the middle-aged Fate Immortal continued asking.
"What is void? What is truth? What can be touched is not necessarily truth. What cannot be touched is not necessarily untruth."
"Zhuangzi dreams of a butterfly, the butterfly dreams of Zhuangzi; who is truth, who is void? Or perhaps both are void or both are truth?"
"For example, within this wisp of flame, there are ten billion firelights, each possessing its own dao, which dao truly belongs to this wisp of flame?"
The gold-robed Shekong spread his palm, and a wisp of flame emerged from it.
With a lift of his hand, the golden flame transformed into ten billion faint golden firelights, soaring into the sky.
Ten billion firelights, possessing ten billion different flame daos, which one truly is the fire’s dao?
"What is a True Immortal? A practitioner of the true dao is a True Immortal. What is the true dao? Within a wisp of flame lies the Great Dao of ten billion, and within ten billion wisps of flame, how many flame daos are there? Within a realm, there are ten billion flames, and across ten billion worlds, how many flames are there? How many fire daos? There are countless fire daos in the world, yet there is only one true flame dao."
"In your eyes, any of these ten billion flame daos can be the true dao, and yet none of them may be the true dao. In my eyes, none of these ten billion flame daos is the true dao... Do you understand what truth is now? Can you understand how to seek the true dao?"
After speaking, the gold-robed Shekong fell silent, scanning the audience below, observing the expressions of the listeners.
Below, each Fate Immortal showed a look of confusion, none truly understanding.
The gold-robed Shekong shook his head in disappointment. He had spoken so plainly, yet these people still did not understand what the truth was; their aptitude truly was lacking.
Suddenly, the gold-robed Shekong’s gaze shifted towards Ning Fan.
He clearly saw that Ning Fan’s eyes were only dazed for a moment, then became clear, showing a thoughtful expression.
"Oh? This young man has not yet stepped into the Second Step, yet can comprehend this old man’s words?"
The gold-robed Shekong revealed a satisfied smile and asked in the direction of Ning Fan, "Your aptitude is not bad, what is your name? When did you join the hall? How is it that I have never heard of you?"
Ning Fan was startled, cupped his fists, and replied, "Disciple Ning Fan, just recently joined the Slaughter Hall, it’s natural for the Pavilion Master not to recognize me."
His voice was neither servile nor overbearing,
His demeanor had no flattery, nor arrogance, no humility, even less fear. There was only reflection upon the Dao.
The gold-robed Shekong’s eyes lit up, it had been so long since he had seen a junior so dedicated to the Dao.
"Ning Fan, is it? Good, this old man will remember you." The gold-robed Shekong nodded in satisfaction. He spent his days secluded in the Transmission Skills Pavilion, solely seeking to comprehend the Dao, uninterested in worldly affairs. It’s no surprise he hadn’t heard of Ning Fan’s formidable battle achievements.
However, among the hundreds of Fate Immortals present, there was no one unaware of Ning Fan.
Ning Fan had arrived midway through the lecture, and these people were so engrossed in listening that they hadn’t noticed Ning Fan’s arrival.
Now, upon seeing Ning Fan, each Human Profound Fate Immortal was astonished, while the Ghost Profound Fate Immortals showed expressions of fear and solemnity.
The gold-robed Shekong was taken aback again, thinking to himself, this First Step junior is truly formidable, able to make so many Immortal cultivators change their expressions with a Void Fragmentation cultivation.
"Your aptitude is commendable, and your comprehension is also noteworthy. Should you encounter difficulties in your cultivation in the future, feel free to consult this old man in the Transmission Skills Pavilion, and I will help resolve your doubts free of charge. Today’s lecture is concluded, disperse. You, stay behind."
Having said that, the gold-robed Shekong stood up, gradually transforming into countless golden light points and disappearing.
A golden light condensed, and the gold-robed Shekong appeared beside Ning Fan.
All at once, everyone present looked at Ning Fan with envy.
The owner of the Transmission Skills Pavilion, named Jin Xianzu, had been at the Peak of Shekong for a hundred thousand years, only a step away from mumbling.
Though his cultivation wasn’t the highest in the Slaughter Hall, his Dao enlightenment was even stronger than the Minghai Celestial King’s.
Even some mumbling elders, when facing cultivation problems, often consulted Jin Xianzu, naturally at a cost.
In the entire Slaughter Hall, only four people could catch Jin Xianzu’s favorable eye and ask questions for free.
Ning Fan was the fifth!
"This child’s aptitude must be extraordinary, and his comprehension astonishing, or he could never catch the Pavilion Master’s favorable eye!"
One by one, the Fate Immortal cultivators looked at Ning Fan enviously, sighing as they left the Transmission Skills Pavilion.
Soon, only Ning Fan and Jin Xianzu were left in the Transmission Skills Pavilion.
Ning Fan remained indifferent to everything, replaying the scene of flames transforming into a billion fires in his mind.
After a long time, Ning Fan sighed deeply, cupping his fists and expressing admiration to Jin Xianzu in front of him, "The senior’s words directly point to the true Dao, the junior is impressed."
"Not bad, you have a proud but humble Dao heart, making you a good material for seeking the Dao. Tell me, the method of seeking truth I just spoke about, specifically, how can one attain true Dao?" Jin Xianzu asked with a smile.
Ning Fan did not dare to be negligent, pondered for a moment, and solemnly said.
"In the world, there are countless Dao of fire, but only those that align with one’s own Dao are true; the rest are all illusions!"
"There is no strongest grand Dao in this world, only the grand Dao most suitable for oneself, that is the true Dao!"
"If the junior did not misunderstand, the senior’s method of seeking truth today is: to seek the true Dao, first seek one’s own Dao."
Hearing Ning Fan’s answer, Jin Xianzu nodded in satisfaction, "Not bad, to seek the true Dao, first seek one’s own Dao. Everyone’s Dao is different, therefore their true Dao is also different. Your Dao heart is very firm because there is a Dao within. Though you have found your own Dao, you have yet to prove it or cultivate a Dao image. The grand Dao is formless and shapeless because it does not belong to your Dao. If you prove the Dao, there will be a Dao image."
What Jin Xianzu referred to as proving the Dao is a threshold that Ghost Profound Peak-stage cultivators must face.
If they have not proven their own Dao, naturally, they are not qualified to seek the true Dao, enter the Crossing Truth Realm, and become a True Immortal.
Strictly speaking, Ning Fan has not yet become an Immortal and certainly does not need to prove the Dao.
However, Jin Xianzu felt that with Ning Fan’s extraordinary aptitude and comprehension, he now had the qualification to prove the Dao.
"Prove the Dao... Dao image..."
Ning Fan’s gaze was at times dazed, at times clear.
He had long had an inkling that his Dao was to protect those behind him, but proving this Dao was too difficult.
"How to prove the Dao?" Ning Fan asked in confusion.
Jin Xianzu did not answer Ning Fan’s question, merely tossed out a pine seed.
A streak of golden light sent the pine seed into the soil beside it, and under the urging of the golden light, the pine seed grew, sprouted, and then gradually grew.
In just over a dozen breaths, it grew into a towering Arhat Pine, embraced by three people.
"What is the Dao of this Arhat Pine?" Jin Xianzu asked with a smile.
If it were an ordinary person, they would surely answer that it is to break through the earth, grow into a giant tree, and become a pillar.
Unfortunately, that was merely the Dao Jin Xianzu imparted to the Arhat Pine, not the correct answer.
Yet Ning Fan pondered for a long time, finally, shook his head and sighed, "I do not know."
Jin Xianzu smiled in satisfaction, "Naturally, you do not know, because you are not it. Its Dao is only known to itself. Now, let me ask you, how should this Arhat Pine prove the Dao?"
Ning Fan’s eyes lit up, and he cupped his fists, "Thank you, senior, for your guidance."
The Dao of the Arhat Pine is only known to itself.
How to comprehend the Dao, only it can ponder and reflect, outsiders cannot assist.
If you are not the pine, you do not understand the Dao of the pine.
"Old man did not enlighten you; with your perception, understanding these is just a matter of time. Although I cannot help you comprehend the Dao, I can offer you a method to contemplate life and death."
After speaking, Jin Xianzu pointed with a golden light, drawing a golden circle on the dirt around Ning Fan.
"Step out of this circle, and you will understand life and death!"
Ning Fan looked down at the golden circle beneath his feet, his expression sometimes blank, sometimes clear,
The circle dissolved into specks of light and vanished. Ning Fan stood in place for a long time, closing his eyes in deep thought.
After a long while, he opened his eyes, clasped his hands in thanks to Jin Xianzu, and said, "Thank you, Senior, for your guidance."
"Hmm. Go now. Your mind is free of doubts, that’s good. After you become immortal, if you have further questions, you can always come to the Transmission Skills Pavilion to find this old man."
Finishing his words, Jin Xianzu’s body dispersed into strands of golden light and faded, destination unknown.
"Comprehend life and death, become immortal, understand Dao!"
Ning Fan’s eyes shone with determination as he took a deep look at the Arhat Pine, then strode out of the Transmission Skills Pavilion.
If completing the comprehension of the Dao of Life and Death originally required a hundred years, after Jin Xianzu’s guidance, Ning Fan needed at most forty years to complete it, break through the Immortal Position, and step into the Second Step!
After leaving the Transmission Skills Pavilion, Ning Fan went to the Immortal Arts Pavilion.
This place offers cultivation techniques and spirit sense jade scrolls of various levels.
Here, Ning Fan found the jade scroll for cultivating the second flower of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, priced at one million slaughter points.
After considering, Ning Fan decided to buy this jade scroll.
Anyway, this jade scroll isn’t too expensive; even if it’s not immediately useful, it can be bought and set aside first.
Besides this, Ning Fan also spent one hundred thousand slaughter points to purchase a high-grade immortal technique—’Flame Dragon’s Breath’.
Although this technique is high-grade, if the cultivator’s fire is strong enough, its power is comparable to a peak immortal technique!
If the cultivator happens to have a powerful Demon Bloodline, its power is comparable to a low-grade true technique!
With the strength of Ning Fan’s Demon Bloodline, as long as the flame intensity is continuously improved, this technique can potentially be used up to the initial stage of Crossing Truth Realm.
Thus, Ning Fan bought this technique, but was not in a hurry to cultivate it.
Remaining slaughter points: 22.06 million.
Finally, Ning Fan stepped into the Pill-Grade Pavilion.
Spending 100,000 slaughter points, Ning Fan purchased enough Jade Royal Dan to cultivate the Ancient Devil Cultivation Realm to the Supreme Demon Peak.
Spending 1,000,000 slaughter points, Ning Fan bought a piece of eight-transformation medium quality pill—’Immortal Sealing Pill’.
This pill can increase the chance of becoming immortal by five percent, multiple doses are ineffective, buying one is sufficient.
Naturally, Ning Fan does not mind having a higher chance of becoming immortal. Even though one million slaughter points are expensive, he can afford it.
Subsequently, Ning Fan spent nearly 20 million slaughter points and a trillion Dao Crystals to purchase over 1700 one-million-year-old spiritual herbs.
He has already bought enough pills to bring his mana, body, and spirit sense all to the peak of the First Step, enough to become immortal.
The remaining money was almost entirely spent on medicine for cultivating the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top.
Remaining slaughter points: 1 million, Dao Crystals: 20 billion.
Slaughter points should not be completely used up, some Dao Crystals should be kept as a precaution.
He did not buy an Array Plate for undergoing the ascension tribulation; he doesn’t need those things.
With his current strength, he is not afraid of the immortal ascension lightning tribulation. Even if this tribulation were ten times stronger, he would not fear it!
Wandering around, visiting all Twelve Pavilions, Ning Fan finally returned to the Disciple Quarters.
There is one day left until the journey to The Blood Realm.
One day is too short to refine the Blood Lotus Spiritual Outfit or the Spiritual Medicine, or to cultivate the Three Flowers.
According to Ning Fan’s plan, he would cultivate for one more day in the Disciple Quarters and then accompany Fei He to The Blood Realm to meet the Slaughter Emperor and request the Eternal Jade.
Unfortunately, just as he returned to the Disciple Quarters, Ning Fan heard sobbing from his room.
Instantly, Ning Fan frowned.
He dislikes others intruding into his territory, even if it’s a temporary residence—the Disciple Quarters.
Pushing open the door, Ning Fan saw a little girl in blue lying on his bed, sobbing.
Upon seeing Ning Fan return, the girl in blue lifted her head pitifully, her eyes teary as she looked at Ning Fan.
Her appearance wasn’t extraordinarily beautiful, but she was fair and pretty; crying like this, she seemed quite pitiful.
Unfortunately, her pitiful demeanor did nothing to move Ning Fan’s cold heart.
"Who are you?" Ning Fan frowned, impatiently asked.
"I...my name is Lux Xiner, Senior Brother Ning, we met earlier this morning, don’t you remember me..." Lux Xiner’s heart sank as she met Ning Fan’s indifferent gaze.
During the grand competition, this little girl was already captivated by Ning Fan’s brilliance.
This morning, she followed a group of Disciples of Slaughter Hall to greet Ning Fan. Too nervous, she only managed to introduce her name, and lacked the courage to speak a second sentence with Ning Fan.
However, she exchanged a glance with Ning Fan, and thought he would remember her name.
The harsh reality is that Ning Fan completely ignored her.
"Lu Xiner?"
Ning Fan recollected for a moment. It seemed that in the morning, there was a little girl claiming to be Lu Xiner.
But at that time, Ning Fan had no interest in these Slaughter Hall Masters and didn’t pay attention to the little girl, not even taking a close look at her appearance.
"Yes, Ning Shidi, you remember me, don’t you!" Lu Xiner broke into a smile, her little face full of joy.
When you like someone, it is happiness to be simply acknowledged by them.
"Hmm, I remember. Do you need something from me?" Ning Fan asked indifferently.
"Yes, yes... I want to ask Ning Shidi for a favor..." Lu Xiner blushed, twirling her fingers, her head down, stammering.
"No time." Ning Fan declined directly.
"You haven’t even heard what I want your help with..." Lu Xiner bit her lip.
"Not interested." Ning Fan said coldly.
He had no acquaintance with Lu Xiner; her troubles had nothing to do with him.
He was always indifferent, gentle only to extraordinary people.
"I, I... I’m sorry, you just joined the Slaughter Hall, with so much to do. I’m bothering you, I, I... It’s my fault..."
Lu Xiner bit her lip, holding back tears, and walked out of the room in despair.
"By the way... Ning Shidi, this jade scroll might help you in becoming an Immortal, or maybe not..."
Lu Xiner suddenly remembered something, took out a blue jade scroll, and placed it on the table.
With a quiet sigh, she walked out of the door.
She hadn’t come to trouble Ning Fan; she originally wanted to help Ning Fan become an Immortal, hoping he would have some good impression of her.
But as soon as she saw Ning Fan, her heart was in disarray, just wanting to pour out all her grievances to the one she liked, forgetting her original intention.
"Now, I’ve completely annoyed him... Lu Xiner, you’re really useless. The first time liking someone, the first time being coldly rejected..."
After Lu Xiner left, Ning Fan casually picked up the jade scroll on the table, scanning it with his spirit sense, and his expression suddenly changed.
"Flowing Sand Secret Realm, Ancient God’s Temporal Cave!"
Lu Xiner had accidentally wandered into a secret realm in the Flowing Sand Star Sea and even found a cave dwelling left by an Ancient God!
In that cave, there was an almost terrifying power of time. With Lu Xiner’s Intermediate Harmonious Spirit cultivations, she couldn’t even enter.
She only searched around the outskirts of the cave and found a Flowing Sand Pearl.
She believed that there must be even greater opportunities within the cave!
She knew she never had the ability to obtain the opportunity inside, so she told Ning Fan about it, hoping to offer him some help.
She had never told anyone about this secret cave.
If it weren’t for meeting Ning Fan, she might never have mentioned it in her life...
Ning Fan put away the jade scroll with a light sigh.
Lu Xiner’s infatuation was understandable to him. He knew that Lu Xiner’s feeling towards him was just a girl’s momentary admiration.
And admiration is the most distant distance from understanding.
Too many girls admired him; did he have to respond to each one of them?
But this girl left him a jade scroll, a rather helpful jade scroll.
Considering the jade scroll, there’s no harm in helping her a bit.
If you owe someone a favor, you repay it.
With this in mind, Ning Fan’s figure flickered, leaving the disciple quarters.
...
Lu Xiner seemed soulless, walking on the stone path, forlornly kicking small stones.
She was broken-hearted; she was broken-hearted... She didn’t understand this feeling. The crush had just sprouted, and it was already doomed.
She thought of her family, remembered the day the Lu Clan perished, and suddenly felt so wronged.
Ever since the Lu Clan’s fall, she had never liked anyone. It was so hard to like Ning Fan, yet this was the result.
"He hates me... Even he hates me... Lu Xiner, you live such a failed life."
Lu Xiner sighed softly, her heart aching faintly.
Suddenly, she felt her waist softened, and she was embraced by someone.
"Who! Who’s there!"
Lu Xiner turned back in shame and anger, only to find that it was Ning Fan holding her.
And she was already flying into the sky with Ning Fan!
"I accepted the jade scroll. Ning won’t owe favors; today, I’ll repay you a favor. Who troubled you? I’ll help you vent!"
(2/2) No more updates. Wash up and go to sleep. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit 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.)