Chapter 1305: Supporting Heaven’s Fall (Part 1)
Chapter 1305: Chapter 1305: Supporting Heaven’s Fall (Part 1)
Huawei Country was once a convergence of Feng Shui in the world.
Wind Angle, Tun Jia, Seven Luminaries, Primordial Qi, Six Days and Seven Parts, Fengzhan Nici, Sun, Tian Zuan, Xu Yu, Gu Xu, Wangyun Shengqi, Yan Hei Demon Fortune... Many Taoist teachings were transmitted here.
Five Elements, Kanyu, Jian Chu, Jichen, Liji, Heaven, Taiyi... Countless sects competed here.
Those who master Feng Shui can intercept the fate and alter destiny.
However, excess is dangerous, and an overflowing cup will spill. Without restraint, rampant destiny will inevitably lead to disaster.
During the long reincarnation, infinite earth, wind, water, and fire converged here, protecting the prosperity of Huawei Demon Barbarian Country, giving birth to many powerful beings comparable to Ancient Spirits.
When the national fortune of Huawei reached its peak, it once assumed the name of the Demon Barbarian Divine Dynasty, disrespecting heaven and earth, venerating only the mountains and seas, and respecting merely the Ancient Spirits.
Thus, the day of overflowing finally arrived.
Water God Gonggong became a saint here, overturning the protective Feng Shui while also stirring up an immeasurable Water Tribulation, sinking seven-tenths of the world into the deep sea with just this calamity.
Then followed the Nightmare Disaster.
In the first disaster, Fire God Zhu Rong brought down ten suns hovering in the sky, igniting the Mixed, Void, Brahman, and Emperor Four Seas aerial sea while also incinerating the reincarnation path of the Huawei people.
In the second disaster, Mountain Lord Tongbai summoned the mountain and sea evil spirits, causing the Undying Burial Scripture to sweep through the realm, leaving no living being inside the realm.
In the third disaster, Demon Bow Mang Yi shot the Moon End Arrow, killing the Heavenly Destiny Xuan Bird while also opening a crack of chaos, bringing chaos into the human world.
Then came the fourth, fifth, and sixth disasters...
When the seventh disaster struck Huawei, coinciding with Ning Fan’s arrival, Huawei had only Four Seas Mountain and its vicinity left untouched.
When Dragon Lord Ying Xuan became a Nightmare, the holy might enveloped the realm, and all beings despaired and accepted their fate, except for Wuzhiqi, who fought to the death without retreat.
Suddenly seeing Ning Fan appear, with a Nightmare Cultivator’s aura, Wuzhiqi attacked Ning Fan with eight strikes without a word.
Yet, under the Annihilation Realm, Ning Fan cleverly dodged all the attacks.
Wuzhiqi: You can actually use Reverse King Chi Guo! Nightmare Cultivators’ Five Spirits are locked; this technique shouldn’t be usable. Yet, you are an exception, so... are you a friend, or an enemy!
Ning Fan: Now your reincarnation collides with my space-time; this is Manzhi Daoist’s handiwork. Though I have no intention of strife, if you are Manzhi’s next move, then I will be your enemy.
Wuzhiqi: Manzhi? So you’re the Reverse Nifan that Manzhi wanted me to kill? Rest assured! Under my staff, there are no grudges or weaklings, I’m not interested in slaughtering mere Ning Fan, nor will I be manipulated by that old Manzhi. But if you obstruct me from suppressing Nightmare Dragon Ying Xuan, then even if you and I belong to the Sparrow God series, you’d still be my enemy!
Ning Fan: Nightmare Dragon Yingxuan? You mean this evil creature...
Wuzhiqi: He’s not an evil creature! He used to be my closest friend, but now... before he sinks Four Seas Mountain into the Ice River, I must kill him!
Ning Fan: Your methods are strong, but you can’t kill Nightmare, nor can you suppress it. If the battle drags on, it may trigger some of Manzhi’s backup schemes, eventually involving Northern Barbarian Reincarnation... forget it, from now on, not only will I not interfere with you, but I’ll also assist you in suppressing this dragon. If my perception is correct, some of my techniques should produce miraculous effects in suppressing this dragon.
Wuzhiqi: Daoist, I appreciate your intention, but you’re just a Ning Fan, moreover, an outsider; you need not get involved in this, to avoid losing your life in vain!
Ning Fan: This isn’t sheer goodwill, just considering lips and teeth’s chilly fate. Should you all perish in the Nightmare Disaster, its next target would likely invade the realm I guard. This is Manzhi’s open scheme, which forces my hand.
Wuzhiqi: Though I don’t quite understand, it seems Daoist also has reluctant reasons to fight! In that case, you hide behind me to assist, and I’ll charge in front... wait! Why are you rushing in so fast! Nightmare Dragon’s strength isn’t something a little Ning Fan can match... huh?
Wuzhiqi: You actually blocked the Twelve Months Order Moon Breath?
Wuzhiqi: Oh? This claw of Dragon Moon Tear Heaven can shred Chi Guo Life and Death, yet you merely scratched a bit?
Wuzhiqi: With Ning Fan’s foundation, you can actually cultivate such strength?
Wuzhiqi: You really penetrated Ying Xuan’s Taiyi Dragon Scale?
Wuzhiqi: Remarkable! Daoist’s strength, I, Wuzhiqi, acknowledge it! With Daoist’s strength like this, I can fight freely, without worrying about affecting you!
Ning Fan: It’s not good; Daoist, you’d better restrain a bit; your attack nearly hit me.
Wuzhiqi: Hahaha, but it didn’t hit, did it! Even if it did, with your monstrous Life and Death Technique, you wouldn’t be lacking an arm or leg! Rest assured! I have discretion!
Ning Fan: Still fighting, huh, in that case, I’ll also go all out, after all, I’ve got discretion too.
Wuzhiqi: Excellent! Daoist, use all your strength without regard for me! You should know I have millions of Divine Beans protecting me inside, saints can’t extinguish! Even if your divine skill affects me, there won’t be any... ouch, that hurts! Why are you throwing things randomly! Moreover, what you’re throwing is an Innate Spiritual Treasure and Innate Treasure, and it’s quite a bit amount of it! Wait! Daoist, look carefully before attacking! Your attack almost hit my brain! My foundation is decent, but if struck by such dense treasure torrent, even I’d feel pain!
Ning Fan: Being affected by the remaining force of dozens of high-grade and supreme innate treasures, and it just hurts? Truly a monster...
Wuzhiqi: Hahaha, the feeling is mutual, come on! Take my hit! Ying Xuan!
Finally, Nightmare Dragon Ying Xuan was suppressed by Wuzhiqi and Ning Fan working together, and its descended realm of ice ultimately failed to freeze Four Seas Mountain.
Unfortunately, suppressing Nightmare Dragon didn’t earn Ning Fan trust from Huawei cultivators; the only one who trusted Ning Fan was the mentally unresponsive Wuzhiqi.
Until this time, Ning Fan claimed he would take the Nightmare Disaster core, with great confidence, which changed the attitude of Huawei people.
It’s not that they finally trusted Ning Fan, but rather that the eighth calamity is imminent, and they can only choose the lesser of two evils, desperately reaching out for any possible solutions.
The Nightmare Disaster is undefeatable, it’s common knowledge in the Dreamland Realm.
Nightmare Cultivators are not to be trusted, a realization bought with a heavy price.
Yet for those trapped in an abyss, willing to grasp even a lie, they choose to risk trusting it just once...
...
Only the world consciousness dares not entertain any thoughts of chance!
In the deepest depths of that endless Nightmare Disaster, heaven and earth are shattered, methods wither, black fortune looms, chaos descends.
The corpses of countless ancient cultivators float amidst the chaos, slowly decomposed by the chaotic power back into a state of earth, wind, water, fire; even the quasi-saint’s bodies are not spared. Yet one thing remains unharmed by chaos.
It is a cocoon the size of the universe, or perhaps not merely a cocoon, but an egg nurturing catastrophe, within which slumbers a white bone giant.
The black cocoon is even sturdier than a realm of the Desolate Saint, eternal black fire burns on it, threads of fate weave upon it, with ten indestructible bronze marks engraved upon it, seven of which are illuminated, while three remain dull.
The combination of ten marks forms the word "烕".
"烕", meaning destruction, signifies fire dying in Xu, the Yang Qi reaching Xu and concludes, ultimately extinguished, perished.
The black cocoon is born for the fulfillment of destruction, but its destruction is not driven by malice, rather by a benevolent protection of the world.
The white bone giant within the cocoon, is the embodiment of the Huaiwo world consciousness. When a Dreamland Realm is fully corroded by civilization of myriad beings, nearing destruction, the Destruction Venerable bestows the Ten Seals of Extinction, granting the world the will and power to resist civilization.
The meaning of the giant’s birth is to annihilate the myriad beings of Huaiwo, and use their bodies as nutrients, restoring the Huaiwo world to its original healthy state.
The myriad beings take pride in building civilization, considering reproduction a sacred mission, but all of this is built upon the plunder and destruction of the world.
Civilization and the world have always been opposing forces.
The giant born for destruction also exists for protection.
The myriad beings see him as a catastrophe, while he views them as a stubborn disease.
Thus when he destroys the myriad beings, he neither hears the cries of tiny creatures nor feels sympathy for a heap of bacteria and viruses, and certainly wouldn’t prematurely awaken or cast his gaze for some insignificant being.
But Ning Fan has arrived, and it’s his second arrival!
The first time he came, Ning Fan suppressed Nightmare Dragon Ying Xuan, stopping the Nightmare Disaster’s attempt to destroy the world, yet he came and went quickly, not lingering here. Therefore, although the world consciousness was wary of Ning Fan, it did not choose to awaken early.
But this time, Ning Fan comes not with goodwill, he intends to seize the core of Nightmare Disaster, directly destroying the Nightmare Disaster itself!
For a disaster that fulfills destruction, to face destruction itself by someone else, how absurd, how terrifying, how infuriating for the world!
Without Ning Fan’s intervention, the blessing of the Ten Seals of Extinction should have been divided into three stages.
The first stage, the initial arrival of Nightmare Disaster.
At this time, the world consciousness sleeps within the black cocoon, slowly accumulating power, while choosing a suitable person within the realm to embody the Nightmare Master, tasked with eradicating the myriad beings.
There are ten seals of extinction, hence the nightmare disaster will descend ten times, only then is the calamity complete.
Most Dreamland Realms cannot endure ten disasters, but some powerful worlds finally withstand ten disasters, still retaining the ember of civilization.
Thus begins the second stage, the world consciousness awakens from the cocoon, wielding bronze black fire, personally extinguishing the remaining ember of civilization.
Then proceeding to the third stage: refining the world’s earth, wind, water, fire, restoring world order to its original state.
Unfortunately, the original world order doesn’t include the giant himself, so the final step for the giant in refining the world is to sacrifice himself, returning to the world itself.
Seeking neither immortality nor dominance, merely corrects the world’s reflection, and that is the meaning for the Nightmare Disaster to destroy all beings.
This is the correct Nightmare Disaster process, yet Ning Fan’s arrival prematurely awakened the world consciousness.
"The butterfly arrives for a second time... Intends to seize my heart..."
"This butterfly... is very dangerous..."
Inside the black cocoon, the white bone giant slowly opens its eyes, within the hollow eye holes not yet constructed of flesh, a cluster of black fire and ghost frost appears, with these as its sight.
The left eye mainly Yang, burning with an eternally unextinguished black fire.
The right eye mainly Yin, where the cold gaze rests, the heavens freeze.
The giant should awaken after the tenth disaster, then, his strength reaches its peak: the left eye would turn into a black sun, the right eye would become a scarlet moon, limbs and torso transform into the Nine Mountains of the Primordial Wilderness, his blood into the Eight Seas of Kumei, hair into fallen stars, Qi as wind and cloud, sound as thunder, with the fourth step, annihilates everything!
But awakened prematurely now, the giant clearly has not accumulated enough power: body fails to construct flesh, unable to wield the power of the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas; the sun and moon power of both eyes also have not reached their peak; none of the fallen stars can be summoned...
"The power... is far from enough..."
"But... I cannot avoid it... I must utterly destroy this butterfly!"
"I must... protect the world..."
"I must... annihilate all spirits..."
"I must... fulfill the will of the Destruction Venerable..."
"With the command of the heavens, all Nightmares hear my order!"
"The Butterfly enters the Nightmare... destroy without mercy!"
As the world gave its command, all the Nightmare Demons and Nightmare Beasts within the Nightmare Qi received the order to protect the world and slay Ning Fan, as hidden currents surged!
At the same time, Ning Fan, seen as an invader by the world, was considered a savior by Wuxian and others, who escorted him into the Nightmare World!
...
Dreams have both sweet dreams and nightmares.
The formation of sweet dreams originates from the beauty and wishes in the hearts of all spirits, but nightmares are actually the true form of the Dream Realm.
Under the erosion of the Nightmare Disaster, the Dreamland Realm would gradually return to its original state. As of now, apart from the regions around the Four Seas Mountain, the other places of the Huaiwo World have all been shrouded by the Nightmare Disaster, shedding their dreamlike form, reverting to a nightmare form.
The Dreamland Realm contains nature’s spiritual energy, allowing Masters to borrow power from heaven and earth to continuously replenish Mana, but the Nightmare World does not.
In this world, there is no heaven or earth, spiritual energy does not renew, Shienie Wilderness’s Three Energies do not exist, and earth, wind, water, and fire are chaotic and disordered, with only Nightmare Qi and Chaos Qi pervading in all directions.
Nightmare Qi will erode any intruder into Nightmares, while Chaos Qi will deconstruct everything within its range into earth, wind, water, and fire.
Those with insufficient cultivations cannot even survive briefly here, let alone face the many dangers and assaults.
Thus, accompanying Ning Fan into the Nightmare World openly were only Wuxian and Wuzhiqi; accompanying them in secret were several thousand Huaiwo Cultivators. They hid within Wuxian’s Magical Treasure Space because they could not survive long in the Nightmare Qi and Chaos Qi. However, as long as Wuxian gave the order, these people could step out of the Magical Treasure Space and courageously face death at any time.
The Huaiwo People are not truly afraid of death; previously, they merely saw no hope. But now... though hope remains slim, at least there is a direction to fight desperately towards, so even if they die, everything would have meaning.
This is very important.
After all, the meaning of death can conquer the fear of death.
These few thousand people are nearly all the surviving Huaiwo, with only a few elderly, weak, and wounded not accompanying them, being settled by Wuxian at the Four Seas Mountain.
According to Wuxian, this trip is a situation of certain death, and all who travel must carry a resolve to die, treating this journey as a battle to death.
But not everyone needs to face death. The success rate of this journey cannot be guaranteed, but the lights of civilization must continue, requiring some to remain at the Four Seas Mountain, preserving the hope of civilization until the next disaster.
This surprised Ning Fan slightly, as he thought the beings in the apocalypse would act more coldly and selfishly, but these Huaiwo People surprisingly showed unity and courage.
No wonder they once established the Demon Barbarian Divine Dynasty, as within these people lies faith, character, and national dignity, which are the things that can overcome the evil of human nature.
"Daoist friend, wishing to reach the core of the Nightmare Disaster, you must traverse the Seventh Nightmare World formed by seven nightmares. Before you lies the Ice River World, transformed by the Dream Realm infiltrated by Yingxuan in the Seventh Calamity, and it is the closest Nightmare Realm to the Four Seas Mountain. Due to your swift suppression of Yingxuan, the Nightmare Qi erosion here is relatively thin, and the Chaos Qi is barely present. Beings like us, even without equipping any protective artifact, can ignore the erosion and deconstruction of this realm. Moreover, due to the special means you used to suppress Yingxuan at that time, we should not encounter Yingxuan’s awakening upon entering the Seventh Nightmare Realm. The enemies to face should at most be some Juvenile Stage and Adult Stage Nightmare Demons, with few Elders. This realm at most has only two or three of them, and none in the Reincarnation Phase, as it has only been a few hundred years since the Seventh Calamity ended..."
Wuxian, holding Shi Grass, divined information about the Seventh Nightmare Realm, and after confirming its authenticity with the Wind Waiting Skill, communicated the results to Ning Fan.
But Ning Fan shook his head and said, "Your divination is inaccurate. Although the Nightmare Qi here is thin, it is enough to interfere with destiny, causing errors in your calculations. I, however, am unaffected; the Nightmare Qi here cannot disturb me, and thus my Eyes of Golden Flame can confirm a few things... There are two details you missed due to Nightmare Qi interference. Firstly, a terrifying existence has prematurely awakened in the deepest part of the Nightmare Qi; secondly, Daoist Manzhi left behind some means here, and Yingxuan, once suppressed by me and Wuzhiqi, will again descend to obstruct our advance."
"How could this be!"
Wuxian’s face changed.
He did not doubt the truth of Ning Fan’s words. In fact, during his calculations, he indeed encountered two large, blurry causes and effects, but due to Nightmare Qi interference, he couldn’t determine the specifics.
As it turned out, those two causes and effects correspond to these two matters!
One is the premature awakening of the world’s will that governs the Nightmare Disaster!
The other is that Daoist Manzhi will prevent them from overcoming the Nightmare Disaster!
Even if the world’s will remained dormant and Daoist Manzhi did not interfere, Wuxian still considered the success rate of this journey as slim; and now with more adverse factors, the attainment of this journey seems more difficult... It’s all about timing and destiny!
"Oh? You’re able to discern that I set up a backhand? Little friend, you are indeed formidable! But I wonder if you could foresee that the moment you stepped into the Seventh Nightmare Realm, you had already set foot in a trap. Have you been looked upon by the Starry Sky Law Eye..."
Manzhi’s voice suddenly resounded, echoing within the Seventh Nightmare Realm, making Wuxian’s face sink, Wuzhiqi grind his teeth, and Ning Fan... well, Ning Fan remained exceedingly calm, evidently having anticipated all this.
This was a voice left here by Manzhi, and since it’s a prerecorded message, it couldn’t communicate with Ning Fan. The dialogue and tone were preset, filled with the satisfaction and confidence of having calculated everything flawlessly, as if guiding Ning Fan to this place was the result of his perfect calculations.
The truth, however, is that Manzhi’s true self also fell into Ning Fan’s calculations, presently entangled in such matters. Losing Han Yuanji, a result publicly exposed by the Taichu Sun Dial, his reputation was lost across the River of Time...
If Manzhi’s true self were here to speak, he couldn’t possibly be so smug, but would instead be gritting his teeth at Ning Fan, despising him to the utmost.
Thus, although his schemes were not flawless, the voice left behind by Manzhi remained smug. If Manzhi’s true self were here, what an embarrassingly awkward scene it would be!
Despite the embarrassment, Manzhi’s contingency plans were indeed present. As Ning Fan suspected, this person had designs on the Huaiwo World; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to such great lengths to revive Huaiwo and several other worlds. It was evident he intended to fish in troubled waters amidst this Dust Decision!
Almost at the instant Manzhi’s voice sounded, an endless starry light converged above Wuxian and the others, ancient and sacred.
Wuxian looked up in horror, witnessing amidst the various Nightmare Qi and chaos, a whole expanse of the Ancient Starry Sky directly descending, suspended above this world, as if it ruled over everything!
No, that was not a starry sky!
It was an eyeball, just one eye as immense as the starry sky!
In this Starry Sky Law Eye, a chill capable of annihilating worlds emanated, with supreme power, casting a cold gaze upon Wuxian.
Moreover, under this gaze, all the strange chill of the Seventh Nightmare Realm was mobilized, transforming into the Saint’s Technique, Cold Eyes Freeze Heaven, intending to freeze everyone to death!
"Purple Grass!"
Wuxian knew that with his own strength, he couldn’t withstand a glance from the Starry Sky Law Eye. Without a second thought, he prepared to summon a secret treasure, the Purple Robe Straw Man, but Ning Fan restrained his hand, preventing the straw man from being successfully summoned.
"Do not fear, all before you is merely an illusion, devoid of any harm. Manzhi’s actual attack is not Cold Eyes Freeze Heaven; it is the Destruction Seal hidden within the illusion... Do nothing, for any methods you employ now will be sealed by him."
Letting the Starry Sky Law Eye cast a chilling gaze, Ning Fan did not resist, allowing the cold light to reach him, and then... the chill dispersed.
Sure enough, this strike held no real threat, just an illusion.
This was a Sound Wave Illusion, triggered by the voice Manzhi left behind.
Once the chill dispersed, the Starry Sky Law Eye also vanished. At the same time, a sheet of golden talisman paper emerged, named the Destruction Talisman, capable of temporarily sealing a single Divine Skill of the enemy. This was Manzhi’s true intention.
If Ning Fan hadn’t stopped Wuxian, Wuxian would have used the Purple Grass Technique to save the three of them, and consequently, the technique would have been sealed on the spot, unable to be used thereafter...
"That was close! Came so close to having the Purple Grass Technique sealed! Thank you, Daoist, for stopping me!" Wuxian expressed his lingering fear.
This technique was his strongest life-saving skill, not only saving his own life but also securing the lives of Wuzhiqi and Ning Fan.
Mainly to protect the latter two.
These two, one his beloved disciple, the other the hope of Huaiwo, neither should perish in the Nightmare Disaster.
Unexpectedly, upon just entering the Seventh Nightmare Realm, he nearly lost his strongest life-saving skill... Wuxian felt frightened yet filled with gratitude towards Ning Fan, increasing his trust.
However, just after Wuxian finished expressing his thanks, another change occurred.
Manzhi’s second pre-recorded voice appeared!
"Oh dear, you managed to evade the Destruction Seal, how fortunate, but what if behind the Destruction Seal lies the Word Spirit Seal, how would you counter that!"
What! Impossible!
Wuxian’s expression changed again, and simultaneously, a blood-red rune appeared on Wuxian’s face, indicating the presence of the Word Spirit Seal.
In some of the words he spoke, there were trigger words preset by Manzhi; once uttered, the Word Spirit Seal would instantly befall him.
These are the means of Manzhi Daoist!
One might think they’ve broken through one layer of his scheme, only to find this person’s schemes interlocking layer upon layer, weird and defenseless!
Just unsure what the trigger words are...
"It is ’thank you’! When saved by Nifan, naturally you would need to feign gratitude, such simple reasoning!" Manzhi’s third voice sounded, seemingly clarifying, seemingly smug.
Wuxian became alarmed, after all, whenever Manzhi spoke, it was trouble; he had become rather fearful, genuinely a bit like a startled bird.
He must not fall into another trap! He came to assist Daoist Nifan, not to be a hindrance! Just entering the Nightmare Realm, he was nearly done in by Manzhi’s machinations! What a disastrous start!
Fortunately, this time it was just the Word Spirit Seal, breaking through it was not difficult, merely consuming some mana. The only trouble was, in the Nightmare Realm, mana couldn’t be recovered; if he broke the seal here, his mana would be depleted, and even with expensive pills for recovery, it might not be enough to break the seal... So should he temporarily retreat to the Four Seas Mountain to regroup? Ten days! Just ten days of rest, and I can break the seal, once again becoming a support to Daoist Nifan...
"Forgive me, I do not have ten days to wait. Daoist, having been sealed, retreat now to the Four Seas Mountain for restoration, regarding your intention and the intention of all fellow Daoists of Huaiwo, I have noted them." Ning Fan said.
Wuxian looked tense, shaking his head, even refraining from transmitting sound.
Fearful of transmission is due to excessive dread of the Word Spirit Seal, worried it might be a supreme seal capable of blocking even secret transmissions.
Shaking his head was opposing Ning Fan’s suggestion to retreat alone to the Four Seas Mountain.
Tension arose from the presence of Manzhi’s Word Spirit Seal here, the trigger words might include more than just "thank you," surely there are others! In such circumstances, how can Daoist Nifan ignore it and speak freely! What if even Daoist Nifan falls into the Word Spirit trap... Wait! Is Manzhi speaking the truth, or lies!
I indeed encountered the Word Spirit Seal, but my words were not just those two, there were others, if the other words were triggers...
"Do not worry, the Word Spirit Seal here actually seals only those two words you mentioned, nothing more, not reaching the level to seal transmissions. The Word Spirit Seal is a mere guise, Manzhi’s true goal is to induce fear in us, leading to silence, then perish in silence. As long as this silence is maintained for an extended period, it will trigger the Silence Destruction Seal; that is Manzhi’s deeper ploy, yet the Silence Seal still is a guise, beyond it lies... Oh well, explaining each step is quite tedious, you only need to know the twelve arrangements Manzhi left in the Seventh Nightmare Realm have all been secretly removed by me. It only takes time to consecutively dismantle all arrangements, causing a delay, which inadvertently resulted in you being affected by the Word Spirit Seal, my apologies for that."
Ah?
Wuxian was dumbfounded.
What’s going on! The Saint Manzhi actually set up twelve layers of traps here? If all were triggered, I wouldn’t even have a trace left...
Such an interlocking setup was completely dismantled by Daoist Nifan at a glance. When did he break the siege? I clearly didn’t see him make a move... wait a moment! It’s the Sound Wave Illusion Technique! Although Daoist Nifan didn’t make a move, he was talking the entire time!
Manzhi initiated an offensive using the Sound Wave Illusion Technique; Daoist Nifan responded with the same, breaking all of Manzhi’s setups during what seemed like an ordinary conversation!
Is the duel at the Saint level this complex!
Despite being a quasi-saint, I feel somewhat like a burden...
Ant Lord: Tch, what’s a quasi-saint, I’m a dignified saint, and I’m still a burden in front of these schemers!
Seeing Wuxian being manipulated like a puppet by Manzhi, the Ant Lord felt a bit better and secretly mocked Wuxian’s discomfiture.
Compared to Wuxian, what I’ve experienced is nothing at all! I’m certainly not on the same level as a quasi-saint!
I’m just slightly below the likes of Manzhi and Ning Fan, no big deal!
"Master, just listen to Brother Nifan and go back! You’re too weak; with you tagging along, I don’t dare to swing my staff with full force for fear of knocking off your limbs. I wouldn’t want to defy my teacher, because after all, I’m the world’s most respectful monkey to my master!"
"Respect, my head! How dare you say your master is weak!" Wuxian was furious and knocked Wuzhiqi on the head, flying up to do it because Wuzhiqi was too tall.
This knock used all his strength but didn’t hurt Wuzhiqi a bit; instead, it made Wuxian’s hand ache and amused him with anger.
This stubborn monkey, who on earth taught him? Oh, it was me, that’s fine then...
Wuzhiqi: "Aiyo, Master, why did you hit me? I was only speaking the truth! By the way, don’t hit too hard; if you hurt yourself, I’ll have to dig a pit to bury you."
Wuxian: "You monkey! Stop spouting nonsense, or I’ll go back and burn your storybooks! Like ’Huaguo Mountain Dream’, ’Proud Coming’s Scandal’, ’Beautiful Monkey Lady’... I’ll burn them all!"
Wuzhiqi: "You dare! If you burn my treasures, I’ll burn your ’True Scripture of the Imperial Woman’, ’Daylight Ascension’, ’Wushan Cloud Rain’ too!"
Wuxian: "You fool! Idiot! These are not Yanqing Storybooks, they’re the Dual Cultivation technique passed down by the Ancient Human King, no lewd pictures involved! Not indecent at all!"
Wuzhiqi: "I don’t believe it! If you’ve already ascended in broad daylight, how is that not indecent! Shouldn’t it require payment..."
Wuxian: "...I can’t take it anymore, the Word Spirit Seal is worsening, and now it won’t be unlocked for another twenty or thirty days. Disciple, I’ve taught you many times, ’daylight’ doesn’t mean what you think, it means daytime, daytime! I beg you to learn more literacy maybe; relying solely on physical strength and muscles has no future!"
Wuzhiqi: "Daytime? Isn’t daytime ’Sunny Exposure’, which is even more indecent!"
Wuxian: "You win; the seal is affecting my heart, I really can’t hold on, I’ll return to the Four Seas Mountain, okay? If you two don’t return with me to rest, I’ll support you from the mountain..."
After a round of earnest persuasion, Wuzhiqi finally convinced the heavily sealed Wuxian to return to the Four Seas Mountain.
As for Ning Fan.
He wasn’t focused on this heartwarming little drama of master and disciple. Instead, he took advantage of the conversation time to make a strong move, slaying countless incoming Nightmare Demons and Beasts, leaving behind piles of corpses.
The Nightmare Demons and Beasts here are considered to be Nieli, and with each kill, Ning Fan can absorb some pure Nightmare Qi from them.
The surrounding Nightmare Qi was too mixed, further complicated by Chaos Qi, making it unsuitable for ingestion and refinement, but the Nightmare Qi looted from killing the demons could slightly enhance Ning Fan’s Fu Li cultivation.
Unfortunately, the progress was limited as most of the incoming Nightmare Demons were only in the juvenile stage, with very few at the adult stage, meaning they didn’t have much pure Nightmare Qi within them.
"Ah? In such a short time, you’ve killed so many Nightmare Beasts? Amazing, way stronger than my master! My master is just a burden!" Wuzhiqi.
"You do care about your master after all." Ning Fan said with a smile.
"Care? Did I care about my master? I don’t remember that. I just recall making him half-dead from anger..." Wuzhiqi denied.
"You saw he was about to use the Purple Grass Technique and decided to persuade him back to the Four Seas Mountain, right? You pretended to dislike his lack of strength, but actually, you’re worried he might sacrifice himself." Ning Fan.
"Oh? Big Brother, you know the Purple Grass Technique?" Wuzhiqi exclaimed in surprise.
"My eyes allow me to understand many things and causes, including all unknown things."
The Purple Grass Technique is a secret technique that uses straw figures as substitutes to avoid death, only cultivable by those born with a Purple Destiny.
If learned by a first step cultivator, it’s enough to attach a strand of Spirit to the Purple Robe Straw Man in advance to avoid death once: they can attach their own spirit, at a lighter cost; or attach another’s spirit, at a slightly heavier cost but still acceptable.
But if used to save a second step cultivator, the cost would be much steeper, following a life-for-a-life principle, using another person’s life to save its user.
After all, the death of a human is like the extinguishing of a lamp, and the death of an Immortal is like the scattering of thoughts, different levels of replacement involve drastically different costs.
If Ning Fan wasn’t mistaken, Wuxian’s Purple Robe Straw Man designated only two recipients: himself and Wuzhiqi.
The sacrificial offerings set for saving them, comprised dozens, the lowest being Immortal Venerables from the Huawei Country, with the highest even including Wuxian himself.
A monster like Ning Fan, who is on the verge of becoming an Immortal Emperor yet still able to battle an Initial Saint, requires at least the sacrifice of an Immortal Venerable level offering to survive once. This is because Wuxian has mastered this technique to an extremely high level. If applied by someone less skilled, it would require at least an Immortal King level offering.
The choice of sacrifice for the Purple Grass technique comes with a strict demand: the offering must willingly sacrifice their life. Any hint of coercion would prevent the Spirit from attaching to the Purple Robe Straw Man...
Of course, Ning Fan comprehends the implication.
Dozens of Huawei cultivators, including Wuxian, had already decided to sacrifice themselves for him even before setting out, despite not trusting him, they placed all their bets on him.
Wuzhiqi intentionally angered Wuxian to prevent his master’s sacrificial demise.
Wuxian wasn’t truly angered but understood his own incapacitated state, making his accompanying pointless.
Initially, he wanted Ning Fan to return to the Four Seas Mountain for recuperation, but Ning Fan stated there was no time to waste on that.
Thus, Wuxian agreed to return to the Four Seas Mountain alone, and upon his return, planned to assist Ning Fan in securing the Nightmare Disaster core using other means...
"I’ve visited Huaiwo twice, but it wasn’t until now that I’ve truly witnessed the resolve of Huaiwo people. It’s commendable. However, it’s unnecessary for you to go to such lengths; this matter isn’t as perilous as you imagine for me, and no life needs to be gambled on it," Ning Fan stated calmly.
"But you have gambled your own life! I understand, brother’s actions are neither for me nor for Huaiwo, nor out of a savior’s mindset. But a gentleman judges deeds, not intentions. Regardless of your aim, on the surface, everything you do is rescuing this world from imminent drowning! The gratitude for saving the world, can only be repaid with a life!" Wuzhiqi responded earnestly.
Haha...
Ning Fan snorted; as a prince of the Evil Sect, he wasn’t one to be deemed a gentleman.
From afar, laughter echoed in response, cold and mocking, as if from a distance and then up close, scoffing at Wuzhiqi’s nonsensical rhetoric.
"Meeting again, Monkey, and... Butterfly!"
The voice came from all directions, its origin unknown.
As for the voice’s owner, Ning Fan was familiar with it, and Wuzhiqi even more so!
It was the voice of Nightmare Dragon Ying Xuan, once suppressed by Ning Fan and Wuzhiqi!
Yet Wuzhiqi was baffled, how could Ying Xuan have revived after being subdued!
Moreover, while Wuzhiqi could hear Ying Xuan’s voice, he couldn’t locate Ying Xuan’s hideout, which was perplexing.
Thus, he activated Eyes of Golden Flame, searching around for Ying Xuan’s hideout. Upon discovering it, Wuzhiqi’s expression soured.
"It seems you’ve realized you’re not intentionally hiding; instead, you... have all been swallowed into my stomach! Have you ever been processed by the stomach and intestines of one infinitely close to an Ancient God..."
Under Wuzhiqi’s grave gaze, Nightmare Qi transformed into endless stomach and intestinal walls, enveloping everything in the Nightmare Realm...
Previously, Ying Xuan was frightened by Ning Fan and Wuzhiqi’s suppression.
This time, he chose to play subtly, directly swallowing the two, using Chaos Qi-enhanced stomach and intestines to break them down into earth, wind, water, and fire for digestion!
...
The Seventh Nightmare Realm suddenly began to pulse like a living creature.
Having just returned to the Four Seas Mountain, Wuxian was astonished to perceive the entire Seventh Nightmare Realm had transformed into an ice dragon, exhaling Moon Breath, fortified with Chaos Power, evidently stronger than during its previous descent!
The Seventh Nightmare Disaster, Nightmare Dragon Ying Xuan, has returned, and his power seems to have increased, but how is this possible!
"Not good! Both Nifan and Wuzhiqi have been eaten by Ying Xuan!"
Wuxian hurriedly released thousands of Huawei cultivators hidden in the Magical Treasure Space, shouting commands.
"The Seventh Disaster descends again, Nifan and Wuzhiqi’s life and death are unknown, swallowed by Ying Xuan, Huaiwo’s annihilation looms today, quickly fully activate the Mixed, Void, Brahman, Emperor Four Seas Protection Array!"
"Is it a death match against Ying Xuan?" asked his subordinates.
"No... The Seventh Disaster is just the beginning; other suppressed disasters may also follow one after another, even the Nightmare King Yao Gu from the Extinct Black Cocoon may come to destroy the world personally. We... have no hope left..."
Nightmare King Yao Gu, once named by Huawei cultivators as embodying the destruction will of the world.
Once, Huawei Country was not destroyed by the Ten Disasters but survived them by chance.
Yet ultimately, it was Yao Gu who personally obliterated everything!
The current Huawei Country was resurrected by Manzhi followed by a destined repeat of the annihilating Nightmare Disasters.
Thus, Wuxian, and all Huawei cultivators know how invincible Yao Gu is!
The world will certainly be destroyed again, unless there is a Nirvana Saint-level existence forcibly extending life for Huawei Country...
"Nightmare King... Yao Gu..." At this moment, the Huawei cultivators recalled Yao Gu’s terror.
The small hope stirred by Ning Fan’s arrival was promptly extinguished.
"Since Yao Gu has appeared, resistance is meaningless. Why open the Protection Array to kill each other and increase disappointment..." some people said in despair, as opening the Protection Array requires sacrifices. Facing imminent death, yet having to sacrifice fellow beings by their own hands beforehand is truly cruel.
"No, it has meaning! Yao Gu is unbeatable, but my intention for opening the array is not to defeat Yao Gu, but to rescue Nifan and Wuzhiqi from Yingxuan’s stomach!" Wuxian said seriously.
"Even if they are rescued, what could they do? The two of them wouldn’t be able to defeat Yao Gu..." some hesitated, as if recalling past friendships with Wuzhiqi.
"Yao Gu is unbeatable, which is why I wish for Daoist Nifan to take Wuzhiqi away, taking him out of the Huawei Reincarnation... Wuzhiqi is different from us, he is an innate being and inherits the complete bloodline of the Ancient Ten Spirits, and is not bound by the rules of the Immeasurable Ruin. With Nifan’s help, he can be taken out of the Huawei Reincarnation, he doesn’t have to be locked in Huawei Reincarnation with us, nor fall to Yao Gu once more by our side. This is the meaning, and it’s also my only selfish wish as the Great Witch Master of Huaiwo, over two lifetimes..."
Wuxian had a plan from the beginning.
He did not truly believe Ning Fan could save Huaiwo, but had confidence that Ning Fan could rescue Wuzhiqi.
Hearing that while the world would be destroyed again, there was hope for preserving the spark of civilization, everyone fell silent.
Why should we die here, why does Wuzhiqi have a chance to survive, how unfair is fate!
But...
The continuation of the Huawei Divine Dynasty is more important!
The demon barbarian civilization created by our ancestors cannot end at our hands...
"I don’t like Wuzhiqi, but I would rather become a sacrifice for the Four Seas Protection Array than die at Yao Gu’s hands!"
"Hmph! Great Witch Master, your plan is indeed selfish, making me disappointed, but... I will carry out your orders to the end, after all, this life of mine only has being dutiful left as a merit."
"As long as it’s not in vain, I have no objections to this matter!"
"I am already a severely injured and dying person, if a sacrifice is needed, let it be me, with no need to think of old friendships. I am not sacrificing myself for Wuzhiqi, but have decided to sacrifice myself for the country, in honor of all the demon and barbarian gods."
"Damn it! Wuzhiqi is leaving, his collection belongs to me, no objections!"
"You are insane! Clearly about to die, yet still wasting blood reading those kinds of books!"
"I have already decided to die for Wuzhiqi, why can’t I enjoy his things, did I eat your rice?"
"Damn! You did eat my rice, Wuzhiqi’s book was snatched from me, it was originally mine, the illustrations inside are all of my wife, you’re not allowed to look..."
"But I’ve already looked through it, I have to say, your wife is amazing..."
Hehe...
Wuxian revealed a gratified smile.
He wasn’t gratified by his beloved disciple having a chance to live amidst the fall of the nation.
He was gratified that when last time Huaiwo was destroyed by the Nightmare Disaster, everyone was waiting for death, but this time... even for a small, selfish reason, everyone is resolved to fight to the end.
And this, is the will passed down through generations of the Huawei Divine Dynasty. As long as this will is not extinguished, even if Huaiwo ceases to exist and civilization remains forever silent, one day, someone from some civilization will inherit this will and reignite the flame of civilization.
...
On the Four Seas Mountain, all the Huaiwo people assumed the posture of bravely facing death, the scene as tragic as one could ever imagine.
Meanwhile, inside Yingxuan’s stomach, Ning Fan and Wuzhiqi accidentally got separated...
Blame it on the fact that it was their first time being eaten by Yingxuan and they were unfamiliar with the internal terrain; additionally, the chaotic qi abounds here, and the feng shui situation changes every instant, a wrong move might transport you to some place tens of thousands of miles away, one second you are fighting against the Red Acid Sea inside Yingxuan’s stomach, the next second you might be transported into Yingxuan’s intestines, having to fight the Tiangong Beast...
Ning Fan would never walk carelessly in a strange place.
But Wuzhiqi obviously wasn’t as smart, as soon as he was swallowed into Yingxuan’s stomach, he attempted to smash Yingxuan’s stomach with a stick, only to be transported elsewhere...
Fortunately, Ning Fan’s Tianren Green Light flashed, revealing some indications of Wuzhiqi’s causality.
"He was transported to the Tiangong clan’s nest, so pitiful..."
With Wuzhiqi’s strength, it was impossible to be killed by the Tiangong Beasts inside Yingxuan’s stomach, not even slightly injured.
Although he couldn’t be killed, the Tiangong Beasts could cover him in filth, Ning Fan, with his indifferent demeanor, couldn’t help but feel a bit sympathetic for Wuzhiqi.
"So where should I start eating next..."
While it was Ning Fan who was eaten by Yingxuan, he was completely unaware, instead pondering where to take a bite and devour Yingxuan whole.
At this moment, countless sneers echoed from the Sea of Red Acid, as tens of thousands of Sea Patrol Yakshas broke out, ordered by the world’s will to annihilate Ning Fan without mercy!
"Found... Butterfly..."
"Kill, kill, kill..."
"Eat... him..."
Tens of thousands of Sea Patrol Yakshas, at least at the Life Immortal Realm, and three of them can rival Immortal Emperors.
It’s not comparable to the Immortal Emperors of the Era of Decline, but comparable to ancient emperors!
Unfortunately, they encountered Ning Fan, and a Ning Fan forcibly holding the ring by the wealthy lady.
And so...
Half an incense stick later.
Ning Fan finished eating several thousand appetizers.
Each of these Yakshas possessed the Nightmare Demon body, containing pure Nightmare Qi, transforming into the form of Sea Patrol Yaksha, at least at the Adult Stage, and those reaching the Immortal Emperor level were all at the Old Stage.
The lower-level Sea Patrol Yakshas were not very nutritious, but the Yakshas at the Timeless Realm formed a Nightmare Qi Crystal Core.
Especially the three Immortal Emperor Yakshas, the crystal core within them was of higher grade, the nutrition from their cores was comparable to what Ning Fan absorbed from the Ancestor Nieli.
The difference was, the Ancestor Nieli named Lichen had been deceased for too long, his vitality dried up, and his crystal core long dissipated. Despite being a powerful being close to the Third Step, it only advanced Ning Fan’s cultivation by two hundred calamities, and the Fu Li ancestor blood merely increased by one drop.
The three Immortal Emperor Yakshas were at the Sixth Calamity level, their cultivation not as strong as Lichen, but they were fresh. The taste of Yaksha sashimi is hard to describe, but immensely nutritious.
As such, after finishing several thousand sea appetizers, Ning Fan’s mana progressed by three hundred calamities, and the ancestral blood also refined another drop.
Once, it took Ning Fan seven days to absorb Lichen’s refined blood; now holding the ring, Ning Fan digested everything at the speed of light.
The result of this rapid digestion was, as long as he didn’t eat, it was fine, but once he ate he became hungry; the more he ate, the hungrier he got.
Sure enough, only eating appetizers was far from enough, he had to devour the main course, Yingxuan!
Soon.
The entire Huaiwo World recalled the Nightmare Dragon Yingxuan’s screams.
"Stop! I command you to stop! It’s me who should eat you, not you me! How dare you, how dare you..."
"Damnit! Can’t spit it out, why can it be eaten but not vomited out!"
"Help me! Brother Jichen! You also possess the ancient dragon bloodline, and together we are the Extinct Nightmare Lords, how can you stand by and watch, letting those Five Spirit Evil Creatures harm me!"
Yingxuan attempted to call for help, but the reply came from the endless dark wind of the Sixth Nightmare Realm.
"Correcting two matters."
"Firstly, you are Chao Yue, I am Xianzhu, an enemy in life, a vengeance in death, I bear no obligation to save you."
"Secondly, I’ve already taken action..."
The disaster named Jichen spoke thus.
Yingxuan was taken aback, then horrifyingly realized, Jichen had indeed already acted!
Twelve rays of colorful light were already spread out in the chaos, among them, all Twelve Arrow Books transformed into True Illusion Arrows...
Ahhhhhhh!
Twenty-four screams rang out randomly!
Twelve screams belonged to Yingxuan. After all, Jichen’s arrows needed to pierce through Yingxuan’s dragon body first, before hitting the person within Yingxuan’s belly—there was a direct hit strategy, but Jichen opted not to go to such lengths to avoid harming Yingxuan.
The other twelve screams did not belong to Ning Fan, but instead to Wuzhiqi.
Wuzhiqi also practiced the Purple Grass Technique, using himself as a substitute for Ning Fan, enduring Jichen’s twelve arrows!
Pain! It hurt so much!
Wuzhiqi could not recall the last time he had his skin broken and bled as a child, since his defense was too high, he feared pain!
Jichen’s full-force twelve arrows slightly grazed his skin, yet he couldn’t hold back and cried out in pain!
"Who is it! Who dares to scheme against Brother Nifan, and against me!" Wuzhiqi was furious.
Jichen equally wore a grim expression.
What’s the situation?
His full-force Sacred Bow twelve arrows not only got misplaced, but only breached a little skin of the target...
This monkey... just what kind of monster is he!
The disaster named Jichen, jealousy burned in his eyes, harboring the need to seize everything from this monkeyhead!