Grasping Evil

Chapter 1318: Chapter 1318: Emergence of One Realm, Reversed Sea Heaven Abandoned!

During the era of Primordial Era’s destruction, the Real Realms were not yet in the configuration of the Third World, but rather in the configuration of the Ten Continents and Three Islands.

Among the Ten Continents, there was a place known as the Jiezizhou, which was given the name Divine Continent because three Divine birds were born there. Although its territory was small, it was highly revered by all the races.

Later, due to an unrecordable change, the Divine Continent was divided into four major parts: the Eastern Continent, the West Aparagodānīya, the Southern Jambudvipa, and the Uttarakuru.

Moreover, endless catastrophes began to descend upon the Divine Continent.

The heavens were damaged, unable to cover all things; the earth was swallowed and crumbling, unable to bear all things. Fierce flames burned unextinguished, floods raged wildly, fierce beasts hunted mortals, ferocious birds preyed on the old and weak. Until the Goddess appeared, refining the five-colored stones to mend the sky and sever the giant turtle’s feet to establish the four poles, the calamities gradually subsided.

What is known as the four poles are precisely the four Mount Buzhou, crafted in imitation of the Mount Buzhou during the Primordial Era’s destruction, capable of supporting the falling heavens and stopping catastrophes.

Countless ages have passed since then, and the four Mount Buzhou have gone through various tribulations, long losing their initial power, leaving only their desolate ridges with any remaining value.

But even these ridges are coveted and feared by people.

Hence, Lingxiaozi and the Four Sea Dragon Kings attempted to seize the Buzhou Mountains of the Divine Continent.

Unexpectedly, within the Taiyi Dream, an unforeseen upheaval occurred, destroying three mountains, leaving only one.

But even this last mountain is now occupied by the Death Eaters and has been temporarily used as a daoist shrine by their leader, the Moral Sage.

This is validated by a poem:

Ancient deep locks suddenly open, Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend emerge from the spring platform.

Things that happen arise unbidden, originally to seize the Divine, yet causing disaster.

Chanting sutras on Buzhou, returning from Juyi Hall with wine.

Even with Heavenly Supreme Skills, the era encounters the Holy Master, much contrary should be expected.

Author: Duobao Tathagata, inscribed drunkenly upon the stone walls of Juyi Hall at Mount Buzhou.

Awake from the drunkenness, Duobao regretted immensely, wishing to erase the poem, True Lord did not permit it.

True Lord praised: Friend Daoist possesses great poetic talent, having a predestined connection with the Immortal Stone on Sumeru Mountain.

Upon hearing this, Duobao sweated like rain: the True Lord’s mention of the karmic cause of soul-stealing must serve as a warning and rebuke, no longer should I drink and speak recklessly...

...

Ning Fan established a cave dwelling on Mount Buzhou for healing and becoming emperor.

In this place, the Taiyi Dream is beyond the intrusion of time, and with the fortune land of Mount Buzhou enhancing the efficacy of becoming emperor, it is just the right place for a one-time endeavor at empire-building.

Because the cave dwelling he established was behind a waterfall, it was respectfully named Shuilian Cave by a group of Death Eaters.

Naming it the Fortunate Place of Mount Buzhou, Shuilian Cave Ring.

It is worth mentioning that neither the name of Death Eaters nor the name of Shuilian Cave received Ning Fan’s acknowledgment—he was simply too lazy to bother with such trivialities, nor did he let these people make noise, to avoid any mishap affecting his becoming emperor.

Hence, he placed numerous restrictions, keeping the old monsters at Mount Buzhou, neither killing them nor releasing them.

But those who were not old monsters got a somewhat inconceivable treatment and were sent out of the Taiyi Dream—all except the Pingtian Old Niu, who refused to leave, choosing to stay to assist Ning Fan in becoming emperor. Pingtian Old Niu also established a cave dwelling on the mountain, called Juyi Hall, taking the meaning of Gathering Righteousness at the Water Pool, Acting on Behalf of the Heaven.

For Ning Fan, capturing more than a thousand old monsters was merely an accident.

Although these people were seemingly respectful in his presence, it was simply that people were under the cutting board, temporarily lowering their heads; once they gained power, who knows what trouble they might cause.

In their respective space and time, these people were all notable existences known across the River of Time.

In addition, these people had one more thing in common, that is, none were kind: among those who could use the Taiyi Dream Spirit Stealing, how many could be virtuous?

But Ning Fan himself was not of good character, so he didn’t plan to condemn these people from a moral standpoint.

He wasn’t likely to sympathize with these ruthless unfortunates either.

Everyone was of the evil cultivators; no one was nobler or more pitiable than others; since they were evil cultivators, it was apt to use evil methods to deal with them.

Thus, placing restrictions on these old monsters, obtaining them all as slaves.

Not killing them was because there was no significant bitter hatred requiring their deaths, and raising a chicken to eat eggs daily was clearly better than killing a chicken for a moment’s meat. Ning Fan naturally distinguished this: raising a thousand old monsters was just right for comprehending Primordial Spirit Dao Skill.

Not releasing them was more than reasonable.

All of these people had lost their cultivation to varying degrees, turning into the power of a Thousand People Dao Fruit in Ning Fan’s body: a few were refined when the killing instinct detected malice; more were transformed into confused offerings through Duobao’s transformation.

Whether passive or active, the karma had been established. All these were merciless murderers, all grand ancestors of evil cultivators, and leaders of the righteous, and many had the potential to become saints. If released, who knew what kind of retaliation might ensue? Who’s to say that the Heavenly Army on Mount Wansheng opposing the butterfly wouldn’t gain many new faces...

As for returning the Dao Fruit to these old monsters...

Ning Fan would only chuckle.

Since when has the Black Demon Sect ever returned anything it took? Especially from a bunch of bandit old monsters...

Ning Fan’s conscience was only enough to release the innocent, not enough to forgive any old monster in the world.

Forgiveness was the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign or Ancient God King’s business, he only responsible for sending them away.

Even with the discerning eyes and patience of these old monsters, now transformed through the Duobao’s Salvation Scripture into having no hostility, otherwise a thousand old monsters might have perished under Ning Fan’s hands without even forming one hundred and eight generals...

In this sense, Duobao’s self-preservation indeed saved the lives of many old monsters, equivalent to constructing a seven-story pagoda.

...

Unfortunately, none of the old monsters saved by Duobao expressed gratitude.

In this timeless void, Ning Fan secluded himself in the Shuilian Cave for ages unknown. During this time, only the Pingtian Old Niu could enter the cave to visit; all the Death Eaters couldn’t approach, or else they’d vanish in dust when the restrictions activated.

As for Duobao, since once unintentionally writing rebellious poems in his drunkenness, he worked even harder when sober, trying to make amends.

At the same time, he composed new poems to curry favor with Ning Fan, such as "Once bowed to True Lord for cultivating morality, to save all beings in timely rain" or "On the day my aspirations are fulfilled, I wish to honor True Lord as a true gentleman."

Unfortunately, Ning Fan never commented on them again.

Flattery was useless, so he could only demonstrate his practical value.

Under the azure sky, among the multicolored clouds, the emaciated Duobao Tathagata sat cross-legged on a golden lotus, holding a flower and smiling, delivering a sermon on Duobao’s Salvation Scripture to more than a thousand Death Eaters.

Duobao’s smile found no fault but left the Death Eaters feeling bone-chilling cold.

The reason being, every time after listening to Duobao’s sermon, the group would be transformed to varying degrees, voluntarily offering up their Dao Fruits, for the True Lord to utilize.

Those with profound cultivation might somewhat resist Duobao’s transformation, fending off the erosion of the scriptures.

Those with slightly weaker cultivation had long grown accustomed to this routine; unable to resist, they simply lay down passively.

Some people no longer resist being converted by the scriptures, often before Duobao has finished reciting the first Chapter of the Buddhist scripture, they voluntarily submit their Dao Fruit quota for this session, and after finishing their duties, they ask for leave to go to the Juyi Hall to find the straightforward Pingtian Old Niu to con some wine... to drink.

Others simply treat Duobao’s scriptures as white noise to aid sleep, handing over some Dao Fruits and then lying around in the Daoist field, snoring away their sleep.

Duobao, however, is of a good temper: as long as the donor hands over the Dao Fruit, they are considered pious, so being late, leaving early, or snoring in class is all forgivable. But if they are stubborn, he can only recite the Buddhist Law to reason with them.

Frost Moon Sword Spirit: "Damn! I can’t stand it anymore! This bald donkey’s scripture recitation is truly unbearably awful, is he doing it on purpose!"

Emperor Futian: "Is this what dark rule is, how grand, how loathsome."

Bosun: "...One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, alone on the peak of Ten Thousand Peaks, snatch the pearl under Lizong’s chin, a word reveals Vimalakirti, laying with hair scattered and covered in mud, even Bosun frowns..."

Hu Fengxian: "That’s too much! Having that bald thief alone recite the scripture already gives me a splitting headache, why do you recite too, Daoist!"

Bosun: "Tiger Friend, you may not know, what I’m reciting is the Bosun’s Salvation Scripture, specifically to counter Duobao’s methods. Chanting this scripture can spare you from all kinds of suffering and ascend you early to bliss."

Hu Fengxian: "There’s such a good scripture! Daoist, quickly pass it on, let us learn it."

Water Mirror Ancestor: "Visible betrayal is not terrifying, the truly terrifying is the unseen betrayal. If you chant this scripture, you will no longer be converted by Duobao, but you will be used by Bosun for credit."

Hu Fengxian: "?"

Hu Fengxian: "Bosun! You actually want to be like that Duobao and be a watchdog, converting my Dao Fruit!"

Bosun: "...At Sumeru Peak, no bell tolls. In Bi Bo Rock, no one gathers. The mountain monk rides the Buddha hall in reverse, everyone wears grass sandals inside out. Travel to Tan Te in the morning, arrive at Luofu by dusk, rest the staff in the needle case, collect it oneself. One who speaks of Bosun, the heart possesses a Bosun. One who speaks of evil spirits, the heart possesses an evil spirit..."

Hu Fengxian: "Stop chanting! Stop chanting! Before there was Duobao, now there’s Bosun, Abi Hell is no worse than this! How can a great man live gloomy in this world, I’m leaving!"

Then handed over some Red Rabbit Dao Fruit and Tiger Dao Fruit, went to find Pingtian Old Niu for a drink: Lord Niu, unlike a bunch of Death Eaters, need not listen to scriptures and is permitted by the True Lord, could open a cave mansion at Buzhou, drink and hold a banquet, has quite a face.

It’s said that Lord Niu loves to adopt sons, I wonder if he’ll adopt me...

Long Yan Ge: "Hmph! The fate of a master is to pursue their Dao amid endless suffering. This tiger succumbed to mere scriptures, so weak!"

Dian Huo: "It seems the Rain Intent of heaven and earth has thickened, the True Lord might emerge from seclusion to collect Dao Fruits again. How self-disciplined, praise the True Lord!"

Long Yan Ge: "..."

Long Yan Ge: "I want to find Pingtian to drink, so I should pay some Dao Fruits as wine money."

Water Mirror Ancestor: "Happens to be thirsty, let’s go together."

Emperor Futian: "After sitting for so long, it’s time to get up and move around."

Mahamaya: "Awake from sleep, leaving now. Speaking of these days, why haven’t I seen Beilo?"

Frost Moon Sword: "That bird fool has already succumbed to Ma! Handed over dozens of times worth of Dao Fruit in one go, living in the Juyi Hall, intoxicated and dreamless every day, has mixed well with Pingtian into wine and meat brothers. Pity I have a grudge against Pingtian, I can’t drink his wine..."

Speaking of Beilo, Beilo arrives.

Beilo: "What a refined interest you all have, still listening to scriptures? Lord Niu commands me to invite everyone for a drink, let’s go? Yo! Old Shuang is here too, just right! Lord Niu especially instructed to invite you bird fool as well, saying as long as you can drink more than him, he would resolve all enemy grievances with a smile. Such grandness and magnanimity in spite of long-standing enmity, Lord Niu is truly generous, you can’t be petty!"

Frost Moon Sword: "I’m not going!"

Beilo: "The True Lord seems to emerge today, will surely attend, then everyone goes, only you don’t, oh my, could it be you have rebellion..."

Frost Moon Sword: "You bird fool, how can you falsely accuse an innocent! I am the most loyal Sword Spirit in this world! If the True Lord goes, I will naturally go! If not going, isn’t it being twisted right and wrong by scoundrels like you! Even if I can’t kill Pingtian, I can drink him to death!"

Then there were more confusing words like "helping someone kill their father is just work" "using curves to sell out is also loyalty", which drew laughter from the crowd and filled Mount Buzhou with joyful air.

Yet no one noticed that Ning Fan was standing among the crowd, watching the farce.

Or perhaps these people all noticed Ning Fan’s arrival, but were influenced by The Unknown, thus forgetting and ignoring this matter.

"To make these people collectively amnesic, my The Unknown should be sufficient to influence some Initial Saints."

This retreat brought significant progress in The Unknown, making Ning Fan’s mood quite good.

It’s just a pity, this retreat still couldn’t trigger the Heavenly Tribulation — Nine-Five Tribulation, slightly lacking in perfection.

"The result is the same as what Senior Pingtian predicted, the Saints of Mount Wansheng do not intend to let me become an Immortal Emperor and have already set numerous obstacles in advance."

"If I become an emperor in the Northern Barbarians Kingdom, I may not have enough time to break through these barriers, but in the Taiyi Dream, I have infinite time to deal with this matter."

What was once most lacking was time, now time is the least of worries, and all this stems from Manzhi’s scheme.

This guy really is doing good things in harmful ways...

"But even Manzhi seems unable to observe my position at this time... I’ve marked the position of Manzhi’s One Realm, but at the moment, I can’t sense a bit of causal signal returning, if he were observing me, I should feel it... I just don’t know, whether at this moment Manzhi is unable to observe me or doesn’t dare..."

"Whatever the reason, be it good or evil, Manzhi must have some request of me, or he wouldn’t go to such lengths. If he shows up now, I truly wish to have a chat with him..."

Chiwei: "Is it really wanting to chat with the person? It’s clearly wanting to catch him and make him a member of the Death Eaters!"

Chiwei’s voice unexpectedly sounded.

In the war with Zi Wei, Ning Fan broke through over a thousand Taiyi Dreams, not knowing where in the Taiyi Dream he fell into, after over a thousand nested dolls, finally causing his reincarnation sequence to thoroughly become chaotic, which is a cause-effect entanglement of a thousand-odd exponential scale, with Ning Fan’s own causal base, no one among the Saints and the Reversed can clarify his specific cause-effect at this moment.

This is also why Manzhi cannot observe Ning Fan.

Even Chiwei, who is a Fourth Step existing and has a mutual contact with Ning Fan, only managed to re-establish contact with Ning Fan after Ning Fan’s seventeenth retreat.

As for cute little beings like Ant Lord, Ning Fan has been unable to contact. Clearly still able to use the power of the other party’s Saint Ring, yet unable to get in contact, blame it on the other party’s causal signal being too weak...

Chiwei: "I’ve heard you took down Zi Wei?"

Chiwei also just learned the truth of Zi Wei’s sixth life’s demise for the first time.

He roughly knew Zi Wei had been killed by someone, but never thought the killer was a little butterfly...

If he had known the butterfly had such capability, he would have been much kinder when first meeting Ning Fan. Thanks, old buddy!

Ning Fan: "Has this matter spread across the River of Time?"

Chiwei: "Not at all. Not only has this matter not spread, it’s instead been classified as a forbidden issue in the Real Realms. After all, if the world knew of this, not many would dare come to the Dust Decision to kill you."

Ning Fan: "It indeed matches my expected outcome."

Chiwei: "Though classified as forbidden, it has indeed scared quite a few powerful figures, it seems even among the Nine Pillars there are people unsettled, you must be prepared, at this moment you already can’t turn back..."

Ning Fan: "I know."

Chiwei: "You don’t know. You already... cannot return to the Zidou Illusion Realm. The Zidou Illusion Realm has lasted long, one reason being the Ancestors never considered the last descendants of this realm worth noticing, and because the Ancestors laid a death tribulation on this realm long ago, whether it be Emotion Control or Nightmare Qi, all are means of the Ancestors; but Zidou also has methods to deal with it, as long as the Bell of Samsara he placed remains, no matter how many times the Ancestors plot, the world will start anew as the bell tolls..."

Ning Fan: "I understand."

Chiwei: "You understand nothing! Those people could kill Zidou, how could they not be able to deal with a mere illusion realm! They just aren’t willing to pay the price! That place doesn’t have a second Zidou, it’s not worth their price! Just for some mere descendants, just for a mere Bell of Samsara, they won’t pay too much, much less activate the Five Spirits Chessboard to anchor the coordinates of the Illusion Realm... but you are different! A Reverse Saint has already sensed the crisis, wishing to personally come and kill you! If you escape back to the Illusion Realm, they would certainly be willing to pay some cost, to destroy you and the Illusion Realm together..."

Ning Fan: "Many thanks, Senior, for your concern."

Chiwei: "It seems you truly have prepared yourself mentally, not acting rashly. Alright, as long as you don’t regret it. Or perhaps, you also have a means to deal with this matter... this indeed makes this old man curious, what means could render even the Ancestors unable to do anything to you, could it be related to The Unknown?"

Ning Fan remained noncommittal.

He could not tell Chi Wei that he actually possessed a seventh possibility beyond the world’s knowledge.

The power of Niyue Wine would bring about a seventh possibility to the world. The blood of the devil spirit was not the price he had paid, but keeping this secret was.

He would never be able to speak of everything about this matter, for it could not be spoken, and thus it could not be known...

Ning Fan: "Speaking of which, your news is quite informed, senior. Even though I’ve become a taboo in the Real Realms after killing Zi Wei, you knew about it instantly."

Chi Wei: "This kind of taboo is understood by those who understand. It can be hidden from the weak, but how can it be hidden from the strong? Conversely, the more powerful a person is, the more they will investigate the taboos of the world, so they know whom they can provoke and whom they cannot...except for madmen."

Ning Fan: "Senior, are you saying that I’ve been targeted by some madmen? Please elaborate..."

Chi Wei: "I can elaborate, but it’ll cost more. After all, my intelligence isn’t free, and I need to give my informants many benefits."

Ning Fan: "Oh? Can you also elaborate on your informants, senior?"

Chi Wei: "Originally, no, but since you killed Zi Wei, the more I look at you, the more I like you. As long as you pay more, everything is negotiable."

Ning Fan: "..."

Ning Fan had shown no fear in his life-or-death battle with Zi Wei, yet he was struck speechless by Chi Wei’s words of affection.

Chi Wei: "?"

Chi Wei: "You dare have inappropriate thoughts about me! The calamity of Dao Affinity is truly terrifying! Let’s contact each other next time! Farewell!"

Chi Wei was frightened by this, and hurriedly cut off contact, leaving Ning Fan unable to reach him despite his apologies.

What a pity, there were still many things he wanted to ask Chi Wei, but he didn’t expect the other would be scared away...

But it’s just as well.

At least it proves that the other party has no inappropriate thoughts about me, and I’m still safe.

Thinking of this, Ning Fan also breathed a sigh of relief. He did not want to abandon the last line of defense, but if this matter is beneficial to saving her, then...

Bang!

Mount North Pole was angry! It slammed fiercely against Ning Fan’s forehead, as if trying to open Ning Fan’s skull to see if it was filled with water.

Unfortunately, Ning Fan’s Taoist cultivation had greatly increased now, and his head was as hard as an Innate Superior Treasure, so he didn’t feel any pain, but it hurt her instead.

How could she bear to see the little butterfly being so humiliated by others, especially by a man...

If the butterfly dared to be like this, she would rather never have a good outcome in all her lifetimes...

"I’m sorry, it was my mistake, I won’t have such thoughts again next time."

"I will give my all to save you, and I will never put myself in an unreturnable dire situation. If only you are left, you would start a new cycle of suffering and repetition again..."

"Although it will be a long journey, I will definitely bring you back, and then gradually return..."

"I will definitely keep my promise, so in order to not let me fall into the cycle, you must also not sacrifice yourself again... You need to wait patiently, just like waiting for each morning moon, each time flowers bloom... You should believe that no matter how many times I fail, I will come back. Now, I truly have the hope of returning..."

After seventeen closed-door cultivations, Ning Fan has broken half of Man Zhi’s seal.

He can now slightly use divine skills such as communication with all things.

He can slightly sense the intentions of Mount North Pole and vaguely understand what the mountain he now holds means to him.

Although he can sense the intentions of Mount North Pole, he still cannot hear any words from Mount North Pole.

It’s not that Ning Fan is unwilling to hear, or unable to hear, but the other party is unwilling to speak and cannot speak.

Just as Ning Fan was in Ziwei Beiji Palace before.

At that time, Ning Fan encountered the woman of the Demon-Encountering Stele, dressed in a red dress, hidden in the wind and snow, silent and speechless.

Even though the woman wanted to see the butterfly, she couldn’t, nor did she dare to. Even just brewing a pot of Enlightenment Tea for the butterfly from afar required breaking a great taboo and paying an unimaginable price.

She could not meet the butterfly because she had made a vow with destiny and could only possess a smile every few million years...

For this reason, in this place where time does not exist, she can never truly embrace the little butterfly. What a pity...

She could not even temporarily possess a form and could only transform into a cold stone. Even so, she still daringly touched the little butterfly’s mouth... She just wanted to see the little butterfly smile, willing to pay anything for it. Even though Taiyi Dream isolated senses, even though the world could only see the faceless appearance of the butterfly, only she could see the crying heart of the little butterfly, and endless rain was pouring at this moment...

Just to make the little butterfly smile, she no longer felt any bitterness from past events.

Little butterfly, don’t cry.

I will shield you with an umbrella through all lifetimes, so don’t cry anymore.

I’m willing to become a stone bridge, waiting for someone’s return in eternity.

Even if the mountains lose their ridges and the sea runs dry, only this vow will never fade.

Even if this waiting is more insignificant than the vastness, more distant than eternity, I still have no regrets.

Because we already made a promise, you said you would return, so I believe...

Ning Fan: "Yes, it’s a promise."

Although Mount North Pole does not speak, Ning Fan can understand the other’s heart and can vaguely guess the other’s concerns.

Therefore, he would not force Mount North Pole to speak, and seeing that Mount North Pole is very weak and still needs rest, he carefully put her into his One Realm.

In Ning Fan’s One Realm, there is not only Mount North Pole but also the remnant soul of the sword ancestor.

Besides this, there are countless women in the Xuan Yin Treasure.

At this time and place, there would be no safer place than here.

When he becomes a saint, this realm will also be renamed and truly become a realm for her, protecting her forever.

Chi Wei: "When did you gain control of a One Realm?"

Chi Wei, who had originally been scared away, somehow slipped back to watch the drama, naturally watching a cliché romance between a butterfly and a mountain, feeling more and more at ease the more he watched.

Great!

As long as this butterfly focuses on the Ninth Daughter of Niyue, his chrysanthemum will be safe, and there won’t be any better news than this.

He’s a real man fighting alongside Purple Dou, he can’t be turned gay by the butterfly! He is Chi Wei, not an idiot like Zi Wei, who falls in love with whoever comes his way! Chi Wei loves no one, only being a real man, a true gentleman, a pure man!

Ning Fan: "I killed Zi Wei, swallowed his One Realm, and it happened naturally."

Ning Fan could already vaguely sense his own One Realm, and now with more fortune, gaining control of a One Realm before becoming a saint was no hard task.

Chiwei: "Amazing! But this realm has just come under your control, I suppose it doesn’t have a name yet. Today I grant you a fortune, as someone of my stature names your realm, anchoring it in the landscape of mountains and seas! Just like resentful Scar, let’s call your realm, Extreme Mountain Overlords the Sea! Doesn’t that sound mighty and imposing?"

Pingtian: "What kind of extreme tyrant name is that! Are you the true self of the Purple Star Dust Flower?"

A voice resounded in Ning Fan’s heart, but it was from Pingtian Old Niu, who had joined the heart chatroom with Ning Fan’s consent.

Chiwei: "And who are you to interfere? Oh, it’s you, the top general of the Six Paths of Reincarnation under the Divine King Niyue, the older brother impulsively recognized by Zidou in a past life! Everyone thought you had perished in the Taiyi Dream, only to be saved by a butterfly. Due to a thousand Taiyi Dreams disturbing the cause and effect, even with all the reversers teaming up, they couldn’t calculate your death. How humiliating! What kind of big brother are you, needing a seventh brother’s disciple to save you, and you still act shamelessly?"

Pingtian: "Ah, yes, you’re amazing! Not only was your Ziwei killed by Zixiao, but also by Zixiao’s apprentice. By the way, you were once killed by Ziwei."

Chiwei: "You dare question my strength! I was deliberately yielding to Ziwei! I just wanted to show him that without me, he’s nothing!"

Pingtian: "Ah, yes, yes, sure."

Chiwei: "A lowly Desolate Saint, having even fallen from the Saint Position by various reversers, still dares to question my strength!"

Pingtian: "In the same realm, I handle you like a younger brother!"

Chiwei: "Ha, with your full Heavenly Bull Hide Pattern, you sure brag without blinking an eye!"

Pingtian: "In the same realm, I could simultaneously take on Zixiao and Jiang Shui, but you can’t even deal with Ziwei, who’s been killed twice by Zixiao and his apprentice."

Chiwei: "Let me correct you, Zixiao isn’t Zidou’s strongest form, while you will never achieve the reverse, nor leech the Reverse Saint! Sorry, I forgot you can’t even leech the Initial Saint now, according to a source from the Primeval Immortal Realm, it seems you nearly got killed by that Frost Moon kid, you better thank your butterfly brother! Without him, you’d have died here!"

The two argued more fiercely, constantly exposing each other’s weaknesses, clearly having seriously investigated each other’s backgrounds using various means.

Seeing the two argue for a bit without any real fire, Ning Fan instantly understood something.

This wasn’t arguing; they were clearly reminding him to be cautious and not be manipulated by others.

Chiwei didn’t trust Pingtian because, although Pingtian was nominally Zidou’s elder brother, they had fallen out for certain reasons, so Chiwei kept exposing his vulnerabilities to remind Ning Fan not to trust Pingtian lightly.

Pingtian had the same intention. Although Chiwei appeared to have a good relationship with Ning Fan, he was actually a mortal enemy of Zi Dou Immortal Cultivators, so Pingtian kept bringing up past events to remind Ning Fan not to trust the enemy lightly.

At that moment, Ning Fan’s Communication with All Things had recovered quite a bit, allowing him to keenly sense others’ goodwill or malice.

Although he knew both old guys had good intentions, if their friendly intentions were allowed to keep arguing, they might really start fighting at any moment.

Even though they were far apart, and one of them had their Dao practice like a flickering candle, Ning Fan dared not underestimate any Desolate Saint in the world, who knew if these two might find a way to fight across time and space? In the past, Desolate Saint Daoman Mountain could manifest as a divine being in front of others with just a Mountain and Sea Shadow...

Thus, he activated Communication with All Things to try to let the two understand each other.

If either of them were on guard, even if Ning Fan’s Divine Art was fully unsealed, it would be difficult to influence them.

Unfortunately, Chiwei was focusing entirely on guarding against Pingtian, and Pingtian was entirely focused on guarding against Chiwei, and they both trusted Ning Fan quite a bit, not expecting Ning Fan to play a trick?

And so they fell for Ning Fan’s Communication with All Things, starting to speak the truth.

Chiwei: "I really like that little butterfly, but only in the way an elder likes a junior because I’m a real man who will fight alongside Zidou!"

Pingtian: "I also really like the little butterfly, planning to take him in as a son."

Chiwei: "Ah, I really miss Zidou! Although I’ve never met him, I long to meet him."

Pingtian: "Yes, I quite miss that monkey head too, why did he refuse to heed the teachings of my lord Niyue? If he had been willing to become Niyue’s shadow, would the world have ended up this way? I know he valued emotions the most and couldn’t bear Subodhi’s decline...he was a good monkey, harder-headed than Immortal Copper, but with a soft heart, unable to bear his master’s downfall, still wanting to see the Second Divine King, who transformed into Jiuli to save the world, return, and had to protect the world that the First Divine King loved. But instead, the least vacant person became the world’s only unique reverser. When he was alive, he sacrificed himself to save the world; even after his death, he guarded the end of the Returning Ruins World, guiding the souls of the deceased, resisting extraterritorial beings. If it weren’t for him, the Life Monarch might have noticed long ago...I don’t actually blame him, what right do I have to blame him! I blame myself! If I could also enter the reversal, he wouldn’t have to bear so much responsibility..."

Chiwei: "Ah, a good monkey! I’m not as good! Really want to meet him!"

Pingtian: "I also plan to go see him, luckily the butterfly saved me, but this body is already broken and decaying. I want to follow my lord onto the Vast Expanse Path, seeking a chance to save the world, and perhaps finding my lord along the way. If I die unluckily on the vast expanse road, maybe I can meet the seventh brother. I used to tease him for being younger; now even in my prime, even with one hand conceded, I couldn’t beat him..."

Oh, it actually worked?

Ning Fan didn’t expect Communication with All Things to work unexpectedly, and it seems the effect was pretty good, as these two were no longer arguing, instead spilling past stories of Zidou like beans from a bamboo tube, leaving Ning Fan speechless and amazed.

When Master Zidou was still a monkey head, he once audaciously relieved himself on the Celestial Pillars, only to find it wasn’t the Celestial Pillars but the finger of the Divine King Niyue...

That incredibly charismatic Master Zidou? Urinating wherever? It’s hard to imagine...

If this embarrassing story is true, if Master Zidou also had a mischievous side like a demoness’s, you two exposing each other’s embarrassing incidents like this might earn you a beating...

Or maybe, now the Zidou Immortal Sovereign has already abandoned demoness thoughts...

Hmm? Abandoning demoness thoughts?

How does that sound so much like when I drank Niyue Wine and lost my devil spirit...

Could it be that the Zidou Immortal Sovereign once also drank Niyue Wine? Saying that he never drank Niyue Wine is actually a lie?

Or perhaps...he has long surpassed Niyue and can achieve some incredible feats without needing Niyue Wine...

"If Master Zidou truly has the power to reach the heavens and the earth..."

Ning Fan suddenly had a strange feeling.

It was as if even if he lay flat and did nothing, many people had already laid plans, which would see them return powerfully one day in the distant future to overturn destiny...

"So Manzhi didn’t lie to me...I really don’t have to be the protagonist of this story..."

"I could do nothing and quietly wait for a result, a possibility..."

"But what if they fail..."

"What if they could have won but failed because I wasn’t there..."

"What if they ended up winning, but in saving the world, they sacrificed a small number of people, and she happened to be among those sacrificed..."

"I don’t know, and I can’t foresee."

"I am not Master Zidou; my eyes don’t see such a distant future, nor can I calculate such complex cause and effect. The only thing I can do is bring her back myself...because we agreed to."

So he no longer paid attention to Chiwei and Pingtian reminiscing about the past.

Instead, his figure flickered as he flew to the top of Mount Buzhou, using the All-Things Gathering Divine Art to frantically collect debris from this world’s broken Mount Buzhou ridge.

And with a large amount of Mount Buzhou ridge, to complete the final stage of repairing the Reverse Sea Sword.

This sword, after sixteen repairs by the Frost Moon Sword Spirit, had already been repaired ninety-nine percent, its power far surpassing before.

Now was the last repair, the critical moment for the sword’s upgrade.

Ning Fan continuously attempted to pull the Sacred Slayer Sword of the Desolate Heavens from the Slaughter Hall into the chatroom.

With the help of the Sacred Slayer Sword of the Desolate Heavens, maybe his Reverse Sea Sword could be upgraded to the "Reversed Sea Desolate Sword."

Reversed Sea Desolate...

Even as oceans dry and rocks wither, and time ages the sky, this sword is not to be drawn unless it’s an anti-heaven path!

Then by this reincarnation vow, elevate the power of the Reverse Sea Sword!