Chapter 1324: Torch Burns in Silence
Chapter 1324: Chapter 1324: Torch Burns in Silence
The world where the upper realm demon race resides is called the Immortal Demon World.
This place used to be the Dongfu Realm where ancient demons dwelled, but it was destroyed by Emotion Control, breaking apart into the Land of the Awakened and the Land of Dreams.
The Land of the Awakened, also known as the Land of Demons and the Land of Dream, falls under the influence of the Spirit King Palace and the True Spirit Myriad Clans. While nature’s spiritual energy is stable yet ordinary, it serves as a suitable place for demon race habitation, with the highest cultivation available only up to the ninth-level continent.
The Land of Dreams, also known as the Demon Mansion Land, hosts countless ancient demon cultivators, either in slumber or on the brink of death due to severe injuries. This place is marked by chaotic Heavenly Dao, violent and dense Spiritual Energy, making it unsuitable for living. However, it boasts the highest twelfth-level continent.
In the past, the nine divisions of the Lu Clan ascended as a whole, heading to the Land of Demons.
Green Palm Fate fled all the way, escaping into the Demon Mansion.
Why flee here?
All because truly powerful ancient great demons slumber in the Demon Mansion. Seeking strong allies, one can only come here.
At its peak, the Demon-Sealing Peak could single-handedly combat the Ten Great Guardian Clans.
At its peak, the Demon Mansion could single-handedly combat the Heavenly Court, Demon-Sealing Peak, and the Ten Great Guardian Clans!
Although the Heavenly Court holds the highest royal power within the Dreamland realm, the Demon Mansion possesses the strongest military strength!
The Heavenly Court was reduced to ruins by Emotion Control.
The ten great secret clans were exterminated by Emotion Control without leaving a single Ancient Great Cultivator.
Demon-Sealing Peak suffered from Emotion Control’s calamity as all nine ancient devil ancestors were subdued, thirteen Great Demons died, and twelve Great Demons rebelled.
Only the Demon Mansion, albeit fractured, was not completely destroyed. Some ancient great demons remained severely injured but slumbering, retaining some foundation.
The reason is that the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign’s true form is a demon; the Purple Dou Immortal Domain is a world that respects demons, followed by gods residing after demons, and demons residing below gods.
Once, most Purple Astral Immortal Cultivators practiced demon cultivation techniques. Among ten people, six to seven practiced demon race cultivation techniques, yet they scorned being a demon sect, taking pride in being a demon immortal.
They ascended the mountain as immortals, descended as demons, lived as demon immortals, and died for Fu Li, practicing the ideal of saving the world! But that was a matter from one billion years ago...
An ideal practiced by the great demons of the Demon Mansion largely resulted in them perishing in battle, though a few remained severely injured and slumbering.
As an ancient immortal cultivator, Palm Fate shouldn’t have encountered any strong allies here—why would a great demon from the Demon Mansion awaken from slumber and worsen their injuries to save an enemy? Those who joined the Demon Mansion as great demons were those with staunch resolve, unafraid of life and death, unwilling to cede land, unswerving in loyalty, with an indomitable spirit and unwavering determination.
However, Palm Fate’s fortune defied the heavens, having once discovered a Mystic Bird Token called Sifan Order in some secret place, allowing him to make a great demon from the Demon Mansion break convention.
There are not many causes and effects in this world that can make Purple Astral Immortal Cultivators go against their position and principles, and the Mystic Bird is precisely one of the exceptions...
The grand Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign still owes the Mystic Bird a karmic debt, and the entire Purple Dou Immortal Domain has benefited from the Mystic Bird’s blessings, yet there will never be a day of recompense...
Thus, the Immortal Sovereign once bestowed three tokens to the Mystic Bird, promising to act on behalf of the Mystic Bird three times.
Moreover, he once passed an order to Purple Astral Immortal Cultivators stating that upon seeing this token, it is akin to seeing the Mystic Bird in person, and all must do everything to repay the Mystic Bird’s grace.
Some have voluntarily sworn that upon seeing this order, they must repay the favor, including the Three Immortals of the Demon Realm.
Under normal circumstances, this token is entangled with the karmic ties of the Purple Dou and the Mystic Bird, with countless oaths from Purple Astral Immortal Cultivators for protection. Even if lost, the Nirvana Saint would struggle to find it, let alone it being picked up by a second-step ancient immortal cultivator.
Yet coincidentally, Palm Fate is under the secret protection of Zhou Heaven Fate from the Real Realms, breaking the rules and finding the token.
This led to the current scene.
With the sight of the Si Xuan Order, many great demons within the Demon Mansion considered forcibly awakening, yet the Three Immortals of the Demon Realm were the first to react.
Among various great demons, they possess the highest Taoist cultivation, the lightest injuries, owe the most karmic debt to the Mystic Bird, and were personally named by Palm Fate, making them the most suitable to repay this order.
Palm Fate clearly knew whose power was the greatest here, and aimed to seek help from the strongest among them! He understood his predicament; he is an enemy of the Purple Astral Immortal Cultivators, and the great demons here are all tough bones! Even with the Si Xuan Order, the great demons would not collectively awaken to save an enemy, possibly only one or two would act out of old karmic ties and oaths, not allowing the Immortal Sovereign’s oath to be voided.
No one wishes to protect an enemy.
But they had no choice.
Moreover, the Three Immortals of the Demon Realm vaguely saw the authority of the Dream Realm master in Ning Fan, harboring thoughts of probing Ning Fan’s stance.
Such a grand event like the Dreamland Realm changing masters had already been sensed by the great demons, yet they didn’t expect the new master to be the person before them.
Palm Fate is indeed an enemy of the Purple Astral Immortal Cultivators, yet Ning Fan’s stance is somewhat ambiguous...
This individual seems to have received teachings from the Immortal Sovereign, yet stole the Immortal Sovereign’s authority over the Dreamland Realm. His current position is something no one can assert...
One person’s operation making nine others tense is no exaggeration; Ning Fan’s actions have caused countless cultivators on both sides to toss and turn in thought.
"Regardless of who you are, leave immediately! You cannot kill this person," the Three Immortals of the Demon Realm said.
Upon hearing this, Ning Fan slightly furrowed his brows, while Green Palm Fate breathed a sigh of relief.
At this moment, before Green Palm Fate stood three dormant volcanoes, which were actually not volcanoes but three demon cocoons buried under dust, piled up into mountains, whose age remains unknown.
Though it’s daytime, endless starlight from the heavens gathers upon the volcanoes, healing the wounds of the great demons within the mountains, yet even until today, it remains impossible to fully heal them.
Observing the crumbling of mountain stones, leading to the eruption of volcanoes, three great demons emerged from the mountains, ending their long slumber.
The result of forceful awakening caused the injuries within the three demon bodies to worsen multiple times over. The originally light injuries now became severe, bringing them close to death.
Though they are three great demons with weakened aura, the vigor of each surprisingly exceeds that of the Black Wing Great Demon!
These three demons are the Three Immortals of the Demon Realm!
The Three Immortals were formerly saints, yet to protect the Purple Dou Immortal Domain, they were struck down from the Saint Position by a Desolate Saint, eternally losing the Saint Road.
Despite losing the Saint Road, the Three Immortals remained true to their principles, reestablishing the Demon Mansion forces, bearing the responsibility of guarding the Dreamland Realm, and assuming the position of Demon Mansion lord.
They hold the primordial seals of the demon race, capable of suppressing all demon races below Quasi-Saint.
Emotion Control desired to seize the seals, yet the Three Immortals steadfastly gathered the power of hundreds of millions of ancient demons, sacrificing for the sake of preserving the seals intact.
They were defeated by Emotion Control, but until the end, they did not yield.
All these karmic ties, Ning Fan could see.
As such, after arriving at the Demon Mansion, he did not begin a massacre, merely chasing the Demon Emperors guarding this realm, letting them flee across the mountains, akin to setting them free.
It was not out of fear of the great demons’ strength that he held back, but because he viewed these senior members of the demon race as martyrs, unwilling to harm them...
Were it not for his concern about harming the innocent, he would have already begun unleashing his power. Unfortunately, countless old and weak injured soldiers were in slumber here, and even minor fluctuations from dueling could shock an elder hero to death, truly a feeling of being constrained...
Fate-Wielding really knows how to pick places to run to! In terms of escape talent, even eight million demon soldiers couldn’t match him alone!
And unlike the few Fate-Wielders he killed before, the Green Fate-Wielder has an absurdly high evasion attribute, seemingly having been specifically enhanced.
He struck the Green Fate-Wielder several times with the Heavenly Fate-cutting Sword, but due to a series of coincidences, he couldn’t hit the vital spots. He only slightly wounded him because he used the Fu Li Black Luck to contaminate the local fortune; the Against-Fate Thunder Technique mark planted on the Green Fate-Wielder disappeared due to many coincidences, unable to lock onto the enemy. Without the Fu Li Black Luck sensing him, he might even have lost sight of him due to some coincidences and let him run away...
Now, once again, the Three Immortals of the Demon Realm want to protect Fate-Wielding. If he dares to kill Fate-Wielding while under the protection of Zhou Heaven Fate, these three might immediately, due to some coincidences, become scapegoats for Fate-Wielding...
It’s ominous to harm righteous people, so he could only promptly resolve the issue with the three old men before dealing with the Green Fate-Wielder.
"I have already understood the difficulties in which the three seniors are involved, so I do not intend to argue about this matter. Why don’t the three seniors discuss how you plan to protect Fate-Wielding? Through cultural or martial security?"
Ning Fan offered them a way out as soon as he spoke, allowing the three seniors a path to retreat.
I know you have karma you must repay and must make a move for this person.
Even so, we don’t have to escalate matters to a fight to the death; how about we resolve it with a cultural defense, as a gesture.
"Oh? This young man possesses ten thousand tribulation magical power, taking on us three wouldn’t be too difficult, yet he doesn’t resort to bullying..."
The Three Immortals glanced at each other, all feeling surprised.
This young man is filled with Evil Qi, certainly no benevolent being; his mana is boundless, unmatched within the realm; his demonic thoughts are as vast as the sea, but he’s not misled by his powers, demonstrating judicious demeanor, giving off the feeling of an unfathomable mountain...
So that’s how it is...
This person should indeed be that Moral Sage—Ancient Great Cultivator Zhao Jian, whom Ao Qiangu and others praised highly...
If it is truly him, considering he once fought with all he had to kill the immortal domain traitor Yin Mo, and saved many juniors from tribulations, the probability of him being a friend rather than a foe is evidently higher.
But... if he’s an ally, why would he seize the Immortal Emperor’s authority, endangering the Dream Realm? Could there be hidden motives behind this...
Changliu Immortal: "Let’s protect through cultural means... Many Daoists are in slumber here, and if we can avoid conflict, it would be best."
Donglin Immortal: "Heh, after all these years, senior brother still prioritizes the welfare of the world..."
Changliu Immortal: "And what about you? Are you not, like me, still protecting this world?"
Donglin Immortal: "I am different from you. I just... don’t want to disappoint her..."
Yi Wangtian: "So annoying! Can’t you stop arguing the moment you meet! Let’s repay the karmic ties first and retrieve the Si Xuan Order!"
After the Three Immortals exchanged thoughts through voice transmission, they ultimately decided to engage Ning Fan in a cultural duel.
Ning Fan no longer frowned, this time, it was Green Fate-Wielding who felt the situation was grim.
Damn it! They intend to exploit loopholes using a cultural duel!
What about the oaths you made? Not going to count them? Didn’t you promise to risk everything for Si Xuan, is this how you’re doing it?
It seems the Purple Astral Immortal Cultivators are indeed untrustworthy! Seeking their aid might end in vain again...
Upon this thought, Green Fate-Wielder wanted to abandon the Three Immortals of the Demon Realm and flee directly, relying on oneself over others.
Yet, Yi Wangtian acted first, offering up a Mystic Bird’s Life Feather, which actually interfered with the Zhou Heaven Fate’s protection on Fate-Wielding.
Seeing Yi Wangtian step in to help, Ning Fan naturally wouldn’t waste the chance, pointing towards Fate-Wielding and precisely pinning him to the spot in a tacit understanding.
Previously, Zhou Heaven Fate consistently created coincidences, rendering his reincarnation-fixing technique unable to pin Fate-Wielding.
Who knew Yi Wangtian, with just one feather, could create a flaw in Zhou Heaven Fate, the Heavenly Destiny Xuan Bird is indeed terrifying...
It reminded him that Senior Brother Quanzhi’s form seemed to be just a single crane feather as well...
This feather being able to slightly interfere with Zhou Heaven Fate seems quite reasonable.
"Are you all attacking me to break the oath?" Green Fate-Wielder exclaimed in shock and anger.
"Daoist friend, you’re mistaken, I’m worried without our protection, Daoist friend would be eliminated by this Moral Sage in an instant, hence a little cover." Yi Wangtian lied with utmost seriousness.
He then clasped his hands in salute to Ning Fan.
One should repay kindness tenfold. Ning Fan considered the safety of the ancient demons in slumber, unwilling to fully attack Fate-Wielding, as a return to the favor, he wouldn’t allow Fate-Wielding to escape.
Nonetheless, promises must still be honored.
The current Moral Sage should also be verified, to see if indeed an ally.
Words might deceive, but Daoist thought won’t. Given it’s a cultural duel, there’s no better solution than a Dao Thought Battle.
He would fully protect Fate-Wielding once, repaying the karmic tie of the Sifan Order and retrieving the order.
This is her relic, it shouldn’t fall into others’ hands...
"Thank you, senior, for your assistance." Ning Fan returned the gesture with a salute.
"Stop there! I have made no assisting moves, and should not receive the title of senior from a Daoist friend! I’m genuinely concerned about facing you in a duel, to repay the oath!" Yi Wangtian denied.
Ning Fan: "Understood, senior did not assist."
Yi Wangtian: "That’s exactly it."
Ning Fan: "In that case, Senior, how do you intend to fight with all your might?"
Yi Wangxian: "Let’s determine the outcome through Daoist Thought. This way, I can know your true intentions. If you are an enemy, I will do everything to stop you; if you are a friend, I will test whether you are truly qualified to succeed the position of Dream Master. This belongs to the Immortal Emperor, only those with virtue can occupy it, let me see if you live up to the name of the Moral Sage!"
Ning Fan: "If that’s the case, Senior might be disappointed. My virtue might not be as much as you expect."
Yi Wangxian: "Don’t worry! The virtue I’m talking about, you definitely have! I’m talking about Martial Virtue!"
Ning Fan: "One more thing, can this Dao Thought battle be settled quickly..."
Yi Wangxian: "It can! How about we decide the victory with a single strike!"
Ning Fan had not finished the Dao Thought battle with Jichen, but instead used it as a signal relay station, connecting with the Fourth Throne within the Taiyi Dream... The mighty Jichen ultimately became a pitiful signal tool.
If the Dao Thought battle with Yi Wangxian cannot be resolved quickly, Ning Fan worries about unexpected changes that might affect his connection with the Throne.
For him, the cycles of time in the Huaiwo realm remain still at the moment of starting the Dao Thought battle. Thus, his encounter with Ji Fuyao continues, and the story has not yet reached its conclusion...
Neither ending the Dao Thought battle with Jichen nor rushing to seal the Numerous Nightmare Saints, Yao Gu, in the Huaiwo World.
If the Nightmare Disaster is resolved in this realm, it would mean the destruction of the entire Huaiwo.
If he watches as the cycle progresses, Nightmare Disaster would win, resulting in the predetermined fate of Wuzhiqi and others, leading to their collective demise.
So he seized a loophole: As long as I never make a move, this realm can never reach its ultimate conclusion in my destiny, leaving room for potential changes...
Before he finds a way to solve problems perfectly, he can only temporarily postpone them.
This has both benefits and drawbacks.
The benefit is that he can maintain the status quo, keep the complex causes and effects of the moment, and continue to use a series of coincidences to safely sit atop the Fourth Throne, materialize within the heavens and earth, and roam freely, enjoying a joyful life.
The drawback is that when he battles with others in Dao Thought, he temporarily cannot use his entire Dao Thought and cannot let it drag on for too long.
He cannot explain the intricacies to Yi Wangxian.
Yi Wangxian presumed that Ning Fan was confident about quickly resolving the battle, and laughed out loud at the sky.
What a conceited young man! Facing an opponent like me, a Fallen Saint, he plans to win with a single strike? How arrogant! How confident!
But I am not bothered by the conceited!
For in the past, I too was conceited!
Singing wildly and wasting days, acting arrogantly to achieve dominance!
"If you wish to determine the outcome with one strike, then enter my Dao Thought and withstand one of my blows!"
"I have a regret that is unbearable to think about, do you dare withstand the regret in my heart!"
Yi Wangxian opened up his Dao Thought, welcoming as if sweeping a lounge to greet, waiting for Ning Fan’s Dao Thought to enter, not fearing Ning Fan’s sudden attack.
He had encountered countless people, and this one would certainly not attack him! If this person truly intended harm, he would have already died! Even if his Twentieth and Seventh Primordial Saint Cultivation still existed, he wouldn’t be certain of winning over this person!
He could discern Ning Fan’s character, but couldn’t see Ning Fan’s stance.
Is he an enemy or friend? A battle will reveal it!
The theme of this Dao Thought battle is regret...
Ning Fan accepted the Dao Thought battle and, upon lightening his Dao Thought, scenes from Yi Wangxian’s youth unfolded before him.
Due to his request for a quick resolution, he did not transform into Yi Wangxian to experience these past events, but watched everything from the sidelines.
...
Yi Wang was the Taoist name he later adopted.
The young man’s real name was Mo Heng, who lost everything due to a war calamity.
His homeland, Lu Yang Country, was destroyed by flames of war.
His father’s head was made into a wine jug, and his younger sister met her demise amidst immense humiliation. He, due to his unique physique, was captured by bandits but narrowly escaped death; to prevent his escape, they severed his legs; amazed that his eyes would flash golden flames in anger, they gouged them out for collection.
The young man had studied the morality of heaven and earth from a young age, yet only then did he realize that not everyone counted as human...
The many truths he had learned proved ineffective against the inhumane reality...
It was his first time experiencing an emotion called regret.
If he had sought immortality and power instead of studying the ways of scholars, would his father and sister have met such ends...
"You want to sell me for money? Ha, do you know whether I could still fulfill your wish if I became a corpse..."
The young man actually bit his own tongue, intending to commit suicide.
That’s what the fables said, about certain people unable to bear humiliation, thus choosing death.
Ultimately, though, he did not die instantly from biting his tongue... Such a death is usually caused by excessive blood loss or suffocation.
But due to his special physique, mere blood loss and suffocation couldn’t claim his life, leaving him in a coma instead.
This coma lasted for an unknown amount of time.
A voice seeming to apologize came to his ears, yet he couldn’t clearly hear it.
"I’m sorry I was late... But do not fear, the nightmare is over, sweet ones shouldn’t end here, you deserve better stories because I have come..."
In the daze, Mo Heng dreamt.
He dreamt of his father, of his sister, of the school, of those endless rites and rituals he could never finish reading.
He laughed so joyfully, laughing and laughing, and then the dream awakened...
"Mo Heng! Mo Heng! Wake up! The teacher has been glaring at you for a long time!" The voices of his classmates startled Mo Heng, filling his heart with fear instantly!
The dream awakened!
He remembered all the experiences before, remembered his father’s head, remembered his little sister crying out, remembered...
Hmm?
How can I see again?
The legs are still here, the tongue is still here...
It turns out it was a dream within a dream! I haven’t awakened yet!
What a dream within a dream! Wonderful, wonderful hahaha!
Damn this classroom!
Damn this teacher!
Damn these archaic texts!
Look at me tearing you all to pieces! Useless, useless, all are useless things!
Mo Heng, appearing demented, crazily tore the books on the desk. Even after tearing them, he still felt unsatisfied, and wanted to chase the teacher to hit him! Yet he remembered the teacher, before being killed by bandits, still shouting at him to "run, run", and tears streamed down his face as he knelt before the teacher...
Frightening the teacher immensely!
This Mo Clan’s eldest son must have gone insane! He slept in class, desecrated the sacred texts, even wanted to hit me... bringing disgrace, absolute disgrace!
In anger, he expelled Mo Heng from the classroom.
After calming down a bit, worried that Mo Heng really was just ill, he ordered a few disciples to take Mo Heng back, and invited a doctor to diagnose and prescribe medicine, spending half a copper coin in the process.
It really made the teacher feel a pain in his heart.
The doctor understood how to prescribe medicine, but half the bowl for Mo Heng was human yellow—this boy clearly wasn’t sick, yet deliberately bullied his elders, deserving a small punishment as a major warning.
Yet he didn’t want to tell others that Mo Heng wasn’t sick but faking it, still wanting to earn his half coin of human yellow.
The teacher watched as the disciple took medicine and vomited, feeling relieved inwardly.
Mo Heng vomited while crying tears of joy! The taste of this medicine was so disgusting, it seemed to pierce the soul, if this was still a dream, he should have awakened long ago!
No, a dream could never have such real feelings and experiences!
It’s not a dream, this is not a dream!
It turns out losing everything is the real nightmare!
"Ah! Good! It’s not a dream, this is not a dream! That was a dream, over there was!"
After gulping down several bowls of medicine, Mo Heng clapped his hands and laughed, laughing so much he suddenly clenched his teeth, losing consciousness.
"Mo Dalang! Wake up! Mo Dalang!" This scared the doctor greatly!
Could it be he misdiagnosed?! This Mo Clan’s elder son really is sick? Did he randomly prescribe medicine and poison him? Luckily, he’s still breathing, then it’s alright...
"Was the medicine not enough?" asked a classmate who had a quarrel with Mo Heng a few days ago.
"Yes! The medicine must not have been enough!" some agreed.
Several students begged the doctor to prescribe more medicine for Mo Heng.
The teacher, unusually, was not stingy, actually took out two hundred cents, hoping the doctor would increase the dose.
Whether Mo Heng was cured he didn’t know, but his own internal angst was indeed healed, a divine doctor indeed!
In the end, he felt a bit uneasy, quietly asking, "...will it really not cause death?"
"No! Absolutely not!" The doctor touched the copper coin, steeling his heart.
The worst case, he’ll stop adding herbs, just human yellow! As long as no herbs are randomly added, it won’t cause death!
The dog eats human yellow every day, yet there’s never been a problem!
Such a scene of teacher compassion, peer respect, and medical ethics, was seen by a small bird in the clouds and was deeply frightened.
Could such a story’s ending really be as the boy wished...
He must be extremely satisfied, being able to eat several bowls of human yellow and still be overjoyed to the extreme...
Such thoughts of a lovely creature, she could never understand even after ten thousand cycles of reincarnation...
Even those high above, gods, have things they cannot understand, have things they cannot consume...
Compared to her, who only eats wind cake and dew brew, humans truly are beings with unlimited possibilities...
"Destiny is not the poetry of gods, but the laughter and tears of all living things."
"From the moment you are unafraid to fall, the sky is no longer far away~"
"I really want to draw windows all over the ground, so that every pair of eyes accustomed to the dark can get used to the light again..."
"May every island be embraced by the deep sea, may every star intersect with dawn~"
"As long as all living beings look forward to my appearance, no matter how many times, I will respond to the wishes of all living beings, until the last torch is burned out."