Chapter 1330: Rain Falls as Fu Li’s Flame is Passed On
Chapter 1330: Chapter 1330: Rain Falls as Fu Li’s Flame is Passed On
In a short time, Purple Palm Fate defeated fifteen ancient formidable warriors in succession, displaying an invincible stance, leaving all who witnessed it astonished.
At this moment, his three thousand white hairs danced wildly without wind, like eternal frost and snow surging; the Fortune Light surrounding him shone like brilliant galaxies, suppressing the fortunes of all cultivators in the vicinity into gloom; where his Karma Eye focused, all beings were ensnared in lines of death, granting life or death with a single thought!
This person’s strength undoubtedly exceeds the realm of the Immortal Emperor! Unless a Quasi-Saint arises, who can compete!
Seeing this, many powerful figures from the Zi Clan secretly sent messages, requesting the closed-door meditating Quasi-Saint ancestors to come to their aid.
Purple Palm Fate seemed unaware of this matter, or perhaps waiting for the Zi Clan’s Quasi-Saints was already part of his plan.
He hid his true intentions, as if immersed in the joy of slaughtering all sides, and once again launched the Heavenly Stone. This time, the target was the Flame Spirit Saint Mother, who only had the cultivation of an Immortal Venerable.
According to his calculations, the Flame Spirit Saint Mother intended to use the Ancient God’s Lost Technique—[Guardian Divine Technique]against him, but would not succeed.
This technique is inherited from the Zi Dou Immortal Domain, a forbidden technique from the lineage of the Ancient Gods, capable of summoning guardian deities to assist in battle. It can only summon shadows without a physical body, but as long as the summoned shadow is strong enough, it can turn the tide of battle even beyond its level. This technique can be said to be astonishingly powerful, and naturally, not everyone can use it.
Firstly, the practitioner must possess a sufficient amount of Ancient God’s Divine Power.
Secondly, the practitioner must have a profound understanding of the technique.
Thirdly, the practitioner’s heart must maintain a pure guardianship faith, the more upright and pure this faith, the stronger and more complete the summoned deity.
Want to summon a deity to deal with me... a good idea, but useless!
This is not a Divine Skill a mere Immortal Venerable can partake in, truly overestimating oneself!
"Flame Spirit Saint Mother, with a Second Tribulation Immortal Venerable Cultivation Level, her qualifications are decent, but only considered decent. This woman misjudges people, suffers betrayal, leading to weaknesses in her Demon Soul and destruction of her Spirit Wheels, forever losing the possibility of advancing to a True Spirit; she has sacrificed herself to save others, fed her body to demons, and endured erosion by Ghost Sea Demon Qi, leaving her vitality as a candle in the wind, repeatedly failing to break through to the Immortal King due to this; possessing an Ancient God Heart Aperture, but it is a gift from the Luo Clan, with its core source cut off, heart apertures closed, Divine Power exhausted, unsuitable for great use... a pity, if not for these three issues, this woman could have qualified to be my pawn to flatten the Zi Clan, but now she does not even deserve my earnestness!"
Despite this, Purple Palm Fate opted for caution and utilized three parts of the Heavenly Stone’s might, aiming to kill Flame Spirit in one strike, leaving her Demon Soul no chance to escape.
And at this moment, wind and rain abruptly arrived, yet the fighting crowd on the battlefield did not immediately perceive the rain’s fall, which was quite abnormal.
This rain was completely natural and simple, akin to the Dao, seemingly present yet absent. If the rain did not wish to be perceived, all things would struggle to detect its existence, even if it directly drenched them!
Is it Ning Fan’s doing? Who else could it be!
Ning Fan promised Luo You to protect the Flame Spirit Saint Mother, and he would certainly fulfill it.
However, how to protect her specifically required careful consideration.
The most direct method of protection would undoubtedly be to intervene directly, crushing all attacks by Purple Palm Fate.
But upon arriving at the Zi Clan, Ning Fan had already been touched by the ancient Dao resonance here, gaining insights that countless Zi Clan members had failed to comprehend in their lifetime...
If these insights were utilized, he might provide the Flame Spirit Saint Mother with greater benefits.
Simply allowing her to escape a calamity was not enough.
She is Luo You’s elder, thus also considered his elder. It was their first meeting, and he should not come empty-handed... He planned to immediately heal all hidden injuries of the Flame Spirit Saint Mother and assist her in breaking through the long-encumbered Immortal King bottleneck right there.
But this required a process of breaking and then establishing, requiring the Flame Spirit Saint Mother to persist in desperation, so she could be reborn in fire!
Ning Fan’s eyes could penetrate the burning flames deep within the human heart.
The Flame Spirit Saint Mother’s obsession was strong enough to achieve this, but it needed a forerunner to enlighten her, to kindle the fire, to guide her to an unprecedented path—the [Fu Li] path!
In Purple Astral Immortal Cultivation, Demon Immortals are revered, and among Demon Immortals, Fu Li is revered!
It is proof of the unyielding, the strongest Demon Bloodline in the world; or perhaps, the strength lies not in the lineage, but in the heroic lives of each Fu Li who persisted unyieldingly!
"This is the Zi Clan, where to this day remains the legacy of Dao Enlightenment from Immortal Emperors who kindled the fire... using one’s own light to illuminate beings, this is truly kindling the fire, this is truly ’I am, so beings are’... Once, Immortal Emperors could independently enlighten the unyielding transformers of Fu Li; now, the Fu Li path has ceased transmission, and there is no longer any Immortal Emperor to enlighten a Fu Li... but I have arrived."
"With me present, Fu Li will not cease transmission."
"With me present, the unyielding still have a chance to be reborn in fire."
"In today’s Zi Clan, at first glance, everyone seems to be villains, yet in reality, there is still a presence of defiant will refusing to show; unpolished jade hidden in the tough stone; good and bad mixed on the farmland. Who does not live up to the name of the Zi Clan, who brings shame to the imperial heir’s identity, I will discern it clearly."
...
The Flame Spirit Saint Mother was unaware of the heavenly rain falling and also unaware that she was already under Ning Fan’s protection.
She was secretly attempting to perform the Guardian Divine Technique repeatedly, failing each time, yet still harboring hope, constantly trying: hoping for a miracle to occur, hoping to summon a powerful deity, hoping for a savior to descend, hoping for the situation to reverse...
However, reality was so cruel that those with mere hope ultimately await nothing.
She was unable to successfully perform the Guardian Divine Technique and felt the calamity of death approaching—the Heavenly Stone was falling down, but she could not see its trajectory in the slightest...
Though the stone carried only three parts of its might, its speed of approach was astonishingly fast, far surpassing her perceptive capability!
Realizing the attack’s arrival, her defensive spiritual light was already pierced by the Heavenly Stone, rendered useless!
Unstoppable!
This was a scenario where a top-level Immortal Emperor crushed a common Immortal Venerable, the two were not even on the same level!
Without earth-shattering roars, without the sharp howl of splitting the sky, it hit the target before any move was made, without fail.
As the spiritual light shattered, a fierce wind pressure quickly came from her forehead, a sign of the Heavenly Stone’s immediate approach!
"It’s about to hit..."
The Flame Spirit Saint Mother watched the Heavenly Stone closing in on her face, unable to react in time, she felt a tremendous force crashing onto her face!
Was she going to be decapitated...
But no!
In the moment of crisis, a faint purple mark of rain suddenly appeared between the brows of the Flame Spirit. Within this mark, there was a trace of black moonlight.
Under the condensation of moonlight, a small water shield suddenly emerged, blocking the inevitable strike of the Heavenly Stone.
"This is... the Ape Country Water Moon Shield, a prized treasure of the Luo Clan! Why is it on this woman? I actually miscalculated!" Purple Palm Fate’s face sank. He had calculated the karma of the Zi Clan countless times, yet did not foresee that the Flame Spirit Saint Mother possessed such a protective treasure.
In fact, even the Flame Spirit Saint Mother herself was unaware that she possessed such a powerful protective tool.
"Isn’t this Luo Ming’s treasure, cherished as if it were his lifeline, unwilling to let me even take a look... but why is it with me now?"
"When did he give this to me..."
Could it have been then...
At that time, I was seriously injured and unconscious, drifting in and out, suddenly feeling a cool sensation on my forehead, which brought my consciousness back; when I opened my eyes, he was there visiting, treating me...
The words I couldn’t understand then, I finally understand now, but it’s too late...
Luo Ming: "You are too trusting of others, and only because of that can I care for you for a while... This object aligns with your path though distant from your spirit, it goes silent when it meets fire and awakens when it meets water. One day, sufficiently strong Rain Intent will reactivate it, only then can that destined calamity become your rebirth... I truly wish to see the rain then!"
Why! Why did you give me the protective treasure...
If you had it with you, could you have escaped the calamity and saved your clan from the tragedy...
The Flame Spirit, though spared from death and having the Luo Clan’s treasure for protection, felt no joy at all, instead, she felt immense guilt and sorrow...
She had too many questions, but there was no longer a chance to express those late-coming words...
[Did the Clan Leader of the Luo Clan foresee this day... even calculating my appearance within the Zi Clan?] Ning Fan felt surprised yet found it reasonable, silently merging the images of Luo Ming, the Heavenly Emperor, and Niyue, the Divine King...
The Clan Leader of the Luo Clan had secretly given the Flame Spirit Saint Mother a small shield. If a calamity befell her, if at that moment a strong Rain Intent protected her, this shield would revive upon meeting water, officially activate, and from then on, serve as the Flame Spirit Saint Mother’s protective tool.
What profundity, foresight, and yet such enigmatic affection... Only the top riddle men could orchestrate such a thing, leaving one speechless.
The Ape Country Water Moon Shield truly deserves its status as Innate Middle Grade level! Even though it has just revived, even while operating on its own to protect its master, it unleashed astonishing defensive power, repelling the Heavenly Stone in defeat with ease!
Even Stone Heart and other Immortal Emperors couldn’t achieve this, yet an Immortal Venerable did!
The onlookers were shocked, gasping in astonishment!
"How is it possible! A mere Flame Spirit, to have an Innate Middle Grade treasure for protection! Even I, as an Immortal Emperor, do not possess such a thing!"
"This is... the Ape Country Water Moon Shield! An old relic of the Luo Clan, and it has ended up in the hands of the Flame Spirit! No wonder the Hidden Clan, Realm Beast Race, and others dug three feet under, yet failed to find it..."
"This person hid it well indeed! She clearly possessed such a treasure, yet never once used it, deceiving us all..."
"Foolish words! If she had flaunted this treasure, she would have been targeted long ago; after all, innocence is no excuse for harboring a prized jewel..."
"Flame Spirit! Since you have such a precious treasure, you should hold off the operations of Palm Fate; we will support you from the sidelines, and together we’ll slay this thief!"
Seeing the Flame Spirit block Palm Fate’s attack, Chi Feng Immortal Venerable immediately saw the opportunity to defeat Palm Fate, quickly ordering the Flame Spirit to assault Palm Fate while he stayed behind, waiting for the chance to capitalize...
With these words, the Flame Spirit did not voice her opinion, but Purple Palm Fate laughed first!
He had actually been underestimated!
Although one strike didn’t kill, it was indeed his miscalculation of the Flame Spirit’s means, but so what!
The Flame Spirit merely had the Water Moon Shield for protection, but being out of sync with this shield, she couldn’t fully harness its power.
If he launched a full-force attack, this shield would be insignificant!
BOOM!
Purple Palm Fate raised his hand to unleash the Heavenly Stone, using only a fraction of its power, he easily killed Chi Feng Immortal Venerable.
Then, with full force, he activated the Heavenly Stone to its fullest power, targeting the Flame Spirit Saint Mother!
"Your patience, I acknowledge! But my patience surpasses yours!"
Purple Palm Fate unleashed the full power of the Heavenly Stone, but that’s not all, as he pinched a spirit sense, a crimson mark suddenly split between his brows, and from it flew twelve scarlet-glowing Immortal Slaying Flying Knives!
It turns out, just like the Flame Spirit Saint Mother, he too had hidden a secret treasure in his brow, waiting for a moment of crisis to use, hence he acknowledged her patience.
The Immortal Slaying Flying Knives were also Innate Middle Grade treasures, but the issue was... Purple Palm Fate possessed a total of twelve of them, what an incredible fortune of treasures!
However, using twelve Immortal Slaying Flying Knives wasn’t enough, as Purple Palm Fate also summoned the Anti-Luo Heaven Array Flag acquired from the Red Corpse Emperor.
With Purple Palm Fate’s mana, simultaneously controlling twelve Innate Middle Grade treasures was extremely taxing, thus he borrowed the power of the Array Flag, directly integrating the twelve flying knives along with the Heavenly Stone into a formation, using them in tandem!
This was originally a method to deal with the Quasi-Saints of the Zi Clan, but he acknowledged the Flame Spirit’s patience, fearing she hid even more outrageous methods, thus he withheld nothing, using his trump card directly!
What a scene of world-destroying devastation!
The honorable Immortal Emperor, to kill an Immortal Venerable, actually employed means that would make even a Quasi-Saint’s scalp tingle. Anyone seeing this would shudder!
"This is Fate Wielding! Does he truly intend to annihilate our clan! How many other means does he possess!" In the shadows, the Quasi-Saints of the Zi Clan were all shocked. Though they initially intended to ignore Fate Wielding, this moment they could no longer remain still!
In the center of the attack stood the Flame Spirit Saint Mother, clearly the most shocked of all!
"Not good! Even the Water Moon Shield cannot withstand this strike!"
She was actually worried for the safety of the Water Moon Shield... because this was the last bond he left behind...
Faced with the terrifying lineup of the Heavenly Stone, the Twelve Immortal Slaying Swords, and the Anti-Luo Heaven Array Flag, the Ape Country Water Moon Shield showed no fear, but its courage alone was commendable.
How could the power of one person withstand an attack of the same level by multiple foes...it defended with effort, yet ultimately couldn’t escape defeat, despite trying its best beyond its limits...
With a sorrowful cry, the Ape Country Water Moon Shield was ultimately shattered by the treasures, no longer able to protect its new master.
[Save her... save her...] The powerless Water Moon Shield seemed to feel the pervasive Rain Intent, and thus pleaded with the master of Rain Intent for help, using a sound that no ordinary person could hear.
[Rest assured, she will be fine, you will be fine too, you are very brave, so rest here for a while...] Ning Fan responded, using a similar inaudible sound.
He quietly collected the fragments of the Treasure Shield, with no one knowing where the fragments had gone, leaving those who wanted to secretly collect them confused.
He silently observed the clash between the Water Moon Shield and the treasures, without intervening, as if there was some message from a predecessor wanting to convey to him through this scene.
It wasn’t conveyed through sound.
But through the scene itself.
[Do you see, the power of one has its limits, you must decide to seek Daoist friends, look for strong allies, walk the Five Spirits Road, rather than walk alone...] It seemed a voice wanted to say this to him.
[Though the Five Spirits are possible, all creatures are also waiting for our answers, what do you say...] Another voice seemed to want to convey something.
Thus, Ning Fan pondered much, finally reaching another understanding...
"The power of one is limited, while the power of all beings is infinite..." he murmured.
The flame within him seemed to flicker, as if it could resonate with the flames of all things...
His enlightenment deepened, within this place and this battle, he seemed to transform, yet as if he had never changed.
"Senior Niyue, Master Zidou, is this setting the two of you guiding me...only indescribable, thus unknowable. Only grasped in meaning, not spoken aloud..." Ning Fan speculated secretly.
...
The Flame Spirit Saint Mother did not know that the Treasure Shield was undestroyed; her ears were still echoing with the Treasure’s lament as it shattered, and unknowingly, she shed tears...
She hadn’t protected his relic... she wasn’t worthy of possessing this shield, she had failed his expectations.
Thus her heart filled with anger, with sorrow, with the courage to risk everything.
As the treasures like the Heavenly Stone once again attacked, for the first time, she faced them head-on, and at this moment, an unprecedented purple divine light burst forth around her, finally employing the Guardian Divine Technique!
"Ancient Moment Divine Words, call forth godly protection!"
Her intense persistence finally met the requirements for casting the technique, even far exceeding it!
However, divine power was still severely lacking; even though the technique succeeded, it was because the overflow of persistence completed the shortfall of divine power...
This was not a perfect summoning!
She could not summon the desired deity in full...
She wanted to summon a hero to save the world, the revered master of Purple Astral Immortal Cultivators, the invincible of the Ape Clan, the Purple Dou Immortal Emperor!
She did not hope to summon the Emperor in his Fourth Step—that was pure fantasy! She only wished to summon Zidou in his Demon Emperor period, which would be enough to sweep away all enemies before her!
Regrettably... she could not accomplish this.
She couldn’t even summon a humanoid deity, only barely summoning some divine light as protection, which eventually transformed into a True Immortal level Settling Skill to guard her.
This was the divine skill frequently used by the young Purple Dipper, but only had the power from his True Immortal period, obviously unable to hold against the onslaught of these treasures...
Thus the light of the Settling Skill gradually cracked under the assault.
Even so, none present dared to underestimate this Settling Skill: a True Immortal enduring a Quasi-Saint-level treasure assault for so long, was unbelievably exaggerated!
"Was the Immortal Emperor even as a True Immortal capable of matching a Quasi-Saint!" The observers were all stunned, finally grasping the concept of reversing saint talent, an achievement beyond any ordinary genius!
[Far stronger than I was in my True Immortal stage... truly worthy of being Master Zidou!] Ning Fan praised.
This was an opportunity not to be missed!
During the short time before the defense was breached, the Flame Spirit Saint Mother directly faced the onslaught of treasures, rushing toward Purple Palm Fate, transforming into her true Firefish body, spewing the Postnatal Twelve Flavors Demon Fire, intending to fight to the death with Purple Palm Fate!
"Return the treasure fragments you stole!" the Flame Spirit sorrowed, realizing that she had mistaken Purple Palm Fate for taking the Water Moon Shield’s treasure fragments.
This was a great grievance, but Purple Palm Fate couldn’t be bothered to explain!
At this moment, his face was extremely unpleasant. Despite having exhausted all means, he still couldn’t take down a mere Immortal Venerable, and the opponent successfully used the Guardian Divine Technique...
What a huge variable this is! He actually miscalculated such a shocking variable again!
Aside from Ning Fan, the other who could instantly make his hair stand on end would undoubtedly be the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign!
This was Dreamland Realm, a place created by the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign. Summoning Purple Dou here is akin to cheating!
Exaggerated! Too exaggerated! Just a mere Yan Ling, yet she delusionally tried to summon the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign to assist her! Who does she think she is! Even Saints wouldn’t dare have such delusions! And yet, an Immortal Venerable succeeded!
Even though she only managed to summon a True Immortal realm settling skill, it’s still an old technique of the Immortal Sovereign. This alone is enough to etch Yan Ling’s name onto Mount Wansheng!
Without relying on anyone’s help, purely with her own Immortal Venerable strength, accomplishing such an exaggerated feat, is this truly human?
[Everything you said is correct...] Ning Fan absolutely refuses to admit that he secretly lent Yan Ling a helping hand... Well, a significant helping hand.
Without his intervention, Flame Spirit Saint Mother indeed couldn’t summon anything related to the Young Immortal Sovereign... He was the Master of Dream Realm and held the throne, he indeed had the leverage...
"This person must not be spared! With the first successful technique, she managed to summon the True Immortal realm Purple Dou settling skill. If she uses it a few more times, accidentally summoning a True Immortal Purple Dou or even an Eternal Purple Dou, how would I have any chance of survival!"
The more Purple Palm Fate thought about it, the more terrified he became. A single butterfly had him fleeing desperately, and if a Young Purple Dou appeared, he might as well bang his head against the wall than be tormented by despair!
Worldly variables must not be left!
Old man, with you... I’ll fight!
"Heavenly Gang Skill, Heavenly Repairing and Sun Bathing!"
"Heavenly Gang Skill, Seven Arrows Nail Head!"
"Heavenly Gang Skill, Nine Breaths Qi Refining!"
"Earth Evil Technique, Soul Capturing!"
Beyond the numerous magical treasures used, Purple Palm Fate actually employed four types of Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiend Techniques to enhance the treasures.
He used the Heavenly Repairing and Sun Bathing Skill to fortify the Heavenly Stone!
He used the Seven Arrows Nail Head Skill to strengthen the Twelve Immortal Slaying Swords!
He used the Nine Breaths Qi Refining Skill to convert his Emperor Qi, using it to empower each treasure, thereby endowing each with an Appearance of the Extreme Emperor Soldier Treasure!
He used the Earth Evil Soul Capturing Technique to forcibly extract the world’s souls and imbue them onto the treasures!
Even before using the four techniques, the combined might of the treasures were already comparable to a high-grade innate treasure!
Now, using all four techniques, the might of the treasures subtly approached the supreme innate - an item that most Saints barely possess! He actually wielded it, merely to deal with a single Immortal Venerable!
Astonishing the hidden Quasi-Saints, each one moved!
Purple Bone Quasi-Saint: [Palm Fate’s utilization of treasures is too exaggerated!]
Mixed Heaven Quasi-Saint: [With Flame Spirit’s fall, we should immediately strike, and together besiege Palm Fate! We must not allow him to use more means!]
Zixiao Ancestor: [This person, even facing great cultivators, likely has the power to fight. Brother Yin, Brother Jie, Elder Hua, we might trouble you to lend a hand later.]
Brother Sikong Realm: [Lend a hand? Sure! But Yan Ling seems deeply intertwined with the Luo Clan, this woman is meant to be mine! Otherwise, I want ten strands of Origin Qi!]
Hidden South Mountain: [That won’t do! This woman was initially claimed by my Hidden Clan, you’d best not fight with me for her, or don’t blame me for using force! In terms of cultivation, we may be similar, but when it comes to the overall strength of the clans, you fall far behind!]
Elder Hua: [I refuse to take action, no one here is worthy to compel me to act, not even Purple Palm Fate! If he presented his Seven-Colored Body, I might show some interest...]
Zixiao Ancestor: [Purple Palm Fate? Why would senior say such? Could it be the one causing trouble in our clan isn’t Palm Fate himself? But how is this possible, merely daring to come to my Zi Clan alone is utterly contemptuous! And the strength of his Purple Luck Body is excessively exaggerated...]
Elder Hua: [Frog in the well! The world’s vastness far exceeds what you Dream Realm ants can imagine! Once you ascend to the Real Realms with me, you’ll understand how many strong individuals there are in the Real Realms! How delightful the Spiritual Energy is!]
Ning Fan: [...]
At this moment, Purple Palm Fate was indeed excessively exaggerated. With his array of techniques, absolutely not what Flame Spirit Saint Mother could withstand.
Even if by chance she used the Guardian Divine Technique, it was the same.
She tried to reclaim the fragments from Palm Fate’s hands, but couldn’t accomplish anything.
The True Immortal realm Purple Dou settling skill ultimately exhausted its imposing power, completely disappearing...
She was struck by countless dazzling rays, unable to see the attack trajectory of the incoming magical treasures; each ray came too swiftly, each ray surpassed her limits...
Unbeatable...
She tried her best...
Even so, she couldn’t retrieve Luo Ming’s relic...
Flame Spirit Saint Mother shed tears, but before the tears could fully fall, they met their end.
Boom boom boom boom boom——
Countless strikes spread.
The Tian Ling fractured, her physical defense crumbled, the Demon Soul perished...
Consciousness begins to dissipate, seemingly in an instant, yet also endlessly long.
"Is this the end..."
"Completely outmatched..."
"The world’s distance is truly too vast..."
"So vast... just like the distance between you and me..."
"Luo Ming..."
The world seemed to quiet down, leaving only the sound of heartbeat and breathing.
Endless chill enveloped the heart, all thoughts and methods seemed about to vanish, never had there been a moment when the Flame Spirit Saint Mother felt death so near.
So heavy...
So cold...
So tired...
Yet inexplicably, there’s a sense of relief...
In this life, she’s lived so weary.
Never free to act as she wished, feelings not within her control, loving across mountains and seas, all hopes mere illusions...
It seems as if a flash of memories passed before her eyes—betrayal in every piece and part.
But there were good things too...
Yet those good things ultimately didn’t belong to her...
She thought of someone she couldn’t spend this life with, remembered his ideals, his words, his piercing eyes, his heart open to the world; every memory, hard to let go...
Luo Ming: [Legend speaks of a distant era in the Purple Dou Immortal Domain, where all clans lived peacefully, understanding each other, without any war or conflict. Such a fairy tale is too idealistic, I have always been skeptical.]
Luo Ming: [Beings cannot understand each other, like birds unaware of the sea’s depth, or fish ignorant of the sky’s height. The self-assured comprehension of beings has always contained an insurmountable boundary, a testament to the unique nature of all living things. Absolute peace doesn’t exist; with increase comes decrease, life’s flame is limited, and thus every survival is inherently based on plunder, until returning to death, giving everything back to its origin. I do not believe an ideal world exists, yet even so, pursuing it still holds meaning. Creating what the world has not, why shouldn’t it be considered romantic! We cultivators were born extraordinary, bearing the responsibility to save the world, shouldn’t disregard the suffering of all beings. Affairs of the heart are not my wish, this life is indeed too short for me...]
Luo Ming: [The moon wanes not its light; the sword breaks not its strength. You’er’s temperament is worrisome, but with you as her teacher, perhaps some things can be rewritten... Of course, your temperament is equally troubling, hence why You’er’s personality is needed to counterbalance...]
Luo Ming: [I heard you’re critically injured, don’t be afraid, it’s just a mere fatal wound, I happen to have a way to save you. I possess the heart apertures of ancient gods, perfect as a medicine to cure your heart-destroying poison... huh, why are you crying? A mere god’s heart is just an external thing to me, you and I are life and death companions, such external things are negligible...]
Don’t understand...
Your ideals, I may never understand...
Why didn’t I strive to understand you more while you were alive, would things be different if I had...
I’m sorry...
Your daughter, I’m afraid I can no longer take care of her...
No...
She’s not just your daughter...
She is also... my disciple...
"You’er..."
When it comes to death, Flame Spirit is not greatly afraid, but worries that after her death, Luo You will be alone in the world, with no one to protect her entirely...
Thus, a new strength suddenly emerged in a heart that should have been in despair.
She really wants to attribute this emotion to "being strong for the sake of a child," though regrettably, she’s not Luo You’s biological mother...
Even so...
She must survive!
But how to achieve this, how to achieve...
For Luo Ming, I can abandon everything, for You’er, I can bear anything...
"Enough, Senior, your flames are already fierce enough. So, what comes next, please leave it to me. If we don’t act, You’er might blame me."
It was Ning Fan’s voice, suddenly resonating in the depths of Flame Spirit Saint Mother’s consciousness.
"No way! How could I blame you! I’m grateful to you, barely in time! How could I not understand, you’re doing this for Master’s sake..."
It was Luo You’s voice, also resonating in the depths of Flame Spirit Saint Mother’s consciousness.
Thus, the consciousness, as dark as a long night, suddenly saw a glimmer.
The light grew brighter and brighter, and then the Flame Spirit Saint Mother finally saw Luo You and Ning Fan clearly.
Ning Fan looked familiar to her, upon closer inspection... My heavens! Isn’t this the widely reputed Moral Sage from the outside world!
She heard of the Moral Sage’s various deeds and worshipped this heroic senior of the Era of Decline greatly. She not only acquired Ning Fan’s portrait through some means but also secretly erected an incense tower to worship him, just like those people rescued by Ning Fan!
She had been praying, praying that one day this Moral Sage could eradicate the evil deeds of the Zi Clan, but unexpectedly, her wish came true, and she really saw this idol!
She was incredibly excited until she saw Ning Fan’s hand around Luo You’s waist, and she was suddenly stunned.
What is this situation?
An old bull eating tender grass...
The dignified Moral Sage, a senior living for thousands of years, why would he make a move on my little girl...
But seeing Luo You’s tear-stained face at that moment, she immediately ignored the minor details and began to care for Luo You.
She knew her disciple was sad, thinking she was about to die...
"Don’t cry, Master doesn’t hurt... Master is just going to a faraway place..." she comforted.
"I’m not crying! Master won’t die! Ning Fan said he would definitely save you... He never lies to me, I believe him!" Luo You replied.
"Ning Fan? Is that the real name of the Moral Sage? Are you very familiar with the True Lord?" Flame Spirit Saint Mother had too many questions.
She couldn’t understand Luo You’s relationship with Ning Fan.
She couldn’t understand why Luo You was certain Ning Fan could save her.
Though the Moral Sage was powerful, he was ultimately just an ancient great cultivator, not enough to reverse the life and death of an Immortal Venerable.
As a master of the Zi Clan, the Flame Spirit Saint Mother knew more about the reincarnation of Dream Realm and was aware that the life and death of the Immortal Cultivators of the Dream Realm were in the hands of an impartial old man.
His name was Clock Ghost!
This person bore the heavy responsibility of reincarnation in the Dream Realm, and no one could make him compromise or bow his head.
Even if his sworn brother or biological sister was about to fall, he never favored unlawfully, strictly upheld the order of reincarnation, and never overstepped...
Reincarnation cannot be chaotic! Once it is in chaos, the world will never have a chance to ring the bell again...
As expected!
At her last moment, Flame Spirit Saint Mother not only saw a vision of Ning Fan and Luo You (she misunderstood), but also saw the hell gate symbolizing life and death appear out of thin air.
Two black and white spirits wearing tall hats emerged from the door, coming to arrest Flame Spirit to face death.
"I am the White Constant Envoy."
"I am the Black Constant Envoy."
"You once stole treasures from the Internal Endless Sea, inadvertently touched the Netherworld’s secrets, provoking groups of demons to rampage, ultimately stained by the curses of numerous demons, leading to today’s evil outcome. After your death, you shall suffer three hundred and fourteen pains, and your residual soul will forever be suppressed in the Netherworld to repay past misdeeds..."
The black and white spirits approached with chains, their expressions numb and hollow, showing no sign of human emotions, as though they were just puppets, just empty shells, merely cold machinery executing tasks.
However, the aura they exuded was no weaker than that of the Seven Calamity Immortal Emperor.
The black and white spirits further revealed a nearly terrifying Power of Reincarnation that came from the source maintaining the order of the Purple Dou Illusion Realm. It’s a force so strong that even a Quasi-Saint would struggle to withstand it!
"Is this an illusion, or reality? Or does every Immortal Cultivator on the brink of demise witness this image of death...or is it only those who caused specific evils who can witness it?" Luo You was very tense, yet she still stepped forward amidst endless reincarnation pressure, trying to negotiate with the two ghost messengers.
But Ning Fan raised his hand to stop her.
Because there was no need.
"She cannot die yet, because I do not allow it." Ning Fan declared.
When he spoke with the ghost messengers, he did not have the same tenderness as when speaking to Luo You, but rather presented an unfathomable aura as if the entire world could not weigh as heavily as his single statement! In front of his words, all things must step back, must bow!
Even the black and white spirits carrying the mantle of reincarnation order showed a disturbed look upon hearing this, proving they were not truly unexpressive.
"Dream Venerable, please forgive us! Although you are the Master of the Dream Realm, this reincarnation order is guarded for generations by Clock Ghost, even you cannot make exceptions! The death of Flame Spirit Daoist is a matter etched in the Book of Life and Death, unless a new possibility is birthed from the reincarnation sea, otherwise, no one can save her...Dream Venerable, invincible and unrivaled, undoubtedly can use brute force to compel us into submission, but if you do so, Clock Ghost will likely be disappointed... He has high hopes for Dream Venerable, believing that you Elder will be an ideal and suitable successor to the Immortal Emperor, yet now, is Dream Venerable planning to lead in breaking the order..."
Master of Dream Realm? What is that! When did my annoying little brother become the master of the world! Luo You felt like her worldview was crumbling, completely unable to understand how the small boy from those years had turned into such a shocking figure... Suddenly, she had a sense that he was far away, feeling inexplicably nervous, and strangely concerned, she squeezed Ning Fan’s hand tightly.
"Don’t worry." Ning Fan comforted.
Then he began to comfort the two ghost messengers.
"I have no intention of breaking the reincarnation order. As the Master of the Dream Realm, I can easily control the life and death of beings within the realm, but I equally understand that unless in the most critical of moments, one must not violate this matter easily, or once the reincarnation order is broken, the Bell of Samsara will no longer be able to ring, and henceforth the dream realm reincarnation will have no possibility of reopening. Once the world heads towards its doom, there will be no choice to be made... It is precisely because of understanding this principle that I did not use the right to kill directly to erase the survival fate of Fate Wielding, but instead abide by rules and personally hunt down. Although I have personal sentiments, I do not wish to let Master Zidou down, nor do I wish to disappoint the countless Zi Dou Martyrs..."
"Thank you, Dream Venerable, for your understanding!" The two ghost messengers showed gratitude on their faces yet secretly muttered to themselves.
What does "not breaking this matter unless absolutely necessary" mean!
Does it mean that when it is truly necessary, one can break the rules!
This master of the dream realm has somewhat radical and dangerous thoughts! He seems not quite like the law-abiding and courteous person Clock Ghost describes... well, being courteous is indeed accurate! The dignified Master of Dream Realm was surprisingly polite to us two ghosts; if this isn’t courteous, what is! As for abiding by the law...although having criminal intent, no concrete action has been taken, so it’s not exactly criminal. If not criminal, then naturally it’s still law-abiding, not actually an outlaw...
Ning Fan: "In any case, you still cannot take this person away."
A ghost messenger, helpless: "Ah this..."
Ning Fan: "I will use relatively lawful methods to bring her back, making sure it doesn’t put difficulty on you two."
Ning Fan and the ghost envoys had no personal grievances, and he did not intend to make things difficult for the two ghosts.
The two ghosts were worried Ning Fan would cause trouble, and it would be impossible to resolve, so they bit the bullet and handed over their storage pouches, offering numerous treasures in hopes that the Master of Dream Realm would show mercy.
It’s unbelievable!
It has always been that ghost envoys extort wealth from mortals. When have they ever given money in return!
But this is the Master of Dream Realm, who holds the supreme power of this realm and is said to possess unparalleled combat strength... How many have recently been killed by Ning Fan for reincarnation sins and escorted by ghost envoys to the Reincarnation Bureau for trial!
They dare not provoke!
In every sense, they dare not provoke!
Only compromise, placate, and accommodate!
There’s nothing wrong with the Master of Dream Realm; only faults lie with the subordinates!
Reincarnation has never been just about battle and killing; it is full of human affairs!
Ning Fan: "Very well, since you two are worried, stay here and protect me."
The two ghosts: "We obey the Master of Dream Realm’s decree!"
The two ghosts felt uneasy, fearing Ning Fan would stir up trouble, causing some issue that the Clock Ghost Lord would have to clean up in secret...
Fortunately, the two ghosts quickly saw the power Ning Fan used and relaxed.
Ning Fan did not use illicit means to save the Flame Spirit Saint Mother but rather utilized the power of the Demon Ancestor of the Fu Li race.
Although the Fu Li power alone was insufficient to rewrite reincarnation order, this time Ning Fan used something newly realized after entering the Zi Clan.
Thus, he split a thread from what seemed like the dying light of a flickering candle, transformed it into the Fu Li Spirit Wheels, and then gifted it to the Flame Spirit Saint Mother.
A spark can ignite a prairie fire.
What he aimed to do at this moment was precisely what the Immortal Emperor did in the past!
He wanted to enlighten Fu Li right here!
To help Flame Spirit transform into Fu Li and be reborn through fire!
The reincarnation order cannot be broken, but the act of passing the fire through Fu Li power is an exception!
...
The scene within Flame Spirit’s consciousness seemed lengthy, yet only took an instant in the external world.
Outside, Flame Spirit had just been killed by Purple Palm Fate.
Seeing the hard-to-kill Flame Spirit finally fall, Purple Palm Fate breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that his journey to the Zi Clan should have no further disturbances...
However, the next moment, Purple Palm Fate nearly choked, barely holding his breath.
"This is... a new Fu Li is about to be born?!"
Suddenly, where Flame Spirit had fallen, fierce purple-black flames surged!
The flames coagulated, transforming into a demon cocoon!
Within the demon cocoon, creation seemed to be fostering, as if a living being was about to be reborn!
Who else could it be but Flame Spirit!
She was not only unbeaten by the Palm Fate but was about to transform into Fu Li, re-emerging in the world even stronger!
It’s unbelievable!
"I’ve exerted myself this much! Why can’t I kill her! There’s something wrong! When did it start raining!"
Purple Palm Fate suddenly showed a horrified expression!
He finally understood where the problem lay!
No honor in this! Butterfly has no honor!
He had already arrived at the Zi Clan!
He had always been watching the show!
He even enjoyed the excitement, creating a new Fu Li, thereby humiliating me to the extreme!
"Why! Why do you ruin my plans again and again! Can’t you treat me as a fart and not hunt me so relentlessly!" Purple Palm Fate’s mind collapsed directly.
The invincible posture was all gone, leaving only impotent fury from a breakdown!
It was not only Palm Fate who was shocked.
At this moment, everyone suddenly realized the rain after Purple Palm Fate pointed out the sky-rain fact.
No one was not surprised! No one was not moved!
The Zi Clan follows the old Immortal Domain convention, where the weather within the domain is governed by a special force steering the seasons with the power of Heavenly Dao, without its consent, no one can rewrite the realm’s weather.
Now it’s clearly not the rain season set by the Four Emperors, yet rain falls, which surely is abnormal, one can imagine what kind of ability the one who made it rain possesses, capable of easily overthrowing Heavenly Dao order!
This rain gives a peculiar feeling: even looking a hundred times seems sudden, though it had been falling for long, just due to the great sound being silent, the great form being shapeless, only now being noticed.
The sound of rain resounds, Rain Intent hits directly.
The screams and cries of battle on the battlefield were suddenly swallowed by the rain sound, forcing silence to envelop everything, only allowing the sound of rain to echo through heaven and earth. In front of this rain, even the Immortal Emperor had a heart-stopping sensation as if everything was seen through by the rain, leaving no place to hide! As if facing not worldly storm but overwhelming heavenly power, reincarnation gravity, supreme gaze!
"What is... this rain! And who made it rain!"
"We are at least Quasi-Saints, unexpectedly not detecting a single anomaly, could it be the opponent is indeed a Saint?"
"Previously kingly like a Heavenly Healer, but now Palm Fate is terrified like a startled bird, showing how terrifying the newcomer is, certainly far beyond our imagination!"
Zixiao Ancestor and other Quasi-Saints revealed themselves from the shadows, no longer hiding, swiftly surrounding Palm Fate without uttering another word.
"Palm Fate! This person is clearly coming for you! This is your fault, do not implicate us! Get out of the Zi Clan quickly! If you leave smoothly, we might let bygones be bygones!"
Zixiao and others were even too busy to retaliate against Palm Fate and only wanted to drive him away quickly!
Everyone understood!
Palm Fate was not here to challenge but intending to shift the blame eastward, pulling the entire Zi Clan down with him for burial!
Why!
What did the Zi Clan ever do to you, why bring such a star of misfortune to us!
This one must be a deadly enemy comparable to Emotion Control!
We may not be good people, but Palm Fate is utterly unreasonable!
"Join forces! Work with me! Together we can resist the Butterfly!" Palm Fate finally lowered himself, beginning to plead.
For no other reason than familiarity in hands!
Forget the Ape Saint Corpse Seizing words, treat them as farts!
Right now Ning Fan is already chasing, no time to seize, collaborating is more reliable!
Though this realm is full of ants and trash terrified of the Butterfly... I am also very scared of the Butterfly, so it doesn’t matter!
"To hell with your alliance!" Zixiao Ancestor was enraged! He had painstakingly revived the Zi Clan to present scale, could it all be ruined by Palm Fate’s contamination... How unjust the Heavenly Dao!
"I have treasures, which can instantly transform the Ape Saint Corpse into a Corpse Demon, in exchange let you all withstand the Butterfly for a while, is this enough!" Palm Fate tempted.
"What! Is this true!" Zixiao Ancestor’s expression showed movement.
"Fortune comes with risk! Let’s do it!"
Palm Fate was scheming, suddenly pierced by pain.
His plan to join forces had not yet unfolded when he was backstabbed by Ning Fan again.
"Whom are you planning to kill with joint effort... I did not hear clearly, could you repeat?"
Amidst the wind and rain, suddenly someone appeared.
He did not arrive suddenly, but was always there! Ubiquitous!
Ning Fan made his formal debut!
"This man is worthy of a battle with me!"
Ancient Painting Spirit with Ancient Great Cultivator strength rejoiced, immediately charging forward to compete with Ning Fan!
But before he could even see the trajectory of Ning Fan’s sword, a blade gleam froze at his throat.
Ning Fan slightly stressed the sword downward, pressing on the spirit’s shoulder, thus the Painting Spirit at Great Cultivation Level, directly crumbled under the irresistible strong force, thudding to his knees.
Even with great cultivation, it’s useless!
In this realm, only Corpse Demon Saint Ape, Dust King Calamity Thought, and Clock Ghost truly require Ning Fan’s serious attention!
"Impossible! How is a Cultivator of the Decline strong to this extent! He’s not a Saint, only at the Second Step! I am the spirit of the Ancient Third Map, surely I can’t be mistaken! Wait... what cultivation system did he achieve... Human... King... What exactly is a Human King, unheard of before, is it his self-created system!" Ancient Painting Spirit was terrified beyond measure.
He was facing one who could develop his own cultivation system!
Who can possibly defeat such a person! Such individuals are scarce even in the Real Realms! Why did he emerge in a backwater like Dreamland Realm! I don’t understand!
"Oh? Your eyesight seems somewhat special..." Ning Fan’s gaze condensed, no longer belittling the Ancient Painting Spirit upon second inspection.
This map’s strength is mediocre but its insight seems noteworthy; no wonder You’er is so fond of the Four Ancient Paintings...
This map, he wants!