Grasping Evil

The same thought also surfaced in Lei Shiyi’s mind. However, since he had already known of Ning Fan’s true identity as a living cultivator, he was not as surprised as Zhu Feng.

Judging from the lack of proficiency when Ning Fan displayed that magic technique, he could conclude that he had just learned this technique not long ago.

Besides, judging from the fluctuations of magic power from that magic technique, Lei Shiyi felt that it was rather familiar to him as if he had seen it before. After a short while, he figured it out and muttered to himself with a bitter smile.

“It can’t be wrong! This technique is a magic technique that was inside one of the Crystals of Inheritance! Even though I could not open the crystal with my existence as an undead spirit, I was able to read its contents. Even though I could not see through it clearly, I managed to remember the trace of magic power fluctuations when this technique is displayed… This technique is really so heaven-defying. It seems clear that that young man has taken a huge advantage of me again. However, there is also nothing I can do about it. That crystal has already been in my hands for thousands of years and I still did not manage to open it no matter what but when it fell into his hands, he was able to immediately learn and develop that technique. This is the arrangement of fate… I just didn’t have as much luck as that young man.”

Since even the only two Void Inquiry Stage experts there were already astonished by that technique, how could the other Void Glimpse Stage cultivators not know how strong that technique was?

The strength of a single golden figure was comparable to a Void Glimpse Stage cultivator. With the two illusory golden figures and Ning Fan’s own strength which was already terrifying in the first place, who on this Zhong Mountain could stop him?!

Both Yan Daozi and Gu Feng were fighting the three spiritual puppets together.

They could be considered to be the weaker ones among the Void Refinement Realm cultivators of the lightning palace. Thus, they only dared to bully these spiritual puppets.

As the two of them were skilled in fighting together, they actually began to slowly gain the upper hand although they were against three spiritual puppets.

However, before the two of them could feel satisfied with their strength, they shockingly realized that Li Gui had been defeated. Besides, Ning Fan who had just killed Li Gui was dashing towards them like a flash of lightning while emanating immense baleful qi!

“This is bad!”

Both of them were overwhelmed with trepidation. Each of them took out their strongest magic treasures and hurled them towards Ning Fan. At the same time, they ignored the three spiritual puppets and began running away without turning back.

The two Void Glimpse Stage experts actually did not have the courage to confront Ning Fan!

In Ning Fan’s current state where he had two additional golden figures with him, his combat power was equivalent to three Void Glimpse Stage experts. With that much strength, he could kill a Void Glimpse Stage expert instantly. Who would dare to fight him head-on?!

One of the magic treasures that the two experts took out was the Sword of Flying Electricity. It was a Low Grade Mortal Void Realm weapon. As the sword flew past, only a flash of electricity could be seen without a single trace of the shadow of the sword. It was enough to show how fast this sword was.

The other magic treasure was the Five-Colored Stone. It was also a weapon at the Low Grade Mortal Void Realm. When it was used, it turned into layers of five-colored mountains that fell upon Ning Fan’s head.

“Your magic treasures are not bad. Unfortunately, none of you will be able to run away!”

*Bang* *Bang*

Just as Ning Fan’s voice fell, two golden Arhat figures each made a step forward and respectively hurled a golden fist at the two magic treasures in the air. The strength of their fists were enough to break the heavens apart. The hollow space in the skies collapsed bit by bit, crushing the mountains and rivers around.

The Sword of Flying Electricity was deflected to a random direction upon the collision with the fist while the Five-Colored Stone was sent flying in reverse.

The two golden figures had blasted the magic treasures away but they also suffered some injuries. However, these injuries were far from being deadly. At the next moment, the two golden figures gave out dazzling golden lights which completely healed their injuries.

Then, both of them waved their hands simultaneously and brought the two weapons into their hands. As they wiped the weapons with the golden light in their hands, the original symbols of ownership on the magic treasures were erased and they forcibly refined the weapons for their own use.

“What?!”

Before the two experts could escape in the distance, they sensed that the attacks of their magic treasures had been nullified. When they saw the golden figures heal their own injuries, both of their expressions turned pale with terror.

With that self-healing ability, who else could kill those golden figures but those who could deliver a fatal strike!

Besides, these golden figures were too strange as they could actually wipe away the symbols on their magic treasures and seize their ownership for their own use!

“Are you still thinking about running away?!”

Ning Fan summoned his Fu Li Wings. With just a flap of his wings, he overtook the two of them and blocked the path in front of them.

He threw out both of his fists which carried strength that shook mountains and rivers. When his punches landed on the chest of the two, the force caused a series of rumbling sounds.

*Puff*

The two experts spurted blood incessantly. After directly taking the massive force of a single punch from Ning Fan, both of them were severely injured.

Even though they had not been instantly killed by Ning Fan, they were surrounded by the three puppets and the two golden figures immediately at the moment Ning Fan slowed them down.

In just an instant, Yan Daozi and Gu Feng were already surrounded by Ning Fan and the other five beings.

All six of them hurled their fists. Six attacks at the Void Glimpse Stage were enough to flatten the Zhong Mountain. When those attacks landed on the two experts, there was nothing they could do at all other than withstanding them directly.

*Bang* *Bang* *Bang*

When each of the punches landed on the armors protecting their bodies, they were only able to forcibly endure them. How could they even spare the energy to retaliate?

As time went on, both of them gradually became unable to withstand the attacks anymore.

When they took ten punches, their armors cracked.

Their physical bodies were already filled with countless wounds by the time they took one hundred punches. All their bones were broken as blood flowed out from their bodies in streams.

When they took one thousand punches, the primordial spirits of the two experts were literally annihilated by the punches!

As the two of them let out painful shrieks, they both were finally dead after enduring for the amount of time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

With the two golden figures and three puppets, Ning Fan eliminated another two enemies at the Void Glimpse Stage. He then kept the two traces of primordial spirits and two golden jades into his pouch!

The undead spirits in the battlefield were greatly astonished by Ning Fan’s display of might.

All the five Void Glimpse Stage experts who were spectating the fight from afar felt an irresistible aura force from Ning Fan.

“All the spiritual puppets belong to this young man. The golden figures were also created by him. That is to say, this person’s combat power is equivalent to six Void Glimpse Stage experts! Ma Renwang, Li Gui, Yan Daozi and Gu Feng! In just a short period of time, this young man has already killed four Void Glimpse Stage experts in a row. His techniques are terrifying and even he himself is unstoppable. We should hurriedly retreat. It isn’t suitable for us to tarry at this place any longer!”

The five of them exchanged glances with each other. None of them had the intention to obtain the residual benefits from this fight anymore and they all turned into traces of smoke to flee for their lives.

They were not concerned about which side would emerge victorious in the battle. By now, Ning Fan had struck fear to the core of their hearts.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn completely passed and the golden figures dissipated.

After losing the two golden figures, Ning Fan would not be able to use his Concept of Self Technique again in a short period of time.

However, Ning Fan was still invincible among Void Glimpse Stage experts even though he only had three puppets with him now.

There were still five Void Glimpse Stage experts of the lightning palace in the Zhong Mountain. All of them were fighting against Chu Nanfeng and the other Void Glimpse Stage experts from the Myriad Treasure Pavilion respectively at another side of the battlefield.

At first, they were still equal in strength with Chu Nanfeng and the others. However, after Ning Fan killed a few of their members, fear invaded their hearts, causing them to lose their confidence and awareness in battles. Thus, they gradually fell into a disadvantageous situation.

This young man is just a Half-Step Void Refinement Realm cultivator but he is already this strong. If he attains the Void Refinement Realm, he will definitely be unrivalled among all Void Glimpse Stage experts even though he is just at that cultivation realm! No. If he attains the Void Glimpse Stage, I suppose that he might even be bold enough to directly confront a Void Inquiry Stage expert!

As the five of them were thinking, they were suddenly shocked by something. They sensed four traces of whistling travelling light approaching them from afar. They were like Yama¹ who were coming to take their lives. They were none other than Ning Fan and his three spiritual puppets.

“This is bad!”

The Void Glimpse Stage expert who was confronting Mo Feiyun could not react in time when Ning Fan and his puppets charged towards him. The three puppets hurled a fist at the same time, breaking the defenses of this expert while Ning Fan wielded his sword and made a finishing strike to take his life. He plunged his Separation Slayer Sword into his dantian.

At the next moment, innumerable sword threads spread from within, shredding his primordial spirit!

As usual, he then swallowed the primordial spirit of the one he just killed and kept his golden jade!

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, thank you for your help…” Mo Feiyun’s eyes were filled with confusion. The opponent whom he needed to fight at full strength was instantly killed by Ning Fan. Such a massive difference in strength made him deeply realize how strong Ning Fan really was.

Ning Fan nodded his head and disappeared into a flash of light. He then went towards Chu Nanfeng.

Chu Nanfeng’s opponent was an undead spirit who possessed demon blood. He had even transformed into the demon avatar of a black dragon, showing off his might in front of Chu Nanfeng.

His demon blood was mixed and impure. The demon avatar he had transformed into was also extremely inferior in quality. Even so, Chu Nanfeng was still unable to defeat him given the strength of his black dragon demon avatar.

While they were engaged in a bitter battle, they suddenly saw four traces of travelling light dashing towards them.

The black dragon was somewhat proud as he was currently overpowering Chu Nanfeng. Thus, after seeing Ning Fan and the others coming towards him, he still behaved in a disdainful manner even though he was filled with dread.

“You are really arrogant and fierce! Do you actually think you are already comparable to a Void Refinement Realm expert with the strength of your spiritual puppets and illusory golden figures? Hilarious! Black Dragon Heaven Devouring Technique!”

The black dragon opened its wide mouth. His mouth was gathering void power. It was as if a black hole was going to devour Ning Fan in one gulp.

Presumably, this technique was another secret technique of the Black Dragon Race. However, the black dragon that Ning Fan was facing was probably the worst technique caster in the history of the Black Dragon Race.

“Break!”

Ning Fan just muttered a single word. He stretched his five fingers and clawed at the black dragon. It contained force strong enough to tear the heavens and earth.

The void power within the gigantic mouth of the black dragon was shredded to pieces by Ning Fan just like that. Ning Fan merely crushed this technique directly.

*Puff*

How could the black dragon feel good after his magic technique was forcefully nullified? Consequently, he ceaselessly coughed out blood.

He looked at Ning Fan and actually began to feel terrified from the depths of his bloodline.

When he calmed down his thoughts at the next moment, only then could he gradually sense an aura force from demon blood which made it hard for him to breathe.

He did not know where he discovered this black dragon blood. Even after he had refined it, it was still very inferior in quality.

As for the demon blood in Ning Fan’s blood, however, it was pure and supreme.

It was the black dragon’s first time witnessing such a powerful bloodline. Even King Ying Long who was rumored to possess the bloodline of the True Spirit Yellow Dragon Race certainly did not have such a strong aura force like that of Ning Fan’s bloodline.

Without giving the black dragon time to think, Ning Fan immediately acted. In a flash, he appeared right above the head of the black dragon.

In such a close distance, Ning Fan released all of the aura force of his ancestral blood. The black dragon was unable to withstand it and was completely immobilized. In an instant, he fell into a state of blankness!

The black dragon only had an incomplete demon bloodline while Ning Fan had the ancestral bloodline. The gap between their bloodlines was too massive!

With just his bloodline alone, Ning Fan could suppress the black dragon! If he did not have such an intimidating aura force, how could he match his identity as the old ancestor of the Fu Li Race?!

Ning Fan’s eyes flashed with an indistinct trace of joy.

Black Dragon Heaven Devouring Technique, huh… This technique is quite good. It seems to be a secret technique of the Black Dragon Race which allows one with a higher grade bloodline to devour another being with a lower grade bloodline.

It isn’t difficult to learn this technique. However, only beings with the royal black dragon bloodline and above can truly display the full strength of this technique.

This technique could not only devour black dragons but also all kinds of dragons beneath the heavens! In ancient times, the reason why the Black Dragon Race could be so domineering was because this race possesses the technique to devour the corpse and blood of the other dragon races to strengthen themselves.

This is the true meaning of the sentence which goes: “When the five dragons die, the black dragon shall rise!”

“W-What do you want in order for you to let me go?! As long as you agree to let me go, I promise to join your side and help you eliminate Zhu Feng!” The black dragon pleaded.

“Let you go? Ridiculous! Even though your bloodline is of inferior quality, your cultivation base is genuinely at the Void Glimpse Stage… As such, it’ll be a waste if I let you go just like that.”

Ning Fan patted his storage pouch and took out the black dragon refined corpse which he had not used for a long time. He formed some hand seals and controlled the dragon corpse to transform into its gigantic form. Then, it opened its mouth and formed a black hole with the power of the void to devour the black dragon with the incomplete demon bloodline.

“N-No!”

The black dragon with the incomplete demon bloodline was scared. Ning Fan possessed a black dragon refined corpse. He could naturally tell that Ning Fan was going to use that refined corpse to imitate the Black Dragon Heaven Devouring Technique to devour him!

Terrifying! It’s really terrifying!

If he was not wrong, that black dragon refined corpse was actually a black dragon with the royal bloodline that had been long extinct!

There was actually someone who was bold enough in this world to turn a black dragon with the royal bloodline into a refined corpse. Besides, this person was even audacious as to use that refined corpse to devour him. He would certainly die without a doubt!

“L-Let me go… Ahh!”

He screamed and died after a few seconds. Pieces of flesh from his body and traces of blood essence were completely devoured by the black dragon refined corpse.

Ning Fan had secretly learned the Black Dragon Heaven Devouring Technique and used his black dragon refined corpse to swallow his opponent by force.

After devouring the Void Glimpse Stage black dragon, the level of his dragon corpse which was originally at the Half-Step Void Refinement Realm suddenly increased sharply. All of a sudden, it broke through to the Void Glimpse Stage.

Now, Ning Fan had another Void Glimpse Stage fighter!

Chu Nanfeng was absolutely astonished. Ning Fan had subdued that black dragon which had been giving him a hard time using an abnormal divine ability and easily eliminated it.

“Void Pierce Stage! He must be an expert at the Void Pierce Stage! Even a Void Inquiry Stage expert can’t kill that black dragon instantly!” He was now even more convinced that Ning Fan was a Void Pierce Stage old monster.

He swallowed the primordial lightning and kept the golden jade. Ning Fan gave Chu Nanfeng a deep look and headed to where the others were fighting.

Each time he went to another battlefield, a Void Glimpse Stage expert of the lightning palace would face a massive disaster.

The combat power of the current Ning Fan alone was equivalent to five Void Glimpse Stage experts. With the help of the five individuals from the Myriad Treasure Pavilion, they surrounded the last three surviving Void Glimpse Stage experts. It was clearly a situation where their deaths were certain.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, their three enemies fell in battle one after another. This also meant that the lightning palace on Zhong Mountain was only left with Zhu Feng alone from this moment onwards. Furthermore, he was still being hindered by Lei Shiyi.

“Impossible! This is impossible! Why is a Half-Step Void Refinement Realm cultivator capable of overturning the situation?! This can’t be real. I don’t believe it!” Zhu Feng’s nine Void Glimpse Stage subordinates had all died on the Zhong Mountain.

His other three Void Glimpse Stage experts had also been killed at the external region of the Zhong Mountain.

His wealth and resources that he had gathered and built his whole life had nearly been destroyed by Ning Fan alone. Even if he displays a heaven-defying technique today and kills all of his enemies on the Zhong Mountain, he would not be able to maintain his position as the lightning lord of the Zhong Mountain with stability.

“Zhu Feng, you have underestimated Zhou Ming too much. His strength is far beyond your imagination. If I am not wrong, he has not even really displayed his true trump cards in this battle. He is probably saving his trump cards for Ying Longzi.”

Lei Shiyi no longer addressed Ying Longzi as King Ying Long. A rush of confidence for Ning Fan rose in his heart. He deeply believed that it would not take too long for Ning Fan to kill his way to the twenty-fourth floor and eliminate Ying Long!

“Zhu Feng, when you devoured my wife in the past, have you ever thought this day would come?! Even if you have three heads and six arms, I will certainly kill you here in Zhong Mountain today! Void Technique, Void Lightning Abacus Beads!”

Lei Shiyi pointed at the heavens. The power of the void gathered in the sky and condensed into black lightning which transformed into a black lightning abacus which was as huge as a mountain.

Then, the abacus suddenly broke apart and formed fifty black lightning abacus beads which was like fireballs with black lightning. Each of them was ten thousand zhang* (3.33m per zhang) large.

As they fell from the skies, they were like fifty black meteorites. Each of them was enough to hurt a Void Glimpse Stage cultivator!

When the fifty strikes combined into one, even a Void Inquiry Stage expert would be injured!

Such a frightening technique was really beyond Zhu Feng’s expectations. He hurriedly formed a series of hand seals and formed layers of golden lightning screen, attempting to block that technique.

However, the multiple layers of golden lightning screen were all broken by Lei Shiyi in just an instant.

The fifty black meteorites all exploded on Zhu Feng’s chest.

*Bang* *Bang* *Bang*

Each trace of black lightning flames which could destroy the heavens and earth had flattened the vast earth. The mountains and rivers within one hundred thousand li* (500m per li) were turned to ruins!

The lightning flames burned the vast earth. On the boundless and desolate land, Zhu Feng knelt on the ground with one of his knees. His breath was already weak.

He stared at Lei Shiyi with rage. After all, he was defeated by Lei Shiyi. It was very difficult for the current Zhu Feng to have the strength to battle again.

He also knew that he could not run away in this kind of situation.

He was going to die. He, the dignified lightning lord of the eleventh floor, was going to die.

No! Even if he was going to die, he wanted to drag Lei Shiyi and Ning Fan down to hell with him!

“The storm of the Zhong Mountain is an Immortal Void Realm formation. Other than cancelling one’s concealment technique, it still has the ‘Life-and-Death Two Tribulations Formation’. Even though I will have to sacrifice my life in order to activate that formation, it can certainly kill all of you! Lei Shiyi, you are the one who forced me into this! Let us die together!”

Zhu Feng showed a crazy smile. He crushed the formation disk with a hard squeeze and ignited his primordial spirit.

Just as he ignited his primordial spirit, the raindrops within the area of Zhong Mountain were suddenly coiled with rays of electricity.

Countless arcs of electricity turned into ten lightning dragons. Five of them were blue dragons while the other five were yellow dragons!

All ten lightning dragons were at the Void Inquiry Stage!

“The first tribulation, the Formation of Death! Blue and yellow dragons rise amidst the storm of Zhong Mountain!”

Once the technique was complete, the faces of the group of cultivators from the Myriad Treasure Pavilion changed drastically.

No one had expected for the grand formation of Zhong Mountain to actually have a hidden function that could summon ten Void Inquiry Stage lightning dragons!

Even Lei Shiyi was also shocked. Each of the lightning dragons was not any weaker than him. He could not withstand all ten of them!

“So what if you summon these lightning dragons?!”

Just as the group of cultivators were trembling in fear, Ning Fan looked into the skies. His black hair danced wildly in the air as his eyes shone like the sun and the moon. He looked like a god of thunder that had descended to the world.

Beneath his feet, a massive blood-red lightning diagram emerged.

Ning Fan spread the lightning diagram to cover a vicinity of one hundred thousand li* (500m per li). Within that area, the attacks of the ten Void Inquiry Stage lightning dragon could not actually make a scratch on the lightning diagram.

When this lightning diagram completely unfolded, all the undead spirits which were of the lightning element shivered instinctively.

Even the ten Void Inquiry Stage lightning dragons began to panic.

“How dare mere Void Inquiry Stage lightning dragons like you lot go against this emperor?! You’re courting death!”

Judging from Ning Fan’s tone of voice, the person whom he was imitating was Tai Su!

Stepping on the lightning diagram, he regarded the lightning dragons like how one would regard ants.

If these lightning dragons were at the Void Pierce Stage, then it would be a different scenario. However, since they were just at the Void Inquiry Stage, Ning Fan would devour all of them no matter how many of them were there!

“Devour!”

As Ning Fan muttered that word, the lightning diagram suddenly shot out an unimaginable suction force which sucked each of the lightning dragons into it.

Then, ten traces of miserable shrieks echoed out from the diagram. The ten dragons had all been swallowed by the lightning diagram and the massive amount of primordial lightning power was refined into Ning Fan’s lightning armor, allowing his armor to advance by quite a bit towards the third level.

Dead silence fell upon the entire Zhong Mountain!

Zhu Feng widened his eyes so widely that they were about to pop out from their sockets. The cold smile on his face froze. He could not believe that the ten Void Inquiry Stage lightning dragons which he had summoned at the expense of his primordial spirit were so easily dealt with!

All ten of them were at the Void Inquiry Stage. Each of them were beings that could cause a stir in the lightning tower but all were eliminated by Ning Fan in an instant just as they showed themselves without even having the chance to display their power. How could this be possible?!

Since when were those lightning dragons so weak?

No. It’s not that the lightning dragons had become weak. It was just the lightning diagram technique that was overwhelmingly strong!

What is that lightning diagram? What technique is that exactly?!

“C-Could it be… one of the strongest abilities of Lightning Emperor Tai Su – Tai Su Lightning Diagram?! No. This is definitely impossible!”

“Lightning Emperor Tai Su commands all lightning. No lightning dares to disobey him. Only an existence like him has the qualifications to swallow the lightning dragons just like that! Ever since the passing of the lightning emperor, this technique has been lost. Even True Immortal Realm immortals are unable to learn it. Thus, it’s absolutely impossible for a lowly Half-Step Void Refinement Realm junior to learn it!”

“I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it!”

Zhu Feng roared with dissatisfaction. At times, he looked like he was crying and some other times, he looked like he was laughing. He had really gone insane.

Lei Shiyi could not help but sigh with emotion. He had been opposing Zhu Feng in his entire life. When he had gained victory against him and saw Zhu Feng fall into such a crazy state, he could not help but feel a little empty.

“Be careful. Zhu Feng has said that the formation of the Zhong Mountain has two Life-and-Death Tribulations Formations. The lightning dragons that were summoned just now was the Formation of Death. I’m afraid that there is still the Formation of Life. We must not give Zhu Feng the chance to activate the formation.”

Lei Shiyi warned Ning Fan through telepathy. He then dashed towards Zhu Feng in a flash of lightning to deliver the final blow without showing a trace of mercy.

“Mm.” Ning Fan nodded his head. Stepping above the lightning diagram, he walked towards Zhu Feng step by step to kill him.

The other Void Refinement Realm experts of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion felt inspired and also charged at Zhu Feng to initiate the last blow.

Once they kill Zhu Feng, the Myriad Treasure Pavilion would be the ruler of the eleventh floor from today onwards. Lei Shiyi would then be the new lightning lord!

As Lei Shiyi’s close subordinates, they, of course, were willing to witness that situation.

“Are you all thinking of killing me and stopping me from activating the Formation of Life? Haha. All of you are wrong! Terribly wrong! The Formation of Life has already been activated for a long time now and all of you were unaware of it! It’s already too late. All of you will die along with me in the end!”

Zhu Feng smiled like a savage devil. He did not evade at all and so each of the attacks hit his body.

Each of the magic techniques was strong enough to kill Zhu Feng who was already on the brink of death. However, strangely enough, Zhu Feng was only injured when he was struck by those attacks. He was still alive.

A moment later, his injuries recovered with unusual speed.

Meanwhile, the hairs of all of the remaining members from the lightning palace, the experts of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion and Ning Fan began to turn white.

All of their life force was bizarrely being taken away for Zhu Feng to heal his wounds!

“The second tribulation, the Formation of Life! If the heavens have emotions, the heavens will also age!”

Just as Zhu Feng’s voice fell, the life force of all cultivators within the formation light got drained away even more quickly.

Ning Fan’s eyes turned solemn. The profoundness of this Immortal Void Grand Formation had gone beyond his expectation.

If he did not sense wrongly, the reason why this Immortal Void Grand Formation could seize one’s life force was because this formation light had been infused with a trace of the power of time!

Within his body, that trace of Blood of Time had become excited and it was itching for a try…

The power of time? He was not afraid either!

Translated by Tommy, edited by Roel