Grasping Evil

In the fourth realm of the Heavenly Cloud Country – Vermilion Heaven Realm!

A ray of golden sword light cut through the sky, flying rapidly toward the cloud mountain where the Vermilion Heaven Palace was located!

It was an ancient golden sword which had a speed close to that of a Void Fragmentation Realm expert!

Countless cultivators in the Vermilion Heaven Realm were greatly shocked upon seeing that sword light that was as dazzling as a golden sun.

It was not only that impressive sword light that had shocked them but also the person who was standing on top of the sword.

A cold young man was standing at the tip of the flying sword. His robes were as white as snow with a body that was as sturdy as a mountain. His qi was like rain while his eyes were like lightning!

His presence gave off an extremely powerful aura force which contained a vigorous battle intent!

"White-Robed Marquis! That man is the White-Robed Marquis. I've seen portraits of him before!"

"What?! That old monster who has immense battle intent is actually the White-Robed Marquis, Ning Fan?! Is he going somewhere to fight someone?"

"I have no idea.. But judging from the direction where he is headed, he is going to the cloud mountain of the Vermilion Heaven Palace..."

"Vermilion Heaven Palace?! Why is he going there?!"

Ning Fan travelled at full speed all throughout and passed by countless cultivation countries without paying attention to the discussions.

There was only the sound of howling wind at his ears, misty clouds before his eyes and a single belief in his mind – to defeat the eight palace lords of the Rain Palace and learn the complete secret technique of the Rain Ancestor!

Half a day later, the cloud mountain of the Vermilion Heaven Realm was already visible!

He came to a halt and kept his ancient sword. His figure descended at the summit of the cloud mountain at an incredible speed!

The cultivators who were guarding the entrance of the palace were stunned. None of them had actually managed to see how Ning Fan appeared. His movements were too fast!

Before the cultivators of the Vermilion Heaven Palace could recognize Ning Fan's appearance, his voice had already resounded loudly across the cloud mountain. It blasted throughout the entire area like thunderclap, reverberating in the ears of each and every one of the cultivators in the Vermilion Heaven Palace for a long time!

"As the Scarlet Heaven Palace Lord, I've come forward to battle against the Vermilion Heaven Palace Lord in order to get permission to see your rain stele!"

A bald old man was in the middle of seclusion inside the inner area of the Vermilion Heaven Realm's cloud mountain.

When he heard Ning Fan's voice which resounded across the entire cloud mountain of the Vermilion Heaven Realm, his face immediately turned cold and he smirked disdainfully.

"To this day, I've already cultivated the Dao for seven thousand and four hundred years and I rarely found a worthy opponent among cultivators at the Void Pierce Stage. Now, a mere Void Inquiry Stage cultivator has actually come to challenge me. He really does not know the immensity of heaven and earth!"

The bald old man chuckled coldly and transformed into a ray of grey light, instantly vanishing from the inside of the mountain. At the next second, he was already at the summit of the mountain!

He had naturally heard of the rumors about Ning Fan being a wicked person who had committed heinous killings. However, he refused to believe it until he saw it for himself!

He did not believe that Ning Fan had great power and capabilities. He only believed in his own strength and greatness!

He was the palace lord of the Vermilion Heaven Palace – Marquis Long Nan who was a Void Pierce Stage expert!

"Ning Fan! You aren't my match and have no right to see the rain stele of my Vermilion Heaven Palace. Leave at once!"

Terrifying lightning rays were revolving around Marquis Long Nan's body. As he spoke, his voice turned into an unimaginable blast of air which dispersed all of the clouds within an area of three hundred thousand li* (500m per li)!

Several hundred divine messengers and revered elders of the Vermilion Heaven present had fairly strong cultivation bases. They were at least of the Nascent Soul Realm and Divine Transformation Realm. However, under the force of Marquis Long Nan's voice, none of them could maintain their balance!

"Our palace lord's aura force... is extremely strong! Even if it is the White-Robed Marquis, he still won't be able to defeat our palace lord!"

"During his seclusion, our palace lord has obtained new comprehensions of the 'Seven Lightning Technique' which has considerably improved his strength... White-Robed Marquis won't be able to withstand that technique of our palace lord!"

Layers of blasting air rushed toward Ning Fan. However, when they got closer to him, they would strangely part for him.

Ning Fan glanced at Marquis Long Nan and said with a flat tone.

"Your aura force can't terrify me. Make your move. If you still refuse to do it, you will lose your only chance!"

"A wild and arrogant boy!"

Marquis Long Nan's expression turned grim. It was his first time being underestimated by a Void Inquiry Stage cultivator!

Seven-colored lightning rays rose in his eyes. He made a series of hand seals with his ten fingers while muttering a chant.

"Humans have seven emotions. Heaven has seven lightning... Joy, anger, worry, contemplation, sadness, fear and shock... Seven Lightning Technique!"

Marquis Long Nan suddenly raised his hands and summoned a seven-colored lightning flag. Seven-colored lightning clouds instantly emerged within the vicinity of three hundred thousand li* (500m per li) and condensed into seven lightning fists that were one thousand zhang* (3.33m per zhang) long. All of these fists rushed down the summit of the mountain where Ning Fan was standing!

Seven Lightning Fists. Even ordinary Void Pierce Stage experts would not be able to resist them!

If the seven lightning fists fall, the entire cloud mountain would be destroyed!

"This is bad! Once the palace lord is infuriated, he will no longer consider the severity of his attacks. White-Robed Marquis will certainly be injured or killed. And even our Vermilion Heaven Palace would probably be destroyed by the fluctuations from that attack!" A group of cultivators of the Vermilion Heaven Palace were deeply filled with astonishment.

However, something that went beyond everyone's expectations appeared!

Before the seven lightning fists could touch the mountain, Ning Fan abruptly stomped on the summit of the mountain. A huge blood-red lightning diagram emerged beneath his feet, engulfing all of the seven-colored lightning.

Then, he summoned his Eight Black Fire Wings and took a step forward, disappearing without a trace. Only a faint flame afterimage was left at his original spot...

In that instant, Marquis Long Nan could feel a tingling sensation across his scalp as a massive sense of danger filled him!

Without hesitation, he drew back while summoning a High Rank Heavenly Profound Grade armor to protect him!

That was a High Rank Heavenly Profound Grade armor which was sturdy enough to withstand an ordinary Void Pierce Stage attack!

He was not slow but Ning Fan's travelling light was much faster. In the blink of an eye, he had already appeared in front of him. He pointed his finger at him that had gathered both his essence qi and magic power. That attack was nearly as strong as an Absolute Void Stage attack!

"Break!"

With a loud bang, the Heavenly Profound Grade armor shattered and an excruciating pain struck Marquis Long Nan's chest. He coughed out blood and had to fall back for hundreds of steps before he could regain his footing. He then stared at Ning Fan with eyes filled with terror!

He, the dignified Vermilion Heaven Palace Lord, was actually not capable of lasting a single round against Ning Fan!

Moreover, he even noticed that Ning Fan was already being merciful to him when he used that finger on him. Otherwise, he would have been injured or have died from that attack and certainly would not still have the strength to stand up!

"White-Robed Marquis, stop! I concede defeat. You have my permission to see our rain stele. Please follow me to the inner part of the mountain!"

*Tsk*

Countless cultivators of the Vermilion Heaven Palace sucked in a cold breath. The palace lord whom they had always respected could not actually last a single round against Ning Fan...

Marquis Long Nan was unable to recover from his defeat. It was highly likely he would be haunted by this trauma for the rest of his life...

"Fine. This man is incredibly strong. I'm afraid his full strength is already close to the Absolute Void Stage. I'm certainly not his match. There's no need for me to engage him in a life and death battle. I'll allow him to see the rain stele. After all, no one has ever managed to understand it... Besides, if he fails to understand the rain stele, he will certainly be injured by the backlash..."

The two of them entered the palace within the mountain. Ning Fan stood before the rain stele of the Vermilion Heaven Palace and cast his spirit sense into the stele.

After an incense stick of time, Ning Fan turned around to leave and did not linger, leaving Marquis Long Nan behind whose face was filled with confusion.

"Why wasn't he struck by the rain stele... Usually, any cultivator who attempts to learn the Rain Ancestor's technique would be sent flying away by the rain stele!"

"Could there be something wrong with the rain stele?"

With the intent to find out an answer for his doubts, Marquis Long Nan also spread his spirit sense to study the rain stele.

At the very next moment, the sound of spurting blood accompanied by a miserable wail echoed from within the palace.

"The rain stele... is perfectly fine..."

Marquis Long Nan's face was as pale as joss paper. The rain stele had almost instantly killed him...

This is a lie. This is clearly a lie! Why wasn't Ning Fan struck by the rain stele while I was?!

Is it possible that he has obtained the Rain Ancestor's inheritance? This must be a joke. How could that be possible?! Ever since the birth of the Rain World 150 million years ago, no one has ever managed to comprehend that technique!

There's no way I will believe it even if I were to be beaten to death...

...

In the fifth realm of the Heavenly Cloud Country – Complete Heaven Realm!

Riding on a golden sword light, Ning Fan dashed swiftly toward the cloud mountain of the Complete Heaven Realm.

One day had already passed since he defeated Marquis Long Nan. Within just one day, news of him defeating Marquis Long Nan with a single finger spread across the country like wildfire!

When the cultivators of the Complete Heaven Realm saw that Ning Fan was heading for their realm, everyone there was shocked.

Ning Fan did not only want to defeat Marquis Long Nan. Judging from the situation, he was planning on heading out from his Scarlet Heaven Realm and circle the entire Heavenly Cloud Country while challenging the eight other palace lords along the way!

It seemed that his objective was the Rain Ancestor's steles that no one could comprehend...

"*clicks tongue* I didn't expect for White-Robed Marquis to be so powerful that he could actually defeat Marquis Long Nan with just a single finger... However, is he truly going to challenge all the other eight palace lords?"

"From the rumors I heard, the reason why White-Robed Marquis fought Marquis Long Nan was to look at their Rain Ancestor's stele... The rain stele contains the Rain Ancestor's technique. However, it's impossible for anyone to learn that technique. In my opinion, asking to see the rain stele is not White-Robed Marquis' true intention. Instead, it's merely an excuse for him to challenge the eight other palaces just to establish his might!"

"Establishing his might? I heard that White-Robed Marquis' true cultivation base is only at the Void Inquiry Stage. Can he really defeat the other eight palace lords?"

Every time Ning Fan passed by a cultivation city, his presence would cause a commotion.

He travelled at top speed all the way without slowing down for even a second. Only when he saw a cloud mountain emerging in the distance did he keep his ancient sword. With a leap, he instantly appeared at the top of the sea of clouds, standing in midair outside the Complete Heaven Palace!

"I wish to take a look at your rain stele!"

"Humph! If you want to look at my rain stele, you'll have to defeat me first!"

An old man in yellow robes had already been waiting for him for some time. As a yellow light flashed in the sky, the old man flew up from the cloud mountain and faced off against Ning Fan above the clouds.

That yellow-robed old man was Huang Gu who possessed Void Pierce Stage qi. The magic power which his body exuded transformed into yellow maple leaves. He was the one and only Complete Heaven Palace's Palace Lord!

When Huang Gu waved his large hand, a dark yellow flag appeared in his hand.

"This flag of mine is called the 'Flexible Gray Maple Wood Flag'. After I tempered it using the primordial spirit flame for more than one thousand years, it now has immeasurable power. Even a Void Pierce Stage expert might not necessarily be able to withstand it. You are no exception!"

"Really...?" Ning Fan's expression remained neutral.

"Humph! Since you don't know what is good for you, I won't show you any mercy! Wood Dragon, rise!"

Huang Gu unleashed all of his magic power. His aura force shattered the sea of clouds within several hundred thousand li* (500m per li) from him. Then, he violently shook the flag in his hand.

As his magic treasure moved, countless shadows of yellow maple leaves emerged within the area, condensing into a deep yellowish wood dragon that was seven thousand zhang* (3.33m per zhang) long.

The wood dragon's eyes glowed with ferocity. It opened its jaw and blasted out a massive beam of yellow light at Ning Fan.

That yellow beam was extremely fast. The space in the sky broke down when it passed by and was incredibly powerful. It was even slightly stronger than Marquis Long Nan's Seven Lightning Technique.

However, Ning Fan did not even spare a glance at the incoming yellow beam. He touched his glabella and drew his Separation Slayer Sword. When he raised his hand and slashed, the yellow beam was split into halves.

Right after that, he kept his Separation Slayer Sword and quickly performed hand seals with ten of his fingers. His black hair was dancing wildly in the air while his eyes burned with black flames.

The moment he completed the hand seal, large black fire rings surrounded the area with the wood dragon at the center. There were 216 layers of fire rings in total!

The entire sea of clouds was engulfed by flames. When the wood dragon came into contact with the black flames, its blank eyes were suddenly filled with fear and it became terrified as if it was human.

The dragon cried in agony. Within seconds, the black fire rings had completely burned it into ashes!

*crack*

A crack formed on the flag in Huang Gu's hands. It seemed to have broken after the wood dragon was burned to cinders.

Before he had the time to grieve for his natal magic treasure, the sea of flames in the sky had transformed into nine black fire dragons and charged at him!

The black fire dragons were extremely swift. Within a single breath, the flames had devoured Huang Gu.

'Ahh!"

Engulfed by a sea of flames, Huang Gu shrieked in pain. He hurriedly jumped out from the flames and fell down from the sky like a kite with a broken string, crashing directly onto the summit of the mountain and forming a large crater on the ground.

Ning Fan opened his mouth and inhaled, sucking in all of the black flames into his abdomen. He then descended to the Complete Heaven Palace and indifferently stared at Huang Gu who was coughing out blood incessantly inside the crater.

"I've already held back. Otherwise, you'd have died within those flames."

"*Cough*... Thank you for showing mercy to me, Palace Lord Ning. I'll bring you to see the rain stele now..."

Huang Gu climbed to his feet. He was still deeply traumatized by the power of the black flames earlier.

Even though he fell down from the sea of clouds looking battered and beaten, when he examined his internal body, he realized that his injuries were not that serious. Without a doubt, it was because Ning Fan had held back on him.

Although Huang Gu was proud and arrogant, he was not ignorant as to not notice other's good intentions. He instantly led Ning Fan into the palace inside the mountain to let him look at the rain stele.

*Hiss*

Each of the revered elders and divine messengers of the Complete Heaven Palace were dumbfounded with their mouths wide open.

They were aware of their palace lord's strength. His Flexible Gray Maple Wood Flag, in particular, was extraordinarily powerful. Even so, he was still defeated by Ning Fan in just a single round!

They originally did not believe in the rumors of Ning Fan beating Marquis Long Nan in a single round. Judging from what they had witnessed today, the rumors were true and Ning Fan's combat power was actually already at an exceptional level. He had probably already reached the peak of the Void Pierce Stage!

Having unrivalled strength among all Void Pierce Stage experts!

With that level of combat power, who else could put up a fight with him other than the palace lords of the Serene Heaven Palace, the Great Heaven Palace and the Vast Heaven Palace?!

"If White-Robed Marquis defeats all of the eight palace lords with his own strength, the Scarlet Heaven Palace will become the strongest palace of the nine palaces from today onward!"

*Chi*

A golden sword light flew out from the inner part of the mountain. It was headed toward the Serene Heaven Palace, ignoring the cries of surprise from the people around the mountain!

The sixth realm of the Heavenly Cloud Country – Serene Heaven Realm!

Within the Serene Heaven Realm, Fang Sheng stood arrogantly at the peak of the Serene Heaven Realm cloud mountain with his body emanating a peerless Void Pierce Stage aura force. He was waiting to fight Ning Fan!

He knew Ning Fan would come!

During the battle in Song Country, he never got to fight Ning Fan and deeply regretted it. Their fight today would make up for what he had missed and they would battle it out until a winner emerges!

"Ten years ago, even though he managed to defeat Fang Si, his combat power should still be slightly weaker than mine... It has already been ten years. I wonder if he can really put up a fight against me!"

The entire Heavenly Cloud Country was shaken at the moment. Countless cultivators headed to the Serene Heaven Realm and waited to watch the fight between the Scarlet Heaven Palace Lord and the Serene Heaven Palace Lord!

While countless cultivators were looking forward to it, a ray of golden sword light arrived at the cloud mountain of the Serene Heaven Palace!

Ning Fan was travelling unhindered at the peak of the sea of clouds while standing on an ancient golden sword. He stared coldly at the cloud mountain with immense battle intent in his eyes!

"Fang Sheng, fight me!"

Translated by Tommy, edited by Roel