Grasping Evil

Unedited

With just a single look from the black-robed young man, the rain intent rushed toward him endlessly, carrying an overwhelming aura force that nearly pressed Ning Fan to the ground.

Ning Fan's bones gave out cracking noises. With gritted teeth, he refused to yield even though his internal organs were hurt by the aura force.

Besides, he did not give any reply to the black-robed young man's question.

The black-robed young man looked slightly stunned. He put down the jug of liquor in his hand and dismissed his aura force. Then, he studied Ning Fan once again.

After quite some time, he uttered two words, "Not bad!"

Even though he had already dismissed his aura force, the tempestuous rain was still falling down heavily without stopping.

Ning Fan secretly activated the power of his natal black stars and his internal injuries were immediately healed. Staying calm and collected, he descended on the seat opposite to the young man and asked with an indifferent tone.

"Who are you?"

"I am whoever you think I am... Life is like rain. Passers-by are like clouds. The path of cultivation is like the void but it feels real when one is immersed in it..."

The young man in black robes resumed drinking on his own without looking at Ning Fan anymore.

The smell of liquor around gradually became thicker while the rain also began to grow fiercer.

The black-robed young man put down the half-empty liquor jug and flicked his sleeve in the air. All of a sudden, the rain droplets in the sky flew into his wine jug as if they were intelligential.

At the next moment, the rain in heaven and earth stopped. The young man had kept every last droplet of rain away. As for the liquor jug in front of him, the alcohol did not seem to have increased as it was still half-empty...

"What I'm drinking isn't wine but rain." The young man muttered to himself and raised his head again. Then, he asked Ning Fan a question once more.

"What is the void?!"

Ning Fan did not tell him the answer he realized in the past. He also did not try to answer the young man's question in a rush. In fact, he did not care about him anymore.

Something seemed to dawned on him but there seemed to be a veil that prevented him from seeing it clearly.

His comprehension of the 'void' had already reached the Void Inquiry Stage and he was just half a step away from attaining the Void Pierce Stage.

At the Void Inquiry Stage, one sees the void as not the void.

At the Void Pierce Stage, however, one would still see the void as the void.

Ning Fan suddenly raised his hand and pointed at the sky outside the liquor shop just like the young man in black robes. Instantly, rain started to fall around the shop.

"Eighth Grade Rain Intent, huh...?" The young man in black robes continued to drink on his own composedly.

Ning Fan did not continue the conversation with that young man. As he waved with his open palm, rainwater condensed into an empty crystal clear wine jug.

Then, when he pointed at the sky, the fine rain droplets in the entire sky fell into his wine jug. The rain stopped once again.

Ning Fan remained silent without uttering a single word. He held his wine jug high and started drinking opposite to the young man in black robes.

The black-robed young man's eyes flashed with a hint of amazement. A brief moment later, he smiled approvingly and said, "Not bad!"

It was his second time complimenting Ning Fan. The first time he complimented him was because of his firm and unyielding spirit. The second time he praised him was because of his aptitude.

"However, I wonder how many days you can sit here calmly and how much rain you can drink."

Ning Fan's heart was as tranquil as still water. Holding his wine jug, he drank the rainwater on his own.

The rainwater was bland and tasteless. However, it contained an endless amount of rain intent.

One day, two days, three days...

One year, two years, three years...

Ning Fan still remained drinking by himself, just like that young man in black robes.

Meanwhile, as each year passed by, Ning Fan's rain intent would increase slightly.

Every year passed by, his complexion would age a little while his life force would drain away rapidly.

...

A single year in the illusory realm was equivalent to a single day in the outside world.

Inside the illusory realm, Ning Fan had remained on his seat for sixty years. In the outside year, however, only sixty days had gone by.

In the Temple of Rain, every Void Refinement Realm expert was in deep astonishment.

The liquor qi in the illusory realm of the Heaven Stage was extremely thick. Even Void Pierce Stage experts would also be unable to stay inside the illusory realm for more than one day.

Even old monsters at the Absolute Void Stage could usually linger inside that realm for around three days at the very most...

"White-Robed marquis has actually stayed inside the illusory realm for sixty days. This is too unbelievable!"

"Ever since the creation of the Rain World, there has never been a Void Refinement Realm expert who could stay inside the Heaven Stage for sixty days!"

Revered Sage's expression turned grim. All this time, he had been waiting for Ning Fan to use his sovereign qi to protect himself from the liquor qi.

However, from the beginning up until now, Ning Fan did not use the slightest trace of sovereign qi. It left him with no idea of what to do next.

"How's the situation?" The Rain Sovereign asked Revered Sage using telepathy.

"There isn't any abnormal phenomenon inside the Heaven Stage. But..." Revered Sage hesitated.

"But what?" The Rain Sovereign's eyelid twitched.

"But this subordinate can't see through him. I don't understand what exactly he is doing within the Heaven Stage."

No one in the outside world could comprehend what Ning Fan was actually doing.

Those who could understand it were only that young man in black robes and Ning Fan himself.

He had sat in the liquor store for sixty consecutive years.

In the thirteenth year, the power of his Eighth Grade Rain Intent had reached the Seventh Grade but his complexion became paler and paler.

On the forty-first year, his Seventh Grade Rain Intent advanced to the Sixth Grade but his qi became fainter and weaker.

In the sixtieth year, his Sixth Grade Rain Intent was on the verge of advancing to the Fifth Grade. However, there seemed to be a barrier that prevented that breakthrough.

At this moment, Ning Fan's qi was already like a gossamer. His breathing was so weak as if he was going to die any minute.

"You've reached your limit..." The young man in black robes put down the jug of wine in his hand and said with pity in his voice.

"With your current cultivation base, it already amazed me that you could stay within this realm for sixty years. You can now leave."

As soon as he finished speaking, the young man lifted his finger and pointed at the place behind Ning Fan. Immediately, a light rain portal appeared.

Perhaps that was the exit of the illusory realm...

However, Ning Fan acted like he had not heard what the young man said. He seemed like he had forgotten everything in this world and did not notice the rain portal behind him.

In his heart, there was just that tiny wine jug and it contained all the rain within this world.

The sixty-first year, sixty-second year, sixty-third year... Ning Fan was still drinking by himself in the liquor store.

The illusory realm around him gradually grew fainter and slowly evaporated like smoke. All the intoxicated scholars and beautiful women also gradually faded away from the illusory realm.

The ocean of bamboo, the rivers, the gaily-painted boats, the sound of the bamboo flutes... Everything disappeared...

In the end, only Ning Fan was left in the world, holding the wine jug in his hand while drinking it by himself.

Only the young man in black robes remained in front of him. For the third time, he complimented.

"Not bad!"

It was already the one hundredth year in the illusory realm!

In this year, Ning Fan's rain intent realm was only a hair's breadth away from breaking through to the Fifth Grade!

In this year, Ning Fan made the entire Heaven Stage collapse, except for the black-robed young man in front of him!

The reason he drank the rainwater was just to imitate the black-robed young man and enhance his rain intent.

The reason he kept quiet throughout all the years was to understand the essence of the Void Pierce Stage.

At the Void Pierce Stage, the void one sees is still the void… That is an insight that one will obtain after entirely seeing through the secrets of the void.

He did not continue the conversation with the black-robed young man just because everything in his eyes was just an illusion while he was the only one that truly existed.

The deeper his Dao comprehension, the fainter the illusory state around him. After one hundred years of obtaining the Dao comprehension, he eventually made the entire illusory state vanish like smoke!

The exit of the illusory state was not the door of overcoming the void…

What Ning Fan wanted to understand was making the illusory state into void.

If the illusory state disappears, he would then have never entered an illusory state. Since he had never been to an illusory state, why should he try to get out from one?

That was why he ignored that black-robed young man when the latter pointed that exit to him. That exit was not the correct path…

"Marvelous! After you, the Heaven Stage will no longer exist in the Rain World. This stage is already destroyed! Haha. It's beyond my expectation that there is someone like you in the later generations. The young generation… sure is redoubtable!"

"I came from rain and thus I shall go along with the rain. Now, I will help you achieve the Fifth Grade rain intent and grant you another drop of rain!"

*Peng*

While the black-robed young man was laughing loudly, his body suddenly dispersed, turning into silver rain droplets which entered Ning Fan's body.

Suddenly, the Heaven Stage collapsed entirely!

Suddenly, the heavenly dwelling space crumbled and both Ning Fan and Chu Chang An appeared within the Temple of Rain simultaneously!

Suddenly, a wave of aura force belonging to the Fifth Grade rain intent rose around Ning Fan's body and spread across the entire temple!

"The Heaven Stage has collapsed!? What exactly did White-Robed Marquis do inside there that actually destroyed the entire Heaven Stage!"

"The four stages of Heaven and Earth were left behind by the Rain Ancestor. Before his death, he has once said that only the one who truly sees through the secrets of the four stages will cause the destruction of the stages … Could it be that White-Robed Marquis has discovered the correct method to clear the Heaven Stage?"

"Fifth Grade rain intent! White-Robed Marquis' rain intent has achieved the Fifth Grade. This is truly unthinkable! Even the Rain Sovereign's rain intent is just at the Fourth Grade… If White-Robed Marquis' comprehension in his rain intent improves slightly more, won't he be at the same level as the Rain Sovereign?!"

"What about the Rain Ancestor? Did White-Robed Marquis manage to find the Rain Ancestor's lingering presence in the illusory state?!"

Everyone in the temple was astonished. Even the Rain Sovereign was deeply flabbergasted.

Revered Sage's face was overwhelmed with surprise. He was the only person who witnessed how Ning Fan broke the illusory state throughout the entire time!

He did not understand at all what Ning Fan did back in the illusory realm. He could not figure it out. He could not comprehend it…

The thing that he could not understand the most was that the Rain Sovereign's lingering presence would actually decide to destroy himself to help Ning Fan break through the bottleneck of his rain intent…

"So that man turns out to be the Rain Ancestor… Thank you…"

Ning Fan muttered to himself. Even though he never paid attention to the Rain Ancestor throughout the one hundred years, it was all thanks to his help that his rain intent could advance to the Fifth Grade.

By clearing the Heaven Stage, his rain intent which was originally at the Eighth Grade was raised to the Fifth Grade in one go.

Based on his estimation, if he could improve his rain intent to the First Grade, he could then display the Rain Ancestor's technique – Heaven Prying Rain!

"Hehe. Congratulations to White-Robed Marquis on your success in clearing the Heaven Stage!"

"White-Robed Marquis has great capabilities and deep Dao comprehensions. All of us are ashamed for being not as good as you!"

Compliments filled the surroundings. Ning Fan just nodded his head gently, showing no interest in responding to them.

He patted his storage pouch and took out his Scarlet Heaven Palace Lord Token.

The palace lord token shone brilliantly and the merit points that were displayed on the token was literally increased by ten billion points!

"Ten billion merit points! White-Robed Marquis is actually awarded ten billion merit points after clearing the Heaven Stage!"

"Among all cultivators below the Void Fragmentation Realm in the Rain Palace, no one has more merit points than White-Robed Marquis…"

"Look! What is that white light?!"

"It's the reward of clearing the Heaven Stage!"

"T-That is… impossible!"

A mass of silver light appeared in front of Ning Fan and started radiating brightly. In the next moment, a rain droplet emerged from the light mass.

It was just a single drop of rain, but it contained a terrifying amount of bloodline power. It was emanating with an ancient and boundless aura force which caused everyone's blood to boil with zeal!

Even the Rain Sovereign also could not retain his composure upon seeing the drop of rain!

"It's the Rain Ancestor's natal blood rain! Why…? Why could this kid who is a lowly devil cultivator obtain such a gift… I don't understand!"

Within seconds, that drop of rain entered Ning Fan's body, dissolving into his bloodline.

Ning Fan examined his body internally and his eyes suddenly widened with shock.

It was a drop of rain, a drop of the Rain Ancestor's natal blood rain!

If Ning Fan could improve his rain intent realm to a satisfactory level in the future, he could gradually assimilate this drop of rain and eventually turn it into a drop of ancestral divine blood!

At that time, Ning Fan's divine bloodline would attain the highest level in one go and become the Ancestral Divine Blood!

Of course, if Ning Fan's rain intent was not strong enough, he would not be able to refine this rain drop. Without being able to assimilate the raindrop, he would not be able to receive any benefit from it…

"This kid has the Rain Ancestor's natal blood rain. Others can't seize it from him by force… If he manages to assimilate this gift in the future, he will then possess the Ancestral Divine Blood…"

"How can a devil cultivator possess the Ancestral Divine Blood…? How can this be possible?!"

The Rain Sovereign could not conceal his jealousy for Ning Fan. His divine bloodline was just at the level of the True Divine Blood. It was not even at the level of the Royal Divine Blood…

However, there was nothing he could do no matter how much he envied Ning Fan. It was impossible to seize the Rain Ancestor's gift from him because it was an opportunity that belonged to Ning Fan, not him…

Due to his concern over the Black Devil Sect that was Ning Fan's backer, the Rain Sovereign made a dry cough to cease the discussions in the temple and forced a smile before talking to Ning Fan.

"Hehe. The time White-Robed Marquis has spent on clearing the first stage is quite long. Even though a hundred days is just a session of meditation to cultivators like us, it's better that you can start the second test as early as possible!"

Just as the Rain Sovereign finished speaking, Yun Daoku who was standing among the Great Four Void Fragmentation Realm experts, moved out from the line. He was going to preside over the Earth Stage for Ning Fan.

"According to rumors, White-Robed Marquis killed King Chi Yao whom Spiritual Master Daoku has personally supported and trained… Is Spiritual Master Daoku going to make things difficult for White-Robed Marquis?"

"Spiritual Master Daoku is someone who will seek revenge even for the smallest grievance. Without a doubt, he is going to pay White-Robed Marquis back during the Earth Stage…"

Some old monsters in the temple were taking their guesses secretly while animatedly discussing among themselves.

As he became the topic of discussions of the crowd, he snorted coldly with displeasure and released his Void Fragmentation Realm aura force. Immediately, all the Void Refinement Realm old monsters in the temple went quiet without having the guts to continue their discussions.

Yun Daoku's expression looked extremely cold and vicious. His eyes were so intimidating as if it could devour someone. None of the Void Refinement Refinement cultivators there were bold enough to mess with him.

When his cold piercing eyes shifted toward Ning Fan, he saw Ning Fan smiling meaningfully at him.

All of a sudden, the grim expression on his face receded and he actually put on a forced smile. As he waved his hand, a portal to a heavenly dwelling space appeared. Then, he smiled apologetically at Ning Fan and said, "*Chuckle*… Since our lasting meeting in the Endless Sea, White-Robed Marquis' demeanor is still as elegant as before. Erm… I'll be presiding over the Earth Stage and it tests cultivators about the firmness of their Dao Heart. And… I hope White-Robed Marquis can cooperate with me in the test and refrain from using powerful abilities randomly. It'll be too dangerous…"

Countless old monsters who had a fair understanding of Yun Daoku's personality were so shocked that their jaws nearly dropped.

Yun Daoku, who was arrogant and self-important, would be so polite to Ning Fan. Didn't he have personal grudges against Ning Fan?

Besides, Yun Daoku even asked Ning Fan not to use his powerful abilities due to safety reasons… Was he afraid of Ning Fan? Why?

Why would a Void Fragmentation Realm old monster be afraid of a Void Inquiry Stage junior?

These old monsters would never understand how much Yun Daoku was afraid of Ning Fan after getting burned by the latter's Void Ignition Technique.

Only those who had experienced it would comprehend that kind of fear.

Ning Fan nodded his head and followed Yun Daoku into the light portal to enter the heavenly dwelling space where the Earth Stage would be held.

Apparently, Yun Daoku had learned to behave himself and would not trip him up in this test.

Yun Daoku was different from Chu Chang An. He had nothing to say to Ning Fan. Moreover, he did not dare to be alone with Ning Fan for too long.

As soon as they had entered the heavenly dwelling space, Yun Daoku was smiling wryly while summoning shen clouds as quick as he could to produce the second illusory realm.

The scenery before his eyes changed rapidly. After a flash, Ning Fan appeared at the foot of a gigantic mountain.

It was unknown how tall the mountain was as its peak was unseeable.

There was only one path that led to the summit of the mountain, and it was paved with jade stairs.

There was also restriction for flight in the entire illusory stage. Ning Fan might be strong enough to destroy the flight restriction but once he destroys it, he would fail his second test.

The essence of this stage was that one needed to ascend the summit of the mountain at all costs.

No matter how dangerous the path would be, how difficult it would be to climb the mountain or how many temptations along the journey, one must not back away or bypass them by flying.

Even if the gigantic mountain has no summit, even if the mountain path has no end, one must not stop…

Only those who had such determination could clear this stage with their firm Dao Hearts!

If one's Dao Heart is not determined, how would they be able to pursue the Great Dao that is as ethereal as smoke?

"This is the 'Dao Mountain' that the Rain Ancestor personally built. Those jade stairs are called 'Dao Stairs'. Every step you make, you will age a little. There are a lot of dangers in your journey. You must be cautious, White-Robed Marquis."

Unexpectedly, Yun Daoku warned Ning Fan via telepathy. Was he trying to alleviate their relationship?

One corner of Ning Fan's mouth curved upward and he climbed the first step of the Dao Stairs. Instantly, his life force was drained away a little.

One day of his life was gone!

Translated by Tommy, edited by Roel