Chapter 1304: Huawei Country, Wuzhiqi
Chapter 1304: Chapter 1304: Huawei Country, Wuzhiqi
Baixi Void is a Dao Source Void, above the Palatial Void.
This Dao Source Void is composed of three thousand layers of Void Worlds, each layer laid with means against Ning Fan, interlocking one after another.
This is the stage meticulously crafted by Daoist Manzhi, intended to weaken Ning Fan step by step with three thousand calculations, and at Ning Fan’s most vulnerable moment, refine him into a puppet.
But unfortunately, Ning Fan did not act according to Manzhi’s script; instead, he countered Manzhi with an indescribable medicine...
Poor Manzhi, a Primordial Yang Beginning Saint, lost his Primordial Yang due to one miscalculation. At this moment, he has to put all his effort into reducing the loss of Primordial Yang, having no strength left to continue managing Baixi Void.
Without a Saint to orchestrate in the center, just the Dao Source Void alone cannot trap Ning Fan.
Fortunately, Manzhi considered many unexpected situations in advance, so it wasn’t entirely without backup.
Since he dared to name himself Manzhi, naturally he put all his attribute points into intelligence. His spirit sense and physical defense might not be as good as other Beginning Saints of the same level, but he was quite confident about leaving no strategy unplanned.
Even if Ning Fan suddenly summoned a Reverse Saint to assist, he might be unable to withstand, but he had follow-up means to reach the Other Shore...
Even if Ning Fan suddenly awakened a certain system’s cheats and went overboard on the spot, he had corresponding tactics against universal systems.
Even if Ning Fan suddenly turned from foe to friend and then formed an alliance to betray, he had mental preparedness and countermeasures.
Manzhi envisaged countless dangerous situations where he and Ning Fan engaged in a battle of wits, yet he missed the possibility of his opponent using underhanded methods...
Unpretentious, yet remarkably practical!
But don’t blame Manzhi!
Because in the vastness of reincarnation, there’s never been a precedent of using Tsubaki Medicine in a Saint-level confrontation! Manzhi’s wisdom was still within the limits of the Dao and far from reaching omniscience, so miscalculations were inevitable.
But miscalculation isn’t the end; his plans are always interlocking, and there’s always a backup, capable of making up for losses from other directions...
...
Without the support of a Beginning Saint, Baixi Void’s power drastically reduced and produced some subtle changes.
But these changes did not escape Ning Fan’s Tianren Eye Technique.
"It seems that the [Ring Holding and Space Fixing] here has ended, but some kind of backup has been activated, I see, this is Manzhi’s reserved backup..." Ning Fan’s eyes flickered with azure light, immediately seeing through Manzhi’s setup.
The so-called Ring Holding and Space Fixing refers to the technique where powerful cultivators with a Saint’s Ring use the Saint’s Ring to protect the Daoist Void, causing its power to soar, becoming unbreakable.
The reason Baixi Void could trap Ning Fan was because Manzhi previously used the protection of Ring Holding and Space Fixing.
But as the Ring Holding and Space Fixing ended, the three thousand layers of Void Worlds immediately became full of loopholes—at least that’s how it appeared to Ning Fan.
Ant Lord: "Manzhi has already withdrawn the Ring Holding and Space Fixing, you can attack this realm with full force!"
Ning Fan: "Hmm."
Ant Lord: "If you just ask nicely, this palace wouldn’t mind lending you some strength."
Ning Fan: "Thank you, but don’t take action for now, Manzhi’s schemes aren’t over yet."
Ant Lord: "Tch, that Manzhi clearly has no time to care about this realm anymore, what schemes could he have left? Even if there are, with this palace’s Saintly power, his backups could be easily crushed!"
Ning Fan: "Perhaps, but I don’t intend for you to take any risks."
Ant Lord: "Speak properly! No being mushy! You’ve got my goosebumps up again!"
Ning Fan: "Daoist friend is being a bit too sensitive, I was just stating a fact. Even a piece of toilet paper in my hand would be used to its fullest, let alone an important card like you. But this has nothing to do with romantic feelings. Daoist Yiqing, if you look at me through the lens of romance in everything, I’m going to be troubled, because our relationship hasn’t reached that point. But if you insist on us being like dry wood meeting a raging fire, I can only reluctantly agree to cross the thunder pool with you..."
Ant Lord: "Cross your head! Who wants to cross the thunder pool with you! Also, don’t call me Yiqing! And... you’re the toilet paper!!!!"
Ning Fan: "Heh..."
Ant Lord: "No laughing!"
Ning Fan: "But there’s one thing, Daoist Yiqing, remember: Manzhi is far from being as simple as he seems. It might look like he’s been caught by my Tsubaki Medicine, but his backups should not be underestimated. I even suspect that everything happening now is still within his script, and that the so-called medicine was part of his intentions all along...
Typically, Saints wouldn’t recklessly involve themselves in the Immeasurable Catastrophe. Manzhi may be reputed for his intelligence but became involved, perhaps out of greed, perhaps out of necessity, or maybe he was schemed against... If everything happening here isn’t Manzhi’s intention, then pretending to be outmatched midway to escape isn’t impossible.
Ant Lord: "This palace never underestimated Manzhi; you’re the one underestimating him! You’re just an Immortal King, an Immortal King! Your opponent is a Decemcentennial Saint, how do you have the nerve to face him alone! Even if... even if you’ve clashed with him dozens of times without major losses, what does that prove? Maybe he never fought seriously before, and now he intends to kill you in one strike! Compared to this palace, aren’t you more in danger! Better safe than sorry; at such a critical moment, what’s wrong with relying on this palace? You might not have taken Manzhi seriously, nor have you treated this palace with the respect of a Senior; even arrogance has a limit! Fine, this palace agrees not to intervene directly, but at least let me lend you the [Yiqing Saint’s Ring] which has partially restored its power? Don’t say no! This palace also has a temper and doesn’t enjoy being turned down repeatedly!"
Without waiting for Ning Fan’s refusal, Ant Lord directly activated the power of the Saint’s Ring, protecting Ning Fan!
Although she had restored a lot of her strength, she still couldn’t maintain the Saint’s Ring for long periods or let it unleash its full power.
Even so, Ning Fan’s aura still skyrocketed under the protection of the Saint’s Ring!
A thousand years of slaughter, mastering at least twenty-seven Control Positions, plus the Blood Lightning breakthrough to True Blood Six Stars, Ning Fan’s normal mana reached up to 29,000 Tribulations, nearly reaching the 30,000 Tribulations power threshold of an Ancient Great Cultivator.
Now with the protection of the Ant Lord’s Saint’s Ring, Ning Fan’s mana directly surged by 30,000 Tribulations, more than doubling his aura’s strength!
Ning Fan: "I just reminded you of something, and you gave me such a big response... quite cute."
Ant Lord: "Cute your head! I am a Saint! How could I possibly be related to those words!"
Ning Fan: "This is the feeling of the Ring Holding, very warm, like being tightly embraced by someone..."
Ning Fan felt the protection of the Saint’s Ring for the first time, praising it with clicks of the tongue.
Ant Lord: "Embrace your head! By describing it like that, even the proper Ring Holding protection sounds disgusting!"
Ant Lord blushed, because what Ning Fan said was indeed true. At this moment, with insufficient residual soul power, the only way she could confer the protection of the Saint’s Ring was in a position resembling a soul hug. But there wasn’t another choice! With insufficient power, she had to make do, right! How could she be blamed for this! Why did Ning Fan have to describe a good thing in such a disgusting way!
At this moment, Ant Lord felt Ning Fan’s thoughts once more, thoughts not shrouded by the inconceivable.
Facing Manzhi, Ning Fan, out of caution, didn’t intend to accept the Ant Lord’s favor, yet the other party forced it upon him... But he had to admit, this favor was quite pleasant!
Such a large, soft, and fragrant Saint’s Ring!
"Pleasant, my head! Since you’ve received my Ring, try to see if you can use the Palace’s divine abilities and Daoist weapons while in the Ring-holding state, and stop filling your mind with idle nonsense!"
Oh? By accepting another’s Saint’s Ring, one could actually borrow their divine skills and Daoist weapons? Does this happen to everyone?
A flash of azure light appeared in Ning Fan’s eyes, and he instantly understood everything: Not everyone guarded by a Saint’s Ring could do this. When others are given the protection of a Saint’s Ring, they only receive slight enhancement; which Saint would fully grant such power to outsiders? But his situation with the Ant Lord was too special, almost symbiotic. As such, when she was willing to provide the Saint’s Ring, he could almost receive everything; and if Ning Fan harbored any ill intentions, using Ownership of All Things to seize the Ant Lord’s Ring, she would never be able to reclaim it...
Has she already come to trust him so much...
Is it subtly transforming, or has it become deeply ingrained in their souls through billions of reincarnations...
"How is it? With this Saint’s Ring, can you borrow the Palace’s divine skills and Daoist weapons?"
"I suppose so, and not only that, while holding the Ring, I can even have a slight connection with your One Realm..."
Ning Fan suddenly paused in his speech.
As that slight connection deepened, he finally sensed the full extent of the Ant Lord’s One Realm.
What a shattered One Realm it was, already obliterated within the eternal torrential blood rain, forgotten how many eons ago.
The mountain of Dao had its edges trimmed as if decapitated.
The Dao Sea was occupied by Drought Demons, having dried for countless years, and even the blood rainfall couldn’t nourish it.
The mountain has no edges, the sea is exhausted, yet a shred of residual soul transforms into green smoke, long kneeling in the torrential blood rain, a fragment of the numerous residual souls after the Ant Lord’s fall.
In front of the kneeling soul piece, stood a huge Buddha statue made of black rock, yet this Buddha was faceless...
"Oh? You can actually sense the Palace’s One Realm! Wonderful! Even in residual soul form, the Palace couldn’t achieve this, yet you can. Your Third Realm of Tianren is indeed abnormal! How is it, isn’t the Palace’s One Realm truly magnificent! Though it’s only a mountain and a sea, creating them took countless efforts, incomparable to ordinary mountains and seas!" The Ant Lord said proudly, seemingly unaware that her One Realm had been destroyed, perhaps due to the loss of too many memories, forgetting about losing her One Realm.
"Your One Realm appears to have been destroyed..." Ning Fan remained silent for a while and replied.
"Destroyed? Impossible! Damn it, it must be Quanzhi, he must have destroyed the Palace’s One Realm when he killed me!" The Ant Lord said fiercely.
"No, if I’m sensing correctly, your One Realm wasn’t destroyed by others..." But its owner voluntarily sacrificed it...
The ancient sacrificial chants that permeated the One Realm, still echoed within the shattered realm.
The unrepentant and obsession that transformed into torrential blood rain, still surged within the realm, like despair, like crying...
Amidst this despairing blood rain, she once sacrificed her mountains and seas for someone, yet long since forgot about it...
Why sacrifice, why kneel in the rain...
Ning Fan thought he had seen all her pain and despair in the myriad of reincarnation fragments, only to realize what he saw was just the tip of the iceberg, much more was hidden beneath the water...
"Not destroyed by others, could it possibly be that I voluntarily sacrificed my mountains and seas? Stop joking! The Palace isn’t some benevolent fool, wouldn’t sacrifice a One Realm for someone else! You must be sensing wrongly! Most likely, what you’re sensing isn’t the Palace’s One Realm at all." The Ant Lord didn’t believe she would sacrifice her mountains and seas for others, dismissing it as nonsense — she’s no foolish idiot!
"Forget it, don’t waste time sensing the One Realm. Since you can use the Palace’s divine skills and Daoist weapons, destroy this Baixi Void completely using the Palace’s means! Let it be known, though the Palace has only restored to One Epoch of cultivation, dealing with Manzhi is but child’s play! Don’t underestimate the Palace in the future!"
"Alright..."
No more arguing, no more teasing.
Facing the weight of reincarnation, the many words Ning Fan had turned into silence.
Yet beneath that silence, the flames grew more fervent and intense, with nowhere to vent!
Everyone dared to plot against her, planning endlessly, scheming without end...
"Ring Hold!"
Ning Fan absorbed the full power of the Ant Lord’s Saint Ring, merging it into his own Cross Halo, using the Cross Halo to embrace the Ant Lord’s residual soul.
Thus the originally crossed Cross Halo suddenly manifested a third ring, no longer crossing, but interlocking three rings, forming a Three Ring Around the Moon stance, protecting behind Ning Fan, emitting vast Saint pressure!
In an instant, Celebratory Clouds appeared in the sky, golden lotuses bloomed on the ground, and endless Taoist Sect’s celestial music played out of thin air between heaven and earth, as if a Saint truly descended upon this place.
"Hiss! Three Rings Around the Moon, Taoist Ancestor potential! You’re only borrowing my Saint Ring, but can make the Saint Ring manifest this legendary appearance, truly impressive!" The Ant Lord was astonished.
"It’s your Saint Ring’s prowess, not mine," Ning Fan smiled, yet hid all the flames within.
"That’s correct! The Palace’s Saint Ring is undoubtedly unmatched!"
The Ant Lord was proud yet surprised, surprised that Ning Fan didn’t tease her with words, instead sweet-talking, truly making her more uncomfortable.
"Appear, Daoist Armor!"
Under Ning Fan’s command, borrowing the power of the Ant Lord’s Saint Ring, he summoned the Daoist armor once worn by the Ant Lord in the past.
The Daoist Armor is like a Daoist weapon, born from Dao, appearing upon command.
It was a Five-Colored Mountain and River Skirt, with defensive power comparable to the finest innate armor, and could even be layered with other armors for unpredictable power.
The sun, moon, and stars formed its hem, earth, water, fire, and wind constituted its embroidery, with mountains and seas, countless races depicted on it, its five-colored divine light illuminating the heavens, while its chaotic Saint pressure enveloped the universe.
As a disciple of the Contrary Saint, it was not surprising for the Ant Lord to possess such a powerful protective Daoist armor.
In her prime, the Ant Lord could exhibit defensive power equivalent to ten cycles of reincarnation with just this armor, immune to injuries below ten cycles, and mitigating damage above ten cycles by ten cycles’ power.
Ning Fan couldn’t wield the full power of the Daoist armor, but could still allow this armor to exhibit defense equivalent to one cycle of reincarnation.
"That brat putting on the Palace’s skirt, I wonder what it looks like, must be quite funny..." The Ant Lord eagerly anticipated the hilarious picture of Ning Fan in women’s clothing.
Unfortunately, the Five-Colored Mountain and River Skirt can change at will. Upon sensing that Ning Fan was male, it intuitively transformed into a man’s outfit, becoming a Five-Colored Immortal Robe.
"Dao Weapon, appear!"
Ning Fan commanded again, borrowing back the Five-Colored Divine Stone, a past Dao Weapon of the Ant Lord.
This is a hidden weapon-type Dao Weapon, ranked among the Holy Sect’s 42nd grade, considered a high-tier Dao Weapon.
In the Ant Lord’s prime, once this stone was summoned, it could surely burst the heads and spill the blood of equal-ranked Initial Saints with hundred percent accuracy, never missing a shot.
While Ning Fan couldn’t borrow the full power of this stone, he could still easily pierce through the Baixi Void with it. Yet, he didn’t act immediately but continued borrowing techniques.
"Appear, Innate Divine Ability!"
This time, Ning Fan even borrowed the Ant Lord’s Innate Divine Ability.
Its name, Heaven-opening Five Lights! It’s a divine ability comprehended by the Ant Lord when witnessing the Reverse Saint’s Heaven-opening.
In her ignorance, she once saw a great figure open the heavens, though she never knew who that person was; and now her broken memories can’t recall this at all...
The Five-Colored Divine Light is acclaimed to sweep away all things, yet it’s only formidable in the Second Step, not considered a powerful divine ability to the Saints.
But the Heaven-opening Five Lights of the Ant Lord could even brush against the Initial Saints! It bore the conviction and faith she carried throughout her life!
This light could further complement her Dao Armor and Dao Weapon, forming a set, enhancing their powers exponentially.
With a special technique, this light could extend into Five-Colored Light Wings, anchoring it to the river of time, effortlessly traversing reincarnation.
Ant Lord: "Do you need this palace to teach you how to use Heaven-opening Five Lights? This divine ability was once developed by this palace into Five Harmonies; when using it, it needs to integrate with the Five Soul Sounds..."
Ning Fan: "No need to explain. I have shared your divine memory and have seen the glow of a certain person opening the heavens in some fragments of reincarnation, which bears a striking resemblance to this divine ability...rather than saying this divine ability simulates the Five-Colored Light when you opened the heavens, it is better to say it’s simulating the Light of Fire when someone burned away the obsessions of five lifetimes. With the drive of conviction, perhaps this light can truly illuminate the eternal dark night..."
Ant Lord: "?"
Ant Lord: "What nonsensical words are you spouting? Not a single word of yours makes sense to this palace!"
Ning Fan: "Just consider it my ramblings. What we see isn’t necessarily the cause; it may also be the effect, something that might happen in the future, not now."
Spouted some riddles casually.
Then, activated the Heaven-opening Five Lights, the Zeroth Harmony!
"You’re cheating! Even this palace in its prime could only casually use the First to Fifth Harmonies; using the Zeroth Harmony isn’t easy! You clearly borrowed this palace’s broken power, yet can actually use it!"
The Ant Lord didn’t comprehend!
After practicing a lifetime to reach the divine ability realm, Ning Fan surprisingly achieved this by borrowing a slight amount of power—is this reasonable!
Why is there such a vast gap between people!
"It’s merely a clever trick. You wield this technique through cultivating it, whereas I cleverly employ it by burning the drive of conviction. Your usage difficulty is much higher; you’re impressive, not me."
Ning Fan’s consolation did not make the Ant Lord feel better; instead, it made her feel even more frustrated!
After all, she practiced Heaven-opening Five Lights all her life, never knowing it could be combined with burning conviction to apply the technique, while Ning Fan realized this new method just by a glance!
Compared to Ning Fan, she suddenly felt as though she might not have brains!
Under the enhancement of Heaven-opening Five Lights, Ning Fan unfurled Five-Colored Light Wings, raising his hand, invoking the Five-Colored Divine Stone.
The Five-Colored Divine Stone, under the boost of Heaven-opening Five Lights, continually expanded and burnt, finally transforming into a blazing flying star, embodied with the might of a Saint’s strike. Just one strike shattered and incinerated the 3000 layers of Baixi Void.
Yet the scene of the Five-Colored Divine Stone turning into the flying star coincidentally matched Manzhi’s previous flying star scheme...
"Indeed, at this moment, borrowing the strength of the Five-Colored Divine Stone to smash the Baixi Void is still within Manzhi’s script. He deliberately arranged the flying star scheme precisely to inform me, in my self-satisfaction, that everything now is still just a part of his performance...the supposed loss of Primordial Yang might be his deliberate posturing too..."
It’s performance, yes, everything is a performance.
From the start, Manzhi constantly emphasized the word performance.
Where there’s a performance, there’s a beginning and an end; Manzhi’s being outsmarted by Ning Fan itself could serve as the best closing moment.
Although Manzhi took the opportunity to exit, his script wouldn’t thus come to an end!
Almost at the instant Ning Fan shattered the Baixi Void, a Black Fire formation pattern capable of teleporting Initial Saints simultaneously activated.
The Black Fire transformed into five wheels of black suns, five suns merged into one and turned into a solitary black moon.
The phantoms of nine Reversal Pillars emerging with the anomaly of five suns forming a moon exerted an immeasurable pressure, sealing off all escape routes, preventing any straightforward escape from the formation, leaving one to fall into it.
The Black Moon spun, transforming into a colossal vortex, consuming both time and space, shifting everything across.
Ning Fan wasn’t spared either; even with the Ant Lord’s Saint Ring protection, he was still forcibly transported along without resisting this formation’s power of transmission.
Instantaneously traversed through countless reincarnations, and at the terminus of transport, a silhouette of the River of Time faintly emerged!
This teleportation further advanced toward the source of the River of Time, where stood Mount Wansheng!
This was Manzhi’s contingency plan!
If Ning Fan refused to obediently undergo 3000 plots within the Baixi Void, Manzhi would abandon refining Ning Fan into a puppet, instead transferring him to Mount Wansheng as accountability!
That was where the Saints gathered, and now, all Saints were pained by Ning Fan’s reckless behavior! Once Ning Fan was teleported there, it would surely be a situation where he would meet demise!
"This is the Tao Spirit Transmission Array! It’s the untransmissible formation of the Taoist Ancestor, and a complete array map—how can Manzhi employ it?"
"Damn it! The teleportation direction is actually Mount Wansheng! You cannot go there! Once you do, there will be death!"
"Cursed! All my cultivation comes from the Dao Spirit World, and even the Saint Ring I lent you is completely restricted by this formation, rendering me powerless... Hurry! Quickly activate your Taiji Genesis and Termination Realm with all your might, perhaps there’s still a shred of hope. Hey! Why are you spacing out?" The Ant Lord’s spirit sense was in turmoil.
She originally didn’t believe she would be outmaneuvered by Manzhi, thinking Ning Fan underestimated her. But now, she believed it.
Even at her peak, she was helpless against the Tao Spirit Array; all her cultivations were countered by this formation, and now she was entirely powerless.
But this is unreasonable! Manzhi is merely a Decemcentennial Saint; how could he obtain the Tao Spirit Array, let alone master it! Even the Nirvana Saint might not comprehend this formation! How is Manzhi so defiant of the heavens!
She shouldn’t have been so conceited! If not for her insisting Ning Fan use her Divine Skills against Manzhi, if not for her stubborn obsession with the inexplicable dignity of a Saint, Ning Fan might have dealt with Baixi Void more cautiously instead of smashing it hastily, triggering another of Manzhi’s schemes...
It’s my fault... I’ve harmed him!
Once, the Ant Lord dreamed of returning to the Real Realms; once there, with the means of the Taoist Ancestor, there would surely be a way to kill Ning Fan and save her.
But now... she did not wish to return; at least she didn’t plan to bring Ning Fan, whom the Third World desires to kill, there...
Ning Fan might be abhorrent, but... he should be killed by my own hands, and not let others slay him!
The inexplicable anxiety caused her incomplete spirit sense to become even more chaotic until Ning Fan’s comforting voice came through.
"Don’t be afraid. Long before shattering the Baixi Void, I saw through Manzhi’s backup plan, and secretly altered this formation’s pattern. Although it doesn’t change the outcome of me being forcibly transmitted, the destination of this transmission won’t be Mount Wansheng." Ning Fan comforted.
The Ant Lord was stunned.
Then greatly shocked!
"You actually secretly modified the Tao Spirit Array pattern? That’s impossible! The complete array map of this formation is a secret of the Taoist Ancestor Hong Jun, even the Nirvana Saint finds it difficult to comprehend its mysteries. You only saw this formation for the first time, completely ignorant of its principles; how can you alter it?" The Ant Lord was dumbfounded.
Manzhi is already defying the heavens enough, could Ning Fan be even more defiant? Is this reasonable?
Is it that she’s not defiant enough to keep up with these monstrous talents?
Is she the only one without brains?
"This formation is indeed profound, most of its principles I cannot grasp, but coincidentally, some patterns of this formation bear many similarities to the underlying code of the Enlightenment Tree Consciousness Realm. It seems that the Enlightenment Tree Consciousness Realm already has the hand of the Taoist Ancestor Hong Jun involved. Over the years, I’ve modified the code of the Consciousness Realm multiple times, accumulating considerable experience; hence, when faced with this formation, I’m not completely helpless. If you, like me, frequently modify the code of the Consciousness Realm, you could also achieve this, don’t belittle yourself." Ning Fan comforted.
But the Ant Lord felt even more frustrated.
Modifying Consciousness Realm rules and such, she couldn’t manage that!
Is that something only a Primordial Saint can do? She’s not Ning Fan, she doesn’t have cheats!
Nor does she have the ability to look at the Tao Spirit Array and alter its pattern; forgive her, she’s truly just an ordinary person! Just a common little ant!
She didn’t want to admit Ning Fan’s talents far exceeded hers by hundreds and thousands of times, yet she hoped Ning Fan truly possessed such prowess to avoid being transmitted to Mount Wansheng, the certain death trap...
Seeing the contours of Mount Wansheng getting closer, the Ant Lord’s heart reached her throat... Ultimately, if it doesn’t work, she’ll fight desperately!
But at this moment, the pattern suddenly shifted directions, transmitting Ning Fan to a different direction, no longer heading towards Mount Wansheng.
Seeing Ning Fan’s modification indeed taking effect, the Ant Lord was both shocked and relieved.
But some Saints of Mount Wansheng, sensing Ning Fan moving away, felt dissatisfaction and dismay!
"Manzhi clearly promised to capture the sinful cultivator Nifan, and yet the opponent escaped, truly incompetent!"
"It’s not that Manzhi is incompetent, it’s that this child is too defiant! The Tao Spirit Array so easily modified, and you tell me this is an Immortal King? Even a Primordial Saint couldn’t achieve this!"
"If that Nifan doesn’t come to Mount Wansheng, to deal with him we must enter the Tribulation of Measure, which would cost more than gain. Even if entering the Tribulation of Measure, Manzhi can’t handle this child, nor do I have the confidence to take him down..."
"In that case, we can only resolve this child in the Dao Weapon final tribulation! But, this child is overly defiant, is merely relying on the Dao Weapon tribulation truly capable of resolving this child?"
"Troubling! Truly troubling! The Dao Weapon tribulation might be useless, but perhaps the eighty-one reincarnation difficulties hold some hope..."
"But this child clearly seeks to achieve Dao through slaughter! Once he breaks through the millennial Dao Weapon tribulation, he might achieve the perfect killing tribulation, ascending to Emperorship in one fell swoop. Being so troublesome before achieving Emperorship, once he does, his might will only grow more monstrous, even eighty-one difficulties might not suppress him!"
"No need to worry! To sever the Dao Mountain, the Immortal Emperor of the Real Realms must have the approval of the Great Dao, only then can the mountain be severed, receiving Immortal Status; Dreamland Realm Emperorship lacks Immortal Status but also requires the Great Dao’s non-obstruction to have a chance at severing the Dao, otherwise the Dao Mountain will be like Wu Gang chopping a tree, eternally unending. We simply need to petition the Great Dao, banning his imperial path, and he won’t be able to sever the Dao Mountain, neither in the Real Realms nor the Dreamland Realm will he have an imperial future!"
"Good! This child is a heretical demon, mustn’t be allowed to ascend to Emperorship! Even if not killed, barring his immortal path will put my mind at ease!"
"Now that this child escaped, Manzhi is guilty of negligence, the promised ten thousand merits no longer needs to be given."
"Not only that, the old man shall also petition the Taoist Ancestor, charging Manzhi with the crime of stealing the immortal mechanism! Back then, Manzhi was granted only the incomplete Tao Spirit Array, and now I observe it, he actually completed the array! Without the Taoist Ancestor’s permission, gazing upon the complete array is punishable by demotion to the Netherworld!"
"You’re unaware, one of the conditions Manzhi agreed to intervene was immunity once... This crime has been offset with the Immortal Law Stone Coupon, leaving nothing to pursue. I know you bear enmity with Manzhi, but this matter can’t harm him."
"Damn it! That Manzhi is truly cunning, no wonder he agreed to intervene, there’s indeed such inside stories involved!"
"Oh? The Taichu Sun Dial reports information, indicating it sensed Manzhi lost Primordial Yang, and it was due to Nifan’s scheming!"
"Hiss! Manzhi is the Primordial Yang Beginning Saint, yet Nifan caused him to lose Primordial Yang? In this way, he’s bound to drop a whole epoch of cultivation, which is a great loss!"
"This... Manzhi seems to not have personally ventured into the Immeasurable Reincarnation, yet already suffered such losses? If he personally ventured, how then? If we venture, how then..."
"Manzhi might be suspected of slackness at work, but the loss of Primordial Yang was certainly not within his plans. Even someone as meticulous in scheming as him could incur losses due to greed for the immeasurable, how should we conduct ourselves..."
"Able to let Manzhi suffer loss, Nifan is indeed not to be underestimated, our Taoist skills might surpass Manzhi, but in terms of scheming we are somewhat inferior, facing Nifan later we must be more cautious..."
"In any case, this child is no longer an ant, at least not in regard to a Primordial Saint anymore..."
"Restrict the disciples under our sect, don’t greedily partake in the immeasurable here to avoid implicating ourselves. Anyway, there are countless usable people for reincarnation, not lacking for you or me."
"Good!"
"Does anyone have recommended individuals for dispatch to the final battle of the Dao Weapon?"
"I have one person I can recommend..."
"I also have several people I can recommend..."
"I have a friend I can recommend, but you must grant me five thousand merits..."
"If it’s about merits, I also know a few Daoist friends..."
...
The Tao Spirit Transmission Array was still conveying, clearly modified by Ning Fan, but it did not teleport to the Beiman Reincarnation.
Ant Lord: "I never thought you could actually modify the Tao Spirit Array. I truly have to look at you differently! However, the route you modified seems to have some issues; it hasn’t returned to the original path."
Ning Fan: "Indeed it hasn’t. Before the final battle of the Dao Weapon Tribulation, I originally planned to visit some places to borrow things from ’Daoist friends.’ By chance, Manzhi used this array to trap me, saving me much effort. Crossing reincarnation in the Immeasurable Ruin is not an easy task."
Ant Lord: "It seems you are one step ahead. Manzhi’s scheme ultimately benefited you."
Ning Fan: "Not necessarily. I think everything happening right now is still part of Manzhi’s script. Perhaps my journey to borrow treasures from Daoist friends fulfills some of Manzhi’s purposes... I initially thought his actions towards Beiman Reincarnation were out of greed, but now I lean towards him having another motive beyond targeting Beiman itself; I cannot see through him."
Ant Lord: "I dare not be arrogant anymore. If everything happening is still part of Manzhi’s plan, I’ll be honest and not make any reckless move to cause you trouble."
Ning Fan: "Do not belittle yourself; you are indeed my most crucial card, not any burden."
Ant Lord: "There’s no need to comfort me. I know I am quite bad at this; I can’t handle high-level matches. You are the high-level cultivators; I’m just a mediocre little ant..."
Ning Fan: "Heh..."
Ant Lord: "You’re still laughing despite my mood! Scoundrel! Why am I feeling so down!"
Ning Fan: "Yiqing sister, stop it, we’re nearing the first destination."
Who is your sister!
The Ant Lord wanted to retort, but the first destination of the Tao Spirit Transmission Array was indeed approaching. This was not an array operated by Ning Fan but temporarily modified and utilized; as the exit point approached, Ning Fan could not be distracted. Otherwise, an oversight might lead to not landing at the destination but perhaps somewhere else in the Immeasurable Ruin or directly into an unknown ancient lava pit.
Without the Ant Lord’s interference, Ning Fan successfully arrived at the first destination.
Huaiwo Reincarnation, arrived!
...
In ancient times, there was a nation named Huaiwo Country, a place where the world’s feng shui converged, also once the origin of the world’s Dreamland Realm.
Latter one day, the Water God Gonggong became a saint in this country, thus ushering in the Immeasurable Water Tribulation...
Yet, the Huawei Cultivators did not submit to this, rising to resist and nearly quelling the water tribulation.
Alas, before the water tribulation ended, the Nightmare Disaster descended, ultimately turning Huaiwo Country into a living hell buried within the Immeasurable Ruin...
The story should have ended here.
Until one day, a saint named Manzhi, aiming to combat Nifan, fished Huaiwo Reincarnation out of the Immeasurable Ashes, briefly revitalizing it and sending it to collide with Beiman Reincarnation...
Huaiwo Reincarnation welcomed a brief rebirth, but for the Huawei Cultivators, this rebirth meant nothing, only a continuation of suffering without hope...
Huaiwo Country, Four Seas Mountain.
The desolate northern wind howled through the mountains, black snowflakes scattered across the sky, and the world stretched endlessly, resting under the black ice. Upon the ice, countless beings frozen into black ice sculptures were fixed in the moment of their death, with very few creatures left with any vitality, surviving by hiding within Four Seas Mountain.
No one knew how long this respite would last, not even the supposedly wise witch Wuxian.
At the mountain’s peak, a ritual for the demon spirits was underway.
In the center of the altar, ten ancient monuments of demon spirits were enshrined, with seven of them destroyed, leaving only three intact, representing the ape, bear, and whale.
On the altar, Wuxian danced an ancient barbaric dance, devoutly praying.
"If there is hope, may the Ten Spirits relieve all suffering in the world; if there is no hope, may the Ten Spirits grant my Huaiwo Divine Dynasty demons and barbarians a path to rebirth..."
Beneath the altar, many Huawei Cultivators solemnly bowed and chanted, most being Yin Yang Evil Vein cultivators, with some Pluck cultivators; Incense Flame power occasionally drifted from them, merging into the altar.
As the Incense Flame power gathered, the eighth ancient monument—the ape monument began to glow with Incense Flame power, its surroundings gradually emitting purple demonic light, but then a wisp of black air rushed out from the ape monument, instantly darkening all the purple light.
Simultaneously, Wuxian coughed blood, body drained, almost unable to stand, seemingly suffering backlash from the prayers, forced to pause the ritual, face full of despair and pain.
"Great Witch Master, did the Ancient Ten Spirits respond..." Several witches hurriedly supported Wuxian, asking hopefully.
"The gods... do not respond..." Wuxian uttered with difficulty, unable to accept the result.
"Then what should we do? Do we wait in Four Seas Mountain for the final day to come, or fight to the death against the Nightmare Disaster? Or maybe, trust Nifan, as he helped us suppress the Dragon Lord..." Before one witch finished speaking, fierce opposition from below the altar interrupted.
"We cannot! Nifan is not of our kind, his heart must be different; we cannot trust him!"
"To trust Nifan is better than trusting the Saint Manzhi who fished us from the ashes!"
"But Manzhi cannot be trusted either, he merely wishes to use us; after using, he would just watch us fall back into the Immeasurable Ruin..."
"That’s still better than trusting a Nightmare Cultivator! Nifan has the aura of nightmare; there can be no mistake! My kin were all killed by the Nightmare Disaster; I cannot forgive the Nightmare Disaster nor trust any associated persons!"
"To us Dream People, the nightmare is the enemy! An enemy should be exterminated!"
Emotions grew increasingly turbulent, yet Wuxian did not intervene, for he also could not trust Nifan.
Though unable to trust the Nightmare Cultivator, Wuxian understood that under the current conditions of the silent Ten Spirits, betting everything on Nifan might be the only way to move forward, rather than waiting to die.
After much deliberation, Wuxian was about to make a decision when someone suddenly stood up, speaking sooner than he intended.
"You all keep saying Nifan isn’t trustworthy, but when the Nightmare Dragon Ying Xuan attacked, the one who fought alongside me against Ying Xuan was Nifan! Where were all of you then? Weren’t you scurrying around Four Seas Mountain? Did anyone stand up like Nifan, joining me in battle and risking their lives?"
The one criticizing was a burly, yet hideous monkey demon.
The monkey demon had a flat nose and high forehead, white hair and a green body. Though his appearance was ugly, his fiery eyes of golden flame were sharp and intimidating, making ordinary people afraid to meet his gaze.
His voice was very loud, speaking like thunder roaring.
He possessed immense strength; just by standing up, he made the entire Four Seas Mountain tremor, a mountain so heavy it was comparable to the Saintly Dao Mountain, which common people couldn’t move even slightly despite their full effort. Yet this monkey demon could easily shake it with just his physical power, truly divine strength unparalleled.
This monkey demon was named Wuzhiqi, a descendant of the Fighting Saint Ape, possessing the innate full constitution of the Divine King Prison, also having the cultivation of an ancient great demon. He once teamed up with Ning Fan to suppress the Nightmare Dragon Yingxuan, rivalling the Primordial Saint, making him the strongest in Huaiwo Country now. Even the Great Witch Master Wuxian was no match for Wuzhiqi!
Seeing Wuzhiqi speak up, the crowd, however excited, didn’t dare to argue. Everyone knew Wuzhiqi was a brute; with a scholar meeting a soldier, reason couldn’t be explained clearly! If you argued with him and lost, it’d be fine; if you won, the opponent might pull out an iron rod and hit you.
Have you ever taken a beating from an iron rod weighing 13,500 stars?
If there were such iron rods, Wuzhiqi had as many as eight. How would you respond?
Couldn’t afford to provoke, couldn’t afford indeed! They could only choose silence! This was a monster that could beat the Nightmare Dragon Yingxuan to the point of bleeding from the head!
But silence didn’t mean agreement. Even with Wuzhiqi speaking well of Nifan, the crowd still wouldn’t trust Nifan at all.
Anything related to nightmares couldn’t be trusted, as was common knowledge in the Dreamland Realm!
For instance, when the first Nightmare Disaster arrived, many people didn’t believe this common knowledge and insisted on believing that even if the Fire God Zhu Rong turned into a Nightmare Disaster, he’d still remain rational...
Thus countless lives were lost, turning into tribulation ash under Zhu Rong’s saintly fire...
From the first disaster Zhu Rong to the seventh disaster Yingxuan, no one remained rational under the Nightmare Disaster, all became monsters killing companions...
And if the eighth disaster came...
Huaiwo’s nightmare, the eighth number equating to the ape disaster, might fall upon Wuzhiqi.
Thinking of Wuzhiqi possibly being consumed by the eighth Nightmare Disaster, then blackening tenfold stronger, everyone felt deep despair. Wuzhiqi now could beat Yingxuan to the point of bleeding from the head; if strengthened tenfold, Huaiwo was destined for destruction, no need for the tenth disaster to arrive...
Nightmare Disaster, indeed unbeatable. The more you resist, the more intense the disaster becomes...
With this in mind, many people lowered their heads in despair, while some felt ashamed, being hit by the sore spot pointed out by Wuzhiqi’s previous fleeing comment.
When rivaling the Primordial Saint Yingxuan came, aside from Wuzhiqi, everyone gave up, even the Great Witch Master once lost hope... The wiser one is, the more they understand that resisting the Nightmare Disaster is hopeless.
Only the muscle-headed Wuzhiqi never gave up, further due to Nifan’s appearance, teaming with Wuzhiqi to suppress Yingxuan, coincidentally enabling Huaiwo Country to pass the seventh disaster.
It’s not that no one was grateful to Nifan; they just couldn’t trust nightmares, separated by too much deep-seated resentment...
"Wuzhiqi, for the sake of this old man, say a few words less. You actually understand, they’re not abandoning resistance out of cowardice; they just can’t see any hope... For the Dream People, nightmare is unbeatable." Wuxian sighed.
"I refuse to believe it! Destiny makes nightmares unbeatable, but we demon cultivators should stand tall in our cultivation and die standing! I’m not arrogant enough to think I can beat the Nightmare Disaster with just an iron rod; I merely refuse to be a caged mouse sparrow waiting for death! Even if Huaiwo People are to bury again into the Immeasurable Ruin, I’ll fight until the last moment! Like Daoist Nifan, fighting tirelessly against fate and reincarnation!" Wuzhiqi resolutely said.
"You monkey, why go through such troubles! If you heed Saint Manzhi’s words, attack the Beiman Reincarnation, there’s still a slim chance to escape the disaster alone, and reincarnate as an Immeasurable Tribulation Spirit. Thus, only we would bury into the Immeasurable Ruin again... Were it the Ancient Country era, you could have Divine King potential; even in the Nine Rebellions era, though unable to enter the reverse, you can cultivate to an unparalleled Desolate Saint. You could have a far brighter future, why decay with us? Though knowing it’s Manzhi’s scheme, you should still try to seize a chance..." Wuxian lamented further.
"If this bright future requires sacrificing clan members and mentors, I’d rather not have it!"
"But even if you stay, what’s the use? I’ve long advised you, nightmares are unbeatable, not only because the Nightmare Disaster is powerful but due to its special nature... The reason Dream People cannot defeat nightmares is that nightmares are the Dreamland Realm itself! The onset of this disaster comes from the will of the Dreamland Realm itself, a cleansing and punishment for us, the Dreamland Realm People. Even without living beings, the world remains a world; to the world, we cultivators are merely viruses and bacteria, constantly proliferating chaos and causality. If not resisted, living beings will eventually perish under the Nightmare Disaster; even if resisted and ultimately defeated the Nightmare Disaster, the moment the Nightmare Disaster dissipates, would be when the Dream Reincarnation completely collapses, and we will eventually perish... Our enemy is ourselves."
Faced with Wuxian’s heartfelt advice, Wuzhiqi just carelessly picked his nose.
Forgive him for having a head full of muscles, truly not understanding these lengthy reasonings, only knowing one thing!
He can die standing but absolutely not die kneeling!
And if when everyone is in despair, there’s another person willing to be as foolish as him, fighting fate and reincarnation until the last moment... That’d be truly joyful!
Nifan! A person refusing to bow to destiny, how similar to him Wuzhiqi!
I’m not alone in my path!
To unexpectedly meet such a kindred spirit upon reincarnation in the Immeasurable Ruin, even if destined to perish again, this life is not lived in vain!
"You monkey, shouldn’t have let you steal the Divine Bean from the mentor, resulting in such a stubborn personality!" Wuxian both troubled and helpless.
But at that moment, suddenly a mighty saint pressure descended, temporarily freezing the flow of time and space here.
Under this saint pressure, all lives of Huaiwo Reincarnation prostrated on the ground, few dared to look up, simply because they couldn’t bear such a saint pressure, let alone confront it!
"Is this the arrival of a Saint? Could it be Manzhi personally coming to this realm to hold accountable?"
Wuxian looked up at the sky. Although the saint pressure was dazzling, he saw the scene of the Tao Spirit array spreading across heaven and earth.
In this array, indeed there was Manzhi’s aura; apparently, Manzhi was personally coming.
Unexpectedly, cautious Manzhi didn’t reveal his true self last time, but this time he’s personally visiting Immeasurable... He must be so dissatisfied with Huaiwo Country’s betrayal, willing to risk descending to Immeasurable!
After the initial shock, Wuxian’s expression returned to calm.
Let accountability be, anyway, according to his ritual estimation, Huaiwo Country would never survive the eighth Nightmare Disaster — no other reason, Wuzhiqi is too strong! The Fighting Saint Ape’s bloodline is a cheat among cheats! Once Wuzhiqi blackens and strengthens tenfold, the world has only one option: destruction, no second answer...
Everyone thought it was Saint Manzhi coming to hold accountable, either in despair or relieved, with varied expressions, yet none intended to resist.
Only Wuzhiqi, feeling the saint pressure instantly, his battle intent increased instead!
"So what about Manzhi! So what about the Saint! If you want to take action against Huaiwo, first ask me whether I agree!"
He transformed immediately into a three-headed, eight-armed form, stepping on stellar clouds soaring into the sky.
The three heads represented the Three Corpse Gods: the original self Wuzhiqi, the good corpse Wuziqi, the evil corpse Wu Ziqi.
Eight arms each held a thickened and heavy iron rod magical treasure, each rod weighing 13,500 Cultivation Stars. Any swing of these rods created wind pressure comparable to a strike with a wind technique from the Wind Master!
From earth to heaven, arriving in an instant!
The eight rods fell together, and the Tao Spirit Teleportation Formation fully deployed by Manzhi showed numerous cracks, the impact scattered great force, causing the entire Huawei Reincarnation to tremble violently and verge on collapse!
As he saw a figure emerging from within the formation patterns, Wu Ziqi immediately operated the Power Source to its utmost, sending the eight rods crashing down towards that figure.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The sound of eight explosions echoed, even more deafening than the full-power thunderstorm unleashed by a Thunder Master Cultivator, causing some lowly cultivators within Four Seas Mountain to bleed from their noses and mouths—this despite Wuxian operating the Four Seas Array with all his might for protection!
Look! How outrageous Wu Ziqi is now, once he transforms into Nightmare Disaster... Honestly, if you, rascal, were willing to leave and let the Ape Disaster befall others, as your master, I might barely withstand the eighth disaster and survive to the ninth and tenth... Why must you stubbornly remain here! Such a worrying yet lovable fool...
Wuxian sighed at Wu Ziqi’s strength.
And also marveled at Manzhi’s might.
Can they not be powerful?
Wu Ziqi released all eight rods, which imparted an impact force exceeding the weight of over a hundred thousand cultivation stars! Look at that Saint Manzhi, easily withstanding Wu Ziqi’s full assault, he truly is... a saint?
Hmm?
The one who arrived wasn’t Manzhi?
It turned out to be... Nifan!
How did that Nightmare Cultivator Nifan become stronger again? In the past, he didn’t hold the ring, let alone withstand Wu Ziqi’s eight Iron Rods with mere physical defense!
Wuxian was extremely shocked.
Within Four Seas Mountain, countless cries emerged, all due to the realization that the "Saint" descending here was in fact Nifan.
Even Wu Ziqi was baffled!
What about Manzhi’s confrontation, as the Master said? Why is it different than what was told?
Why has the person turned out to be Daoist Nifan?
And Daoist Nifan has become so much stronger that he received my Eight Mixed World Rods Suppressing Nether Strike without using Reverse King’s Holding the Kingdom?
Wait, is that a Saint Ring?
After hundreds of years, Daoist Nifan has actually become a saint?
"Daoist... no, Senior, you’ve actually become a saint! Good news indeed!" Wu Ziqi delightedly remarked, immediately dispersing his three-headed, eight-armed apparition, and putting away the eight iron rods.
"I am not a saint; this Saint Ring is not mine but temporarily lent to me by someone else," Ning Fan explained.
"That’s not a problem! Daoist, don’t you have a divine ability to snatch treasures from others? Just take it, why not!" The honest Wu Ziqi immediately gave a bad suggestion, changing back the title as well. If they’re not saints, he could continue calling them Daoist, which was wonderful!
Upon hearing, Ant Lord’s spirit sense was defensively shattered, afraid that Ning Fan would emulate the Ancient Shu Kingdom King Zhao Lie, borrowing items without returning, which was unethical, although quite like Xuan De; Ning Fan mustn’t fall into that trap!
Fortunately, Ning Fan refused Wu Ziqi’s cunning plan.
"She treats me with sincerity; I don’t want to disappoint her. I can use this technique on others, but I specifically don’t want to use it on her."
"Got it! It’s borrowed from a woman, not a man! Ah, Daoist is excellent in every regard but one, you who are renowned across the three worlds as a Demon Lord, are actually infatuated with women. What’s so good about women? You and I, as brothers, should jointly resist Fate Reincarnation, that is a man’s true romance!" Wu Ziqi earnestly advised.
Ning Fan was slightly stunned, somehow finding this argument reminiscent, unexpectedly aligning with Senior Chiwei’s mindset.
No wonder he felt Wu Ziqi seemed odd; turns out, he too was...
Thinking deeper, Chiwei and Purple Dou, one flower, one monkey. Now I’ve cultivated the flower, and the opposite is a monkey, is this matter somehow... no, it must be my overthinking.
Wu Ziqi: "Daoist, you came here to finally showdown with fate reincarnation, didn’t you? If so, even if the Huaiwo people don’t assist you, I will definitely lend you a hand!"
Ning Fan: "I didn’t come here for that matter. This time, I came merely to borrow an item from here as I’m approaching becoming Emperor..."
As Ning Fan’s words fell, numerous opposing voices instantly transmitted to the skies from the distant ground.
"We cannot lend! No matter what you came to borrow, we can’t lend it to you!"
"The Nightmare Cultivators are untrustworthy! Maybe your borrowing of the treasure is precisely a link causing Nightmare Disaster!"
"Go back! This place doesn’t welcome you! We don’t refuse any disasters, but you will gain nothing from us!"
Hearing the opposition, Wu Ziqi’s Three Corpse Gods raged, yearning to swing the eight rods to knock down all the mouthy people but caring about kinship, unwilling to harm them...
Though he wasn’t willing to hit, he was willing to scold, just as he intended to retaliate on behalf of Ning Fan, Ning Fan spoke first.
"What if what I came to borrow was the Nightmare Disaster that would cost lives, would you then be willing to lend?"
These words fell, silencing the entire world, even the wind paused for a moment.
The wind’s pause was due to the world itself feeling fear.
The creation of the Nightmare Disaster stems from the world’s will, and Ning Fan came to remove the Nightmare Disaster, isn’t that akin to targeting the world itself!
Why! On what grounds!
You’re not even a Huaiwo person, the happenings here clearly have nothing to do with you, so why... why risk your life to save a group of Huaiwo people who view you as a scourge!
The world’s will felt anger and confusion!
Wuxian and innumerable Huaiwo people felt shame: they never trusted Nightmare Cultivator Nifan, yet he planned to risk his life to eradicate the Nightmare Disaster, regardless of the success, simply his nearly pure-hearted good will made everyone feel ashamed.
What is repaying evil with good!
What is Moral Sage!
This Nifan... truly a good person! Such a good person, why would he be a Nightmare Cultivator? Why does Fate Reincarnation target such a kind person!
Only Wu Ziqi was panicking, and moved!
"Daoist Nifan, no, brother Nifan! You don’t have to go to such lengths for me. I am but a mere monkey, destined for death, not worth all you’ve put up, nor making an enemy of the Nightmare Disaster!"
Ning Fan was not a Huaiwo person, and had no reason to risk his life to rid the Huaiwo people of the Nightmare Disaster.
No one here is worth such a risk for him, except... except me...
The not-so-intelligent brain of Wu Ziqi, however, instantly analyzed the reason behind Ning Fan’s actions.
He and Ning Fan had only entrusted their lives, suppressed Ying Xuan together, but with just this bit of life-and-death camaraderie, the other party was willing to go to such lengths for him...
The other party must have known that the next Nightmare Disaster in Huaiwo Country was coming for him, Wu Ziqi, so he specially came here to combat the Nightmare Disaster.
But I, Wu Ziqi, am as insignificant as grass, not worth such a sacrifice from a brother!
You treat me with sincerity, how can I watch you be devoured by the Nightmare Disaster with open eyes!
"Go back! You’re not welcome here! Go back!" Seeing as he couldn’t convince Ning Fan to change his mind, Wu Ziqi came to drive him away.
But Wu Xian and others scolded him.
"You monkey! Stop now! Do not be rude to Daoist Nifan!" Hearing that Ning Fan came to fight against the Nightmare Disaster, whether true or not, Wu Xian and others felt hopeful.
No one really wishes to wait for death!
Dreamland People indeed cannot defeat the Nightmare Disaster, but if Nifan, who is a Nightmare Cultivator, takes action, perhaps there’s a sliver of hope...
This is Huaiwo Reincarnation’s last hope, and Wu Ziqi must not selfishly drive Nifan away.
Several strong Yin Yang Evil Veins flew into the sky, dragging and pulling, holding Wu Ziqi down to keep him from letting Ning Fan go. Though Wu Ziqi had astonishing strength, due to his great power, he dared not struggle mindlessly for fear that excessive force would tear the limbs off his beloved compatriots.
Wu Xian immediately flew into the sky, treating Ning Fan as a VIP, ushering him to the Four Seas Mountain.
In his heart, he thought: If this Nifan really came to deal with the Nightmare Disaster, then my disciple Wu Ziqi has a sliver of life, I can’t let you leave today...
As long as you sincerely deal with the Nightmare Disaster, whether you’re a Nightmare Cultivator or not, you’re the good friend of our Huaiwo people!
The stance of the Huaiwo people instantly shifted!
Ning Fan showed no expression, but felt deeply speechless inside.
It’s not that he held any opinion of the Huaiwo people’s opportunism: this is not a chaotic world, but an apocalyptic one. Maintaining even a shred of humanity in such times is rare, and he held no expectation for these people’s moral standards.
He didn’t come to save Huaiwo Country; he really came to borrow something to become an emperor, driven by personal interest.
He didn’t care about the Huaiwo people’s opportunism, but was surprised by Wu Ziqi’s sincerity.
He and Wu Ziqi were only acquaintances, yet the latter met him with sincerity and immediately tried to drive him away upon hearing he intended to take risks.
Ning Fan cared more about Wu Ziqi’s words of dismissal than the entire world’s flattering praise...
"Daoist, don’t worry, I have a plan, I can restrain the Nightmare Disaster, and there will be no danger to life." He didn’t need to explain this to Wu Ziqi, but seeing Wu Ziqi struggling with sweat pouring down under others’ holds, he was touched.
"Is this true?" Wu Ziqi was stunned, then calmed down, knowing that Nifan and he were similar, once deciding on something, it was impossible to dissuade him, so he no longer held onto the matter but instead had a new resolve.
"If the matter can’t be done! You will never die alone!" Wu Ziqi promised.
?
Ning Fan was stunned.
What kind of near-confessional words were these?
Oh well, just consider it the brotherly affection in the cultivation world, don’t think too much.
With that thought, Ning Fan shook his head to Wu Ziqi.
"I will not die, at least not die here, so you shouldn’t harbor such death wishes. The nightmare you speak of, in my world, is called the Nieli; Nieli thrives when leaving the ground, rages when meeting fire, and becomes a world-destroying nightmare. I am different, though you all think I am a nightmare too, but I differ essentially from the nightmare... I am not Nieli, nor do I fear Nieli; indeed, the world’s Nieli should fear me. I am not here to save the world, nor do I intend to die saving it, but if it’s something I can do with ease and greatly benefits me, I won’t refuse. Do you understand?"
"Understood! Brother, you... you’re a good person, a foolish person! Even at the brink of life and death, you still lie to comfort me! Alas, I, Wu Ziqi, will do what I say! If you die, your brother will not live alone! Wherever righteousness lies, life and death will follow together, Heaven as witness, Huai River as proof!"
Good heavens!
He made a reincarnation vow on the spot!
Even Ning Fan was stupefied!
What resolute, pure brotherly bond in the cultivation world, why did it happen to me?
Oh well...
As long as it’s not a romantic brother, having an extra one does no harm.
"Then take me to the core of the Nightmare Disaster in this world..." Ning Fan said calmly.
What the Huaiwo people regard as a fatal calamity, for him it’s a huge boon, enabling the Fu Li Bloodline to progress even further...
He originally intended to borrow, but given the Huaiwo people’s attitude, they probably would gladly offer it up, so borrowing might not be necessary...
The only concern was Manzhi.
There must be something here, something that Manzhi was scheming for and desiring; if what Manzhi wants is also the core of the Nieli...
There might be further battles with Manzhi!