Chapter 1336: Taoist Inheritance Fragment! Su Fuchen!
Chapter 1336: Chapter 1336: Taoist Inheritance Fragment! Su Fuchen!
Zi Clan, Gao Sheng Continent, Ten Thousand Immortal Ridge.
The Ten Thousand Immortal Ridge is the highest forbidden place of the Zi Clan, constructed from the shattered mountains and seas of the Saints.
Utilizing the power of the Two Elements Lodging Shadow Array, this ridge is split into Yin and Yang, with mountains and seas separated, thereby creating an external and internal realm used for storing and nurturing corpses.
Ordinary Immortal Cultivators perceive the Ten Thousand Immortal Ridge as merely a façade of immortal peaks standing tall, with immortal orchids and grasses all around, presenting an auspicious scene.
But those skilled in Yin and Yang, or feng shui, can penetrate the true nature of this ridge: the mountains are false paradises, and the sea is a true sinister tomb! This place is named the Ten Thousand Immortal Ridge, but it’s actually the Ten Thousand Corpse Sea! That sea hides in the shadow of the mountain, beneath the surface of the world, and only by setting foot within it can one touch the Saint’s Dharma corpse!
Qing Palm Fortune and Purple Luo Luo invaded this place!
Ning Fan followed and came here as well.
But besides them, there are other invaders aiming to take advantage of the chaos.
One is a fat priest named [Zi Anmin], originating from the Zi Clan, at the mid-stage Fragmented Thought level, who has a lifelong passion for tomb raiding and grave digging.
However, today he is here not for the purpose of tomb raiding for riches, but is forced to come...
"The Gold-Touching Saint Technique says: ’To enter the ridge into the sea, first discern the heavens. One level of reversal evil, one level of barrier, three dragons strangle the vicious soul, reverse Yin waters make rebirth challenging... Hiss! Could it be that the Holy Ancestor’s Dharmic body is hidden at the bottom of this Ten Thousand Corpse Sea? I’ve roamed the Four Heavens for years, and knew the clan secretly sacrificed to nourish the Holy Ancestor’s Dharmic body, but I never thought they used such an evil method... Senior, do we really have to enter this tomb? This junior at just Fragmented Thought wishes to enter such a great tomb, truly feels a bit terrified..."
Despite having seen many grand imperial tombs, the fat man still felt a prickle at his back and wanted to retreat, so he sent a message via divine sense, the target of his message being a certain residual soul senior residing within his body.
"It’s not easy to leave now. According to this old man’s experience from ’past reincarnations’, anyone who enters this place must stay for a full forty-nine days before leaving. This is one of the many [Ghost Spirit Rules] constructing this realm. With your cultivation, it’s far insufficient to ignore this rule, so even if you want to leave, you must wait until after forty-nine days..."
The residual soul senior replied, with a hint of Second-Grade Quasi-Saint’s aura.
The owner of the residual soul is named [Zifu], the very founder of Zifu Academy! The reason this residual soul attached itself to the fat man’s body is because the fat man brought it upon himself...
There was once a fat man who considered himself a member of the Zi Clan, acted lawlessly, wandered the Four Heavens all year round, digging tombs and raiding graves for fortune.
But when he stole from an imperial tomb in the southern heavens, he tripped up, not only gaining nothing but also attracting a Quasi-Saint-grade big zongzi, that lectured him daily, trying to lead him back to the right path and repent... truly a regret born too late!
The most excessive part is, this old predecessor even forced him to rob his own ancestors’ graves! Despite not being a good person, he has his bottom lines! Who goes robbing their own ancestral graves!
Indeed, he loves money but there are two types of money he would never take. One that would harm his spirit’s integrity, and another that would cost him his life.
This tomb holds both types, and he should never be willing to come, but had no choice but to do so.
He is merely a junior in Fragmented Thought, how can he defy a dignified Quasi-Saint Great Power? He can only take it one step at a time.
"I know you hold grievances for being coerced to come here, but this journey concerns the continuity of the world. Our actions might win a chance of turning for the world, and this is exactly the mission for us Zi Clan descendants! We are both descendants of the Immortal Emperor, the burden of saving the world is one we absolutely cannot escape!" Zifu earnestly said, worthy of being the ancestor of the Profound Sect, giving off an air of morality as soon as he spoke.
Unfortunately, these moral words would enter through the fat man’s left ear and exit through the right, to which he paid no attention at all.
He was more interested in what treasures this place might hold!
Having come all the way here, he couldn’t leave empty-handed, after all, the gathered wealth here is the people’s riches confiscated by the clan, and ill-gotten gains, even if he took it, the ancestors wouldn’t blame him.
"Wait, could the sea here be made entirely of [Feathered Corpse Marrow]? How many beings were slaughtered to refine such a scale!" the fat man exclaimed.
The sea held countless corpses, both ancient and modern, all collected by the Zi Clan through unscrupulous means, either slaughtering immortals or worlds, or robbing ancient tombs, accumulated over time, forming its present scale.
The dense corpses’ Qi nearly solidified, spreading over the sea surface, as for the sea water, it’s the corpse oil refined through secret techniques, not smelly, but carrying an eerie fragrance of expensive pills, any drop of sea water possesses the aroma not inferior to that of Eighth Revolution pills, what else can it be if not Feathered Corpse Marrow!
Seeing this place where corpse marrow exists in such amounts as to form a sea, even the fat man with shallow morals felt his heart skip a beat.
This is Feathered Corpse Marrow! The value of a drop of corpse marrow is on par with an eighth revolution low-grade Feather Ascension Pill, it can help Shattering Void cultivators ascend to immortality! If in the nine worlds of the mortal world, just a drop of corpse marrow can spark a Shattering Void war, but here, this thing exists in the sea...
Behind this thing lurks bloodshed, requiring secret techniques to refine billions of mortals to produce just one drop... Witnessing this, the fat man marvels at the Zi Clan’s extravagance and is also shocked by their cruelty.
He wandered the Four Heavens all year, partly due to not wishing to associate with clan’s unscrupulous behavior... although he often committed acts unbecoming of a good person, he would only damage Yin virtues, not like losing Yang virtues.
A slight greed then crept up within him.
"If all the corpse marrow in this place were to be taken and sold, I wonder how much it would fetch..." The fatty, though greedy, dared not act recklessly.
The floating corpses in the sea were not just decorations; many had transformed into corpse demons. Normally, they simply slumbered, but if a treasure thief appeared, they would awaken and attack in unison.
Seeing the floating corpses here, even including those of Immortal Venerables and Immortal Kings, the fatty couldn’t help but be cautious...
"But if senior is willing to lend a hand, collecting the corpse marrow here would be a breeze," the fatty pleaded.
"This residual soul has little power left and cannot be wasted on trivial matters. Furthermore, there is much you do not know; this corpse marrow hides deadly traps. Taking it rashly would fall into someone’s calculation... That person is extremely terrifying..." Zifu refused, with a hint of fear in the tone, seemingly from having witnessed some great terror here in a past cycle.
Fatty: "What kind of terrifying existence is hidden here that even a quasi-saint like you is so secretive about it!"
Zifu: "Don’t ask, otherwise you too will suffer the ’dare not speak’ curse like me, leading to eternal decline and unrest in your residual soul, unable to awaken..."
Fatty: "So terrifying?! Then I never said anything..."
Upon hearing this, the fatty’s heart skipped a beat. He wasn’t a newbie on the cultivation road; born in the Zi Clan and having cultivated to the Shattered Thought stage, he knew what the words ’dare not speak’ meant.
That was entangled with Taicang Calamity Spirit’s causality! Untouchable!
And the calamity spirit that could trap a formidable second-rank quasi-saint, even if not the Royal Calamity Spirit comparable to a saint, wouldn’t be far off...
"Only a fool would risk the Royal Calamity Spirit’s calculation to take the corpse marrow here. I, for one, won’t take it..." The fatty let out a breath, instantly cutting off his greed and returning his spirit sense to peace.
Yet at this moment, suddenly, his vision blurred, revealing a scene that made his heart pound.
Unknown from when, at the densest part of the corpse marrow in the sea, a bizarre corpse demon appeared, wantonly refining the corpse marrow!
This strange corpse demon seemed to appear out of nowhere, or perhaps... it had been cultivating here all along, yet unnoticed by others!
The demon sometimes emitted Demonic Qi with flowing devil marks and the brilliance of a magical treasure resembling the galaxies; at times, demon energy covered the sky, spirit wheels rotated, and nine-layered demon shadows emerged behind it; at other times divine light protected it, with a shadow of the Ancient Divine Tree faintly visible within, seemingly capable of communing with the heavens and earth; and sometimes immortal power surrounded it, with the shadow of Mount Buzhou appearing behind, where waterfalls, Shuilian Cave, and demons worshipping were vaguely discernible...
But ultimately, the powers of God, Demon, Spirit, and Immortal abruptly ceased, and this corpse demon concealed all its corpses’ Qi, appearing as a mortal.
Yet it was absolutely not a mortal!
The fatty couldn’t discern the opponent’s exact cultivation level, but determined that its danger level was unprecedented in his life!
A simple calm glance from the opponent made him feel his demon soul on the verge of breaking! His entire life of tomb raiding, with thousands of protective spiritual armor pieces refined into his body, he even had ways to escape from an Immortal Emperor’s chase! But under this person’s gaze, the countless layers of protection within him were as fragile as paper, easily pierced by the gaze, leaving no secrets hidden!
"No malice towards Luo You... that’s good." Ning Fan murmured, then his form dissipated like mist, as if he had never appeared. Or maybe he was still there, omnipresent, but separated by endless time and space from the fatty, making it impossible for him to see with his cultivation.
"Se-Senior! That person just now, couldn’t be the great terror you mentioned! That’s too terrifying!" The fatty was terrified.
"Which person? There’s residual reincarnation lingering from the remaining resonance of the Bell of Samsara here, you might have seen a snippet from a prior reincarnation, merely a mirage, don’t mind it..." Zifu had not seen Ning Fan.
"Just... a mirage?"
The fatty was not quite convinced by this explanation, as that stare was so real, and the opponent had mentioned a name... Luo You, seemingly come for this causality.
Thus, the fatty racked his brain but couldn’t recall who this name belonged to.
Yet suddenly, he recalled a certain memory, seemingly related to this causality.
As it turned out, Zifu had once possessed Zi Anmin, lurking within the Zi Clan, doing many things.
Once, while controlling Zi Anmin’s body, he encountered Luo You standing up for the weak, moved that there were still uncontaminated members among the current Zi Clan, he felt compassion for talent, and thus inquired about Luo You’s whereabouts, hoping to recommend her to join Zifu Academy and escape the Zi Clan’s quagmire. But something delayed it, and the matter was eventually abandoned...
"Was that senior spying on me for this reason? This is indeed a disaster I’ve done nothing to deserve, the causality clearly has nothing to do with me... Fortunately, I neither harbored any covetous thoughts nor any intent to harm that girl, otherwise this issue would be hard to resolve peacefully..."
"Speaking of which, that senior seemed to cultivate the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor’s inheritance, right? But strong as the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor was, he only cultivated to the Twenty-Seven Yin-Yang. This person, for some reason, seemed to be cultivating the Twenty-Eighth Yin-Yang—Corpse Yin Yang. A corpse belongs to the ghostly way; at first glance, he seems to be practicing corpse demons, yet I vaguely feel he’s practicing corpse ghost techniques... Am I going to be silenced for encountering this senior’s cultivation secret..."
The fatty grew incredibly nervous, yet the next moment, he was no longer tense.
An inexplicable fog swept through, rendering all that he had seen and felt into oblivion.
"What just... happened?" The plump man awoke from a dream, feeling somewhat lost.
"Don’t daze around, quickly move forward. We must infiltrate the Holy Ancestor’s Dharma Body before Zi Xiao and others return and prevent the Holy Ancestor’s corpse transformation!" urged the Purple Mansion.
In this realm, outside disturbances cannot penetrate, hence the Purple Mansion is unaware that the battle outside has ended, with Zi Xiao and others all perished. The invincible Moral Sage has already ascended to the moral pinnacle of the Zi Clan, followed by numerous resurrected Fu Li...
The variables of reincarnation have long emerged, yet the Purple Mansion is still unaware, secretly harboring a resolve to die, determined to prevent the Holy Ancestor’s corpse transformation and the emergence of the Dust King Tribulation Thought.
Under senior’s command, there is no choice but to obey. The plump man summoned the Tomb Raider Emperor Armor for protection and then deployed the Water-Repelling Pearl to part the sea, moving deeper toward the undersea Saint Tomb.
Meanwhile, Green Palm Fortune and Purple Luo were pillaging within the tomb. Although they amassed considerable gains, their expressions remained sullen.
One could not fault their expressions; despite collecting many items, there were few treasures among them, mostly they were of little value.
"Strange! According to my calculations, there should be a slumbering Ten-Turn Pill Demon in this chamber. Why is it an empty tomb? Could it be that Purple Luo has snatched it first?" Green Palm Fortune’s suspicion toward Purple Luo increased.
"Impossible! The Seven-Orifice Lotus Seat sealed in this chamber—I’ve coveted it for years—how could it disappear without a trace? Palm Fortune must have ruined my plan!" Purple Luo’s suspicion toward Green Palm Fortune increased.
Such incidents happened continuously.
Though they suspected a third party lurking secretly, benefiting like an opportunist, an inconceivable force subtly influenced their thoughts, preventing them from associating the situation with Ning Fan.
As such, they fiercely broke through the tomb’s traps, relentlessly fought against the tomb’s monsters, and paid the price for the curses within. Yet, when collecting spoils, they often ended up with scrap materials.
This was extremely frustrating.
Their mutual suspicions deepened in the atmosphere of distrust but never escalated to an outright confrontation.
The notion of Daoist friendship never existed from the start. With the formidable enemy Ning Fan present, even if they wanted to kill each other, they would not take action now.
"Damn it! I haven’t obtained a single high-level Pill Demon from the undersea tomb! The Innate-level burial treasures—I’ve acquired only three, and all are ’Tribulation Spirit Curse Objects.’ Using them forcefully would immediately result in ’Blessing’ upon me! The research results on Demon Body, Magic Body, Divine Body experiments have also vanished, though they could have been immensely useful to me! Ahead is the Zi Clan’s Scripture Hall; if I don’t obtain copies of the Ancient Scripture of Saint and replicas of the Taoist Inheritance Fragment, even if I awaken the Saint Corpse Demon, I wouldn’t be able to harness its full power, insufficient to fight the butterfly..."
Green Palm Fortune worriedly used the Heavenly Human Five Declines Banner he had acquired recently despite the cost of curses, entering the Scripture Hall first, fearing Purple Luo would have another advantage.
Seeing Green Palm Fortune taking the lead, Purple Luo refused to fall behind, immediately spat a mouthful of blood lightning, transformed into tribulation thunder’s purple light, and charged into the Scripture Hall despite injuries.
Minor injuries are not an issue, as they can self-heal soon using the Tai Cang Breathing Technique! But he absolutely must not let Palm Fortune snatch the two incomplete texts "Ultimate Pure Thunder Talisman" and "Taixu True Thunder Skill"! After all, these were the enlightenment techniques he pursued for years!
"Damn it!"
"Still a step too late!"
Upon entering the Scripture Hall, they found it thoroughly looted, with only a few poorly illustrated spring palace erotic books left behind, causing their spirit senses to strain and their anger flared, impossible to suppress.
"Damn Palm Fortune (Purple Luo)! It’s bad enough you took the techniques and classics, but leaving these erotic books as an insult! The two could no longer endure but still suppressed their anger, just exchanged fake smiles and eye contact hiding daggers...
Ning Fan leisurely sat aside, ignoring the two who were eager to fight to death, and flipped through the jade scrolls at a pace akin to reading at the speed of light.
Little Fu Li Zizha, attending Ning Fan, saw his reading speed like flipping through books, and couldn’t help but envy this quantum reading method.
Is this the world of academic gods!
Ning Fan finished reading the "General Outline of Purple Star Immortal Cultivation Demon Technique" in just a few breaths!
Keep in mind that the ancient scriptures here were all high-level secret scrolls, complex and obscure, usually requiring centuries or millennia for ordinary cultivators to comprehend one, yet Ning Fan could finish one in just a few breaths, his divine sense’s computing power and Dao comprehension were beyond cultivators, approximating divinity.
For someone like him—a mere school dunce—reading just one "Divinity Transformation Stage Demon Technique Extract" might take centuries...
"Senior’s divine sense computing power is truly fearsome!" But Zi Zha, lacking education, could only think of one phrase—fearsome!
"It’s not merely using computing power and Dao comprehension to read; doing so consumes too much energy and cannot be sustained long-term. But by emulating the Enlightenment Tree’s technique, simulating one’s consciousness into a Consciousness Realm state to accommodate Ten Thousand Realms Techniques, one can achieve rapid progress without seeking deep understanding. If you have the opportunity, you could enter the Enlightenment Tree Consciousness Realm several times, emulate the way it stores knowledge to achieve what I did." Ning Fan casually advised.
Compared to many malicious Zi Clan members, Ning Fan had a relatively good impression of Zi Zha. This young man’s furious sacrifice for his brother, transforming into Fu Li, also brought certain benefits to Ning Fan, so he didn’t mind offering him some guidance.
"???" Zi Zha felt utterly lost upon hearing this, knowing the senior was giving him advice, but could only understand it as if he were hearing divine revelation.
The quantum reading method of the Senior, he fears he will never learn it in this lifetime, and even in the next or the one after, he’s sure he still won’t manage it...
On the other hand.
The eye-contact duel between Purple Luo Luo and Green Fortune did not last long.
Although he hated that Green Fortune was quick-handed, he could see it through: once the matter here was settled, he could kill and seize treasures. No matter how many treasures Green Fortune snatched, ultimately, he was just a temporary transporter for them.
"Since the treasures here have been looted clean by someone, there is no point in staying here any longer."
Purple Luo Luo said he was leaving, but Green Fortune sneered.
"No rush, although someone has looted this place clean, the most valuable item was left behind. The phrase ’buy the casing and return the pearl’ refers exactly to this matter."
Purple Luo Luo: "Oh? Then I have to ask you, what else is here that is within the capacity for either of us to take?"
Green Fortune: "I’ve already said ’buy the casing and return the pearl’, don’t you understand? The texts in the hall are valuable, but this Scripture Hall itself is imbued with a trace of the Dao, which is what the Tongbi Ape Saint cultivated in life—the ’Master’s Doctrinal’!"
Purple Luo Luo: "Ha, I naturally know what is sealed in this hall, but it’s merely some imitation pieces of Dao fragments. This item has long been integrated with the Undersea Tomb, within which is hidden the ’Dust King’s Blessing’, beyond our ability to take."
Green Fortune: "Just because you can’t doesn’t mean I can’t! Although the Master Dao is not my main pursuit, I have many disciples and thus have some understanding of it, precisely for today’s plan!"
"A teacher is meant to spread the Dao, impart knowledge, and resolve doubts!"
Thus, he activated the teacher’s Dao traces, resonating with the imitation Dao fragments sealed in the hall, and opened the Realm of Incense Offering, intending to sacrifice the disciples there to fend off the Dust King’s Blessing coming upon him.
How ironic!
A self-proclaimed master, yet he sacrifices his disciples’ lives to exchange for the power of the Master’s Doctrinal. This scene only made Zi Zha grit his teeth. Unsophisticated in the ways of the cultivation world, he still held expectations for the word ’master’, and seeing Green Fortune act this way, he felt his world view shattered, increasingly disgusted by Green Fortune’s conduct, wishing to immediately avenge, tear at him, yet remembered Ning Fan’s advice and held back, not immediately lunging out to bite Green Fortune.
Ning Fan, however, made his move. He only slightly altered the heavenly fortunes and earth’s form of the place, immediately triggering a chain reaction akin to mountain collapses and tidal waves, ultimately causing Green Fortune’s sacrifices to be in vain, inadvertently severing his connection with the Realm of Incense Offering, unable to summon it again.
"Tsk, just like that." Seeing Green Fortune fail, Purple Luo Luo couldn’t help but let out a mocking laugh.
This action was misunderstood by Green Fortune, who thought this failure was surely due to Purple Luo Luo’s interference.
This was so damn irritating!
Is this guy really not concerned about the bigger picture! Knowing the butterfly is chasing us from behind, can’t you stop fighting internally at this moment!
"The Realm of Incense Offering I nurtured only has one chamber left, losing this realm means it will be much harder to seize the Dao power here... damn Purple Luo Luo! When the butterfly matter is over, this old man will not rest until death with you!" Green Fortune swallowed his resentment, face turning pale, what’s called Green Fortune, this was it.
So he left angrily, not waiting for Purple Luo Luo, heading straight towards the deeper tomb chambers.
Seeing Green Fortune seemed intent on running ahead, Purple Luo Luo’s gaze immediately darkened, quickly chasing after.
"Aren’t we going after Green Fortune?" Zi Zha saw Ning Fan not pursuing Green Fortune, and asked.
"No rush." Ning Fan doesn’t need to rush to pursue.
First, he is omnipresent, never truly left, so why pursue; secondly... although he never practiced the Master’s Dao in his life, the Dao power here still has a connection with him.
All encounters are due to fate, so how can he not collect?
During this trip to the Zi Clan, Ning Fan not only broke through the bottleneck of his Mana limit but also broke through the bottleneck of the Twenty-Seven Yin-Yang.
The limit of the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor was only Twenty-Seven Yin-Yang.
Yet Ning Fan took advantage of the massive corpse marrow in the Undersea Tomb to evolve into Feathered Ascension, cultivating the twenty-eighth Yin-Yang—Corpse Yin-Yang.
With no more limit on the number of Yin-Yangs, what’s wrong with cultivating one more, Master Yin-Yang?
Although Ning Fan doesn’t like accepting disciples, he still has a few disciples, and he can be his wives’ teacher: teaching them Dao skills during the day, and dual cultivation techniques at night... not bad.
"This is not any teacher’s Dao trace at all! There’s no teacher’s virtue in your head, only naughtiness!"
As if resonating with Ning Fan’s current "teacher’s enlightenment", the local Dao power suddenly issued a rebuke, coming in the form of a mature female voice only those with Communication with All Things could hear!
Such a disgraceful person is not worthy of inheriting the master’s doctrinal power, even if it is just a replica fragment of the doctrinal inheritance!
In essence, the phoenix soars high but won’t perch without the sacred plane tree! A scholar stays put but won’t rely without a worthy master!
"Interesting, you are quite stubborn, unwilling to follow me. But if I do this and that, what will you do..."
Ning Fan’s fingers twirled, slightly showcasing the Extreme Dual Cultivation Technique, causing the entire undersea tomb to shake violently, unable to bear it.
"You are not human! You won’t even spare the grave..."
"Stop! Don’t touch this place!"
"You’re a villain! A big villain!"
Seeing Ning Fan’s methods, the doctrinal power here felt both ashamed and angry, transforming into countless purple-golden ancient demon characters, detaching from the walls of the Scripture Hall, and fleeing everywhere.
It had no choice but to detach!
If it didn’t actively detach, this fellow dared to shake the entire tomb down. This person is truly... too domineering...
"Oh? Preferring to dissipate into heaven and earth, rather than be collected by me..."
Upon witnessing this, Ning Fan immediately activated the Art of Gathering All Things, and instead of letting the doctrinal power escape, he forcefully collected the scattered power into his palm.
Numerous purple-golden streams of light gathered in his palm, eventually condensing into a piece of purple-gold doctrinal fragment.
To be precise, this wasn’t a real doctrinal fragment but something the Zi Clan painstakingly imitated, its efficacy and power nowhere near the genuine article.
Even so, just this one fragment contained power comparable to the middle realm of Hand Position.
Ning Fan: "Do you admit your mistake?"
Fragment: "I was wrong, begging the master for mercy, please don’t... don’t do this again..."
Ning Fan: "Do you have a name?"
Fragment: "No..."
Ning Fan: "Then let’s call you Shishi."
Fragment: "Thanks to the master for bestowing a name! I must inform the master of one matter, within my body resides a Dust King’s Blessing. The power of curse within is formidable, unless it is removed, if the master refines my power, you will immediately be cursed..."
Ning Fan: "No worries, it’s already removed. Though this curse carries the Dust King’s Blessing, as a Barbarian God, I can counterbalance it with equivalent Barbarian God’s Blessing."
Fragment: "Ah? When was this? I wasn’t aware..."
Ning Fan: "When you called for mercy the third time."
Fragment: "You’re teasing me again, master..."
Zhi Zha: "???"
Zhi Zha: "Senior, why are you talking to a doctrinal fragment? Is it... a kind of Great Divine Power?"
Zhi Zha, too reverent of Ning Fan, didn’t believe Ning Fan would be a madman chatting with stones and ants. After excluding all impossibilities, the truth remained: this must be a supreme divine power, sufficient to communicate directly with dead objects!
Ning Fan: "???"
This Zhi Zha... such sharp intuition.
It’s no wonder Master Zidou holds this boy in high regard...
The reason why Ning Fan sees Zhi Zha in a different light is partly because Zhi Zha reminds him of his own childhood impotence.
And partly because his eyes can see through Zhi Zha’s origins.
This boy’s background is extraordinary, being the reincarnation of a Spiritual Pearl.
The so-called Spiritual Pearl was an important treasure during the Ancient Country Period, totaling five, all linked to Manzhi’s karma.
Among the six saints of Thought Sect, ranked fifth, Saint Shi Jing, was the reincarnation of the Earth Spirit Pearl, hence his extraordinary aptitude.
In front of him, Zhi Zha is the reincarnation of the Fire Spirit Pearl, only needing a sound foundation and proof of Dao through fire, becoming a saint would be a breeze, even in the unreachable Dreamland Realm, there’s a faint possibility of sainthood.
Ning Fan’s eyes can not only penetrate Zhi Zha’s origins but also the faint existence of Immortal Emperor Dao Technique’s protection within his destiny.
Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign purposely released the Fire Spirit Pearl into the reincarnation cycle of Dreamland Realm, perhaps hoping this boy might become a force to protect the sentient beings upon achieving the Dao...
This body cannot fulfill Master Zidou’s expectations, and feels remorse.
If guiding Zhi Zha onto the path of Purple Astral Immortal Cultivation is the Master’s wish... then let it be me to fulfill it.
"If I teach you the Immortal Emperor Dao Technique, will you learn it?" Ning Fan asked seriously.
There’s no need to ask if he wants to become a disciple, the master-disciple relationship is too cumbersome, simply transmitting Dao to dispel doubts is harmless.
As for whether having his path intertwined with mine would bring any karmic disaster... this boy already carries the karma of Spiritual Pearl, Purple Dou, adding Ning Fan’s karma won’t make a difference.
"Disciple greets the master..." Zhi Zha, already admiring Ning Fan, is naturally overjoyed to hear Ning Fan would accept him as a disciple.
"No need to bow. You are destined to be a Purple Astral Immortal Cultivator, you’ll eventually undertake saving and protecting the world. If anyone appreciates your kindness and asks your lineage, simply say Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign and nothing else." Thus fulfilling the Master’s wish... The Zi Clan may be decaying, but the power of Purple Astral Immortal Cultivation will surely continue down the generations, even if the successors aren’t true members of the Zi Clan!
"This... junior will comply!" Zhi Zha, though slightly disappointed, regained spirits, hoping to learn what skills the senior... master would impart.
He is eager for revenge on behalf of his brother, confronting Fate Wielding, yet suffers due to inadequate Dao cultivation and lack of power.
If he could receive Ning Fan’s imparted art, perhaps he could take a bite out of Fate Wielding, avenging his brother...
"Very well, I’ll teach you a technique." Ning Fan.
Having just acquired the master’s doctrinal fragment, it’s timely to test its usefulness.
However, instead of immediately utilizing the master’s doctrine.
The main reason being Ning Fan, teaching Zhi Zha for the first time, wishes to test this boy’s Dao comprehension. This boy could discern communication with all things in one glance, suggesting remarkable potential.
Considering Zhi Zha, transformed into Fu Li, still at the early stage of Void Refinement, Ning Fan opted not to impart overly profound divine skills, but rather passed on the Wind and Smoke Technique realized at the Divinity Transformation period.
This technique was derived from the Immortal Emperor’s true teachings, albeit low-level, its Dao essence is unfathomable, capable of evolving into numerous marvelous uses.
When he comprehended this technique, he was merely at Divinity Transformation level, for Zhi Zha to cultivate it at Void Refinement stage would surely not be difficult.
No matter how dull, one can always master divine skills lower than one’s own realm, right?
Ning Fan contemplated.
Then Ning Fan extended his fingers, his pupils instantly transforming into purple-gold.
The finger drawing a spirit sense, threads of reincarnation power evolving into purple-golden sand, resembling wind and smoke, swirling within the tomb chamber. The arrangements within the chamber were not ordinary, at the very least of immortal artifact level, yet if swept by wind and smoke, they’d immediately decay to ashes.
Though this skill is of Divinity Transformation technique, employed by Ning Fan, its power naturally exceeds Divinity Transformation level, capable of easily slaying an Immortal Emperor.
"This finger is named Wind and Smoke, it can also be termed Reincarnation." Worried Zhi Zha might not grasp the essence of this finger, Ning Fan explicitly pointed out the concept of reincarnation as a hint.
After demonstrating the finger, Ning Fan looked expectantly at Zhi Zha, signaling him to show his understanding.
Thereafter...
There was no thereafter.
Zhi Zha looked at Ning Fan with a face full of shame, his aptitude indeed not low, yet learning such a heaven-defying divine skill with just a single glance proved still too challenging...
"No rush, take your time to understand, don’t be anxious. The space-time you’re in has been frozen by me, with no passage of time. You have ample time to contemplate," Ning Fan reassured.
Thus, Zhi Zha pondered deeply in the still space-time for three years and six months, finally... he gave up.
"I truly lack the talent for accepting disciples," Ning Fan did not doubt Zhi Zha’s aptitude was too low. He was the reincarnation of a Spiritual Pearl; his aptitude couldn’t be low. Surely it was his teaching method that had issues.
From the beginning to the end, Ning Fan never doubted that his Dao enlightenment was too high, different from ordinary people...
During the subsequent transmission of teachings, Ning Fan finally used the power of the Taoist Inheritance Fragment, temporarily bringing his Master’s Dao Traces to the Middle Realm level of Control Positions.
Though this Dao Traces could be used to exhibit, it didn’t have high lethality, but if utilized for teaching, it was simply a divine tool.
When not using fragment power, Ning Fan could only explain the Wind Mist Finger to the extent related to the Power of Reincarnation, with more details subconsciously ignored...
Those were details he could understand at a glance, so he was unaware that it was actually necessary to adapt to different individuals. Without explaining the teachings in enough detail, some might really fail to learn...
When transmitting teachings again, Ning Fan seemingly became the sect’s old ancestor with disciples across the world, with unprecedented teaching experience.
He seemed to have comprehended the vast, long tongue aspect among the thirty-two marks of Buddha, transmitting teachings real and not false, as if capable of covering three thousand realms, transmitting teachings with clarity and transparency, expressions beautiful and moving, listeners all gaining enlightenment.
This time, Zhi Zha finally learned the Technique of Wind and Smoke, and was then shocked.
The level of such Reincarnation Technique, was it truly comprehended by Senior Ning Fan during the Divinity Transformation? What an alarming Dao enlightenment!
Indeed! With a senior possessing Quantum Reading Method, his knowledge couldn’t be measured by ordinary reason. Following the senior, he would surely learn true skills! In the future, he must also be like the senior, a true hero who saves worlds!
"Hmm?"
Ning Fan was suddenly surprised.
What surprised him wasn’t Zhi Zha’s improvement rate in learning.
He was astonished that... after utilizing the Master’s Dao Traces to transmit teachings, he could actually gain benefits!
This Dao Traces greatly sacrificed battle power, it certainly wouldn’t just have the singular benefit of enhancing teaching abilities.
Using this Dao Traces to transmit teachings, as disciples comprehend simultaneously, the teacher could also receive feedback at the level of Dao Traces, which was the most terrifying aspect of the Master’s Dao Traces!
Where in the world is there a teacher who only teaches students without being compensated?
Moreover, giving lectures itself is a review and expansion of the knowledge taught, gaining new insights is also normal.
But, the Master’s Dao Traces amplifies these benefits!
The higher the level of the Master’s Dao Traces, the greater the benefits!
It is said that Ning Fan used the Master’s Dao Traces of Middle Realm Control Positions, after teaching Zhi Zha, he immediately comprehended the technique of advancing in Wind Mist Finger, which is a completely different evolution direction from Wind Snow Technique!
He comprehended the Wind Smoke Reincarnation Palm! This technique was comparable to Emperor level!
Then, he comprehended the Wind Smoke Mountain Breaking Strike! This technique was comparable to the level of Ancient Great Cultivation!
Eventually, he comprehended the Purple Mountain Sea Fighting Palm! This technique was already Primordial Saint level!
In an instant, Ning Fan seemed to understand why the old ancestors of the cultivation world favored accepting disciples, and favored opening platforms to lecture...
"If I also use the Master’s Dao Traces to open a platform to deliver teachings, with the recipients all being saints, Immortal Emperors, what would happen..."
As if a blessing upon the spirit, Ning Fan’s mind conjured a scene of lecturing at Purple Cloud Palace, where, in the scene, he eloquently delivered teachings from the platform, captivating everyone as they listened in enraptured trance. Only a Six-Eared Macaque got distracted during the lecture, making him sigh helplessly, "Lessons cannot be transmitted to six ears"...
"This scene, does it correspond to some part of my future..." Ning Fan pondered.
"I am known as Hongjun, but that is not my real name. Well then, today let me under the name of Hongjun give lectures. But, lessons cannot be transmitted to six ears..."
"Senior, please be merciful! Let me stay here and listen to the teachings! Please don’t drive me away, senior."
"... What I mean by ’lessons cannot be transmitted to six ears’ is just a metaphor, I am not referring to you. Speaking of which, White Ape Daoist, you and I still have unresolved karma, do you truly not remember..."
"Oh no, oh no, I’m in debt to Ancestor Hongjun, I’m doomed! Could it be today is the day I die..."
"Seems you really don’t remember..."
"Reincarnation is truly complex..." Ning Fan dismissed the stray thoughts, again looking towards Zhi Zha.
After learning the Wind Mist Finger, Zhi Zha’s strength improved significantly, but it was still far from enough to tear apart Fate Wielding with this strength.
"You’ve learned the Wind Mist Finger, are you willing to learn its advancement technique?"
Ning Fan smiled slightly, seeing Zhi Zha as a treasure chest, naturally happy. The feeling of mutual benefit, he truly experienced, was really wonderful!
Zhi Zha suddenly felt his scalp tingling: a Wind Mist Finger was already so challenging, the advancement technique must be such a mind-bending technique, could it possibly be the technique of Shattering Void Great Power...
Thereafter...
Looking at Ning Fan exhibiting the Emperor Skill, Zhi Zha’s gaze turned dazed, reverting back into a simple, naive young boy.
Though Ning Fan felt somewhat disappointed, he wouldn’t blame Zhi Zha: it’s not actually Zhi Zha’s issue, but his issue. Who forces a good person strong in Void Refinement to learn Emperor Skills? The difficulty indeed goes beyond the syllabus...
Though he indeed wanted to grant Zhi Zha infinite advancement Divine Skills, he also realized the student’s aptitude and realm had limits, and shouldn’t be rushed.
Such exaggerated attempts were just to test the limits of the Taoist Inheritance Fragment and Zhi Zha’s limits.
After some trials, Ning Fan roughly understood the capability range of the Taoist Inheritance Fragment.
While also clarified one thing.
The extent of benefits from utilizing the Master’s Dao Traces, also relates to the user’s own aptitude.
The reason Ning Fan taught Zhi Zha one technique and immediately comprehended several other techniques, definitely included Ning Fan’s strong comprehension ability. Another person might not gain so many Dao enlightenment...
Ning Fan: "Well then, I won’t make things difficult for you, let me transmit some initial techniques to you..."
Zhi Zha: "Uh, th-thank you, senior... I will certainly learn diligently, and surely assist senior in fiercely confronting Fate Wielding..."
Ning Fan: "Fine. You previously had no qualification to participate in the battle, but if you can learn these Divine Skills, you might truly become a dark horse. However, not to deal with Fate Wielding, but against that... Venerable Fuchen watching this place. Fellow Daoist watched for quite a while, why not make a move and fight me."
Stepping from speech, Ning Fan turned his gaze towards the depths of the tomb, ignoring the spatial distance, instantly meeting a pair of crimson eyes.
Isn’t it Dust King Tribulation Thought, who else could it be!
Dust King Tribulation Thought: "I am not Venerable Fuchen, but a strand of tribulation thought separated from his Thousand Dust Technique. I very much anticipate fighting you, but not now. I know since you entered Zi Clan, you have been secretly accumulating the Heaven, Earth, Human, God, Ghost Five Swords Sword Intent, just to unleash your strongest sword and slay me in one strike. Now still isn’t the peak of your sword intent, so I don’t mind waiting. If you can meet my expectations, and slay this Thousand Dust, I bear no animosity towards you. But if you are overly weak, this body also doesn’t mind destroying the Dreamland Realm as punishment."
Dust King Tribulation Thought spoke calmly, with no sadness or joy. He wouldn’t rejoice at destroying the Dreamland Realm, nor be angry at being slain.
There is no joy in life, no suffering in death.
It’s a kind of... true ruthlessness, only belonging to the creatures of the Lost World Palace.
His body bathed in crimson tribulation thoughts, which scaled close to King Blood Two Stars!
Oddly, his appearance resembled immensely Northern Sea True Lord’s disciple — Fu Suchen.
Seemingly sensing Ning Fan’s fleeting doubt, in Ning Fan’s understanding, Dust King Tribulation Thought proactively spoke the answer, uncaring about revealing too many cards.
No harm in revealing the cards.
Announcing magic is always advantageous for Lost World Palace creatures, so it was for him.
"Fu Suchen is but a fragment of Thousand Dust, a malformed product of failing to invade Purple Mountain Dou Sea. I am inherently different from him."
"I am not Fu Suchen, but if you must address by name, you may call me Su Fuchen akin to your predecessor Desolate Saint. The worldly dust is all suffering, the cleanser crosses. I am waiting here for you to come, waiting for you to exert all efforts, showing me your will. Whether you become dust of Lost World or become Lost World itself, I greatly anticipate your answer."