Grasping the Evil-Chapter 866: Enlightenment Is Not for This Life

Chapter 866: Chapter 866: Enlightenment Is Not for This Life

The land of the Barbarian Wilderness Forty-Two Domains began to tremble slightly, and throughout the heavens and earth, ancient beast roars could be heard everywhere.

Barbarian Wilderness is the ancient battlefield where gods and demons fought in the Divine Demon World. It is said that whenever an Eternal Immortal Venerable releases all their killing intent here, these strange phenomena are triggered.

In the Five Domains of the Divine Clan, countless Four Heavens of the Immortal World Masters looked northward, their eyes filled with shock. They knew that the one who triggered the strange phenomenon in the Barbarian Wilderness was the Demon Race Immortal Venerable, Ancestor Dulong!

They couldn’t understand why the snow phenomenon, triggered by Ancestor Dulong’s seven arrows, would collapse.

They couldn’t understand why Ancestor Dulong was angry, why he erupted with such terrifying killing intent, causing the entire Barbarian Wilderness to tremble!

High above the Tiandu Barbarian Territory, Immortal Venerables Miaoyan and Liuhe had already gathered, their gazes heavy.

They knew more than ordinary people, knowing that Ning Fan wasn’t killed by the Seven Arrows Book, but they didn’t know why Ancestor Dulong would erupt with such a degree of killing intent...

They were unaware of Ning Fan breaking the Seven Arrows and seizing the Ancestral Bow.

"Dulongzi erupted with such a terrifying killing intent, heading straight for the Southern Territory. It seems this confrontation is unavoidable this time... Is it because the Seven Arrows Book couldn’t kill that mysterious Shedding Void Stage, so he wants to do it himself... Hehe, I cannot stop his Seven Arrows Book from killing, but I cannot watch him commit atrocities in the Five Domains of our Divine Clan... Gouchen Barbarian Domain, is it... Liuhe Ally, would you like to go together?" Miaoyan laughed softly.

"Naturally, I will go. We were ordered by the Black Devil Sect to guard the Five Domains, and we cannot sit idly by regarding today’s matter!"

The Liuhe Immortal Venerable’s gaze was heavy, and he developed some interest in that mysterious Shedding Void Stage who survived the Seven Arrows.

If they went to the Gouchen Barbarian Domain, they should be able to see that mysterious Shedding Void Stage with their own eyes...

The two Immortal Venerables rushed together to the Gouchen Barbarian Domain, arriving at the Bone Desert where Ning Fan battled the Seven Arrows twenty breaths later, their spirit senses spreading out, almost covering the entire Gouchen Barbarian Domain.

Unfortunately, when they arrived at this place, they were still a step too late, and there was no trace of Ning Fan anymore.

In those twenty breaths, Ning Fan had already used the Vertical Golden Light to return to Mulan City, taken away Liu Yan and Xian Luoli, and left the Gouchen Barbarian Domain.

A few dozen breaths later, Dulongzi, full of murderous intent, also arrived at the Bone Desert.

Seeing only two human Immortal Venerables waiting there and no trace of Ning Fan, Dulongzi’s face became exceedingly grim!

All the way, Dulongzi continuously used Reverse Spirit Technique, trying to sense the aura of the Ancestral Bow and detect Ning Fan’s location, but he found it impossible.

The Ancestral Bow was actually sealed by a layer of demon spiritual qi, isolating him from sensing it with the Reverse Spirit Technique!

"Damn it! This is the second time I’ve come to the Southern Territory to capture this kid, and still, I cannot capture him!"

"He’s escaped again, escaped from me again!"

"No! This kid cannot be left alive, the Ancestral Bow and Bow Spirit must also be reclaimed!"

"Even if it costs me my Demon Soul being severely wounded, today, I must find this child in the Barbarian Wilderness!"

Ignoring the two human Immortal Venerables not far away, Ancestor Dulong angrily formed hand seals, and immediately a demon shadow flew out from his body.

The demon shadow blurred, splitting from one into two, from two into four... in an instant, it had dispersed into a hundred demon shadows!

Each demon shadow possessed a cultivation roughly at the Initiate Realm of Shekong!

"Soul Shatter Technique! Dulongzi even used such a technique, willing to severely damage his Demon Soul to kill that unnamed Shedding Void Stage!"

The two human Immortal Venerables immediately displayed expressions of shock.

They were very curious about what Ning Fan had done to cause Ancestor Dulong to be willing to damage his own Daoist power to kill him.

As soon as the hundred demon shadows appeared, they immediately blurred and flew in all directions.

Unfortunately, before they could fly far, the heavens and earth suddenly solidified as if forming an enclave, preventing all demon shadows from flying out.

"Hehe! Do you think you can find that Master’s whereabouts with these demon shadows? I won’t let you harm him!"

It was Immortal Venerable Miaoyan who raised her hand, sealing the heavens and earth here.

Immortal Venerable Liuhe then offered up a black jade seal, which was his Dao Weapon.

The jade seal grew larger in the wind, transforming into an immense size that shielded the sky, suddenly smashing down on the desert, sinking it by ten feet.

Ancestor Dulong showed a look of fear and anger, his figure blurred, dodging the jade seal’s strike.

But the hundred demon shadows he had split out were all crushed by the jade seal into pulp...

"Miaoyan, Liuhe! I must kill that person today. If you two block me, I will risk everything to make you pay the cost!"

Ancestor Dulong roared in unwilling anger. Without Miaoyan and Liuhe’s interference, he would surely find Ning Fan’s whereabouts and kill him!

But it was a pity that these two deliberately blocked him, did they want him to give up hunting Ning Fan! To let Ning Fan take away the Ancestral Bow and Bow Spirit! No, he was not reconciled!

"Hehe, I would like to see what price you can make the two of us pay!"

Immortal Venerable Miaoyan giggled, flying forward, and began battling with Ancestor Dulong.

The Liuhe Immortal Venerable hesitated slightly, but seeing Miaoyan had already intervened, he couldn’t just stand by and watch, and he too joined the battle.

There was no suspense in this battle; Ancestor Dulong was naturally no match for the two Immortal Venerables. Even at his peak, he couldn’t take on both. Moreover, he was not at his peak now, first backfired by the Bow Spirit, then wounded by Ning Fan’s demon roar, and later self-damaging his Demon Soul to use Soul Shatter Technique, which failed to achieve anything...

This battle lasted for half a day before it concluded.

Immortal Venerables Miaoyan and Liuhe both sustained slight injuries, while Ancestor Dulong was severely injured, and with no other option, temporarily retreated to the Northern Territory.

"I am not resigned! Ghost-faced brat, damn it, damn it!"

"Order, quickly order! I want to issue a bounty in the name of the True Dragon Clan for this ghost-faced brat! Anyone who kills him will be rewarded with a Proto-Pill of an Emperor’s Pill that is half complete!"

"Regardless of whether they are Barbarian Wilderness demon cultivators or demon cultivators within the domain, as long as they can kill this child, they will be rewarded!"

Ancestor Dulong’s order spread throughout the Barbarian Wilderness and even reached the Land of Demons.

Anyone who heard the order could see that Ancestor Dulong was truly furious, and the True Dragon Clan was genuinely enraged!

The Nine Revolutions Elixir is divided into four grades: Lead, Silver, Gold, and Emperor.

Lead Elixirs and Silver Elixirs are not rare, but Gold Elixirs are extremely precious, while Emperor Elixirs... are nearly peerless treasures, rarely seen in the world!

Even a half-complete Emperor Pill can drive countless Eternal Old Freaks mad.

This time, Ancestor Dulong, representing the True Dragon Clan, issued a secret bounty using a Proto-Pill of an Emperor’s Pill as a reward, targeting Ning Fan.

This move directly caused some strong figures among the demon race in the Land of Demons to quietly come to the Barbarian Wilderness, trying to find Ning Fan and kill him to exchange for the grand reward of the Emperor Pill.

The incident of the Ancestral Bow being taken was placed under a ban by Ancestor Dulong, and except for the True Dragon Clan, few knew about Ning Fan seizing the bow.

Thanks to the Divine Skills of Miaoyan and Liuhe, they had their channels to understand the full context of the events.

Upon learning that Ning Fan not only was not killed by the Seven Arrows Book, but instead destroyed the Seven Arrows and took the ancestral bow of the True Dragon Race, the two Immortal Venerables were shocked into silence.

"Hehe... no wonder Dulongzi is so furious... It’s one thing that the Seven Arrows Book was destroyed, but even the Candle Bow Spirit... haha, what an interesting fellow, I truly wish to meet him. Unfortunately, with my divine skills, I still can’t find out his current whereabouts..." Miaoyan Immortal Honorific laughed with slight regret.

"The Candle Bow Spirit, huh... For the True Dragon Race, this bow holds immense significance, as it possesses a spirit. Normally, even an Immortal Venerable could not restrain and seize it... That youngster actually took the bow..."

Liuhe Immortal Lord, with a solemn expression, despite his proud nature, couldn’t help but admire that mysterious young person’s methods.

"But it is said that on that day, the lad emitted the demonic blood and might of Fu Li race, suppressing countless demon cultivators in the Northern Territory, and that might was the ancestral might... Whether this is true or false, I do not know..."

"No, that rumor should be false... Occasionally, a demoness might get a chance to be granted immortal status, but it is absolutely impossible for a demon cultivator at the end of times to receive such acknowledgment... This boy’s immortal status cannot be faked: if he holds it, he must be a human cultivator, not a demon cultivator..."

"The ancestral demonic might he released should have been emitted using external objects, and he himself cannot be from the demon race..."

Constantly, demon cultivators sneaked into the Divine Clan Five Domains, searching throughout the wilderness, trying to find the whereabouts of the Ghost-faced cultivator and kill him for a reward.

However, no demon race could discover the Ghost Profound cultivator’s hiding place to claim their bounty.

Clearly, it was not yet time for the Main Gate of the departed world to manifest after ten years, so Ning Fan should still be in the wilderness, yet no one could find his hiding place.

Ning Fan remained in the wilderness. Since that battle, he had concealed his ghost face and, along with Liu Yan and Xian Luoli, headed to the unoccupied Barbarian Domain.

Not staying in the Divine Clan Five Domains, Ning Fan no longer maintained the ghost face and silver-haired image, walking in the unoccupied Barbarian Domain as a stone warrior.

Ultimately, he was no match for Ancestor Dulong. Even if he ignited his ancestral blood, he could only inflict minimal damage on Ancestor Dulong.

Sacrificing a drop of ancestral blood to block the ancestral bow’s arrow light was a hefty price, but Ning Fan had no regrets.

He practiced the Dao for the warmth behind him; if he couldn’t protect that warmth, what use was ancestral blood...

Though he paid the price of a drop of ancestral blood, he gained much in return. In this battle, Ning Fan not only seized the ancestral bow spirit but also obtained the seven paths of the Seven-Colored Spirit Arrows...

...

In the unoccupied Barbarian Domain, in the Eight Region, there was a barbarian city called Bianliang.

Twenty li away on the highway from Bianliang City, over a dozen horse-drawn carriages cautiously headed towards it.

Those riding in these carriages were all stone warriors without any cultivation, just fleeing with their families from another barbarian city to Bianliang.

One of the carriages was luxuriously adorned with gold and silver, carrying the owner of the convoy, while the others were filled with servants and guards.

The convoy’s owner was named Zhao Boyang, approaching thirty, a respected scholar from Qufu City, with a kindly and welcoming demeanor.

Three days ago, the totem of Qufu City was destroyed, and the whole city was massacred by barbarian beasts with very few escaping alive. The Zhao family was fortunate enough to have escaped...

At this moment, Zhao Boyang sighed repeatedly, comforting the young weeping woman beside him, who was his wife.

In the arms of the beautiful woman was a happily sleeping infant, just six months old.

"Madam, remain strong..."

Zhao Boyang held his wife’s hand, sighing deeply without speaking further.

As a stone warrior, one must always be prepared to face death...

After consoling his wife, Zhao Boyang stepped out of the carriage, lowering his voice to ask the guard driving the vehicle, "Zhao San, how far to Bianliang?"

"Master, we’ve reached the highway. We should be there in about 20 li," responded Zhao San, the burly man, quietly, not daring to speak loudly.

Nobody dared to speak loudly outside the barbarian city, as attracting an attack from the barbarian beasts would have dire consequences.

"Twenty li more and we’ll be safe... just 20 more li... sigh, if only we had the Barbaric God Jade Pendant, we wouldn’t have to be this cautious on our journey..."

Zhao Boyang was extremely anxious, or to be more accurate, everyone in the carriage was filled with anxiety.

After the destruction of Qufu City, they were the sole survivors. If they reached Bianliang, it meant true survival; but if they were attacked by barbarian beasts before entering the city, survival would become a mere fantasy...

"Rest assured, Master. I’ve traveled between Qufu and Bianliang several times, and in my experience, once on the highway, it’s usually safe from barbarian beast attacks..."

Just as Zhao San’s confident words fell silent, a beast roar suddenly came from the forest beside the highway ahead!

That beastly roar was as hoarse as a lamenting infant’s cry, striking fear into everyone, turning their faces pale.

"Bar... Barbarian Beast! It’s over, it’s over!"

Startled by the beast’s roar, all the horses pulling the carriages trembled uncontrollably, refusing to move, cowering to the ground in fear.

In the next moment, a colossal, hundred-zhang long beast with black skin and fleshy wings flew out from the forest, its eyes fixed on the convoy, drool pooling and emitting a foul stench from its wide-open mouth.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The barbarian beast stepped towards the convoy, its heavy footsteps collapsing the soil and stones of the highway with a thunderous roar.

The path to Bianliang was blocked by the barbarian beast. The terrified horses refused to advance...

Panic-stricken servants and guards leaped out of the carriages, scattering to flee, abandoning their master without a second thought.

Only a dozen guard’s stood firm, despite their fear of the barbarian beast, unwilling to abandon their master to save themselves.

Zhao Boyang, renowned scholar, could not help but reveal a look of shock at that moment.

His wife, an ordinary woman, was already pale with fear.

The baby was awakened by the roar, crying loudly.

"Zhao Wu! Zhao Qi! The two of you are responsible for escorting the master, madam, and young miss to safety! Hurry!"

"The rest of you, come with me and fight off the barbarian beast!"

Zhao San shouted stridently, drawing his sword as he jumped down from the carriage, leading a group to confront the barbarian beast, attempting to buy time for their master’s family to escape.

Zhao Boyang’s family, supported by two guards, alighted from the carriage, just about to flee, when their expressions suddenly changed.

They saw other barbarian beasts emerging from the highway behind, those slaves who had abandoned their masters to flee mostly perished, their limbs scattered.

As for Zhao San and the guards fighting the barbarian beast, three of them were already devoured upon first sight.

"My life is over!"

Zhao Boyang closed his eyes with a long sigh, his expression filled with bitterness.

Although he was a prominent scholar of the present age, understanding the heaven, earth, and human ethics, indifferent to life and death, his wife and daughter being here made him reluctant to witness their deaths by the beast...

Zhao San and the guards’ faces turned pale; with beasts attacking from both the front and back, they, as mere mortals, could hardly escape death...

"Is this life of mine coming to an end today?"

Just as everyone was in despair, a gentle voice of a young man suddenly echoed.

"Stand down."

The tone was calm, without any hint of authority, yet in the ears of the barbarian beasts, it was an irresistible command!

The beasts, busy devouring humans, suddenly displayed looks of terror, turning their gaze towards the source of the voice, trembling all over.

From the distant official road, a young man clothed in white with an extraordinary temperament walked slowly. Beside him followed a delicate woman and a silver-haired young girl with rosy lips and pearly white teeth.

The one who spoke was indeed the young man in white.

As the young man in white approached with each step, the barbarian beasts here felt a weighty pressure like a mountain. With a few whimpers, they fled in escape...

The young man in white watched the fleeing beasts and did not intervene, murmuring to himself, "Barbarian beasts of Harmonious Spirit realm... with my current Blood Lightning suppression, I can scare them off just by intimidation..."

This young man in white was, of course, Ning Fan. Utilizing the strength of demon spiritual qi, Ning Fan blocked all senses, walking through the Barbaric Wilderness Ancient Domain as if a mortal.

His goal was to follow the official road towards the nearby Barbarian City, to cultivate within the city.

Refraining from flying was naturally to experience the journey of a mortal.

"The beasts have retreated! They haven’t devoured us! What happened!"

"Who is this person! With just one phrase, he can frighten the beasts away!"

Only eleven people survived, including Zhao Boyang’s family of three and eight loyal guards.

The rest all perished!

Surviving calamity naturally made everyone grateful, but it raised more questions.

The barbarian beasts were vicious, usually fearless with low intelligence, but why would they obey that white-clad young man’s command... This was beyond their understanding.

Zhao Boyang, having some insight, was well-read and most knowledgeable.

There is a legend of ancient sages cultivating immense righteousness, capable of driving away demons and beasts with a single word. Could this white-clad young man be one such peerless sage!

"Zhao Boyang of Qufu, thanks the young master for saving our lives! May I ask your honorable name, young master?"

"Ning Fan."

"Is Young Master Ning headed to Bian Liang?"

"Indeed."

"I have no means to repay the young master’s life-saving grace, I humbly invite you to join us and ride in the carriage, allowing me to show some gratitude."

Zhao Boyang extended this invitation both to thank Ning Fan for saving their lives, considering Ning Fan’s arduous journey, wishing to give him a ride.

And to borrow Ning Fan’s ’immense righteousness’ to deter the beasts, ensuring a safe journey.

Ning Fan naturally understood Zhao Boyang’s thoughts, but didn’t expose them, smiling slightly, nodding in agreement as Zhao Boyang led him to the most luxurious carriage.

The entourage’s servants were almost all dead, the Zhao family guards reorganized the luggage, kept four carriages, and continued towards Bian Liang.

The eight guards knew that Ning Fan had frighted off the beasts; although uncertain why, they held high respect and gratitude for Ning Fan, treating him with utmost reverence.

Xian Luoli ate too many shattered, currently sleeping soundly in the carriage, leaning against Liu Yan.

Liu Yan’s beautiful eyes constantly observed Ning Fan, with an occasional glint of wonder... It was her first time seeing Ning Fan’s appearance and hearing his name.

"So this senior is indeed the famed Rain Immortal Monarch of the Eastern Heaven..."

Ning Fan sat in the carriage, occasionally conversing with Zhao Boyang, but mostly keeping his hands hidden within his sleeves, secretly condensing Fierce Origin Crystals.

In the previous battle with the beasts, the guards, risking death, burst forth with an intense battle will. That battle will was collected by Ning Fan, bit by bit, and unexpectedly condensed into a superior Lietian Crystal, the power of battle will contained, dozens of times greater than the finest War Crystal!

If Ning Fan hadn’t mastered the Third Change of the War Technique, he wouldn’t be able to condense crystals with mortal battle will.

With the increase of life-bound battle fire, now he could achieve it.

"Interesting... Recently, I traveled throughout Barbaric Wilderness’ places of strong battle will, but not a single place could condense a superior Lietian Crystal..."

"The battle will here, though not strong, exploded from the mortal’s desperate fight, is stronger than some ancient battlefields... It actually helped me to condense a superior Lietian Crystal..."

"If I collect mortal battle will by this method, condense superior Lietian Crystals, I’m sure the speed of mastering the Fourth Transformation will be swift..."

The battle will collected from the guards had run out; once it was exhausted, the thin battle will here couldn’t condense a superior Lietian Crystal.

With a thought, Ning Fan stored the superior Lietian Crystal into the storage pouch. Heading to Bian Liang City, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation.

Bian Liang, one of the more prosperous barbaric cities in the Eighth Region.

Though the city has barbarians protecting it, it frequently suffers attacks from the beasts, often resulting in fatalities at the mouths of these beasts.

Commoners fear the beasts; such fear is ingrained within their bones. The greater the fear, the stronger the battle will when fighting the beasts to death.

Collecting the battle will of these fearless mortal fighters to condense superior Lietian Crystals would likely help Ning Fan master the Fourth Transformation faster.

"The Fourth Transformation, not far ahead... Perhaps, I could even undergo transformation and enlightenment within this city..." Ning Fan mused.

Suddenly a cry broke Ning Fan’s contemplation.

It was Zhao Boyang’s six-month-old daughter crying, the reason being an outbreak of the beast’s poison...

The babe had a dark spot on half of her face, marking where she was poisoned by the beast...

"I’m sorry for bothering you, young master... My daughter was born during the beast attack on Qufu City. Though the beasts didn’t breach the city, they left behind much poison which my daughter inhaled... Every day, she suffers the poison’s erosion for several hours and thus cries..." Zhao Boyang sighed heavily, his gaze at his daughter filled with heartache and helplessness.

Even adults can’t endure the suffering of the beast’s poison consuming the body...

His daughter, from birth, had to endure the agonizing pain caused by the poison, yet as her father, he was powerless...

The beast’s poison, hardly anyone knows how to treat it...

At this moment, he wasn’t the great scholar of the times, nor the master of the Zhao family, but just a powerless father...

Mrs. Zhao, seeing her daughter’s suffering, shed tears of heartbreak, wishing she could endure the pain on her behalf.

Ning Fan’s gaze grew distant, lost in thought, he remembered his own parents...

Especially his mother, who once sacrificed her entire Demon Bloodline for him...

"Let me hold her."

Ning Fan smiled slightly, and amid the puzzled looks of Zhao Boyang and his wife, he took the baby and held her in his arms.

The power of Blood Lightning surged within him, and immediately, the savage poison within the baby was completely eradicated.

With the pain gone, the baby naturally stopped crying. She was not yet able to speak, only curled up in Ning Fan’s arms, sucking on her finger, looking at Ning Fan with wide black eyes, not blinking.

The bruises on her chubby face had also disappeared.

"Hiss! The savage poison is gone! This, this!"

Zhao Boyang gasped, staring incredulously at the small face of his daughter.

Unbelievable, beyond belief... Ning Fan simply held the child, and rid her of the savage poison!

Is this the mystical power described in ancient texts that drives away evil, dispelling the poison?

"Young Master Ning, you’re removing the savage poison from my daughter, I am endlessly grateful!" Zhao Boyang solemnly clasped his hands together.

"It’s a small matter, just hope that after reaching Bianliang City, Master Zhao does not widely proclaim my abilities." Ning Fan said with a smile.

"I won’t! I will certainly keep this matter to myself!"

"Hmm... The little one is very cute, what’s her name?"

"Zhao Die’er... This name was chosen by my humble wife..." Zhao Boyang seemed slightly embarrassed.

He, a grand scholar, had given his daughter such a casual name, fearing that Ning Fan, another grand scholar, might laugh at him and look down on him.

"Oh? Zhao Die’er... This name seems somewhat fated to be with me..."

Ning Fan smiled slightly, handed the child back to Mrs. Zhao, and lost interest in her.

The journey of twenty miles took only two hours to complete.

Ning Fan alighted the carriage with the two women, bid farewell to Zhao Boyang, and entered Bianliang City alone.

The city guards paused for a moment upon seeing Ning Fan and his companions coming from the official road outside the city.

Ning Fan and his party did not carry Barbaric God Jade Pendants, and yet boldly walked in from outside the city!

"Are they refugees... didn’t have time to obtain Barbaric God Jade Pendants?"

"Without Barbaric God Jade Pendants, they managed not to be eaten by Barbarian Beasts outside the city, such luck..." Some guards whispered among themselves.

Bianliang City was exceedingly prosperous; upon entering the city, the long streets were lined with shops and restaurants.

They walked to Bian River, where both sides of the river were planted with plum trees, and there were quite a few vacant mansions for sale.

Zhao Boyang had given him some money, which Ning Fan did not refuse.

Ning Fan bought a mansion as a temporary residence. Liu Yan stayed home to nurture the Inlaid Star Compass, while Xian Luoli slept soundly in the room.

Ning Fan walked out of the courtyard, proceeded to the side of Bian River, and looked at the plum trees along its banks, smiling slightly.

Though the season in Bianliang City was still summer, and the plum trees bore no plum blossoms, only verdant leaves.

But come winter, the banks of the river would surely be graced by countless winter plums in bloom...

"Cultivating the War God Art, undergoing transformation and enlightenment, will take considerable time, so I imagine I will be residing in this city for quite some time..."

"These plum trees are good, they can remind me of Seven Apricot City, give me a sense of home..."

As Ning Fan gazed at the plum trees on both sides, the smile reached his eyes.

Unnoticed, a trace of True Illusion Force flashed across Ning Fan’s body...

Just then, a pleasure boat passed over Bian River, with an elderly man with white hair standing on the boat’s prow, holding a bottle gourd and drinking heartily.

Upon seeing Ning Fan smiling at the plum trees, the old man was first startled, then laughed heartily.

"Splendid, splendid! To smile before seeing the winter plum, the elegance lies in the heart... You and I are alike, truly understanding how to appreciate plum blossoms! The common folk see plum blossoms as most beautiful when they bloom amidst the cold, proud and noble. Yet they forget, without accumulating strength through spring, summer, and autumn, how could plum blossoms have the strength to bloom for a single season. Accumulating for three seasons, just to bloom in one, this is the destiny of cultivation, accumulating richly to release subtly!"

Upon hearing this, Ning Fan’s gaze sharpened, turning towards the old man on the pleasure boat.

If he was not mistaken, that old man was astonishingly a cultivator at the peak of Shedding Void Stage!

"I come from the Northern Territory, my Dao name is Sparrow God Kidd. May I know the distinguished surname of my young friend? Would you care to join me on this pleasure boat and discuss philosophy over wine?"

With Sparrow God Kidd’s keen sight, he naturally saw that Ning Fan was a Master... given the trace of True Illusion Force Ning Fan inadvertently emitted earlier, it seems Ning Fan was still on the path of enlightenment, a Master in pursuit of realization.

Considering this, Sparrow God Kidd did not mind revealing his Dao name, willing to forge a good relationship with Ning Fan, and perhaps offer some guidance.

Ning Fan’s gaze changed once more; Sparrow God Kidd, this name sounded familiar...

Right, he’s the ancestor of Sinister Sparrow Sect in Yue Country, the powerful Master who left the Comprehension of Rain in Dark Sparrow’s Grave!

Unexpectedly, he would encounter Sparrow God Kidd in such a place, yet it seemed Sparrow God Kidd did not recognize his identity...

Upon reconsideration, it was clear. Though his identity spread widely in Eastern Heaven, it might not have reached Northern Territory... It’s no surprise Sparrow God Kidd did not know him.

Without Sparrow God Kidd’s Comprehension of Rain left in Dark Sparrow’s Grave, Ning Fan might not be who he is today.

Towards Sparrow God Kidd, Ning Fan felt a third gratitude, a second curiosity, and the remaining five was caution.

Regardless, when meeting a stranger Master, especially a formidable old freak, the necessary caution should be maintained.

"Junior Ning Fan, pays respects to Senior Sparrow God Kidd! I am willing to join the Senior for a philosophical discussion over wine!"

Ning Fan’s figure blurred and directly appeared on the pleasure boat.

Several men rowing the boat rubbed their eyes incredulously, soon exclaiming,

"Hiss! This young man has really impressive agility!"

Indeed, in the eyes of ordinary people, Ning Fan flying onto the pleasure boat was nothing but incredible agility...

"Ning Fan? A good name indeed. Fan as Dao, Ning as perseverance... Young friend, in your Daoist Thought, there is a deep-rooted determination. It seems your Dao is the Path of Perseverance. Have I seen wrong?" Sparrow God Kidd smiled slightly, a flash of azure light in his eyes.

He was no Eternal Immortal Venerable, his cultivation might not rank in the Northern Territory, but the azure light in his eyes was clearly the green light of Unity of Heaven and Man, seeing through the essence of Ning Fan’s Dao at a glance!

Ning Fan’s expression did not change, though his heart was alarmed, merely nodding without speaking further, acknowledging Sparrow God Kidd’s words.

"The Path of Perseverance... Old man, it’s my first time encountering a Master pursuing such a Dao. To undergo enlightenment with perseverance, might be a torment of the heart... If young friend cannot cut off the determination within, even if dedicating your whole life, you won’t be able to cross the True Bridge... If severing determination, the Dao collapses, the heart is ruined, and the True Bridge, in the end, cannot be crossed... Young friend’s difficulty in enlightenment, is not small... As for Shedding Void, Shattered Thought Realm... alas..." Sparrow God Kidd sighed.

"Old man offers young friend a piece of advice... In this life, do not undergo enlightenment! Otherwise, there might be danger to life! Remember, remember!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation votes, monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)