Chapter 553: Chapter 553: Exchange for The Blood Sword
Incomplete. 551 will be up in a few hours.
Ning Fan followed Chu Chang An to enter the portal. It was a world of clouds on the other side of the portal. There was nothing else in that world except for the misty clouds that stretched boundlessly to the distance.
Standing in the world of clouds, Ning Fan was deep in thoughts.
All the clouds within this heavenly dwelling space was a type of unique cloud, called ‘shen cloud’. It could turn into any kinds of illusory realm as well as different landscapes of battlefield.
The test of the Heaven’s Stage had yet to begin. If it has, Chu Chang An would control those shen clouds and command them to transform into the required illusory realms and arenas for the test.
Chu Chang An who wore a set of hemp robes and had fiery-red hair was exuding fire qi.
His eyes flashed with hesitation as he was standing on the sea of clouds. For a few times, he was about to speak to Ning Fan but then decided to swallow back his words . He seemed to have something to tell Ning Fan and that was why he did not start the test of the Heaven’s Stage after so long.
Filler Words
“Fang Sheng, fight me!”
At the moment Ning Fan arrived, a heavy aura force which felt as if a torrential mountain rain was about to come fell upon the entire cloud mountain!
All the cultivators near the cloud mountain regardless of their cultivation realm felt difficult to breathe. Every one of them was unable to withstand Ning Fan’s forceful aura force.
Yu Chong Er looked up at the sea of cloud and stared at the white-robed young man who stood above the ancient golden sword in disbelief.
At this moment, Ning Fan was no longer as easygoing as how he usually was. His eyes contained a stubborn determination – the determination to wipe out the eight palaces!
The current Ning Fan was just similar to the time when he engaged in a bloody battle in the Blood Dragon Pool, powerful and formidable!
“White-Robed Marquis came to fight against the palace lords of the other eight palaces is for comprehending the rain stele or to establish his might…?” Yu Bai spoke while pondering deeply.
“No. He fights for neither for them… He must have an extremely important reason to defeat the eight palaces on his own…” Yu Chong Er muttered to herself.
The eyes of all the Divine Transformation Realm revered elders of the Serene Heaven Palace were filled with respect and awe. Not a single Divine Transformation Realm cultivator there could withstand Ning Fan’s aura force. All of them were stupefied by it and were unable to move!
Revered Snow could not. The ugly man, Yun Lie, could not, let alone that mere Nascent Soul Realm divine messenger, Yun Kuang. The latter was directly pinned to the ground by Ning Fan’s aura force!
In the past when they were in Great Jin, Yun Kuang had caused trouble to Ning Fan several times because of Yin Suqiu. However, Ning Fan destroyed his Dao Heart in return. Fifty years had passed but Yun Kuang’s cultivation base could not improve at all. He had failed to go through the bottlenecks of his cultivation base for multiple times. During his last attempt, both of his eyes were even destroyed by the heavenly tribulation…
Fifty years ago, he was a Nascent Soul Realm old monster while Ning Fan was just a Harmonious Spirit Realm ant.
Fifty years later, a single trace of Ning Fan’s qi could make him unable to stand on his feet!
“Compared to him, what else can I be other than an insignificant ant…? All I can be is just an ant…” Yun Kuang prostrated himself on the ground, overwhelmed with frustration and despair.
Ning Fan stood on the peak of the clouds and kept his ancient sword without even darting a glance at Yun Kuang. He was not as good as him in their last encounter and neither was he today.
Ning Fan’s eyes were only focused on Fang Sheng alone, waiting for him to accept his challenge!
“You could defeat both Marquis Long Nan and Huang Gu in succession. I’m afraid you’ve already possessed the strength that will make you unrivalled among Void Pierce Stage experts. Hence, show me if you are as strong as me!”
*Chi*
Fang Sheng’s old eyes sparkled with brilliance. His body turned into a snow-white travelling light and he appeared above the sea of clouds in the next instant. The aura force shunted from his body was like a fierce gale, causing his entire white robes to flutter in the wind.
As Fang Sheng used his magic power, the Ocean of Void immediately merged beneath his feet. Standing above the Ocean of Void, his magic power seemed endless and inexhaustible.
He lifted one of his fingers that gave off extremely brilliant cloud light. Then, he pointed it at Ning Fan while shouting coldly.
“Cloud Mask Technique!”
As the cloud light scattered, millions of white clouds were formed everywhere around Ning Fan. Each of them carried a ghost face which was grinning hideously and eerily.
The several millions of ghost faces then started taking in breathes together, sucking in the air around them. Within seconds, they even completely devoured the aura force that Ning Fan exuded. Besides, traces of magic power were drawn out from Ning Fan’s body and absorbed by those ghost faces.
Ning Fan’s expression turned slightly solemn as he sensed that the magic power within his body was being drained temporarily. He tried to use his devil flames to get rid of the clouds.
However, just as he tried to produce his devil flames, his magic power was drained even faster. Even his essence qi was starting to be depleted.
Meanwhile, Ning Fan had a feeling that the clouds with the ghost faces could devoured a majority of magic techniques. Even his black flames also would not be able to do any damage to them… Fang Sheng’s magic technique sure is strange and wicked.
“This is… A Peak Mortal Void Realm magic technique, Cloud Mask Technique!” A Divine Transformation Realm revered elder regained his mobility and exclaimed in surprise.
“Palace Lord Fang Sheng once completely extracted the magic power of a few Void Pierce Stage experts using this technique. As he has used this technique, it won’t take long for White-Robe Marquis’ magic power to be completely drained by the ghost faces on the white clouds!”
“Those white clouds can devour magic power and absorb all kinds of magic attacks. According to hearsay, only cultivators who cultivate unique consciousness and sense can resist the clouds.”
“Once White-Robed Marquis loses all his magic power, he won’t stand a chance against Palace Lord Fang Sheng no matter how strong he is!”
The discussions among the crowd on the cloud mountain echoed into Ning Fan’s ears. Within a few breaths, seventy percent of his entire magic power and essence qi had been absorbed by the ghost faces.
He turned to look at the clouds with ghost faces in the sky. In the next second, his eyes flashed with determination as he abruptly spread out his sword sense.
In the sea of cloud, a droplet of thick ink spread across the vast sky. In an instant, it transformed into black sword light that covered the sky and shielded the sun, cutting down countless clouds with ghost faces.
“Sword sense, huh… Indeed, I can’t defeat you with just my Cloud Mask Technique. Fishing Net of Creation!”
Fang Sheng was not too surprised upon seeing his Cloud Mask Technique being broken by Ning Fan.
To him, it was already an excellent result for being able to deplete seventy percent of Ning Fan’s magic power using this technique at the beginning of the fight. At this moment, Fang Sheng already had certain assurance of his victory.
As he pointed out a finger, traces of white magic power flowed out from his finger, weaving themselves into a massive fishing net.
When he cast the fishing net into the sky, it instantly turned into tens of thousands of nets.
Several ten thousand fishing nets fell down upon Ning Fan, enveloping him. The threads of the fishing lines were extremely tough. Even a Void Pierce Stage attack also would not be able to break them.
If Ning Fan were to face this technique in Song Country ten years ago, he who had yet to gathered all the Heavenly Cold Qi and Earth Flame at that point of time also would not be able to destroy the fishing nets using his Yin Yang Flame.
Even an Absolute Void Stage might not necessarily be able to break the fishing net. Moreover, Fang Sheng did not think that the current Ning Fan whose magic power was greatly depleted could release a magic technique at the Absolute Void Stage using his remaining thirty percent of magic power.
“You’ve lost! Don’t have to worry. I will only wrap you using the fishing nets without hurting you. However, since you can’t beat me, you aren’t allowed to study my rain stele. It’s still too early for you to defeat me with your current cultivation base.”
“Is that so?!”
Ning Fan abruptly made a stomp on the sky, causing it to break and revealing the boundless and endless void space.
He clawed at the earth., drawing out the soul of the great earth within the area of four hundred thousand li* (500m per li)!
Then, he clawed at the void space, extracting the soul of the void within the vicinity of four hundred thousand li* (500m per li!
He opened his mouth and swallowed the earth’s soul and the void’s soul. All of a sudden, he gained an additional ten million units of magic power!
His aura force was rising gradually and the magic power within him reached eighteen million and two hundred thousand units. His current magic power was much thicker than Fang Sheng!
“Soul Extraction Technique! Besides, it’s actually at the second level which enables him to extract the soul of the void!” Fang Sheng’s expression turned pale with shock.
The Soul Extraction Technique was one of the three Void Fragmentation Realm abilities. However, even for Void Fragmentation Realm old monsters, not every one of them knew this technique.
And those who could cultivate the Soul Extraction Technique up to the second level were only the Rain Sovereign in the Rain World!
Ning Fan actually was the second cultivator in the Rain World who could extract the soul of the void!
“Incinerate!”
Ning Fan raised his finger into the sky above him, directing it at the thousands of fishing nets.
A column of black flames spread across the sea of cloud. Moreover, nine peerless black fire dragons that breathed flames dashed out from the sea of fire, burning the fishing nets into ashes with ease.
After ten years, he had already gathered all twenty-four types of Heavenly Cold Qi and Earth Flames. The power of his devil flame was now comparable to that of a High Rank Seventh Grade spiritual flame!
Perhaps Ning Fan would not be able to destroy the fishing nets if they were displayed by a Void Fragmentation Realm expert. However, it was a different story when Fang Sheng was the user of the technique!
“What?!” Fang Sheng was shocked once again. The Fishing Net of Creation was a supreme secret technique that the sixth prince bestowed upon him. However, Ning Fan already burned all of it into ashes with a column of black flames…
What is that spiritual flame?! Is there such a high-grade spiritual flame in the Rain World?!
Before he could recover from shock, cold sweat suddenly trickled down his back.
The nine fire dragons turned their heads toward Fang Sheng. Their eyes glowed with bloodlust.
The nine black dragons were transformed by the High Rank Seventh Grade flame. Not even the Void Fragmentation Realm experts in the Rain World possessed such an incredible flame!
Ning Fan displayed this black flame using a magic power that was close to the level of the Absolute Void Stage. Even an Absolute Void Stage expert also did not stand a chance in resisting the power of the fire dragons!
The nine fire dragons charged at Fang Sheng, carrying columns of fire that engulfed him.
In just a few breathes, Fang Sheng hurriedly jumped out of the fire like Ning Fan’s prior opponent, Huang Gu, and fell down from the sky, crashing into the summit of the cloud mountain.
Ning Fan did not say a word. He took back his black flame and descended upon the cloud mountain.
Fang Sheng climbed up from the huge pit that was created from his fall that stared at Ning Fan with confusions all over his face. Then, he said with a sigh.
“I’ve lost to you…”
Fang Sheng knew that Ning Fan had already gone easy on him.
Otherwise, he certainly could not have withstood it if Ning Fan produced such a high-grade black flame using his all of his magic power that was boosted to a frightening level with the Soul Extraction Technique.
Except for experts at the Absolute Void Stage and above, no one could have withstand the might of Ning Fan’s black flame…
“White-Robed Marquis, please come with me. I’ll now bring you to the belly of the mountain to show you the rain stele rain stele of the Serene Heaven Palace…”
Ning Fan then followed Fang Sheng to the inner part of the cloud mountain without uttering saying anything.
Among the cultivators on the entire cloud mountain, there were cultivators from the Serene Heaven Realm as well as cultivators from the other realms. All of them were in dead silence.
“Even the Serene Heaven Palace has also lost… There are only the Great Heaven Palace and the Vast Heaven Palace left that can stand up against White-Robed Marquis’s power…”
“In my opinion, I think even the Great Heaven Palace also may not be able to defeat White-Robed Marquis. After all, that Great Heaven Palace Lord is just at the peak Void Pierce Stage… I’m afraid only the Vast Heaven Palace Lord can have a chance on outfighting him as he is a genuine Absolute Void Stage expert…”
*Chi*
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Ning Fan flew out from the belly of the mountain, flying to the next realm.
Along the way, Ning Fan ate several pills to recover his magic power. There was a slight delay in his arrival as he only reached the Profound Heaven Realm three days later.
The seventh realm of the Heavenly Cloud Country – Profound Heaven Realm!
Countless cultivators already heard of the Serene Heaven Palace Lord’s defeat three days ago. Each of them quickly rushed to the Profound Heaven Realm using the teleportation formations in their own realms, waiting to watch another great battle.
At this moment, there was already no cultivator who doubted Ning Fan’s determination in challenging the eight palaces.
Be it for studying the rain steles or establishing his might, Ning Fan’s true objective in challenging the eight palaces was not something that everyone was concerned about.
Everyone just wanted to know whether Ning Fan could beat the eight other palace lords with just his own strength and become the strongest individual of the nine palaces!
*Chi*
A golden sword light travelled across layers of sea of clouds and descended on the peak of the cloud mountain of the Profound Heaven Palace!
Ning Fan stood among the clouds, looking down on the Profound Heaven Palace on the cloud mountain. The Profound Heaven Palace was the division overseen by the third prince of the Rain Palace – Yun Bushu…
In the Rain World, the Profound Heaven Palace was the only division that had a friendly relationship with the Great Heaven Palace.
In the Rain World, Yun Bushu was the only prince who had a friendship of life and death with Yun Tianjue.
Ning Fan sighed. He already knew that he was Yun Tianjue’s son. Logically, it was inappropriate for him to challenge the palace lord of the Profound Heaven Sect and humiliate the palace.
However, in order to obtain the complete rain technique and find his mother within the land of the entire Middle State, he had no choice but to fight them…
He gently closed his eyes and said with a clear voice.
“I have no intention to make an enemy of the Profound Heaven Palace. However, I have no other options but to fight the Profound Heaven Palace Lord in order to study your rain stele. I hope Profound Heaven Palace Lord can forgive me…”
“*Cough several times*… White-Robed Marquis is joking. How would I be bold enough to fight you…? I concede defeat!”
An old man in bright yellow dragon robes stood on the peak of the cloud mountain and cupped his fists at Ning Fan, announcing his acceptance of defeat.
This man’s hair was gray and his face looked old. He had an imposing Thand dignified demeanor with an intimidatingly vigorously qi. Even so, his cultivation realm was just at the Void Glimpse Stage.
Ning fan was slightly stunned by that old man’s actions. He had met him once before.
When he was at the External Endless Sea in the past, he killed Revered Snow and offended the Rain Palace. However, he was recommended to become a revered elder of the Rain Palace by two Void Refinement Realm experts of the Rain Palace.
From being a palace lord of a low-class division, Luo Jun was promoted to be the palace lord of the Profound Heaven Palace which was one of the nine greatest palaces of the Rain Palace because of his credit in discovering an individual with the Indestructible Fire Body.
Yun Bushu who oversaw the Profound Heaven Palace was also known with his other title, ‘Leisure Cloud Prince’. As for Luo Jun, he was also a person who had no great ambition. All he wanted was to making a living in the Profound Heaven Palace and he had no desire to excel over others and fight for power.
He originally planned to live his life peacefully while enjoying the status as the Profound Heaven Palace Lord and hope to just break through to the Void Inquiry Stage in his lifetime.
However, who could have thought that the dignified White-Robed Marquis would actually come to challenge him who was just a lowly Void Glimpse Stage cultivator.
How would he dare to accept the challenge? Even Marquis Long Nan, Huang Gu and Fang Sheng had lost to Ning Fan. A mere Void Glimpse Stage cultivator like him perhaps could not even withstand a single finger attack from Ning Fan…
“I’ve admitted defeat. White-Robed Marquis can directly enter the belly of the mountain and see the rain stele!”
“Sounds good.”
Ning Fan nodded and kept his ancient sword, descending on the summit of the cloud mountain.
He also was not willing to bully a Void Glimpse Stage cultivator of the Profound Heaven Palace using his powerful cultivation base and ruin his relationship with Yun Bushu.
The two of them entered the inner part of mountain. Everyone on the cloud mountain sighed with emotions.
“I didn’t expect that the dignified Profound Heaven Palace Lord would actually surrender without hesitation… However, he made a wise decision. With his cultivation base, he certainly isn’t an opponent who can last a single round with White-Robed Marquis.”
“*Sigh* It’s such a waste that we have no luck to spectate the fight between Void Refinement Realm beings by rushing to the Profound Heaven Realm… Anyway, it’s better to look for a teleportation formation at once to head to the next realm and wait for White-Robed Marquis’ arrival!”
On the cloud mountain, a handsome young man was filled with dejection. He was the prodigy of the Profound Heaven Palace as well as Yun Bushu’s adopted son – Yun Niansu.
“Nobody is worthy to be the strongest being of the current generation of prodigies in the Rain World except him… Ning Fan, huh… I am not as good as him… However, I just don’t understand why Father wants to see him…”
…
Inside the mountain Ning Fan passed through the formation light along with Luo Jun and entered the palace, heading directly to the main hall.
Luo Jun was smiling apologetically throughout the way as he could not mess with a formidable person like Ning Fan.
The Rain Ancestor’s stele that was nine hundred zhang* (3.33m per zhang) was emanating the rain intent that could moisturize everything.
Luo Jun pointed at the rain stele and began introducing it to Ning Fan.
“Hehe. White-Robed Marquis, please look. This is the rain stele of my Profound Heaven Palace. White-Robed Marquis must be cautious when studying it to avoid getting injured… Er. Y-Y… Your Highness!”
Luo Jun was suddenly shocked while speaking halfway. He instantly cupped his fists and bowed.
A young man who was clothed in ragged garments and looked like a beggar gradually walked out from behind the rain stele.
The man’s face was unshaven and his hair was like wild grass. His facial features, however, was extremely striking and his presence was full of manliness.
His expression looked free and easy, as if nothing in the world was important to worry him.
He did not reveal any of his qi. Those who did not know him had no idea what his exact cultivation base was. Ning Fan, however, could sense a vigorous aura force from him that was equivalent to that of an expert at the Second Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm!
He was none other than the third prince of the Rain Palace – Yun Bushu!
“Aiya Aiya. We’ve met again… When we met in the Sinister Sparrow Sect last time, you were still just an insignificant Harmonious Spirit Realm cultivator. Unexpectedly, you’ve actually reached where you are after fifty years have passed… Er… Oh yes. My memory is not too good. What’s your name again… White… White… White…”
“It’s White-Robed Marquis…” Luo Jun reminded with a light tone.
“Yes. Indeed. It’s White… White… White what? Aiya. I’ve forgotten it again. My memory has been deteriorating every day and it’s difficult for me to remember anything at all…”
Yun Bushu patted the back of his back and burst into laughter. He was still as blunt and reckless as back in the day.
When his carefree eyes fell upon the blue jade around Ning Fan’s neck, they suddenly turned stern.
“Blue Bridge Jade?! This jade is in your hands as expected! Good kid. You’ve actually managed to hoodwink me in the past!”
Yun Bushu kept his smile and put on a solemn look on his face.
With a wave of his hand, a strong gust of wind directly carried Luo Jun away, sending him out of the mountain.
“I have something to ask you! Where did this jade come from?!” Yun Bushu stood with his hands clasped behind his back. The jolly and easygoing part of him no longer appeared in his face.
Ning Fan stared at Yun Bushu indifferently without having the slightest hint of fear for him.
He also was not surprised that Yun Bushu would recognize this jade.
When he spied on Yun Ruowei’s thoughts on that day, he already knew that this jade was the Blue Bridge Jade.
Even though Blue Bridge Jade was an ancient item, it served no other purposes other than being a keepsake of love promise for Dao companions.
When Yun Tianjue and Ning Qian pledged their love for each other in the past, they both made a vow on their Blue Bridge Jades. No outsider knew about it.
In other words, those who knew the meaning behind this jade was not an outsider.
- Shen Chinese: 蜃 Pinyin: shèn