Ning Fan’s divine sense throbbed with severe pain.

Within the starlight formation, countless fragmented images related to his reincarnation flickered in and out, unclear and indistinct.

Even more, there were countless chaotic magi sounds coming from all directions within the starlight formation, like bursts of thunder exploding beside Ning Fan’s ears. Ning Fan only felt buzzing in his ears, and in just an instant, his eardrums were hurt by those magi sounds, with blood flowing down his ear canal.

[A Single Defiance Renders the Path of the Purple Star Void, after my star’s fall, Ten Thousand Stars Slay!]

[For thousands of years, unifying the Northern Wilderness!]

[For thousands of years, unifying the Northern Wilderness!]

The magi sounds reverberating in Ning Fan’s ears were only these few phrases. But because the person who spoke these words seemed to possess supreme cultivation, even a simple magi sound was more terrifying than most Quasi-Saint attacks, easily injuring Ning Fan!

Who is this voice from!

It unexpectedly carried an unbeatable fourth step aura toward Ning Fan!

[A Single Defiance Renders the Path of the Purple Star Void, after my star’s fall, Ten Thousand Stars Slay!]

[For thousands of years, unifying the Northern Wilderness!]

[For thousands of years, unifying the Northern Wilderness!]

Pfft!

The voice grew louder and louder, seemingly like a Fourth Step Immortal Emperor crossing endless time and space, directly suppressing Ning Fan! When the suppression reached its limit, Ning Fan spat out blood and ultimately sustained injuries—injuries that even the power of the Wooden Control Position could not rapidly heal!

However, this spurt of blood and these injuries also triggered Ning Fan’s ferocity. Ning Fan regarded Wanxingzi, who could harm him, with high importance, inwardly thinking that this person, indeed, was not on the same level as the four Sixth Calamity Immortal Emperors he had defeated.

He couldn’t underestimate this person!

"My current power is not as strong as a Quasi-Saint, roughly equivalent to the peak of a Half-Step Quasi-Saint’s existence. For some reason, this person’s divine skills could trigger a hint of Fourth Step power. Although it’s just a hint, it’s more than enough to attack someone in the Second Step of cultivation. Today’s battle is a test, indeed, my current self cannot effortlessly defeat a Half-Step Quasi-Saint..."

"Your Fourth Step immortal power is indeed formidable, but you don’t know that I also possess such power!"

Ning Fan sneered.

He sneered at the Fourth Step immortal power contained within this Wanxing Formation, questioning whether it could be more than the Fourth Step immortal power contained within the God-Extinguishing Shield!

Roar!

Ning Fan let out a demonic roar, fusing with the power of the God-Extinguishing Shield within his Eternal True Body, completely unleashing it at that moment!

This wasn’t a contest between Ning Fan and the Fourth Step presence, Ning Fan didn’t have such qualification!

This was the already-ascended God-Extinguishing Shield, as a Heaven-Opening Artifact, contesting with the Fourth Step Immortal Emperor!

Ning Fan could even speculate on the source of the Fourth Step immortal power in this Wanxing Formation!

The enemy merely triggered a tiny strand of the Purple Rose Celestial Emperor’s immortal power!

But what he possessed was a complete one-sixth fragment of the God-Extinguishing Shield’s power; quantitatively, it far surpassed the other party!

With this, Ning Fan’s demonic roar surprisingly overshadowed the Fourth Step Immortal Emperor’s magi sounds within the Wanxing Formation!

"How is this possible! This boy’s magi sound can actually surpass the magi sound of the Purple Rose Emperor!"

Wanxingzi could not help but be shocked, viciously driving the Wanxing Formation to its extreme.

The Purple Rose Stars operating within the starlight formation suddenly exploded one after another. The chaotic star force swept through the heavens and earth, condensing into a giant finger that covered the sky.

It was the Immortal Emperor’s Sovereign Finger deduced by Wanxingzi through calculating star force! Its power naturally couldn’t match a true Immortal Emperor’s Sovereign Finger, yet it definitely reached the power of a First Order Quasi-Saint’s strike, enough to kill a weak Immortal Emperor with a single hit!

"The Immortal Emperor’s Sovereign Finger, huh, you have the Purple Rose Celestial Emperor’s finger, and I have... the God-Slaying Guardian!"

Ning Fan clasped his hands fiercely, and the golden flames shot out around him, manifesting a colossal shield of golden flames that blocked in front of the Immortal Emperor’s Sovereign Finger.

When the Immortal Emperor’s Sovereign Finger pressed down, it only caused some cracks on the shield of golden flames, failing to shatter it.

Ning Fan blocked the Immortal Emperor’s Sovereign Finger!

"Impossible! That’s my strongest attack, sacrificed countless comrades’ lives to trigger, how could you easily block it!"

Wanxingzi’s mood plummeted instantly, unable to believe the scene before his eyes.

Ning Fan had no interest in Wanxingzi’s feelings!

He admitted Wanxingzi was very strong, but compared to him, he was still much weaker.

This Immortal Emperor’s Sovereign Finger, if Wanxingzi could deduce a dozen more fingers, perhaps it might truly endanger his life. Unfortunately, after one strike, Wanxingzi seemed to have no energy left to brew a second finger. With only one strike’s power, it’s not worth mentioning!

"Break for me!"

Ning Fan struck with a series of Ancient Demon Mountain-Shattering Strikes, shattering the starry sky world in front of him, and the scene shifted back to the real world.

Seeing Ning Fan completely break through the Array of Ten Thousand Stars, Wanxingzi’s fear of Ning Fan reached an unprecedented level, where he dared not engage Ning Fan and immediately turned to flee.

As for the other powerhouses of different races, they were all caught up and harmed by Wanxingzi.

The Array of Ten Thousand Stars is a technique that damages the enemy by a thousand and self by eight hundred. To provide the energy to operate the array, countless different race powerhouses were drained of their life by the star force. At this moment, apart from him, only four other Celestial Emperors of different races remained alive, but their combat power was minimal, extremely weak.

It was as if they had been drained of their power by the Array of Ten Thousand Stars.

"Let these weak Celestial Emperors be handled by the Daoist friends, I will pursue that Wanxing Clan half-step Quasi-Saint!"

Wanxingzi fled so quickly, Ning Fan had no time to deal with other enemies, Yunian locked onto the direction Wanxingzi was fleeing and pursued relentlessly.

Wanxingzi, as a half-step Quasi-Saint, naturally fled at a speed that was not slow, but unfortunately Ning Fan’s speed was even faster. Within just a dozen breaths, he caught up with Wanxingzi.

"This kid, a mere Immortal King, can actually be faster than me!"

Wanxingzi was greatly shocked, and dared not continue fleeing on the surface, his huge body plunged into the river water below, trying to leverage the undertow to escape into the deep waters.

Ning Fan sneered coldly, darting into the riverbed in pursuit. Once the different race entered the water, their speed could gain a huge increase, but unfortunately, it was still not faster than him.

After another dozen breaths, Wanxingzi was caught up by Ning Fan a second time at an obscure part of the riverbed!

Wanxingzi was both shocked and furious,

"Such a brazen brat, dares to pursue me to the riverbed! Since that is the case, don’t blame this old man for being ruthless!"

With a sly smile, Wanxingzi released his spirit sense, transforming into countless message-transmitting flying swords, flying out in all directions, seeking help from the Celestial Emperors and Quasi-Saints on the third route underwater.

Ning Fan would not give Wanxingzi the chance to call for help, his spirit sense turned into a waterfall, sweeping away all the message-transmitting flying swords.

"Hmph! Even if you destroyed my message-transmitting flying swords, the fluctuations of our duel are enough to alarm everyone! Fine, fine, fine, this old man won’t escape! Once entering the water, my strength can increase by thirty percent, facing you in battle for a couple of hours won’t be difficult! Enough to wait for reinforcements!"

Wanxingzi suddenly halted his forward momentum, let out a cold snort, and turned abruptly, spitting out countless star arrows towards Ning Fan.

Ning Fan was well prepared, ignoring Wanxingzi, casually throwing a few punches, exploding all the star arrows. Then he suddenly closed in, using the Ancient Demon Mountain-Shattering Strike to bombard Wanxingzi, causing him to groan and be blown backwards, slightly injured.

The ensuing blows had just begun, even though these punches could hurt Wanxingzi, it was not enough to inflict heavy injury—being a half-step Quasi-Saint, Wanxingzi’s physical defense was quite tough.

However, the power of the Ancient Demon Mountain-Shattering Strike still scared Wanxingzi, this was his first time directly facing the strike. Previously, he had only seen companions killed by the Ancient Demon Mountain-Shattering Strike, none as direct as this experience!

From what Wanxingzi knew, the higher Ning Fan’s consecutive hit count with the Ancient Demon Mountain-Shattering Strike, the more powerful it becomes.

With just a few blows, he could slightly injure him, what if the consecutive hit count kept rising, what would happen then?

But as a half-step Quasi-Saint, he was no pushover! Although the Array of Ten Thousand Stars was broken, he had other cards to play, enough to hold out against Ning Fan until reinforcements arrived!

"Wanxing Immortal Technique!"

Suddenly, thousands of miles of star light burst from Wanxingzi’s body, countless illusory Purple Star Great Stars reflected in the water, a rough count revealed no less than a million!

Under the treatment of star light, Wanxingzi’s minor injuries instantly healed.

"A star light healing technique..." Ning Fan’s gaze became somewhat serious. This Wanxingzi’s star technique had reached the realm of a million stars, truly something not to be underestimated.

Relying on the power of the star technique, Wanxingzi was not afraid of the damage from the Ancient Demon Mountain-Shattering Strike, waving demon claws against Ning Fan’s fist light, engaging in a flesh-to-flesh confrontation.

Ning Fan’s consecutive hits continued to increase, each punch fiercer than the last; but Wanxingzi’s star technique was no weak skill either, even the Ancient Demon Mountain-Shattering Strike, hitting with three thousand consecutive strikes, couldn’t kill Wanxingzi in one blow, only pushing him into minor injuries.

After four thousand consecutive strikes, Wanxingzi began to struggle, his wounds grew heavy.

After five thousand consecutive strikes, Wanxingzi started to cough up blood frequently.

After six thousand consecutive strikes, Wanxingzi even sprayed golden imperial blood, his physical defense nearly shattered by Ning Fan’s blows!

From the onset, to six thousand consecutive strikes, it hadn’t even taken a hundred breaths!

Wanxingzi was unspeakably terrified.

He initially thought that after entering the riverbed, with his increased strength, sustaining for a couple of hours against Ning Fan would be no issue. Yet, the cruel reality revealed to him, in less than a hundred breaths, he was nearly reduced to shattering his physical defense under Ning Fan’s assault!

This child, a mere Immortal King, could be this powerful!

Though not equivalent to a true Quasi-Saint, at the level of half-step Quasi-Saint, he faced few opponents!

"Star Sacrifice Life Exchange Technique!"

Wanxingzi’s demon eyes flashed with the pain of loss, expending his last resort escape technique.

He knew if he didn’t use this technique, it would be impossible to hold out until reinforcements arrived, he would surely fall at Ning Fan’s hands!

Bang!

Upon using this technique, Wanxingzi’s physical form suddenly exploded into countless star light and disappeared.

"Escaped somehow?" Ning Fan was taken aback.

The magnetic force underwater was too strong, Yunian could not spread too far. He took out the Treasure-searching Compass to locate Wanxingzi, only to discover, after self-detonating once, Wanxingzi somehow instantaneously escaped hundreds of days of water travel distance away. Based on this distance, even if Ning Fan chased with all his might, it would take days to catch up, seeking to hunt Wanxingzi in the third route underwater with a Quasi-Saint present was now unrealistic.

Star Sacrifice Life Exchange Technique...

What a strange way to save one’s life...

Indeed, a Half-Step Quasi-Saint cannot be taken down so easily, completely different from those ordinary Immortal Emperors he had easily defeated.

The Treasure-searching Compass sensed several dozen strong light points rapidly approaching this location. Ning Fan didn’t plan to stay underwater for long and quickly returned to the surface. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Even though this battle allowed Wanxingzi to escape, his return from the surface back to the depths meant it wouldn’t be easy for him to emerge again.

Ning Fan put Wanxingzi out of his mind and rushed back to Tianqing Pass. At this moment, the Eight Scenery Emperor and the Three Sons of Jianyue were engaged in a fierce battle with four weakened Different Race Immortal Emperors.

Yes, a fierce battle...

Though the numbers on both sides were equal, and the enemy’s cultivation was slightly superior, due to their weakened state, the Eastern Heaven Immortal Emperors should theoretically have the advantage.

Yet, even with this advantage, the Eastern Heaven Immortal Emperors were still embroiled in a fierce struggle, unable to subdue the four Different Race Emperors during Ning Fan’s absence, demonstrating the significant gap between the Eastern Heaven Immortals and the Different Race Immortal Emperors.

"Brother Ning, you’re back! Help us take down these four Emperors!" The Eight Scenery Emperor and others were overjoyed.

"Damn! Why did the White-Clad Yama come back so quickly! This isn’t good! We must dive into the water immediately!" The Different Race Immortal Emperors shouted in dismay, unable to predict that Ning Fan would return so soon after chasing Wanxingzi!

The four Different Race Immortal Emperors were terrified, initially planning to bully the Eastern Heaven Immortals before Ning Fan’s return. Now, they only wished to dive into the water to escape.

One at the Sixth Tribulation, two at the Seventh Tribulation, and one at the Eighth Tribulation...

Ning Fan would not let these Different Race Emperors escape. A Half-Step Quasi-Saint was hard to kill, but there was no way he would let ordinary Immortal Emperors slip away!

He pointed, using the Heaven Sealing Art, but found he couldn’t restrain the four Emperors, realizing they likely wore the Pingdong Talisman issued by the Different Race Great Deity Director.

"Haha! We have the Pingdong Talisman, so your Ancestral Arts of Eastern Heaven cannot hold us!" the four Different Race Emperors laughed.

Yet, before their laughter had ended, they found themselves caught in a sky-covering net, scooped up from the water as if they were fish.

"What is this net!" they exclaimed.

The four Different Race Immortal Emperors tried to struggle free from Ning Fan’s giant net, yet found themselves unable to, their laughter replaced by furious curses.

If they weren’t mistaken, this net was astonishingly formed by the Wooden Control Position Power, a binding net!

If used for recovery, the Wooden Control Position could restore Mana and heal injuries.

If used in battle, the Wooden Control Position was an excellent supportive trace, used for trapping and binding enemies.

Is it impossible to restrict these Immortal Emperors without the Heaven Sealing Art?

Sorry, as the Wood Father God, Ning Fan now had increased means to trap enemies!

The true Palm Position Power was something even the Nine Tribulations Immortal Emperors feared. Even if these four Different Race Emperors were at their peak, escaping the Wooden Control Position’s binding net would not be easy; in their weakened state, escape was utterly impossible in time.

Taking advantage of his illness to claim his life!

A glint of killing intent flashed in Ning Fan’s eyes as he unleashed the Seven Treasures Marvelous Tree, bombarding the trapped Emperors with hundreds of strikes.

The Four Emperors, trapped in the net, had no way to escape and could only endure the onslaught of the Seven Treasures Marvelous Tree. In Ning Fan’s hands, as the Wood Father God, its power reached another level, becoming incredibly formidable. Each strike was akin to a mid-rank innate magical treasure striking them, and soon, the Sixth Tribulation Immortal Emperor among them had his physical body shattered, his Demon Soul captured and destroyed.

Within another hundred breaths, Ning Fan had similarly disposed of the two Seventh Tribulation Immortal Emperors.

And after two hundred breaths more, the last Eighth Tribulation Immortal Emperor was honorably sacrificed.

The Eight Scenery Emperor and others felt their scalps tingle: these were powerful Immortal Emperors they struggled with, yet Ning Fan took them down so effortlessly; it was unbelievable...

As expected of the Eighth Generation Slaughter Emperor, a monster whose prowess couldn’t be compared to their mundane selves, likely only the best among the Ancient Immortal Kings could contend with Ning Fan today.

"Our Tianqing Pass is preserved thanks solely to Brother Ning’s assistance. We shall never forget this great favor!"

The Eight Scenery Emperor and others steadied themselves and expressed their gratitude to Ning Fan with cupped fists.

Ning Fan graciously accepted their gratitude. At this juncture, feigned humility would appear disingenuous and seem like a deliberate flaunting of achievements.

"By the way, did you manage to capture that Half-Step Quasi-Saint of the Wanxing Clan?" the Eight Scenery Emperor asked, voicing a concern held by many defending cultivators.

"I didn’t capture him; he escaped," Ning Fan sighed, feeling a deep sense of regret. It wasn’t due to his lack of effort but because a Half-Step Quasi-Saint was genuinely difficult to kill, and Wanxingzi’s life-saving techniques were simply too extraordinary.

Star Sacrifice Life Exchange Technique...

Ning Fan suspected that even if he immobilized Wanxingzi, trapped him, or even blasted him apart on the spot, Wanxingzi might still preserve his life through this secret technique...

Cultivators of the Decline aren’t worth mentioning, yet the magical abilities those Different Race Immortal Emperors wielded were all supreme immortal laws inherited from the Purple Rose Immortal Domain, not to be underestimated.

Moreover, what does it mean to be a Half-Step Quasi-Saint? That is the rank of Burying Moon, Aflo, Death Emperor, Bright Buddha. Anything bordering on the sacred is not something to ignore; they aren’t that easy to kill. Ning Fan might possess the power to defeat a Half-Step Quasi-Saint, but he lacked the ability to capture one alive. Capturing Aflo alive was simply a beautiful accident, an accident unlikely to be repeated.

"Alas, not capturing him in one stroke is indeed regrettable, but Brother Ning need not dwell on it. After all, he was a Half-Step Quasi-Saint. Driving him to flee is testament to your skills. And besides, Brother Ning slew eight Immortal Emperors in this battle, truly opening our eyes. After this victory, the Third Route can likely be settled in one stroke!"

"With eight Different Race Immortal Emperors dead and one escaped, there’s no Different Race Immortal Emperor on the third route over the water anymore. Now, only a group of low-rank Different Race guardians remain at White Tiger Pass, which is the perfect moment for everyone to seize the pass. As for myself, I will remain here to protect Luo Hou Daoist Friend. With me here, no one will interrupt Luo Daoist Friend’s insights into the mountain of Dao!"

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"Very well! Then, I will trouble you to guard here as protector, while we gather the army and march to White Tiger Pass to retake the Third Waterway in one stroke!"

The Eight Scenery Emperor and others were both delighted and ashamed.

Delighted that the bitter battle for decades over the Third Waterway finally seemed hopeful for full recovery.

Ashamed because what they couldn’t accomplish in decades was quickly achieved upon Ning Fan’s arrival.

At present, all the allied cultivators in the army say Ning Fan is the strongest among the allied forces of the Boundary River.

This statement is indeed true.

...

Ning Fan stayed at Tianqing Pass; at the next pass, White Tiger Pass, there were no Immortal Emperors of other races, so his participation in the battle would not make much difference.

Though the East Heaven Immortal Emperor had a gap with the same level Immortal Emperor of other races, dealing with those below the Immortal Emperor was still quite easy.

If an Immortal Emperor with such prestige struggled against lower-ranked different races, it would be truly disgraceful.

This battle was not difficult for Ning Fan to win, but he still sustained some injuries. Wanxingzi was quite a character, able to injure Ning Fan and barely escape; it did justice to his Half-Step Quasi-Saint cultivation.

"This person is only a Half-Step Quasi-Saint. If a true First Order Quasi-Saint came, it would be me who had to flee..."

"My cultivation across four realms has reached the Immortal King; my next step is to achieve Immortal Emperor... To become an Immortal Emperor, one must overcome the Nine Tribulations. Wang Xiao’s tribulation is quite a reference point for me."

Ning Fan patiently stayed guard at Tianqing Pass, acting as protector for Luo Hou. While observing Luo Hou breakthrough to Immortal Emperor, his own comprehension towards becoming an emperor also gradually heightened.

Six days later, the Eight Scenery Emperor and others reclaimed White Tiger Pass and sent the victory report to Tianqing Pass.

Forty-five days later, Luo Hou completed his comprehension, successfully ascended the Mountain of Dao, officially advancing from Immortal King to Immortal Emperor, becoming a Sixth Tribulation Immortal Emperor!

Luo Hou, in the body of an Immortal King, was already able to match evenly with a Seventh Tribulation Immortal Emperor.

With the cultivation of an Immortal Emperor, Luo Hou’s aura was in no way inferior to the Eight Scenery Emperor, an old-time Eight Tribulations Immortal Emperor. At this moment, Luo Hou was certainly the main force of the Allied Forces of Boundary River.

"Hahaha! This time, I have so much to thank Brother Ning for protecting me; without him, I couldn’t have safely advanced to Immortal Emperor. Brother Ning, oh Brother Ning, I truly don’t know how to thank you. Alas, if only I were a woman, I fear I could only offer myself as gratitude."

Success in becoming an emperor made Luo Hou very happy; remembering Ning Fan’s help, he was deeply moved, but of course, wouldn’t continue thanking Ning Fan.

Great gratitude speaks no thanks; he had long regarded Ning Fan as a sworn brother, no need for formalities in conversation. Now that the knot of becoming an emperor unraveled, he casually joked with Ning Fan.

"Even if you were a woman, I wouldn’t want you!" Ning Fan replied speechlessly.

He had painstakingly aided his friend through tribulation, yet his friend has no seriousness, truly a group of detrimental friends.

However, Ning Fan did not resent such detrimental friends because he knew that if he encountered danger during tribulation, they would also act regardless of cost.

"If not me, then how about some wine?"

"Wine might be worth considering, just as a celebration of your success in becoming an emperor!"

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

...

That night, Luo Hou was completely inebriated.

Ning Fan was half drunk, half aware, and under the night sky, flew out of Tianqing Pass, removing his drunkenness instantaneously as he departed.

The entire Third Waterway was now fully recaptured.

Luo Hou’s Nine Tribulations were successfully overcome as well.

However, Ning Fan still had one matter unfinished in the Third Road; he needed to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the Laijun Great Emperor.

To protect Luo Hou, Ning Fan had to delay until today to start this investigation.

He was very curious about how the mighty Laijun Great Emperor, with his Seven Tribulations cultivation, could vanish mysteriously in the Third Road...

"The intelligence indicates that Laijun Emperor disappeared while on a routine patrol. Given that, I’ll investigate along the patrol route he took on that day..."

As this thought emerged, Ning Fan suddenly had a premonition, startled greatly.

This premonition was a foresight of danger!

On the patrol route of Laijun Emperor that day, there seemed to be something posing a great crisis to him now!

Know now that he could face off against First Order Quasi-Saint without defeat, even has the ability to escape from Second Rank Quasi-Saint.

What level of peril could possibly evoke such a premonition?

With a grave expression, Ning Fan flew along the patrol route. Regardless of how dangerous the road ahead might be, he had to uncover the reason behind Laijun Emperor’s disappearance. This task was entrusted by Emperor Cang; Ning Fan held a favorable impression of him, for Emperor Cang had taken attentive care of him all along...