Cultivation Starting from Full Talent-Chapter 644 - 642: Return to Dust

"Senior..."

Ning Daoran slumped to the ground, rubbing his comically swollen face, "Just laugh if you want to, holding it in must be exhausting."

"Wahahahahahahahaha~~~"

The Nine Hells’ Emperor immediately burst into hearty laughter, clutching his stomach. After a while, he finally said, "Young Friend Ning, for some reason, seeing a peerless genius like you get humbled brings such joy to one’s heart."

"Same here."

Ning Daoran replied, "If I could see a Nascent Soul Stage senior like you get humbled, I suppose even I wouldn’t be able to hold back my laughter."

"So, did you come to any conclusions this time, Young Friend Ning?"

"Hmm." freewebnøvel.coɱ

Ning Daoran nodded, "I need to retreat for secluded cultivation. With my current level of cultivation, defeating you as you were back then is still an impossibility. I must further supplement certain aspects of my strength to make it achievable."

"Very well."

The Nine Hells’ Emperor nodded his head, "I shall await your return from retreat!"

"Thank you, Senior!"

Ning Daoran entered the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven and began another stage of secluded cultivation.

...

In the underground world, cultivation seemed to have severed its ties to the passage of time.

Time flowed like water, and in the blink of an eye, five years had passed.

"Success again!"

Inside a small hut, Ning Daoran pushed open the door and stepped out with an expression of exhilaration.

At this moment, earthy-yellow vines were coiled around him, brimming with Earth Essence Qi. For the past five years, he had done nothing else but focus relentlessly on refining the Eternal Immortal Vine. At long last, he had combined the Eternal Immortal Vine with the Earth Skill, creating the Earth Vines seen before him!

These Earth Vines, imbued with Earth Essence Qi, were incredibly resilient, almost unbreakable. They offered substantial benefits in battle and provided significant improvement in complementing the Five Elementals Law.

"Awoooo~~"

Big Stupid Deer approached, nudging his elder brother’s arm, asking if he could win this time.

"I doubt it, but it’s worth trying."

Big Stupid Deer nodded; there wasn’t much else he could say or do.

"Young Master."

Little Bai sent a voice transmission, "If you truly pass the trials in the Nine Hells Demon Realm, will the Nine Hells’ Emperor genuinely fulfill his promise? Forgive me if I doubt him—allowing you, Ning Tianyi, and the rest to leave may not be a major issue. But for him to scatter his residual soul and lead his army to return to dust... Do you truly believe he’d do that?"

"Perhaps."

Ning Daoran responded, "Such an existence already beyond the Divinity Transformation Stage... it’s hard to say. We can’t fathom the torment of a soul lingering in longevity. Besides, what other choice do I have? If I don’t believe him, then I have no alternatives."

"True."

Little Bai bit her red lip, "Young Master, good luck!"

Ning Daoran stepped out of the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven.

"Ah, another breakthrough?"

The Nine Hells’ Emperor opened his eyes, teasingly smiling, "Tsk tsk, Young Friend Ning has managed to cultivate a technique infused with Earth Essence Qi. Truly extraordinary! It seems the challenges I set for you have proved greatly beneficial. Even should you fail the trial in the end, these years of cultivation will have brought you enormous gains once you leave this world."

"Indeed, thank you, Senior!"

Ning Daoran respectfully cupped his hands. Then he suddenly hesitated, "Senior, do you mean to say... even if I ultimately fail the trial, you would still let me leave?"

"That is correct."

The Nine Hells’ Emperor sighed, "This residual soul of mine has lingered in the mortal realm for countless years and has long grown weary. Encountering a younger friend like you has brought me a great deal of joy. Under such circumstances, if I were to take your life as well, wouldn’t I be no better than a beast? Go now, face your challenges!"

"Thank you, Senior. I promise I won’t let you down!"

Ning Daoran’s voice rang with determination as he turned and entered the Nine Hells Demon Realm.

...

After the time it takes to sip a cup of tea.

He walked out of the Demon Realm with his face covered in bruises, though it hadn’t swollen to a complete pig’s head, it was still extremely miserable. He was even limping on a broken leg, leaning on Big Green Dragon as he hobbled out.

"Ahahahahaha~~~"

The Nine Hells’ Emperor couldn’t help but erupt into uproarious laughter on the spot, "Young Friend, why such a tragic state?"

"Senior was truly ruthless in his youth."

Ning Daoran grimaced, "It seems I’m still worlds apart from your Nascent Soul Early Stage self. I will have to remedy more of my shortcomings further, so, Senior, please bear with me for a few more years until I achieve another breakthrough!"

"Very well!"

The Nine Hells’ Emperor nodded firmly, watching as Ning Daoran returned to the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven.

"Alas..."

A glint of unusual emotion flickered in his eyes.

Truthfully, the Nine Hells’ Emperor observed the battle within the Demon Realm clearly. Ning Daoran had withstood one cup of tea’s worth of time before losing—a considerable improvement compared to his prior attempts.

Frankly speaking, during his own Nascent Soul Early Stage, he had relied on the cheat-like Five Elementals Destruction Technique to achieve unrivaled status at the same level. Take away that advantage, and Ning Daoran’s current combat strength already surpassed his Nascent Soul Early Stage self.

The Nine Hells’ Emperor harbored no doubt that the next time Ning Daoran emerged from seclusion, he would deliver an even more satisfying performance—this time thoroughly surpassing what he had been back then!

...

Four years later.

"It is finally done..."

Inside the small hut, Ning Daoran was trembling with excitement.

Wisps of vines laden with Chaos Realm essence swirled around him endlessly. After four years of refinement, he had finally merged the Five Elementals Immortal Vine completely, yielding the Chaos Immortal Vine before him!

Not only did he achieve this breakthrough, but his internal Chaos Spiritual Power had also undergone a profound transformation, doubling his mana intensity. At this moment, he could already faintly perceive the bottleneck of Nascent Soul Early Stage!

"Swish!"

Ning Daoran strode out of the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven.

"Oh?"

The Nine Hells’ Emperor immediately cast him a curious glance, "Young Friend Ning... you’ve actually fused the Five Elementals Immortal Vine? In just four years, you’ve accomplished this feat... Old Man has begun to admire you."

"You overpraise me, Senior."

Ning Daoran respectfully cupped his hands, "Whether the fusion of the Immortal Vine is truly successful depends on the results of the Nine Hells Demon Realm challenges. Senior was incredibly strong back then, and it has left a lasting psychological shadow on me. Even now, despite successfully merging the Five Elementals Immortal Vine, I still have scant confidence in my abilities."

"Hahaha, it’s good for young people to stay humble, but excessive humility becomes grating."

The Nine Hells’ Emperor flicked his sleeve to open the Nine Hells Demon Realm, saying, "Go on then, Old Man eagerly awaits your results."

"Yes, thank you, Senior!"

Ning Daoran turned and entered the Nine Hells Demon Realm.

...

Two hours later.

He slowly emerged from the Demon Realm, his right hand clutching Big Green Dragon, his left gripping the Fire God Sword. His clothes had been torn to shreds during the battle, while deep wounds crisscrossed his arms and legs. But this time, he hadn’t swollen up like a pig!

Finally, with the Chaos Immortal Vine empowering him, Ning Daoran had defeated the Nascent Soul Early Stage version of the Nine Hells’ Emperor!

"Thud..."

He immediately dropped to his knees before the Nine Hells’ Emperor, his voice steady and sincere, "I know... my senior was intent on honing my cultivation... which is why you created the trials in the Nine Hells Demon Realm. Today, my cultivation has soared thanks entirely to the fate and opportunities conferred by you, Senior..."

"..."

The Nine Hells’ Emperor suddenly felt slightly ashamed. Truth be told, he had never considered such a notion upfront; he had only found Ning Daoran amusing and wanted to keep him around to pass the time in his long, weary years.

With the deep well of hostility accumulated over millennia, there was every chance he could simply kill Ning Daoran with a single swipe of his palm even if he passed the trial—if he happened to be in a bad mood.

Yet Ning Daoran knelt there sincerely, boldly claiming his trials were meant to refine him...

In that instant, the Nine Hells’ Emperor had no choice but to abandon any hostile intent.

"So be it."

He laughed heartily towards the sky, declaring, "This is but the karmic threads that bind us, this destiny and chance between us are set in stone."

As he spoke, he gently flicked his sleeve, and a gentle breeze blew from within it. The petrified statues began shedding their rocky shells, revealing the skin underneath.

"Young Friend Ning."

The Nine Hells’ Emperor said solemnly, "I am true to my word. Now that you’ve completed the challenge, I shall allow you and your companions to leave. However, this Nine Hells’ City holds no treasures worth granting you. Leave with your people, and do not return."

"Understood!"

Ning Daoran respectfully cupped his hands.

...

Behind him, Ning Tianyi, Ning Mingyu, True Monarch Du’e, True Monarch Liu Yun, and others escaped their confinement. Their stone cladding fell away, returning them to their human forms.

"Young Friend Ning?"

"Brother..."

"Fellow Daoist Ning!?"

The group stood, bewildered, their memories still rooted in the day they were sealed years ago.

"Fellow Daoists."

Ning Daoran turned to them, raising a hand, "Hold your weapons. I have already come to an accord with Senior Nine Hells’ Emperor. No further conflict is necessary here."

"Oh?"

Ning Tianyi, who had just summoned his Dark Divine Sword, looked astonished.

"Hmm~~~"

Nine Hells’ Emperor flicked his sleeve lightly and laughed, "Ning Tianyi, your lot dared invade my city and have already suffered defeat once as punishment. That shall suffice. However, I’ve formed a kinship with Young Friend Ning, and thus, I have decided to spare you all. Leave now, and remember—Human Clan cultivators are forever barred from entering Nine Hells’ City. Rest assured, I will lead my forces to scatter and vanish into the winds!"

"This..."

Ning Tianyi and the others were stunned, struggling to keep up with the unfolding events.

"All forces, heed my command!"

The Nine Hells’ Emperor raised his head to gaze at the heavenly skies above, smiling, "I led you all to conquer the world, and we united the cultivation world. Now, our duties are concluded. Our residual souls need not linger in the mortal realm any longer. It is time to scatter... Generals, follow me to dust and eternal rest!"

With that, the Nine Hells’ Emperor let out a long howl, his figure rapidly disintegrating into dust that scattered with the wind.

In the distance, the countless army of Nine Hells’ City also dissolved into specks of ash, vanishing one after another. Soon, a blood-colored restriction rose from within Nine Hells’ City.

"Fellow Daoists, we must leave quickly!"

Ning Tianyi soared into the air, his voice ringing out, "Nine Hells’ City is about to be resealed. We must leave swiftly to avoid harm!"

The group rose one by one, their tunneling lights streaking toward the outer world.

Far away, as the Yin River dissipated with the Nine Hells’ Emperor’s demise, the group no longer needed to use a treasure boat to cross it. Before long, a ray of sunlight broke from above, and they returned to the outside world, each reveling in their renewed freedom.

...

"Ah, being alive is such a blessing..."

Longque Wanderer stroked his beard thoughtfully, "Though it feels like I merely took a nap, I can’t shake the feeling that an incredibly long time has passed... Could it be true?"

"It certainly is."

Ning Daoran confirmed, "It has been ten years since we last attacked Nine Hells’ City."

"Ten years!?"

Ning Tianyi, True Monarch Du’e, and the others were left utterly flabbergasted.

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