Grasping the Evil-Chapter 761: All Forms Are Illusions, Ghost Profound Early Stage!
Retracting the golden glow within his dual eyes, Ning Fan gazed at the Desire-Dissolving Pearl, already turned to ashes, and smiled with satisfaction.
"I can’t believe merely refining the Six Desires Eye can elevate my eyes to the level of the Acquired Dharma Eye..."
The Dharma Eye is a great divine power, divided into acquired and innate levels.
Generally speaking, even True Immortals rarely cultivate the Acquired Dharma Eye.
As for the Innate Dharma Eye, even Eternity Realm masters rarely achieve it.
Ning Fan’s left eye can cast the illusion of Fu Li’s pupil technique and divine insight, while the right eye can display Moluo’s pupil, learning others’ martial arts stealthily.
These two pupil techniques will greatly increase in power as the Acquired Dharma Eye is cultivated.
The stronger the visual strength, naturally, the greater the power of the pupil technique.
Having cultivated the Acquired Dharma Eye, Ning Fan’s strength undeniably improved significantly.
Moreover, after cultivating the Acquired Dharma Eye, Ning Fan could embark on practicing another secret technique.
The Chaos World Rosy Light Technique!
Ning Fan’s Yin Yang Transformation technique had already reached the fourth layer, second realm. After refining the Six Desires Eye, the power of desire greatly increased, and the cultivation level advanced once more, breaking through to the fourth layer, third realm.
After the cultivation technique broke through the fourth layer, Ning Fan then could practice another divine skill outside of Yin Plucking Finger and Yin Imprisoning Rope.
This divine skill is named ’Chaos World Rosy Light’; when the rosy light sweeps through, all female cultivators find it difficult to escape. Those who cannot defend against the rosy light will be drawn into it!
The cultivation of this divine skill has several prerequisites.
First, the cultivator must have cultivated the Acquired Dharma Eye.
Second, the cultivator must refine a strong power of desire.
Third, the cultivator must possess a strong demon bloodline.
Fourth, the cultivator must temper the dual eyes with desire power and demon blood to cultivate ’Yin-Yang Demon Pupils’!
The Yin-Yang Demon Pupils can give birth to Chaos World Rosy Light. The specific color of the Chaos World Rosy Light is related to the type of demon blood the cultivator has.
With the Six Desires Bone in him, Ning Fan’s power of desire is sufficiently strong.
He possesses the ancestral blood of Fu Li, making his demon blood also sufficiently powerful.
Now, having cultivated the Acquired Dharma Eye, he already has the qualification to cultivate Yin-Yang Demon Pupils.
If he cultivates Yin-Yang Demon Pupils, he can produce Chaos World Rosy Light; a ray of rosy light will sweep away all female cultivators!
With a thought, the golden glow in Ning Fan’s eyes reappeared, then he harnessed strands of desire power to his eyes, tempering them.
The pain of tempering felt like burning fire, yet Ning Fan was unmoved.
After a month, the Golden Eye Technique washed by desire power became sharper, with the two eyes beginning to show slight differences.
The left eye’s golden color became brighter; the right eye’s golden color became gloomier.
Retracting the desire power, Ning Fan then drew out Immemorial Fu Li’s Demon Bloodline, using the demon blood to further temper his eyes.
This time, Ning Fan endured three months of pain, and the glow of his eyes had completely changed.
The left eye’s glow transformed from bright gold into purple.
The right eye’s glow transformed from dark gold into black.
One purple, one black, one yang, one yin; thus, Ning Fan’s Yin-Yang Demon Pupils were preliminarily cultivated!
Strands of purple-black rosy light flowed within Ning Fan’s eyes.
He meditated deeply, the rosy light growing more abundant, the spell gradually taking shape.
Three more months passed, and Ning Fan fully cultivated Chaos World Rosy Light!
With a thought, the Yin-Yang Demon Pupils emerge, twin eyes emitting a mysterious purple-black glow.
With another thought, the Yin-Yang Demon Pupils disperse, the glow in the eyes retracts, appearing normal.
In seven months, Ning Fan cultivated Chaos World Rosy Light; should Ancient Chaos be reborn and witness this, he’d surely be compelled to admire.
At this moment, Ning Fan abruptly stood, with a thought, the Yin-Yang Demon Pupils appear!
With a wave, the purple-black rosy light sweeps across the sky, carrying extraordinarily powerful Yin-suppressing force!
By Ning Fan’s estimation, with his current cultivation, deploying this great divine power of Chaos World Purple Rosy Light, even a typical Enlightenment Female Cultivator would find it difficult to withstand this spell!
"This rosy light is predominantly purple, black supporting, thus it shall be named ’Chaos World Purple Rosy Light’..."
Retracting the vast sky full of rosy light, dispersing Yin-Yang Demon Pupils, Ning Fan sat back down, meditation for a good while.
In his heart, he pondered if he could cultivate the Innate Dharma Eye, perhaps the power of Chaos World Purple Rosy Light might further increase.
After meditating for several days, Ning Fan took out a fiery red wine gourd, precisely the item of the Patriarch of the Jun Family.
This gourd is a Six Nirvana Acquired Treasure, yet has no offensive or defensive ability; it is an eminent treasure for brewing wine.
Using this treasure to brew spiritual wine, the wine matures more rapidly, and placing the spiritual wine in the gourd, the energy contained within the wine gradually increases over time.
The Patriarch of the Jun Family spent a lifetime addicted to wine like it was his life. This wine gourd had been by his side for millions of years, the amount of spiritual wine within akin to a vast and boundless ocean.
This spiritual wine is exceedingly mellow, the energy contained within extraordinarily terrifying.
By Ning Fan’s estimation, should he consume this entire ocean of wine, breaking through the Ghost Profound Early Stage would certainly not be an issue!
This wine is excellent!
Ning Fan abruptly stood, uncorked the gourd, and guzzled the spiritual wine within.
Drinking one moment and wildly refining the wine’s energy the next.
One day, two days, three days...
One month, two months, three months...
An entire year passed, and Ning Fan finally consumed the entire ocean of wine, casually storing the wine gourd.
Deprived of spiritual wine, the gourd now served little purpose; Ning Fan would not indulge in leisurely spending tens of thousands to millions of years brewing spiritual wine.
At this moment, Ning Fan’s face was flushed, yet his steps remained steady and his gaze clear.
Consumed with wine, yet he remained uninebriated, gaining insight into the way of wine; should he decide not to be drunk, what wine could render him so?
Sitting crossed-legged on the ground, surging energy accumulated within his Dantian, transforming into streams of warmth, merging into Ning Fan’s Spirit.
Ning Fan’s Mana compared to a year ago at least improved by more than double!
He sat with closed eyes, unmoving for a full month.
Throughout this month, the dual ways of life and death rapidly shifted upon him.
To be born human, to die as ghost, this is from the human perspective of viewing life and death.
When humans consider themselves to be alive, naturally believing ghosts are dead.
However, from the ghost’s angle, perhaps they define themselves as truly alive, whereas reincarnating into human form is considered death.
Ning Fan’s comprehension grew steadily; he realized that the Human Profound and Ghost Profound realms, in essence, demand the immortal cultivators to truly understand the essence of life and death before being able to break through.
Humans are not synonymous with life, ghosts are not synonymous with death. Life and death are relative concepts.
Life refers to beginnings, death refers to endings.
Humans and ghosts have different starting points, different end points, thus their concepts of life and death are different too.
Immortals live eternally undying, with beginnings but no endings, hence they cannot attain a good end.
If an immortal dies, they remain dead forever, thus this life can never continue.
Within the heart’s illusion, Ning Fan stood on the lake of his heart, gazing at the reflection within the lake’s glow.
He watched the reflection watching him.
One real, one imaginary, one true, one false, one alive, one dead...
Or perhaps, this world never truly possesses any reality or illusion, any truth or falsehood, any life or death.
Who is whose reflection, who is alive, who is dead...
You consider yourself alive, yet quite possibly, you are merely a deceased being, and the place you live is just the underworld seen from the eyes of the living...
"At this moment, am I alive or dead... At this moment, am I human or ghost..."
At this moment, Ning Fan felt as if he couldn’t discern his own life and death.
Like not being able to see clearly the connection between dream and reality...
Is reality truly reality? Is a dream merely a dream...
Perhaps what you perceive as reality is only a dream within your dream...
Everyone considers themselves alive, believing dreams are illusions... But are the world’s views truly correct?
What is life, what is death... Between humans and ghosts, who is alive, who is dead...
Suddenly, Ning Fan opened his eyes, the heart’s illusion vanished.
His gaze was unprecedentedly bewildered, seemingly enchanted by the Dao.
His actions were questioning the Dao, seeking the truth of the Dao!
Gradually, Ning Fan’s gaze regained clarity, becoming more determined than before.
He vaguely understood something.
The first cycle of the Heavenly Dao is the Ring of Life and Death!
This cycle ostensibly urges cultivators to pursue immortality, but in reality, it’s to make them realize that immortality is but an illusion.
A Fate Immortal who cannot discern and understand their own life and death has no right to believe they are truly eternal!
Therefore, cultivators must continue to seek Dao Truth, to explore the true essence of the Dao.
The second cycle of the Heavenly Dao is the Ring of Truth and Illusion!
Only those who can see through the essence of the Dao can step into the third phase of cultivation!
At this moment, through pondering over human and ghostly life and death, Ning Fan vaguely saw the path to break through to the third step! 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Cultivators of the third step have a special appellation!
Sage!
Sage, signifying those whose cultivation has reached the level of an Immortal Saint.
One, referring to achieving true ’life’, as only truly living beings can be called human!
Ascending as a sage, descending as a human!
This simple phrase, in fact, encapsulates the entire key to cultivating to the Saint Realm.
Going from the second step of cultivation to the third step involves transforming all illusions into reality, otherwise, one cannot become a sage!
Ning Fan had already vaguely realized that his current state could only be considered as ’falsely living’, with life, death, and fate all being controlled by reincarnation, and he was unable to extricate himself.
The second cycle of the Heavenly Dao seemed like a tranquil lake, and he was drowning in the lake of the second cycle, like a fleeting reflection.
He must leap out of the second cycle of the Heavenly Dao, shed the identity of a reflection, to truly live!
He must escape this cycle of reincarnation to reach the third step of cultivation!
At that time, his life and death would not be governed by reincarnation!
At that time, whether he was human or ghost, only he would decide!
Ning Fan’s eyes grew more determined; he was no longer confused, no longer questioned whether he was real or fake, alive or dead, or just a mere illusion conjured by others’ spells.
That is not important!
Whether he is human or ghost, real or illusion, he would unequivocally continue on this path of cultivation!
At the very least, his obsession is real, his Dao is real, the warmth in his heart is real!
That is enough!
At this moment, Ning Fan suddenly had an epiphany, understanding the meaning behind the words of the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign during the trial of life and death.
He asked the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign whether he was alive or dead, to which the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign gave him an ambiguous answer.
Now, he vaguely understood the mindset of the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign when he uttered those words!
Ning Fan’s gaze was resolute, his aura rising sharply!
"Human or ghost, even if I, Ning Fan, am merely a wandering ghost, even if I am just a phantom-like image conjured by someone else’s spell, even if I never truly existed, what does it matter!"
"What of life, what of death? Regardless of life or death, whatever needs to be done, I will do! As long as my Dao does not perish, my heart shall not die, my body shall not decay!"
"Ghost Profound, break!"
With a cold shout, Ning Fan effortlessly shattered the bottleneck of the Ghost Profound Early Stage!
At this moment, Ning Fan’s aura soared, officially breaking through to the realm of the Ghost Profound Early Stage!
At this moment, Ning Fan’s sheer mana was comparable to that of the Ghost Profound Late Stage!
At this moment, Ning Fan finally understood why cultivators of the second step, upon falling, have the chance to revive through the help of a third-step powerhouse, to return to origin and rebirth.
The immortality and death of the second step are still mere illusions!
Only the Dao is real!
In the second step of cultivation, ’where Dao is, there I am’!
Ning Fan further vaguely realized that the third step of cultivation should be the realm of ’where I am, there Dao is’.
Cultivators ultimately aim to step by step transcend reincarnation and the grand path.
From one who suffers from the cycle of reincarnation, to one who commands the cycle of reincarnation through rigorous cultivation.
In Ning Fan’s mind, Jinchan’s words during the trial of life and death surfaced once more.
’All phenomena are illusory, if one sees all phenomena as non-phenomenal, one sees the Tathagata’.
He had comprehended these words.
"Although I’ve become an Immortal, everything I see and hear is but an illusion; even I cannot distinguish between my real or illusory self. If one day, I can turn all illusions before me into reality, then I will have the qualification to become a sage, to step into the third step of cultivation!"
"As expected, the trial of life and death is a significant opportunity, containing the path to the third step! Whether Jinchan’s words or the teachings of the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign, all aim to guide me to the third step!"
"Unfortunately, the trial of life and death is an ancient calamity; in ancient times, cultivators who became immortals likely needed to overcome this trial. Today’s cultivators becoming immortals without this trial, might be the reason why no one among the four heavens and nine worlds steps into the third step..."
"While I have seen the path to the third step, who knows if I’ll have the chance in this lifetime to step into that legendary realm!"
Ning Fan meditated for a month, thoroughly stabilizing his realm and clearing miscellaneous thoughts.
Even though he had seen the path to the third step, he still needed diligent cultivation and tempering, hoping in this life to step into the third step.
After completely stabilizing his realm, Ning Fan took out the Ancient Demon Corpse gifted by Yao Qingyun and began to study it meticulously.
This Ancient Demon Corpse’s flesh essence had long been depleted, appearing to have no use on the surface.
However, upon obtaining the Cloak Corpse Puppet, Ning Fan suddenly noticed that this Ancient Demon Corpse bore a striking resemblance to the Cloak Corpse Puppet.
That middle-stage Shattered Thought Cloak Corpse Puppet, with its dried flesh, superficially appeared to be a useless corpse, not seen as a puppet by the ordinary eye.
The puppet refining art of the Six Desires Immortal King was quite different from ordinary puppetry.
His puppets, when inactive, resembled useless dead bodies and required puppet threads to control...
Ning Fan suddenly considered a possibility!
"Could it be that this Ancient Demon Corpse isn’t a useless item, but has already been refined into a Desire Puppet by the Six Desires Immortal King?! If so, when I master the Six Desires Puppet Formula, would I be able to control this puppet with puppet threads?!"
Realizing this possibility, Ning Fan’s expression turned solemn.
Given his current cultivation level, even if he mastered the Six Desires Puppet Formula, he wouldn’t momentarily control the middle-stage Shattered Thought puppet.
Without Abandon-Void cultivation level, controlling that puppet would be impossible!
But now, Ning Fan might have acquired an Ancient Demon Puppet comparable to the Initiate Realm of Shekong for free!
If this Ancient Demon Corpse is indeed a puppet, with Ning Fan’s mana comparable to the Ghost Profound Late Stage, mastering the Six Desires Puppetry Technique would allow him to barely command this puppet in battle!
This means Ning Fan could effortlessly add a combatant comparable to the Initiate Realm of Shekong to his side, completely loyal and without any treachery!
A mere corpse, what treachery could it have...
Hence, Ning Fan began to meticulously examine the Ancient Demon Corpse, intending to confirm whether it had been refined into a puppet.
If not, with Ning Fan’s cultivation level, he had no means to refine the Ancient Demon Corpse into a Desire Puppet.
He also didn’t have the time or resources to waste.
According to the Six Desires Puppet Formula, refining a Desire Puppet at the Initiate Realm of Shekong would take hundreds, if not thousands, of years, and the celestial materials required, converted to Dao Crystals, would be astronomical.
If this Ancient Demon Corpse isn’t a finished Desire Puppet, Ning Fan would not invest much attention in it, nor waste enormous effort to refine it into a Desire Puppet.
After an examination, Ning Fan’s frown eased, revealing a satisfied smile.
Inside this Ancient Demon Corpse, there were indeed remnants of broken Desire Puppet Threads, and it was actually a finished Desire Puppet.
If Ning Fan mastered the Six Desires Puppetry Technique and could condense puppet threads, his cultivation level would suffice to barely control this puppet in battle!
At that time, Ning Fan could indeed have an additional combatant at the Initiate Realm of Shekong by his side!
It seemed necessary to diligently practice the Six Desires Puppet Formula.
Besides discovering broken puppet threads in the Ancient Demon Corpse, Ning Fan also found shattered devil symbols within its corpse.
Based on the rank of the devil symbols, this Ancient Demon was not among the strongest of the Ancient Demon Clan, at most of middling strength.
This Ancient Demon’s devil symbol, compared to Ning Fan’s Mo Luo’s Ancestral Talisman, was not on the same level.
Ning Fan summoned Mo Luo’s Ancestral Talisman with a wave, and barely repaired the shattered devil symbol from within the Ancient Demon Corpse.
After the repair, this Ancient Demon Corpse now possessed a remnant symbol that was far less powerful than a complete devil symbol from before, yet better than nothing.
Ning Fan, in turn, utilized the power of the ancestral talisman to extract substantial useful information from that remnant symbol.
For instance, he effortlessly gained a True Enlightenment-level Ancient Demon martial art named ’Formless Heavenly Demon Seal’.
Additionally, he acquired insights into the second step cultivation method and realm division of the Ancient Demons!
"Currently, my Ancient Demon cultivation has reached the Supreme Demon Peak; the next realm is ’Timekeeper’!" Ning Fan’s eyes shone brightly!
(1/2) (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)
