Grasping the Evil-Chapter 810: Campaign Command
Ning Fan smiled bitterly in his heart. How could he dare to blame Quasi-Saint Xiang Mingzi?
In fact, being suddenly called by a Quasi-Saint, the one who should feel nervous, was Ning Fan himself.
"Young friend, there’s no need to worry. I mean no harm, I just want to exchange some cultivation insights with you, that’s all. If you are unwilling, you may leave, and I shall not stop you."
Xiang Mingzi smiled slightly, yet his expression was somewhat melancholy.
As he looked more closely at Ning Fan, Nan Mingzi felt even more that Ning Fan carried an aura strikingly similar to Senluo.
The same standing in the bloody mist, the same heart full of emotions, the same Demon Lord with persistent beliefs...
Others might not see through much of Ning Fan’s true nature, but Xiang Mingzi could vaguely tell that Ning Fan was a demon cultivator.
Ning Fan pondered rapidly, mulling over Xiang Mingzi’s words.
"This person should harbor no ill intentions towards me; otherwise, he could simply rely on his Quasi-Saint cultivation to act directly without the need for superfluous words..."
"From what he said, he seems to have already opened the First Heavenly Gate, and just wants to exchange insights on unity with heaven and man with me."
After some contemplation, Ning Fan finally nodded, agreeing to the elder’s request.
Xiang Mingzi also nodded with satisfaction, and suddenly, as he raised his hand, the two figures gradually faded and vanished on the heavenly ladder.
"Not good! Brother Xiang was taken away by that senior of the second step!" Several Nascent Soul disciples immediately exclaimed, their faces full of desolation, yet they were powerless.
Within such a colossal entity as the Godly Void Pavilion, Nascent Soul cultivators were merely akin to ants, with their life and death almost unnoticed.
In their eyes, Xiang Mingzi had been captured by Ning Fan and would likely meet a grim fate...
It was only Xiang Mingzi’s audacity that led him to offend a senior of the second step with his Nascent Soul cultivation. Though they were concerned for Xiang Mingzi, they were powerless to assist...
They did not know, nor did anyone on the entire heavenly ladder know, that in reality, neither Ning Fan nor Xiang Mingzi had left their original spot; they still stood on the heavenly ladder, yet it was as if they were in another space.
Ning Fan looked at the empty heavenly ladder, the empty Shenkong Star, and said with a start,
"This is... a barrier!"
Just an instant ago, Nan Mingzi had erected a barrier across the entire scope of Shenkong Star, isolating everyone’s probing.
They were still present, yet no one could know.
"Young friend, don’t be alarmed. The reason I set up a barrier here is merely to prevent others from disturbing our conversation. If you wish to leave, I can open the barrier at any time and send you away." Xiang Mingzi explained with a smile, his demeanor carrying an inexplicable sense of intimacy.
Perhaps it was because of the unity of heaven and man, or perhaps it was Ning Fan’s aura so akin to Senluo, or perhaps it was because Ning Fan remained calm despite his surprise. Xiang Mingzi’s attitude towards Ning Fan was surprisingly affable, almost like a senior.
Ning Fan was slightly taken aback, settling his heart a bit, and cupping his fists in respect to Xiang Mingzi, he said,
"Junior Ning Fan, greets Senior."
His tone was very respectful, yet his heart remained on high alert. Unnoticed, the Slaughter Emperor Jade Slip was already hidden in his sleeve, and he was prepared to activate the Illusory Life Pill’s effects if necessary...
"Ning Fan... Entering the mortal world not for immortality, it’s a good name indeed."
Xiang Mingzi’s blind eyes moved slightly, turning towards the direction of Ning Fan’s sleeve, as if he could see the protective item hidden within, yet he didn’t mention it, only sighed softly, shook his head, and continued,
"I am Xiang Mingzi, the same as you, having opened the First Heavenly Gate. I called you today to exchange cultivation experiences about unity with heaven and man. May I ask what impression you have of opening the Heavenly Gate?" His tone was exceedingly courteous.
"Impressions...?" Ning Fan’s gaze flickered, he pondered for a moment before speaking, "The biggest impression I had of opening the Heavenly Gate was how coincidental it was, so coincidental there were no signs whatsoever..."
"You think the opening of the Heavenly Gate is purely coincidental, is that right? Initially, when I opened the Heavenly Gate, I shared your view, but as time passed, my perspective gradually changed. Everything in this world, every apparent coincidence has its inevitability. In my opinion, the opening of the Heavenly Gate does have its traces."
"I have refrained from worldly affairs for countless years. These years, I sometimes disguise myself as a Nascent Soul cultivator, sweeping the heavenly ladder with these cultivators, sometimes as a mortal in some Cultivation Star, living in seclusion in a mortal realm. Once, I encountered a great scholar from the mortal world, sought his wisdom, and he imparted to me three great realms of life. I believe these three realms bear much similarity to our path of cultivation. Would you like to hear it?"
Xiang Mingzi smiled slightly, then ascended the heavenly ladder slowly, step by step, upwards.
Ning Fan’s gaze shifted, following behind Xiang Mingzi, respectfully saying, "I am willing to hear Senior’s profound insights."
"Hehe, that great scholar told me, in the mortal world, those who have accomplished great feats throughout history, all embody three great realms. The first great realm is the realm of ’solitary cultivation’, and if one were to describe it with a line of poetry from the mortal world, it would be, ’Climbing alone to the high tower, gazing all around to the world’s ends’..."
"In the first step of cultivation, we, the cultivators, mostly pursue longevity. This kind of cultivation is ultimately passive, driven by fear of death, fear of perishing, fear of life coming to an end... The first step cultivators believe that longevity is the end of cultivation, they believe they have witnessed the vastness of the Great Dao, and have seen the ends of the world, but little do they know, this is merely their view from the bottom of a well. The Great Dao has no endpoint, this world has no edges... Though unaware, they still cultivate solitarily, amassing what they learn, just to one day see everything clearly, and that is the first great realm of cultivation."
"The Great Dao has no endpoint... This world has no edges..." Ning Fan’s gaze shifted.
"When we step into the second phase of cultivation, we gradually realize that life and death are but illusions, and longevity is merely the beginning of long death. At this time, their pursuit is no longer longevity, but Dao’s truth. They seek to understand Dao’s truth, unconstrained, persistent in heart, unregretful despite defeat... This is the second great realm of cultivation, the realm of ’persistent without regret’. In my view, second-step cultivators excel not just because they possess stronger cultivation, but because their pursuit of the Great Dao is more intense."
"The pursuit of the Great Dao..." Ning Fan murmured.
"The third step of cultivation is so distant... In my eyes, it is a realm of ’looking back suddenly’... Entering cultivation from the mortal realm, achieving immortality through cultivation, and re-entering the mortal world as an immortal, perhaps only then can one step into that remote third phase of cultivation..."
Speaking of this, Xiang Mingzi suddenly showed a look of bewilderment.
He has been at the Quasi-Saint cultivation level for countless years, but still cannot step into the legendary third step of cultivation...
"What Senior said about splitting the three steps of cultivation each into major realms is quite philosophical. But what does this have to do with opening the door to the Unity of Heaven and Man?" Ning Fan suddenly asked, interrupting Xiang Mingzi’s wistful contemplation. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"Solitary cultivation, relentless pursuit, looking back suddenly, things fall into place... This is how this old man sees the opening method of the Gate of Heaven and Man. But in your eyes, it seems just a coincidence." Xiang Mingzi said with a hint of a smile.
"Solitary cultivation, relentless pursuit, looking back suddenly, things fall into place..."
Ning Fan’s eyes suddenly trembled violently as if enlightened, understanding something yet unable to express it.
Xiang Mingzi looked at Ning Fan with a smile, as if finding confirmation from Ning Fan’s comprehension, he too gained something.
"It seems that you have cultivated the Luo Family’s Flames of War Divine Skills. Is your visit to the Divine Tomb today to seek a battle?" Xiang Mingzi suddenly asked.
"Indeed." Ning Fan collected his expression and replied respectfully.
"It is fate that I meet you today. Let me give you this item. Perhaps one day, it can help you practice the Battle Art. If you can master the Fourth Transformation of the Battle Art and awaken the Luo Family War King, it may slightly offset my disciple’s sins..."
Xiang Mingzi gestured with his hand, took out a square golden order, and handed it to Ning Fan.
On the token, there was only one inscribed divine seal — ’War’!
"This is... the ’Campaign Command’ of the Four Oceans Sect! Those who hold this token can freely use the four Teleportation Formations of the Four Heavens immortal world to enter and exit the barbaric wilderness battlefield where the Four Heavens and the demon race have been at war for generations!" Ning Fan’s eyes immediately showed his emotions.
In the Four Oceans Sect, only those whose Immortal Position level has reached the ’Fourth Rank Celestial Supervisor’ can be granted the Campaign Command!
Throughout the Four Heavens, anyone with a Celestial Supervisor Immortal Position is at least an ancient monster beyond eons!
And only the twenty-eight ’Ancient Emperors of Stars’ of the Four Oceans Sect possess the Third-Rank Star Lord Immortal Position.
There is currently no one with a second or first Immortal Position...
Nominally, Ning Fan was granted an Eighth Rank Immortal Position in the Demon-Sealing Peak, which makes him a low-class celestial official among the Ninth Class rank.
Given Ning Fan’s qualifications, it is impossible for him to be granted the Campaign Command through official channels.
"I cannot accept this order."
Ning Fan collected his expression, intending to return the Campaign Command to Xiang Mingzi.
Xiang Mingzi simply waved it off, not accepting it, then dissolved the barrier with a wave, walking step by step down the heavenly ladder, transmitting his voice to Ning Fan with a smile,
"The battle intent on the Broken Spear Peaks is ultimately limited. The War King Luo Hou mastered the Fourth Transformation on the wilderness battlefield. This order is just a useless item in my possession, but it will be of some help to you, so you need not refuse. Moreover, this is not a favor to you, but an apology to the Luo Family... It is merely my hope to awaken the War King through your hands, nothing more..."
"Alright, young friend, you should head to the Divine Tomb now."
Xiang Mingzi only smiled, never turning back again.
Ning Fan looked at Xiang Mingzi’s back, silently for a long time, and in the end, after carefully inspecting the order, put it in his storage pouch.
Then, after slightly cupping his hands towards Xiang Mingzi, he turned and continued up the heavenly ladder.
Although he held no fondness for the Godly Void Pavilion, he did not have much animosity towards Xiang Mingzi.
What surprised Ning Fan was that a grand Quasi-Saint cultivation like Xiang Mingzi could be kind to others, unlike some powerful old monsters who were arrogant and self-assured.
To befriend Nascent Soul cultivators, and to discuss Dao with mortals... In Xiang Mingzi, there was a quality of returning to simplicity...
The Immortal Emperor stands at the peak of immortals. But a Quasi-Saint is slowly descending, reentering the mortal realm...
"Climbing to immortals when ascending, becoming human when descending... My journey has not yet reached the immortal peak, it is far from the time to descend..."
Ning Fan walked step by step to the top of the heavenly ladder, stepping into the Elliptical Light Gate, appearing in a vast and boundless land.
This land is, in fact, an enormous and limitless bronze coffin casket, with nine layers of worlds inside, built with countless tomb mounds.
And Ning Fan is now inside this casket, in the first world of the Divine Tomb.
The view is desolate. In the extreme distance, millions of giant palaces are built, each resembling a giant coffin...
Nearby, there is a small cultivation market, with hundreds of cultivation shops here.
Some of these cultivation shops are opened by Godly Void Pavilion cultivators, while others are rented by outside cultivators to sell various heavenly materials and treasures. Of course, the most commonly sold items are the different grades of Primordial Divine Demon Techniques.
"Excuse me, senior, have you come to the Tomb Realm to challenge various ’Tomb Palaces’, or to purchase Cultivation Techniques or Crystals of Inheritance? Would you need this young lady to act as your guide?"
As Ning Fan was observing, a beautiful Void Fragmentation female cultivator with charming eyes approached him on the bustling long street of the cultivation market.
With her years of experience in the Tomb Realm, she could tell at a glance that Ning Fan was visiting the Divine Tomb for the first time.
If she could act as a guide for Ning Fan in the Divine Tomb, she thought she might earn quite a few Dao Crystals. (To be continued. If you like this work, please go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
