Grasping the Evil-Chapter 842: Her Bones!
The second round of the grand competition continued, and on the first day, not a single Tomb Guardian succeeded in passing the trial.
Among the 9 Tomb Guardians, the highest cultivation was at the Ghost Profound Late Stage, and none could pass the first five tombs.
The second day began, and only then did some Peak Ghost Profound Cultivators manage to pass the first five tombs.
Without Peak Ghost Profound cultivation, it was almost impossible to pass the fifth tomb and advance. According to Ning Fan’s observations, to pass the fifth tomb, one needed at least nearly peak Ghost Profound cultivation.
By the seventeenth day, out of 174 Tomb Guardians, 125 had finished their tomb trials.
Of these 135 people, all had cultivations in the Life Immortal Realm, with only 27 advancing to the third round, most of them being at the Ghost Profound Peak, and few at the late-stage cultivators.
Even those at Ghost Profound Peak often could not get past the sixth tomb, and there were almost none who could pass the seventh tomb.
Among the 49 who had not yet attempted the tomb, apart from Ning Fan, all were Enlightenment Masters.
The first among these 49 to attempt the tomb was ’Blood Slave’ Yuan Kuang.
"Yuan Family, Yuan Kuang!"
As Elder Yanx called Yuan Kuang’s name, a bald strong man immediately stepped out from the crowd, it was Yuan Kuang.
As he walked out, the crowd’s attention focused on him immediately from the high stages surrounding the venue.
Many old monsters had heard that Yuan Kuang had broken through the Initial Stage of Crossing Truth, and although his realm was not stable, it was nearly certain he’d break into the top fifty in this trial.
"The seventh tomb will be easy for Yuan Kuang, the eighth tomb a little difficult, but the ninth tomb is beyond his capability... I wonder if Yuan Kuang can pass the eighth tomb..."
Some old monsters murmured, while others quietly shifted their gaze toward Ning Fan.
They had heard that Ning Fan once repelled Yuan Kuang with a single sword strike...
"Brother Ning, I apologize for the offense I caused that day, I hope you’ll forgive me!"
Yuan Kuang did not go directly to the tomb trial but first approached Ning Fan, solemnly apologizing.
He was apologizing for his past offensive remarks to Ning Fan at the Divine Tomb Market.
Ning Fan glanced slightly at Yuan Kuang and said indifferently, "I’ve forgotten about that incident."
"Brother Ning is magnanimous, Yuan Kuang is impressed! See you in the third round!"
Yuan Kuang cupped his fists in thanks, secretly relieved. He dared not offend Ning Fan now, fearing he might hold a grudge.
Seeing Ning Fan not bearing any grudges, Yuan Kuang felt the weight in his heart lift and immediately moved into the first tomb.
Three breaths later, Yuan Kuang passed the first tomb and without resting in the Tomb Palace, he directly used the Teleportation Formation to enter the second tomb.
Five breaths later, Yuan Kuang passed the second tomb and continued forward, passing the first six tombs before leaving the Tomb Palace for the first time, resting for the time of a joss stick.
Once the time was up, Yuan Kuang steadied himself and entered the seventh tomb, spending a hundred breaths before passing.
After resting, Yuan Kuang continued to the eighth tomb, where he stayed for two hours.
After two hours, divine light suddenly burst from the eighth tomb, and Yuan Kuang emerged from the Tomb Palace, covered in blood, too severely injured to attempt the ninth tomb.
Knowing it would be futile to continue, Yuan Kuang decisively abandoned the ninth tomb.
"Even with Yuan Kuang’s cultivation, he could only pass the eighth tomb... Could I pass the twenty-fourth tomb..." Ning Fan’s gaze turned serious.
There was a special rule in the second round: If any Tomb Guardian passed the twenty-fourth tomb, they would be instantly proclaimed the first in the tomb trial, ending the grand competition. The third round would be canceled, and all Tomb Guardians’ rankings would be based on the results of the first two rounds!
Of course, if more than one person passed the twenty-fourth tomb, they would all be tied for first place.
This rule was included in the information provided by Wang Meng.
If possible, Ning Fan would naturally want to break through the twenty-four tombs and directly take the first place.
However, it seemed, with his current cultivation, his chances of passing the twenty-four tombs in one go were slim...
"Binding Shadow Sect, Qin Hong!"
As Elder Yanx’s voice fell, Qin Kong’s brother, Qin Hong, stepped out from the crowd.
Qin Hong looked unwell, although he defeated Luo Xuan and others, he also suffered significant injuries that hadn’t healed, and with his cultivation declining, he had little confidence in passing the eighth tomb.
Indeed, after passing seven tombs in a row, Qin Hong finally stopped at the eighth tomb.
After Qin Hong, four more days passed. During these days, along with Yuan Kuang and Qin Hong, a total of 45 Initial Stage Crossing Truth Realm Tomb Guardians completed their trials.
Most of these 45 stopped at the eighth or ninth tomb, and only three managed to pass the ninth tomb, with their strength slightly inferior to Chen Xiao.
If Chen Xiao were still alive, he might have passed the tenth tomb.
Apart from Ning Fan, only three people hadn’t attempted the tomb yet. One was Jun Changdong, whose cultivation revealed was Mid Stage of Receiving True.
The second was Fellow Daoist Xu, who occasionally glanced at Ning Fan with a hint of hostility.
The last was a female cultivator wearing a goose-yellow dress, also with the Mid Stage of Receiving True.
"Void Sect Disciple, Yue Han!"
As Elder Yanx’s voice fell, Yue Han, the yellow-clad woman, gracefully stepped out.
As she passed by Ning Fan, she suddenly stopped, proudly saying to him, "I know a bit of the Dao Thought Technique too, it’s nothing impressive."
After speaking, six moon-colored divine stars suddenly lit up between Yue Han’s brows.
At the same time, ten cold light-exuding moon blades began to whirl around her with astonishing momentum.
"This is... the Tenth Blade? Celestial Maiden Yuehan’s Moon Transformation Technique has been cultivated to the tenth level!"
"The tenth level! The highest realm! It’s said that once the Moon Transformation Technique reaches the tenth level, it can integrate a trace of the Dao Thought force into the Divine Skill, transforming the Moon Transformation Technique into a Dao Thought Technique! In that case, Celestial Maiden Yuehan can also perform the Dao Thought Technique! Incredible!"
"What great talent this girl has! Although not a complete Dao Thought Technique, and not comparable to Thousand Autumn Ancestor, it’s enough to be proud of!"
The arena was immediately abuzz with discussion.
The sounds were somewhat grating, causing Yuehan to frown slightly and withdraw the moon blades with a wave.
What did they mean she couldn’t compare to Ning Fan... that wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
Looking at Ning Fan again, the annoyance in her beautiful eyes grew even more.
Before the tomb competition, she had finally mastered the tenth level of the Moon Transformation Technique, incorporating a trace of Dao Thought into her Divine Skill.
She had hoped to amaze everyone at this tomb competition, but unexpectedly, Ning Fan had demonstrated the Dao Thought Technique first, shocking the entire arena.
Indeed, when she displayed her Dao Thought Technique to the crowd today, it simply couldn’t stir much excitement...
Thely, they all chanted how she couldn’t compare to Ning Fan... how infuriating!
"What does it matter to me whether the lady knows the Dao Thought Technique?" Ning Fan said expressionlessly.
"I just want to tell you that in the third round, I will defeat you! Whether it’s you, Fellow Daoist Xu, or Jun Changdong, I will defeat you all!"
Yue Han threw a parting shot and continued toward the first tomb.
Ning Fan maintained a blank expression, as if he hadn’t heard Yue Han’s provocation at all.
Similar to Yuan Kuang and Yue Han, as long as the provocation was only verbal, Ning Fan wouldn’t take it to heart.
Yue Han, indeed formidable, passed tombs one through nine without once leaving the Tomb Palace, and only spent twenty breaths passing the ninth tomb.
She spent just a hundred breaths to pass the tenth tomb, and after passing it, she finally left the Tomb Palace for a brief rest.
For the eleventh tomb, she took two hours to pass, emerging from the Tomb Palace with many injuries.
For the twelfth tomb, she took two hours to pass, emerging from the Tomb Palace with her yellow dress stained with blood.
Her aura was weak, yet she maintained a cold, proud demeanor, appearing as if arrogance was ingrained in her bones.
Even knowing that in her current state, she probably couldn’t pass the thirteenth tomb, she still gritted her teeth and entered.
In the thirteenth tomb, she struggled for four hours but ultimately passed, at the cost of losing half an arm.
In the fourteenth tomb, she failed, yet the surrounding spectators let out countless exclamations of surprise.
"Thirteen tombs! The first-place finisher of the previous tomb competition only reached thirteen tombs in the second round!"
"Celestial Maiden Yuehan has a strong chance to take first in this tomb competition, having passed thirteen tombs!"
Having lost half an arm, Yuehan’s face was pale without a trace of blood, yet she proudly cast a glance at Ning Fan.
The interval between the second and third rounds was three months, enough time for her to reconstruct her arm without affecting her performance in the third round.
"A bold woman indeed, losing an arm yet daring to challenge the fourteenth tomb..."
Ning Fan murmured calmly, but that was all, not considering Yuehan too significant.
His attention lay more on Fellow Daoist Xu.
When his name was called, Fellow Daoist Xu slowly stepped out, each step carrying an indescribable mystery.
Although not like Ning Fan who treads on the traces with each step, it was still a commendable ’step by step in alignment with the Dao.’
Naturally, after Ning Fan’s stunning debut last time, this person’s footwork did not cause much shock, at most just a few exclamations.
Walking to Ning Fan’s side, Fellow Daoist Xu also stopped, looking coldly at Ning Fan, "I heard you killed Xu Nian?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
"And what if I did?" Ning Fan did not deny it.
That day, he killed Xu Nian in front of many masters from the Godly Void Pavilion, and the report of Xu Nian’s death had probably long been sent back to the Godly Void Pavilion.
The other party directly asked, so denying it obviously had no meaning.
"I am Xu Nian’s cousin and naturally should avenge him! You killed him, it was a fair duel. I will kill you in a fair duel as well! In the third round, I will personally kill you, so you can prepare well!"
Having said that, Fellow Daoist Xu stepped into the first tomb and ventured all the way to the eleventh tomb before exiting the tomb palace to rest.
The twelfth tomb, Fellow Daoist Xu took a hundred breaths to clear.
The thirteenth tomb, Fellow Daoist Xu took half an hour.
The fourteenth tomb, Fellow Daoist Xu took three hours.
The fifteenth tomb, Fellow Daoist Xu took six hours.
Fellow Daoist Xu did not attempt the sixteenth tomb, directly giving up, showing quite the decisiveness.
"He actually cleared fifteen tombs! Fellow Daoist Xu was absent in the last tomb challenge, did not participate. If he had, the first place might have changed hands!" Many old monsters on the four high platforms were shocked.
"I’ll be waiting for you in the third round." Fellow Daoist Xu said coldly.
Though his voice was cold, it was an open challenge to Ning Fan.
Ning Fan’s gaze narrowed, this Fellow Daoist Xu was a Mid Stage Enlightenment cultivator, but if he faced a Late Stage Enlightenment cultivator, he probably wouldn’t lose.
Since this person had issued such an open challenge, Ning Fan naturally wouldn’t refuse. If they met in the third round, then they would fight and see who lives or dies!
"Jun Family, Jun Changdong!"
Elder Yan’s voice spread as he called out Jun Changdong’s name.
Jun Changdong was slightly startled, then shook his head and chuckled.
The four high platforms were buzzing with discussions, most of which revolved around the topic of ’Ning Fan being the finale’.
"Brother Jun, what’s your goal, which tomb?" Ning Fan suddenly asked Jun Changdong, as he had some admiration for him.
"Fifth tomb."
Jun Changdong smiled meaningfully and stepped into the first tomb.
Everyone was expecting Jun Changdong to achieve more remarkable results, yet after passing the fifth tomb, Jun Changdong directly walked out, giving up on the sixth tomb.
With the shock brought by Cold Moon and Fellow Daoist Xu, even if Jun Changdong cleared the sixteenth tomb, many would feel it was expected.
However, Jun Changdong surprisingly stopped at the fifth tomb and gave up, which left many people stunned.
At the Jun Family’s seats, many old monsters frowned, while discussions gradually started around them.
"Could it be that the Bone Immortal Lord is afraid of being calculated against in the second round again, so he only seeks to qualify without aiming for a second round result?"
"Or perhaps the Bone Immortal Lord knows he can’t compare to Fellow Daoist Xu and Cold Moon, so he simply gives up the second round, who knows."
Only Ning Fan understood why Jun Changdong made such a surprising move.
His eyes flashed with azure light, also lingering at the sixth tomb, deep in thought.
After a moment, he said to Jun Changdong, "Thank you for the reminder."
"I, Lord Jun, did not remind you of anything, Brother Ning should be careful." Jun Changdong chuckled nonchalantly, quietly putting away the sensing compass in his sleeve.
This was a compass specifically for sensing that fierce creature, Jun Changdong wouldn’t be ambushed by that creature a second time. Before entering the tomb, he already knew where that creature was.
According to his sensing, that fierce creature was lurking in the sixth tomb!
His stopping at the fifth tomb was both a way to avoid fighting that fierce creature and a subtle reminder to Ning Fan to not enter the sixth tomb.
"Luo Family, Ning Fan!"
As Elder Yan gently called the last name, the four surroundings instantly fell into silence.
At this moment, everyone’s gaze converged on Ning Fan.
Due to his exceptional performance in the first round, Ning Fan was placed as the last entrant in this second round.
Countless old monsters eagerly awaited, hoping Ning Fan would bring them another shock.
"I wonder how many levels this person can clear... if he can clear fifteen tombs, the third round will be a tough battle." Fellow Daoist Xu muttered to himself.
"Fellow Daoist Xu is an exception, this person cannot possibly be like Fellow Daoist Xu... surpass me..." Cold Moon bit her teeth, unwilling to be outdone by Ning Fan, unwilling.
"This boy will die in the sixth tomb!" Chen Xuan secretly thought, his face full of cold sneers but kept quiet.
Li Xiaoxiao sat up straight, and the little demoness opened her sleepy eyes, yawning.
All the expressions of countless old monsters became invigorated as Ning Fan stepped into the first tomb.
They wanted to witness a miracle once more!
Unfortunately, those hoping to see a miracle were destined for disappointment.
Even in the first tomb, Ning Fan stayed for the time of a stick of incense.
"Uh... what is the Thousand Autumn Ancestor doing? With his strength, he should be able to pass the first tomb in an instant, why is he taking so long?" some old monsters whispered.
...
In the first tomb, inside the tomb palace.
Before him was a desolate graveyard, and the moment Ning Fan stepped into the first tomb, thousands of illusionary dead spirits immediately flew out from these graves.
Most of these dead spirits’ cultivations weren’t high, only a few reached the Ghost Profound Early Stage.
He had been in the tomb palace for less than three breaths before all the dead spirits were slaughtered, leaving only one.
Leaving one temporarily, Ning Fan walked to the other end of the tomb palace, where there was a Teleportation Formation leading directly to the second tomb.
If Ning Fan killed this last dead spirit, the Teleportation Formation would light up, and Ning Fan could be teleported to the second tomb.
Of course, if he chose not to teleport, in a few breaths, he would be transported back to the outside world and could walk into the second tomb.
As long as not all dead spirits were killed, Ning Fan could stay here indefinitely without being forced out.
Squatting down, rain intent flickered in Ning Fan’s eyes, and he pressed his palm on the Teleportation Formation.
Using the power of the Teleportation Formation, Ning Fan sent his rain intent to the second tomb, third tomb, fourth tomb, all the way to the sixth tomb.
Inside the sixth tomb’s tomb palace, it started to rain lightly, and in an instant, Ning Fan sensed many things.
This sensing lasted for one stick of incense time, and after that, Ning Fan abruptly stood up, his eyes filled with a grave look.
"It’s actually an Innate Thunder Spirit of the Mid Stage of Shekong!"
"If it were just the Mid Stage of Shekong, it wouldn’t matter; after all, it’s just a Thunder Spirit, my Thunder Diagram Supernatural Powers might not be incapable of handling it, but there seems to be some aura on this Thunder Spirit that makes me very uneasy, extremely uneasy... as if slaying this Thunder Spirit would cause something bad to happen..."
"What is this feeling..."
Ning Fan seemed to feel a kind of coldness and trepidation from the depths of his soul, as if an unprecedented danger was ahead, a feeling that rarely appeared in his cultivation journey.
A trace of Blood Lightning in his veins boiled at this moment...
When this feeling emerged, Ning Fan’s expression suddenly changed, and in an instant, he thought of something!
On the Innate Thunder Spirit ahead, there was clearly a trace of Blood Lightning aura!
In an instant, Ning Fan made a decision. Whether he could slay the Innate Thunder Spirit of the sixth tomb or not, it was not wise to go to the sixth tomb!
The trace of Blood Lightning within the Thunder Spirit conveyed too much crisis to him!
"Indeed, I should follow Jun Changdong’s example and stop at the fifth tomb..."
Ning Fan made up his mind, immediately waving his hand to eliminate the last dead spirit here.
At the moment the Teleportation Formation activated, Ning Fan entered the formation, into the second tomb, breaking through the tombs one by one.
After passing the fifth tomb, Ning Fan was waiting to be teleported out of the tomb when suddenly, as he looked at the Teleportation Formation leading to the sixth tomb, he was in disbelief!
The thought of withdrawing from the fifth tomb vanished in an instant, and he stepped into the sixth tomb!
He unexpectedly sensed a very familiar aura from the Thunder Spirit of the sixth tomb!
The source of this aura was a bone whip made of white bones!
The bones on that whip, every wisp of aura, belonged to the Thunder Emperor in Red!
"It’s Red’s bones! What happened to her! Why were her bones refined into a whip!"
(Spoiler, Red is not in trouble, just to prevent everyone’s worry, these are bones from Red’s past life) (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation or monthly tickets, your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)
