Grasping the Evil-Chapter 884: The First Awakening of Blood Lightning
The first breath was very short and passed quickly, but for the Earth Controlling Devil Star and the Tieya Daoist, it was probably the longest time of their lives.
Their hearts were in torment, fearing both Ning Fan’s terrifying divine skills and the humiliation of bowing down to a junior.
Both were Ancient Celestial Sovereigns, and anyone who reached the Immortal Venerable Realm was full of pride; how could they willingly serve as slaves?
Yet, faced with Ning Fan’s threatening words, neither had the courage to refuse. Even ants cling to life, and naturally, they too cherished their lives.
"Second breath!"
As the two hesitated, the second breath passed again.
When Ning Fan’s voice, like a demand for their lives, resounded, their hearts sank simultaneously, knowing that if they didn’t decide before Ning Fan counted to three, it would be too late.
"I’m willing to serve you as a slave, but I have one condition!" The psychological defenses of the Earth Controlling Devil Star first crumbled, and he gritted his teeth, speaking to Ning Fan.
"Speak!" Ning Fan replied, his expression unchanged.
"I will serve you for a million years, but after that, you must return my freedom! After all, I’m also an Immortal Venerable; I can’t serve as a slave for life! If you don’t agree to this condition, I would rather die than submit to you! For us Immortal Venerables, being a slave for life is almost equivalent to death; what is the meaning of life without freedom? Do you accept this condition?" The Earth Controlling Devil Star replied with some dignity, though his expression held a trace of tension.
He couldn’t serve Ning Fan for life, but if it was only for a million years, he could consider it; after all, for an Eternal Immortal Venerable, a million years is as short as a day.
If Ning Fan didn’t agree to his condition, despite cherishing life, he would choose to fight to the death against Ning Fan, as he still had the pride of an Eternal Immortal Venerable in his heart.
"I can agree to your condition, but you must entrust your ’soul’ to me for safekeeping!" Ning Fan stated, allowing no refusal.
"What! You want me to entrust my soul to you? That’s impossible! At most, I would allow you to place a Restrictive Spell on me!" The Earth Controlling Devil Star’s eyes widened with anger as he refused without a second thought.
Beside him, the Tieya Daoist’s expression also darkened.
When Ning Fan agreed to the Earth Controlling Devil Star’s condition, the Tieya Daoist was tempted. He, like the Earth Controlling Devil Star, was willing to forgo a million years of freedom and submit to Ning Fan to preserve his life. But hearing Ning Fan’s demand for their soul, the Tieya Daoist hesitated again and remained silent.
The Nascent Soul and soul of a Second Step cultivator are fused and inseparable. If the Nascent Soul dies, the soul disperses. But upon reaching the Eternal Realm, a cultivator can extract a strand of soul power from the Nascent Soul, known as a ’soul’.
The soul has a major flaw: if accidentally destroyed, it would lead to the death of the Eternal Old Freak himself.
For the Eternal Old Freak, it is only when one sincerely pledges loyalty to someone that they would entrust their soul, thus placing their life and death completely in another’s hands.
At that moment, Ning Fan unleashed his full momentum without hiding his cultivation. With the eyesight of the Earth Controlling Devil Star and the Tieya Daoist, they could naturally see that Ning Fan’s true cultivation was in the Mid Stage of Enlightenment.
The gap between the Mid Stage of Enlightenment and the Peak of Shekong was already more than one major realm. Even though Ning Fan was not an ordinary Mid Stage Enlightenment cultivator, casting a Restrictive Spell on them would be extremely difficult. Even if he succeeded, due to the cultivation gap, the Restrictive Spell could at most severely injure them, but not threaten their lives.
The Earth Controlling Devil Star and the Tieya Daoist’s bottom line was to only allow Ning Fan to place a Restrictive Spell on them, but they would never entrust their soul to him.
Ning Fan also understood this, which is why he demanded their soul; it was a last resort.
A Restrictive Spell that couldn’t threaten their lives couldn’t ensure their loyalty. After surviving today’s crisis, who knew if the Earth Controlling Devil Star or the Tieya Daoist might harbor betrayal in the future, risking severe injuries to break the Restrictive Spell...
The cultivation gap was obvious; the Restrictive Spell was unreliable! Only by obtaining their soul could the two former Immortal Venerables truly submit!
"If you two entrust your soul to me, Ning Fan, I’ll only keep you as slaves for ten thousand years. After that, I will grant you freedom! If there is an opportunity, I can even help you find a suitable physical body to Corpse Seize and restore your Immortal Venerable cultivation. But if you refuse to entrust your soul, well..."
"This is your last chance; I ask again: do you truly refuse to entrust your soul?"
Ning Fan’s gaze coldly swept over the Earth Controlling Devil Star and the Tieya Daoist, using a wisp of pressure from the Slaughter Emperor Jade Slip to intimidate them, though he didn’t speak definitively, inwardly sighing.
If they insisted on not entrusting their soul, Ning Fan would have no choice but to settle for placing a Restrictive Spell on them for the time being; other matters would have to wait for another day.
The Earth Controlling Devil Star and the Tieya Daoist exchanged glances, seeing hesitance in each other’s eyes.
Both were Eternal Immortal Venerables, and being a slave for ten thousand years versus a million years was essentially the same; it was just the difference between a short and a long seclusion.
They didn’t expect Ning Fan to find a suitable physical body for them to Corpse Seize and restore their cultivation...
Now they only had illusory Nascent Soul remnants, their physical bodies long lost, their cultivation severely damaged. Unless they found a body at the level of an Eternal Immortal Venerable, it would be impossible to rebuild to Immortal Venerable cultivation. Suitable Immortal Venerable bodies weren’t easily found.
They weren’t much swayed by Ning Fan’s words and still didn’t wish to entrust their soul, but even if they didn’t want to, what could they do?
If they didn’t entrust their soul, Ning Fan might just kill them here...
"This youngster is clearly just a junior in the Enlightenment stage; why does he possess so many defiant divine skills to protect himself? What is this young man’s origin..."
"It seems we have no choice but to agree... It seems we’ll have to entrust our soul..."
Earth Controlling Devil Star pondered for a moment, sighed deeply, clenched his teeth, and said to Ning Fan, "Fine! I can give you my soul, but you must swear a heart demon oath that you will return my soul and restore my freedom in ten thousand years!"
"I am not accustomed to swearing oaths, but I always fulfill what I promise. Whether you believe it or not is entirely up to you!" Ning Fan replied coldly.
Seeing that Ning Fan was unwilling to swear a heart demon oath, Earth Controlling Devil Star’s expression turned a bit unpleasant, yet he was helpless.
Now, I am at the mercy of others; if Ning Fan insists on not swearing the oath, can I force him?
"Fine, fine! I’ll trust you this once! Here is my soul; take it! If you break your promise, I will make sure you pay for it, even if it costs me my life!"
With that, Earth Controlling Devil Star used a spirit sense gesture, and a deep yellow, slightly illusory pangolin scale flew out from his brow.
That scale was the form of his soul.
Ning Fan accepted Earth Controlling Devil Star’s soul scale, nodded in satisfaction. From this moment on, the life and death of Earth Controlling Devil Star were at Ning Fan’s whim, thus eliminating any potential for betrayal.
"Sigh, I will hand over my soul to you too, young friend. This is my soul, please take it!"
Seeing Earth Controlling Devil Star obediently hand over his soul, Tieya Daoist sighed deeply and did the same.
His soul took the shape of an illusory iron crow feather, which Ning Fan also received. Consequently, both became Ning Fan’s slaves.
"Guard outside the snowy valley. Kill any demon race that dares intrude!" Ning Fan commanded the two.
"Rest assured, young friend. With us guarding outside the snowy valley, no one but the Fragmented Thought Elders could enter!"
They reluctantly agreed but felt a sense of unease, as they still harbored some pride and did not address Ning Fan as their master.
Ning Fan didn’t care about such titles. After Earth Controlling Devil Star and Tieya Daoist left, he glanced at the unconscious Four-eyed Demon Monarch and Fairy Hanwux.
Confirming that the two were merely unconscious and not in life-threatening danger, Ning Fan temporarily ignored them, collected the Fragmented Thought Puppet, and looked at the scattered remnants around him and Sparrow God Kidd’s charred corpse, silently sighing heavily.
Scenes of the Comprehension of Rain at Dark Sparrow’s Grave flashed through his mind, ending only with deeper sighs.
"Senior Sparrow God Kidd, you were kind to me. Without the Comprehension of Rain you left at Dark Sparrow’s Grave, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have today. It is my life’s regret that I couldn’t meet you while you were alive. The only thing I can do for you is to kill the one who took your body and life, to avenge you. Our past grievances have now disappeared. Senior Sparrow God Kidd, farewell."
After saying this, Ning Fan slightly clasped his fists and bowed to the charred corpse of Sparrow God Kidd.
After this bow, an intense resentment burst from Sparrow God Kidd’s corpse, dissipating into the air and vanishing.
After the resentment dissipated, the charred corpse gradually dissolved, leaving only a blackened skeleton.
The skeleton then crumbled into dust, disappearing...
At this point, Sparrow God Kidd’s resentment entirely vanished, perhaps finally bringing peace...
"Sparrow God Kidd’s hometown should be in the North Heaven... If I ever go to North Heaven, I could find his hometown and lay his ashes to rest..."
Ning Fan took out a jade box, and with a wave of his sleeve, collected all the ashes from the ground and carefully stored them away.
After completing all this, Ning Fan began to step towards the melting ice lake, his gaze fiery as he looked at the Dust Tree at the center.
The Dust Flower blooms for three moments and then scatters into dust. It has already bloomed for two; there is one moment left for Ning Fan to pick the Dust Flower.
Since the fall of the Seventh Generation Barbarian Ancestor and the disaster upon the wild, no one has successfully plucked the Dust Flower from the Dust Tree.
Today, this record will undoubtedly be broken by Ning Fan!
Ning Fan’s figure flickered, appearing beneath the Dust Tree at the lake’s center, treading on the water’s surface. He recalled the finger seal gestures seen in the First Illusion of Enlightenment and his ten fingers moved like shadows, casting hundreds of intricate gestures, mirroring the actions of Red Yaksha in past years.
After casting these mysterious gestures, Ning Fan carefully extended his hand and plucked forty-nine Dust Flowers from the Dust Tree, placing them inside a wooden box.
Ning Fan attempted to preserve the Dust Flowers to bring some back for Zhao Die’er, but he found it impossible.
The Dust Flowers must wilt after three moments of blooming; this is a rule set by the Calamity Master, which Ning Fan’s Taoist practices cannot alter!
Moreover, within the Dust Flower, there is another set rule: it cannot be taken out of the Yellow River Snow Valley.
Ning Fan sensed that if the Dust Flowers were forcibly removed from the snowy valley or placed in any storage space, they would turn to ashes...
"No wonder in the illusion, Red Yaksha consumed all the Dust Flowers right beneath the Dust Tree in front of me. It turns out the flower can’t be preserved or taken out of the snowy valley..."
Watching the Dust Flowers gradually fade within the wooden box, Ning Fan sighed, knowing that the Dust Flowers were nearing disappearance and couldn’t last long. He could only consume them immediately.
Each Dust Flower consumed by Ning Fan boosts his comprehension a little more. In the Heart Spirit World, a second illusory Giant Gate of Tianren gradually appeared.
The power of forty-nine Dust Flowers only revealed a shadow of the second Giant Gate of Tianren, but it couldn’t make the gate solid, let alone open it.
"Though the Dust Flowers greatly enhance my Dao Enlightenment, they are not enough to open the Second Gate of Tianren..."
Ning Fan’s gaze fell on the intricate trunk of the Dust Tree, with Azure Spike flashing in his eyes.
Inside the Dust Tree, he saw a will; that will is the nourishment for the blooming Dust Flowers and the foundation of the Dust Tree’s existence.
The Fake Sparrow Godson once pleaded with Ning Fan to help him extract this will... Now, Ning Fan is interested in extracting this power of will, not for the Fake Sparrow Godson, but for himself!
"If I were to absorb this will, I wonder if I could open the Second Gate of Tianren!"
Ning Fan’s eyes firmed, he raised his right hand and placed it on the trunk of the Dust Tree, feeling the will network inside the Dust Tree.
As he opened his eyes, he seemed to be able to see through to the intricate net of will within the tree’s trunk.
Closing his eyes, the net of will spread out in Ning Fan’s mind, forming strands of eerie traces he had never seen before!
From this Dust Tree, he saw the Dao practiced by the Master of Calamity Thought!
That kind of Dao, called Dust, is not only a Dao but also an extremely pure will!
"What is Dust? To defile all that can be defiled in the world, that is Dust!"
A voice filled with majestic heavenly power, accompanied by unimaginable power of will, suddenly exploded in Ning Fan’s divine sense, even with precaution, Ning Fan was still forced back several steps by that powerful will, his chest pained, and he coughed up blood, his eyes shook!
Just by extracting a trace of will from the Dust Tree to absorb, he suffered massive backlash; the power of the will was terrifying and worthy of the will left by the Calamity Master who planted the Dust Tree!
However, this will remained here for countless years, having bloomed Dust Flowers for numerous generations, its remaining power is far less than before.
Ning Fan does not believe he cannot extract the complete will of the Dust Tree to absorb!
Just by consuming a trace of the Dust Tree’s will, the Second Gate of Tianren in the Heart Spirit World solidified considerably, Ning Fan believes, if he can completely consume all of the will, it will be enough to completely open the Second Gate of Tianren!
Suddenly, a scene of his transformation to Barbarian Ox in the Enlightenment Illusion Realm flashed before Ning Fan’s eyes.
He once transformed into Barbarian Ox and fought against the Calamity Master’s will before, now facing it again, what is he afraid of!
Ning Fan once again stepped on the lake surface, approached the Dust Tree, and pressed his palm on the Dust Tree...
...
Outside the Yellow River Labyrinth, a rift in the clouds suddenly split open a barrier seam, from which nine icy demon ships surged in.
On each demon ship, there were nearly a thousand demon race experts, all commanded to rush aid to the Snowy Valley, although not from the True Dragon Race.
On each demon ship, there were more than ten Enlightenment experts, with each having a Shedding Void Stage demon cultivator stationed, the sides of the demon ships were engraved with numerous demonic mounts totems, depicting beasts shaped like fish, as large as whales.
"It is the reinforcements of the ’Snow Whale Clan’! Who would’ve thought the first ones to arrive here would be this clan..."
The massive dragon race demon army stationed outside the labyrinth immediately erupted with startled cries.
In the Land of Demons of the Four Heavens, the foundations of the Snow Whale Clan can almost rival those of the True Dragons and Phoenix Race, making them undoubtedly among the True Spirit Race.
Among the nine Snow Whale Clan Shedding Void experts, five were at the initial stage, two were at the intermediate stage, one at the late stage, and one at the peak stage.
The eight Shedding Void experts displayed an indifferent and cold demeanor, their expressions distant due to the icy bloodline of the Snow Whale Clan.
The most powerful among the nine Shedding Void experts was a middle-aged man with thin lips and hawk-like eyes, his expression harsh and heartless, his title was Xuekuzi.
Xuekuzi’s cultivation had remained at the peak of Shedding Void for four hundred thousand years; he was the leader of this troop of Snow Whale Clan strongmen.
Upon seeing Xuekuzi and others rush to aid here, the three True Dragon Race Shedding Void experts dare not be negligent, soaring into the air, clasping their fists in respect towards Xuekuzi.
"True Dragon Clan’s Cold Azure Claw, Yuanx Jiao, and Zhao Lin, pay respects to the Daoists of the Snow Whale Clan!"
The three True Dragon Race Shedding Void experts spoke with courtesy, yet Xuekuzi merely snorted coldly, showing no courtesy nor returning the gesture, directly asking as though ordering.
"How many human experts have intruded here? What are their cultivation levels? Where are they now? Quickly report to me!"
The three True Dragon Race Shedding Void experts knew well of Xuekuzi’s arrogant nature, they took it in stride, imprinting the known information on jade scrolls, distributing them to Xuekuzi and the other Snow Whale Clan Shedding Void experts.
Xuekuzi glanced at the jade scroll, immediately showing a disdainful expression, and sneered.
"Four Shedding Void, two Enlightenment... Even if one of them is at the Peak of Shedding Void, they’re insignificant! This small force dares to invade the Yellow River Snow Valley, it’s simply courting death!"
"Other demon race reinforcements haven’t arrived yet, so let us of the Snow Whale Clan take this credit first! By the way, the seven young ancestors of the Tianlan Phoenix Clan, why aren’t they here? Didn’t they predict an opportunity in this Snow Valley was waiting for them? How are they absent?"
Upon hearing Xuekuzi’s question, the three members of the Dragon Race were also puzzled.
They didn’t know where the seven Tianlan Phoenix demons went, nor did they consider that the seven Phoenix demons would be captured, only thinking that the seven girls had already left the Snow Valley.
"Forget it, those young ancestors not being here isn’t a bad thing. If they were here, even my actions would undoubtedly be restricted."
Xuekuzi nodded, his eyes flashed with killing intent, and directly ordered all nine Demon Ships to head to the Snow Valley, vowing to slaughter all human experts in the Snow Valley to establish merit.
At this moment, within the boundaries of the array, a force of unimaginable will descended!
Under the oppressive force of that will, all nine Demon Ships fell from the sky, crashing down, the mountains and rivers whimpered, the snow and wind were thrown into chaos, and the entire array began to destabilize!
Countless crimson Calamity Clouds filled the sky, rolling Calamity Thought Thunderbolts striking down from the clouds, each thread of calamitous light had the power to make Shedding Void cultivators’ Heart Spirits tremble!
"What... is that thunder!" The originally confident Xuekuzi now had sweat on his forehead.
He wasn’t the only one; every demon cultivator present was intimidated by the world-destroying Calamity Force.
They didn’t understand what Calamity Thought was, what Calamity Blood was, or what Taicang Calamity Spirit was.
They further didn’t understand, these omnipresent Calamity Clouds appeared only when the Taicang Calamity Spirit first awakened its bloodline!
This is... the First Awakening of Calamity Blood!
No one can resist the will of calamity between heaven and earth, that will is powerful enough to destroy heaven and earth, so insidious it makes one nauseous.
No demon cultivator dared to venture towards the Snow Valley at this moment!
...
Outside the Yellow River Snow Valley, Earth Controlling Devil Star and Tieya Daoist guarding there both shivered in their souls, suddenly turning toward the Snow Valley.
Though these two were Ancient Celestial Sovereigns, they didn’t know what Calamity Thought was, naturally not understanding the origin of this sky-encompassing will.
Their gaze pierced through the Snow Valley, falling on the white-clothed young man on the ice lake’s surface.
At this moment, the power of Dust Tree’s will had completely transferred into Ning Fan. Once flourishing, the Dust Tree was now gradually withering, with only a seed forming within the withering heart, unnoticed by anyone.
The will powerful enough to dominate the entire firmament was emanating from Ning Fan’s body, it was the will Dust Tree should have possessed but was swallowed into Ning Fan.
Ning Fan kept his eyes closed, enduring the pressure heavy like a mountain, frantically absorbing that will.
The will power gradually fused into his Calamity Blood, enhancing Ning Fan’s Dao Enlightenment and further causing the Calamity Blood within him to slowly transform in quality, the calamitous force within the blood incrementally strengthening.
This feeling is very much like awakening blood! Back in the day, when awakening demon blood, it was this kind of burning sensation throughout the body. Is my calamity blood also awakening?
Ning Fan suddenly opened his eyes, his expression grew seriously solemn; he had never expected Calamity Blood could awaken step by step.
He had not anticipated that after devouring the Dust Tree’s will, the scene of awakened Calamity Blood would emerge.
No wonder the Fake Sparrow Godson wanted me to help him extract Dust Tree’s will, saying there’s a chance to possess Calamity Blood, so this is how it is...
Ning Fan withdrew his hand, standing with hands behind him under the withering Dust Tree, closing his eyes again, gradually calming down.
Calamity Blood is a force not inferior to the Power of Reincarnation, a gift from the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor.
Since Calamity Blood is likely to further strengthen through awakening blood, such an opportunity, he would naturally not miss.
Ning Fan did not notice, the fragmented moonlight temporarily sealed in his sleeve, under the Majestic Calamity of the Taicang that enveloped heaven and earth, transmitted a faint fear.
Fairy Burying Moon was afraid, afraid of this Taicang Calamity engulfing the cosmos!
She remembers this calamity; when the ancient Heavenly Court was overwhelmed back then, endless Calamity Clouds covered heaven and earth!
"Ta... Taicang Calamity Majesty! This kid is actually a Taicang Calamity Spirit!" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation votes and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.com.)
