Grasping the Evil-Chapter 932: Shanhai Curse
The power of the fifth calamity far surpasses the fourth. Among the Ancient Barbarian Realm, various Barbarian clans stand tall, and each clan’s Lesser Chieftain Barren is selected from millions as elite. However, even these elite Barbarian warriors must exert all their strength to have a slight chance of surviving this calamity.
Among a hundred Lesser Chieftain Barrens, having twenty pass the fifth calamity would be considered fortunate.
Above the valley, the red clouds blaze across the sky, and the pressure within the red clouds grows stronger and stronger, accompanied by the sound of ancient barbarian chanting continuously emerging from within.
’I chant of the Barbarian God in past times, during the immeasurable catastrophe where cultivation was practiced, all gods praised and supported, thereby obtaining great merit as vast as space...’
The sound of Barbarian chanting gradually condenses an invisible pressure, enveloping the entire valley.
Ning Fan sat cross-legged at the lake bottom, and at the moment the fifth calamity descended, his physical defense immediately shriveled at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The life force within him was crazily dissipating, Ning Fan’s expression was solemn as the speed of life loss was twice as fast as the fourth calamity.
Despite the seriousness, there was a hint of anticipation. If he survives the fifth calamity and cultivates another drop of Ancestral Barbarian Blood, could it potentially cause the Calamity Blood Level to break through the realm of True Blood Two-Star...
In the Purple Python Bone, a significant portion of life force remained, being frantically absorbed and refined into his body, gradually restoring Ning Fan’s shriveled physical defense to its original state.
However, this restoration was only temporary, as the life force required by the fifth calamity was too vast. As time passed, the remaining life force within the Python Bone depleted more and more.
After half an hour, the Python Bone life force was exhausted, and with a cracking sound, it broke into two pieces.
Ning Fan’s eyes immediately sharpened. At this moment, the fifth calamity was only halfway through, yet the life force within the Python Bone was already depleted.
The life force required for the fifth calamity was so vast that not even multiple uses of the Python Bone could suffice to survive it.
Without the Python Bone to replenish life force, Ning Fan’s physical defense shriveled and aged once more. Within ten breaths, his skin wrinkled like an elderly candle in the wind.
Regret gradually appeared in his eyes, regretting the insufficient life force to survive the fifth calamity.
If he could survive the fifth calamity and cultivate another drop of Ancestral Blood, the benefits would be self-evident.
Unfortunately, the life force within the Purple Python Bone was limited and not enough to sustain Ning Fan completely through the fifth calamity.
He understood the Fu Li race’s clan divine skill—Lost World Palace Finger—which could devour the life force of others.
This place is within the tower space, with mountains and water but devoid of any animals, nor humans, nor Masters.
Besides Ning Fan, only the Eye Orb Monster and Miaoyan Immortal Honorific exist here.
If he uses the Lost World Palace Finger to seize some life force from the Eye Orb Monster or Miaoyan Immortal Honorific, could he survive the fifth calamity?
Within the Xuan Yin Treasure, there are thousands of women. If he can open it, could he seize the life force of these women?
These thoughts flashed through Ning Fan’s mind but were quickly dismissed by him with a shake of his head.
He was not a good person and could seize others’ life force to survive a calamity, but he was unwilling to target the Eye Orb Monster or Miaoyan, let alone those Cauldron Furnaces.
The life force required for the fifth calamity is too vast. For Masters, losing a small portion of life force would cause no harm, but losing too much could lead to a loss of cultivations or even death.
The Eye Orb Monster possesses Immortal Emperor cultivations, and the life force within is naturally overwhelming. Miaoyan Immortal Honorific, being an Eternal Immortal Venerable, has considerable life force.
Yet, even combined, their life force may not be much more than the Python Bone’s life force.
To survive the fifth calamity, at least half of their life force must be seized, and putting aside whether Ning Fan has the strength to do so, even if he can, he doesn’t wish to conduct himself in such a manner.
The thousand Cauldron Furnaces have low cultivations and even less life force within them. I’m afraid draining all their life forces still wouldn’t suffice for Ning Fan to survive the calamity.
Draining life force equates to death... he absolutely refuses to kill his Cauldron Furnaces, this is a principle he set since the start of his cultivation!
Back then, he was shot and killed by Ancestor Dulong with seven arrows, and only Miaoyan came forward to help. Though it didn’t help much, Ning Fan remembers Miaoyan’s aid. Therefore, during the Barbarian Wilderness Catastrophe, he aided Miaoyan time and time again. He would never attack a friend.
The Eye Orb Monster has an unclear origin, approaching Ning Fan with impure motives, involving both utilization and planning, but regardless, Ning Fan managed to break the Blessing Technique with the Eye Orb Monster’s help, thus owing the Eye Orb Monster some gratitude. Before the Eye Orb Monster attacks him, Ning Fan won’t harm the Eye Orb Monster.
This is also his principle!
"Must I abandon the fifth calamity..." Ning Fan sighed softly.
Calamity is dangerous, it’s a gamble between life and death. Success brings great benefits, but failure leads to exhausted life force and death in the catastrophe. Seeing the calamity unreachable, Ning Fan feels regret but remains calm, without any panic, very composed.
He has cultivated for many years, with a naturally mature mind. The Eye Orb Monster still needs his strength to plot against Yin Mo, definitely won’t watch him die in the calamity.
The Eye Orb Monster appears very calm, must have a way to help him survive the calamity and preserve his life.
But the Eye Orb Monster hasn’t made a move yet, there must be a reason.
The reason for not acting could be out of kindness, or perhaps another calculation...
Ning Fan frowned slightly, he dislikes relying on others.
He’s facing the calamity, constantly encountering death, why should he rely on others for rescue.
However, without life force replenishment, he wants to rely solely on his own strength for survival in the calamity, which is quite challenging...
Is there any way to protect myself...
Ning Fan pondered silently, suddenly his gaze flickered as he sensed a slight tremor coming from his Dantian Spirit.
Around Ning Fan’s neck was a jade locket, the Yin Yang Locket.
A sword light coiled around him, it was the Memory Severing Dao Sword.
He cradled a walnut-sized fruit, absorbing its immense power little by little. It was the Dark Star Fruit taken forcefully from the Dark Clan.
Inside the small Spirit, there was also room for an illusory pill, dreamy and ethereal.
This was the Illusory Life Pill!
During Senluo’s battle in Eastern Heaven, Ning Fan, by chance, exterminated the Crystal Slave, Thousand-Leaved Demon Luo, of Moro the Great Emperor, obtaining a piece of Illusory Demon Dust, and used it to refine this Illusory Life Pill, which he had kept inside him but never used.
Although the Illusory Life Pill wasn’t of high grade, merely a Four Revolutions Immortal Elixir, it possessed a defying effect.
Once activated, three illusory flames would emerge in the user’s Dantian. Each time the user died, one flame would extinguish, allowing the Master to be reborn in flames. As long as the illusory flames were not exhausted, the user would not die!
If the flames were depleted, the user would die after rebirth and could not be reborn again.
Moreover, the pill had a powerful mesmerizing effect; after the user’s death, they could be reborn using the illusory flames, with outsiders unable to see the user hadn’t died. Even the Heavenly Dao would be deceived by this Illusory Life Pill...
In short, it’s a miraculous pill capable of resurrection after death.
Ning Fan’s gaze flickered; since refining the Illusory Life Pill, he had always kept it for life-preserving purposes and never used it. Today, he might try it.
One wonders if the pill truly possesses such legendary qualities.
Perhaps, it might allow Ning Fan to survive the Eighth Calamity, perhaps not... If there’s no other way to resist the Eighth Calamity, he might give it a try.
As his life force dwindled rapidly, Ning Fan’s appearance became increasingly aged.
He secretly stimulated the Illusory Life Pill’s effects, intending to use it to overcome the tribulation, when suddenly he heard the Eye Orb Monster’s schadenfreude-laden voice.
"Heh heh, I thought you might survive the Fifth Calamity, but it seems you might not make it through. Lieyuan Sect’s descendants wouldn’t have such little ability, would they."
Lieyuan Sect was the sect of the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor. Ning Fan studied under the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor, naturally considered a descendant of the Lieyuan Sect.
Upon hearing this, Ning Fan frowned slightly. He disliked the Eye Orb Monster belittling Lieyuan Sect and the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor.
However, the fact remained, he truly couldn’t pass the Fifth Calamity, seemingly disgracing the Ancient Chaos...
"You brat, are you a pig? You’re already a Lesser Chieftain Barren, yet lack enough life force. Why not use the [Shanhai Curse]? Though the first five calamities require a great deal of life force to pass, as a Barbarian Cultivator, mastering the [Shanhai Curse] to a certain level ensures you can pass the Fifth Calamity. It’s not the Sixth Calamity... Uh, don’t tell me, this brat can’t use the [Shanhai Curse]..."
The Eye Orb Monster suddenly realized something, paused for a moment, and asked with an odd gaze,
"You brat, don’t tell me... you can’t use the Shanhai Curse?"
"What’s the Shanhai Curse?" Ning Fan asked, slightly puzzled.
"You don’t even know the Shanhai Curse? The Barbarian Cultivator who summoned the Barbarian for you, didn’t they teach you this skill?" The Eye Orb Monster was greatly surprised.
"No." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
"That Barbarian Cultivator is indeed irresponsible! They summoned the Barbarian for you, making them your mentor; it’s their duty to teach you the Shanhai Curse. Without this skill, passing the Lesser Chieftain Barren’s calamities is courting death! Are they trying to kill you?" The Eye Orb Monster complained unhappily.
"They indeed intended to kill me." Ning Fan shook his head indifferently.
His Summon Barbarian Technique was planted by the Five Ancestors during a time when the Five Ancestors were hunted by Ning Fan in a situation with no escape. Naturally, they tried to inflict him with the technique to ensure Ning Fan’s demise?
Unfortunately, the Five Ancestors never anticipated Ning Fan would, as a Foreign Clan Cultivator, use the Summon Barbarian Technique to gradually become the Fan Family’s Eighth Generation Lesser Chieftain Barren, accidentally gaining an opportunity.
As for the so-called Shanhai Curse, the Five Ancestors truly hadn’t taught it to Ning Fan.
"What’s the Shanhai Curse? Does it greatly aid in passing calamities?" Ning Fan asked in return.
"More than just help, it’s the foundational Divine Skill of the Lesser Chieftain Barren! I’m really curious how you became a Lesser Chieftain Barren without knowing the Shanhai Curse. Enough, I’ll teach you the mantra now; pull yourself together and just pass the Fifth Calamity. As for the Sixth Calamity, you definitely can’t pass it. I’ll set up a Heaven-Deceiving Formation later to help you pass the Sixth Calamity... But if I intervene, though you’ll survive the calamity, you won’t be able to cultivate Ancestral Blood..."
The Eye Orb Monster intervening means he wouldn’t benefit from the calamity, which is the very reason for its delay. Ning Fan realized it.
The Eye Orb Monster continued mumbling while extending a grey light towards the lake bottom.
That grey light hit Ning Fan’s Tian Ling, immediately implanting ancient barbarian curses into Ning Fan’s mind.
’Barbarian, the ancestor of nature, the grand sect of the myriad realms. Barbarians are born from mountains and seas, attaining the Dao through nature, their spirits return to the mountains and seas upon death, Nine Mountains and Eight Seas Realm, the Beginning of Reincarnation in the Palm...’
This barbarian curse resembled the Barbarian Ancestor Scripture from the Barbarian Wilderness Ancient Domain but only shared the first sentence.
The subsequent parts were entirely different.
The Eye Orb Monster didn’t know Ning Fan had the Illusory Life Pill’s life-preserving method; after teaching Ning Fan the Shanhai Curse, it immediately began setting up the Heaven-Deceiving Formation on the lakeshore.
If Ning Fan’s tribulation wasn’t successful, he would activate the formation to protect Ning Fan.
Ning Fan silently recited the incantation of the Mountain and Sea Chant, his body gradually feeling a close connection with the nature of heaven and earth.
His heart grew quieter, and he seemed to hear the sound of the lake water.
It wasn’t the sound of the water flowing, but rather the sound of a heartbeat, like the heartbeat of a human.
Dong dong, dong dong, dong dong!
The lake water was alive, its life only perceptible to a Pluck!
For pluck are the ancestors of nature, cultivating the Great Dao of Nature!
Dong dong, dong dong, dong dong!
Ning Fan could also hear the heartbeat of the valley; this mountain too was alive, and its form of life was something a foreign clan cultivator could not understand, only the Barbarian Clan could comprehend.
You might think humans are alive and mountains and rivers are dead, but in the eyes of the Barbarian Clan, mountains and rivers are equal to humans.
Dong dong, dong dong, dong dong!
More heartbeats transmitted into Ning Fan’s ears, from countless Barbarians buried beneath the earth.
When Barbarians die, they do not enter reincarnation; their reincarnation is different from the Zi Dou Immortal Domain.
After their death, their souls disperse into the mountains and seas, melding into the plants, mountains, and stones.
Having died, they do not reincarnate but their souls dwell in the mountains and seas, forever watching over future generations.
The land refined into the Bronze Tower Space is a piece of earth from the Ancient Barbarian Realm, obtained by the Mourning Emperor and refined within the tower!
This land had nurtured countless Barbarians, and the spirits of those who had died still linger here.
The manner of existence is something Ning Fan cannot comprehend, but he indeed heard the heartbeats of those ancient Barbarians, forever residing in this land.
At this moment, Ning Fan saw countless life forces between the mountains, rivers, and heavens!
People possess life forces, so people are alive.
But mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas aren’t necessarily devoid of life forces; if they lose their life forces, they’d be barren mountains and dead seas.
Previously, Ning Fan cultivated a path that could see the life forces of people, beasts, and plants, but it couldn’t see the life forces of mountains and rivers, lakes, and seas.
Ning Fan seemed to rediscover the world. Different paths reveal different worlds.
The life forces of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas are naturally far larger than that of humans. Previously, Ning Fan couldn’t see this, but now he could, comprehending the Eye Orb Monster’s intention in teaching him the Mountain and Sea Chant.
Being able to see the life forces of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas means one can plunder them, absorb them, and use them for oneself!
Compared to these life forces, the life force contained within the Purple Python Bone was too meager.
With these mountains and rivers at hand, there was no worry about insufficient life force, no worry about being unable to pass the Fifth Calamity!
At this moment, Ning Fan learned the Mountain and Sea Chant, becoming a true Pluck, a genuine Lesser Chieftain Barbarian!
At this moment, with just a thought, he could extract abundant life force from the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas for his cultivation!
Ning Fan waved his large hand, and a black-red Barbarian Flash whirlpool appeared before him, emanating boundless suction.
Countless hidden life forces within the earth were immediately drawn by this whirlpool, rushing frantically into Ning Fan’s body.
Ning Fan’s originally withered and old body instantly rejuvenated. As time passed, the Fifth Calamity neared its end, and two blood lines gradually appeared within Ning Fan’s body.
The accumulation of these blood lines increased, eventually forming two blood droplets, with more and more pressure.
At the moment Ning Fan completely passed the Fifth Calamity, these two blood droplets transformed into two droplets of Ancestral Barbarian Blood!
"Passing the Fifth Calamity, unexpectedly able to cultivate two droplets of Ancestral Blood!" Ning Fan’s eyes flashed with brilliance.
Yet in the next instant, the domineering Calamity Blood began to devour these two droplets of Ancestral Barbarian Blood.
As the devouring proceeded, Ning Fan’s Calamity Blood Level finally broke through the realms of True Blood Two-Star, taking a small step toward Three-Star Realm.
Just a small step; cultivating to True Blood Three-Star requires more Ancestral Barbarian Blood.
Nonetheless, the increase in power was remarkable. After completely breaking through True Blood Two-Star, Ning Fan could engage in battle with masters at the Later Stage of Shattered Thought.
"Alright, alright, the Fifth Calamity has finally been passed, and the Sixth Calamity is coming soon. Young lad, I shall now activate the Heaven-Deceiving Formation to help you pass the Sixth Calamity..."
The Eye Orb Monster was about to activate the Heaven-Deceiving Formation but was stopped by Ning Fan.
"Please wait, Senior, may I try once, and see if I can pass the Sixth Calamity with my own strength."
"Well... okay, let’s let you try. But if you fail the tribulation, I’ll immediately activate the formation. Before killing Yin Mo, you cannot die."
Despite agreeing to Ning Fan’s request, the Eye Orb Monster was still very anxious.
The next one is the Sixth Calamity, in the Ancient Barbarian Realm, only three or four out of a hundred Lesser Chieftain Barren can succeed.
Many Lesser Chieftain Barrens, overestimating their own power, tried to withstand this calamity on their own, only to die with regret, burned alive into charcoal during the Sixth Calamity...
"Calamity Beast Fire... this kid has many tricks, maybe he can last for one incense stick’s time..." the Eye Orb Monster thought silently.
After the Fifth Calamity ended, not long after, the red clouds above the valley suddenly ignited.
At the center of the red clouds, the illusion of a six-legged beast gradually appeared, enormous like the heavens and the earth, with two heads, no horns, its body fiery red, coldly surveying the valley below.
As soon as this beast’s shadow appeared, Ning Fan’s life force began to burn like flames, his expression instantly changing.
The Sixth Calamity had arrived, but it seemed different from the previous five calamities.
If Ning Fan were not already possessing the Grand Five Elements Body, which restrained the damage of flames, he would’ve been severely wounded by this life force fire in an instant!
This was a black-red flame, filled with dense flame runes, possessing a strange beauty.
Ning Fan tried to suppress the burning flames within him, but found that this fire’s power was enormous, completely unlike the flames he usually encountered.
As the fire burned, it also emitted the sound of wind and thunder, its momentum truly overwhelming.
Roar—
The giant beast’s shadow in the sky above the valley suddenly let out a beastly roar.
In the sound of this beastly roar, the life force between the mountain and sea all transformed into the fuel for this fire, igniting into blazing flames.
With the beast’s divine skill urging, countless black and red flames surged toward the lake bottom where Ning Fan was, engulfing the entire valley in a sea of fire at that moment.
Even the traces of the Great Dao were twisted in the flame’s steaming heat!
Mountains and rivers melted, lake water evaporated, and the world was burned red!
Miaoyan Immortal Venerable in a distant place was suddenly shocked, opening her beautiful eyes, looking toward the valley direction with uncertainty.
The sea of fire in the valley was raging at the moment, the fire was too large, even Immortal King-level experts would not dare to enter the valley.
She did not know what Ning Fan was doing within the valley, only knew that the valley was ablaze, and the power of the flames was domineering, unprecedented in her life.
Whether Ning Fan within the valley was safe was unknown. It should be fine, after all, Ning Fan is so powerful...
"Swallow!"
His internal life force was being crazily consumed, Ning Fan opened his mouth and swallowed, ingesting the mountain and river life force into his stomach, replenishing the lost life force.
But the speed of this life force burn was too fast, only one breath had passed, and the life force within a thousand miles of the valley was exhausted by Ning Fan, turning all mountains into barren hills, the river water losing its former color.
By the second breath, the life force within tens of thousands of miles of the mountain and river was exhausted by Ning Fan.
The third breath, the fourth breath, the fifth breath...
Though there was ample mountain and river life force, it was not inexhaustible. According to this rate of consumption, even if all the mountain and river life force in this Copper Tower space were exhausted, it would be difficult to pass one-tenth of the Sixth Calamity.
No wonder throughout history, few have passed the Sixth Calamity; this calamity truly is extremely difficult to pass.
The Seventh Calamity, the Eighth Calamity, the Ninth Calamity, what kind of terrors would they be?
"If I were just an ordinary barbarian cultivator, I’d likely stop at the Sixth Calamity. But I’m not, what I possess is not barbarian blood, but Calamity Blood."
"And I also have the Illusory Life Pill, allowing me to die three times and be reborn from the flames... perhaps I could seek help from the Eye Orb Monster now and give up on the Sixth Calamity, but giving up like this, I’m unwilling!"
Unwilling to admit defeat without a fight!
Since I have the Illusory Life Pill to protect my life, no matter what, Ning Fan wants to try, to pass the Sixth Calamity.
Mountains have life force, seas have life force, vegetation has life force, walking beasts have life force, everything in this world, where is there not life force?
The mountain and river’s life force may have limits, but the sea of fire before him was boundless.
"I need to extract the life force from the sea of fire to replenish my lost life force!"
Ning Fan’s gaze sharpened, making a bold decision, he opened his mouth and swallowed, forcefully refining the flames.
The Eye Orb Monster was momentarily stunned, but in the next moment, it only let out a strange chuckle indifferently.
"This brat, has actually grasped the essence of the Shanhai Curse. Everything in heaven and earth possesses life force, and this fire naturally has life force too. But to want to devour the life force within the Calamity Beast Fire, is purely wishful thinking. It’s difficult, really difficult."
"Forget it, wait a bit longer, when this kid really can’t hold on, I’ll step in and save him. Forcefully swallowing the Calamity Beast Fire, at most ten breaths, this kid will beg me to save him. Heh heh..."
Thinking of seeing the cold-faced Ning Fan desperately begging, the Eye Orb Monster’s heart was almost soaring with joy.
Torturing the cold-faced, truly is a joyful thing. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommended votes and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
