Grasping the Evil-Chapter 937: Saint’s Relic

The feeling of shock was fleeting, yet it was enough to capture Ning Fan’s attention.

This Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield is certainly peculiar... but why does it appear so ordinary on the surface, with no unusual features at all...

On the surface, this shield is rusty, its luster dim, with numerous cracks and gaps. Despite being of the Acquired Four Nirvana grade, it’s too worn out, its power greatly diminished. Its defensive capability might not even surpass some intact First Nie magical treasures.

Why does such a magical treasure instill such a shocking feeling in Ning Fan...

Perhaps this shield holds significant mysteries, mysteries that even Ning Fan at the Second Realm of Tianren couldn’t fathom.

Or perhaps, that shocking feeling was merely an illusion...

Ning Fan remained silent for a moment before finally making a decision. Be it the Thunder Shock Shield or the Eastern Mountain Shield, they were merely magical treasures of the Acquired Eight Nirvana, dispensable.

Only this Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield he couldn’t see through. If that shocking feeling wasn’t an illusion, this shield must have something extraordinary about it.

"I choose this shield!"

Ning Fan decisively swapped the Lingxiao Shield in his hand for the Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield.

The Fourth Generation Barbarian God’s face frosted over. She never expected that Ning Fan could see through the exceptional nature of the Battle Sky Shield and choose it.

At first, this young man choosing a shield-type magical treasure could be explained as a coincidence. But this time, it was no coincidence. This young man must have sensed the extraordinariness of the Battle Sky Shield, which led him to choose it specifically!

This young man has such sharp insight! If it weren’t for Ning Fan’s identity as the Taicang Calamity Spirit, the Fourth Generation Barbarian God would have praised him.

"Trouble. Once he chooses this shield, he becomes a descendant of the Dao Man Lineage. Even as the Taicang Calamity Spirit, he won’t be attacked by the local barbaric corpses. This is a rule set by the First Generation Barbarian God, and even I cannot defy it."

"Trying to kill this young man in the Ancient Barbarian Tomb is no easy task now. Carelessness might even lead to him inheriting the Dao Man sacred artifact..."

The Fourth Generation Barbarian God sighed softly, her tone somewhat resentful.

She could already foresee Ning Fan smoothly progressing to the seventh level.

All of this was because Ning Fan chose the Shield of Inheritance on the third level.

This Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield was merely a damaged magical treasure, with unremarkable defense, insignificant, yet due to containing an inheritance mark of the First Generation Barbarian God, Dao Man Mountain, it held an extremely special significance.

Dao Man Mountain was the first-generation Barbarian God of the Ancient Barbarian Realm, the most powerful of all Barbarian Gods. The mark he planted couldn’t be discerned even by some saints. Ning Fan couldn’t see through it either, only vaguely sensing the shield’s extraordinariness, which was already incredibly rare.

Those who possess this shield are considered transmitters of the Dao Man Mountain lineage, having the opportunity to face trials and obtain the sacred artifact of Dao Man Mountain.

Whoever holds this shield, regardless of identity, will be protected by Dao Man Mountain and will not be attacked within the Ancient Barbarian Tomb.

This was a rule established by the First Generation Barbarian God in his lifetime, one which even the Fourth Generation Barbarian God cannot violate!

Ning Fan knew none of this, and the Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield was merely a palm-sized small shield to him, icy to the touch, with a faint residual will within its coldness, blurred and indistinct.

"This shield is undoubtedly strange..."

Ning Fan glanced at the Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield briefly before no longer dwelling on it, putting the shield away casually as he slowly stepped into the Teleportation Formation at the altar center.

In the next moment, an ancient and majestic voice slowly resounded.

"Among the Ten Kingdom Shields, you have chosen the Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield. From this moment, you are a descendant of my Dao Man Lineage, qualified to participate in the Dao Man trials. The Fourth Level, Dao Man’s First Challenge, if you pass, you can use the Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield to exchange for an item from among the many relics."

At the moment the voice rang, all the iron boxes in the sky disappeared, and the Teleportation Formation leading to the fourth level gradually lit up.

Ning Fan was slightly stunned; he hadn’t realized that choosing the Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield would make him a Dao Man descendant.

He knew nothing about the Dao Man descendant, the Dao Man trials, or the Dao Man First Challenge. The only thing he knew was that this shield indeed had something extraordinary about it; he hadn’t chosen wrong.

Using the power of the Teleportation Formation, Ning Fan entered the fourth level of the Ancient Barbarian Tomb.

In the fourth level of the Ancient Barbarian Tomb, there were only a hundred or so corpses of barbaric warriors, each a mumbling corpse.

The moment Ning Fan stepped into the fourth level, one by one, the barbaric corpses wobbled and stood up from the ground, their eyes erupting with monstrous killing intent.

Roaring voices rose to the sky.

"Kill the Taicang Calamity Spirit!"

"Protect the Immortal Dao Man!"

"Kill!"

A single killing intent of mumbling wouldn’t faze Ning Fan. But over a hundred mumbling killing intents combined couldn’t be ignored by him.

A hundred mumblings working together would be a tough battle even for the Eternal Immortal Venerables.

Locked on by over a hundred mumbling killing intents, Ning Fan naturally didn’t dare to be careless, his expression turning tense as he pushed his Calamity Force to the extreme.

Clad in white, with red brilliance shining, at this moment Ning Fan faced the siege of a hundred mumblings without fear. He now possessed the strength to handle the situation at hand!

This would be a tough battle, but he wouldn’t lose! He had that confidence!

On the ancient battlefield, smoke filled the air, murder intent surged. Finally, one by one the mumbling barbaric warriors launched their assault on Ning Fan.

Ning Fan was about to make his move when a stream of light spontaneously flew out to shield him.

That light was the Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield!

With the appearance of the Battle Sky Shield, the originally raging hundred barbaric warriors were all stupefied, forcibly halting their steps.

No one dared to lay a hand on Ning Fan anymore, no one dared to shout for his death!

On the seemingly ordinary Battle Sky Shield, an ancient mark of a dark red small mountain suddenly emerged.

As this mark manifested, a formidable pressure swept the entire Fourth Level’s realm.

The strength of this pressure was beyond Ning Fan’s comprehension, a difference in realms, a genuine saint’s pressure, utterly irresistible!

Fortunately, this overwhelming pressure had no intent to harm, flashing by in an instant, yet it was enough to shake one’s heart, making Ning Fan feel a thrill of fear once again. He finally understood why the seemingly ordinary Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield could make his heart race.

It turned out that a saint with cultivation reaching the heavens had planted a mark within this small shield!

The pressure was too strong... Ning Fan silently compared it in his heart, fearing that even figures at the level of the Immortal Elder Brother and Ancient Chaos could not wield such pressure.

This person’s strength surpassed Immortal Elder Brother and Ancient Chaos by far, by far...

"This child possesses the Ancient Kingdom’s shield and is thus a descendant of the Dao Man lineage. Anyone who harms him shall face punishment by my finger, with no leniency!"

At this moment, a voice echoed slowly across the world.

This voice was clearly identical to the previously authoritative and aged voice.

This voice stood on Ning Fan’s side, intending to protect him.

Though not severe, the order in this voice was something no practitioner dared to ignore!

For this voice belonged to the First Barbarian God Tao Man Mountain, and his will was not to be defied by any practitioner!

One by one, the mumbling practitioners looked at Ning Fan reluctantly. With the order from Tao Man Mountain, they dared not take action against Ning Fan, transforming back into corpses and falling to the ground.

In the seventh layer, the Fourth Generation Barbarian God smiled bitterly. She had long foreseen this scene. As long as this child chose the legacy shield, no practitioner would dare to harm him.

Even if this child was an enemy of the Ancient Barbarian Realm... Taicang Calamity Spirit...

"This child chose the legacy shield, thus becoming a Dao Man descendant. No one dares harm him in the Ancient Barbarian Tomb, but it doesn’t mean he can leave alive. The Dao Man descendant needs to undergo three trials, which are extremely perilous. Even if I participate, I can only pass the first trial at most, definitely falling in the second... This child’s cultivation isn’t high and may not even pass the first trial. The fourth layer might be his burial ground..."

In the fourth layer, Ning Fan’s gaze slightly focused as he watched the corpses fall back to the earth.

Unexpectedly, choosing the Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield resulted in protection, ensuring that he wouldn’t be attacked by barbarian corpses in the Ancient Barbarian Tomb.

Was this the benefit of choosing the Battle Sky Shield...

Rumble!

With a series of loud noises, a staircase to the sky appeared, leading to an altar Teleportation Formation to the fifth layer.

Moreover, copper boxes floated in the air, each with a flowing treasure light, indicating the extraordinary contents within.

This time, with Ning Fan’s eyes at the Second Realm of Tianren, he couldn’t see what was inside the boxes. The seals on these copper boxes were too high level.

He didn’t have the time to care about what was inside the boxes, as at this moment, a shadow began to slowly manifest, appearing on the altar, standing with hands behind its back.

The shadow vaguely resembled an old man in a red long dress, with a very aged appearance, a hunched back, and a dry, thin body, but eyes as bright as the starry sky.

On the old man’s forehead was the mark of a dark red small mountain, exuding a violent ominous aura that gave Ning Fan a bloodthirsty feeling.

Behind the old man, indistinctly, there were three halo-like rings, revealing themselves occasionally, which he absorbed into his body with a thought.

Those three rings were undoubtedly Saint’s rings that only a true Saint could possess!

Yet, in Ning Fan’s impression, even an Initial Saint should only possess one Saint’s ring, but this old man in red possessed three...

What cultivation did he possess!

"I am the First Barbarian God Tao Man Mountain... leaving behind the Shanhai Shadow after death... eternal throughout ages..."

"So it was you who chose the legacy shield..." The voice of the old man in red was authoritative, this was not a question, but an affirmation.

"Since so, you are eligible to undergo the trials of the Dao Man lineage. This is the first trial; no one will disturb your trial."

"If you pass the trial, you are qualified to exchange the Battle Sky Shield for one of my many relics. If you fail, then death..."

"Now, the trial begins."

The old man in red finished speaking, and his body instantly turned into specks of scattered shadows, not giving Ning Fan a chance to refuse.

Ning Fan hadn’t digested the overwhelming information in the old man’s words when an astonishing change occurred in the world.

Each copper box vanished in an instant, the heavenly stairway disappeared, the altar vanished, everything in the sky was gone.

Yet an ancient dark-red mountain slowly appeared in the sky.

At the moment this mountain appeared, an overwhelming will capable of crushing an Eternal Immortal Venerable suddenly descended upon Ning Fan.

The Fourth Generation Barbarian God furrowed her brows, sighing softly.

She had to admit, Ning Fan was exceptional; one who could gain the title of Dao Man descendant couldn’t be anything but exceptional.

But no matter how exceptional, he might still be stopped at the fourth layer. The first trial of Dao Man, known as the Trial of Will. Only those who can withstand seventeen breaths under the will of the First Barbarian God are considered to have passed the test.

The First Barbarian God’s cultivation was too high, and to withstand seventeen breaths under his will, one would need at least the power of a peak Immortal Emperor.

"Seventeen breaths, this child cannot withstand. This child’s strength, close to an Eternal Immortal Venerable, yet not truly an Immortal Venerable, perhaps his limit is the fourth breath..." the Fourth Generation Barbarian God thought to herself.

First breath.

Under the oppression of that overwhelming will, Ning Fan was hit hard, retreating three steps, stabilizing himself on the fourth step, with a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

There was a hint of anger in his eyes.

He didn’t care about the first trial or not, he didn’t like the feeling of being suppressed by someone’s will.

His will had been tempered over millions of years in the Three Illusions of Enlightenment. He feared no will suppression from anyone, even if it was the First Barbarian God Tao Man Mountain!

Second breath.

In the sky, besides the dark-red mountain, an illusion of a dark-red sea appeared.

Under the mountain and sea, the will descending upon Ning Fan instantly multiplied several times. An invisible force pushed Ning Fan to retreat continuously, with each step back causing him to cough up blood.

At the third breath, a mountain and two seas already appeared in the sky. At the fourth breath, another mountain emerged.

The willpower descending from Dao Man Mountain had exceeded the tolerance limit of any Eternal Immortal Venerable.

Under the suppression of this willpower, Ning Fan’s injuries worsened, his consciousness began to blur, and finally, at the fifth breath, he could not withstand it and burst apart with a loud explosion, dying violently.

"To hold on until the fifth breath, you have exceeded my expectations, but unfortunately, you still perished."

"It seems my previous worries were unfounded; even if you chose the Shield of Inheritance, you are not qualified to inherit the sacred relic of my Dao Man lineage—the Ancient Kingdom’s God-Destroying Shield..."

The Fourth Generation Barbarian God sighed deeply, experiencing a rare sense of regret.

Ning Fan was indeed outstanding, capable of passing the Eighth Calamity, certainly a rare talent among future generations. If he weren’t the Taicang Calamity Spirit, it would have been a good thing for him to inherit the Dao Man sacred relic.

"If he weren’t the Taicang Calamity Spirit, I would help him, assist him in passing the Three Challenges of Dao Man, and gain the recognition of the sacred relic... However, his identity cannot be changed, and I will not aid the cultivation of enemy tribes..."

"Since the fall of the First Barbarian God, only four inheritors have come, and even with the help of later Barbarian Gods, the first three couldn’t make it to the third challenge. This child is the fourth... It’s truly a pity..."

The Fourth Generation Barbarian God merely assumed Ning Fan had died violently.

Outside, the Eye Orb Monster seemed to sense this as well and woke from its enthrallment.

"He’s dead! That brat died at the Eighth Calamity! Now it’s a real mess! Without him, how can I possibly kill Yin Mo!"

"It’s all my fault! If I hadn’t insisted on watching the beauty and forced him to pass the Eighth Calamity, he wouldn’t have died... If I hadn’t been so smitten by beauty and unable to extricate myself, I could have saved him in time... It’s my fault, all my fault..."

"Immortal Elder Brother, I am sorry! I... I can’t help you avenge now..."

The Eye Orb Monster was filled with regret, wishing he could smack himself, but alas, he had no hands...

Ning Fan was his greatest card against Yin Mo; how could he die, how could he possibly die...

The Eye Orb Monster thought Ning Fan was already dead, and so did the Fourth Generation Barbarian God.

Only Ning Fan knew he wasn’t dead at all. In his moment of inevitable death, he unhesitatingly activated the power of the Illusory Life Pill.

Sixth breath!

In the empty Fourth Layer of the Ancient Barbarian Tomb, where Ning Fan had died violently, suddenly appeared a wisp of illusory flame.

The flame burned more vigorously, gradually reaching the height of a person. In the next moment, Ning Fan, clad in white, emerged unscathed from the firelight.

He wasn’t dead! Not only was he not dead, but he also held on till the sixth breath!

"How could this be! This child... is actually still alive!" Both the Fourth Generation Barbarian God and the Eye Orb Monster wore expressions of shock at this moment.

They couldn’t comprehend how Ning Fan, who had obviously ’perished violently,’ could be reborn from the fire and reappear.

With their profound experiences, they instantly thought of several possibilities but were unable to confirm them with Ning Fan.

The means to resurrect from death do exist, but without exception, are items that even immortal emperors find difficult to obtain.

This child actually possessed such a means to protect himself; he’s really been underestimated...

"Luckily, luckily, that brat is still alive, haha! As long as he’s alive, all is well!" The Eye Orb Monster was overjoyed.

The Fourth Generation Barbarian God, however, furrowed her elegant brows and sighed complicatedly once again. Seeing Ning Fan not perish also made her feel a sense of regret.

At this moment, within Ning Fan’s Dantian, two illusory flames were still burning. Activating the medicine power of the Illusory Life Pill would generate three illusory flames in his body, allowing him to save his life thrice, but he had just used one up.

"The First Barbarian God’s Dao Man Mountain is indeed a formidable power. Without the Illusory Life Pill, at the fifth breath, I would have certainly died."

"There are still two illusory flames left. Within two hours, I have two more chances to resurrect..."

"The Eye Orb Monster seems to have also regained consciousness, and if things go awry, I can leave this place anytime and abandon the Eighth Calamity."

"With this, there are no further worries. Since I’ve used the Illusory Life Pill, I might as well not waste it. Let’s get through this Dao Man First Challenge!"

Seventh breath, eighth breath, ninth breath, tenth breath!

In the sky, five mountains and five seas had already manifested, emanating a willpower strong enough to severely injure any Immortal King expert.

After the resurrection at the sixth breath, Ning Fan’s body once again began to exhibit injuries under the suppression of the willpower.

By the tenth breath, he was close to burning out.

At the eleventh breath, Ning Fan once more couldn’t withstand it and died violently.

But at the twelfth breath, he again emerged from the illusory firelight, reborn in flames.

In just twelve breaths, he died twice; without the Illusory Life Pill’s protection, with his level, he absolutely could not surpass this Dao Man First Challenge.

"There’s still one last chance for resurrection!"

Ning Fan’s eyes gleamed with an azure spike as he gazed at the sky, where six mountains and six seas gradually manifested.

With each passing breath, a mountain or sea would appear in the sky. Barbarians consider nine mountains and eight seas as the ultimate limit, meaning this Dao Man First Challenge would, at most, last until the seventeenth breath! 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

With one more chance for resurrection, it would be sufficient to clear the Dao Man First Challenge.

Should he surpass the Dao Man First Challenge, he could exchange the Ancient Kingdom’s Battle Sky Shield for a relic of the First Barbarian God’s Dao Man Mountain!

Ning Fan’s eyes flickered slightly; the Illusory Life Pill was a supreme treasure, and having used it, he must recoup his investment.

Dao Man Mountain was a Saint and not just any Saint but one possessing three Saint’s Rings. His relics must be valuable. Any one of them would be enough to cover the loss of the Illusory Life Pill.

Thirteenth breath, fourteenth breath, fifteenth breath.

Ning Fan finally, once again, couldn’t withstand it and died violently. At the sixteenth breath, he was reborn in flames, and by this moment, eight mountains and eight seas had manifested in the sky.

The willpower between heaven and earth had already surpassed the tolerance of Immortal Emperor-level powerhouses.

Just newly reborn from the flames, Ning Fan once again bled from his seven orifices under the suppression of such power of will.

The three chances of rebirth from the Illusory Life Pill had already been used up. Next, he could only rely on his strength to endure for seventeen breaths.

If he could endure, he could choose one item from the Saint’s relics to make his own.

If he couldn’t hold on, he would have to give up on the Eighth Calamity...

"Kid, I don’t know what you’re going through at this moment. If you need it, just send out a thought, and I will activate the Heaven-Deceiving Formation to protect your life!" The Eye Orb Monster’s voice timely echoed in Ning Fan’s mind.

Ning Fan did not respond, only gritting his teeth, stubbornly enduring under the chaotic and earth-shaking will.

Just one breath away, just one last breath away...

The Illusory Life Pill wasn’t used in vain. This Saint’s relic, I must take one!

Seventeenth breath!

At this moment, the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas in the sky all manifested, and a pair of illusory eyes appeared in the sky, overlooking Ning Fan.

Those were the eyes of Dao Barbarian Mountain, looking at Ning Fan without sorrow or joy, without any emotion.

At this moment, the power of will in the world reached its peak. Even an ordinary Saint would be injured under such will!

A trace of madness appeared in Ning Fan’s eyes. In his mind, scenes of transforming into a Barbarian Ox, Barbarian Fish, and Barbarian Butterfly played out.

His will had been tempered countless times. He could be defeated, he could be killed, but no one could suppress his will!

In his eyes, a red light grew fiercer, and within him, the bloodlines of the four races were operating simultaneously.

Under his feet, the shadow of a Long River appeared, with a bridge on the river, his True Bridge of Execution Path.

At this moment, Ning Fan had exerted all his strength, determined to endure through the seventeenth breath no matter what!

Even though it was already the last breath, it felt like an eternal reincarnation to Ning Fan.

Eighteenth breath!

The phantoms of the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas all disappeared.

The Heaven Ladder, altar, and Copper Box reappeared.

On the altar, the Shanhai Shadow of Dao Barbarian Mountain also manifested, with a satisfied expression on its usually emotionless face for the first time.

"You, very good. By the order of Dao Barbarian Mountain, you are allowed to take one item from my many relics."

This is... the blessing of a Saint!

"He actually traversed through the Tao Man First Challenge with cultivation below that of an Eternal Immortal Venerable!" The Fourth Generation Barbarian God gritted her silver teeth.

Once one passes the Tao Man First Challenge, they are qualified to take one item from the relics of Dao Barbarian Mountain.

Will this boy choose the sacred relic of the Dao Man Clan...

Heavens, no! She would rather die a million deaths than see the sacred relic of her clan be dishonored and fall into the hands of the Taicang Calamity Spirit.

While the Fourth Generation Barbarian God was struggling internally, Ning Fan couldn’t help but take a deep breath, feeling dazzled.

One by one, the Copper Boxes in the sky opened on their own, revealing the treasures hidden inside. The Shanhai Shadow of Dao Barbarian Mountain was beside Ning Fan, introducing each one.

And Ning Fan had already climbed the altar, listening to Dao Barbarian Mountain’s introduction.

"When I pacified the Ten Kingdoms and established the Ancient Barbarian Realm, I took the eyes of the Ten Kingdoms’ Quasi-Saints to refine a treasure, called the [Heaven Shaking Bead]. Although this bead is only of innate rank, if sacrificed with a Saint’s blood, its power increases tenfold, even capable of slightly injuring a Saint..."

It was a magical treasure that could even injure a Saint! Below a Saint, isn’t this treasure invincible!

"While traveling across the Immortal Domains, I accidentally obtained a Heaven-Opening Ganoderma. Useless above the Saint level, below that, eating it makes one nearly undying and directly possessing Quasi-Saint cultivation!"

A spiritual medicine that makes one directly become a Quasi-Saint by eating!

"This unnamed ancient scroll was written by an Immemorial Immortal King. The words within are unfamiliar to me, but they seem to record some kind of mysterious Divine Skills..."

A secret scroll of Divine Skills left by an Immemorial Immortal King!

"This puppet was accidentally acquired during my travels through various desolates. This puppet... has about the strength of an Eight Tribulations Celestial Emperor, not particularly powerful, but it can guard a cave residence..."

A puppet of Immortal Emperor level with the cultivation of the Eighth Calamity!

Even someone used to good things, at this moment, Ning Fan felt as if he’d had his eyes opened to a new world.

Compared to the relics of Dao Barbarian Mountain, the heavenly and earthly treasures he’d seen in his life paled in comparison.

Any item here was enough to cause the Four Heavens Titans to go mad with desire. The better the items, the more Ning Fan hesitated on what to choose.

What exactly should I choose...

Unintentionally, Ning Fan’s gaze fell on a particular Copper Box.

Inside that Copper Box lay a solitary piece of a magical treasure.

It looked like a fragment of a shield treasure, dark red in color, appearing neither like copper nor entirely unlike copper, with dim spiritual light, very inconspicuous, and showed no apparent power.

"What is this?" Ning Fan pointed to the fragment of the magical treasure and asked.

"What this is, I do not intend to tell you. If you like it, you can take this item directly, but you cannot take anything else." Dao Barbarian Mountain responded with profound meaning.

Before Ning Fan, three other inheritors had come before Dao Barbarian Mountain, but none of those three chose this item.

Will this child choose this item... Dao Barbarian Mountain slightly shook his head. Regardless of what Ning Fan chose, it did not matter to him.

After all, he was already a dead man, and the responsibilities of his previous life had been fulfilled. The karma of the afterlife was no concern of his...(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)