Grasping the Evil-Chapter 994: A Stern Lesson
The great battle between Wu Laoba and the red-faced elder lasted for three days and nights!
Their battle ranged from the Water Demon Star to the Ancient Sea Star, then to Yundao Star, and finally to the Liangku Star... one cultivation star after another was destroyed due to the fluctuations from their duel!
The Immortal Sovereigns battled, the spectacle was immensely grand, naturally startling many Old Monsters of East Heaven nearby, but oddly, few wanted to watch this world-shaking battle...
Those with lower cultivations naturally dared not linger near the Immortal Sovereigns’ battle, afraid to be dragged into it and lose their lives.
Those with higher cultivations, upon seeing Wu Laoba, were shocked and dared not linger, all hurriedly withdrew.
Who knows, in just three short years, Wu Laoba’s reputation stank to what degree throughout Eastern Heaven. Now, almost no one in the True Immortal circle doesn’t know the legend of the Black Turtle Sect. Of course, everyone usually avoids mentioning this ominous sect, fearing it might bring bad luck.
A few uninformed old monsters chose to stay and watch the battle, only to encounter accidents—either a meteor shower or a starry sky storm—with none meeting a good end...
Scene One:
"Ah! An Immortal Sovereign battle, let’s go and see it, perhaps we can pick up some fragments of magical treasures, which would be priceless Immortal Materials for us..."
"Hold on, Daoist! If my senses are correct, one of these Immortal Sovereigns is that infamous Wu surname Immortal Sovereign who has caused chaos in Eastern Heaven in recent years! Two years ago, I saw the Great Goose Immortal King of Mohe Star suffer a great defeat at this person’s hand but still humbly apologized to him! You and I must not approach this piece of the starry sky! This Wu surname Immortal Sovereign is eerily terrifying; this is not an empty claim! Once close, many things are likely to happen to us!"
"Daoist, you are joking, just watching a battle, what bad things could happen..."
As they spoke, a once-in-a-hundred-thousand-years starry sky storm came forth, directly swallowing this unbelieving Master, leaving no trace...
Scene Two:
"Ancestor! Near the Water Demon Star, we discovered a phenomenon where water light surged to the sky, likely indicating the emergence of an invaluable water treasure! Should we go snatch this treasure!"
"Haha! Go, why not go! When such treasure emerges, we cannot miss it!"
As they walked halfway, they suddenly sensed the surging aura Wu Laoba released, intentionally or unintentionally.
"Turn back, turn back immediately! We cannot tread on these troubled waters! It’s the aura of Wu Laoba, the heir of the Black Turtle Sect! Things he’s handled, we can’t take, we will suffer calamities if we do! Duowen Immortal Sect is the precedent! Leave swiftly!"
Scene Three:
"Ancestor, after passing the Water Demon Star and traversing twelve star domains, we reach our destination."
"Hmm? This aura is... wait! Pass my order, immediately change route! We cannot advance any further in this starry sky! We reroute to the Great Evolution Star Sea! This instant!"
The group of cultivators were shocked, "Dare to ask Ancestor, why suddenly change routes... is it because of the fluctuations from the battle ahead? Even though the Immortal Sovereigns battle is strong, Ancestor is a formidable Immortal King, why fear this battle?"
"Ah, you have been in seclusion too long, just newly emerged, and are unaware. A phrase is now prevalent throughout Eastern Heaven: ’When the Black Turtle blocks the way, even an Immortal King must shed a layer of skin...’ Even an Immortal King like me, upon encountering that Black Turtle, must retreat threefold... never provoke the Turtle in civil, nor the Rain Bandit in martial, remember these words."
...
As a result, what was originally a sky-shaking Immortal Sovereign battle ended with barely anyone daring to watch nor anyone daring to loot, due to Wu Laoba’s intentional release of aura!
This is precisely the effect Wu Laoba desired, as his understanding is that Emperor Shuiyan specializes in a blood-siphoning technique that, if blood is siphoned, can greatly heal injuries and restore cultivation.
What Wu Laoba wanted was to chase away all Masters from this land, not leaving a single person for the red-faced elder to consume.
This was also the most frustrating aspect for the red-faced elder, having a heaven-defying blood art but no human blood to use for its deployment, resulting in already poor combat power further weakened by thirty percent.
Bang!
Another direct collision, Wu Laoba’s million-zhang turtle body directly slammed the red-faced elder, vomiting blood and retreating, afterward laughing heartily, his laughter full of smugness.
"This is the 1056th time I’ve knocked you flying, weak, too weak! Shuiyan’s spirit sense is merely this much! Daring to duel with me, Wu Laoba, heh heh, even if you’re an Ancient Emperor’s spirit sense, see how I, today, commit the feat of slaying an emperor!"
Bang!
Wu Laoba knocked the red-faced elder flying for the 1057th time.
The 1058th time...
The 1059th time...
The red-faced elder was knocked flying again and again by Wu Laoba, almost brutally, having barely survived years of entrapment, and now, after a three-day fierce battle, his injuries were worsening, leaving his spirit sense body on the brink of collapse, not far from death!
Inside the red-faced elder was an unyielding spirit!
He was the Eleventh Spirit Sense of the renowned Emperor Shuiyan, albeit not Shuiyan’s true self; at full strength, he wielded the power of a pinnacle Immortal King! If not trapped for so long, too frail, how could he be so suppressed by a mere First Calamity Immortal Sovereign!
If only there were human blood to absorb, he wouldn’t have ended up in this situation, but frustratingly, there was not a single living soul here, and any occasional living person invariably met misfortune...
"Damn it! Damn it! If I were in my prime, how could I allow you a petty person to have your way; slaying an Immortal Sovereign of the First Calamity would be akin to slaughtering a dog!" The red-faced elder shouted in rage.
"Blow, keep blowing! Got the guts to come and slaughter me, woof woof woof!"
Wu Laoba knocked the red-faced elder flying for the 1297th time, gradually the red-faced elder’s half body crumbled, his expression terrifyingly fierce.
"Youngster! Knowing I am Shuiyan’s spirit sense, then be aware, should you kill me, one day when my true self is free, the first thing he’ll do is follow the cause and effect to take your worthless life! If you want to be sensible, release me this spirit sense and hand over the World Bottle of Shuiyan, today’s matters will be forgiven..."
The red-faced old man truly had no choice!
He had to speak out in threats!
The surrounding starry sky was sealed by Wu Laoba’s bizarre Black Fortune Divine Skills, escape was impossible. To fight, with this near-death body, he couldn’t win...
Boom!
The response to the red-faced old man was Wu Laoba’s 1298th collision.
Next came Wu Laoba’s increasingly gleeful laugh.
"Want to threaten me, it’s your real self crawling out from the Third Mountain first, what nonsense Shuiyan Emperor, a relic, how dare you act arrogant in front of me, provoke me and I’ll go to Ancient Demon Abyss, settle beneath your Demon Abyss Third Mountain, let your Shuiyan Path vanish under the three mountains!"
While snickering, he sent the red-faced old man flying dozens of times.
The 1300th time flying...
The 1400th time flying...
The 1500th...
The 1600th...
Even the red-faced old man couldn’t hold on anymore, and finally, on the fourth day, he was killed by Wu Laoba.
"You, wait for me! Today’s cause and effect, will surely be reckoned one day!"
This was the last threat left by the red-faced old man before his fall, his voice tinged with a mad killing intent.
Wu Laoba exited his Eternal True Body and spat disdainfully.
This kind of empty threat, he knew how to issue since he was three years old, what use did it serve.
Thinking back:
Wu Xiaoba: ’If you don’t let me touch your bottom, you better wait, when I grow up I’ll beat you to death!’
Neighbor girl Xiao Juan: ’Wah, Daddy, Tiger Kid (Wu Laoba’s nickname) wants to touch my bottom, and when he grows up, he wants to beat me!’
The result of the threat was that Wu Xiaoba was beaten hard by the neighbor’s dad, and then by his own dad...
Later, when he grew up, whether parents or neighbors, they all became dust in the ground. Only he lived forever, in the ranks of immortals...
Enough reminiscing.
Wu Laoba wasn’t afraid of this kind of threat and saw through some of the red-faced old man’s little schemes.
This kind of threat couldn’t scare a real demoness, its only meaning was to let those who heard think the speaker was really dead, thereby lowering their guard...
In fact, the fight wasn’t over yet.
"Trying to outsmart me, heh, you’ve found the wrong target..."
Wu Laoba flipped his hand to take out the Treasure-Seeking Turtle, set a direction, and sprayed a black light in that direction, striking an uninhabited area in the starry sky.
Oddly enough, once the black light struck, a blood mist suddenly exploded there, followed by a piercing scream...
It was the red-faced old man’s voice!
This time, the red-faced old man was truly dead.
"After working for four days, finally killed this old thing, what nonsense about Shuiyan spirit sense, in my Wu Xiaoba’s eyes, isn’t scarier than a hair from the star of misfortune. Heh, it’s time to enter the bottle world, and collect the Eternal Undying Rain! Master, oh Master, once I collect this thing and increase my strength, I will definitely repay you well, as I am Wu Xiaoba, the top loyal servant under heaven..."
Wu Laoba found an Abandoned Star to land, just about to enter the Flooded Bottle world, when suddenly a chill ran through him, turning him sharply around.
This turn sent Wu Laoba’s three souls flying, nearly dropping the bottle in his hand, his heart pounded with anxiety.
A figure in white clothes fell into his view!
"Mas...mas...master! How are you here!"
Behind Wu Laoba stood none other than Ning Fan!
A snatch and grab! This is blatant snatching!
Given Wu Laoba’s mind, with a quick turn of his beady green eyes, he understood the key immediately, knowing that Ning Fan had premeditatedly waited for him to repair the bottle, kill the Shuiyan, toil through this exhausting task, only to pick his fruits at the end, enjoy the benefit, and reap the profit!
Wu Laoba couldn’t help being angry! That’s not just anger, that was biting fury, if it weren’t Ning Fan standing there, Wu Laoba would directly curse out loud!
Dammit! He has only ever calculated and trapped others, yet today the tables have turned, he’s been snatched, his fruits picked! This star of misfortune is indeed despicable and shameless, he considered himself despicable enough, shameless enough, yet the star of misfortune managed to out-trick him, isn’t he even more despicable, even more shameless!
But this is the star of misfortune, the only one in the world who restrains his Black Fortune, who once killed a Quasi-Saint on Mu Island, who holds his soul and can decide his fate at any moment... Even with the urge to curse, Wu Laoba didn’t dare to speak a dirty word. Compared to anger, his fear of Ning Fan was greater.
If there was a small man in Wu Laoba’s heart full of anger, dissatisfaction, and criticism of Ning Fan’s fruit-picking behavior, then there were ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine small men feeling guilty, fearful, uneasy, grieving, thinking about how to give Ning Fan a plausible explanation to deceive him, and get through this hurdle...
"Does this star of misfortune know that I’m plotting to take the Eternal Undying Rain behind his back? No, he can’t know! But what if he does know! This star of misfortune has always been ruthless, could he, in a fit of anger, just kill me off?"
Wu Laoba was shivering.
Facing countless Eastern Heavenly Powers, Wu Laoba had never trembled.
Facing the spirit sense of the Shuiyan Path, Wu Laoba had never trembled.
But at this moment, facing Ning Fan, Wu Laoba couldn’t stop trembling, involuntarily, he was intimidated...
The result of being intimidated was that out of tens of thousands of little men within his heart, the only furious one was gloriously sacrificed, and all the little men resigned to fate, knelt in a row, chanting praises to Ning Fan.
Alas, he could only pray that the star of misfortune doesn’t know the truth, otherwise, with the star’s ruthless nature, it’s highly likely that he’d directly kill him...
How else could one say Wu Laoba was a slick character? Seeing Ning Fan’s expression still somewhat bright, Wu Laoba relaxed internally.
The matter of swallowing the Eternal Undying Rain didn’t seem to be exposed yet, or else the star of misfortune wouldn’t have such a good face... So Wu Laoba’s eyes twitched, coming up with a solution.
Indeed, he handled this matter improperly, compared to an official in a mortal dynasty, he’d be considered a corrupt official, daring to embezzle the Emperor’s silver!
If he really embezzled, by law, he ought to die, but luckily he hadn’t had the chance yet!
Wu Laoba felt immensely grateful.
He hadn’t had the chance to embezzle the Undying Rain, as Ning Fan arrived, which is a good thing! Therefore, this matter still had leeway!
At most, he could only be deemed unsuccessful, and at that, the star of misfortune seems unaware...
"The bottle, is it already repaired... Give it to me for a look," Ning Fan smiled seemingly casually.
Wu Laoba became even more convinced of his speculation, his spirits lifted, cradled the World Bottle respectfully, bowing deeply while offering it to Ning Fan, displaying the demeanor of the world’s most loyal servant, then brewing emotion, suddenly burst into tears,
"Master, you might not know, in these three years, I’ve traveled throughout the Eastern Heaven, visiting over forty Eastern Heavenly forces, bearing countless humiliations, groveling, just to obtain all the repair materials needed to fix this bottle... The hardships, grievances, inexpressible to outsiders, several times I faced life and death crises repeatedly bullied by those Immortal Venerables and Kings of Eastern Heaven, many times, nearly gave up for the sake of some dignity, foregoing fixing the bottle, abandoning the unwavering loyalty held till now... But every time I wanted to give up, I remembered the Master’s smile, the Master’s earnest anticipation, the loyalty that once touched heaven and earth, then Little Ba found strength, time again gritted teeth through tears, continuing to beg those Eastern Heavenly powers, finally obtaining all the Immortal Materials to repair the treasure..."
Wu Laoba’s words sounded pitiful, unaware, one might genuinely believe the search for repair materials was extremely arduous and full of grievances.
Ning Fan twitched his mouth, having personally seen Wu Laoba’s joyful demeanor on Water Curtain Star, singing songs, blocking doors, hurling threats, and obtaining Immortal Materials and Three Trillion Dao Crystals... Who bullied him! Who wronged this fellow! Clearly, it was this fellow bullying countless Eastern Heavenly forces! If anyone should feel wronged, it would be those Eastern Heavenly forces...
Seeing Ning Fan was not moved in the least, Wu Laoba lamented Ning Fan’s heart of stone, indeed ruthlessness embodying. He changed strategy, ceased complaining, began to claim credit.
To claim credit, naturally, one must speak contrarily, this was Wu Laoba’s life wisdom...
"Through great hardships, I’ve repaired the World Bottle, not for the Master’s rewards, but for pure loyalty, sincere devotion..."
Wu Laoba secretly thought, he’d spoken to this extent, if the star of misfortune doesn’t give a reward, it’s too stingy then.
"Don’t you want a reward?"
"I..." Wu Laoba halted, should he say he eagerly wants a reward? Wants the Eternal Undying Rain outright?
"Since you don’t want it, I won’t force you, let’s drop the matter of rewards."
"..."
Wu Laoba wanted to rip out his tongue!
Why did he speak contrary words unnecessarily, didn’t he know he shouldn’t speak contrary words to straightforward people! The star of misfortune would take them seriously!
"Master, actually, actually... I don’t reject the Master’s rewards, truly, I want not the rewards themselves, but the supreme honor they represent... If the Master feels compelled, truly wants to bestow something upon me, I’d willingly accept, only, I wish to select a reward myself."
Wu Laoba secretly observed Ning Fan’s expression, only to see Ning Fan’s smile suddenly vanished at this moment, a cold glint flickered in his eye.
"What reward do you want, is it the World Bottle, the Nether Dust Sea within, or... the Eternal Undying Rain!"
No good! The star of misfortune knew everything! He really knew I wanted to gobble the Undying Rain! Wu Laoba was shocked!
That gaze was too cold, also too terrifying, meeting it for an instant, Wu Laoba felt a strange chill from the soles to the Tian Ling, heart raced endlessly, sensing impending doom.
Calamity! It’s all discovered!
The star of misfortune was angry! With the star’s unforgiving nature, he won’t spare me!
Previously seeing Ning Fan smiling, Wu Laoba thought he could gloss over this, now it seemed, this star of misfortune clearly knew everything already!
No chance of glossing over!
"Mas-master-master, Little Ba wants no rewards! Little Ba was wrong, Little Ba knows his mistake! Little Ba shouldn’t have had his heart clouded with foolish ambition, attempting to embezzle the Master’s Eternal Undying Rain, please give Little Ba a chance, Little Ba will reform and start anew!"
Wu Laoba thudded as he knelt on the ground, shaking all over.
Ning Fan’s eyes bore even colder intent, his real thought was actually just to scare Wu Laoba, that cold intent, was fake.
This Wu Laoba, indeed needed a knock, as a servant, dared to covet the Master’s treasure, considering Ning Fan’s past conduct, he certainly wouldn’t give Wu Laoba a chance to live!
However, if Wu Laoba had any karmic ties with the old monster, just based on this alone, as long as Wu Laoba didn’t cross Ning Fan’s bottom line, Ning Fan wouldn’t kill Wu Laoba. Although Wu Laoba had thoughts of seizing the Eternal Undying Rain for himself, he had no real intention of betraying him. On the larger stance, he’s still quite steadfast... Ning Fan sighed slightly, he didn’t want to chill the old monster’s heart. In this way, if accountability was necessary, at most there would only be a slight reprimand and a gentle warning to this fellow.
A warning is necessary! Ning Fan does not seek Wu Laoba’s unwavering loyalty, yet he must make him understand what can and cannot be done.
Along his journey to today, Ning Fan had taken in numerous servants, among whom the vast majority were irredeemable evil sects.
Can you really expect true loyalty from these irredeemably evil, sly as foxes demonic heads? You cannot!
Therefore, even for Earth Controlling Devil Star and Iron Crow, Ning Fan never expected true loyalty. It was always a mix of reward and punishment, showing favor on one hand, while threatening with the soul on the other. Only then could these demonic heads be prevented from acting recklessly, ensuring they never harbor thoughts of betrayal.
For Wu Laoba, the same should apply!
Ordinarily, he was quite courteous to Wu Laoba. When Wu Laoba was injured, he gifted him expensive pills, and self-reflectively felt he had never mistreated Wu Laoba nor wantonly driven him.
Indeed, he had achieved this.
Now, he needed to make Wu Laoba understand his might, letting him know what might happen if he betrayed his master!
Ning Fan flipped his hand and took out Wu Laoba’s soul, gripping it tightly.
Wu Laoba’s face turned ghastly pale at once; if Ning Fan crushed this soul, he would surely die with no chance of survival!
Standing on the brink of life and death, his fate depended entirely on Ning Fan’s decision!
"Master, I was wrong! I truly realize my mistake now! Your humble servant will dare no more; your humble servant really won’t dare anymore in the future!"
"Forty trillion Dao Crystals! The forty trillion Dao Crystals your humble servant collected will all go to the master! Also, expensive pills, Dao Fruits, various Spiritual Medicine and immortal materials, all for the master! Your humble servant will never dare to embezzle even a fraction again! Master, spare my life!"
This fellow actually collected so many Dao Crystals!
And it only took him three years!
Ning Fan couldn’t help but be moved. This Wu Laoba could definitely be a competent helper. With him, it would be easy to establish a sect, lacking nothing in logistics support, and he could use his Black Fortune to deter countless invaders, causing endless trouble in enemy camps...
Wu Laoba keenly caught the momentary change in Ning Fan’s expression. In his understanding, it was his own worth that touched Ning Fan, thus opening up a possible chance for survival.
He couldn’t imagine that Ning Fan hadn’t intended to kill him from the start, merely frightening him...
"Master! From today onwards, any cultivation materials you need, just tell Little Ba. Little Ba will go through fire and water to get them for you! Whatever orders you have, Little Ba will diligently and vigorously complete them! If you fancy any woman, Little Ba... Little Ba will camp outside her home. If she doesn’t comply, Little Ba will make her sect fall into ruin!"
What kind of nonsense is this!
Does Ning Fan seem like the type to bully men and prey on women?
Well, actually... he does seem like such a villain. As Ning Fan self-reflected, he realized he had done quite a bit of such things...
"Master, Little Ba is of great use to you, of tremendous use. Killing me would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs!"
Is that how you use "killing the goose that lays the golden eggs"? Ning Fan wondered if he’s being taken for ignorant...
Oh, forget it, forget it. The act has been performed enough, Ning Fan truly couldn’t bear to watch Wu Laoba’s crying and nonsensical chatter any longer.
After frightening Wu Laoba for a while, Ning Fan then purposely said coldly,
"Remember what you said. This is your last chance! There won’t be a next time!"
After frightening Wu Laoba, Ning Fan’s mood, tangled due to Xian Luoli, inexplicably improved a bit.
He began to understand Tantai Weiyu; perhaps truly, those with black bellies can indeed find joy in others’ suffering...
From the angle of entertaining Ning Fan, this Wu Laoba has truly made a small contribution.
Wu Laoba cried tears of joy!
The star of misfortune agreed to give him a way out. That’s truly wonderful! Any Eternal Undying Rain or Water-Flooding Realm Bottle was far less thrilling than this joy of escaping death!
Great despair followed by great joy; in his excitement, Wu Laoba unexpectedly opened up another good fortune point. Oh my, again, it’s the benefit of following the star of misfortune. He’s indeed too lucky!
Thus Wu Laoba felt ashamed, humiliated. Look at what he’s done; he constantly benefits from the star of misfortune, enhancing his cultivations, yet still brazenly schemed for the star’s Undying Rain. It’s simply repaying kindness with rancor, the behavior of a rascal, not just shameless but utterly shameless! It’s completely tarnishing the upright and majestic image of his master!
Wu Laoba had already deliberately ignored the fact that he had just accused Ning Fan of being a despicable, shameless person...
"Master, Little Ba promises to be the most loyal servant under the heavens, living for the master and dying for the master from this moment on!" Wu Laoba vowed confidently.
Ning Fan’s mouth twitched.
If Earth Controlling Devil Star or Iron Crow said this, Ning Fan might believe it thirty percent, but Wu Laoba... well, he’d better keep a close watch on this fellow in the future, constantly warning him, lest he misbehaves again.
"Tell me about the Eternal Undying Rain; I want to know the details." Ning Fan casually ordered.
Wu Laoba’s spirits rose!
Having just offended Ning Fan, it was indeed the moment for him to eagerly make amends; naturally, he would speak without reserve, leaving nothing unsaid... (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
