Chapter 1086: Chapter 1086: Ancient Trees Amid Immortal Clouds, Hearing Caiwei

The Dragon Saliva Ancient Wine is a unique spiritual wine of the Nightmare Dragon Clan. A small sip offers the fragrance of a hundred fruits melting on the tongue, while a large gulp brings the searing intensity of the west wind on the throat. If served in a luminescent cup, it emanates a shimmering light of sun and moon, elegant and beautiful; as for its type, it can be considered a medicinal wine, with tremendous benefits for healing, making even a single jar immensely valuable, let alone a thousand jars.

If it weren’t beneficial to consume this wine, Long Sanchui would never have imposed the punishment of drinking a thousand jars on the injured Ning Fan. The wine is beneficial to the injured; calling it a punishment might actually be an act of goodwill.

Considering Ning Fan’s limited capacity for alcohol, Long Sanchui didn’t intend for Ning Fan to drink all thousand jars in one go, fearing that Ning Fan might not be able to handle it and either overcompensate or get drunk to death.

Long Sanchui’s initial plan was to use his own exceptional drinking ability to consume about nine hundred and fifty jars, allowing Ning Fan, whose capacity is less than his, to drink only fifty jars. This was his estimation of Ning Fan’s drinking limit.

This limit was based on the adjustments he made after Ning Fan got drunk the last time; in some ways, it underestimated Ning Fan’s drinking ability.

However, a seemingly casual remark from the Emperor Butcher nearly choked Long Sanchui with the spiritual wine, causing him to leave the banquet out of depression and go into seclusion to reshape his physical defense, fearing that delaying the regeneration of his left arm might leave aftereffects.

As a result, the large banquet, totaling a thousand jars of ancient wine, was left entirely to Ning Fan and his companions.

"That annoying old man is gone. Ning Fan, let’s drink ourselves! Today I’m going to prove to you that when I’m serious, my drinking capacity is excellent! By the way, let your little sweetheart Burying Moon out to drink with us!" the Emperor Butcher suggested with casual nonchalance.

Ning Fan was speechless, "Why didn’t you mention earlier that killing the Nightmare Dragon was to rid the Nightmare Dragon Clan of harm..."

"Well, you all didn’t ask me?" the Emperor Butcher smiled innocently, never admitting to deliberately teasing Long Sanchui.

Because as soon as Ning Fan entered the cave, Long Sanchui engaged Ning Fan in a battle of hundreds of punches, which unfortunately worsened the injuries of her Little Butterfly. Shouldn’t he be punished?

"Forget it, I’ll apologize to Brother Long later..." Ning Fan felt quite troubled by the manipulative Emperor Butcher, yet found a sense of familiarity in her candid demeanor.

When the Emperor Butcher was devious, she gave him a sense reminiscent of interacting with the Little Demoness.

When she was arrogant, he seemed to see Bei Xiao Man and Yue Lingkong.

When she was protective, it was as if Luo You, who was always standing behind him, was in front of him.

When she was innocent, he seemed to see the paper crane and Mu Weiliang.

Before, he thought his peculiar familiarity and trust in the Emperor Butcher came from the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection.

But now, he vaguely felt that wasn’t entirely the case.

In the end, at the Emperor Butcher’s suggestion, Ning Fan opened a rift to the Xuan Yin Treasure, summoning Burying Moon, Ouyang Nuan, and Black Evil, who were injured in the Holy Mountain battle, to join the banquet.

He initially wanted to call out Wu Laoba as well, but the Emperor Butcher immediately threw out two wine jars, knocking Wu Laoba, who had just emerged from the Xuan Yin Treasure rift, back in with a thud, causing him to crash face-first.

Wu Laoba, being bullied, instinctively wanted to curse, but upon realizing that the objects hitting him were two Dragon Saliva Wine jars emitting spiritual energy, he was ecstatic, saliva dripping as his resentment dissolved by ninety percent at once. Upon seeing the person who hit him was the Half-Step Quasi-Saint, Emperor Butcher, he docilely accepted it, his last bit of resentment dissipating completely, instead greeting Emperor Butcher with flattery and humility.

"New Mistress, greetings! Little Eight thanks the New Mistress for the gift!"

"No need for formalities. I don’t like drinking with unfamiliar men. You, continue to stay in your master’s Yin Yang Locket and drink on your own! If you need more, I’ll give you two more jars, just don’t disturb us!" Emperor Butcher generously tossed two more wine jars to Wu Laoba.

Wu Laoba returned to the Xuan Yin Treasure, beaming with joy. In a secluded spot, he began gulping down the spiritual wine, and before long, was drunkenly asleep on the ground, snoring away.

In his dreams, he didn’t blame the Emperor Butcher for hitting him with wine jars. Instead, he regretted that she hadn’t thrown more jars, so he could have benefitted more. Such shamelessness, no medicine could cure, the disease had reached a terminal stage...

Thus, the entire banquet had Ning Fan as the only male, accompanied by Emperor Butcher, Burying Moon, Ouyang Nuan, Duolan, and Black Evil, five women in total.

The five women gathered around Ning Fan, offering drinks frequently, but of course, they couldn’t drink him under the table.

The ancient wine was extremely potent, and Ouyang Nuan and Duolan soon became intoxicated, lying on the table, speaking drunken words.

Then it was Black Evil, though this girl was already an adult, boasting cultivation comparable to a Quasi-Emperor, she couldn’t handle the wine’s strength, and was soon put down.

Lastly, even Burying Moon got drunk; although usually a bit scatterbrained, her drunken state was surprisingly the best.

The only ones who didn’t get drunk were Ning Fan and, surprisingly, the Emperor Butcher.

At some point, Emperor Butcher sat beside Ning Fan, the two sitting shoulder to shoulder, not speaking much, simply downing ancient wine together in large gulps.

The number of empty wine jars beside them gradually increased, but with their astonishing capacity, neither fell.

Ning Fan had grasped the essence of drinking, his alcohol tolerance incredibly high. On the day Long Sanchui got him drunk, it was partly because he wanted to be drunk. If he didn’t want to be drunk, even a hundred or ten million-year-old jars of ancient wine couldn’t knock him down.

What Ning Fan didn’t expect was that the Emperor Butcher, who had fallen after just one drop in the Fire Soul Tower, actually had such a good capacity, downing over a hundred jars without getting drunk...

This gave Ning Fan a new understanding of the Emperor Butcher’s alcohol tolerance. Her capacity really wasn’t bad; her earlier fall due to alcohol was solely because her power was restricted after entering the Fire Soul Tower...

"See! Didn’t I tell you? My drinking capacity is really good!" Emperor Butcher’s face was flushed, eyes glistening beautifully as if they could drip with water, lips shimmering with the sheen of wine, radiant beyond description under the lamplight.

"Yes, your drinking capacity is indeed good. I underestimated you before."

"Convinced or not?"

"Convinced."

"I said before that I’d find an opportunity to compete with you in drinking; today is a golden opportunity. Do you dare to compete with me without regard for the consequences?"

"Your body is still weak..."

"Don’t dare? Or are you afraid of getting drunk and being eaten by me?" Emperor Butcher provocatively lifted Ning Fan’s chin with her hand.

Ning Fan chuckled, shaking his head lightly, brushing aside Emperor Butcher’s mischievous jade hand, not replying and just continued to drink another jar of wine. After drinking, he asked, "What exactly are you hiding from me? I can sense that what you’re hiding isn’t malicious, but I’m still somewhat concerned and want to know clearly."

"..." Emperor Butcher’s beautiful eyes dimmed slightly, not responding, only continuing to down another jar of ancient wine in large gulps.

The matter she didn’t want to answer, she would never answer even in death, never would she tell Ning Fan about the matter of dying, causing him trouble!

Ning Fan sighed, no longer pressing the matter, before saying, "You must have your reasons for not wanting to say; I won’t press you. If there’s anything I can help with, let me know."

"You cannot help me. There’s no need to mention it again; just stay with me and savor this drink together, get drunk with me!" Emperor Butcher laughed.

```

"Okay."

"Can’t deliberately avoid getting drunk!"

"...Okay."

"Refreshing! That’s the little butterfly I like! Finish this jar!"

"You’ve already drunk from this, your lipstick mark is still on it..."

"What are you afraid of? We’ve been through life and death together, are we really going to be shy about this now? Drink up!"

Fifty jars, a hundred jars, two hundred jars...

Empty wine jars surrounded them more and more, and gradually, Ning Fan, who no longer forced himself to stay sober, finally felt a hint of intoxication.

In his drunken stupor, he heard the question from Emperor Butcher, "Little butterfly, if in your future, you want so badly to find someone but can never find her again, then don’t keep searching... promise me..."

"Oh..." Ning Fan answered absentmindedly, not understanding, his consciousness foggy.

"I hope your future isn’t a lonely one, I hope you never open your eyes..."

"Open eyes... What does it mean to open your eyes..." Ning Fan was truly drunk.

"I really wanted to watch the morning moon at Primeval Mountain with you, but there’s no longer a chance..."

"Watch... go to watch... let’s go now..."

"Fool, you can’t see it, the time is wrong, the place is wrong... And now, Primeval Mountain probably can’t see the morning moon anymore."

"Oh..."

"How about I perform a sword dance for you? In this life, I have never danced, nor used a sword, but... the closer I am to dissipating, the more I understand some things. It seems that I used to be a master of swordsmanship. Here, lend me a sword."

"Lend a sword... lend what sword... oh... lend a sword... Reverse Sea Sword... lend it to you..."

Ning Fan summoned the Reverse Sea Sword, lending it to Emperor Butcher, while he leaned on the wine table, drunkenly watching a graceful and transcendent figure leave the banquet, holding a sword and dancing.

Such beautiful dance steps...

It seems all the compliments in the world aren’t enough to describe the beauty before him...

It seems that long, long ago, he saw someone dance with a sword for him like this... Or perhaps, it was just an illusion...

Emperor Butcher... Sword Ancestor... Ji Qingling...

It’s the same person...

He is her little butterfly, taken away from the butterfly’s hometown by her, brought into the mortal world.

He found his origin, his true origin.

He feels that he has gained more understanding and insight into the matter of reincarnation.

Yet, being too intoxicated, his mind scrambled, unable to comprehend many things, he could only give up.

Unaware of when Emperor Butcher stopped dancing.

Unaware of when a hot and soft body collided into his embrace...

In his haze, Ning Fan sees Emperor Butcher’s confused yet clear eyes.

The Emperor Butcher in his arms now, her eyes have no lust, no love. Otherwise, she couldn’t be so calm...

But she guided Ning Fan, doing the most romantic thing in the world...

"Come, before sister’s final moment arrives, let me touch you one last time..." It’s Emperor Butcher’s satisfied voice, hiding an indescribable melancholy.

...

A night passes.

Morning light, filtered through some enchantments of Dragon Nest, softly and cleanly illuminates a guest room from the outside.

Inside the guest room, Ning Fan’s head feels heavy as he awakens from a drunken slumber.

He is the first to awaken.

Next to him, five women still sleep...

Ning Fan rubs his head, and in his mind, the scene of last night, after getting drunk, with Emperor Butcher and other women doing this and that, replayed over and over.

He has a good impression of Emperor Butcher, she guided him, and of course, he didn’t refuse awkwardly but instead pressed Emperor Butcher against the wine table...

But the problem is... Initially, he was only with Emperor Butcher, but midway, another woman drowsily joined in...

At some point, Ouyang Nuan joined, making it one on two...

Ouyang Nuan was acceptable too, joining was joining. He was the inheritor of Ancient Chaotic Grand Emperor, but even Burying Moon was drowsily joining in! Fine, Burying Moon was his Cauldron Furnace, sooner or later he’d be extracting from her, picking the fruit a bit earlier was no problem...

But how did Duolan also get influenced by alcohol and join in...

Even Black Evil Sect... this little one just barely became an adult, yet also...

Ning Fan rubbed his temples hard, turned his head, meeting Emperor Butcher’s freshly awakened, innocent smile.

"So that’s your motive for driving away the men and leaving the women to drink with me..." Ning Fan said, speechless.

"I once said, I’ve stifled my desires for eighty million years, do not underestimate the hunger of an older female cultivator. Moreover, I enjoy hustle and bustle; it’s fun with more people, and I’m curious how others will feel when they awaken," the Emperor Butcher said slyly.

...

Since it had already happened, Ning Fan certainly wouldn’t hypocritically regret it. After all, it was consensual, and he hadn’t engaged in such activities for a long time. To be honest, it felt really good.

By the end, he even used a cultivation technique, ensuring that all participants benefited significantly from this indulgence.

The injuries of several women, except for Ouyang Nuan, were greatly alleviated because of the dual cultivation. After all, it was their first time doing such things, and the healing effect was naturally very significant.

Duolan was even planted with a Zi relic by Ning Fan, leading to a significant advancement in her cultivation. However, due to insufficient comprehension, Ning Fan temporarily suppressed her breakthrough.

Of course, Ning Fan was the one who benefited the most.

As the Emperor Butcher was an illusion puppet, it didn’t enhance Ning Fan’s cultivation.

But Burying Moon was genuinely an Immortal Emperor, so the benefits were immense.

Sadly, the cultivations of Divine Fiends had reached their limit, and without a method to refine Calamity Blood, it could not advance. Thus, the benefits from dual cultivation couldn’t enhance cultivation, but were instead absorbed into Ning Fan’s physical body, Spirit, and divine sense, significantly strengthening his Divine Spirit Wasted Body in all aspects.

Furthermore, because of one indulgence, a massive part of the Saintess’s maternal Yin energy within Duolan was absorbed into Ning Fan. The remaining part in Duolan even showed signs of pregnancy!

But it was just a sign...

According to common sense, a Saintess soaked in the sub-maternal pool water would have her internal Yin energy forcibly form an embryo if a man engaged with her.

Perhaps it was due to Ning Fan’s heavy killing nature, or because he was a Holder Cultivator not tolerated by Heaven and Earth. In any case, his offspring were extraordinarily difficult to come by. The embryo in Duolan’s body showed signs of forming, only to halt and disperse again as Yin energy, integrating into every inch of Duolan’s physical form.

Ning Fan had long known of his difficulties in siring offspring, but to this extent was beyond his expectations, finding it unable even to give birth from maternal Yin energy.

Thus, the Yin energy was truly exhausted, inadvertently aligning with the rumors that spread across the grasslands that Duolan was indeed...

This event brought Ning Fan benefits, but in the near future it would also bring Duolan a surge in cultivation, as the Yin energy had now integrated into every inch of her flesh. Of course, this required Duolan to cultivate diligently for years to fully absorb the vast Yin energy.

The Yin energy within Duolan was originally sufficient for her cultivation all the way to Immortal Emperor. With Ning Fan having absorbed most of it, it could now only support her cultivation to Immortal King at most.

Moreover, this Yin energy plundering didn’t work on a one-to-one basis. Energy extraction involves great consumption between transformation. Ning Fan actually only gained one-tenth of the loss Duolan experienced...

It’s akin to how a person eating a hundred pounds of meat won’t gain a hundred pounds; completely absorbing an Immortal Emperor’s energy doesn’t directly grant an Immortal Emperor’s cultivation...

Ning Fan felt some self-reproach, as in a drunken haze, he took away Duolan’s opportunity to cultivate to an Immortal Emperor. In the future, he should offer her more compensation.

When he reaches the peak of the Second Step, helping Duolan and other women to become Emperors shouldn’t be... too difficult!

As for the Yin energy absorbed by Ning Fan, it was temporarily stored in his body without being refined, as his cultivation couldn’t advance for the moment. If a breakthrough in any of his Divine Fiend’s cultivation occurs, the sheer amount of Yin energy available could directly advance any subsystem to the level of Eternity’s First Tribulation.

...

Once some things begin, they become difficult to conceal. For several consecutive days, Ning Fan was engaged in indescribable acts, details of which need not be elaborated.

After several days, Long Sanchui, who possessed super-speed regeneration in his left arm, came out to find Ning Fan.

Upon meeting Ning Fan, he noticed the refreshed look on Ning Fan’s face and glanced at Emperor Butcher and Duolan behind him. Noticing the absence of Yin energy in these two women, he instantly understood the source of Ning Fan’s radiant complexion, giving Ning Fan’s shoulder a congratulatory pat.

What he admired was that Ning Fan could even conquer the half-step Quasi-Saint Emperor Butcher; truly a model among us!

"Brother Ning, you really are quite fortunate in love. Still, I’m not far off myself. After you gave me an innate ceremony artifact, I secretly spread the word. Now, several mother Nightmare Dragons wish to form a Dao partner with me for the artifact. Unfortunately, those mothers don’t have particularly high cultivation, but they’re quite a sight, with dark skin, a round body, and large posteriors, surely capable of producing a bunch of offspring with excellent bloodlines and bone structures..."

Dark skin, round body, and large posteriors... Is that really attractive? Ning Fan somewhat doubted Long Sanchui’s taste. After all, it’s a Nightmare Dragon, not a human; it’s understandable for aesthetics to be peculiar.

After laughing, Long Sanchui sighed, "Ah, the wedding customs of our Nightmare Dragon tribe are exceedingly complex. I have to prepare for decades before I can set up a banquet and take a spouse. By then, Brother Ning might have long left the Holy Domain and be unable to attend my wedding."

"Hmm, I still have matters to attend to in Eastern Heaven and must return early. I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it to your wedding, Brother Long."

"This is the final opening of the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain; Brother Ning, once you leave, it may be difficult to meet again in the future." Long Sanchui sighed deeper, having lived a lonely life, with Ning Fan being the first congenial friend. Thinking about not being able to meet again, he couldn’t help feeling somewhat sad.

"Brother Long, don’t sigh. The Supreme Pill Sacred Domain officially has one channel leading outside, though secretly, there might be hidden paths. I refuse to believe those Da Bi monsters do not have contingencies. When I wish to return someday, there will be a way." Ning Fan consoled.

In the end, Long Sanchui gave the Dragon Nest located in Stone Flame entirely to Ning Fan, while he left to settle in a Dragon Nest in Wood Flame.

The Nightmare Dragon brides he found all resided in Wood Flame and hence needed to move there. Rather than leaving this Dragon Nest abandoned, gifting it to Ning Fan was a suitable option.

After Long Sanchui left, the empty Dragon Nest was soon occupied solely by Ning Fan, Duolan, and the Emperor Butcher. Once Ning Fan left, only the Emperor Butcher and Duolan remained to reside here.

At this moment, Ning Fan deeply felt his lack of power. If he possessed strength sufficient to flatten the Will of the Saint in this realm, the two ladies could follow him out of the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain, free from the curse of the Will of the Saint, and not face gradual demise.

Cultivation is not everything, yet one surely cannot do without it.

He also couldn’t halt his pace to stay with the two ladies. There were many matters requiring his attention that could not be delayed.

More days passed.

Within the Dragon Nest, Ning Fan placed numerous formations to isolate karma, further enhancing the nest’s concealment, and left countless items for Emperor Butcher and Duolan. And so, the day of departure finally arrived.

Inside, it was warm in winter and cool in summer, whereas outside, thick clouds gathered, and the autumn wind was bleak.

Amidst the bleak autumn wind, Ning Fan had initially decided to leave without turning back, but upon reaching the cave entrance, he finally halted, turned back, and instructed the two ladies,

"Once my cultivation is sufficient, I shall take you both out of the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain. Until then, wait for me here in the Dragon Nest. Do not venture outside as a precaution against detection by the Da Bi Demi-Saint. But as long as you remain within this Dragon Nest, those quasi-saints will not find you."

"Rest assured, Senior, Duolan intends to find a safe place to close door and refine the vast Yin energy in her body. For tens of thousands of years, I have no plans to leave this Dragon Nest. It is quite nice here, and I will wait for your return, Senior. By the time you come looking for me, I will certainly be an Eternal Cultivator." Duolan spoke despondently to Ning Fan, reluctant to leave him, yet ultimately didn’t say a word to hold him back.

Will there really be a day when they meet again? She doubted, not in Ning Fan, but the possibility of returning to the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain.

"Alright, Ning Fan! You must leave quickly, and when your cultivation is sufficient, return promptly to take Duolan away. Do not make her wait here for too long." Emperor Butcher felt an indescribable melancholy, though her face remained as usual, displaying no hint of separation sadness, as if cold and emotionless.

"Only picking up Duolan? Don’t you need to come back and pick me up too?"

"...No need."

"You want to stay here forever? That’s fine, when my cultivation is strong enough that even those Da Bi Demi-Saints don’t dare to plot against you, you can stay here without worry. At that time, they won’t dare to harm you."

"Yes, I believe you can reach that level, but if possible, I wish you wouldn’t push yourself too hard for the sake of cultivation. And after reaching the peak of the Second Step, never cultivate towards the Third Step again."

"Why?" Ning Fan was surprised.

"You are a Holder Cultivator. The Third Step is a painful choice for you, and I don’t wish for you to suffer. Additionally, your racial qualification might not suffice for sainthood. In this world, Vast Expanse Butterflies inherently have a difficult path to sainthood, and you are even a Vast Expanse Butterfly with ordinary bloodline who cultivated the Heartless Path. If the difficulty of sainthood for ordinary people is one, for Vast Expanse Butterflies it is ten; for you, it is a hundred, a thousand, even ten thousand..."

"My path to sainthood is truly that much more difficult than for others?"

Ning Fan was surprised and silent for a moment, before shaking his head and saying, "The path to sainthood is still too far away for me. I don’t plan to think about it for now, but if I truly reach that point, I believe I will want to try regardless. I want to understand what the Third Step is like... Sorry, I probably won’t take your advice."

"Yes, make your own decision. If becoming a saint is what makes you happy, I will support you with all my might, though my power is limited; even helping you may not be enough... After all, I couldn’t reach that step myself back in those days. Throughout history, the bones of countless prodigies are buried along the Saint Road, and compared to the Fourth Step, saints are still ants... Mortals hunt large animals for food, but do not resort to consuming microorganisms. If unable to reach the pinnacle, I’d rather you remain ordinary, at least safe... The Third Step is all about foundation, and that is precisely what you lack..." Emperor Butcher smiled bitterly.

"What are you talking about? I don’t quite understand." Ning Fan shook his head, knowing Emperor Butcher was speaking nonsensical words again.

This was the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection manifesting in Emperor Butcher’s body.

In recent times, Ning Fan had repeatedly researched, yet found no way to separate Emperor Butcher from the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection without resorting to the same method Bright Buddha and others chose, abolishing Emperor Butcher’s cultivation for a slight chance of separation. Emperor Butcher fiercely opposed being stripped of her cultivation, and considering the safety of the Dragon Nest was not at risk, Ning Fan did not insist on removing the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection from Emperor Butcher. As long as Emperor Butcher remained within the Dragon Nest, holding onto the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection meant others wouldn’t be able to find and plot against her.

"Do you have anything else to say?"

"No more! Hurry and leave!"

"Then I’m off... Take care of yourselves."

Ning Fan turned around and decisively strode out of the cave, waving to the two women without looking back.

Soon, he was out of sight.

Duolan became increasingly saddened and sighed repeatedly.

Emperor Butcher didn’t sigh, merely a subtle glint of sadness appeared in her gaze, as if they would never see each other again.

And long after Ning Fan left, she finally stopped suppressing the deathly aura within, the illusionary red on her face faded, replaced by a bloodless pallor and frailty.

"Sister Qingling, what’s wrong with you! Why is there so much death aura emanating from your body! What’s happening to you! Are your injuries worsening!" Duolan panicked.

"Don’t worry, it’s just normal aging, illness, and death. I should have dissipated days ago, but to keep Little Butterfly in the dark, I’ve held on for several days longer. Now it’s the limit, I can’t sustain anymore. Once I die, you’ll need to live in this Dragon Nest alone..." Emperor Butcher’s face was ashen, but her smile was serene and content.

She was just an illusory puppet.

She wasn’t real, just fake, more fake than the inhabitants of the Dreamland Realm’s Netherworld, her life and death under control of the Ten Bees Supreme.

Her cultivation path was nothing but the experiences and cultivation arranged by the Ten Bees.

Her joys and sorrows were false, except for meeting Ning Fan, when she finally felt the truth beneath the facade.

Facing death, her mind was flooded with intricate memories, those memories stemming from the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection within her, from the Real Realms, from her days as the Sword Ancestor.

In those memories, she never smiled, always cold, always accompanied by her sword. Until one day, a little butterfly more important than life appeared by her side...

"I’d rather die than let the Ten Bees scheme against my Little Butterfly! Haha, this time the Ten Bees will miscalculate!" It was Emperor Butcher’s resolute and unwavering inner voice!

This inner voice, through a thread of illusory connection within her, transmitted from here to beneath layers of void in countless distances!

Deep within the spatial turbulence, five Quasi-Saint experts were battling here, contesting for the Ancient Kingdom Two Formation map, Extreme Yang Water, and Heaven-opening Aura Wooden Box.

The struggle between Quasi-Saints rarely concludes, and with five present here, they battled for ten consecutive days without deciding the ownership of the three treasures.

Among them, Bright Buddha and Death Emperor had teamed up. These two had no choice but to cooperate because their Quasi-Saint cultivation was acquired through Transmigration Spiritual Bodies.

The biggest flaw of Transmigration Spiritual Bodies is the lack of durability. Every time their cultivation is used, it can only last a very short time. Most of the time, they must use their Half-Step Quasi-Saint cultivation to fight other Quasi-Saints, not gaining the upper hand, only having a slight chance through cooperation.

Among the three treasures, the Ancient Kingdom Two Formation was snatched by Supreme Ox Demon, amidst the ongoing battle, there was no time to verify its authenticity.

The Heaven-opening Aura Wooden Box was seized by Baizu Daoist, also with no time to investigate.

The Extreme Yang Water was acquired by Ten Bees Supreme.

These three Quasi-Saints, though each gained something, still wished to seize the others’ possessions, hence they did not rush to leave the spatial turbulence but continued fighting there.

On the surface, after obtaining the Extreme Yang Water, Ten Bees Supreme was still striving to seize the Ancient Kingdom Two Formation and Heaven-opening Aura Wooden Box, but deep down she held contempt for those two items.

Because she was different from other Quasi-Saints.

Only she knew, the Ancient Kingdom Two Formation and Heaven-opening Aura Wooden Box Ning Fan threw were all fakes, only this Extreme Yang Water was genuine, thus she snatched it into her possession.

"Interesting, truly interesting, these old things are completely unaware two of the three items are false. The greatest advantage is actually in my hands. This Extreme Yang Water, supposedly obtained from the Well of Worries at the bottom of the Yellow Springs Sea, is achieved by an extraordinary Vast Expanse Butterfly. Even I can’t reach the bottom of the Yellow Springs Sea, yet this child can come and go freely, even retrieving this item from the seabed..."

"Unfortunately, this child is ultimately in my realm. When he realizes Ji Qingling’s days are numbered, he will surely come seeking me. Then, I’ll find a way to obtain his Butterfly Species! The Butterfly species of the Vast Expanse is incredibly valuable for nurturing, a treasure to my Spirit-Eating Bee Clan."

"Counting the time, the Sword Ancestor puppet is nearly dead, hmm, enough battling with these old immortals, it should be time to find a passage to leave. Those old things want to escape this spatial turbulence, it’s not easy, but for someone like me who began preparing eighty million years ago, leaving the plotted spatial turbulence isn’t difficult..."

Ten Bees Supreme wore a lotus-like pure smile, conducting herself elegantly, battling other Quasi-Saints.

But suddenly, she couldn’t maintain her smile, her eternal pure expression revealing a hint of ferocity for the first time!

"Damn! The Sword Ancestor puppet used all means not letting that Vast Expanse Butterfly know of her impending death! Miscalculated!"

"Good job Sword Ancestor puppet, good job Ji Qingling! You think this little trick can stop me from scheming against your Butterfly Dao companion? Dream on!"

Ten Bees raised her pure hand, divine light erupted, her aura instantly unravelled, climbing to levels of an Ancient Great Cultivator!

This is her true cultivation!

If not for a miscalculation, she absolutely wouldn’t have rashly unveiled her hidden cultivation!

As the aura of an Ancient Great Cultivator was released, it directly caused other Quasi-Saints to spit blood and retreat. Then, her delicate foot stamped down, a circle of golden ripples stirred beneath her, and her figure faded into the ripples, tearing open the heavens and disappearing from this space’s chaotic currents without a trace!

Hiss!

The other four Quasi-Saints wiped away the fresh blood, each inhaling sharply, utterly stunned.

Obviously, they hadn’t anticipated the true cultivation of the Ten Bees Supreme, unexpectedly an Ancient Great Cultivator! She could leave directly through the spatial turbulences of the Thousand Layers Void, something none of them could achieve!

"Damn! That damned bee, to hide such depths! If she possessed this cultivation, these skills, how could she have truly been suppressed by Old Man Nan Yao back then? Could it be the suppression was merely to lull us into a false sense of security! Was she hiding since then! What exactly is she plotting!"

"Ancient Great Cultivator! Impossible! That damned bee isn’t an ordinary Quasi-Saint; she is an Ancient Great Cultivator! I don’t believe it!"

"The Spirit-Eating Bee Clan of the Real Realms, due to committing grave crimes, was stripped of the qualification to produce Ancient Great Cultivators! In today’s era, this clan absolutely cannot birth an Ancient Great Cultivator, how can that damned bee reach this level!"

"Could it be that this damned bee had already cultivated to the level of an Ancient Great Cultivator before the Spirit-Eating Bee Clan was disgraced?"

Cries of shock emerged simultaneously!

But the Ten Bees was destined not to care about these cries of shock.

She traversed through the void, returned to the outside world; once returned, she used karmic search to locate Ning Fan and Emperor Butcher’s whereabouts but naturally couldn’t.

Her expression instantly cooled!

"I can’t detect Ji Qingling’s whereabouts, nor the whereabouts of that Vast Expanse Butterfly! But as a Spirit-Eating Bee, I can sense that the Vast Expanse Butterfly hasn’t left this realm! My stomach is still secreting digestive juices, which is evidence!"

"Though I can’t find you, I can let my voice echo across this realm, reaching your ears! Ji Qingling, oh Ji Qingling, you wish to keep your little butterfly in the dark about your impending death, but I insist on letting him know your concealment, leading him into the trap I’ve laid, making him my meal!"

...

Ning Fan departed from Sanyan, left the inner sect of the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain, heading towards the outer region.

With Long Sanchui’s Dragon Nest around, he wasn’t worried about Emperor Butcher or Duolan’s safety; his only regret was not being able to bring the two women along.

There was still a vague sense of unease lingering in his heart, unshakeable...

The closer he got to leaving the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain, the more he felt there was something unfinished, unwrapped. That feeling didn’t seem illusory, yet it was indescribable and unclear.

"Is there some matter left unfinished in this Supreme Pill Sacred Domain..."

"All the purposes of coming to the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain have been fulfilled, it seems nothing has been forgotten..."

Ning Fan suppressed the miscellaneous thoughts in his mind, flew all the way to the spatial node of the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain.

Once passed through this spatial node, he could return to Eastern Heaven; with just one step out, he could truly bid farewell to the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain.

But as he took this half-step, suddenly, a voice of a woman echoed through the heavens, spreading across the entire Supreme Pill Sacred Domain!

It was the Ten Bees Supreme communicating with the world indiscriminately!

As long as Ning Fan was still in this realm, he was sure to hear it!

"Vast Expanse Butterfly! Ji Qingling is about to die, yet you still do not know! If you wish to save her life, then come find me! Trade your worthless life for hers!"

The tone indescribably contemptuous!

Clearly plotting against Ning Fan for years, yet seemingly dismissive of Ning Fan’s Vast Expanse Butterfly bloodline.

Thunk!

Ning Fan’s gaze shook; he instantly understood the perpetual emptiness in his heart, realizing its source.

In an instant, he became aware of Emperor Butcher’s secret concealment!

It turns out she was already about to die...

Yet... did not tell him!

Yet... suppressed the breath of death, forcing out a smile, to linger affectionately with him!

Previously, his feelings towards Emperor Butcher had no connection to romance, but now, these feelings aren’t pure, they are dyed with the hues of romance, encompassing the affection between a man and a woman.

But it’s not just romance.

There’s something heavier than romance!

Only one more step to leave the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain, but Ning Fan forcibly withdrew his foot.

He wouldn’t leave!

He wanted to find Emperor Butcher and ask clearly!

All the creatures of the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain had heard the transmission of the Ten Bees Supreme!

Even Emperor Butcher, within the Dragon Nest, heard the voice of the Ten Bees, his expression dramatically changing!

After the change, came fury, anger at the Ten Bees’ unyielding plotting, still wanting the little butterfly’s life at this moment!

This anger, reminiscent of the day when the Sword Ancestor’s skeleton spoke of the Ten Bees!

If there ever was an untouchable reverse scale in Sword Ancestor’s life, that reverse scale would be the little butterfly!

An originally weak and dying body, seemingly at this moment, forcibly burned, forcibly grew strength!

The Emperor Butcher regained her strength, gently pushed away Duolan who was supporting her, and stood firm.

She was surprised as she introspected herself, but upon discovering that the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection within her was burning, providing her energy, she gained understanding.

This was not a power she had actively invoked.

This was a force of ultimate affection that erupted because of her worry for the safety of the little butterfly, sacrificing herself!

She no longer hid within the dragon nest, but instructed Duolan quickly before flying out.

"Duolan, stay here, don’t leave, wait for the day the little butterfly comes to fetch you."

"And I have to handle some things, using this illusory body to clear away some formidable enemies for the little butterfly. From now on, I hope you can replace me and be by his side... you are my smiles, each smile is unique, each has moments of memories with the little butterfly. Only you can make him happy..."

Duolan cried out trying to stop her, completely unaware of the situation, nor understanding the deep meaning in the Emperor Butcher’s words.

But the Butcher had already flown out, and would not look back! No one, including Duolan, could stop her!

The Emperor Butcher’s illusory body was burning, her ultimate affection was throbbing, though her current cultivation was far inferior to the Ten Bees Supreme, she had a roaring determination, wanting to utterly eradicate those who plotted against the little butterfly!

No one can harm her little butterfly!

Even if you are the ancient tenth spirit personally chosen by the Purple Dou Immortal Emperor, you can’t!

If she cannot make the little butterfly leave peacefully, at least, she must ensure his safe departure.

If the Fiendgods hurt her little butterfly, she would then slay every Fiendgod!

If the Immortal Emperor hurt her little butterfly, she would then aim her sword at the Immortal Emperor!

"Ancient tenth spirit! You plotted against my little butterfly, I will never forgive you, absolutely not!"

Currently, the Ten Bees, flying across the entire Supreme Pill Sacred Domain searching for Ning Fan’s whereabouts, was inexplicably gripped by a spine-chilling fear.

In the moment when the Sword Ancestor’s voice reached her ears, the Ten Bees, who had already activated her Ancient Great Cultivation, suddenly sprayed blood, injured by merely one sentence from the Sword Ancestor!

What is the Sword Ancestor!

Every word, each gaze, can be transformed into sword techniques, and kill enemies!

This is not the Sword Technique of Words, nor is it Spirit Speech, nor the application of Dao intent, Dao force, Dao traces, or Dao source.

Above Dao source, there exists power only the Third Step Saints possess, a power different from Dao source, unique, impossible to be possessed by two Saints simultaneously!

That power, transcending the origin of the great Dao, is named... Taoist!

The Sword Ancestor’s words carry the power of the Taoist, capable of transforming into Taoist Spirit Speech, with an unpredictable might, weaker Ancient Great Cultivators may not even have the qualification to endure a single sentence from the Sword Ancestor!

This is the power of the First Immortal Emperor of the Primeval Immortal Realm!

This is why, with Second Step cultivation, she can cut the corner of the Fourth Step, shocking the Three Worlds!

"Impossible! Your Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection was clearly sealed by me using the Taoist Sacred Sect’s Primordial Imprint, how can it be unsealed! How can you possess strength comparable to your prime!"

The Ten Bees Supreme’s soul almost exploded, her entire body shivering!

In her nearly terrified gaze, a graceful woman in a blue robe tore open the heavens, emerging from within.

No, incorrect!

It’s not unsealing!

It’s burning what remains of reincarnation!

It’s exchanging the complete obliteration of the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection for temporary peak power!

"You’re insane! Just for an ordinary bloodline little butterfly, you would even abandon the last hope of reincarnation! You must know, even to this day, the Primeval Immortal Emperor still has a shred of leniency for you, otherwise, the one sent to wipe you out back then would never have been a useless person like Saint Nan Yao, but likely the Nirvana Saint or the Desolate Saint! As long as you preserve a shred of Ultimate Affection, as long as you bow to the Primeval Immortal Emperor, admit your mistakes, he would surely be willing to accept you back into the Primeval Immortal Realm, after all you possess the Second Step power, a potential non-merit Saint applicant. If you obliterate the final shred of Ultimate Affection, then you’ll have no hope of reincarnation! Stop at once!"

"Reincarnation? Without the little butterfly, what would I need reincarnation for! What would I need immortality for! If destiny dictates that my life and his death cannot both happen, my only wish is to die in place of him! To let him live instead of me!"

"Madwoman! Madwoman! Just for an ordinary Vast Expanse Butterfly! You actually went this far! Precisely because of your irrationality, the Primeval Immortal Emperor commissioned me to traverse the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths to eradicate that weak butterfly. If not for this, would I, an illustrious ancient tenth spirit, bother with such a worthless butterfly..."

"Shut up!"

The Emperor Butcher’s beautiful eyes shot out two divine beams, transformed into sharp swords, directly cutting the Ten Bees Supreme’s physical body into two pieces, the aftermath further piercing through the heavens, piercing through millions of layers of void, causing the entire Supreme Pill Sacred Domain’s interface to become unstable, with intense tremors!

At this moment, the entire Supreme Pill Sacred Domain, all flying swords were no longer obeying their owner’s constraints, converging like streams of light to where the Emperor Butcher was, in a manner akin to pilgrimage.

Almost in the blink of an eye, the sound of sword roaring spread across the entire Supreme Pill Sacred Domain, leaving only the sound of swords in the world!

"Damn it! Is this woman trying to destroy the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain!"

"Stop her!"

"We cannot let her destroy the entire Supreme Pill Sacred Domain!"

The remaining four Ancestral Thunder Sparrow Heavenly Dao Souls were filled with fear, clearly the aura exuded by the Emperor Butcher was at a Second Step level, yet the threat it posed to them was far more terrifying than the creator of the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain, Saint Nan Yao!

Unfortunately, the four Ancestral Thunder Sparrows hadn’t yet acted against the Emperor Butcher before she waved a sleeve, splitting the sky with a sword light!

The four Ancestral Thunder Sparrows hiding within the Inner Heavenly Dao were all heavily injured by the Sword Qi, no longer daring to attack the Emperor Butcher, nor even taking a breath!

They could see it was the Emperor Butcher showing mercy, allowing them to survive, otherwise they would have been annihilated instantly. This woman possesses terrifying strength capable of wiping out the Heavenly Dao of this realm at any moment, tens of thousands of times more formidable than Saint Nan Yao who founded the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain!

"Considering you helped the little butterfly on the Sacred Mountain, I won’t kill you, scram!"

The Emperor Butcher said coldly, heartlessly.

"Yes, yes, yes, Your Excellency, please calm down, we are leaving now!"

The four ancestral Thunder Sparrows immediately fled in panic, without a trace of heavenly authority or dignity...

"Ji Qingling! You dare to destroy my physical body! You deserve to die! Do you think burning reincarnation can kill me? You’re wrong! My true name is Ten Bees, graced by the Primeval Immortal Emperor, my surname was bestowed as Ji, and my name was changed from Ten Bees to Ten Spirits. Let me show you the wonders of this name!"

A golden bee’s Spirit flew out from Ten Bees’ remains, shouting in mixed rage and shock, then shot a golden bee sting from its tail.

The bee sting extended against the wind, transforming into a golden divine spear, interwoven with boundless Dao traces, emitting grand heavenly sounds as it fiercely approached the Emperor Butcher.

"Is it a divine spear made with half a drop of Desolate Blood... I have long since lost the Desolate Blood weapons. So be it, let my blood purify your Desolate Blood weapon!" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Boom!

Emperor Butcher revealed a final smile, pierced through by the golden divine spear, without dodging, without resistance.

His body exploded with a boom into a blood mist.

Yet for some reason, the blood mist suddenly condensed, forming mysterious ancient imprints engraved on the golden divine spear.

Then, the golden divine spear began to decay, weather, and... wear away into flying ash!

"Impossible! You destroyed Desolate Blood weapons with merely an illusory puppet! I don’t believe it!"

As the blood weapon was destroyed, the golden bee’s Spirit coughed up golden blood, its body diminishing significantly, as if utterly exhausted.

Then the sky filled with blood mist transformed into a blood wind, sweeping it up, trying to escape but unable to move, as within the blood mist, every drop carried the Sword Sovereign’s sword path!

At this moment, the golden bee deeply regretted accepting the mission from the Primeval Immortal Emperor to kill Ning Fan and bring back the remorseful Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection.

The Sword Ancestor would never admit fault.

This is merely a lunatic, an utterly unfathomable insane woman!

"Ji Qingling, you’re very good, very good indeed! Today’s revenge for slaying my second Spirit, I’ll remember that! Although I, Ji Ten Spirits, cannot enter the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign’s Dreamland Realm, I can remain in the Real Realms, waiting for your little butterfly’s arrival. If he never enters the Real Realms, so be it, but if he does, I shall tear him limb from limb! With your reincarnation burnt out, you can no longer protect him! Hahaha!"

Amidst sinister laughter, the golden bee was slashed into oblivion by the blood mist sword path...

Afterward, the blood mist carried the Emperor Butcher’s final sigh, gradually dispersing into the wind, almost as if it had never existed...

After a long time, Ning Fan dashed back to the Dragon Nest, finding only Duolan, unable to locate the Emperor Butcher.

He unleashed Yunian with all his might, finally causing the eternally overcast sky to rain, as if the heavens wept!

Find her! He must find her!

Ning Fan’s expression became maniacal, a look that hadn’t appeared on his face for many years!

He forgot the injuries in his body, forgot all the scenery between heaven and earth, even forgot to breathe.

He pushed Ice Rain Technique to its maximum, almost covering the entire Supreme Pill Sacred Domain, yet still couldn’t find any trace of the Emperor Butcher!

Even the Ten Bees Supreme, who he could previously faintly sense, have disappeared without reason...

For a long, long time...

Ning Fan’s Yunian suddenly detected a violent explosion in the sky somewhere within the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain!

He rushed there without hesitation, but upon arrival, found nothing.

No Emperor Butcher, no Ten Bees Supreme.

Only two towering waves of death energy, perishing together in this place. Only terrifying Sword Qi that could not be dispersed, echoing between heaven and earth. Only countless uncontrolled flying swords, still continuously flying toward this place. Only the Emperor Butcher’s words, mixed within the Sword Qi, lingering in the world, resonating in his ears upon Ning Fan’s arrival...

"I’m sorry, little butterfly, for letting you see me die for the second time..."

The first time, the Sword Ancestor’s skeleton perished before Ning Fan’s eyes.

The second time, was at this moment, the demise of the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection, the extinction of Emperor Butcher. Due to reverse scale agitation, going to any lengths, finally slaying the Ten Bees Supreme...

From henceforth, whether it be the Sword Ancestor’s skeleton or the Sword Ancestor’s Ultimate Affection, they would vanish completely from the world! The sword path would, from this moment, entirely lose its previous master.

Henceforth... he would never find her again, from any cycle of reincarnation in the world...

"I imagined countless feelings of leaving the Supreme Pill Sacred Domain, but never expected it to be this heavy..."

"I imagined endless causes and effects between us, knowing our bond began from the Butterfly Hometown, but not knowing it would end here..."

Ning Fan stood silently, hands clenched tightly into fists, bleeding from the grip.

The first time, the Sword Ancestor’s skeleton dissipated before his eyes, leaving him indescribably melancholy, opting to forget the feeling with a drunken stupor.

But the second time... how could he forget this empty feeling...

Forget this heart-wrenching pain!

Forget the madness of wishing to break the entire world, and his self-reproach.

Why didn’t he realize earlier the Emperor Butcher’s near death! Why!

He lives, she dies... she dies, he lives.

After immortals disappear, where do they return...

"By my command as Ning Fan, return the Sword Ancestor to me!"

Suddenly, purple and black demon spiritual qi erupted around Ning Fan.

At this moment, he is neither guided by Calamity Blood nor by Ancient Chaos and Fiendgods; he is an ancient demon!

He pointed towards the sky, and a purple-black spirit wheel suddenly appeared above, expanding constantly until it grew large enough to cover the heavens.

As he activated his divine skill, an immense suction force emerged from the spirit wheel, attempting to absorb back the waning remnant soul of the Emperor Butcher from the heavens and earth.

He didn’t know if the Emperor Butcher was the kind to resist even in death, but regardless, he intended to retain her!

"Foolish child! You dare to dream of imprisoning Ji Qingling’s soul with just the first wheel of the Five Spirit Wheels. I must say, you are ignorant and incapable. Oh? I see. You are that Vast Expanse Butterfly picked up by Ji Qingling back in the day. It’s rare for a mere mortal butterfly like you to cultivate to this day. Alas, your limit is the Second Step; even if you become an emperor, it won’t be possible. Here’s the deal: I owe Ji Qingling a favor, so I’ll give you ten breaths to cease now. I can help you deceive the Yellow Springs Sacred Sect, sparing you the heavy crime of interfering with Ji Qingling’s Taoist legacy restoration."

A voice seemed to come from the other side of endless reincarnation, whistling with the might of the Third Step, shaking Ning Fan who spat blood wildly, falling from the sky, and the released Fu Li Spirit Wheels shattered into two pieces directly!

Facing this sudden might of the Third Step, Ning Fan felt insignificance, as his body instinctively conveyed a sense of submission.

That submission didn’t stem from his personal will but originated from the will of the mysterious saint intending to control Ning Fan’s body and prevent him from carrying out his audacious act.

Ning Fan’s gaze grew increasingly blood-red!

The mysterious saint’s words transcending time and space might carry a touch of kindness, but should they stop him from retrieving the sword ancestor, then regardless of who it was, they were his enemy!

"I must bring her back! Absolutely!"

Ning Fan roared furiously, as the stars of War Yin and Yang between his brows emitted a dazzling divine light, unexpectedly regaining control of his body under the suppression of the saint’s will.

Then, enduring the overwhelming saint pressure, he once again released the Fu Li Spirit Wheels, attempting to reclaim the sword ancestor’s remnant soul from the heavens and earth.

The mysterious saint still aimed to stop him, but Ning Fan unfolded the God-Slaying Giant’s Yang blood rust and ignited a drop of Fu Li ancestor’s blood within!

This time, he was not struck down from the sky by the saint pressure!

This time, his demon spiritual qi within the Fu Li Spirit Wheels intensified more than tenfold, neither shattered by mere saint pressure.

"Hiss! Fragments of the Ancient Kingdom’s God-Destroying Shield! Plus Fu Li’s Blood Ignition Technique! Is Ji Qingling so important to you for this? Even revealing the Ancient Kingdom’s God-Destroying Shield before me, and you’re willing to abandon even the ancestral blood of the Fu Li lineage; indeed, you’ve moved me. Yet, it’s my duty, I can’t let you interfere in this matter. Today, I can pretend I haven’t seen this, you, retreat!"

Shi! Shi! Shi!

Suddenly, five golden lights appeared out of thin air between heaven and earth, transformed into golden hoops, binding around the neck and limbs of the God-Slaying Giant. As the hoops contracted, piercing into flesh, one could say this force of contraction was far more terrifying than the power of the lightning tribulation Ning Fan invoked atop the Holy Mountain that day.

As the hoops contracted, the God-Slaying Giant’s neck and limbs all burst under the binding, the Yang blood rust being broken front on.

With the Yang blood rust destroyed, those five golden hoops appeared upon Ning Fan’s neck and limbs, under the constraint, Ning Fan felt his flesh about to splinter, his Mana sealed, the Fu Li ancestor blood ignited halfway being suppressed, the Fu Li Spirit Wheels opened halfway due to loss of Mana maintenance, dissipating once more...

Ning Fan’s anger reached its zenith.

Under absolute suppression of power, he couldn’t even manage slight resistance!

Where the Emperor Butcher fell, suddenly some starlight rose.

Then, countless steps appeared between heaven and earth, these steps leading all the way to the heavens, from afar appeared shrouded in yellow mist, obscuring the end. Yet faintly visible was a silhouette of a head, possessing an invisible majestic authority, standing at the end of the steps.

Those starlight points flew into the steps. No, it wasn’t precise to say flew in but rather appeared as if being absorbed by the mouth of the gigantic head at the steps’ end, swallowed whole!

"Your level is merely akin to the Ancient Immortal Lord, countless in the Real Realms. Don’t dream of interfering with the Taoist legacy’s restoration from me. Not killing you is the old man’s consideration of past bonds; do not overreach, pitiful ant!"

The disdainful voice of the mysterious saint reverberated through heaven and earth.

Nonetheless, no matter how loud that voice was, Ning Fan didn’t care, he couldn’t even hear it.

He forgot all the scenery before him, forgot all the sounds beside his ears, and even forgot the five golden hoops constraining him.

He witnessed that head devour the lights, he didn’t understand what was beyond, only knowing each light devoured by the head, the distance from the Emperor Butcher grew farther...

"Give her... back to me!"

Ning Fan’s voice gravelled, the Spirit rushing out from the restricted flesh, charging at the gigantic head.

Then, whether it be the lights or Ning Fan’s Spirit, all were swallowed by the gigantic head in one mouthful.

"Hiss! To enter the Lord of the Nether’s mouth for Ji Qingling! With that Vast Expanse Butterfly’s cultivation, it shouldn’t be beyond realizing the consequences of being swallowed by the Lord of the Nether, yet having such courage is indeed worthy of Ji Qingling losing everything for this butterfly back then. Alas, this Vast Expanse Butterfly is too frail. Know that even the legendary Vast Expanse Nine Butterflies, when consumed by the Lord of the Nether, has only one path of digestion and destruction..."

In the sighing voice of the mysterious saint, all the steps in this place, and the mysterious head, dissipated within heaven and earth, as if never having existed.

...

True Realm, Yellow Springs Sacred Sect.

Above clouds filled with strange radiance, an old man in a blue robe stood regretfully, clasping his hands behind his back.

Before him was a towering ancient tree ten thousand feet high, its aura vast, seemingly possessing a spirit of its own. Numerous fruits in the shape of infants hung upon its branches.

The cultivation of this old man in the robe was indiscernible, but it was known that he was a Saint, and not an Initial Saint, but at an even higher level.

He appeared regretful, obviously gazing at the ten thousand foot ancient tree, yet as if he were looking at something else entirely.

"Interesting, a mere mortal-grade Vast Expanse Butterfly dared to enter the mouth of the Lord of the Nether for Ji Qingling. The mouth of the Lord of the Nether is the ultimate resting place for all dead souls, where there’s no reincarnation, only digestion and destruction."

"This child wishes to extract Ji Qingling’s complete Taoist legacy, it’s entirely impossible, but if he had the Desolate Saint rank, perhaps there’s a billion-to-one chance... if only a mere fragment of the soul..."

"So be it, Ji Qingling, ah Ji Qingling, back then when I had just ascended to sainthood and was surrounded by deadly enemies, you wielded your sword to rescue me. Without your help, I would’ve long become mere dust, so for that, I’ll pay the price to take on this difficult task, to collect and send off your Taoist legacy, as a token of gratitude. Your lifelong wish was to protect that fragile little butterfly, I’ll risk breaking the Sect Rules to lend you my aid. The complete legacy can’t be taken by that Vast Expanse Butterfly, but if only a small remnant of the soul..."

"Vast Expanse Butterfly, oh Vast Expanse Butterfly, whether you can achieve your wish and retreat unscathed from the Lord of the Nether’s mouth, it will depend entirely on your own abilities..."

Saint Caiwei sighed, sat cross-legged before the ancient tree, tapped his Tian Ling, and his Spirit flew out from his body, drilling into the ancient tree full of infant fruits.

His cultivation hadn’t progressed for many years now; for a Saint, some karmic debts must be repaid, even if it comes at a cost, even if punished, it must not be owed...