Before Ning Fan, all generations of the Slaughter Emperors had titles, named according to the Big Dipper. The title of the First-Generation Slaughter Emperor was "Greedy Wolf," Second-Generation was "Gigantic Door," Third-Generation "Lucun," Fourth-Generation "Wenqu," Fifth-Generation "Lian Zhen," Sixth-Generation "Wuxxx Qu," and Seventh-Generation "Military Breaking Star Sea."

The Seventh Generation was killed by the treachery of the deputy hall master and others. Ning Fan scanned the memories of Blood Vast Sky and others and saw scenes of the Seventh Generation’s downfall.

In the fragmented memories, glimpses of the Big Dipper Blood Realm and the Military Breaking Starry Sky appeared.

In the images, the deathly aura of the Seventh-Generation Slaughter Emperor grew stronger day by day, having long sealed the Big Dipper Blood Realm, and guarded it alone.

In the scenes, the Big Dipper Blood Realm no longer allowed any outsiders to enter; only the deputy hall master Blood Vast Sky, with the special permission of the Seventh Generation, could lead people in at specific times to offer the natural treasures collected by the strong of the hall for the Seventh Generation to consume.

In the images, the Seventh-Generation Slaughter Emperor smiled as he instructed Blood Vast Sky on something, and Blood Vast Sky responded to each point with utmost respect.

Blood Vast Sky offered poisoned expensive pills to the Seventh Generation for consumption. They were secret medicines of the Huo Clan; even someone as powerful as the Seventh Generation would not notice the hidden dangers without thorough inspection.

The Seventh Generation treated Blood Vast Sky like a son, trusting him completely. Seeing that the pills were indeed beneficial for his body, he consumed the toxic pills of the Huo Clan, afterward succumbing to the poison, losing most of his cultivations.

He was originally on the brink of death, and with his cultivations sealed, he naturally couldn’t withstand the conspiracy of Blood Vast Sky and the others, yet he fought till the very last moment.

[I have had no children in my life, treating you as my own. Why must you do this... why...]

[So you’re from the Huo Clan... here to carry out a mission... we are on different sides, I can forgive your betrayal but cannot tolerate you harming the Big Dipper Descendants in the slightest! This is my home! And the home of countless Big Dipper Descendants! The sword intent of the Sacred Slayer Sword of the Desolate Heavens guards the Big Dipper Blood Realm, easy for you to kill me, but killing these Big Dipper Descendants is as hard as reaching the sky!]

[The will of the Big Dipper will be passed down from generation to generation. Believe me, your Huo Clan cannot exterminate all of my Big Dipper Descendants! You know, a young man once promised me he would inherit my will and protect the Big Dipper Blood Realm in my stead! I believe him! He will surely come!]

[I gave him a jade scroll for self-preservation, but now it seems that scroll is useless, no matter, if the jade scroll is of no use, I’ll exchange it for some treasures to send to him. The treasures I left for him, you will not obtain them!]

Before dying, the Seventh Generation steadfastly believed that Ning Fan would fulfill his promise and inherit his will.

I trust him; he will surely come.

That simple phrase stirred up waves in Ning Fan’s heart, that were hard to calm.

As for the Slaughter Emperor mentioning treasures left specially behind, Ning Fan searched but couldn’t find those treasures in the Pojun Star Palace and had to give up.

If he can’t find them, then so be it. Treasures, he actually doesn’t lack.

...

The Seventh Generation’s grave was built by Ning Fan in the Pojun Star Palace, with the head sewn back to the body, placed into the coffin, along with the jade slip of the Slaughter Emperor still unused by Ning Fan, now to be sealed away.

There was no grand funeral, only a few elders of the Slaughter Palace attended the simple funeral of the Seventh Generation.

The countless descendants of the Big Dipper Blood Realm were unaware of the passing of the Seventh Generation, protected by the sword intent of the Sacred Slayer Sword of the Desolate Heavens, the rebellion left them untouched.

In front of the grave, Ning Fan personally sacrificed the blood of each traitor to console the heroic soul of the Seventh-Generation Slaughter Emperor.

After that, he dismissed the elders of the Slaughter Hall, standing alone in the dilapidated Pojun Star Palace, looking down at the land and city below, gazing at all the living descendants of the Big Dipper.

Ning Fan recalled the years of questioning the Dao at the Big Dipper. He also held a certain affection for the Big Dipper Blood Realm, but that affection was clearly not as deep as that of the generations of Slaughter Emperors.

Ultimately, he was not truly one of the Slaughter Hall; his attachment to this place was never as deep as that of the Seventh-Generation Slaughter Emperor.

But what he promised, he would surely fulfill. With the death of the Seventh Generation, from this moment on, the Big Dipper Blood Realm will be guarded by him, Ning Fan!

"Great Young Emperor Ning, please... accept my condolences..." Suddenly came the comforting voice of Yao Qingyun from behind, her hand tightly holding Ning Fan’s, her beautiful eyes full of worry, very concerned that Ning Fan might be saddened by the death of the Slaughter Emperor.

Ning Fan was slightly surprised and shook his head with a faint smile.

Condolences?

No need.

For a Master, life and death are nothing uncommon.

Of the outstanding people throughout history, how many can truly live forever? Mortals have limits on their lifespan, Immortals face minor and major lightning tribulations, and countless dangers of life and death stare at all living Immortal Cultivators.

If one fears death, there is no need to cultivate this path further.

What Ning Fan cares about is not the fall of the Slaughter Emperor, even if he extended the Emperor’s life, it would only be a few more days, and they would still eventually perish...

What he regrets is that the Emperor died too painfully, an old man in his twilight years, yet betrayed by someone he treated as a son, how desolate his final moments must have been...

"You didn’t leave with the other elders?"

"Mm, I’m somewhat worried."

"Worried about me? Don’t worry, I’m not particularly sad. My relationship with the Seventh Generation wasn’t deep; it was just a matter of gratitude and promises... That’s why I’m feeling a bit emotional. Traitors, they’re truly terrifying things..." Ning Fan laughed, stroking Yao Qingyun’s hair, but his thoughts drifted to Yin Mo’s betrayal of the Zi Dou Immortal Domain, which indirectly led to its downfall...

Yao Qingyun blushed, only letting Ning Fan continue to stroke her once she saw nobody was around. She looked up and met Ning Fan’s deep, dark eyes, which reminded her of their wild moments in the Six Desires Immortal King’s cave. His gaze was just as mysterious at those times... and so, shamefully, her face turned even redder.

Compelled by an unseen force, she whispered to Ning Fan, "Little guy, I won’t betray you."

"Mm, of course, I know you won’t betray me. Your body has always been very honest."

"So, Great Young Emperor Ning, would you like to come to my cave for a visit, and test the honesty of my body?" Yao Qingyun gave Ning Fan an annoyed glance, talking about serious matters while Ning Fan teased!

Actually, she was still quite upset with Ning Fan for making their relationship public, as the matter had spread around. How was she supposed to hold her head high in front of other elders! Now, the entire Slaughter Hall was gossiping about how she, an elder and a Shedding Void Stage expert, had supposedly been the ’old cow eating young grass,’ forcing herself on the then weaker Ning Fan, bringing shame...

Look at these disgraceful rumors, and how they’re twisted!

But it’s not surprising; at the time, her cultivations were far beyond Ning Fan’s, so outsiders naturally wouldn’t believe she was the one taken advantage of! Who would have thought that at the time, she fell under the influence of a lustful poison, losing her mind, speaking nonsense, easily allowing Ning Fan to toy with her... in the end, she ended up being the one forced upon. She was the actual victim!

Inviting Ning Fan to the cave now, her words were all contrary! She had already made up her mind to avoid any intimate conduct with Ning Fan for the time being; long-term could be reconsidered... anyway, short-term, she didn’t want to invite more rumors.

"Alright. I’ve been going through some rough patches lately, feeling a bit unsettled, and need some release. I’ll visit your cave soon," Ning Fan gazed deeply at Yao Qingyun, smiling.

"You’re really coming? Ahem, this isn’t good, not good at all... we have to consider the impact!" Yao Qingyun said earnestly.

"Mm, these are special times, and indeed one must be mindful of the influence..."

Ning Fan nodded as if agreeing with Yao Qingyun’s perspective.

This allowed Yao Qingyun to slightly relax, though there was a subtle disappointment. Understandably, with the Seventh Generation’s fall and the Eighth Generation’s succession, Ning Fan had many matters to handle, so he naturally wouldn’t have time to mess around with her. He was joking, not seriously intending to come.

No, not coming is good.

Ning Fan had risen powerfully in Eastern Heaven and was no longer the small and weak Fate Immortal he once was; seeing Ning Fan again, Yao Qingyun felt somewhat conflicted, apprehensive, worried, insecure... In sum, she wasn’t sure how to face Ning Fan in the future.

Should she maintain a physical relationship with Ning Fan?

How should she address Ning Fan now?

She actually preferred calling Ning Fan ’little guy,’ but given his current official position and cultivations within the hall, she shouldn’t casually address him like this...

Previously, she was Shedding Void, an elder, Ning Fan was Fate Immortal, a disciple.

Now, she remains Shedding Void, an elder, while Ning Fan is an Eternal Old Freak, a Young Emperor, the future Eighth Generation Slaughter Emperor...

Even more, the Fragmented Thought Elders and Eternal Immortal Venerable and Immortal King she looks up to are like dust in Ning Fan’s eyes!

Perhaps they really are from different worlds now, and keeping some distance might be best...

So, with a little melancholy, Yao Qingyun left.

She swore, she had never felt so caught up in romantic entanglements in her life!

Yet alas, by nightfall, the little melancholy in her heart turned into shame and anger.

This was her cave, right?

This was her couch, right?

Can someone tell her how she was simply resting on the couch, and Ning Fan ended up pinning her down and undressing her!

"Y-young Emperor, what are you doing! Stop! This isn’t appropriate! Not here, don’t touch!"

"Don’t worry, your maids and cave guards are under my Illusory Art; no one will know of tonight’s events, and no rumors will spread!" Ning Fan spoke in a tone of ’I’ve arranged everything; you can just relax,’ and started to explore Yao Qingyun further.

Yao Qingyun was so ashamed she wanted to disappear; she’d seen shameless before, but never someone as shameless as Ning Fan!

What happened to being mindful of the influence!

What happened to keeping distance from her for the time being!

Uh... Ning Fan didn’t actually say he’d keep distance...

Her mind started to go off on tangents but was quickly overwhelmed into blankness by tidal waves of sensations. Wanting to curse out indignantly, her words melted into soft, fragmented moans upon reaching her lips.

Damn Young Emperor!

This little guy, still just as shameless as ever, just as... formidable! Ah... too... too deep...

Great! Truly great!

It was you who wanted to seduce me, and now that you’ve entered my body, don’t regret it!

Yao Qingyun flipped over, pressing Ning Fan down, flicked her hair, and sneered, "Little guy, if I don’t drain you dry today, I’ll spell Yao backwards!"

Ning Fan smiled satisfactorily.

This is the Yao Qingyun he knew; the one before was too unfamiliar, too restrained!

A night of madness.

The second night was still madness.

The third night... Yao Qingyun was exhausted and was defeated; Ning Fan, on the other hand, walked energetically out of the cave mansion, called for Yao Qingyun’s maids to serve her, and left with a smile.

A bout of madness vented the negative emotions in Ning Fan’s heart, and his mood was truly much better.

Looking again at the Dark Clan, Calamity Clan, Slaughter Hall, Ancient Chaos Great Emperor... Ning Fan could now deal with them calmly, without worry or fear.

Life is long; why overthink? Just act freely and joyfully!

Knife light, sword shadows, bloody mist, and corpse mountains are just ordinary affairs, all can be cooked in one pot!

Wu Laoba and the others were waiting on a patch of empty ground outside Yao Qingyun’s cave mansion and were all amazed when Ning Fan finally finished.

Three whole days, the master was busy with affairs; truly a testament to his endurance! What defines a true iron-blooded man? This is it!

"Master has great skills! Three consecutive days of undiminished vitality; Mistress Yao must be very satisfied! Impressive! A true master in the flower bedside through the ages; Little Ba only serves one master! In this scene, Little Ba wants to recite a poem, um, um... what was that ancient poem again — a dot of green among ten thousand flowers, the master’s head is green and lush, um no, that’s not it..." Wu Laoba got anxious and misspoke.

"You foolish turtle, it goes something like ’Pass through the sea of flowers, not a single leaf sticks to the body! Being uneducated is truly frightening!" Yang Zhu was too lazy to pay attention to Wu Laoba and turned his back to Wu Laoba, releasing a fart to show contempt.

Wu Laoba immediately exploded, wrestling with Yang Zhu.

Beside them, Ya Tiangou howled and joined the fray, biting Yang Zhu occasionally, sometimes gnawing on Wu Laoba...

Ning Fan shook his head, ignored these three fools, and went alone to find Minghai Celestial King.

Who knows what he and Minghai discussed, afterward someone escorted him to the Blood Prison of Slaughter Hall.

At the bottom of the Blood Prison, there’s an Ancient Sealing Sword, seemingly called the Sacred Slayer Sword of the Desolate Heavens.

Ning Fan dismissed everyone, entering the Blood Prison alone. In those days, his cultivations were still weak, and he needed to wear the Innate Ghost Mask to enter the depths of the Blood Prison; now, there’s no need for such things, he only relies on his strength to easily reach the seventh layer of the Blood Prison.

The seventh layer was enveloped in intense bloody light, that bloody light is Qi so powerful it’s unimaginable, giving a sense of shock.

Ning Fan, having walked this far, believes he’s killed Immortal Emperors before, yet facing this Qi, he still feels a chill down his spine.

No wonder the seventh layer of the Blood Prison is said to be difficult for Immortal Emperors to enter; it’s indeed not empty talk. At least at this moment, Ning Fan doesn’t dare to enter without the God-Extinguishing Shield as protection.

Vaguely, he can feel within the boundless bloody light, a presence of extremely sharp Sword Intent. The moment he steps into this place, that Sword Intent locks onto him, as if any move he makes will result in his immediate death!

Unfortunately, Ning Fan still cannot see the shadow of the sealing sword within the bloody light.

He also did not see it in those days; he simply heard about it from the five little Sword Spirits.

[You are the third generation chosen Young Emperor... you come again...] A voice within the boundless bloody light unexpectedly speaks to Ning Fan!

This is a voice Ning Fan hears after using Communication with All Things; the past him could not hear it, and neither could others!

"Yes, I come again, Ning Fan, Eighth Generation Young Emperor of Slaughter Hall, greets Senior." Ning Fan cupped his fist toward the boundless bloody light, choosing to address the sealing sword as Senior.

[You can actually hear my voice? So that’s it, you are... a discarded spirit...] The voice was surprised.

Without waiting for Ning Fan to speak, the voice continued, [You come here for the succession of the Eighth Generation?]

"Yes." Ning Fan replied.

Successive Young Emperors need to first gain the recognition of the Ancient Sealing Sword to inherit, which is why Ning Fan came here.

Of course, other Young Emperors cannot directly communicate with the Ancient Sealing Sword and need to burn incense and pray for its recognition.

Ning Fan doesn’t need to do that; he can converse directly.

[Then, are you ready to receive my lifetime of enlightenment?] The voice asked again.

"Ready." Ning Fan responded.

Upon finishing his words, Ning Fan sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes revealing a brilliant azure spike, as his black hair autonomously fluttered without wind.

[It turns out to be... the Second Realm of Tianren. The Seventh Generation has indeed found an incredible monster... If it’s you, perhaps you can gain insights different from those of other Slaughter Emperors through my life’s Dao Enlightenment.]

Thump thump!

Thump thump!

Thump thump!

Suddenly, strange heartbeats echoed from the Seventh Layer of the Blood Prison.

These heartbeats resonated with the heavens and earth, remarkably similar to the heartbeats triggered by the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor in the past, yet different.

The strange heartbeats from the Seventh Layer of the Blood Prison were not just one, but... dozens!

Under the control of the Ancient Sealing Sword, those dozens of heartbeats did not transmit outside the Blood Prison but only echoed within the Seventh Layer.

Only Ning Fan could hear those dozens of heartbeats, only Ning Fan could sense the terror within those heartbeats!

Each of these dozens of heartbeats belonged to the realm of Saint-level heartbeats owned only by the Seven Orifices Ancient God!

The vast pressure of the ancient Fiendgods swirled around the place, causing Ning Fan’s heart to beat wildly. His own heartbeat frequency, in just a moment, was assimilated by those dozens of heartbeats!

[Northern Dipper Dust Calamity Extinguisher, from broken artifacts to an emperor, slaying Saint Desolate Heaven, forcibly seizing the Will of Heaven Seizure. Xianhuang Sanqian Yin, initially comprehended the Seven Seals, refining the heavens into palm, transforming the palm into seals. Sweeping through Purple Immortal, overcoming Northern Emperor, unable to defeat Mo Zhong, relinquishing the Will of Heaven Seizure, established Slaughter Hall, commanding galaxies, guarding the Blood Realm descendants!]

[My name is Slaying Saint Desolate Heaven. After the Second Generation, no one knows my name, nor does anyone know that besides being a sword, I also have another identity, as the First-Generation Slaughter Emperor!]

[I watched the battle you fought to guard the Slaughter Palace closely. You, not bad! I rarely trust descendants of the Purple Astral Immortal Cultivators, but you are an exception.]

[The forty-three heartbeats you hear, I collected these Saint heartbeats from the Tianhuang Battlefield. Each heartbeat has Saint insights left behind. Each generation of Slaughter Emperor can choose only one悟悟悟悟悟悟悟悟悟悟悟悟悟悟悟悟悟悟 from them, more would lead to Dao Collapse.]

[The Seventh Generation understood the path of Control Positions, the Sixth Generation gained insights into Immortal Spirit Martial Techniques, the Fifth Generation achieved mastery over the Immortal Beast Art, the Fourth Generation understood the secret of Divine Walk, the Third Generation mastered the supreme art of the Immortal Flames clan, the Second Generation understood the Space-Time Wondrous Principles... What will you comprehend, I’m very curious!]

The Ancient Sealing Sword said no more to Ning Fan, and even if it did, Ning Fan could no longer focus on listening.

Right now, what surrounded his ears were all Saint-level heartbeats, and each heartbeat that rang in his ears would invariably reveal blood-soaked scenes before his eyes.

In those scenes, one Saint after another were locked in battle on the battlefield, fighting till death...

Ning Fan struggled to maintain composure within.

The Saint heartbeats sounded multifarious and chaotic at this moment, but any random heartbeat would be of immense benefit to him.

The benefit of a Young Emperor succeeding as the Slaughter Emperor includes being rewarded by the Ancient Sealing Sword with the choice to listen to a single Saint heartbeat, from which great insights can be gained.

If not for the many benefits of becoming the Slaughter Emperor, Ning Fan would never engage in such formalities or covet the empty title of the Eighth Generation Slaughter Emperor.

Thump thump!

A Saint heartbeat echoed in his ears, and a scene appeared in Ning Fan’s mind, of a Saint treading on aurora, flying through the sky and the earth.

That scene seemed to be an extremely profound Third Step Escape Technique...

Thump thump!

Before Ning Fan could clearly see this Escape Technique, another heartbeat intruded, causing another scene to appear in his mind.

In the scene, a Saint flicked a mote of dust, exterminating an Ancient Great Cultivator in an indescribable spectacle...

Thump thump!

The scene changed again, showing a Saint exhaling a breath of green qi, creating three immortal undying body doubles...

Thump thump!

The scenes changed continuously! Every scene contained indescribable mystery, but each scene was fleeting, barely glimpsed before interrupted by another.

Ning Fan somewhat understood why each Young Emperor could only choose one heartbeat to listen to. Choosing more would make the scenes switch back and forth, preventing full viewing and perfect comprehension.

"The jade scroll that Minghai gave me mentions that if one selects a particular heartbeat, it can be marked, and a spell can be cast to request the Slaying Saint Desolate Heaven Sword to erase other heartbeat sounds, thus allowing one to focus and listen to the one chosen heartbeat..."

"Each heartbeat contains supreme insights, any one of them can significantly advance my capabilities, yet, there is something I don’t understand..."

"The Saint heartbeats I hear are clearly forty-seven... Why does the Slaying Saint Desolate Heaven Sword tell me there are forty-three..."

"Are the four extra heartbeats something I misheard, or... is there another reason!"