Chapter 1162: Chapter 1162: Ancient Heroes and Modern Cultivators—All Are Left Desolate

Ten years is too short for cultivators.

The Boundary River battle remains a popular topic throughout Eastern Tianjin.

Over these ten years, Ning Fan consumed a large amount of squid dumplings, causing his vital energy to soar several times over. This level of vital energy is not much weaker than that of some quasi-saints, although it’s still incomparable to monsters like Hei Sheng with vigorous life force, let alone Blood God Geng Wu.

Similarly, Yunian also experienced a massive increase in vital energy. Her vital energy intensity has surpassed the level of a first-order quasi-saint and can truly rival a second-grade quasi-saint now.

The enhancement in vital energy naturally brought a considerable boost to Ning Fan’s strength.

The depletion of God-Returning Rice, however, has caused a drop in Ning Fan’s combat power, making it difficult for him to fight beyond his usual capability.

During the battle with Blood God Geng Wu, Ning Fan consumed all the remaining God-Returning Rice. Without it, the Cross Halo cannot be activated indefinitely.

Fortunately, Ning Fan’s cultivation level now is vastly different from before the Boundary River battle. Nowadays, with his full-strength Heart Spirit intensity, he can sustain the Cross Halo for about half an hour, a significant improvement from the previous 415 breaths.

The half-hour of Cross Halo is more than enough for him to handle most semi-saint opponents, though it’s far from enough to deal with a first-order quasi-saint.

When facing a quasi-saint, he can protect himself but not win; against a semi-saint, he is invincible. This is Ning Fan’s current strength level.

In ten years, Yunian’s injuries have finally healed.

And on a certain day, Ning Fan quietly left the Slaughter Hall.

Along with him, Niu Manshan also left the Slaughter Hall. After cooking squid dumplings for Ning Fan for ten years and teaching his three adopted sons for ten years, it was time to explore outside.

He had been holding his breath at the river bottom for too long, now he wanted to spend some time enjoying the starry skies of Eastern Heaven, seeking ingredients and having fun.

"Alas, I have taught you for ten years; how much of the essence of the Heavenly Bull Hide Patterns you can grasp will depend on your fortune. Little Ba, Little Zhu, Little Ya, remember to practice diligently and make it your duty to revitalize the Heavenly Bull Clan, don’t slack off." As Niu Manshan was about to leave the Slaughter Hall, the only ones he couldn’t bear to part with were Wu Laoba, Yang Zhu, and Ya Tiangou. Over these ten years, the trio and one dog were quite filial to him, thus he felt a bit of genuine affection for them.

This was also why Ning Fan deliberately let Wu Laoba and others recognize Niu Manshan as their father. Having Niu Manshan’s adopted sons by Ning Fan’s side made him less worried about Niu Manshan causing trouble.

"Father, take care along the way!"

"Dad, be careful on your journey, come home early!"

"Woof woof woof!"

The trio and the dog were all tear-stricken, genuinely emotional, which moved Niu Manshan even more.

Having sons feels so good!

Niu Manshan was no longer alone in this world! The Heavenly Bull Clan had four members, hahaha!

"Alas, it’s a pity you all firmly refuse to have me lift your servitude ban; otherwise, I couldn’t have let my fellow Heavenly Bull Clansmen continue serving Ning Fan." Speaking of this, Niu Manshan felt somewhat exasperated and glared at Wu Laoba and the others with discontent.

"Once a servant, always a servant! Little Ba promised to serve Master Ning Fan for life, the oath remains, how can I abandon my master? Please forgive me, Father!"

"Little Zhu disappointed Father!"

"Woof woof woof!"

Niu Manshan was moved by the loyalty of Wu Laoba and others. Although he didn’t like the idea of foolishly chanting righteousness all day, he hoped his three adopted sons would understand gratitude, not betray him, and not betray the Heavenly Bull Clan.

In Niu Manshan’s view, if these three adopted sons refuse to betray even their master, how could they ever betray their father? They were good kids. Though he was upset they didn’t want their freedom back, he was also touched by their pure hearts.

"Alright, alright! Since it’s your decision, I won’t force you. I’ll take my leave now, just remember not to spread the secret techniques of the Heavenly Bull Clan..."

After advising them one last time, Niu Manshan left the Slaughter Hall with a comforted heart.

However, as soon as Niu Manshan left, Wu Laoba and others changed their expressions in an instant, faster than flipping a book.

It turns out their deep father-son affection for Niu Manshan was all an act!

"Heh heh, trying to make me betray the star of misfortune! Although you are an ancient great cultivator, the achievements of the star of misfortune in the future will surely surpass those of ancient great cultivators. If I betray the star of misfortune now, what if the star of misfortune surpasses you in the future and settles the score! And staying beside the star of misfortune brings benefits you can’t even comprehend! You don’t know, at first, the star of misfortune willingly offered to free me, and I didn’t agree! The world mocks me as too crazy, but I laugh at the world for not seeing through!" Wu Laoba said with a strange laugh.

"Wu brother speaks rightly! Being a servant to Old Monster Ning is not a disgrace; rather, it is an honor, an opportunity! Old Monster Ning may seem cold outside but warm inside. As long as we serve him wholeheartedly, the benefits we receive will definitely surpass those from serving any other master! Only a fool would want freedom!" Yang Zhu agreed wholeheartedly.

"Woof woof woof!"

Niu Manshan is destined never to understand the true thoughts of Wu Laoba and others. It’s not that Niu Manshan is naive and honest, but rather Wu Laoba and the others are too skilled at disguising their true feelings.

...

Somewhere in the starry sky, Ning Fan suddenly sensed something and glanced in a distant direction behind him.

His Rain Sense conveyed a sensation that Niu Manshan had left the Slaughter Hall. In fact, the Rain Sense even transmitted the conversation of Niu Manshan and others to his ears.

[Father is leaving now, you three, remember not to divulge the secret techniques of the Heavenly Bull Clan.]

This was Niu Manshan’s advice before departure, but it seemed to be his wishful thinking...

Ning Fan tapped his storage pouch and took out three ancient scrolls of cowhide that Wu Laoba, Yang Zhu, and Ya Tiangou had offered.

Early on, when these three first acquired the secret techniques of the Heavenly Bull Clan, they competed to present these secrets to Ning Fan.

[The Heavenly Bull Hide Patterns Space Scroll], obtained from Wu Laoba.

[The Heavenly Bull Hide Patterns Tun Jia Scroll], obtained from Ya Tiangou.

[The Heavenly Bull Hide Patterns Heart Spirit Scroll], obtained from Yang Zhu.

According to the scrolls, there were originally twelve types of Heavenly Bull Hide Patterns; half were lost in the river of time, and the remaining six patterns were not all mastered by Niu Manshan.

The Heavenly Bull Hide Patterns are vast and profound, making it too difficult to perfect and master all of them. Niu Manshan was concerned that his three adopted sons might bite off more than they could chew, so he only granted each one the cultivation method of the hide pattern most suitable for them.

Unexpectedly, these three Heavenly Bull Hide Pattern techniques, in the end, benefited Ning Fan.

"[Spatial Hide Pattern], [Tun Jia Hide Pattern], [Heart Intuition Hide Pattern]... among them, the Spatial Hide Pattern is the most difficult to comprehend. Currently, I find it hard to even gain entry and can only grasp a modicum of it. The Tun Jia Hide Pattern requires the most expensive cultivation materials; the Heart Intuition Hide Pattern, on the contrary, is the easiest to learn, needing only meditation for cultivation, without the need for external aids. I originally have no Heavenly Bull Bloodline, so I must choose one to initiate before I can cultivate the Heavenly Bull Blood. Ten years ago, I chose the Heart Intuition Scroll, but ten years have passed, and I’m still a trace away from truly cultivating the Heavenly Bull lineage. From nothing to something, indeed, it is very difficult..."

Ning Fan sighed, stored the three scrolls away, and under the stimulation of demon spiritual qi, a Heavenly Bull Star that was about to form appeared among the demon stars in his left eye.

As his demon spiritual qi retracted, the stars in his left eye also gradually disappeared.

"The Northern Heavens, I must go. The situation there worries me, but wanting to reach Northern Heaven is by no means easy. The only method I can use is the Ancient Demon Chant. However, the orthodox Ancient Demon Chant is too difficult to cultivate..."

[The Demon Chant is divided into low-grade, middle-grade, and high-grade: The low-grade Demon Chant can traverse any Void Realm; the middle-grade Demon Chant can traverse any Great Thousand World; the high-grade Demon Chant can traverse reincarnation.]

[The low-grade Demon Chant requires the cultivator to be an Ancient Demon with at least one drop of ancestral blood, while also having cultivated the power of space to the critical point of the control position...]

Ning Fan’s devil bloodlines met the requirement, but the comprehension of the power of space did not.

At least he needs to reach the critical point of the control position of the space!

This requirement is too high. If Ning Fan truly had such spatial talent, why cultivate the Demon Chant, he could traverse freely through the four heavens and nine worlds!

The orthodox Demon Chant cannot be cultivated for the time being, so Ning Fan can only retreat to search for another plan, intending to create a new kind of [False Demon Chant] with lower cultivation requirements, and temporarily sneak over to Northern Heaven first.

Ning Fan has the Dao Enlightenment of the Second Realm of Tianren and also possesses the orthodox Demon Chant’s cultivation methods. He wants to create a False Demon Chant Divine Skill based on the orthodox Demon Chant, and it is not impossible, but the process certainly won’t be easy.

In the past ten years, aside from eating dumplings, cultivating the Heavenly Bull Heart Intuition Hide Pattern, and nightly fun, Ning Fan has spent most of his time researching the False Demon Chant.

Thus far, the research progress on the False Demon Chant has only reached one-tenth, encountering insurmountable difficulties, causing Ning Fan a great headache, and this was precisely why he left the Slaughter Hall.

Ning Fan took out the Treasure-searching Compass, and who knows what was searched with it, but then one by one, light dots appeared on the compass.

The nearest light dot to his location was on the Transformation Dragon Star.

Originally, Transformation Dragon Star wasn’t called Transformation Dragon Star. Five million years ago, it was just an abandoned star until one day, a man with the Daoist title of Transformed Dragon Elder arrived at this abandoned star, and with Great Divine Power, established a Spirit Vein and relocated his sect. Since then, the star was named after the Transformation Dragon.

Ning Fan did not expect that the first thing he was searching for would be on this Transformation Dragon Star.

It is said that the previous owner of this star, Transformed Dragon Elder, was once Ning Fan’s subordinate when he first entered the Boundary River, and there was a bond of camaraderie between them.

Unfortunately, it was in the past, and the star’s owner is no longer the Transformed Dragon Elder, as he has already perished in battle...

[I have an impertinent request and hope Vice General agrees.]

[Hmm?]

[If I, like Daoist Friend Xiu Hua, unfortunately die in the Boundary River, I hope Vice General can return my life-bound magical treasure to the Eastern Heaven, and hand it over to my descendants.]

[...Alright.]

[I have a request as well. Should I meet an unfortunate end, I wish Vice General to deliver this letter to my younger brother, telling him that his elder brother won’t be attending next year’s Immortal Sect Flower Festival...]

[...Alright.]

The memories from those days resurfaced, prompting a faint sigh from Ning Fan.

The Transformed Dragon Elder perished in battle.

As for the life-bound magical treasure of the Transformed Dragon Elder, it was sent back to Transformation Dragon Star and handed over to his descendants as soon as Ning Fan returned to the Eastern Heaven.

Since passing by this star coincidentally, Ning Fan didn’t mind spreading his spirit sense to check if the descendants of the Transformed Dragon Elder were doing well.

What he saw made no difference, but Ning Fan’s gaze became cold.

Retracting his spirit sense, he descended towards Transformation Dragon Star, where at this moment, the Transformation Dragon Sect was holding a small auction.

The highlight of this auction was none other than the Transformed Dragon Elder’s life-bound magical treasure—the Yellow Dragon Cord!

This was a Twelve Nirvana Magical Treasure, a protective artifact left to his descendants by the Transformed Dragon Elder before his death, and the only relic left to his descendants.

Imagine, when the Transformed Dragon Elder died in battle, even his complete corpse was not retrieved...

Yet now, this relic was blatantly appearing in the auction...

The descendants of the Transformed Dragon Elder actually auctioned off their ancestor’s only relic... Since it was now in the hands of Transformed Dragon’s descendants, how they chose to manage it was none of Ning Fan’s concern, nor would it provoke his anger.

What enraged him wasn’t this, but something else!

"Three hundred and fifty-one billion Dao Crystals! Is there no one willing to offer more?" The auction was conducted by the three disciples of the Transformed Dragon Elder, all possessing Abandon-Void Cultivation Levels.

The direct descendant of the Transformed Dragon Elder was seated below the auction house. A black and skinny young man with mere Enlightenment cultivation could only watch helplessly as the three senior brothers auctioned off his ancestor’s relic, with a deep-seated hint of hatred in his eyes.

How could he not hate!

In order to protect the Eastern Heaven, all the powerful direct relatives of the Transformed Dragon Elder were led to the Boundary River, and eventually, all died in battle.

Among the remaining direct lineage, he had the highest cultivation, but with mere Enlightenment cultivation, how could he possibly safeguard such a precious Twelve Nirvana Magical Treasure?

In the end, this artifact was forcibly taken by the three senior brothers who colluded with outsiders, resulting in this auction...

Not only did the Yellow Dragon Cord change hands, but even the Transformation Dragon Sect no longer belonged to the descendants of the Transformed Dragon Elder...

"Three hundred and fifty-two billion!" A new offer was made.

"Three hundred and fifty-four billion!"

"Three hundred and sixty-one billion!"

"Three hundred and eighty..."

An old monster, an Immortal Lord of Eternity’s First Tribulation, raised his sign, intending to bid a price, but before he could finish, a fierce wind swept through the entire auction hall. Suddenly, the sign in the Immortal Lord’s hand crumbled into powder without warning.

"Who dares to cause trouble at my Transformation Dragon Sect’s auction!"

The Immortal Lord had yet to bid before his sign was destroyed, losing face and ready to erupt with anger. But before he could speak, three old monsters of Shedding Void from Transformation Dragon Sect running the auction coldly spoke.

They could not help but be angry!

What was this place? It was Transformation Dragon Sect, the domain of the Transformed Dragon Elder!

Though the Transformed Dragon Elder had perished in battle, the Sect Protection Array of Transformation Dragon Sect remained, and ordinary Immortal Lords dared not to act rashly here.

The intruder was too audacious, daring to wreck the Transformation Dragon Sect’s event—is he seeking his own demise?

"Hmph!"

A cold snort echoed, infused with unimaginable mana force, sending the three old monsters of Shedding Void flying backward, coughing blood!

In their backward flight, their physical bodies continually collapsed, unable to withstand even a cold snort from the intruder.

Everyone was terrified by the intruder’s immense power, their faces turning pale!

The Immortal Lord who had been on the verge of anger now broke into a cold sweat, secretly thanking his luck. In his knowledge, even an Immortal Emperor might not achieve shaking apart the flesh of Shedding Void Cultivators with a mere cold snort, yet the intruder accomplished it. His cultivation was at least the level of an Immortal Emperor, perhaps even stronger. This person was definitely not someone he could provoke!

Fortunate to have avoided misfortune from his words, he felt incredibly lucky!

"Who will explain to Ning why the relics of Daoist Hualong are being auctioned!"

Suddenly and unexpectedly, a torrential storm descended upon the entirety of Transformation Dragon Sect, cold killing intent permeating the sect.

Amidst the stunned gazes of many old monsters, fearful of death, Ning Fan, robed in white with a cold expression, walked into the auction hall.

Not everyone recognized Ning Fan’s face.

But after the battle at the Boundary River, most Eastern Celestial Cultivators knew Ning Fan’s general appearance.

Thus, when cultivators within the hall discovered the intruder was Ning Fan, some cheered while others were terrified.

The cheerers did so because they witnessed the hero of the Boundary River battle firsthand!

The fearful ones had guilty consciences!

The three disciples at Shedding Void cultivation level from Transformation Dragon Sect had their physical bodies destroyed by Ning Fan’s cold snort, leaving only their Spirit intact by Ning Fan’s deliberate act of mercy to question them.

Each of their Spirit faces twisted with fear, nearly unrecognizable. They knew that the relics of Transformed Dragon Elder had been sent back by Ning Fan.

But they did not realize Ning Fan was so concerned about the Transformed Dragon Elder’s affairs. He cared to such an extent that he would personally come even for such a seemingly insignificant auction!

"Kill kill kill kill, Lord of the Killing Hall! I am a small man who cannot see Mountain Tai, please please forgive my thoughtless words..."

Ning Fan, who could defeat Blood God Geng Wu, could easily kill these three Shedding Void novices, a fact that instilled fear in them!

Hiss!

In the hall, a Second Calamity Immortal Lord suddenly displayed fear, desperately flying out of the auction hall.

"So eager to escape, it seems you are involved indeed. Get back here!"

Heavenly Bull Hide Pattern, Spatial Pattern!

Ning Fan pressed a large hand, capturing the fleeing Second Calamity Immortal Lord who had already exited Transformation Dragon Star, throwing him back onto the ground!

Though Ning Fan had yet to officially begin cultivating the Spatial Patterns, even using merely a trace would suffice against a Second Calamity Immortal Lord.

This show of Divine Skills startled countless people! A dignified Second Calamity Immortal Lord, unable to even escape from Ning Fan, was truly frightening.

"Why were you fleeing!" Ning Fan, ignoring the three lesser Shedding Void novices, cast a cold gaze directly at the Second Calamity Immortal Lord.

His killing intent was too fearsome—it’s a terror only someone who slaughtered hundreds of Immortal Emperors could possess!

So terrifying that at a mere glance, the Second Calamity Immortal Lord collapsed to the ground, teeth chattering, devoid of mana due to intense fear!

"I deserve to die! Please Lord of the Killing Hall spare me!" The Second Calamity Immortal Lord finally pleaded through clenched teeth.

"Senior Ning, this person cannot be forgiven!" Yet another voice spoke, belonging to a thin, black-haired young man, a descendant of Hualong.

"A descendant of Daoist Hualong... very well, you explain to Ning what happened at Transformation Dragon Sect!"

"Yes!"

The descendant of Hualong elaborated on the entire story.

After Transformed Dragon Elder died, Transformation Dragon Sect no longer had an Immortal Lord overseeing it, not even any mumbling left, though the cultivation resources within the sect’s treasure vault remained.

Such a Transformation Dragon Sect, in the eyes of certain scheming old monsters of Eastern Heaven, was akin to a stripped beauty, ripe for manipulation.

Several Eternal Immortals set eyes on Transformation Dragon Sect as a delightful prize. Following covert struggles, Immortal Lord Hanshan, of Second Calamity Cultivation Level, became the sect’s new master in the shadows.

The three disciples at Shedding Void level left by Transformed Dragon Elder all immediately submitted to Hanshan Immortal Lord, and under his influence, oppressed the few surviving descendants of Transformed Dragon Elder.

Even Transformed Dragon Elder’s only relic was seized and auctioned.

Had Ning Fan not happened to visit Transformation Dragon Star in search of something, he would have never discovered that the descendants of Transformed Dragon Elder had been reduced to lambs for persecution.

The martyrs died defending the Eastern Heaven, but it was in vain! Those cowards who didn’t participate in the battle not only failed to honor the descendants of martyrs but also bullied the orphans left behind. In the face of such a scenario, how could Ning Fan not be furious!

How could he not be disheartened!

Ning Fan suddenly wanted to know the circumstances faced by the descendants of those martyrs who died in battle for the Eastern Heaven!

"This hall asks you, have you ever participated in the Boundary River Alliance?" Ning Fan coldly questioned Immortal Lord Hanshan, who was prostrated on the ground.

"N-no, never..." Immortal Lord Hanshan was drenched in cold sweat.

"The Transformed Dragon Elder died for Eastern Heaven, did he show grace to you or not!"

"He did, yes, but the cultivation world is ruled by the law of the jungle, it’s just..." Immortal Lord Hanshan attempted to argue, but unfortunately, Ning Fan couldn’t care less about his arguments.

He understood that the survival of the fittest is a common principle in the cultivation world!

But above that principle, there are more important values, which Immortal Lord Hanshan fails to comprehend, so Ning Fan doesn’t expect him to understand.

Today, he will use Lord Hanshan as a warning to let the entire Eastern Heaven know the consequences of bullying the orphans of martyrs!

"I’ll give you ten breaths, run!" Ning Fan said heartlessly.

"W-what!" Immortal Lord Hanshan’s face trembled, instantly understanding Ning Fan’s intention.

Ning Fan intends to kill him!

He refuses, he resists! But what can refusal achieve! Can he defeat Ning Fan!

In this cultivation world, all reason ultimately boils down to fists. Without the corresponding strength, who will care if it’s fair or not!

"One breath!"

Madness, he’s already started counting!

Huff!

Immortal Lord Hanshan toughened up internally, bit off his entire tongue, using pain to stimulate his nerves, allowing his body to momentarily escape fear and regain mobility.

Then once more, he desperately fled toward the auction hall’s exit.

He fled desperately, repeatedly vomiting blood essence, using Blood Evasion to traverse the starry sky!

He deeply regretted harboring greed and plotting against the Transformation Dragon Sect, but it was all too late!

Two breaths!

Four breaths!

Eight breaths!

Ten breaths!

Even though Immortal Lord Hanshan had fled very far, Ning Fan still instantly pulled him back to his side, with just one finger crushed his physical body, spirit destroyed!

So fierce! So domineering!

Everyone was silent, some were frightened, some felt ashamed.

"You three traitorous disciples, how do you want to die!" Ning Fan’s gaze swept toward the spirits of three Shedding Void Realm old monsters.

With his intelligence capacity, he easily discerned from the hearts of some female cultivators present the identity and deeds of these three.

These three were loved disciples of the Transformed Dragon Elder, deeply entrusted by him!

If not for trust, why would the Transformed Dragon Elder leave these three disciples to oversee the sect and protect the descendants.

But these three betrayed their master’s expectations, colluding with outsiders to harm the master’s descendants.

With Ning Fan’s strong views, he would never pardon such betrayals. The three were also well aware of this, and utterly terrified, they fled in panic.

But even Eternal Immortal Venerable couldn’t escape, how could these three possibly flee?

As Ning Fan tapped three times in the void, the three Shedding Void Realm old monsters perished crying, unable to escape even the auction hall.

"Thank you, senior, for avenging me!" The descendants of Hualong, seeing their foes defeated, felt grateful unto tears, kneeling on the ground and continuously bowing to Ning Fan.

Ning Fan shook his head, using his sleeve to support the Hualong descendants, handing him a storage pouch, then gracefully departed the auction hall.

"Farewell, Lord of the Killing Hall!"

Countless masters sighed at Ning Fan’s magnificence, rising to bid farewell, but in truth, Ning Fan hadn’t left Transformation Dragon Star.

He flickered over to the tallest mountain peak on Transformation Dragon Star, not immediately retrieving something from the star, but rather contemplative.

Autumn on Transformation Dragon Star, without warning, cold autumn rain began to fall.

Ning Fan stood in the autumn rain, gazing at the endless rain curtain, as if through it, he saw the figures of numerous Eastern Heaven masters dying desperately at the Boundary River.

As if he saw countless Purple Astral Immortal cultivators defending the Zi Dou Immortal Domain, dying with their clans exterminated.

"Is this the world you wanted to protect..."

"Is this the world Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign wanted to change..."