Chapter 897: Chapter 897: The Emergence of the Black-Clad

Ning Fan’s gaze was cold and emotionless, scrutinizing Demon Yuanzi who had come to seize his treasure.

As a person, he had always lived by the principle of not causing harm unless provoked. If Demon Yuanzi insisted on causing trouble, he would not show mercy.

With just a mere glance, he discerned Demon Yuanzi’s cultivations. At his peak, this person’s cultivation might have been at the Shattered Thought Early Stage, but now he could only exert the power of the Shedding Void Stage, hardly a threat.

Ning Fan then examined the Spirit Boat. The Spirit Boat was indeed impressive, a treasure at the Acquired Seven Nirvana level. Demon Yuanzi had arrived by boat, which carried tens of thousands of cultivators, most of whom had mediocre cultivations. Only about a dozen had cultivations above Enlightenment in their prime, warranting Ning Fan’s attention, but just that.

“Are you certain you want to seize my Through-Sky Stone?”

Ning Fan’s eyes held a heavy Evil Qi, which sent a chill through Demon Yuanzi’s heart. If Demon Yuanzi was not mistaken, Ning Fan’s Evil Qi was fresh; within a few hours, he must have slain a cultivator of the Mid-Phase Shattered Thought…

The more Demon Yuanzi probed Ning Fan, the more he felt a sense of impending danger. The string of dark jade Buddha Beads on his left wrist suddenly glowed faintly.

Out of eighteen beads, eleven lit up all at once! Seeing this, Demon Yuanzi gasped again.

“Eleven beads! Who is this person that possesses such intense demonic nature!”

These Buddha Beads were a kind of magical treasure called ’Thus I Have Heard Beads’, made from the relics of Black Buddha Sect cultivators, possessing a divine skill to detect the demonic nature of evil cultivators. The more beads that light up, the heavier the demonic nature on the individual.

Generally speaking, the older and more accomplished one’s magic in the evil path, the heavier the demonic nature, and such old monsters have formidable divine skills and should not be provoked.

Demon Yuanzi himself was a notorious slayer with an intense demonic nature, yet even the Thus I Have Heard Beads could only light six beads for him.

Throughout his life in the Northern Heaven, he had encountered many ancient demon patriarchs. In the Northern Heaven Immortal World, only a handful of those in the Shattered Thought Realm could light ten or more beads, and these individuals were all unmatched demon patriarchs of the Shattered Thought Later Stage that Demon Yuanzi would not dare to provoke.

That Ning Fan could make eleven of the Thus I Have Heard Beads light up, what does this signify!

Silently alarmed, Demon Yuanzi pondered, growing increasingly convinced that Ning Fan was someone not to be trifled with. The evidence was clear, Ning Fan was not to be offended!

“This person can kill a Yin Yang Evil Vein cultivator at the Mid-Phase Shattered Thought and has a demonic nature reaching eleven-bead level… To provoke such a formidable demon for a mere Through-Sky Stone is unwise!”

Demon Yuanzi’s expression changed rapidly. When he looked at Ning Fan again, all traces of greed vanished.

Feigning calmness, but inwardly uneasy, he clasped his hands from afar towards Ning Fan, shamelessly smiling as he replied,

“I was just joking with you earlier, Daoist. I would never truly seize your Through-Sky Stone. Please don’t misunderstand. You seem injured; I have some expensive pills here as a peace offering. Ahem… I shall take my leave now, so as not to disturb your healing. Farewell, farewell…”

Demon Yuanzi produced a vial of expensive pills, who knows from where he acquired them, flicked them towards Ning Fan.

Then hurriedly turned the ship’s head, afraid that lingering any longer would irritate Ning Fan.

“Does he think he can brush today’s matter aside with just a random bottle of pills… that’s not enough!”

Playing with the pill bottle in his hand, Ning Fan slightly coldly chuckled, then suddenly stood up directly from the Through-Sky Stone, a point of golden light underfoot, and disappeared with the Through-Sky Stone into the clouded sky.

Almost simultaneously, the Through-Sky Giant Stone emitted a thousand-foot golden light, suddenly appearing at the prow of the Spirit Boat, without anyone being able to see how the giant stone appeared.

Ning Fan’s figure, clad in white with a red glow, appeared alongside it. No one could barely discern Ning Fan’s movement technique, except for Demon Yuanzi.

“Such terrifying speed! Far beyond my full power!”

Demon Yuanzi gasped again, silently lamenting, ever more certain that Ning Fan was not to be trifled with. Seeing Ning Fan approaching step by step, he knew this person intended to hold him accountable.

Though regrets surged in his heart, had he known Ning Fan’s prowess earlier, he would never have spoken harsh words to him—trouble he foolishly invited…

Trouble at hand, Demon Yuanzi wouldn’t shy away from conflict, his heart pounding, but his face maintained a façade of bravado, coldly huffing,

“I was merely joking with you, Daoist, and already offered you a bottle of pills as recompense. Do not push me too far!”

He spoke forcefully, and suddenly released an overwhelming presence, enveloping the area, causing tens of thousands of cultivators to feel an unbearable heat.

This person’s Tao was of fire!

But what he practiced was no ordinary fire, it was… Black Flame!

Ning Fan’s eyes slightly froze. The aura of the Black Flame, surprisingly, resembled the cultivation technique of the Black Demon Sect…

In the world, there are other sects besides the Northern Heaven Black Demon Sect that can cultivate the Black Flame, but the Black Flame on Demon Yuanzi’s body undoubtedly came from the Black Demon Sect’s technique, although with some differences…

The Black Demon Sect was the sect of the old monster, and it was also Ning Fan’s sect. Seeing this Black Flame, Ning Fan’s eyes showed a hint of reminiscence. His originally cold gaze slightly softened, and he asked softly.

“Your Excellency’s Black Flame seems to have some connection with the Northern Heaven Black Demon Sect. I wonder what your connection to the Black Demon Sect is, and where did your method of cultivating the Black Flame come from?”

Demon Yuanzi was startled, not expecting Ning Fan to ask such a question. He vaguely saw that mentioning the Northern Heaven Black Demon Sect seemed to reduce Ning Fan’s hostility.

With a sly twinkle in his eyes, Demon Yuanzi patted his storage pouch and took out a black, murky token to show Ning Fan.

That token was, astonishingly, the Guest Elder’s Token of the Northern Heaven Black Demon Sect, engraved with the name Demon Yuanzi. However, this token was incredibly ancient, at least several million years old.

“In my youth, I knew the former chief of the Black Demon Sect, Hei Mozi, and once served as a nominal guest elder at the Black Demon Sect. Naturally, I learned some methods of the Black Flame from them.”

“Hei Mozi…” Ning Fan recalled that the old monster’s master’s master seemed to be called Hei Mozi…

This Demon Yuanzi before him had some connection with one of his ancestral masters and had once been a guest elder of the Black Demon Sect…

“Since you have ties with the Black Demon Sect, let today’s matter be settled here.”

Ning Fan sighed. He was someone who would repay any wrong, yet valued relationships greatly. If Demon Yuanzi was connected to the Black Demon Sect, he wouldn’t trouble him.

Demon Yuanzi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that it was fortunate he had spent time at the Black Demon Sect, otherwise today’s affair would not have ended so easily.

Meanwhile, he secretly pondered, though the Black Demon Sect had once thrived, it had long since declined, with few strong members. Ning Fan clearly had a deep connection with the Black Demon Sect, but it was unknown what the exact relationship was…

As Ning Fan turned to leave, Demon Yuanzi’s eyes flickered, and he had another idea.

“This person’s body may be injured, but his strength is immense. If I can keep him on my ship, our escape would certainly be safer.”

With this thought, Demon Yuanzi immediately invited Ning Fan, “Fellow Daoist, you are injured, why not travel with us for mutual aid?”

“Travel together?”

Ning Fan paused, pondered for a moment, and then nodded in agreement to Demon Yuanzi’s invitation.

Traveling with Demon Yuanzi was beneficial; he originally intended to rescue Miaoyan Immortal Honorific, and having Demon Yuanzi as an ally would increase the chances of rescuing Miaoyan Immortal Honorific.

“Haha, having a strong fellow like you accompanying us is indeed wonderful! I am Demon Yuanzi, may I know how to address you?”

“Zhao Jian.” Ning Fan blandly responded with a false name.

His true identity was too sensitive; without the Ghost Mask it was one thing, but wearing the Ghost Mask, he preferred not to further expose the name Ning Fan.

“So it’s Daoist Zhao, my apologies, my apologies.” Although he apologized in words, Demon Yuanzi squinted his eyes, thinking that this name was unfamiliar and likely false. Nevertheless, he asked with a superficial smile,

“Currently, the wilds face hardship. My companions and I are searching for the two Immortal Honorifics, Miaoyan and Liuhe, to seek shelter. Do you know where these two Immortal Honorifics might be?”

“What a coincidence, I happen to have information on Miaoyan Immortal Honorific’s whereabouts.”

Ning Fan took out an empty jade slip, inscribed a route to the Life Gate, and handed it to Demon Yuanzi.

This route to the Life Gate was to a location one realm away from the Dead Gate Interface where Miaoyan Immortal Honorific was.

Demon Yuanzi was taken aback. He had casually asked but had not expected to really get information on Miaoyan Immortal Honorific’s whereabouts.

After receiving and examining the jade slip, his face remained inscrutable, showing no expression. However, Ning Fan caught a glimpse of doubt in Demon Yuanzi’s eyes.

“Are you doubting the authenticity of this route?” Ning Fan asked expressionlessly.

“Hehe, you’re joking, Daoist. In these troubled times, we human cultivators must unite to survive. I trust you won’t offer false intel or make the unwise move of jeopardizing me.”

Despite the persistent doubt in his eyes, after a moment of contemplation, Demon Yuanzi activated the Spirit Boat and flew in the direction Ning Fan had indicated.

Hopefully, following this route will indeed lead us to Miaoyan Immortal Honorific…

Now that the lands are in turmoil, every human cultivator wishes to quickly locate the two Human Clan Immortal Honorific for protection, and Demon Yuanzi is no exception.

He formed hand seals with his ten fingers, and the Spirit Boat beneath him gradually increased in speed through the void. This boat was called the Demon Yuan Boat, a magical treasure intimately linked to Demon Yuanzi’s life, reaching the Acquired Seven Nirvana rank. While its escape speed was astonishing, only Demon Yuanzi, familiar with the spirit of this boat, could handle it with ease.

“Daoist, please focus on healing your injuries for now. I will take you to this place to seek the Miaoyan Immortal Honorific,” Demon Yuanzi said with a forced smile.

“Very well.”

Seeing the boat’s respectable escape speed, Ning Fan nodded and suddenly raised his hand, pointing at the Through-Sky Stone at the bow of the boat. As this gesture fell, the Through-Sky Stone emitted a faint glow, and in the distant void, a dragon-shaped black cloud began to shift, drifting towards the Spirit Boat.

Once nearby, hundreds of black mist ropes shot out from the cloud and were tied to the stern of the Spirit Boat. The power of the void-walking from the Through-Sky Stone augmented the Spirit Boat, causing its speed to surge by severalfold as the black cloud seemingly attached itself behind the Spirit Boat, traveling rapidly together with it.

From afar, it appeared as though the Spirit Boat was dragging the black cloud forward. In truth, it was the Through-Sky Stone guiding both the Spirit Boat and the herd of beasts in flight.

Having completed this, Ning Fan sat cross-legged beneath the Through-Sky Stone to continue his healing. On the Spirit Boat, many cultivators exclaimed in surprise.

“What is that black cloud?” Tens of thousands of cultivators on the boat stared in bewilderment at the immense black cloud trailing the Spirit Boat, unable to fathom what the cloud truly was.

The vision and spirit sense of ordinary cultivators struggled to penetrate the cloud, unable to perceive the two hundred thousand barbarian beasts hidden beneath it.

Seeing the Through-Sky Stone enhance the Spirit Boat’s speed, Demon Yuanzi felt both envy and regret. Although he coveted this treasure, he dared not attempt to seize it again.

As he cast a glance at the enormous black cloud trailing the boat, Demon Yuanzi grew perplexed, silently pondering why Ning Fan would employ his divine skills to hang such a cloud at the stern without reason.

Exercising his divine skills, his spirit sense pierced through the cloud and what he saw within was undeniably clear. But this revelation caused his complexion to change drastically, his blood rushing in reverse due to shock, his heart pounding uncontrollably, unable to believe his eyes!

Within that black cloud, there was an army of hundreds of thousands of barbarian beasts, including forty-five Shekong Barbarian Beasts!

The cold gazes of the multitude of barbarian beasts were fixed upon Demon Yuanzi, as if seeing a delicious meal, causing his scalp to tingle and a strange chill to run down his spine!

Demon Yuanzi roughly estimated that the number of these barbarian beasts was at least two hundred thousand!

Despite their inherently bloodthirsty and savage nature, these barbarian beasts appeared docile and tame, all crouching within the black cloud. Furthermore, the direction in which the herd bowed was towards Ning Fan, as if in reverent submission, obedient to his command…

Such reverence was exceedingly devout, akin to bowing before their master…

“Daoist Zhao, are these…” Demon Yuanzi’s heart raced, already guessing but unable to believe this conjecture to be true.

“They are Zhao’s subordinates. Daoist, how do you find these subordinates? Do you think they could protect my Through-Sky Stone?” Ning Fan spoke, meaningfully.

Upon hearing this, Demon Yuanzi broke out in a cold sweat, confirming his suspicion, and remembering his earlier foolish attempt to seize the Through-Sky Stone, he felt a tinge of fear.

He had encountered some Yin Yang Evil Vein demon race cultivators capable of commanding barbarian beasts during his journey, but a human able to do so was rare.

He never imagined that Ning Fan could at once command two hundred thousand barbarian beasts, making them submit so thoroughly.

If he had truly fallen out with Ning Fan earlier, he feared he would have been torn to shreds by this horde of beasts immediately. In his current strength, he was hardly a match for this herd!

Fortunately, he hadn’t completely offended Ning Fan!

Luckily, having served as a Guest Elder for Black Demon Sect, he mitigated the past grievances with Ning Fan through that connection!

“Zhao needs to concentrate on healing and won’t converse with you much further.”

With a slight smile, Ning Fan continued taking expensive pills to heal, his internal injuries mostly healed, but the depletion of his life essence wasn’t so easy to restore, requiring diligent cultivation to recover fully.

“Hehe, Daoist Zhao, just focus on healing. With me here, no one will disturb your recovery!”

Demon Yuanzi spoke in a flattering tone, increasingly cautious towards Ning Fan. With two hundred thousand barbarian beasts beside Ning Fan, he dared not offend him…

Though the Spirit Boat was of fine grade, its speed was bolstered further by the power of the Through-Sky Stone, allowing it to travel at a near-Shattered Thought pace, even while towing two hundred thousand barbarian beasts.

Previously tainted with demon blood, the void-walk power within the Through-Sky Stone was flawed, usable only for four hours at a time. However, following the demise of an old man named Nifan, the demon blood on the corpse had faded along with that defect, allowing it to function continuously.

Along the way, whenever they encountered human experts, Demon Yuanzi would assist in rescuing them and in turn demand Dao Crystal compensation from those he saved. Occasionally, he would also seize the magical treasures of the rescued cultivators.

Initially, Demon Yuanzi worried that his treasure-snatching behavior might displease Ning Fan, but as Ning Fan paid him little attention, he gradually grew bolder, gleefully rescuing and plundering along his journey, delighting in the process.

Ning Fan occasionally opened his eyes, cast a glance at Demon Yuanzi. Demon Yuanzi was just rescuing and seizing a treasure, not killing and looting, so he naturally didn’t bother to care.

About two hours later, Ning Fan exhaled a long breath of foul air, the injuries within his body nearly healed. The Evil Qi around him gradually restrained, no longer as sharp and imposing as it was initially.

His spirit sense glanced at the Binding Thunder Banner, seeing Xian Luoli still eating and drinking self-indulgently, he felt speechless, yet at ease.

Whether Xian Luoli was an ordinary person or an Immortal Emperor, it couldn’t change Ning Fan’s care for Xian Luoli. Through many years of companionship, that care had already become a habit.

Retracting the Binding Thunder Banner, Ning Fan’s gaze fell on the Through-Sky Giant Stone in front of him, looking at the two words “Nifan” on the giant stone, remaining silent.

Before his eyes, the various strange actions of the black-robed elder reappeared. That gaze of enlightenment, that close smile, all made Ning Fan feel unspeakable emotions arise in his heart…

He extended his palm, pressing it on the Through-Sky Stone, immediately sensing the cold touch.

His mind grew even calmer, able to clearly sense each vein of the force of breaking the void within the Through-Sky Stone.

The force of breaking the void could be used to refine high-grade flying escape magical treasures or to practice flying escape secret techniques.

The quality of the Through-Sky Stone before him was extremely high, enough to make any of the Fragmented Thought Elders envious, but Ning Fan was not interested in the force within the Through-Sky Stone.

What he was more concerned about were the two words ’Nifan’ formed by the stained blood on the Through-Sky Stone.

He stared blankly at those two words, and suddenly, a strange feeling of time-space overlap emerged in his heart.

It was as if the past and future were staring at each other.

Just like in the past, he looked into the eyes of his previous life’s butterfly body across different mirages, that feeling was indescribable, yet deeply etched in his heart.

The blood traces of the Demon Bloodline on the Through-Sky Stone were already very faint. The moment Ning Fan’s hand touched the Through-Sky Stone, those blood traces began to disappear, little by little.

Ning Fan gazed blankly at the continuously disappearing blood traces, a disappearance that completely erased them from reincarnation…

He seemed to have realized something, yet he didn’t know what he had realized, and the confusion in his eyes grew greater and greater.

In his mind, the silhouette of the black-robed elder began to appear continuously. The Fu Li Demon Bloodline started to activate unconsciously.

In a trance, he unexpectedly had an illusion, unable to distinguish whether he was Ning Fan or the black-robed elder.

In a trance, he suddenly felt that although he had the Fu Li Bloodline in the past, he had never truly unleashed the power of the Fu Li Bloodline…

The Fu Li was the strongest demon race before ancient times, its bloodline far surpassing ordinary demon blood!

After its fortune was tainted, the Fu Li race’s bloodline became the most tainted demon blood in the world, but its ferocity was no less than in the past!

“That black-robed elder is the true Fu Li, and I am not!”

“Though I possess the Fu Li Bloodline, I have never allowed the Fu Li Bloodline to dominate my body. All along, I have been led by Mana in my cultivation journey!”

“A true Fu Li should not be like this!”

Ning Fan originally dressed in white, imbued with a red glow, but in a certain instant, black mist unexpectedly surged from his body.

Within that black mist, Ning Fan’s white-clad silver-haired appearance instantly transformed into black clothes and black hair!

In his white-clad silver-haired form, the various forces on him were primarily led by Mana.

In his black-clad black-haired form, the various forces on him were led by demonic power!

In the instant when he transformed into his black-clad black-haired form, even the Silver Ghost Mask turned pitch black. Only his eyes turned into purple pupils!

In that moment, a breathtakingly ancient demonic aura flashed from Ning Fan’s body. Only Demon Yuanzi on the entire Spirit Boat caught a glimpse of that fleeting ancient demonic aura!

“Pseudo-Ancient Demon!”

Demon Yuanzi’s gaze immediately changed!

(1/3) (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote with recommendation votes and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please head to m.qidian.com to read.)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep