Grasping Evil

Chapter 523: Chapter 523: He Is Back!

In the Giant Devil Clan, Ning Fan erased a single day’s memories of all low-level cultivators who witnessed Giant Zhi Huo.

Using the power of his memory intent realm, Ning Fan did not harm their Sea of Consciousness and only made them unconscious for one day.

When the low-level cultivators woke up on the second day, none of them remembered Ning Fan breaking through to the Void Glimpse Stage and capturing Giant Zhi Huo.

For Old Ancestor Dong Xu and the others, however, their memories naturally remained.

They were people that Ning Fan had found reliable and worth befriending. Thus, there was no need to make them forget about that incident.

Ning Fan had a lengthy discussion with the four venerated beings and shared to them his comprehension of void and insights in attaining the Void Glimpse Stage. Besides, he also left behind many magic treasures and pills for their forces as compensation for the casualties they suffered.

Then, he personally broke the slave mark of the Giant Devil Clan that had been passed down for generations without planting his own slave mark on them.

What Ning Fan had done earned the respect of the four venerated beings which deepened their bonds.

Only after that did he enter the Yuan Yao World and started his secluded cultivation in the dark golden pagoda to stabilize his new cultivation base.

It had already been one month since he completely stabilized his cultivation base. One month in the outside world was equivalent to ten years in the dark golden pagoda.

He did not immediately leave the pagoda. Instead, he took out the World Creating Stone, the Arctic Flame and the giant ape’s corpse from his pouch.

The Arctic Flame was ranked fifth among the twelve Earth Vein Demonic Flames. As soon as Ning Fan took it out, he swallowed it and started to refine it.

The giant ape was a Void Fragmentation Realm beast. Therefore, its blood could be used to brew blood wine.

As for the World Creating Stone...

Ning Fan had never expected that he would obtain a World Creating Stone in the Sovereign Tomb.

It was a dark stone that was the size of a fingernail. It had a hard and rough texture.

Just this small piece of World Creating Stone would be enough to create a small chiliocosm. Without a doubt, it was an item with immeasurable value!

Ning Fan took off the Cauldron Ring from his wrist. He decided to refine this World Creating Stone into his Cauldron Ring and upgrade the heavenly dwelling space in the ring to become a small chiliocosm!

After the upgrade, the Cauldron Ring would then become a world. Even Ning Fan would also be able to enter the Cauldron World for cultivation and visit his human cauldrons.

“A Cauldron World that belongs to me...”

Ning Fan’s eyes looked slightly serious. It was his first time using a World Creating Stone to make a small chiliocosm cosmos treasure.

In order to avoid failure and prevent harming his human cauldrons, he temporarily let all of them out and let them temporarily settle down in the dark golden pagoda.

Ning Fan sat on the seventh floor all alone and started enhancing the grade of the Cauldron Ring which took him another ten years.

In the outside world, only one more month had passed.

After that, Ning Fan kept all of his human cauldrons into his Cauldron Ring. This time, he also went inside personally.

Ning Fan had turned the countless divided spaces that were filled with red mist in the Cauldron Ring into a single world using the power of the World Creating Stone.

The current Cauldron World only had a single world. But its size was nearly half as huge as the entire Rain World!

There were mountains and rivers inside it. Some of them were the original landscape in the Cauldron Ring while some others were brought inside by Ning Fan from the outside world.

Countless palaces were built inside the Cauldron Ring that were provided for his human cauldrons for their cultivation. Aside from that, there were also palaces for pill refinement and armament refinement as well as repentance palaces for detaining criminals.

Bi Ling and Yue Ling had not met Ning Fan for a long time. Both of them missed him dearly.

Everyone in the Ning Family Female Guard had a relationship with Ning Fan. Therefore, many of them were longing for him as well.

Of course, there were also disobedient and hostile ladies there such as the red-haired female devil who was a flower devil and Old Ancestor Bi Tong of the Giant Devil Clan whom Ning Fan captured alive.

“My palace lord will certainly not spare you for hurting me!” The red-haired female devil who was named Number 431 threatened him.

“Zhou Ming! If you dare to touch a single hair of mine, King Ju Lu will certainly not let you go!” Old Ancestor Bi Tong said in fury.

Faced with these two women who were difficult to tame, Ning Fan did not plan to subdue them at all.

In front of Old Ancestor Bi Tong, he told everyone about his true name, Ning Fan, and his new title which was Marquis White Robe granted to him by the Rain Palace. These incidents surprised countless young ladies.

Even Old Ancestor Bi Tong who was previously arrogant and insolent was instantly dumbfounded upon hearing King Ju Lu’s death.

“W-What do you want to do to me...?” Bi Tong was afraid.

“Nothing. Just plucking you.”

Ning Fan sneered. He did not feel any mercy for her and directly plucked her cultivation base until she fell back to the Harmonious Spirit Realm. Then, he handed her to the female guards and detained her in the repentance palace.

From today onward, every obedient human cauldron he captured would be incorporated into the female guards while those who were hostile and disobedient would be detained in the repentance palaces!

The Wind and Flower Demonesses who had not met Ning Fan for many years felt that he was someone unattainable when they saw him now and could only look up to him.

In the past where they were still enemies with Ning Fan, he was only a Harmonious Spirit Realm junior.

Today, he was already a Void Refinement Realm expert whose name shook the entire Rain World. The significance of his status was not something they could imagine at all and it made them feel inferior.

Bing Ling and Yue Ling, on the other hand, did not really feel inferior about themselves. They had already known Ning Fan’s brilliance many years ago.

They had always believed that Ning Fan was predestined to soar in the nine heavens. They did not have much thoughts about their future and all they wished was to be Ning Fan’s maidservants for the rest of their lives.

Nalan Zi was leaning against a blue peach tree. She lowered her head while facing Ning Fan with a self-mocking smile on her face.

When she was still the dignified and lofty Concubine Zi in the past, she looked down on Ning Fan.

However, he had actually attained the Void Refinement Realm after all these years and became someone that she must look up to with respect.

“I should not have made him my enemy in the past... But it’s already too late to regret it now...” Her faint smile contained a hint of bitterness.

The devil concubine of the Ghost Eye Clan, Gu Shiniang, stroked her temple hair while looking at Ning Fan with gratitude.

“I didn’t expect that he would actually kill Marquis You Gui and destroy the Ghost Eye Clan... It’s clear to me that the grudges I had against the Ghost Eye Clan are now resolved... Father, Mother...”

She took a pinch of soil to make incense sticks and burned them to pray for her family. Inwardly, she secretly vowed that she would follow Ning Fan for her entire life and never betray him.

Ning Fan gave the female guards a great number of pills and ancient records about cultivation methods. Then, he also performed dual-cultivation with some members of the female guard to help them break through the bottleneck of their cultivation realms.

Only then did he leave the Cauldron World in a flash.

He returned to the outside world and bade farewell with Old Ancestor Dong Xu and the others. This time, he really was going to leave the internal sea.

Xu Qiuling, Feng Xueyan, Yue Lingkong, Su Yan, Fen Chi... He had to bring all these ladies away with him. He could no longer let them stay in the Endless Sea which was filled with troubles.

Ning Fan temporarily kept them in his Cauldron World and let them help rebuild that brand new small chiliocosm.

Feng Xueyan, Su Yan, Fen Chi, Gu Shiniang... All the devil concubines of the four greatest devil clans had actually joined Ning Fan. With the four of them, the engraving of devil marks and the cultivation of body refining techniques would be extremely simple for his human cauldrons.

Luo You had already woken up and Ning Fan now had a Void Fragmentation Realm puppet... When he returns to Yue Country with his current strength, he could certainly build a great force that had Void Fragmentation Realm protectors who would keep his women safe from any dangers.

Wearing a set of white robes while holding a blood-red umbrella, Ning Fan disappeared amidst the wind and snow of the Giant Devil Clan by his lonesome.

This time, he was leaving for real. Under the windy and snowy sky, only Old Ancestor Dong Xu and a few others quietly saw him off.

Ning Fan did not know that the moment he left the Giant Devil Clan, a lady in red robes was hidden somewhere in the dark, silently watching him.

“Farewell.” Hong Yi’s cold blood-red eyes were filled with a hint of dejection.

The mutually beneficial relationship between her and Ning Fan was already over... However, she who had a cold demeanor actually felt slightly reluctant to see him off. It was indeed strange.

...

One month later, a white-robed young man suddenly appeared in the sky above the Divine Space Island. He took the blood wine gourd and then placed the blood of a Void Fragmentation Realm giant ape into it.

In the following month, the same young man appeared on Penglai Immortal Island in the External Endless Sea. He brought away a lady named Ya Lan. The young man was a bit downcast because Bei Xiaoman had already returned to the Northern Heaven Immortal World...

Three days later, a great incident happened on the Bi Yao Immortal Island which shocked countless experts.

The vice sect master of the Bi Yao Sect, Yin Suqiu, was officially ascending to the Southern Heaven Immortal World under the invitation of the Purple Prefectural Studies Palace[1] of that world!

The moment the experts from the Purple Prefectural Studies Palace opened up the world passage, no one knew how many cultivators of the Rain World were envious of Yin Suqiu for having the opportunity to ascend to the Four Heavens.

Before she crossed the world passage, she suddenly turned around and said gently with a smile on her face.

“Please take care of yourself. I’ll wait for you there.”

No one knew who she was smiling at. Only Yin Suqiu’s good sister, Su Yao, was aware that she was smiling at a white-robed young man.

That young man was the most important person to Yin Suqiu. To her, he was ten thousand times more precious than her own life and the Righteous Dao...

After Yin Suqiu ascended, the white-robed young man kept the entire Bi Yao Immortal Island.

Ten days later, he arrived at the Pleasure Devil Sect. He left behind a huge amount of magic treasures and pills for Xu Rushan and brought away a beautiful mortal woman who was called Bai Su from Gusu City...

After some time, this white-robed young man no longer appeared in the Endless Sea again. He had finally left...

Marquis White Robe’s notoriety was known far and wide. Even so, no one knew where he had gone...

In the Yi Dou City of Ying Country that was connected to the Endless Sea, Ning Fan quietly walked past the boisterous streets while holding a blood-red umbrella, walking toward the peace in his heart.

His pace was slow but he could travel across countless distances with every step like a ghost. With just tens of steps, he had already travelled across several millions of li* (500m per li) and left Ying Country.

Those cultivators who were guarding the Country Locking Grand Formation could only see the figure of a white-robed young man flash past them without being able to take a second look at him.

They could not believe that a young man in white robes actually crossed the formation which even Divine Transformation Realm cultivators could not easily get past.

“Who was it?! That person can actually travel past the Country Locking Grand Formation of our Ying Country! Could that person be a Void Refinement Realm old monster in the legends?!” Each of the guards were greatly shocked.

When Ning Fan was headed to the Endless Sea in the past, he travelled all the way north and used the teleportation formation in Great Jin during his journey.

Now, however, his travelling speed was extraordinary. With his current speed, he could travel across two hundred thousand li* (500m per li) with a single step which enabled him to travel past a low-grade cultivation country with just two to three steps!

He had been travelling westward from the Endless Sea. He was rushing back without taking any break.

During his journey, he went past a dozen cultivation countries. He did not even stop half a step when he was passing by Wu Country.

He missed his hometown. He missed Zhi He... He had been away from his home for far too long and he really felt homesick.

Outside the Country Locking Grand Formation on the eastern domain of Yue Country, the sky was dark. It was already late at night.

A group of Vein Opening Realm cultivators of the Purple Light Sect were guarding the formation at the border between Yue and Wu Country. None of them dared to slack off.

This place was the route that the Heavenly Dao Sect had used to invade Yue Country in the past. Ever since the battle between Yue Country and the devil armies, the Purple Light Sect had tightened the defenses of this area. Even if some old monsters who had established reputations wanted to pass through here, the guards would have to conduct a strict inspection on them before letting them go in order to prevent letting a terrifying devil lord in which would threaten the safety of Yue Country.

This group of Vein Opening Realm cultivators were inspecting the cultivators from Wu Country who were trying to pass through. All of a sudden, they saw a white-robed young man gradually walking toward them with a blood-red umbrella in his hand.

That young man’s pace seemed slow. However, when he made a single step, he would turn into a ray of light and vanish instantly. He outright went past the Country Locking Grand Formation and entered Yue Country.

Each of the guards and the cultivators who were trying to enter were deeply shocked. It was their first time witnessing that terrifying travelling light!

“Who’s that?! Could he be a peerless devil lord from Wu Country?! Is he trespassing in our Yue Country to commit slaughter?!” A young disciple of the Purple Light Sect was scared half to death.

“You fool! How could all of you not know that individual?! It’s him! He’s back!” On a pagoda that was located ten li* (500m per li) away from the group of cultivators, a Harmonious Spirit Realm elder of the Purple Light Sect quickly flew out. His face was filled with a mixture of surprise and joy.

“Elder Xu, who is that man?” Another young disciple asked.

“Well, it isn’t strange for you all to have no idea who he is. After all, your bone age has yet to reach twenty years. It has already been several tens of years since he left Yue Country... Now, he has returned! With him here, the Great Jin’s plan of annexing the eleven countries including ours will definitely not be realized! The crisis of our Purple Light Sect being annihilated will certainly not happen as well!” Elder Xu laughed excitedly.

In the Seven Apricot City, snow was falling heavily in the sky.

Zhi He stood all alone outside the city, waiting for someone’s return.

Since the day she received news of Ning Fan gaining the title ‘Marquis White Robe’, she had always stood outside the Seven Apricot City and waited for his return.

The Marquis White Robe’s reputation had spread across the Rain World. However, not many people in Yue Country linked Marquis White Robe to the young lord of the Seven Apricot City.

From the perspective of ordinary cultivators, although the young lord of the Seven Apricot City and Marquis White Robe shared the same name, Ning Fan, the two of them must be different people.

After all, the difference between their cultivation bases was too huge. Thus, they thought Marquis White Robe was probably just another person with the same name as the young lord of the Seven Apricot City.

Even so, Zhi He strongly believed that the Marquis White Robe who was known far and wide was Big Brother Fan whom she had been waiting for a long time.

“City Lord Zhi He, Lord Ning Fan will not return. Don’t wait anymore.” A maidservant tried to persuade Zhi He.

“Indeed. Sect Master Lan of the Sinister Sparrow Sect invited City Lord to head to the Song Country ten days later to join the Song General Assembly and meet King Jin of the Great Jin... City Lord must take care of your body and not overexert yourself.” Another maidservant advised.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m willing to wait for him. I’m willing... He’ll return. He certainly will. Even though I don’t know how much longer I will have to wait for him, I know he will definitely come back...” Zhi He stubbornly smiled.

The sky gradually darkened. The wind continued to blow through the air while the snow continued to fall. However, the person she was waiting for had yet to return.

Zhi He sighed inwardly. She turned around and walked back to the Seven Apricot City with a hint of disappointment on her face.

At this moment, the crisp ringing of wind chimes reached her ears amid the rustling snowflakes.

It sounded like a wind chime. However, it was actually not coming from it but a bell orchid when its filaments were blown by the gentle breeze.

A dreamy and enchanting qi assailed her nose. It rooted her to the ground, preventing her from making another step forward.

Her clear bright eyes were suddenly moistened by her tears. She was not sure whether or not it was really him who had returned...

“Why are you crying? Did anyone mistreat my lady, Zhi He...? This is the bell orchid that you want. I’ve brought it back for you. Aren’t you going to take a look at it?”

With a faint smile on his face, Ning Fan held a pot of bell orchids in one of his hands while holding a blood-red umbrella in his other hand to shield Zhi He against the snow.

“Big Brother Fan... Is it really you? I am not dreaming, am I...?” Zhi He turned around and looked at the man who had the same smile as in the past with a lump forming in her throat.

It’s him... It’s really him! He is truly back...!

The feeling of bliss came ever so suddenly which made her doubt that it was only a dream she had been thinking day and night.

“You’ve grown taller...” Ning Fan looked at Zhi He who was tearing up, feeling like his heart was being stabbed by a knife. He kept the umbrella and the bell orchid and gave her a tight hug. He wished that he could make the lady before him fuse with his blood.

It was a reunion after forty years. What else could make him happier than seeing her in good condition?

It was a reunion after forty years. However, he found himself unable to calm down after seeing her shedding tears...

“I’m back and I won’t let anyone hurt you anymore.” Ning Fan smiled gently. At the next moment, his eyes suddenly flashed with a piercing glint.

“I’ve heard that Great Jin is planning on annexing Yue Country! I’ve even heard that Great Jin has sent someone to threaten you!”

During his way home, he spread his spirit sense and heard a lot of gossip. Among them was Great Jin’s intention of annexing all of its eleven neighboring countries.

King Jin had even sent many cultivators of his country to coerce the sects in those countries into submission!

According to what he heard, King Jin had broken through to the Divine Transformation Realm. Thus, he planned to expand his territory by annexing multiple countries so that his country would be upgraded to a high-grade cultivation country.

From among the information he obtained, King Jin had sent people into Yue Country several times to force the sects in the country to yield. Because they defied his orders, the Seven Apricot City and the Sinister Sparrow Sect had lost a number of disciples...

Based on Ning Fan’s personality, how could he allow anyone to harm Zhi He?!

“Big Brother Fan, that King Jin isn’t someone we can mess with... He has the support of a Rain Palace’s division behind him.” Zhi He began speaking absentmindedly. Apparently, she had forgotten about the news regarding how strong Ning Fan was.

“King Jin, huh...? I’d like to see how strong he is!”

Ning Fan’s eyes turned even colder. In the past, King Jin might be able to bully him. Now, however, he might not even have the qualification to stand in front of him.

With him in Yue Country, who would dare to annex his country?!

With him here, what is a mere King Jin? What is a mere division of the Rain Palace?!

He was now back!

Translated by Tommy, edited by Roel

[1] Purple Prefectural Studies Palace was previously translated as Zifu Academy. This is the literal translation of the name and palace or pavilion is must more widely used in this novel. For eg, Lost World Palace, Godly Void Pavilion.