After just one single night, the news of Ning Fan’s return had spread all over the External Endless Sea with formidable speed.
As for the Alliance of Ming Assassins from the Ying State Immortal Island, when they heard that Ning Fan had reached the Divine Transformation Realm, at least 30% of the forces broke away from the alliance and ended their relationship with the alliance.
They were already afraid of Ning Fan’s fearsome reputation and they could not even imagine how brutal he would be after attaining the Divine Transformation Realm.
However, these were something to be talked about later.
The Sparrow Raising Platform had already been renovated. Twenty years ago, a killing tribulation happened here with Ning Fan being the main reason. Twenty years later, the snow here continued to fall like before but the people who used to be here were already gone.
Above the copper platform, Ning Fan sat around a fire stove with Dong Xu, Xu Rushan, Yan Zhongze and the other experts, chatting while drinking warm wine. Their conversations were mostly about the occurrences and changes that had happened in the External Endless Sea. Xu Rushan and Yan Zhongze tried to ask Ning Fan about what he had gone through within these twenty years, but he did not speak a single word about it. Everyone was sensible and no longer asked about it anymore.
Xu Qiuling was behaving like a lovely newly-married wife as she sat beside Ning Fan and heated the wine for him with a sweet and obedient look.
Yu Long who was behind Ning Fan was looking at him with eyes filled with admiration and zeal.
At the time he was being kept by Ning Fan as a slave, he complained endlessly about his fate. Currently, however, it seemed like being able to become Ning Fan’s follower was indeed the greatest thing that had ever happened to him in his entire lifetime.
Now, his master was already not an ordinary man but a Divine Transformation Realm old ancestor, a man who could drink wine at the same table with the Venerated Seven of the Internal Endless Sea!
The wine they drank was a spiritual wine named ‘Drunken Past’ which was fermented by Dong Xu with one hundred types of flowers. It was famous for its immensely strong alcohol. Anyone with poor magic power would definitely be unable to drink much. For Early Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, drinking one single drop of the wine would cause them to be drunk for one month. As for the old ancestors of the Early Divine Transformation Realm, they could at most drink ten bottles.
After gulping down the eleventh bottle, Xu Rushan and Yan Zhongze successively left with wry smiles. They must instantly return to have a secluded meditation to refine the alcohol of the wine. Otherwise, they would be drunk for an entire month.
After they left, Yu Long also obtained permission from Ning Fan to return to the Profound Jade Palace to rest. On the Sparrow Raising Platform, only Ning Fan and Dong Xu were left. They continued to drink with each other’s company.
From night until dawn, both of them did not get drunk at all.
This made Xu Qiuling inwardly surprised. She already has infinitely overvalued Ning Fan’s capabilities, but she never expected that Ning Fan would be able to drink together with her Half-Step Void Refinement Realm master all night long with their drinking capacity coming out even.
Ning Fan lazily flicked his sleeve to cover his face as he yawned in drowsiness. Xu Qiuling stared at him and gradually became obsessed with him.
Twenty years… Twenty years of waiting all for tonight. It’s worth it…
All ten jugs of the Drunken Past Wine were emptied. Dong Xu lost his desire for drinking and returned to rest after letting out a hearty laughter.
Meanwhile, Ning Fan kept the storage pouch that Dong Xu gave. With a sway of his magic power, the feeling of intoxication and his drunkenness disappeared.
“What treasures did my master give you?” Xu Qiuling’s eyes blinked.
“Some spiritual puppets, pills, immortal jade, treasures of Immortal’s Abode… Mm… Of course there are some insights on the refinement of Immortal’s Abode treasures… Your master said that these are the dowry for you…”
Ning Fan rose up from his seat and comfortably stretched his waist. His bones gave out crisp sounds like crushing beans, shaking off the snow from his shoulders.
Even though his tone was relaxed, what Dong Xu gave him was absolutely exorbitant. They were all the benefits he promised to give Ning Fan in the past.
For the Treasures of Immortal’s Abode, there were one thousand of them and each of these treasures could be sold for more than one million immortal jade.
Then, there were 17 Divine Transformation Realm spiritual puppets with 10 of them being at the Early Divine Transformation Realm, 4 at the Mid Divine Transformation Realm, 2 at the Late Divine Transformation Realm and 1 at the Peak Divine Transformation Realm.
In terms of pills, Ning Fan received 50 bottles of Profound Primordial Pills which were Peak Fourth Revolution pills. Each bottle contained 20 pellets and each pellet could increase a Peak Nascent Soul Realm cultivator’s magic power by 1 unit.
Besides that, there was also the Profound Heart of Mother Earth. It was handed to Ning Fan by Dong Xu on behalf of Xu Rushan.
These things were definitely of great value. Regarding Dong Xu’s kindness, Ning Fan would definitely keep it in his heart.
“I will certainly cure Qiuling, you can all be rest assured.”
Ning Fan seemed to be talking to the snow, but he knew that Xu Rushan and Dong Xu were both waiting for his assurance.
While Ning Fan was performing telepathic communication towards the snow, a pink ‘message transmitting paper butterfly’ flew across the drifting snow and landed on Xu Qiuling’s palm.
She placed her finger on the butterfly and could not help but burst into laughter right afterwards, as if some kind of message had been transmitted into her spirit sense.
“What are you laughing at? Hmm? This telepathy paper butterfly looks rather delicate. You specially made it yourself?”
Ning Fan’s eyes moved. Among the low-ranked cultivators in the Endless Sea, there was one popular kind of message transmitting paper. It could be folded into a paper man, paper crane, paper butterfly, paper tiger or other forms to send out messages.
“Yes, it’s a message from Xiao Lian. She has just told me something funny and I couldn’t help but laugh.”
Xu Qiuling then tied up her long glossy hair together. Her ethereal temperament was like an elegant orchid amidst an empty valley.
She was a talented girl. Despite her slightly ill-looking complexion, it made her temperament stand out even more.
Xu Qiuling put away the paper butterfly and said with a faint smile, “Young Master Zhou, will the old man that you have become planning to have a rest first or will you refine the Mind Nourishing Pill right away?”
“Are you going to rest with me?” Ning Fan teased.
“It’s fine for me. I won’t cower if you dare to.” Xu Qiuling might look like it did not matter to her but her neck had already turned pinky due to shyness.
“You’re indeed the most unique one among the ladies I met…”
Ning Fan shook his head. If he were to say those words to Zhihe, he probably would be punched by Zhihe’s little fist and be scolded as a big pervert.
Xu Qiuling, however, was calmer and composed than most ladies. It was as if nothing could make her lose her composure.
This is a lady who has already downplayed the matter of her life and death and sorrow and joy…
“Well, I think it’s better to go refine the pill… I want to produce the Mind Nourishing Pills as soon as possible to cure your illness.”
“Thank you for Young Master’s affectionate love! But Young Master has to be alert, there is an old man ‘standing in the snow at the gate of Cheng’s house’ outside the pill refinement room…”
“Standing in snow at the gate of Cheng’s house?”
Ning Fan was rather dumbfounded. It was an allusion of the cultivation world referring to the two Confucian cultivators, You Cu and Yang Shi. In order to seek for their Dao, they stood overnight outside the house of a great Confucian with the surname ‘Cheng’ and became snowmen.
When Ning Fan spread his spirit sense over a vicinity of fifty thousand li* (500 m per li), Ning Fan instantly understood what Xu Qiuling was laughing at.
Without saying a word, he directly placed his hand around Xu Qiuling’s slim waist and stepped forward, turning into a column of purple mist to travel away. Xu Qiuling’s body slightly shivered but she did not resist.
This girl was really bold in love.
Even if Ning Fan intends to make out with her in the snow, violating the law of their families’ etiquette, perhaps this woman would not care about it.
“I won’t regret losing myself to you…” Xu Qiuling murmured.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
This was Xu Qiuling’s first time experiencing the flying speed of the Divine Transformation Realm.
The wind whizzed past her ears, making her feel like she was half-conscious. Before she could even exclaim at how fast Ning Fan’s flying speed was, they had already arrived at the high grade pill refinement room of the Profound Jade Palace. All it took was only a few breaths.
Outside the room, a snowstorm was raging. An old man in scholarly robes was covered with snow, making him look just like a snowman. He had indeed stood for a night outside the pill refinement room.
As the man saw Ning Fan come along with a beauty by his side, he immediately shook off the snow on his body and cupped his fists with a smile.
“Hehe. Daoist Zhou, are you coming here to refine pills today?” This old man’s tone was filled with eagerness.
“Precisely. Daoist Yang, do you want to spectate how I refine pills at the side?”
“Of course I do!” Yang Gu’s eyes burned with enthusiasm. After he obtained the mental spell of congealing the Medicine Soul, he was very close to breaking through to the Fifth Revolution in his pill refinement techniques. At his current stage, it would absolutely be great to be able to watch how a genuine Fifth Revolution pill refinement grandmaster concoct pills in order to accumulate some experience.
“Have you brought something for me?” Ning Fan indifferently uttered.
“Hehe. Of course, of course…” Yang Gu took out a storage pouch which was fully packed with immortal jade and passed to Ning Fan.
In the Endless Sea, one has to pay a fee in order to spectate a Fifth Revolution pill master concocting pills.
Each time would cost one million for one person. Although it was not a large amount, it was the custom here.
However, try to imagine this: one Fifth Revolution pill master invites one thousand or even ten thousand people to watch and learn from spectating his pill refinement process. How much would that pill master earn?
Well, enhancing one’s pill refinement techniques was originally a money-consuming process as one would need to use lots of spiritual herbs. As such, a pill master would of course need some allowances.
Customs were unable to be abolished, especially those which allows one to receive payment.
After leaving Yang Gu at the entrance of the pill refinement room to spectate from afar, Ning Fan and Xu Qiuling walked towards the pill cauldron shoulder to shoulder and ignited the flames within.
Xu Qiuling was able to observe and learn from a close distance. Even though she was clueless in pill refinement techniques, it was quite beneficial for her to watch Ning Fan concoct pills. At least, she might have the chance to comprehend something new by observing the process.
There was a half-damaged black puppet standing beside Xu Qiuling. Even though it was half-damaged, its strong aura force made Yang Gu’s heart palpitate with fear.
“T-This is… a H-Half Step Void Refinement Realm spiritual puppet!”
*Hiss*
Yang Gu could not help but feel shocked. A Half-Step Void Refinement Realm expert was a being the likes of the Venerated Seven of the Internal Endless Sea. However, an expert of that level was subdued and refined into a spiritual puppet by Ning Fan…
Yang Gu could not refrain from wondering what level Ning Fan’s cultivation base was currently at!
Since the news of Ning Fan’s return had been spread widely, the rumors about Ning Fan in the outside world said that he was a Divine Transformation Realm cultivator, but it only claimed that he was at the early stage.
Despite that, Yang Gu did not believe it at all!
How could an Early Divine Transformation Realm cultivator own a Half-Step Void Refinement Realm spiritual puppet?!
“Daoist Yang, please don’t mind it. Having this spiritual puppet by my side is a principle of my behavior.”
He did not explain more after saying those words and threw tufts upon tufts of spiritual herbs into the pill cauldron.
Spiritual puppets were summoned as a protector of the pill master to prevent any spectators from sneak-attacking him which might then cause damage to the pills and even other people.
Asking for remuneration and taking precautions against Yang Gu… Ning Fan always laid out the situations very bluntly at the beginning, neither taking advantage of other people nor letting others take advantage of him.
A great surprise rose in Yang Gu’s mind. He realized that he had underestimated Ning Fan’s capabilities and mentality from the beginning.
However, this feeling of surprise disappeared a while later. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed, Yang Gu was completely mesmerized by Ning Fan’s fantastic pill refinement techniques.
“T-This is… This is the pill refinement technique of the Nine Revolutions of the Rivers – ‘Blessings of Purple Strip!”
“This… This is the pill refinement technique from the San Qing Pill Condensation – ‘Heart Executing Fire Division!”
“This is…”
It was Yang Gu’s first time seeing 90% of the pill refinement techniques that Ning Fan used. Prior to this, he had only read about them in ancient books.
He was on cloud nine.
It’s worth it! It’s indeed worth it! With only one million immortal jade, I am able to see such profound techniques. It’s indeed a worthwhile trip!
Day after day, Ning Fan stayed in front of the pill cauldron without moving. It took him one entire month to concoct the Mind Nourishing Pill.
Ning Fan was careful and meticulous throughout the process. Since this is the nourishing pill for Xu Qiuling to heal her state of mind, he definitely could not be sloppy.
He was like a multicolored butterfly which was affectionate yet forthright.
Within this month, the techniques he performed were constantly alternating between two completely different factions of the Dao of Alchemy.
The Nine Revolutions of the Rivers required the combination of his demon power. After a series of alternating between his different types of power to improve the quality of the pill, a complete, high-grade pill was formed.
As for the San Qing Pill Condensation, it required him to split his spirit sense into three portions and roast the mixture of spiritual herbs from three different parts. The portion with the strongest demon power was known as the core of the pill whereas the other two portions were known as pill embryos…
Despite being two totally different pill refinement techniques, both of them were combined into one when Ning Fan used them.
His thoughts and his Dao were to combine things from two opposing extremes just like fusing Yin and Yang!
Green qi rose from all over his body and the medicinal mist grew denser, filling up the atmosphere. Ning Fan’s temperament was sublimating and transforming!
Yang Gu was stunned once again… He could literally see that during the process of refining pills this time, Ning Fan had reached the bottleneck of the middle stage of Fifth Revolution because of using two types of pill refinement techniques at the same time.
“Daoist Zhou is on the verge of breaking through to the Mid Fifth Revolution Pill Refinement Realm! I, Yang Gu, can’t believe that I actually have the fortune to witness the breakthrough of a Mid Fifth Revolution pill master!”
To Yang Gu, this meant a lot. As long as he remembers the details of Ning Fan’s breakthrough in his heart, Yang Gu certainly had the chance to attain the middle stage of Fifth Revolution after he becomes a Fifth Revolution pill master in the future!
This is certainly worth more than one million immortal jade!
It’s still worth it even if I have to pay ten million or even one hundred million immortal jade!
“No, I must give you this amount of money! I want to acknowledge Daoist Zhou as my master!”
A hint of persistence flashed in Yang Gu’s eyes. Ning Fan’s pill refinement techniques were too broad and profound. Even though his cultivation base was not the highest in the Rain World, every act and every move he made had virtually reflected Emperor Ancient Chaos’ behavior and temperament in pill refinement techniques, dashing and extraordinary.
Accepting an apprentice was a good thing, especially an apprentice like Yang Gu who was willing to lose money instead of being paid.
Ning Fan just needed to casually imprint some insights for him and the latter would be satisfied and pledge his loyalty to Ning Fan. There was no need for Ning Fan to give him any benefits at all. Besides, when Ning Fan is not around, Yang Gu could help him provide a large amount of pills for his forces.
Just like Ning Fan’s first apprentice, Xue Qing. He should have probably broken through to the Fourth Revolution of the pill refinement realm by now and is providing a large quantity of pills for Ning City.
Ning Fan of course did not know Yang Gu’s intention of acknowledging him as his master. However, even if he knows, he would probably decide whether to accept this relation of apprenticeship based on his mood.
At this moment, he was placing his focus on the sublimation happening within his state of mind. Then, a sound like a cocoon breaking was heard and the green qi all over his body suddenly flickered with light rays. The intensity of the color of green grew deeper and began to change gradually into color of xuan*(玄).
Xuan (玄) means black.
His pill refinement techniques successfully advanced into the middle stage of Fifth Revolution Realm!
“*Puff*… Finally, my pill refinement realm has improved!” Ning Fan’s eyes were filled with joy.
The advancement in his pill refinement realm this time was of great significance.
This time, it was his first time achieving a breakthrough in his pill refinement realm based on his own effort after his pill refinement techniques that were inherited from Emperor Ancient Chaos reached their limit.
This meant that as long as Ning Yan continued to work hard, he could definitely be a grandmaster with his talent!
“Young Master Zhou, you’ve had a long day. Do you need me to prepare some bath water for you?” Xu Qiuling was unable to restrain herself from giving a chuckle.
The current Ning Fan’s face had been stained with grime and ashes after spending one month non-stop in concocting pills, making him look just like a young master fleeing from his subjugated country.
Why was he not being described as a beggar but a young master running away from his perished country?
Well, this was because within Xu Qiuling’s heart, Ning Fan still had an unyielding determination no matter how down-and-out he was. As long as that determination remains within him, even if he flees from country to country and travels for nineteen years, he would still be a young master, but not a beggar!
“Are you willing to bathe with me?” Ning Fan teased again.
“If you dare, then I won’t cower!” Xu Qiuling still remained as decisive as she was.
*Thud*
The sound of a heavy object falling to the ground interrupted the conversation between Ning Fan and Xu Qiuling. It turned out to be the sound of Yang Gu’s knees landing to the ground. He was kneeling before Ning Fan and kowtowed to him.
“Daoist Zhou… No, Revered Ming, please accept me as your apprentice!”
Yang Gu’s eyes flashed with determination. He had a hunch that Ning Fan would become a pill master who would surpass Venerated Pill in the future. Moreover, he even believed that Ning Fan could become the next ‘Pill Emperor’ who is the strongest pill master in the Rain World!
“Uhh…”
Ning Fan looked stunned for a moment, feeling rather speechless about the man in front of him.
Why do maniacs who are obsessed with pill refinement like to acknowledge me as their master?
Keeping Xue Qing can still help me look after the base and refine pills, providing a continuous supply of pills for the Three Divine Armies of Black Devil. But what is the use of keeping Yang Gu as my apprentice?
“Daoist Yang, acknowledging a master is a serious matter. You must consider it carefully before making up your mind…”
“Revered Ming, please give me an opportunity. Even if I have to start from just becoming a titular apprentice, I will also not refuse! I know Revered Ming likes to travel around and dislike your apprentice following you. You can be rest assured that I will take care of myself and won’t cause any trouble for you! There is one hundred million immortal jade here. This is a small token of appreciation from me to thank Revered Ming for keeping me as an apprentice!”
Yang Gu was very nervous. In his whole life, it was his second time kneeling down to someone and his first time acknowledging someone as his master.
The first time he knelt down was a few thousand years ago. At that time, he was kneeling before his parents’ graves. After that incident, he then left his war-torn homeland, leaving the kingdom of mortals and beginning the path of cultivation…
“What are the benefits that I can get from accepting you as my apprentice?” Ning Fan’s words sounded very materialistic but they were the truth.
In the world of cultivation, if it was not for a deep relationship, what’s the point of doing something that brings no benefits at all?
“If Master keeps me as your apprentice, I can recommend Master to join the Pill Island and become a feudal ranking elder of the island. Besides, I can also help Master obtain the chance to enter the Soul Washing Pond. If Master can enter the pond, Master’s medicine soul will certainly be improved to a great extent, greatly enhancing Master’s pill refinement techniques. Furthermore, it is very likely that Master’s pill refinement realm can break through to the high stage of the Fifth Revolution!”
Yang Gu made another bow and his expression looked extremely sincere.
As a disciple, it is a must to show filial piety to the master. In order to acknowledge Ning Fan as his master, giving him gifts was definitely a must.
He was extremely nervous inwardly as this matter concerned his Dao of Alchemy in his entire lifetime.
He had asked himself for a thousand times. If he misses this opportunity with Ning Fan, who else could teach him such magnificent pill refinement techniques…
No one!
Ning Fan remained silent. In the bottom of his heart, however, he felt tempted.
Soul Washing Pond. It was not his first time hearing that name. If he could enter the pond, his medicine soul would improve and his pill refinement techniques would surely have a great leap.
Now, it not only seems like I wouldn’t need to put much time on this man after keeping him as my disciple, but I will also receive great benefits.
Ning Fan narrowed his eyes, as if he had come to a decision.
Translated by Tommy, edited by Roel.
Note:
–