Wang Si1 who was a Mid Nascent Soul Realm cultivator was usually known as Uncle Wang or The Fourth Uncle. He was quite well known in Gusu City.
After giving an order to the other boatmen, he steered his boat by himself, carrying Ning Fan and Xu Qiuling and sailed through layers upon layers of dense sea fog towards an island which was located far away. As for the other boatmen, they followed his order and stayed behind.
The boat was sailing at an extremely slow speed and it made Ning Fan recall his past where he was taking a boat in Wu Country.
Xu Qiuling stood beside him, gently raising herself by tiptoeing and took a deep breath of the salty sea breeze. Even though the hair on her temple was blown apart by the wind, her face was filled with happiness.
After hoisting the sail, Uncle Wang took the helm and started singing a fisherman’s song. His simple singing evoked bits of Ning Fan’s memories.
Originally, his state of mind had already reached the Half-Step Void Refinement Realm in front of the ‘Bell of Samsara’. At this moment, however, the limiter of his state of mind became loose and the level of his state of mind was showing signs of improvement.
“Young Master Zhou, remember that you can’t use any magic power when you reach ‘Gusu’. All of us are just ordinary people…” Xu Qiuling reminded him again.
“You’ve said it many times.”
“Promise me not to fight with others in Gusu!”
Xu Qiuling’s eyes seemed to have some kind of charm which made Ning Fan unable to resist her request.
Ning Fan nodded his head. As long as Xu Qiuling’s life was not threatened, he wouldn’t bother to be calculative with others over some trivial matters.
The sky darkened, then dawn broke and the sun rose up, hanging in the middle of the sky signaling the arrival of noon. When dusk fell, a quiet and serene island which was basked in red sunset glow became visible in the distance.
It was not only Wang Si’s boat that had returned from the sea, but also many other boats sailing towards the island from other directions. Some of them returned from fishing while some carried several cultivators on them like Wang Si’s boat. Apparently, they came to Gusu to temper their hearts and become no different than a mortal.
To Nascent Soul Realm old monsters, tempering one’s heart and becoming just like a mortal was to let one restrain themselves and comprehend a mortal’s life before going through Mortal Severance. Whether they could succeed in ‘Being Mortal’ and ‘Mortal Severance’ significantly determined whether they would be able to attain the Divine Transformation Realm in their lifetime. Thus, most of the cultivators who came here were Nascent Soul Realm old monsters.
There were also some Gold Core Realm cultivators like Xu Qiuling.
However, it was very rare to find a Divine Transformation Realm expert here.
On the shore of the island, a group of armored men dressed like officers were running a check on the cultivators landing on the island one by one. With their relation with Wang Si, Ning Fan was permitted to enter the island with barely any inspections. He was only asked to hide his magical treasures and storage pouch.
Other than Ning Fan and Xu Qiuling, the other cultivators who landed on the island were all requested to go through a body search without any exception.
After Wang Si handed a heavy money pouch to Ning Fan and Xu Qiuling, he steered the boat in reverse and left the island.
Xu Qiuling then pulled Ning Fan to rent a horse-drawn carriage and went into Gusu City.
Ridges and furrows surrounded with bamboo fences, flowing river connected with a small bridge and swallow returning in the evening after sunset.
As night fell, a spectacular fireworks display was set off at the top of Ruiyun Tower, lighting up the sky.
“It’s so beautiful… it’s the rainbow-colored fireworks of the Treasure Jade Pavilion…” Xu Qiuling lifted the curtain of the window and looked at the fireworks from within the carriage. She was totally mesmerized by that beautiful scene.
Ning Fan immersed himself even deeply into the recollection of his past. He began to have a misconception that the endless killings and bloodshed in his path of devil cultivation was just a dream. When the dream ends and he wakes up, he will still be living a plain life amidst the green mountains and clear water of Wu Country.
However, he had no other choice most of the time.
Ever since that day he embarked on his journey on the path of cultivation, there was no way he could return.
Within his eyes, the evidence of an internal struggle gradually emerged. He was internally conflicted about becoming an immortal or remaining as a mortal.
Scenes after scenes of memories flooded into his mind as if they were questioning his heart. They turned into a deep voice that kept resounding inside his heart.
“The path of cultivation has no limit. Turning back is the only salvation…”
Upon hearing Xu Qiuling reveal the origin of the fireworks display, the coachman was rather surprised.
“Miss, you have a sharp eyesight. Apparently, this is not your first time visiting Gusu. Today is the ‘Qi Xi Festival”. Miss is really blessed with luck that you were able to catch up to this festival with your lover…”
The coachman began to explain about the events happening around the city in detail. He was quite a talkative mortal, but Xu Qiuling didn’t have the intention to talk to him at all.
When Xu Qiuling noticed the confused look on Ning Fan’s face, she felt a little bit concerned and gently held his hand.
When she met Ning Fan for the first time, he also had this kind of expression. Then, he cleared off his confusion in front of the bell orchid and improved his state of mind.
Today, Ning Fan was once again feeling lost. Without a doubt, he was using the ambience of this mortal city to improve his state of mind.
Xu Qiuling could not help but feel pity for him. She just wanted Ning Fan to rest as she knew that he was too tired and he pushed himself too hard.
However, it was only at this moment that Xu Qiuling realized that Ning Fan could not stop at all. He had no time to play.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have behaved so willfully and brought you here. This will only make you feel more troubled…” Xu Qiuling said regrettably and blamed herself.
“It’s fine.”
Ning Fan’s eyes gradually became clearer, denying what Xu Qiuling had said. The internal struggle that was happening inside his mind just now had improved his state of mind quite a lot.
One’s state of mind would need to depend on opportunities and self-comprehension in order to improve. Without bitter and continuous training, it could not be improved.
Ning Fan would of course not let go of such a good opportunity to raise his mental state. Thus, he no longer thought that sightseeing here was a waste of time.
He held Xu Qiuling’s hand even tightly and he also shifted his gaze to the fireworks display in the night sky. Then, he said with a calm tone.
“I should be the one apologizing for disappointing you for your kindness. At the end of the day, I can’t become a mortal anymore… However, I don’t regret choosing to walk the path of cultivation!”
“I am a cultivator!”
Ning Fan’s eyes were flashing with unwavering determination. Besides, there was even the pride of being a cultivator. Now, he was no longer at an age where he would be confused about his direction. His state of mind was now not far away from achieving the Void Refining Realm!
At this moment, his body was seething with a temperament that was incompatible with the ambience of this place. The improvement of his state of mind released a trace of aura force that any cultivator below the Peak Nascent Soul Realm would not be able to notice. As soon as this aura force was spread out, the whole Gusu City shook once, but barely anyone noticed it!
At this moment, the grand formation which locked away the heaven and earth spiritual qi of Gusu City had nearly been shattered by this aura force.
*Hiss*
Inside Gusu City, five old men who were living in seclusion within the city pushed open their doors and went out from their residences. Each of them emanated Peak Nascent Soul Realm aura. They looked at the sky with astonishment and sucked in cold breaths.
The sea domain of Gusu had been set up with a ‘Spirit Separation Formation’ which could isolate the city from all the heaven and earth spiritual qi, letting the city have an atmosphere like any other mortal cities.
This ‘Spirit Separation Formation’ was a Peak Divine Transformation Realm formation. Its design was extremely mysterious, and it could not be broken by the use of magic power.
Even a Divine Transformation Realm old ancestor would definitely be unable to break this formation without using his or her trump card.
However, this ‘Spirit Separation Formation’ of Gusu City seemed to have been nearly destroyed by a trace of aura force emanated by someone!
That trace of aura force revealed a tremendous power from one’s massive comprehension in his Dao Heart. It was obviously triggered by the improvement of one’s state of mind. That level of comprehension had totally surpassed the Divine Transformation Realm and it was almost at the level of Void Refinement Realm!
The five old men were flabbergasted. All of them realized that an extremely incredible individual might have entered Gusu City!
“Who was it! He has almost attained the Void Refinement Realm state of mind!”
However, the doubts within the five people’s minds were bound to have no answer. Besides, they had been living a secluded life, isolating themselves from the rest of the world. Thus, they were not aware of the rise of a ruthless devil lord in the External Endless Sea twenty years ago, let alone the fact that the devil lord would visit Gusu City twenty years later!
There were multitudes of tourists along a long street paved with bluestones and the melody of a pan flute could be heard everywhere.
At the place where the lantern lights were dim, a scholar in green shirt closed his eyes while feeling the atmosphere of this place. There was another young man in white robes staying by his side respectfully.
If there were cultivators from the External Endless Sea here, they will certainly be able to recognize that the white-robed young man is an outstanding figure from the Dao Law Sect which was one of the top ten sects of that area. He was the one with the finest talent among the Seven Sons of the External Endless Sea – Wang Yun!
He attained the Nascent Soul Realm at four hundred years old and broke through to the peak stage of that cultivation base at nine hundred years old. After twenty years, he had even reached the Half-Step Divine Transformation Realm. The current him was just a hair’s breadth away from the Divine Transformation Realm.
However, with his identity, how would he be accompanying the green-shirt scholar in such a respectful manner? Well, that was enough to prove that this scholar’s identity was even more extraordinary.
“Brother Yun, how is this Gusu City? Is it able to help you comprehend mortal life and break through your pill refinement realm to the middle stage of Fifth Revolution?”
Wang Yun’s tone sounded abnormally polite. From his words, one would know that the scholar in green shirt was surprisingly an Early Fifth Revolution pill master!
“Difficult… Although my pill refinement realm is difficult to improve, my state of mind has nearly attained the Mid Divine Transformation Realm. With my current progress, it won’t be long before my cultivation base can attain the Mid Divine Transformation Realm as well!”
The scholar in green shirt spoke with a calm tone, but his voice carried a sense of pride.
Not many knew that his name was Yun Niansu. He was the genius ranked second among the young generation of the Rain Palace. His bone age was just one thousand years old and his cultivation base was already at the Early Divine Transformation Realm with a Low Grade Fifth Revolution pill refinement realm!
The Seven Sons of the External Endless Sea like Wang Yun was not worth mentioning at all in front of Yun Niansu!
“Speaking of which, the Endless Sea is anyhow not Thunder Emperor Bu Zhou’s territory. Among the cultivators of the young generation, other than Zhou Qing from the Zhou Family, there isn’t anyone who is a worthy opponent. What a disappointment!”
Yun Niansu’s words made Wang Yun’s eyes become filled with shame. In terms of talent, he knew that he could not beat Yun Niansu at all. The latter cultivated both the pill refinement techniques and magic power simultaneously and he could still reach such an amazing level. He was undeniably a person that must not be underestimated.
However, after hearing Yun Niansu’s words which disparaged all the cultivators of the Endless Sea, he did not dare to agree with him.
“To be frank, I know one person whose talent is above Zhou Qing from the Zhou Family. According to rumors, he had returned to the external sea. I think even if Brother Yun has just entered the Endless Sea for a short period of time, you should have heard of his name before.”
The shadow of a young man wearing white robes draped with a black cloak emerged in front of Wang Yun’s eyes. That person trampled upon the pride and confidence of all the Seven Sons of the External Endless Sea in a windy and wintry night.
“You mean…. ‘Revered Ming’- Zhou Ming!” Yun Niansu’s eyes widened but he then shook his head and chuckled.
“According to rumors, Zhou Ming was able to eliminate a Divine Transformation Realm expert when he was still a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. Now, he came back with a Divine Transformation Realm cultivation base, making his notoriety even more intense… However, in my eyes, his innate talent is just barely passable. He may be stronger than that Zhou Qing, but he does not deserve my attention…”
Yun Niansu did not take it seriously. However, just as his voice fell, his eyes were suddenly filled with surprise and he looked up into the sky.
He saw the Spirit Separation Grand Formation that blocked away the spiritual qi within this city’s heaven and earth nearly shatter by a trace of aura force unleashed from an expert who had just attained a breakthrough in his state of mind!
Before he recovered from the feeling of shock, a horse-drawn carriage slowly passed by the street. Yun Niansu’s eyes froze and his gaze fell on a young man dressed in white robes and draped with a black-feathered cloak in the carriage.
This aura force that nearly destroyed the Spirit Separation Grand Formation was doubtlessly released by that young man in that carriage!
“Who is that person?! I can’t see through his cultivation base! His state of mind is on the verge of achieving the Void Refinement Realm!”
“He is Zhou Ming!”
Wang Yun’s eyes widened with great surprise. The feeling of shock within him was not any weaker than Yun Niansu’s. In fact, he felt even more astonished than the latter!
Wang Yun had never thought that he would meet Ning Fan in Gusu City where cultivators usually come to restrain their hearts and comprehend a mortal’s life. Moreover, he had never even thought that Ning Fan’s aura could almost break his Heart of Dao even though his carriage just brushed past him!
“He’s countless times stronger than he was back then!” Wang Yun’s face wore a complicated expression. In the past, Ning Fan gave him a feeling that he was undefeatable. The current Ning Fan, however, made him feel that he did not even have the qualifications to stand beside him.
A moment ago, Yun Niansu was still showing an arrogant expression.
At this moment, however, even his breathing became chaotic.
He could not see through this Zhou Ming at all… As an expert whose innate talent was ranked second among the young generations of the Rain Palace, how could he be weaker than Ning Fan?!
Yun Niansu gradually calmed himself down and his eyes began to flash with a hint of battle intent.
“So he is Zhou Ming… I’ve never expected that there is such a person in the Endless Sea!”
…
In the carriage, Ning Fan’s state of mind slowly settled down but his eyes seemed like he had something in mind.
There seemed to be a familiar face on the street that this carriage passed by… It’s probably an illusion.
He did not use his spirit sense. In this mortal kingdom, he also did not want to achieve a breakthrough for his state of mind.
Despite the fact that this was a golden opportunity to improve his state of mind and further stabilize his cultivation base which improved drastically in the past.
“Where are we going?” He asked but his arm was suddenly pulled by Xu Qiuling. After paying the coachman, they got down from the carriage and ran towards the place where the lights were the brightest and the night view was the most magnificent.
Along the way, they had lots of fun and they spent all the silver taels Wang Si gave. Even so, Xu Qiuling still remained in high spirit.
“Look! That is the Ruiyun Tower. All the fireworks are set off in front of that tower…”
Xu Qiuling pointed at a golden tower. There were many stalls under the tower and lots of traders were hawking a variety of fireworks.
After visiting several stalls, Xu Qiuling’s expression started to reveal a hint of disappointment.
“What’s wrong?” Ning Fan asked with concern.
“There were no seven-colored fireworks among those we saw just now…” Xu Qiuling seemed to be extremely fond of the seven-colored fireworks.
Just as her voice fell, a grey-haired old man at the most crowded stall purposely yelled as if he had heard her complaint.
“Come and have a look! Under this Ruiyun Tower, anyone that plays a chess game with me will get a seven-colored firework as a prize for each game he or she wins… That little brother over there, do you want to play a game with me?”
The old man’s gaze landed on Ning Fan. At first glance, his instinct told him that Ning Fan was a terrifying person.
However, the old man was not afraid at all because he was a Late Nascent Soul Realm expert and he was proficient in the Dao of Chess and Formations.
“I will get a seven-colored firework by winning a single game?” Ning Fan smirked and walked towards the crowd with Xu Qiuling’s hand in his. He did not use any magic power, but he had an aura force that made the onlookers unconsciously make way for him.
“Don’t play chess with him! He’s Uncle Qi who is obsessed with chess. His chess skills are extremely profound and people can rarely beat him…
Xu Qiuling sounded a little worried. After speaking those words, she raised herself by tiptoeing and whispered to Ning Fan, “Uncle Qi is an expert with Middle Grade Divine Transformation Realm formation techniques… Dao of Formations and chess skills are interlinked. Thus, he is indeed very skillful in chess.”
“Really?” Ning Fan sounded as if it did not matter to him. He flicked his sleeve and sat on the verdant stone bench, looking squarely at the old man across the stone board.
“This old man is Qi Shu. My nickname is Chess Madman. This junior is rather unfamiliar. I haven’t seen you before. Playing chess for the sake of a beauty… You sure are a romantic man. However, let me make the rules clear beforehand. If you lose one match, you need to pay me 5 silver taels. If we end with a tie, you don’t have to pay anything. If you win one game, I will give you a bunch of fireworks… I wonder if this junior has enough money?”
Old Man Qi rubbed his hands with a smirk, believing that he could surely beat Ning Fan and treated him only as a fat sheep that was waiting to be butchered.
He was clearly a greedy old man without any proper demeanor of a Nascent Soul Realm expert.
“Do you have enough fireworks?” Ning Fan gave him a smile in return.
*Hua*
The onlookers were all in an uproar. They were mortals and they definitely could not see through how powerful Ning Fan was. They only knew that Old Man Qi had great chess skills and he could be considered as the best chess player in Gusu City. Now, an arrogant young man who appeared from nowhere was actually not afraid of Old Man Qi. To them, he was really a fearless young man, just like the sayings which goes: a newborn calf does not fear tigers.
No one there thought that Ning Fan would be able to win the game.
But an hour later, everyone widened their eyes so big that their eyeballs nearly fell to the ground.
Within just an hour, Ning Fan had twelve consecutive games with Old Man Qi and he won all twelve of them!
After taking away twelve bamboo tubes of fireworks, Ning Fan held Xu Qiuling’s hand and indifferently walked out of the crowd.
Beating a cultivator with mere Mid-Grade Divine Transformation Realm formation techniques was just a trivial matter to Ning Fan.
“Young Master Zhou, I never knew you were so good at chess. You really are good at concealing your potential…”
Xu Qiuling opened her mouth slightly. The Ning Fan she knew was only profound in pill refinement techniques and had a high cultivation base. However, she had never expected that he also had an extraordinary talent in formation techniques. Otherwise, there was no way for him to beat Old Man Qi with ease.
“Where do you want to go next?”
“No, it’s already enough… Let’s go set off these fireworks then…”
Xu Qiuling’s face suddenly flushed.
She bought some red candles and wine.
She set the sail of her brightly-painted boat and lit up some red candles. They placed twelve bundles of fireworks on the riverbank while she sat on the boat with Ning Fan, slowly drifting through the river of the city.
She took a light sip on the wine and played her qin in intoxication. She was trying to relieve Ning Fan from his tiredness that was accumulated from countless killings using the melody of her qin.
“On the 7th of July in the Eternal Life Palace, during the midnight where no one whispers… Young Master Zhou, a good night is bitterly short. With me by your side, you can put down your guard and take a good rest…”
The words which Xu Qiuling said were also uttered by Lu Wan’er in the past.
“Are you going to sleep with me?” Ning Fan said jokingly while drinking a jug of wine
“If you dare… then I won’t cower! Umph!”
This time, Xu Qiuling directly fell into Ning Fan’s arms and pressed her lips against Ning Fan’s.
“I really dare…”
Her eyes seemed to be telling Ning Fan her intentions.
Their ears were filled with the murmuring of the river and the ringing of the bells from the Chilly Mountain Temple from time to time.
Below them was the swaying boat. They sailed across the Su River, out of the island and towards the vast sea. Under the camouflage effect of the Treasure of Immortal’s Abode, no one was able to discover the presence of the boat.
“Umph… umph…”
The kiss was deliberately offered by Xu Qiuling. But when she wanted to withdraw her fragrant lips, it was already too late because she had successfully aroused Ning Fan’s flames of lust.
Even Xu Qiuling admired her own courage as this was her first kiss. Her face was filled with shock and shyness when their lips met. She felt like her entire body had softened, as if it was going to melt in Ning Fan’s embrace.
Her soft bosom could not stop moving up and down as she breathed heavily. A tingling sensation rose within her and spread throughout her body.
She was gradually out of breath and wanted to leave Ning Fan’s lips to gasp for air. However, Ning Fan hugged her even tighter in his arms, greedily savoring the fragrance of her lips.
All mortals have seven emotions and six sensory pleasures. Since he had a chance to live like a mortal now, Ning Fan would definitely not suppress his desire with his Yin Yang Transformation anymore.
“How could you-… Mmm…”
Xu Qiuling’s vision was gradually becoming blurry. Even though she was bold, she had never imagined that her tongue would be gracelessly fondled by a man like this.
She gently placed her bare hands on Ning Fan’s chest, gently pushing him away. However, she was still unable to stop him and she then slowly gave in, allowing Ning Fan to take pleasure in her tongue while giving her a wonderful experience with her first kiss.
From time to time, Xu Qiuling’s little cute nose would let out a soft moan which would make one blush in embarrassment. When she felt that the buttons on her thin robes were crudely unbuttoned, her gasps started to be filled with a hint of nervousness.
“No, Young Master Zhou, you can’t… Ahh…”
Xu Qiuling immediately felt a large palm undoing the buttons and slid beneath her thin shirt, rubbing her across the tube top.
Her ample bosoms were soft and flexible. The wonderful feeling that one would feel by touching them cannot be described with words.
Xu Qiuling closed her moist bright eyes in shyness, surrendering herself completely to Ning Fan.
This Gusu City was the place where she and Ning Fan got married.
This brightly-painted boat was their bridal chamber which was normally decorated with colorful candles and red veils.
Ning Fan looked at Xu Qiuling with his half-drunken eyes. They were filled with love and affection.
All of a sudden, he saw Xu Qiuling transform into an orchid flower, a jet-black orchid flower which he had seen before.
It was too fragrant. Every part of her skin emanated a scent that ordinary virgins could not compare.
Suppress her! Possess her!
His palms glided through every part of her body. His tongue licked through every inch of her body.
When that hot rod penetrated her insides, a holy and pure red fluid drenched her robe, refreshing the night of Gusu.
Tears of pain welled up in her eyes as she placed her arms around Ning Fan, tightly hugging him.
She was willing to give her everything as long as she could keep this butterfly in her current life…
As Ning Fan thrust quicker and quicker inside her, her tender moans became even more mesmerizing.
Translated by Tommy, edited by Roel
Note:
Wang 王 is a typical surname in Chinese. It also refers to the king in the past.
Si 四 means four. That’s why he is also known as The Uncle Fourth.