Chapter 167: Holding Hands

For the past three months of voyage in Wei Country, Ning Fan didn’t cultivate demonic arts. Instead, he used the Burning Blood to refine Burning Blood Pills.

The pills were Three Revolution Pills which could improve the Colossal Bone Secret Arts’ level. They can also raise the Body Refining Realm.

But a side effect existed in consuming pills. The pills would make the one who take it experience agonizing pain or worse, turn them mad.

The madness could only be appeased by killing someone.

After discovering that one had to join forces with Jin Country’s cultivators to eliminate the demons in order to borrow the Teleportation Formation, temptation as well as caution appeared in Ning Fan’s mind.

Involving himself in the killings was a good chance for him to release his pent-up killing intent after consuming the Burning Blood Pills.

However,  he was cautious about the man who moved towards their direction with haste.

He was at Mid Nascent Soul Realm and his intentions were unknown.

When he called out Suqiu’s name, he immediately turned into a luminescent spot and glittered in the sky. After a few breaths, he leapt across hundreds of li and landed on the Seven Apricot Voyage Ship.

Ning Fan was incapable of teleporting at such speed.

That man had an appearance of a young man in his twenties, but the age of his bones were approximately seven hundred years. He was doubtlessly an old monster.

His tall and robust physique was covered by a silver robe. A glint of madness that was impossible to miss could be seen within his eyes.

His name was Yun Kuang. He was another of Rain Palace’s divine messengers!

His emergence caused an uproar among the Gold Core Realm old monsters at the boundary of the country.

“It’s him! ‘Night Blade’ Yun Kuang!”

“He achieved Nascent Formation in just five hundred years and broke through the Mid-Nascent Soul Realm within two hundred years. He was ranked top fifty among the divine messengers in the southeastern continent!”

Night Blade… It was said that he always carried out duties assigned by the Rain Palace alone at night. At the arrival of dawn, he would return with the targets’ heads, successfully accomplishing the mission. As such, the name of “Night Blade” began to spread.

He was known for his wild and arrogant character. After receiving the inheritance of the Divine Intent Stone, he not only learned the forged divine intent, but also integrating a wisp of his madness with it.

That incident was regarded as something significant by one of the Revered Elders of Rain Palace in the southeastern continent.

It was truly beyond everyone’s expectations to deliver such an expert to assist Great Jin. Great Jin’s demon tide was utterly fearsome.

Upon meeting him, even the haughty Gold Core Realm expert of Jin bowed his head down and greeted him respectfully.

“Revered messenger!”

“Drop the formalities.”

He waved his hand and stood on the ship, facing Yin Suqiu. A leisurely broad smile formed on his face and his madness  receded.

Ning Fan frowned slightly at his appearance.

A person who achieved Nascent Formation in five hundred years and broke through to the Mid Nascent Soul Realm in seven hundred years could only be ranked within the top fifty divine messengers in the southeastern continent.

He was extraordinary but the background of Rain Palace was even more unfathomable.

As his forged divine intent was forged with his madness, his aura of arrogance gave off great pressure as it began to sweep across the surroundings just by standing on the ship.

He deliberately avoided exerting his aura on Suqiu but released it to Ning Fan and Jing Zhuo without any reservations.

Jing Zhuo let out a deep snort and his face reddened. Although he was already at the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm, he couldn’t withstand such intimidating pressure.

On the other hand, Ning Fan firmly remained on his original posture while facing the pressure.

“Hmm?”

Yun Kuang was inwardly shocked. He then studied Ning Fan with his spirit sense but disregarded him after discovering that he was just a Half-Step Gold Core Realm cultivator.

Originally, his intention of releasing his pressure was to gain awe from Jing Zhuo who was at Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm.

However, he didn’t expect that Jing Zhuo wouldn’t be able withstand his aura and it was Ning Fan who looked fine under his intimidating pressure.

“Hehe! This little friend seems to be blessed by lady luck for having some kind of magical treasure that can withstand my pressure. It’s fine. Since you are Suqiu Xianzi’s junior, I won’t rob you.”

He conceitedly presumed that Ning Fan relied on a magical treasure to evade his pressure. With that assumption in mind, he never looked at Ning Fan anymore. Instead, he turned towards Yin Suqiu and began to express his concern for her.

“Suqiu Xianzi, your beauty never cease to amaze me. Even though we hadn’t met for a hundred years, your beauty still manages to enrapture my heart. That year, I offered a million immortal jade for your smile. However, you rejected my offer. Every time I think of it, I sigh in disappointment. Can it be that your heart is made of stone? Anyway, I didn’t think that we would meet again in this country. Perhaps we are fated to see each other again, what if…”

“I am not fated to be with you…” Suqiu knitted her eyebrows and distanced herself from Yun Kuang, shortening her distance with Ning Fan.

She disliked the wild attitude of this person. His blatant display of pressure made her despise him even more.

As for the incident of exchanging her smile with a million immortal jade that happened a hundred years ago…

It had turned into a story on everybody’s lips in the southeast continent. However, Suqiu didn’t enjoy it. Instead, her hatred for him grew even deeper within her.

She admired Ning Fan more than him.

Ning Fan’s heart was very deep like that of a pool of bottomless water.

He didn’t pretend to act in that manner. In fact, his silence was the result of experiencing great suffering.

The most crucial element was that he and Suqiu shared a similarity, which was their persistent attitude. The things he persisted on were even harder and heavier than hers.

When they were still in Wei Country, Suqiu stayed on the voyage ship and asked about Ning Fan from every Wei cultivator that passed by the ship every single day.

The mysterious Nascent Soul Realm cultivator defeated a female Nascent Soul Realm demon. Suqiu knew clearly that it was Ning Fan’s achievement. She understood that Ning Fan didn’t like fame.

Old Ancestor Zhou Ming returned to Yuanjue and beat the seven sects, surpassing all the others in Wei Country. Suqiu was aware that Old Ancestor Zhou Ming was actually Ning Fan.

Although Suqiu disagreed with the killings and robberies he committed, she knew that Ning Fan did not have any other alternatives but to conduct those misdeeds for reasons that he was unwilling to discuss. He persisted on guarding his own Dao. He had to protect his kin. Therefore, no matter how notorious he became, he didn’t mind and always put on a smile.

Old Ancestor Zhou Ming won against two Nascent Soul Realm cultivators from the Rain Palace. That incident had caused commotions among the Gold Core Realm cultivators of Wei Country. When Suqiu heard about it, she was surprised and at the same time, felt pity for him.

He was just a Harmonious Spirit Realm cultivator. Even though he hadn’t form his Gold Core yet, he always acted stubbornly just like how he forced himself to fight against the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.

When Ning Fan returned to the ship, he thought that he would be condemned by Suqiu for all his crimes in Wei Country. Ultimately, Suqiu just quietly played her flute for him and gave him a sweet smile.

“You really are a fool…” Suqiu spoke inwardly.

She finally noticed that he imprinted a deep impression in her heart. However, she wasn’t prepared to tell him about it because she knew that his emotional debt for the others was too heavy. There’s no point in giving him additional trouble to deal with.

Now, Yin Suqiu acted cool and indifferent towards Yun Kuang.

In the past, she would still strike up a conversation with him, considering him as a cultivator of the righteous path even though she hated him.

In the present, she thought that his actions were laughable.

He might be more talented than Ning Fan. His cultivation realm might be much stronger than Ning Fan. But Suqiu had a strong belief that he was still unable to surpass Ning Fan. His Dao wasn’t any better than Ning Fan’s and his heart wasn’t as good as him as well. His action of exchanging her smile with a million immortal jade could never be compared to the bracelet that Ning Fan gave her and the warmth of Ning Fan’s jokes.

He was nothing compared to Ning Fan even if he was a well-known Mid Nascent Soul Realm divine messenger from Rain Palace.

It was then that Yin Suqiu did an action which shocked Ning Fan and at the same time, provoked him.

She gently held Ning Fan’s hand and looked at him, giving him her beautiful smile.

That smile was so rare as if it used up all her happiness throughout the six hundred years of cultivating her Dao to put it up on her face.

Those indifferent Gold Core Realm old monsters who were spying on them using their spirit sense were captivated by that smile.

A single smile could mesmerize all the people in a city. Another smile could even draw in a whole country.

“Yun Kuang, we aren’t destined to be together. I am only destined to be with him.”

I am indeed destined to be with him but fate doesn’t allow us to be together.

We can only hold each other’s hands but we couldn’t grow old together.

That last sentence didn’t come out from her mouth. Instead, she kept those words deep within her heart.

Maybe there wouldn’t be another chance to meet each other in the future after they part at the Endless Sea.

If she missed the opportunity to hold his hand this time, she might regret it later.

“Er. Fellow Daoist Yin, you’re obviously creating more troubles for me…” Ning Fan told her using telepathy. He actually thought that Yin Suqiu only did that to keep Yun Kuang from further annoying her.

“You can just call me Suqiu…”

“What?”

“It’s nothing. You’re right. I’m a troublesome woman. However, I’m not going change myself. Or should I say, I won’t change.”

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“It’s fine. I am the one who owed you something first. Let me give you a hand on handling this annoying person… Luckily he is one of Rain Palace’s messengers. With the existence of the World Law, he has no right to hurt me because of his personal matters. However, he might make things difficult for me during our journey in Great Jin.”

Ning Fan smiled bitterly and gently shook his head. He wasn’t afraid of Yun Kuang but he had to be mindful of him.

From the bottom of his heart, he was unwilling to see Yun Kuang harass Yin Suqiu too.

Respectfully, he turned to the angry Yun Kuang with cupped fist and said, “Fellow Daoist Yun, Suqiu is my companion. It’s true that she wasn’t ordained to be your soul mate. Since you are the divine messenger from Rain Palace, you aren’t going to continue pestering her, are you?”

“Companion?!”

Yun Kuang’s eyes glared at the couple who were holding hands together and gritted his teeth in a furious manner.

His gaze then stopped on Ning Fan with ferocious hostility. But he replaced his expression with a calm look immediately, concealing his hostility towards Ning Fan. Although he had a wild attitude, his wildness was only because of the divine ability of his divine intent. His state of mind was still at the Nascent Soul Realm, never easily unsettled.

“What’s your name!”

“Zhou Ming!” Ning Fan answered unwaveringly.

The name of “Zhou Ming” was like a blast of thunder ringing at the Gold Cold Realm cultivators’ ears.

Those cultivators were the passers-by of Wei Country. All of them would have, at least, heard of the rumour about Old Ancestor Zhou Ming.

All of a sudden, everyone’s gazes focused on Ning Fan. They didn’t expect that the inconspicuous Harmonious Spirit Realm young man was in fact, a formidable Nascent Soul Realm expert!

It’s no wonder that he dared to hold the woman who Yun Kuang fancied right before him!

Unfortunately, Yun Kuang was an unsociable man. He hadn’t heard of Zhou Ming before.But he etched the name into his memories without displaying the slightest trace of his true intentions.

“Oh, it’s Zhou Ming. I am so lucky to meet you.” He directly called out his name without addressing him as a fellow Daoist. It was utterly an act of disrespect. Ning Fan frowned slightly upon hearing what he said.

I seemed to have offended him.

However, what does it matter if I have offended him? Ning Fan might be apprehensive of the Rain Palace’s true strength but it enforced the World Law that everyone had to obey.

The World Law was the main reason why that Old Scholar and woman tried to attack Ning Fan.

Also, it would restrict Yun Kuang from attacking me.

Yun Kuang might create more troubles for Ning Fan. As long as those troubles wouldn’t cost Ning Fan’s life, he would somewhat tolerate Yun Kuang.

All he wanted was to borrow the teleportation formation in Great Jin. He wouldn’t be involved in another mess as Yin Suqiu had brought enough problems for him in the previous journey.

Upon seeing Ning Fan’s lack of reaction towards him, Yun Kuang let out a wry laugh and an indescribable arc formed on his face.

“Oh right. You all came during this time for the teleportation formation, didn’t you?”

“Precisely. I am wondering if you could give us any advice about it.”

“I don’t have any of it. But if you all really want to use the teleportation formation, you are required to joined Great Jin’s army to fight against the Gold Core and Nascent Soul Realm demons. Apparently, you aren’t competent enough to join the army since you are a mere Harmonious Spirit Realm cultivator. According to the decree of the Ruler of Jin, the participants must at least reach the Gold Core Realm.”

“We shall see whether I am qualified or not. Moreover, this is my business with Great Jin. You can save your effort regarding this matter.”

“Hmmph! Then, I, Yun Kuang will be waiting to see whether you are strong enough to join them!”

When he was trying to continue his speech, a sword light flew towards them out of nowhere. Its speed was even faster than a Late Nascent Soul Realm cultivator!

The sword light then dispersed into a message transmission, blasting before Yun Kuang. A hoarse voice of an old man began to speak around them.

“All divine messengers, please return as fast as possible. This old man has something to say!”

Even though the voice wasn’t loud, it could be clearly heard within the vicinity of a hundred li. Besides, there was a fearsome pressure which could only be exerted after one had comprehended the heavens and earth. It made the old monsters at the scene to quiver in anxiety.

As for Ning Fan, his eyes radiated seriousness even though he wasn’t affected by the intimidating pressure.

Message transmission on a flying sword! It could only be performed by a Spirit Severing Realm cultivator!

“Revered Elder, what brings you here?”

When the Revered Elder summoned all the divine messengers, none of them including Yun Kuang dared to dawdle around.

He knitted his eyebrows and stared at Ning Fan. Then he shifted his gaze to Suqiu. Without any further hesitation, he let out a cold snort and vanished in a ray of light, teleporting towards the edge of the sky.

Ning Fan didn’t stay relaxed at his departure.

He just arrived at Great Jin but he had already offended someone from the Rain Palace.

The demon tide in Jin was really beyond one’s imagination.

Even a Rain Palace’s Spirit Severing Realm Revered Elder had arrived to assist. That demon general surely caused massive destructions in the country.

As such, he had to settle the battle quickly after joining with  Jin’s newly assembled army in order to gain enough battle points and leave the country. For the time being, he not only must be on guard against the demon general from discovering the demonesses which he captured earlier, but also be wary of Yun Kuang.

“That’s really troublesome. Let’s see how we are going to join the army. Come to think of it, Fellow Daoist Yin, when exactly are you going to let go of my hand?” a bitter but gentle smile appeared on his face while shaking his head.

“Thank you…”

Yin Suqiu ignored his question and displayed her beautiful smile to him once more. It was then she loosened her grip on his hand.

All her smiles in her entire life were only given to the young man before him.

“It appears that the Seven Apricot Voyage Ship has to be kept for now. As for the female cultivators on-board, I can help take care of them if Fellow Daoist Yin is willing to entrust them to me.”

“I will trust you for sure… But the question is, how are you going to take care of them?”

“By using this!”

Ning Fan swayed his Cauldron Ring lightly with his left hand.

Later, the voyage ship shrunk into a magical treasure and was kept away.

Bing Ling, Yue Ling, the female cultivators of Song and the rest of the girls were taken into the Cauldron Ring. Yin Suqiu turned speechless as she was so awed at the sight of it.

“Actually, how many women are hidden inside your ring?!” She asked with a crease forming on her eyebrows, feeling anxious inside.

“Do you want to have a look inside?”

“Of course not!”

“Let’s go. We’ll search for Jin’s Gold Core Realm cultivators and join the army. We have to quickly save enough battle points in order to head towards the Endless Sea!”

…

A department of the Rain Palace was built on top of a green mountain.

There, a magnificent waterfall poured down from the thousands zhang tall mountain.

Thousands zhang of waterfall would produce thin, floating clouds which eventually turned into a rainbow. In fact, they were the foundation for the Rain Palace’s department. The seemingly intangible clouds transformed into substantial parts that built the palace which floated in mid-air.

Within the palace, seventeen Nascent Soul Realm messengers, together with Yun Kuang, were urgently summoned.

Above a flight of steps stood a white-haired man in black robe. His presence made all the messengers present not dare to breathe heavily.

He had a young appearance but he was actually a Spirit Severing Realm old monster that had been living for thousands of years. His white hair was the only sign of his old age. His everlasting youthful appearance represented the power of his divine ability!

His voice was hoarse and deep.

Each of the divine messengers, as well as Yun Kuang, were guessing the intention of his arrival in their minds.

“According to Revered Elder Min’s prophecy, a Spirit Severing Realm demon general had slipped into this country. The reason I came here is to bring an end to the demon tide and kill all the demons under the heavens!”

He spoke in an indifferent tone but his words caused a commotion among the messengers!

A Spirit Severing Realm demon general… Sure enough, it was the cause of the demon tide. The demon tide would cease itself after killing it!

“From today onwards, the seventeen of you will join the Great Jin’s army. As for the Jin Cultivators, they will be under my command! Three months later, it will be the most crucial time for the demon general to transform into a dragon at ‘Dragon Vision Pond’. We’ll go all out at their base and fight to death! Any objections?!”

“None, Revered Elder!”

“Good, why aren’t Yun Lie, Yun Ruowei here yet?”

“Replying to Revered Elder Snow, Yun Lie said that he went to explore the ‘Dragon Vision Pond’.” The Old Scholar, Song Yi carefully reported.

“Replying to Revered Elder Snow, Yun Ruowei seems to be disturbed by her Heart’s Devil. She might need a few more days to arrive…”

“Hmmph!”

After listening to the reports, rage filled his expression.

“Yun Lie is at Peak Nascent Soul Realm. He’s the number one divine messenger in the Southeast Mainland. However, it is utterly nonsense for him to sneak into the central camp of the demons although he’s just a hair’s breadth away from Spirit Severing Realm! As for Yun Ruowei, her identity is somewhat unique. Since she belongs to the demon tribe, her heart must be different from the rest. If it wasn’t for the sake of ‘that person’, this female can never stay in Rain Place. En, it’s fine. If she arrives, immediately notify me! I will personally bring the reckless kid back from Dragon Vision Pond!”