Chapter 1247: Chapter 1247: Shanhai Master

The Yi Country Giant Night Pot, which Ning Fan didn’t think highly of, was eventually sold for a high price of thirty thousand gold.

Since the trade was conducted using the Immortal Emperor Trading Array, the Tongtian Sect delivered Heavenly Dao Gold, with each ingot weighing ten taels.

Looking at the pile of gold ingots forming a small mountain before him, Ning Fan was momentarily speechless.

He had to admit, his current possessions only amounted to a little over twenty thousand taels of Heavenly Dao Gold, not even worth as much as a night pot.

Why was there this subtle sense of disparity...

"Does Daoist have anything else for sale?"

"There are some more items, could you please take a look at this headdress?"

"Oh? Although this piece of jewelry is not a magical treasure, it contains quite some mystery. I see! It is a Witchcraft Instrument of Illusory Face, extremely rare! While useless to ordinary people, it is invaluable to the Ugly Woman Clan! The women of this clan suffer a generational curse, becoming uglier with higher cultivation, with no immortal law or Spiritual Medicine able to alter their appearance, only Illusory Face Witchcraft Instruments can. Therefore, the Female Saints of this clan have long desired such artifacts, valued at eighty-five thousand gold!"

The sense of disparity continued to grow.

"Daoist, what about the price of this Peeling Knife?"

"Oh? Isn’t this the last piece of the Sixteen Tools of the Ancestor Butcher! The Great Saint Who Dissects Bulls has long sought this piece, missing it among the other fifteen tools, searching in vain... but to find it here! It’s said that there’s a secret story behind this item..."

"Enough with the stories! Just give me the price!"

"Uh, okay, this item is valued at eighteen thousand gold..."

...

"What is this inkstone worth?"

"Oh! The inkstone itself isn’t anything special, but its material is made of Talent Stone! Talent Stones are extremely rare in the Real Realms, something even the True Realm Confucian Saint struggles to find... this is worth fifty-four thousand gold!"

...

"And how about this broom..."

"This turns out to be the Candy Tools of the Fifth Patriarch of the Buddhist Sect, valued at twenty-two thousand gold!"

...

"And this land contract..."

"Oh? Isn’t this the Fief Land Contract issued by the Shanhai Arbiter! Ziwei Xian Huang possesses three thousand one hundred and twenty-two fief fields under the Shanhai Arbiter, yet due to a lost contract, no one can inherit them... this contract is worth three hundred and eleven thousand two hundred gold!"

...

"By the way, I have some Prime Peach Blossoms here too..."

"Oh? Could you possibly mean the Reverse Saint Tribute Tea of Prime Peach Blossoms! To be honest, with the Shanhai Arbiter regulating its circulation on the surface, we have always dared only to purchase it secretly, pressing down the price in effect, offering three hundred and fifty gold for each tael at most. I wonder if you can accept this price?"

"I can."

"That’s good, how many Prime Peach Blossoms does Daoist have?"

"About two to three hundred pounds..."

"Cough, cough, cough! Surely Daoist is joking! How rare is Reverse Saint Tribute Tea, how can you have two to three hundred pounds of it! Gasp! It’s true, a total of three hundred and thirteen pounds, twelve taels, and nine qian..."

...

The Real Realms have countless Immortal Kingdoms, and the variety of currencies is quite rich.

Apart from immortal jade and Dao Crystal, there are some special currencies in circulation: Spirit Stones, Jade Shells, oracle bone, Scale Coins, Bone Money... they vary greatly.

Heavenly Dao Gold is also a type of currency, but due to its large denomination, it often does not circulate among lower-level Masters.

For a True Realm Immortal King to have three or five taels of Heavenly Dao Gold is a very common occurrence.

If this Immortal King has thirty or fifty taels of Heavenly Dao Gold, he must be a disciple of a big sect, or perhaps has some extraordinary luck.

Owners of three hundred to five hundred gold are rare. Even if the person has a strong background, their clan elders would not allow them to carry such a substantial amount everywhere.

Therefore, it’s even less likely you’d see a True Realm Immortal King holding thousands of taels of Heavenly Dao Gold.

Thirty or fifty thousand gold? Dreaming!

Three hundred and fifty thousand gold? That’s already the entire worth of a few Merit Saints. How can an Immortal King possess that!

So then...

How much wealth does Ning Fan, the Immortal King of the Decline, possess?

"This pile of stuff sold for two hundred and twenty-seven thousand gold..."

Ning Fan looked at the small hill of gold ingots before him with an inexplicable expression.

Who would have thought that the seemingly useless relics of Ziwei could sell for such a high price.

Even more unexpectedly, the money earned for the Peach Demon Clan was refused by them, insisting on gifting it to him.

When Tao Wannian learned that Ning Fan had sold a heap of ’junk’ for a high price of 227,000 gold, he was completely stunned!

He actually had no concept of how much Heavenly Dao Gold that was. He didn’t know specifically what 227,000 gold could buy, only knowing that it would be enough to clear the Peach Demon Clan’s crimes twenty-two times and more!

"Thank you, Lord, for earning the redemption money for our clan! Logically, you’ve done more than enough for us, but I shamelessly ask to trouble you once more! Forgive my rudeness, my Lord! I wish to ask the Eminent Enforcer to take this money back to the Shanhai Arbiter and help clear our clan’s guilt, could this be possible..." Tao Wannian spoke, looking anxiously at Ning Fan, afraid of rejection.

He was very worried, concerned that Ning Fan would be unwilling to help the Peach Demon Clan clear their guilt.

In fact, using gold to redeem sins, though a special case in the Shanhai Arbiter, isn’t always applicable, instead depending on the Chief Arbiter’s judgment.

In the Shanhai Arbiter, five Enforcers are generally appointed, with one being the Chief and four as deputies.

In Tao Wannian’s view, Ning Fan indeed was the eminent enforcer of the Shanhai Arbiter, but he felt Ning Fan was likely just a deputy, not the real master. Historically, the real enforcer was always a woman, without exception.

Thus, there was talk of seeking redemption.

If the Peach Demon Clan had prepared the redemption money but the real enforcer outright denied their eligibility, then the plea for redemption would come to naught!

Bribing Ning Fan and asking him to help bribe the real enforcer was key!

"I’ve said countless times, I am not part of the Shanhai Arbiter, nor can I bring your redemption money to this place..." Ning Fan replied helplessly.

Upon hearing this, Tao Wannian was close to tears, "Please, in gratitude for our clan’s diligent service, help us! The total amount is 2.27 million gold; 100,000 gold is enough for redemption, and the rest may be considered our clan’s token of respect. Master Ning, with such an amount, surely it’s enough to smooth things out? The real enforcer shouldn’t be too difficult, unless...unless they have an immense appetite, and this is far from enough! Please, give us a straight answer: is this money enough for them to show leniency?"

"..." Ning Fan found conversations with Tao Wannian exhausting and directly ignored his questions, lost in thought elsewhere.

"Indeed, it’s still insufficient. No wonder you feel troubled, continuing to evade. The root of the problem lies here, yet this is all our clan can gather... No matter, whether successful or not, it shall rest on fate. Take these funds, Master Ning, so even if our clan fails in redemption and faces judgment by the Shanhai Arbiter, we cannot blame you..."

Thus, Ning Fan was strangely handed the 2.27 million pieces of Heavenly Dao Gold by the Peach Demon Clan.

He attempted to refuse, but Tao Wannian preferred to end his life rather than let Ning Fan reject their redemption sincerity.

After a few back and forths, Ning Fan was weary of arguing and simply accepted the money.

[Little Brat Ning, remember, not taking a benefit when offered makes one a fool...]

The old monster’s earnest teachings echoed in Ning Fan’s ears. Eventually, all his memories manifested as a fleeting smile.

"My master likely never had someone rushing to give him money..."

"I took the Peach Demon Clan’s money, yet regardless, it’s impossible to plead their case, as I’m not one of the Shanhai Arbiter... Yet still, this gift cannot be taken for nothing. Since entering the Longevity Star Palace, I’ve been treated exceptionally by this clan and used their paradise to cultivate, which merits some repayment..."

Ning Fan was finally preparing to leave Longevity Star Palace.

But before departing, he planned two tasks.

The first was to grant the Peach Demon Clan a benefit.

Thus, Ning Fan found Tao Wannian and said, "From my observation, the Yuan Tao Ancient Tree of Peach Blossom Spring, due to its long years, has exhausted its wood Qi, hence nearing its death. Because of my presence, these trees absorbed some inadvertently leaked wood Qi, and seemed momentarily revived, though it’s merely an illusion of returning life. Once I leave, without the nourishment of my wood Qi, these Yuan Tao Ancient Trees cannot escape their fate of withering. Are you aware of this?"

"Indeed, Chief Enforcer sees clearly, little one is impressed! Alas, people have their life, trees have their death. These Yuan Tao Ancient Trees have lived too long, exhausted their wood Qi, and are destined to die. Yuan Tao blossoms brew into tea and bear fruit, which turn into demons upon touching the ground. We Yuan Tao demons were born from Yuan Tao fruit; thus, in a sense, these trees are the origin of our clan. Once the tree dies, our clan’s legacy will end, leading to decline and extinction..." Tao Wannian said in deep sorrow.

The Peach Demons feared two things in life!

One was accumulating unpaid annual tribute peaches, which might incur the Shanhai Arbiter’s wrath.

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The other was that if the Yuan Tao Ancient Tree died, the Peach Demons of Longevity Star Palace would slowly weaken, eventually perishing.

"Rest assured, with me here, the tree will not die..."

Ning Fan took action!

He rarely showed such a serious expression, and unleashed the full potential of his Godhood of Wood power!

On that day, wood Qi surged like dragons, obscuring the sky and overwhelming Longevity Star Palace!

That day, all peach trees within Longevity Star Palace, under the influence of this divine power, grew frantically! Trees once a few yards grew to ten yards; ten-yard trees grew to a hundred yards; hundred-yard trees grew to a thousand yards! Originally dead Yuan Tao Ancient Trees, one by one, were filled by Ning Fan with wood Qi!

Tao Wannian was utterly shocked!

He had lived a lifetime without hearing of such profound wood cultivation!

This exceeded the boundaries of the Taoist lineage, and surpassed his understanding!

Even as Ning Fan walked out of Peach Blossom Spring, the Peach Demons were left standing there, unable to recover their senses for a long time.

As for Peach Demon Clan Leader Tao Wannian, he seemed dazed, gazing at the path Ning Fan took away, muttering to himself, "Not the eminent enforcer, cannot be just the enforcer... Besides the Shanhai Register owner, who could accomplish this, granting life to tribute trees for the Shanhai Arbiter..."

"He is not the enforcer!"

"He is... Shanhai Master!"

"He acted, resolving the ancient tree’s predicament. Does this mean he has forgiven our clan, and we’ve been... absolved..."

Of course, Ning Fan was no Shanhai Master.

The Shanhai Master was another, and when Ning Fan forcefully revived the Yuan Tao Ancient Tree, the far-off owner of the Shanhai Register in the Real Realms Shanhai Arbiter sensed it, slowly opening his eyes from a long slumber, slightly puzzled.

Almost the moment Shanhai Master opened his eyes, the snow within the Shanhai Arbiter began melting, winter ending and transitioning into early spring.

The four seasons shifted in a thought!

"Strange... Peach Blossom Spring has been lost for ages, since it was deemed useless, as all tribute trees were drained of life. Yet now, these dying trees are suddenly brimming with life..."

"Shanhai Register cannot be wrong, leaving only one explanation, someone intervened, and their wood cultivation is enough to disregard the Register’s order, at least of immortal status..."

"One with immortal status is bound to be an immortal spirit, but among those I know, none is like this... Who is this person, what is their intention, are they targeting me, or is it a warning to me..."

"Through countless reincarnations, have I offended such a being..."

"My old wounds are unhealed, facing this person now, do I stand a chance..."

Shanhai Master showed a hint of concern.

But only a hint.

Not a conventional Reverse Saint, even if truly facing a formidable enemy, it would merely cost some cycles of reincarnation.

Yet his subordinates obviously thought differently!

When Shanhai Arbiter officers saw concern on Shanhai Master’s face, everyone was terrified!

Since ancient times, Shanhai Master has shown concern thirteen times, each worry heralded a great threat from Reverse Saints!

This time, it was the fourteenth concern!

Could it be that a formidable enemy is coming!

In an instant, the entire Shanhai Division fell into unprecedented chaos, with rumors spreading continuously. Before long, all the major powers of the Real Realms heard that Shanhai Division was in big trouble again...

...

Ning Fan didn’t realize that his unintentional actions would worry the mighty Shanhai Master, causing turmoil within the entire Shanhai Division.

After leaving the Peach Blossom Spring, Ning Fan returned to the main hall of the Longevity Star Palace and did the second thing.

He took away the trading formation left behind by Ziwei Immortal Emperor.

Attempting to inscribe the fourth step’s formation into the array map was clearly no easy task, even though this array map had been abandoned for countless years and was already dilapidated.

Initially, Ning Fan exhausted every method but still could not take away the formation.

Later, Ning Fan took a different approach and tried to persuade the formation to join him willingly.

Thus, the following conversation occurred.

Ning Fan: [I am Ning Fan. I used you for trading before but didn’t have a chance to talk much. I hope you forgive my rudeness...]

Ziwei Trading Array: [I’m not a brother array; I’m a sister array residing in the lunar side, not the solar. Didn’t you repair me? You should know that.]

Ning Fan: [Sorry, I was momentarily careless and called the miss the wrong gender...]

Ziwei Trading Array: [Oh, so that’s why. I see you didn’t know I was a lady. No wonder when you repaired my array map, you were touching everywhere. I thought you were a lewd disciple taking advantage of me...]

Ning Fan: [...]

Ziwei Trading Array: [Are you here to take me away?]

Ning Fan, a bit surprised: [How did you know, miss?]

Ziwei Trading Array blushed: [After what you did, how else could I respond except to follow you? You must take responsibility... Since you asked willingly, that makes me even happier...]

At this moment, the Ant Lord was shocked!

When did Ning Fan do such things to a formation! She hadn’t noticed a thing!

"Could it be that Little God Ning did it while I was unconscious, so I didn’t detect it!"

"Beast! Truly the number one beast under heaven! Laying hands on an umbrella, on a stone, and now even a formation is not spared..."

The Ant Lord didn’t delve into Ning Fan’s memories to confirm if Ning Fan had actually bullied the array lady.

She feared seeing filthy things, sullying her eyes!

And because she didn’t confirm it, Ning Fan unknowingly took the blame. This time, he truly hadn’t done anything to the Ziwei Trading Array, only this time, he was genuinely innocent...

Through their connection, how could Ning Fan not know the Ant Lord’s thoughts? He felt a bit helpless but was too lazy to explain.

All in all, after conversing with the Ziwei Trading Array, Ning Fan easily took away the array map and left.

...

When Ning Fan left the Longevity Star Palace, a trace of Demon Soul followed behind him, leaving together.

It was precisely the Fengnu Clan Leader, Ji Fuyao.

Noticing Ji Fuyao following him, Ning Fan stopped and asked, "What is it?"

"Junior has a request for Senior..." Ji Fuyao hesitated to speak.

Previously, when she was pursued by the demon race, Ning Fan saved her. Afterward, Ning Fan generously healed her Demon Soul, demonstrating utmost kindness.

In theory, she already owed Ning Fan too many favors and shouldn’t shamelessly make more requests.

But this matter pertained to avenging her parents, and after much hesitation, she ultimately decided to ask Ning Fan once more.

"What do you need from me?" Uncharacteristically, Ning Fan didn’t immediately refuse Ji Fuyao’s request, but instead, asked gently.

Ning Fan wasn’t a soft-hearted person and wouldn’t easily help strangers, but this woman shared a significant karma with him. Perhaps in the distant past or the far-off future, he truly was her master...

So he decided to listen to her request.

"I wish to ask Senior to help me find three kinds of herbs... In fact, among these three herbs, I originally found one, but while being pursued by the demon race, I lost it to them in an unguarded moment..."

"You want me to help you find herbs? Which herbs do you need?"

Hearing Ning Fan’s question, Ji Fuyao felt a weight lifting from her heart. She knew Ning Fan was willing to help and gratefully said, "I need the Soul Transforming Leaf, Saint Extermination Grass, and the Dao-Sealing Spirit Spring..."

"Do you mean to ask me to purchase these three items using the Ancient Kingdom’s Trading Formation?" Ning Fan smiled with deep intent.

Ji Fuyao hurriedly clarified, "The Ancient Kingdom’s Trading Formation? Junior doesn’t understand what Senior is saying. Since meeting Senior, Junior knows nothing and has seen nothing; Senior can rest assured..."

She clearly knew about the Ancient Kingdom’s Trading Formation and was aware that Ning Fan knew the trading method. She even knew Ning Fan had taken away the Ziwei Immortal Emperor’s Trading Formation and obtained a large amount of Heavenly Dao Gold from the Peach Demon Clan.

But this knowledge had to stay buried within her. She understood this.

"If Senior is still uneasy, you may place a restriction on me..." Ji Fuyao added.

"No need... I’m usually cautious with others, but you’re an exception," Ning Fan said indifferently.

Ji Fuyao blushed deeply. Ning Fan’s words were full of innuendo...

Was she an exception?

But why, what made her an exception...

Could it be that Senior was attracted to her beauty, and if so...

"If Senior helps Junior obtain these three herbs, Junior is willing to..." Ji Fuyao intended to say ’repay with her own life,’ but then recalled that she had promised the myriad clans of Boundary River: anyone who helped refine the demon who injured her would receive her eternal gratitude...

What should I do...

The Mind Reading Technique silently operated, allowing Ning Fan to see Ji Fuyao’s inner thoughts.

Hence, Ning Fan was speechless.

This woman appears to be his disciple; how could he possibly make a move against his disciple? She’s overthinking it! As for the Northern Sea True Lord... Unexpectedly, although this old man wasn’t dead, he fell into the hands of the Foreign Clans of Boundary River and is about to be made into expensive pills... Heh, how interesting. Given the circumstances, he has an even greater reason to help Ji Fuyao; making the Northern Sea True Lord into an expensive pill might indeed be a good idea...

"Offering oneself is unnecessary; payment in gold afterwards will suffice," Ning Fan said indifferently.

"Se-Senior misunderstood; junior didn’t mean that..." Ji Fuyao’s face turned even redder. For some reason, facing Ning Fan, this normally aloof woman couldn’t maintain her demeanor; this feeling was very much like facing her father and mother.

Ning Fan shook his head, not continuing that topic, and added, "You mentioned three mystical ingredients. If I activate the Ancient Kingdom Trade Array, they could be easily purchased."

"No need for such expense! Senior might not know, but the three mystical ingredients I seek are already within the North Pole Palace."

"Things that are available here indeed don’t warrant using the Trade Array..." Ning Fan nodded.

"Senior should know, there are twelve palaces in the North Pole Palace. The Saint Extermination Grass I seek is located in the Eleventh Palace, the Great Fire Palace. That Great Fire Palace is a land of Ten Realms’ Extreme Fire, where the Saint Extermination Grass grows..."

"Great Fire Palace? Ten Realms’ Extreme Fire?" Upon hearing this, Ning Fan’s expression changed slightly. He thought for a moment and took out an intensely red soil block from the Xuan Yin Treasure.

"This is..." Ji Fuyao was startled, not knowing why Ning Fan suddenly brought out this item.

She scrutinized the soil block closely, and at that glance, the little Demon Soul’s face was utterly shocked.

Where was this mere soil block!

What Ning Fan held was clearly an entire blazing continent of fire!

This was no ordinary continent!

This was a piece of land from the Ten Realms’ Extreme Fire, collected by Ning Fan while passing through the Great Fire Palace!

This was the paradise of green hills and fresh water left by the Purple Rose Celestial Emperor in the Great Fire Palace. By Ning Fan’s cultivation, he originally had no means to collect such an item.

Though it had been ownerless for many years!

But, who told Ning Fan he could chat!

He went to chat with the Ten Realms’ Extreme Fire Continent, and after a lot of talking, this continent took the initiative to come to him.

Thus, Ning Fan placed this piece of continent into the Xuan Yin Treasure, and instantly, the fire Spirit Vein of the Xuan Yin Treasure became exceptionally strong. In the Cauldron Furnace, anyone with fire cultivation saw their practice speed increase by dozens of times!

After all, this was a fire vein that could only be found in one place out of several Great Thousand Worlds! With such divine effects, it’s not surprising at all!

As the master of this Profound Yin World, Ning Fan naturally also received the boost from Ten Realms’ Extreme Fire, his fire cultivation speed increased dozens of times, and his fire Spirit Equipment power surged...

"Senior, could you be a Saint! Otherwise, how would you have the means to collect the land of Ten Realms’ Extreme Fire! Don’t you know, these years many outsiders entered the North Pole Palace, yet none could achieve this!" Ji Fuyao was stunned.

"I am not a Saint, and that’s not the point; the point is the ingredients you seek should still be growing here, I haven’t touched anything, you should go find them, they should still be..."

So with Ning Fan’s help, Ji Fuyao transformed into a stream of light and flew onto this little soil block.

Before long, she flew out from the soil block, and her flower basket contained a Saint Extermination Grass.

"Not picking a few more?"

"This is enough..." Ji Fuyao quickly waved her hand, jokingly, taking even one mystical ingredient from Senior was already indebting, how could she take more.

Moreover, one is indeed enough...

"Where are the other two?" Ning Fan asked again.

"The Soul Transforming Leaf is in the Quail Tail Palace, and as for the Dao-Sealing Spirit Spring, it’s in... Star Era Palace." After hesitating, Ji Fuyao still mentioned the Star Era Palace, as if this palace was extremely dangerous.

"The Quail Tail Palace and Star Era Palace, yes, I understand..."

Ning Fan nodded.

After all, he had to search the North Pole Palace for Duowen Wushuang fragments, and helping Ji Fuyao find the needed mystical ingredients on the way wasn’t much trouble.

"Senior, that Star Era Palace is very dangerous, as is the Quail Tail Palace. In fact, every palace here is very dangerous..." Ji Fuyao felt a bit guilty, having involved Senior in danger; she owed too much and didn’t know how to repay.

How could gold suffice, moreover after Senior’s earlier trades, as wealthy as the first millionaire of Purple Mountain Dou Sea...

"Not to worry, you just need to follow me closely, don’t worry."

Ning Fan casually smiled, leading little follower Ji Fuyao away from the Longevity Star Palace, into the Ninth Palace, Quail Tail Palace.

The Quail Tail Palace is the domain of demon!

Almost the moment Ning Fan stepped into this place, the demons sensed his arrival!

At this moment, Ning Fan tucked away his casual smile, his gaze cold as a demon.

"Audacious thief! You killed the Sea Devil General and his group, and you still dare to step in Quail Tail Palace, you really think we demons are clay puppets!"

In an instant, countless shadows with Demonic Qi surging towards Ning Fan!

Facing the demons’ assault, Ning Fan merely pointed with his finger, and nine Rain Dragons appeared in the sky!

"Leave none, retrieve all expensive pills."

Ning Fan issued a faint order, and the Rain Dragons began merciless slaughter!

Few demons could withstand a blow from the Rain Dragons; often at first sight, they were bitten to death, after all, this was the ultimate skill of the Northern Sea True Lord!

Ning Fan didn’t bother using the Merit Umbrella to kill; he had already tested the existence of the Merit Umbrella in attacks before, hence he didn’t use a butcher’s knife on chickens.

The Merit Umbrella has feelings too; she didn’t want to waste her power on mere ants. As the umbrella’s master, Ning Fan would naturally consider her a bit...

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