Chapter 1299: Chapter 1299: White-Haired, Flower-Adorned, Smiling Ning Fan

On Mount Wansheng, the sun and moon share the sky, the starlight of the Zhou Heaven nourishes this mountain, the fate of the Zhou Heaven protects this mountain, and hundreds of billions of incense worlds worship this mountain.

This mountain is located at the source of the River of Time, and the sea of reincarnation water flows from the mountain’s summit’s [Infinite Gate], transforming into a purple mist waterfall cascading straight down the mountain front.

The waterfall plunges down, dividing at the mountain’s base into three Rivers of Time, while numerous tributaries branch off from the main rivers.

But no matter how many branches the rivers form, the waters will ultimately lead to the Reverse and Forget Rivers, the end of time, the abode of the Six Paths of Reincarnation...

On the other side of the waterfall, a purple mountain path leads directly to the summit, yet this path is not for ordinary people to tread.

The paving stones are no ordinary immortal material but are refined directly from the realms of the Great Thousand Worlds into bricks, with the principles of the Zhou Heaven carved into their surfaces.

The stairs on this road are taller than the Saintly Dao Mountain itself; it’s unimaginable what kind of towering giants would be able to ascend these steps.

This path, which common folk cannot ascend, is known as... the Path to Heaven!

Lion Camel flew straight up the mountain; he was far too insignificant to walk the heavenly path, smaller than a single stone on the road... and those Life Immortal and True Immortal disciples he carried, they were even less worthy of flying up the mountain.

Even the Dust Whisk Venerable, who possessed Desolate Saint rank, was unworthy!

In front of Mount Wansheng, even a Saint is as minute as a speck of dust, let alone a Life Immortal or True Immortal, which is not a matter of physical size but of levels of cultivation.

Along the Path to Heaven, countless Saintly Heavenly Pillars stand, and at the end of the path, nine Heaven-Reversed Pillars rise on the summit, indestructible through ancient times.

These nine pillars, also known as the Nine Pillars of the Immortal Emperor, are linked with the starlight and fate of the Zhou Heaven, arranged in the formations of the Three Realms: one from the Dust Realm, three from the Reverse Dust Realm, five from the Mountain and Sea Realm, each pillar containing the Eternal Dao.

Yet there is a purple light gate more magnificent than the Nine Immortal Emperor Pillars, known as the [Infinite Gate], from which endless sea waters flow toward all directions, dispersing an unimaginable Power of Reincarnation from its threshold.

This gate connects to the Sea of Reincarnation on the other end, and its purpose is to balance karma of reincarnation, adjusting the karmic difference between sea and rivers.

If the River of Time accumulates too much karma, causing water levels to rise, the gate reduces its outflow, and vice versa.

If anyone faces an immeasurable catastrophe of sanctification, the gate would flood karma as if breaking a dam, spawning numerous fishes of reincarnation in the water, and once they leap from the surface, they become Dao Fruits of Reincarnation for outside masters to vie for.

Without Reverse Saint rank, no one can touch the Infinite Gate.

For someone like Lion Camel, who is not even a Saint-level ascender, it is impossible to withstand the immense power of reincarnation to reach the door, only able to admire it from afar across millennia of reincarnation.

When Lion Camel arrived, numerous immortals and saints were already seated, with a few drinking and conversing, most remaining silent.

Each person had fate enhancing them, an aura so brilliant it was unbearable to look upon, bestowed to mitigate the overwhelming pressure of reincarnation from the Infinite Gate.

Lion Camel similarly activated his fate, finding a seat by the Infinite Gate at the location of distance measured in millennia of reincarnation—the seat furthest from the Infinite Gate.

Only those of tremendous strength among Immortal Emperors could occupy these ranks, while weaker Immortal Emperors were only fit to obediently stand even farther back.

The Dust Whisk Venerable, a Desolate Saint rank holder, directly joined with three other Desolate Saints. The four Desolate Saints’ seats were only four hundred millennia of reincarnation away from the Infinite Gate—yet this wasn’t the Dust Whisk Venerable’s limit, capable of sitting closer, though no need presents to do so, and the same sentiment applies to his peers.

As Lion Camel arrived, the sparse chatter silenced in moments.

Then, countless powerful spirit senses swept over Lion Camel, shifting his perceptions like steel wool against his skin, leaving him gasping for calm breaths.

The abundance of elites here, along with interference from the Infinite Gate’s reincarnation force, left Lion Camel’s sight capable of discerning only a few of those here, the majority hidden from recognition.

Yet there were many who saw through Lion Camel’s fate-body.

Lion Camel’s fate was merely an eight-colored grade, due to his origins within the Dao Soul Clan Mountain Moving Clan, holding a two-colored clan fate share, appearing as ten-colored light outside.

Such fate-light here viewed by elites, no doubt petty, given the multitude possessing hundred-thousand color fate-bodies in every handful, and the four Desolate Saints here each commanded fate-bodies of over ten-thousand hues.

The grand fate-bodies of the four Desolate Saints struck Lion Camel’s sight like four towering sky-reaching giants of light.

While Lion Camel, seen by the four Desolate Saints, appeared but a luminescent firefly.

Thankfully, most had engaged their fate-bodies simply to shield against the Infinite Gate’s power rather than obscuring presence, allowing Lion Camel, though failing to decipher their fate-bodies, to discern identities to a degree—residual from those few timid individuals masking even their aura, likely maintaining involved karma or influence here, concealing presence justifiably.

The four major Desolate Saints here are:

Extinguishing Lamp Ancient Buddha beneath Chaos Kun, Desolate Saint of the Seven Mountains and Six Seas.

Dust Whisk Venerable beneath Dust Venerable, Desolate Saint of the Six Mountains and Five Seas.

Yuanshi Tianzun beneath Hongjun, Desolate Saint of the Six Mountains and Four Seas.

Ancient Lunar Great Saint beneath the Ancient Desolation, Desolate Saint of the Five Mountains and Five Seas.

All are renowned True Realms’ Great Saints, their aura unmasked, Lion Camel well aware of them, even after hearing the depth of their cultivation.

There are also numerous Nirvana Saints and Initial Saints present, ones Lion Camel could not entirely recognize, though identifying some.

Such as Gongyang Saint beneath the Mountain and Sea Master.

The Two Saints of Wangwu beneath Wa Huang.

Purifying Lotus Great Saint beneath Bloodline Awakening and others.

These saints convene here solely due to change within the Northern Barbarian Vastness. According to known intel, a mysterious figure claiming to be Chiwei commandeered or seized control over Hunkun disciple Zhang Dao, attempting to overturn the long-decided situation of Northern Barbarian Vastness.

Overturning the case initially appears pointless as justice is delayed and the dead cannot return... Yet should this person succeed, some of those original beneficiaries might cede gains and reckon karma.

Victims might not receive compensation.

Beneficiaries might face accountability.

The saints cannot fathom the motives of the troublemaker who dredged up an ironclad case from countless reincarnations ago: perhaps that person truly has some karmic ties with Zi Wei, or perhaps there is another deeper meaning...

Thus, it is imperative to summon the involved parties for questioning.

Among the Four Desolate Saints, Yuanshi Tianzun was the first to speak.

"Lion Camel, what karmic ties do you have with Chiwei? Tell me everything, and do not dare to deceive." The lion camel was brought up the mountain by Yuanshi Tianzun’s people, hence he was the one to ask.

"I dare not deceive the venerable saint! I do not know that Chiwei at all." Lion Camel inwardly lamented, knowing that others would never believe him, but that was the truth, and he dared not lie.

I really do not know this Chiwei! Please believe me, esteemed gentlemen!

"If you do not know that person, why did that person address you as a dear friend?" Yuanshi asked again, his expression concealed beneath the radiance of fortune, and his tone was equally calm, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

"To answer the venerable saint... I do not know! Maybe, maybe it is due to some trivial intersection with this person in the past, but I do not remember those matters! Moreover, even if there was such a thing, my loyalty to the True Realm has always been unwavering, never wavering! I can swear a great reincarnation oath to prove my innocence!" Lion Camel gritted his teeth and decided to take a leap.

"Oh? Do you truly dare to swear an oath for self-exoneration? If so..." This time, it was not Yuanshi Tianzun who spoke, but the Saint of Heavenly Emperor.

This was a Nirvana Saint who held half of the lineage of oath, and upon hearing Lion Camel’s intention to swear a reincarnation oath, he immediately planned to calculate something.

But was abruptly interrupted by Yuanshi Tianzun.

"Not sensible! A great reincarnation oath is meaningless, even if this child is lying, by the time the oath is verified it would be countless ages later."

Being interrupted before his calculation even began, the Saint of Heavenly Emperor showed slight displeasure but said no more.

He could not afford to offend Yuanshi, and there were many of Yuanshi’s confidants present, all awaiting judgment, what could be done?

"Brother Daoist Yuanshi speaks rightly! We have come here solely to resolve the calamity of Dust Decision Infinite, we must act quickly."

"To speak of oaths, they are not absolutely immune from falsification; in terms of trustworthiness, it would be better to directly use the Infinite Gate to ascertain Lion Camel’s karma."

"Right! Let us use the Infinite Gate to resolve this matter, to soul-search and read Lion Camel’s memories!"

"This matter would indeed harm Lion Camel, but before the greater good, what need is there to hesitate? Perhaps recompense him after the fact."

"After the matter is settled, shall we award him fifty merit points?"

"Agreed!"

"Decided!"

"Good!"

Voices echoed from all directions, gathering a vast pressure together, forming an unstoppable force that easily determined Lion Camel’s fate.

Poor Lion Camel, only a Third Order Quasi-Saint, yet had to bear the matter only saints dare take on, unable to resist, helplessly accepting his fate.

He hesitated at the foot of the mountain, fearing to go up, afraid of the saints above intending to use the Infinite Gate to soul-search and read his memories; ultimately, he could not avoid the fate...

With the principle of preferring to believe something exists rather than assuming not, the saints finally wielded the power of the Infinite Gate, forcibly injecting endless power of reincarnation into Lion Camel’s divine sense, forcibly probing his reincarnation memory.

Reading not only the existing memories but also those that have been erased!

Reading not only one life’s reincarnated memories, but also memories of reincarnations across many lifetimes!

Ordinary level soul-search and memory destruction would cause huge damage to a master, let alone wielding the Infinite Gate to soul-search across lifetimes!

Lion Camel felt as if his divine sense was about to shatter, and that shattering was not a pain of one lifetime, but the compounded pain of hundreds, thousands of lifetimes, instantly causing him to clutch his head and scream miserably, unable to live with the pain.

If not for the saints deeming Lion Camel to still be of use and applying some assistance, Lion Camel’s divine sense might have been shattered by the Infinite Gate in an instant—yet he had to forcibly thank the saints for their kindness, how could this reason be given, helpless.

"Thankfully, afterward, there will be a recompense of fifty merit points, but, what are fifty merit points, I, who am I..."

Lion Camel consoled himself, his eyes suddenly vacant.

At this time, the Infinite Gate emitted billions of purple rays, condensing a massive purple light screen between heaven and earth.

Apart from balancing reincarnation karma and initiating Dao Fruit council, the Infinite Gate had another use—to forcibly broadcast a person’s reincarnation memory.

Within the light screen, various reincarnation clips were shown, all were instances from Lion Camel’s unknown moments, appearing randomly.

Since Lion Camel was not a saint, he could not bear the soul-search of the Infinite Gate, and could only passively, randomly view memories, having no ability to actively play them.

Thus, the saints had to sift through Lion Camel’s vast reincarnation memories to find content related to "Chiwei."

But since the karma never existed, how could it be found in the vast cycles of reincarnation?

The purported familiarity with Lion Camel was merely a lie spun by Ning Fan, and the cost of spreading a lie is always low.

The so-called stirring up rumors requires only a mouth, while debunking them makes one run to exhaustion, yet one cannot be laid back about it, as silence would be seen as acquiescence, and rebuking could be taken as quibbling.

But this matter allegedly involves enormous karma, thus it must be investigated, water must settle to its natural end.

Thus, the saints ran themselves ragged for it, Lion Camel suffered for it, and all of it stemmed from Ning Fan’s malice.

To purify a pool of muddy water is difficult.

But to muddy a clear pool of water is simple.

Only by muddling reincarnation can there be an opportunity, amidst all eyes, to fish in troubled waters...

...

Under the baptism of the Power of Reincarnation, the Lion Camel Sage showed severe symptoms of reincarnation dissociation.

He fell to the ground, his gaze becoming empty and bewildered, his memories muddled and chaotic, and his consciousness seemed to have developed a barrier with his body, creating a sense of separation difficult to unite.

Endless fantasies and delusions sprouted in his heart, emotions and personality forcibly stripped away, no longer under his control, thus at this moment, the Lion Camel approached the opposite of Unity of Heaven and Man—Heaven and Man Separation.

And bit by bit, he was moving towards the ultimate separation—eternal division of heaven and man.

When one achieves perfection in Unity of Heaven and Man, they can see the causal links of the past and future.

When one reaches the extreme of Heaven and Man Separation, they are like a blind person, unable to see clearly or understand anything.

The Lion Camel felt his consciousness floating, being absorbed by the endless power of reincarnation towards the purple curtain in the sky.

He no longer remembers who he is, nor does he remember Mount Wansheng, the Infinite Gate, or the Northern Barbarian Vastness catastrophe.

The consciousness was light, very light.

Yet all around was a fog of reincarnation, unable to see anything.

[Search, search...] A series of indifferent voices urged in his ears.

Who is urging me?

What am I to seek?

I do not know, I know nothing.

[Seek, Chiwei...]

Chiwei? Who is Chiwei? Unknown, but I must search, otherwise those voices will chatter endlessly in the depths of consciousness.

The Lion Camel feared those voices, though he did not remember why he feared...

Suddenly a beam of light broke through layers of purple mist, shining into the Lion Camel’s eyes.

The Lion Camel was stunned, then blankly flew towards the source of the light.

Without knowing how long he flew, the light suddenly became dazzling, and everything before him unfolded dramatically.

Before him was spiritual energy of the primordial era, many times denser than the Real Realm.

The Lion Camel surveyed the surroundings, discovering he was in an unknown celestial island.

Beyond the island lay the scene of autumn water meeting the sky, on the island peach blossoms and apricots flourished, smoke and clouds drifted, pines stood evergreen.

Here, the brilliance of Dao shot through purple mist, primordial energy exuded pure fragrance. Immortal peaches and fruits, resembling Golden Cores; green willows and poplars like jade threads. The yellow cranes cried, green phoenixes soared; the mundane world vanished, where immortals came and went.

A celestial palace stood in the island, named Biyou Palace. Almost at the moment the Lion Camel saw this celestial palace, the surroundings immediately shifted.

His consciousness appeared directly within the palace.

Inside, a Saint was expounding Dao, while the Lion Camel stood as an attendant to a minor immortal.

Unable to hear clearly, unable to hear what the Saint was saying...

But, I must listen!

Countless voices urged him to seek Chiwei, perhaps what the Saint says will mention who Chiwei is... or maybe this Saint is Chiwei.

The Lion Camel exerted considerable effort, finally hearing the Saint’s speech clearly.

[...The fate of the divine land has been sealed, an infinite god-sealing is imminent, from today Biyou Palace remains closed and stops teachings, you must serve humbly and observe order, do not invite calamity upon yourselves. Hereafter close the cave doors tightly, recite the Yellow Emperor scrolls; do not set foot in the western lands, the God-Sealing Platform has renowned individuals. Qiu Shou, are you listening...]

The Saint’s gaze suddenly turned towards the Lion Camel.

Through endless reincarnation, the Lion Camel could not make out the other’s visage, but for some reason, found the voice familiar, yet unclear why.

Who is this Saint...

Who is Qiu Shou... is this directed at me...

What is this infinite god-sealing... God-sealing, God-sealing... perhaps understanding what God-sealing is will lead me to Chiwei...

[Cut the scene! Switch to the next! The secrets here must not leak, or it will be a grave crime against the Immortal Emperor!] Countless voices suddenly became fearful.

In an instant, all the scenes before him vanished, returning to the purple mist world.

The Lion Camel’s eyes grew vacant once more, everything that happened prior seemed to not have transpired, he remembered nothing.

[Seek Chiwei, do not seek irrelevant things!] Countless voices expressed dissatisfaction.

The Lion Camel feared those voices, even though he did not know who Chiwei was, he had no choice but to comply.

He could only search...

Thus his consciousness drifted again through the boundless purple mist.

Drifting and drifting, the purple mist began to dissipate, revealing a world of Golden Heaven Black Sea.

Innumerable bhikkhus in this world sincerely recite Manjushri’s Vow Sutra.

The Lion Camel remembered nothing, instinctively found a meditation mat, joining the bhikkhus in chanting the sutra, infinitely familiar, infinitely foreign.

Recite this scripture once, as if you are chanting the Eighty-Four Thousand Twelve Rings of the Daodejing.

Recite it twice, and the protector gods will stand before you.

Recite it once more, to eliminate all sufferings of the traveler.

Recite it twice, to eradicate the grievous sins of life and death accumulated over countless eons.

Recite it thrice, to manifest samadhi; recite it four times, to retain memory without forgetfulness; recite it five times, to swiftly attain supreme enlightenment...

Lion Camel seemed to enjoy the life of chanting scriptures and seeking Buddha, but those voices were filled with dissatisfaction.

[Go pursue Chiwei! Do not waste time!]

Lion Camel was terrified of those voices.

He had no choice but to leave the meditation mat and continue to search, finally finding a dignified bodhisattva at the end of the endless chanting.

For some reason, upon seeing this bodhisattva, Lion Camel instinctively felt pain in his lower body, as if there lay a significant karmic consequence...

Wait, could this bodhisattva be Chiwei? Am I supposed to find him?

"...A Demon Emperor wishes to venture to the western wilderness of Reverse Dust to become a saint. This immeasurable undertaking is not trivial, yet the decree of Chaos Kun Ancestor cannot be defied. Green Lion, you have been my mount for many years, the unresolved karmic debt must be repaid now."

Is Green Lion... calling me?

Before Lion Camel could comprehend the intertwined karma, countless voices once again became alarmed.

[Cut the scene!]It seemed a taboo had been breached again, forcing a cut.

Thus, Lion Camel’s consciousness returned to the misty purple world, no longer remembering past events.

Urged by countless voices, he went to seek Chiwei once again.

No one knew how long the pursuit lasted, but Lion Camel suddenly discovered a karmic link of reincarnation related to Chiwei.

[Brother Lion Camel, forgive me for rejecting the goodwill of Hunkun Holy Sect. Nikong is not my wish, Wukong is not what I seek, yet in this world of ideals, myriad obstacles arise, requiring the heart of battle to overcome them one by one. It was never my intention to journey to the west, but no matter what, I will not forsake the demon for immortality nor follow Purple Rose Celestial Emperor severing Chiwei’s diabolic spirit. Yet I do not reject the Immortal Spirit Path, with deep sincerity I yearn for it. Ancient was the Immortal Ancestor, its destiny like the blazing sun, illuminating eternal nights; I am not the sun, a lamp like a firefly, but I also wish to emulate the Immortal Ancestor, shining a light in the darkness. If, thereafter, there is no light, I shall be the sole light to illuminate the way home for those who cannot return.]

Which Riddle Man is speaking again? Wait, why do I say again...

Why now do the words give me a sense of great terror...

Why address me as brother, I seem to... not know him!

Stop! Stop! I am not interested in the secrets of heaven and earth, do not tell me!

But fortunately, I finally found Chiwei...

Lion Camel thought he completed the task given to him by countless voices.

Unexpectedly, it once again aroused countless voices’ fear.

[Cut it! This scene can’t be broadcasted!]

[How did this lion get entangled with Purple Mountain Dou Sea in karma! How come where there’s great terror, he keeps burrowing in!]

[Broadcast the next segment!]

Thus...

Next segment of reincarnation memory.

"By the Heavenly Edict, immeasurable: it is decreed: guilty cultivator Lion Camel, repeatedly did not amend ways, twice violating the tenth major sin [Greed for Immeasurable], by law deserves double execution via Saint-Destroying Elixir! Also, fraternizing with the immeasurable Great Demon, violating the fifth major sin [Shapeshifting], by law deserves Eighty-One Difficulties of Reincarnation. However, considering the origin from Holy Sect, leniency will be granted, stripping spirit awareness, abolishing physical roots, granting calamity blood, eternally falling into being Calamity Spirit."

Greed for immeasurable...

When did I twice violate this major sin?

And when did I shapeshift?

Cannot remember, cannot remember...

Before Lion Camel could make sense of it, the memory scene was cut again...

[This segment is also not suitable for broadcast!]

Thus...

"Your military achievements are sufficient, now you may renounce the spirit of the Immeasurable Calamity, or ascend as Taicang Calamity Spirit, or be resealed in the Immortal Ranking..."

[This segment can be broadcast, but it’s useless...]countless voices lamented.

...

On Mount Wansheng.

Segments of reincarnation memory were playing inside the purple light screen.

However, those segments of reincarnation were either useless or taboo... turns out Lion Camel, this fellow, has quite a bit of karma attached! Is this mere coincidence, or...

After numerous broadcasts, the saints finally found yet another segment of reincarnation tied to Chiwei.

During this Dust Decision, "Chiwei" harnessed Zhang Dao’s body to wield Chiwei Daoism, turning the Calamity Spirit army into a sea of blood.

"It’s indeed complete reverse saintly Daoism..."

All the Saints were shocked. A complete set of the Inverse Saintly Path, even the Desolate Saint might not have it. Could this person truly be... or perhaps...

[Brother Lion Camel, it seems you’ve forgotten, the sins I’ve committed are more than just five. First, the sin against the heavens; second, the sin of seeking demons; third, the sin of plunging into the underworld; fourth, the sin of persistent cultivation; fifth, the sin of shapeshifting...]

[Heaven and Earth, the travelers of all creations; Time, the passerby of all generations. Life fleeting like a dream, with life and death being mere illusions; Extinction like the moon, with its phases waxing and waning. All begins from the vast, ending in Primordial Chaos, living to become spirit, dying to become a god...]

God?

All the Saints shivered, immediately shutting off the vision.

Unbroadcastable!

But one thing was already certain.

This Lion Camel must be involved in some grand secret plot... such decisions are not for us to make lightly!

As for that person suspected to be Chiwei... even if not Chiwei, there’s a high probability that this individual is a key piece in the grand design of some supreme entity!

This reevaluation of the Dust Decision could very well be the Fourth Step Inverse Saint secretly competing...

Back then, the matter of the Northern Barbarians’ Immeasurable Catastrophe was jointly decided by all rebels, making it easy to choose sides then.

But now, with this reevaluation, the rebels seem to each have their own plans, each calculating differently without a unified stance...

So it’s difficult to pick sides and express opinions...

For some reason, after hearing the words of "Chiwei" themselves, Yuanshi Tianzun felt a faint pain in half of his head, as if some karmic ties were related to this "Chiwei".

In fact, even before handling this case, Yuanshi Tianzun had a hunch of a karmic connection.

He specifically went to the Dao Spirit World to consult the Dao Ancestor, only to receive the answer, "This Dust Decision you can make your own choice."

What does it mean to make one’s own choice? In the best light, it means having autonomy; in the worst, it means bearing the karma alone...

The attitude of the ancestor was very subtle, seeming very wary of this case, seeing it as low in benefits but high in karma, and not willing to get directly involved...

At first, Yuanshi Tianzun didn’t understand the reason, but now he vaguely guessed a bit.

This Dust Decision case might truly involve Fourth Step karma, and with the ancestor’s avoidance of the Dust Tribulation, he wouldn’t lightly tie himself to this mere Dust Decision.

This left the pressure on Yuanshi Tianzun.

Bearing the karma alone means that if the wrong choice is made, this massive Fourth Step karma might fall upon him.

Saints would raise Golden Immortal disciples (Immortal Emperors) to block calamities in times of need. Just as Golden Immortals have disciples to shelter them from killing tribulations, who says Saints can’t have disciples to shield them from inverse Saint calamities...

Yuanshi Tianzun looked at the other three Desolate Saints, noticing they all showed varying degrees of concern on their faces... It seems everyone’s situation is similar; the inverse Saints of their generation don’t want to get involved, leaving the younger generation to step up.

Even Fuchen Honored One, who came here out of curiosity, now looked solemn.

We must act! Inaction would displease our own inverse Saints!

But acting too aggressively would also be unwise! One could get caught in a catastrophe, and even the Desolate Saint would have to shed a layer...

We must hinder this person from overturning the Northern Barbarian Immeasurable case, but we must tread lightly...

After a brief exchange, the Saints reached a consensus, finally establishing a principal tone for handling this reevaluation of the Northern Barbarians case.

...

What transpired on Mount Wansheng was entirely unknown to Ning Fan.

He’s not all-knowing and therefore unaware of the emotions of the arrayed Saints and Immortals handling the Dust Decision.

His intention was merely to invoke Chiwei’s name to make the inverse Saints of the True Realm cautious enough to avoid a fatal, plot-prompting strike from afar.

When there was a massive killer inverse Saint backing the Northern Barbarians’ catastrophe, everyone had to weigh their actions carefully—even the inverse Saints would approach with caution, knowing that the Dust Tribulation was not just a scare tactic.

Of course, Ning Fan didn’t think just Chiwei’s name could solve everything.

The name of Chiwei can only ensure that this strategic play by the Northern Barbarians would follow proper rules, but winning is incredibly difficult... As long as both sides agree to abide by the no-inverse-saint clause, Ning Fan would still have to face countless high-ranking Saints in a game of strategy, with his chances of winning being slender.

Without Chiwei’s name, Ning Fan might not even have a seat at the table... Hence, the need to deceive!

To make them believe I wield a mass-killing inverse Saint, even though I actually don’t...

Ning Fan held a favorable view of Chiwei, having learned from their Dao arts and treating them with much reverence.

But he didn’t believe that when truly offending an inverse Saint, Chiwei would definitely come to his rescue. Allowing him to invoke the name was already a significant favor.

Ning Fan knew he had no right to force Chiwei into conflict with the True Realm inverse Saints or to start a Dust Tribulation, nor did he intend to.

Saving a virtual Northern Barbarian Immeasurable Catastrophe was his own obsession. It’s a near impossible and meaningless task, but he’s determined to try; should he fail, no one else is to blame, save for his own lack of power.

If he dies in the Saint Son trials, only a trace of his spirit would perish.

However, since the situation has escalated, if he were to fall during the Northern Barbarian Immeasurable Catastrophe, it likely wouldn’t be a mere loss of spirit, yet he has already come to terms with that, and confusion will not waiver him.

Nine days later.

The new Immeasurable calamity arose.

This time, even more Tribulation Spirits attacked, with as many as sixty-four Tribulation Spirits at True Blood Seven Stars, and two hundred thousand more Tribulation Soldiers and Generals.

```

It seems that every time Ning Fan slays an Immeasurable Tribulation Spirit, he consumes the enemy to enhance his cultivations. This time, each invading Tribulation Spirit has been implanted with Dao-Soul Blood Chains, so even if they die in battle, they won’t leave behind any Tribulation Thoughts for Ning Fan to take advantage of.

To equip such a massive army with Dao-Soul Blood Chains is an expensive endeavor.

But to prevent Ning Fan from breaking through to the King Blood Calamity Spirit by relying on infinite slaughters, any price is worth paying!

The determination of the Immeasurable Tribulation to destroy everything is real!

But Ning Fan’s determination to protect the Northern Barbarians Kingdom is also real!

"After devouring Tribulation Spirits like the Lion Camel last time, I’m close to breaking through the True Blood Six Stars, but if the coming Tribulation Spirits are all implanted with Dao-Soul Blood Chains like this, the day of true breakthrough might be far off..."

Fortunately, Ning Fan had long anticipated that the Immeasurable Tribulation would not allow others to take advantage of it all the time, so although there is regret, it is expected.

Though there is bad news, there is also good news.

The good news is that exposing his "Chiwei" identity last time indeed caused an impact.

This time, the Immeasurable army came in even more fiercely, but this fierceness did not exceed the level of King Blood Tribulation Spirits.

The Immeasurable Tribulation does not allow the blatant interference of beings at the Saint Level, otherwise, they would be committing the crime of greed for the Immeasurable; of course, if the other side breaks the rules and sends an unfortunate Saint over, Ning Fan would have no words.

Fortunately, all of their actions remain within the rules, clearly they have concerns...

Ning Fan, although unaware of the situation on Mount Wansheng and having no conversations with the Saints there, vaguely understood the attitude of the Immeasurable Tribulation.

The other side plans to take down the troublemaker within the rules, so even if the troublemaker has support from the Fourth Step, in the end, there would be nothing to say.

Roar!

With an angry roar from the leading Immeasurable Golden Turtle, countless attacks were launched at Ning Fan, yet they merely passed through Ning Fan’s entire world.

Ning Fan’s body shifted between life and death, and at the moment when life reached its peak, he unleashed ninety-nine rain dragons—though his mastery of Rain Intent was not enough to transform into this number of dragons, under the Taiji Genesis and Termination Realm, his Rain Intent temporarily reached the pinnacle of the Source Stream of Dao.

At this moment, Ning Fan was not just at Rain Control Position Completion, but Rain Dao Source Completion!

If asked, it was opened! Opened the Taiji Genesis and Termination Realm!

Further steps would allow him to touch the orthodoxy of the Way of Rain! Unfortunately, the Beginning Realm of Taiji Genesis and Termination cannot elevate Ning Fan’s prowess to the level of orthodoxy completion.

But it is already terrifying enough!

These ninety-nine rain dragons, each larger and more powerful than usual, any one of them could rival an Eight Star or Nine Star Tribulation Spirit!

The adversaries have 64 Tribulation Spirits, while Ning Fan has 99 rain dragons, purely in numbers of high-end combat power, Ning Fan surprisingly has the advantage!

A chaotic battle erupted instantly, with Tribulation Spirits and rain dragons falling every moment.

But there was one Tribulation Spirit unafraid of the rain dragon—the Immeasurable Golden Turtle. It seemed to also wield a trace of water-element Dao Source power, and even the combined attacks of multiple rain dragons could not break its shell.

But when Ning Fan touched the turtle shell with a finger, this Golden Turtle fell under a bewitching technique, losing ninety percent of its power, and was easily slain.

This was a female turtle, unable to resist Ning Fan’s ultimate bewitching technique in the realm of life!

Ning Fan’s sword had no hesitation, it beheaded her. Because he knew, this Golden Turtle was not her.

No evidence was needed.

Now he would not mistake her anymore.

His eyes could now see everything she had gone through—eyes that, in the realm of life, reached the peak of Heaven and Man, unaffected by Heart Demons!

Capable of seeing the unreachable heights of the sky!

Capable of seeing the unfathomable depths of the sea!

Capable of seeing one’s own minuscule insignificance!

Ascend the mountain as an immortal, descend the mountain as a man!

At this moment, his spirit sense had already walked step by step till the foot of the mountain!

He had not yet become an emperor, yet his state of mind had directly crossed the step of severing Dao Mountain and reaching the summit of Emperor Mountain, prematurely entering the realm of descending completion.

This was not an influence brought by the Taiji Genesis and Termination; it was just that as he scanned the Heart Demon, he also cleared away all confusion from reincarnation cycles.

Others, when becoming a saint, are inevitably troubled by the confusion of the Dao. This is the most challenging checkpoint of the spirit sense; breaking through the confusion is the only way to attain a flawless state of mind.

But Ning Fan did not have to, his spirit sense was without the challenge of Dao’s confusion, already flawless!

Ordinary people, in cultivation, sever their Heart Demon at the Golden Core stage, detach from the mortal world at the Divinity Transformation stage, reach Venerated Indifference at the Shedding Void Stage, and sever Dao Mountain at the emperor stage, and during the saint boundary, finally tackle Dao confusion, needing to retrieve all once abandoned to reach a flawless state of mind.

This is the flowers gathered in the morning, picked in the evening! If unable to retrieve the past, one can never achieve wholeness.

How can a perfect reincarnation cycle tolerate abandonment and defects?

Hence the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign said that the heart of a cultivator needs struggle and obsession.

Some discard in a lifetime, walking easily, but at the final gate of Dao confusion, will face an unprecedented bottleneck.

Others struggle all their lives, filled with hardships, but finally reaching the final gate, find the ending as simple as a natural course.

If nothing was ever abandoned, what need is there to retrieve!

A massacre, ultimately Ning Fan emerged victorious, but some Tribulation Spirits managed to injure him. Evidently, the Immeasurable Catastrophe was aware of his Taiji Genesis and Termination abilities and had devised targeted strategies against him.

The slaughter of Tribulation Spirit army did not enhance Ning Fan’s Calamity Blood cultivation, but the Slaughter Yin-Yang and War Yin-Yang continuously improved amidst endless battles.

Twelve days later.

The Tribulation Spirit army attacked again, led by a half-step King Blood Immeasurable Mountain Ape...

Fourteen days later.

In the Tribulation Spirit army, two half-step King Blood appeared.

Sixteen days later.

A notorious ancient Great Emperor appeared among the Tribulation Spirit army...

Nineteen days later.

Several ancient Great Emperors besieged Ning Fan simultaneously...

Twenty-one days later...

Twenty-four days later...

The Immeasurable Catastrophe requires time to muster a stronger Tribulation Spirit army, and further preparations are needed for dispatching a more formidable lineup.

Targeting Ning Fan becomes increasingly apparent.

Ning Fan’s bewitching technique targets females, so they send more male Tribulation Spirits.

Ning Fan possesses Taiji Genesis and Termination, hence they employ techniques to counter genesis and termination.

Ning Fan excels in Chiwei Six Paths, thus they dispatch an Insect Clan ancient emperor adept at countering the Dao of Flowers.

Ning Fan’s magical treasures are powerful, consequently, they send ancient emperors skilled in Lost Treasure techniques.

Restricted by Immeasurable rules, the lineup they can dispatch never exceeds a certain upper limit.

Nonetheless, amidst constant targeting, Ning Fan occasionally encounters peril, yet in the realms between life and death, he deepens his Dao Enlightenment of slaughter and war.

Though the Immeasurable Catastrophe’s lineup possesses an upper limit, Ning Fan’s strength continues to grow stronger, continuously breaking through his own limits.

In the absence of the Immeasurable Sword and Army, besides healing, Ning Fan uses Nanke the Old Immortal’s Enlightenment Tea Fruit to connect with the Enlightenment Tree for cultivation, primarily focusing on slaughter and war Dao enlightenment.

Besides the two Daos of slaughter and war, Ning Fan also supplements with other Dao traces to complete the number of Twenty-Seven Yin-Yang.

With Ning Fan’s current Dao Enlightenment, coupled with abundant enlightenment tea and Dao fruit supplies, cultivating a small success Dao trace is not challenging.

As for why not primarily cultivating Yin-Yang Qi to further strengthen Taiji Genesis and Termination...

It is because the Dao realm within the consciousness realm with only Yin-Yang Qi was detonated by Ning Fan. In the midst of destiny, the causality boomerang strikes Ning Fan’s face, preventing Taiji Genesis and Termination from advancing further, enlarging the external booster.

This prompts Ning Fan to refrain from connecting excessively with the consciousness realm: until possessing strength to destroy all consciousness realms decisively, it’s best not to sporadically detonate a few. This not only fails to resolve Senior Nan Ke’s dilemma but might bring unnecessary troubles to future cultivation... Wait for sufficient strength to decisively destroy all Dao realms later!

Unaware of Ning Fan’s intent, Nan Ke thought Ning Fan had finally learned some restraint, feeling gratified.

"A good child, merely misled by Han Yuanji before. His nature isn’t bad. I originally thought he would continue detonating Dao realms, yet he unexpectedly chooses to cultivate properly in the consciousness realm... Oh, if only he could abandon the habit of slaughtering fish and seizing treasures, not consuming all the fish in a Dao realm, it would be perfect... Due to his frequent disturbances in the consciousness realm, a legend of ’Enlightenment Tree Nine-Tailed Fox Fish’ arose on the River of Time, unexpectedly creating causality for the boastful Jiuli clan... However, why hasn’t this son encountered the reversed realm our master left within the consciousness realm... Is it because his rule alterations and reckless transfers within the consciousness realm caused him to miss on inheriting the master’s legacy, or is it that the time hasn’t arrived, and the master remains in long quietus..."

Under such circumstances, little time has passed in North Heaven, whereas in Northern Barbarians Kingdom, time rapidly rushes along Ning Fan’s slaughter.

A hundred years later.

Ning Fan has cultivated twenty-seven Yin-Yang, and all Yin-Yang have achieved at least small success Control Position.

The Immeasurable Catastrophe attempts targeting Ning Fan, but Ning Fan employs the Yin-Yang Five Swords alongside various means, breaking all attempts.

Now his Ancient Chaos Slaughter Techniques begin revealing power, terrifying those ancient Great Emperors greedy for Immeasurable, reviving the long-hushed name of Ancient Chaos on the River of Time.

Three hundred years later.

War Yin-Yang, Slaughter Yin-Yang both achieve great success!

Ning Fan’s mana purity has been tempered to the level of Eight Tribulations Celestial Emperor in three hundred years of slaughters, evidently sufficient for overcoming the Eternal Sixth Calamity.

Five hundred years later.

Relying on his Slaughter Yin-Yang Dao Enlightenment, Ning Fan complements the Big Dipper Celestial Tome inherited from the Slaughter Hall.

The Big Dipper Celestial Tome possesses great origins, created by the Big Dipper Immortal Emperor as a fortune cultivation technique. The First-generation Slaughter Emperor learned it from the Big Dipper Immortal Emperor, albeit incomplete, and passed down incomplete techniques.

Yet Ning Fan, with his own Dao Enlightenment, continues writing the incomplete Dao methods.

Thus, the Slaughter Hall’s Reverse Big Dipper technique evolves under Ning Fan’s hands, originally capable of seizing fortune up to seven colored immortal fate, now can devour clan fate limitlessly, enhancing fortune — indeed, borrowing many subtleties from Jiuli clan’s King Archery Technique. To Ning Fan’s inquiries, Black Evil Sect shared without reservation.

In one lifetime of cultivation, a person can achieve Fortune of Nine-Colored Fate at most, nevertheless saints transcend multiple reincarnations, accumulative fortune from various reincarnations often reaches hundreds or thousands of colors, often protected by grand clan fate.

Clan fate is the fortune of a clan, can affect a clan’s continuation, it can also be allocated proportionally to individuals of the same clan.

Ning Fan once seized fifteen hundred colored clan fate from Dao Carp Clan, now these clan fates begin transforming into Ning Fan’s own fortune.

Previously Ning Fan would have been wary of exposing clan fate inviting murder, yet now he is facing all saints, various heretics, fate reincarnation as enemies, nothing left to fear!

Moreover, the Merit Umbrella is the saint’s technique, capable of countering Immeasurable Catastrophe — Immeasurable Catastrophe not solely consists of Sword and Army Calamities, subsequent means await the Merit Umbrella’s deployment, requires reinforcing well.

This umbrella, to its core, is a great umbrella infused with both fortune and merit. The more merit it possesses, the stronger the fortune, and the more potent its power. With the same umbrella, its defense can vary dramatically depending on the level of fortune used.

After forcibly devouring the 1500 colors of fortune from the Dao Carp Clan, Ning Fan’s personal fortune reached 43 colors.

Limited by Ning Fan’s deficiency in understanding the Dao of Fortune, the Big Dipper Celestial Tome he transcribed had a very low conversion efficiency for devoured tribe fortunes. The complete Big Dipper Celestial Tome actually has means to devour tribe fortunes, but such methods have never been imparted by the Big Dipper Immortal Emperor to others, capable of converting tribe fortune to personal fortune at a ratio of about three to one.

The conversion rate of tribe fortune achieved by Ning Fan’s own comprehension doesn’t even reach thirty to one. Nonetheless, once this is made known, it would be enough to shock the Three Realms—the Big Dipper Fortune Technique, which the Reverse Saints sought to destroy, has reappeared in the world. Though its efficiency is low, it has been partially restored, so how could this not be a cause of concern?

Once the tribe fortune converts to personal fortune, the Dao Carp Clan can no longer reclaim it...

And after devouring 1500 colors of tribe fortune, Ning Fan summarized a lot of experience and made several revisions to the Big Dipper Celestial Tome he transcribed, hoping to improve the conversion rate significantly the next time he devours the fortune of another tribe.

...

A thousand years have passed.

The blade calamity of the Northern Barbarian Infinite Catastrophe has finally reached its conclusion.

According to what Ning Fan foresaw, in ten days, the Infinite Catastrophe would unfold its final blade calamity.

If this final calamity still fails to kill Ning Fan, the Infinite Catastrophe will enter its second phase and unleash the Eighty-One Tribulations of Reincarnation to annihilate Ning Fan.

"Just one last battle to end this thousand-year carnage..."

Ning Fan walked down the streets of the Northern Barbarian Country, appreciating the bustling market, experiencing a sense of tranquility.

For a full thousand years, Ning Fan has been battling against the blade calamity, while the survivors of the Northern Barbarian Country have been rebuilding their old nation during these years.

This is beyond common sense: the ruins that have been attacked by the Infinite Catastrophe for a thousand years need to be rebuilt, restoring some of their former prosperity and peace.

After a thousand years, many have moved on from the pains inflicted by the Infinite Catastrophe, and even some newborns have been brought into this country, unaware of the calamity they were born into.

Nanke the Old Immortal’s formation separates the world inside from the world outside, so the new generation of barbarians inside the formation are completely oblivious to the terrifying enemies outside.

Little Man similarly remains unaware of these things.

Since her awakening, it has been eight years, and she has been well protected by Ning Fan, so well that she is unaware of being in the midst of the Infinite Catastrophe...

As the Patriarch Fan Barbarian, as the Regent Barbarian God of the Northern Barbarian Country, Ning Fan only needs to give one command to ensure that no one in the Northern Barbarian Country mentions the words "Infinite Catastrophe" ever again.

Because Ning Fan knows, one day Hongling will awaken.

By then, the world she resides in will be an isolated paradise, far from the clutches of the Infinite Catastrophe.

Little Man is in fact the awakened Northern Barbarian God Hongling! However, after her awakening, something happened to her memory, such that she no longer remembers her identity as a Barbarian God, but instead has acquired something else, her body having shrunk into that of an eight-year-old girl.

To hide Little Man’s identity as a Barbarian God, Bai Ling gave her a new name, Little Man.

Little Man, Little Man...

When this little girl ran towards Ning Fan, he experienced a moment of trance, recalling a certain red-haired, boisterous young girl.

Even the name "Little Man" can be counted by destiny at such a time...

But what of it, even if no one can break destiny, there has never been a rule that says no one can challenge destiny.

This is a battle that must end in defeat, but there’s no reason in the world’s causality compelling me to compromise.

Ning Fan’s Dao heart remained calm, the starlight of Daoist abilities in his eyes turning into endearment, looking cheerfully at the little girl running towards him from the other end of the long street.

"Uncle Zhang Dao! You’re back! Little Man has been waiting for you for a long time!"

The little girl happily jumped into Ning Fan’s embrace, then like performing a trick, took out a flattened plum blossom from her pouch.

"Uncle, this flower is for you! Little Man picked it herself!" Little Man, like presenting a treasure, tucked the flattened plum blossom at Ning Fan’s temple, where now there were many gray hairs, not caused by his bone age but, rather, resulting from the numerous occasions during the thousand-year blood battle where Ning Fan almost fell, leading to serious damage to his Life Lantern, and yet sacrificed it again to completely awaken the Northern Barbarian God, resulting in some white hair...

"Oh? Have the plum blossoms in the yard bloomed already..." Ning Fan intended to remove the plum blossom from his temple, thinking it’s absurd for a grown man to wear a flower. But... seeing Little Man’s hopeful gaze, he couldn’t bear to, and eventually left the plum blossom in place.

Seeing this, Little Man kept praising Uncle Ning Fan, saying "With this flower, you’re the most handsome guy on the street," "even with some gray hair, your face is handsome enough, so you’re still the most handsome old man," and so on.

In her heart, however, she was laughing up at the sky.

"Zhou Ming, oh Zhou Ming, you’ve finally fallen into the hands of Bei Xiao Man! Did you think I wouldn’t recognize you just because you changed your name to Zhang Dao?"

"Even though it’s just in my dream I get to bully you, you, big demon, look so funny with a flower on!"

"If only I had a Recording Jade Slip, I would definitely record your look as revenge for you recording me back in the day!"

Indeed.

The Northern Barbarian God fell into slumber, and later finally awakened.

After awakening, it wasn’t coincidentally having the name Little Man either, she completely changed her core into Bei Xiao Man!

Bei Xiao Man merely thought she had a very long dream and periodically teased Ning Fan in the dream.

Yet little did she know that what seemed like a dream was sometimes not just a simple dream...

"Uncle, uncle, you’ve accepted Little Man’s plum blossom, so when Little Man grows up, you must marry her! Pinky promise!"

More causal energies surged towards him, eventually melting into just a fond smile from Ning Fan.

"Alright."

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