Chapter 1302: Chapter 1302: Niyue Wine!

I will depart against the moon, exchanging this reincarnation for a dream, only wishing this moon never sets...

This is Han E’s wish, seeming to intend to sacrifice herself to save Ning Fan and his sister.

But this is not Ning Fan’s wish.

Ning Fan wants to rewrite Hong Ling’s fate, but he will not stand by and watch as his teacher sacrifices herself...

If sacrifices must be made, in his plan, it might well be only himself who bears the sacrifice...

Yet Ning Fan equally understands that merely continually sacrificing oneself is futile; he must find another way!

If he were to sacrifice himself before Hong Ling, even if he saved her, Hong Ling would spend the rest of her life finding him, saving him, thus entering another cycle of reincarnation again, ultimately rendering all causes and effects to return to the origin and lose significance...

[Defeat]!

The destiny predetermined causes of countless millions, seamless and airtight, all lead to the outcome of failure.

From here, countless millions of causes extend outward, yet will form endless closed loops of causes leading to paper crane, Qingling, Hongling, Xu Qiuling, and countless self-sacrificing conclusions...

He dies, she searches; she dies, he saves, thus reincarnation will endlessly cycle on, changing nothing.

And to establish such an enormous cycle of reincarnation is not something one person can accomplish. Even the so-called omniscient Heretic Saint cannot know everything about the world; that omniscience only holds significance below The Fourth Step, thus when defining fate reincarnation, it requires the combined force of five Heretic Saints to open the Five Spirits Chessboard.

"Just as I thought of the inverse fate of the moon, the teacher couldn’t see through it... Therefore, I can be sure that even the Heretic Saints do not know everything; the so-called omniscience still has limitations, and above The Fourth Step, there are endless unknowns... There, perhaps lies a glimmer of survival, catching the Five Inversions off guard, causing destiny to show a flaw..."

Divine King Niyue...

That supreme existence once manifested as the residual shadow of the Heavenly Emperor, giving me numerous hints; perhaps the key to breaking the game lies with this father-in-law!

It is time for a good chat with Senior Nan Ke, to seek some inspiration for breaking the cycle...

Ning Fan’s mind churns.

Bei Xiao Man, meanwhile, chats warmly with Han E, presenting a picture of a long-awaited reunion.

Even if Bei Xiao Man is utterly unaware of how distant this reunion is, it does not hinder her from feeling fondness and closeness towards Han E, an instinct, like how she fondly approaches her butterfly through countless lifetimes.

Xiao Man: Sister Han E, please don’t tell riddles or stories, I really can’t understand, yet feel strangely, painfully sad listening...

Han E: Alright, sister won’t tell them anymore, anyway, what needed to be said has been said. In the remaining days, whatever you wish to hear, sister will say, okay?

Xiao Man: Then I want to hear the story of your home’s elm blockhead, will you tell it?

Han E: Ah? This... isn’t suitable for public telling, but can be told to you alone...

Xiao Man: Makes sense! I am genuinely keen to learn some tips from sister on handling elm blockheads, indeed it shouldn’t be overheard... By the way, is your true name Seven Apricot?

Han Seven Apricot: Yes, Han E is just a borrowed singer’s name, taken from one of the shadows of Zi Wei’s infinite reincarnations, I retrieved it temporarily attached to it, though it might seem utilitarian, yet it also spared this girl from the plight of reincarnation, perhaps promising a rebirth unwittingly...

Xiao Man: So sister’s surname is borrowed as well?

Han Seven Apricot: No... Ladies of the Yue Clan originally had no surname, they simply took their husband’s surname...

Xiao Man: Ah, so your husband’s surname is Han! Is he handsome?

Han Seven Apricot: He looks... passably... but he carries a certain temperament that is heart-stealing, surpassing mere appearance...

Xiao Man: Got it! Husband looks ugly, but is capable!

Han Seven Apricot: Whether he’s capable, I don’t know, but his brain surely isn’t, otherwise how could he cultivate a Seven Chi Demon Seed, is...this intending my demise...

Xiao Man: Seven, seven Chi Demon Seed! I thought Zhou Xiaoming was a worldly beast, yet found unexpected heavens beyond earth! Poor sister!

Han Seven Apricot: Not too bad... I have some of your husband’s divine skills and absolute teachings here, should your lover wish to learn... no, even if not, these things are meant to be handed over to him.

Xiao Man: No, please don’t teach Zhou Xiaoming Seven Chi Demon Seed, I’ll die!

The two women chat more privately, ultimately...

Xiao Man very politely asked "Uncle Zhang Dao" to leave, saying she wanted to stay here and learn songs from Sister Han.

Perhaps she feared Ning Fan overhearing little secrets, or dreaded Ning Fan might learn and pick up Seven Chi Demon Seed...

Ning Fan felt speechless but, very tacitly, did not uncover Xiao Man’s excuse, only softly ruffling Xiao Man’s eight-year-old head, then plucking the plum blossom from behind her ear, placing it on Xiao Man’s dark hair bun.

The originally flattened and slightly dehydrated plum blossom, under Ning Fan’s floral Daoist traces, instantly became vibrant with life.

Xiao Man: "Sob sob, Uncle must dislike Xiao Man’s plum blossom is ugly, that’s why he returned it to Xiao Man... Xiao Man is very sad!"

Ning Fan: "No, Xiao Man’s plum blossom isn’t ugly, only this plum blossom, once worn by Xiao Man, looks the best... Such an interminable reunion shouldn’t end here either."

Xiao Man: "But it’s just a flattened plum blossom, does it really look good once Xiao Man wears it...Heh, this plum blossom surprisingly bloomed again..."

Ning Fan: "Whether for you or Master, I will not allow this plum blossom to wither... Only in this way, is rewriting everything meaningful. Since you want to learn singing, I will not linger here to disturb you. If you learn the Yue Clan’s songs, you can sing them to me. I heard once before, but did not truly understand, it’s indeed one of life’s regrets..."

Bei Xiao Man: "Ah! So uncle loves to listen to music... If uncle wants to listen, Xiao Man will strive to learn!"

Initially, Bei Xiao Man only wanted to chat about trivialities, but in an instant, she found her motivation to learn!

Ning Xiaofan, oh Ning Xiaofan, your weakness has finally been exposed! So you actually like to listen to music!

If I master the enchanting singing of Sister Han, I can easily make you become one of my admirers!

This music, I, this lady, am determined to learn it!

Han Qimei looked slightly frowning in the direction Ning Fan left.

This child intends to sacrifice himself to stop my sacrifice? But with your destined failure, the insignificant karma of a mere Immortal King, what meaning does this serve? It would only be a pointless sacrifice...

Han Qimei shook her head; she did not believe a mere Immortal King like Ning Fan could rewrite everything, just as she didn’t believe that Han Yuanji, a mere Desolate Saint, could rewrite everything.

"If not enough benefits are gained, those people will not stop... Only my passing or Chiwei’s passing can satisfy them, merely an Immortal King’s death is not enough..."

[If you obstruct the Dust Calamity, the punishment of ’Moon End’ can be forgiven!]

[If you kill Chiwei, the punishment of ’Zhang Dao’ can be pardoned!]

These were the promises of the True Realm’s rebels.

Yet she didn’t believe in the promises of words; she would compromise with the world, but in her own way...

...

Almost at the same moment Ning Fan swore his reincarnation vow, far away, Chiwei Demon Lord sensed something.

At this moment, the Five Inverses of the True Realm had made promises to Chiwei through the cycle of fate!

[If you set off the Dust Calamity, the punishment of ’Zhang Dao’ can be forgiven!]

[If you kill Wa Huang, you can take her place!]

Heh...

As long as I kill that fool of a woman who constantly compromises, can I become emperor in the True Realm?

Heh!

What is the True Realm but a speck of dust!

What is an Immortal Emperor but a mere trifle!

The Immortal Emperor position, which even Purple Dou disregards, why would this old man bother to take it? Only to become another Zi Wei, to be used and discarded by you all?

This matter has no joy in it whatsoever!

Butterfly Boy is still more entertaining!

A mere Immortal King, actually daring to make a reincarnation vow, challenging the Five Inverses of the True Realm! Delightful, truly delightful! As a demon cultivator, this is how it should be, defy if one is dissatisfied! Why shy away from a fight, why fear a battle, life and death all for Chiwei Demon!

Not disappointing as the disciple I and Purple Dou both favored! Indeed, I did not misjudge him!

This level of madness is exactly what’s needed to stir a rare storm of a millennium!

But given this boy’s personality, he wouldn’t make senseless vows without a target! At first glance, this child’s vows seem like an expression of sentiment, but if my guess is not wrong, there must be deeper meaning behind them!

Others, when faced with the evil causes of the Five Inverses, would perhaps keep a low profile if not willing to compromise, waiting to become strong before settling scores... However, under absolute fate control, low profile and hiding are futile...

But this boy goes against the grain, with a seemingly deliberate intent, as if eager to entangle his own karma further!

This boy stole my title, initially, I thought he merely wanted to shake the rebels with my name, but actually, he wants the rebels to realize the massive karma and threat of the Chiwei successor...

This boy reveals his identity as Nifan, intending to make the Five Inverses aware of his terrifying future...

This boy makes a reincarnation vow to provoke the Five Inverses, to gain their attention...

"This boy also understands that the karma of a mere Immortal King is insufficient to influence the rebels’ plans, his eagerness to enlarge his karma is precisely to muddy the waters!"

"In this boy’s heart, there must be even crazier ideas, hidden within the inconceivable! Such that even someone as familiar as I find it hard to see through it all, while the arrogant Five Inverses of the True Realm, further divided by the distant cycle of reincarnation, surely pay no heed to the obsession of a mere ant! But, weakness has never been the barrier to survival, arrogance is! The weak understand their limits, and so they go all out, sparing nothing; the arrogant trust in the cycle of destiny, thinking that possessing it sets everything in stone, and this is the most probable cause of failure!"

"The stars in the sky are not just those that shine; in that unreachable dreamscape, at the origin of all annihilation, eyes are still watching over everything here!"

"All it takes is someone to break open a gap, create an opportunity, and fate can possess another possibility, spreading from that annihilation place to engulf the world!"

"To combine forces with Wa Huang for the Dust Calamity? Haha! This old man fears no Dust Calamity, but disdains to contest the path with women! I shall wait in the storm of Butterfly for that person to appear, and then with him, declare war on the whole world! Dust Calamity? By then, there will be Dust Calamities aplenty to settle life and death with you all! And that is the romance of men, the greatest joy in the world! Oh butterfly, you must not disappoint me!"

Just thinking of the potential to meet Purple Dou in life, Chiwei felt his demonic blood boiling, his spirit soaring, and thought there was no greater joy in life than this!

To rebel into emperorship has no worth; only regret is not meeting in life!

Utterly disregarding the promises of the Five Inverses of the True Realm!

...

Ning Fan sought Nanke, and at that moment, Nanke was near the Barbarian God Temple, participating in a poetry meeting.

Immortal Stones Poetry Society!

This society was initiated and established by Immortal Stones, and during Ning Fan’s millennium of resistance against the Immeasurable Catastrophe, it continuously grew stronger.

Nowadays, in Fan City, almost all Second Step Pluck have joined the poetry society, but it’s not because they love poetry. The so-called poetry society is actually just a facade; the real purpose of everyone forming the society is to become a support for the Regent Barbarian God, collectively resisting the Immeasurable Catastrophe!

Even if the Barbarian God doesn’t need their battle prowess, they are willing to assist it in other ways...

And if one day, an enemy appears that even the Barbarian God cannot defeat, they are willing to march to the battlefield and become the Barbarian God’s last shield!

The Four Deacons of the poetry society are: Immortal Stones, Shi Gui, Nanke, Return to Homeland, Southern Pavilion Celestial Emperor.

Why is there Shi Gui, who is tainted with Calamity Thought and supposedly insane?

He was naturally rescued by the joint efforts of Nanke and Ning Fan.

Because Ning Fan forbade everyone from openly discussing the Immeasurable Catastrophe, they often express their ambitions through poetry in discussion, using metaphors.

Today, another poetry meeting is held to discuss the last battle of the Weapon Catastrophe. Up to now, many people have vaguely sensed that the end of the Immeasurable Weapon Catastrophe is approaching, yet the closer it gets to the end, the more likely unexpected changes will occur.

And after the Weapon Catastrophe, there are more calamities to follow... Having witnessed the terror of the Weapon Catastrophe firsthand, many people do not believe that Ning Fan can lead them to live until the final day of eradicating calamity.

But as long as Ning Fan continues to fight, they are willing to accompany their master and fight to the last moment!

"On what topic shall we write today? Please instruct us, Senior Nanke!"

The members of the poetry society respect Nanke for his seniority and have been saved by Nanke’s grace, so at every poetry meeting, they nominate Nanke to propose the theme.

Instead, they leave Immortal Stones, the founder of the poetry society, aside.

But Immortal Stones would not have any dissatisfaction, merely saying the debt of saving his brother is beyond repayment, and he wouldn’t mind offering the poetry society to Nanke.

"Today, we shall focus on ’Reincarnation’..." Nanke intended to use the eighty-one hardships of reincarnation following the Weapon Catastrophe as the theme, but upon raising his gaze, he noticed Ning Fan quietly arriving, standing behind the crowd, and immediately changed his tune.

"Today, let’s take the topic of ’Cage,’ how about it?"

Upon hearing Nanke’s proposed theme, everyone began to rack their brains.

At this moment, the Northern Barbarians Kingdom is precisely entrapped within the cage of the Immeasurable Catastrophe, unable to break free, isn’t it? This theme fits the current scene.

Some also noticed Ning Fan’s presence, but Ning Fan had already sent out his intent upon arriving at the meeting, asking not to be disturbed, so no one would initiate a conversation. Everyone simply assumed Ning Fan came because of his interest in the poetry meeting, thus they must write with utmost care to live up to their master’s expectations!

Cage, cage! That single word ’fan’ is actually the honorific title of Lord Nifan, isn’t it! Everyone felt deeply about this, and the inspiration for poetry burst forth...

Yet it was Immortal Stones whose poetic talent surged fastest!

Immortal Stones also noticed Ning Fan’s arrival and noted that not far from Ning Fan stood an old man carrying a birdcage, and within the cage was a bird known as the Eastern Wild Sea Falcon...

Thinking further of Ning Fan’s thousand-year guardianship, his literary thoughts erupted!

"I have a poem, please listen silently!"

"What a splendid Eastern Wild Sea Falcon, this bird is truly magnificent!

It lays its eggs by the vast sea, pursuing swans into the Immortal Clouds, looking back only to lose the traces of its homeland!

Never seeking distant profit, never yearning to soar high!

How could it be content to live confined and caged!

A single bird takes off, roaring towards the heavens!"

Hiss!

The members of the poetry society gasped in surprise, amazed by Immortal Stones’ quick wit and poetic prowess.

Though the wording is simple, the theme of this poem is exceptionally lofty, subtly praising Lord Nifan’s noble endeavor to resist the Immeasurable Catastrophe!

What a magnificent single bird roaring towards the heavens! This line should be celebrated with a large toast!

Suddenly, there were numerous voices of praise, and many raised their glasses to drink heartily, in honor of such a bold verse!

The thousand years of peace and joy are exchanged for by Lord Nifan’s thousand years of fierce battles!

The great kindness of master’s long bird thundering the heavens, we... shall never forget! The only wish is to follow with an unwavering oath, not forsaking a man’s ambition!

Of course, not everyone shares this positive and optimistic sentiment; many people actually hold a pessimistic view of the Immeasurable Catastrophe.

"I have a poem, listen silently!"

"In this mere world of humans, all directions are cages.

Only in what’s in the cup, does awakening and intoxication make the rich and the poor free"

Upon the delivery of this poem, many fell silent and set down their wine cups.

All worldly matters are cages. Is North Barbarian Kingdom the only one facing the Immeasurable Catastrophe?

Even if today’s hurdle of Immeasurable Catastrophe is passed, how many consequences will Lord Nifan face?

The poem is deeply pessimistic, yet it seeks to advise Ning Fan to abandon his obsession, and should the Immeasurable Catastrophe become insurmountable, it suggests that he protect himself and leave alone.

We have relied upon our lord to survive for a thousand years. Even if our end is unfavorable, we will never blame him, only feel gratitude!

"This poem... indeed holds some truth."

"No matter what choice the lord makes ultimately, we shall harbor no grievances!"

"Our lord must not sink into the mire for the sake of righteousness and kindness, nor gain an unfavorable outcome!"

"We are not worthy of such regard from the lord!"

"The world is never kind, but with Moral Sage like our lord, I believe it’s not utterly bleak..."

"Lord Nifan! Our lives are cheap as grass; good people like you should cherish yourself more!"

A mere melancholy poem unexpectedly stirred the empathy of countless people, prompting them to turn their gaze to Ning Fan with words of advice.

To this goodwill, Ning Fan could only feel speechless. When did I spend a thousand years of bloodshed on your behalf? How am I suddenly viewed as a Moral Sage praised by the world?

The misunderstanding runs deep yet defies explanation, leaving nothing but a weary shake of the head.

In their eyes, it appeared Ning Fan rejected their intentions, choosing to fight to the death here while striving for the salvation of the North Barbarian Kingdom! How radiant, how noble!

"We wish to die for Barbarian Veneration!" countless people teared up, sighed, and felt moved.

What started as a poetry session almost transformed into a rally of vows.

With eager anticipation, some gazed at Ning Fan, hoping for him to utter something shocking enough to lead everyone against the Immeasurable Catastrophe in a final stand!

"I also have a poem. Everyone, please listen quietly."

Ning Fan decided to offer a brief explanation. He was no Moral Sage and truly fell short of everyone’s expectations.

Thus, with a flick of his hand, he swiftly gathered some verses from heaven and earth to share with everyone.

"I am merely a free man, unrestrained.

I soar through the heavens and earth, cages are not my desire.

As wine empties, everyone leaves, gatherings and dispersals are fleeting.

I clutch my cloak and rise in song, the moon shines bright as jade."

The meaning: I am but an ordinary passerby, only sharing a brief encounter. I did not intend to render aid; gatherings and dispersals are merely coincidences. My fight against the cage isn’t for the sake of others but the moonlight in my heart...

These verses, while beautiful, were ill-timed as night had not yet fallen... And once it does, the sky is shrouded by catastrophe clouds, where then is the moon to be seen?

After all, Ning Fan simply drew these verses from the world without seeking an apt moment.

As for the mention of the moon, it was a hint to Nanke that he had discerned the true meaning of "Fish Beginning Moon End"... if Divine King Niyue indeed had some means to combat Fate Reincarnation, then now he could uncover those secrets!

Yet despite being unsuited to the occasion, the verses still garnered applause.

"So modest, too modest! A thousand years of guardianship and countless brushes with death, yet the lord merely claims it’s unintentional; what loftiness is this!"

"We worry for the lord’s safety, he also laments our gatherings and farewells?"

"Without moonlight, the lord’s poem evokes the moon; is this an implicit sway that we are the moonlight in the lord’s heart, to be vowedly protected?"

"We are unworthy! What virtue do we possess to be the moonlight in the lord’s heart! Sob!"

Countless elders felt their eyes redden.

Not a few female cultivators secretly yearned, thinking themselves ordinary, yet somehow the lord’s white moonlight, the reason he fights bravely... Spring hearts were secretly stirred while even some elderly crones...

Enough...

Ning Fan sighed softly.

I have explained, yet you disbelieve, and even maliciously speculate—I am helpless.

He only cast his gaze upon Nanke, awaiting Nanke’s response.

Many consequences reveal that Divine King Niyue possibly foresaw all concerning Northern Barbarian Vastness and left behind contingencies.

But whether Nanke knew of Niyue’s plan, Ning Fan wasn’t certain...

If there were no plan from Niyue, Ning Fan would confront this in his way; but if there were one... perhaps it could resolve everything more perfectly, avoiding his own sacrifice leading to an endless cycle of consequences, bringing Hongling lifetimes of pain and despair...

Meeting Ning Fan’s gaze, Nanke seemed able to see the resolution within it.

This child met Seven Apricot, yet was still prepared with resolve, willing to vow unto reincarnation, willing to sacrifice everything, in exchange for rewriting the reincarnation of his little sister...

Thus, he qualified to drink the Niyue Wine, for without sufficient enlightenment, this wine was truly harmful and not beneficial... Even with the determination to die, this wine still inflicted great harm.

Ning Fan asked with poetry, so Nan Ke also replied with poetry.

"I have a poem that can dispel the confusion in your young heart."

"The room of emptiness is often shut during the day, the heart source knows Wukong.

After a shower in the Zen garden, among the ten thousand flowers of the lotus world.

Seasons flow with fragrant twilight, this gathering of humans and gods alike.

Unaware of the convenient truth, the slanted moon emerges from the fenceless cage."

The others did not understand the cause and effect of the Reverse Saint, naturally could not hear the deep meaning in Nan Ke’s poem.

But Ning Fan understood!

The words Wukong, cryptically hinted at the cause and effect of the Purple Dou... The Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign’s gaze seemed to be observing this place!

The Zen garden hinted at Zhang Dao’s origin from Hun Kun Saint Sect, and the rain hinted at one’s own cause and effect... It seemed necessary for one’s own body to lure a downpour, thus extracting all subsequent variables.

The ten thousand flowers cryptically hinted at the cause and effect of Chiwei, but the ten thousand flowers would also reach their twilight due to this event...

The slanted moon cryptically hinted at Niyue, if unaware of how to save everything, then try the means of the Divine King Niyue, and see if one can escape the cage!

Ning Fan’s gaze brightened.

There indeed was a turnaround in this matter, I should not take myself too seriously, yet also should not overlook those supreme existences that have already perished.

Though the enemy is the Five Inversions, if I can induce variables, causing a flaw in the fate reincarnation, then fate still possesses possibilities that even the Reverse Saints cannot observe!

...

Having received Nan Ke’s response, Ning Fan naturally wouldn’t linger at the poetry meeting.

With Nan Ke’s guidance, once again entered the Dreamland Realm, where the Niyue God’s position was worshiped.

Only this time, within the realm awaited Gourd Master, the First Withered of the Supreme Inversion!

Moreover, this time the realm was shrouded with an unprecedented amount of The Unknown, encrypting and isolating everything here to the highest level!

A gigantic human-faced Bloody Gourd stood in the endless void, overlooking the rocky continent formed by the Niyue’s severed palm, with a solemn yet sorrowful expression, seemingly waiting here for a long time.

Until Ning Fan arrived, a smile finally appeared on the gourd’s face.

"Kid, not bad! To have the guts to truly come and drink Niyue Wine, Gourd Master rarely admires anyone, but you, are worth Gourd Master’s admiration! A real man!"

"Niyue Wine?" Ning Fan showed confusion.

He could instantly comprehend many causes and effects, but even entering the Life Realm and reaching the extreme of the Heaven Separation Sect, he could not glimpse even the slightest cause and effect of Niyue Wine.

This was something that even the True Realm Heretic Saint could not see through, how could Ning Fan see through it!

Precisely for this reason, the cause and effect related to Niyue could possibly deceive the heavens and stab fate reincarnation in the back.

"What? He still doesn’t know about the Niyue Wine? You haven’t told him yet?" Gourd Master complained.

"There’s been no time to say it, the wind outside is strong, not suitable for speaking extensively, this realm has the ability to isolate, perfect for discussing important matters! After all, the matters related to this wine, even Seven Apricot does not know, it is the greatest secret of my master, besides Gourd Master and me, only Han Yuanji knows, and you are the fourth to be informed. If not for witnessing your unwavering affection for your little sister, this great secret would never be told." The latter words were said to Ning Fan by Nan Ke.

This great secret, which is not even known to Seven Apricot or Fish Beginning Moon End, if known, with the personalities of the two women, they would certainly drink this wine excessively at any cost.

Even the Purple Dou does not know of this wine’s existence...

After all, Niyue Wine is the last hope left by the Divine King Niyue for his daughter, able to forcibly bring a flawless fate into another possibility, it must not be calculated by various Inversions or fall into the hands of others!

If the Purple Dou knew this wine, he might use it to save the common people, but that would contradict the original intention of Niyue in creating this wine.

He created this wine out of personal motives, not public good.

Precisely because this secret is so significant, in true history, Nan Ke, even when captured by Zi Wei and subjected to numerous calculations of the True Realm, still bit down on the secret without letting it slip.

Even the Infinite Gate could not soul search for the content related to this wine, and this is precisely the formidable aspect of the cause and effect of Niyue!

And after Nan Ke was captured, Gourd Master remained perpetually dormant in the Dreamland Realm of Niyue, waiting for the next possibility.

And now Ning Fan has come, another person capable of bearing the cause and effect of this wine has appeared!

"Though Gourd Master I am not a Saint, but after all comparable to a Heaven-Opening Artifact, therefore your vow of reincarnation, I have heard it."

"It is not only the Seventh Princess who secretly observes you, for a whole thousand years, I have also been observing you, everything you have done is in my eyes, you, are a real man! Worthy of the Ninth Princess!"

"The various Inversions of the True Realm only know me as the First Withered of the Ancient Country’s Artifact Supreme Inversion, yet do not know why a mere Vital Essence Gourd like me can rank in the first position. The true reason is that I possess the authority to brew Niyue Wine, able to make the various ancient country’s artifacts pale in comparison! Before my master’s departure, he left the Seventh Princess the merits of nine days, and the Ninth Princess the moonlight of nine days, secretly yet left Nan Ke the First Withered of Supreme Inversion, myself..."

"The Divine King rolls a die, a six-sided die representing the Six Paths of Reincarnation; yet it lands on a seventh possibility, and this is the power of Niyue Wine."

"Drinking this wine, one will inevitably lose something in exchange for an unobservable possibility."

"The cost that must be paid is difficult to determine. Even I, the Gourd Master, have drunk Niyue Wine and as a result, I forever lost the chance to ascend to become a Heaven-Opening Artifact... But my wish was also fulfilled. I wished to save Nan Ke, to rewrite Nan Ke’s destiny, and so you appeared here, responding to my desire."

"Nan Ke also drank Niyue Wine, and the cost was... to become eternal at the moment of fate. This cost was precisely what answered his wish, only that his life would stop here, with no chance of truly becoming a Reverse Saint again."

"Han Yuanji was even more formidable, having drunk Niyue Wine twice. His cost is unknown, as he never disclosed it, but he must have paid a great price... and his madness is already well-known across the River of Time. Perhaps that is also the cost of Niyue Wine, and whether his wish was fulfilled... I can only say a glimmer of it has been seen now, but it hasn’t truly come to pass, for he has yet to rescue you and the Ninth Princess..."

"And today, you have come to drink Niyue Wine. Drinking this wine, you may lose something very important, and in return, this wine might fulfill your wish, or it might not... You should consider this carefully..."

Though revealing the great secret of Niyue Wine, the Gourd Master would not force Ning Fan to actually drink it.

If awareness is insufficient, drinking this wine is more harmful than beneficial. Rather than fulfilling the drinker’s wish, it seems more like it harvests the drinker’s obsession.

If the obsession is not strong enough, the desire cannot be realized, and the cost will be in vain.

Without being a demon, one cannot drink it! Drinking it is akin to taking poison and seeking death!

"By drinking this wine, I will lose something indeed..." Ning Fan was slightly silent.

He thought to himself, I met the Immortal Whale with my master, which should be Niyue Wine responding to my master’s wish.

But my master’s original wish was to save me and Hongling, which ultimately was not realized. Instead, the hope of saving was passed onto me through the mouth of the Immortal Whale.

Does this count as realizing a wish? It counts, and it doesn’t.

As for whether my master’s madness was the cost of this wine, that is uncertain, for although my master was confused upon entering the Immortal Whale, he wasn’t quite like a madman... yet the possibility that he paid the cost and fell into madness after our encounter cannot be ruled out...

Insanity...

"Since the cost may include ’insanity,’ could it also include ’forgetting’..."

If I drink this wine, I may be like the Gourd Master, unable to break through to the Fourth Step in this life.

Or I may be like Senior Nan Ke, whose cultivation is frozen in eternity...

These costs are not to be feared, but if I become insane like my master, losing all memories of her, can I bear that cost...

Considering this possibility, Ning Fan felt a heaviness that suffocated him. He did not fear losing cultivation but feared losing everything related to her...

"But if I don’t take this risk, even if I am confident of sacrificing myself to make her unbreakable, the outcome will surely return to the starting point of her seeking me and saving me across lifetimes... If I save her for one life, it will only result in her suffering and despair across countless reincarnations, appearing to change everything but actually remaining in the cycle of reincarnation..."

Or perhaps, after drinking this wine, I will fall into an eternal no-return...

This aligns with the causality I saw when comprehending the Rain Control Position.

I will fall into an eternal no-return, becoming the endless wind and rain that protects her through life after life...

If so, it isn’t bad...

This is a grand gamble, wagering unknown costs for unknown possibilities!

But if it can bring a true change to her cold and despairing reincarnation... there’s no need to hesitate!

"Please grant me Niyue Wine, Senior."

Ning Fan deeply bowed to the Gourd Master.

Such a precious treasure, yet the other was willing to let him drink it, how could it not be considered a blessing.

"Good! A real man!"

Black moonlight flew out from the Vital Essence Gourd of the first withered Supreme Inversion, transforming into a cup of ink-like wine, carrying the vast reincarnation and Daoist thought of the Divine King Niyue.

"This wine must be consumed with star techniques to be most effective."

Star techniques?

Ning Fan took the Niyue Wine, willed himself into the Taiji Genesis and Termination Realm, and pushed the power of Star Yin Yang to the extreme.

Chiwei Daoism also has a star technique inheritance, but at this moment, the stars Ning Fan manifested were all black, thus responding to the expectation of the Shadow of the Heavenly Emperor.

Perhaps using Black Star Technique to drink Niyue Wine can better respond to the wish in my heart...

Ning Fan raised the cup and drank it all in one go.

An endless bitter taste dissolved in his mouth, as if swallowing the seawater of a bitter sea directly.

Yet the wine also had a certain power, allowing Ning Fan’s eyes to see more reincarnations, more causality, and saw how he would fail in his countless attempts to save Hongling...

The obsession in his heart was at that moment infinitely magnified, followed by the pain akin to the Destruction of Obsession Fire Punishment in the True Realm!

Burning!

Everything was burning fiercely, like a butterfly’s unrepentant decisive burning wings!

As the flames consumed everything, Ning Fan’s demonic spirit blood slowly turned into nothingness...

Though his demonic spirit blood was weak, it was the closest match to his cultivation, yet at this moment, it was vanishing...

Ning Fan felt an immense weakness in his daoist thought, instantly spitting out a mouthful of black blood, nearly fracturing his spirit sense.

Zhimo!

Besides her, the demonic path had been his lifelong pursuit, yet now, losing the demonic spirit blood, the chance to cultivate it again seemed slim...

However, Ning Fan felt no regret or loss.

This price was still within an acceptable range, far lighter compared to the price paid by Gourd Master, Senior Nan Ke, and Master.

Perhaps it was the protection of the Black Star Technique that played a role...

Black Star, Black Star...

The black starlight descended by the Starfall Technique caused a wonderful chain reaction at this moment!

Ning Fan felt his consciousness lighten, and the next instant, his consciousness returned to the moment he was playing chess with the Shadow of the Heavenly Emperor!

This feeling of crossing time and space was like... using the Moonlight Treasure Box in the past!

Yet it was countless times more powerful than the Moonlight Treasure Box!

Indeed, the so-called Taiyin Holy Sect and the Moonlight Treasure Box were also the cause and effect of Divine King Niyue...

"Butterfly Boy, since you returned here, you must have already taken the Niyue Wine and lost something, right? Do you know who I am now..." said the shadow behind the chess table, placing his piece on the board.

"I don’t know." Ning Fan was aware the other was Niyue, but precisely because she was Niyue, everything was unknowable.

All that could be known was within the circle.

Only the unknowable was outside the circle!

"It is good that you don’t know. With this game of chess, you have a slight hope to rewrite certain things, but you must understand that this still does not change your destined to lose fate, unless you open the Five Spirits Chessboard, this fate cannot be erased, not even I can do it..."

"But as long as you do not give up this sliver of hope and face countless failures, even the Five Spirits Chessboard will eventually be shaken."

"Will you intervene in this matter, Senior?" Ning Fan asked with greatest hope.

"I can no longer intervene; this is merely a shadow, the real me has stepped out into the wilderness, never to return..."

"I knew it..." Ning Fan sighed internally.

"Rather than this, why don’t you check what you truly lost after drinking the Niyue Wine?"

"I lost the demonic spirit blood... Wait, that’s not right..."

Ning Fan originally thought he lost his demonic spirit blood, but now he distinctly felt it – the blood that should have faded still retained a thread of connection with him.

Why is this...?

"Birds in the world are not born knowing how to fly, until everything becomes natural. When all beings are accustomed to possessing everything they are born with, they find it difficult to realize that life itself is a kind of luck, an accident in fate; whereas annihilation is the true destination of all beings... When you see the black moon, reverse it then you’ll face extinction, now you should be able to comprehend its profound truth."

"If your demonic spirit blood has perished, it has returned to its origin, but destruction does not mean loss, what is called non-existence is merely the other side of existence. If your conviction is not strong enough, then the demonic spirit blood will truly be lost, and your demonic spirit road will thus be cut off, but if your conviction is strong enough to transcend life and death, then even what has perished can respond to your expectations! And this is what truly frightening about the Holder Cultivator..."

"Congratulations, Butterfly Boy, now you have cast the dice allowing the seventh possibility... And this is something the Fate Reincarnation cannot observe, for this matter is no longer within the circle of the fourth ring!"

"Naturally, you also have to pay a price, if demonic spirit blood is not the price, then keeping this secret will become the greatest price! Only the unspeakable is unknowable..."

"Everything related to this, you will never be able to speak... This is the price, but because of the existence of the price, hope can be preserved..."

Endless moonlight poured into Ning Fan’s body, turning into an unspeakable shackle, firmly locking the fact that Ning Fan hadn’t lost demonic spirit blood.

He could not tell this to anyone, not even his dearest woman...

"Bearing one lie requires more lies, if the Niyue road is a little lie you weave for Xiaojiu, then turn this lie into a grand deception..."

"And at the end of the lie, if you meet that raven, give him relief... I will wait for him at the end of the long silence."

Ding ding!

[Main task: Give the Calamity Master relief!]

[Task requirement: Give the Master of Calamity Thought relief! Task reward, none...]

The Saint Child Thunder Scripture emitted a sound!

But this doesn’t seem right... As the causal entanglement of the Trial World deepens, the rules of the Saint Child Trial cannot apply, much less in front of Divine King Niyue!

Evidently, it was the Divine King borrowing the mouth of the Thunder Book to make a request to Ning Fan.

But this request... could be considered imposing difficulty on a person!

Giving the Calamity Master relief, even the True Realm Heretic Saint couldn’t do it, yet an insignificant Immortal King like me, you truly hold me in high regard, Old Man...

It was at this moment that Ning Fan finally understood, Divine King Niyue had personal intentions, but those intentions weren’t just about his daughter...

Furthermore, upon hearing the words "give relief," Ning Fan vaguely felt the causal response of the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign.

Give relief...

It seemed the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign once also wanted to give the Calamity Master relief but failed...

"Go, challenge everything, rewrite everything, but remember one thing..."

"What?" Ning Fan, in a solemn demeanor, knew that if the Divine King emphasized it, it must be a monumental matter, perhaps another breakthrough key...

"Do not call me father-in-law, I haven’t truly acknowledged it yet." My goodness! The Divine King is also a daughter-obsessed, reluctant to let his daughter marry someone!

And then time returned.

Ning Fan’s consciousness returned to the Niyue illusion realm.

His consciousness had left for a long time, but in Gourd Master and Senior Nan Ke’s eyes, Ning Fan had only just drunk the Niyue Wine and seemed to have lost something.

"May I ask what you have lost, young friend?" Gourd Master and Nan Ke nervously inquired.

"Lost the demonic spirit blood..." Losing the demonic spirit blood wasn’t unspeakable; not losing it was the unspeakable matter.

Ning Fan tried, found he couldn’t speak the truth, so had to continue the lie.

"Hiss! Young friend was originally of the supreme form of Fiendgods dual spirits, now to have lost the demonic spirit road..." Gourd Master and Nan Ke appeared shocked and regretful, but observing their expressions, Ning Fan couldn’t help feeling they seem to be acting.

Hold on!

Could these two seniors know I haven’t truly lost the demonic spirit blood?

How do they know?

Is it possible the supposed great price they paid was also a lie, thus they know!

Ning Fan’s gaze shifted, then returned to calm.

Observing Gourd Master and Nan Ke again, he no longer felt sympathy or regret.

Alright alright alright! Is everyone carrying unspeakable shackles? Is everyone telling a grand lie?

People say after drinking, truth emerges, but this wine acts contrary, making people tell lies...

Yet Ning Fan wasn’t against lying, from the beginning he knew if his power was insufficient, he could only use countless lies to weave a grand finale...

And he thought of Master.

If Old Monster Han hadn’t turned insane because of Niyue Wine, that would indeed be good news.

But why did Master go insane, was he pretending to be insane, after all, he too cast a dice, and had the seventh possibility...

No, Master drank Niyue Wine twice! He even has an eighth possibility...

Losing!

Ning Fan: "Is there more of this wine..."

Gourd Master: "None left! Not a drop!"

But knowing Gourd Master and Nan Ke have set the lying persona, Ning Fan could see through it in an instant, Gourd Master must have more Niyue Wine, but is reluctant to let him drink more!

Possibly wanting to use good steel on the blade, saving it for later use...

Gourd Master was shocked looking at Ning Fan, he didn’t understand!

Drinking Niyue Wine clearly required a great price, why did this child, like Han Yuanji, dare to drink again! Is this child truly a rare great man, a true man of the world, not fearing the price of this wine!

What an immense spirit!

But he is the Ninth Princess’ husband, this wine must not be drunk too much! It’s for the sake of the other’s health!

It turned out, Gourd Master that year lack conviction, truly paid a price to exchange for a thread of hope.

While Nan Ke seemed to really understand why Ning Fan still dared to drink Niyue Wine...

Gourd Master’s price was real, but Nan Ke’s price, however, was false... Saying it was false was not accurate, he indeed needed to maintain the Fate Immortal Eternity, exchanging for the hope of Niyue’s return, but once Niyue truly returned, he would lay down the shackles and regain new life...

Only a world where Gourd Master paid the price has been achieved!

It was just because his original intention to save Nan Ke wasn’t strong enough, but if it truly was strong enough to cross life and death, he and Nan Ke might couldn’t have become brothers...

This was Gourd Master’s misfortune, yet Nan Ke’s great fortune.

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