Grasping Evil

Chapter 403 The Star Punishing Bow

It was Ning Fan’s first time showing off the Myriad Sword Style ever since he had learned it.

This was a Void Fragmentation Realm sword technique. With his current level in the Dao of Swords, he could only comprehend one-tenth of it.

Even so, it was already stronger compared to ordinary Mortal Void Realm sword techniques even though Ning Fan was just casually using it without thinking about it.

Xuan Yi’s old eyes stared at Ning Fan even more deeply. He found out that he could not see through the paths of Ning Fan’s sword shadows with his eyes.

A strange and uneasy feeling rose within him, telling him that he would likely lose this battle.

“No! I am a Void Refinement Realm expert. How is it possible for me to lose to a Divine Transformation Realm junior?!”

Then, self-pride and arrogance overpowered his hesitation. His eyes flashed with determination. When he made a hand seal, the six silver wings on his back flapped at the same time, giving off rays of silver light which resembled starlight.

When he grabbed the silver light with one of his hands, the light immediately condensed into a long silver bow.

Holding the silver bow, Xuan Yi stood at the peak of Feiyue Mountain with an air of arrogance. He drew the string of the bow even though there was no physical arrow nocked on it.

However, as soon as the string was pulled, the starlight above the sky was drawn to the bow, forming into an arrow of starlight.

All of a sudden, the entire night sky began to tremble. It felt like if this arrow was fired, its power would be so great that it could destroy Tianqi Island in its entirety!

When the bow was aimed straight at Ning Fan, he felt like his blood veins were about to burn.

The eyes on his face which looked more serious now were filled with a bit of astonishment.

If he was not wrong, the technique of forming a bow using starlight really resembled the lost divine ability of the ancient fiendgods which was called the Star Punishing Bow!

However, when Xuan Yi displayed this technique, it seemed a little obsolete. Besides, Xuan Yi had not comprehended a starlight technique and did not have a natal star. Thus, perhaps not even one-thousandth of the original might of this technique could be activated when he’s the one using it.

If it was a true ancient fiendgod who used this technique, they could shatter a star just by drawing a bow!

They could eliminate a small chiliocosm by firing an arrow!

The astonishment in Ning Fan’s eyes turned into excitement.

This technique is certainly nice!

“This is the Star Punishing Bow, the fiendgod divine ability that was created by the ancestor of my Six-Winged Clan! Even though the might of this technique when I’m the one using it isn’t even one-thousandth compared to when my ancestor uses it, you won’t be able to withstand it! Let me offer you a piece of advice. Hurry up and summon your spiritual puppets. Otherwise, you will be killed by this technique!”

“Do you think so?!”

Ning Fan made a step forward and swung his Separation Slayer Sword in a small arc. The thousands of traces of sword shadows around him were all activated at the same moment!

Even though the sword had just arced slightly across the air, it seemed like it had sliced the darkness in half, bringing upon the far dawn. A desolate and solemn sword intent spread out from Ning Fan’s body. At the next moment, it encompassed the vicinity of one hundred thousand li* (500m per li) on Tianqi Island!

Countless cultivators were instantly affected by the extremely impressive sword intent before they could even react. All of them were completely overwhelmed by the sword might which immobilized them!

On the island, only the lord of the island who was a Divine Transformation Realm cultivator retained his ability to move. However, when he sensed the terrifying sword intent on the outside world, he did not even have the courage to go out and find out what it was.

The current Ning Fan stood imposingly on the peak of Feiyu Mountain. His white robes fluttered in the wind and his long black hair danced wildly, making him look like an absolute devil.

When this technique was displayed by Yun Tianjue, the sword rays were as ferocious as dragons and as massive as clouds. However, when Ning Fan used it, it was desolate to a terrifying extent.

Below the moon which was dyed blood-red by Ning Fan’s baleful qi, a huge cloud which was black like ink suddenly emerged. If one takes a closer look at it, they would discover that that black mass was not a cloud at all. Instead, it was sword qi!

The profound principle of turning one into ten thousand was not only about multiplying a sword shadow into ten thousand.

On top of the ten thousand traces of sword shadows, one could still continue on duplicating them. Like Yun Tianjue, he had literally applied the principle of ten thousand duplications again on the foundation of the ten thousand traces of sword shadows which he had conjured, producing one hundred million traces of sword shadows.

Theoretically speaking, as long as one has enough magic power, the one hundred million traces of swords could still be duplicated infinitely. There were basically no limitations at all in duplicating the sword shadows using this Myriad Sword Style.

Ning Fan had only comprehended one-tenth of this sword technique. He could not produce one hundred million traces of sword shadows but he had managed to make ten million traces of them!

The cloudlike black mass which covered the blood-red moon from everyone’s view was none other than the sword shadows that Ning Fan had produced with a single sword!

When he lifted the sword in his hand, the black cloud occupying the vast night sky transformed into countless rays of moving sword light and was like a massive black dragon dancing in the air!

“Myriad Sword Style!”

The light of the sword flashed within Ning Fan’s eyes. When he pointed his sword at Xuan Yi, ten million sword shadows fell upon the latter in volleys like heavy rain, drowning him in a matter of seconds.

An immense feeling of danger instantly flowed across Xuan Yi’s body, urging him who was in a state of stupefaction to immediately let go of the string of his bow. An arrow of starlight was launched from the bow. This almost used up all of his magic power!

As soon as the silver bow was drawn, the hollow space within the vicinity of one hundred thousand li* (500m per li) exploded into pieces!

After a loud bang, the Feiyue Mountain crumbled and half of Tianqi Island sank into the deep ocean!

Innumerable cultivators cried out in shock. None of them were injured or killed as they were only impacted by the waves of force. Even so, screams of fright and terror reverberated throughout the island

Who was it?! Who drew the bow and shot the arrow?! Whose arrow sank half of the island with that mighty force?!

No one had an answer! Under the concealment of ten million rays of sword light, no one was able to use their spirit sense to spy into the battle!

After Feiyue Mountain collapsed, Ning Fan saved the two women but they were directly pushed to the hollow space.

Facing the arrow ray which was whistling towards them, even Ning Fan felt a hint of danger.

It was already able to stir one’s soul even though Xuan Yi had only unleashed one-thousandth of the original might of the technique.

If it was really a true ancient fiendgod who used this technique, it would not be strange if that single arrow could wipe out the entire Rain World.

However, since Xuan Yi was the one who displayed this technique, it was far from enough to defeat Ning Fan!

Ten million black swords and a ray of arrow starlight clashed against each other in the middle of the sky.

The sword shadows disintegrated immediately one after another. Meanwhile, traces of starlight of the arrow began to diminish as well.

Xuan Yi’s eyes were filled with surprise. Even though he had gone all-out to draw that bow, that single arrow did not bring him victory. It was as if his full-powered strike was on par with Ning Fan’s technique.

Then, Ning Fan rotated the tip of his sword, intensifying his sword intent. His Immortal Entrapping Sword Intent then spread across the hollow space. At the next second, the might of the millions of sword shadows instantly doubled, engulfing the arrow of starlight.

*Bang*

Nine million sword shadows shattered and the arrow of starlight dispersed. Its remaining force scattered in all directions, causing heaven and earth to tremble!

The final one million sword shadows broke free from the resistance of the arrow and went straight to Xuan Yi at once.

Xuan Yi’s expression changed greatly. He could not believe that his full-powered attack was actually slightly weaker than Ning Fan’s technique!

*Puke*

One million sword shadows rushed at him in the blink of an eye. They were too fast. Xuan Yi could not avoid being barraged with this volley of sword shadows in his current exhausted state even though he had an incredible movement speed.

Despite the strength of his physical body as a Void Refinement Realm devil cultivator, he was immediately hurt by the one million sword shadows, causing him to cough out blood incessantly.

The silver light of his six silver wings became dim. Aside from that, there were even scars and wounds on them. His robes became tattered like a street beggar’s as blood gushed out from the cuts on his body!

He looked at Ning Fan with horror. The might of his sword technique was just too terrifying!

An absurd feeling filled his heart. If Ning Fan breaks through to the Void Refinement Realm in the future and fights him with the same cultivation level, all he needs would be a single sword to take his life!

Even though this young man has yet to attain the Void Refinement Realm, it was already not difficult for him to be on equal grounds against me in the battle when he only had a single sword. Moreover, he was still a little stronger than me!

He is certainly very strong!

“You’ve lost!”

Ning Fan kept his sword and stood in mid-air while using his other hand to block the wind from the Void Realm for his two women.

A power was coiling around the tip of his finger. It was void power. Xuan Yi’s eyes shone with even greater surprise.

Being able to control the power of the Void? At the very least, one has to be a cultivator who has passed the Void Inquiry Stage in order to do so!

Xuan Yi was only a cultivator of the Void Glimpse Stage.

Could it be that this man has actually succeeded in the Void Inquiry Stage?

Does it mean that he managed to gain the upper hand against me during our battle with just a single sword while having a part of his attention divided to take care of his two women?

If he was not preoccupied, even though the sword technique he displayed might not be able to kill me, it would not just inflict such shallow injuries on me!

At least… He might be able to sever one of my arms and wings!

“I concede defeat…” Xuan Yi revealed a disheartened look. The confidence he had at first while confronting Ning Fan was no longer there.

He had already used his strongest technique but still lost to Ning Fan’s Myriad Sword Style. According to their promise, he had to give Ning Fan the right to use the Revival Platform.

“As promised, Fellow Daoist is allowed to use the Revival Platform. But… you must wait until one year later…”

“One year? This is not a part of our agreement.” Ning Fan frowned, expressing a hint of displeasure.

“Fellow Daoist, please don’t misunderstand. The activation of the Revival Platform requires a lot of preparations. Sacrificial offerings, formation techniques and so on. Each and every step is essential. Usually, we will only use this platform when the experts of our clan are grievously injured. Even if Fellow Daoist did not win against me just now, I will also have to wait after one year of preparation after bringing Hei Yi’s primordial spirit back in order to use the power of the Revival Platform to reconstruct his body and treat his injuries…”

Xuan Yi hurriedly explained, worried that Ning Fan would misunderstand him for not keeping his promise.

Furthermore, he was clear on one thing now – the Six-Winged Clan did not have the qualifications to negotiate with Ning Fan on an equal footing at all.

Ning Fan’s strength was already comparable to an ordinary Void Refinement Realm being and his means were even more terrifying.

Apart from that, if he calls out his three Void Refinement Realm spiritual puppets, it would not be difficult for him to eradicate the Six-Winged Clan!

The current Xuan Yi was no longer willing to offend Ning Fan anymore!

“Since the Revival Platform will need one year of preparation, I will head to the Six-Winged Clan a year later. However, if this is how it works, I suppose Fellow Daoist Xuan Yi still owes me a little more. Besides, your arrow has destroyed half of my Tianqi Island. Naturally, it will have to be compensated.”

“Compensations? Hehe. As long as Fellow Daoist’s requests are reasonable, I’ll try my best to fulfill them.” Xuan Yi smiled apologetically. There was no longer the brutality and haughtiness in him anymore. He did not even have any objections towards Ning Fan’s requests.

What a joke! Since he had already promised to lend Ning Fan the Revival Platform which was the most important treasure of the Six-Winged Clan, how can he mind giving other things?

“I want… the Star Punishing Bow Technique!”

Once again, Ning Fan said something surprising which completely dumbfounded Xuan Yi after hearing his words.

Xuan Yi had never expected that Ning Fan would set his eyes on the ancestral secret technique of the Six-Winged Clan this time.

“This…” Xuan Yi felt troubled again.

“Is Fellow Daoist refusing?” Ning Fan’s tone sounded a little cold.

“No. It’s fine if Fellow Daoist wants to learn this technique. However, Fellow Daoist have to make a vow first…”

Before Xuan Yi finished his words, Ning Fan interjected.

“I don’t have the habit of making vows.”

Ning Fan did not need to give in to Xuan Yi’s request at all.

He had set his eyes on the Revival Platform and the Star Punishing Bow. If Xuan Yi refuses to give it to him, he would directly kill his way into the Six-Winged Clan and wipe out this devil clan in its entirety. Then, he could get everything he wanted.

It was natural for him to be this domineering even with his demands because his strength was much stronger than the Six-Winged Clan.

If it wasn’t because he possessed three Void Refinement Realm spiritual puppets and his formidable strength which was comparable to the Void Refinement Realm, the Six-Winged Clan would probably send out all of their experts to finish him off. Why would they still have such a lengthy negotiation with him?

When everyone defames you, bullies you, humiliates you and laughs at you, what should you do?

You should do what they did unto you. Defame him back, bully him back, humiliate him back and laugh at him back. Why should you tolerate him?!

Xuan Yi let out a long sigh. Unfortunately, he could not afford to mess with Ning Fan. His only choice was to put up with him.

The Star Punishing Bow Technique was complex and hard to understand. The requirements of practicing this technique were even more demanding. Not only would one need to condense devil veins, but they also need to comprehend star techniques.

If one does not know any star techniques, the destructive power of this technique would only be equivalent to a Mortal Void Realm magical technique.

If one can condense a natal star, then the power of the technique would be extremely extraordinary.

If Xuan Yi had condensed even just half a natal star, he would not lose to Ning Fan during the fight just now. However, it was obvious that with his innate talent, it was unlikely for him to be able to comprehend star techniques even after he becomes an immortal being.

“*Sigh* Fellow Daoist must use this technique well… This is the jade slip that the ancestor of my clan himself imprinted. Fellow Daoist can take a look. When you learn this technique in the future, please return this jade slip to me.”

“Sure.” Ning Fan nodded his head. Xuan Yi’s request was still quite acceptable this time. Thus, he was not going to refuse.

He patted his storage pouch and took out a sealed primordial spirit. It was none other than Hei Yi.

He lifted the seal and tossed it to Xuan Yi. Without uttering another word, he held his two women and turned to leave.

He would only head to the Six-Winged Clan one year later, not now.

After Hei Yi’s seal was erased, his primordial spirit gradually regained consciousness. All of a sudden, he saw the great elder’s face and Ning Fan’s back. His mind was still a little unclear and hence, he said in surprise and anger.

“Great Elder! You’ve come to rescue me! Kill him! It’s him who destroyed my physical body…”

“Shut up! After we return to the clan, you aren’t allowed to leave the clan for even a single step within one thousand years. Otherwise, I will kill you myself!”

Xuan Yi roared at him at once, literally making the latter petrified.

What a joke. He, Xuan Yi, was unwilling to offend Ning Fan anymore in his entire life.

If Hei Yi causes more trouble and provokes Ning Fan, he would be the first person to execute him with a single slap.

After being scolded by Xuan Yi, Hei Yi gradually became more clear-headed. Only then did he realize that the great elder looked rather tattered and worn. The latter had taken quite some damage whereas Ning Fan who was standing far from them was not injured at all…

Additionally, the injuries that the great elder suffered did not seem to be attacks from spiritual puppets. Instead, they were cuts left by countless swords…

Aside from that, the cuts on his body still contained the qi and sword intent of Ning Fan…

Instantly, a feeling of immense astonishment and fear spread throughout Hei Yi.

Could it be that the Great Elder battled against Zhou Ming?! Could it be that he has lost to him?! How is this possible?! The Great Elder is the strongest being in the Six-Winged Clan!

Hei Yi who was already conscious now was scared to the core by Ning Fan!

Ning Fan, the female corpse and Yue Lingkong flew back to Tianqi Island.

Looking at the miserable condition of the island, none of them was moved or affected.

There was no casualty. Only half of the island was destroyed. Thus, there was no need to fuss about nothing.

Ning Fan did not explain to everyone at all about what had happened earlier. There was also no one who saw that the person who fought against Ning Fan just now was the great elder of the Six-Winged Clan.

Now, the moon portal had already formed. Without any hesitation, the three of them entered the portal with a single step.

The moonlight dispersed and the trio vanished from the place they were standing along with the moonlight. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they appeared at an island which was three hundred million li* (500m per li) away.

This island was also a subordinate force to the Divine Space Island in the past. Currently, this island has been sealed off too, just like what had happened to Tianqi Island when they first arrived.

However, the lord of this island had learned to be obedient.

Just as Yue Lingkong crushed the formation light of this island with a single hand, nobody tried to resist her at all. All of them knew that the people who had come were Revered Ming and Venerated Moon.

It was still fine if it was just Yue Lingkong whose cultivation base had regressed. Ning Fan, however, was a person that they certainly would not want to mess with.

One day ago, this island was still under the alliance of a second-rate force. However, right after the news of the battle on Tianqi Island spread, the second-rate force immediately gave up on this island and all the other related territories. They had even prepared expensive gifts, getting ready to make an apology to the Divine Space Island at any time.

Naturally, all these gifts went into Ning Fan’s pocket. As for the spiritual medicine on the island, Ning Fan took all of them once again.

Due to the interruption earlier, they had already missed the third quarter moon. Hence, they had to wait until the next night to activate the moon portal again.

Judging by their current progress, they would really need an entire month to arrive at the Divine Space Island as they could only make a journey of three hundred million li* (500m per li) per night and the route was full of twists and turns.

However, compared to Ning Fan flying on his own, it saved them quite a lot of time. Furthermore, other than the time of teleporting to the next moon portal which was equal to the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Ning Fan could spend the rest of the time on doing his own things.

Refining pills, refining pills and refining pills.

Adding up all the spiritual medicine from the two islands’ storages, they were enough for him to produce a few pellets of Consciousness Repairing Pill.

Taking advantage of the pill concoction speed in the Profound Yin World which was one hundred times faster than in the outside world, Ning Fan also refined some Fifth Revolution Pills such as the Divine Injury Pill and Spirit Solidifying Pills.

After feeding the female corpse a Consciousness Repairing Pill, the female corpse’s Sea of Consciousness got better once again. Ning Fan felt more relieved because of that.

However, after letting Luo You consume the Spirit Solidifying Pill which he had made into medicinal liquid, he sighed dejectedly as she still did not wake up.

“If you wake up, there’s no need for me to be afraid of the Ghost Eye Clan anymore. I can just travel in the internal sea freely and domineeringly…” He gently brushed Luo You’s hair aside and stroked her face. Then, he let out another sigh and left.

Right after he left, only then did Luo You slowly opened her eyes. She no longer pretended to be asleep. Her eyes were filled with confusion. Within her confusion, there was also a hint of worry.

“The Ghost Eye Clan? Did he face some troubles? Should I tell him that I am already awake and help him settle his troubles?”

“I think it’s better not to… If he is in danger, I will naturally know. Let’s wait until he is really in danger. Only then will I reveal myself… It’s still too awkward to let him know now…”

One month passed by in a flash.

From the beginning of their journey up until now, Ning Fan had gone to more than thirty islands. After tomorrow, they would pass through the last moon portal and they would then arrive at the Divine Space Sea Domain.

Within this period of time, Ning Fan had produced one hundred plus pellets of Consciousness Repairing Pills. He fed the female corpse all of the pills and managed to help her recover her Late Divine Transformation Realm strength.

His pill refining skill also improved in the process. He was now only a hair’s breadth away from attaining the High Grade Fifth Revolution Pill Refining Skill.

Perhaps he could achieve a breakthrough by refining a few more pills after the battle on Divine Space Island.

Since they would be heading to the Divine Space Sea Domain tomorrow night, he no longer refined pills tonight. Instead, he sat aside in a meditative position to regulate his qi and magic power, tuning them to their peak condition.

There was a Void Refinement Realm being in the Divine Space Island. That person was Yue Lingkong’s second primordial spirit. For now, he called her Xiao Yue Yue[1].

Ning Fan would not dare to underestimate Xiao Yue Yue at all.

He had already witnessed how profound and powerful Zang Yue’s inheritance which Yue Lingkong obtained was.

As Yue Lingkong’s second primordial spirit, it was unlikely that she would lose even if she fought three Void Refinement Realm spiritual puppets on her own.

Besides, her second primordial spirit was probably also proficient in the Moon Portal Technique. If she slips away this time, they would then make a dangerous future enemy.

This battle was rather dangerous. Thus, he could not belittle his enemies at all.

Ning Fan took out a jade slip. It was none other than the jade slip he obtained from Xuan Yi.

In the past month, he had been studying all the contents within the jade slip every day and night. Now, he was already at the initial stage of mastering the technique where he could display it without fail.

Even though his mastery in that technique was not as good as Xuan Yi, he had five natal stars with him. Thus, the might of the Star Punishing Bow he can display was much greater than that of Xuan Yi’s.

There would be a life and death battle tomorrow night. Ning Fan did not cultivate or practice anything tonight. Instead, he just casually flipped through and looked at the jade slip.

All of a sudden, his brows tightly knitted together.

In the second half of the jade slip, it was completely blank, as if something had been erased from it.

Something seemed to be hidden beneath the blank page…

Ning Fan’s eyes were filled with seriousness. He felt that this blank and empty page was rather familiar to him.

It was not a page that was deliberately left blank. Instead, this page had once contained some words but they were erased by a mysterious power like the power of Samsara!

However, the individual who cast this power of Samsara did not seem to have comprehended the true Samsara. Thus, the power of Samsara he used seemed to be right but it was actually not. It was not the true power of Samsara.

This concealment seemed to have been done quite clumsily. With Ning Fan’s eyesight, he could vaguely notice a few silver-colored words beneath the white empty page.

Before this, other than the ancestor of the Six-Winged Clan who imprinted this jade slip, no one knew what was hidden within the blank page of this jade slip.

However, after tonight, Ning Fan would find out the secrets hidden in this page.

His eyes flashed. He touched the page with his fingertips and a trace of his memory intent power flowed into the jade slip.

Memories. The memories of Samsara.

If the words had been erased using the true power of Samsara, Ning Fan would definitely be unable to bring them back with his current memory intent power.

However, since it was a fake power of Samsara, it was not significant to Ning Fan’s current power.

The silver-colored words that had been erased in the past gradually emerged.

As soon as Ning Fan saw the words, his eyes were filled with astonishment at first and his face lit up with excitement after that.

“My Six-Winged Clan was once one of the subordinate clans of the Six Dao. I had discovered a trace of the Great Dao of Life and Destruction from the Six Dao. Using the power of the stars in the sky, creating the vast vault of heaven, condensing the bow of destruction. An arrow decides one’s life and death. I shall name it the Star Punishing Bow! When the bow is drawn, a star shall fall. When an arrow is fired, a world shall disappear! To the descendants of my Six-Winged Clan who wish to master this technique, one should comprehend the power of stars. When this jade slip is given to you, you shall obtain my inheritance of star power! A word means a star!”

There were ninety-four words in total on this page. All of them were condensed from the power of stars.

A single word was the total star power of a single natal star!

In other words, ninety-four stars were equivalent to an inheritance of ninety-four natal stars!

This jade slip had passed through many hands within the Six-Winged Clan for countless years. However, no one managed to discover the profound principle of Samsara, much less see through the inheritance that was concealed by a fake power of Samsara.

Today, however, Ning Fan saw through it! Tonight, he could pretend to be a member of the Six-Winged Clan and obtain the ninety-four natal stars left by the ancestor of the clan after seeing through the concealment!

“It’s really a great gift from the Six-Winged Clan… Devour!”

He opened his mouth and absorbed them all. Ninety-four rays of starlight flowed into his body.

Then, his mouth curved into a smile. He kept the jade slip and entered his Profound Yin World.

He wanted to completely assimilate the power of these ninety-four stars tonight.

I wonder if I can have 99 natal stars by tomorrow night!

By just having 5 natal stars, one could withstand the joint attacks of Divine Transformation Realm cultivators without dying.

By having ninety-nine natal stars, one would be able to heal their injuries instantly even if they receive attacks from Void Refinement Realm beings.

If Ning Fan possesses ninety-nine natal stars, he had one-hundred percent assurance that he could put up a fight against Yue Lingkong’s second primordial spirit.

When he successfully assimilates all the power of the natal stars, he would be invincible even if he’s facing Early Void Refinement Realm experts!

Translated by Tommy, edited by Roel

Note:

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[1] Xiao Yue Yue (Chinese: 小月月) Literal Meaning: Little Moon Moon.