Grasping Evil

Zen Cultivator Hou Lian who was being hunted down by demons, looked at Ning Fan directly with eyes of distress. He was quietly thinking on the possibility on asking Ning Fan's party for help.

He lingered on board the Seven Apricot Voyage ship and chatted with Ning Fan trying to improve their friendship. However, Ning Fan replied to him in a superficial manner.

This made Hou Lian feel extremely wronged. Him being a Golden Core Realm old monster talking to a Harmonious Spirit Realm junior was supposed to be Ning Fan's honor... Yet he dares to disregard me…

If Ning Fan was not bringing along and leading two old ancestor level, Hou Lian would definitely not be this friendly towards him. He guessed that Ning Fan must've been a large sect's young master or even a descendant of a Nascent Soul Realm old monster. Otherwise, how is it possible for him to have two old ancestor grade bodyguards?

Even if he's a descendant of a Nascent Soul old ancestor, isn't he too arrogant? Any how, shouldn't he at least be friendly with me?

Hou Lian felt indignation and secretly criticized Ning Fan in his heart. But his face still showed a false and fawning smile.

At the moment the demon wind blew, all its killing intent locked unto Hou Lian. He couldn't smile anymore and his expression changed drastically.

If these demons also came for the 'All-Heaven Relic', he would be hard-pressed in protecting himself!

After a thoughtful consideration, he didn't believe that Ning Fan would help him given his indifferent attitude…

His gaze flashed when it fell upon Suqiu.

This girl is soft-hearted, and it was also her who rescued me the last time. How about asking for her for help?

Hou Lian made a decision and swiftly made a slightly nervous expression as he looked at Suqiu with an imploring eyes.

"They, they've come again! Q-Qin Xianzi, save me!"

"Do not fear, for I am here. No demon shall be allowed to harm anyone under my watch!" Suqiu sternly said. She took down the crystal bracelet without hesitation and wanted to eliminate all these demons. For her, eliminating demons and devils and saving the weak and wounded was common sense.

With this busybody women here, Ning Fan would forever have an endless supply of trouble…

But this time, Ning Fan grabbed her wrist. Suqiu's face immediately blushed and her eyes brimmed with with blame. How dare he take advantage of her in front of everyone…

"You… What are you doing… Let go!"

"Wait a minute, I would like to confirm who these demons are after." Ning Fan's gaze sharpened.

Weird… it's clear that there are many experts on board the Seven Apricot. But the moment these demons appeared, all their killing intent immediately locked unto the Zen Cultivator Hou Lian.

This doesn't make any sense… If these demons wanted to attack the Seven Apricot Voyage Ship, they should target the strongest cultivator first. Even though they are unable to see through my strength, they should lock unto either Jing Zhuo or Suqiu… But these demons all went for Hou Lian… Something's fishy.

What motive does these demons have to try to attack Hou Lian?

If these demons did not have a life and death enmity with Hou Lian, he must have a treasure that caused all these demons to be moved!

The reason that it was about vengeance was quickly eliminated by Ning Fan. People like Hou Lian who are such scaredy cats and weak cultivation base could never knowingly arouse enmity with Late-Golden Core Realm demons.

Thus, Hou Lian must have a rare treasure in his possession.

Ning Fan recalled what Hou Lian had said. He did mention that he and his sect's novice monks was transporting some kind of treasure back to their sect.

His gaze immediately flashed and was seventy-percent sure that the treasure Hou Lian possessed was the main reason he was being hunted frenziedly…

Ning Fan cleverly saw through Hou Lian's secret.

No wonder this guy doesn't dare to return to his sect alone but linger in the ship. The treasure he possesses must be extremely valuable.

Such valuable treasure boarded the Seven Apricot Voyage Ship. It naturally won't be going to fall to the hands of the demons. Of course, it's also impossible for Hou Lian to keep it now.

"This item is mine!" Ning Fan made a decision in his heart and immediately gave Suiqiu a faint smile.

"Don't save him, leave the following matter to me!"

"But… Alright." Suqiu mind was in chaos while her wrist was being gripped by Ning Fan. She could only ask him to quickly let her hand go, while other matters seemed to become unimportant.

Dozens of demons rained their attacks on the Seven Apricot ship's formation under Ning Fan's scheme. It caused the ship to sway fiercely in the sky.

Those demons attacked the formation while spouting threats.

"Humans! Hand over the 'All-Heaven Relic' and we shall leave your complete bodies after you die! Demon Lieutenant Zhifeng will descend upon this place not long after, and you shall face certain death even if you have two Peak Gold Cores and Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm experts!"

Hou Lian's expression immediately changed after hearing the demon specifically asked for the All-Heaven Relic.

Hou Lian immediately showed an extremely terrified expression after he heard the name of Demon Lieutenant Zhifeng. He was terrified after hearing the name Zhifeng.

"Zhi… Demon Lieutenant Zhifeng! It's that early-Nascent Soul Realm Demon Lieutenant Zhifeng! That crazy woman?! She's coming?!"

Hou Lian's expression started to show signs of despair. He thought that he would be able to deliver the relic back to his sect by sucking up to people. Yet he never would've thought that in the end it's still going to be snatched away by demons.

In fact, this item was obtained from Wei Country's 'Desolate Hill of the Founding Ancestor' coincidently by the sect's junior monk.

Legend says that the All-Heaven Relic was Wei Country's supreme treasure on their foundation! The name being Relic was naturally left after the death of the founding ancestor of the Wu Country. And the name All-Heaven came from its heaven-defying effect that is able to conceal Heaven's Fate!

It was called Low-ranked Cultivators Country due to their later generation descendants' uselessness that caused Wei Country to decline. But every great ancestor that were able to found a country must've been powerful people.

Legend has it that those who wore the All-Heaven Relic are able to conceal their Heaven's Fate from Peak Divine Transformation Realm old monster that are masters in divination. It could even hide a person's whereabouts and origins from Void Refinement Realm old monsters.

This item is extremely valuable… But now it must be handed over. But what Hou Lian wanted to curse was: are these guys stupid?! Don't they know the ways of threatening?! What is with handing over the relic and you'll be left with a complete body after death! Whether it be complete or incomplete will still lead to death! Then what use does it have for us handing over the relic?!

Forget it… bumping into these demons that lacked reason must have been my bad luck from my last eight reincarnations. Most likely I'll die in this ship.

Even though there's two old ancestor expert onboard this ship, but what can a Gold Core Realm old ancestor do against a Nascent Soul Realm expert…

"Sigh… All-Heaven Relic, I should be able to conceal my Heaven's Fate from divination experts with this supreme treasure. Why are these demons always able to find out my whereabouts… Die… Die… Even Gods and Immortals would find it hard to rescue me now…"

Hou Lian sighed again and again, while the people onboard the ship had varied expressions.

Jing Zhuo and Suqiu's expressions drastically changed after hearing the words 'Early Nascent Soul Realm'. They became worried but after thinking how powerful Ning Fan was, they became calmer. They silently thought that there shouldn't be any problem as long as they're careful.

When Ning Fan heard the words 'concealing Heaven's Fate' his gaze immediately flashed as he made a decision.

So the treasure on Hou Lian can conceal Heaven's Fate?! If it is so, then this treasure could be said to be what Ning Fan needed the most.

Now what Ning Fan feared the most was not a Nascent Soul Realm expert but those that are experts in divination. People like the Nascent Soul Realm old monster in Wei Country - Old Man Divine Prophecy, with his fortune telling technique that is able figure out Ning Black Devil's identity. That in the end brought forth a big disaster upon Ning City.

This journey towards the Endless Sea would surely offend many influential forces. Furthermore, it is extremely possible to have a confrontation with Demon General Li Ban - a Divine Transformation Realm old monster for capturing the flower demon after entering the Great Jin Country. The present Ning Fan couldn't hold a candle against him. If they meet, the only option left is to run!

If he possess the All-Heaven Relic that could conceal Heaven's Fate, there wouldn't be any worries in having that Demon General see through my identity and I won't need to worry about getting hunted down after offending major influential forces. Or even getting Yue Country in trouble from the wrath of somebody…

This treasure, Ning Fan wanted it!

"Hou Lian, pass me the All-Heaven Relic." Ning Fan smiled faintly and activated a hint of divinity, which made him seem merciful like Buddha.

Hou Lian was almost moved to tears.

This All-Heaven Relic is now but a hot potato, whoever possesses it will offend the Nascent Soul Realm old demon. Handing it over to the demons would not save my life. If Ning Fan wants this relic… is it possible that he took pity on me and wants to save me?

But if this relic were given to Ning Fan, what will happen?

Why not take this opportunity to push all the 'filthy water' to Ning Fan and say that he was the one that killed the previous demons. With this, I would be cleared of the relic and the demon's enmity. I shouldn't be chased by these demons anymore… These demons might not split their forces to hunt me down since there's two old ancestor grade characters on board the ship. They should be able to stall for some time before Demon Lieutenant Zhifeng arrives. They shouldn't have any additional forces to hunt me down right…

Passing this relic to Ning Fan may provide a tiny chance of survival, making others a scapegoat… Should I give it a shot? Finding a chance to live in the face of death?

Only death awaits if I fail. I'll live and Ning Fan dies if it succeeds.

Screw it! I'll give it a shot! At least it's not this poor monk that dies, Namo Amitabha…

His small eyes turned around and made a decision. He immediately patted his storage pouch and took out an Amethyst Jade Box that contained a relic that radiated buddhist hymns!

All-Heaven Relic!

Hou Lian was reluctant to pass this item to Ning Fan, but for the sake of saving his own skin, anything else was insignificant.

"Zhou Ming fellow daoist, I'll give it to you since you need this item. This poor monk still has matters to attend to and shall leave in advance…"

Hou Lian put up a face of righteousness and passed the Amethyst Jade Box to Ning Fan. Hou Lian then put his palms together and immediately left with an escaping light.

He was cautiously probing if the demons will still attack him after leaving the formation. He would then shamelessly returns to the ship and avoid confrontation once again if that indeed happens.

Furthermore, Hou Lian was delighted that all of the demons shifted all their killing intent towards Ning Fan after the relic changed hands.

Nice! This time, I can happily escape!

His escaping light soared towards the distance and did not bother to think about how Ning Fan and his party would fare.

Suqiu's delicate brows frowned after Hou Lian's disloyalty and silently felt that she had made a mistake in saving that guy.

As for Ning Fan, the action of Hou Lian was not out of place. He had long seen through Hou Lian's scheme and thoughts. Ning Fan was sure that Hou Lian would pass the relic to him to save his own life.

He was determined to get the All-Heaven Relic.

As for that Demon Lieutenant Zhifeng, he heard rumors that this demon was an Early Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. But since meeting the demoness, he was not fearful anymore and had thought of an idea.

This woman was a Nascent Soul Realm demoness, it's possible that she is Li Ban's demon partner and probably the same as the Flower Demon.

She may be extremely ugly, but since she had a Nascent Soul Realm cultivation, she's an excellent cauldron. So what if she's ugly, it's all good if she's usable… If she came to Ning Fan's lap on her own, he'll not let her go!

Ning Fan was originally wary about the Great Jin's demon tide. But now he raised a bold theory.

Could it be that the main force of the Great Jin's demon tide are those twelve demon companions? The so called twelve demon companions are all female?

Then… why not snatch all twelve partners of Li Ban under the radar!

Ning Fan suddenly held great expectation towards the the journey of Great Jin. His breakthrough for the Yin Yang Transformation may just happen on this journey.

All of the demons present had their killing intent locked unto Ning Fan at the very moment he received the relic.

These demons were extremely furious when they announced the name Zhifeng already and yet this mere Harmonious Spirit Realm junior dared to take the relic.

As for the escaping Hou Lian, they did not care at all. A mere Early Gold Core Realm ant could easily be killed in the future. Now the important matter at hand was to grab the relic!

"Human! How dare you! You knew perfectly well that treasure is an offering for Lord Demon General, yet you dare take it?! You're dead!"

"Is it…"

At that moment, Ning Fan stopped smiling and closed his eyes. The moment his eyes opened, his whole body changed as if it was a thousands years old unmeltable ice.

His gaze became ice cold, while mysterious black patterns slowly covered his left face. There's was also killing intent burning within his jet-black eyes.

A strong imposing aura like that of a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator was rose around his body. Ink-like Sword sense bursted out and swept across the clouds with fierce sword cries. The demonic clouds were immediately dispersed and was replaced by a jet-black color with a Sword Qi that eliminates all beings!

It was the Black Tempest Rupture Art!

This sudden change in his aura had greatly exceeded the demons' expectations. No one thought that a mere Harmonious Spirit Realm cultivator could hide so much power. Ning Fan did not give the demons a chance to respond at all.

In the next moment, Ning Fan's figure exploded with a 'bang' and changed into unlimited jet-black sword lights that slash randomly upon the skies.

It was as if dark ink expanded on the bright sky and the demons that were touched by it immediately screamed, and in the end were cut into mincemeat by the sword lights!

In just a single moment, dozens of demons became mincemeat and blood splattered from the sky!

That Late Gold Core Realm demon retained its previous arrogant expression as if it was a still frame. He didn't even realise the fact that he died.

When he realised it, his demonic body was already in pieces and in tatters. His demonic soul was broken thoroughly, his demonic core shattering into dust. He had died a terrible death under the ink-colored sword light!

"Very… extremely strong… stronger than even Demon Lieutenant Zhifeng …" That was the final trembling thought of that demon accompanied by boundless fear!

Black Tempest Rupture Art was a technique that Ning Fan's black incarnation comprehended upon his Nascent Formation. It was a powerful technique that could one-shot Tian Yizi! Only Nascent Soul Realm cultivators and above can withstand such a technique. Mere minor demons are not even worth mentioning!

Ning Fan reappeared with the Amethyst Jade Box in his hand accompanied with his ice-cold gaze.

All-Heaven Relic acquired! But there's still a matter left unfinished!

His cold gaze swept upon the dazed Hou Lian and said words as sharp as a blade.

"Did I allow you to leave?!"

Hou Lian shivered from that emotionless voice, it was so sharp that Hou Lian felt a stabbing pain in his mind.

Today will probably be the most shocking day in his life because today was the very day he saw how a ruthless man annihilated dozens of experts with just a single magical technique.

Ning Fan's Nascent Soul Realm aura made Hou Lian extremely terrified. The endless jet-black sword sense was like a nail pinned on the skies, Hou Lian couldn't move and dared not to look at Ning Fan's eyes. He was scared, extremely scared! It was as if his life was decided by a whim of Ning Fan!

"How… How could it be?! Zhou Ming is unexpectedly… unexpectedly a Nascent Soul Realm expert! I must have been out of my mind trying to frame such an old monster! He's not letting me go… could it be that he wants to kill me?! What to do! How could I even escape now that I'm being locked unto by a Nascent Soul Realm old monster! Surely, death awaits me! But I still want to live…"

Hou Lian was locked in place by Ning Fan's killing intent and he was thoroughly at loss.

At this moment, as long as he gets to live, he was willing to sell his own sect out bargain for Ning Fan's grace on not killing him.

Both his knees went limp and kneeled on the sky shamelessly, he begged for mercy with a stutter.

He did not have any integrity and it was unsightly. It made Suqiu reveal a face of disgust.

Even though she was disgusted, she was unwilling to see Ning Fan kill again, unwilling… she was puzzled. With Ning Fan's character, he could easily annihilate dozens of demons with just the strength of his body. Why was there a need to use his most powerful technique?

She clenched her teeth lightly, some words may not to Ning Fan's liking, but she still has to say it.

"Ning Fan, Can you show mercy and not kill him…"

"I didn't say I want to kill him… I'm just not letting him off so easily."

The pattern on Ning Fan's face dispersed as his coldness dissipated too and he smiled. He had anticipated Suqiu's request to give this man's mercy. Since she's a woman who likes to get into trouble.

Ning Fan never really had the thought of killing Hou Lian, but was merely scaring him. Hou Lian doesn't have to be killed, him being in the Wei Country has its own use. Once the cowardly ones had been planted with Mental Seal, they will never betray their master eternally.

There's no other reason, this is the kind of people that feared death.

He's not going to kill Hou Lian but he will plant a mental seal on him.

Perhaps, there will be a great battle next…

Demon Lieutenant Zhifeng, can this woman escape from my grasp? If she comes to her death…

Ning Fan used instant movement and rushed away and looked like a black dot on the sky. In an instant, he had already returned on the ship while carrying Hou Lian who had tried to escaped like a little chick.

Even though this was shameful for Hou Lian, but Ning Fan did not kill him at the very least. Suqiu slightly breathed out a sigh of relief after confirming it and her heart was lightly shaken.

"Thank you…" She looked at Ning Fan deeply and turned her back to return to the ship.

She thought that Ning Fan let go of Hou Lian was for her sake. She felt slightly touched in her heart and it was hard to suppressed that at that moment.

Jing Zhuo who was a spectator saw through Ning Fan's scheme. He initially wanted to give a hand, but Ning Fan had used a much more terrifying method to annihilate the group of demons.

By going through so much effort, it was naturally to scare Hou Lian. To make Hou Lian afraid was for the sake of subduing him. Perhaps Ning Fan wants to plant his own influence in Wei Country.

The sect of Hou Lian may have to change ownership.

The sect's Immortal Jade will also belong to Ning Fan.

Perhaps, after Ning Fan promote Hou Lian as Sect Leader, he would borrow the name of Hou Lian's sect and 'harvest' Immortal Jade in Wei Country without getting his hands dirty.

In the end, Ning Fan wants to amass wealth through Hou Lian… Of course, if it wasn't for Suqiu, he would probably torture Hou Lian a bit. Suqiu definitely helped Hou Lian a bit…

A series of schemes were set in motion at the moment he struck down the group of demons. Jing Zhuo, too, wanted such a money making method, but he had hundreds and thousands of life and death moments to experience and only then could he have a mentality to think of plans like that.

But Ning Fan had only cultivated for less than 20 years, yet his mind was already this demonic…

"How does he even cultivate?! Less than 20 years old with such strength, and his mind is also as sly as an old fox… This is the nastiest person to go against with, it will be a nightmare to make an enemy out of that kind of person… Luckily I've asked for a second divination from Old Man Divine Prophecy, if not… I'll end up the same as Zi Yin…" Jing Zhuo deeply sighed and rejoiced.

He was glad that he had made the wisest decision in his whole life which was to be in good terms with Ning Fan.

He was glad that Ning Fan had granted Lady Yun Hua a longer 'life', allowing him and his wife a chance to be together until the end of their lives.

The most scariest person in the world were not those with strong cultivation base, but those that have characters like Ning Fan are the most deadly and hard to deal with.

They are ruthless, bold, decisive and cold-hearted. But also gutsy, meticulous, determined and sly like a fox.

This is the kind of people that you definitely must not offend in your entire life…

<strong>Note:</strong>

*Zhifeng means purple wind

<strong>Translator Team:</strong>

G-Team [Tommy (TL), Roel (Editor)]