Chapter 1282: Chapter 1282: Encountering Mountain and Sea Where None Are Present

The crucial intelligence about Duoling Chess is unknown to the world, yet some post-catastrophe records remain.

Those ruins after the destruction, ancient relics, all serve as a warning that the Great Secret of Heaven and Earth is untouchable.

In the eyes of ordinary Masters, achieving sainthood amidst the Immeasurable Catastrophe is already an event of absolute terror. But for the few who are informed, the fright of Duoling Chess surpasses even the Immeasurable Catastrophe.

It is said that Duoling Chess is a great horror that even the Saints avoid like venomous beasts.

At this moment.

Xuanji God General kneels on the ground, endless black mist emerging from his eyes, ears, and nose, appearing strikingly vivid in the pure white land of the snowy country.

The black mist, unknown in nature, seems faintly like a living creature, and in a flash, hundreds upon thousands of vacant eyes open and close within it; the mist appears to breathe, to have a heartbeat, and can even emit a creepy laugh.

After the eerie laughter, more bizarre human voices emerge from the mist, thousands of conversations blend together, too many to discern clearly.

[Kehehehe, I’m finally out, I’m out again!]

[Where is this, where is this...]

[I don’t know, it doesn’t matter, don’t ask me! So annoying!]

[How many participants in the game?]

[All who see... are participants!]

[Participants, one hundred thousand three hundred ninety-one...]

[Too many! Eliminate unnecessary ones!]

[Eliminate... eliminate...]

[Ancient... Moment... Spirit... Divine... Words...]

[...Mang!]

Most observers here are strong, how could they not detect the dangerous aura from the mist, some with vast experience gradually recognize the mist’s origins.

"Something’s wrong! There seems to be an issue on Xuanji’s body!"

"Everyone watch! Within the mist seems to be a leak of Bone Chess’s aura. Could it be that Xuanji is secretly cheating using Bone Chess, a true disgrace to the Northern Barbarians Kingdom! This mist must be the backlash of Bone Chess!"

"No! I’ve seen Chess Masters who died because of Bone Chess, it was not like this! This mist, I have seen it distantly at the ruins of Tianyuan Holy Sect, if it is truly this thing, we might...

"Alas, I have also seen this at the ruins of the Ancient Sea Dragon Palace, today might be unavoidable tribulation..."

"Tianyuan Holy Sect? Ancient Sea Dragon Palace? Gasp! Could this mist be..."

"Quick, go!"

"Damn it!"

"It’s Duoling Chess!"

"Wait, don’t act recklessly, oh..."

In an instant, countless Masters realizing the situation try to flee the venue, though some cautious ones do not act immediately.

Among those fleeing, there are many strong in Escape Techniques, and those skilled in secret escape techniques. Many relying on their powerful skills, manage to escape millions of miles away from the venue, feeling relieved, suddenly noticing a change in their expressions as they sense something amiss.

Clearly having fled far away, but around see no scenery, accurately speaking, no light can be seen.

Darkness! Boundless darkness! That darkness extends forward endlessly, no sense of boundaries...

This darkness’s reason, is not due to lack of light, some Masters have ignited their fire magic, but unable to shed a shred of light on the darkness.

Nothing can be seen anymore...

Even oneself, even oneself is...

Some sense something wrong, wanting to return to the venue, but their bodies are no longer under their control.

No, accurately speaking, it is already impossible to feel their body’s existence...

Melted!

Those escaping the venue seem to have melted into the darkness! As if their existence was swallowed by the darkness, as if... finally becoming part of the darkness...

[Who am I...]

[I don’t remember, don’t remember anymore...]

[Kehehehe, you, are us...]

[We, are you... are you...]

Those escapees ultimately become thousands of voices within the darkness, never remembering who they were...

Instantly, only cautious Masters who didn’t rush to flee remain alive within the venue.

All around turns into endless darkness, only the venue has light remaining, it is the only safe place left...

Masters caught in Duoling Chess initially numbered over ten thousand, now only two thousand survive...

"This darkness cannot be seen through... This is a technique that eyesight at Third Realm of Tianren cannot penetrate..." Within the venue, Ning Fan uses Tianren Eye Technique to observe the surrounding darkness, but sees nothing.

Though unable to see into the darkness, Ning Fan can sense the continuous disappearance of presences within the darkness, until no human presence remains... Those escapees must have met their doom.

Not only does Ning Fan sense the demise of all escapees, many survivors around have already realized this fact, all frightened to near death.

"Luckily, luckily I didn’t rush to leave, almost got swallowed by the darkness..."

"It’s Duoling Chess! It surely is Duoling Chess trapping us inside, no mistake, we are doomed..."

"Rumor says Duoling Chess can silently kill Saints, today, there’s no escaping our fate but death..."

"Damn Xuanji! Cursed Xuanji! It is him who brought the arrival of Duoling Chess, this man... is hateful!"

"Wait! Where did Xuanji go! Wasn’t he just here kneeling with black aura, how in the blink of an eye, he vanished without a trace?"

"Damn! Could it be that Xuanji initiated the Soul-Seizing Chess, trapping us here, while he himself escaped?"

"Xuanji is damned! Damned!"

Everyone knew there was no way to survive today. Even though Xuanji God General was a dignified Quasi-Saint, he was not spared from scolding with no more reservations.

Yet, Xuanji was indeed gone, not here. The crowd’s anger and fear needed an outlet, yet the instigator was not present...

Finally, a few people’s gazes fell on Ning Fan...

That’s right...

It’s all his fault!

If it weren’t for this person accepting the challenge from Xuanji, if it weren’t for his extraordinary chess skills that drove Xuanji to collapse in despair, those bystanders would never have been embroiled in calamity!

Indeed, it’s all his fault!

A few with fragile minds were no longer willing to ponder whether Ning Fan was innocent or also a pitiable victim caught in the fray.

They only wanted an outlet for their anger, they just wanted...

"Oh? You all find yourselves trapped in the Soul-Seizing Chess, and your first reaction is not survival but to engage in a fight with me..."

Ning Fan spoke expressionlessly, not even bothering to look at those malicious glances behind him.

His tone was calm and ordinary, but his words fell into their ears, giving an unprecedented sense of danger, as if it was not a Master speaking, but an endless bloody mist conversing with them.

An unfathomable killing intent surged toward them from the depths of the sea!

This... is this a human? Is this truly not some peerless fierce beast speaking to us...

Gulp, gulp...

Many were swallowing hard, clearly shaken by the killing intent in Ning Fan’s words, including those innocents who didn’t blame Ning Fan.

As these words were spoken, there were still a few who wanted to take Ning Fan as an outlet for their emotions, but at this moment, they shivered and calmed down... foolish! How foolish! We’ve let fear cloud our minds and forgotten this person has the power to shatter Xuanji God General’s forty-eight million Celestial Restriction with a single punch... This person can easily crush a Quasi-Saint like Xuanji, so killing us must be as simple as turning his hand. We’ve truly lost our heads to harbor ill thoughts towards this person...

So scared, so fearful...

Afraid of being killed not by the Soul-Seizing Chess, but by "Lu Bei"... Comparing to the Soul-Seizing Chess, this "Lu Bei" seems equally dangerous...

"Oh? This person indeed emits a familiar aura, reasons unknown..." Amongst the survivors, there was one person secretly observing Ning Fan, puzzled.

This was a black-haired, white-browed young man with Second Tribulation Immortal Venerable cultivation, dressed in luxurious robes, known by the surname Gui.

Although his cultivation was merely at the Immortal Venerable level, even some Immortal Kings and Immortal Emperors showed him respect, not daring to offend him.

This was not only because he had a Saint as a master but also because his own skills were formidable, having far exceeded the Immortal Venerable level.

Though his skills were profound, his realm was unwilling to break through, owing to past schemes against him, planting a delusion in his heart that he couldn’t sever...

He needed an opportunity, a powerful external force to help sever this delusion, thus he knowingly came to Northern Barbarians Kingdom despite the approaching Immeasurable Catastrophe.

He was exploring the possibility of seeking life within death, thereby finding a way to clear his delusion...

It was dangerous! Mere Immortal Venerable dared touch upon the Immeasurable Catastrophe, even with the intention to utilize it at all, the backlash could be deadly, nine deaths out of ten.

However, compared to the benefits of severing the delusion, everything else seemed insignificant...

Indeed, he needed this chance, even though he knew it was slim...

Unexpectedly, when he truly sacrificed himself to the catastrophe, strange things did indeed happen...

"Hunkun Holy Sect’s disciple under Weituo Holy Throne, Lu Bei... I’ve seen this person before, on a certain occasion at the Grand Dao Fruit Assembly of myriad countries... Back then, he seemed ordinary, blending into the crowd, yet now the aura he emits, even if deliberately restrained, carries endless might... This person is strong, a hundred times stronger than me... But what truly intrigues me is not this matter."

"Why does this person evoke such a familiar feeling in me, just like..." As if returning to the times under the tutelage of my master.

Immortal Sovereign Gui thought more and more puzzled.

He had seen Lu Bei before, yet never had this peculiar feeling, but indeed has it now...

Perhaps because of the puzzlement, or perhaps from coming to Northern Barbarians Kingdom with intent to seek catastrophe, upon witnessing the activation of Soul-Seizing Chess, he originally had the opportunity and means to escape this place immediately, yet after pondering, chose to remain within the calamity and observe.

"Oh? Isn’t that Brother Gui? Unexpectedly, Brother Gui has also been dragged into this disaster..." Suddenly an Immortal Emperor recognized Immortal Sovereign Gui’s identity, approached to converse, addressing the elder Immortal Venerable as ’brother’ with no sense of disrespect.

The crowd, initially shocked by Ning Fan’s aura of killing intent, was now drawn to this incident.

"Oh? Who is this Gui Daoist that garners such respect from the Southern Pavilion’s Celestial Emperor..." Some unfamiliar with Immortal Sovereign Gui questioned.

"Though you may not recognize him face-to-face, you’ve certainly heard of his fierce... his esteemed reputation. He ranks the lowest among the seven grand generals under [Saint Yiqing], known as [Robed in Darkness]..."

"Gasp! It’s him! Gui Gui Reurned... "

"There’s a rumor that this person was besieged by five Immortal Emperors, yet he counterattacked, resulting in three deaths and two injured among his opponents... Truly terrifying!"

"It’s said that this person possesses an extraordinary foundation, having transformed from Primordial Light into human form, with an exceedingly formidable mastery of light magic..."

"Oh? This person is proficient in light magic? Then perhaps he might know how to dispel this darkness and save us from here! No wonder the Southern Pavilion Celestial Emperor was so keen to converse with him..."

Some survivors, initially feeling hopelessly entangled in the Soul-Seizing Chess, now upon hearing there’s still hope, were immediately thrilled.

The Southern Pavilion’s Celestial Emperor harbored such thoughts as well.

He recognized Gui Returned, knowing him to be highly skilled, furthermore aware that Gui was proficient in light magic, thus approached courteously, hoping to rely on Gui for a means of escaping alive.

The Southern Pavilion’s Celestial Emperor was aware that relying solely on himself possessed no chance of escaping the Soul-Seizing Chess. Though an Immortal Emperor, so what? It’s known that amongst those seeking to escape the venue’s entrapment were numerous Immortal Kings and Immortal Emperors, yet none were alive as they all succumbed to the dark... The perils of the Soul-Seizing Chess were evident. A moment of carelessness could result in the instant demise of an Immortal Emperor! Being merely an ordinary Immortal Emperor, how could he confidently escape the Soul-Seizing Chess?

The Southern Pavilion also understood that the two thousand or so surviving within the Soul-Seizing Chess wasn’t due to unparalleled skill far exceeding those who attempted escape, instead, the Soul-Seizing Chess presumably retained a few survivors for some subsequent purpose; thus leaving some untouched, however, sooner or later, these survivors would likely all face execution...

According to what he knew, those entangled within the Soul-Seizing Chess bore survival rates under one-in-a-million...

Not only did it illustrate the extreme peril of the Soul-Seizing Chess but also the subtle possibility that existed to escape, albeit the hope was slim, it was definitely not nonexistent!

Thus, relinquishing at this point would be premature, yet in terms of escape solutions, he was clueless where to begin... Within these survivors, few retain the cultivation of an Immortal Emperor, hence Southern Pavilion Celestial Emperor was in dire straits, clearly considering Gui Returned as a lifeline.

Of course, a seemingly stronger "Lu Bei" might also exist here...

Unfortunately, as Southern Pavilion’s Celestial Emperor just attempted to seek assistance from "Lu Bei," he was deterred by the boundless killing intent in Lu Bei’s words, frightened into silence, afraid to utter anything improper that might anger "Lu Bei," and thus dared not utter recklessly...

"I wonder if Brother Gui has a plan to escape. If so, we hope Brother Gui would generously share with us. Should we escape this fate, we would forever remember the merits and kindness of the Daoist friend, never forgetting it!" Southern Pavilion Celestial Emperor bowed deeply to Gui Returned, earnestly imploring.

Upon hearing this, Gui Gu Li took a deep look at the Southern Pavilion Immortal Emperor, remained silent for a moment, and finally shook his head.

"This matter, asking me is of no use; the one who tied the bell must untie it. This person is a hundred times stronger than me..." Gui Gu Li, however, turned his gaze towards Ning Fan.

He was not lying.

Although he had quite a few tricks up his sleeve, those tricks were only barely enough to keep himself alive. Rescuing everyone from the Soul-Seizing Chess was absolutely impossible...

He did not have the ability to rescue over two thousand people, saving even two would be difficult... but if it were just to save one person, he was about sixty percent confident...

"Should I save this person... I am unrelated to him, but strangely, there is something about him that catches my attention... Yet if I bring along one more person, even I might fall..." Gui Gu Li’s gaze hesitated and wavered.

After all, he was not familiar with "Lu Bei", and indeed had no reason to risk his life for a stranger.

Thus, the eyes of the Southern Pavilion Immortal Emperor and everyone present fell on Ning Fan again.

Without a doubt, Ning Fan was the strongest here. If indeed someone could save everyone and lead them to safety, the greatest possibility was him.

The Southern Pavilion took a deep breath, just about to ask Ning Fan for help.

Ning Fan, however, waved his hand.

"No rush. Someone will come to save us... None of you will die, even those who were previously engulfed in darkness will be saved..."

It was Ning Fan’s Tianren Eye Technique that suddenly saw some future fragments, glimpsing a future where everyone would be saved.

"Huh? Someone will come to save us? How could anyone risk their life to come rescue us from the Soul-Seizing Chess, something even saints avoid like the plague..." Those like Southern Pavilion naturally didn’t believe Ning Fan’s words.

Yet the next moment, they believed.

Suddenly, a beam of green light pierced through the surrounding endless darkness like an ancient divine sword spanning across time, directly stabbing into this isolated world.

Along with the green light came a calm feminine voice.

"Ancient Moment Divine Words, Green!"

The words the woman recited seemed to be some sort of ancient incantation. The content of this incantation caught Ning Fan’s attention...

The next moment, a red figure accompanied the overwhelming green light, and at that moment, Ning Fan pondered deeply, suddenly startled, leaving no time to ponder the woman’s incantation.

It was a woman wrapped in a red cloak, her face covered with a red veil.

Her hands, white as snow.

Her gaze, also like snow, devoid of warmth, and saintly tranquil, like cold moonlight asleep for a thousand lifetimes.

It’s her.

The woman from the Demon-Encountering Stele...

The strange woman who invited him to Enlightenment Tea but never dared to meet him...

"Hiss! It’s the Northern Barbarian God! The Divine Sovereign has come to save us!"

"Great! Great! Great! We are saved! Who doesn’t know that the Northern Barbarian God’s plans are infallible? If she dares to come, she must be fully confident of taking us away!"

"Thank the Divine Sovereign!"

"Praise the Divine Sovereign!"

Over two thousand voices that should have been despairing became excited due to the Northern Barbarian God’s arrival.

The woman, however, paid no mind to their emotions.

She traversed through the tumultuous darkness calmly, the darkness attempting to dissolve her but failing to penetrate her protective green light.

Finally, she lightly descended into the venue, landing... ten zhang away from Ning Fan.

Her gaze, seemingly inadvertently, fell on Ning Fan but then moved away, eventually settling on Gui Gu Li, only to move away after a brief pause.

Swept by the Northern Barbarian God’s gaze, Gui Gu Li immediately felt exposed, as if his inner thoughts were seen through, his delusions about his master’s intentions, his yearning for his forgotten wife, his purpose for coming to the Northern Barbarian Kingdom, his attempt to exploit the Northern Barbarian Kingdom’s Immeasurable Catastrophe... Everything seemed exposed!

No, it must be my illusion. My Sealing God and Locking Mind Technique has been cultivated to the twelfth level already. No one beneath a saint can see into my mind. This person couldn’t possibly, she’s not a saint...

"Indeed, I am not a saint, nor do I plan on becoming a saint..." the woman casually broke through Gui Gu Li’s inner thoughts.

Gui Gu Li’s face suddenly changed dramatically, fully realizing that all his intentions were already visible to the other party.

He even dared to try to exploit the Northern Barbarian Kingdom’s calamity. Even though he had his reasons, he must have already angered the Northern Barbarian God...

Yet the Northern Barbarian God did not grow angry because of this, nor did she want to explain more to Gui Gu Li.

What intrigued her was not Gui Gu Li’s purpose but his change. The Soul-Seizing Chess was a fixed event in the Northern Barbarian Kingdom, she knew long ago when it would come, who it would involve, and how it would conclude... But today, the Soul-Seizing Chess appeared earlier, its certainty interfered by changes... Everyone here was fated to be involved, although time came early, the fate didn’t change much. Yet, there were two people who shouldn’t have been involved.

Gui Gu Li was one of them, with his ability, he could have escaped before the Soul-Seizing Chess arrived, but he chose to stay...

As for the reason for staying...

Was it to observe "Lu Bei" more closely...

As for the second person who shouldn’t have been involved, it naturally was "Lu Bei".

This person wasn’t supposed to be involved in the Soul-Seizing Chess game, wasn’t even supposed to be in the Northern Barbarian Kingdom...

Thus calculated, Gui Gu Li was merely interfered with by "Lu Bei", but the real variable lay with "Lu Bei"...

"Lu Bei"...

The Northern Barbarian God’s gaze once again fell on Ning Fan, directly meeting his faint smile.

The Ning Fan she saw was the form of Zhang Dao transformed by the Saint Heir’s trial.

She found Zhang Dao’s appearance unfamiliar but felt a sense of closeness, reluctance towards the smile he revealed...

Perhaps, at some time and place, she had seen a similar smile, but the current her had forgotten too much, long unable to remember...

"Hiss... ten breaths, the Northern Barbarian God actually locked eyes with someone for ten breaths..."

Those familiar with the Northern Barbarian God’s character were stunned speechless at this moment.

Rumor has it that the Northern Barbarian God is naturally indifferent and shows no expression to anyone, regardless of whether they are male or female.

Indeed... rumors are not to be trusted!

Wait! Now is not the time for gossip!

"May I ask, Divine Majesty, what do you plan to do to save us?" The Southern Pavilion Celestial Emperor, as the representative of the survivors, bravely spoke up, interrupting the stare-down between the Northern Barbarian God and Ning Fan.

"No rush." The Northern Barbarian God shifted her gaze away, no longer looking at Ning Fan, but also not regarding South Pavilion with much attention either.

"Well, Daoist Zhang also said that we should not rush..." South Pavilion was speechless. He knew they shouldn’t rush, but they really were urgent. Wait, why do these two sound so alike, is there truly a story here...

The Northern Barbarian God paid no further attention to the Southern Pavilion Celestial Emperor.

Instead, she demonstrated with her actions that they truly needn’t hurry.

"Ancient Moment Divine Words, circle!"

Her snow-white fingertip swiftly drew, and the entire venue was enveloped within a large circle of green light.

The protection of that green light was so strong that it gave the Southern Pavilion Celestial Emperor a sense of security akin to being covered by a Saint’s Ring.

"Stay within the circle, do not move around carelessly, I shall return shortly..."

With these words, she didn’t bother explaining further, as she pointed a toe, already transforming into a green light, flying into the endless darkness far away.

"What! The Northern Barbarian God leaped into the darkness alone to confront the Soul-Seizing Chess to save us!"

"Such boundless compassion and mercy!"

"She even drew a circle, expending mana to protect us!"

"This damn sense of security! I’ve seen countless women, but I’ve never met such a fiercely protective good woman before!"

"Thank you, Divine Majesty!"

"Praise be to the Divine Majesty!"

Ning Fan did not join in the clamoring with the crowd.

Just after the Northern Barbarian God left, his Tianren Eye Technique began to observe some of the future.

He saw the Northern Barbarian God repeatedly rescuing and retrieving the victims meant to dissolve into the dark turmoil.

He saw the green light inundate the darkness, gradually guiding everyone out safely.

He saw countless people walk out of the Soul-Seizing Chess, losing their memories, not remembering what happened inside, nor who rescued them.

He saw himself emerge from the Soul-Seizing Chess with dimmed eyes, forgetting everything...

Memory of escaping the Soul-Seizing Chess was lost, but the future self still chose to linger where it unfolded, quietly waiting, despite not remembering who he was waiting for...

"Future me is probably waiting for the Northern Barbarian God, even though no memory remains, the body remembers there is one more person still inside, right..."

"The Northern Barbarian God entered the Soul-Seizing Chess, first rescuing everyone, then stayed behind to handle the aftermath alone..."

"A responsible Barbarian God, determined not to let any innocent get caught up in the catastrophe of the Northern Barbarian Kingdom..."

"But my future self ended up waiting for quite a long time outside..."

Gradually, more visions of the future emerged, observed one by one by Ning Fan.

The future self waited outside for a full sixteen days before the Northern Barbarian God emerged.

But by then, the Northern Barbarian God’s long black hair had entirely turned white, a sign of severe vitality depletion...

This Northern Barbarian God seemed to have paid an immense price to properly resolve the Soul-Seizing Chess incident...

...

As Ning Fan secretly observed the future.

Countless life energies began to emerge in the darkness, those meant to dissolve began to reshape, returning anew!

The survivors suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

"Brother Lu! You actually came back to life! Come quickly! Hide in this green circle, where there’s protection from the Northern Barbarian God!"

"That’s my Dao companion! She’s back! Back from the dead!"

"Father! Father!"

"Child! My child!"

More and more victims revived, hiding inside the green light circle.

That was the protective barrier drawn by the Northern Barbarian God, guarded by her presence, and all the survivors expressed tears of gratitude, praising her kindness.

Ning Fan did not join in the praises.

His gaze grew deep and contemplative.

These people didn’t truly die and revive; they from the start did not perish, merely dissolved into darkness. Recondensing them for rescue, Ning Fan knew he could achieve it, but it was not an effortless task.

So, how did the Northern Barbarian God accomplish this quickly and effectively...

Recalling the future visions just observed, reflecting on the Northern Barbarian God’s transformation of her black hair into white, Ning Fan could not help but suspect that the Northern Barbarian God must have paid a great price to achieve the feat of rescuing everyone unharmed from the Soul-Seizing Chess...

Ensuring everyone remains unharmed, truly an... tender and naive approach.

Only a barely experienced little girl would choose such a way to save others—the true heroes would rather break the Soul-Seizing for a straightforward resolution.

This Northern Barbarian God always seems a bit unwise...

Ning Fan shook his head, sweeping away the disrespectful thoughts, yet in his mind visions of the Northern Barbarian God with snowy hair resurfaced...

Though the white-haired Northern Barbarian God remains beautiful, but... a little girl playing as a demoness dyeing her hair does not quite suit...

Duowen: "Nonsense! The Northern Barbarian God is no mere little girl! She... she’s the most unblemished woman in the world, I won’t allow her name to be sullied!"

Ning Fan: "?"

What’s going on?

Usually humble Duowen has such an abrupt tone today, this guy, could it be...

Ning Fan: "Duowen, you’re already an old man, don’t keep thinking about earthly beauties, those things aren’t suitable for you..."

Duowen: "Stop talking nonsense! The Northern Barbarian God is my master, how could I have such delusions! I’m not Xuan Ji, that toad!"

Ning Fan: "Oh? You actually know Xuan Ji, how come you never mentioned before... You really have been hiding something from me. Also, the Northern Barbarian God being your master, I haven’t heard of that either, so... Is this the reason why you’re willing to pay any price to enter the trial of the Saint Heir?"

Duowen: "Uh, this, that..."

Duowen seems unwilling to confront Ning Fan at this time and place, as he always likes to keep something up his sleeve.

Before Ning Fan could continue to question Duowen, the Ant Lord spoke again.

Ant Lord: "Brother Ning, didn’t you feel that person returning home is somewhat familiar..."

Ning Fan: "Not at all."

Ant Lord: "Is that so, so this familiarity isn’t from our shared memories, but from myself? Strange, I clearly don’t know this person but find them familiar..."

Ning Fan: "?"

What’s going on?

Is my little ant smitten with an unknown passer-by?

Ning Fan: "Ah Ant, you’re already an old sage, don’t keep thinking about earthly beauties, that kind of young person isn’t suitable for you..."

Ant Lord: "?"

Ant Lord: "Who said anything about earthly beauties! Also, who are you calling Ah Ant!"

Ant Lord was speechless, her familiarity with returning home felt more like the kind she would have towards a nephew or niece, nothing romantic.

This Ning Fan, dirty himself, suspects everyone else of being dirty, speechless...

Ant Lord: "Perhaps my past self knew this ’returning home,’ but the memory of the residual soul is broken, so I don’t remember. ’Returning home,’ ’returning home’... This shouldn’t be their real name, they’re a disciple under their master’s lineage, so the name ’returning home’ might be a bestowed name from their master..."

Ning Fan: "Since you care so much, why don’t I go ask?"

Ant Lord: "Forget it, asking is pointless, this is just a constructed world for the trial of the Saint Heir, it doesn’t mean much... Rather than this, isn’t completing the mission more important for you."

Indeed, there’s still the mission.

[Side Mission: First Battle of Soul-Seizing Chess]

[Mission Requirement: Achieve victory in the first battle, reward of 100 to 200 Star Points, additional reward, Ten Thousand Years Chess Skill; defeat, no penalty.]

Although he could just lay here and wait for the Northern Barbarian God to solve the Soul-Seizing Chess, it would be better for him to break it himself... Not only is there a reward to be gained, but looking aged and white-haired is not appealing...

Duowen: "Yes, yes! The Soul-Seizing Chess concerns trial scores, how can it be left to others! Senior Ning, let’s quickly break the Soul-Seizing Chess, don’t let my master... don’t let the Northern Barbarian God steal the first move! That would be a big loss!"

Ning Fan: "Hmm..."

Ant Lord: "One wants to trick someone into rescuing their master, another is already eager to go with just a slight justification! I really don’t want to expose you all, it’s exhausting..."

Roasted Chestnut Elder: "This kind of duplicity, it’s really the same as Purple Dou..."

Black Evil Sect, Little Dust: "Eating melons, eating melons..."

...

It’s said that when you’re strong enough, you’ll find that those around you are all kind-hearted.

Sometimes Ning Fan also has this feeling.

From an unknown time, those he encountered on the cultivation road were no longer those murderous Evil Sect members, those usually fierce and cunning ones, once before him, each became comedic, naive and adorable.

Even the swirling dark tides capable of melting an Immortal Emperor seemed not so terrifying in others’ eyes.

Others feared this swirling darkness like a tiger; even the Northern Barbarian God needed magic for protection when traversing the darkness, treading carefully.

However, Ning Fan felt a certain closeness from this endless darkness.

"The dark aura here somewhat resembles that of the abyss of the Devil Dao, yet somewhat different... To know specifically how it differs, I’ll need to taste it..."

The Primordial Origin Spirit’s constitution bestowed upon Ning Fan a strong affinity with the Five Spirits. In the depths of the Devil Dao Abyss, he once forcefully devoured it, cultivating a Demonic Spirit Bloodline, thus becoming the abyss’ most unwelcome enemy.

Now, sensing that the dark aura here is much like the Devil Dao Abyss, possibly delicious, Ning Fan extended his demonic claws once again...

As Ning Fan walked step by step towards the edge of the large green light circle, the survivors had yet to realize the gravity of the issue.

When Ning Fan finally stepped out of the circle’s protection, except for the ever-watchful ’returning home,’ everyone thought Ning Fan had gone mad.

"Senior from South Pavilion! It’s Lu Bei, he has stepped out of the Northern Barbarian God’s protective circle! What’s he trying to do? Seeking death, or does he have another purpose? But he’ll be swallowed by the darkness!"

"What! This person is so reckless! No way! We must pull him back! Since the Divine Transformation Realm has ordered us to wait here, we cannot let the Divine Transformation Realm down, cannot let anyone get hurt!"

With a wave of his hand, the Southern Pavilion Immortal Emperor led a large group of masters to stop Ning Fan.

But before they reached him, they were all frightened by Ning Fan’s actions, hurriedly retreated, not daring to step out of the circle or approach Ning Fan.

Only to see Ning Fan activating Divine Skills, forcefully extracting a strand of dark aura into his hand.

Once the aura was in hand, it instantly transformed into a fierce, grotesque black mist, from which a snake head emerged, trying to bite Ning Fan.

Yet Ning Fan pinched the snake head in his grasp.

"You want to eat me?"

Crack.

With force from two fingers, he snapped the snake head of the black mist.

Subsequently, more snake heads emerged from the black mist, lunging at Ning Fan.

Yet Ning Fan bit back, causing this strand of black mist to fall...

Southern Pavilion Celestial Emperor: "???"

All Survivors: "???"

Return to Homeland: "???"

What the heck!

That’s the black mist that can annihilate an Immortal Emperor, and this guy just goes and eats it???

What kind of stomach is that? Are his innards made of Primordial Divine Iron???

All Survivors: "Senior Southern Pavilion, do we... need to worry about him? He doesn’t seem to be in any danger..."

The dangerous ones should be this black mist, right?

Southern Pavilion Celestial Emperor: "Hmm, no rush, let’s observe... Not good, not good! The black mist here is enraged by him! Things are getting out of hand! I hope what’s happening here won’t affect the actions of the Divine Lord..."

Ning Fan’s act of devouring the black mist enraged all the black mist in the area!

From ancient times, countless people have won and lost inside the Soul-Seizing Chess, but no one has ever dared to act so recklessly towards it.

You must know, the nature of this black mist is not any magic, but the flesh of [Desolate]!

Even an ordinary Master merely touching Desolate’s flesh would be assimilated by Desolate, and even Saints would face severe erosion upon encountering the black mist, suffering greatly...

Let alone consume the flesh of Desolate...

Yet today, the world’s greatest oddball was born.

This oddball once ate from the abyss of the Devil Dao so much that it permanently closed its doors to him, and now, he dares to strike heavily on the Soul-Seizing Chess, simply brutal!

What’s more outrageous is, after eating the flesh of Desolate, Ning Fan even feels it’s kind of unpalatable.

"Was it really my illusion... Though the black mist here is very similar to the abyss of the Devil Dao, the taste is completely different... The black mist here is too unappetizing..."

Ning Fan’s words were like a drop of water falling into sizzling oil, instantly provoking the black mist here to surge in furious anger.

Far in the depths of darkness, the Northern Barbarian God, while breaking the Soul-Seizing Chess, suddenly felt the pressure of darkness around her ease, but didn’t know why, even if she calculated with her fingers, she couldn’t figure it out.

The flesh of Desolate embodies the power of [inconceivable]. Even if the Northern Barbarian God could calculate the causality, she would instantly forget it; moreover, now in the heart of the Immeasurable Catastrophe within the depths of the Northern Barbarians Kingdom, she originally found it difficult to clear the cause and effect, inevitably unaware of what Ning Fan was doing.

"Although this black mist tastes bad, it seems to be quite effective for tempering the physical body, my body seems to be getting stronger..."

"But... why is my physical body getting stronger... I seem to have forgotten something..."

Goodness, after completely digesting this strand of black mist, Ning Fan instantly forgot the fact that he had eaten the black mist.

"Come to think of it, the black mist here somewhat resembles the abyss of the Devil Dao, I wonder if it tastes the same, I have to taste it to know..."

"What a strange thing, just now the black mist was quite calm, giving a friendly and lovely feeling, why now does it seem so violent, full of killing intent?"

"I clearly did nothing, yet they’re so hostile towards me, a bit excessive..."

Ning Fan shook his head, he wouldn’t blame the black mist for being fierce and sinister, after all, he’s not a good person himself, what right does he have to blame mere black mist?

Hiss hiss hiss!

Countless black snakes suddenly surged from the darkness, biting towards Ning Fan.

Also, countless chaotic voices were shrieking something, but with hundreds of thousands of voices shouting at once, it was hard to decipher the exact message.

[Little one, courting death!]

[My blood, my flesh, you should return it!]

[This moment, is the time of extinction!]

[Eat him! Eat him!]

[...Ancient... Moment... Divine... Word...]

[...Already!]

With so many voices, Ning Fan couldn’t hear them clearly, and even if he did, the influence of the inconceivable within his body would cause him to forget.

Faced with the backlash from so much nourishment, even Ning Fan’s appetite couldn’t consume them all at once, he could only proceed gradually.

Then he took out the Merit Umbrella, holding it as he walked. With the umbrella’s protection, ordinary black snakes couldn’t get close at all; occasionally, a strong black snake would break through the umbrella’s defense, yet like an arrow at the end of its flight, unable to reach Lu Gao, its lethality already reduced to a fraction, instead, it was bitten back and eaten by Ning Fan.

For every black snake he ate, his physical body advanced significantly, the side effect being that Ning Fan would forget he had eaten a snake.

As time went by bit by bit, he had clearly eaten hundreds or thousands of black snakes, yet still couldn’t taste what the black snake actually tasted like.

But his body inexplicably grew more than twice as strong, leaving him utterly bewildered.

Duowen: "You’ve eaten too much! Stop eating, Brother Ning!"

Can’t hear, under the influence of the inconceivable, he couldn’t hear Duowen’s voice, even if he did, he’d forget.

Ant Lord: "What exactly is this black mist, your body has become exceptionally robust, isn’t this some kind of dangerous concoction? Be careful not to harm your kidneys by overeating..."

Can’t hear, can’t hear any of it.

Roasted Chestnut Elder: "Stop! Stop it! This is the flesh of Desolate, how can you stomach it! Stop eating! The Saint Heir’s trial is going to collapse!"

Can’t hear, completely can’t hear. The inconceivable directly affected Ning Fan within, the distant sound of Roasted Chestnut Elder couldn’t be transmitted, unless he, like those inconceivable forces, entered Ning Fan’s body and talked to him, only then might he, with his cultivation, suppress the influence of the inconceivable.

But, he has no leisure for that!

Didn’t see the world of the Saint Heir’s trial is showing signs of collapse again!

He has to stop it!

Damn! How can Purple Dou’s disciple cause so much trouble! Didn’t he update the trial rules? Why didn’t the blackout extermination appear this time? The trial rules actually didn’t stop this kid? Oh, it’s the inconceivable power interfering, never mind that... Sigh...

Southern Pavilion and others standing aside, they were already numb to the sight.

They knew it, they knew it! Lu Bei is more terrifying than the Soul-Seizing Chess! The Soul-Seizing Chess eats people, Lu Bei eats the Soul-Seizing Chess, Lu Bei is scarier than the Soul-Seizing Chess, makes perfect sense...

No knowing how much time passed, Ning Fan finally felt a bit tired from eating.

His physique is strong, but even the strongest person can feel full.

Under the influence of the inconceivable, Ning Fan doesn’t remember how much black mist he consumed, but, even if the inconceivable affects him, making him forget many things, his belly being round and full makes it impossible for Ning Fan not to know what he has done.

No need for divine sense to remember.

His body has explained everything.

"Even though I don’t remember eating this black mist, it’s clear that I’ve already eaten a lot... This mist makes me forget some things, does it..."

Ning Fan burped, somewhat embarrassed, and no longer consumed the black mist.

The black mists dared not attack Ning Fan anymore; what dignity of desolate blood they had was long ignored. At first, to protect their dignity, they surged forward to attack Ning Fan; then Ning Fan, with a huge appetite, chased them down to eat. They fled, he pursued, and they had no room to escape... Thankfully, he was finally full and stopped chasing!

Thus, the mists scattered and fled like they were granted amnesty, rushing back into the depths of the darkness.

There lie the core of the Soul-Seizing Chess.

And when all the black mists scattered, the darkness in this place was finally dispelled!

Not dispelled by the Green Light Art left by the Northern Barbarian God, but by Ning Fan’s unreasonable methods.

As the darkness was driven away, both Ning Fan and other survivors around could finally witness the interior scenery of Soul-Seizing Chess.

What kind of awe-inspiring view is this!

This scenery seems not of the Real Realms but rather like a fantasy, revealed to the observers as the darkness dissipates!

Golden beams from the sky fall, shining on every bewildered and awed face.

Is there really any sky?

Within the Soul-Seizing Chess, there is no heaven!

Where the sky should exist, instead, there’s an inverted golden sea! No one knows the true name of the sea, but everyone who observes it instinctively thinks of two characters deep within their bloodline...

[Endless]!

"Endless Sea, the legendary... Endless Sea..."

"Fake, it must be fake. Standing here and seeing the Endless Sea, what on earth, what is this..."

"Rumor has it that Big Dipper Immortal Domain has a sea named Big Dipper Endless Sea, said to be a derivative of the Endless Sea. Could this place be the source of Big Dipper Endless Sea..."

"What a beautiful sea, before this sea, all our lifetime’s cultivations are entirely... meaningless..."

"My childhood dream was to glimpse the Endless Sea once in a lifetime, unexpectedly... today it has finally come true..."

It’s impossible to describe the beauty of this ocean, impossible to define the specific color of the sea water.

Time flows within the ocean, and each drop of sea water is sufficient to birth a reincarnation and narrate a civilization.

Eternal spirit fish play within the sea, while destructive currents surge in the depth of the ocean.

Such was the aura of destruction, a mere wave could shatter the entirety of a saint...

In the face of this sea, cultivators appear too insignificant, a life of millions of years even less enduring than the bubbles breaking upon the water’s surface...

Endless Dao techniques and rules emerge on the ocean surface and submerge into the depths, lifeless...

Before the sea, even the Three Great Realms seem like insignificant islands floating, they are not worth mentioning...

"Unexpectedly, unexpectedly..." Whether the South Pavilion or a return to one’s homeland, all were struck by the magnificence of the Endless Sea.

At this time, suddenly at the center of the sea, a huge shadow appeared.

That shadow gradually focused, finally becoming gentle, transforming into a gigantic eye staring at the tiny living creatures below.

All living beings, originally not worth noticing.

But today, the Endless Sea sees a visitor, so it doesn’t mind opening its eyes.

Indescribable terror from being directly viewed by the Endless Sea!

Even the Reverse Saint who practices overcoming a thousand lifetimes does not wield a gaze this heavy!

Under the gaze of the Endless Sea, none dared lift their heads to behold the sea, as if a mere glance would be sacrilege.

Except for Ning Fan, who felt no pressure...

If the Endless Sea did not wish it, Ning Fan would not have been able to behold the sea, but he was, after all, a long-past visitor of the Endless Sea, so his gaze was granted a permission...

"Curious, these people are not allowed to behold the Endless Sea, only I seem to be."

Ning Fan was somewhat puzzled, but that confusion quickly found its answer.

The Third Gate of Tianren let him instantly comprehend everything.

Indeed, he was no stranger to the Endless Sea.

He is the Slaughter Emperor of the Slaughter Palace, having received the baptism of Big Dipper Endless Sea, he can even summon the sea water to hurt his foes...

The laughable fact is, what he thought was the Endless Sea water was, extracted from Big Dipper Endless Sea, essentially just a derivative of the true Endless Sea...

Even so, Ning Fan could still be considered a visitor of the Endless Sea.

Seeing Ning Fan understand everything, the gaze of the Endless Sea grew more gentle, more satisfied.

But suddenly, the Endless Sea sensed something, and the originally gentle gaze turned angry.

But it was not aimed at Ning Fan, but... at intruders!

Rumbling!

A mysterious roar came from below.

It was... the sound of mountains collapsing!

Only then did everyone realize, that not only does this place have an Endless Sea, but there’s also a mountain!

In this realm, there is no earth! That mountain exists where the land ought to be!

Calamity Thought constructs the rocks of this mountain!

Causality flows in the lava of the volcano crater!

Countless divine trees grow within the mountain, eternal is their name!

Numerous Causal Beasts roar within the mountain, fearing the wrath of its collapse!

The mountain is surrounded not by mist, but by crimson lightning! And that lightning is transformed from the immeasurable tribulation thunder! Every time a Saint attains enlightenment, the mountain experiences endless thunder; now, countless such thunderbolts exist, striking awe in those who witness it.

The height of the mountain is unknown, surrounded by infinitely stretched space, with no end!

Unascendable! Impassable! Uncontradictable!

Anyone who sees the mountain can feel its fury, instinctively sensing two words from the depths of their blood.

Infinite!

This mountain is named Immeasurable Mountain, the origin of all immeasurable tribulations in the world and... the nemesis of the Endless Sea!

And today, mountain and sea meet at a place they should not.

The one who brings them together is none other than Ning Fan, devourer of the endless darkness...

In an instant, Ning Fan comprehends everything, dumbfounded.

Turns out, the black mist here isn’t some villain but the benefactor preventing the mountain and sea from observing each other.

Am I the villain, then?

As Ning Fan ponders, contemplating actions to mend... prevent the mountain and sea’s conflict, avoiding being crushed to ash by the ensuing flames of war.

At that moment, a purple starlight beams forth, heading straight for Immeasurable Mountain, accompanied by a voice thunderous yet audible only to Ning Fan.

"Mountain, I shall move; Sea, you shall calm!"

It is the roaring voice of the Roasted Chestnut Elder.

If mountain and sea are allowed to clash, everything will be destroyed. At that time, Ning Fan might only lose a strand of his spirit, ending the trial, while his meticulously managed Saint Heir trial will likely be ruined beyond recognition.

...

In the blink of an eye, Immeasurable Mountain and the Roasted Chestnut Elder vanished, whereabouts unknown.

After Immeasurable Mountain departed, the mood of the Endless Sea calmed as well. Normally, it wouldn’t quell its rage so quickly and would choose to vent it, but today, Ning Fan is its guest, and it doesn’t wish to lose face before a guest.

"You’re not angry anymore?"

Ning Fan instantly understood the Endless Sea’s mood.

Judging by the mountain’s temper, even if the Roasted Chestnut Elder managed to move it, he’d likely battle it fiercely in some unknown region to conclude matters.

Yet, he effortlessly soothed the Endless Sea’s emotions, surprisingly easy.

The Endless Sea is speechless.

Though Ning Fan can communicate with all things and relies on the instantaneous understanding from The Third Gate of Tianren, he feels no difficulty in conversing with the Endless Sea.

As long as the sea doesn’t meet the mountain, the sea is actually quite easy to get along with.

Provided it doesn’t meet the mountain...

Although the conversation was brief, Ning Fan felt his Dao enlightenment soaring.

For the other party is the Endless Sea, and any casual word is supreme Dao Technique, directly pointing to the origin of the Great Dao.

With each sentence exchanged, Ning Fan’s Dao enlightenment increased incrementally.

Regrettably, even though he conversed happily with the Endless Sea, afterwards, Ning Fan surprisingly remembered none of their discussions.

Just like a man from Java meeting a woman from Zhongshan Country, the two revel through the night, sleepless, yet forget everything they said upon waking the next day...

Regarding this forgetting of conversation contents, Ning Fan initially thought it due to something inconceivable, but suddenly enlightenment washed over him.

Indeed, to forget the Dao Technique itself while merely remembering its source is the highest hospitality from the Endless Sea.

[Zuowang]!

Abandon the limbs, dismiss wisdom, transcend form and intellect, be one with Grand Unity, this is Zuowang...

Sitting discussing Dao pales before sitting forgetting Dao...

Ning Fan is unaware of how much he benefited from this session of Zuowang, as those are not things measurable by quantity.

He merely remembers that before the Endless Sea left, he agreed to visit the Endless Sea next time... yet he has no idea where the Endless Sea’s home is, turns out the world built by Soul-Seizing Chess isn’t the Endless Sea’s home!

And at this point, he realized the appearance of the Endless Sea and Immeasurable Mountain was merely accidental in Soul-Seizing Chess.

Apparently, the Northern Barbarians Kingdom is about to face an Immeasurable Catastrophe, someone will become a Saint here, and naturally, Immeasurable Mountain would focus its gaze on the site of the catastrophe.

Being the arch enemy of Immeasurable Mountain, the Endless Sea would naturally cast its gaze here as well.

Fortunately, both parties curbed their gazes, with the barrier obstructing view between them not presenting any risk.

However, Ning Fan devoured the barrier...

Thus, mountain and sea met eyes.

Mountain: What are you looking at?

Sea: Looking at you, so what?

A war nearly erupted uncontrollably.

Thanks to Senior Chestnut’s assistance, otherwise the trial might have ended abruptly...

"Mountain and sea, cannot meet... pursuing Dao till now, it’s the first time learning this, yet once I leave Soul-Seizing Chess, I probably won’t remember anything that happened here. As for Immeasurable Mountain, forget it, forgotten is acceptable, but I and the Endless Sea have an agreement, if I don’t honor it, I wonder if it would get angry..."

"Well, let’s resolve Soul-Seizing Chess first. In my foresight of the future, the Northern Barbarian God took sixteen days to resolve Soul-Seizing Chess. I need to be quicker in resolving this..."

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