Chapter 1286: Chapter 1286: Walking Against the Wind

The Chiwei Demon Lord was in a foul mood, and as this mood projected into one realm, mountain collapses and tsunamis immediately surged.

For a Fourth Step practitioner, such mountain collapses and tsunamis are insignificant, but for a Saint, they are terrifying.

To soothe Chiwei’s emotions, the Three Saints almost exhausted all their means, barely managing to placate Chiwei and prevent him from acting recklessly in a drunken stupor.

As for Ning Fan, he did not get involved in this matter. He could see that Chiwei was holding onto regret, and this regret needed venting...

He too harbored regret, but unlike Chiwei, his regret possibly had a chance for redemption... The question was, how to accomplish it...

Ning Fan took three Huang Zhongli from the plate and placed them on the table.

The first represents the past, the second the present, and the third the future...

From the perspective of reincarnation, the three have no sequence, but are linked by causality, affecting the whole with even a slight move...

With a different perspective, the past can also be considered the present, or viewed as the future, then a possibility would be endowed with a cubic potential...

And since possibilities fluctuate between increase and decrease, there exist positives and negatives, therefore... to achieve a result of "one," requires "negative one," "one," and "one"...

To achieve "two," one could use "seven," "negative five," "negative six"...

"Three" is even easier, without the need for calculation.

Four is impossible, five too is impossible, six, however, can be computed, but if I can easily calculate it, so can others, hence it is meaningless...

Ning Fan calculated all the way to 24, and it was then he first felt the complexity, and when he attempted to calculate 42... it’s not that it was unsolvable, it’s just that with his calculating power, he couldn’t compute such vast possibilities...

Ning Fan was immersed in massive calculations, without noticing the gradually growing audience around him.

Chiwei had ceased his drunken antics, and even the Three Saints had gathered to observe.

"Oh? You too believe that all things are numbers? Ziwei once did such, calculating day and night, afraid day and night, ha, and ultimately calculated such an outcome?" Chiwei sneered, with a look of disdain for this path.

"Ziwei, ahh, those two characters, contain such great dread... is such a conversation something we can eavesdrop on?" The Three Saints were unsure but felt a certain awe, and therefore dared not eavesdrop, retreating after apologizing.

Chiwei had no interest in what those three were up to; he was only interested in Ning Fan’s thoughts.

This kid, he’s someone like him, this kind of person, would never be content to die with regrets, indeed, this kid was already planning to fight back...

"I was merely trying casually, not committing to any belief... Destiny, truly is complex, is there really someone who can calculate it all?" Ning Fan sighed.

"Naturally there is, but being able to calculate destiny and being able to rewrite it are entirely different concepts... mere calculation is not enough, because those who can calculate it are not just one, and those who attempt to rewrite it are also not just one, yet no one can truly break it... do you want to try?" Chiwei laughed.

"I’d prefer to claim my reward first..." Ning Fan reminded.

He could see that Chiwei was in a bad mood, but wouldn’t it be better to get things done first and then take your time to act recklessly with drink?

"Hmm, let’s go back then, being away from the Trial World this long really is enough..." Chiwei nodded. If he were away from his post for too long, the trial would collapse, and if the trial collapsed, he too would lose even this last bit of existence, facing only obliteration.

Causally sending a sound transmission, instructing the Three Saints to "manage this place properly" and that "no one is to leave this realm without my command," Chiwei grabbed with his hand, and the surroundings suddenly had a sensation of time’s reversal.

In the next instant, Ning Fan returned to the Settlement Space, back to the Illusionary Dream World shrouded by the Purple Mountain Dou Sea.

Upon returning to this realm, Ning Fan once again felt a lost-and-found sense of security. One must admit, though Chiwei Demon Lord’s one realm could be considered safe, compared to the Purple Mountain Dou Sea, indeed it still...

"Indeed, cannot compare, can it? Is the gap... really that great?" Chiwei, seeing through Ning Fan’s thoughts, asked unwillingly to admit defeat.

"This junior’s cultivation is low, unable to determine the difference among them, merely having whimsical thoughts..." Ning Fan did not answer immediately. He could see that Chiwei cared very much about matters related to the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign, so he carefully sensed the difference between the two, yet naturally couldn’t discern the strengths or weaknesses, and answered truthfully.

"Forget it, it’s just the old me troubling you again... Alright, pick your reward!"

The Chiwei Demon Lord opened his palm, from which six paths of purple starlight flew out, forming six purple light clusters, floating in front of Ning Fan.

Within each light cluster, one could see a dazzling petal of Daoist law.

"This is the Ziwei Sixfold Path; you may choose one."

It is said that the body of the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign is a Ziwei Flower.

The Ziwei Flower blooms on the Ziwei Star.

The flower blooms with six petals.

Each petal represents a type of Daoist law.

But Chiwei did not give much introduction regarding what each of the six Daoist laws was.

Because it wasn’t necessary; this young man’s eyes now could find the answer by themselves.

"Can I choose only one?" Ning Fan asked.

"The rules were set by Ziwei, and I cannot break them, otherwise, giving you all six wouldn’t be a problem!" Chiwei replied.

"In that case..."

Ning Fan did not choose immediately; he intended to see what these light clusters encompassed as Daoist laws.

Though any Daoist law could be used as material to repair Duowen Wushuang, since it was a choice, it must be the best.

Ning Fan used the Tianren Eye Technique to look at the first light cluster and then understood.

One of the Daoist laws, [Ancient Spirit Dao Scroll]!

First, there were spirits, then immortals, with the opening of the immortal’s path, the incense continues!

This Dao scroll records the method to cultivate into Immortal Spirits, and if acquired, Ning Fan might once again cultivate a type of Five Spirit Power...

Yet, Ning Fan not only understood the essence of this item but also saw a glimpse of the past from within it.

He saw the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign obtaining this Dao scroll; instead of opening it immediately, he repeatedly calculated, and after numerous days and nights, finally deduced something, his gaze filled with unspeakable fear.

"Cultivating this Dao scroll will harmonize with light and dust; not cultivating it will result in myriad defiance obstructing..."

"What should I... choose..."

Later, the Purple Dou chose the path of Immortal Spirits, severing his devil spirit blood...

Further on, the Purple Dou made peace with the myriad defiance and headed to the Northern Barbarians Kingdom...

But thereafter, Ning Fan saw an even more distant past.

A figure, indistinct and unclear, inscribed this Dao scroll and instructed his disciples to send it out.

"Master, this Dao scroll seems slightly different from the Primordial Scroll. Cultivating this Dao scroll, won’t there be drawbacks..." said the disciple fearfully.

The Master’s reply was inaudible, obscured by some power...

...

Ning Fan’s gaze gradually cleared, yet his heart was filled with indescribable shock.

Did he just witness the choices of the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign before attaining sainthood?

Enter my Immortal Spirits and harmonize with light and dust, not enter Immortal Spirits and myriad defiance will obstruct...

Indeed, the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign did not willingly choose this path, it was out of compulsion!

Many defying Saints hindered him, not allowing him to pursue his own path, so after countless calculations, he realized he had no other choice, and thereafter, decided to compromise...

The cause and effect of the Northern Barbarians Kingdom were created by the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign, but behind this, many defying Saints were leading it secretly...

Is this the truth behind the Northern Barbarian’s Immeasurable Catastrophe?

Turns out the entire Northern Barbarian Kingdom is merely a chessboard for the myriad defying Saints’ contest, even the Ziwei Demon Monarch could only compromise as a pawn...

However, more lamentably, this Immortal Spirit Dao scroll seems to have hidden pitfalls, altered by some Supreme existence...

Perhaps the Purple Dou already calculated this matter, yet still chose to step into this trap-laden Immortal Spirit path because he had no option. At that time, he wasn’t even a Saint, but his enemies were more than just one Supreme...

Perhaps at that time, the Purple Dou intended to compromise initially by becoming a Saint and entering defiance, then slowly resolve the flaws of cultivated Immortal Spirits...

"Do you want to choose this Dao method?" Chiwei faintly frowned but did not stop him.

If this was Ning Fan’s desire, he wouldn’t impede.

"No, this item has pitfalls..." Ning Fan shook his head.

"But for you, this is also a backup path. Really not considering it?" Chiwei spoke with deep meaning.

He had great confidence in Ning Fan; in the Land of Dreams, such a place could not confine the True Dragon, this one, would eventually have a day of sainthood, even if entering defiance, the future was promising.

Thus, this one would inevitably face a similar predicament as Purple Dou someday.

However, if he cultivated this Dao scroll, then it would harmonize with light and dust, myriad defiance will not impede him, and on the contrary, they would be glad for his success, and he would smoothly progress, ascending the Qing Yun...

"I only want to follow my own path." Calm, yet resolute.

"Haha, well said! If Purple Dou had half your courage, perhaps his end wouldn’t be as it is!" Chiwei praised.

Thus, Ning Fan’s gaze turned to the second Dao method.

Dao method two, [Ziwei Dou Shu Twelve Layers].

Small success at the first four layers results in doubled combat strength. The great success at eight layers allows one to know heaven and change destiny, while among fifty measures, keeping one thread alive. At twelve layers, complete success, omniscience, and omnipotence.

"Omniscient?"

Ning Fan showed slight surprise, not astonished by how powerful this Dao method was, but inadvertently recalled the All-Knowing Elder.

"Omniscient and omnipotent, is it very powerful?" Ning Fan asked, but he was asking the Chiwei demon lord.

"Powerful, yet not so, those entering defiance have this ability, but using it against the Third Step, it can be said to dominate." Chiwei replied.

"I see..."

Ning Fan’s gaze turned to the next sphere of light.

Dao method three, [A Single Defiance Renders the Path of the Purple Star Void, My Star Extinguished Then Ten Thousand Stars Kill].

This Dao method is the essence of Purple Star Technique, containing 108 transformations of Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends. Cultivating this makes one the Lord of the Stars, with a thought forming ten thousand stars into a formation, like the Immortal Emperor’s Sovereign Finger. When thousands of stars guard the body, boundless does not injure, and infinite does not harm. When moving stars and exchanging formations, all stars in the world listen to my command!

Alongside this, he also saw the past of this Dao method.

In the image, amidst the guardian of countless stars, a white-haired being as vast as the starry sky sits amid galaxies; with each breath cycling, countless stars were born and perished.

Yet what caught Ning Fan’s interest was not how strong this white-haired being was but that this person’s star technique never reached full circulation, with a vacuum area existing among it, like among fifty measures one was hidden; as if it was not hidden, but rather willingly severed...

"A technique this powerful, surprisingly has a flaw?" Ning Fan expressed surprise.

"Being able to discern its flaw, you indeed are somewhat remarkable with your Third Realm of Tianren." acknowledged Chiwei.

Though flawed, this technique is indeed powerful enough to cause limitless, undamaged existence...

Ning Fan’s gaze shifted to the next one.

The fourth Daoist method, [Ziwei Thunder Method].

It can cultivate the purple Qi of thunder, and the thunder method is immensely powerful.

"Qi..." Ning Fan wasn’t hearing this word for the first time.

He had asked the Ant Lord what Qi was, but the Ant Lord’s answer left him confused.

Now, he could comprehend this object with his own eyes.

It turns out that many in the Real Realms cultivate their mana into Qi. Qi is far more powerful than an equal quantity of mana, especially for Saints, who greatly esteem it, taking pride in becoming Qi cultivators.

Thinking of this, Ning Fan took out three Thunder Talismans.

Jade Pure Divine Thunder Charm, Shangqing Divine Thunder Charm, Great Pure Divine Thunder Charm.

The three Thunder Talismans once belonged to the Ant Lord and now belong to Ning Fan.

These Talismans contain the Qi of the Thunder Method; each one unleashes a terrifying thunder method close to a Saint’s strike.

If all three Talismans were used together, it’s even more powerful. However, when Ning Fan pierced through the Soul-Seizing Chess with a sword, he didn’t use the Thunder Talismans.

Indeed, that strike still had many unused resources, like the Ninth Mountain Sword Tassel hanging on the Reverse Sea Sword. It’s a relic of the Sword Ancestor; though it releases enormous Sword Intent, it depletes with each use... Ning Fan never managed to use it.

The three Thunder Talismans, he likewise refrained from using, but not out of reluctance, rather... impossible to harmonize!

With his current level, he could harmonize the Yin-Yang Five Elements Daoist methods and spells, but when it came to these Thunder Talismans, he faced difficulties.

It was because these Talismans were made with Qi, and Qi seemed to contain some sort of force incompatible with everything...

It’s no simple incompatibility; this stuff might even cause some sort of... pollution to existence itself!

"Qi..."

Ning Fan stared at the Thunder Talisman in his hand, trying to understand the source of Qi’s contamination with his eyes.

But he couldn’t reach its roots; he could only hear a few ancient broken echoes.

[The Qi cultivator, has a connection with me...]

The echo abruptly stopped, and Ning Fan awakened.

Though baffled, he had an intuition that Qi seemed to have pitfalls...

So, can the Ziwei Thunder Method that specializes in Thunder Qi still be learned?

If this stuff has pitfalls, does the Ziwei Immortal Sovereign know? Or perhaps, after making choices, he became one of the beneficiaries...

"I don’t want this path..." Ning Fan excluded another option.

"Not wanting it is right!" Chiwei nodded in satisfaction.

Then Ning Fan looked at the fifth Daoist method.

The fifth Daoist method, [Ziwei Supreme Emperor Blade].

Transmute one’s blood and Qi into the Supreme Emperor Blade to harm enemies; the more blood and Qi sacrificed, the more terrifying this technique becomes.

"Oh? A self-damaging technique, somewhat out of style for the Ziwei Immortal Sovereign..." Ning Fan exclaimed.

Speaking of which, during the battle at the Eastern Boundary River, Daoist Mu Song’s Spirit seemed to be severely injured by this technique from a different race’s Quasi-Saint...

"Oh? Can you see it? This technique indeed isn’t Ziwei’s style, but rather... my style!" Chiwei had a look of "you really have discernment."

"A secret technique that burns blood and Qi, the more blood and Qi, the stronger the power. If a blood Qi monster like Blood God Geng Wu used this technique, it might become increasingly formidable..."

This technique can be chosen, but saying how enticing it is may not be accurate.

After all, Ning Fan feels he doesn’t count as a blood and Qi monster, doesn’t have a long health bar to unleash the true power of this technique.

Then, Ning Fan’s gaze fell on the last Daoist method.

The sixth Daoist method, [Ziwei Flower Burial Technique].

Today, the Flower Burial Monarch laughs foolishly, in the years to come, who knows who... will bury flowers!

Once this technique is mastered, it can annihilate others’ three flowers, taking them for oneself; thousands of flowers gathered at the top remain indestructible. And if self-flowers are annihilated, it can instantly unleash great combat power...

"Flower burial..." Ning Fan frowned.

He disliked these two words.

He is a butterfly, dislikes flower burial, prefers collecting, planting, protecting flowers!

This item does not align with my path!

"You’re quite the sentimental seed..." Chiwei sighed, what’s so good about women.

"..." Ning Fan looked at Chiwei with a strange expression, suddenly seemed to understand something, his face changed.

"Hiss! So there’s this kind of resolution, huh?" Chiwei seemed to understand Ning Fan’s thought too, so his gaze slightly shifted, beginning to ponder.

Ning Fan silently distanced himself from Chiwei. For the first time in his life, he felt that the Reverse Saint was so dangerous...

Chiwei, on the other hand, silently closed the distance with Ning Fan, looking at him as if he were watching... his own disciple...

He was muttering to himself from time to time, saying strange things like "Why didn’t I think of that," "If you can’t beat them, join them," "Turn his into mine," and so on...

"Do you really like planting flowers? Are you sure?" Chiwei looked at Ning Fan seriously.

"This..." Ning Fan was somewhat lost in thought, but the mention of planting flowers made him serious as well.

What came to his mind was the little Soul Grass in the Shennong Hundred Herbs Garden that had yet to bloom.

"Yes." Ning Fan gave a definite answer.

"Then, do you want to learn the art of blooming?" Chiwei asked again.

"...I do." Just unsure of what the price might be...

"Then, if I were to place before you all the blooming arts I’ve cultivated in my life, and the Ziwei Sixfold Path, which would you choose?" Hmm? There’s even a seventh option added.

"I would like to first see what the blooming art is..."

"No! Destiny knows everything, and before destiny, no matter how omniscient one claims to be, they’re but an ignorant child. You must make a choice in ignorance! This technique might help you achieve your aspirations, or it may be far inferior to the Ziwei Sixfold Path, just something useless. However, you must make a choice now, only then does it hold meaning! One path is straightforward, foreseeable, while the other... is unknown and perilous, but because it is unknown, there lies the possibility... In such a case, how do you choose?"

At that moment, it was as if Chiwei was asking Ning Fan, or perhaps, questioning the resigned Ziwei from the past.

Ning Fan closed his eyes, choosing not to use the Third Realm of Tianren to analyze the blooming art Chiwei spoke of.

No need to know.

Even a mere chance of cultivating the Soul Grass was enough for him to make a choice.

"I choose the Seventh Dao."

"Hahaha! Good, good, good!" At that moment, Chiwei seemed to have found the meaning of life again.

If there shall never be a chance against Purple Dou in this life...

Then cultivate together with Purple Dou an ill that destiny dreads!

Were the Purple Dou Immortal Sovereign conscious, he might have asked: "When did I train this child to defy fate? What misunderstanding have you gotten..."

...

The scene in the Settlement Space concluded.

But Ning Fan did not return to the outside world; instead, he was sent by the Chiwei Demon Monarch to his Crimson Mountain Fighting Sea.

"I have managed the Saint Heir trials for countless years, more aware of its loopholes than anyone else. Though one only has one chance to participate, you don’t have to... be human!"

"This realm is temporarily lent to you. As long as you hide within, you are still in the Settlement Space. The trial will deem you unfulfilled in settlement, as the so-called Settlement Space was but a chunk carved from one realm by me."

"Stored here are my Chiwei Sixfold Paths, and among them is the blooming art you seek."

"You can learn just the blooming art, or all six techniques, as you wish! This is not under the constraints of the Ziwei Taoist Methods!"

"But one thing you must remember! I instruct you in these methods to complete the trial’s cause and effect, but it does not establish a mentor-disciple reality! What you gain is earned by yourself, don’t call me master, nor expect me to teach you more!"

"As for the three Saints within the realm, you are free to command them. I’ve pre-arranged it!"

"Now, let’s see what you plan to do! This time, there will be no rules stopping you. Let me witness... the storm stirred by a butterfly!"

...

Ning Fan stood between the Crimson Mountain Fighting Sea, attended by three exalted Saints of two Nirvanas and one Beginning!

The Chiwei Demon Monarch did not return to this realm. He had to remain in the Trial World, working overtime to update the trial rules.

He did not know what Ning Fan planned this time, but he had to prepare in advance, so as not to delay the kid’s matters...

When the six techniques of Chiwei Dao were in hand, Ning Fan slightly bowed in the direction of the endless distance, grateful for Chiwei’s generous gift.

Among them was a secret technique capable of making the Sword Ancestor Soul Grass bloom, more precious than any other methodology.

This kindness, Ning Fan remembered.

The only thing puzzling Ning Fan was the other’s insistence on not accepting the teacher-disciple connection of teachings.

Teaching me the methods, yet not wanting to be one of my masters, could it be to be...

A... teacher’s wife?

This, doesn’t seem appropriate...

Fortunately, this way, I’m surely not the real target, no need to worry too much...

"You bastard brat! What on earth is your head filled with! Who taught you this stuff!" Elsewhere in the infinite distance, Chiwei Demon Monarch cursed in anger.

What he considered were all grand ambitions of collaborating across reincarnations with Purple Dou against destiny!

That is a man’s romance!

How the hell did it lead to the notion of being a teacher’s wife! Truly, truly... wait a minute, maybe the problem isn’t me but with Purple Dou, otherwise why would Purple Dou’s disciple have such whimsical ideas...

Upon this thought, Chiwei’s expression shifted dramatically, as if uncovering a monumental secret, and he fell into silence...

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