(unedited)
One day after Ning Fan had left the Yang Heaven Palace, Ning Fan returned to the cloud mountain in the Scarlet Heaven Realm.
When the cultivators of the Scarlet Heaven Palace saw Ning Fan on top of the cloud mountain, each of them was as silent as the cicadas in winter. They bowed to him with their utmost respect, without daring to slight him, even though the seventh prince had said several times not to allow anyone to be respectful toward Ning Fan.
However, Ning Fan's name shook the entire Heavenly Cloud Country today. Which low-levelled cultivator would still be bold enough to disrespect him?
"Welcome, Palace Lord…."
A few hundred revered elders and divine messengers of the Scarlet Heaven Palace came out to receive Ning Fan cordially. Ning Fan, however, just darted a glance at them and then said with an indifferent tone.
"Go away."
With just a single look, he made all the revered elders and divine messengers there break out in a cold sweat as his eyes still contained the piercing and fearsome aura force of defeating all the other eight palaces!
Ning Fan then headed to the palace located in the belly of the mountain. No one dared to stop or disturb him.
Once he entered the palace, he went straight to the Scarlet Heaven Rain Stele.
The stele contained an extremely thick rain intent. It was the best place for him to master the rain technique.
At this moment, his white robes were besmeared with blood. The injuries he suffered were very serious.
Even though he had defeated Yun Ling using his Black Tempest Rupture Art, he was also hurt by Yun Ling's Rain Sealing Pagoda.
That Yun Ling was just a common Absolute Void Stage expert. Despite that, he still managed to inflict such damage to Ning Fan.
He had to admit that if he were to face an Absolute Void Stage expert who had converted their unital magic power to yuan, his chance of winning would not be large.
And, if he were to face a Void Fragmentation Realm, he could only put on a fight against them by using his trump cards like heavenly tribulation puppets.
He did not have time to heal his wounds now. He just hurriedly took a Sixth Revolution vulnerary pill and started getting busy with his work immediately after that.
He sat down in a meditative posture below the rain stele and raised a finger to point at the direction in front of him. Nine faint silver light masses appeared instantly.
Each of the light masses contained an incomplete set of the rain technique.
Thus, the nine light masses contained nine sets of the rain technique in total.
The Rain of Vast Heaven, the Rain of Yang Heaven, the Rain of Scarlet Heaven, the Rain of Vermilion Heaven, the Rain of Complete Heaven, the Rain of Serene Heaven, the Rain of Profound Heaven, the Rain of Altering Heaven, the Rain of Great Heaven…
The rain techniques of all the nine heavens were all in his hands. Next, all he needed to do was to cultivate the Rain Ancestor's famous technique – Heaven Prying Rain.
As long as he successfully learns the Heaven Prying Rain, it would not be difficult for him to enveloped the entire Central State with his Absolute Void Stage spirit sense. He could then start searching for the person he wanted to look for within the vicinity of Central State.
At this moment, Ning Fan only had a single thought in mind. It was this thought that drove him to defeat the eight other palaces and study their rain steles…
I must find my mother!
In order to achieve that objective, he would not mind how many trump cards he had to reveal or how many people he would offend.
Recalling the memories of the Weeping Blood Forest, Ning Fan closed his eyes in silence.
When he opened his eyes again, his expression already became calm. He then muttered to himself.
"There are three requirements for the cultivation of the Heaven Prying Rain. Firstly, one must possess the power of the divine, the demon and the devil race!"
"Secondly, one must successfully comprehend the nine sets of rain techniques of the rain steles and master them!"
"Thirdly, fusing the Nine Heavens Rain into one and using it. And that will be the Heaven Prying Rain!"
"I possess the power of the three races and I've obtained the nine sets of rain techniques. Moreover, I've already mastered the Scarlet Heaven Rain which belongs to the third heaven. Next, I will learn the rain techniques of the other Eight Heavens in proper order…"
Ning Fan opened his mouth and inhaled, swallowing the third light mass into his abdomen.
After that, he waved with his palm and held the first light mass at the center of his palm to learn it.
Even though the severe injuries on his body had yet to heal, Ning Fan paid no attention to them at all. The shadows of his fingers were moving rapidly as he was bitterly cultivating the Vast Heaven Rain Technique from the first light mass.
One month later, he had successfully learned the Vast Heaven Rain Technique. He swallowed the light mass and pulled the second light mass into his palm to comprehend it.
After he had learned the Scarlet Heaven and Vast Heaven Rain Techniques, he only spent twenty days learning the third set of rain techniques.
When he had completely mastered the first three types of rain techniques, he tried to display the Vast Heaven and Yang Heaven Rain simultaneously and fuse them into one.
Each type of those rain techniques could broaden Ning Fan's senses up to a vicinity of seventy million li* (500m per li).
However, if he combines two types of the rain techniques into one, he could sense things that were at least at three hundred million li* (500m per li) away.
Unfortunately, there seemed to be an unbreakable barrier between the two types of rain techniques, disabling them from fusing with each other.
Ning Fan sighed dejectedly and gave up fusing the rain techniques for the meantime. Right after that, he started learning the rain techniques of the six remaining heavens. With the foundation that was established from his previous experience, the cultivation of the remaining rain techniques became a lot easier.
He only used twelve days to master the Vermilion Heaven Rain, seven days to master the Complete Heaven Rain and three days to master the Serene Heaven Rain.
As for the Profound Heaven Rain, Altering Heaven Rain and Great Heaven Rain, he only spent one day each.
After two and a half months, Ning Fan finished mastering the remaining eight types of rain techniques, making him successfully complete the cultivation of all the Nine Heavens Rain Techniques.
Only the final step was left before he could master the Heaven Prying Rain – fusing the Nine Heavens Rain into one… Would he be able to succeed this last step…?
"Lonely Heaven Rain!"
With a grim expression, Ning Fan suddenly performed hand seals to display the Vast Heaven Rain which rapidly drained away his magic power.
In an instant, light rain began falling upon the vicinity of seventy million li* (500m per li) around the Scarlet Heaven Cloud Mountain and every tree and bush became within Ning Fan's senses.
Ning Fan inhaled deeply and changed his hand seals.
"Twin Heaven Rain!"
He attempted to fuse the Yang Heaven Rain into the Vast Heaven Rain, making them into one. However, it was still a failed attempt.
"You failed again, huh… Indeed, the Rain Ancestor's technique can't be mastered so easily." In the Profound Yin World, Luo You made a gentle sigh.
Ning Fan gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly. He was reluctant to accept the result… He had already obtained the Nine Heavens Rain Technique but he could not fuse all of them into one…
Even though he knew that his mother was in the Central State and he would have a chance to relocate her as long as he succeeds in fusing the Nine Heavens Rain, he could not master that technique completely…
He just could not accept it!
He suppressed his frustration after failing to display the technique and consumed some pills to recover his magic power.
One day later, his magic power was restored to ninety percent. He tried to combine the rain techniques together but he still could not succeed.
One day. Two days. Three days…
One month passed, two months went by and then three months…
In the fourth month, Ning Fan finally succeeded in fusing the Vast Heaven Rain and Yang Heaven Rain into one!
The moment the two sets of rain techniques combined, the range of the drizzling rain extended to three hundred million li* (500m per li) around the Scarlet Heaven Realm.
Ning Fan almost saw all the living beings beyond the vicinity of three hundred million li* (500m per li)!
However, just as he was about to see everything clearly, the barrier between the two sets of rain techniques appeared once again. Ning Fan felt a sharp pain in his Sea of Consciousness as he coughed out blood suddenly. He failed to accomplish the fusion of the rain techniques again…
"The Nine Heavens Rain can't be fused together… I can't use this technique to find her…" Sorrow flashed within Ning Fan's eyes before he closed them.
He had already become extremely skilled with the Nine Heavens Rain but he still could not command them to fuse into one.
It was not because his comprehension was not good enough but because his rain intent was too weak…
In the past, Ning Fan combined his Divine Intent of Rain, Devil Intent of Devil and Demon Intent of Fu li into one and created the Second Step of Intent Realm – Memory Intent Realm.
However, by looking at the three intent realms individually, the grade of his original rain intent realm still stopped at the Eighth Grade.
The Heaven Prying Rain was extremely heaven-defying. It fused its intent with the rain and used the rain to pry upon the heaven. If one's rain intent is not powerful enough, they would not be able to pry into the heavens…
Unless Ning Fan increases the grade of his rain intent realm and practices it to a higher level, he would never be able to fuse the Nine Heavens Rain into one…
"Ning Fan… Don't be discouraged. Since you aren't able to display the Rain Ancestor's technique with your current rain intent, then find a way to improve your rain intent. With absolute faith and sincerity, one can even cut open metal and rocks… One day, you will master this technique. I have confidence in you. Regarding the progress of cultivation, haste does not mean speed…" In the Profound Yin World, Luo You comforted him. It was uncommon for her to act so seriously.
"I understand…"
It might be easy for one to understand the logic of what he experienced but it was hard to dispel the sorrow in him.
In the world of mortals, if someone's relative passes away, everyone would understand the fact that a dead person cannot be brought back to life. Therefore, they would repress their grief and accord with the inevitable loss.
However, how many of them could truly repress their grief…? And how could the sorrow in one's heart be truly repressed…?
With blank eyes, Ning Fan stood there in silence.
After a long time, he dismissed the vacant look in his eyes and slowly regained his calm.
He wanted to find his mother as soon as possible. However, what could he do if he could not master this technique…?
He was not a person who liked sighing in despair. Letting go of his sadness, he started to face reality.
Since his rain intent was not strong enough, then he would find ways to improve it!
"The Central State of the Rain World produces a type of divine intent stone in abundance which can slightly raise the level of a cultivator's intent realm… Countless Nascent Soul Realm and Divine Transformation Realm cultivators also use this item to comprehend their intent realm… When I am fully recovered, I will use the power of the divine intent stone to raise my intent realm. For now, I shall deal with my injuries first!"
After he had defeated the lords of all the palaces in the Heavenly Cloud Country, he suffered extremely grave injuries. However, he did not care about treating his wounds and spent around half a year learning the Rain Ancestor's technique.
As his body had the Black Star Technique that was healing his wounds automatically, he was already nearly sixty percent healed after half a year had passed. Unfortunately, he took the backlash from the rain technique several times which then inflicted a serious damage on his Sea of Consciousness…
In that case, he would have to spend quite some time to heal his injuries fully.
Since he decided to stop comprehending the rain technique, he naturally no longer needed to stay below the rain stele.
With a sway of his body, he entered the Yuan Yao World and got into the dark golden pagoda, starting to heal his wounds on the seventh floor of the pagoda.
Only after staying inside the pagoda for three years was he fully recovered.
Three years on the seventh floor within that pagoda was only equivalent to approximately nine days in the outside world.
He put on some clean clothes and began sorting out the loot he obtained from his battles against the palace lords in the Heavenly Cloud Country.
He still did not have a suitable sword sense to control the five sword spirits. Hence, he still let them be in an unconscious state.
The Rain Sealing Pagoda that he seized from Yun Ling's hands was a quite excellent magic treasure.
When he battled against him, he had to suffer losses even with his abilities. Now, with this pagoda in his hands, Ning Fan was confident to put up a fight even against an Absolute Void Stage expert who had converted their unital magic power to yuan magic power.
While he was perusing the delicate silver pagoda, he sighed gently upon noticing the startling cracks on its body.
On his way back from the Vast Heaven Realm, he already discovered the origin of this pagoda.
The Rain Sealing Pagoda was once the strongest offensive treasure of the Rain Palace which had a terrifyingly destructive power that could instantly kill an expert at the First Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm. Besides, it was also the fourth prince's natal magic treasure.
However, during the day Yun Tianjue broke through to the Void Fragmentation Realm, he murdered him and also destroyed this treasure.
But even though the treasure's power was greatly damaged today, it still was a precious supreme treasure.
As Ning Fan touched the cracks on the Rain Sealing Pagoda, another thought rushed within his heart.
He continued stroking the cracks that were left by a sword in silence. From those cracks, he could feel an utterly mad sword intent that was overwhelmed with sorrow.
It was Yun Tianjue's sword intent… When he murdered the fourth prince on that day, it was unknown how anguished he felt inwardly.
"The fourth prince was already dead whereas Yun Tianjue lost his memories. The old man with seven colors of light is the only one left who knows the truth of what happened that year… So even the clues are cut off now, huh…"
Ning Fan sighed and kept the Rain Sealing Pagoda. With a leap, he returned to the inner part of the mountain.
After resting for several days in the inner part of the mountain, he had already completely dismissed his battle intent of wiping out the Heavenly Cloud Country as well as the sorrow of being unable to relocate his mother and regained his tranquil state of mind.
Then, he got out of the mountain and returned to the Scarlet Heaven Palace located at the peak of the cloud mountain. To his surprise, Yu Chong Er was also waiting for him within the palace.
She had already stayed in the Scarlet Heaven Palace for one month just to wait for Ning Fan to get out of his seclusion.
"Your injuries are all healed?! Great!" Yu Chong Er was overjoyed upon seeing Ning Fan's qi that had become stable.
"Mm. Those were just some minor injuries. I'm fully recovered now." Ning Fan said calmly.
"Minor injuries? You've taken the attack of the Rain Sealing Pagoda head-on. How could the injuries you suffered be minor…? That's the Rain Sealing Pagoda, you know…?" Yu Chong Er stared at Ning Fan like she was looking at a monster.
Even if the person who took a direct hit from the Rain Sealing Pagoda was an Absolute Void Stage expert who had achieved yuan magic power, they would also be killed or grievously injured.
Ning Fan, on the other hand, managed to heal all of his injuries in just half a year after withstanding a direct attack from that pagoda… He really was like an unkillable cockroach that had exuberant vitality.
She stared at Ning Fan as hard as possible, trying to find out his mystery. However, when Ning Fan looked her in the eye, her cheeks immediately blushed, pulling her back to her original purpose of coming.
"Oh yes. The reason why I came is to pass you a message. The Rain Sovereign has just exited his seclusion and he is sorting out the comprehensions he obtained from his seclusion. Perhaps he will summon you in another few days."
"Is that so…?" Ning Fan muttered deep in thought. He wondered how the Rain Sovereign would feel after hearing of the news of him defeating the lords of the eight palaces.
Ning Fan battled against the eight palaces to comprehend their rain steles without killing a single person. Everything he did was in accordance with the World Law of the Rain World.
However, he had revealed many of his trump cards during the battle and even defeated Yun Ling, an Absolute Void Stage expert, with his Void Inquiry Stage power…
Despite being just nine hundred years old, he actually had become so strong…
Judging from the Rain Sovereign's tolerance, if he finds out that Ning Fan had such potential, it was unknown whether or not he would see him as a threat.
Well, of course, Ning Fan deeply believed that before he outlived his use, the Rain Sovereign would not take any actions against him.
But once the Rain Sovereign is done with him…
Ning Fan shook his head. Perhaps one day he would stand face to face against the Rain Sovereign and be the Rain Palace's nemesis…
Even so, that was not a big deal. Today, he had Min Luo and the little sable protecting Yue Country. Even if the Rain Sovereign goes to the country personally, he might not necessarily be able to retreat in one piece… Just a single clone of Min Luo was already at the Fifth Heavenly Layer of the Void Fragmentation Realm.
If Min Luo goes all-out, he could ignite his demon soul and enable his original body to leave the Dark Sparrow's Grave temporarily and wipe out the Rain World using his rogue demon strength.
If Rain Sovereign really tries to plot against the Yue Country, he would die pretty badly.
"My master has already come to the Central State. Based on what I've heard from my master, when the Rain Sovereign sees you this time, he will grant you some reward and let you go through the 'Heaven, Earth, Black and Yellow Tests' at the same time." Yu Chong Er continued.
"Tests?" Ning Fan sounded surprised.
"Mm. During the promotion of the Rain Palace's division palace lord of all the previous generations, they would be given a test by the Great Four Void Fragmentation Realm Experts. One has to go through at least one of the four tests before obtaining the qualification to be promoted as a palace lord. In the history of the Rain World, you are the only one who was directly promoted as a palace lord without taking the test. However, since you've come to the Central State this time, you naturally need to catch up on the four tests"
"I see."
Ning Fan nodded his head to express his understanding. When Yun Tianjue gave him the revered elder token in the past, he had also given him a test.
Since the promotion of a revered elder required a test, it was perfectly reasonable for one to be tested before being promoted as a palace lord.
Of the four tests, one would need to get through one of them. There was not much difficulty for Ning Fan.
Ning Fan was not worried that the Rain Sovereign was trying to set him up. Before the latter uses him to accomplish his objective, he would be extremely safe. For example, even if Ning Fan turns against all the princes of the Rain Palace, the Rain Sovereign would still be Ning Fan's backer…
"And the other reason why I came to find you is to give you a gift to express my gratitude to you for saving my life. You must not reject my gift, okay?"
Yu Chong Er lowered her head while her ears were burning hot. Only after rummaging in her storage pouch for nearly half a day did she make up her mind to take out a brocade box.
"T-This is your gift. Don't refuse to accept it!"
Ning Fan took the box from her and shook his head with a smile.
When did he ever turn down someone when they offer him something? He never refuses anyone, okay?
However, just as he touched the brocade box, his expression suddenly became serious.
Multiple seals were densely set up on the brocade box. They had never been opened before. Even so, Ning Fan could still sense a brutal and bloodthirsty qi of a ferocious beast from within the box…
"This is a Low Rank Profound Divinity Grade spiritual equipment. It's something that I requested from my master with great difficulty… If you don't want it, you aren't giving me face!"
Yu Chong Er raised her head with a look of hope on her face. She was very afraid that Ning Fan would reject her gift.
Strange. It's very strange… Wasn't she just trying to give him a thank-you gift? Why would she feel so nervous…?
Was she sick again…?
"Thank you. This spiritual equipment is what I needed. Thus, I'm going to thicken my face and accept this gift."
Ning Fan thanked Yu Chong Er with a faint smile. The latter, however, averted her eyes and was immediately at a loss for words.
"Y-Y-You… Stop looking at me. Look at this spiritual equipment. Do you like it?"
"Mm."
Ning Fan opened the brocade box.
When he just slightly raised the cover of the box that revealed a small gap, a violent snow-white beast silhouette turned into a fearsome white light ray and flew directly at Ning Fan's head!
That beast shadow actually wanted to kill Ning Fan!
"Interesting. This Profound Divinity Grade spiritual equipment is actually so vicious that it even dares to kill its master!"
Ning Fan took half a step backward and landed a finger at the snow-white beast shadow.
Immediately, the snow-white beast shadow let out a miserable shrill, as if it was in deep agony.
Translated by Tommy, edited by Roel
